Podcasts about Eastern Oregon

Today's West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy Podcast for our especially special Daily Special, Metro Shrimp & Grits Thursdays is now available on the Spreaker Player!Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, Trump is planning to use Navy warships to strike inside California at the same time the No Kings Protest is taking place on Saturday.Then, on the rest of the menu, after finding forever chemicals in its drinking water, the Eastern Oregon city of Hermiston was so concerned about the safety of its residents, it stopped testing for them; Brown University is the latest academic institution to tell Trump to eat rocks over his protection money threat; and, dozens of reporters turned in their access badges and exited the Pentagon, rather than agree to being propaganda shops for the government.After the break, we move to the Chef's Table where the leading bishop among Armenian clerics has been arrested as the government escalates its crackdown on the church; and, if Trump blithely discloses to the world the CIA is conducting covert operations inside Venezuela, are they really covert?All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam.Bon Appétit!The Netroots Radio Live Player​Keep Your Resistance Radio Beaming 24/7/365!“Everyone in this good city enjoys the full right to pursue his own inclinations in all reasonable and, unreasonable ways.” -- The Daily Picayune, New Orleans, March 5, 1851Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/west-coast-cookbook-speakeasy--2802999/support.

The Outlaw as Elder Statesman: In 1883, Eastern Oregon's wildest horse-rustling gunfighter gave up his stock-thieving ways (mostly) and became a wheat farmer. But to say he'd settled down wouldn't quite be accurate. (Part 2 in a 3-part series about Oregon's notorious Hank Vaughan) (Athena and Pendleton, Umatilla County; 1880s, 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1402d.hank-vaughan-part-3-farmer-hellraiser.html)

Farming and ranching requires experimentation, adaptation, and innovation. It's a whole lot of problem solving done by people who often don't have a whole lot of expendable capital. That doesn't mean that ranchers aren't deeply committed to stewarding the health of their land for generations to come. Dallas Hall Defrees is a 5th generation rancher in Eastern Oregon who serves as the director of Regenerative Ranching with Sustainable Northwest. She works with ranchers who are actively trying to improve the biodiversity, soil health and wellbeing of their livestock while making a living.

Show Notes for the Billy Newman Photo Podcast   Episode Summary Billy shares reflections on creative workflows in photography, discusses Comet NEOWISE and stargazing in rural Oregon, recounts recent outdoor camping and photo expeditions, and dives into technical thoughts on camera equipment and the creative process. He also touches on issues like light pollution, the evolving nature of digital cameras, and the unique challenges of capturing stunning night sky photography. Chapter Guide Timestamp Chapter Title Segment Highlights 00:00 Opening & Creative Reflections Creative challenge in photography, blending business and creative growth, brief show intro with music. 01:30 Website & Book Plugs Directing listeners to BillyNewmanPhoto.com and his photo books on Amazon; themes — film, desert, surrealism. 02:30 Camping & Comet NEOWISE Recounts July camping in Eastern Oregon seeking views and photographs of NEOWISE; context of earlier “great comets.” 06:30 Childhood Astronomy Memories Reminiscing about viewing comets Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake in the 1990s; missing Halley's comet and thoughts on astronomical cycles. 08:30 NEOWISE Observing Details Discusses best locations, challenges of light pollution and haze near sea level, and the difference clear mountain skies make. 10:30 Field Photography and Stargazing Describes equipment and techniques: using binoculars, manual focus, and camera settings, plus tips for night sky shots in the John Day River valley. 15:00 Outdoor Adventure Recap Details on the travel route, dispersed camping, Oregon terrain, rivers, geology, and solitude near the John Day River. 19:00 More on NEOWISE and Night Shots Observing NEOWISE in prime conditions, handling photography challenges, recording images till late night, astronomical observation techniques. 22:30 Tech Talk: Cameras & Workflow Reflections on camera gear — Sony a7R, its quirks, “chimping,” differences with older cameras, and latest high-speed image technology. 27:00 Outro & Calls to Action Directs to BillyNewmanPhoto.com and Patreon, thanks listeners, previews new content, and encourages support.   Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, visit billynewmanphoto.com/support or patreon.com/billynewmanphoto to participate in the value-for-value model and find ways to help keep the podcast going. Check out new blog posts, photo books, and more behind-the-scenes content.   View links at wnp.app Explore outdoor photography, technical media projects, stories from backcountry expeditions, and insights from the creative process with Billy Newman—photographer, author, and podcast producer. Connect, learn, and follow along. Quick Links:Portfolio: billynewmanphoto.com/photographsStudio: wphoto.coPosts: billynewmanphoto.com/postsPhoto Books: billynewmanphoto.com/booksAmazon Author: amazon.com/author/billynewman Podcast Episodes:Billy Newman Photo Podcast: Listen hereRelax with Rain: Listen hereNight Sky Podcast: Listen here Connect With Billy Newman:Email: billy@billynewmanphoto.comInstagram: @billynewmanLinkedIn: billynewmanphotoX (Twitter): @billynewman Recommended Books:Landscape Portfolio (PDF): DownloadBlack and White Photography (PDF): DownloadWorking With Film (PDF): DownloadWestern Overland Excursion (PDF): Download Support the Podcast & Photography Projects:Make a sustaining financial donation: Visit Support Page Podcast Forward:The Billy Newman Photo Podcast blends real-world outdoor adventure, technical insight, and practical photography tips. [MUSIC] Hello and thank you very much for listening to this episode of the Billy Newman photo podcast. I hear different industries kind of talk about what a good day of work is or how that is to kind of get out and get what you need done. And just as like a creative system, it's sort of tough in photography. There's a lot of the entrepreneurial and sort of business related stuff of how do you get paid and how do you operate in a business, how do you function as a photographer sort of a thing. But still outside of that you need to do something nourishing in the system of creativity where you're kind of gaining new ideas and putting new materials together and sort of figuring out a way to make a union of something new with media and with something visual, especially as fast as technology is moving forward. It's definitely an interesting vector kind of using the progression of technology and artistic creativity to try and make new pieces of media to put out. And that's what I really like about new media as it goes. So it's kind of interesting. I'm kind of thinking about the way of making pieces of media and new media elements and working with photographs and stuff. But it's something that I've been really interested for a long time. [MUSIC] You can see more of my work at BillyNewmanPhoto.com. You can check out some of my photo books on Amazon. I think you can look up Billy Newman under the authors section there and see some of the photo books on film, on the desert, on surrealism, on camping. Some cool stuff over there. And I wanted to jump into a couple of the things I've been doing through the month of July and some of the outdoor camping and travel stuff I've been up to. I was going to run down some of that in this podcast today. I wanted to talk about a trip I did out toward Eastern Oregon, I think like last, or what was a week before last is when I was out in this area. And I was trying to get some good observations in for Comet NeoWise. I'm not sure if any of you guys got to check that out while it was in its prime viewing section there. I think that was why we had the new moon before it switched over to being a gibbous moon or a nearly full moon like it's been the last week or so. But I think, what was it, around the 15th through the 25th or so of July, there were some pretty good observations to be made of Comet NeoWise. I guess after reading about it a little bit, it's not considered a great comet, like HaleBopp was, or I think it was Hayataki in 1996. We haven't had a great comet in a long time. I've ever seen those when I was a kid though, and that was pretty cool. Watching HaleBopp come through for, it seemed like three months or something. You were just looking at that in the low corners of the Northwestern and Western skies. It was cruising across the skyline there. I remember that still from third, fourth grade when it was coming through. And I also remember the year before that, when straight up in the sky at night, for it was only a week or so. I was a kid, but I remember for that week, you could see a real bright two-tailed comet that was going through. I think, I can't remember how to pronounce it, I think it's Hayataki or, I think it's some Japanese name, I'm pretty sure. But that was a really cool one. That one I still remember really clearly. I was only like, I don't know, seven or something when that, when that comet came through, but I really appreciate getting to make some observations. So that one, when I was a kid, I missed Haley's comet though, back in what, '87, I think was the last one it came through. And I probably will be the few years or that, that decade or two of age range that doesn't get to see Haley's comet in their lifetime. So I think I was born in '88, of course. So if I make it past a hundred, maybe I'll see it. What is it? Maybe like 80 something years. So it's probably not going to come back around until, I think it's like the 2070s or 2080s that I'd have to make it to, for to see Haley's comet again. It'd be fun, but I don't know, maybe we'll see how future, how the, you know, the future is at that time. But it was really cool to get to see comet Neowise. It was just a little below what would be the legs and feet of Ursa Major, the Big Dipper or like the Big Bear as it would kind of be observed. But if you kind of look at the Dipper part that we're all mostly familiar with, if you kind of consider Ursa Major, the larger bear constellation that it's structured on, if you kind of look down below the Dipper is where I was able to make my observations, the comet Neowise. And over here in the elevation area that I'm at in Western Oregon, it's about 200 or 300 feet above sea level. And there's kind of a constant problem with haze and with light pollution in this area. And I think it has to do something with, well, like, I mean, of course, you know, the amount of population that's around, but also there's something about the air quality or about how the air kind of flows out around here that just doesn't ever seem to be as crisp or as dark as you can get up in the mountains. And really, it's just like a stunning difference when you're able to get out further and make some some more clear observations. You know, the level of magnitude of stars that you're able to reveal just in a dark night is so much more crisp and clear. It's just like a it's a total difference. So it was cool to I think I first was able to spot just a little fuzzy bit of a second magnitude version of comet Neowise while I was here in town. But I tried to make a special trip out toward eastern Oregon out into the desert just to do some camping stuff. But what I wanted to do at the same time was make some good observations and also try and get some good photographs of common Neowise as it was coming through during its period where you could you could make some some good sightings. But it was cool. So going out to eastern Oregon, as it got dark a little past 1030 or so, as you look to the northwest, you could really see the comet and its tail spread for a couple inches in the sky. And I was really surprised to notice how little of it you could really make out or see when you're in an area of almost any light pollution once you're back in town or once you're in a lower elevation area with some light pollution and haze around. It was really difficult to make out in the same way that I could out in the desert or out in the mountains. And so I thought that was pretty cool to get to get to see and get to check out over there. But yeah, it was a blast getting to do some stuff out in eastern Oregon. I went over to the John Day River area and I was checking out that area. There's a lot of public land out in that area, but there's also some a lot of private land, too. It's just kind of an interesting area, how it's sort of broken up. And it was cool to get to go out, go out to the I headed out to Madras and then I took off and headed over east of there until I ran into the John Day River. And then I was able to use this map that I have to go through and find some of the open off or just the open roads that are, you know, the smaller gravel roads that are set up to kind of traverse the backcountry out there. So I was able to find a few of those that were open and travel around on those for a while. Now, that was pretty cool. I was able to find some dispersed campsites and set up right along the John Day River, which is really cool. It's a beautiful area out there. It's kind of interesting. The John Day River flows through this sort of, I guess it would be, I don't know, it's kind of like Canyonland and it's also sort of these rolling grass hills that sort of make up the landscape of Northern and Northeastern Oregon. And I think, yeah, as soon as you kind of get a little bit for like a little bit north of Bend is when you get out of the Great Basin area and you start to get into another kind of landscape that seems to stretch up north of the Columbia River up into Washington. I figured that some of it's from like really old deposits from the river systems and the waterways that were up there and how there's old deposits and then an erosion that's happened from those rivers running through the area for such a long time. But really cool to see kind of the rolling hills and then some of the carved out canyons that go through the John Day River area up there. When I found the campsite I was at, I was pretty far away from everybody and I was really far away from any substantial town. I think I was near, I don't know, I don't even know what it is. There wasn't anything there when I drove through it. There was a bridge and a couple little ranch houses, you know, real ranches, right? Like just a little house, like a little two bedroom house and then 100 acres of cattle to deal with. So it seems like another life out there. I wonder how they're dealing with, you know, kind of the way of the world as things are this summer. But it was cool, yeah, getting out there. Went to, oh yeah, I kind of set up my campsite and stuff, had my truck going, and that was all pretty easy going. But then I waited till dark after 1030. Yeah, Comet NeoWiser is really visible up below the Big Dipper. That was pretty cool to get to see out there in eastern Oregon. Really bright, really clear. You could almost make out the second tail. I have my binoculars with me. I think there's some 10 by 42s and those worked really well to view it, to view the comet. Looked really crisp through the binoculars and it got really easy to spot most of the night. Even just to the naked eye, it was really easy to spot it. Just like, oh yeah, it's right there. There's a comet. It's just a big wisp in the sky. So it was really cool to get to view it. What I did is I set up my tripod and I have my camera with me. And so I set it up with a really wide angle and then I was trying to get some photographs of it as the comet was coming down to set on the landscape of the hillside as the hours went on into the night. So I think I stayed out until maybe one or two in the morning when the Big Dipper was sort of scooping down a little low onto the horizon. And then at that point, the place where the comet was dipped below the horizon and then was out of view for the rest of the evening. And I think even into the morning, I think by that time when I was photographing it, it wasn't visible any longer up in the morning sky. I think they said at first in early July, you could kind of view it around Capella if you were able to get out early enough, say three or four in the morning. But as the direction, as it was moving, it was kind of creeping up pretty quickly, day over day over day. It would kind of move a good chunk through the sky. And the direction that it was moving, it was moving to be more visible at the nighttime, which really offered more hours of good observation time. Which I thought was pretty cool to wait until it was really dark enough in the northwest view of the sky, probably about 1030 onward is when you were finally able to make out those kind of finer points of light in the sky in that region. So it was really cool to set up the tripod, set up the camera, set up some manual focus to get it kind of set sharp. You can't use autofocus when you're trying to make photographs of the night sky and the stars because it just kind of seeks back and forth. You have to set it to manual focus and then ring out your focus ring to infinity and then just back a little bit. You'll notice this every time if you do it. It's really frustrating, the dark, because you can't really always make it out in an easy way and edit your mistake quickly. But if you go all the way to infinity and then take pictures there of the night sky, you're going to notice that those points of light that are the stars sort of end up a little fuzzy. And it's because all the way to infinity for whatever reason just isn't quite in focus at infinity. So you have to go all the way out to infinity and then back it off just a little bit. And that'll nearly ensure that most of that part of the image is in focus the whole way. And it's difficult even if you do have an f-stop that's a little bit more tightened out, say like an f4 or f6 or something, you're still going to get a lot of that out of focus softness. If the focus ring isn't really dialed into the right spot. So I try to work on that a little bit. And yeah, dialed in my focus was able to set it up with a reasonable ISO to get some images of the night sky and pick up some of those finer points of light. And then I was able to take a series of photographs in a few different locations out there in the John Day River Valley, which I thought was really cool. It was pretty to be out there and it was a nice night, really warm in the river canyon. And really remote too, like I was mentioning, I think I was the only person out there for a few miles. I saw another group coming in on a, they had like a little mid-size SUV and they were going fishing out at a bend in the river a couple miles up from where I was. And so I took my truck down a little further and camped out just on the side of the river. It was cool, nice green river up to the kind of high desert tan rim rock that runs the area around there. So it was a cool evening, cool campsite area. It was a cool spot to check out Comet NeoWise too. So I tried to check it out up until, I don't know what, you know, 1.30 in the morning when I couldn't see it anymore. And then spent the night out there out in the John Day River area. And then the next morning got up and tried to check out some of the different roads and stuff that went around. You can check out more information at billynumanphoto.com. You can go to billynumanphoto.com/support if you want to help me out and participate in the value for value model that we're running this podcast with. If you receive some value out of some of the stuff that I was talking about, you're welcome to help me out and send some value my way through the portal at billynumanphoto.com/support. You can also find more information there about Patreon and the way that I use it. If you're interested or feel more comfortable using Patreon, that's patreon.com/billynumanphoto. I've got the Sony a7R going through its paces. It's been really cool using it for the last couple weeks. I've been trying to figure out its idiosyncrasies and there are a lot of them. There's a lot of them with these newer cameras and I can see definitely where from the a7R or from the first series of the a7s to the a7II and so on and so forth with the better and different accentuated camera models, they get better. They really do get better. There are some things with the first renditions of the electronic viewfinder and the system of how that takes photos, how it kind of interrupts when you're taking photos that don't quite seem to the level of professionalism that I'm really trying to hit for. I know that there's a lot of custom settings that I have to go into and sort of tweak how that a7R is going to be grabbing at photos and then how it's chimping. You guys heard of that before? Chimping. I don't know what it really has to do with but it's referring to when you take a photograph or you take a couple of photographs and then you look down at that screen on the bottom of your digital camera, the back plate of your digital camera. You look down and you see the photo and then you come up, you recompose and you shoot again and then come down and look at it. It's, I guess, I don't understand it completely. It just seems sort of like a modern approach to something that the technology allows you to do. I think it's totally acceptable but for whatever reason, it is sort of an interference in the creative or in the photography process sometimes. I know that there are many pros, all of those pros coming from a past world that's no longer here a film where it wasn't really acceptable to do half shutter press autofocus. You have to do autofocus from the back and then shutter is its own system. With that, there's all these kind of silly rules about how you can use focus, how you can use composition stuff, how you can set up your frame, when you can look at the screen or when you can review the images. I guess these film shooters, they thought it was uncouth to be able to review or see the photograph before the film was developed or before it was later on. Interesting and I see kind of psychologically there's this path that does seem to create better work or more intuitive photographs and those are better. They are more needed and I can see where some of these tricks might get you closer to that but the idea of just looking at the back of the screen that doesn't impede you so much and it doesn't really stop you. If you're a pro and you know what you're doing, you look at the screen, you're looking at the screen because you know why you're looking at the screen. It doesn't really seem to make sense that there's these sort of sideways rules about features you can and can't use that are put into your camera. But to speak about efficiency, the problem that I noticed about the a7R is that it will display the image to you for about a second and a half, two seconds and it will display it on the screen but it'll also display it in the electronic viewfinder for your eye. And you can shut this feature off but there's still a little bit of a hiccup around the time that you hit the shutter button. And the problem with this is if I'm framed up to take a photograph, let's say of a situation I remember back at OSU when I was shooting sports a lot, let's say there's a football game, I'm out in front of the action and I see that the beefs set up a play, they throw a pass, the guy gets it, he's right in the pocket on the third of the frame that I have and I have focus tracking on him. I want to take a series of shots with a high frame rate so I can get that whole run of action as he moves towards me. And so the issue that I'm having is in photography you're trying to select moments that look good. That's kind of the point. Aesthetically you want them to be choices that are appealing and that has to do a lot with gesture, a lot with movement, a lot with kind of positioning and framing and composition and sort of thoughtfully considering what does the person look like? How are all these things in the frame relating to each other and is it going to work when you press the shutter? And the difficulty is with these a7Rs or even with the Sony a6000 when I'm looking at it and I take this series of photographs, I'm almost blind that whole time. Whereas before in the past when I would have been working with an SLR, there's the shutter flap where you see black for just a moment but it comes back and it's optically correct immediately. It's optically correct to what you're going to be shooting but with the EVF there's just enough lag that in high action you seem to kind of miss where the gesture is. If stuff's moving around it seems like you almost have to kind of guess or assume that the next moment's going to happen and then try and take it but you can't see it. It's weird. It's like it shuts off the viewfinder right at the time that you need to be looking through it. And so in some ways like that it's a little bit complicated of am I framed up right? Am I looking at the thing right? When I take the picture it just shows me something else all of a sudden. And I know that they've solved a lot of these problems like if you look up the Sony a9 and some of the features that it has if you bring that into high speed shooting it's got this interesting system where instead of having the electronic viewfinder blink black or cut out completely have the processor move all of its attention to processing that image that it just captured and then bring back the electronic viewfinder momentarily later. What we see in the a9 is a system where there's the bracket. There's like a let's say like a red focus bracket that kind of goes around and you're shooting, you're shooting, you're shooting. But what you're seeing is instead of the electronic viewfinder blinking out black and then showing you a frame or just blinking out black and then coming back on what we see is just that bracket, that red bracket blink yellow or blink from black to yellow or black to red or something like that. And all that's indicating is that it is firing frames, but you're just still seeing it completely normally like you would view any action on a screen. And that's a really interesting process. I think it's like, I don't know, it's like 20 frames a second or something like that. It's almost video at that point when you're shooting raw frames. Are you kidding me? Raw frames on a Sony a9 at God knows what almost 50 megapixels that it's shooting at. And you can do 20 frames a second just looking at the thing and then seeing a little black bar blink yellow and that's signaling that you're capturing all that data. Thanks a lot for checking out this episode of the Billy Newman photo podcast. Hope you guys check out some stuff on Billy Newman photo.com. A few new things up there, some stuff on the home page, some good links to other, other outbound sources, some links to books and links to some podcasts, links to some blog posts. All pretty cool. Yeah. Check it out at Billy Newman, a photo.com. Thanks a lot for listening to this episode of the podcast. Talk to you next time. Bye. [MUSIC]

In this episode, Ben and Simone discuss forest management plans in for the Blue Mountains in Eastern Oregon and the importance of community engagement in these plans. They also highlight the National Park Service's call for public feedback on visitor services and the challenges faced in maintaining park infrastructure. They focus on several case studies where the Park Service could improve the services available and recreation experiences in our parks. Comment on the Oregon Forest Plan Here: https://blueribboncoalition.org/support-an-open-access-active-management-alternative-in-oregons-blue-mountains-forest-plan-revision/ Add feedback to the National Park Service Here: https://blueribboncoalition.org/critical-opportunity-to-improve-our-national-parks-nps-asks-for-visitor-feedback-on-services/

On this episode of Recycled Idaho, Nick is joined by Bow Boston, who details his career in the scrap metal industry, beginning with his early days hauling scrap and pallets in high school in Eastern Oregon. Bow discusses the challenges and successes of opening and expanding multiple B&K yards in Oregon, including the first facility in La Grande and the subsequent opening of a yard in his hometown of Pendleton. Produced by Recycled Media.

Explore the final leg of one of America's most iconic journeys, the Oregon Trail, through the lens of RV travel in the Pacific Northwest. This episode focuses on the last stretch of the trail, where pioneers faced some of their greatest challenges before reaching the promise of the Willamette Valley. Traveling by RV offers a powerful way to connect with the landscape and history, tracing wagon ruts through Eastern Oregon and visiting sites that still echo with the stories of grit, hope, and perseverance.We'll take you to key stops from Lolo Pass in Idaho to the the lush lands surrounding the Columbia River that marked the final miles for thousands of people. Along the way, you'll get practical tips for RV camping, suggestions for historical side trips, and insight into the legacy that shaped the Pacific Northwest.This episode is all about slowing down, soaking in the land, and reflecting on the journey west, not just of the pioneers, but your own. Discover how the Oregon Trail lives on, not just in textbooks, but in the places you can still visit, explore, and experience by RV.Send us a textPlease follow the show so you never miss an episode. We ask that you also kindly give the show a rating and a review as well. Learn more about RV Out West over on our website at www.rvoutwest.com Join in on the conversation via social media:InstagramFacebook

Planet Poet-Words in Space – NEW PODCAST!  LISTEN to my WIOX show (originally aired July l, 2025) featuring two poets of the West:  Tim Hunt and Gerald Wagoner.  Tim and Gerald will read from their work and discuss their journeys in poetry. Visit: Sharon Israel, Tim Hunt, Gerald Wagoner, Broadstone Books Tim Hunt is the author of six collections of poetry, most recently Western Where (Broadstone Books). Recognitions include the Main Street Rag Poetry Book Award for his 2018 collection Ticket Stubs & Liner Notes, six Pushcart Prize Nominations, and the Chester H. Jones National Poetry Award for “Lake County Diamond” from his first collection Fault Lines (The Backwaters Press). His critical work includes two studies of Jack Kerouac (Kerouac's Crooked Road: Development of a Fiction and The Textuality of Soulwork: Kerouac's Quest for Spontaneous Prose) and The Collected Poetry of Robinson Jeffers. Originally from the hill country of northern California, he was educated at Cornell University and concluded his teaching career at Illinois State University where he was University Professor of English. He and his wife, Susan, live in Normal, Illinois. Gerald Wagoner is the author of When Nothing Wild Remains, (Broadstone Books,September 2023), and A Month of Someday, (Indolent Books, March 2023) . Gerald's childhood was divided between Eastern Oregon and Montana where he was raised under the doctrine of benign neglect. With a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana, Gerald pursued the art of sculpture, and left the Northwest to study with Richard Stankiewicz. In 1982, after earning an MFA in sculpture, Gerald moved to Brooklyn, NY In New York Gerald exhibited regularly, then taught Art and English for the NYC Department of Education until 2017, at which time he choose to pursue the art of poetry. Selected Publications: Beltway Quarterly, BigCityLit, Blue Mountain Review, Cathexis Northwest Press, Night Heron Barks, Ocotillo Review, Right Hand Pointing, Misfits, Maryland Literary Review, Burningword, The Umbrella Factory, Bangalore Review. Praise for Tim Hunt and Gerald Wagoner  Tim Hunt's elegy for a vanished America, Western Where, takes us on an evocative road trip where we discover the last picture show, a played-out silver mine, a hand-me-down fiddle, silver-screen cowboys, and more. His wistful word paintings leave us yearning.—Holly George-Warren, author of Janis: Her Life and Music & Public Cowboy #1: The Life and Times of Gene AutryGerald Wagoner is a poet of uncanny particulars: “The child, as man, remembers the tang and texture of warm / summer apricots picked from / a tree that was never there.” The poems in When Nothing Wild Remains are “on speaking terms with the wind,” rich in imagery of a rural America he knows intimately....Wagoner's graphic poetry is cinematic and sobering in its frank depictions of what's missing, the wildness of a remembered past as seen in the light of an ongoing present.—Elaine Sexton, author of Drive

A lot of my work these days revolves around communicating with farmers around Europe who are at various stages of a transition towards regenerative management. For many different reasons farmers are looking for solutions outside of the conventional industry of chemical and technological manipulations and are rediscovering the potential of partnering with natural cycles and processes. Though there are a handful of examples of growers who've been pioneering these practices around the continent, the vast majority are fairly early in their journeys. It's still rare to find an experienced commercial grower who has found success through organic, no-till, low input systems.  Luckily there are a few who have shown that this is possible and are sharing their knowledge and experience and I'm thrilled to feature one of them in this session. Helen Atthowe has worked for 35 years to connect farming, food systems, land stewardship, and conservation. She currently farms and does soil- and natural enemies' habitat- building research on her new 5-acre farm in Western Montana. Helen has an M.S. in Horticulture from Rutgers University and even studied with renowned Japanese farmer Masanobu Fukuoka. She has worked in education and research at Rutgers, the University of Arkansas, and Oregon State University and was a Horticulture Extension Agent in Montana for 17 years. Helen was a board member for the Organic Farming Research Foundation 2000-2005 and advisor for Wild Farm Alliance in 2018 & 2019.  She first owned and operated a 30 acre certified organic vegetable/fruit farm in Montana and later co-owned with her late husband a 26 acre certified organic orchard in California. Together they then moved to a 211 acre organic farm in Eastern Oregon doing mainly orchard and vegetable production. The two of them also created educational videos on their YouTube channel called Agrarian Dreams, and did video presentations about their ecological farming methods. She is the author of “The Ecological Farm: A Minimalist No-Till, No-Spray, Selective-Weeding, Grow-Your-Own-Fertilizer System for Organic Agriculture”. And that is exactly what we'll be focusing on in our interview today. As a reflection of many of the discussions happening within the Climate Farmer's community at the moment, Helen and I really dug into the unique goals she and her husband had during their farming careers and how they gauged their success. We talk about the way they measured progress on their journey towards a healthy yet low input system for both their orchard and vegetable crops as well the routines and practices that brought them the best results. Much more than just the knowledge and practices of her farming experience, Helen brings a remarkable mindset of constant learning and experimentation to this conversation that is now informing her new 5 acre project in Montana. We also cover the most important learnings that she has gained through her career and how it informs the establishment of all her new research.

We thought we knew the Oregon Trail… Turns out, we only knew half the story. “The settling of the West,” says Bobby Conner, “was the unsettling of the West for our people.” In this episode of The Hidden Trails of Oregon, we're exploring the past, present and future of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla tribes, whose ancestral homelands stretch across Eastern Oregon. In 1993, the 150th anniversary of the Oregon Trail, tribal leadership attempted to build a center to tell the story of the trail from a Native American perspective. But they were denied funding. So on August 12th, 1993, a wagon train celebrating the anniversary was interrupted at the reservation border by Natives on horseback. One rider was Antone Minthorn, chairman of his tribal council. He spoke in protest of the poverty and unemployment affecting his people. But also of his vision of a place for learning and research; for a different perspective on manifest destiny.  It worked. Funding was secured and soon the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute opened its doors.  We're taking an immersive, sound-rich journey through this world-class museum. You'll hear horses rumbling across the grassy plateau, storytellers in winter lodges, ringing bells and worshipers in song and prayer. We'll sit down with Bobby Conner, director of the Institute, to talk about the achievements, aspirations and concerns of her community. And we'll explore the meaning of a phrase you'll find emblazoned on the walls of the final exhibit: Cháwna mun na'ámta–We will never fade.

Originally published on 5/10/24 as Episode 428.What happens when a seasoned outdoorsman takes his son deep into the forests of Eastern Oregon — and something begins screaming in the darkness? In this spine-tingling episode of Bigfoot Society, host Jeremiah Byron sits down with Dee, a listener from Wallowa County, who shares not one but two chilling encounters with Sasquatch. First, a late-night hunting trip in 1997 turns terrifying when screams echo through the canyons and a towering figure parts the trees. Then, ten years later, strange footsteps circle Dee's tent — followed by a giant finger pressing into the nylon under moonlight. With eerie details like massive handprints, silent forests, and a scream that sent shivers down their spines, Dee's story is one you won't forget. You'll also hear how his son — once scared into silence — grew up to become a fearless bushcrafter on a mission of his own. This is more than just a Bigfoot sighting. It's a legacy passed between generations — and a mystery that still lingers in the shadows of Oregon's wildest forests.

Matt McCaw from the Greater Idaho Project joins the show. OR legislature snubbed them, no hearing about merging Eastern Oregon with Idaho...what happens now? Open for Business with Lisa McClease-Kelly from Network in Action and Portraitist Angelica Owens

Gasping for hard currency to finance the Civil War, and awash in raw gold from two Eastern Oregon gold rushes, the federal government tried to build a mint in The Dalles in 1863. But the Oregon delegation, dominated by Portland interests, would not stop trying to switch its location to Portland ... finally, the gold rush petered out, and the feds said, 'Never mind!' (The Dalles, Wasco County; 1860s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1810d.the-dalles-mint-that-wasnt-519.html)

Lamar Fairmint is a young man I'm lucky to know. I finally got a chance to meet him in Costa Rica at the Retreat—no question he had the most interesting background of anyone who attended.In this episode, we talk about what it was like growing up on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Eastern Oregon. Lamar shares stories about his Native roots, family history, and what it means to live with both Native and Black heritage. We also talk about the weight of generational trauma—and how he's learning to carry it with more grace as he gets older.Before getting to know Lamar over the past few years, I'd never known anyone who grew up on a Reservation. Come to think of it, I'd also never met a salmon fisherman.But that's what Lamar's does. He's a commercial fisherman. And his business does well enough that he spends half the year traveling the world.The origins of his fishing career are interesting too. He says fishing gave him purpose after dropping out of San Diego State, and shares what life on the water has taught him about patience, resilience, and doing things "your own way."

LW1455 - The Powerful Seduction of Representationalism The other day I spent about 40 minutes working on one of the new captures from Eastern Oregon. I converted it to a black and white, dealt with the delicate issues of balancing lights and darks, fussed and tweaked until I felt I had an interesting and artistic rendition of the scene that was an accurate vision of my response. The first comment I received from one of the family members was that she preferred the color image, before I had done any processing at all. This is the core of a huge dilemma in fine art photography. Sometimes our objective for making a photograph (artistic expression) is not at all what our viewers' expectations are (representationalism). All previous episodes of our weekly podcast are available to members of LensWork Online. 30-day Trial Memberships are only $10. Instant access, terabytes of content, inspiration and ideas that expand daily with new content. Sign up for instant access! You might also be interested in. . . Every Picture Is a Compromise, a series at www.brooksjensenarts.com. and... "How to" tutorials and camera reviews are everywhere on YouTube, but if you're interested in photography and the creative life, you need to know about the incredible resources you can access as a member of LensWork Online.

In the early 1880s, visitors in the Klickitat Valley, just across the Columbia River from The Dalles and Biggs Junction, recalled seeing some very singular signs posted regularly along the right-of-way: NOTISE: All land in woods past Draper Springs is for Settlers cattle. No sheep is allowed. Sheep men take notise.    — Comitee By “Comitee,” it was clearly understood, the writer meant some sort of vigilance committee, a coalition of cattle ranchers and sodbusters who had come together to fight the encroachment of the flocks of sheep that seemed to be taking over the public rangeland. Similar signs, and “comitees,” were springing up all across the Columbia River basin. And over the decades to come, the problem would only get worse … and bloodier. Luckily, nearly all of the blood would be coming from sheep, not men. (Central and Eastern Oregon; 1880s, 1890s, 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/2401b-1009c.sheepshooters-089.630.html)

Bonus Episode - The Armchair ExplorerHello and welcome to this week's episode! I've got something a little different—and very exciting—for you. Today, I'm sharing a powerful episode from The Armchair Explorer, hosted by my good friend Aaron Millar. It is called "IMMERSION: Homecoming: Chief Joseph's Promise and the Flight of the Nez Perce" from the Hidden Trails of Oregon Series.The episode is called Homecoming, and it tells a moving story about the Native American tribes of Eastern Oregon—specifically, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla. It uncovers a nearly forgotten chapter of history involving two chiefs and a sacred promise to bring their people home.The Armchair Explorer is a phenomenal travel podcast that blends immersive audio, rich storytelling, and a deep sense of human connection and adventure. It's a huge inspiration to me, and I think you'll find yourself transported by the vivid way these stories are told. I am absolutely delighted to share this episode today, as quality content is the most important aspect, and Aaron has that in abundance with his podcast.See the shownotes below for all the links to the Armchair Explorer Podcast and everything mentioned in the episode. You have to check in to Aaron's podcast like I do every week!So sit back, relax, and let this journey take you somewhere unforgettable. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.ShownotesWelcome back to the Hidden Trails of Oregon! In the first episode of our new season, host Aaron Millar heads to the eastern edge of the state, far from the bustle of coastal cities and the craggy heights of the Cascade Mountains.We're going on location in the traditional lands of the Nez Perce to uncover a piece of history unknown to most outsiders. In the late 19th century, the Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce tribe were driven from their homeland. 200 warriors, protecting hundreds more women and children, fought for five days against 520 US soldiers. Their leader, before surrendering, promised his people that one day they would come home. After nearly 200 years, his promise may just be starting to come true. This is a unique story of generational resilience, cultural preservation, and the ongoing work for recognition and ancestral lands. RESOURCESTo plan your next Oregon adventure:traveloregon.comAdventure Along With The Hidden Trails of Oregon - https://traveloregon.com/plan-your-trip/destinations/lakes-reservoirs/adventure-along-with-the-hidden-trails-of-oregon-podcast/Visiting the Nez Perce Homeland and the Tamkaliks Celebration powwow:wallowanezperce.orgLocal and cultural history at the Josephy Library: library.josephy.orgThank you to our guests: Bobbie Conner, Rich Wandschneider, Jacey Sohappy, and Nancy Crenshaw.CREDITSThis series was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Find out more at armchair-productions.comBrian Thacker: pre-productionCharles Tyrie: assistant audio editingJason Paton: writing, recording, mixing, sound designAaron Millar: host, writing, executive producerLearn more about your ad choices. Visit

Repost! In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks about Oregon's wildflower hotspots and the best times to see them with expert Greg Lief. Lief, who runs the website OregonWildflowers.org talks about some of Oregon's most interesting blooms and the best times to visit places such as the Columbia Gorge, Old Cascades, Coast Range and Eastern Oregon to find the best of nature's fireworks display. This episode was originally posted on April 18, 2024, but all the information should be about the same as last year in terms of wildflower blooms times.

Wilson Zehr, founder of Zairmail, joins The Shades of Entrepreneurship to share how direct mail is evolving in the digital age. From launching hybrid mail solutions to creating Speedy, a tool for one-to-one mailing, Wilson explains how automation and audience targeting make direct mail more effective than ever. He breaks down the benefits of first-class vs. standard A mail and shares a real-world campaign success in Eastern Oregon. If you're in real estate, insurance, or service-based industries, this episode is a must-listen.Support the showSubscribe at theshadesofe.com

WOW is all iI have to say about this one. Such a cool talk with Master Distiller Caitlin, She is a beast for the Clear Creek brand. We talked all things from Brix to fixin tractors. Amazing time, and amazing spirits. Check them out at Clearcreekdistillery.com. or Hrdspirits.com.And don't for get our sponsorsFor the last time this year Texaswhiskeyfestival.comBadmotivatorbarrels.com/shop/?aff=3https://www.instagram.com/zsmithwhiskeyandmixology?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==Patreon.com/the_whiskeyshamanour StoryRooted in Oregon since 1934, Hood River Distillers began by making fruit wines and brandies from the apples and pears that were going to waste as excess production from the valley's abundant harvests. Located along the Columbia River with majestic Mt. Hood as its backdrop, Hood River Distillers has been at its current bottling facility in Hood River since 1969. The company has expanded the plant for storage and made production line upgrades several times throughout the years. Although our core distribution began in the Pacific Northwest, we are currently producing close to one million cases per year, and distributing our products nationwide.HOOD RIVER DISTILLERS NAMES CAITLIN BARTLEMAY MASTER DISTILLERHood River Distillers, celebrating its 90th anniversary as the Pacific Northwest's largest and oldest distillery, is proud to announce the promotion of Caitlin Bartlemay to Master Distiller.Bartlemay joined Clear Creek Distillery in 2010 as a logistics coordinator and worked her way through the ranks to distiller. In 2014, Clear Creek was acquired by Hood River Distillers, joining the two oldest operating distilleries in Oregon, and returning Hood River Distillers to its original roots of creating fruit brandies. Bartlemay was named Head Distiller in 2021 and now oversees production of some twenty different distillates including McCarthy's Oregon Single Malt, the 1st American Single Malt; the award-winning Timberline Vodka; and the renowned Clear Creek brandies and eaux de vie.Bartlemay grew up as a hard-working wheat rancher in Eastern Oregon. Her father started a winery when she was in middle school, and she became fascinated by the science of fermentation. She studied Food Science and Technology at Oregon State University  earning her bachelor's degree in 2010. During her last semester of college, Bartlemay sent letters to every distillery across the Pacific Northwest  (at that time there were only 12) inquiring about job opportunities. Steve McCarthy, owner of Clear Creek Distillery, never told her to stop calling, so she didn't. She started work there the week after graduation.“Caitlin's vigilant commitment to excellence in every facet of her job is one of the qualities that has made her such an exceptional member of our team,” said David Ballew, President and CEO, Hood River Distillers. “Her passion for quality and craftsmanship is evident in each product that she touches. It's only fitting that as we celebrate our 90th anniversary, we recognize Caitlin for her leadership in helping Hood River Distillers and its brands continue their heritage of quality in the Pacific Northwest.”“It has been a thrill to be a part of the Clear Creek/Hood River Distillers team and to have had the opportunity to share so many wonderful brands with our customers,” said Bartlemay. “The history of distillation at both Clear Creek Distillery and Hood River Distillers is one that combines pioneering personalities, exceptional products, and phenomenal teamwork. Whether we are continuing the legacy of the first American Single Malt, bottling spirits distilled from the bounty of the Pacific Northwest or creating new custom flavors to celebrate innovation in the whiskey category, I'm proud to lead this next generation of distillers.”

This Saturday saw the biggest coordinated nationwide demonstration against the Trump administration to date. In Oregon, Indivisible helped organize protests, among others, as part of the 50501 movement. Many thousands of people turned out in Portland alone, with thousands more out all over the state including in Tigard, Medford, Enterprise other small towns in southern, central and Eastern Oregon.   They protested the dismantling of federal government agencies, mass layoffs and deportations, planned cuts to Medicaid, social security and more. We talk with four Oregonians from three different communities about how the protests they attended went and what motivated them to spend their Saturday demonstrating. Susannah Graven is a massage therapist in Medford and an unaffiliated voter.  Mike Eng is a retired National Parks employee who lives near Lostine in Wallowa County and is a Republican. And Mary Minor is a retired hospice nurse who helped organize the Tigard protest, along with her husband James, a retired technical writer, both unaffiliated voters.

There are 19 local programs across Oregon that recruit, train, supervise and support volunteers who serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates for foster children and youth. The programs operate independently with their own budgets and are funded through a mix of state dollars, private donations, philanthropic grants and community fundraising.  This fiscal year, they were also expecting to get a one-time allocation of $1.7 million from the federal government, which was earmarked for community project funding in Oregon. But last month, the Continuing Resolution that Congress passed stripped this funding, which would have been disbursed through the Oregon CASA Network to each of the local programs, based on the number of foster children and youth in the counties they serve.  Jennifer Mylenek, the executive director of CASA of Jackson and Josephine Counties, and Mary Collard, the executive director of CASA of Eastern Oregon, join us to talk about how they’re coping with the impact of the loss of these funds within their rural communities. 

Bobbie Conner is a cultural leader and enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). For nearly 30 years, she has been the director of the Tamaslikt Cultural Institute on the Umatilla Reservation in Eastern Oregon. She works to preserve the languages and rich cultural heritage of the Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Nez Perce and other Indigenous nations from this region of the west. She offers funders insights into funding Native American causes and projects—spoiler alert—casino income isn't making these tribes wealthy.

A new documentary started looking into cattle mutilations in Eastern Oregon and ended up falling in love with rural ranch life.

At this week's ITA Showcase, I sat down with Blake Lawrence of Windwave Communications to discuss how the company is helping bridge the digital divide in Oregon. Windwave Communications, a fiber optic provider with its own network, has been instrumental in connecting rural and remote areas in Eastern Oregon, providing critical infrastructure for businesses, schools, hospitals, and communities. Expanding Connectivity in One of America's Most Remote Regions Oregon is a state of extremes—dense forests, coastal towns, vast deserts, and towering mountain ranges—but also counties larger than some U.S. states with populations under 10,000. This vast geography has historically made broadband expansion difficult, but Windwave Communications has been working to change that. “We design and build fiber optic networks for other carriers and have been connecting extreme rural areas for over 20 years,” said Blake Lawrence, emphasizing the company's role in middle-mile fiber deployment and community broadband planning. With federal BEAD funding and the rise of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology, there is real potential to close the digital divide in these remote areas. While satellite services play a role, fiber remains the gold standard for reliability and speed, and Windwave is focused on delivering that first-class connectivity where it's needed most. Supporting Data Centers and Large-Scale Fiber Projects Beyond serving rural communities, Windwave Communications plays a major role in Oregon's growing data center industry. The Pacific Northwest—especially Eastern Oregon and Eastern Washington—has become a hotspot for data center expansion, driven by cloud computing giants and the need for high-bandwidth, low-latency connections. “We build fiber connectivity between data center sites and work with counties to ensure that these investments benefit local communities,” Lawrence explained. Data centers contribute significantly to county tax revenues, and some of that funding is being reinvested into broadband expansion projects. Windwave's expertise in building conduit banks, using specialized excavation equipment, and designing robust fiber networks makes them a key partner for data centers, large carriers, and government broadband initiatives. Working with Other Carriers and Organizations Windwave Communications isn't just an ISP; it's also a trusted partner for other telecom carriers, enterprises, and government entities. The company provides free consultations for businesses or communities exploring broadband projects. “If someone is considering a broadband expansion or applying for a large grant, we can help navigate the process,” Lawrence said. “Even if we're not your final vendor, we want to help guide you in the right direction.” How to Connect with Windwave Communications Windwave Communications operates primarily in Oregon, but its expertise extends to broadband projects across multiple states. Whether you're a carrier looking for fiber partnerships, a business in need of connectivity, or a government agency seeking broadband expertise, Windwave is ready to assist. For more information, visit www.windwave.tc or Google Windwave Communications to find out how they can help.

Measure 114, which was narrowly approved by Oregon voters in 2022, bans the purchase of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition and requires a permit for anybody purchasing a firearm. The measure never went into effect after it faced a number of legal challenges, but on Wednesday the Oregon Court of Appeals declared the measure constitutional. This overturns a 2023 decision from an Eastern Oregon judge who ruled it violated Oregon law. OPB reporter Conrad Wilson joins us to explain what it all means.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Kola Shippentower. Her tribal name is Tumhiya, and she is from Nixyaawii country, in Eastern Oregon as an enrolled tribal member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. She is a two-time professional athlete, and a passionate advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIW). She shares her deeply personal journey into advocacy—a role she never sought but felt compelled to take on as violence against Indigenous women continues to impact her community. Kola reflects on the weight of this work, the pain of losing loved ones, and the responsibility she carries to fight for justice, not just for her family but for future generations.Through raw and heartfelt storytelling, she challenges misconceptions about Indigenous identity, the erasure of Native voices, and the way non-Native audiences often consume these tragedies without taking meaningful action. She emphasizes the urgent need for funding, systemic change, and allyship that goes beyond passive sympathy. Guided by her father's wisdom, Kola has shifted her approach—moving beyond sorrowful storytelling to empowering and mobilizing her people to reclaim their strength, resilience, and rightful place in the fight for justice. This conversation is a wake-up call to all who listen: real change requires more than awareness—it demands action.

Libraries worldwide broke digital lending records last year as Overdrive, the company that operates Libby and Sora, recently reported seeing more than 739 million borrows of audiobooks, e-books and digital magazines — a 17% increase from 2023. But while many library card holders may be enjoying the latest bestseller at no cost, the bill public libraries pay to provide this service grows just as much as demand. Public libraries do not purchase digital books, but rather the license to distribute them. That licensing needs to be renewed regularly, making audio books and e-books up to four times more expensive than a physical copy. Some states, including Washington, have asked lawmakers to step in to try to make digital more affordable. Currently Oregon has no bill or law around digital books, but libraries across the state report seeing growing demand. Stephanie Chase is the executive director of the Libraries of Eastern Oregon and governing board member of the Oregon Digital Library Consortium. Le Button is the collection development librarian at Deschutes Public Library. They both join us to share what demand has been like for digital books in recent years and how libraries balance buying physical copies versus digital ones.

Steve discusses all the news from the weekend, including Trump's pick for deputy director of the FBI, Dan Bongino. Then, Matt McCaw from the Greater Idaho movement joins the show to discuss the necessity of Eastern Oregon joining Idaho. In Hour Two, the crew is joined by Josiah Oleson and Chuck Hurley of the Family Leader to discuss a crucial bill making its way through the Iowa legislature that would protect citizens from specious applications of the Iowa Civil Rights Act. TODAY'S SPONSORS: BIRCH GOLD: Text STEVE to 989898 RELIEF FACTOR: VISIT https://www.relieffactor.com/ OR CALL 800-4-RELIEF REAL ESTATE AGENTS I TRUST: https://realestateagentsitrust.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last October, Amazon announced it had signed an agreement to develop four small-scale modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs, along the Columbia River to power its data centers in Eastern Oregon. Energy Northwest, a consortium of publicly owned utilities, is partnering with Amazon on the development of the SMRs which it says could be scaled up to meet the energy needs of more than 770,000 homes in the region without the use of fossil fuels.  But opposition to the plan is now ramping up as environmentalists, academics and Native American Tribes in the region raise their concerns over the safety of this novel nuclear technology to human health, wildlife and water quality. OPB rural communities reporter Antonio Sierra joins us to share his recent reporting on the opposition to Amazon’s vision for nuclear energy and the massive data centers it would help power. 

At the start of every month, host Aaron Millar and producer Jason Paton preview what's coming up on Armchair Explorer, play their favorite clips, and reveal the stories they're most excited to share. A cross between a highlight reel, an interview, and two people telling travel tales down the pub, our Pathways episodes are your guide to choosing your adventures with us. October episodes: ADVENTURE: Adventure filmmaker Chris Burkard takes us surfing in the Northern Lights, and bike-rafting along Iceland's 300-mile Forgotten Coast. PERFORMANCE: We head to Chattanooga, Tennessee - one of the original homes of The Blues -for a hotel room jam, and interview, with local Blues legend Rick Rushing. IMMERSION: Hear the alternative story of the Oregon Trail, told On Location in Eastern Oregon by an elder of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla. We Will Never Fade is the title, and spirit, of this rarely told history of the West. BUCKET LIST: Host Aaron Millar tells us about the most spectacular place he's ever stayed. Sheldon Chalet is perched on a nunatak in the middle of the Ruth Glacier, looking out to the eastern face of Denali, and the Alaskan Range. JOURNEY: Travel writer Alex Robinson takes us on a canoe journey through the lakes and rivers of Ontario, Canada, and discovers a deep connection to nature and the thrill of white-water canoeing. IMMERSION: Discover the story of the female St Patrick, in an immersive On Location journey across Ireland. St Brigid's story was buried for over a millennia, but now it's discovered, it's set to take on Patrick, and his worldwide famous day. *** If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed. Reviewing the show helps other people discover it and helps us continue to produce it. If you like episode, please consider a quick review on your favorite podcast platform. You don't have to write anything just click those five (hopefully) stars! Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma! Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar and Jason Paton presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WPA writer Sara B. Wrenn's oral history interview with Portland attorney A.L. Veazie, who grew up in Polk County in the late 1800s, recalling what life was like with the Chinese laborers who were working on railroads and other worksites. Not all his recollections are flattering, but they're not super surprising given that the Chinese were nearly all young, socially ostracized peasant men in a foreign land. (For the transcript, see https://www.loc.gov/item/wpalh001990/ )

Brooke Delmas Robertson is one of our favorite people, and for good reason. Her Delmas SJR Vineyard Syrah was just named #10 on Jeb Dunnuck's Top 100 Wines of 2024, and shortly after, her Viognier earned a spot in Decanter's Top 50. Her family has been raising the bar in the Rocks District of Walla Walla for years, producing only about 1000 cases annually—flying under the radar, but with outstanding quality. Brooke's commitment to sustainability and family legacy shines through in her approach: “We want our vines to outlive us and be sustainable and strong for generations to come. That expectation requires daily oversight and a commitment to sustainability and healthy plants,” she says. “The driving vision to create a small, family-estate operation has been a family dream since my brother and I were kids. My work on behalf of the estate will continue to be a tribute to my late brother, whom the vineyard is named after. To life!” In addition to her winemaking, Brooke serves on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Winegrower Association, representing Eastern Oregon. She's a Level One Mentor with Bâtonnage (Women in Wine) and founded the Vineyard Technical Group for the Walla Walla Valley, partnering with Oregon State University and the Rocks District Winegrowers to provide ongoing education for wine growers in the region. We highly recommend getting your hands on these wines, especially the Viognier and SJR Vineyard Syrah. Better yet, plan a trip to Walla Walla, Washington, and see firsthand the incredible work being done there. [Ep350] www.delmaswines.com @delmas_sjrvineyard

In this week's episode of Bend Don't Break, host Aaron Switzer sits down with Sally, Executive Director of Think Wild, a Bend-based wildlife conservation center. Sally shares her inspiring journey from working at the Newport Aquarium to leading a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to wildlife rescue, education, conservation, and habitat restoration across Central and Eastern Oregon.

If you’re not a fan of traditional holiday movies, “Breakup Season” might be for you. It follows a young couple that plans to spend Christmas together, only to break up on the first night of their vacation. A snowstorm makes travel impossible, meaning they’re stuck together for the holiday. The movie was entirely filmed in Eastern Oregon, featuring shots of downtown La Grande and the surrounding snow-capped hills and valleys.   Filmmaker H. Nelson Tracey developed “Breakup Season” through a residency with the Eastern Oregon Film Festival. He joins us to talk about his debut feature film and why it was important to set it in La Grande. 

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) On this Thanksgiving Day, Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, sets aside the usual headlines to bring you something truly special. In this heartfelt episode, Bryan shares the story of his family's incredible journey—a tale that stretches back to the 1600s in Massachusetts, through the trials of the Oregon Trail, and into the rugged hills of Eastern Oregon. This is a story of resilience, sacrifice, and faith, told through the lives of those who came before him. It's a reminder of the extraordinary lengths our ancestors went to build a better future for their families—and for all of us. From the struggles of pioneer life to the joys of community dances and the lasting legacy of hard work and tough love, Bryan's family history serves as a tribute to the American spirit. Join Bryan as he reflects on the importance of gratitude—on this day and every day—and honors the generations that laid the foundation for the lives we enjoy today. Whether you're surrounded by loved ones or holding onto cherished memories, this episode is a celebration of family, faith, and the enduring promise of America. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32

Last month, Amazon announced it had signed an agreement to develop four small-scale modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs, along the Columbia River to power its data centers in Eastern Oregon. The e-commerce giant also touted nuclear energy as a “safe source of carbon-free energy” that would allow it to achieve its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2040.  Energy Northwest, a consortium of publicly owned utilities, is partnering with Amazon on the development of the SMRs in southeast Washington. Under the agreement, Energy Northwest could build an additional eight SMRs that would generate enough electricity to meet the needs of more than 770,000 homes in the region. OPB rural communities reporter Antonio Sierra recently looked into this technology, its safety and how it differs from traditional nuclear reactors. He joins us to share what he’s learned. 

A legal fight is brewing in Eastern Oregon where a coalition of timber interests is trying to block the sale of the only sawmill still operating in Grant County to Iron Triangle, a logging company in John Day. The Malheur Forest Fairness Coalition filed a federal lawsuit last year against Iron Triangle and the sawmill, Malheur Lumber, alleging that the two companies were conspiring to stifle competition. Although the suit was dismissed in September, it is currently being appealed, with the coalition threatening further legal action if the sale is pursued.    As first reported in The Blue Mountain Eagle, Malheur Lumber, announced in July it was shutting down after more than 40 years. It cited a range of factors that led to the decision, including difficulty hiring reliable workers and a lack of housing to recruit them. The company’s financial woes are emblematic of the state of the timber industry in Oregon where seven mills announced their closures this year. Bennett Hall is the editor of the Blue Mountain Eagle. He joins us to share his reporting on this issue and how federal assistance could once again offer a lifeline to timber operations in Grant County and the region.  

Every youth orchestra in America today can trace its ancestry back to the a tiny, dusty town in Eastern Oregon, and one gifted, visionary violin teacher named Mary Dodge, founder of the Sagebrush Symphony. (Burns, Harney County; 1920s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1108c-sagebrush-symphony-first-youth-orchestra-in-us.html)

As the Cold War spun up, federal government guarantees sent thousands of Geiger Counter-packing prospectors in Army surplus Jeeps scrambling across Oregon's Outback, hoping to make their fortunes mining “A-metal.” (Central and Eastern Oregon; 1940s, 1950s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1507c.uranium-mining-gold-rush-348.html)

Stephanie Chase is the Executive Director of nonprofit Libraries of Eastern Oregon, which serves and supports 39 public libraries in rural Oregon. She also serves on the executive board of the American Library Association and has spent years learning about community programming and library systems. She recognizes the critical role a library plays in its community by curating informed citizens, providing a place to gather, and offering much more than books on the shelves.

For some 30 years in the early 20th century, Oregonian Jean Birnie led a trailblazing group of horsewomen called the Hen Party on annual horse packing trips in northeastern Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains. Inspired by their legacy, a group of Hen Party descendents retraced the steps of their foremothers on an adventure into the Wallowas of their own, almost a century later.   OPB “Oregon Field Guide” producer Jule Gilfillan went along to document their journey. She joins us to share the family story of the Hen Party, and how, in the Oregon wilderness, its members found friendship, empowerment, solace and more.Find more “Oregon Field Guide” stories about the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest here. For more Evergreen episodes and to share your voice with us, visit our showpage. Follow OPB on Instagram, and follow host Jenn Chávez too. You can sign up for OPB’s newsletters to get what you need in your inbox regularly.   Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps: Timber Wars Season 2: Salmon Wars Politics Now Think Out Loud And many more! Check out our full show list here.

The Bureau of Land Management administers 16 million acres of land across Oregon and Washington, and wildfires burned a large swath of that land this summer, including nearly half a million acres in Eastern Oregon. For ranchers who lease BLM rangeland for their cattle, that can mean that new leases will be hard to find. The fires also threatened other uses of the land, including logging, recreation, and wildlife protection. Rebecca Carter is responsible for managing rangeland for the BLM in Oregon and Washington and for leading fire recovery efforts. She joins us to discuss how the agency is facing this summer’s fire season.

Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit that advocates for arts and arts education in the U.S., released data on how the arts sector affects Oregon. The study showed that Oregon’s nonprofit arts industry generated more than $800 million in economic activity in 2022. Randy Cohen is the vice president of research for the organization. He has toured across  the country discussing findings from the study. He’s currently visiting Eastern Oregon to talk about how the arts sector affects economies in Pendleton, Joseph, Ontario and other communities. Roberta Lavadour is the executive director for the Pendleton Center for the Arts and serves on the Oregon Arts Commission. They join us with details of the study and how the arts industry affects communities like Pendleton.

Hardly a week goes by in the U.S. without a mass shooting, as the recent shooting at a high school in Georgia earlier this month reminds us of. In that tragedy, a 14-year-old student is suspected of killing two students and two teachers with a semiautomatic assault-style rifle which was legally purchased by his father. The National Rifle Association, along with some conservative lawmakers and the gun lobby argue that mental illness is to blame for mass shootings – not the easy access to firearms.  A new study by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University challenges that view. It compared the U.S. to 40 other countries for the prevalence of mental health disorders and deaths from firearms over a 20-year period, from 2000 to 2019. It found, for example, that the firearm death rate was 11 times greater in the U.S. compared to the other nations while the prevalence of mental health disorders in the U.S. was similar. It also found that the firearm death rate in the U.S. had increased, whereas it declined among the other nations. Joining us to share details about the study is Archie Bleyer, a pediatric and young adult oncologist at OHSU.  Read on-air: The Great Salt Lick auction will take place this Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Churchill School in Baker City. Attendance is free.  

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner   Transcript for "Plan Your Path" Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,     give careful attention to your herds; 24 for riches do not endure forever,     and a crown is not secure for all generations.  Proverbs 27:22-24 My Dad was born in 1921.  He grew up in the Great Depression and was a pilot in World War Two.  He was part of the greatest generation and he raised his kids to be independent early.  He taught my oldest brother to drive a farm tractor and pickup before the age of ten.  He taught me to drive by letting me sit on his lap when I was six.  One deer hunting season in the mid-seventies my Dad, older brother and I drove our 1957 GMC pickup to my Dad's hometown of Jordan Valley, Oregon (Population 137).  As we drove through the sagebrush desert of Eastern Oregon, my Dad turned to me and asked, “You ready to drive?”  I was eleven years old.  I said, “Sure!”  We pulled over and I ran around to the driver's side.  I got in with my Dad next to me and my brother on the passenger side.  It was a three-speed manual transmission and the truck had no power steering.  In order to keep it on the road, you had to make constant adjustments to the steering wheel.  It was more like herding than steering the truck.  I was weaving down the road.  I could see my older brother in my periphereal vision grabbing the dashboard, twisting his body and groaning as I make my way toward Jordan Valley.  My Dad was completely relaxed and enjoyed the ride.  All he told me was, “Just look way down the road.  Don't look at the sides of the road or the lane markers because wherever you look is where you will go.”  Wherever you look is where you will go. This piece of advice had value not only for driving, but for life in general.  Anything you concentrate on, you will naturally gravitate toward.  This is the essence of many books that offer advice on the accumulation of money.  When Jesus told his disciples, “Follow me,” he meant literally follow behind me.  We grow spiritually when we keep our eyes on Jesus and his teachings.  That is why it's so important to keep in the word every day and to pray on a daily basis. Take a look at what you keep track of.  What are you focused on?  The digital revolution has diminished our capacity to keep one thing in mind consistently.  It keeps us from bearing the good fruit God has in mind for us.  To become a fruitful disciple, you have to consciously decide where you are looking.  As Psalm 4 cautions: Above all else, guard your heart,     for everything you do flows from it. 24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;     keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;     fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet     and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left;     keep your foot from evil. Solomon says that you need to “fix your gaze” and “look straight ahead.”  If we want to keep our hearts on the right path, we have to select what we are looking at and where we are going.  Multibillion dollar companies are hiring the best talent in the world to get you to fix your gaze on them and their online content and products.  It will take a firm decision to fix your gaze on your own path rather than the one that others would have you travel. Write down your goals.  One of the most important habits to get into is waking up and choosing where your focus will land on that day.  For example, if you want to win souls and persuade people, you will need to focus on reaching out to people.  Every day, I wake up and read my goals and rewrite them. Write down your top ten goals over the next five years.  Maybe you want to lose weight, save more souls, save more money or get married.  Whatever it is right it down.  Sometimes it helps to have a goal for each different role or responsibility in your life such as: ·        Relationships and family ·        Money ·        Soul-winning ·        Spirituality and peace of mind ·        Career ·        Fun and adventure ·        Health and fitness   Write a goal down for each one of these areas.  Keep it in a place you can look at it daily.  Pray over it.  Keep a log.  Keep track of how you are doing.  There are usually one or two key activities that needs to happen daily if you want to make progress toward your long-term goals.  Keep track of those activities.  That will keep you going toward your spiritual destination. Early in the planting of the Tucson Church, I wanted to see more people saved.  I created a 90-day program to focus my attention on this goal.  I made it my goal to lead 90 Bible study appointments in 90 days.  I did that and we started baptizing more and more people.  That was the most important thing to focus on if I wanted to save more people.  It doesn't have to be complicated.  All you have to do is fix your gaze on the right thing.  Practice: ·        Write down your goals daily over the next week.  Write them down, pray over them and imagine how awesome it would be if they were to come true.  This is the first step in seeing your dreams come true. ·        Keep a daily log that keeps you on track to see your goals materialize.  Choose one daily activity that is essential in moving you toward your goals.  Check the box when you complete the activity. 

Wildfires have burned more than a million and a half acres in Oregon so far, with the season still not over. Eastern Oregon has been especially hard hit by massive fires this summer, including the Durkee Fire which ignited last month and has burned nearly 300,000 acres. Ranchers in Eastern and Central Oregon face growing uncertainty and mounting economic losses to their livelihoods. The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association started a fund to raise money to help ranchers who’ve lost cattle or pasturelands for grazing.  Matt McElligott is the president of the OCA and the owner of LM Ranch in Baker and Grant Counties. He shares with us the impact of the wildfires on ranchers and the long road to recovery some of them face. 

For the past two weeks, North Fork John Day Watershed Council has been hard at work helping people in and around Long Creek fight fires on their property and deal with the damage done by the flames. The Battle Mountain Complex and Courtrock fires have impacted residents living in rural parts of the state, which have not been serviced by firefighting teams as quickly as other areas, leaving landowners to fight fires by themselves. Kristen Walz, the executive director of North Fork John Day Watershed Council, joins us to share more about her group’s efforts during this particularly harsh and early wildfire season. 

Cheatgrass and other invasive species are threatening important rangelands and helping fuel severe wildfires in Eastern Oregon. Lisa Ellsworth is an associate professor and range ecologist at the college of agricultural sciences at Oregon State University. She joins us to explain how these areas have been affected by invasive species, extreme wildfires and human activity and what that means for the future of a crucial Western ecosystem.

SCARED TO DEATH IS EXPLICIT IN EVERY WAY. PLEASE TAKE CARE WHILE LISTENING.Dan shares two awesome tales this week. The first is set just outside the little Eastern Oregon city of La Grande. We'll learn about the allegedly haunted Hot Lake Springs Hotel and a unique modern encounter tale from a journal left for guests to write about their stay. And then, we'll learn what the wonderful actress and author Carrie Fisher had to say about the paranormal before she passed away too soon in 2016. Lynze has two incredible stories! Her first explores a family history of a possible curse and then the modern haunted house encounters of some people unrelated to the family. In her last story, get the Kleenex, this one will get you in the feels. A great story of poltergeist activity that leads a mom to some valuable information about her kid.Patreon Monthly Donation: As is our tradition here at Bad Magic, Dan and I are hosting the Bad Magic Giving Tree. If you have been keeping up, you already know that sign-ups happened a few weeks ago, but we are still collecting additional support for this community project! If you are able to help build up the fund for the giving tree, you can go to amazon.com and purchase a gift card that will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to 13K by Dan and I to help 30 families this holiday season. The Giving Tree Fund is still open and will remain open until mid-December. If you purchase a gift card, the important thing you need to know is where to send it! Enter GIVINGTREE2023@BADMAGICPRODUCTIONS.COM as the recipient address!Standup: If you want to see a very different side of Dan than you see here and possibly see Lynze in the crowd (she is always happy to say HI!), get on over to dancummins.tv for ticket links to shows. You can find Dan in Virginia Beach! A reminder that Dan is not touring in 2024, so this is your last chance to see him! Thank you for continuing to send in your stories, Creeps and Peepers!**Please keep doing so.Send them to mystory@scaredtodeathpodcast.com Send everything else to info@scaredtodeathpodcast.com Want to be a Patron? Get episodes AD-FREE, listen and watch before they are released to anyone else, bonus episodes, a 20% merch discount, additional content, and more! Learn more by visiting: https://www.patreon.com/scaredtodeathpodcast. Please rate, review, and subscribe anywhere you listen.Thank you for listening! Follow the show on social media: @scaredtodeathpodcast on Facebook and IG.Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/PEbJX0Vyz_wWebsite: https://scaredtodeathpodcast.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scaredtodeathpodcast/](https://www.facebook.com/scaredtodeathpodcast/)Instagram: https://bit.ly/2miPLf5 Mailing Address:Scared to Deathc/o Timesuck PodcastPO Box 3891Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816 Video/Audio by Bad Magic ProductionsAdditional music production by Jeffrey Montoya Opening Sumerian protection spell (adapted):"Whether thou art a ghost that hath come from the earth, or a phantom of night that hath no home… or one that lieth dead in the desert… or a ghost unburied… or a demon or a ghoul… Whatever thou be until thou art removed… thou shalt find here no water to drink… Thou shalt not stretch forth thy hand to our own… Into our house enter thou not. Through our fence, breakthrough thou not… we are protected though we may be frightened. Our life you may not steal, though we may feel SCARED TO DEATH."