Welcome to the Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...

What exactly is a “bald knob”? Let's follow that winding road straight into the remarkable, overlooked life of Mary Elizabeth Mankey: a postmaster, storekeeper, poet, and hill-country philosopher who captured the soul of the Ozarks (and the country) like few ever have.

Yet despite that brief flicker of national fame, Mary Elizabeth returned to her quiet life, eventually writing until her final days in Branson. Her poems are among the region’s most genuine literary treasures. This episode is a tribute not just to a poet, but to the overlooked power of paying attention to your place and your people.

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.

→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Part 1 of Xieng's Story on The Holler⁠

When it comes to catching monster stripers on Beaver Lake, few know the patterns, pressure, and precision better than guide Xieng Chanthavong. In this episode, he shares what it really takes to find and land these elusive giants. From seasonal migrations to moon phases, water temps, bait choice, and boat speed, this is your full crash course on hunting striped bass in deep Ozark waters.

Whether you're a seasoned angler or new to chasing stripers, this conversation is packed with practical advice, technical insight, and stories that’ll make you want to set your alarm for 3:30 AM to hit the water.

Our Trusted partners for this episode:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vortex Optics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Diamond State Fly Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - The Region's premiere fly fishing shop

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Big Pete's Taxidermy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - High-quality work with quick turnaround

Pack Rat Outdoor Center - Everything you need to start your next adventure

00:00 – Why striper fishing is so difficult

06:00 – Understanding striper depth and migration patterns

17:30 – Topwater vs trolling: pros, cons, and when to use each

26:00 – The Art of Trolling

38:30 – What divers have seen underwater...

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]

The Ozarks are experiencing a cycling boom unlike anything we've seen before. But with new trails, booming tourism, and a rapidly changing landscape come big questions about conservation, community, and how we can grow without losing the soul of the region. In this episode, we sit down with cyclist and community advocate Mike Rusch to explore the tensions and opportunities between the biking community and long-standing Ozark traditions like hunting, fishing, and land stewardship.

> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Patreon aka "The Holler"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ <

Our Trusted partners for this episode:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vortex Optics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Industry-defining scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Diamond State Fly Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - The Region's premiere fly fishing shop

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Big Pete's Taxidermy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - High-quality work with quick turnaround

00:00 – Mike shares how cycling deepened his connection to the Ozarks
08:00 – Breaking down the three main cycling communities
20:40 – Tension between cyclists and non-cyclists
43:00 – Kyle’s challenge to the cycling community

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...

Long before we had Instagram call-outs or basketball court boasts, folks in the Ozarks had their own colorful way of throwing down a challenge. And in this episode, we trace that old-school bravado all the way from clanging wetstones in the hayfields to center stage in New York City, where one Ozarks-born marksman took on the world.

In this episode, w explore the forgotten legend of J.W. Akard, a deadeye rifleman from Polk County, Missouri, who traveled the country in the early 1900s putting on trick shooting shows for thousands. Whether he was lighting matches at 40 feet or busting marbles out of midair, Akard was an Ozarker who made a living by literally hitting the mark. That is until time and tragedy hit him back...

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.

In this episode, we're calling back to our conversation with renowned wildlife biologist and land manager Dr. Grant Woods for a practical, science-based breakdown of how to manage land and grow better deer in the Ozarks.

> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Patreon aka "The Holler"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ <

Our Trusted partners for this episode:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vortex Optics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Industry-defining scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Diamond State Fly Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - The Region's premiere fly fishing shop

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Big Pete's Taxidermy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - High-quality work with quick turnaround

00:00 – Why the Ozarks are under-managed

06:00 – How to hold deer without hundreds of acres

17:00 – Setting up sanctuaries and travel corridors on small properties

23:00 – What is “the red line” and how it predicts buck behavior

35:00 – The truth about antler genetics vs. nutrition and age

45:00 – Why hunting your property less often leads to better seasons

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]

The Kyles are back at The Check Station with a chicken rescue mission, Colorado moose encounters, and some controversial reel reactions. They also spotlight Duane Hada’s call for protecting smallmouth bass in Arkansas streams and float a bold idea...Ozark-wide hunting and fishing license?

> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Patreon aka "The Holler"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ <

Our Trusted partners for this episode:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vortex Optics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Industry-defining scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Diamond State Fly Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - The Region's premiere fly fishing shop

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Umarex Airguns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - The leader in Air Rifle technology

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Big Pete's Taxidermy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - High-quality work with quick turnaround

00:00 – Featherfoot’s near-death experience

03:00 – Hither & Yonder

09:50 – Reel Reactions

29:00 – Shootin' From the Hip

43:05 – The Holler update

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...

Every now and then, a name on a map leads you down a rabbit hole of forgotten history. That’s what happened when I stumbled across a curious spot in southeastern Missouri referred to as the Irish Wilderness. The phrase (something pulled from the pages of a ghost story) is a little-known, true-life tale of Irish immigrants, Catholic dreams, and Civil War disappearance deep in the Ozark hills.

In this episode, I explore how an ambitious Irish priest tried to build a haven for his famine-fleeing countrymen in the untamed backwoods between the Current and 11 Point Rivers. This is the story of brogans, brogues, and one of the Ozarks’ most mysterious lost communities.

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.

In this episode, historian, farmer, and University of Arkansas professor Dr. Jared Phillips returns to explore the deep and sometimes uncomfortable tension between local communities and the growing cycling culture in Northwest Arkansas.

Set against the backdrop of heritage, land stewardship, and the values that shaped generations of Ozarkers, this episode tackles the question few are asking: who decides what progress looks like and who gets left behind?

> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Patreon aka "The Holler"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ <

Our Trusted partners for this episode:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vortex Optics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Industry-defining scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Diamond State Fly Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - The Region's premiere fly fishing shop

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Umarex Airguns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - The leader in Air Rifle technology

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Big Pete's Taxidermy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - High-quality work with quick turnaround

00:00 – Introduction

08:30 – Leisure class consumption

17:00 – Who actually benefits from progress?

33:30 – Hunting vs. Biking?

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]

In this episode, historian, homesteader, and University of Arkansas professor Dr. Jared Phillips joins us to unpack the misunderstood and rapidly changing cultural identity of the Ozarks. Recorded on-site at Branch Mountain Farm, we explores how outside forces shaped the region’s image, why tensions around land use and development are rising, and what it means to truly belong in the Ozarks.

> ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Patreon aka "The Holler"⁠⁠⁠⁠ <

Our Trusted partners for this episode:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vortex Optics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Industry-defining scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Moultrie Mobile⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - The MOST accessible cell trail cameras in the world

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Diamond State Fly Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - The Region's premiere fly fishing shop

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Umarex Airguns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - The leader in Air Rifle technology

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Big Pete's Taxidermy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - High-quality work with quick turnaround

00:00 – Introduction

10:00 – Where the hillbilly stereotype came from (and how it stuck)

21:00 – Are we losing Ozark values—or just changing them?

36:30 – How new immigrants are shaping the future of the Ozarks

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]

Ever had to make a quick getaway? In the Ozarks (surprise surprise) we have our own unique way of saying that...

In episode #5 of The Old Ozarks, Dr. Blevins blends frontier idioms, pioneer grit, and American history as he explores the story of Nathan Boone (son of the legendary Daniel Boone) and the legacy he and his wife Olive left behind in the hills of southwest Missouri.

Summary:

From the Revolutionary War to the Trail of Tears, the Boone family witnessed the raw expansion of the American frontier. This episode takes listeners through Nathan Boone’s remarkable life: born to a family of restless pioneers, Nathan eventually made his home in the Ozarks, raised 14 children with Olive Van Bibber, served as a military officer and surveyor, and helped enforce boundaries during the upheaval of Indian Removal.

Dr. Blevins guides us from Kentucky to Missouri to Oklahoma and back again, showing how Nathan’s homestead near Ash Grove became a symbol of both wandering spirit and rooted legacy.

You’ll learn the origin of the phrase “light a shuck,” discover the Ozarks’ role in the Trail of Tears, and maybe even plan your next road trip to the Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead State Historic Site.

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.