Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler continue their conversation with author and historian Megan Kate Nelson on “Western of the Month.” This week, they dive deeper into the neo-noir western series The Lowdown and explore the evolution of the American Western in literature and culture.

Megan Kate Nelson has written extensively on the Civil War, U.S. western history, and American culture for outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, and Preservation Magazine. She earned her BA in history and literature from Harvard University and a PhD in American studies from the University of Iowa. Megan has taught at Texas Tech University, Cal State Fullerton, Harvard, and Brown. Her books include Saving Yellowstone, The Three-Cornered War, Ruin Nation, and Trembling Earth.

Follow Megan Kate Nelson:

Website: http://www.megankatenelson.com/

Instagram:  / megankatenelson 

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows and segments anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen live on YouTube, Facebook, iHeart, and RadioNemo.com!

This month on Road Gang Radio, hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler sit down with historian and author Megan Kate Nelson to dive into the world of modern Western storytelling.

Discussion highlights:

“The Lowdown” — a modern Western noir set in Tulsa, produced by Sterlin Harjo (Rez Dogs).

Exploring the influence of American history and culture on contemporary Western narratives.

Insights from Megan Kate Nelson’s work, including Saving Yellowstone, The Three-Cornered War, Ruin Nation, and Trembling Earth.

Discover how history informs today’s Western storytelling and get a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of the genre.

Learn more about Megan Kate Nelson: http://www.megankatenelson.com/

Megan Kate Nelson is a historian, writer, and educator based in Lincoln, Massachusetts. She has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, Preservation Magazine, and Civil War Monitor.

Nelson holds a BA in History and Literature from Harvard University and a PhD in American Studies from the University of Iowa. She has taught at Texas Tech University, Cal State Fullerton, Harvard, and Brown University, and is the author of several acclaimed books on Western and American history.

Follow her on Instagram:  / megankatenelson 

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows and segments anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen live on YouTube, Facebook, iHeart, and RadioNemo.com!

In this edition of Western of the Month on Road Gang Radio, hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler welcome writer and historian Megan Kate Nelson to explore the 1967 Western classic El Dorado.

The discussion dives into the timeless question: “What is a hero to you?” – comparing on-screen portrayals of heroism with what real-life heroes look like. The conversation also reflects on the lasting legacy of Robert Redford, following his recent passing, and the mark he left on Western films and American culture.

Topics in this segment:

Revisiting El Dorado (1967) and its themes of courage and justice

The evolving definition of a hero, both on screen and in real life

Robert Redford’s impact on Western movies and American storytelling

Insights from Megan Kate Nelson’s work on American history and culture

About Megan Kate Nelson:

Megan Kate Nelson is a historian and author of Saving Yellowstone, The Three-Cornered War, Ruin Nation, and Trembling Earth. She has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, and Civil War Monitor. Nelson earned her BA from Harvard and her PhD in American Studies from the University of Iowa, and she has taught at Harvard, Brown, Texas Tech, and Cal State Fullerton.

Learn more: http://www.megankatenelson.com/

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen on iHeartRadio using the links below.

Nemo Nation: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ne...

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We Should Write: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-we...

Trucking with OOIDA: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-tr...

Join hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler for this month’s Western of the Month as they welcome special guest Megan Kate Nelson – historian, author, and western culture enthusiast – to break down two brand new TV westerns: Untamed and American Primeval.

Which one should you keep watching? Which captures the western spirit best? Megan shares her expert perspective, drawing from her background in Civil War and western history, while Jimmy and Lindsay add their own cowboy flair to the conversation.

About Megan Kate Nelson:

Megan is the author of Saving Yellowstone, The Three-Cornered War, Ruin Nation, and Trembling Earth. She has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, and more. 

Learn more about her work here: megankatenelson.com

Follow Megan on Instagram: @megankatenelson

What’s your favorite new western? Drop it in the comments!

Thanks for tuning in! You can catch our shows anytime on your favorite podcast app or listen on iHeartRadio using the links below.

Nemo Nation: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ne...

Road Gang Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ro...

We Should Write: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-we...

Trucking with OOIDA: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-tr...

Saddle up for this month’s ride into the American West as hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler welcome historian and author Megan Kate Nelson to Road Gang Radio. In this edition of Western of the Month, Megan dives into the quirky brilliance of the 1973 spaghetti Western My Name Is Nobody, starring Terence Hill and Henry Fonda. With her deep knowledge of Western history and pop culture, Megan explores how this comedic cult classic plays with—and pokes fun at—the myth of the gunslinger. From duels to dramatic slow-mo, and a surprising dose of slapstick, this conversation blends film, frontier history, and a few laughs along the way.

On this edition of Western of the Month on Road Gang Radio, hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler welcome renowned historian and author Megan Kate Nelson for a deep dive into the 1987 film The Red Stranger, starring country music legend Willie Nelson.

Known for her insightful work on the Civil War and the American West, Megan Kate Nelson brings a scholar’s lens to this lesser-known Western. Together, they explore the film’s themes of justice, redemption, and the lone gunman archetype, while examining how The Red Stranger fits into the broader tradition of Western storytelling.

Nelson also shares how the genre continues to evolve and reflect American identity, and why films like The Red Stranger—quiet, gritty, and steeped in morality—still hold relevance today.

Megan Kate Nelson is the author of Saving Yellowstone, The Three-Cornered War, Ruin Nation, and Trembling Earth, and has written for The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, and more.

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