That Western Life – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to Part I of our Western History deep dives with our resident That Western Life historian Katie Surritt and co-host Katie Schrock. Make sure to tune in bi-monthly for all things western lifestyle on the That Western Life Podcast. 

Summary: Starting with the first arrival of cattle to the Hawaiian Islands, the That Western Life team take a deep dive into the history of the Paniolo and the Hawaiian ranching and rodeo culture. From feral, dangerous cattle, to their own style of shipping and being crowned the 1908 World Champion Steer Ropers, Paniolos have changed many of how we see America. Rodeo did that. 

In this episode: 

• Hawaii's Introdcution to cattle and horses
  • The first calf born on the island was recorded to have been fed fish (don't worry, the British were equally as horrified)
  • A kapu or Royal Edict was put on the cattle to protect harm or death from befalling them and were called the "King's Cattle"
  • Within 10 years, 20,000 head of feral cattle, the ancestors of the same breed of black coated longhorns set against grizzley bears in Alta, California, for sport were running feral killing people, ruining homes, and destroying agricluture. 
• Bullock Hunters brought to the islands to control the populations
  • King Kamehameha III employs vaqueros to teach the native Hawaiians how to use horses and to manage the cattle. 
  • Hawaiian horsemen and cattlemen name themselves "paniolo" 
• Paniolos create their own cowboy culture
  • Including equipement, tack and their own breed of shipping and tail horses
  • A unique situation, the paniolos had to drag cattle into the ocean to be handed off to boats that would take the cattle to the ships waiting out at sea
  • Make sure you listen to find out about how the sharks played into this portion! 
• From Island Cowboys to Cheyenne Frontiers Day Rodeo Competitors
  • How three paniolos changed history competing for world titles 
• Rodeo today
  • Their own unique events such as wahine wahine mugging
  • How you can watch 

Past That Western Life podcasts referenced in this episode for further information: 

• Hawaiian Cowboy Cody Cabral
• Coastal Cowboy & Wrangler 
• Rebranding the American Cow Boy 
  • Our previous history podcast deep dive about African American cowboys.

This podcast episode is hosted by: 

• Katie Schrock; Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok 
• Katie Surrit; Instagram 

This podcast is produced by Emilee Cole of Western Insights Media. Shownotes written by Katie Schrock of Western Insights Media. 

Interested in having a topic explored? Shoot us or one of our co-hosts a direct message on any social media platform! We'd love to hear from you! You can reach That Western Life on Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram!

It's time for the start of Season 6 of the That Western Life podcast and we are excited to bring back your co-hosts Katie Schrock & Rachel Owens-Sarno. Season 6 will also include co-hosts Saddle Bronc Rider Joe Harper & Western Historian Katie Surritt. 

In this episode: 

• Breakdown of the State of the PRCA Address by CEO Tom Glause
  • Number of members, permits, rookies, rodeos, performances and payouts
  • July 2023 Ransomware attack on the PRCA
  • 54% growth in PRCA Sponsorship 
  • New Secretary System
  • Rookie Round Up + Rookie Media Training
• PRCA Media Awards
• Animal Welfare Update
• Reno Rodeo Sponsorship Camp
• UNLV Campus Shooting & Subsequent NFR & LVE Impacts
• 2023 NFR
  • 2023 World Champions
  • NFR Moments: Austrailian Rodeo Romeo Ky Hamilton
  • NFR Fan Experience & Impacts of Las Vegas' Formula 1 Race
• 2024 Predictions
  • Breakaway Roping
  • WPRA vs. Rodeo Committees
  • The peak of "Country is Cool" 
  • Teton Ridge "takes over the world" 
• Season 6: 
  • Educational Pieces
  • Upcoming Guests
  • Historical Deep Dives

Past That Western Life podcasts referenced in this episode for further information: 

• Understanding What It Takes To Qualify for the NFR
• Jeff Medders & Putting Cowboys on Prime TV
• Former PRCA Animal Welfare Director Cindy Schonholtz
• Rodeo Photography with Matt Cohen

This podcast episode is hosted by: 

• Katie Schrock; Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok 
• Rachel Owens-Sarno; Instagram
• Katie Surrit; Instagram 

This podcast is produced by Emilee Cole of Western Insights Media. Shownotes written by Katie Schrock of Western Insights Media. 

Interested in having a topic explored? Shoot us or one of our co-hosts a direct message on any social media platform! We'd love to hear from you! You can reach That Western Life on Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram!

If you know us, you know that we are obsessed with anything related to stats with rodeo and, thanks to the Facebook algorithm, we found a like-minded individual in Amber Case during the 2022 National Finals Rodeo. We dive into the statistics of racehorses barrel racing as a second career, the best stock in the barrel pens today, and some of the work it takes to be a producer.

Learn more at https://www.thatwesternlife.com/podcast/episode115.

Jona Robles didn't start in the horse world, in fact, he only got started with horses when he was trying to impress a girl. A former professional basketball player and walk-on kicker for the University of Oregon, Jona had his degree in psychology and thought he'd always use that degree. But his education, combined with his physical athleticism, made horses an exciting challenge and one that he started to find success in quickly.

Leaving his full time job at OHSU, Jona began training horses full time taking on any and all horses of whatever discipline, whatever issues, and more. As he honed his craft, he started to become known for his colt starting processes and started traveling as a clinician and instructor. 

Right when everything started to go right, however, Jona began to feel overwhelmed with burn out. Problem horses, surrounding yourself with the wrong people, and over working himself, he stepped away from horses. At the time, he didn't have plans to come back. 

Getting away, traveling the world, and taking care of his mental health, it only two weeks for his body to reset and the burn out to go away. He came back with a vengeance, a new program and boundaries to protect his mental health, and was caught off guard when he was accepted as a finalist in the Wild Card competition of the Road to the Horse colt starting challenge. 

Join us in this episode as Jona talks about his upbringing, getting into horses, the details of the Road to the Horse that both the public see and the behind the scenes that only competitors are privy too, how he handles his mental health as a horse trainer, and his preparations for the big contest in Kentucky where he'll compete against the biggest names in the country! 

Make sure to check out JR Horse Training on Facebook and Instagram. 

Follow the That Western Life podcast on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. 

It’s been a wild 2022 and we are so grateful for everyone that has joined our show as a guest, field reporter or an avid listener! Thank you to all of you and we look forward to an exciting 2023!

Join hosts Katie Schrock, Rachel Owens-Sarno and Joe Harper. 

Join us for the Recaps of Rounds 4 through 6 of the 2022 National Finals Rodeo with saddle bronc rider Joe Harper and co-hosts Rachel Owens-Sarno & Katie Schrock. We chat through each event, what we've liked, past trends and current trajectories and how ALL of it plays into the 2022 World Title Race!

Read more at https://www.thatwesternlife.com/podcast/episode112. 

Joe Harper & Katie Schrock break down the first two rounds of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada, and place their Round 3 predictions. When it comes to rodeo, Stetson Jorgensen is doing exactly what he said he would do: be consistent. Caleb Smidt is putting on a CLINIC despite the fact he only practiced once before the NFR. Additionally, Joe breaks down the bronc matchups we will see in Round 3.

Read more at https://www.thatwesternlife.com/podcast/episode111.

We don’t talk about Bruno?

You might not, but we definitely do here on the That Western Life podcast when it comes to first time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Kade Bruno.

Raised by a bull riding father, Kade switched to the sport of saddle bronc and it has paid off well for him. After an explosive 2022 season, Kade takes the time to talk with us on the show with his travel partner and TWL co-host, Joe Harper, about strategy, mentality and future plans.

Follow today's guest, Kade Bruno, on Facebook & Instagram. 

Follow That Western Life's co-hosts from today's episode here: 

Joe Harper: Facebook, Instagram

Katie Schrock: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, & TikTok

Heading towards his fourth consecutive National Finals Rodeo sitting number one in the world, Idaho’s own Stetson Jorgensen didn’t always steer wrestle.

In fact, he beat out fellow NFR bull riding qualifier Garrett Smith for the Idaho High School Rodeo bull riding title when they were first getting their careers started.

Mounted on the #3 Nutrena Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year Mable, we dive deep into Mable’s history, what makes steer wrestling horses, and NFR strategy for Stetson.

Follow That Western Life on Facebook & Instagram.

Show Host Katie Schrock (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, & TikTok) 

Guest: Stetson Jorgensen (Facebook & Instagram)

When it comes to making the National Finals Rodeo in December in Las Vegas, Nevada, there is a lot more strategy that goes into play than most people would ever realize - even those that may consider themselves high level rodeo fans.

Diving deep into the impacts of rodeo counts, rodeo rule changes, rodeo administration and more, saddle bronc rider Joe Harper and steer wrestler Cody Cabral share with us what it takes strategy wise to get down the road on the hunt for a gold buckle.

Follow today's hosts and the That Western Life podcast: 

That Western Life: Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. 

Katie Schrock: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, & TikTok.

Joe Harper: Facebook & Instagram

Cody Cabral: Facebook & Instagram