Ozarkian Folk Chronicles - Your Podcast About the Ozarks

Our two part series with Jason Harmon about his book, When Money Grew on Trees: The True Tale of a Marijuana Moonshiner and the Outlaw Sheriff of Madison County, turned out to be one of our most popular yet, and a major reason was the outlaw sheriff himself, Ralph Baker. Baker served Madison County for over 20 years, keeping the law, bending the law, and, according to the legends, breaking the law. When James Bowen, currently of Lincoln, Nebraska, heard the series, he called Curtis and said that he was a boy in Madison County, and that his father and Baker were buddies. James asked if would we be interested in more Baker stories, and our answer was an enthusiastic, "Yes!" You'll want to follow up on the exploits of Sheriff Ralph Baker in this special addendum that has more twists than a Twizzler!

The one and only D.A. Calloway has entertained a generation of visitors to Silver Dollar City. With talent, good humor, and happy enthusiasm, D.A. plays the piano as if it were intended for joy. Join the Chronicles in this celebration of ragtime music, old time jazz, and a life given over to making people happier than they were before they sat down to listen.

Dr. Joanna Dee Das is associate professor of dance at Washington University, and she seems to have talked with everyone who's anyone in Branson. The result is her new book, Branson: Faith, Family, and Flag. Enlightening, entertaining, and sometimes controversial, Joanna's book surveys Branson's music history from the early days of Shad Heller and the Toby Show to the virtuosity of contemporary groups like the Haygoods. Joanna credits Branson for preserving the musical variety show and for experimenting with immersive theater years before it became popular to do so.

Travis Holt, historian, author, and storyteller extraordinaire, takes us to the wild and woolly hills of Newton County, Arkansas. With an unforgettable cast of characters from Aunt Vestie to Cousin Leon, Travis peels back the curtain on bootleggers, moonshiners, and Saturday night fighters. Join the Chronicles for another great episode with Travis!

Dr. Tom Kersen, associate professor of sociology at Jackson State University, came to the Ozarks in the '70s as the teenage son of Back-to-the-Landers. His experience was often grinding and sometimes grueling, but he became fascinated by the characters and quirks of folks coming to the Ozarks. Out of that fascination came his new book, Where the Misfits Fit; part sociological study and part memoir, Tom tells a story as wild as the people in it. Join the Chronicles for a memorable ride through the oddities, quiddities, and quirks of the Ozarks.

Eric Bogwalker, Dez Dino, Amelia LaMair, and Destiny Homer create the one and only Creek Stink sound at Flotsam Farm in the heart of Ozark County. Join the Chronicles for our discussion of life, farming, and music in an intentional community. In an age when everyone is bemoaning the sad effects of isolation, these folks go out of their way to create community, way out of their way! And they don't keep it to themselves: Flotsam Farm invites their neighbors, fellow travelers, and others who are just curious to join them in a variety of Ozarks arts, from making paper to cooking sorghum to playing music in the Flotsam barn. We hope you'll join us at Flotsam Farm, too, in another celebration of all things Ozarkian: the profane, the profound, the preposterous, and the impressive!

Dr. Jason McCollom, Associate Professor of History and Department Chair of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences at Missouri State University-West Plains, discusses the recently founded Ozarks Heritage Research Center, their current holdings and programs, and their plans for the future. You'll be inspired by Jason's passion for the Ozarks and his commitment to our history and culture! As long as the Ozarks have advocates like Jason, we're in good hands.

The Chronicles is excited to announce their new sponsor, the Bigfoot Fun Park, in Branson, Missouri! And we're equally excited to welcome Emma Hamilton from the Bigfoot Fun Park to learn more about their innovations in merging traditional storytelling with sophisticated technology. Storytelling will never be the same; in fact, it may be more fun and exciting than ever! If you are a creative in photography, writing, painting, or other media, this podcast is a must!

The 1970s were a, uh, magical time for music and musicians, and Sid Pierce had a front row seat for the spectacle. From drumming with his band, Levi Walker, to touring with Roy Clark, Sid was full throttle all the time, and he has the stories to prove it. Join us for this fun episode (Sid forbade us from calling it "special") with Sid. Maybe you'll recall some memories of your own, or if you're too young, you'll know what to ask your parents!