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Wild West Podcast

Michael King/Brad Smalley
Dodge City
Western Cattle Trail
Wild West
Kansas
Civil War
Wyatt Earp
Buffalo Hunting
Wild Bill Hickok
Cattle Drives
Bat Masterson
American West
Belle Starr
Doc Holliday
Cattle Industry
Texas
Dutch Henry Born
Western Trail
Boot Hill
Cowboys
Cowboy Culture

Welcome to the Wild West Podcast, winner of the 2026 Best of Western Podcast award, where fact and legend merge. We present the true accounts of individuals who settled in towns built out of hunger for money, regulated by fast guns, who walked on both sides of the law, patrolling, investing in, and regulating the brothels, saloons, and gambling houses. These are stories of the men who made the his... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes302Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationHistory

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Artwork for Wild West Podcast

Latest Episodes

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A man rides east through New Mexico with a coffin in his wagon, charcoal packed tight to fight decay, because his dying friend asked for one last mercy: don’t bury me in a foreign place. That single promise opens the door to the ful... more

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The Wild West didn’t run on courage alone. It ran on nerve, repetition, and a cold understanding that “the law” often arrived as a Colt revolver, not a badge. We take you into the real world behind the legends of Old West gunfighter... more

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A river can look calm and still be a trap. We drop into the Solomon River valley in 1857, where the U.S. Army launches what many consider the first true campaign against the Plains Indians in this series: the Cheyenne Campaign of 18... more

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A 17-day march ends with a shock of movement on the open Plains: roughly 300 Cheyenne warriors in line of battle and the US cavalry scrambling to form up before the infantry can even arrive. That’s the doorstep of the Battle of Solo... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Gary Kreisinger
One of the foremost researchers on the cattle trails
Episode: Setting The Record Straight On The Western Trail
Margaret Kreisinger
One of the foremost researchers on the cattle trails
Episode: Setting The Record Straight On The Western Trail
Mike King
Producer of the podcast
Episode: Setting The Record Straight On The Western Trail
Dr. Jeff Broom
Historian presenting on the Sand Creek Massacre
Western Cattle Trail Association
Episode: The Sand Creek Betrayal: America's Darkest Hour on the Frontier
James Jefferson Broome
A noted historian on Native American history and professor emeritus of philosophy
Independent Historian
Episode: Between Two Worlds: How Broken Treaties Sparked the Southern Plains Conflict
Brad Smalley
Local historian
Episode: The Timeless Allure of Dodge City: History Preserved, Future Inspired
Kent Stelick
Host at the Ford County Historical Society
Ford County Historical Society
Episode: The Timeless Allure of Dodge City: History Preserved, Future Inspired
Mayor Kelly
The Mayor of Dodge City who shares stories about his pet bear and the town's antics
Bady and Kelly's restaurant
Episode: Bear Meat for Christmas: Humor and Hilarity on the Kansas Frontier
Ken Spurgeon
Filmmaker and director
Episode: Celebrating 150 Years of the Western Cattle Trail: Fireside Stories, Musical Heritage, and Frontier Legends with Historian Brad Smalley and Filmmaker Ken Spurgeon

Host

Brad Smalley
Host of Wild West Podcast; frequently appears as the primary host with a focus on frontier history and legend.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 183 ratings
  • Love the stories and history

    Great pod that brings Dodge City and it’s history alive. My only complaint (unwanted advice) is when Brad does the voices and accents. Distracting and really unneeded.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JenDonohue
    United States2 years ago
  • Potty Mouth

    I’ll never listen to these potty mouths again. Please, some kind of warning would be nice.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ireallyhatethisapp1234
    United States3 years ago
  • Talk too fast

    This is a great podcast, but the speed is set so fast that it is hard to listen to. Is there any way to slow down the speed of the speaker?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Grac€
    United States4 years ago
  • One of the best old west podcast on the network to date. Great authentic content and superb narration.

    Podchaser
    5
    Michael D King
    5 years ago
  • DJ

    I’m sure we all appreciate the sound effects, however sound guy has a heavy hand with that deep bass sound. Eight times in a seven minute episode? But other than that, I love the content, love the sound effects that coincide with the stories and the old time music

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    HendoE90
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The show is valued for its vivid, place-based history and engaging host presence, with strong recommendations from history buffs.
Fans appreciate the earnest storytelling and archival detail; occasional critiques note audio quality could be improved.
Few comments call for tighter pacing or louder narration in certain episodes.
Listeners praise the show's voice and historical depth, but some mention sound balance and heavy sound effects as distractors.
Many reviews highlight the host's narration as a strong hook and the subject matter as uniquely appealing to Western history enthusiasts.

Top Education Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Halloween in Dodge City 1877
Q: How accurate is the story's account to what was known about Palmer?
The Lizzy Palmer story is quite accurate; she experienced a love scuffle leading to her injury and subsequent infection, which ultimately caused her death.
Halloween in Dodge City 1877
Q: How many pranks was Luke McGlue's name associated with? And what were some of the pranks pulled under the Luke McGlue name?
There is no definitive count of pranks but Luke McGlue was famously used as a scapegoat for various jokes and mischiefs in Dodge City, often involving local gamblers who would attribute their pranks to him.
Beyond the Narrative: Jeff Broome Challenges What We Know About Sand Creek
Q: How do you approach the sensitive nature of this history, particularly when presenting perspectives that may be challenging or controversial?
Broome shares his experiences at a recent convention, discussing the emotional impact of the Cheyenne narrative regarding the Sand Creek massacre and how he aimed to approach the topic with empathy.
Unearthing the Language of the American Frontier: Michael King's Journey Through Cowboy Etymology
Q: Why did you decide to write a book on the history of cowboy terms?
I wanted to connect the history of the words to the experiences of cattle drovers, as many people enjoy stories about the early cattle trails and would find it interesting to learn about the origins of these terms.
Bullets for Whiskey: The Truth Behind Old West Drinking
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the history of the shot and the shot glass?
The myth around trading a bullet for a shot of whiskey is not true; in fact, shots were sold for around 25 cents.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Wild West Podcast

What is Wild West Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show delivers historical narratives from the American West, weaving archival accounts, legend, and on-the-ground storytelling into vivid biographical and event-driven episodes. Across recent installments, topics range from frontier life, cattle trails, gunfighters, cavalry campaigns, and the birth of law and order in booming Western towns, all told with a narrator-driven style that blends meticulous detail with engaging character moments. Listeners can expect thorough historical context, dramatic reconstructions, and occasional reflections on how myth and reality intertwined to shape popular memory of the era. A standout is the balance between rigorous research and entertaining storytelling, with an emphasis on specific places, figures... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Wild West Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Wild West Podcast:

1. The Wild West Extravaganza
2. Legends of the Old West
3. 1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast
4. Infamous America
5. The Civil War & Reconstruction

How many episodes of Wild West Podcast are there?

Wild West Podcast launched 10 years ago and published 302 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 Wild West Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on Wild West Podcast?

Recent guests on Wild West Podcast include:

1. Gary Kreisinger
2. Margaret Kreisinger
3. Mike King
4. Dr. Jeff Broom
5. James Jefferson Broome
6. Brad Smalley
7. Kent Stelick
8. Mayor Kelly

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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