Ep. 84 - Western Sports Round-Up Producer Karlee Peterson

Karlee Peterson is the dynamic mastermind producer behind The Cowboy Channel - a streaming network dedicated to all things rodeo and the western life. But if you had asked Karlee before college what her career would be, she would have told you “International Lawyer.” Great mentors gave her the opportunity to dabble in television production and she was hooked; combine that with her South Dakotan roots of rodeo, training horses with her family and the western lifestyle, and it created the perfect dream career for her!

Ep. 81 - Team Roping Journal Assistant and Digital Editor Kaitlin Gustave

Kaitlin Gustave discovered her love of team roping at the age of sixteen and never looked back. The young roper, an editor in her own right, has competed at the college level in team roping and breakaway roping. After an internship with what was then known as Spin to Win Rodeo and is now known as The Team Roping Journal, she took a job with them and has never looked back!

A COWGIRL Magazine 30 Under 30 recipient, we are so excited to dive into who she thinks are the up and comers in the roping industry and who to watch for at the National Finals Rodeo!

Ep. 79 - Shaley Ham of West Desperado

Shaley Ham is a full time tax accountant from Washington, with a love for the western lifestyle who, after getting noticed for her western fashion posts, began to build her own western fashion marketing business. While most people recognize her by her Instagram and blog name, West Desperado, Shaley Ham is the curator, creative, oftentimes photographer, and more behind the brand. A member of the 2020, inaugural class of COWGIRL Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Class, we are so excited to bring you this episode from COWGIRL Magazine!

Ep. 78 - McFarland Production's Natalie McFarland presented by COWGIRL Magazine

Owner of McFarland Productions, Natalie McFarland was named to COWGIRL Magazine's inaugural 30 Under 30 class in 2020. A passionate advocate for all things agriculture, her company may be best known for it's video work but her entire team works hard to provide a one-stop shop for all things digital in the western world!

Ep. 76 - Keith Ryan Cartwright & The Untold History of the Black Cowboys of Rodeo

They ride horses, rope calves, buck broncos, ride and fight bulls, and even wrestle steers. They are Black cowboys, and the legacies of their pursuits intersect with those of America's struggle for racial equality, human rights, and social justice.
Keith Ryan Cartwright brings to life the stories of such pioneers as Cleo Hearn, the first Black cowboy to professionally rope in the Rodeo Cowboy Association; Myrtis Dightman, who became known as the Jackie Robinson of Rodeo after being the first Black cowboy to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo; and Tex Williams, the first Black cowboy to become a state high school rodeo champion in Texas.
Black Cowboys of Rodeo: Unsung Heroes from Harlem to Hollywood and the American West author Keith Ryan Cartwright talks about his unlikely career in the PBR from the world of entertainment to the production of this pivotal book. Black Cowboys of Rodeo is a collection of one hundred years of stories, told by these revolutionary Black pioneers themselves and set against the backdrop of Reconstruction, Jim Crow, segregation, the civil rights movement, and eventually the integration of a racially divided country.

Ep. 69 - Broadcasting & Barrel Racing with Janie Johnson

We’ve mentioned Janie Johnson on all three seasons of the That Western Life, which may come across a bit creepy, but just goes to show how big of a fans we all are from the podcast! Janie is fresh off of RFD-TV’s The American, a crazy week full of tailgate parties, performances and exciting story lines, so we were excited to chat with her more about all things pro rodeo!

Ep. 64 - Talking Careers, Dale Brisby, and Rodeo with Kadee Coffman Blair

Kadee Coffman Blair grew up on a cattle ranch in California with a passion for rodeo and showing horses. Those passions combined to take her on a ride of a lifetime as she became Miss Clovis Rodeo, Miss Rodeo Salinas and Miss Rodeo California!

Without missing a beat, she finished her education in double time, moved to Texas one decade ago exactly, and then continued to shape the face of rodeo broadcasting and western sports news coverage as a sideline reporter for some of the biggest rodeos, most notably the National Finals Rodeo, a co-host with Pam Minick for RFD-TV's Gentle Giants, a commentator for the Parade of Roses, and so much more!

Make sure to sit back and soak it all in as we talk careers, Kadee's advice for the next generation, the importance of mentors, and, of course, we had to ask her, "What's up with Dale Brisby?"

Ep. 61 - National Finals Rodeo 2020 Round 8 Recap

Welcome to Round 8 and CANADA night! This year, five Canadians qualified for the National Finals Rodeo with one bareback bronc rider, two team ropers, a saddle bronc rider and a steer wrestler.

Ep. 60 - National Finals Rodeo 2020 Round 7 Recap

Round 7 continues to ramp up the drama that we all anticipated as we head through the final rounds of the National Finals Rodeo! Join us daily on the podcast as we chat about the workbook and all things rodeo predictions this NFR!

Ep. 59 - National Finals Rodeo 2020 Round 6 Recap

Arlington, Texas (December 8, 2020) - Let’s be honest, the first five rounds of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo are always a hoot, but the second five rounds are more dramatic and intense this year than what you could EVER hope for as a content-starved rodeo fan! It’s also the time that we can start running our predictor stats and that’s something we love to do! You can do this as well if you jump onto our home page and download your very own updated copy of the NFR projected averages and subsequent projected world titles.

Ep. 58 - National Finals Rodeo 2020 Round 5 Recap

Arlington, Texas (December 8, 2020) - Welcome to the halfway point of the 2020 National Finals Rodeo. If you haven’t been paying attention as of yet, you’re going to want to from here on out! From a flat out HORSE RACE in the barrel racing between the number one and number two barrel racers to unpredicted outcomes looming on the horizon for tie down roping and bull riding - 2020 refuses to be considered normal!

Ep. 56 - National Finals Rodeo Pre-Show 2020

It’s been a crazy year for pro rodeo and, like most fans, we are so excited that the committees and associations were able to work together to produce the 2020 National Finals Rodeo. With that being said, things look a little bit different! A new state (Texas), a new arena (Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers MLB team), new faces and, as our co-hosts put it, “Some weird numbers” - the 2020 season is going to finish with a lot of excitement.

Breaking down all things NFR 2020 kick off is co-hosts Katie Schrock and Rachel Owens-Sarno!

Ep. 54 - Our FIRST Barrel Racing Guest - Jimmie Smith

She's the 2019 Texas Circuit Champion barrel racer and the 2018 WPRA Resistol Rookie of the Year, a Texas Cowgirl that has won A LOT of money on her special horse, "LenaOnTheRocks" or "Lena." Today's guest is Jimmie Smith whose illustrious rodeo career started long before the 2018 Rookie title… She's a three-time CPRA finalist, was the 2018 Puyallup PRCA Champion and placed third at the Ellensburg (Washington) rodeo.

Ep. 51 - Janzen Tew with Denim + Velvet Marketing & Design

Janzen Tew may be known for her Rodeo Vogue fashion page but she’s lived a multi-faceted, career driven life. The face and owner of Denim + Velvet Marketing, Janzen walks us through how she met her team roping professional cowboy husband (Cody Tew), her initial thought of being a dentist, and how everything changed the moment she picked up a camera!

Falling in love with photography, she worked for some of the biggest names in western retail and, taking those skills, she wanted to give boutiques the opportunity for next level marketing and product photography. Her team of amazing women provide just that as they book shoots, weddings, product shoots, lifestyle photography, marketing, websites, logos, designs and more!

Stay tuned for an education and inspiring podcast with none other than Janzen herself!

Ep. 48 - Brandi Buzzard; 2019 NCBA Advocate of the Year

Brandi Buzzard is one cool cowgirl, rancher, runner, and mother who is doing so much good for advocating the wetsern lifestyle. Brandi joins hosts Rachel & Katie as we chat about what it’s like to be one of the best in the business.

Named the 2019 National Cattlemen’s Beef Assocation’s Advocate of the year, Brandi has interviewed with MSNBC, Fox News, and her presence has been requested as a rural representative to chat with White House Senior Executives.

This former college rodeo athlete is a passionate breakaway roper and we chat about the future of the world of rodeo that her daughter will get to know!

Read more on the blog at www.ThatWesternLife.com/podcast/episode48.

Ep. 41 - March 2020 Rodeo Updates Part I

Join Katie Schrock, Katy Lucas and Rachel Owens-Sarno as they give you the first roundup for March 2020! There are a lot of big rodeos happening, a new partnership created for the PRCA, and a new opportunity for women in rodeo. Join us as we chat about all of this and, of course, the coronavirus.

Ep. 39 - Jeff Medders of Geronimo Productions

(February 11, 2020) - A Tulsa, Oklahoma, native, Jeff Medders may be most recognized by his unique western voice. Through his company, Geronimo Productions, he has brought to life the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at home for any one that is unable to attend the ten rounds of rodeo action in Las Vegas, Nevada. Working with the likes of Butch Knowles, Kadee Coffman, Luke Branquinho, Tuf Hedeman, Larry Mahan, and many other legends - it’s no wonder that his show Bullseye, feature on CBS Sports Network, is such a success! As a behind the scenes look at cowboy lifestyle and its unique history, hosts Katie and Rachel chat all things That Western Life in Episode 39!

Ep. 33 - NFR Round 10 Recap

December 14, 2019 (Las Vegas, Nevada) - Can it be true?! Is the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the Super Bowl of professional rodeo, officially over?? It is and boy have we got some exciting story lines for you! Make sure to listen to the podcast, you’ll catch insights from co-hosts Katie Schrock, Rachel Owens-Sarno and JJ Harrison who spent the past 10 days hosting Vegas’ LARGEST rodeo after party at the MGM Gold Buckle Zone!

Ep. 32 - NFR Round 9 Recap

December 13, 2019 (Las Vegas, Nevada) - With only one round remaining in the 2019 PRCA National Finals Rodeo, we have seen many story lines play out! Veterans have been successful but rookies have been more successful. Some have held absolute dominance and some results we will have to see what happens in Round 10! Be the first to know by listening to our podcast today and keeping up with all things rodeo and western lifestyle!

Ep. 31 - NFR Round 8 Recap

December 12, 2019 (Las Vegas, Nevada) - Welcome to the National Finals Rodeo Round 8 2019 recap! While some of the biggest names in rodeo, such as bull rider Sage Kimzey and barrel racer Hailey Kinsel are starting to stretch their lead in the projected world standings, team roping and tie down roping’s young guns are continuing to attack with deadly speed. Many of the world titles are up for grabs, you’ve just gotta grab them!

That Western Life Podcast