Episodes

After months on the open range, cowboys finally rode into town, and everything changed. Boardwalks filled with dust-covered riders flush with pay. Saloons swung open. Cards hit the tables. Whiskey flowed. For a few wild nights, the discipline of the trail gave way to noise, temptation, and release.…

The Buffalo Soldiers rode the harshest country in the West, took the toughest assignments, and built a legacy America is only now beginning to fully appreciate. In this episode, ride into their world, from the post–Civil War ...

Scout. Pathfinder. Mountain man. Kit Carson helped map the West—but his story is far more complicated than legend suggests. In this episode, we explore the grit, contradictions, and legacy of one of the frontier’s most fascin...

Riding shotgun wasn’t just a seat on a stagecoach — it was the most dangerous job in the Old West. This week on Way Out West, climb up onto the box seat to hear the story of the fearless shotgun messengers who guarded gold shipments, stared down outlaw gangs, and rode through ambush country with a …

Relive the thirteen days that changed America forever. In this immersive episode, we step inside the Alamo as a small band of Texians, Tejanos, and frontiersmen hold their ground against Santa Anna’s army. Through moment-by-m...

Before there were fences, the range was open and wild. It was a place where cowboys rode for days across endless grasslands, always chasing water and weather. Then came two inventions that changed everything. The windmill bro...

Long before rodeo queens and arena spotlights, there was Lucille Mulhall. The Oklahoma ranch girl who could rope circles around any cowboy in the West. From dusty cattle roundups to the bright lights of Buffalo Bill’s Wild We...

When the lights go out at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, the ghosts of the West ride again. Ride along for a haunting story from Prosperity Junction — where history, legend, and the spirit of a lost saddle cro...

The American West may have been built on grit, but it ran on credit. Behind every cattle drive, railroad, and ranch empire was a web of loans, investors, and risk-takers who bankrolled the frontier dream. This episode of Way ...

In this special minisode, Chip shares a behind-the-scenes look at how Way Out West got started, what it’s been like to watch the show take off, and what’s coming next. Plus, a few laughs, a tip of the hat to loyal listeners, ...

When you think of cowboys, you probably picture tall-in-the-saddle heroes with spotless hats and a Hollywood shine. The truth? Cowboys on the trail were dirty, dusty, and often downright smelly. In this episode of Way Out Wes...

Encore Ride: This listener favorite takes us back to the wide-open Great Basin. If you missed it the first time, now’s your chance to saddle up with the buckaroos. In this encore episode of Way Out West , we ride into the Gre...

The West was built on stories, and few are larger than the life and legend of Wild Bill Hickok. In this episode of Way Out West, explore the full arc of Hickok’s story — from his early years as a frontier boy in Illinois, to his daring service as a Civil War scout, to his time as a lawman taming ca…

Life on the Cattle Trail: The Story of Caleb and Tomás takes you deep into the dust and danger of the Old West. Ride alongside two cowboys—one born of the Tennessee hills, the other raised in the vaquero tradition—as they fac...

They called them the Lords of the Plains. From humble foot hunters to the most feared horsemen in history, the Comanche built an empire that rivaled Spain, Mexico, Texas, and even the United States. In this episode of Way Out...

In a dusty old barn, tucked beneath worn saddles and forgotten gear, lies a ledger of cowboy wisdom. Last time, we cracked it open and shared ten trail-tested proverbs from the saddle. This week, we’re back for the second par...

Step into a dusty old barn and crack open a forgotten book of cowboy wisdom. In part one of this two-part series, The Cowboy Accountant shares 10 cowboy proverbs. Rough-cut truths from the trail that still carry weight today....

They’re icons of the American West—lawmen in white hats, riding hard for justice with six-guns on their hips. But the real story of the Texas Rangers isn’t all legend and glory. It’s a tale of grit, controversy, and transform...

From the grit of Jim Shoulders to the lightning-fast turns of Charmayne James, rodeo history is full of legends who defined the sport — and the cowboy way of life. In this episode of Way Out West , head into the arena with ei...

When the sheriff was days away and the courtroom was a saloon, justice didn’t wait for a jury. In this episode of Way Out West , ride into the raw and riveting world of frontier justice. From vigilante hangings and cattle tow...

What does it mean to be ranching royalty ? In this week’s episode of Way Out West take a ride through the history of four legendary ranching families: the Kings, the Waggoners, the Burnetts, and the Kochs. Four families who h...

The California Gold Rush was more than a mad dash for riches; it was a turning point that shaped the American West and everyone bold enough to chase their dreams. Uncover the real stories behind the rush: the booms, the busts...

Saddle up for a journey into the shadows of the Old West! In this episode of Way Out West , travel deep into the forgotten corners of frontier history. Discover the haunting stories behind abandoned ghost towns, follow the tr...

Saddle up for a journey through the wild heart of the American West as we explore the remarkable life and love story of Annie Oakley. In this episode of Way Out West , go beyond the legend to discover the grit, grace, and rom...