The Cowboy Up Podcast

  Arnold Burruel returns to the ranch to talk with Russell and Alan about farming, rodeos, water conservation, and history. And he answers this question: what is the only river in the US that runs both north and south? Let us know if you guessed the answer. Email us at thecowboyuppodcast@gmail.com .

Arnold Burruel knows horses and rodeos. He knows farming and selling feed. He has insights into water rights and the future of land use in Arizona. And, he has a great sense of humor. Add all this up and include Russell and Alan, and you have one heck of an interesting conversation about the past, present, and future of land and water use in Arizona and around the West.

By day, Tom Heath is a mild-mannered Senior Loan Office with NOVA Home Loans. During his off-hours, he's all about supporting downtown Tucson and sharing its diverse treasures with others. He does this through his radio show " Life Along the Streetcar ," which focuses on the social, cultural, & economic events impacting those who live, work and play in Tucson's urban core. He chats with Russell an...

The U.S. National Park System encompasses over 400 national parks. Of those, 70 are supported by the Western National Parks Association . Carlsbad Caverns, NM.  Canyon De Chelly, AZ. Padre Island, TX. And so many more renown, enticing places to visit in a dozen western states. CEO Marie Buck joins Russell and Alan to talk about how WNPA not only supports parks, but also park visitors and the park...

Surveying rugged western landscapes can be a challenging undertaking. One of the most challenging occurred in 1938 when two botanists decided to be the first to survey the plant life of the Grand Canyon. As it happened, the two were women. When the media reported about their impending journey down the Colorado River, skeptics roared disapproval and doubt.  Melissa Sevigny , author of the new book...

Judge Michael Warren has been focused on the state of America even before he and his ten-year-old daughter founded  Patriot Week. The author of America's Survival Guide and the host of the podcast Patriot Lessons , Judge Warren ventures to the ranch to talk about where America might be headed, why learning civics is crucial to our country's future, and how we can renew and reclaim our spirit while...

Photojournalist Terrence Moore became enamored with Route 66 while a teen living in California. After graduating from college, he found his way into photojournalism and began traveling extensively across the American West. He has travelled many highways and byways, but his favorite remains the iconic highway that John Steinbeck nicknamed the Mother Road. The author of "66 on 66," Terry joins Russe...

How do the principles and practice of yoga affect riding and horsemanship? Long-time yoga instructor and retreat leader Cathy Woods speaks with Russell and Alan about just this topic. An equine enthusiast and avid rider who loves exploring the natural world from the back of a horse, Cathy combined her passions to create a program called "Body, Mind, Equine," which focuses on the use of yoga princi...

Early in her career,  Lynn Thomas , LCSW, noticed that horses had a profound influence on the troubled youth with whom she was working. That was the start of her efforts to incorporate horses into mental health and wellness programs. Lynn joins Russell and Alan to talk about the two non-profit organizations she co-founded and the campaign "Seen Through Horses," which brings together organizations,...

Or at least the Crockett Trail, that 1500-mile stretch from West Tennessee to what is now Texas and the infamous Alamo. That's the first trail that historian, artist, and author  Rod Timanus followed and wrote about. He then went on to traverse other famous trails, as well as explore the lives of famous westerners and landmarks. Now the author of eight books, including the new novel "Penitent Gun,...

These days, cowboying and ranching challenge those who don hats and boots and rely on the range for a living. If you add in the rodeo circuit, you have one heck of a busy life. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Branch followed one family doing exaclty all of that. He joins Russell and Alan to talk about his book " The Last Cowboys ," as well as his newest collection of true stories, " Sidecou...

Tucsonan David Rychener spent a career in the health field, but a lifetime in music. A singer and songwriter, David performs in many venues around the Old Pueblo, including weekly at White Stallion Ranch. He saddles up to the ranch, guitar in hand, to chat with Russell and Alan about his love of western tunes, what influences his songwriting, and how he's sharing music through his new podcast "Cow...

When Craig Johnson wrote his first novel featuring Sheriff Walt Longmire, he had no idea it would lead to a New York Times bestselling series, much less become a TV blockbuster. But that it has! Craig joins Russell and Alan to talk about his newest Longmire mystery, "Hell and Back," and his career writing about the fictional Absaroka County and the beloved Longmire gang.

Arizona Highways has been going strong ever since it launched back in 1925. One reason is its spectacular collection of monthly photographs that capture the state's famous topography, as well as its diverse culture. Jeff Kida, the magazine's photography editor, knows what it takes to get each publication just right. During his chat with Russell and Alan, Jeff explains how he chooses photos and how...

Marjorie Lambert knew what she loved: archeology, specifically southwest archeology. But back around 1930, excavation sites were not a place for women. That didn't deter Marjorie, a trailblazer who, during her illustrious career, worked as a field manager, museum director, curator, professor, and what's more, married a cowboy who became a dude rancher. When author Shelby Tisdale met Marjorie Lambe...

While researching her acclaimed book, "American Dude Ranch," historian and archivist Lynn Downey did a deep dive into how cinema has portrayed dude ranches. It all started back in 1918 with the movie "Hell Cat," filmed at Valley Ranch in Cody, WY. Lynn chats with Russell and Alan about dude ranch films that many of us have come to know and love, as well as those that may not yet be on our western...

Is it the Grand Canyon? Absolutely, BUT there's so much more to Arizona! Not only does it have more wilderness areas than in the entire Midwest, but it has Route 66, Navajo Code Talkers, hopelessly romantic tarantulas, the western most battle of the Civil War, and the list goes on. In fact, according to travel writer Roger Naylor, the list is at least 200 factoids long! In this episode, Roger join...

Who did what and when in the Old West continues to tantalize historians, novelists, filmmakers and others. Bill Markley has spent more time than most delving into infamous events and characters and trying to sort fact from fiction. Did Butch Cassidy die in Bolivia? What about Davy Crockett's many deaths? And what really happened during the Johnson County War? Bill joins Russell and Alan to take a...

Japanese-American cowgirl Miko Moriuchi McFarland put herself through college trick riding six nights a week and going to classes during the day. A founder of the Trixie Chicks Trick Riders, she has performed on the rodeo circuit, ridden beside Budweiser Clydsdales and carried the the American flag during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY. She chats with Russell and Alan...

The Pacific Northwest Trail has Cheryl Strayed. The Appalachian Trail has Bill Bryson. And now the Arizona Trail has Tom Zoellner . In 2019, Zoellner hiked the trail's 800 miles and took a deep dive into what makes the Grand Canyon State tick. He chronicles his extraordinary journey and insights into Arizona's culture, history, mysteries and more in his new book "RIM TO RIVER: Looking into the Hea...

Finally, after having to shut down for the Covid events, we are so happy that a world-class famous  Tucson Festival of Books   is back. And we are going to take you there. So think about getting a good book and join us as we celebrate the festival. I often like to tease Russell by saying, "I'm not sure all your stories are real but of course they're all True."  So join the gentleman cowboys, Russe...

Ted Conover decided to give it a try. This award-winning journalist and New York resident spent parts of four years living off the grid on five acres of Colorado land. There, he encountered an unexpected diverse population and learned much about a culture that steers clear of the mainstream. He speaks with Alan and Russell about his experiences and his new book "Cheap Land Colorado."

Back in the day, Bisbee was a hub of mining and shipping, a city of immigrants. Now a hub for artists, entrepreneurs, tourists, and ghosts (yes, – ghosts!), Bisbee is one of Arizona's revered cities. Photographer Virgil Hancock captures the essence of Bisbee past and present in his new book, "Bisbee: The Alchemical City of the Borderlands." He visits with Russell and Alan to talk about his experie...

Barbra Schulte has spent almost her entire life with horses. What has she learned from them? Tons, including how to overcome some tough challenges she's had to face. This National Cowgirl Hall of Fame honoree joins Russell and Alan to talk about her career as a cutting horse trainer and competitor and how that morphed into becoming an equestrian performance coach.

Cowboy boots! They're a staple of western wear. But what's the history of the cowboy boot? Who originally designed it and how did it become so popular? Russell and Alan speak with Zach Lawless, the CEO of Hyer Boots , whose great-grandfather is credited with designing the first cowboy boot.