Drift & Ramble Podcast

As more and more white settlers move into the Minnesota Territory, the Dakota are pushed on to smaller and smaller bits of a land. When the mounting tensions finally come to a boil, the results are tragic and costly for all involved. The story of the Dakota 38 is about America's largest mass execution. This important part of American history is often overlooked or ignored. Even my own father, who was born and raised in Minnesota, was not aware of these events. This episode includes graphic descriptions of violence. Listener discretion is advised.

What's in a name? In the story of Rattlesnake Dick we learn the nicknames can be powerful and living up or down to the reputation they promote may not always be advisable. And while Dick may be all but forgotten, there's that big ol' pile of missing gold that remains. Think you'll be the one to find it?

The story of a mountain man's struggles in the wild is an epic saga of survival and vengeance for the murder of his wife and unborn child. But do we really know who Liver Eating Johnson was or if the stories are even true. Our friends at Fatecrafter's Audioblivious Productions and Pulp-Pourri Theater appear to help bring the story to life.

The six gun is perhaps the west's most iconic hardware. In EP 20 we trace the origins of the revolver from it's unlikely source of inspiration to the point at which it won the west. Along the way we'll learn about the triumphs and tragedies that surround the developers of the six shooter as well as those who lived and died by the gun.

Call him Deadwood Dick or Nat Love, the most famous cowboy of color in the west, is a product of his own doing. Are the stories true? Does it even mater? As we learn more about the rich history of the old west, we find that tall tales and legends can often reveal great truths.

Among the many fabled lawmen of the old west, Bass Reeves was remarkable. He may have been the inspiration behind the Lone Ranger. Bass was a man who’s storied career is one of triumph over adversity, relentless dedication to his craft and a brilliant example of a man who showed respect, honor, humility and humanity in a world and time when little existed.  Bass Reeves was no ordinary lawman and his legendary career is marked with stories that will make you smile, squirm and thank your lucky stars he isn’t coming after you.

Was the gunfight at the OK Corral fought over a woman? How did Josephine "Sadie" Marcus wind up in the center of that epic storm?  Though there are many mysteries surrounding the final Mrs. Wyatt Earp, one thing that is certain is how she changed the Earp story forever. EP 17 is all about the mysterious woman of Tombstone: Josephine Marcus Earp.

They say the most successful relationships happen with the couple share a common interest. Doc Holliday was a quick tempered, hair triggered, card hustler in the old west. His common law bride shared many of these qualities. In this episode, we'll learn about the woman behind one of the west's most legendary figures. The story of Big Nose Kate is every bit as legendary. No matter how volatile their love life was, what some people may do for love will surprise you.

The true story of Wyatt Earp isn't you're probably familiar with. Thanks to Hollywood, Josephine Marcus and an author named Stuart Lake, what we think we know is that this famous lawman made his bones with the gunfight at the OK corral. But what really made Wyatt Earp famous may surprise you. It had nothing to do with gun play. Still, the true story of this American icon is no less fascinating. Wyatt Earp is featured in Episode 15.

The gunfight at the OK corral only lasted 30 seconds but two men associated with that battle would become the most widely recognized gunfighters of the wild west. So why did it take 50 years for the the story to become legend and just who was this man we think we know named "Doc Holliday?"

What makes a great gunfighter? The answer may surprise you. The wisdom of the old west still applies today. In this episode, we hear from Bat Masterson himself, as he describes the 3 requirements of a great gunfighter and tells us about his friend, Ben Thompson. Ben himself was a highly regarded gunfighter in his time and Masterson spins an entertaining tale about the life and times of his friends adventures in the old west.

As a legend of the old west, Bat Masterson stands tall. He was a buffalo hunter, a gunfighter, an accidental Indian fighter and sheriff of Dodge City during its most violent year. He was close friends with Wyatt Earp, Buffalo Bill Cody, President Roosevelt and many other men known for their prowess with the gun. Today's episode is all about the man known for his bowler hat and deadly aim.

Judge Roy Bean was a cantankerous old coot and the "Law West Of The Pecos" but in his younger days, he was quite a ladies man with a history that's as wild as the old west. Find out how he came to be the law west of the Pecos in this very special episode featuring the cast of the Audioblivious Productions.

Are Coyotes rising up against us? Does a woman in a remote cabin survive the night? Can our host write poetry or should he stick to Western stories? And finally the true story of a mysterious healer during the Civil War. Was it sent from heaven or did it come from below? This episode is titled ...Fear.

In EP 9, we get ready for Halloween with two gruesome stories: The Wendigo and Big Nose George... First Nation and Algonquin speaking peoples had a legend of a powerful, shape-shifting creature, born out of greed, who appeared with bitter cold with an insatiable hunger for human flesh. The "Wendigo" was documented as early as 1661 but eventually assigned to a medical diagnosis called "Wendigo Psychosis." Was this an acknowledgement that Wendigos actually do exist? And could this be what happened to the Donner Party?  Then we learn about the strange true tale  of outlaw Big Nose George. Perhaps the best way to get to know him would be to walk a mile in his shoes...

We're "Whiskey Talkin" or talking whiskey as we trace the history of America's Native Spirit through the bottom of a shot glass - from it's humble beginnings on the American Frontier, Bourbon quickly evolved to become an integral part of our culture and economy. Bourbon expert and author, Reid Mitenbuler joins us to explore this fertile subject and there are several surprises along the way.

In this episode, we get a first hand glimpse gunfighters and desperados of Virginia City through the eyes of Mark Twain. We learn the tragic details of Nevada's worst mining accident and we visit the Gold Hill Hotel where ghostly weirdness abounds. And we end our 3rd and final installment on this curious little town that time forgot - with a look at the psychedelic 60's and the surprising birthplace of this iconic period in history.

In the continued story of the Grosh Brothers, we learn if they'll become rich from their gold and silver finds in Nevada. We'll meet the man the Comstock Lode was named for and we also meet an unknown Samuel Clemens who comes to town to meet his true calling - and leaves as Mark Twain. We'll also hear him freely admit to his role in manipulating the stock markets at the time. With special guests Finnius and Bill from the Tattooed Bananas Podcast!

In 1849, two brothers leave the security of their home in Pennsylvania to travel to California during the gold rush. We follow in their footsteps as they struggle through nearly 10 years of incredible hardship. Then they discover something that could change their lives forever. This is part one of a 3 part series on Virginia City, Nevada.

A man travels a great distance to discover gold in California but he never gets to see the town named after him or enjoy the wealth that sprang from his discovery. We travel to Bodie Ghost Town for a glimpse into one of the wildest towns of the old west. Bodie is now a California State Park and is one of the best preserved Ghost Towns in existence today. We'll meet some of the people who lived here and encounter a very strange experience in the graveyard at Bodie.