Wheels Across the West: History and Legacy of the Santa Fe Trail Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/wheels-across-the-west-history-and-legacy-of-the-santa-fe-trail "Wheels Across the West: History and Legacy of the Santa Fe Trail" invites listeners on a fun and fact-filled adventure across time and territory to make sense of an oft-overlooked overland trail. Created, written, and narrated by students at the University of Missouri’s Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, Wheels Across the West covers a wide range of topics that intersect with the past and present of the American West: mules, military forts, missionization, Hollywood Westerns, gun culture, living history reenactors, pioneer women, Black cowboys, and so much more. Transporting listeners from Indigenous pathways, to international wagon caravans, to railroads, highways, and modern-day Main Streets, this series reveals how the infrastructure and cultural landscape of the West has been constructed atop foundations laid long ago. © 2025 Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri 9eec1a80-64f8-5d30-9f81-5141252f1e83 no en Mon, 20 May 2024 09:00:58 -0500 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 21:56:33 -0600 https://democracy.missouri.edu/ https://img.transistor.fm/SMH79Z5QTuTuVriAe5NtHtTnvY1CJOJvlwTIU55XjXQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yZTU5/MDM5YjYxY2Y3N2Ew/NWJiYmU0N2EzOWY2/ZmMwMS5wbmc.jpg Wheels Across the West: History and Legacy of the Santa Fe Trail https://democracy.missouri.edu/ episodic Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri "Wheels Across the West: History and Legacy of the Santa Fe Trail" invites listeners on a fun and fact-filled adventure across time and territory to make sense of an oft-overlooked overland trail. Created, written, and narrated by students at the University of Missouri’s Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, Wheels Across the West covers a wide range of topics that intersect with the past and present of the American West: mules, military forts, missionization, Hollywood Westerns, gun culture, living history reenactors, pioneer women, Black cowboys, and so much more. Transporting listeners from Indigenous pathways, to international wagon caravans, to railroads, highways, and modern-day Main Streets, this series reveals how the infrastructure and cultural landscape of the West has been constructed atop foundations laid long ago. "Wheels Across the West: History and Legacy of the Santa Fe Trail" invites listeners on a fun and fact-filled adventure across time and territory to make sense of an oft-overlooked overland trail. University of Missouri No No Media and Memory 10 10 Media and Memory full 2629c99e-c7f9-4ef7-b63b-b27f6f8b8bf3 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d8f7aa58 From old-time radio and classic Hollywood Westerns like The Lone Ranger to blockbuster games like Red Dead Redemption, the violence, peril, and romance of the story of the Wild, Wild West has been exaggerated. Modern-day perceptions of the West are rooted in mythology shaped by mass media. In this episode, we examine the impact that radio, TV, film, and video game depictions have had on how the public imagines the history of the American West and the Santa Fe Trail.


Written and narrated by: Greg Pekurney

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Laura Young, Mya Franklin, Zeb Howell, Max Kinney, Grant Pekurney, Kyle

Pekurney, Tracey Besgrove

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate

Bone

]]> From old-time radio and classic Hollywood Westerns like The Lone Ranger to blockbuster games like Red Dead Redemption, the violence, peril, and romance of the story of the Wild, Wild West has been exaggerated. Modern-day perceptions of the West are rooted in mythology shaped by mass media. In this episode, we examine the impact that radio, TV, film, and video game depictions have had on how the public imagines the history of the American West and the Santa Fe Trail.


Written and narrated by: Greg Pekurney

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Laura Young, Mya Franklin, Zeb Howell, Max Kinney, Grant Pekurney, Kyle

Pekurney, Tracey Besgrove

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate

Bone

]]> Thu, 02 May 2024 08:00:00 -0500 Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri 1801 From old-time radio and classic Hollywood Westerns like The Lone Ranger to blockbuster games like Red Dead Redemption, the violence, peril, and romance of the story of the Wild, Wild West has been exaggerated. Modern-day perceptions of the West are rooted in mythology shaped by mass media. In this episode, we examine the impact that radio, TV, film, and video game depictions have had on how the public imagines the history of the American West and the Santa Fe Trail.


Written and narrated by: Greg Pekurney

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Laura Young, Mya Franklin, Zeb Howell, Max Kinney, Grant Pekurney, Kyle

Pekurney, Tracey Besgrove

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate

Bone

]]> No Structures of Violence 9 9 Structures of Violence full 90b2fc8d-8d81-4c75-9110-cd36e2bd7c69 https://share.transistor.fm/s/6397075c This episode explores how violence unfolded in Dodge City, Kansas, and other small towns around the Santa Fe Trail during the nineteenth century. The rapid influx of guns, alcohol, and outsiders produced a toxic combination that fueled high homicide rates and gave the West its reputation for lawlessness. However, the mystique of gunslingers and saloon shootouts has distorted our perception of how violent these boomtowns really were. 


Written and narrated by: Isaac Yontz 

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson 

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> This episode explores how violence unfolded in Dodge City, Kansas, and other small towns around the Santa Fe Trail during the nineteenth century. The rapid influx of guns, alcohol, and outsiders produced a toxic combination that fueled high homicide rates and gave the West its reputation for lawlessness. However, the mystique of gunslingers and saloon shootouts has distorted our perception of how violent these boomtowns really were. 


Written and narrated by: Isaac Yontz 

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson 

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> Tue, 30 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0500 Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri 1188 This episode explores how violence unfolded in Dodge City, Kansas, and other small towns around the Santa Fe Trail during the nineteenth century. The rapid influx of guns, alcohol, and outsiders produced a toxic combination that fueled high homicide rates and gave the West its reputation for lawlessness. However, the mystique of gunslingers and saloon shootouts has distorted our perception of how violent these boomtowns really were. 


Written and narrated by: Isaac Yontz 

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson 

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> No Living History and Family Legends 8 8 Living History and Family Legends full a2609a07-3abd-4215-9e4e-0c2fe5a26355 https://share.transistor.fm/s/8e39e1fc In this episode, we dive deep into how people connect to the past through living history and genealogy. Interviews with Civil War reenactors Ken Irvin and Shane Seley grapple with the work of preserving history and engaging the next generation. Some say living history is a dying field—Ken and Shane beg to differ. By the end of this episode, listeners will better understand the question: What drives us to study our family history?


Written and narrated by: Katelyn Irvin 

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson 

Interview guests: Ken Irvin, Shane Seley (Wide Awake Films)

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> In this episode, we dive deep into how people connect to the past through living history and genealogy. Interviews with Civil War reenactors Ken Irvin and Shane Seley grapple with the work of preserving history and engaging the next generation. Some say living history is a dying field—Ken and Shane beg to differ. By the end of this episode, listeners will better understand the question: What drives us to study our family history?


Written and narrated by: Katelyn Irvin 

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson 

Interview guests: Ken Irvin, Shane Seley (Wide Awake Films)

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> Thu, 25 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0500 Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri 1719 In this episode, we dive deep into how people connect to the past through living history and genealogy. Interviews with Civil War reenactors Ken Irvin and Shane Seley grapple with the work of preserving history and engaging the next generation. Some say living history is a dying field—Ken and Shane beg to differ. By the end of this episode, listeners will better understand the question: What drives us to study our family history?


Written and narrated by: Katelyn Irvin 

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson 

Interview guests: Ken Irvin, Shane Seley (Wide Awake Films)

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> No Black Cowboys Along the Santa Fe Trail 7 7 Black Cowboys Along the Santa Fe Trail full 92d8b3f9-e944-4bf6-89d1-e45d4faebd7b https://share.transistor.fm/s/789a516f In this episode, we delve into the forgotten narratives of Black cowboys along the historic Santa Fe Trail. Through the stories of famous and obscure frontiersmen like James Beckwourth, “Add,” George McJunkin, and Nat Love—and an interview with contemporary horseman and historian Trae Venerable—we shed light on the challenges, resilience, and contributions of Black cowhands. From overcoming societal prejudices to leaving a lasting legacy through archaeological discoveries and autobiographical accounts, these individuals exemplify the rich tapestry of experiences that define the American West. 


Written and narrated by: Zoe Wilson

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Trae Venerable (https://www.traevenerable.com/)

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> In this episode, we delve into the forgotten narratives of Black cowboys along the historic Santa Fe Trail. Through the stories of famous and obscure frontiersmen like James Beckwourth, “Add,” George McJunkin, and Nat Love—and an interview with contemporary horseman and historian Trae Venerable—we shed light on the challenges, resilience, and contributions of Black cowhands. From overcoming societal prejudices to leaving a lasting legacy through archaeological discoveries and autobiographical accounts, these individuals exemplify the rich tapestry of experiences that define the American West. 


Written and narrated by: Zoe Wilson

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Trae Venerable (https://www.traevenerable.com/)

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> Tue, 23 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0500 Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri 1753 In this episode, we delve into the forgotten narratives of Black cowboys along the historic Santa Fe Trail. Through the stories of famous and obscure frontiersmen like James Beckwourth, “Add,” George McJunkin, and Nat Love—and an interview with contemporary horseman and historian Trae Venerable—we shed light on the challenges, resilience, and contributions of Black cowhands. From overcoming societal prejudices to leaving a lasting legacy through archaeological discoveries and autobiographical accounts, these individuals exemplify the rich tapestry of experiences that define the American West. 


Written and narrated by: Zoe Wilson

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Trae Venerable (https://www.traevenerable.com/)

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> No Who is the Western Woman? 6 6 Who is the Western Woman? full 703fb5ee-00ee-4247-8118-e86cd6ccf171 https://share.transistor.fm/s/189c909c Recovering the stories of different types of women in the West reveals a broader spectrum of experiences in nineteenth-century North America than is typically assumed. American women traveling along the Santa Fe Trail enjoyed newfound independence that empowered them to take risks and defy gendered expectations. Hispanic New Mexican women bolstered their presence in the public sphere through courts and social circles. Native Pueblo women increased their power outside of the domestic sphere through engaging in politics. In this episode, we explore the diverse and dynamic identities of the Western Woman. 


Written and narrated by: Abigail Ramirez

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Elise Milburn

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with Permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> Recovering the stories of different types of women in the West reveals a broader spectrum of experiences in nineteenth-century North America than is typically assumed. American women traveling along the Santa Fe Trail enjoyed newfound independence that empowered them to take risks and defy gendered expectations. Hispanic New Mexican women bolstered their presence in the public sphere through courts and social circles. Native Pueblo women increased their power outside of the domestic sphere through engaging in politics. In this episode, we explore the diverse and dynamic identities of the Western Woman. 


Written and narrated by: Abigail Ramirez

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Elise Milburn

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with Permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0500 Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri 989 Recovering the stories of different types of women in the West reveals a broader spectrum of experiences in nineteenth-century North America than is typically assumed. American women traveling along the Santa Fe Trail enjoyed newfound independence that empowered them to take risks and defy gendered expectations. Hispanic New Mexican women bolstered their presence in the public sphere through courts and social circles. Native Pueblo women increased their power outside of the domestic sphere through engaging in politics. In this episode, we explore the diverse and dynamic identities of the Western Woman. 


Written and narrated by: Abigail Ramirez

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Elise Milburn

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with Permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> No Trials and Tribulations on the Trail 5 5 Trials and Tribulations on the Trail full 543941cb-b6c8-4c3c-8b73-e17c9605d09f https://share.transistor.fm/s/07dbd1af When we look back on the emblematic historical figures of the Santa Fe Trail, we often think of a merchant traveling to find wealth in Mexico. While the trail was certainly home to such characters, this generalization overlooks the unique motivations that drove men and women to brave the hazards of the overland trails, and how these motivations shaped their roles within their caravans. By necessity, caravans functioned as tight-knit groups during the journey to Santa Fe, but they were not insulated from social divisions. This episode explores these social dynamics as they appeared in moments of hardship along the trail, and how three uniquely situated travelers made the most of their journeys across the West. 


Written and narrated by: Elise Milburn

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Abby Ramirez

Archival Material: The State Historical Society of Missouri

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> When we look back on the emblematic historical figures of the Santa Fe Trail, we often think of a merchant traveling to find wealth in Mexico. While the trail was certainly home to such characters, this generalization overlooks the unique motivations that drove men and women to brave the hazards of the overland trails, and how these motivations shaped their roles within their caravans. By necessity, caravans functioned as tight-knit groups during the journey to Santa Fe, but they were not insulated from social divisions. This episode explores these social dynamics as they appeared in moments of hardship along the trail, and how three uniquely situated travelers made the most of their journeys across the West. 


Written and narrated by: Elise Milburn

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Abby Ramirez

Archival Material: The State Historical Society of Missouri

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> Wed, 17 Apr 2024 10:36:33 -0500 Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri 1513 When we look back on the emblematic historical figures of the Santa Fe Trail, we often think of a merchant traveling to find wealth in Mexico. While the trail was certainly home to such characters, this generalization overlooks the unique motivations that drove men and women to brave the hazards of the overland trails, and how these motivations shaped their roles within their caravans. By necessity, caravans functioned as tight-knit groups during the journey to Santa Fe, but they were not insulated from social divisions. This episode explores these social dynamics as they appeared in moments of hardship along the trail, and how three uniquely situated travelers made the most of their journeys across the West. 


Written and narrated by: Elise Milburn

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Abby Ramirez

Archival Material: The State Historical Society of Missouri

Theme Song: Fog Holler (Used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> No A Religious Highway 3 3 A Religious Highway full c39b07a3-0419-426a-baa3-be752ebf66c4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/32f8c320 This episode maps out the spiritual landscape of the Santa Fe Trail, exploring the fraught collision between Indigenous religious practices, Catholic missionization, and Anglo-American Protestantism in the Southwest. Forced assimilation and conversion efforts intensified the dispossession and dehumanization of Native peoples, as reflected in the federally sponsored reservation policy and the notorious system of Indian boarding schools.


Written and narrated by: Bobby Lee

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Theme Song: Fog Holler (used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone


]]> This episode maps out the spiritual landscape of the Santa Fe Trail, exploring the fraught collision between Indigenous religious practices, Catholic missionization, and Anglo-American Protestantism in the Southwest. Forced assimilation and conversion efforts intensified the dispossession and dehumanization of Native peoples, as reflected in the federally sponsored reservation policy and the notorious system of Indian boarding schools.


Written and narrated by: Bobby Lee

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Theme Song: Fog Holler (used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone


]]> Wed, 10 Apr 2024 09:59:36 -0500 Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri 1496 This episode maps out the spiritual landscape of the Santa Fe Trail, exploring the fraught collision between Indigenous religious practices, Catholic missionization, and Anglo-American Protestantism in the Southwest. Forced assimilation and conversion efforts intensified the dispossession and dehumanization of Native peoples, as reflected in the federally sponsored reservation policy and the notorious system of Indian boarding schools.


Written and narrated by: Bobby Lee

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Theme Song: Fog Holler (used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone


]]> No Cruisin' The Fe 2 2 Cruisin' The Fe full 254f0254-17b4-4a97-b7d4-e54d07d138fe https://share.transistor.fm/s/a46eb0c1 In this episode, listeners are invited on a journey through time and tradition. Exploring the parallels between a beloved 1990s pastime and the historical significance of the Santa Fe Trail, we get a window onto the social dynamics and enduring spirit of adventure that characterize both. Through interviews, personal anecdotes, and historical insights, listeners will uncover the rich mosaic of connections forged along the trail, from ancient indigenous pathways to the bustling trade routes of the nineteenth century to small Kansas towns in the 1990s. Join us as we navigate the intersection of past and present, looking for traces of history along the modern-day streets named after the trail and reflecting on the enduring allure of movement, community, and connection.


Written and narrated by: Lillian Williams

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson 

Interview Guests: Benedict Rogers, Steve Yarnovich, Luke Ryan, Megan Leahy, Melani Keiper, Steven Hardy, Jay Sexton, Ryan Triggs

Character narrator: Kyle Jackson

Theme Song: Fog Holler (used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> In this episode, listeners are invited on a journey through time and tradition. Exploring the parallels between a beloved 1990s pastime and the historical significance of the Santa Fe Trail, we get a window onto the social dynamics and enduring spirit of adventure that characterize both. Through interviews, personal anecdotes, and historical insights, listeners will uncover the rich mosaic of connections forged along the trail, from ancient indigenous pathways to the bustling trade routes of the nineteenth century to small Kansas towns in the 1990s. Join us as we navigate the intersection of past and present, looking for traces of history along the modern-day streets named after the trail and reflecting on the enduring allure of movement, community, and connection.


Written and narrated by: Lillian Williams

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson 

Interview Guests: Benedict Rogers, Steve Yarnovich, Luke Ryan, Megan Leahy, Melani Keiper, Steven Hardy, Jay Sexton, Ryan Triggs

Character narrator: Kyle Jackson

Theme Song: Fog Holler (used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> Wed, 10 Apr 2024 09:59:27 -0500 Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri 2039 In this episode, listeners are invited on a journey through time and tradition. Exploring the parallels between a beloved 1990s pastime and the historical significance of the Santa Fe Trail, we get a window onto the social dynamics and enduring spirit of adventure that characterize both. Through interviews, personal anecdotes, and historical insights, listeners will uncover the rich mosaic of connections forged along the trail, from ancient indigenous pathways to the bustling trade routes of the nineteenth century to small Kansas towns in the 1990s. Join us as we navigate the intersection of past and present, looking for traces of history along the modern-day streets named after the trail and reflecting on the enduring allure of movement, community, and connection.


Written and narrated by: Lillian Williams

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson 

Interview Guests: Benedict Rogers, Steve Yarnovich, Luke Ryan, Megan Leahy, Melani Keiper, Steven Hardy, Jay Sexton, Ryan Triggs

Character narrator: Kyle Jackson

Theme Song: Fog Holler (used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> No Road of Conquest 4 4 Road of Conquest full 3d66b7a8-a90b-420b-900f-76cd8fce7bb8 https://share.transistor.fm/s/3340c0a4
This episode focuses on the challenges and complications faced by the US Army to secure the Santa Fe Trail leading up to and during the US-Mexico War (1846-1848). Following along with the insecurities, pressures, and personalities involved, we trace how the trail gradually, then suddenly, transformed from an international trade corridor to a military supply road. It's a story intimately tied in with the violent saga of westward expansion, the US invasion of Mexico, and the series of wars against Indigenous peoples along the route.


Written and narrated by: Mathias Smith


Producer and Engineer: Kyle Jackson


Theme Song: Fog Holler


Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]>
This episode focuses on the challenges and complications faced by the US Army to secure the Santa Fe Trail leading up to and during the US-Mexico War (1846-1848). Following along with the insecurities, pressures, and personalities involved, we trace how the trail gradually, then suddenly, transformed from an international trade corridor to a military supply road. It's a story intimately tied in with the violent saga of westward expansion, the US invasion of Mexico, and the series of wars against Indigenous peoples along the route.


Written and narrated by: Mathias Smith


Producer and Engineer: Kyle Jackson


Theme Song: Fog Holler


Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> Wed, 10 Apr 2024 09:59:18 -0500 Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri 1403
This episode focuses on the challenges and complications faced by the US Army to secure the Santa Fe Trail leading up to and during the US-Mexico War (1846-1848). Following along with the insecurities, pressures, and personalities involved, we trace how the trail gradually, then suddenly, transformed from an international trade corridor to a military supply road. It's a story intimately tied in with the violent saga of westward expansion, the US invasion of Mexico, and the series of wars against Indigenous peoples along the route.


Written and narrated by: Mathias Smith


Producer and Engineer: Kyle Jackson


Theme Song: Fog Holler


Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> No The Missouri Mule: Lodestar of the American West 1 1 The Missouri Mule: Lodestar of the American West full 61b1f6fb-5526-4118-b98c-2f53cd4bcd24 https://share.transistor.fm/s/88837ea6 What made the Missouri Mule such an important part of the state’s history and identity? Solving this riddle takes us back to the very beginning of the Santa Fe Trail, through the heyday of overland freighting, and up to the present-day popularity of trail riding. What Detroit was for the automobile in the twentieth century, Missouri was for the nineteenth-century equivalent of the car—the mule. Using historical documents, oral histories, and a podcaster’s first ride, we’ll follow in the hoofprints of the animal that many historians argue built the American West as we know it.   


Written and narrated by: Kyle Jackson

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Les Clancy (Ozark Mule Days)

Archival Audio: Missouri Mule History Project, The State Historical Society of Missouri

Theme Song: Fog Holler (used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> What made the Missouri Mule such an important part of the state’s history and identity? Solving this riddle takes us back to the very beginning of the Santa Fe Trail, through the heyday of overland freighting, and up to the present-day popularity of trail riding. What Detroit was for the automobile in the twentieth century, Missouri was for the nineteenth-century equivalent of the car—the mule. Using historical documents, oral histories, and a podcaster’s first ride, we’ll follow in the hoofprints of the animal that many historians argue built the American West as we know it.   


Written and narrated by: Kyle Jackson

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Les Clancy (Ozark Mule Days)

Archival Audio: Missouri Mule History Project, The State Historical Society of Missouri

Theme Song: Fog Holler (used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> Wed, 10 Apr 2024 09:59:07 -0500 Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri 1398 What made the Missouri Mule such an important part of the state’s history and identity? Solving this riddle takes us back to the very beginning of the Santa Fe Trail, through the heyday of overland freighting, and up to the present-day popularity of trail riding. What Detroit was for the automobile in the twentieth century, Missouri was for the nineteenth-century equivalent of the car—the mule. Using historical documents, oral histories, and a podcaster’s first ride, we’ll follow in the hoofprints of the animal that many historians argue built the American West as we know it.   


Written and narrated by: Kyle Jackson

Producer and engineer: Kyle Jackson

Interview guests: Les Clancy (Ozark Mule Days)

Archival Audio: Missouri Mule History Project, The State Historical Society of Missouri

Theme Song: Fog Holler (used with permission)

Additional Musical Elements: Fog Holler, Casey James Holmberg, Kyle Jackson, Kate Bone

]]> No