Podcast
The Ozark Podcast
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our guests and the information they share are especially relevant to men and women in northern Arkansas, southern Missouri, eastern Oklahoma, and southeast Kansas.
- Wilderness chart
- #55
- Episodes
- 250
- Releases
- Twice a week
- Typical length
- 43 min
- On air since
- 2022
- Latest episode
- 4 days ago
Episodes
250 episodes, newest first
-
19 min
Ep. 248 - The Old Ozarks - Booger Season (S2:E8)
Show notes
Welcome to the Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...
This week, in honor of the day before Halloween, we’re heading into the holler after dark to talk haints, boogers, and the wonderfully weird menagerie of monsters that used to spook the old Ozarks.
We’ll start by digging into the Germanic roots of “spook” and “haint,” and trace “booger” all the way back to 16th-century England’s “boggard,” through cousins like “boggle” and “bogeyman,” landing on the real-life, long-gone roadside attraction Booger Holla on Arkansas’s Highway 7.
Then it’s on to the long sweetenin’: the strange and sometimes comical cryptid lineup recorded by folklorist Vance Randolph in the 1920s and ’30s, from the cow-swallowing Wowzer and the shy, deadly Snawfuss to the sidehill hoofer with its mismatched legs, the upside-down-flying Philly Lou, and the granddaddy of them all, the tusked and terrifying gowrow.
We’ll also take a detour to South Missouri’s elusive Blue Man and the Stone County monster, and ask why today’s Ozark cryptid hunters have mostly traded in their homegrown boogers for a nationally franchised Bigfoot. It’s a high, old, boogery time for the spookiest week of the year.
Let’s dive into this episode of The Old Ozarks...
What is The Old Ozarks?
The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins (the leading authority on the region’s history), this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region.
Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
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1 hr
Ep. 247 - Brian Slane - The One Deer Feature BETTER than Rut Funnels, Rub Lines, and Bedding Areas
Show notes
"I don't leave my truck until daylight"
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Nested Treestands - The mobile stand setup for the modern hunter
Visit Eureka Springs - plan your next Ozark adventure this fall
We discuss rub lines, wind switches, rattling methods, and the most overlooked deer behavior pattern that Brian uses to predict (to the day) when he'll harvest his buck each year.
If you're looking for something different than the rise and grind / walking in the dark method, you've come to the right place.
This is the most unique Ozark deer hunting episode we've ever released.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon: The Holler
→ Receive monthly stories from our Newsletter
0:00 — Predicting the Day 12:00 — Developing a Deer Hunter System 16:30 — Rattling 26:30 — Rub Lines (and vortex) 49:00 — Cameras and stand Placement
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
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50 min
Ep. 246 - Larry Dablemont - Stories from the Old Timers of the Big Piney River
Show notes
"He hid in a cave for 8 months, stole bread to survive, and paid for it with mink furs"
Together with...
Visit Eureka Springs - plan your next Ozark adventure this fall
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Nested Treestands - The mobile stand setup for the modern hunter
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
Larry sits down to share the men who shaped him: a grandfather who set a St. Louis fur record in 1927, never believed in electricity, and taught Larry everything a wildlife degree couldn’t.
You’ll hear about running a pool hall at 13, guiding float trips at 12 for 50 cents an hour, selling D-graded college essays to national magazines for $35, and discovering a previously uncatalogued species of deer mouse in an Ozark cave.
This is the Ozarks through the eyes of someone who actually lived it.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon: The Holler
→ Receive monthly stories from our Newsletter
0:00 – Larry Dablemont Round Two
2:00 – The story of Fred Dablemont
15:00 – Larry's childhood
19:00 – Writing for an Outdoor Magazine at 19
25:00 – Deer Mouse Never Before Found in Missouri
31:00 – An 8,000-Year-Old Mastodon Tusk
38:00 – The Journalism Teacher Who Gave Him D’s
43:00 – What Keeps the Ozarks in Your Blood: Larry’s Answer
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
-
20 min
Ep. 245 - The Old Ozarks - The Boy That Knowed the Yiddish Curver (S2:E7)
Show notes
Welcome to the Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...
This week, it’s October, which means it’s baseball month on The Old Ozarks — a mystery box of Reggie bars in rural Arkansas leads us from one bragging Hall of Famer’s “pinto bean English” to a forgotten pitcher who inspired a Martin Scorsese classic.
We’ll start with Ouachita Mountains native Dizzy Dean, whose swagger on the mound was matched only by his butchering of the English language in the radio booth — “throwed,” “swang,” “slud,” and a whole dialect of nonstandard preterites rooted deep in Ozark and Southern speech, controversial enough to draw a Federal Communications Commission complaint (real or hoaxed, nobody’s quite sure).
Then it’s on to the long sweetenin’: the unlikely chain connecting Scorsese’s Gangs of New York to Farmington, Missouri, by way of Jewish major-league pitcher Barney “the Yiddish Curver” Pelty and the star-struck local boy, Herbert Asbury, who idolized him at the hometown bookstore and grew up to write the book the movie was based on — stirring up a censorship scandal with H.L. Mencken along the way.
It’s a story of candy bars, curveballs, and small-town Ozark boys who found their way to the big leagues and the big screen.
What is The Old Ozarks?
The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins (the leading authority on the region’s history), this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region.
Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
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52 min
Ep. 244 - Larry Dablemont - The History of the Jonboat: Built for the Ozark Way of Life
Show notes
The Ozark jonboat wasn’t just a vessel, it was a way of life, and one man’s family built them from scratch.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Receive monthly stories from our Newsletter
Larry Dablemont, author of 14 books on Ozark life and a lifelong river man, sits down at his Lightning Ridge home to trace the full history of the Ozark jonboat from his grandfather finding a wrecked boat in a drift in 1914 and teaching himself to build one, to Hollywood celebrities floating the White River on multi-day guided trips, to the slow disappearance of the rivers themselves.
Larry walks through the anatomy of a real wooden jonboat using a model his family built, explains why the Ozarks produced a style of boat found nowhere else, and tells you exactly where to find the closest thing to one today.
If you’ve ever floated an Ozark river and felt something ancient about it, this is the episode that explains why.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – Welcome to Lightning Ridge
4:00 – How the Ozark Jonboat Was Born
8:00 – The Current and White Rivers
13:00 – Why Ozark Rivers Are Losing Water
22:00 – The Anatomy of a Wooden Jonboat
30:00 – Why Slower Is Always Better on the River
36:00 – The First Metal Jonboat
43:00 – How to Build Your Own Authentic Ozark Jonboat
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
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36 min
Ep. 243 - Joe Massey - Black Bear Stories, Part 2: The Side of Hunting Nobody Talks About
Show notes
Hunting is emotional.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Receive monthly stories from our Newsletter
After 30 days of baiting, $1,000+ in food, and a week off work — Joe Massey drew back on a shooter bear at 17 yards and made a bad shot.
This episode doesn't end with a grip and grin. It ends with something rarer in outdoor media: honesty. Joe walks through the shot, the search, the rain that washed away the blood trail, and the emotional weight of wounding an animal you've spent months pursuing and genuinely love.
It's a conversation about the heartbreak side of hunting that most people never show. This is the episode you share with someone who doesn't understand why hunters feel what they feel.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – A Shooter Bear Appears
4:00 – No Blood, No Arrow, and Rain All Night
10:00 – The Honest Conversation
16:00 – The Weight of Taking a Life
20:00 – The Paradox: Why Hunters Love the Animals They Pursue
29:00 – Wendell Berry's "For the Hog Killing"
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
-
21 min
Ep. 242 - The Old Ozarks - Willie French Goes a-Hunting (S2:E6)
Show notes
Welcome to the Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...
This week, we're a-huntin' and a-fishin' through the diary of a Shannon County farm boy who came of age just as the Ozarks' wildlife paradise was slipping away.
We'll start with "a-prefixing," that old Ozark and Appalachian habit of putting an "a" on the front of a verb — straight out of 18th-century English nursery rhymes like "A-Hunting We Will Go" and "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and still alive in hollers today.
Then it's on to the long sweetenin', the teenage hunting diary of Willie French, who logged every possum, muskrat, and rabbit he and his brothers brought home around 1907.
We'll trace the boom-and-bust story of Ozark wildlife from Daniel Boone's sons hauling out a thousand beaver pelts, to Zebulon Pike's men dropping 32 deer in a week, to the lean, small-game-only woods Willie actually grew up hunting — a hunter's paradise that had already vanished a century before he ever picked up a .22.
It's a story of market hunters, deer hunting fever, and a long road back to the restocked elk and turkey of today's region.
Let's dive into this episode of The Old Ozarks...
What is The Old Ozarks?
The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins (the leading authority on the region’s history), this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region.
Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
-
45 min
Ep. 241 - Joe Massey - Black Bear Stories, Part 1: 30-Day Bait Pile and Passing On a Third Bear
Show notes
500 pounds of bait, 30 days of sweat equity, one week off work, and a shooter bear at full draw...
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get show notes and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Our good buddy Joe Massey is here to pull the curtain back on his 30-day Ozark black bear bait hunt. Joe breaks down every dollar spent, every Friday afternoon in the summer heat filling barrels, and every bear that showed up on camera.
If you've ever thought about hunting Ozark black bears, this is the episode that tells you everything you actually need to know before you spend a pretty penny.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – Welcome back Joe Massey
6:30 – The Real Cost of Bear Baiting: Food, Fuel, & Time Breakdown
20:00 – Seeing Bears on Camera
25:00 – Opening Day
32:00 – Face to face with a Black Bear
37:00 – Day 2
40:00 – To Be Continued...
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
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1 hr
Ep. 240 - Logan Huff & Morgan Guss - The Ozarks' Best Kept Secret is On the White River EVERY Fall
Show notes
Fall on the White River is the BEST time to catch a certain TROPHY fish.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get show notes and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Morgan Guss and Logan Huff of Diamond State Fly Co. join the Kyles live from Cotter, Arkansas for a full breakdown of what fall fly fishing on the White River actually looks like — lower flows, more user-friendly tactics, gorgeous foliage, and rainbows that are noticeably bigger thanks to the new regulations.
Whether you've never held a fly rod or you're ready to level up your streamer game, Morgan and Logan lay out exactly what to throw, where to find fish, and how to read the river when the water changes from 700 to 20,000 CFS in a single afternoon.
This one doubles as a trip-planning episode: covering Ember Shoals Resort, the F3T Film Tour in October, and the Streamer Love Fest Fly Battle in January.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – Welcome from Ember Shoals in Cotter, Arkansas
4:00 – Diamond State Fly Co.: How They're Breaking the Fly Shop Stigma
13:00 – Fall Fly Fishing on the White River
17:00 – Nymphing, Hopper Dropper & Fall Streamer Tactics
22:00 – How to Read High Water on the White Like a Guide
34:00 – Flies That Actually Work
42:00 – Are the New White River Regs Working?
47:00 – Upcoming Events:
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
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20 min
Ep. 239 - The Old Ozarks - The Sweet Sounds of Big Sugar Creek (S2:E5)
Show notes
Welcome to the Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...
This week, we're boiling down sap and tuning up the shape notes — from the vanishing rituals of Ozark sugar camps to the banks of Big Sugar Creek, birthplace of one of gospel music's biggest names.
We'll start with the sweet, half-forgotten world of sugarin' off time: granny gourds, alder spiles, kittles of boiling sap, and the snow-day treat known as a waxin', plus a tour of the sugar-flavored place names still dotting the map.
Then it's on to the long sweetenin', the life of Albert E. Brumley — sharecropper's son turned shape-note prodigy under mentor Eugene Bartlett, Hartford Music Company songwriter, and eventual owner of Powell, Missouri's own gospel publishing empire.
We'll trace hits like "Turn Your Radio On" and "Jesus Hold My Hand," and dig into the surprising, decades-long journey of his most famous song of all, "I'll Fly Away" — from a cotton field daydream to one of the most recorded songs in American history, claimed by gospel, country, and just about everybody in between.
It's a story of how a little creek in southwestern Missouri became the symbolic heart of Southern gospel music.
Let's dive into this episode of The Old Ozarks...
What is The Old Ozarks?
The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins (the leading authority on the region’s history), this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region.
Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
-
31 min
Ep. 238 - Ryan Walker - 40 Years on the James River: "We're Losing Smallmouth"
Show notes
Data could change how Missouri manages its best smallmouth creeks.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get show notes and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Ryan Walker is back for part two, and this time the conversation goes deep on conservation. For five years Ryan has been quietly logging every fish, every location, every date, building a citizen science dataset compelling enough to bring before Missouri's regs committee.
He breaks down why current limits are too loose, why the spawn closure Missouri implemented is brilliant, and what he'd change tomorrow if given the keys to MDC.
Whether you're 22 or 52, if you love these Ozark rivers, you need to understand what's at stake — and what one person with a notebook can actually do about it.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – 40 Years on the James River
5:00 – The Role of James River Basin Partnership
7:00 – Are Ozark Smallmouth Populations Actually Declining?
8:30 – What Citizen Science Actually Looks Like
13:00 – Why Ryan Hates Missouri's Current Smallmouth Regulations
16:00 – How to Approach MDC with Data
21:00 – The Keys to MDC Reg Changes
24:00 – Stream bank restoration
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
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43 min
Ep. 237 - Ryan Walker - The 10% Rule: How to Find Smallmouth in Late Summer on Any Ozark Stream
Show notes
The best smallmouth guide in the Ozarks (voted on by YOU) just gave away his entire summer playbook (recorded from a raft on the river).
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get weekly updates, show notes, and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Ryan Walker joins the guys mid-float on the James River for one of the most practical fishing episodes the show has ever done.
From how to read braided water and find that magic 10% of the river that holds fish in August heat, to the counterintuitive topwater tip that changes everything, Ryan hands you a summer smallmouth framework you can use the very next time you hit the creek.
Whether you're floating with a kid, learning fly fishing for the first time, or a seasoned angler who can't crack the late-summer code, this one's worth bookmarking before your next trip.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – The Ozarks' Best Smallmouth Guide
3:00 – What's Changed in the last 2 seasons
7:00 – Summer Water Conditions
10:00 – How to Find the 10%
15:30 – Early Morning Top Water
20:00 – The Afternoon Popper Surprise
23:00 – Top Water Mistakes
32:00 – Braided Water Is Your Best Friend in Summer
36:00 – Book a trip with Ryan
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
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22 min
Ep. 236 - The Old Ozarks - The Rurnt Day of Major Wolf (S2:E4)
Show notes
Welcome to the Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...
This week, we're talking milk gone bad, mythical giants, and one very "rurnt" 72 hours — a Confederate major's real-life brush with a firing squad that came down to a president's telegram and a matter of hours.
We'll start with Blinky Blue John, the Ozarks' own giant of legend, whose curious name traces back to superstitions about witches souring milk, before landing on the region's favorite way to say something's gone completely to pieces: "rurnt."
Then it's on to the long sweetenin', the harrowing true story of Major Enoch Wolf of Ford's Battalion, CSA — captured during Price's Raid, hauled to St. Louis's Gratiot Street Prison, and handed a death sentence to "atone" for a Union officer's murder he had nothing to do with.
We'll trace the Civil War's grim system of official retaliation, the frantic 72-hour scramble by Masons, society ladies, and telegrams to the White House to save him, Abraham Lincoln's own last-minute reprieve, and the mysterious woman who showed up at the prison claiming to be his wife. It's a true Ozarks story stranger, and closer to the wire, than most fiction.
Let's dive into this episode of The Old Ozarks...
What is The Old Ozarks?
The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins (the leading authority on the region’s history), this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region.
Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
-
48 min
Ep. 235 - Spencer Daniels - Is There a Breeding Population of Mountain Lions in the Ozarks? (Plus: Black Panthers)
Show notes
A breeding population of mountain lions just showed up 100 miles from the Arkansas border...that changes everything.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get weekly updates, show notes, and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Arkansas' large carnivore coordinator Spencer Daniels drops one of the most jaw-dropping revelations in recent Ozark wildlife history and finally puts the "Game and Fish is hiding mountain lions" myth to rest for good.
You'll hear exactly where these cats are coming from, what 58 confirmed sightings actually mean, and whether there's already a breeding pair hiding somewhere in Arkansas right now.
Then the episode goes full Ozark folklore — black panthers, the screaming-into-a-hole myth, AI photo fakes, and the family stories every person who grew up in these hills has heard. This one's equal parts science and campfire story.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – Mountain Lions in Arkansas: What We Actually Know
3:00 – Where They're Coming From
4:30 – Breeding Population Confirmed 100 Miles from the Arkansas Border
9:00 – Could There Already Be a Breeding Pair in Arkansas?
14:00 – What the Sightings Data Actually Shows
19:00 – The Hot Springs Roadkill
25:00 – Spencer's Mountain Lion Encounter
27:00 – Myth Busting Rapid Fire
30:00 – Do Mountain Lions Actually Scream?
34:00 – Black Panthers in the Ozarks
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
-
49 min
Ep. 234 - Spencer Daniels - Bear Seasons Reg Changes for 2026 + Last Year's Fatal Bear Attacks Explained
Show notes
Arkansas Game & Fish Bear Program Coordinator Spencer Daniels sits down to address the two fatal black bear attacks that shocked the state last year (the first recorded fatalities in over 100 years) and what we've learned from them.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get weekly updates, show notes, and stories in our NEWSLETTER
He walks through both incidents with honesty and care, explains the brain lesion findings from the necropsy, and gives every hunter, hiker, and camper in bear country a clear safety playbook for what to do if things go sideways. Beyond the attacks, Spencer breaks down the 2026 season changes — including the earlier opener, what to expect from the population, and why bear hunting over bait is actually one of the most ethical conservation tools Arkansas has. Whether you're a seasoned bear hunter or just love being in the Ozark woods, this one's essential listening before you step into the timber.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – WARNING: Why We're Covering the Bear Attacks
2:30 – Arkansas Bear Population Update
6:00 – Why Bear Encounters Are Hard to Quantify (And What That Tells Us)
10:00 – 2025 Season Changes: Earlier Opener & What to Expect This Fall
17:00 – Bait Heavy, Bait Often: How to Get Started Bear Hunting in Arkansas
24:00 – The Conservation Case for Bear Hunting Over Bait
27:30 – The First Fatal Bear Attack
34:00 – The Second Fatal Attack
39:00 – Bear Safety 101: What to Do If a Bear Approaches You
42:00 – Bear Spray, Firearms & the Rule of Thumb for Safe Distance
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
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21 min
Ep. 233 - The Old Ozarks - On the Lookout for Ary New Deal Relics (S2:E3)
Show notes
Welcome to the Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...
This week, we head out looking for "ary" trace of the Great Depression left on the Ozark landscape — and it turns out, once you know what to look for, you can hardly go "nary" a mile without finding one.
We'll start in Grandpa's hayfield with the hillside ribs known as Mangum terraces, tracing their spread from a North Carolina farm in the 1880s to the terracing craze that swept the Ozarks under FDR's New Deal. Along the way, our short sweetenin' digs up the backwoods twins "ary" and "nary," archaic descendants of "ever a" and "never a" that once peppered everyday Ozark speech.
Then it's on to the long sweetenin': a whirlwind tour of just how much New Deal alphabet-soup labor — the CCC, WPA, PWA, CWA, and NYA — physically remade this region, from state park lodges and courthouses to WPA schoolhouses, Razorback Stadium's earliest bones, and post office murals still hanging in Berryville and Fredericktown ninety years later.
Let's dive into this episode of The Old Ozarks...
What is The Old Ozarks?
The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins (the leading authority on the region’s history), this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region.
Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
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48 min
Ep. 232 - Ralph Meeker - Small Property Deer Hunting: The Summer Checklist for Success This Fall
Show notes
The deer you harvest this fall are being won right now.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get weekly updates, show notes, and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Arkansas Game & Fish State Deer Coordinator Ralph Meeker breaks down the summer checklist every small property hunter needs before season opens.
From designating a sanctuary and hinge cutting the right trees, to understanding why deer remember your stand location down to 55 extra yards by season's end, Ralph gives you the science-backed playbook for holding more deer on limited ground.
You'll also learn why summer is actually the most nutritionally stressful time for deer — and how that changes what you should be doing on your property today.
This is the episode that turns a 22-acre hobby into a deer hunting system.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – Why You Should Be Thinking About Deer Right Now
3:00 – The Four Biological Needs That Keep Deer on a Small Property
7:00 – Urban vs. Rural Deer
13:00 – What to Look for When Walking Your Property
18:00 – Why Ozark Deer Don't Get as Big as Kansas & Texas Deer
24:00 – Hinge Cutting: Which Trees to Remove & Which to Keep for Deer
32:00 – Sanctuaries: How Much of Your Property to Lock Down & Why
36:00 – How Hunting Pressure Changes Deer Behavior (The 55-Yard Study)
40:00 – What to Do If You Find a Fawn This Summer
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
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39 min
Ep. 231 - Chad Johnson - The Hatch Gap: A Guide's Playbook for "Slow Times" on the White River
Show notes
You're fishing the White River, but there's no hatch...Now what?
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get weekly updates, show notes, and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Top White River guide Chad Johnson is back for part two — and this time it's all about bugs. He breaks down the three major hatches on the White River, what's actually changing about them year over year, and the simple seasonal framework that tells you exactly what to tie on from January through fall.
More importantly, he reveals what to do on those in-between days when there's no obvious hatch — and why adjusting your depth six inches might be the only fix you need.
If you've ever stood on the White River wondering why the fish won't eat your fly when you can literally watch them rising, this episode has your answer.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – The Three Major Hatches on the White River
5:00 – The Caddis Hatch
9:00 – The Sulfur Hatch
14:00 – The Dorito Rule: Why Fishing a Hatch Is a Completely Different Game
17:00 – Summer Fishing: Why You Flip from Fishing Bottom-Up to Top-Down
19:00 – What to Throw When There's No Hatch On (Browns vs. Rainbows)
26:00 – How to Read Fish Behavior When They Won't Eat Your Fly
30:00 – The Five Flies You Need to Fish the White River All Year
33:00 – Dave Whitlock's Lesson
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
-
21 min
Ep. 230 - The Old Ozarks - These Sticks are Made for Walkin' (S2:E2)
Show notes
Welcome to The Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...
This week, we start with a word that'll make any bush-hogger wince — "stob" — before hobbling our way into the true tale of a tiny Arkansas crossroads with a mighty title: the Walking Stick Capital of the World.
We'll trace the Scots-Irish roots of "stob," pay tribute to Karl Childers and Sling Blade along the way, and then head to Fryatt, Arkansas — a wide spot in the road barely big enough to see both its highway signs at once — to meet Newt Blagg, the handle-maker turned cane man who founded a walking-stick dynasty out of a borrowed barn in 1931.
We'll cover his unlikely brush with a stray bullet on a Kansas train, the steam barrels and drawknives that bent hickory into "Little Bo Peep" crooks, and how his craft passed down through generations of Berrys, Albrights, Flynns, and Marlers until Fryatt earned its unofficial crown as the cane-making capital of the world. It's a story of stobs, sticks, and the quiet Ozark ingenuity that turned scrap hickory into a national industry.
Let's dive into this episode of The Old Ozarks...
What is The Old Ozarks?
The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins, the leading authority on the region’s history, this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region.
Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
-
43 min
Ep. 229 - Chad Johnson - What is 'The Push' on the White River? The Guide Secret Most Anglers Don't Know About
Show notes
Most anglers sit and wait on the White River. The best guides are always moving.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get weekly updates, show notes, and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Top White River guide Chad Johnson reveals one of the most overlooked tactics in Ozark fly fishing: chasing "the push."
When rising water triggers a feeding frenzy, most anglers enjoy it for a few minutes and stay put. Chad explains why the smartest move is to run downstream and get ahead of it again, and again, and again.
He also breaks down the full picture: how to read the generation schedule, what CFS numbers mean for your day, and the single rule that tells you exactly where brown trout are holding at any flow level.
Whether you've never fished the White or you've been coming for years without cracking the code, this is the episode that changes how you think about tailwater fishing forever.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – Welcome to Diamond State Fly Co.
8:30 – Why You'll Never Fully Understand White River Flows
9:00 – How the Dam Actually Works
11:30 – How to Read the Generation Schedule (swpa.gov Walkthrough)
17:00 – Low Water vs. High Water
21:00 – Why Big Browns Are So Hard to Catch
29:00 – What Is "The Push" — And How to Chase It Down the River
34:00 – Ideal CFS Numbers for Every Type of Angler
37:00 – The #1 Rule for Finding Brown Trout at Any Flow Level
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
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