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Welcome to the Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...
This week, we head out looking for "ary" trace of the Great Depression left on the Ozark landscape — and it turns out, once you know what to look for, you can hardly go "nary" a mile without finding one.
We'll start in Grandpa's hayfield with the hillside ribs known as Mangum terraces, tracing their spread from a North Carolina farm in the 1880s to the terracing craze that swept the Ozarks under FDR's New Deal. Along the way, our short sweetenin' digs up the backwoods twins "ary" and "nary," archaic descendants of "ever a" and "never a" that once peppered everyday Ozark speech.
Then it's on to the long sweetenin': a whirlwind tour of just how much New Deal alphabet-soup labor — the CCC, WPA, PWA, CWA, and NYA — physically remade this region, from state park lodges and courthouses to WPA schoolhouses, Razorback Stadium's earliest bones, and post office murals still hanging in Berryville and Fredericktown ninety years later.
Let's dive into this episode of The Old Ozarks...
What is The Old Ozarks?
The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins (the leading authority on the region’s history), this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region.
Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
The deer you harvest this fall are being won right now.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get weekly updates, show notes, and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Arkansas Game & Fish State Deer Coordinator Ralph Meeker breaks down the summer checklist every small property hunter needs before season opens.
From designating a sanctuary and hinge cutting the right trees, to understanding why deer remember your stand location down to 55 extra yards by season's end, Ralph gives you the science-backed playbook for holding more deer on limited ground.
You'll also learn why summer is actually the most nutritionally stressful time for deer — and how that changes what you should be doing on your property today.
This is the episode that turns a 22-acre hobby into a deer hunting system.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – Why You Should Be Thinking About Deer Right Now
3:00 – The Four Biological Needs That Keep Deer on a Small Property
7:00 – Urban vs. Rural Deer
13:00 – What to Look for When Walking Your Property
18:00 – Why Ozark Deer Don't Get as Big as Kansas & Texas Deer
24:00 – Hinge Cutting: Which Trees to Remove & Which to Keep for Deer
32:00 – Sanctuaries: How Much of Your Property to Lock Down & Why
36:00 – How Hunting Pressure Changes Deer Behavior (The 55-Yard Study)
40:00 – What to Do If You Find a Fawn This Summer
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: [email protected]
You're fishing the White River, but there's no hatch...Now what?
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get weekly updates, show notes, and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Top White River guide Chad Johnson is back for part two — and this time it's all about bugs. He breaks down the three major hatches on the White River, what's actually changing about them year over year, and the simple seasonal framework that tells you exactly what to tie on from January through fall.
More importantly, he reveals what to do on those in-between days when there's no obvious hatch — and why adjusting your depth six inches might be the only fix you need.
If you've ever stood on the White River wondering why the fish won't eat your fly when you can literally watch them rising, this episode has your answer.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – The Three Major Hatches on the White River
5:00 – The Caddis Hatch
9:00 – The Sulfur Hatch
14:00 – The Dorito Rule: Why Fishing a Hatch Is a Completely Different Game
17:00 – Summer Fishing: Why You Flip from Fishing Bottom-Up to Top-Down
19:00 – What to Throw When There's No Hatch On (Browns vs. Rainbows)
26:00 – How to Read Fish Behavior When They Won't Eat Your Fly
30:00 – The Five Flies You Need to Fish the White River All Year
33:00 – Dave Whitlock's Lesson
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: [email protected]
Welcome to The Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...
This week, we start with a word that'll make any bush-hogger wince — "stob" — before hobbling our way into the true tale of a tiny Arkansas crossroads with a mighty title: the Walking Stick Capital of the World.
We'll trace the Scots-Irish roots of "stob," pay tribute to Karl Childers and Sling Blade along the way, and then head to Fryatt, Arkansas — a wide spot in the road barely big enough to see both its highway signs at once — to meet Newt Blagg, the handle-maker turned cane man who founded a walking-stick dynasty out of a borrowed barn in 1931.
We'll cover his unlikely brush with a stray bullet on a Kansas train, the steam barrels and drawknives that bent hickory into "Little Bo Peep" crooks, and how his craft passed down through generations of Berrys, Albrights, Flynns, and Marlers until Fryatt earned its unofficial crown as the cane-making capital of the world. It's a story of stobs, sticks, and the quiet Ozark ingenuity that turned scrap hickory into a national industry.
Let's dive into this episode of The Old Ozarks...
What is The Old Ozarks?
The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins, the leading authority on the region’s history, this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region.
Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
Most anglers sit and wait on the White River. The best guides are always moving.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get weekly updates, show notes, and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Top White River guide Chad Johnson reveals one of the most overlooked tactics in Ozark fly fishing: chasing "the push."
When rising water triggers a feeding frenzy, most anglers enjoy it for a few minutes and stay put. Chad explains why the smartest move is to run downstream and get ahead of it again, and again, and again.
He also breaks down the full picture: how to read the generation schedule, what CFS numbers mean for your day, and the single rule that tells you exactly where brown trout are holding at any flow level.
Whether you've never fished the White or you've been coming for years without cracking the code, this is the episode that changes how you think about tailwater fishing forever.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – Welcome to Diamond State Fly Co.
8:30 – Why You'll Never Fully Understand White River Flows
9:00 – How the Dam Actually Works
11:30 – How to Read the Generation Schedule (swpa.gov Walkthrough)
17:00 – Low Water vs. High Water
21:00 – Why Big Browns Are So Hard to Catch
29:00 – What Is "The Push" — And How to Chase It Down the River
34:00 – Ideal CFS Numbers for Every Type of Angler
37:00 – The #1 Rule for Finding Brown Trout at Any Flow Level
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: [email protected]
This math will change how you think about the outdoors (especially if you're a hunter).
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get weekly updates, show notes, and stories in our NEWSLETTER
The Kyles break down exactly where conservation funding comes from in Arkansas and Missouri, and what happens when fewer people hunt and fish.
With a whiteboard and real numbers pulled straight from AGFC and MDC budgets, they map out the full picture: $141 million vs. $283 million, the 1/8-cent sales tax, Pittman-Robertson, license revenue, and who's really footing the bill.
Then they run the scenario nobody wants to talk about — a 20% decline in sportsmen — and the number needed to replace it will stop you cold.
This is the conservation funding episode every Ozark outdoorsman needs to watch. No agenda, just the numbers and a question worth asking.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
0:00 – Why We're Standing at a Whiteboard
3:30 – Breaking News: Arkansas Just Announced a New WMA Permit
6:30 – Arkansas Game & Fish Budget Breakdown: $141 Million
11:30 – Missouri MDC Budget Breakdown: $283 Million
19:00 – Who Actually Pays for Conservation>
27:00 – The 20% Decline Scenario
33:00 – Current Conservation Gaps
38:00 – WMA Permits, Biking Fees, Sales Tax Increases & Voluntary Stamps
42:00 – Raising Out-of-State License Prices?
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: [email protected]
Welcome to The Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...
This week for the first episode of season 2, we're playing a road-trip counting game older than the interstate itself: Zip Horse. And using it as our launchpad into the vanishing world of Ozark mules, the surprisingly Celtic backstory of a "muley" cow, and why nobody wanted anything to do with a "poll tax." No, not that poll tax...well, sort of.
Let's dive into this episode of The Old Ozarks...
What is The Old Ozarks?
The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins, the leading authority on the region’s history, this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region.
Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
Hunters, hikers, and mountain bikers are all fighting for the same land, and someone has to figure it out.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get weekly updates, show notes, and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Part 2 with the Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation gets into the hard stuff. We tackle the real tension between user groups head-on — cyclists vs. hunters, growth vs. conservation, loving a place to death vs. sharing it with the next generation.
You'll hear why the Mena Bike Park won't hurt hunters, how gateway activities like fishing could save the conservation funding model, and what it's going to take to keep the Ozarks from turning into the next Moab.
This is the most honest conversation about the future of the Ozarks we've had on this show, and it's one every outdoorsman needs to hear.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
0:00 – Recap of Part 1
4:00 – Are We Loving the Ozarks to Death?
7:00 – Manufacturing Drives Arkansas' Outdoor Economy
13:00 – The Real Cost of Growth: Wastewater
22:00 – How the State Decides Who Gets Trails, Boat Ramps & Grant Money
32:00 – The Cycling vs. Hunting Tension
43:00 – How Hiking & Biking Could Save Hunting & Fishing
50:00 – How Do You Fund Conservation When Fewer People Buy Licenses?
57:00 – What Does Success Look Like for the Office of Outdoor Recreation?
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: [email protected]
Arkansas just set a goal to double its outdoor economy to $7 billion — and the people making it happen just sat down with us.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get weekly updates, show notes, and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Katherine Andrews and Becky Flynn, Director and Deputy Director of Arkansas' Office of Outdoor Recreation, break down what it actually looks like to build an outdoor economy from scratch.
From a $6.5 million grant program funding trails, boat ramps, and shooting ranges, to a first-of-its-kind guide verification program, to the largest lift-served mountain bike park in the country coming to Mena — this episode is a masterclass in why Arkansas is quietly becoming one of the best outdoor destinations in the country.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
0:00 – Kyle Plunkett's Back
2:00 – What Is the Office of Outdoor Recreation?
7:00 – The Goal: $7 Billion by 2032
13:00 – How the Office Connects Communities & State Agencies
25:00 – Why People Are Now Moving for Outdoor Recreation
33:00 – Guide ARK
45:00 – Holler Question
51:00 – Who Should Fund Conservation's Future?
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: [email protected]
Trout fisheries are in crisis, and for the first time ever emergency regulations are the new normal.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get weekly updates, show notes, and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Arkansas Game & Fish trout coordinator Christy Graham returns to break down one of the wildest 14 months in the history of Ozark trout fishing.
A historic Spring River flood wiped out 50% of the state hatchery's fish. Then the Norfork National Fish Hatchery — which stocks 40% of all trout in Arkansas — lost millions of fish to catastrophic water quality failures inside their own tanks.
The result: permanent reduced limits, catch-and-release-only sections, and a two-year road to recovery.
This is the inside story most anglers never hear. Whether you're a weekend warrior, a guide, or a dad planning your son's first trout trip — this episode explains what happened, why the fishery is still worth fishing, and what it'll take to fix it for good.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Maverik - Adventure's first stop in the Ozarks
0:00 – How the Ozark Trout Program Works
4:00 – How Game & Fish Sets the Stocking Schedule
8:30 – Spring River Hatchery Flood Wipes Out 50% of Fish
11:30 – Norfork Hatchery Catastrophe
14:45 – Why It Takes 18-22 Months to Grow a Stocking-Size Trout
24:00 – The Emergency Regulations
32:00 – The Management Triangle
37:00 – Communication Failures During the Crisis
43:00 – Is the Fishery Still Worth Fishing?
48:00 – 90% of Stocked Rainbows Don't Survive a Year
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: [email protected]
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