121 episodes

True tales from the Old West! Gunfighters, outlaws, lawmen, frontiersmen, and Native Americans – the real people and events that shaped the American frontier.

The Wild West Extravaganza The Wild West Extravaganza

    • History
    • 4.8 • 408 Ratings

True tales from the Old West! Gunfighters, outlaws, lawmen, frontiersmen, and Native Americans – the real people and events that shaped the American frontier.

    John Colter | The First Mountain Man

    John Colter | The First Mountain Man

    Considered by many to be the first Mountain Man, John Colter first came west with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. When they head back to civilization, Colter instead chooses to stay behind. He’d live with the Crow tribe and go on to be the first American to cast eyes on the Teton Mountains, Colter’s Hell, and what’s now known as Yellowstone National Park. Later, as a fur trapper, Colter would survive numerous close calls with the Blackfeet. At one point, he’d be stripped naked and forced to run for his life. What was Colter’s early life like? Was he really a Ranger under Simon Kenton? And how would Colter finally die?
     
    Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/
     
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    Looking for the Lewis & Clark series? Start here -  https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-corps-of-discovery-part-1/
     
    Mountain Man: John Colter by David Marshall - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1682684423?ref=yb_qv_ov_prnt_dp_rw
     
    11 Bang Bang on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Real11BangBang
     
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    • 41 min
    Lewis & Clark | The Journey's End

    Lewis & Clark | The Journey's End

    Today, we’ll follow the Lewis and Clark Expedition as they return to civilization. We’ll also discuss the lives of a few key figures post-expedition. What ever happened to Sacagawea? What about her son, Pomp? How about George Drouillard? Finally, we’ll examine the mysterious death of Captain Meriwether Lewis.
     
    Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/
     
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    Part 1 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-corps-of-discovery-part-1/
     
    Part 2 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-sacagawea-daniel-boone-part-2/
     
    Part 3 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-shoshone-part-3/
     
    Part 4 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-york-fort-clatsop-part-4/
     
    Part 5 in the Lewis & Clark series -
     
    The Explorer’s Podcast Lewis & Clark Ep 8 - https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ADL4434397541
     
    Discover Lewis & Clark - https://lewis-clark.org/
     
    American History Tellers Lewis & Clark Pt 1 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ghh9ScQAN1zQAFi7HzrZd
     
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    • 30 min
    Lewis & Clark | The Blackfeet

    Lewis & Clark | The Blackfeet

    In July of 1806, Captain Meriwether Lewis and three of his companions had a violent confrontation with the Blackfeet, resulting in at least one dead warrior. This encounter would lead to strained relations between the United States and the Blackfeet Confederacy and result in decades of bloodshed. But is the official story – as told by the Corps of Discovery – truly what occurred? The Blackfeet don’t think so! Also discussed is the re-crossing of the Bitterroot Mountains, the splitting up of command, and the curious pronunciation of the Marias River. This is part 5 in the series on Lewis and Clark—links below for the previous four installments.
     
    Part 1 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-corps-of-discovery-part-1/
     
    Part 2 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-sacagawea-daniel-boone-part-2/

    Part 3 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-shoshone-part-3/

    Part 4 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-york-fort-clatsop-part-4/

    Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

    Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/

    Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest

    Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/

    Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/

    Merchandise! https://www.teepublic.com/user/wild-west-extravaganza

    Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

    Missouri River Outfitters - https://www.youtube.com/@TalesoftheTrailsPodcast

    Wild West Extravaganza Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra

    • 20 min
    Lewis & Clark | York & Fort Clatsop

    Lewis & Clark | York & Fort Clatsop

    Despite being a slave, York enjoyed unprecedented freedom during the Lewis and Clark expedition. Unfortunately, this would not last, and once back in Missouri, York returned to a life of bondage. Unlike the other men of the Corps of Discovery, York was not paid for his services, and William Clark refused to grant him his freedom. What was York’s ultimate fate? Are the rumors true of him returning west and living among the Crow? And what’s it like eating almost nothing but boiled elk meat for months at a time? Also discussed are the Corps of Discovery’s time at Fort Clatsop and their journey east back to the Nez Perce. 

    Part 1 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-corps-of-discovery-part-1/
     
    Part 2 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-sacagawea-daniel-boone-part-2/

    Part 3 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-shoshone-part-3/

    Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/
     
    Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/
     
    Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest
     
    Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/
     
    Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose - https://www.amazon.com/Undaunted-Courage-Meriwether-Jefferson-American/dp/0684826976
     
    Journals of Lewis & Clark - https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/
     
    York: Terra Incognita - https://www.lclark.edu/visit/features/york/

    Casual Criminalist - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCasualCriminalist

    The Shortest History of the Universe by David Baker - https://www.amazon.com/Shortest-History-World/dp/1760643610?ref_=ast_author_mpb

    The Shortest History of Sex by David Baker - https://www.amazon.com/Book-9781913083519-author/dp/1913083519/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

    Texas History Lessons | One Person’s Activist - https://www.texashistorylessons.com/one-persons-activist-is-another-persons-voice-part-1/

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    • 27 min
    Lewis & Clark | The Shoshone

    Lewis & Clark | The Shoshone

    In the spring of 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition departed from the Mandan and followed the Missouri River west into Montana. They would need to cross the Rocky Mountains before the snow began to fall, and to that, they would need to find the Shoshone. Also discussed are the hunting on the upper Missouri, the portage of the Great Falls, and a fortunate encounter with the Nez Perce. This is part 3 in the Lewis and Clark series; links below for the previous two installments.

    Part 1 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-corps-of-discovery-part-1/
     

    Part 2 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-sacagawea-daniel-boone-part-2/


    Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/
     

    Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/
     

    Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest
     

    Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/
     
     
    Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose - https://www.amazon.com/Undaunted-Courage-Meriwether-Jefferson-American/dp/0684826976
     

    Journals of Lewis & Clark - https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/
     

    Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/
     

    Merchandise! https://www.teepublic.com/user/wild-west-extravaganza
     

    Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

    • 41 min
    Lewis & Clark | Sacagawea & Daniel Boone

    Lewis & Clark | Sacagawea & Daniel Boone

    One aspect of the Lewis and Clark expedition that’s often overlooked is that much of their success hinged largely on the good graces of the various Indigenous people on whose land they were crossing. Today, as we follow the expedition up Missouri, we’ll take a look at several such encounters, first with the Oto and Missouri tribes, then Arikara, the Yankton, and finally a near-disastrous confrontation with the Lakota – one that had the potential to significantly alter history as we know it. We’ll also examine the Corp of Discovery’s time among the Mandan, a possible meeting with the legendary Daniel Boone, and introduce a young girl who turned out to be one of the most valuable members of the expedition – a teenage mother known as Sacagawea. By the way, how exactly is her name pronounced? And was she really Shoshone? This is PART 2 in a series on Lewis and Clark - link down below for PART 1! Part 1 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-corps-of-discovery-part-1/ Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/ Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/ Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/ Hugh Glass - https://www.wildwestextra.com/hugh-glass-frontiersman/ Jim Bridger | Ashley’s 100 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-ashleys-100/ Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose - https://www.amazon.com/Undaunted-Courage-Meriwether-Jefferson-American/dp/0684826976 Journals of Lewis & Clark - https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/ Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/ Merchandise! https://www.teepublic.com/user/wild-west-extravaganza Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

    • 47 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
408 Ratings

408 Ratings

jdjehdhxjeiwsdhejbdudhidkkd ,

Hero

This dudes a gd hero for the last 5 minutes of Claude dallas episode lol definitely subscribing! Quality content 10/10

Surfman406 ,

Great Podcast for Long drives!

I’m a truck driver and started listening to this podcast. I LOVE IT! Josh has an outstanding balance of storytelling and humor and has a knack for filling history's gaps with well thought out explanations. He never comes across as the authority of information and freely acknowledges when he is making reasonable inferences. Nice work Josh.

Ch2244 ,

One of the best

Great podcast! Josh is an amazing narrator. He also sounds a little like Danny McBride, which is a nice bonus. Love this podcast!

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