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Artwork for Desert Oracle Radio

Desert Oracle Radio

Ken Layne
Mojave Desert
Christmas
Halloween
California
Midsummer
Joshua Tree National Park
Desert Oracle Radio
Joshua Tree
Pinyon and Juniper Woodlands
Desert Oracle
Thanksgiving
Folklore
Stan Jones
John Muir
Warren Zevon
Covid-19 Pandemic
Desert Wildlife
Doc Holliday
Mojo Nixon
Elvis Presley

Desert Oracle Radio is a weekly road trip through the weird American desert from the publisher of Desert Oracle, the pocket-sized field guide published in Joshua Tree, California. Hear tales of mysterious lights, missing tourists, lost mines, venomous creatures, weird history and weirder people. Hosted by editor Ken Layne and featuring a cast of intriguing mystics, oddballs, scientists and artists... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes269Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Places & TravelPhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Desert Oracle Radio

Latest Episodes

Tonight we are walking across the desert, out of the canyons, over the rivers, to another kind of country. Another place, another time. Trying to trail behind the slow-walking souls of the dearly departed. Even though we are still alive. Desert myths... more

YouTube

Night has fallen on the desert, and that’s a joyous time in the heat of Southwest Summer. Too hot, too dry, and we long for the cool misty tales of primeval forest, of strange creatures, of great mysteries!

Soundscapes by RedBlueBlackSilver. Thanks... more

YouTube

With every passing day, scorcher or not, we are on the march towards Autumn, towards cooler days and longer nights, the time of graveyards and ghost stories. But it’s always time for ghost stories, of course. Especially on Desert Oracle Radio. So ton... more

YouTube

We're back with Midsummer Tidings from the Mojave, with solstice verse from Sam Clemens & Shakespeare, too. Plus a new campfire story from our recently concluded springtime series in Joshua Tree.

Desert Oracle Radio (c)(p) 2017-2026 DesertO... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Skid Roper
harmonica player featured in a guest segment with Mojo Nixon
Collaborator with Mojo Nixon
Episode: Island of the Dead
Bill Schultz
Television personality mentioned in a Gettysburg anecdote
Twitter (as a stand-in for his reporting from Gettysburg)
Episode: Haunted Houses & Monsoon Rains
Herb Benham IV
Desert Oracle storyteller and co-host for the episode
Desert Oracle
Episode: Campfire Tales on a Half-Moon Night
Matt Welch
Host of the Fifth Column podcast, known for his storytelling and insights.
Fifth Column Podcast
Episode: All Hallows Tales, Live In New York
Nicholas Lowry
Auctioneer and expert in antiques, connecting ghost stories with historical narratives.
Swann Galleries
Episode: All Hallows Tales, Live In New York
Herb Benham
Performer and musician from the Mesa.
Episode: Don't Let Them Take Our Western Public Lands
Herbie Benham
A resident and mystery figure in the desert community, known for selling RV satellite dishes.
Episode: Hills Are Filled With Fire
Todd Goldberg
New York Times best-selling author known for his books including The Low Desert, Gangsterland, and Gangster Nation.
Coachella FM
Episode: Up From the Grave
Patrick Donnelly
Great Basin Director for the Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Biological Diversity
Episode: Among the Stately Trees

Host

Ken Layne
Editor and host, with a long-running desert-oriented storytelling persona; frequently serves as narrator and guide through folklore, history, and landscape.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Absolutely obsessed

    I am a new fan and thoroughly enjoying listening to every single episode. Thank you to the Extremely Accurate Bird Song podcast for telling me what I was missing out on!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Reneeta R.
    United States7 days ago
  • Weird and relaxing, like an alien abduction.

    I love this show... it hasn't had guests for a long time so it's been great for a long time. šŸ˜‹

    Wish the episodes were more frequent and I hope it never ends.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    daredevilmason
    United States18 days ago
  • Inspired Entertaining and Educational

    Ken Layne is a character! A crusty old guy that has figured out a way to hang out at the edge of the Mojave wilderness and walk his dog out there everyday. Quite an accomplishment in itself but his genius lies in conveying the thoughts and observations that the landscape inspires.

    Throw in a good deal of regional history and UFO/Sasquatch kookiness and you have a great eight and a half years worth of 28 minute radio vignettes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Reno Sepulveda
    United Statesa month ago
  • YES!

    Thanks !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Oceanfloat
    United States5 months ago
  • Great work

    Big fan of the show. Funny, interesting and relaxing. I often tee up two or three episodes after dark.

    And who would have thought, I don’t need to ā€œagreeā€ with every syllable uttered. Keep up the good work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gail - San Francisco
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many appreciate the desert-focused storytelling and place-based anecdotes that feel intimate and authentic.
Listeners praise immersive desert atmosphere and poetic narration.
Fans highlight the show's mix of folklore, history, and ambient music as soothing and transportive.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Up From the Grave
Q: What experience did you have with the Ouija board?
Todd shared that he frequently used the Ouija board during his childhood, leading to alarming and mysterious messages, including one that instructed him to call a deceased man's wife.
Among the Stately Trees
Q: What actions are being taken against these projects?
Donnelly highlights ongoing litigation aimed at stopping clear-cutting projects in the region.
Among the Stately Trees
Q: Please tell us what's going on here regarding the pinyon and juniper woodlands?
Donnelly explains the historical context of deforestation efforts targeting these woodlands and the new proposal to convert them into biofuels.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Desert Oracle Radio

What is Desert Oracle Radio about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Desert Oracle Radio offers a weekly road trip through the American desert, blending folklore, travelogue, and philosophical musings with ambient storytelling. Episodes weave Indigenous myth, local history, weather lore, and oddball desert characters into a moody, nocturnal atmosphere underscored by music interludes and field reports. The show stands out for its lyrical, meandering monologues and a strong sense of place, often layering legends with contemporary desert life and cultural curiosities. It likely appeals to listeners who enjoy immersive storytelling, regional folklore, and a reflective, nocturnal vibe that treats the desert as a living character.

Where can I find podcast stats for Desert Oracle Radio?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Desert Oracle Radio. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Desert Oracle Radio and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Desert Oracle Radio get?

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What are the audience demographics for Desert Oracle Radio?

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How many subscribers and views does Desert Oracle Radio have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Desert Oracle Radio has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Desert Oracle Radio?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Desert Oracle Radio:

1. Weird Studies
2. Trillbilly Worker's Party
3. TRUE ANON TRUTH FEED
4. Ghost Stories For The End Of The World
5. Fourth Reich Archaeology

How many episodes of Desert Oracle Radio are there?

Desert Oracle Radio launched 9 years ago and published 269 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Desert Oracle Radio?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Desert Oracle Radio?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Desert Oracle Radio from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Desert Oracle Radio?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Desert Oracle Radio. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Desert Oracle Radio?

Recent guests on Desert Oracle Radio include:

1. Skid Roper
2. Bill Schultz
3. Herb Benham IV
4. Matt Welch
5. Nicholas Lowry
6. Herb Benham
7. Herbie Benham
8. Todd Goldberg

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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