Cowboy Crossroads
Andy Hedges interviews a different guest on each episode and asks them to share stories from the working cowboy West and beyond. Cowboy poets, ranchers, working cowboys, musicians, songwriters, artists, historians, and western legends.
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Episode 103: Wylie Gustafson
09/17/2024
Episode 103: Wylie Gustafson
Wylie Gustafson of Wylie & The Wild West talks about the beginning of his musical career, the cowboy folk music of his father, the story of the Yahoo yodel, cutting horses, writing songs with Paul Zarzyski, and the workingman quality of cowboy poetry. Learn more about Wylie Gustafson at Learn more about Cowboy Crossrods at Become a patron at
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Episode 102: Martin Black
08/08/2024
Episode 102: Martin Black
Cowboy and horseman Martin Black talks about his family's deep ranching roots, being in cow camp with his brother at eight years old, ranching changes in the Great Basin, the disappearance of the wagon, and the horsemanship philosophy of his mentors Ray Hunt, Tom Dorrance, and Tom Marvel. Learn more about Martin Black at Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 101: Peter Rowan
06/11/2024
Episode 101: Peter Rowan
Bluegrass legend Peter Rowan talks about his lifelong fascination with the West, amateur historians, and making the album High Lonesome Cowboy with Don Edwards. Learn more about Peter Rowan at This episode was sponsored by B2 Trading Company. Learn more about them at Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 100: Waddie Mitchell
05/16/2024
Episode 100: Waddie Mitchell
Waddie Mitchell returns to Cowboy Crossroads to celebrate 100 episodes of the podcast. Waddie talks about making phone calls to Kris Kristofferson and S. Omar Barker, classic cowboy poetry, his recording career, and his favorite original poems. This interview was recorded onstage in front of a live audience at the Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Alpine, Texas. Learn more about the Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering at Learn more about Waddie Mitchell at Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 99: Barbara Van Cleve
04/16/2024
Episode 99: Barbara Van Cleve
Legendary western photographer Barbara Van Cleve talks about growing up at the end of the horse age, her family's Lazy K Bar Ranch, her father Spike Van Cleve, her collaborations with rodeo poet Paul Zarzyski, and her love for horses, ranching, and photography. Learn more about Barbara Van Cleve at This episode was co-sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center and Art of the Cowgirl. Visit them at and Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 98: Songs of the Cowboys with Rex Rideout
03/07/2024
Episode 98: Songs of the Cowboys with Rex Rideout
Old-time musician Rex Rideout discusses the life and times of the first cowboy song collector Jack Thorp. Rex discusses the events that led to Thorp's search for cowboy songs, Thorp's book of Songs of the Cowboys, the story of Little Joe the Wrangler, and Thorp's banjo. Find out more about Rex at Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 97: Boots O'Neal
01/16/2024
Episode 97: Boots O'Neal
Ninety-one year-old legendary working cowboy Boots O'Neal talks about his early cowboyin' experiences on the JA Ranch, starting colts with his brother Wes, horse wrecks, and tells stories from a lifetime spent punchin' cows on the most iconic ranches in Texas. Recorded in front of a live audience at the 2023 Ranch Verse event at the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, Texas. This episode is sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center. Find out more about them at Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 96: Jay Snider
12/12/2023
Episode 96: Jay Snider
Oklahoma cowboy poet, rancher, and former bull rider Jay Snider talks about his ranching and rodeo family, the influence of his grandfather, memories from his rodeo career, and the camaraderie of the trail driving era that continues through rodeo and cowboy poetry. Find out more agout Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 95: Clarence Lanka
10/27/2023
Episode 95: Clarence Lanka
94-year-old rancher and Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee Clarence Lanka talks about growing up on a ranch in Western Nebraska, riding his horse to a one room school, roping, good horses, and his faith in God. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 94: Gail Steiger (Part 2)
09/26/2023
Episode 94: Gail Steiger (Part 2)
Working cowboy, filmmaker, songwriter, and poet Gail Steiger sends in audio postscripts to continue the conversation from part 1. On this episode Gail talks about his cowboy mentor Bill Murphy, making the film Ranch Album, tracking cattle, handling livestock, international herding cultures, and the friendships he's made through cowboy poetry.
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Episode 93: Gail Steiger (Part 1)
09/05/2023
Episode 93: Gail Steiger (Part 1)
Working cowboy, filmmaker, songwriter, and poet Gail Steiger talks about his family background, Arizona politics, writing cowboy songs, and tells the facinating story of how he got into the cow business. Find out more about Gail Steiger at Find out more abot Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Bonus Episode: The Story of Jack Thorp
08/01/2023
Bonus Episode: The Story of Jack Thorp
This bonus episode of Cowboy Crosroads features a segment that Andy Hedges narrated for the American Songcatcher podcast about the first cowboy song collector Jack Thorp. In March 1889, Jack Thorp, a born-to-privilege Easterner who had grown into a leather-tough, saddle-wise trail hand, decided to track down the words to songs about cowboy life from cowboys singing in cow camps, at chuck wagons and line camps, in saloons—anywhere Thorp could find them, mostly in New Mexico and Texas. His course proved crucial to the evolution of cowboy culture and the publication of his Songs of the Cowboys, the first collection of folk songs in America in 1908. Find out more about the American Songcatcher podcast at Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 92: The King Ranch (Part 2)
06/27/2023
Episode 92: The King Ranch (Part 2)
Bob Kinnan, the resident historian of the iconic King Ranch gives an overview of the history of the King Ranch from the ending of the Civil War to modern times and discusses the life and legacy of National Golden Spur Award recipient Helen Kleberg Groves. Find out more about the King Ranch at This episode is sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center. Find out more bout them at Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads
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Episode 91: The King Ranch (Part 1)
05/31/2023
Episode 91: The King Ranch (Part 1)
Bob Kinnan, the resident historian of the iconic King Ranch, discusses his background and interest in ranching history and tells the story of the King Ranch from 1853 to the end of the Civil War. Fnd out more about the King Ranch at This episode was sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center. Find out more about them at Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 90: William Matthews
04/21/2023
Episode 90: William Matthews
Legendary western artist William Matthews discusses his early life and influences, traveling the world, painting album covers, using watercolor as a medium, and discovering and painting the buckaroo culture of the Great Basin. Find out more about William Mattews at This episode is sponsored by B2 Trading Company. Find out more about B2 Trading Company at Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 89: Roll On, Cowboys (Part 2)
03/28/2023
Episode 89: Roll On, Cowboys (Part 2)
Andy Hedges previews his new album "Roll On, Cowboys" and takes a close look at the songs on the second disc with special guests Rod Taylor, Dom Flemons, Pipp Gillette, Corb Lund, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Michael Martin Murphey, Tom Russell, Randy Rieman, Brenn Hill, and Andy Wilkinson. FInd out more about Cowboy Crossroads and order the new album at Become a patron at
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Episode 88: Roll On, Cowboys (Part 1)
02/28/2023
Episode 88: Roll On, Cowboys (Part 1)
Andy previews his new album "Roll On, Cowboys" and takes a close look at the songs with special guests Brenn Hill, Dom Flemons, Corb Lund, Pipp Gillette, Tom Russell, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Brigid Reedy, Waddie Mitchell, and Andy Wilkinson. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads and order the new album at Become a patron at
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Episode 87: Bob Moorhouse
01/17/2023
Episode 87: Bob Moorhouse
Cowboy, photographer and retired General Manager of the Pitchfork Ranch Bob Moorhouse talks about managing the Pitchfork Ranch, pulling out the wagon, tradition, cowboy etiquette, photography, horses, and preserving the authentic cowboy image. This episode is sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center. Find out more about them at Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 86: Brigid Reedy
12/08/2022
Episode 86: Brigid Reedy
Singer, songwriter, poet, and fiddler Brigid Reedy talks about growing up in Montana, the influence of her parents, playing music with her brother, attending the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, reciting poetry with Wallace McRae, playing music with Glenn Ohrlin, building gear with George Holt, and her future with music, poetry, and horses. You can find out more about Brigid Reedy at This episode is sponsored by the Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Alpine, Texas. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 85: Jon Means
10/25/2022
Episode 85: Jon Means
Fourth-generation rancher Jon Means tells stories from a lifetime of ranching in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. Jon talks about his great-grandfather coming to West Texas in 1884, ranching in the desert, stewardship, and the challenges that face ranching today. This episode was sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center. Find out more about them at Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 84: Andy Nelson
09/13/2022
Episode 84: Andy Nelson
Cowboy poet, humorist, and farrier Andy Nelson talks about traveling the Great Basin with his farrier father, his horse shoeing and cowboy mentors, cowboy humor, and writing poetry. Find out more about Andy Nelson at This episode is sponsored by Flint Custom Hats. Find out more about Flint Custom Hats at Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 83: Deanna Dickinson McCall
08/03/2022
Episode 83: Deanna Dickinson McCall
Fifth-generation rancher and poet Deanna Dickinson McCall shares stories about her ranching heritage, raising her family on a ranch in the remote Great Basin region of Nevada, and absorbing the cowboy poetry tradition from her Texas grandparents. Find out more about Deanna Dickinson McCall at This episode is sponsored by Jeff Tant with Tant Natural Resources. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 82: Jimmie Powell
06/28/2022
Episode 82: Jimmie Powell
94 year-old, third generation rancher Jimmie Powell shares stories from a lifetime of ranching in West Texas. Jimmie discusses raising sheep and cattle, ranching conservation practices, his friendship with Elmer Kelton, and tells the story of his grandfather settling in West Texas. This episode is sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center. Find out more about them at Become a patron at
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Episode 81: Remembering Buck Ramsey (Part 2)
05/16/2022
Episode 81: Remembering Buck Ramsey (Part 2)
This is the second episode of a two part show exploring the life and work of the late Texas cowboy poet and singer Buck Ramsey. In this second part, cowboy poet Joel Nelson reflects on the importance of Buck Ramsey's book-length poem "Grass." This episode is sponsored by Jayson Jones Bits & Spurs. Find out more about Jayson Jones at Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 80: Remembering Buck Ramsey (Part 1)
04/19/2022
Episode 80: Remembering Buck Ramsey (Part 1)
This is the first episode of a two part show exploring the life and work of the late Texas cowboy poet and singer Buck Ramsey. In this first part, Buck Ramsey's widow Bette Ramsey shares about Buck's childhood, the influence of his Uncle Ed, his tragic horse wreck, and how Buck found his tribe through cowboy poetry. This episode is sponsored by Jayson Jones Bits & Spurs. Find out more about Jayson Jones at www.jaysonjonesspurs.com Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads
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Episode 79: John Lacey
03/22/2022
Episode 79: John Lacey
Third-generation California rancher and Golden Spur Award recipient John Lacey talks about his grandfather first coming to the Owens Valley in 1870, the values he learned from his father, raising Quarter Horses, and the challenges in the future for the ranching industry. This episode is sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center. Find out more about them at Become a patron at
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Episode 78: The Illustrated Letters of Charles M. Russell (Part 2)
02/15/2022
Episode 78: The Illustrated Letters of Charles M. Russell (Part 2)
Part two with horseman, rawhide braider, and reciter Randy Rieman discussing the life and letters of Charles M. Russell. In this episode, Randy talks about Russell's poetry and reads from letters that touch on Christmas, Buffalo Bill, Hollywood, prohibition, the changing West, and Russell's relationship with pioneer preacher Brother Van. Find out more about Randy Rieman at This episode was sponsored by Flint Custom Hats. Find out more about Flint Custom Hats at Become a patron at
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Episode 77: The Illustrated Letters of Charles M. Russell (Part 1)
01/18/2022
Episode 77: The Illustrated Letters of Charles M. Russell (Part 1)
Horseman, braider, and reciter Randy Rieman returns to Cowboy Crossroads to discuss the Illustrated Letters of Charles M. Russell. In part one, Randy talks about Russell's life and work, discusses early Montana history, and reads from a few of Russell's letters. Find out more about Randy Rieman at This episode was sponsored by Jayson Jones Bits & Spurs. Find out more about Jayson Jones at Become a patron at
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Episode 76: Trinity Seely
12/14/2021
Episode 76: Trinity Seely
Singer/songwriter Trinity Seely talks about growing up in the remote Chilcotin country of British Columbia, working on ranches in Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Montana, becoming the Director of the Horse Program at The Thatcher School, and conveying emotion through music. Find out more about Trinity Seely at Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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Episode 75: Dr. Charles "Bud" Townsend (Part 2)
11/16/2021
Episode 75: Dr. Charles "Bud" Townsend (Part 2)
Part 2 with rodeo announcer, boot salesman, history professor, and writer Dr. Charles "Bud" Townsend. In this episode Dr. Townsend talks about teaching history, how rodeo influenced his academic career, and how he became a salesman with Olsen-Stelzer Boots. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at Become a patron at
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