Main Street Idaho Podcast

Senior United States Senator since 1999, Mike Crapo joins us during his brief return from Washington D.C. We discuss his role in recent cabinet confirmation hearings overseeing Dr. Oz and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as well as the narrowly avoided government shutdown.

A welcome guest whenever he's able, Senator Treg Bernt returns for episode 13 to break down the current legislative session in the Idaho Senate. Bernt addresses his own perspectives on local control and new Distraction Free Policies, and further discusses his correspondence with constituents on either side of the aisle.

Reverend and digital pastor, Benjamin Cremer, joins the Main Street Idaho Podcast to cover religion in the political spectrum. As Christian extremism increases its influence in modern political discourse, we dissect the pros and cons of basing politics in the root of religion. 

Hillarie Hagen from Idaho Voices for Children sits with us to cover medicaid, medicare, and her background championing healthcare policy in Idaho. State and federal partnerships in the healthcare spectrum are becoming hotly debated in the Idaho Legislature as medicaid expansion discussions ramp up.

Today we interviewed Representative Chris Mathias. Chris is a veteran, a Boise State graduate (and former Student Body President), with a Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School and a Doctorate in Law and Public Policy from Northeastern University. He currently serves in the Idaho House of Representatives, representing the heart of Boise, District 19. Main Street Idaho Podcast strives to foster meaningful conversations on the complex issues shaping the state of Idaho. Each week, we sit down with legislators, policymakers, and community leaders to help you navigate the state's political landscape and stay informed on the topics that matter most.  For more behind the scenes, join us on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube!

President of the Idaho Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Alexis Morgan, breaks down her role and the efficacy of the organization. Her observations of students in a technology-driven environment are influencing her goals to implement fair, accountable limitations in the way children connect with their subject matter. She continues the education discussion to explain school vouchers and the data for and against.

As women's healthcare struggles grow throughout the state of Idaho, Dr. Pam Denson and Kylie Dixon join us for episode 8 to discuss their experiences dealing with nonviable pregnancies. Dr. Denson lends her expertise as a gynecologist and obstetrician to outline the complications patients like Kylie face when met with inevitable loss.

Returning for episode 7 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast is Senator Dave Lent. The 2025 Idaho Legislative Session is already generating discussion for school choice and the evolution of public education. Lent lends his own approach to bolstering the efficacy of public schools throughout the state, as well as identifies issues facing students in a post-COVID era.

Idaho Speaker of the House, Mike Moyle, sits down to cover campaign finance reform throughout Idaho. Currently the longest sitting member of the Idaho House of Representatives, Moyle dives into the fringe organizations attempting to influence elections and how he plans to bolster traditional Idaho values in the face of out-of-state dollars.

Host of the Extremely American Podcast and Idaho-based reporter, Heath Druzin, dives into the controversial Christian extremism defining regions of Idaho and the country. With over 20 years of background as an international journalist, Druzin sheds exposing insight into the decline of moderate values on both sides of the aisle.

Local journalist and international news icon, Nate Eaton, joins us in-studio to discuss his many accomplishments in the world of journalism. With his coverage of groundbreaking stories such as the Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow case, Eaton goes deeper into the impact of local journalism and the future of East Idaho News.

Exceeding 25 years of experience in local government and city management, Travis Rothweiler joins our host, Brennan Summers, to shed insight on his role helping Twin Falls grow and thrive. Serving as the community's Chief Executive Council, Rothweiler outlines his daily responsibilities to the residents of Twin Falls while sustaining the services they depend on.

Welcome back for season 4 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast. Joining us for episode 1 is Rod Gramer, former President of Idaho Business for Education and a decades-long journalist and news executive. Rod lends his extensive background in the news media to discuss the current state of news literacy in the 24 hour news cycle, as well as the impact of government vouchers in conservative and liberal states across the nation.

Vice President of the Idaho Association of Hospitals, Toni Lawson, discusses the critical shortage of Idaho healthcare workers across the state. As new and incumbent legislators return to session in January, 2025, Lawson expresses her concerns of the compounding effects of repealing Medicaid expansion and women's reproductive healthcare.

We take the podcast back on the road for a special episode with Governor Brad Little at the Idaho State Capitol. After widespread discussions and months of debate, Little sits down with our host, Brennan Summers, to discuss the newly completed water agreement for Idaho farmers. Now known as "Idaho Water Day", November 22nd will mark the historic union between sensible water rights and long-term mitigation plans.

Joining us in-studio to discuss the infrastructure and development projects in Southeastern Idaho is Hyrum Pitt. As the Business Development Leader for Headwaters Construction, Pitt discusses the rising costs of educational facilities, residential homes, and commercial buildings in the State of Idaho.

Joining us for their first time on the Main Street Idaho Podcast is Executive Director of the Association of Idaho Cities, Kelley Packer. Here in-studio to discuss her involvement in the nonpartisan, nonprofit corporation, Packer details her advocacy for city governance and strengthening Idaho cities.

Friend and returning guest for episode 13 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast, Representative Josh Wheeler of District 35 comes to discuss his efforts to promote entrepreneurship for Idaho's youth. In addition to his already impactful strides furthering Career Technical Education opportunities throughout Idaho, he's now turning his focus towards young adults in a new Lemonade Stand Bill.

CEO of the Idaho Associated General Contractors, Wayne Hammon, joins Brennan for episode 12 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast. As funding ramps up for infrastructure expansion across the state, Hammon explains how his 12-year role as CEO has furthered the growth of Idaho roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, churches, and facilities. Hammon additionally recaps how he and former Governor Butch Otter revitalized the essential spending for government infrastructure during the recession and how new legislation can further the growth of Idaho into the future.

The 2024 Presidential election is officially held Tuesday, November 5th throughout the country. To find your polling location, information about local elections, or voter registration, visit https://voteidaho.gov/.

President and CEO of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce (BMCC), Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, is our special guest for episode 11 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast. Among her many accomplished roles, Meuleman highlights her past experience working with former Governor Butch Otter and current Governor Brad Little. Now advocating for businesses as the BMCC President & CEO, Meuleman explains how she plans to help businesses thrive throughout Idaho.

Head of Lift Local Idaho, Kate Simonds, joins us for episode 10 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast. As an emerging leader in the Gem State, Simonds outlines the mission of Lift Local Idaho to improve quality of life, economic development, and inform Idaho communities of public policies. As Idaho continues to see growth from outside the state, Simonds advocates for local option taxes to give voters the agency to decide what their community needs. 

Joining us in-studio for episode 9 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast is Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction, Debbie Critchfield. The Superintendent makes a pit stop to Idaho Falls while touring throughout Idaho educational facilities for her quarterly evaluations. Among the recent funding improvements for schools and infrastructure passed by the Idaho Legislature, Critchfield outlines her own recommendations to bolster school safety, how to handle excessive student absences, and promoting parent choices for their children's education.

The Idaho Main Street Podcast takes the show on the road to Salt Lake City, Utah, to chat with the Director of the Mormon Women for Ethical Government. Addams details the beginnings of the nonprofit organization, as well as its goals to empower women from all denominations to approach government ideology through a lens of ethical peace making.

The newly elected Director of the Idaho Health & Welfare Department, Alex Adams, is our special guest for episode 7 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast. As the former Budget Chief for Governor Little, Adams lends his background leading the zero-based regulation initiative to discuss how the Idaho Legislature has streamlined regulatory processes. He additionally highlights the immediate steps he's taken as the new director to improve child welfare for adoptions and foster care.

Idaho Secretary of State, Phil McGrane, joins our host, Brennan Summers, for episode 6 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast. Following the 2020 election, Secretary McGrane explains how election security is continually bolstered to maintain the integrity of Idaho elections. In addition to preparing for the upcoming 2024 presidential election, Summers and McGrane highlight the importance of primary elections and how to engage more Idaho citizens with more information and voter turnout.

For episode 5 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast, we join Dr. Kyle Tobler at the Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine in Boise, Idaho. Our host, Brennan Summers, discusses the truth behind fertility treatment and its unique role in helping build families. With as nuanced a subject as in vitro fertilization, Dr. Tobler takes that time to cover fact from fiction in an in-depth look into creating families that otherwise wouldn't be without help of modern science.

On episode 4 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast, Brennan Summers visits Senator James Risch in the heart of Boise, Idaho. As a former Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Idaho, Senator Risch lends his tenured background as a local and national politician to voice his concerns for the Lava Ridge Wind Project, the current polarization of government, and the future of Idaho politics.

Virtually joining us from Salmon, Idaho, is Laurie Lickley out of District 25. On episode 3 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast, Lickley details her native Idahoan background advocating for agriculture and natural resources. At the height of agricultural debates throughout Idaho, Lickley outlines why and how she will represent her constituents in her run for the Senate.

Live from the Governor's Mansion in Salt Lake City, Utah, Governor Spencer Cox sits down with our host, Brennan Summers, to share about his background in public service and his time as the Governor of Utah. Governor Cox explains his bipartisan initiative, Disagree Better, emphasizing respectful conflict resolution to grow healthier political relationships with friends, family, and disagreeing parties from across the aisle.

We're back for episode 1 of our third season for the Idaho Main Street Podcast. Joining us in the studio is Representative Chenele Dixon, our new Executive Director. Representative Dixon sits down with our host, Brennan Summers, to discuss her recent primary election, how out-of-state dark money is negatively shaping Idaho politics, and the current and future issues facing the Idaho Legislature.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 17 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Back again to the studio is Senator Dave Lent from District 33. After finishing another legislative session, Senator Lent expresses his view on how the session ended. Among the various bills brought to the floor, he discusses the historical success of funding more educational infrastructure, K-12 institutions, and Idaho LAUNCH. Senator Lent elaborates on the future of nuclear energy in Idaho and the potential for future leaders in the industry.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 16 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ With the 2023-2024 legislative session at an end, Josh Wheeler from District 35 joins us back in the studio for a recap of his time in Boise. After a year since his last visit, Representative Wheeler breaks down the significant changes in Idaho policy affecting physicians per capita, unnecessary regulations on small businesses, and new funding for career Career Technical Education (CTE) students.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 15 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Representative Rod Furniss from District 31 returns for his second podcast appearance to recap his perspective of the now concluded legislative session. Furniss talks of the success balancing Idaho budgets, lowering taxes for Idaho residents, funding rural school infrastructure, and how he'd like to address the rising inflation throughout the state.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 14 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Fresh from the end of the legislative session, Marco Erickson from District 33 returns to the studio to recap the successes and contentions he faced on the House floor. Host and Executive Director, Brennan Summers, digs into what made Representative Erickson's bills so widely supported by the majority of fellow legislators, as well as some of the opposition he faced in his pursuit to remedy women's healthcare in Idaho.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 13 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Representative Matt Bundy from District 8A joins us for his first appearance on the podcast. Host and Executive Director, Brennan Summers, learns of Bundy's 20-year career as a combat aviator turned high school civics teacher, as well as his transition to the Idaho Legislature. Bundy provides his own insight to the current legislative session and his efforts to help school facilities.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 12 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️  Returning to the podcast is Representative Brit Raybould out of District 34. She joins us straight from the House floor to discuss the current policies up for debate. Raybould sheds light on what her constituents from Madison County want accomplished in Boise, as well as her work trying to solidify budgets for the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC).

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 11 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Our first time guest, Representative Jack Nelsen from District 26, joins us from the Boise Capitol to share his current role in the Idaho Legislature. Executive Director and host, Brennan Summers, learns how Nelsen is actively impacting Idaho law in education, agriculture, and conservation. Nelsen also gives his insight into center-aligned politics in a polarized political bubble.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 10 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Representative Josh Wheeler from District 35 comes back for another episode with our host and Executive Director, Brennan Summers. Josh breaks down his own core values and motivations for leading in the Idaho Legislature, as well as his own efforts to pass provisional licenses for internationally trained physicians.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 9 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Joining us from the Idaho State Capitol for is Representative Kenny Wroten from District 13B. Wroten comes straight from the Judiciary Rules Committee to talk about the latest topics affecting Idahoans. Among them, human trafficking through Idaho borders, the enactment of fentanyl mandatory minimums, and potential concerns for school choice tax credits.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 8 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Senator Treg Bernt from District 21 returns for another round of legislative updates from the Senate floor. Bernt walks us through his daily routine at the capitol building, the current bills he's supporting within higher education, and his advocacy for updated school facilities throughout Idaho. He continues to break down the continuing success of the Idaho LAUNCH program and a behind the scenes look at legislation to come.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 7 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Longstanding Idaho Senator, Todd Lakey—District 23, joins us to shed light on the current objectives of the Idaho Legislature to support law enforcement throughout the state. As the fentanyl crisis increases, so does the Senator's fight to impose mandatory minimums for its drug traffickers. Lakey additionally breaks down how he plans to support the uncontested border crisis, expanding resources for law enforcement, and alleviating property tax burdens for Idaho citizens.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 6 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Joining us from Boise, Representative Lori McCann and Representative Mark Sauter elaborate on their successes and active roles in the Idaho Legislature. Our host and Executive Director, Brennan Summers, learns of the legislators' ongoing pursuit to balance the Idaho budget, as well as the management oversight for the North Idaho Community College. 

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 5 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Representative Chenele Dixon and Representative Dan Garner join us for an update on their fight against the fentanyl crisis. Our host and Executive Director, Brennan Summers, gets to the bottom of House Bill 406 to see how the representatives plan to enact legislation to deter traffickers in the state of Idaho.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 4 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Senator Kevin Cook and Representative Stephanie Mickelsen continue their discussion with our host and Executive Director, Brennan Summers. In part 2, they break down the current standing of Senator Cook's newly proposed cell phone bill. Aimed at filtering harmful material for minors, we dive into its opposition, support, and path toward enactment in the Idaho Legislature.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 3 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Senator Kevin Cook and Representative Stephanie Mickelsen return to chat with our host and Executive Director, Brennan Summers. In this two part segment, our legislators discuss their current pursuit to address education funding and tax credit proposals for private and public institutions.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 2 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Senator Dave Lent joins us again for season 2 to follow up on the $2 billion funding for Idaho school facilities. Senator Lent discusses his commitment to providing infrastructure budgets to aging schools, how Idaho plans to fund them, and the future economic investments that aim to fund capital projects throughout the state.

🎙️ Start listening to season 2, episode 1 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Idaho State Superintendent, Debbie Critchfield, joins our host, Brennan Summers, for her second appearance on the Main Street Idaho Podcast. We dive into more of the issues affecting education, proper spending for students, and local budgeting processes for districts throughout the state.

🎙️ Start listening to Episode 19 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast! 🎙️ Joining in-studio for episode 19 of the Main Street Idaho Podcast is Representative Jerald Raymond from District 31. Our host and Executive Director, Brennan Summers, gets to know Representative Raymond's family background, his political successes and failures, his opinions of Idaho values, and commitments to his country and faith.