Independent Idaho

About Independent Idaho

Independent Idaho is a podcast dedicated to the exploration of all things disability in the Gem State and beyond. Independent Idaho is a production of the Living Independence Network Corporation, one of Idaho's three Centers for Independent Living. Our mission is to empower Idahoans with disabilities across the lifespan to achieve our desired level of independence.

Publisher

Living Independence Network Corporation

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Sept 2022

Latest episode

28 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

50 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Sept 2026

   Hearing Loss, Survival, and Advocacy with Tara Adams

   Episode Description How do the experiences that shape us change the way we see ourselves—and the way we show up for others? In this episode of Independent Idaho, Jeremy sits down with Tara Adams, a fifth-generation Idahoan, author, entrepreneur, mother, and longtime disability advocate. Tara shares what it was like growing up with hearing loss in Idaho, attending the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind, and finding community and identity along the way. Jeremy and Tara talk about communication and Tara's work to help create communities where people with disabilities are heard and included. The conversation also turns to an experience that changed Tara's life. On October 1, 2017, Tara was in Las Vegas during the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival. She shares her experience surviving that night and reflects on what came afterward. Through both very different parts of Tara's story, the conversation explores resilience, identity, family, advocacy, and the experiences that shape how we understand ourselves and one another. About Our Guest Tara Adams is a fifth-generation Idahoan, graduate of the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind, author, entrepreneur, and disability advocate. She is the founder of ASL Expressions, LLC and the author of three books focused on American Sign Language. Tara also served for four and a half years on the Idaho State Independent Living Council and continues to participate on community advisory panels. A devoted mother of five, Tara has spent years using her personal and professional experiences to elevate the voices of people with disabilities and encourage communities and organizations to become more inclusive and responsive.

2. 

   14 Sept 2026

   Loving History, Working Not to Repeat It with Tara Rowe

   Episode Description What can Idaho's history teach us about the future of disability rights? In this episode of Independent Idaho, Jeremy sits down with Tara Rowe, an independent historian, scholar, and disability advocate, for a conversation about the intersection of history, disability, and public policy. Tara discusses her research into Idaho's history of institutionalization and what that history can teach us about the language and policy debates happening today. The conversation looks at the evolution of institutions, the movement toward community-based services, and the importance of understanding how ideas that may sound new can have deep historical roots. Jeremy and Tara also discuss her recent Idaho Capital Sun commentary on institutionalization, the Department of Justice's findings regarding Idaho, and the legacy of the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision establishing the right of people with disabilities to receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. More broadly, they talk about why history matters—not simply as something to study, but as a tool for recognizing patterns, understanding how systems develop, and asking better questions about the choices we make today. It's a conversation about Idaho history, disability rights, institutionalization, independence, and why understanding where we've been matters when deciding where we're going. About Our Guest Tara Rowe is an independent historian, scholar, writer, and advocate for people with disabilities who frequently writes commentary on Idaho history and politics. Born and raised in southern Idaho, Tara is an alumna of Idaho State University, where she earned degrees in History and Political Science and completed graduate study in interdisciplinary History and Political Science. Her scholarship spans Idaho history and politics, early 20th-century American history, public health, disability history, and the Independent Living Movement. She contributed to Idaho's Place: A New History of the Gem State and has contributed work to a forthcoming volume on women in Idaho history from Washington State University Press. Tara's professional and public-service experience has included historical research, archival work, writing, historic preservation, and disability advocacy. She currently serves as Chair of the Idaho State Independent Living Council and as a member of the Independent Living Training & Technical Assistance Center Advisory Council. She lives in Twin Falls, Idaho.

3. 

   7 Sept 2026

   Meet the Board: Ferne Brandt on Disability, Advocacy, and LINC

   Episode Description What does independence actually mean for a person with a disability—and who gets to define it? In this episode of Independent Idaho, Jeremy sits down with Ferne Brandt, a licensed social worker and disability advocate who brings both lived experience and professional experience to her work in the disability community. Jeremy and Ferne talk about the everyday realities of navigating communities and systems that weren't always designed with people with disabilities in mind. They explore accessibility, housing, transportation, behavioral health, and the often complicated network of programs and services people must navigate to get the support they need. Drawing on her experience as a person who is legally blind, a social worker, and a former Independent Living Specialist, Ferne brings a perspective that crosses the line between receiving services, providing services, and working to change the systems behind them. About Our Guest Ferne Brandt is a licensed social worker and disability advocate with a background in direct services, housing, behavioral health, and community engagement. Ferne recently served as an Independent Living Specialist with LINC, supporting people with disabilities through independent living skills training, advocacy, systems navigation, and connections to community resources. Her community involvement has included work with the Region 3 Behavioral Health Board, Region 3 Housing Coalition, and other initiatives addressing housing, behavioral health, and social justice. She also gained nonprofit fundraising experience through an internship with the Nampa Family Justice Center and has developed strong relationships with organizations and community stakeholders throughout the Treasure Valley. Ferne brings these experiences together in her continued work advocating for stronger, more accessible communities.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

61

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

Contact Independent Idaho

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.