Season closers al.ways feel special. We owe so many thanks to our guest this week, Tina. We talked about righteous anger, growing up and feeling different in Lander, leaving and learning to love and embrace what makes us...us! and using that in Lander. Tina has plans to return, create community gardens and spaces, ask hard questions, call your representatives, and hold others accountable. We made sure to have the hard conversations and be vulnerable on this one for you all. Small world.

It's the 7th episode of Season 4, and we are shavin' some time with a few deep cuts with Odom Ben, Lander local, artist, barber, Nuggets fan and co creator and accomplice to one of the best restaurants in Fremont County, (and probably all of Wyoming) Romdoul, formerly known as China Garden. He waxed nostalgia on Tony's Pizza, riding bikes everywhere in Lander growing up, and spray painting with the crew. He also discussed how being an artist inspired him in fashion and the art of barbering, selling and printing his own tees at college parties, and the punk scenes in Denver and Salt Lake. Let's chop it up.

In this episode we were bakin' the goods with Jake. We hope you are familiar. If not, now you are with one of the most premier and talented bakers out West! We discussed his early days in Lander and first days of Lander Bread Share, connecting to make Whitebark in a historic Lander building, his passions for hunting, fishing and the outdoors, and never leaving Lander... ever. Let's get it.

SSSSSSup. For this episode, Tina (our amazing guest cohost!) and Jordan hung out at Sinks Visitor Center with Emily Martin, a doctoral student who studies the rattlesnake populations in Sinks Canyon. She talked to us about catching snakes, the big boy snakes, how snakes serve integral parts of our ecosystem, a bunch of common misconceptions about rattlesnakes, the venom of rattlers in The Sinks, nests, (or no nests?) bullsnakes vs. rattlesnakes, and rattlesnakes as it pertains to people enjoying and sporting outdoors. This one is definitely just about snakes.

In the dead of winter, a guest graced our presence earlier this year that has become an integral part of the Lander community in all facets. Allison casually took us through the motions of ending up in Lander, standing up for herself, doing research at the highest buffalo jump in the nation, maneuvering bears in The Absarokas, and being honest with herself and the rest of the cowpokes out here.

Howdy. This week we are hanging with Jess Oldham: local, cowboy, actor, hard worker... you know the type. He told us about the Wild Horse Sanctuary that his family runs on the Wind River Reservation and all that they have achieved, his acting and modeling career in regards to the industry, co-starring and playing in a couple... really big projects, (to say the least) as well as the concept of land acknowledgments and how Lander could really do better in helping communities adjacent to us. One Yeehaw.

Howdy. This week we are hanging with Jess Oldham: local, cowboy, actor, hard worker... you know the type. He told us about the Wild Horse Sanctuary that his family runs on the Wind River Reservation and all that they have achieved, his acting and modeling career in regards to the industry, co-starring and playing in a couple... really big projects, (to say the least) as well as the concept of land acknowledgments and how Lander could really do better in helping communities adjacent to us. One Yeehaw.

Our first guest of Season 4 does some stuff. Lots. All good things, in fact. Mara and us chatted about an amazing family corgi, bumping into Jimmy Chin at the top of the Grand Teton, the art of poop in wilderness, and a kiss with.... Kristen Stewart?! (but not Mara?) We also discussed in depth how NOLS has changed and not changed, as well as running for school board, (and winning!) and how more or less, we all want most of same things when we get down to it and talk to others.

In the midst of shattering our long hiatus with this episode, we caught up with some Landiego things that have happened since we've been gone: contentious topics in our town and... what even is a Landerite? Is there criteria? Do you gotta wear a badge or something? What is that all about? Who we would interview all time Lander folk: from ALL time periods, as well as some useful information regarding toxic algae blooms in alpine lakes. Warm up, baby. Season 4.

Gotcha!! For this surprise episode, The Dear Lander Podcast teamed up with the International Climber’s Festival to interview Val Shao, Director of the ICF and Lander Local! Val, Amara and Jordan discussed her introduction to Wyoming with Ten Sleep vs. Lander climbing, gymnastics and it’s benefits for fine-tuning rock climbing skills, The fusion of cowboy culture and climber culture in Lander, the changing face of the ICF, and attempting to make it a welcoming space for all participants, and how the ICF and climbers in general help the economy greatly in Lander. Maybe a treefort or two, as well.

The 31st annual International Climber’s Festival takes place July 11-14th, 2024 in Lander, and tickets are available at www.climbersfestival.org