Willow's Vintage Homestead

Most people have heard of the Masonic Order, and probably the Odd Fellows, but equally popular around the turn of the 20th century was The Knights of Pythias. Pythian Tommy Schroeder and I chat about the history of this fraternal order, what makes it different from the Masons and the Odd Fellows, and why he's hopeful for its future.

Grace dresses historically every day, and hand sews all her own garments. We chat about what she finds so appealing about this lifestyle and method of sewing, fabrics, styles of the 1800s, and what it's been like to live historically.

Matt Johnson & Christine Knight of the Mariposa County Library join me to delve into the free literacy programs available to everyone, no matter what your age, reading level, or native language. About half of Americans read at or below a 5th grade reading level. If you need help to improve your literacy, the library is the ideal place to go!

The historic Gagliardo Store in Hornitos, California has new owners! I chatted with Sherry and Hay Hay Borba about the tiny town of Hornitos, what they love about living there, and the past, present, and future of their new/old store.

My friend Jerry Day, Executive Director of Access Tuolumne, joins me to talk about public access TV, how it started, who it serves, and why it's still vitally important today for community connections and government transparency.

Let's explore the Northern Mariposa County History Center in Coulterville, California with my friend Lynn Breshears, who is also the current President. Small museums keep local history safe and alive for visitors from around the world!

World-famous rock climber, climbing historian, and Yosemite Climbing Museum president Ken Yager chats with me about the early days of climbing in Yosemite National Park: The myths, the legends, and how folks can get started in climbing themselves.

My pal Mark O'Brien, media preservationist with Uncommon Ephemera, chats with me about our childhood days of listening to short wave, NOAA, TV, police band, and other types of niche radio frequencies, and how you can still listen to (most of) them today.

You can pair wines with recipes, but it's the spices that matter most. Mark Robinson and Joe Lertch of The Wine Matrix join me to discuss how to identify heritage grape varieties, finding new wines to enjoy, and how their book, " The Art of Spice & Wine Pairing ," came together.

Some people took up knitting during Covid... Henry Sparks taught himself how to make bagpipes. We chat about the different types from around the world, how they work, and how to get started playing (or even making) this ancient instrument.

This time I interview myself! Or, more accurately, I reminisce about how and why I got so interested and invested in the homesteading lifestyle. There's a lot of factors that led me to where I am today, and I hope it helps you reflect on where you are, and where you want to be.

Sometimes we just need that one special moment to spark the journey of a lifetime, and that's no exception for Terri Van Orman who began weaving and studying traditional clothing after a fateful trip to Tibet.

What's it like to live an Edwardian life every day? Leon Jones is just such a person, and we have a wonderful conversation about how and why to adopt this type of lifestyle, including the joys, challenges, and decisions you'll need to make if this lifestyle calls to you.

Sadie Anderson, President of Sonora Cat Rescue, chats with me about the importance of Trap-Neuter-Return programs to help reduce the feral cat population, and why having barn cats is beneficial to everyone (except rodent pests!)

My good friend Richard Dinnick and I shoot the breeze about one of the longest-running shows in history, Doctor Who, which began airing on the BBC in 1964. The series has seen a lot of changes, and some episodes are still lost media today. Richard has written numerous Doctor Who books, comics, and short stories, and is steeped in the lore and history of this beloved sci-fi show.

Mike Martin, author of "The Honest Wilderness: Finding Daniel Boone and the Frontier Within" joins me for a very though-provoking conversation about how wilderness heals the heart and mind, how to be a more capable person, and lessons from Daniel Boone's insights through a lifetime of change.

I have a fun chat about folk schools with Mari Sanborn, Communications Coordinator for the Folk Education Association of America. Hear all about the history and the present of this unique type of school that focuses on the traditional skills and arts of "ordinary folk" like you and me.

Experimental history expert and teacher Memma the Cavewoman chats with me about how and why she got started learning about the prehistoric lifeways of Britain and Europe, as well as deep thoughts about being in nature, ritual, fire, and what our collective culture has lost in this modern era.

Natalie Mora is from several different southwest Indigenous tribes, and she shares her journey of rediscovering her roots, the ups and downs, and her future hopes for Native American folks everywhere.

Hollywood and Los Angeles architecture historian Mary Mallory joins me as we talk about the Hollywood sign as well as iconic buildings of the 1920s and 30s, including Grauman's Chinese Theater, The Witch's House, Griffith Observatory, and the now-lost Richfield Building.

This week I chat about shiny pointy things with Barbara from Archangel Steel, a small business that specializes in not just shiny pointy things but also other types of steel weaponry and leatherwork from days of yore.

Oliver Cameron-Swan joins me once again from merry old England to chat about the ancient tradition of Morris Dancing, a form of folk dance tied to the seasons. What is it? Why is it? What's with the hankies and floral hats? Where does Napoleon Bonaparte come into all this? Listen and find out!

Who are the Freemasons? What's their history in America? How do you join? What do they do? All these questions and more are answered in my chat with Jamie Vest and Chris Tomasello who are both active Masonic Lodge members at different stages of their journey.

The delightful Assistant Curator of Hammond Castle, Donovan Lafontaine, chats with me about this astonishing and whimsical landmark in Gloucester, MA on Cape Ann, built in the late 1920s by inventor John H. Hammond Jr.

My pal Jackey Neyman Jones of "Manos: The Hands of Fate" and other shows (including my own, "The Manos Chronicles") joins me as we chat about not just Manos but other B (for Bad) movies and filmmakers of the 1960s and beyond.