In this episode of Almost Paradise in North Idaho, I sit down with my friend Jim Bottoms — a man many around here affectionately call our own Cowboy Poet.

Jim is a gifted songwriter, poet, and author who has quietly spent years putting faith, life, and hard-earned wisdom into words. He stopped by the studio with his guitar, shared some songs, recited some of his poetry, and talked about his latest book. But more than that, he shared the story behind the stories.

Jim reflects on the winding path that led him to Bonners Ferry, including a clear sense of God’s urging that this was the place he was meant to be. Along the way, he spent years involved in theatre, did some teaching, rode horses, raised a family, and learned to listen for God’s gentle direction through every season.

Today, with most of his children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren living nearby, Jim considers North Idaho “almost paradise.” He also helps host Vintage Worship Night every third Saturday — a growing gathering centered on old gospel hymns and classic worship songs that point straight to the heart of the faith.

This is a thoughtful, relaxed conversation about creativity, obedience, legacy, and using whatever gifts God has placed in your hands.

If you enjoy meaningful lyrics, quiet faith, and stories that remind us God is still at work in ordinary lives, you’ll feel right at home with this episode.

U.S. Highway 95 is more than a roadway—it’s a shared journey. From Sandpoint to the Canadian border, it carries the daily stories of families, workers, and neighbors simply trying to get where they’re going and return home safely.

In this episode of Almost Paradise in North Idaho, we share conversations with Idaho Transportation Department officials, Idaho State Patrol leaders and troopers, and the Boundary County Sheriff, recorded at the recent Highway 95 Corridor Safety Workshop in Bonners Ferry. They discuss challenges, plans, and the realities of keeping a vital rural highway safe.

Running through every conversation is a quiet wisdom: “The prudent see danger and take refuge.” Slowing down, staying alert, and driving defensively are small choices that can protect precious lives.

This episode invites us to see driving not just as a task, but as stewardship—of our own lives and of one another. When we watch the road and watch out for each other, we honor the value of every mile and every soul traveling it.

In this episode of Almost Paradise in North Idaho, we pull up a chair with lifelong Boundary County resident and real estate agent/broker Darlene Schneider for a down-to-earth conversation about home, community, and the changing face of North Idaho.

Darlene grew up here, drove logging trucks as a teenager, raised a family in these valleys, and later found her way into real estate after her kids were grown. Along the way, she’s gained something you can’t learn from a manual — a deep understanding of this place and its people.

This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s a neighborly talk about what folks should really know if they’re thinking about moving here, what longtime residents are seeing as the area grows, and how to approach change without losing what matters most.

Darlene shares why getting involved in churches, clubs, local groups, and community events is one of the best ways to learn the North Idaho way. She also speaks honestly about challenges like homesickness, family left behind, and discovering that winter up here has a personality of its own.

If you care about finding a home, not just a house — and keeping the soul of North Idaho intact — this conversation is for you.

The Bonners Ferry Gun & Horn Show is back this weekend, and it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest and best yet. In this episode of Almost Paradise in North Idaho, Kevin Dye joins us to preview what folks can expect and why this long-standing community tradition continues to matter.

From firearms, horns, and outdoor gear to an expanded outdoor expo that’s free to the public, this year’s show places a strong emphasis on education, demonstrations, and hands-on experiences for kids and families. The goal is simple: promote safe, responsible gun ownership, encourage hunting and fishing, and pass along North Idaho’s outdoor heritage to the next generation.

Kevin also shares how faith, family, music, and life in the outdoors shape his passion for serving on the committee and keeping the focus positive and non-political.

If you care about tradition, community, and the outdoors, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

At just 22, Chloe is chasing callings, not comfort.

From trading a California beach lifestyle for North Idaho winters, to working in her family’s pizza parlor, to now teaching English in the Dominican Republic, Chloe’s life has been shaped by curiosity, courage, and a willingness to say yes.

In this episode, we talk about cultural adjustments, stepping into the unknown, serving in one of the poorest neighborhoods in her host town, and trusting God even when the future isn’t clear.

It’s a conversation about adventure, humility, and what can happen when a willing heart meets an open door.

Episode 100 arrives on Groundhog Day, which feels just about right.

This podcast has always been about showing up—again and again—coffee in hand, eyes open, heart willing.

In Almost Paradise, seasons repeat, stories echo, and lessons deepen. Along the way, we’ve learned that faith often grows in the ordinary rhythms: listening, paying attention, and being faithful where we’re planted.

This milestone isn’t about perfection or predictions—it’s about gratitude, community, and trusting that even on familiar mornings, God still has something new to say.

Thanks for walking this road with us.

Ted kicks off this podcast promoting the US-95 Corridor Safety Workshop. It is being presented by the Idaho Transportation Department and the Idaho State Police. It will discuss ways to make Hwy 95 safer from Sandpoint to the Canadian border. Lots have accidents have happened on this highway the past couple years for a variety of reasons, and proposed solutions will be presented and input from the public is encouraged.

Then Ted gets serious and talks about the Minnesota riots, ICE, and the unfortunate recent death of a protestor. What is the deeper causes of this unrest and resistance? Ted suggests something far more sinister and deeper than some might be considering.

And then he considers a couple of solutions to this situation. Two extreme ideas for a difficult and challenging situation.

In the end Ted concludes with who he thinks if most responsible and has blood on their hands.

Today Linda is the CEO of the local Bonners Ferry Senior Hospitality Center, but she has worn many hats during her life here in the community.

And while all of those different adventures were interesting and successful, her current position may be the most fulfilling.

Even though she was retired, she was asked a couple years ago to help the senior center recover from some difficult times. She has righted the ship and once again it is providing a much needed haven and bee hive of activities for seniors in the area.

Linda's goal if for everyone to not just enjoy the well cooked meals and many activities, but to feel like family.

But volunteers and donations are always needed and welcomed to help keep the lights on and the doors open and the coffee hot.