The That Western Life podcast is hosted by Katie Schrock, Rachel Owens-Sarno, Katie Surritt, and Joe Harper! Join us weekly for great conversations about rodeo and the western lifestyle.
Season 6 is gearing up for the Top 5 Rodeo Sports Podcast That Western Life with co-hosts Katie Schrock, Rachel Owens-Sarno, Katie Surritt, and Joe Harper. Join us as we recap the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo & Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Annual Convention and dive into our predictions for 2024 with a preview of the 2024 podcasting season.
Read MoreThere’s been a new movement in the past year regarding rodeo athletes placing an emphasis on athlete as a big part of their budding career success. Natasha McCann grew up an athlete before a major injury sidelined her from her collegiate dreams. A resilient young lady, Natasha became a buckaroo riding colts and then, on the side, got her EMT license and worked in an ambulance. Her passion for fitness and the western life led her to become a 2023 COWGIRL Magazine 30 Under 30 Recipient, as well as an athletic trainer for some of rodeos top athletes and a training coach with Champion Fitness Living.
Read MoreTo sit down with the iconic brand of Wrangler has been on our podcast bucket list for quite some time and we were fortunate enough to have the Vice President and General Manager of Wrangler Western Wear on the podcast for a unique insight into rodeo’s largest apparel brand. Not only do we discuss the history of Wrangler, who they build their products after, but also their upcoming tends with Yellowstone and Coconut Cowboys. Additionally, we talk to them about the marketing behind the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and what that week is like for them as a team to prepare for the biggest stage in the western world.
Read MoreWhen we first interview JR Robles after his amazing Wild Card Round win in Fort Worth for the Road to the Horse, we knew that we wanted to chat with him after his time in Kentucky. It seemed that JR was destined for greatness but the truth of that matter? None of us could have predicted what would happen next! While JR may not have won the entire event in Kentucky, he set the horse world on fire and put Road to the Horse back on the map in all of the best ways!
Read MoreKiah Twisselman Burchett is a sixth-generation rancher from San Luis Obispo, California, whose love for the beef industry took her to a job for the Beef! It’s What For Dinner team at the Kentucky Beef Council. There she was trained in media and the beef industry on a national and professional level - something that would come in handy when her entire life changed with just the shift of her mindset. From PEOPLE Magazine to The Kelly Clarkson Show to being the upcoming Keynote at the COWGIRL Magazine 30 Under 30’s first ever Girl Talk breakout session, Kiah is a positive light in the western industry helping people break toxic fad trends and changing their lives for the longterm and the better!
Read MoreWhile this title may allude to all things breeding barns on our current trend of breeding season and derby/futurity horse preparation, this episode is so much more than this. Co-Host Katie Schrock first met Rachel Pozzi through online Facebook Group resources regarding sprint horses, Appaloosa's, and rodeo horses.
Rachel jumps on the show with Katie and TWL co-host Rachel Owens-Sarno to chat all things breeding, how to manage it, tips for the industry, how to price your foals, and Rachel (Pozzi's) thoughts on improving the horse industry as a whole.
As Rachel Pozzi says, "Your kids are fine, but your egos might not be!"
Read MoreWhen it comes to the history of the American Cowboy, modern media has painted the picture to look one way when the reality shows that enslaved African Americans known as "Cow Boys" were truly the icons that changed the west, creating a unique equalizer post Emancipation Proclamation. Katie Surritt & Katie Schrock take a deep dive into the history of African American cow boys and the impacts they have had on the west, cattle drives, and rodeo as we know it.
Read MoreWhitley Sharp is the manager and a partner of Outback Stallion Station in Idaho where they specialize in some of the best rodeo producing stallions in the country. Whitley is an avid barrel racer herself and was, prior to that, in communications and marketing for the western industry so it was the perfect blend to have it all in one space. Adding an impressive roster of stallions, while also building up their own personal roping and barrel racing herds, Whitley and her husband, Jared, are putting their names on the map!
Read MoreIf 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.
Read MoreJona Robles is the face, the voice, and the brains behind JR Horse Training based out of Sherwood, Oregon. He specializes in the implementation of natural horsemanship in his horse training to cater a program to horses of a variety of disciplines. While we have a lot to talk about in regards to reining horses, colt starting and eventing horses - there is a lot that JR has done over the years in horse training.
Read MoreIt’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! We break down the 2022 NFR, the year end results, and some of our thoughts on predictions for rodeo and world title winners for 2023!
Read MoreJoe 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 MoreWe 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.
Read MoreHeading 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.
Read MoreWhen 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.
Read MoreThe Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund will always hold a special place in our hearts for its impact on the professionalism of pro rodeo, as well as the work Justin Boots does to take care of our contestants and athletes not only in the arena, but outside of the arena walls as well. We dive into the history of the JCCF, the brand that is Justin Boots, and the founding people of the Justin Sports Medicine Team. Additionally, we chat with Cowboy Romance Author Shanna Hatfield regarding her writing career and how a percentage of her book sale proceeds every October 1st through Christmas Eve goes directly to the JCCF.
Read MoreFor a special 100th episode of the podcast, we brought in two awesome individuals to “flip the script” to interview Katie & Rachel. Fans submitted questions throughout the weeks leading up to the recording of the episode and we recorded a nearly 90 minute, all-encompassing, great conversation!
A big shoutout to JJ Harrison who has joined us in every season for joining us on the podcast to help keep things exciting, full of laughs and a great time!
A big thank you to Scout Baker who jumped in with challenging task of moderating the entire episode and keeping us on task!
Read MoreThe impacts of the novel-coronavirus on rodeo committees and communities around the United States has been immense. We sat down at the start of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic to chat with Lakeside Rodeo of California's committee members about the painful conversation that took place to make the decision to postpone their event until 2021.
It's not the first time adversity has his this rodeo committee though - situated in the heart of San Diego, they have gone above and beyond to bridge the community gap between the urban and rural neighborhoods. They continue to work towards the 2021 event, as well as a few other smaller-scaled opportunities for their local rodeo community to stay involved and relevant during these times.
Join co-hosts Rachel Owens-Sarno and Katie Schrock as they dive deeper into the overreaching impacts of COVID-19.
Read MoreToday’s guest joined us at the start of the quarantine lockdown in March and we must have had some wicked good forecast to reach out to her about leadership, public speaking and being an advocate for ranching and rodeo. Sarah joins Katie Schrock and Rachel Owens-Sarno on the podcast!
Read MoreCo-hosts Katie Schrock and Rachel Owens-Sarno join the PBR’s up and comer star Ezekiel “Blue” Mitchell about all things PBR and bull riding on episode 42 of the That Western Life Podcast. A 22 year-old bull rider from Texas that, despite not coming from a rodeo family, made his dreams of being a professional bull riding a reality. We also chat about Ezekiel as The Bachelor and so much more!
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