In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it.
So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our guests and the information they share are especially relevant to men and women in northern Arkansas, southern Missouri, eastern Oklahoma, and southeast Kansas.
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Ep. 247 - Brian Slane - The One Deer Feature BETTER than Rut Funnels, Rub Lines, and Bedding Areas
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 • Duration 01:00:17
"I don't leave my truck until daylight"
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Nested Treestands - The mobile stand setup for the modern hunter
Visit Eureka Springs - plan your next Ozark adventure this fall
We discuss rub lines, wind switches, rattling methods, and the most overlooked deer behavior pattern that Brian uses to predict (to the day) when he'll harvest his buck each year.
If you're looking for something different than the rise and grind / walking in the dark method, you've come to the right place.
This is the most unique Ozark deer hunting episode we've ever released.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon: The Holler
→ Receive monthly stories from our Newsletter
0:00 — Predicting the Day
12:00 — Developing a Deer Hunter System
16:30 — Rattling
26:30 — Rub Lines (and vortex)
49:00 — Cameras and stand Placement
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
Ep. 246 - Larry Dablemont - Stories from the Old Timers of the Big Piney River
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 • Duration 47:58
"He hid in a cave for 8 months, stole bread to survive, and paid for it with mink furs"
Together with...
Visit Eureka Springs - plan your next Ozark adventure this fall
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Nested Treestands - The mobile stand setup for the modern hunter
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
Larry sits down to share the men who shaped him: a grandfather who set a St. Louis fur record in 1927, never believed in electricity, and taught Larry everything a wildlife degree couldn’t.
You’ll hear about running a pool hall at 13, guiding float trips at 12 for 50 cents an hour, selling D-graded college essays to national magazines for $35, and discovering a previously uncatalogued species of deer mouse in an Ozark cave.
This is the Ozarks through the eyes of someone who actually lived it.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon: The Holler
→ Receive monthly stories from our Newsletter
0:00 – Larry Dablemont Round Two
2:00 – The story of Fred Dablemont
15:00 – Larry's childhood
19:00 – Writing for an Outdoor Magazine at 19
25:00 – Deer Mouse Never Before Found in Missouri
31:00 – An 8,000-Year-Old Mastodon Tusk
38:00 – The Journalism Teacher Who Gave Him D’s
43:00 – What Keeps the Ozarks in Your Blood: Larry’s Answer
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
Ep. 245 - The Old Ozarks - The Boy That Knowed the Yiddish Curver (S2:E7)
Friday, October 16, 2026 • Duration 20:04
Welcome to the Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...
This week, it’s October, which means it’s baseball month on The Old Ozarks — a mystery box of Reggie bars in rural Arkansas leads us from one bragging Hall of Famer’s “pinto bean English” to a forgotten pitcher who inspired a Martin Scorsese classic.
We’ll start with Ouachita Mountains native Dizzy Dean, whose swagger on the mound was matched only by his butchering of the English language in the radio booth — “throwed,” “swang,” “slud,” and a whole dialect of nonstandard preterites rooted deep in Ozark and Southern speech, controversial enough to draw a Federal Communications Commission complaint (real or hoaxed, nobody’s quite sure).
Then it’s on to the long sweetenin’: the unlikely chain connecting Scorsese’s Gangs of New York to Farmington, Missouri, by way of Jewish major-league pitcher Barney “the Yiddish Curver” Pelty and the star-struck local boy, Herbert Asbury, who idolized him at the hometown bookstore and grew up to write the book the movie was based on — stirring up a censorship scandal with H.L. Mencken along the way.
It’s a story of candy bars, curveballs, and small-town Ozark boys who found their way to the big leagues and the big screen.
What is The Old Ozarks?
The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins (the leading authority on the region’s history), this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region.
Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
Ep. 244 - Larry Dablemont - The History of the Jonboat: Built for the Ozark Way of Life
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 • Duration 52:20
The Ozark jonboat wasn’t just a vessel, it was a way of life, and one man’s family built them from scratch.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Receive monthly stories from our Newsletter
Larry Dablemont, author of 14 books on Ozark life and a lifelong river man, sits down at his Lightning Ridge home to trace the full history of the Ozark jonboat from his grandfather finding a wrecked boat in a drift in 1914 and teaching himself to build one, to Hollywood celebrities floating the White River on multi-day guided trips, to the slow disappearance of the rivers themselves.
Larry walks through the anatomy of a real wooden jonboat using a model his family built, explains why the Ozarks produced a style of boat found nowhere else, and tells you exactly where to find the closest thing to one today.
If you’ve ever floated an Ozark river and felt something ancient about it, this is the episode that explains why.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – Welcome to Lightning Ridge
4:00 – How the Ozark Jonboat Was Born
8:00 – The Current and White Rivers
13:00 – Why Ozark Rivers Are Losing Water
22:00 – The Anatomy of a Wooden Jonboat
30:00 – Why Slower Is Always Better on the River
36:00 – The First Metal Jonboat
43:00 – How to Build Your Own Authentic Ozark Jonboat
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
Ep. 243 - Joe Massey - Black Bear Stories, Part 2: The Side of Hunting Nobody Talks About
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 • Duration 35:42
Hunting is emotional.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Receive monthly stories from our Newsletter
After 30 days of baiting, $1,000+ in food, and a week off work — Joe Massey drew back on a shooter bear at 17 yards and made a bad shot.
This episode doesn't end with a grip and grin. It ends with something rarer in outdoor media: honesty. Joe walks through the shot, the search, the rain that washed away the blood trail, and the emotional weight of wounding an animal you've spent months pursuing and genuinely love.
It's a conversation about the heartbreak side of hunting that most people never show. This is the episode you share with someone who doesn't understand why hunters feel what they feel.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – A Shooter Bear Appears
4:00 – No Blood, No Arrow, and Rain All Night
10:00 – The Honest Conversation
16:00 – The Weight of Taking a Life
20:00 – The Paradox: Why Hunters Love the Animals They Pursue
29:00 – Wendell Berry's "For the Hog Killing"
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
Ep. 242 - The Old Ozarks - Willie French Goes a-Hunting (S2:E6)
Friday, October 2, 2026 • Duration 20:56
Welcome to the Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...
This week, we're a-huntin' and a-fishin' through the diary of a Shannon County farm boy who came of age just as the Ozarks' wildlife paradise was slipping away.
We'll start with "a-prefixing," that old Ozark and Appalachian habit of putting an "a" on the front of a verb — straight out of 18th-century English nursery rhymes like "A-Hunting We Will Go" and "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and still alive in hollers today.
Then it's on to the long sweetenin', the teenage hunting diary of Willie French, who logged every possum, muskrat, and rabbit he and his brothers brought home around 1907.
We'll trace the boom-and-bust story of Ozark wildlife from Daniel Boone's sons hauling out a thousand beaver pelts, to Zebulon Pike's men dropping 32 deer in a week, to the lean, small-game-only woods Willie actually grew up hunting — a hunter's paradise that had already vanished a century before he ever picked up a .22.
It's a story of market hunters, deer hunting fever, and a long road back to the restocked elk and turkey of today's region.
Let's dive into this episode of The Old Ozarks...
What is The Old Ozarks?
The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins (the leading authority on the region’s history), this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region.
Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
Ep. 241 - Joe Massey - Black Bear Stories, Part 1: 30-Day Bait Pile and Passing On a Third Bear
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • Duration 44:39
500 pounds of bait, 30 days of sweat equity, one week off work, and a shooter bear at full draw...
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get show notes and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Our good buddy Joe Massey is here to pull the curtain back on his 30-day Ozark black bear bait hunt. Joe breaks down every dollar spent, every Friday afternoon in the summer heat filling barrels, and every bear that showed up on camera.
If you've ever thought about hunting Ozark black bears, this is the episode that tells you everything you actually need to know before you spend a pretty penny.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – Welcome back Joe Massey
6:30 – The Real Cost of Bear Baiting: Food, Fuel, & Time Breakdown
20:00 – Seeing Bears on Camera
25:00 – Opening Day
32:00 – Face to face with a Black Bear
37:00 – Day 2
40:00 – To Be Continued...
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
Ep. 240 - Logan Huff & Morgan Guss - The Ozarks' Best Kept Secret is On the White River EVERY Fall
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • Duration 59:34
Fall on the White River is the BEST time to catch a certain TROPHY fish.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get show notes and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Morgan Guss and Logan Huff of Diamond State Fly Co. join the Kyles live from Cotter, Arkansas for a full breakdown of what fall fly fishing on the White River actually looks like — lower flows, more user-friendly tactics, gorgeous foliage, and rainbows that are noticeably bigger thanks to the new regulations.
Whether you've never held a fly rod or you're ready to level up your streamer game, Morgan and Logan lay out exactly what to throw, where to find fish, and how to read the river when the water changes from 700 to 20,000 CFS in a single afternoon.
This one doubles as a trip-planning episode: covering Ember Shoals Resort, the F3T Film Tour in October, and the Streamer Love Fest Fly Battle in January.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – Welcome from Ember Shoals in Cotter, Arkansas
4:00 – Diamond State Fly Co.: How They're Breaking the Fly Shop Stigma
13:00 – Fall Fly Fishing on the White River
17:00 – Nymphing, Hopper Dropper & Fall Streamer Tactics
22:00 – How to Read High Water on the White Like a Guide
34:00 – Flies That Actually Work
42:00 – Are the New White River Regs Working?
47:00 – Upcoming Events:
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
Ep. 239 - The Old Ozarks - The Sweet Sounds of Big Sugar Creek (S2:E5)
Friday, September 18, 2026 • Duration 20:11
Welcome to the Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins...
This week, we're boiling down sap and tuning up the shape notes — from the vanishing rituals of Ozark sugar camps to the banks of Big Sugar Creek, birthplace of one of gospel music's biggest names.
We'll start with the sweet, half-forgotten world of sugarin' off time: granny gourds, alder spiles, kittles of boiling sap, and the snow-day treat known as a waxin', plus a tour of the sugar-flavored place names still dotting the map.
Then it's on to the long sweetenin', the life of Albert E. Brumley — sharecropper's son turned shape-note prodigy under mentor Eugene Bartlett, Hartford Music Company songwriter, and eventual owner of Powell, Missouri's own gospel publishing empire.
We'll trace hits like "Turn Your Radio On" and "Jesus Hold My Hand," and dig into the surprising, decades-long journey of his most famous song of all, "I'll Fly Away" — from a cotton field daydream to one of the most recorded songs in American history, claimed by gospel, country, and just about everybody in between.
It's a story of how a little creek in southwestern Missouri became the symbolic heart of Southern gospel music.
Let's dive into this episode of The Old Ozarks...
What is The Old Ozarks?
The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins (the leading authority on the region’s history), this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region.
Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
Ep. 238 - Ryan Walker - 40 Years on the James River: "We're Losing Smallmouth"
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • Duration 30:53
Data could change how Missouri manages its best smallmouth creeks.
→ Join other Ozarkers in our Patreon - The Holler
→ Get show notes and stories in our NEWSLETTER
Ryan Walker is back for part two, and this time the conversation goes deep on conservation. For five years Ryan has been quietly logging every fish, every location, every date, building a citizen science dataset compelling enough to bring before Missouri's regs committee.
He breaks down why current limits are too loose, why the spawn closure Missouri implemented is brilliant, and what he'd change tomorrow if given the keys to MDC.
Whether you're 22 or 52, if you love these Ozark rivers, you need to understand what's at stake — and what one person with a notebook can actually do about it.
Together with...
Vortex Optics - Industry leader in scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars
Poncho Outdoors - Outfitting the modern outdoorsman (claim $10 off)
Ember Shoals Outdoor Resort - Just steps from World-Class Trout Waters
0:00 – 40 Years on the James River
5:00 – The Role of James River Basin Partnership
7:00 – Are Ozark Smallmouth Populations Actually Declining?
8:30 – What Citizen Science Actually Looks Like
13:00 – Why Ryan Hates Missouri's Current Smallmouth Regulations
16:00 – How to Approach MDC with Data
21:00 – The Keys to MDC Reg Changes
24:00 – Stream bank restoration
What is The Ozark Podcast?
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.
Our hosts are Kyle Veit and Kyle Plunkett, and our producer is Daniel Matthews
Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by JD Clayton
Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook @theozarkpodcast
PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: theozarkpodcast@gmail.com
