Episode 40 features the Top 10 Moments of the Cutting Edge Podcast as we ring in a new year! 🎉✨

What a year it has been for the Cutting Edge Podcast! February 23rd we launched the first episode, with Tatum & Kylie Rice, and we've been rolling {almost} every Monday since then and as of today we are over 25,000 in LISTENS!!! Crazy!! On today's podcast I talk about the reason I started a cutting-focused podcast, I share the insecurities I've had around being a podcaster and then I get to the first half of our top moments.

My top moments were chosen for a variety of reasons, but today I share these special moments:

➡️ Mental performance coach, Dan Leffelaar, sharing a poignant story that shaped my experience the year I hauled.

➡️ The incomparable Tim Smith talking about showing WR This Cats Smart. (I'm starting a campaign to get Tim to co-host my podcast, let's make this happen)

➡️ A frank conversation about the industry, horse trading and balancing your goals with your reality with Tim Johnson.

➡️ A cutting-esque Cinderella story with Katherine Whitby about her horse, Dual Rider.

➡️ A conversation about #LoperLife with Kellee Clarke of Slate River Ranch.

➡️ Maybe, if not definitely, one of the funniest moments of my podcast this year, 10 Fast Questions with Jesse Lennox.

Next week we wrap up the top moments and feature a fun interview to wrap up the 2019 podcast season! As always, you can listen on any major podcast app or at www.westerntwistmedia.com/podcast and follow along on our social channels at Western Twist Media.

Episode 39 was a fun first for the Cutting Edge Podcast! During the NCHA World Finals we sat down with the self-proclaimed "Two Crew." Four World Finalists in the 2,000 Limit Rider who bonded over their experiences on the road this year. 🎙✨

On the podcast today we have Penny Melder Harker who ended up fourth on her mare, CR Teaspoon Style, Michelle Van Den Brink who finished third on Prettiest Cat Yet, Meredith Simister the Reserve World Champion on Dreamin Sweet and Evelynn Brooks, who finished 12th on Radical.

Ya'll know I have a real soft spot for the 2,000 Limit Rider, so it was particularly fun to chat with FOUR world finalists from "the two." 💕 Each of these competitors has a unique background, perspective and experience surrounding their journey to the NCHA World Finals. It was great to sit down with them, hear their stories from the road and chat about how they all supported each other this year. That's what it's all about! 👏

Fan of the Cutting Edge Podcast? Make sure to "like" us on our social channels - Western Twist Media - so you never miss an episode!

When the gavel dropped on Tin Man at last year’s Western Bloodstock sale during the NCHA Futurity for $500,000, a record was shattered. It was the highest price ever paid at a public auction for a western performance 2-year-old. The buyer was Stella Swanson, of the 7Ranch, and he was to go into training with Zeb Corvin. Earlier in the day, Stella had also acquired a beautiful roan mare, Rosa Del Pepto, for another high ticket price… people were certainly intrigued.



On Episode 38 of the Cutting Edge Podcast we sit down with Zeb and Melissa Corvin before the Limited Open Finals. In a full circle moment, Zeb was crowned reserve champion in the Limited Open on Tin Man, finishing third on Rosa Del Pepto and then made it through to the Semis on both, narrowly missing the finals on Tin Man, but piloting Rosa Del Pepto to a trip to the NCHA Open Finals where he won over $29,000 on the great mare.



Today on the podcast we learn more about Zeb and Melissa’s background, their involvement in the western performance industry, and of course we talk about how this last year has been with the mounting pressure of having not only one, but two, of the industries most talked about two-year-olds in their barn. 



Make sure to keep up with Zeb and Melissa by following them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Corvin-Performance-Horses, and as always make sure to like Western Twist Media on FB and Instagram to stay up to date on all things cutting and the Cutting Edge Podcast!

Episode 37 is a story of patience, and perseverance. At one time, Kat Whitby was an assistant trainer, but five years ago she stepped away from the cutting horse world and became a fire fighter. Last year, Kat Whitby took a seven year old gelding she trained herself, Dual Rider, to his first three shows ever. They hit a lick, marking a pair of 75’s and during that time, Kat applied for her Non Pro card.

This January, the card finally appeared and Kat set out with Monster to haul in the NCHA $5,000 Novice Horse Non Pro. 



Kat entered the year with just over $4,000 in lifetime earnings, now she’s finishing the year with over $50,000. With a tremendous lead coming into the NCHA World Finals, they couldn’t catch her and Monster, but the dynamic duo still posted a 224 in the second round to prove to everyone why they deserved the title of $5,000 Novice Horse Non Pro World Champion.



Make sure to keep up to date with Western Twist Media and the Cutting Edge Podcast by following us on our social channels on both Facebook and Instagram!

Episode 36 is a special mid-week episode in celebration of the NCHA World Finals! Today on the podcast I sit down with the main coordinator of the World Finals, Denise Seiz. From sponsorship, to hospitality, finalist posters to decor - Denise and her team do it all! Making sure the 150 competitors that arrive for the World Finals, as well as their family, friends and teams around them, plus the many amazing sponsors that contribute to the event, are happy, excited and comfortable is no small feat, and as many can attest - if you have a question about World Finals, Denise is who you ask.

On the episode we talk about Denise's background in the sport, as well as delve into all things "BTS" with the World Finals. If you are getting to Fort Worth this week to compete, or cheer on a rider, in the Watt Arena make sure you listen to this podcast. Denise provides an excellent roadmap of all things World Finals in this episode!

A special thanks to 7 Ranch, Stella Swanson, for coming on as the new title sponsor of the World Finals, and to the many sponsors that contribute to this amazing event for cutters across North America to enjoy.

To keep up to date with all that is going on in the Watt Arena make sure to visit www.nchacutting.com/events/world-finals.

Friday kicks off the NCHA 7 Ranch World Finals, and because of it Episode 34 of the Cutting Edge Podcast is devoted to the top 15 riders across the 10 weekend classes! Today, I half-stumble my way through the 150 riders eligible for the World Finals to not only recognize, but celebrate, the incredible weekend cutters from across North America that have hauled all year and will now get to showcase their great horses in Fort Worth, Texas.

For draws, standings, information and more, be sure to check out https://www.nchacutting.com/events/world-finals

On Episode 33 of the Cutting Edge Podcast we sit down with Utah Cutting Horse Association Non Pro Futurity Champion, Cheyanne Murdoch to talk about her stand-out small futurity horse, Miss Gypsy Jackson.

Aside from the $35,000 in earnings won with both Cheyanne, and trainer, Monty Buntin, what makes Miss Gypsy Jackson stand out is, well... everything. The home-bred mare, affectionately known as "Baby Girl", may have had a tough start to life, but that hasn't dimmed her sparkle. Not only will she smile for photos, she'll take a bow after winning events - something her mother, HA Gypsy Crackin, used to do too! Today on the podcast, Cheyanne shares with us the story of Baby Girl, highlights from their incredible year together, and some insight into "trick training" - turns out if you're Cheyanne, it's not all that hard to do!

Make sure to never miss an episode of the Cutting Edge Podcast by subscribing on your app of choice, listening online at www.westerntwistmedia.com/podcast, and liking us on Facebook and Instagram!

✨🎙 Episode 32 is with the man who took the Calgary Stampede Futurity by storm this year, Dustin Gonnet of Gonnet Performance Horses. 🎙✨

This year, Dustin won over $60,000 while at Calgary, winning and reserving BOTH the Futurity and the Derby. We kick off the podcast by talking about the incredible horses that helped him achieve those titles, not only does he share stories about each one, but also insight into his training program with them.

Calgary also pushed Dustin over the $1.6 million dollar mark, which now places him as the leading resident Canadian trainer. Throughout our interview we talk about his astounding career, the industry and some of the milestones, horses (including everyone's favourite - This Cats Got Style), and people that helped get him there.

To wrap it up, last year Dustin made the NCHA World Finals for his first time on the great mare, RPL Cat N Around. Haulers, listen closely because Dustin shares some of, what I think, is the best advice you could hear leading up to World Finals.

As always, this episode is available on all major apps of your choice - listen as you haul down the road - or at www.westerntwistmedia.com/podcast. Follow along to never miss an episode by liking us at www.facebook.com/westerntwistmedia, or at www.Instagram.com/westerntwistmedia.

Episode 31 of the Cutting Edge Podcast is here and we go through the results from the Calgary Stampede Futurity, presented by Wrangler and recap some of the reasons YOU gotta cut at Calgary, and some of the great stories that came out of the Stampede Futurity this year! 🎙💕

Here's a hint on the two biggest stories coming out of Calgary:

➡️ Dustin Gonnet of Gonnet Performance Horses won an absolutely astonishing $61,777 during the futurity, winning and reserving both the Futurity and the Derby. 😱

➡️ Amanda Digness & Matt Anderson managed to win back-to-back year titles. In 2018 Amanda won the Non Pro 7UP, while Matt co-championed the Non Pro Classic. In 2019 they astonishingly came back to win the Non Pro Futurity and Non Pro Derby. #NonProPowerCouple 🤩

To hear all the results from the Calgary Stampede listen along on your app of choice, simply by searching "The Cutting Edge Podcast" or online at www.westerntwistmedia.com/podcast.

On Episode 30 we celebrate the wrap up of the 2019 Cascade Cow Cutters season. The CCC is a novice and amateur-friendly association that hosts shows at Bonina Events Centre, in Eltopia, Washington and in Ellensburg, Washington, throughout the year.

In 2019 they announced two new awards - Most Improved and Most Inspirational - and reached out to see if I would interview these two incredible riders! The 2019 Most Improved cutter is Jim Green, who sat down with us alongside his trainer, NCHA Member Hall of Fame Trainer, Nina Lundgren, to talk about his year learning the ins and outs of the sport. The Most Inspirational cutter is Brent Stewart, who also joined us to share his favourite moments with the CCC this year, a bit about his program, and what the rest of the year has in store for his barn!

➡️ To learn more about the CCC visit their website at https://cascadecowcutters.org and to follow along with Western Twist Media be sure to like our page on Facebook and Instagram, or check out the website at www.westerntwistmedia.com.