The Purple Zone

Alexis Morgan
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Government
  • Semimonthly

Not red. Not blue. Just curious. For people who are tired of politics but still care about their community. Pull up a chair. This is where policy meets people, with a whole lot of Idaho heart. Through stories and real conversations, The Purple Zone explores how decisions about education, healthcare, (other policy topics) and our communities shape everyday life, and what it means to show up for each other. It's less about hot takes and more about understanding. Rooted in Idaho, with conversations that reach far beyond it. Hosted by Alexis Morgan, a PhD candidate in public policy, longtime advocate, mom, and civic storyteller.

  1. Oct 27 ·  Video

    Before the Crisis: Why Social Media Isn't the Biggest Problem for Teens

    Send us Fan Mail What if helping the young people in your life had nothing to do with being an expert? Dr. Megan Smith, a professor at Boise State University and executive director of Communities for Youth, joins the show to talk about what adults can do to support Idaho's youth. The answer starts with understanding upstream prevention. Megan's team at Communities for Youth developed the Idaho Youth Well-being Survey, which is available free to every school in Idaho through the Idaho Department of Education. We also dig into Idaho's Parental Bill of Rights, which adults have mixed feelings about because it requires parents to opt in. We talk through those different views and how to address them. And we discuss the challenges teens face today, and what it really means to help young people: understanding what they need and meeting them right where they are. If there's a young person in your life, or you care about the youth in your community, this conversation is for you. Did You Know: Idaho ranks 48th out of 51 for youth mental health, according to Mental Health America, which means higher rates of mental health challenges and less access to care than almost every other state. Find Dr. Megan Smith & Communities 4 Youth at: https://www.communitiesforyouth.org/ Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/ JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration. email@thealexismorgan.com Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy: https://www.thealexismorgan.com

    Before the Crisis: Why Social Media Isn't the Biggest Problem for Teens

  2. Oct 20

    Soft Skills Are the Hard Skills We Need Right Now in Leaders & Idahoans

    Send us Fan Mail Alexis Morgan tells the story of The Civility Project. In 2019, after an opinion piece hurt the Nez Perce Tribe, three leaders of the Lewiston Tribune set out to confront incivility in their own community. They didn't have all the answers, and they were criticized along the way. They asked for help from the National Institute for Civil Discourse, held community conversations in five towns, brought former Governor Butch Otter and other leaders to a public forum, and changed how their newspaper served its readers. Drawing on her master's research at the University of Idaho and the Crucial Conversations framework, Alexis covers: Five steps for working through hard conversations, and how the Tribune put each one into practiceWhy changing how we treat each other is so hard (with insight from Immunity to Change)An honest story about a time she chose to leave a hard conversation unopenedSimple ways to start, even if it's just dipping a toe inResources: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan & SwitzlerImmunity to Change by Robert Kegan & Lisa Laskow LaheyNational Institute for Civil Discourse Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/ JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration. email@thealexismorgan.com Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy: https://www.thealexismorgan.com

  3. Oct 13 ·  Video

    AI, Data Centers, Nuclear & Water: Turning Issues into Legislation with Senator Kevin Cook

    Send us Fan Mail What does it take to turn an issue into legislation? Time? Relationships? Listening? The AI in Education workgroup is highlighted in turning an issue into public policy. In this episode, Alexis Morgan sits down with Idaho Senator Kevin Cook to talk about what goes into making quality legislation. They explore who needs to be at the table when a bill takes shape, and what happens when those voices aren't included. From there, the conversation covers a wide range of issues facing Idaho: AI in education: how Idaho is approaching it and what's most important to protect in our classroomsProtecting kids: keeping kids safer from harmful content and the value of limiting techWater policy: lessons from his research on the Great Basin and what Idaho communities need to understandNuclear energy: what he wants people to know about Idaho's energy futureData centers: what they mean for Idaho, from a uniquely Idaho perspectiveScams targeting older Idahoans: recent work to protect seniors across the stateWhether you're a parent, educator, or engaged citizen, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how policy gets made and why the people behind it matter. Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/ JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration. email@thealexismorgan.com Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy: https://www.thealexismorgan.com

  4. Oct 6

    The Dignity Index: A Deep Dive on The Ranch Podcast (Dual Release)

    Send us Fan Mail Have you noticed that division in the United States feels higher than ever? What if conflict isn't the cause of our division, but rather the normalization of contempt within conflict? In this dual release, Matt Todd of The Ranch podcast invites Alexis on to talk all things Dignity Index. As a member of the Dignity Politics team at Dignity.US, Alexis takes listeners behind the scenes of the index: how it was developed, how research studies have verified and validated it, and how it's spreading across the United States. Together, Alexis and Matt break down: What it means to use the language of dignityHow to see ourselves honestly in the moment through self-confrontationHow you can be part of the dignity movement to help ease division in your family, neighborhood, school, community, and workplaceLearn more about the Dignity Index at www.Dignity.US. Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/ JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration. email@thealexismorgan.com Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy: https://www.thealexismorgan.com

  5. Sep 29

    Leading with Curiosity Over Contempt: Transparency vs. Targeting in the Ballot Measure process

    Send us Fan Mail Have you thought about the difference between transparency and targeting in our election process? Do you know what it means to choose curiosity instead of falling into contempt? And what does contempt actually look like when it comes to a ballot initiative? In this episode, Alexis pulls these questions apart through a recent incident: a Facebook post that shared the names of citizens who signed a ballot initiative petition. Rather than reacting, she digs in to understand what happened and why it matters. She also walks through how a ballot measure makes it onto your November ballot, from citizen-led initiatives to legislative amendments and advisory questions. No one is saying it's easy to lean into curiosity. But what would it look like if we chose it over contempt when conflict comes up? Be kind and leave a review on your podcast app :)  Connect with Alexis at @the_idaho_lady on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/ JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration. email@thealexismorgan.com Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy: https://www.thealexismorgan.com

  6. Sep 22 ·  Video

    An Idaho Lawmaker Walks Into a Book Club: A Conversation on Learning with Britt Raybould

    Send us Fan Mail This episode marks an exciting first for The Purple Zone: a brand-new experiment in bringing people together around ideas, not just single books. Alexis is joined by Representative Dr. Britt Raybould to pilot a new kind of book club, one that lives right here on the podcast and spreads out through social media, inviting listeners to engage with a topic (not a specific book) in a whole new way. For this trial run, the topic is learning...how it actually happens, what gets in the way of it, and what helps it stick. The conversation moves between light, humorous moments and genuinely touching reflections, while still digging into real depth on the science and theory behind how people learn. Alexis and Britt pull from several books to frame the discussion, including Think Again by Adam Grant and Benedict Carey's How We Learn, which explores the science of memory--storage strength, retrieval strength, and why "forgetting" some information is actually part of learning it well. The conversation gets personal too, touching on what's helped Alexis support her own kids as they navigate learning in the classroom, and how her approach to learning has shifted between undergrad and her current work on her PhD at Boise State, with far more lived experience to draw from now than she had as a young student. This is a trial run, and Alexis & Britt hope this becomes a regular monthly or bi-monthly feature on the show. If you enjoy this new format, share it with a friend, and jump into the conversation on social media — tell us what learning means to you, and what's helped you learn something new recently. Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/ JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration. email@thealexismorgan.com Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy: https://www.thealexismorgan.com

  7. Sep 15

    The Naming of The Purple Zone: What It Really Means

    Send us Fan Mail It's a solo episode this week and Alexis is pulling back the curtain. Most people hear "The Purple Zone" and think politics: red meets blue, somewhere in the middle. But that's not where the name came from, and it's not what it means. Alexis takes you back to where the podcast really started: the early days of her PhD program, and the idea that began shaping everything she'd go on to build. Before diving in, Alexis shares a few stories from her weekend, moments that turned out to be an unexpected, real-time reflection of last episode's conversation, Dance with Dignity. If you haven't listened yet, this will make you want to. Then, she breaks down the two features at the heart of actually reaching the Purple Zone: dialogue and collaboration. Dialogue is where dignity lives. Collaboration is where intention becomes action. Alexis shares what these look like in practice, not just in theory, and leaves you with a challenge (or maybe more of a request) for your own reflection this week. This one's personal and foundational...and it's a must-listen if you've ever wondered what "Purple Zone" really means. 🎧 Enjoyed the episode? Leave a review...it helps more people find the show. Share it with a friend. Let's keep growing this community, together. Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/ JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration. email@thealexismorgan.com Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy: https://www.thealexismorgan.com

  8. Sep 8 ·  Video

    Idaho’s AI in Education Journey: Guardrails, Implementation, and the “Now What?”

    Send us Fan Mail Alexis Morgan welcomes Will Goodman, Director of People and Organizational Services for Boise School District, to unpack the Idaho journey of AI in Education legislation and why Idaho is leading the nation on guardrails and implementation. They talk candidly about the question many people are asking: Is this a good move, or a potential risk? They dive into the process behind Senate Bill 1227, including the work group work and how the bill ultimately moved through the 2026 legislative session. From there, the conversation gets practical: what implementation actually looks like on the ground, and how Idaho is working to answer the “now what?” for schools. The episode covers educator impact, student impact, the parent perspective, and industry perspective, including the most common concerns like misinformation, data privacy, and the difference between screen time and AI. Will and Alexis explore what we’re actually worried about when AI enters classrooms, and they end by reinforcing the episode’s guiding theme: AI is already here, so the goal is human-centered guardrails: first, middle, and last...including clear boundaries for what should never be automated in schools. Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/ JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration. email@thealexismorgan.com Find great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy: https://www.thealexismorgan.com

See All (76)

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Not red. Not blue. Just curious. For people who are tired of politics but still care about their community. Pull up a chair. This is where policy meets people, with a whole lot of Idaho heart. Through stories and real conversations, The Purple Zone explores how decisions about education, healthcare, (other policy topics) and our communities shape everyday life, and what it means to show up for each other. It's less about hot takes and more about understanding. Rooted in Idaho, with conversations that reach far beyond it. Hosted by Alexis Morgan, a PhD candidate in public policy, longtime advocate, mom, and civic storyteller.

Information

  • Creator
    Alexis Morgan
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    76
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Purple Zone
  • Show Website
    The Purple Zone

You Might Also Like