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…

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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…

One of the last of the old-time Australian drovers, bush poet Jack Sammon talks about his fascinating life as a drover and coal miner. Tune in to hear about the similarities between Australian bush poetry and American cowboy…

Photo by Jessica Brandi Lifland.

Michael Martin Murphey returns to Cowboy Crossroads to talk about the history of Westfest and the influence of Buffalo Bill Cody. Tune in and hear Murphey play an acoustic version of…

Cowboy poet and rancher Wally McRae talks with Andy about his father and grandfather, the story behind his poem "Reincarnation", the influence of theater on his work, and his friendship with Paul Zarzyski.

Hank the Cowdog author John Erickson talks about his deep ranching roots, the inspiration for Hank the Cowdog, sense of place, and the oral tradition of storytelling.

Jerry Brooks shares about working as a woman in a coal mine for 26 years, coal miners & cowboys, the spoken word, and cowboy poetry.