Samantha Wright
Idaho Matters Senior ProducerExpertise: Reporting, producing, writing, editing, hosting, interviewing, board operating
Education: Boise State University + interviewing every expert and reading every book I can find to constantly keep learning
Highlights
- I got to chase Martian Dust Devils in the Oregon desert
- I wisely skipped breakfast the day I flew in a Red Baron Squadron Stearman stunt biplane
- My tombstone will probably read “Brought the Parachuting Beavers story to Idaho”
- I rode in the belly of an M1 Abrams Tank across the Idaho desert
Experience
As Senior Producer of our live daily talk show Idaho Matters, I’m able to indulge my love of storytelling and share all kinds of information (I was probably a Town Crier in a past life). My career has allowed me to learn something new everyday and to share that knowledge with all my friends on the radio. I am so grateful to have been honored by my peers with Edward R. Murrow Awards for my stories including wheelchair rugby, blind bird watching, making pies for Lent, learning to can food during a recession, and walking through a living nativity.
I love playing with audio and had great fun putting together my Canning Makes a Comeback story which won Best Use of Sound from the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA). I love interviewing fascinating people from Idaho musician Rosalie Sorrels to best-selling author Sharon Kay Penman. I also sat down with three of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders and several of the surviving Tuskegee Airmen. I hosted “Folk Trails” on KBSU for several years and got paid to play celtic, bluegrass and folk music while chatting with everyone from “Artis the Spoonman” to singer Christine Lavin.
I’ve followed guide dog trainers for Voice of America, reported on how road noise affects Boise’s Foothills for New Yorker Magazine, gathered sound for This American Life, trekked to Stanley, Idaho for NPR for the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act, and reported for the New York Times and National Native News. I loved producing stories for the Idaho Storycorps Project each time it came to Boise and had great fun hosting the Legislative Breakdown podcast for several sessions of the Idaho Legislature.
My goal is to find out what’s on the mind of our listeners and to Never Be Boring!
Email: If you have a suggestion for an Idaho Matters segment, please email idahomatters@boisestate.edu.
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Idaho Matters takes a look at the news that made headlines this week, including a list of new laws that went into effect this month, an update on Kohberger's plea deal and Buc-ee's could be coming to the Gem State. -
The Engelmann spruce that sits in downtown McCall is sick and may be dying. -
Last year, 10,000 acres burned in the Boise foothills, and now volunteers head out to water and weed part of the landscape. -
What happens when your toddler outgrows all those cars, dinosaurs, playsets and other fun plastic toys? -
Last week, the City of Nampa announced it was thinking of handing over the Ford Idaho Center to the College of Western Idaho. -
The Miss for America Strong pageant is designed to empower women and encourage them to be active in their communities. -
Valley County wants to shrink and take back control of the McCall's impact area and will host a public hearing on the afternoon of July 7. -
Visitability is a core mission of a dedicated group of volunteers who work together to make not only homes more accessible, but also businesses and even Idaho's recreation spaces. -
After almost three years, Bryan Kohberger is set to plead guilty in tomorrow's court appearance. -
Two firefighters are dead and another injured after a shooter opened fire as they tried to put out a wildfire on Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
