WALLACE — What started as a sports podcast for Wallace sophomore Cooper Miller quickly evolved into something more — a platform for conversations with local leaders and a deep dive into Shoshone County politics. 

The 16-year-old Wallace Jr./Sr. High School student recently launched Triple Threat W/Coop under the school’s Channel 3 Sports production banner, using a familiar question-and-answer format to interview guests ranging from coaches to elected officials. What began as a sports-focused project has since expanded to highlight issues and decisions shaping his community. 

Miller originally planned to keep the show focused on sports — no surprise given he is a standout athlete for the Miners in football, basketball and golf. After a few episodes, however, he expanded the show’s scope to focus more broadly on issues affecting his community. That shift led Miller into Shoshone County politics — a space where he feels right at home. 

“I just wanted to talk to people around our community,” Miller said. “Eventually, local elections rolled around and I thought I could steer the show more into the political space of Shoshone County.” 

Miller’s interest in politics dates back several years. Once considered an avoided topic, politics have become more embedded in mainstream culture, drawing in younger audiences. His first deep dive - when he was just a fifth grader - came during the 2020 presidential election, a cycle marked by both intense interest and controversy. 

Miller now consumes political content at a rate uncommon for someone his age, regularly listening to hosts such as Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan and David Greene to gain a broad understanding of the political spectrum. 

“I like to diversify what I listen to, politically,” he said. “I try to learn from all of them.” 

Triple Threat W/Coop has already featured a range of local leaders, including Kellogg School District Superintendent Lance Pearson, Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Allen, Pinehurst Police Chief John Richter and Osburn Mayor Kip McGillivray. 

For now, Miller said his primary goal is to build relationships and establish trust with listeners and future guests. Eventually, he hopes to create a platform that both showcases his guests and challenges them through thoughtful, meaningful dialogue. 

“People are a lot more receptive to doing this stuff than I expected,” Miller said. “I know I’m in high school, but I figured it wouldn’t be quite as easy to get people to come on. Some people tend to shy away from questions, especially in politics. My goal is to be fair and build that trust.” 

Each interview has offered valuable insight, but Miller said his conversation with Pearson stands out as his favorite. In addition to learning more about the Kellogg School District’s now-passed supplemental levy, Miller said he was struck by the potential consequences had it failed — particularly for neighboring districts such as Wallace. 

“I was thrilled to see it pass,” Miller said. “If it had failed, kids would’ve tried to transfer. Here in Wallace, we only have the capacity for about 40 more kids. Where do the rest of those kids go? You can stay in Kellogg and go to school, but you wouldn’t have as many opportunities. So, I was thrilled. I think it’s good for our community and it makes me feel better about our next levy.” 

Miller hopes listeners recognize the value of a young person engaging in local politics and take his work seriously, rather than dismissing him because of his age. He also takes pride in representing his school and community in a positive way. 

“I am connected to the school. So, I do make sure that I watch what I say,” Miller said. “I’ve taken a lot of precautions to ensure that I’m as impartial as I can be. And I am simply providing a platform for questions and answers.” 

With the school year ending soon, Miller is still finalizing details but plans to continue the show through the summer. He intends to keep discussing local politics while also reintroducing sports into the mix, with a growing list of local and regional guests. 

Triple Threat W/Coop is available on YouTube on the Channel 3 Sports page. New episodes are published every other week.