North Idaho Experience

North Idaho Experience
  • 5.0 (123)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Thinking about moving to North Idaho? Already live here? This is your show. North Idaho Experience is the podcast that takes you inside life in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Sandpoint, and beyond — through honest conversations with the people who actually live it. Local business owners, community leaders, first responders, veterans, real estate insiders, and everyday North Idahoans share what this region is really like. North Idaho is one of the last places in America where freedom isn't just a bumper sticker — it's how people actually live. Strong communities, individual rights, faith, hard work, and old school American values aren't fading here. They're thriving. Every episode covers what matters here: the housing market, outdoor lifestyle, local politics, community values, self-reliance, and the stories that make North Idaho unlike anywhere else. If you're relocating to Idaho from California, Washington, or anywhere else — or you're already rooted here and love this place — hit subscribe and join the community. New episodes every week. Long-form conversations. Real people. No fluff. 🎙️ Guest or sponsorship inquiries: info@nidexperience.com 🌐 northidahoexperience.com ▶️ Also on YouTube: https://bit.ly/thenorthidahoexperience

  1. 13h ago

    Ep. 190- Elk Calls That Built an Empire: How Jason Phelps Sold Phelps Game Calls to MeatEater + Idaho Hound Hunting Truth

    How do you turn a garage elk call into a company MeatEater wants to buy? On this episode of North Idaho Experience, Seth and Eric sit down with Jason Phelps — the civil engineer who founded Phelps Game Calls and scaled it for 7 years before the MeatEater acquisition — and Bradley, the logger who bought Idaho Whitetail Guides in 2013 and built it into a 700-square-mile elk, whitetail, bear and mountain lion operation. This isn't just a hunting story. It's a blueprint for building a hunting business in North Idaho when you have no money, no connections, and wolves that will kill your hounds. YOU'LL LEARN: 1. THE 7-YEAR GRIND: How Jason used 3D printing and engineering to build elk calls that actually work, why most hunting brands quit in year 2, and what selling to MeatEater is really like. 2. LOGGER TO OUTFITTER PLAYBOOK: How Bradley bought Idaho Whitetail Guides with his retirement savings, booked his first clients at a show in Madison, Wisconsin, and why he runs 14 hounds across Units 5, 6, and 8A. 3. WOLVES, HOUNDS & PUBLIC LAND: The unfiltered truth about bear and lion hunting with hounds in Idaho, why wolves are the #1 threat to hounds, losing access to 50-inch roads, and why hunter-led conservation is the future of wildlife management. If you're searching for elk hunting tips, bear hunting with hounds, Phelps Game Calls, how to start a guide service, or what living and hunting in North Idaho is really like — this conversation answers it. GUESTS: Jason Phelps (Founder, Phelps Game Calls) & Bradley (Owner, Idaho Whitetail Guides) 👤 Connect with ason Phelps and Bradley Dammerman https://phelpsgamecalls.com/ https://www.idahowhitetailguides.com/ Enjoyed this? Follow the show, leave a 5-star review, and share it with one hunter who needs to hear it. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northidahoexperience/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northidahoexperience Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHz9XczupyJ93VRtqfQEW-g For the most up-to-date real estate listings check out our North Idaho Experience mobile app - click above to start searching today! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-idaho-experience/id6755906887 Grab our Relocation Guide: https://sholink.to/Relocation Your Ultimate Selling Game Plan guide: https://sholink.to/Sellerguide 💼 Interested in sponsoring a future episode or collaborating with us? Email us at info@nidexperience.com  🛠 For Real Estate Services or Questions: Contact us at seth@nidexperience.com Phone: 208-618-4421 Sponsored by: North Idaho Arms, LLC4013 West Riverbend Avenue, Post Falls, Idaho 83854 (208) 457-3031CONTACT@NORTHIDAHOARMS.COM https://northidahoarms.com/ Finding Freedom Idaho INC Equal housing opportunity ======

  2. 4d ago

    Ep. 189 - Are Data Centers Coming to North Idaho?

    Are data centers about to change North Idaho forever? In this episode, Seth and Eric sit down with three local experts — Luke Dupin (decentralized AI systems, Flowster), Dan Finley (Hauser council member, Kootenai Strong), and Ken Staal (process cooling engineer) — for the most honest, numbers-driven conversation you'll hear on whether AI data centers belong in Kootenai County.They get past the headlines and into what actually matters: how much energy and water a facility like Colossus really consumes, how cooling works in North Idaho's climate, who's funding the campaigns for and against these projects, and whether data centers will raise or lower your power bill and property taxes.Whether you're worried about "Keep Idaho Idaho," curious about your electric bill, or just want the real numbers behind the debate, this is the conversation to listen to before you pick a side. 🎧 New episodes every week — subscribe so you never miss one. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northidahoexperience/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northidahoexperience Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHz9XczupyJ93VRtqfQEW-g For the most up-to-date real estate listings check out our North Idaho Experience mobile app - click above to start searching today! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-idaho-experience/id6755906887 Grab our Relocation Guide: https://sholink.to/Relocation Your Ultimate Selling Game Plan guide: https://sholink.to/Sellerguide 💼 Interested in sponsoring a future episode or collaborating with us? Email us at info@nidexperience.com  🛠 For Real Estate Services or Questions: Contact us at seth@nidexperience.com Phone: 208-618-4421 Sponsored by: North Idaho Arms, LLC4013 West Riverbend Avenue, Post Falls, Idaho 83854 (208) 457-3031CONTACT@NORTHIDAHOARMS.COM https://northidahoarms.com/ Finding Freedom Idaho INC Equal housing opportunity ======

  3. Sep 8

    Ep. 188- The Marijuana Conversation No One Wants to Have: Psychosis, High-Potency THC & Two Mothers’ Stories

    What if marijuana isn’t as harmless as many people have been led to believe? In this powerful episode of the North Idaho Experience Podcast, we sit down with Aubrey Adams and Mary Moss of Every Brain Matters, two mothers whose families have experienced devastating struggles they associate with high-potency THC, addiction, and cannabis-induced psychosis. Mary shares how her high-achieving son began using marijuana and concentrates before experiencing paranoia, delusions, hospitalization, and a years-long battle toward recovery. Aubrey shares her own family’s experience after marijuana legalization in Colorado and explains why those experiences ultimately led her into advocacy and education through Every Brain Matters. The conversation goes far beyond marijuana legalization. Drawing on the guests’ personal experiences and the hosts’ backgrounds in law enforcement, we discuss high-potency THC, dabbing, cannabis-induced psychosis, mental health, addiction, homelessness, youth drug use, fentanyl, rehabilitation, tough love, and the changing drug landscape in America. We also wrestle with the difficult questions: Where does personal freedom end and public health begin? Is today’s marijuana fundamentally different from the weed of previous generations? What happens when addiction collides with mental illness? And are families being given enough information to understand the potential risks? This isn’t a surface-level debate about whether marijuana is “good” or “bad.” It’s an emotional, challenging conversation about parents fighting for their children, people struggling to recover, and the consequences these families believe deserve greater public attention. Whether you support legalization, oppose it, or haven’t made up your mind, this episode will give you perspectives worth hearing. If someone in your family is struggling with marijuana use, psychosis, or addiction, this is an episode you’ll want to hear and share. 🔗 Learn more & find support: Every Brain Matters https://everybrainmatters.org/ https://www.safehealthytexas.org/ https://mar-anon.com/ https://www.instagram.com/everybrainmatters?igsh=bTUycGswdHBxcG04 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northidahoexperience/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northidahoexperience Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHz9XczupyJ93VRtqfQEW-g For the most up-to-date real estate listings check out our North Idaho Experience mobile app - click above to start searching today! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-idaho-experience/id6755906887 Grab our Relocation Guide: https://sholink.to/Relocation Your Ultimate Selling Game Plan guide: https://sholink.to/Sellerguide 💼 Interested in sponsoring a future episode or collaborating with us? Email us at info@nidexperience.com  🛠 For Real Estate Services or Questions: Contact us at seth@nidexperience.com Phone: 208-618-4421 Sponsored by: North Idaho Arms, LLC4013 West Riverbend Avenue, Post Falls, Idaho 83854 (208) 457-3031CONTACT@NORTHIDAHOARMS.COM https://northidahoarms.com/ Finding Freedom Idaho INC Equal housing opportunity ======

  4. Sep 1

    12 Years a Navy SEAL: Hell Week, Iraq, and Life After Combat with Alex Rogers

    In this episode of North Idaho Experience, Seth and Eric sit down with Alex Rogers, a 12-year Navy SEAL veteran, to talk about what it actually takes to earn the Trident — and what it costs. Alex walks through his path from a small-town kid with no military background to BUD/S training, where his class broke the record for most dropouts (DORs) in Hell Week. He shares a raw account of his first deployment to Iraq, including a firefight within 18 hours of landing and a moment that changed how he sees the value of human life. He also opens up about losing teammates, the identity crisis that hits veterans after their service ends, and how jiu-jitsu, faith, and his personal "5F Framework" — Faith, Family, Fitness, Finances, Future — helped him rebuild his life as a coach. This is an unfiltered conversation about combat, mental resilience, and what it really means to transition from warrior to civilian. In this episode: • What BUD/S and Hell Week are actually like, and why so many quit • The reality of deploying to Iraq and the moment life-and-death stakes became real • How Alex rebuilt his identity through faith, jiu-jitsu, and coaching after leaving the SEALs Follow North Idaho Experience for more interviews with veterans, entrepreneurs, and North Idaho locals. 👤 Connect with Alex Rogers Coaching https://alexrogerscoaching.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northidahoexperience/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northidahoexperience Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHz9XczupyJ93VRtqfQEW-g For the most up-to-date real estate listings check out our North Idaho Experience mobile app - click above to start searching today! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-idaho-experience/id6755906887 Grab our Relocation Guide: https://sholink.to/Relocation Your Ultimate Selling Game Plan guide: https://sholink.to/Sellerguide 💼 Interested in sponsoring a future episode or collaborating with us? Email us at info@nidexperience.com  🛠 For Real Estate Services or Questions: Contact us at seth@nidexperience.com Phone: 208-618-4421 Sponsored by: North Idaho Arms, LLC4013 West Riverbend Avenue, Post Falls, Idaho 83854 (208) 457-3031CONTACT@NORTHIDAHOARMS.COM https://northidahoarms.com/ Finding Freedom Idaho INC Equal housing opportunity ======

  5. Aug 25

    He Built a 120,000-Pound Magnet: The North Idaho Inventor Rethinking What Magnets Can Do | Evan Trevors

    What if you could take an incredibly powerful permanent magnet, turn its force on and off without continuously using electricity, and use it to solve real-world problems in aviation, manufacturing, transportation, and national defense? That’s exactly what Evan Trevors, founder of Lantha Tech, is working on right here in North Idaho. In this episode of the North Idaho Experience Podcast, we sit down with Evan to explore the technology behind Lantha Tech’s high-performance switchable permanent magnets—and quickly discover that magnets are far more powerful, complex, and important to modern life than most of us realize. Evan shares how an idea that started with finding a better way to secure equipment in the back of a truck evolved into technology capable of producing extraordinary magnetic force. One of Lantha Tech’s biggest applications is a 10-foot runway sweeper generating roughly 120,000 pounds of pull force, designed to collect dangerous metal Foreign Object Debris (FOD) that can damage aircraft and multimillion-dollar jet engines. But runway safety is only the beginning. We dive into: • How Evan went from Alberta’s oil fields to developing advanced magnetic technology • How switchable permanent magnets work without continuous electrical power • Why picking up tiny pieces of metal at highway speeds is far harder than it sounds • The massive cost of Foreign Object Debris on airport runways • Why rare-earth magnets are becoming critical to U.S. manufacturing and national defense • America’s dependence on foreign rare-earth processing • The role magnets play in EVs, motors, wind turbines, electronics, aviation, and everyday technology • Why Evan believes better magnetic designs could reduce dependence on scarce materials • Maglev trains, railguns, space travel, MRI machines, motors, and the future of magnetic technology • Why unconventional thinkers sometimes solve problems traditional experts consider impossible • What it means to build advanced manufacturing and technology companies in North Idaho Evan is a self-taught innovator who approaches engineering from a simple perspective: find the problem, build something, test it, fail, learn, and keep iterating until it works. And what he and his team are building at Lantha Tech could have applications far beyond airport runways. If you love technology, engineering, entrepreneurship, aviation, manufacturing, American innovation, or discovering the fascinating companies being built in North Idaho, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Follow the North Idaho Experience Podcast for more conversations with the entrepreneurs, innovators, business owners, and interesting people shaping North Idaho. Contact Lantha Tech https://lanthatech.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northidahoexperience/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northidahoexperience Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHz9XczupyJ93VRtqfQEW-g For the most up-to-date real estate listings check out our North Idaho Experience mobile app - click above to start searching today! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-idaho-experience/id6755906887 Grab our Relocation Guide: https://sholink.to/Relocation Your Ultimate Selling Game Plan guide: https://sholink.to/Sellerguide 💼 Interested in sponsoring a future episode or collaborating with us? Email us at info@nidexperience.com  🛠 For Real Estate Services or Questions: Contact us at seth@nidexperience.com Phone: 208-618-4421 Sponsored by: North Idaho Arms, LLC4013 West Riverbend Avenue, Post Falls, Idaho 83854 (208) 457-3031CONTACT@NORTHIDAHOARMS.COM https://northidahoarms.com/ Finding Freedom Idaho INC Equal housing opportunity ======

  6. Aug 18

    Cameron Birk: From Addiction to Ministry — Inside Absolute Ministries' 85% Recovery Success Rate

    What does it take to permanently break the cycle of addiction? Cameron Birk knows firsthand — and he built a ministry around the answer. In this episode of the North Idaho Experience Podcast, Seth and Dave sit down with Cameron Birk, founder of Absolute Ministries, and Layne Barndt, their Relationship Director, to go deep on what real, lasting recovery actually looks like. Cameron's story doesn't start in a boardroom or a church pew. It starts with cocaine, alcohol, and a life spiraling toward destruction in his early 20s. After multiple failed attempts at sobriety and a near-fatal low point, Cameron entered a residential program — and heard a call that changed everything. In 2009, he turned that transformation into Absolute Ministries, a long-term faith-based residential recovery program now operating across 18 facilities in Washington and Idaho. This is not a 28-day program. Residents average two years in the structured program, and the results back it up — an 85% long-term success rate and an estimated $85 million saved in public safety and healthcare costs. Layne Barndt, their Relationship Director, adds another layer to the conversation — sharing his own path to the ministry and what it looks like on the ground to walk people from rock bottom back to a full life. What You'll Hear in This Episode: Cameron's raw personal story: from addiction and suicide attempts to founding a ministryWhy Absolute Ministries defines addiction far beyond drugs and alcoholHow their long-term residential model produces results that short-term programs simply can'tThe role of faith, accountability, and community in lasting sobrietyReal graduate stories: a mom who regained custody of her children, a former San Quentin inmate voted Employee of the Year, and a man who remarried his ex-wife on graduation dayHow the program handles relapse — and why honesty changes the outcomeThe fentanyl crisis, nicotine addiction, and the surprising substances hardest to quitHow to refer someone, get involved, or support the ministry Learn more about Absolute Ministries: https://www.absoluteministries.org/ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zLHc-_WVdGA&ra=m Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northidahoexperience/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northidahoexperience Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHz9XczupyJ93VRtqfQEW-g For the most up-to-date real estate listings check out our North Idaho Experience mobile app - click above to start searching today! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-idaho-experience/id6755906887 Grab our Relocation Guide: https://sholink.to/Relocation Your Ultimate Selling Game Plan guide: https://sholink.to/Sellerguide 💼 Interested in sponsoring a future episode or collaborating with us? Email us at info@nidexperience.com  🛠 For Real Estate Services or Questions: Contact us at seth@nidexperience.com Phone: 208-618-4421 Sponsored by: North Idaho Arms, LLC4013 West Riverbend Avenue, Post Falls, Idaho 83854 (208) 457-3031CONTACT@NORTHIDAHOARMS.COM https://northidahoarms.com/ Finding Freedom Idaho INC Equal housing opportunity ======

  7. Aug 11

    Coach Mel: From Homeless at 14 to Serial Entrepreneur, Health Coach & Real Estate Developer in Post Falls, Idaho

    Coach Mel didn't have an easy start. She was homeless at 14, a high school  dropout, and spent years being told her standards were too high. Today she  is a serial entrepreneur, certified health coach, published author, and real  estate developer transforming the commercial landscape of Post Falls, Idaho  — one block at a time. In this episode, Seth and Dave sits down with Coach Mel for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually takes to build something from nothing. Coach Mel shares the personal health crisis that led her to transform her body, lose over 100 pounds, and eventually launch MelFit — a health, wealth, and life coaching  program that now serves clients globally through her MelFit 365 app and  in-person studio in Post Falls. She also opens up about her real estate journey, including how she developed  Eats on Spokane Street, Post Falls' fastest-growing community dining hub,  and her ambitious upcoming project, Casitas Del Rio — a 21,000 square foot  mixed-use development along the Spokane River. Along the way she shares what  it is really like navigating city hall, smart codes, and small-town politics  when you have big development ambitions. Coach Mel is the author of Molested to Millionaire, and in this conversation  she discusses why she wrote the book and why she believes your circumstances  have nothing to do with your ceiling. Topics covered in this episode include entrepreneurship, health transformation,  real estate development, small business ownership, Post Falls Idaho growth,  community-focused development, fitness coaching, and building a business with  high standards. North Idaho Experience is a podcast and video show dedicated to showcasing life, business, and real estate in North Idaho. New episodes every week on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. 👤 Connect with Mel FIT https://www.melfitcoaching.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoouBYzGJqRl-HGxKV6ARmHYq3xxx1b59xEwvNGPy5BrA6IZRfao Eats On Spokane Street https://www.eatsonspokanest.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northidahoexperience/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northidahoexperience Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHz9XczupyJ93VRtqfQEW-g For the most up-to-date real estate listings check out our North Idaho Experience mobile app - click above to start searching today! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-idaho-experience/id6755906887 Grab our Relocation Guide: https://sholink.to/Relocation Your Ultimate Selling Game Plan guide: https://sholink.to/Sellerguide 💼 Interested in sponsoring a future episode or collaborating with us? Email us at info@nidexperience.com  🛠 For Real Estate Services or Questions: Contact us at seth@nidexperience.com Phone: 208-618-4421 Sponsored by: North Idaho Arms, LLC4013 West Riverbend Avenue, Post Falls, Idaho 83854 (208) 457-3031CONTACT@NORTHIDAHOARMS.COM https://northidahoarms.com/ Finding Freedom Idaho INC Equal housing opportunity ======

  8. Aug 4

    Steve Morgan: Black Hawk Down, an RPG Strike, and Healing Veterans in North Idaho

    Steve Morgan flew AC-130 Spectre gunships over Somalia during the Black Hawk Down incident. He watched soldiers die below while his crew was ordered to stand down. Years later, an RPG strike over Iraq destroyed his aircraft — and ended his Air Force career. What followed nearly broke him. In this episode, Air Force combat veteran and founder of Brave Souls United, Steve Morgan, sits down with Seth and Eric for one of the most powerful conversations in North Idaho Experience history. Steve opens up about the rules of engagement that still haunt him, the isolation and alcohol that followed his service, and the bow hunting trip to North Idaho that changed his trajectory. Today, Steve runs Brave Souls United — a nonprofit built on one mission: "You are not alone." He brings veterans into the North Idaho wilderness for bow hunting, fishing, and hiking, because he believes healing is an art, not a science. In this episode: From C-5 Galaxies to AC-130 Spectre gunships — Steve's Air Force journey34 days in Somalia and the Black Hawk Down missionSurviving an RPG hit over IraqWhy military programming doesn't switch off when veterans come homeThe quote that changed everything: "Maybe we never missed the fires. Maybe we just missed having a place to stand when the world needed us."How North Idaho saved Steve Morgan's lifeBrave Souls United — what it is and how to get involvedConnect with Steve Morgan & Brave Souls United: bravesoulsunited.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northidahoexperience/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northidahoexperience Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHz9XczupyJ93VRtqfQEW-g For the most up-to-date real estate listings check out our North Idaho Experience mobile app - click above to start searching today! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-idaho-experience/id6755906887 Grab our Relocation Guide: https://sholink.to/Relocation Your Ultimate Selling Game Plan guide: https://sholink.to/Sellerguide 💼 Interested in sponsoring a future episode or collaborating with us? Email us at info@nidexperience.com  🛠 For Real Estate Services or Questions: Contact us at seth@nidexperience.com Phone: 208-618-4421 Sponsored by: North Idaho Arms, LLC4013 West Riverbend Avenue, Post Falls, Idaho 83854 (208) 457-3031CONTACT@NORTHIDAHOARMS.COM https://northidahoarms.com/ Finding Freedom Idaho INC Equal housing opportunity ======

See All (194)

5
out of 5
123 Ratings

About

Thinking about moving to North Idaho? Already live here? This is your show. North Idaho Experience is the podcast that takes you inside life in Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Sandpoint, and beyond — through honest conversations with the people who actually live it. Local business owners, community leaders, first responders, veterans, real estate insiders, and everyday North Idahoans share what this region is really like. North Idaho is one of the last places in America where freedom isn't just a bumper sticker — it's how people actually live. Strong communities, individual rights, faith, hard work, and old school American values aren't fading here. They're thriving. Every episode covers what matters here: the housing market, outdoor lifestyle, local politics, community values, self-reliance, and the stories that make North Idaho unlike anywhere else. If you're relocating to Idaho from California, Washington, or anywhere else — or you're already rooted here and love this place — hit subscribe and join the community. New episodes every week. Long-form conversations. Real people. No fluff. 🎙️ Guest or sponsorship inquiries: info@nidexperience.com 🌐 northidahoexperience.com ▶️ Also on YouTube: https://bit.ly/thenorthidahoexperience

Information

  • Creator
    North Idaho Experience
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    194
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 North Idaho Experience
  • Show Website
    North Idaho Experience

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