Ana and I talk about her professional career creating film. We also talk about Doc Holliday and the articles she’s written.

On the night of July 14th, 1881, Sheriff Pat Garrett killed Billy the Kid. In doing so, he helped create a legend and ensured that his legacy would forever be intertwined with the notorious outlaws. And let’s be honest – it isn’t that great of a legacy. Many consider Garrett a coward, at best, a no-good backstabbing Old West Judas who betrayed his …

Mark and I discuss the Tombstone Epitaph, Tombstone and John Clum

In July of 1901, 14-year-old Willie Nickell was shot dead in an ambush. He had been less than a mile away from home attempting to open a gate when two bullets struck him in the back. A little over two years later, noted assassin Tom Horn was executed for Willie’s murder. In years prior, Tom had been an enforcer for various cattle barons throughout …

Robert and I discuss the history of John Muir, as we chat about his book: Cast Out of Eden - The Untold Story of John Muir, Indigenous Peoples, and the American Wilderness.

Tom Horn first arrived in Wyoming in 1892. He had spent most of a decade chasing Apache down in Arizona before diving headfirst into a feud known as the Pleasant Valley War. Although Tom’s actions during the feud remain unclear, he most likely fought on the side of the Tewksbury’s against their avowed enemies, the Grahams. And despite wearing the b…

Regarding Old West feuds, Arizona’s Pleasant Valley War ranked among the most violent. Also known as the Graham-Tewksbury feud, this conflict would rage on for over a decade and see a death toll from between twenty to fifty men, some of whom fell at the hands of a notorious up-and-coming killer by the name of Tom Horn. And, of course, this would no…

Just wanted to keep everyone update on what’s happening with the podcasts

“Killing men is my specialty. I look at it as a business proposition, and I think I have a corner on the market.” – Tom Horn, scout, lawman, detective, and assassin. As a young man, Tom Horn walked the rough cow towns of Dodge and Newton before cutting his teeth and fighting Apache down in Arizona. Graduated to the Range Wars, and in time, Horn wou…

Lonesome Dove, the 11th novel of famed author Larry McMurtry, was published in 1985. Four years later, the characters Augustus McCrae and Woodrow F. Call were immortalized on screen by actors Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. But did you know that much of Lonesome Dove was inspired by real-life people and events? Today, we discuss the real history…

Executive Producer Sam Dolan and I discuss INSP’s Into The Wild Frontier and the episode, John Mullan: RoadBuilder of the West

There is no new episode this week. Instead, I thought I'd share a compilation of previously released material. In this collection of true stories from the Old West, we’ll discuss Comanche Jack Stilwell, his heroics during the Battle of Beecher Island, and his brother’s time in Tombstone. Afterward, we’ll join Billy the Kid and his pals over at Whit…

Executive Producer Sam Dolan and I discuss INSP’s Into The Wild Frontier and the episode, Lucien Maxwell: The Legend of New Mexico.

Executive Producer Sam Dolan and I discuss INSP’s Into The Wild Frontier and the episode, John Coffee Hays: A Texas Legend.

Considered by many to be the first Mountain Man, John Colter first came west with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. When they head back to civilization, Colter instead chooses to stay behind. He’d live with the Crow tribe and go on to be the first American to cast eyes on the Teton Mountains, Colter’s Hell, and what’s now known as Yellowstone Nationa…

Send us a Text Message. Embark on a journey to the year 1867, where the grasses of the Plains whispered tales of imminent turmoil. Our episode chronicles the audacious maneuvers of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, as he brandishes the might of the military in a perilous dance with the Plains tribes. We peel back the layers of the government's …

Send us a Text Message. Don't miss the chance to delve deeper into the history of the Western Cattle Trail. Sign up for a free Western Cattle Trail Newsletter for a limited time. The newsletter will include featured articles by noted Western authors on historical accounts of the cattle drives of the 1880s. Additionally, those who receive the free n…

Today, we’ll follow the Lewis and Clark Expedition as they return to civilization. We’ll also discuss the lives of a few key figures post-expedition. What ever happened to Sacagawea? What about her son, Pomp? How about George Drouillard? Finally, we’ll examine the mysterious death of Captain Meriwether Lewis. Check out the website for more true tal…

Send us a Text Message. The Western Cattle Trail Association is delighted to announce that it will be hosting an exclusive 150-anniversary conference in Dodge City, Kansas, on November 1st & 2nd. This two-day gathering, reserved for those truly passionate about the history of the Western Trail, is not just a celebration but also a unique platform t…

Send us a Text Message. Embark on a thrilling journey to the raucous streets of 19th-century Abilene with us, where the legends of the Wild West come alive. Get ready to be transported to a world where cowboys, outlaws, and lawmen like Wild Bill Hickok and Tom Smith walked with a swagger, and the promise of prosperity mingled with the ever-present …

In July of 1806, Captain Meriwether Lewis and three of his companions had a violent confrontation with the Blackfeet, resulting in at least one dead warrior. This encounter would lead to strained relations between the United States and the Blackfeet Confederacy and result in decades of bloodshed. But is the official story – as told by the Corps of …

Send us a Text Message. Feel the icy winds and hear the echoes of challenge and survival as we unveil the untold narratives of Fort Dodge's pioneering spirits. This episode promises to transplant you to the heart of a 19th-century military outpost, where Major Henry Douglas and his command contended with more than just the bitter cold. Mike King, a…

Brent tells the story of the relationship between Buffalo Bill and the Latter Day Saints.

Despite being a slave, York enjoyed unprecedented freedom during the Lewis and Clark expedition. Unfortunately, this would not last, and once back in Missouri, York returned to a life of bondage. Unlike the other men of the Corps of Discovery, York was not paid for his services, and William Clark refused to grant him his freedom. What was York’s ul…

Executive Producer Sam Dolan and I discuss INSP’s Into The Wild Frontier and the episode, Bill Hamilton: The Last Mountain Man

Executive Producer Sam Dolan and I discuss INSP’s Into The Wild Frontier and the episode, Jim Beckwourth: The Long Ride

In the spring of 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition departed from the Mandan and followed the Missouri River west into Montana. They would need to cross the Rocky Mountains before the snow began to fall, and to that, they would need to find the Shoshone. Also discussed are the hunting on the upper Missouri, the portage of the Great Falls, and a f…

Send us a Text Message. Embark on a trek through time as we uncover the remarkable story of Isadore Douglas and her family's poignant journey westward in the aftermath of the Civil War. Imagine braving the unknown frontier, where every step is a dance with danger and every letter home is a testament to survival. You're invited to live through Isido…

Send us a Text Message. Step into the dusty boots of Major General Grenville Dodge as we venture into the heart of the post-Civil War American frontier, where securing the wild plains was as treacherous as it was vital. Our episode, guided by an esteemed historian, captures the essence of life at Fort Dodge, the strategic military stronghold pivota…

Executive Producer, Sam Dolan and I discuss the season four premiere of INSP’s Into The Wild Frontier and the episode Jim Baker: A Born Leader.

Travis and chat about his life in North Carolina, being a DJ and getting picked for a role on INSP’s, Elkhorn.

One aspect of the Lewis and Clark expedition that’s often overlooked is that much of their success hinged largely on the good graces of the various Indigenous people on whose land they were crossing. Today, as we follow the expedition up Missouri, we’ll take a look at several such encounters, first with the Oto and Missouri tribes, then Arikara, th…

In the Spring of 1803, the United States acquired the Territory of Louisiana, a largely uncharted tract of wilderness stretching from Canada all the way down to New Orleans, over 800,000 square miles that, as the maps were concerned, remained a mystery. President Thomas Jefferson ordered an expedition to explore Louisiana west to the Pacific Ocean …

Dave and I chat about his career and the fate of the magazine.

From Airship, the studio behind American Scandal, American History Tellers, and History Daily, comes a new true crime history podcast that takes you inside the minds of some of our most notorious felons and outlaws, exploring the dark side to the American dream. The debut season tackles one of the country’s most sensational cases: The Menendez Murd…