Ever Onward Podcast

Garden City, Idaho is only four square miles—but right now, it feels like the center of the Treasure Valley. With a professional soccer team arriving, the Expo sports park taking shape, and the river and Greenbelt drawing more people every season, the stakes for smart, human‑centered growth have never been higher. We sit down with mayoral candidate and longtime community leader Molly Lenty to map out how a small city can make big m...

What if the story of a city could be read through the choices of one family—what they built, what they preserved, and where they chose to lean in? We sit down with Skip Oppenheimer, chairman and CEO of Oppenheimer Companies, to trace Boise’s evolution from a pioneer outpost to a dynamic regional hub, and to examine how business, philanthropy, and policy intersect when leaders commit to the long game.

Skip opens with deep r...

Recorded live at our Kerosene event, where they keynoted alongside Tommy Ahlquist, Glenn and Mindy Stearns share their extraordinary journey from adversity to impact.

Glenn’s path was anything but easy. Growing up in Maryland with alcoholic parents, he failed fourth grade due to dyslexia and became a father at just 14 years old. After a moment of clarity in a bar, he drove to California, where a chance encounter with a gardener spar...

What happens when a child who never felt she belonged grows up to create spaces where others can thrive? Dr. Mindi Anderson's journey from trauma to triumph is a masterclass in resilience and purpose.

At just thirteen years old, Mindi petitioned to enter foster care to escape an emotionally abusive home environment. This early experience instilled in her a deep understanding of what it means to seek belonging – a valu...

Matthew Byrd never planned to become a tech entrepreneur. After a devastating car accident ended his football dreams at 16, he briefly toured with a rock band before reluctantly following his father's footsteps into land surveying. What could have been just another job transformed when Byrd discovered laser scanning technology – devices that create precise 3D digital replicas of physical spaces by capturing millions of measure...

What does it take to comfort those who've lost everything? For Tom Westall, the "Sagebrush Chaplain," it's about being present when others walk away. In this powerful conversation, Tom shares his extraordinary journey from a 17-year-old Air Force recruit to a military chaplain who escorted thousands of fallen soldiers home to their families during his 24-year service career.

Tom's stories from the ...

What happens when passionate storytellers reimagine a beloved local publication? The answer unfolds in this fascinating conversation with Matthew Rabe and Heather Hamilton-Post, the innovative Publisher and Editor-In-Chief behind ID Guide magazine.

The duo reveals how they transformed the former Idaho Magazine into something far more ambitious – a monthly celebration of Idaho's unique character, combining three separa...

“When Boise State’s president boldly proclaimed in 2017 that the university could become ‘the Alabama of esports,’ few imagined how quickly that vision would take shape. What began with walk-on players has since transformed into a nationally dominant program—boasting six championships and a reputation as a recruiting powerhouse. In this captivating conversation, Chris ‘Doc’ Haskell pulls back the curtain on the rise of Boise State’...

What happens when you refuse to accept "impossible"? 

Governor Dirk Kempthorne's remarkable journey from transforming a decimated downtown Boise into a thriving urban center to managing one-fifth of America's land as Secretary of the Interior demonstrates the extraordinary impact of visionary leadership.

At 33, Kempthorne ran for mayor of Boise despite political advisors calling it "the dumbest idea...

What does it take to build a thriving business while making a lasting impact on your community? Jess Flynn’s journey from reluctant Idaho transplant to respected PR agency CEO is a masterclass in authentic leadership.

As Founder and CEO of Red Sky, a Boise-based PR and marketing agency, Jess brings 25 years of journalism and PR expertise to a diverse portfolio of clients. She leads the agency’s reputation management and executive tr...

Dave McFadyen believes in the power of local roots. 

As President and CEO of Trinity Health’s West Region — which includes Saint Alphonsus Health System and Saint Agnes Medical Center — this Boise native brings over 25 years of healthcare leadership experience to some of the industry’s most complex challenges.

In this episode, we explore the current realities facing healthcare in Idaho and beyond. From balancing fee-for-service model...

Jay Tust, former sports director at KTVB and newly appointed leader of Bronco Studios at Boise State Athletics, takes us behind the scenes of his remarkable career journey and exciting new chapter.

After 14 award-winning years in broadcasting, Jay reveals how baseball shaped his professional mindset—from overcoming early struggles as "the worst kid in Soundview Little League" to being drafted by the Cincinnati Re...

When Megan Schomer learned her newborn son Corwyn had a combination of three ultra-rare brain malformations, her world was forever changed. Despite no clear diagnosis and no treatment options, Megan and her family chose to live fully, making the most of every moment of Corwyn’s short life. In this deeply moving episode, Megan opens up about the medical journey that followed — one filled with constant seizures, around-the-clock care...

What if the most powerful childhood lessons don’t come from screens, sports, or summer camps—but from the quiet stillness of a barnyard at night?

On this episode of Ever Onward, award-winning author and fifth-generation Idahoan Carla Osborne takes us back to her upbringing on a farm near Burley, where hard work, quiet reflection, and connection to the land shaped her deepest values. Now the author of a growing series of beautifully ...

What happens when small towns can no longer afford to exist—and when personal healthcare freedoms are put at risk in the same state?

In this powerful episode of Ever Onward, Kelley Packer—Executive Director of the Idaho Association of Cities, former state legislator, and co-founder of the Idaho Contraceptive Education Network (ICEN)—joins us for a candid conversation about two urgent and deeply personal battles playing out across Id...

When Matt Todd moved from California to Idaho, he didn’t just bring his family and his business—he brought questions. Big ones. Why is Idaho the way it is? Who’s making the decisions? And why is it so hard to hear directly from the people shaping the future of the state?

That curiosity sparked The Ranch Podcast, a platform dedicated to authentic, long-form conversations with the leaders, changemakers, and everyday residents who defi...

The journey from rural potato fields to Boise City Hall is anything but typical — but that’s exactly what makes Boise City Councilor Lucy Willits’ voice so vital. As the only conservative on the council, Lucy brings a business-minded, community-focused lens to the city’s most pressing issues, from housing affordability to homelessness, public safety to libraries.

In this episode, Lucy shares how her upbringing in unincorporated Jeff...

As America moves fast and politics grow louder, Idaho holds steady—grounded in natural beauty, personal responsibility, and a deep connection to the land. Few people understand that better than Congressman Mike Simpson, who has spent over two decades bringing Idaho’s voice to the national stage.

Simpson’s journey from small-town dentist to influential lawmaker reveals the human side of long-term public service—where conviction meets...

What does it really mean to lead—at work, in your community, or in your own life—when no one’s handing you a title or giving you authority? True leadership isn’t about rank or recognition; it’s about character, consistency, and the impact you make when no one’s watching.

Colonel Ked Wills, who spent 30 years in law enforcement with his final seven years as Director of the Idaho State Police, knows this firsthand. For him, ...