Where There's Smoke

On Feb. 28th, 1993, 20-30 miles outside of Waco -- repeat OUTSIDE OF WACO -- one of the largest, cult mass suicides in history went down. The FBI faced off with the Branch Dividians and its infamous leader, David Koresh. The result was 76 deaths, $2 million dollars spent per day by the government, and a 51 day siege. The amigos catch up on the Waco Siege, and as Wacoans, a little bit of how they feel about being associated with it.    

Ben Masters is a writer, producer, story teller, conservationist, and all around good guy. The Sendero crew first linked up with Masters when we made some designs for his River & The Wall documentary, which we highly recommend.He's got a passion for wildlife, and that's evident through the plethora of films he's done on mustangs, mountain lions, big horn sheep, ocelots and many more. The amigos catch up on his latest ocelot project, and everything else in Ben's world. Enjoy!

His axe was so big, when it was drug it carved the Grand Canyon. His tears were so powerful after he watched The Notebook for the first time, that he turned the oceans salty. Ok, maybe that last one isn’t true… But the Legend Of Paul Bunyan is more than just fanciful children stories. There’s first hand anecdotes, stories, and descriptions of a few very real characters that possibly were larger than life, Paul Bunyans. The amigos catch up on all things Paul Bunyan and have a laugh or two.

Zeek Elliott is an artist manager, creative director, music industry guru and general all around good dude. The amigos learn a thing or two about the music biz, and Zeek shares all the industry secrets you've been dying to know. 

What do these things have in common? Forest Whitaker, aliens, Puerto Rico, radio DJs, and dead goats... If I told you they are all directly responsible for the legend of the Chupacabra? It definitely surprised us, but cocktail of alien movies, unexplainable occurrences, and a fledgling internet lead to a perfect storm of paranormal conspiracy theory. The legend of the Chupacabra started in Puerto Rico, jumped the pond to Mexico and the United States, and it's tale has haunted the world since. The amigos catch up on the timeline, some freaky weird stuff, and catch up with Benjamin Radford- a Chupacabra expert.

Andrew Miller is a photographer, graphic designer, and mediocre fly fisherman. The Sendero crew has known Andrew for a long time now, and don’t let him fool you, he’s an all around good guy! He’s spent the last half decade exploring what media is in the outdoor industry, and he now has his sights on telling stories through editorial media. The amigos catch up on his photography evolution, and give him some pointers on how to not suck at fly fishing.   Check out his work at www.andrewmillerstudio.com or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/andrewmillerstudio

With over 3,000 episodes, shows, cartoons, and blockbuster movies, The Lone Ranger is about as American as it gets. This Wild West protector was known for being a stand up guy and lived by a honorable code. But was he based on a real like Western lawman?

The Ranch isn't a fashion trend, it's not some place you go on a trail ride, and it's not a place for Instagram influencers. Ranching is work ethic, family values, and a way of life. The good folks at the R.A. Brown in Throckmorton, Texas represent just that. The amigos spent the week out there working on an upcoming project, and they got to catch up with good friends Emily and Ben McCartney. Shout out Todd.

The story of the infamous Jackalope is long and fabled. It's been said that you can entice Jackalopes with whiskey, they can imitate a human’s voice and enjoy a good campfire sing along, and, notoriously, their milk has magical curing properties. But were they a happenstance invention of Wyoming outdoorsman, or really a mythological aberration? The amigos catch up on another piece of American folklore, and the real answer might surprise you...

On a dreary day in 1971, D.B. Cooper dawned a black tie and suit, purchased a $20 one way plane ticket to Seattle, boarded his 727, and ordered a bourbon and soda. Later that day he jumped out of a hijacked plane with $200,000 and a parachute. Never to be seen again. Is he still alive? Did he pull it off? If his name is Dan, why the heck do people fall him D.B.? The amigos catch up on all things D.B. Cooper.

Charles Post is a conservationist, environmentalist, story teller, outdoorsman, and general all around good dude. We could have have talked for 8 hours, but you chumps can hardly listen to an hour, so we thought we’d spare you. The amigos catch up on science, education, and a nerdy topic or two.

Is there a paranormal hotspot in NE Utah? A portal to the other side? Maybe an extraterrestrial homing beacon? Well... Skinwalker Ranch was interesting enough for the government to invest millions of dollars researching activity over the last few decades. Weird enough for us.          

Dr. Montoya, the Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion at JMU, heard the story of La Llorona when she was a child. Now she says she doesn’t quite believe in ghosts, but she doesn’t want to go as far as to talk about La Llorona at night. The amigos catch up on all things La Llorona, and some of the deep history and metaphor behind her fateful story.

A tale as old as the 16th century, La Llorona has haunted the dreams of niños across the world. A staple of Hispanic and Chicano culture, La Llorona, or The Weeping Woman, has not only infiltrated legend and lore, but also pop-culture, societal metaphor, and a creek bed or two in San Antonio. The amigos explore them all.

Willie Woodward is an accomplished adventurer and story teller. He just wrapped a 3,000 mile sail from the PNW all the way to Hawaii, and we caught him between waves and margaritas to hear about the trip and where he may be going next.

In 2010, Forrest Fenn left a chest full with $2 million worth of treasure somewhere “in the mountains north of Sante Fe.” Has it been found? The amigos get the low down, and come up with some theories of their own.

The Sendero crew is taking a few days in the mountains to recharge, you chumps can wait for your podcast episode... :) See you Wednesday! 

Keepin’ Snow Monkeys is no joke. Try keeping 300 on your ranch down in South Texas. El Jefe catches up with Michele Cadawaller,  who’s ranch housed the monkeys for the better part of a few decades. Trust us, Michele has a story or two.

You’re driving down the highway, it’s late at night, and you just ran out of coffee. You see twinkling lights in the distance, then they split, then they dart upwards, and come back together. You wipe your eyes in disbelief thinking you're tired. Then they start to follow you. Believe it or not, that happens regularly out on the dusty Chinati Plains of West Texas. These are the Marfa Lights. Don’t believe us? Stop at the dedicated viewing center on US Highway 90 and look for yourself. The amigos catch up on all the theories and explanations for these apparitions and some dinosaur history… believe it or not, they’re connected.

Are GMOs actually bad? Can human DNA be altered via CRISPR? Why do the Swedish drink so much coffee? Come along as these questions and more are answered by a sustainable agriculture expert.

Bigfoot, Sasquatch, the Yeti- all famous legends from around the globe. With thousands of sightings over the years, the line between ”legend” and real life lurker is blurred. From investigations by the FBI, to professional tracking organizations, and celebrity encounters, the amigos chat about it all and definitely have a laugh or six.

Back in 2008, Balcones was nothing more than an idea- an idea that all started in an old welding shop under a bridge. Helmed by Head Distiller and former Master Distiller of the Year, Jared Himstedt, Balcones became the first Texas whisky maker since prohibition, and in 2009 they began making tasty, tasty whisky. Now, smack in the middle of Waco, their 65,000 square foot facility is a shining beacon for whisky lovers everywhere.   

Japanese Macaques, also known as Snow Monkeys, are the last thing you might expect to see running across the South Texas scrub. But what if we told you there’s over 600 Snow Monkeys in Dilley, Texas? What if we told you in 1972 150 boarded a plane from Kyoto, Japan and never made it back? What if we told you there was an open season on Snow Monkeys in Texas in 1995? Pull up a chair- it’s all true.  

A quick update from Hunter regarding the release of Episode 1. 

Welcome to Where There's Smoke, an adventure and outdoor podcast where we explore the lore and legend that has captivated campfire audiences since the beginning of time. Stay tuned for the unfolding of Season 1.  To stay updated check us out of instagram at @wts.podcast and online at www.senderopc.com/podcast