Stay ConnectedThe Converse Cowboy is a Podcast that focuses on mindset and mental health as it relates to performance and in life. This platform has given me the opportunity to sit down with some amazing people, to tease out their habits and routines so that you can apply and test in your own life. With a growth mindset, I am constantly asking questions and pursuing knowledge. The Converse Cowboy Show allows me to do just that.
I’m Mike Roberts and this is The Converse Cowboy.
Copyright: © The Converse Cowboy 2020
Two weeks before this conversation, I walked into Weatherford Equine Medical Center at 5 a.m. with a sick colt. Dr. Andrew Willis — board-certified equine internal medicine specialist — was on call. The outcome wasn't what anyone wanted, but it led to this episode, recorded so other horse owners don't have to learn the hard way.
Andrew didn't grow up around horses. A summer job weeding flower beds on an Oklahoma ranch at 14 turned into four years of working cattle, roping, and showing cutting horses. One afternoon in vet school, watching a mentor diagnose a horse just by looking at it, he knew exactly who he wanted to be.
In this episode, he explains:
Enjoy the show!
This episode is brought to you by Kimes Ranch, Bluebonnet Feeds and Kerry Kelley Bits and Spurs.
Clinton Anderson built an empire training horses — but in this clip, he reveals the real skill that made him rich: managing people, not animals. Nine years of therapy later, he's finally saying out loud what he was really thinking for two decades while smiling at customers and biting his tongue. In this episode, Clinton opens up about: 🔹 The "pool boy" era of his career — and why biting his tongue for 20 years nearly broke him 🔹 Why 80% of his customers are women, and what that taught him about who's actually willing to learn 🔹 The math behind Down Under Horsemanship: $40 from 10,000 people beats $200K from one — and why that's the real Walmart-vs-Mercedes lesson in business 🔹 Why he walked away from reining's "tribal, cutthroat" culture for the cow horse world — and what he found there instead 🔹 His theory on authenticity, dating, sales, and why trying to please everyone is the fastest way to fail 🔹 The most embarrassing 15 minutes of his career — 3,000 people about to walk through the door, and everything that could go wrong, did This is Clinton unfiltered — no polish, no PR, just three decades of hard-earned truth about horses, people, and building something real.
Enjoy the show!
This episode is brought to you by Kimes Ranch, Kerry Kelley Bits and Spurs and Bluebonnet Feeds.
P.S. 📩 Join the Stay Grateful newsletter at ConverseCowboy.com for more reflections and earned secrets.
He grew up eating squirrel and rabbit, didn't taste his first steak until he was 22, and was once told that betting his future on horses was the dumbest thing he'd ever do. He went anyway. Today, Michael Cooper is an NCHA Hall of Famer, with more than six and a half million in lifetime earnings, and he's become one of the most respected cutting horse trainers in the industry.
But this conversation is about far more than the wins. It's about the mindset, the mentors, and the hard-earned principles that built a champion, a businessman, and a family man who never forgot where he came from.
He explains: *Why your own adrenaline is the real reason you're losing, and how to slow it down when it matters most *The single piece of advice that turned horse winnings into lasting wealth *Why getting comfortable is the secret to winning at the highest level *The brutal honesty with yourself that separates champions from everyone else *What true success actually looks like once the money stops mattering
This episode is brought to you by Kerry Kelley Bits and Spurs, Kimes Ranch, and Bluebonnet Feeds.
Enjoy the show!
What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't your circumstances—but the story you keep telling yourself?
In a unique role reversal, The Converse Cowboy steps into the guest seat, interviewed my none other that the Louis Vuitton Vaquero himself, to unpack the ideas behind his new book, "Perspective Is a Verb". What starts as a conversation about writing a book quickly becomes a deeper exploration of mindset, resilience, gratitude, manifestation, and the power of intentional thinking. Mike shares the personal experiences that shaped his philosophy—from navigating divorce and rebuilding his identity to studying psychology, performance, and the habits that create a meaningful life. Along the way, he reveals the daily practices that transformed his perspective, why gratitude is more powerful than most people realize, and how the thoughts you repeat today quietly shape the life you experience tomorrow.
This episode is filled with practical wisdom, thought-provoking stories, lessons learned and earned secrets on overcoming adversity, cultivating awareness, and taking ownership of your future.
If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about your next step, this conversation might change the way you think about the challenges in front of you—and the opportunities hidden inside them.
This episode is brought to you by Kimes Ranch, Kerry Kelley Bits and Spurs, and Bluebonnet Feeds.
Enjoy the show!
The NCHA Super Stakes delivered unforgettable runs, breakout performances, and plenty of chaos inside the cowbox — I am joined by my good pal, 'The Louis Vuitton Vaquero' aka NCHA Hall of Famer, Jesse Lennox to break it all down.
From Kenny Platt's historic dominance in the 5/6 Open to Michael Cooper's clutch performances under pressure, this episode dives deep into the horses, the strategy, and the personalities shaping the future of cutting. Jesse gives a behind-the-scenes look at what really happens in the cowbox, how elite trainers read cattle, and why the next generation of riders like Cade Shepard, Colt Moore, Cooper Clark, and Ryan Rapp are changing the game. They also unpack the rise of Metallic Rey Mink offspring, the evolution of modern horse training, and the subtle details—like "watching a cow's nostril" — that separate great horsemen from everyone else.
Along the way, things go completely off the rails with harmonica stories, busking on the Granbury square, Backstreet Boys encounters, celebrity cuttings, and the ongoing rise of the legendary band "Low Expectations." This episode is equal parts cutting horse masterclass and locker room comedy—and one of the most entertaining recaps yet.
Enjoy the show!
This episode is brought to you by Kerry Kelley Bits and Spurs, Kimes Ranch and Bluebonnet Feeds.
Aaron Watson turned down Nashville at 22 — and spent the next 25 years proving he was right.
In this deeply honest conversation, Aaron opens up about building one of country music's most successful independent careers without compromising his identity, his songwriting, or his family. He shares the real cost of chasing music for a living, surviving two vocal cord surgeries that nearly ended his career, and why becoming a father changed the way he measures success forever.
This episode goes far beyond country music. It's about resilience, reinvention, creative obsession, faith, and learning what actually matters after decades in the spotlight. Aaron talks candidly about grief, losing a daughter, turning down opportunities most artists would kill for, and the dangerous freedom that comes when you stop caring about fame.
We also dive into songwriting, social media, legacy, independent artistry, and the mindset that's fueling what he believes may become the best chapter of his career.
In this episode of The Converse Cowboy, NFL veteran Davon Godchaux breaks down the uncomfortable truth behind success, discipline, and identity — after 10 years in a league where most careers barely last three. "You've got athletes… and then you've got professional athletes." From LSU to the NFL, Davon shares the small, unglamorous habits that define longevity — the things no one sees, but everyone feels on game day. But this isn't just about football. It's about what happens when the dream becomes reality… and still isn't enough. We talk about: • Why the little things are everything (and why most people avoid them) • The danger of tying your identity to what you do • What success really looks like beyond money and fame • How to handle adversity in a world that teaches you to quit "Money comes and goes… but relationships last forever." Because when the game ends — for all of us — what's left is who you became along the way. This episode is brought to you by Kimes Ranch, Bluebonnet Feeds and Kerry Kelley Bits and Spurs. Enjoy the show!
Most people don't accidentally find their calling. Scott Slusher did.
With no formal training, he borrowed a horse, a truck, and a saddle—and stepped into a world that would eventually define his life's work.
In this episode, we go beyond photography into purpose, identity, and the tension between making money and making a life. Scott shares why chasing fulfillment looks nothing like chasing success—and why uncertainty might be the clearest sign you're on the right path.
If you've ever questioned where you're headed, this conversation will stay with you.
This episode is brought to you by Kimes Ranch, Bluebonnet Feeds and Kerry Kelley Bits and Spurs.
Evan Felker of 'Turnpike Troubadours' has earned his reputation as one of the most respected songwriters in American music, but this conversation reveals what sits beneath the songs. Rather than focusing on highlights or history, this episode explores how great writing is built—through attention, discipline, and a deep respect for ordinary moments. Evan reflects on why the most lasting songs don't come from chasing significance, but from noticing what others overlook and shaping it with care.
Our discussion moves beyond songwriting into the larger work of living well. We discuss finding balance as a daily practice, intention as something that must be revisited constantly, and reflection as a discipline that keeps both the work and the person aligned. Whether describing his writing process, the value of being present, or why certain experiences quiet the noise of the world, his perspective is measured, thoughtful, and quietly compelling.
This episode isn't about image or mythology. It's about craft, clarity, and choosing a way of working—and living—that holds up over time. For anyone interested in meaningful work done with purpose, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.
Be sure to check out Turnpike Troubadours' latest record, "The Price of Admission": https://open.spotify.com/album/0lMU9le9QkLUKR0VFBwxSq
Sponsors:
Kimes Ranch: https://kimesranch.com
Bluebonnet Feeds: https://bluebonnetfeeds.com
Kerry Kelley Bits and Spurs: https://kerrykelleyspurs.com
Foundations of Greatness – Training Young Horses Roundtable with some of the best in the business. Dive deep into the world of starting cutting horse prospects with three of the industry's most respected horse trainers: Wes Ashlock (Abilene, TX), Richard Jordan (Idaho), Gregg Garvie (Canada). In this candid roundtable recorded live at the NCHA Futurity, Fort Worth, Texas, these unsung heroes of the cutting horse world pull back the curtain on the often-overlooked art of building foundations for future champions. From day-one colt starting and teaching horses to "reach for an answer," to sourcing yearlings, navigating sales pressure, and the emotional highs and lows of seeing "your" horse succeed under another trainer—these guys hold nothing back. With humor, humility, and hard-earned wisdom, they discuss:
*wildly different training styles that all produce winners *spotting "the freak" early (and knowing when greatness is already inside the horse) *evolving beliefs, favorite failures, and the worst advice they've ignored *the thrill (and terror) of million-dollar sales *why the best horses teach the trainer more than the other way around
Whether you're a trainer, breeder, owner, or just love great horses and real talk, this episode reminds us there's no single path to excellence—just relentless pursuit, gratitude, and a deep respect for the animal. Enjoy the show!
Brought to you by Kimes Ranch, Kerry Kelley Bits and Spurs, Bluebonnet Feeds, and Brumbaugh's Furniture and Design.
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