Todd Parnell, former bank president, president of Drury University, and advocate for our Ozarks environment, talks about floating the entirety of the Buffalo River twice and the remarkable influence of the Buffalo on him and his sons. Todd has served on the boards of various organizations whose mission is the preservation of clean water and pristin…

In this extra-special episode, Mark Bilyeu, Jody Bilyeu, and Rik Thomas talk about their legendary group, Big Smith. Not only do they perform live versions of some of their most iconic songs--"Trash," "Backwater," and "Whip-poor-will," among others--but they describe growing up in the Ozarks, the importance of family, the influence of folk, bluegra…

Champ Herren, the OFC's official "renegade newscaster," digs back into the Ozarks archives and unearths the story of Dick Cullen, who murdered his four-year-old step-brother but didn't live to tell about it. Sometimes, people make damned sure that crime doesn't pay. Champ is a master storyteller and a diligent researcher, and he applies his talents…

Hoss Braden, born and bred in the Ozarks hills, has turned his life into art, both in the Legend of the Lost Silver Mine that played in Branson West and currently, in the long-running Shepherd of the Hills drama at the Shepherd of the Hills Adventure Park. Hoss has lived a storied life, but he has also learned stories, dozens of them, that he share…

The word "folk" conjures up people rocking back and forth in cane bottom chairs and dipping snuff, and though that's an admittedly enviable lifestyle, it's not the whole story. The early folk song and folktale collectors were largely from "off" and belonged to an avantgarde circle of artists, socialists, and bohemians, in short, renegades. Our new …

Ozarkers love a good story, and George Scott and Tom Koob have some great ones! From Leonard "Shock" Short, moonshiner, bank robber, and husband of George's Aunt Lillian, to Vance Randolph, who fell in love with Lillian after Shock's death, to the myth of Virgin Bluff, and all the way back to the Civil War with George's great-grandfather, George an…

Bob and Barb Kipfer retired from lucrative jobs in the medical field to the hard work of natural conservation. From their initial purchase of 80 acres on Bull Creek to their current preserve of 400 acres, the Kipfers have restored the riparian field, shored up the banks, and planted trees and other vegetation along beautiful Bull Creek. Barb has al…

Join Curtis and Hayden when they sit down with author, chef, and innkeeper, Crescent Dragonwagon! Since her arrival in the Ozarks over fifty years ago, Crescent has published over fifty books in several genres including novels, children's books, and cookbooks. She has embraced the hills as her home, and the hills have embraced her right back! Cresc…

When Mark Bilyeu and Cindy Wolf visited the archives at the Library of Congress, they discovered and returned home with a treasure trove of folksongs collected by Vance Randolph himself. On this episode, you'll hear original tracks from well-known Ozarkers like May Kennedy McCord, Rose O'Neill, and Vance himself, as well as lesser known figures. We…

Emalee Flatness-Combs, performer with the Homestead Pickers at Silver Dollar City, and Lillyanne McCool, national old time banjo champion, bring the old songs to life with their beautiful voices and superb musicianship. From the wife so mean the devil threw her out of hell to the whimsical "Froggy Went A-Courtin'," Emalee and Lillyanne will waft yo…

Like so many beautiful regions in the Ozarks, the Little Red River and the towns along its banks face unprecedented challenges from reckless recreators, greedy corporations, and the failure to protect a fragile environment. Kasey and Ginny Kimmons describe the challenges from ATVs that tear up river roads to the pollution that destroys precious riv…

In the early 70s, Tom and Brandy left Columbia, Missouri, where Tom was teaching at Mizzou, for the deep woods on the banks of the Little Red River, not far from Shirley, Arkansas. With nothing but a chainsaw, a hammer, and an auger, Tom built a cabin that still stands today. For ten years, Tom and Brandy lived in the cabin, and their first daughte…

At 84, Andrew Kilgore is still photographing, still learning, and still excited about exploring the world through the lens of his camera. Andrew shares his story of moving to the Ozarks in the heyday of the 60s, and the joy he's had in photographing the portraits of over 30,000 Arkansans. We know you'll enjoy this inspiring episode of the Ozarkian …

The Chronicle's own true crime historians--Tammy Morton and Angel Wolf--are back to tell the macabre and tragic story of the murder of Charlie Cobb. The web of conspiracy spreads out to include wives, friends, and lovers, and Tammy and Angel reveal the previously sealed account of the case by prosecutor Doug Mahnkey, the legendary Ozarks lawyer. Fa…

Mark and Cindy are back to share their adventures in Ozarks folk music. They received a grant to research and arrange Ozarks folksongs collected by Sidney Robertson in the 20s and 30s and housed at the Library of Congress. Then Mark and Cindy returned with a treasure trove of beautiful folksongs that they have already begun to arrange and perform, …

Wayne Glenn, the Old Record Collector, joins Curtis and Hayden for a survey of Christian County history. From Clarence and Roscoe to Buff Lamb, Wayne is an encyclopedia of history and lore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Curtis and Hayden are joined by Jeff Michel, David Arnold, Esther Exley, and Coy Stephan, members of the Mountain Grove School House Jam who play some old time mountain music tunes. Jeff explains the good work of the Ozarks Mountain Music Association and the ongoing efforts of "old timers" to teach a new generation of musicians in the traditions an…

Dan Bennett, ghost tour guide extraordinaire, joins Curtis and Hayden for a fascinating interview about the encounters of ghosts and guests in the historic Crescent Hotel. From little Breckie to Michael the Irish stone mason, these tales of the paranormal are challenging and entertaining. Are you brave enough to book Room 218?? You don't want to mi…

Join Curtis and Hayden when they talk with Dave Tobey about the Current River. Dave has been a ranger, guide, and river enthusiast for many years, and he'll share his love for one of the most beautiful rivers in Missouri. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

is episode is a return to episode 12, a classic Ozarkian Folk Chronicles exploration of the folklore of missing limbs. The Chronicles will return next week with a new episode of freshly recorded fun! In this episode, Curtis and Hayden discuss the folklore of missing and amputated limbs with Abby Burnett, author of Gone to the Grave: Arkansas Burial…

Join Curtis and Hayden when they sit down with Terry and DeDe Sanders and the Folk Chronicle’s true crime historian, Tammy Morton, for an in depth look at the infamous case of Shirley Jo Phillips, who murdered her friend Wilma Plaster in 1989. Sometimes a crime is remembered because it touched us in some strange and utterly unpredictable way. Such …

Join Curtis and Hayden when Tom Koob returns to the Chronicles with a wild tale about Radium Springs, a mysterious cave and spring deep in the Missouri Ozarks. From the discovery of the spring in 1879 by a small party of hunters to the exploration of the area by scientists with geiger counters in the 1950s, the story and potential pay-off of Radium…

Episode 49: Meet the Creek Rocks, Mark Bilyeu and Cindy Woolf! We hope you'll join the Chronicles for this special interview with Mark Bilyeu and Cindy Woolf, two of the finest Ozarks folk musicians anywhere. Not only do they share their musical histories--Mark was a founding member of Big Smith, and Cindy recorded her first album in 2016--but they…

Champ Herren, Ozarks entrepreneur, farmer, and student of Randolph, joins the Chronicles to share his research into popular Ozarks superstitions. Champ sheds new light on old practices as he follows the evidence, and in the process helps clarify the bizarre beliefs of a century ago. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

Larry Sledge and Butch Gregory, the legendary musicians of the Horse Creek Band at Silver Dollar City, join Curtis and Hayden for a rollicking podcast of bluegrass, square dance, Gospel, Texas swing, and more! Larry and Butch also talk about their early careers and the happy times spent at Silver Dollar City. The Horse Creek Band embodies Ozarks fo…

Join Curtis and Hayden as they visit with Dede Sanders and Tammy Morton to discuss the wild case of Robert Faye Adam's and his wife, Willa. Dede, 10 years old at the time, was driving her grandfather's bulldozer when Adam's drove up with a secret in the trunk of his car. From there...well, you'll just have to tune in to hear the story like you've n…

Join Curtis and Hayden as they visit with Randle Chowning about the early days of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils; and Randle's wife, Jaynie Simon- Chowning, and her stories of her father, Si Simon, and his major influence on the music scene in Springfield, Missouri and around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

Tom Koob, Ozarks storyteller extraordinaire, is back on the podcast with a tale of murder and mystery on the banks of the James River. Tom has researched the death of young Alice Stallion, and he not only brings his knowledge to this tragic episode but also his humanity. We know you'll find Tom's story fascinating! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr…

Join our guests Tammy Morton and Angel Wolf as we talk about the strange and uncanny superstitions of the Ozarks. From mad stones to medicines, the Ozarks hills and valleys remain a repository of the folkways of the "old country." Who better to discuss these superstitions than two multi-generational Ozarkers who know the lore and legends? Hosted on…

Dr. Brooks Blevins, the premier historian of the Ozarks and Noel Boyd professor of history at MSU, sits down with Curtis and Hayden to discuss the tension between the "cold, hard facts" of history and the more whimsical world of folk stories and songs. From "signal trees" to the folktales of Vance Randolph, Dr. Blevins evaluates the relevance of fo…

Celebrate Halloween with Tammy Morton and Angel Wolf as they join Curtis and Hayden to talk about ghosts past and present. The deep valleys and secluded caves of the Ozarks have always lent themselves to tales of the preternatural, and this tradition of storytelling will never die--kinda like the ghosts themselves! Feel the eerie on our latest epis…

Join Curtis and Hayden as they talk with Josh Heston, founder of the State of the Ozarks online community and author of the book Plague Child's Doctor, as well as weekly newsletters and other works. Josh has extensively studied the Celtic culture, and he shows how that culture continues to influence the Ozarks through the traditions and beliefs of …

Travis Holt is back with a slew of moonshine stories from Newton County, Arkansas. From the folks who brewed it to the lawmen who pursued it, Travis reminds us that moonshine was more than a cliche when it comes to the Ozarks: It was a way of life! Travis is one of our favorite storytellers, and we know you’ll enjoy this wild and wooly episode. Hos…

Join Curtis and Hayden when they sit down with Misty Langdon, a multi-generational Ozarker who lives with her husband on her family's farm. Misty talks about growing up in the beautiful and rugged hills of Low Gap, Arkansas, and the ongoing efforts of some to intervene in the environment and culture of those hills. She is a local historian--Misty r…

Join Curtis and Hayden when they sit down with comedian Shannon Thomason, also known as "Applejack," for a reading of folktales from the collections of Vance Randolph. These tales focus on dimwitted Jasper and similar young men who may not be too bright but nevertheless come out on top in the end. These are the stories that amused the folks of a hu…

Join Curtis and Hayden when they sit down with Jae McFerron, current director of the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama and longtime Branson entertainer and Silver Dollar City comedian. Jae recalls the iconic Shad Heller and his role in promoting and embodying the Ozarks spirit. Jae also talks about the influence of Harold Bell Wright’s The Shephe…

Join Curtis and Hayden and their guests Emalee Flatness Combs and Esther Exley, who sing and play ballads, waltzes, and folksongs from long ago. Emalee performs with the Homestead Pickers at Silver Dollar City, and fifteen-year-old Esther recently won first place in the Junior Arkansas State Old Time Fiddle Contest. They have also done extensive re…

Join Jim Hamilton, a lifelong newspaper editor, reporter, and author, when he talks with Curtis and Hayden about growing up in the Ozarks, his career in letters, and the important role local journalism plays in strengthening our communities. Jim's poignant essays will touch your heart as they recall a gentler time and pace. Jim also discusses writi…

Join Hayden and Curtis for an interview with Bob Bilyeu, Dave Stewart and Lance Keithley. These three men have been friends for well over half a century. All three relay tales of growing up in the vicinity of Bear and Bull Creeks, near the rural Ozarks community of Day, Missouri near the Christian-Taney County line. Day was the home of famous artis…

Join Ken Henderson when he sits down with Curtis and Hayden to talk about growing up in Reeds Spring, Missouri, his traumatic first day of school, and the early days of Silver Dollar City. Ken also talks about the experience that led him to create the Reeds Spring Hall of Fame, a project that will keep alive the history of the people of Reeds Sprin…

Join Vincent Anderson, noted Ozarks historian, author, blogger, and TV consultant, when he sits down with Curtis and Hayden for a fascinating discussion of Ozarks Bigfoot sightings, cold blooded murders, and vigilant justice by Bald Knobbers in Arkansas! Vincent also talks about his own discovery of who is buried where and the effect his research h…

Join Curtis and Hayden as they review and analyze contemporary accounts of the infamous House of Lords in Joplin, Missouri, at the turn of the 20th century. A noted saloon, restaurant, gambling house, and perhaps brothel, the House of Lords was at the center of "Wicked Joplin," as Larry Woods called it. No less fascinating is the enigmatic figure o…

Join Curtis and Hayden as they welcome special guest, Mike Luster, folklorist, educator, and amanuensis for Bob Cochran's biography of Vance Randolph. Mike visited Vance in the nursing home and faithfully recorded his conversations and stories; as a result, Mike is supremely qualified to talk about the "patron saint" of the OFC. Mike is also an acc…

Join Curtis and Hayden as they talk with Rodney Dillard about his and the Dillards (aka "the Darlings") meteoric rise to fame on the Andy Griffith show, the release of their pivotal Wheatstraw Suite album, and his ongoing career as one of the best known names in bluegrass. Included in this special episode are tracks from Rodney's albums that exempl…

Join Curtis and Hayden when they talk with Todd Wilkinson, Project Manager of the James River Basin Partnership and self-described Itinerant Folklorist. Todd has devoted his career to restoring and preserving the James River, which has been transformed from an algae infested tributary to a beautiful stream. Todd discusses the importance of preservi…

Join Curtis and Hayden and the Shortleaf Band, Michael and Tenley Fraser, for some rip-roaring fiddling and high-country singing. Michael talks about his lessons with legendary fiddler, Bob Holt, and Tenley sings both old songs and new ballads. You don't want to miss this talented duo! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

Join Curtis and Hayden for a cultural and historical tour of the most unusual and perhaps the loveliest town in the Ozarks, Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Drawing on the work of Jared Phillips and Mike Luster as well as other historians, your hosts explore the conflict between the "hipbillies," led by Edd Jeffords, and the "boosters," led by the rancoro…

Join Curtis and Hayden with their guest, Larry Sifford, long time Ozarker, preacher at the Sycamore Log Church, and all around great guy! Larry shares stories from his childhood, talks about playing with the bluegrass band Missouri Boat Ride, describes the beautiful and rustic Sycamore Log Church, and most of all, conveys his love of the Ozarks. It…

Join Curtis and Hayden as they discuss the story of Paralee Collins, who was punished by a mob of men for supposedly riding naked through the town of Horton. What was her motivation? Was the story even true? And if the story wasn't true, why did the mob punish her? The story of Paralee is a study in how history becomes folklore and how folklore oft…

Join Curtis and Hayden as they talk with Dwight Glenn about his association with the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Dwight shares stories from their legendary past, their resurgence in the present, and their plans for the future. You don't want to miss this one! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…