From Iraq to Idaho: Building Best Life Coffee and a Purpose-Driven Life in North Idaho episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 23, 2026 · 1H 18M

From Iraq to Idaho: Building Best Life Coffee and a Purpose-Driven Life in North Idaho

from North Idaho Experience · host North Idaho Experience

From Iraq to Coeur d'Alene — Kyle and Michelle Cooper's story is anything but ordinary. In this episode of the North Idaho Experience Podcast, Dave and Seth sit down with the husband-and-wife veteran team behind Best Life Coffee, one of Coeur d'Alene's most values-driven local coffee shops. Kyle and Michelle met while serving in the U.S. Army during deployment in Iraq in 2004, survived a cross-country journey to all 50 states in a 45-foot fifth wheel, opened a power yoga studio for first responders, and eventually landed in North Idaho — where they built a coffee shop rooted in community, family, and faith.In this conversation, you'll hear how Best Life Coffee came to life, why supporting local business matters more than ever in a growing city like Coeur d'Alene, and what's next for Kyle and Michelle — including a brand-new line of charity coffee bags with proceeds benefiting veteran and first responder organizations like Warriors in Quiet Waters and The Innocents.Whether you're a North Idaho local, a veteran entrepreneur, someone considering relocating to Coeur d'Alene, or just love a great origin story built on grit and faith — this episode is for you.👤 Connect with Best Life CDA📲 Instagram: @BestLifeCDAwebsite: https://www.bestlifecda.com/📍 Best Life Coffee | 6th & Sherman, Coeur d'Alene, ID🎓 Top 3 Things Viewers Will LearnHow two Army veterans met in Iraq, survived deployment, and built a thriving small business together in North Idaho — including the real story of what it takes to make a marriage, a mission, and an entrepreneurial vision all work at the same time.Why Best Life Coffee is more than a coffee shop — from their charity coffee bag series (supporting veteran orgs and child safety nonprofits) to homeschooling their kids through the business, Kyle and Michelle are redefining what it means to run a purpose-driven small business in Coeur d'Alene.What it's really like to relocate to North Idaho and build a life here — including how they traveled all 50 states before choosing CDA, what surprised them most, and why they'll never leave.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northidahoexperience/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northidahoexperienceYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHz9XczupyJ93VRtqfQEW-gFor the most up-to-date real estate listings check out our North Idaho Experience mobile app - click above to start searching today!https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-idaho-experience/id6755906887Grab our Relocation Guide: https://sholink.to/RelocationYour Ultimate Selling Game Plan guide: https://sholink.to/Sellerguide💼 Interested in sponsoring a future episode or collaborating with us?Email us at [email protected] 🛠 For Real Estate Services or Questions:Contact us at [email protected]: 208-618-4421Sponsored by:North Idaho Arms, LLC4013 West Riverbend Avenue, Post Falls, Idaho 83854(208) [email protected]://northidahoarms.com/Finding Freedom Idaho INCEqual housing opportunity======

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 23, 2026

Embed this episode

From Iraq to Coeur d'Alene — Kyle and Michelle Cooper's story is anything but ordinary. In this episode of the North Idaho Experience Podcast, Dave and Seth sit down with the husband-and-wife veteran team behind Best Life Coffee, one of Coeur d'Alene's most values-driven local coffee shops. Kyle and Michelle met while serving in the U.S. Army during deployment in Iraq in 2004, survived a cross-country journey to all 50 states in a 45-foot fifth wheel, opened a power yoga studio for first resp...

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

Ready to play

From Iraq to Idaho: Building Best Life Coffee and a Purpose-Driven Life in North Idaho

0:00 1:18:09

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of North Idaho Experience?

This episode is 1 hour and 18 minutes long.

When was this North Idaho Experience episode published?

This episode was published on June 23, 2026.

Can I download this North Idaho Experience episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!