The SPIRIT OF THE WEST Podcast

Bob Drury was a great cowboy, horseman, teamster and rancher. This week you’ll hear a conversation recorded a short while before he left us and it’s full of great memories, wild but true tales that will keep you spellbound.  There’s another thrilling wild ride episode from the vault along with a lot of great music and much more.

Historian and Author Ken Mather shares some fascinating history of the Canadian west this week, and several songs will relate to the information including dramatic rendition of the infamous wild Mclean Gang.  There’s a clip from the vault featuring the fine Australian Cowboy singer Lieghton Watts and the inspiration for one of his songs.  The stressful toll the threat of Trump Tariffs is taking on Canadian ranchers is one of the stories on the Rangeland News.

International Trade, the effect of tarrifs on the Cattle industry and surviving  amazing situations from around the world are all in this conversation with the amazing Andrew  Raphael this week. The Rangeland News looks at a developing story involving a hughe Canadian Ranch and a multi Million dollar  law suit.  There’s a song from one of the most distinctive voices to ever come out of this country,. And so much more for another hour of amazing  radio.    

This week it’s a fond look back at a ranching couple who left a huge positive impression on the Cattle Industry.  Neil and Marylyn Jahnke were industry leaders as well as ranchers who were at home horseback on the range or in the corporate board rooms.  The Rangeland news has more about how rumors of tariffs can have a huge effect on markets. There’s music about the big western sky, the branding pen and a tribute to Gene Autry from Tommy Hunter. Another hour of great radio.

Two very interesting ranch wives talk about the challenges of ranching in some of the west’s most beautiful but rugged country.  The Irvine Saddles and Western Wear Horse Training File looks at a good horse that the rider is not able to catch. The Rangeland News explores how attitude towards money influences whether it flows to us or away from us. A great piece of cowboy poetry and beautiful music of the west keep you ridin’ close.

This week the great Australian horseman Dan James talks about capturing wild bulls in the Australian outback, a Buckaroo proudly describes his new line of custom made stirrups.  The horse training file looks at an old idea that makes things worse, not better.  There’s a tribute to the late Dick Damron, some great music and much more.

Long time ranching couple Gary and Marilyn Pinder return to continue their visit.  They’ll talk about feeding 500 cows with 65 pound square bales on a horse drawn wagon, riding in blinding winter storms, and you’ll hear an amazing comparison of  the cost of hay in the west this year.  There’s an iconic poem from the late Mike Puhallo, valuable information for anyone looking to buy  a safe horse all this against a background of beautiful music of the west.

A phone call to a broadcasting and music legend leads to a memorable candid visit with Bryan Fustukian this week.  From acting in Hollywood westerns to being a top rated radio personality and a singer and song writer it seems Bryan has done it all. His wonderful western songs will be playing in your mind for days.  Trade issues on the Rangeland News, horses with anxiety, and a poem for troubled times all round out this hour of great radio

This week Dave Cirani who worked on the Kamloops Cattle Drive Drover Crew drops in with memories of those great days and to talk about his great horse “Spook”. He also describes riding and working cattle before and after having both his hips replaced.  The 3 thinks a horse will do when he startled and how to stay safe is the subject of the horse training file and there is some powerful Canadian Cowboy music to set the mood. 

This week it’s a tribute to the late Joe Hanna, the wonderful lead singer from the Sons of the San Joaquin.  You’ll hear a lot of stories that Joe left us with as well as songs that feature his beautiful soaring baritone voice.  Buying a horse without seeing or trying  him out is the subject of the Irvine saddles and Western Wear Horse Training File, and the rangeland news looks at how Canada’s Ag industry reacts to Justin Truedeu’s resignation.