That Western Life

Latest Episodes:

That Western Life is BACK | A Season 7 Preview Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

That Western Life is back for Season 7.

After a few years away from the microphone, host Katie Schrock is bringing the podcast back with a renewed focus on the people, stories, and conversations shaping the modern western industry.

This season returns to the classic That Western Life format: 50% rodeo and 50% everything else that makes up the western way of life. That means agriculture, ranching, western business, fashion, policy, media, pop culture, sponsorship, careers, and the people building this industry from the inside.

In this Season 7 preview, Katie shares why the show is returning, what has changed in the western world, and what listeners can expect from upcoming conversations with rodeo voices, ag professionals, creative leaders, policy advocates, brand partners, and western industry builders.

The western industry is not just having a moment. It is entering a new era.

Welcome back to That Western Life.

Ep. 125 - Echoes of Rodeo: Great Whites, Great Cattle & Great Cowboys Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

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!

Ep. 124 - Welcome to Season 6: A recap of the 2023 season and a preview of 2024 Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

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:

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.

Ep. 123 - Injury Management & Prevention for Rodeo Athletes with Natasha McCann Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

There'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 more on the blog HERE.

Follow Natasha on Instagram.

Send us a message @ThatWesternLife on any social media platform and let us know who you want to hear on the That Western Life podcast.

Ep. 122 - Rookie Saddle Bronc Rider Q Taylor Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

Rookie Saddle Bronc Rider Q Taylor is on the hunt for his first National Finals Rodeo - no small feat for a first year professional rodeo cowboy! The 21 year-old Casper, Wyoming, native had a stellar permit year in 2022, and is one of the great young guns that the That Western Life podcast team is following through the 2023 season.

Currently sitting #2 in the Resistol Rookie Standings, Q dives into his upbringing, his rodeo strategy, and his hobbies/interests out side of the rodeo arena.

If you find this podcast episode interesting, you'll want to check out our podcast with TWL podcast co-host and PRCA Saddle Bronc Rider Joe Harper and PRCA Steer Wrestler Cody Cabral as they chat in episode 108 with host Katie Schrock regarding how a cowboy qualifies for the National Finals Rodeo. Listen HERE.

Ep. 121 - Wrangler Western's Vice President & General Manager Allen Montgomery Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

To 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, Allen Montgomery, 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 trends 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.

Don't forget to use code word "coconut" - all lowercase - on our official shownotes page HERE to get entered to win a FREE pair of Wrangler Jeans!

Make sure to follow the That Western Life podcast on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Pinterest.

Shop all things Wrangler at www.Wrangler.com.

Today's podcast is hosted by Katie Schrock & Rachel Owens-Sarno; podcast research by Katie Schrock & Rachel Owens-Sarno; podcast produced by Emilee Cole & Katie Schrock.

Ep 120 - **EXCLUSIVE** Road to the Horse Interview with JR Robles; Part II Apr 05, 2023

Show notes

EXCLUSIVE

As JR Robles entered Round 3 of Road to the Horse, the first time competitor wasn't showing any nerves. In fact, cool as a cucumber (on the outside), JR was sitting undefeated in any round he had competed in in the horse starting competition after winning every round and the Wild Card Competition months previously in Fort Worth, Texas, as well as the two rounds leading up to the finale at the Road to the Horse.

That was all about to change in the craziest way possible. Listen to the exclusive podcast interview with JR on what happened next in Kentucky and how that moment has changed his life in more ways than one!

In an amazing opportunity for the That Western Life podcast, we got the chance to sit down with our friend Jona "JR" Robles, a horse trainer out of Oregon, for a full-encompassed podcast interview about his unprecedented time competing in Kentucky at the Road to the Horse. After maintaining a strong lead, JR made the easy decision to place the horse first, stepping out of the competition and giving up $75,000 and one of the most elite titles in the world of horse trainers and clinicians.

Find JR Robles on Facebook and Instagram.

Follow the That Western Life podcast for more behind the scenes access to your favorite western industry professionals and influencers on Facebook and Instagram.

Ep. 119 - COWGIRL 30 Under 30 Girl Talk Key Note Speaker Kiah Twisselman Burhcett Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

This episode is brought to you by COWGIRL Magazine who will be celebrating their 2023 COWGIRL Magazine 30 Under 30 Honorees at the Gala at The Drover Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, this March. This amazing event is in it's fourth year with That Western Life podcast co-host Katie Schrock being a 2021 honoree.

This year, the COWGIRL 30 Under 30 events will host a breakout brunch session Saturday midday which will feature a female empowered panel including some of the biggest names in the western industry, as well as your keynote; Kiah Burchett Twisselman.

Learn more about the 2023 COWGIRL Magazine 30 Under 30 Event HERE.

Kiah 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!

Learn more about Kiah and her coaching program HERE.

Read the full show notes at www.thatwesternlife.com/podcast/episode119.

Show is produced by Emilee Cole.

Follow along with That Western Life on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok.

Follow along with today's hosts, Katie Schrock (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, & TikTok) and Rachel Owens-Sarno (Facebook, Instagram).

Ep. 118 - Breeding Barn Conversations with Rachel Pozzi Mar 05, 2023

Show notes

While 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!"

Make sure to follow Rachel Pozzi on Facebook & Instagram, as well as our podcast co-hosts Katie Schrock (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok) and Rachel Owens-Sarno (Facebook, Instagram).

Read more at the official show notes HERE and follow the podcast on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok.

Ep. 117 - Rebranding the American Cow Boy Feb 25, 2023

Show notes

When 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.

To precursor all of this, this is what we have deduced from our own research which includes books, professors, peer-reviews articles, essays, and more. It's a good variety, but under no circumstance do we consider ourselves experts or scratched the surface so that we can continue developing the true history. People have devoted their whole lives to this and we have devoted a very small time in reality. What we share today is what we know to be true. This is why we are arguing because we are interpreting historical facts.

Read the full show notes at https://www.ThatWesternLife.com/podcast/episode117.

Follow our podcast co-hosts Katie Schrock (Facebook, Instagram & Twitter) and Katie Surritt (Facebook & Instagram).

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