Episodes

  • Skeleton Cave Massacre (1872): Moral Injury, Asymmetrical Warfare, and the Perception of the Enemy

    Skeleton Cave Massacre (1872): Moral Injury, Asymmetrical Warfare, and the Perception of the Enemy
    May 3 2026
    Examine the 1872 Skeleton Cave Massacre in Arizona’s Salt River Canyon, where U.S. forces under Lt. Col. George Crook attacked Yavapai families sheltering in a cave, resulting in approximately 76 deaths, primarily women and children.
This episode analyzes the event through the lenses of moral injury to soldiers, the dynamics of asymmetrical warfare in rugged terrain, and how dehumanizing perceptions of the “enemy” enabled lethal force against non-combatants.
Essential listening for military historians, ethicists, psychologists, students of American history, and those exploring the psychological and ethical costs of frontier conflict.
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    4 mins
  • The Rock That Held: The Battle of Paint Rock and Frontier Resilience in Wild West History (1846)

    The Rock That Held: The Battle of Paint Rock and Frontier Resilience in Wild West History (1846)
    Apr 26 2026
    In this episode of the Wild West Podcast, a small force of Texas Rangers led by Jack Hays confronts a larger Comanche party at the 1846 Battle of Paint Rock, showcasing terrain, discipline, and cohesion in one of the era’s notable frontier engagements. We examine this real event from American frontier life within the context of Native American history in the West, Texas Ranger operations, and the challenges of pioneer experiences. More than a clash of arms, Paint Rock offers enduring insights into the human elements that defined Wild West history and Old West stories.
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    5 mins
  • Stagecoach Mary: The Woman Who Fought Wolves and Never Missed a Delivery

    Stagecoach Mary: The Woman Who Fought Wolves and Never Missed a Delivery
    Apr 19 2026
    Mary Fields—known as Stagecoach Mary—was one of the toughest figures of the American frontier, delivering mail across dangerous Montana terrain well into her sixties. Facing blizzards, bandits, and even wolves, she never missed a single delivery in eight years, earning a reputation built on relentless discipline and survival. Her story isn’t just about breaking barriers—it’s about ignoring them entirely and outperforming everyone in her path.
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    8 mins
  • The Jewish Governor of Acoma

    The Jewish Governor of Acoma
    Apr 15 2026
    3 mins
  • The “Baron of the Plains”: A German Aristocrat in the Wild West

    The “Baron of the Plains”: A German Aristocrat in the Wild West
    Aug 24 2025
    2 mins
  • Ned Christie’s Fight and British Press Coverage

    Ned Christie’s Fight and British Press Coverage
    Aug 10 2025
    2 mins
  • The bandit who wouldn’t give up

    The bandit who wouldn’t give up
    Aug 3 2025
    2 mins
  • THE STORY OF LONG HAIR JIM

    THE STORY OF LONG HAIR JIM
    Jul 27 2025
    9 mins