On todays episode of Modern Notion Daily, our guest is Rinker Buck, author of The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey (Simon andamp; Schuster, June 2015). After coming across an Oregon Trail marker in Kansas, and then reading that it had been decades since anyone traversed it, Buck decided it was his turn. It took him and his brother, Nick, four months to travel the length of the trail with their pack of mules and covered wagon, but Buck found it immensely rewarding. Later in the hour, contributing editor Emma Bryce tells us about the staunch Darwinist whose scientific work ended up adding fuel to the creationist fire.

Music this hour:

“Forgiven Not Forgotten” by Jahzzar, from the album Kuddelmuddel

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

Guatemala - Panama March by Heftone Banjo Orchestra, from the album Music Box Rag