Wild West Deep Dives

Amos Chapman was one of the most remarkable scouts of the American frontier — a man who bridged two worlds. Born to a white father and a Cheyenne mother, he served as an interpreter, messenger, and warrior through some of the most turbulent years of the Indian Wars. This episode dives into Chapman’s incredible bravery at the Battle of Buffalo Wallow during the Red River War — an act that earned hi...

William “Brazen Bill” Brazelton was one of the boldest and most enigmatic outlaws of the Old West—a masked highwayman who single-handedly robbed stagecoaches across Arizona and New Mexico in the late 1870s. A towering figure with a calm voice and iron nerve, he struck alone near Wickenburg, Silver City, and Tucson, armed with both pistol and rifle in one hand—a signature move that unnerved everyon...

Marion Hedgepeth – known as The Handsome Bandit – was one of the most charming and dangerous outlaws of the Old West. A master train robber with style and precision, Hedgepeth rode with some of the most feared bandits of his time. But in a shocking twist, his tip to authorities would help capture one of America’s most notorious serial killers — H.H. Holmes, the “Devil in the White City.”After pris...

They called him The Black Fox. The Calico Cowboy. A name whispered through saloons and frontier towns — branded as a rustler, an outlaw, and a gunslinger who roamed the borderlands between Texas, Mexico, and Colorado. For over a century, the legend of Isam Dart has been told as that of a notorious outlaw gunned down by the infamous Tom Horn. But what if that story — the one printed in dime novels,...

Thank you everyone for their recent support! Y'all are amazing and as always, this has been an amazing series, I've had an amazing time researching and producing it! I hope y'all enjoy it! In this final part of our Joe Meek series, we follow the legendary mountain man turned frontiersman through the final chapters of his remarkable life. We’ll revisit the shocking Whitman Massacre of 1...

Step into the forgotten story of Massai — the Last Bronco Apache. Born at Mescal Mountain, Massai grew up as a fierce runner, hunter, and warrior. He fought under Geronimo, served as a U.S. Army scout, and made a daring escape from a Florida-bound prison train, walking over a thousand miles back to his homeland. For years he lived in hiding with his wife Zanagoliche and their children, hunted by s...

The mountain man era is coming to an end — and Joe Meek stands at the crossroads of two worlds. In this episode, we follow Meek as he leaves behind the fading fur trade and journeys west to the Oregon Country, where a new chapter of frontier history is about to unfold. From wilderness trails to political halls, Meek becomes a key figure in shaping the foundations of Oregon’s government and securin...

Letitia Carson’s story is one of the most remarkable — and overlooked — chapters in American frontier history. Born into slavery, she became the only Black woman in Oregon to successfully secure a land claim under the Homestead Act. Against prejudice, hardship, and the unforgiving challenges of frontier life, Letitia carved out a lasting legacy of courage, determination, and resilience. In this Wi...

In this episode, we follow Joe Meek through one of the most emotional chapters of his life. After the brutal aftermath of the Battle of Pierre’s Hole, Joe risks everything to rescue Mountain Lamb — the woman who changed his life and heart. As missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, along with Henry and Eliza Spalding, arrive in the wilds of the Rockies, a new era begins to take shape — one that...

In 1913, the quiet mining towns of Utah were shaken by one of the most violent manhunts in American history. Rafael “Red” Lopez—an experienced miner turned outlaw—would unleash chaos after a deadly confrontation that left five lawmen and a civilian dead. Armed with his rifle and an unmatched knowledge of the wilderness, Lopez vanished into the canyons and deserts, evading posses, trackers, and the...

Howdy and Welcome Back to Wild West Deep Dives, this week we will dive into Meek's life after the Battle of Pierre's Hole, him rescuing his close friend's (Milton Sublette) wife, a Ba’r fight, Indian fights, the changes that came to the fur trade in 1834 and Joe Meek.. getting womaned. If you enjoy Wild West Deep Dives, please leave a rating and review, it really does help me grow and...

In the summer of 1832, deep in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, a fragile peace was shattered in the valley known as Pierre’s Hole. After the 1832 Mountain Man Rendezvous had ended, hundreds of mountain men—Jim Bridger, Alexander Sinclair, Nathaniel Wyeth, Joe Meek, William Sublette, and others—found themselves face-to-face with a massive band of Gros Ventre Astinas. What began as a tense standof...

Howdy and Welcome Back to Wild West Deep Dives, this is Part 4 of our Deep Dive into Joe Meek, this week, we will talk about Ogden and the HBC, some Injun fighting, Fitzpatrick’s fight for life, a quick look into the Battle of Pierre’s Hole and finish with another fight against the Blackfeet.  Next week will be a Special Episode on Pierre's Hole! Sources; Joe Meek, The Merry Mountain Man, A Bi...

Howdy and Welcome Back to Wild West Deep Dives. This is Part 3 of our Deep Dive into the life of Joe Meek, this week, we get into the action, we will discuss the daily life of a trapper, some Indian encounters, and really what made Joe Meek the legendary figure that he is today! Sources; Joe Meek, The Merry Mountain Man, A Biography, by Stanley Vestal The River of the West, by Frances Fuller Victo...

Howdy and Welcome Back to Wild West Deep Dives, this is Part 2 of our Deep Dive into the Life and Legend of Joe Meek. In this episode, we follow Joe Meek as he takes his first real steps into the wild frontier. The year was 1829, and the fur trade was booming. Meek joined a company of seasoned mountain men and adventurers, each hungry for profit and eager for glory. Together, they headed toward th...

Howdy and Welcome to Part 1 of our Deep Dive into the Life and Legend of Joesph Lafayette Meek. He was more than just a mountain man—he was a legend of the American frontier. A fearless fur trapper, bold explorer, captivating storyteller, and later a politician, Meek carved out a life that embodied the rugged spirit of the West. He roamed the Rocky Mountains during the golden age of the fur trade,...

Send us a text Bill Downing wasn’t just another outlaw in the Arizona Territory—he was the most hated man in the state. From his violent temper and lawless saloon to his connections with the outlaw/lawmen Burt Alvord, Downing carved out a reputation for brutality that left scars on every town he touched. He ran crooked games, taught his women the art of pickpocketing, and wasn’t afraid to beat any...

Send us a text Frank Butler wrote a book titled, The Life of Dave, As Told by Himself. It’s a short story of his life from his perspective and I thought it would be a fun little episode.  But I will warn you, it is his full life, from when Frank picked him up, to his death. I talk about people dying in shootouts, from accidents, but man, I struggle when talking about dogs, so just wanted to give e...

Send us a text Howdy and Welcome back to Wild West Deep Dives.  This is our final part of our Revised Deep Dive into the life of Annie Oakley.  Last week, we discussed the Buffalo Bills Wild West Show going to England, Annie’s rivalry with another woman sharp shooter, which resulted in her leaving the show temporarily… Her return, how she saved the shows hide and their return trip to East. This we...

Send us a text Howdy and Welcome back to Wild West Deep Dives.  This is our 3rd Episode of our Revised Deep Dive into the life of Annie Oakley, there will be one more episode next week and that’ll be the final part! Last week, we discussed Annie and Frank falling in love, her encounter with one of the most famous Native Americans in history, them joining Buffalo Bills Wild West Show, what her act...

Send us a text Howdy and welcome back to Wild West Deep Dives. This is our 2nd episode of our Revised Deep Dive into the Life of Annie Oakley. Last week, we discussed the new information that was found that completely changes what we thought we knew about the early life of Annie Oakley.  This week, we will discuss Annie and Frank falling in love, her encounter with one of the most famous Native Am...

Send us a text ***NEW INFORMATION*** New information has emerged that radically alter our understanding of Annie Oakley's early life; the 1875 Shooting Match never took place... The notion that Annie Oakley began her career as a fancy shooter is also false, along with many other beliefs that have persisted for over a century!!  In 2023, Shirl Kasper, the author of the remarkable biography, An...

Send us a text Little update for y'all on the Upcoming Series and my first Patron Episode on Caleb Greenwood. I appreciate all the support y'all have given me on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, all the other platforms and Youtube! My last video on Youtube, which was on the Bill Wilson Episode has over 6,000 views, over 100 likes and a bunch of comments!! Y'all are amazing! Caleb Greenwood...

Send us a text Howdy and welcome back to Wild West Deep Dives. This week, we are going to be talking about the Battle of Cieneguilla.  Along the trail between Santa Fe and Taos in the New Mexico Territory in 1854, Chief Chacon’s large contingent of Jicarilla (Hic-a-ria) Apaches engaged in a fierce battle against United States Dragoons under the command of Lieutenant John W. Davidson. The Santa Fe...

Send us a text Howdy and Welcome back to our final episode of our Deep Dive into the life of Bass Reeves. This has been an amazing series and thank you for all the support through emails, on social media, I can’t even explain how cool it is having a community to share my love of western history with! Y’all are awesome!   This week, we will talk about Bass’s retirement and his later years, talk abo...