Send us Fan Mail In Episode 125 of the Ever Onward Podcast, Tommy Ahlquist sits down with Duane Sessions, President of Dennis Dillon, and Joey Looney to discuss second chance hiring, prison reentry, workforce opportunity, and the impact of giving people another chance. Duane shares how Dennis Dillon has supported second chance employees for more than 20 years and why it has become one of the most rewarding parts of their company culture. Joey shares his personal story of addiction, incarcerat...
May 18
45 min
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Ever Onward, Tommy Ahlquist sits down with Matt Todd, host of The Ranch Podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation on Idaho, politics, media, and the stories shaping the state. Matt has built The Ranch Podcast into one of Idaho’s most consistent long-form platforms by doing what few people are willing to do: sit down with people, ask real questions, and let complicated issues breathe. From legislators and educators to sheriffs, farmers, business leaders, and ...
May 11
58 min
Send us Fan Mail In part two of our public lands series, we’re joined by Idaho State Representative James Petzke and Idaho Wildlife Federation Executive Director Nick Fasciano for a deeper conversation on one of the most important issues shaping Idaho’s future. Public lands are more than just places to recreate—they’re a defining part of why people choose to live, work, and stay in Idaho. From the Frank Church Wilderness to the Sawtooths, Clearwater, and Owyhees, these landscapes drive qualit...
May 4
53 min
Send us Fan Mail Public lands are a defining part of Idaho — shaping our lifestyle, economy, and identity. In this episode of the Ever Onward Podcast, Tommy Ahlquist sits down with Nick Fasciano, Executive Director of the Idaho Wildlife Federation, and Dan Waugh, Executive Director of the Idaho Recreation Council, to break down why public lands matter to Idaho and the growing conversations surrounding their future. With more than 60% of the state made up of public land, the impact stretches f...
Apr 27
1 hr 5 min
Send us Fan Mail What’s really happening in Idaho’s education system—and where is it headed next? In this episode of Ever Onward, Tommy Ahlquist and Roger Quarles sit down with Jennifer Swindell, CEO, founder, and editor of Idaho Education News, to unpack the realities behind education across the state. From her early career as a journalist and the first female sports editor in the country to building Idaho’s leading education news platform, Jennifer brings a unique perspective on the interse...
Apr 20
47 min
Send us Fan Mail Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield returns to Ever Onward with Tommy Ahlquist and Roger Quarles for a candid conversation on what’s really happening inside Idaho schools. From record K–3 reading gains to ongoing struggles in middle school math, this episode breaks down where Idaho education is improving—and where it’s still falling short. They dive into: Why students often fall behind after 6th gradeHow career technical education (CTE) is making sch...
Apr 13
50 min
Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to transform education in Idaho? On this episode of Ever Onward, Tommy Ahlquist and co-host Roger Quarles sit down with Terry Ryan, CEO of BLUUM, Idaho’s leading nonprofit incubator for high-performing public charter schools. Terry shares his remarkable journey—from Illinois to Poland to Idaho—and how that path led him to help launch and expand dozens of schools serving students and families across the state. This conversation explores the future of...
Apr 6
56 min
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Ever Onward, Tommy Ahlquist sits down with Roger Quarles, Executive Director of the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation, for an in-depth conversation on the present and future of education in Idaho. Roger brings a rare, full-spectrum perspective—having served as a teacher, principal, superintendent, chief deputy state superintendent, and university leader at Boise State. Few people understand Idaho’s education system—from classrooms to policy to innovatio...
Mar 30
59 min
Send us Fan Mail What’s the plan for the Treasure Valley as we continue to grow? In this episode of Ever Onward, Tommy Ahlquist and Garrett Lofto sit down with Craig Raborn, Executive Director of COMPASS (Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho), to talk about the future of growth, transportation, and regional planning across Ada and Canyon County. Craig brings nearly 25 years of experience from some of the fastest-growing regions in the country, including Las Vegas and Houston. Now...
Mar 23
47 min
Send us Fan Mail Today on the Ever Onward Podcast, Tommy Ahlquist and Garrett Lofton sit down with Ryan Head, Executive Director of the Ada County Highway District, to talk about why ACHD matters more than ever as the Treasure Valley continues to grow. Ryan shares his journey as a Boise native who worked his way up through ACHD, from writing grants and managing long-range planning to now leading one of the most important public agencies in Ada County. The conversation covers the history of AC...
Mar 16
44 min
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