Podcasts about american west

Sammy Matsaw Jr. is the Director of the Columbia Basin Program at The Nature Conservancy, where he works at the intersection of salmon recovery, tribal sovereignty, and large-scale river restoration across one of the most complex watersheds in North America. In this role, Sammy helps guide conservation strategies that span state lines, political boundaries, and cultural histories—while keeping people, relationships, and responsibility at the center of the work. Sammy grew up on the Shoshone-Bannock Reservation, surrounded by salmon stories, land-based learning, and a deep sense of responsibility to place. He served in the U.S. military, including combat deployments overseas, before returning home to heal, reconnect, and rebuild—eventually earning advanced degrees in ecology, policy, and conservation science. Along the way, he's navigated life as a soldier, scientist, ceremonial practitioner, husband, father, and now grandfather, carrying Indigenous knowledge forward while engaging directly with Western institutions and systems. In this conversation, we talk about salmon restoration as a healing journey—not just for rivers, but for communities and cultures shaped by loss, displacement, and change. We dig into Indigenous knowledge alongside Western science, the role of humility and trust in conservation, and why Sammy believes real progress only happens through relationships and long-term commitment. We also explore his vision for the Columbia Basin, his leadership inside TNC, and what it means to show up—day after day—with curiosity, care, and what he calls "barefoot trust-building." This is a thoughtful, hopeful, and vulnerable conversation, and I greatly appreciate Sammy taking the time to chat with me.  I hope you enjoy. --- Sammy Matsaw Jr., Director of TNC's Columbia Basin Program TNC's Columbia Basin Program Full episode notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/sammy-matsaw --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. During the last week of every month throughout 2025, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy's leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy's impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:00 - Intro, where and how Sammy grew up 10:03 - Sammy's decision to join the military  15:34 - Readjusting to home 20:48 - What helps heal 24:58 - Sammy's academic journey 32:12 - Salmon work 39:09 - Entry into TNC 43:55 - Salmon restoration as a healing journey 50:09 - Layers of the job 57:31 - Book recs 1:01:18 - Wrapping up --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Clay welcomes Colorado historian Walter Borneman to the program. Borneman has written more than a dozen books, from the events at Lexington and Concord to a soon-to-be-published history of the American West following World War II. He's a public historian with a wide reach. The great question is: where are we as we approach the country's 250th birthday? How did we get here, and where might we be headed? Does a study of American history help us understand what feels like an unprecedented moment in our national destiny? Will we survive this current crisis of national confidence? Clay's conversation includes a discussion of the sweep of the Europeanization of the North American continent, with particular emphasis on the presidency of James Polk, an unapologetic expansionist, and, of course, Thomas Jefferson, who may have been our most intense national imperialist. This episode was recorded on October 28, 2025.

shorten it a bitSkis, speed, and charging horses collide in Skijoring, a winter sport rooted in Scandinavian tradition and reborn in the American West. In this episode, lifelong friends and Utah cowboys Joe Loveridge and Brian Gardner share how they turned their passions for skiing, horses, and ranching into Pro Skijor, a new pro tour spanning Utah, Idaho, and Montana. Recorded at the High West Whiskey Library, the conversation dives into Western heritage, big-time energy, and why skijoring has captured crowds across the Mountain West.

Today we have the pleasure of sharing an episode from one of our favorite podcasts, the Lit Ladies Podcast. Here is more about their show: We are three writers and moms exploring how to live out our faith in our literary lives. We span the country—from the coasts to the Midwest—and with different stages of life, careers, and favorite genres, we are sure to cover the literary landscape. In every episode, we'll discuss books we love, reading life, and writing craft, using the Bible as our guide for beauty, goodness, and truth. New episodes drop every other Friday! Historical Fiction, War Stories, and What We Sip While We Read This Lit Ladies Podcast crossover with the Historical Bookworm team covers why historical fiction matters, how war settings shape stories, and what everyone is reading right now. Key takeaways Historical fiction makes history personal, which helps you see how everyday people lived. Accuracy matters most when it grounds the characters and the social pressures of the era. War settings work best when the focus stays on human cost, resilience, and the ripple effects on families. Reading older books can mean meeting older blind spots, which calls for discernment instead of reflexive dismissal. Lesser-known conflicts can add fresh perspective, especially when anchored in solid research. Welcome to the crossover Karissa: Hello and welcome to the Lit Ladies Podcast. Today we’re doing a special crossover episode with our friends KyLee Woodley and Darcy Fornier and their historical fiction podcast. We’re so excited to have you here today. Darcy: So excited to be here. We have so much fun hanging out with you guys. KyLee: Thanks for the invite. Glad to be here. Karissa: KyLee Woodley is a podcaster and author of the Outlaw Hearts series, adventure romances set in the American Wild West. Darcy Fornier is a podcaster and author of The Crown and the Axe, and they are both the hosts of the Historical Bookworm podcast, which is in its fifth season. It’s for lovers of inspirational historical fiction, and the show features author interviews, bookish and historical segments, and a wide variety of guests, from Christy Award-winners to high-quality indie authors. Favorite reading beverages Karissa: Before we jump in today, I want to know what is everyone’s favorite reading beverage of choice? Christie: I usually drink water, or else I don’t really drink anything because I’m too busy speed reading. But today for the podcast, since we’re doing it in the morning, I get to drink coffee. Darcy: Usually coffee. If I said anything else, my sisters would say I was lying. But I also enjoy hot chocolate or tea. Anything hot. I’m not going to be drinking lemonade even in the summer. KyLee: The nice thing about being in the South is that the AC is always blasting. So it’s hot cocoa, coffee, soup, any time of the day. My current favorite beverage to go with my reading, which I seldom read, but audiobooks, big on audiobooks these days, is the Iced Pecan Crunch Oat Milk Latte. I don’t usually go to Starbucks. I find their coffee very bitter, but this is a blonde espresso. I get it without the foam. It’s too sweet and it takes up too much in my cup. Karissa: I like to drink herbal tea. That’s my main comfort drink. Why historical fiction Karissa: What draws you to historical fiction? KyLee: For me, I like the nostalgia. I grew up very sheltered. We didn’t have a TV until I was 12. My mom would just drop us off at the library, then go shopping, then pick us up whenever. We always had audiobooks or books on tape. When we did get a TV, it was black and white. We watched a lot of black and white shows. For me, I remember those good times with old classic films and literature. There’s also this idea of, “What was.” Historical and fantasy are best friends because there’s that sense of wonder. But historical is like, this really did happen. This was really true. I like to dig into history and see who someone was, and go back to where they were if that’s possible. I love to research the way people lived and thought, the things they invented, and how resourceful they were. Darcy: Mine is similar. It’s about the people that came before, and how their stories influenced our lives today. You can go to historical sites and almost touch the lives that they had there. We tend to study history as the big overview. This person was king, these wars happened, all this stuff. Historical fiction lets you dive into what it was like for the day-to-day person. Even if you’re writing about a king, you’re asking what motivated him and what it felt like. People are people as long as they’ve lived. Karissa: That’s my favorite part too. How did people actually live, what challenges did they face, and what did they wear? KyLee: I also like when an author challenges what we accept as historical norms. Bring out something different that we wouldn’t expect. Like a female rancher who ran a ranch with hundreds of cowboys. I heard on a podcast that there was an African-American college in Waco in the 1860s. I had never heard of that. I want to learn the things that go against what people believe as a whole. I want to see the people who were counterculture in their time. Christie: Whoever wins writes the history book. There’s so much that was lived and done that you don’t know about because it was shut down, or the history books made it seem nice and clean. Favorite eras and the appeal of time travel Karissa: Christie, do you have a favorite era to read or write about? Christie: I haven’t read much historical in a while. I used to read a lot of Jen Turano because her voice is funny, witty, and sharp. For an era, late 1800s to 1940s. If there’s too much work to live, it pulls me out. I’m modern. I don’t want to learn about churning butter. Darcy: A few modern conveniences is okay. Christie: I would do a castle, like medieval, every now and then. KyLee: That’s what’s fun about time travel or slip time. You get the comparison. Especially time travel, when someone modern comes into the past and you see how they react to everything. Karissa: I just discovered Gabrielle Meyer. It’s sort of time travel. KyLee: In those books, the women exist in two timelines until a certain age. Then they have to choose which timeline they’ll live in. What’s fun is that she explores different eras. You get contrast between two past timelines, like the Civil War and the 1920s. Christie: I’d choose the ’20s, not the war. Karissa: I love the Victorian era and the Regency era. I also love reading classics written in the period. You get the perspective of someone who lived in that era and took so much for granted. Darcy: If you read Jane Austen, she doesn’t explain everything because her readers would understand it. Then you read a Regency novel by a modern author, and they explain everything. It’s cool to do both. Karissa: Darcy and KyLee, do you have favorite time periods? Darcy: Medieval is my favorite to read in and write in. Then the Regency era, then the American West. I probably read mostly Westerns. Some people say cowboys are the truest heirs to medieval knights. There are similarities in how unlawful it could feel. There was law in both places, but it only extended so far. Christie: I watch black and white westerns with my mom. The body count is wild. They’re just shooting people in the street and it’s cool. I would never want to live back then. KyLee: I overanalyze it too. It’s set in the 1800s, but it was made in the ’40s or ’50s. So I’m thinking about their worldview and ideologies, and how that shaped what they presented. Christie: They’re pretty racist. Sometimes I’m like, how is this still on TV? Darcy: Everything we write is a product of our time. It’s just more glaring the further back you go. KyLee: I started Gone with the Wind. It’s too long for my taste. Some language made me pause. Karissa: We never see the sins of our own era. Our descendants will look back and see the sins of today. Darcy: Grace Livingstone Hill wrote in the late 1800s and early 1900s. You see elements of racism and classism, and ideas like bloodline influencing character. Looking through modern eyes, it’s horrible. She’s still one of my favorites because her stories are sweet and encouraging in faith, but you see how even a good person is a product of their time. KyLee: That’s why it’s important to be kind. I’m not going to stop reading her because I can see flaws. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Karissa: That comes up in English teaching too. How do you teach classics responsibly without canceling them completely? War settings in historical fiction Karissa: I wanted to talk about books set during wars. We see a lot set with the backdrop of World War II. Do you have a favorite war setting to read about, and any favorite books? KyLee: I’ve always been drawn to the Civil War. When I was growing up, there were quite a few Civil War movies and books in the Christian genre. The brother against brother aspect pulls me in. As an adult, I look at the events that led up to it and grimace, hoping history doesn’t repeat itself. More recently, the Franco-Prussian War, partly because some of my ancestors' sisters came over during that time. It only lasted about a year. France declared it, and France lost. Their people suffered. Germany demanded huge remunerations in gold. By today’s standards, I did the math before we started, it was about 84 to 95 billion dollars. (FACT CHECK – In today’s purchasing power, estimates for that 5 billion francs generally range between $80 billion and $100 billion USD.) France had promised not to tax people during the war, but afterward they charged back taxes. There was a civil uprising in Paris, and a week-long massacre called the Bloody Week. That history comes into book one of the Outlaw Heart series. It’s lesser known French history. My people were German, and my characters are French, but I was fascinated by it. You don’t hear about that war as much. Darcy: That’s obscure for Americans because it didn’t affect us directly, so it doesn’t make it into our history books. But it made a huge difference in Europe. KyLee: My dad’s side always wrote Prussia on census records, not Germany. That led me to dig into where Prussia was and how that history unfolded. Writing trauma and war without being gratuitous Karissa: What challenges did you find writing about something so difficult in a way that worked for your story? KyLee: The main character in book one, Lorraine, lived through the Bloody Week. She’s in America now. I looked at where she is as an immigrant and how she tries to settle when there is nothing left for her in France. People were rounded up, imprisoned, and shipped off to New Caledonia, a penal colony near Australia, I believe. No trial. Later, there were pardons, but many people were still imprisoned because they were never tried, and their names were never even taken down. Lorraine is haunted by the past and has post-traumatic stress disorder. She refuses to speak English even though she understands it. She holds tightly to French roots, clothing, and food, and stays close to other French people. Jesse challenges her to put down roots in a country where she feels like an alien. That Bible phrase kept coming up to me, be kind to the immigrant, the alien, the foreigner. Remember when you were in Egypt and you were a stranger in a strange land. For research, I relied on as many documents as I could find, plus academic papers written about the Bloody Week and why it happened. I want to respect history and the people who lived it. Karissa: I love how you included the war because we feel the weight she carries without putting everything on the page in an overly graphic way. Christie: The Bandit’s Redemption is the first in the series. It has such a pretty cover too. Darcy: It’s such a good one. Darcy's pick: World War II Karissa: Darcy, do you have a favorite war setting? Darcy: Probably World War II, because it’s so vast. You have the European theater and the Pacific theater, plus the home front in America and Britain. Every time I pick up a World War II book, it’s like, “I did not know that.” The Civil War is hard for me. I grew up in Georgia, and in some places it feels like it happened this century. It was my country. World War II lets me detach a bit more. I did read one Civil War book by Rosanna M. White that was fabulous, Dreams of Savannah. It handled the loyalty conflict very gracefully. Karissa: What makes a good war book? Christie: Accuracy doesn’t matter much to me because I’m not going to catch mistakes. I want characters and their journeys, battles and close calls, romance, and a happy ending. Darcy: I appreciate historical facts because I want to be grounded in the setting. But if I’m reading fiction, I’m there for story and characters. I want to see what the war is doing to them, to their society, to their family, and how it changes their lives. KyLee: I want it at the character level too. I also like seeing people on both sides. I want everyday heroes, and small choices that mattered. I also love surprising historical technology I didn’t know about. Karissa: Accuracy matters to me, but not at the expense of story. I just want what happens to feel believable for the era. In Regency romances, for example, two people being alone in a room can be a big deal. A kiss behind a barn could ruin lives. Darcy: Historical characters in books sometimes have a modern disregard for societal pressure, which is inaccurate. We all feel societal pressure today too. It’s just different pressures. When classics meet modern retellings Christie: Karissa, you like reading the Brontës because they wrote in that time. Do they have stolen kisses, or is it different because they were writing then? Karissa: If it’s Emily and Wuthering Heights, it’s more dramatic and Gothic. With Jane Eyre, I think it’s more bound by the era. Darcy: If someone did a modern retelling, I think they’d put stolen kisses in. KyLee: It depends on the character and how they were raised. There were orphanages and homes for widows who were pregnant, and women who had gotten pregnant outside marriage. There are records showing pregnancies starting before marriage dates in some places in the 1700s. On the whole, the societal expectation mattered. So you need to look at your character. If she’s proper and ladylike, she probably won’t have modern levels of physical intimacy. Karissa has proofread my stuff and told me, this would never happen. She was right. It pushes you to be creative. Make the little things special too. Karissa: What might seem small to us might be very steamy to someone in the Regency era. Like touching a hand without a glove. Darcy: He’ll be proposing within the week. War book recommendations and lesser-known conflicts Christie: I read The Ice Swan by J'nell Ciesielski. That was during the Russian Revolution in 1917. I remember really liking that one. Darcy: Rosemary Sutcliff does this well in her books about Britain after Rome officially withdrew. It spans generations. The first is The Eagle of the Ninth. It’s technically YA and she wrote in the 1950s or ’60s. Sword at Sunset is an adult book with some adult content. She personalizes the conflict and shows conflicting loyalties, and friendships across cultures. It’s history, not fantasy. Karissa: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. Not to be confused with anything else. It’s YA historical set during World War II, but it focuses on Stalin’s reign and deportations to Siberia. It takes place in Lithuania and the Baltic states, where there were multiple occupations. It’s about a girl whose family is sent to a prison camp. I studied abroad in Lithuania, so that history sticks with me. Ruta Sepetys researches a lot and her books are well done. Kelly mentioned The Women by Kristin Hannah, set during the Vietnam War. Darcy: I had someone tell me she read The Women three times because it was so good. It's on my list. My sister highly recommends Kristin Hannah. She read The Nightingale and said it was worth the pain. Christie: I need happy ones. I can only do one super tearjerker a year. What everyone is currently reading KyLee: I borrowed The Dark of the Moon by Fiona Valpy. I’ve read The Dressmaker’s Gift and The Beekeeper’s Promise by her. They're World War II, like French resistance. Melanie Dobson does this well too, like The Curator’s Daughter, a time slip about a woman married to a Nazi soldier. I like books that feel sobering, like they changed my life. I also borrowed Angel from the East by Barbara A. Curtis. I borrowed The Winter Rose by Melanie Dobson, a World War II story about a lady who helps rescue Jewish children. Darcy: I just finished The Bounty Hunter’s Surrender by KyLee Woodley. I had never read it cover to cover. I helped brainstorm, and apparently the villain is my fault. I enjoyed it so much. I’m also reading a contemporary by Becky Wade, Turn to Me, in her Misty River romance series set in Northeast Georgia. I know exactly what she’s describing. Christie: I’m reading The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena. Karissa: I'm listening to the audiobook of Long Bright River by Liz Moore. It’s about a police officer in Philadelphia. Her sister struggles with addiction, then goes missing. There are flashbacks and a modern timeline, plus mysterious murders. I can't stop listening. Where to find Historical Bookworm and Lit Ladies KyLee: You can connect with us at HistoricalBookworm.com. You can find me at KyLeeWoodley.com and Darcy at DarcyFornier.com Darcy: I’m most active on Instagram, DarcyFornierWriter Karissa: Thank you for joining us today on our literary journey. If you love the podcast, share it with a friend and rate and review. And don’t forget to follow us on social media at Lit Ladies Pod. Our quote today is from Barbara Tuchman: “Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled. Thought and speculation are at a standstill.”

Twenty-five years ago, President Bill Clinton stood before a podium in the East Room of the White House, and, in front of an all-star lineup of researchers and dignitaries, made a historic announcement: After years of painstaking work, scientists had created “the most important, most wondrous map ever produced by humankind” — the first-ever survey of the human genome.In his remarks, Clinton compared the achievement to the maps created by Lewis and Clark's expedition into the American West — but maybe a comparison to the space race would have been more accurate. Because, behind the scenes, the journey leading up to that day's announcement had been defined by nerve-wracking, cut-throat competition — a competition where every minute counted, and the future of scientific inquiry was at stake.On this encore episode, we look back at how what started as a scientific collaboration fractured into a bitter race to finish decoding the human genome. On one side was the federally funded Human Genome Project; on the other, a private start-up called Celera; and, in between, a raucous mashup of conflicting personalities, values, and ideas that would eventually help to transform science and medicine.

EPISODE SUMMARYThe most powerful special effect at Disneyland isn't a projection or a firework. It's water—dyed, pumped, and choreographed to keep illusions seamless, landscapes lush, and guests grounded. In this episode, Kelly and Pete unravel the surprising, ingenious, and deeply odd engineering behind one of Disneyland's most overlooked systems: the park-wide dark water network that connects Storybook Land, the Motorboat Cruise, the Snow White Grotto, the Adventureland Treehouse, the Jungle Cruise, and the entire Rivers of America.Along the way, we pay tribute to Rob Reiner, Gil Gerard, Bob Burns, and Imagineer Eddie Sotto. We also explore the enduring importance of Peter Renaday, original voice of Mark Twain and the first Ghost Host. This episode weaves history, engineering, Imagineering lore, and personal stories into one of the richest deep dives we've done yet.---⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Intro  02:00 Remembering Rob Reiner, Gil Gerard & Bob Burns  09:45 Tribute to Imagineer Eddie Sotto  12:30 What Is Disneyland's “Dark Water System”?  14:50 How the Water Flows (Storybook Land → Motorboat Cruise → Matterhorn → Snow White Grotto → Carnation Creek → Adventureland → Jungle Cruise → Rivers of America)  32:10 Jungle Cruise Waterfalls & Mosquito Abatement  38:30 Swiss Family Treehouse / Adventureland Treehouse Water Loop  45:20 The Truth About “Well #1” (137 feet, not 1300 feet)  56:00 Riding the Mark Twain & the peaceful design of the river  01:06:00 Peter Renaday – Mark Twain, Ghost Host & Disney legend  ---

Clay welcomes eminent western historian Paul Hutton for a discussion of his new book, The Undiscovered Country: Triumph, Tragedy, and the Shaping of the American West. Hutton is a distinguished emeritus professor of history at the University of New Mexico and also the Interim Curator of the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming. Hutton's latest book attempts to strike a balance between the old, unreconstructed triumphalist view of America's westward movement and the more recent, guilt-ridden academic condemnation of the American experiment. We attempted to unpack the concepts of discovery, manifest destiny, the "Indian Wars," and the mythology of the West, including in Hollywood Westerns. How should America think about its westward movement as the 250th birthday of the United States approaches? This podcast was recorded on October 30, 2025.

Ponderosa pine trees dominate parts of Eastern Oregon and Washington and have long been an icon of the American West, but in the past decade more than two hundred million ponderosa have died. Particularly in the Southwest, scientists estimate that by mid-century less than 5% of the ponderosa trees may remain. Portland author Gary Ferguson explores the history and the future of the ponderosa forests of the Southwest in his newest book, “The Twilight Forest.”

In this episode of the Gubba Podcast, we explore a controversial and rarely examined theory: that key biblical events may have taken place in what we now call Utah, and that modern maps may not tell the full story of ancient history. By looking closely at geography, water systems, place names, and historical patterns, we compare biblical descriptions of Judea, Jerusalem, and the Jordan River with striking similarities found in the Utah landscape.This episode examines why certain biblical place names cluster in the American West, how sacred geography may have been relocated over time, and why questioning official historical narratives is often discouraged. We also explore early reports, archaeological inconsistencies, and psychological conditioning around maps, authority, and belief.You don't have to accept every theory presented here—but if you've ever questioned where biblical history really happened, or why some questions are treated as off-limits, this episode will challenge you to look at the land, the Bible, and history itself in a new way.Learn more about this episode at others at Gubba Homestead PodcastShop All Natural Skincare and homestead products made right here in the USA

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! In the heart of Tombstone, Arizona, stands a building where the Wild West never truly died. Opened in 1881, the Birdcage Theatre was a notorious crossroads of entertainment, crime, and vice—serving as a saloon, brothel, and gambling hall where fortunes were lost, tempers flared, and lives ended violently. The walls absorbed it all. And many believe they still remember. Today, the Birdcage Theatre is considered one of the most haunted locations in the American West. Shadow figures move through empty rooms. Voices echo long after closing time. And presences linger that feel far too aware of the living. In this episode of The Grave Talks, paranormal investigator and author Steven Blackwell takes us deep inside the Birdcage's dark history and its ongoing hauntings. Are the spirits here dangerous… or simply trapped in the roles they played in life? Some stages never go dark. And some performances never end. This is Part Two of our conversation. #BirdcageTheatre #TombstoneArizona #HauntedWildWest #ParanormalHistory #TrueParanormal #GhostStories #HauntedPlaces #TheGraveTalks #WildWestHauntings  Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! In the heart of Tombstone, Arizona, stands a building where the Wild West never truly died. Opened in 1881, the Birdcage Theatre was a notorious crossroads of entertainment, crime, and vice—serving as a saloon, brothel, and gambling hall where fortunes were lost, tempers flared, and lives ended violently. The walls absorbed it all. And many believe they still remember. Today, the Birdcage Theatre is considered one of the most haunted locations in the American West. Shadow figures move through empty rooms. Voices echo long after closing time. And presences linger that feel far too aware of the living. In this episode of The Grave Talks, paranormal investigator and author Steven Blackwell takes us deep inside the Birdcage's dark history and its ongoing hauntings. Are the spirits here dangerous… or simply trapped in the roles they played in life? Some stages never go dark. And some performances never end. #BirdcageTheatre #TombstoneArizona #HauntedWildWest #ParanormalHistory #TrueParanormal #GhostStories #HauntedPlaces #TheGraveTalks #WildWestHauntings  Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash welcomes Robbie Kroger, founder and Executive Director of The Origins Foundation, for an in-depth conversation about hunting advocacy, wildlife conservation and the sustainable use model that's shaping the future of global conservation efforts.Guest Expertise: From Wetland Scientist to Conservation AdvocateRobbie Kroger brings an unconventional background to hunting advocacy. With a PhD in wetland ecology and aquatic biogeochemistry from the University of Mississippi, six years as a professor in the Wildlife Fisheries Department at Mississippi State and over 100 peer-reviewed publications, Robbie served as chief scientist for the BP oil spill restoration framework. His science-based, measured approach to communication sets The Origins Foundation apart in the hunting advocacy space.What You'll Learn: Reframing the Conservation ConversationDiscover how The Origins Foundation communicates with non-hunters (not anti-hunters) using honesty, respect and scientific reasoning rather than emotional arguments. Robbie explains why sustainable use of wildlife isn't a silver bullet but rather one of only seven critical tools in the limited conservation toolbox. Learn why value-based wildlife management - whether protecting elephant habitat in Africa or managing wolf populations in the American West - creates incentives for local communities to coexist with wildlife rather than eliminate it.Featured Conservation Projects: Global Impact Through ActionRobbie details the world's largest cheetah relocation project, having moved 17 cheetahs into 500,000 acres of Mozambique habitat buffered by 10 million acres of protected land, with three more relocations planned for 2026. Hear about upcoming documentaries including "Sauvons Bambi" (debuting June 2026 in Paris) about European hunters using thermal drones to save roe deer fawns from farm equipment and "In My Footsteps" profiling the first scholarship recipient from a South African hunting charity who became a successful architect. The Foundation is also building schools and clinics in South Africa and Zambia while working on rhino and lion conservation initiatives.Public Lands and Management Philosophy InsightsDrawing on his experience growing up under South Africa's private wildlife ownership model, Robbie contrasts it with America's revolutionary public trust doctrine where wildlife belongs to everyone. He discusses the chronic underfunding of agencies like USFS, USFWS and BLM, arguing that public-private partnerships, biodiversity credits and creative funding models could dramatically improve stewardship. The conversation explores complex topics like fair chase ethics, social media responsibility for hunters and anglers, wolf management controversies and why both sides being upset with you often means you've found the right position.Join the ConversationThe Origins Foundation actively engages with supporters across all social media platforms, typically with Robbie responding personally to messages. Whether attending major hunting shows from Wild Sheep Foundation to Safari Club International or meeting supporters for roadside coffee in Australia, the Foundation maintains an accessible, ego-free approach focused on lifting up the entire conservation community rather than self-promotion.SponsorsThanks to TroutRoutes for sponsoring this episode. Use artfly20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro...

We've wrapped presents and we've wrapped the first part of our American West season, but we've got big news coming soon  in the new year!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join me on my outdoor adventures on public lands across the American West and beyond. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@thehuntersquest Check out The Hunter's Quest Podcast here:https://open.spotify.com/show/1bvtyKal41T76jLgPTXp10 Follow along on Instagram:@TheHuntersQuest My Favorite Eberlestock Gear! – www.eberlestock.com/quest or use code QUEST save 10% www.browning.com Browning Firearms & Ammunition – The Best There Is. www.canisathlete.com - use code: QUEST and save on Tactical Hunting Apparel__________________________________________________________________________ OnX Maps – use code: QUEST and save 20% when you join / support the show Seek Outside Shelters – use code: QUEST and save 10% on shelters, stoves, etc.____________________________________________________________________________ FENIX Lighting – www.fenixlighting.com Leupold Optics – www.leupold.com___________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGVP4F5g3SiOookJK01Jy5w Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thehuntersquest/ and @huntermcwaters____________________________________________________________________________ www.thehuntersquest.com

Step inside the visionary minds of writer/director duo Kerry Carlock and Nick Lund-Ulrich and producer Jennifer Sorenson, the filmmaking team behind the bold and genre-bending fantasy film SUFFER. Blending the American West with mythic fantasy, SUFFER follows Ida Blye, a young handmaiden with traumatic wounds and dangerous magic, on a feminist quest to dismantle the Scarlet Prince's dark reign.In this conversation, we explore how Kerry and Nick built an epic world on a tiny budget, worked with a minimal crew, and created a story that challenges the traditional Hero's Journey. Featuring a haunting, nearly silent performance from Naomi McDougall Jones, SUFFER asks one powerful question: What happens when the hero's strongest weapon is their collective voice?We dive into microbudget worldbuilding, reinventing genre tropes, directing silence, and why now is the perfect time for stories that inspire resistance, courage, and unity.

Dive deep into Colorado's enigmatic skies in Episode 144 of the Rocky Mountain UFO Podcast. We're investigating the groundbreaking book, "Rocky Mountain Lights: Colorado's UFO Secrets Revealed" by Doc Pearson, published by the experimental non-profit, BrightLearn.AI. This episode meticulously pieces together Colorado's legacy as a Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) hotspot, from ancient Native American legends and pioneer accounts to contemporary sightings. We confront the enduring government secrecy and institutional obfuscation surrounding UAP, analyzing the role of facilities like NORAD and the controversial conclusions of Project Blue Book. We spotlight Colorado's most compelling mysteries, including the bizarre cattle mutilations in the San Luis Valley and the mass-witnessed 2003 Denver Lights event. Our discussion champions the critical importance of decentralized, grassroots research to challenge official narratives and uncover the truth. Search Terms: Colorado UFO Secrets, Rocky Mountain UAP, Doc Pearson Interview, Project Blue Book NORAD, San Luis Valley Cattle Mutilations, 2003 Denver Lights Sighting, Government UFO Secrecy, Grassroots UFO Research, BrightLearn.AI Book, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Colorado History. Listen now for a definitive exploration of the evidence, myths, and cover-ups hidden in the heart of the American West.

In this episode, conservationist and filmmaker Tom Opre sits down with Mark Sather, a longtime Montana sportsman and employee of the Sieben Livestock Company, to unpack one of the most volatile and misunderstood issues in Western conservation: access, entitlement, and responsibility. Raised hunting the Gates of the Mountains and the Bob Marshall, Sather brings a generational sportsman's perspective shaped by years working inside a large, wildlife-rich cattle operation. He speaks candidly about what happens when public wildlife, private land, federal agencies, state managers, and modern hunting technology collide—sometimes literally—with helicopters, drones, and rising tensions in the field. The conversation moves deep into block management, helicopter access to landlocked public ground, changing hunter behavior, and the real-world consequences ranchers face when gates are left open, cattle are displaced, and trust breaks down. Sather also explains how proactive management—cow elk harvests, hazing with drones, and collaboration with Fish & Game—can reduce conflict while still putting meat in freezers. This is not a theoretical discussion. It's a ground-level look at how conservation actually works—or fails—when emotion, politics, and entitlement replace humility, stewardship, and dialogue. If you care about hunting, public land, private land, and the future of wildlife in the American West, this is a conversation you need to hear.

Join Field Ethos founder and CEO Jason Vincent and Baker Leavitt for an unfiltered conversation through the world of modern adventure hunting. From the raw instinct of staying calm when a plane is crashing to stalking Cape buffalo and elephants in Southern Africa, tracking lions with local hunters, dodging venomous snakes, and navigating Australia's elusive dangerous game under strict gun laws—this episode is packed with real stories from the edge.   The conversation flows from spearfishing and lobstering in crystal waters to calling elk in the American West, tasting hippo steaks washed down with African beer, and debating the finest wild-game meats on the planet. Gearheads will love the deep dive into hand-built custom rifles, Q's groundbreaking designs, and SIG Sauer's latest innovations. At its core, this nearly two-hour episode is a passionate manifesto for bringing hunting back to its roots: true adventure, ethical harvest, conservation through utilization, and the unapologetic pursuit of wild places and wild game. It's also the origin story of Field Ethos Journal—how two hunters set out to build the most trusted, credible, and beautifully crafted hunting media brand from day one. TOPICS COVERED: ● Hunting in Africa ● Bringing Hunting Back to Adventure ● Founding Field Ethos and Using Journals to Spark Interest in Adventure

In today's Update Journal, we unpack the 48-hour period where being a Mets fan felt like getting hit by a city bus, backed over by an MTA supervisor, and then charged an extra fare because you “didn't tap.” Edwin Díaz packed his trumpets for Hollywood, Pete Alonso sailed off to Baltimore like he's auditioning for a reboot of The Wire, and In-N-Out removed “67” from the menu for reasons no living human understands. Meanwhile, holiday shoppers continue their annual tradition of forgetting other people exist, walking through Target like NPCs trying to glitch through walls. Buckle up — it's a wild one.In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Thursday, Brad Lander, the chief fiscal officer of New York City, announced that he is challenging U.S. Rep Dan Goldman in a Democratic primary for a liberal district covering lower Manhattan and parts of brownstone Brooklyn.“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” actress who was struck and killed by a taxi while crossing a Midtown street was a Customs and Border Protection officer who had been looking forward to retiring — and was cherished for her warm greetings, her devastated neighbors say.And out in the American West, tens of thousands of residents in western Washington could face evacuation orders when another round of heavy rain drops on the region, threatening to bring catastrophic flooding as rivers near historic levels.

In this episode, we travel back to 1903 to explore the film that helped define American cinema long before Hollywood found its voice. The Great Train Robbery isn't just an early Western—it's a landmark collision of myth, modernity, and narrative invention. Released while real outlaws were still roaming the frontier, the film stands at a pivotal moment when the American West was fading into history but rising into legend.We examine how Edwin S. Porter's short, violent, technically daring film transformed cinema from a novelty into a storytelling medium. From its startling alignment with the outlaws to its groundbreaking use of action, movement, and editing, The Great Train Robbery shaped the themes that would dominate American film for the next century: frontier justice, charismatic violence, technological change, and the thin line between spectator and participant.We also unpack the film's iconic final shot—a bandit firing directly into the camera—and why it remains one of the most provocative gestures in film history.If you've ever wondered how the Western became myth, how cinema learned to tell stories, or why American film has always been fascinated with outlaws, this deep dive uncovers the origins of it all.A revisionist Western before revisionism existed. A myth created in real time. And a twelve-minute film that changed everything.Where to watch:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In3mRDX0uqkAll music licensed through Music Bed

Lara Neumeier is a German climber known for her composure on demanding, heady terrain. Her notable ascents include a repeat of Psychogramm (5.14a trad), Silbergeier and End of Silence—two of the iconic multipitch alpine routes that form Europe's so-called Alpine Trilogy—as well as El Corazón and the Pineapple Express on El Capitan. Before diving into Lara's climbing and approach to mental strength, we open with a conversation about the benefits—and potential pitfalls—of choosing a climber as your partner for life, both on and off the rock. This episode's final bit comes from Dave Pomeranz, a longtime climber balancing life as a dad and guitarist while roaming the American West. His band, Whale Fall, contributes the track “The Dawn Thief,” inspired by long night drives through deserts and mountains on the way to climb. Show Notes Follow Lara Neumeier: https://www.instagram.com/laraneumeier/ Pineapple Express: https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/lara-neumeier-nemuel-fuerle-repeat-el-nino-via-pineapple-express-el-capitan-yosemite.html Psychogramm news: https://www.lacrux.com/klettern/lara-neumeier-zeigt-nervenstarke-erste-frauenbegehung-von-trad-route-psychogramm/ Thomas Huber: The Day I Sent End of Silence: https://eveningsends.com/thomas-huber-the-day-i-sent-the-end-of-silence/ Whale Fall on Bandcamp https://whalefall.bandcamp.com Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast

In this episode of Words on a Wire, host Will Rose speaks with historian Max Perry Mueller about his groundbreaking new book, Wakara's America: The Life and Legacy of a Native Founder of the American West. Mueller uncovers the complicated, often misunderstood history of Chief Wakara, the influential Ute leader whose life intersected with Mormon settlers, the expanding American state, and the violent transformations of the 19th-century West.Through a conversation that blends archival detective work with storytelling, Mueller explains how Wakara shaped trade networks, diplomacy, intertribal relations, and the contested borderlands of the Great Basin. The discussion explores Wakara not as a mythic figure or a villain—as he has often been depicted—but as a strategist navigating colonial pressures while protecting his people's interests.

Documentaries expose us to slices of history that may be overlooked by traditional media.Jordan Peele's new "High Horse: The Black Cowboy" docuseries explores the real history of Black cowboys in the American West.We talk about the significance of the series and defining influence of Black cowboys and cowgirls — from the rodeo to fashion and music. We also hear from one of the "Compton Cowboys" on keeping that legacy alive in Southern California.Then, we take a visit to Warwick's Bookstore in La Jolla, which has won Publishers Weekly's Bookstore of the Year award for playing an active role in the community through vibrant literary events.Plus, a preview of arts and culture events happening this weekend.Guests:Olutoyosi Aboderin, professor of History and Africana Studies, University of San DiegoRandy Savvy, founder and CEO of Compton CowboysNancy Warwick, owner, Warwick's BookstoreJulia Dixon Evans, arts reporter, KPBS

People in the American West love tiny houses. But, come to find out, per square foot they cost almost 40% more than a regular house. Eric and Erica found a way to get one on the cheap – by winning one in an auction! But are tiny houses really an affordable housing solution, when you try to scale up?

This week we're talking about hunting and managing a unique species, Mountain Lions. These beautiful cats are synonymous with the American West and wild places.  In some states hunting has been taking away which has created its own unique set of challenges. If your like us we love wildlife and learning about them. This week were joined by houndsman Daniel Cornelius, a seasoned lion hunter and Korey Reese. Korey has what may be the best mountain encounter story we've heard. You'll be on the edge of your seat.Listen, Learn and Enjoy.Send a text message to the show! Support the showStay connected with GameKeepers: Instagram: @mossyoakgamekeepers Facebook: @GameKeepers Twitter: @MOGameKeepers YouTube: @MossyOakGameKeepers Website: https://mossyoakgamekeeper.com/ Enter The Gamekeeper Giveaway: https://bit.ly/GK_Giveaway Subscribe to Gamekeepers Magazine: https://bit.ly/GK_Magazine Buy a Single Issue of Gamekeepers Magazine: https://bit.ly/GK_Single_Issue Join our Newsletters: Field Notes - https://bit.ly/GKField_Notes | The Branch - https://bit.ly/the_branch Have a question for us or a podcast idea? Email us at gamekeepers@mossyoak.com

This week Max Perry Mueller drops in to talk about Wakara, a Ute man who shaped the modern American West. We also talk about the complexities of Native American identity, the impact of Manifest Destiny, and the ethical considerations in writing Native history. Max also highlights the importance of cultural exchange, environmental stewardship, and the ongoing struggles for repatriation and rematriation of Indigenous remains.About our guest:Max Perry Mueller (PhD, Harvard University) is an assistant professor in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies. He is also a fellow at the Center for Great Plains Studies and teaches in the Department of History, the Honors Program, and the Global Studies program.Mueller is a theorist and historian of race and religion in American history, with particular interest in Indigenous and African-American religious experiences, epistemologies, and cosmologies. The central animating question of his scholarship is how the act of writing—especially the writing of historical narratives—has affected the creation and contestation of "race" as a category of political and religious division in American history.His first book, Race and the Making of the Mormon People (The University of North Carolina Press, 2017), examines how the three original American races—"red," "black," and "white"—were constructed as literary projects before these racial categories were read onto bodies of Americans of Native, African, and European descent. Choice described Race and the Making of the Mormon People as an "outstanding analysis of the role of race among Mormons." The book was featured in The Atlantic and Harvard Divinity School Bulletin and has been taught at, among others, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford Universities. His next book, Wakara's America, will be the first full-length biography of the complex and often paradoxical Ute warrior chief, horse thief, slave trader, settler colonist, one-time Mormon, and Indian resistance leader.Mueller's research and teaching also connect with his public scholarship. Mueller has written on religion, race, and politics for outlets including Slate, The New Republic, and The Atlantic. He also co-founded Religion & Politics, the online journal of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion & Politics at Washington University in St. Louis, whose mission is to bring the best scholarship on religion and American public life to audiences beyond the academy.

Chloé Zhao was the second woman to ever win an Oscar for Best Director, for her 2020 film “Nomadland.” After taking a wide turn to create the Marvel supernatural epic “Eternals,” Zhao has taken another intriguing change of direction with “Hamnet,” based on Maggie O'Farrell's novel about how William Shakespeare coped with the death of his only son. In conversation with the New Yorker staff writer Michael Schulman, Zhao discusses the role that nature plays in her filmmaking, from the American West to the forests of Britain; the process of adapting manga to film; and how neurodivergence informs her creative process.New episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour drop every Tuesday and Friday. Join host David Remnick as he discusses the latest in politics, news, and current events in conversation with political leaders, newsmakers, innovators, New Yorker staff writers, authors, actors, and musicians.

Today on The Cameron Journal Podcast we are joined by Cinda Gault, a canadian author of historical fiction set in the Canadian and American West. I will admit that I did not know anything about Canadian western expansion until I visited Alberta on a writing residency in 2019. Cinda is the expert and her stories explore women's lives in these historical, Canadian settings with real-life elements! I loved her pitch to me because she said, "I think your Mom would like these stories." And she's probably right! I will be passing them along! Join us on this delightful adventure with a delightful author! You can visit Cameron online at CameronJournal.com Watch The Cameron Journal Newshour every Monday at 7 pm!Part of the SOOPcast Podcast Network

Sifting through layers and layers of myth and legend—from nineteenth-century dime novels to prestige dramas to the casino billboards outside of present-day Deadwood— author Peter Cozzens unveils the true face of Deadwood South Dakota. He does so in his new book “Deadwood: Gold, Guns, and Greed in the American West.” It is the true story of the Black Hills goldrush settlement once described as the most diabolical town on earth.

Buffalo Bill Cody was one of America's great mythmakers. The man born William Cody reinvented himself as the west's greatest rider, scout, and buffalo hunter before taking his schtick to the American stage in the early 1870's. Buffalo Bill would eventually develop his frontiersman act into the Wild West Show, an outdoor exposition that was part circus, part rodeo, and part historical reenactment. Between 1883 and 1913 the show was seen by millions. "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" helped reinforce popular legends about the American West and essentially invented the "western" entertainment genre. The man behind the show was a liar and hum-bug artist in the vein of P.T Barnum. How did Bill's mythical version of the west affect popular understandings of history? Tune-in and find out how 19th century social media influencers, fake duels, and Buffalo Bill's Buffalo Blob all play a roll in story. Join us in Greece in 2026! Check out the itinerary and book HERE!Check out the merch at out T-Public store HERE! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The WDC is a juried show of over 100 artisans and craftspeople working in the American West in couture fashion, home furnishings, jewelry, silver, and leather goods. Join owner Allison Merritt when she discusses the designer show house, the couture fashion show, panels and speakers, and the show's big move to Montana.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6/8. The Great Slaughter: Audubon's Regret and the Lewis and Clark Grizzly Massacre — Dan Flores — The opening of the American West initiated an unprecedented destruction of animal populations. Flores documents that John James Audubon, while initially killing wildlife subjects for his ornithological artwork, eventually expressed profound regret regarding the systematic destruction of mammals including buffalo herds. Flores notes that the Lewis and Clark Expedition mirrored prevailing colonial attitudes; Meriwether Lewis permitted subordinates to transform grizzly bearhunting into recreational sport, resulting in at least half of the 37 encountered bears being killed without apparent practical justification, representing callous wastage of irreplaceable fauna.

7/8. The Western Safari, Sheridan's Irony, and the Scientific Ignorance Driving the Wolf Slaughter — Dan Flores— The mid-nineteenth-century American West became a safari destination for wealthy European nobility who engaged in serial, unjustified massacres of wildlife, meticulously recording kill counts as trophy tallies. Flores documents a historical irony: General Philip Sheridan, traditionally maligned as a villain, actually protested the systematic buffaloslaughter and subsequently protected Yellowstone fauna. Flores emphasizes that wolves were poisoned ubiquitously throughout this period due to unscientific Old World superstitions and profound ecological ignorance, reflecting medieval prejudices rather than empirical understanding of predator-prey dynamics and ecosystem function.

Max Perry Mueller, professor of religious studies and author, joined me in this sweeping interview to discuss his new book, Wakara's America: The Life and Legacy of a Native Founder of the American West, published by Basic Books. Our discussion covers some of the thematic sweeps and details of Mueller's incredibly well-written and rich history of the American West and one of its central, oft-forgotten, and overlooked founders, Wakara—intersecting with indigenous ecological knowledge and management systems, settler-colonialism, and Mormonism. // Episode notes: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com/episodes/max-perry-mueller // Sustain + support: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness // Donate: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast

Buy the Book Wakara’s America: A Historical Perspective Max discussed his new book, “Wakara’s America,” which explores the life and significance of Wakara, a prominent Ute leader in the 1840s. He explained that Wakara was known by different names in various regions, reflecting his extensive travels and interactions with diverse communities. Max, a historian of American religion at the University of Nebraska, shared his fascination with Latter-day Saint history and culture, which led him to research Wakara’s role in the American West and his interactions with early Mormons. He highlighted the need to tell Wakara’s story from his perspective, offering a more nuanced understanding of their complex relationship. Wakara: The Forgotten West’s Thief Max discussed Wakara, a Native American figure from the 1840s who was known as the greatest horse thief of the American West. He enslaved thousands of Paiutes and used his knowledge of the West to create maps that were later used by John C. Fremont and the Latter-day Saints. Max highlighted the importance of Wakara’s contributions to the American West, despite his being largely unknown due to his Native American heritage. Richie expressed surprise at learning about Wakara’s actions and the historical context, emphasizing the need to acknowledge and understand such figures’ roles in shaping history. Understanding Historical Narratives Complexity Max and Richie discussed the complexity of historical narratives, emphasizing the importance of a more nuanced understanding of historical figures and events. Max highlighted the need to recognize the implications of one’s own family history and suggested that acknowledging past actions can lead to better future decisions. They agreed to continue their discussion about the interactions between the Latter-day Saints and Native Americans in the Great Basin and Salt Lake Valley in the next segment. Richie also reminded listeners to contact the Cultural Hall with feedback or suggestions for future guests and discussions. Brigham Young’s Utah Journey Myths Max and Richie discussed the complexities of human beings and the challenges of categorizing individuals as purely good or bad. They explored the origins of the Latter-day Saints’ journey to Utah, focusing on Brigham Young’s Vanguard Company and the mythology surrounding their entry into the Salt Lake Valley. Max explained that while the story of Brigham Young declaring the area to be the “right place” is part of the origin myth, there is no concrete evidence to support this claim. They also discussed Brigham Young’s meeting with Jim Bridger, where Bridger warned about the Utes’ presence in the area, leading to a change in the Mormons’ planned route. Wakara and Brigham Young’s Complex Relationship Max discussed the complex relationship between Wakara, a Native American leader, and Brigham Young, the leader of the Mormons. Wakara helped Brigham settle in the Salt Lake Valley and was invited to the first Pioneer Day celebration in 1849. However, Wakara also used the Mormons to displace his rivals, leading to the extermination of the Timpanogos people in 1850. Max explained that Wakara’s slavery practices were different from the chattel slavery in the American South, as they were more about re-establishing bonds of peoplehood and connection to the land. Despite this, Wakara was baptized a Latter-day Saint in 1850 and led his followers into baptism. Wakara’s Mormon Conversion and Alliances Max discussed Wakara, a Native American leader who was baptized and later ordained as a Mormon priest, which the Mormons viewed as a conversion. Richie questioned whether Wakara’s involvement with the Mormons was a strategic move for power or a genuine conversion. Max explained that Wakara’s adoption of Mormonism was more about forming kinship networks and alliances rather than a complete conversion, and he placed his daughters in Mormon households to strengthen these bonds. Max also highlighted that Wakara’s descendants, including some who may not be aware of their Native American heritage, have been identified through DNA and genealogical research. Brigham Young’s Native American Policies Max discussed the historical relationship between Brigham Young and Wakara, a Native American leader who was among the first Native American priesthood holders in Utah in 1851. He explained how Wacara, despite being illiterate, was given a traveling paper by George A. Smith to trade with Mormon settlers, though this was part of a broader context of Native American slavery and indentured servitude in early Utah. Max argued that Brigham Young’s policies led to conflicts with Native Americans, which he referred to as “Brigham’s War,” rather than the traditionally named “Walker War,” and traced Brigham’s ancestry back to participants in the King Philip’s War, highlighting a pattern of settlers taking Native American land and controlling the narrative of their conflicts. Understanding the Walker War Narrative Max discussed the historical narrative surrounding the Walker War, emphasizing how conflicts are often named after Native Americans despite being initiated by settlers. He highlighted Brigham Young’s role in naming the war and the subsequent peace parlay with Walker, which ended with Walker’s death under mysterious circumstances. Max also touched on the broader themes of American expansionism, the mistreatment of Native American remains, and the potential for a more sustainable and balanced relationship with the land. He expressed hope for a return to indigenous ways of understanding and interacting with the environment, citing recent developments around the Great Salt Lake. The post Wakara’s America: The Life and Legacy of a Native Founder of the American West – 990 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Mike Schaedel is the Western Montana Forest Restoration Director for The Nature Conservancy, where he leads some of the most ambitious and collaborative forest restoration work happening anywhere in the West. Based in Missoula, Mike works at the intersection of science, community partnerships, and land stewardship—helping restore fire-adapted forests, reduce wildfire risk, and improve the health and resilience of landscapes across the region. Mike's career path is super interesting and anything but traditional. He grew up in Portland, fell in love with the mountains through rock climbing, and eventually landed in Missoula, where the combination of wild landscapes and a rich literary community drew him in. After earning an undergraduate degree in creative writing, he found his way into forestry and fire ecology through conservation corps work, hands-on restoration experience, and a graduate program focused on forest dynamics and fire. In this conversation, Mike offers a clear overview of how Western Montana's forests came to look the way they do today—shaped by millennia of tribal burning, transformed by railroad-era land grants and industrial logging, and altered further by a century of fire suppression. He explains why effective restoration now depends on combining mechanical thinning with prescribed fire and on working across ownership boundaries with partners ranging from local communities to tribes and federal agencies. We also discuss some of the innovative collaborative efforts underway in the region, as well as a memorable story of a prescribed burn that came together through quick problem-solving and deep trust. This is a rich, informative, and hopeful conversation about what it takes to restore forests at scale—and why the future of these landscapes depends on both ecological understanding and strong community partnerships. Enjoy! --- Michael Schaedel, Western Montana Forest Restoration Director Reserved Treaty Rights Lands Program: The Power of Partnership Complete episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/mike-schaedel --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. During the last week of every month throughout 2025, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy's leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy's impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:02 – Intro, Mike's love for Missoula 6:04 – Getting a creative writing degree 8:21 – And fighting back into forestry 12:26 – Early writing influences 13:39 – Switching sides of the brain 15:32 – First job out of grad school 20:08 – And that work now 23:38 – Checkerboard landownership 33:04 – Conservation accomplishment 34:56 – Fitting in forest health 39:33 – Fire scars 45:52 – The Big Burn 52:59 – Fire playing a beneficial role 58:51 – And the role mill workers play 1:02:03 – Projects down the pipeline 1:12:00 – Book recs 1:13:49 – Parting words --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Growing up at the feet of the Himalayas in northern India, Kumar took for granted her immersion in a lush natural world. After moving to North America as a teenager, she found herself increasingly distanced from more than human life and discouraged by the civilization she saw contributing to its destruction. It was only in her twenties, living in Los Angeles and working on films, that she began to rediscover her place in the landscape—and in the cosmos—by way of watching birds. Tracing her movements across the American West, this stirring collection of essays Conversations with Birds (Milkweed Editions, 2023) brings the avian world richly to life. Kumar's perspective is not that of a list keeper, counting and cataloguing species. Rather, from the mango-colored western tanager that rescues her from a bout of altitude sickness in Sequoia National Park to ancient sandhill cranes in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, and from the snowy plovers building shallow nests with bits of shell and grass to the white-breasted nuthatch that regularly visits the apricot tree behind her family's casita in Santa Fe, for Kumar, birds “become a portal to a more vivid, enchanted world.” At a time when climate change, habitat loss, and the reckless use of pesticides are causing widespread extinction of species, Kumar's reflections on these messengers from our distant past and harbingers of our future offer luminous evidence of her suggestion that “seeds of transformation lie dormant in all of our hearts. Sometimes it just takes the right bird to awaken us.” Our guest is: Priyanka Kumar, who is a nationally-acclaimed naturalist and award-winning writer. She is the author of Conversations with Birds, The Light Between Apple Trees: Rediscovering the Wild Through a Beloved American Fruit, and her essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Review of Books, Orion, and Sierra magazine. She holds an MFA from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts and is an alumna of the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is an experienced writing coach and developmental editor for academics. She is the producer and show host of the Academic Life podcast. Playlist for listeners: The Light Between Apple Trees In The Garden Behind the Moon The Translators Daughter We Take Our Cities With Us Chasing Chickens The Killer Whale Journals Welcome to Academic Life, the podcast for your academic journey—and beyond! You can support the show by downloading and sharing episodes. Join us again to learn from more experts inside and outside the academy, and around the world. Missed any of the 300+ Academic Life episodes? Find them here. And thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Max Perry Mueller, professor of religious studies and author, joined me in this sweeping interview to discuss his new book, Wakara's America: The Life and Legacy of a Native Founder of the American West, published by Basic Books. Our discussion covers some of the thematic sweeps and details of Mueller's incredibly well-written and rich history of the American West and one of its central, oft-forgotten, and overlooked founders, Wakara, intersecting with ecological knowledge and management systems, settler-colonialism, and Mormonism. // Support the work + listen to the full interview: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness

Highlighting the abysmal start to ski season in the American West, the boys record outdoors at 6,500 feet elevation near the Sierra Crest wearing t-shirts. Even the mountains above Las Vegas have more snow than Tahoe! Episode 75 covers a range of Core Lord Call-Ins including discussion around the rules of Finders Keepers, ASMR and Misophonia, and a shout out to @nick_russelll @slushthemagazine feature on backcountry splitboarding rules and its relation to the 10 Shredmandments from @pow_bot . We do our first live, impromtu phone call with Marc Cosbey's childhood friend Randy, sharing some Captain Cozmo stories. There's also some Mindless Crap like Snack Man and the Pikes Peak Peanut Pusher. And @skyemersontahoe asks is it DOPE or DERP that @erin_ton7 is bagging Colorado 14ers in prom dresses and high heels, so we get a female's perspective.2:24 – No snow in Tahoe. Recording outside at Tahoe Donner Nordic Center. Mammoth Mountain had a ripping opener. More snow in Las Vegas than Tahoe!8:40 – What are you thankful for in 2025?12:25 – Shout out to Miles at Incline Spirits and Cigars.14:15 – Watching the new Vince Gilligan show Pluribus.15:30 – CORE LORD CALL-IN – Dan Kuhns – Doesn't like Snack Man.18:04 – Misophonia – disorder where specific sounds trigger a strong emotional reaction.19:00 – Auto Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) creeps out Trail Whisperer.21:06 – CORE LORD CALL-IN – Keith from Auburn – Kurt Refsnider bikepacking the Orogenesis Trail.26:05 – CORE LORD CALL-IN – Gordo has some categorical tips for Finders Keepers.28:30 – Lost and Found – Did you lose an iWatch on the new Boca Ridge trail?32:30 – CORE LORD CALL-IN – Your Old Pal Garen Becker formerly of Santa Cruz Bicycles fame.35:10 – CORE LORD CALL-IN – Randy wants us to call him about some Cosbey stories.46:40 – DOPE or DERP from Sky E. - bagging 14ers in Colorado in high heels?50:50 – The Peanut Pusher – Bob Salem – Pushes a peanut to the top of Pikes Peak with his nose. Clickbait?54:00 – Local Line Larry – Appreciates our perspective on the Roadless Rule.55:10 – Josh – 100% done with Red Bull Rampage.56:45 – Shout out to Nick Russell – Slush Magazine – “Russell's Ridge – Backcountry Basics Part I – The Guiding Principles of Splitboarding.1:06:10 – Reviewing the 10 Shredmandments.1:11:30 – Any adventure plans for Thanksgiving?

From the publisher:"A comprehensive narrative history of Mt. Rushmore, written in light of recent political controversies, and a timely retrospective for the monument's 100th anniversary in 2025“Well, most people want to come to a national park and leave with that warm, fuzzy feeling with an ice cream cone. Rushmore can't do that if you do it the right way. If you do it the right way people are going to be leaving pissed.”Gerard Baker, the first Native American superintendent of Mt. Rushmore, shared those words with author Matthew Davis. From the tragic history of Wounded Knee and the horrors of Indian Boarding Schools, to the Land Back movement of today, Davis traces the Native American story of Mt. Rushmore alongside the narrative of the growing territory and state of South Dakota, and the economic and political forces that shaped the reasons for the Memorial's creation. A Biography of A Mountain combines history with reportage, bringing the complicated and nuanced story of Mt. Rushmore to life, from the land's origins as sacred tribal ground; to the expansion of the American West; to the larger-than-life personality of Gutzon Borglum, the artist who carved the presidential faces into the mountain; and up to the politicized present-day conflict over the site and its future. Exploring issues related to how we memorialize American history, Davis tells an imperative story for our time."Matthew Davis' website can be found here: https://www.matthewdaviswriter.comInformation on his book can be found here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250285102/abiographyofamountain/AxelbankHistory.com is designed by https://www.ellieclairedesigns.com/Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

In this episode, historian and author Gabriel Neville joins us to discuss his book The Last Men Standing: The 8th Virginia and the Birth of the American Frontier.Nearly 800 men followed the “Fighting Parson,” Colonel Peter Muhlenberg, into the Continental Army in 1776—but few remained by the end of the Revolution. Drawn from Virginia's western frontier—stretching from Pittsburgh to what would become Kentucky and Tennessee—these men helped shape the fight for independence and the early settlement of America's frontier.Neville shares how he pieced together their story from rare letters, archives, and forgotten records, offering new insight into major battles like Sullivan's Island, Germantown, and Monmouth, and into the lives of soldiers who went on to settle the American West.This is the remarkable tale of the 8th Virginia Regiment, the men who endured the Revolution's harshest campaigns—and the legacy they left behind in Kentucky and beyond.Book: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Men-Standing-Virginia-Revolution/dp/18045167248thvirginia.comhttps://linktr.ee/Kyhistorypod

Listen to this episode commercial free at https://angryplanetpod.comThis week on Angry Planet we're taking a break from the horrors of the present to explore horrors of a past distant enough now that they're entertaining. But then, America found those horrors pretty entertaining at the time, too. Even when it was still a thriving community and a going concern, the town of Deadwood, South Dakota, was the subject of dimestore novels and tall tales.Peter Cozzens is here with us to talk about his new book Deadwood: Gold, Guns, and Greed in the American West. Cozzens is a historian who has written 17 books that focus on the U.S. Civil War, the Wild West, and the American Indian Wars. His latest work is all about Deadwood and the wild cast of characters who inhabited it. Come sit with us a spell and learn about the real Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok, and Al Swearengen.“Power comes to any man who has the color.”Black Elk and how the West Was LostConflicting perceptions of Wild Bill HickockProfessional gamblersCreating Calamity JaneSoftening George Hearst“In the West, women didn't wear underwear.”Deadwood burnsHow history becomes a dime store novel“The most diabolical town on the face of the earth.”Deadwood: Gold, Guns, and Greed in the American WestSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/warcollege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this fascinating interview episode of the OutThere Colorado Podcast, Spencer McKee chats with John LaConte – award-winning investigative journalist and author of 'Notorious Hunter Sir St. George Gore: Deadly Legacy in Colorado.' With many landmarks around central Colorado bearing the Sir St. George Gore name, he's a character that tends to be best known for a lengthy 1850s hunting expedition that traveled through the American West in which he said to have slaughtered 1,000s of animals for sport. In this conversation, LaConte takes listeners on a deep dive into what's fact and what's fiction related to that story, sharing a Wild West tale that's fit for the Hollywood screen. Those interested in purchasing John LaConte's book on the topic can do so here: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/notorious-hunter-sir-st-george-gore-9781467159982 LaConte's book is also available on Amazon and several other places where books are sold. Find more of John LaConte's investigative work on the Vail Daily website.

The American Indian leader Wakara was among the most influential and feared men in the nineteenth-century American West. He and his pan-tribal cavalry of horse thieves and slave traders dominated the Old Spanish Trail, the region’s most important overland route. They widened the trail and expanded its watering holes, reshaping the environmental and geographical boundaries of the region. They also exacted tribute from travelers passing along the trail and assisted the trail’s explorers with their mapmaking projects—projects that shaped the political and cultural boundaries of the West. What’s more, as the West’s greatest horse thief and horse trader as well as the region’s most prolific trader in enslaved Indians, Wakara supplied Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo-American settlers from Santa Fe to San Bernardino with the labor and horsepower that fueled empire and settler colonial expansion as well as fueled great changes to the West’s environmental landscape.Today’s guest is Max Mueller, author of of Wakara’s America: The Life and Legacy of a Native Founder of the American West. We look at his complex and sometimes paradoxical story, revealing a man who both helped build the settler American West and defended Native sovereignty. Wakara was baptized a Mormon and allied with Mormon settlers against other Indians to seize large parts of modern-day Utah. Yet a pan-tribal uprising against the Mormons that now bears Wakara’s name stalled and even temporarily reversed colonial expansion. Through diplomacy and through violence, Wakara oversaw the establishment of settlements, built new trade routes, and helped create the boundaries that still define the region. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join me on my outdoor adventures on public lands across the American West and beyond. Check out The Hunter's Quest YouTube Channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@thehuntersquest Follow along on Instagram:@TheHuntersQuest www.eberlestock.com/quest - Check out my pack, bino harness and other favorite gear! Canis Athlete - use code: QUEST and save 10% on SOLID HUNTING GEAR__________________________________________________________________________ OnX Maps – use code: QUEST and save 20% when you join / support the show Seek Outside Shelters – use code: QUEST and save 10% on shelters, stoves, etc.______________________________________________________________________________ Heather's Choice, use code: QUEST – save 15% on backcountry meals @heatherschoice.com___________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGVP4F5g3SiOookJK01Jy5w Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thehuntersquest/ and @huntermcwaters____________________________________________________________________________ www.thehuntersquest.com

Gunslinging, gold-panning, stagecoach robbing, whiskey guzzling – the myth and infamy of the American West is synonymous with its most famous town: Deadwood, South Dakota. The storied mining town sprang up in early 1876 and came raining down in ashes only three years later, destined to become food for the imagination and a nostalgic landmark that now brings in more than two and a half million visitors each year. Once described as “the most diabolical town on earth,” Deadwood was not merely a place where outlaws lurked, like Tombstone or Dodge City, but was itself an outlaw enterprise, not part of any U.S. territory or subject to U.S. laws or governance. This gave rise to the Western outlaw behavior Deadwood is known for, but it also bred a self-reliance and a spirit of cooperation unique on the frontier, and made it an exceptionally welcoming place for Americans traditionally excluded from mainstream society. Today’s guest is Peter Cozzens, author of “Deadwood: Gold, Guns, and Greed in the American West. We look at the town’s complex story in full (including the stories of some of the most famous names of Deadwood — Calamity Jane, Hickok, Bullock, and Swearingen — who were made popular by David Milch’s HBO series). One frontier town came to embody the best and worst of the West—a relic of humanity’s eternal quest to create order from chaos, a greater good from individual greed, and security from violence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this fascinating interview, author and journalist Alex Beam joins Mormon Stories to discuss his new biography titled Wallace Stegner: Dean of Western Writers –published by Signature Books. Alex Beam is an acclaimed journalist and author known for his insightful historical biographies. Historian and executive director of Signature Books, Barbara Jones Brown is also joining us today!Beam explores the life, legacy, and complex relationships Stegner had with Mormonism, the American West, and figures like Joseph Smith and Gordon B. Hinckley. From Stegner's friendship and literary achievements to his nuanced understanding of Mormon culture, this conversation dives into history, literature, and faith.Buy his new book from Signature books: https://www.signaturebooks.com/books/p/wallace-stegner___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday were two complicated men whose steadfast friendship became one of the legendary relationships of the American West. Both were flawed, and often on uncertain moral ground, yet their bond carried them through the violent world of frontier justice, culminating in a deadly conflict with the Clanton-McLaury gang in Tombstone, Arizona. It's a story of two very different men who became linked forever by circumstance and loyalty. With his new book, "Brothers of the Gun: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and a Reckoning in Tombstone", historian Mark Lee Gardner offers a clear-eyed account of who Doc and Wyatt really were. He joins me to talk about their partnership and the lasting myths that have grown from a friendship rooted in both loyalty and survival. Mark's website: https://songofthewest.com/ More from his publisher: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/711805/brothers-of-the-gun-by-mark-lee-gardner/ Mark Lee Gardner on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YOcr3okF0fjheNeOLpyzU Mark's Brothers of the Gun Western Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jbh2Rl1fgD1ry8Ex1KM5W?si=4niAaWv7Tl2ESSYf_ZlnLQ Mark's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DCNOVu3xJh6/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices