Myrtis Dightman talks about being the first black cowboy to compete at the National Finals Rodeo in 1964 and shares stories from a lifetime in rodeo. Special guests Pipp Gillette and Waddie Mitchell also share stories and thoughts about…

Photo of Gail Gardner, used with permission.

Singer/songwriter and working cowboy Gail Steiger shares stories and memories about his grandfather Gail Gardner. Gail Gardner is one of the classic cowboy poets and he is best known for writing…

Photo by Jessica Lifland.

Montana ranch hand DW Groethe talks about playing music because you have to, becoming a cowboy, the difference in poems and songs, and the isolation of ranch work. 

Barry Corbin talks about his career as an actor, his interest in the life of Charlie Goodnight, his creative process, and tells stories from working on the sets of Conagher and No Country for Old Men. Don't miss the…

Photo by Martin HM Schreiber, Quien Sabe Ranch, circa 1979. 

New Mexico cowboy singer R.W. Hampton talks about how a town kid became a cowboy, his musical influences, his acting career, Ian Tyson, and what makes a cowboy…

The legendary Ian Tyson talks about Elko, Nevada, buckaroo culture, Greenwich Village, traditional folk songs, writing songs with Tom Russell, and encountering Bob Dylan.

Photo by Jessica Lifland.

Florida rancher and poet Sean Sexton talks about working with his father and son, the Florida cattle business, his writing process, and poetic forms.

Photo by Jessica Lifland.

Poet Vess Quinlan discusses growing up on small family ranches, contracting polio as a child, occupational poetry, and offers insights into ranch culture.

Ned LeDoux elaborates on growing up in Kaycee, Wyoming, getting started in music, playing drums with the Western Underground, and being the son of Chris LeDoux. Don't miss the new song at the end of the episode.

Cowboy poet Rodney Nelson of North Dakota talks about his life experiences including ranching, rodeo, poetry, his parents, and the power of music.

Photo by Jessica Brandi Lifland.

Colter Wall discusses growing up in Saskatchewan, his interest in cowboy culture, old-time cowboy songs, his 1937 Martin guitar, what it means to be a folksinger and his album Songs of the…

Photo by Jessica Brandi Lifland.

Singer/songwriter Dave Stamey talks about his early life, wranglin' dudes, his rural audience, and his songwriting influences.  Don't miss the new song at the end of the episode! 

Intro 

Today's…

This episode features two guests celebrating the poetry and memory of S. Omar Barker. Barker's grandniece Georgia Snead shares memories, stories, and anecdotes about Barker and cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell tells his story of discovering Barker's poetry and calling…

Photo by Jessica Brandi Lifland.

Show Summary 

Canadian singer/songwriter Corb Lund talks about his family history, old cowboy songs, Marty Robbins, Ian Tyson, authenticity, his diverse audience, and tells the story of his parents putting on…

Show Summary 

Fifth-generation California rancher and poet John Dofflemyer talks about growing up on his family ranch, poetry, his first trip to Elko, Dry Crik Review, endangered species, and more.  

Intro 

Today’s episode is sponsored by…

Photo by Jessica Brandi Lifland.

Show Summary 

Bass player, vocalist, and humorist Too Slim reflects on his 40 year career with Riders in the Sky.  Tune in to hear Slim talk about his early musical…

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Live from Roots on the Narrow Gauge, Tom Russell shares about his early musical influences, personal encounters with the Beatles and Bob Dylan, living in Nigeria, the making of The Man from God Knows Where…

Photo by Kent Reeves

Show Summary

Part 2 of the interview with NEA Fellow and poet Joel Nelson. In this episode, Joel talks about his lifelong journey into poetry from his earliest exposures to…

Photo by Kent Reeves.

Show Summary

NEA National Heritage Fellow and poet Joel Nelson recalls his childhood memories, how he ended up in Alpine, Texas, and his early days as a working cowboy on the…

Photo by Jessica Brandi Lifland.

Working cowboy, author, and poet Amy Hale Auker stops by Cowboy Crossroads and talks about her father, her history, her writing process, and her work with Andy Wilkinson. Listen to the end…