Episodes

Boise just finished another election, but the big story is what comes next. Former Boise City Council candidate Lynn Bratescu joins Dylan the day after the vote to talk about flags, property taxes, homeless policy, legacy Idaho, and whether Boise is really “too far gone” or if it can still be saved. In this episode: 00:00 Intro, KIDO hello, and Old Arms of Idaho sponsor mention. How Dylan met Lynn at the Boise flag protest. 02:10 From Marin County to Boise’s North End. Lynn’s “I thought I was...

In this episode, I sit down in the KIDO studio with Reverend Bill Roscoe of the Boise Rescue Mission and Kevin Miller of KIDO Talk Radio to talk about faith, recovery, homelessness, seniors being priced out of housing, and Miller’s Mission — the turkey drive that helps fuel it all. We get past the usual talking points and into: what really changes a life, why “housing first” isn’t enough, and what Bill would do with $1 million in unrestricted money tomorrow. Brought to you by Old Arms of Id...

A Boise original. Kenny Calkins walks through 70+ years of Idaho plumbing—why the trades still change lives, the story behind his famous slogan, and the projects that shaped our state (yes, including the night he thought the Capitol was on fire). Highlights 00:00 Idaho intro, radio love, and why this episode matters for the trades 01:28 Cloverdale’s roots: 1953 as Union Plumbing & Heating on Boise Ave 01:59 Born and raised Boise (St. Luke’s, 1954) — never left the Treasure Valley 03:07 The j...

A veteran SRO with a tech brain and a pastor’s heart. Officer David “Deputy” Gomez (Garden Valley/Boise County) went from Micron engineer to one of America’s most practical voices on kids, phones, and the digital traps living in our pockets. He breaks down how predators actually operate, why schools must choose cell phones or education (not both), and the family rule he teaches foster kids that Dylan loved: “We cannot be offended by mere mortals.” This one is leadership, parenting, and Idaho val...

Jennifer Mauk didn’t just stumble into leading Idaho’s most iconic small-business network—she turned it into a living, breathing extension of the state itself. From Miami beaches to McCall lakes, from social work to executive leadership, Jennifer’s path is as surprising as it is Idaho. This conversation is about building smarter, buying local, and why Idahoans love Idaho. Brought to you by Old Arms of Idaho — Ambassadors to America’s Heritage, the 24-hour gun show. 00:00 – Why Buy Idaho matters...

Valley County Sheriff Kevin Copperi joins The Great Idaho Show. From McCall to Cascade, Donnelly to Warm Lake, Valley County is one of Idaho’s crown jewels — and one of its busiest recreation corridors. Sheriff Copperi has seen firsthand how growth pressures and Highway 55 traffic are reshaping life in the mountains. In this conversation, we dive into the realities of law enforcement, community, and the future of one of Idaho’s most beloved regions. Highlights: 0:00 – Opening thoughts: Boise’s...

A mountain bar with a music problem—in the best possible way. Kevin Courtney turned a shuttered roadside stop into Lowman’s community living room: yurts on the hill, live shows all summer, a wood-and-iron patio that frames the South Fork Payette like a postcard—and hot springs in every direction. If you’ve got one free day, this is the Idaho loop. Brought to you by Old Arms of Idaho — Ambassadors to America’s Heritage, the 24-hour gun show. 00:00 – Why Lowman matters: Idaho as it’s lived, not ...

A blunt statewide reality check with Jeff Lavey, Executive Director of the Idaho Sheriffs Association. We cover why county jails are breaking, why Idaho is still on analog 911, what it really costs to stash state inmates in county facilities, and who picks up the bill when offenders abscond across state lines. Highlights 0:00 – Opening + why the Sheriff Series matters; sheriffs as the community’s closest ear. 1:58 – Jail funding: counties must run jails, but supermajority bonds stall new build...

The Great Idaho Show — Idaho Fish & Game on Hunting Season, Tags, and CWD Fall in Idaho: crisp mornings, bugling bulls, and a thousand ways to get outside. Dylan sits down with Idaho Fish & Game pros Roger Phillips (Public Information Supervisor) and Toby Boudreau (State Deer & Elk Coordinator) to cover it all—small game to elk strategy, how tags are set, why Sawtooth B feels impossible, and what hunters should know about Chronic Wasting Disease. Presented by Old Arms of Idaho — your firearms,...

Idaho through a youth’s eyes—straight from the classroom to the forest. Ginger Stocker (U of I forestry & fire ecology) talks COVID-era school, work ethic, Idaho Parks & Rec, scholarships, the Experimental Forest, and her first season on a DNRC engine crew in Montana. Practical takeaways for young Idahoans, parents, and anyone who loves our public lands. Highlights & Timestamps 00:00 – Why Idaho? Public lands, healthy ecosystems, and loving the outdoors 02:45 – COVID classrooms: PE on a laptop...

In this Sheriff Series episode of The Great Idaho Show, Dylan sits down with Owyhee County Sheriff Larry Kendrick. Owyhee is officially classified as “frontier” — 7,666 square miles of rugged Idaho country with just 13,000 residents. Sheriff Kendrick talks about his journey from California to Murphy, why dignity and respect come first in policing, the challenges of covering such vast ground with limited deputies, and the realities of drug interdiction along US-95. This is a true look at law enfo...

Chandler’s didn’t happen by accident. Restaurateur Rex Chandler walks through 50+ years in fine dining—from Sun Valley ski mornings to building Chandler’s Prime Steaks & Fine Seafood inside Hotel 43—plus why service culture, nightly jazz, and direct-from-source seafood still set the standard in Boise. Highlights 00:00 Cold open + sponsor: Old Arms of Idaho — “ambassadors to America’s heritage” 01:28 Sun Valley origins: opening in Ketchum (1994) and living the ski-town rhythm 06:03 The Boise lea...

Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford joins the Sheriff Series — Idaho’s only project documenting all 44 sheriffs of the state. Clifford talks about the realities of leading law enforcement in Idaho’s fastest-growing county: balancing growth, budgets, public expectations, and the Constitution. This is not politics. It’s public safety. Clifford explains why sheriffs are not legislators, why service can’t be partisan, and why professionalism under the microscope matters more than ever. Highlights 00:...

Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse: Growth, Budgets, and the Future of Idaho Law Enforcement Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse sits down for an unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to keep one of Idaho’s fastest-growing counties safe. From his undercover start in high school drug stings to leading the state’s second-largest jail, Sheriff Hulse has seen it all. This is the Sheriff Series on The Great Idaho Show—a raw snapshot of Idaho through the eyes of its sheriffs. Highlight...

What could be more Idaho than machine guns? Dylan sits down with David Nielsen, President of the Idaho Automatic Weapons Collectors Association, for a no-holds-barred conversation on history, collecting, and the thrill of full-auto fire. 👉 Yes, you can legally own machine guns in Idaho — and this episode breaks down how, why, and what it means for history, freedom, and Idaho’s future. Highlights: 1:10 — “Guns, guns, guns” — the three-round burst intro 2:53 — Founding of the Idaho Automatic We...

Sheriff Kieran Donahue: Growth, Gangs & the Fight for Idaho Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue joins The Great Idaho Show for a no-holds-barred conversation about the realities of policing in one of America’s fastest-growing counties. From cartel infiltration to the ongoing jail overcrowding crisis, he takes us inside the fights you rarely hear about and why Idaho’s sheriffs are at odds with state legislators over funding and local control. Highlights: 1:40 — How Donahue went from Alaska’s wi...

🚨 What does it really take to run law enforcement in one of Idaho’s wildest and most underfunded counties? In this episode of The Great Idaho Show, I sit down with Boise County Sheriff Scott Turner to talk about traffic, taxes, tourists, drugs, disputes, burnout, and the burden of policing thousands of people on a budget meant for a fraction of that. If you live in Boise County—or care about rural Idaho—this conversation is a must-hear. 🔥 Timestamped breakdown below 👇 (0:00) Intro & Purpose ...

In this episode of The Great Idaho Show, we sit down with Art Gregory — radio historian, broadcaster, and founder of The History of Idaho Broadcasting Foundation, Inc. Art takes us on a fascinating journey through the history of KBOI, from its beginnings in 1953 all the way to present day. He brought along 10 handpicked audio clips that capture some of the most important and often fun moments in KBOI’s evolution. From local legends to unforgettable on-air stories, this is a true time capsule of...

Former 1985 Super Bowl Chicago Bear tight end Tim Wrightman joins us in this week’s episode to share his extraordinary journey from the gridiron to rural Idaho. Tim recounts stepping onto the field with the 1985 Super Bowl–winning Bears as a standout tight end from UCLA—where he was a consensus All-American and Academic All-American—through a short-but-impactful NFL and USFL career. But it was family lore that truly shaped his future. Inspired by his father’s hunting trip through Idaho in ...

The Avery Hotel: A 5‑Star Toast to Boise’s History & Hospitality In this Great Idaho Show episode, host Dylan Stocker is joined by Dustin Scott, Facilities Manager of Boise’s newly reimagined Avery Hotel. Originally built in 1910 as the Hotel Manitou atop the Boz/Granada Theater, the Averyl (later Avery) Tiner Building has been meticulously restored, down to original guest‑room doors, staircases, and windows, earning recognition through its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. W...

Wilderness Interrupted: Cell Phones, Satellites, and the Future of Idaho’s Backcountry What happens to the wilderness experience when every hiker, rafter, and hunter can answer a call from the trail? I sit down with Steve Zettle of the Not in Wilderness Coalition to talk about a quiet threat to Idaho’s wildest spaces—not cell towers, but satellite-enabled smartphones. We explore what’s at stake as technology moves faster than policy, and why solitude might soon be a thing of the past in places ...

🎣 Fishing Idaho This 4th of July – with Roger Phillips of Idaho Fish & Game Get ready for a red, white, and reel good time! In this special 4th of July episode of The Great Idaho Show, we sit down with Roger Phillips, Public Information Supervisor for Idaho Fish and Game, to talk all things fishing in the Gem State. Roger shares insider tips on the best places to cast your line, what species are biting across the state, and just how many thousands of trout are being stocked in Idaho waters. Whe...

Paul J. Schneider: A Voice That Shaped Idaho In this special episode, I sit down with Idaho broadcast legend Paul J. Schneider, whose voice has echoed across the Gem State for more than 50 years. From calling Bronco football games to shaping morning talk radio, Paul has seen Idaho grow, shift, and redefine itself and he's had a front-row seat to it all. We talk about the evolution of media, the power of sourcing truth in an age of digital echo chambers, and the unforgettable stories behind some...

🎙️ Maggie O’Mara: 25 Years of Idaho’s Good News On this episode of The Great Idaho Show, I sit down with one of Idaho’s most trusted voices — KTVB’s Maggie O’Mara. As co-anchor of Wake Up Idaho, Maggie delivers the day’s headlines, often the hard stuff — but for 25 years, she’s also made it her mission to spotlight the good with her long-running segment 7’s Heroes. We talk about the heart behind the stories, the power of honoring Idahoans making a difference, and what keeps her inspired in toda...