Beyond the Chutes

From the dirt of Lexington, Kentucky at the Alltech Arena, this episode of Beyond the Chutes brings you inside the moment—right after the win. We talk with Tilden Hooper, Dawson Hay, Jayden Roy, Austin Stewart, Brandon Edwards, and Lane Peterson following their performances at The American Eastern Regional Finals. With $10,000 on the line and everything pointing toward Arlington, Texas, these rides mean more than just a paycheck—they’re a shot at advancing to Globe Life Field and competing for a record $2 million. You’ll hear how the rides came together, the horses that made the difference, and the mindset it takes when the stakes are this high. This is rodeo at its sharpest—preparation meets opportunity, and the margin is razor thin. Short. Real. Right from the arena floor. And it’s all heading to Arlington, TX… The American Rodeo Championship Weekend, May 22–23 at Globe Life Field. One step closer. #BeyondTheChutes #TheAmericanRodeo #SaddleBronc #TildenHooper #DawsonHay #JaydenRoy #AustinStewart #BrandonEdwards #LanePeterson #RodeoLife #WesternSports #GlobeLifeField #RoadToArlington #ProRodeo #CowboyUp #RodeoPodcast #EightSeconds #RodeoStories #AmericanRodeo #KentuckyHorsePark

1985 IPRA World Champion Kenny Phillips shares his journey from rodeo glory to emergency room doctor… In the fall of 1986, Kenny Phillips broke his neck… and somehow, that was only part of the story. Recorded at Mike Swearingen’s Rodeo Reunion in Wyoming, New York, this episode of Beyond the Chutes brings you a powerful conversation with IPRA World Champion bareback rider Kenny Phillips—a man whose life has been shaped by grit, faith, family, and the cowboy way. From growing up in a rodeo family in the Northeast… To Wednesday night buckouts and learning the hard way… To qualifying for the IFR, winning the 1985 IPRA World Championship, and hitting the road out West… Kenny lived it. Then came the wreck. A broken neck in Arizona. A long recovery. And a decision that would change everything. Kenny didn’t just come back—he rebuilt. Today, he’s a board-certified emergency room doctor, carrying the lessons of the arena into a life of service. This episode is about more than rodeo. It’s about resilience… second chances… and the kind of people who shape you along the way. You’ll hear stories of the Phillips family legacy, the influence of great cowboys, and the next generation—Daylon and Colton—carrying it forward. And through it all, one truth stands out: 👉 These stories matter. If you’ve ever been part of rodeo… or just admire the mindset it takes to keep getting back up… this one’s for you. #BeyondTheChutes #RodeoPodcast #KennyPhillips #IPRA #BarebackRiding #RodeoLife #CowboyWay #WesternHeritage #RodeoStories #IFR #RodeoFamily #CowboyUp #WesternLifestyle #RodeoHistory #FaithFamilyRodeo #EmergencyMedicine #ComebackStory #CowboyStrong #ShareTheStories #KeepTheStoriesAlive

Recorded live at Mike Swearingen’s Rodeo Reunion in Wyoming, New York, this episode of Beyond the Chutes features one of the most recognizable names in Northeast rodeo—Jimmy Grasso. A Jersey-born cowboy who didn’t climb on his first bronc until his late 20s, Jimmy built a career defined by grit, consistency, and one simple rule: show up. Whether it was a small-town rodeo or a major event, if there was a bronc to ride, Jimmy was there—often flying himself in to make it happen. From wrestling and football roots… to learning the hard way in the arena… to qualifying 16 times for the Dodge National Circuit Finals in Pocatello, Idaho, Jimmy’s story is one of determination, hustle, and a love for rodeo that never quit. We talk about the Northeast rodeo scene, Cowtown Rodeo, traveling the road, friendships that lasted decades, and what it really takes to stay in the game. This is a story about heart, work ethic, and proving that where you start doesn’t matter nearly as much as how often you show up. #BeyondTheChutes #RodeoPodcast #JimmyGrasso #SaddleBronc #CowboyLife #RodeoHistory #CircuitFinals #PRCA #CowtownRodeo #NortheastRodeo #RodeoFamily #BroncRiding #WesternHeritage #PodcastLife

Recorded live at the Kickback Ranch Rodeo Reunion in Ramer, Alabama, this episode of Beyond the Chutes features lifelong cowboy Bruce Brannen. Bruce takes us from his first rodeo as a 9-year-old at the Montgomery Coliseum, to years of calf roping, college rodeo at Sam Houston State, and a 33-year career teaching art and drafting. Along the way, he shares how trick roping unexpectedly changed his life, opened new doors in performance, and connected him to legends like George Taylor and Monte Montana Jr. It’s a conversation full of grit, humor, poetry, cowboy history, and the kind of stories that only come from a life spent in and around rodeo. If you enjoy rodeo roots, old-school cowboy wisdom, and the people who helped shape the culture, this one’s worth your time. #BeyondTheChutes

At the Mountain Cove Rodeo Reunion in North Georgia, you never know who you’re going to meet. In this episode of Beyond the Chutes, hosts Doug Simcox and Sam Swearingen sit down with comedian and impersonator Mark Staggs, a performer whose voice work can instantly transport you from the rodeo arena to the streets of Dodge City. Mark brings the legendary Festus from Gunsmoke back to life in a hilarious conversation filled with classic Western humor and stories from the stage. Along the way he shares how he first discovered his gift for impersonations, the unexpected moment he met the real Festus as a young Marine in Arizona, and how that encounter helped shape a career that now includes more than 70 character voices. You’ll also hear Mark slip effortlessly into impressions of John Wayne, Liam Neeson, Christopher Walken, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro, along with the comedy routines that keep crowds laughing at rodeos, fairs, chuckwagon gatherings, and Western events across the country. Mark also talks about his years serving as a NASCAR chaplain, his life performing in places like Pigeon Forge, and why making people laugh is a gift he believes was meant to be shared. Recorded live during the Mountain Cove Rodeo Reunion, this episode is a reminder that rodeo isn’t just about what happens in the arena — it’s about the characters, stories, and laughter that travel the rodeo road. Learn more about Mark Staggs at: markstaggs.com #BeyondTheChutes #Rodeo #MountainCoveRodeo #Festus #Gunsmoke #MarkStaggs #WesternComedy #RodeoPodcast #CowboyStories #WesternHeritage #RodeoReunion #CowboyCulture

Two Mountain Cove Rodeo Reunion Legends share the miles, the moments, and the brotherhood built on the road between rodeos. Recorded last fall at the historic and legendary Mountain Cove Rodeo Reunion, organized by Marlon Harris, Sam Swearingen and Doug Simcox sat down with Mountain Cove Rodeo Reunion Legends Award winners Adam Wood and Kevin Ellis. These two cowboys spent years running the Southeastern rodeo circuit—riding bulls, fighting bulls, chasing two rodeos in a day, and learning the hard lessons that only come from life in the arena and miles on the highway. In this conversation, Adam and Kevin share how they got started, the mentors who shaped them, the practice pens and small-town rodeos that built their careers, and the friendships that lasted long after the bucking chutes closed. From Alligator Alley runs between rodeos… to the legendary bull riding at Kissimmee and Okeechobee… to the moment Kevin discovered he was meant to fight bulls, this episode captures the grit, humor, and brotherhood that defined a generation of Southeastern rodeo cowboys. Because in rodeo, the trophies fade—but the road stories never do. #BeyondTheChutes #Rodeo #BullRiding #BullFighting #RodeoLegends #MountainCove #MountainCoveRodeo #RodeoReunion #CowboyStories #RodeoLife #RodeoHistory #SoutheastRodeo #CowboyLife #WesternHeritage #RodeoPodcast #InOurRoots

“People don’t realize it, but a rodeo family is totally different than anything else.” This episode of Beyond the Chutes takes you to Mountain Cove Farms in North Georgia for Reunion XI—a gathering where the mountains wrap around you like a horseshoe and the rodeo roots run deep. Doug and Sam are back together on location at the Show Barn, catching up on the road, the season, and why places like this still matter. You’ll hear from Marlon Harris, the heart and organizer behind Mountain Cove, as the reunion continues in a year marked by both celebration and remembrance. Bill Harris serves as MC for the Legends Awards, honoring the people who built the sport and the community—those in the arena, behind the chutes, and in the background keeping traditions alive. And you’ll meet Rusty Hayes—local legend, Legends Award recipient, and the man known as “Rescue Rusty”—with stories that prove what rodeo family really means: showing up, helping out, and doing it with respect. From prayers and the pledge, to the National Anthem, to laughter in the Liar’s Cabin—this one is about heritage, tradition, and real people. Beyond the Chutes — from the road, from the arena, from the people who live this life. These stories matter. #BeyondTheChutes #MountainCove #MountainCoveReunion #RodeoReunion #RodeoFamily #RodeoLife #RodeoRoots #CowboyTradition #LegendsAward #RodeoHistory #NorthGeorgia #ChickamaugaGA #WesternHeritage #CowboyCulture #LiarCabin #RescueRusty #MarlonHarris #BillHarris #IPRA #PRCA

From a small-town kid in Greencastle, Pennsylvania… to Major League Baseball clubhouses with Ted Williams… to rodeo arenas across America with the Justin Sports Medicine team — Bill Zeigler has lived a life most of us only read about. In this episode of Beyond the Chutes, presented by ParaSight Systems, Bill shares how a handwritten letter and a little help from Nelly Fox led him to the Washington Senators and 22 years in Major League Baseball. He talks about working alongside larger-than-life figures like Ted Williams, Nolan Ryan, and George Bush — and then stepping into the rodeo world at a time when cowboys had little to no medical support on the road. You’ll hear the story behind the early days of the Justin Sports Medicine program, the resistance they faced, and how the mindset of rodeo athletes changed as concussion protocols and injury care evolved. Bill reflects on legends like Keith Isley, Lecile Harris, Harry Vold, and Red Steagall — and why, after all these miles, what he misses most is the people. This is a conversation about toughness, timing, relationships, and recognizing when you’re standing in a blessed moment. These stories matter.

Phil Broome grew up in northwest Georgia with a wrestling coach who taught him one thing: “This is your Opportunity Period.” That mindset carried him from high school state championships to the bareback riding chutes — but the road wasn’t straight, and it wasn’t easy. In this episode of Beyond the Chutes, Doug Simcox and Sam Swearingen sit down with Phil to talk about: • Winning a Georgia state wrestling championship in 1981 • Learning bareback riding the hard way at open rodeos across the Southeast • The influence of mentors like Lyle Sankey and John Luthi • The technical rebuild that changed his riding career • Making the leap to rodeo full time in his 30s • Competing in the PRCA and qualifying for multiple circuit finals • Major injuries, including shoulder surgery and the wreck that ended his career • And the brotherhood that helped fill the gap after losing his younger brother in 1986 Phil doesn’t present himself as a legend. He presents himself as a competitor who loved the sport, learned from mistakes, and kept showing up. This episode is about mindset, persistence, grief, growth, and the relationships that make rodeo more than a paycheck. Because in the end, it isn’t just about buckles. It’s about the people you share the road with. This is Beyond the Chutes, presented by ParaSight System. #BeyondTheChutes #PhilBroome #BarebackRiding #RodeoLife #PRCA #IPRA #WrestlingMindset #CowboyBrotherhood #RodeoHistory #CircuitFinals #InOurRoots

BTC is on the road at the First Frontier Circuit Finals in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, sitting down with Larry Frost — a rodeo producer from Levant, Maine whose story proves rodeo doesn’t always start with a business plan. It starts with a dream, a family willing to do the work, and a commitment to community. In this Friday night bonus episode, Larry shares how a phone call turned into a charity rodeo that feeds cowboys lobster and steak, supports causes like Shriners and Make-A-Wish, and brings people together rain or shine. You’ll hear about perseverance, small-town rodeo roots, and why memories — not money — are the real payoff. Recorded live at the First Frontier Circuit Finals. Unscripted. Honest. Full of heart. Beyond the Chutes — because these stories matter. #BeyondTheChutes #RodeoPodcast #FirstFrontierCircuit #FFCF #RodeoLife #RodeoHistory #RodeoCommunity #WesternLifestyle #SmallTownRodeo #CharityRodeo #RodeoProducers #BehindTheScenesRodeo #TheseStoriesMatter

Recorded on the Texas Swing, host Doug Simcox steps inside The Buckhorn—Kelly Clark’s one-of-a-kind “man cave” that turned into a full-blown rodeo museum. Walls covered in championship saddles, a U.S. map marked with the places Kelly’s competed, and artifacts that stretch back to the early days of organized rodeo… it’s overwhelming in the best way. In this first conversation with Kelly, we start at the beginning: the Clark family story, the 1955 moment that lit the fuse, and the grit it took to build a life in rodeo. Kelly shares the remarkable legacy of his dad, John Clark—an IRA great with the Hall of Fame résumé—and the reality behind chasing world titles when rodeo isn’t a hobby… it’s a lifestyle. You’ll also hear Kelly’s perspective as a true rodeo historian: how the IRA/IPRA evolved, why “cards in your pocket” never mattered as much as talent, and how rodeo got better (and why it still needs people who care enough to leave it better than they found it). And then—right at the end—Kelly lands an unforgettable story that ties champions, family, and legacy into one word Doug can’t help but say out loud: “Wow.” 📍 Bonus: You can see The Buckhorn in our Buckhorn Reels on the Behind the Chutes Facebook page. #BeyondTheChutes #BehindTheChutes #KellyClark #TheBuckhorn #RodeoHistory #RodeoLife #BullRiding #TexasSwing #RodeoPodcast #WesternHeritage #CowboyCulture #ProRodeo #IPRA #IRA #IFR #RodeoNews #JohnClark #HallOfFame #BuckingBulls #CowboyStories #RodeoLegacy #RanchLife #Chute2Productions #StockContractor #WesternLifestyle #CowboyUp #AmericanWest #RodeoFamily #BehindTheScenesRodeo

BTC On the Road Again This Bonus Episode of Beyond the Chutes was recorded on the road at the First Frontier Circuit Finals, inside the Penn Harris Hotel, while the competition was still unfolding. Sam Swearingen and Doug Simcox sit down with Raymond Hostetler and Tyler Waltz in the middle of the Finals, with rounds already completed and one more to go. The conversation captures real-time decision-making, Finals pressure, injuries, fitness, equipment changes, and what it takes to stay competitive in roughstock rodeo. After this conversation was recorded, Raymond Hostetler went on to win two rounds, the average, and the year-ending saddle bronc riding championship at the First Frontier Circuit Finals — a result that underscored everything discussed in this episode: preparation, patience, and trusting the process. There’s no polish and no hindsight here — just rodeo, recorded as it happened. BTC was on the road again, capturing the stories that matter, right where rodeo happens. 🎙️ This is Beyond the Chutes.

Rodeo is won long before the gate opens. Recorded at the First Frontier Circuit Finals, this episode of Beyond the Chutes dives deep into the mental side of competition with bareback rider Tyler, saddle bronc rider Raymond, and rodeo cowboy, stock contractor, mentor and coach, Sam Swearingen. This conversation is part of our Quiet Enough to Ride series—where we explore why elite competitors agree that rodeo is 90% mental at the highest level. Inside this episode: Why visualization works (and how it replaces bad reps)The difference between conscious thought and flow state“See it. Feel it. Trust it.” — and why it mattersHow purpose (“your why”) fuels longevity in rodeoWhy “just making the finals” is a losing goalHow mental reps fire the same muscles as physical repsBuilding confidence without egoFixing mistakes without stepping into the practice penIf you’ve ever wondered why some competitors shine under pressure while others fade, this episode explains it—clearly, honestly, and from lived experience. Because great rides don’t start in the arena. They start between your ears. #BeyondTheChutes, #RodeoMindset, #QuietEnoughToRide, #RodeoLife, #BarebackRiding, #SteerWrestling, #RodeoTraining, #MentalGame, #WesternHeritage, #CowboyCulture

Beyond the Chutes — BTC Short Go (Presented by ParaSight System) brings you a quick, share-size “M&M” bite of rodeo life from the PRCA First Frontier Circuit. In this Short Go, Jamie Myers (wife of tie-down roper JR Myers) shares what happens behind the scenes at the Circuit Finals — including the real work of pulling together awards and competitor goodies for the Top 12 headed to Harrisburg. Jamie also talks about their family, including their son Gater Myers (7), and their horse training operation, Myers Performance Horses / JR & Jamie Myers Performance Horses. You’ll hear about: Short. Quick. Made to pass along. Beyond the Chutes — as presented by ParaSight System. #BeyondTheChutes, #PRCA, #FirstFrontierCircuit, #FirstFrontierFinals, #TieDownRoping, #CalfRoping, #ProRodeo, #RodeoLife, #RodeoFamily, #MeetTheCompetitor

This is Beyond the Chutes, and this special Bonus Episode was recorded on the road at the First Frontier Circuit Finals. In this episode, Sam Swearingen sits down with bullfighter Riggin Dailey for a candid, in-the-moment conversation about one of the most dangerous and least understood jobs in rodeo — helping keep the cowboys safe. Recorded during the Finals, this conversation goes beyond the action in the arena and into the preparation behind it. Riggin talks about staying fit, staying alert, reading animals, and approaching bullfighting as professional work — not bravado. They discuss coming back from injury, earning trust, learning the game the right way, and soaking in every opportunity, knowing that nothing in this line of work is guaranteed. There’s no polish and no hindsight here — just real rodeo, real responsibility, and the mindset required to step into danger for others. BTC was on the road again, capturing the stories that matter — right where rodeo happens. 🎙️ This is Beyond the Chutes.

This episode of Beyond the Chutes, as presented by ParaSight Systems — helping vets help pets, was recorded Friday morning at the First Frontier Circuit Finals in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In this conversation, Doug Simcox and Sam Swearingen sit down with Tom Glause, CEO of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, for an honest, people-first discussion about leadership, relationships, and the realities of managing a sport built on trust. Tom shares life lessons from growing up in rodeo, insights from circuit management, and what it means to lead a people-based organization where hard decisions are unavoidable and balance matters. They talk openly about the current state of the PRCA, the challenges that still exist, and why ingenuity and strong relationships are required to keep rodeo moving forward. During the conversation, Tom praised the First Frontier Circuit and Brock Hower’s leadership, pointing to a season that added a fourth performance and raised the $85,000 required to fund it — a clear example of leadership, collaboration, and commitment behind the scenes. This isn’t a press conference. It’s a conversation about people, responsibility, and the work it takes to sustain the sport. 🎙️ This is Beyond the Chutes.

BTC On the Road Again | First Frontier Circuit Finals This is Beyond the Chutes, and this special Bonus Episode takes you inside the First Frontier Circuit Finals — not from the stands, but from the quiet moments just before it all happens. Recorded on the road at the Penn Harris Hotel, just hours before the final performance, this episode features a real-time conversation with Brianna Waltz — IPRA World Champion breakaway roper, registered nurse, wife, and mom — as she prepares for the biggest runs of the weekend. Brianna shares what preparation really looks like when the draw is posted and the pressure is real. From trusting a quirky but honest horse, to simplifying the barrier, managing mindset, and balancing rodeo with work and family life, this conversation captures rodeo as it unfolds, not years later. There’s no polish. No hindsight. Just mindset, preparation, and trust — told in the calm before the gate swings open. BTC was on the road again, recording the stories that matter — right where rodeo happens. 🎙️ This is Beyond the Chutes. #BeyondTheChutes #BTCOnTheRoad #RodeoPodcast #FirstFrontierCircuit #BreakawayRoping #IPRARodeo #ProfessionalRodeo #RodeoMindset #CowboyCulture #CowgirlStrong #WesternHeritage #RodeoLife #WomenInRodeo #BehindTheScenes #OnTheRodeoRoad

Beyond the Chutes | First Frontier Circuit Finals Series Before the gate opens and the clock starts, there’s a moment when it’s just a rider, a horse, and everything you’ve worked on to that moment. In Episode 1 of our special First Frontier Circuit Finals series, we sit down with Karissa Landis, a barrel racer from Middleburg, Pennsylvania, whose journey to success has been shaped as much by trust and patience as by speed. Recorded on site at the First Frontier Circuit Finals in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, this conversation goes far beyond the arena dirt. Karissa shares the deeply personal story of Old Man Cash — the horse who carried her through her youth, her grief, and her growth as a competitor. In a meaningful full-circle moment, Karissa purchased Cash from my daughter Kathleen Simcox, who took a soured barrel racing horse out of the arena for nearly two years and made riding fun again. By stepping away from competition, riding with a partner, and allowing a horse to simply be a horse, Cash found his way back — not just as a competitor, but as a true teacher. Karissa opens up about: “if I win”“when I do”The results followed. At the 2026 First Frontier Circuit Finals, Karissa: Won the first roundPlaced in every roundFinished second in the averageearned an invitation to the NFR Open in Colorado Springs this JulyBut this episode isn’t about stats on a scoreboard. It’s about what happens when riders show up for their horses, honor the process, and refuse to settle for anything less than their best. This is the story that sets the tone for the entire series. 🎧 Beyond the Chutes — where the real rodeo stories live. #BeyondTheChutes #BarrelRacing #WomenInRodeo #RodeoLife #HorseAndRider #RodeoMindset #FirstFrontierCircuit #NFRopen

Perfect — here is a clean, narrative, SEO-strong RSS description built directly from the Episode 2 transcript, written in your voice, grounded in what Wes actually says, and structured so podcast platforms can index it properly. I’ve stayed faithful to the transcript themes and language, not invented summary fluff. This is Episode 2 – Part 2, clearly tied to Part 1. 🎧 RSS DESCRIPTION — Episode 2 (Transcript-Driven) In Part 2 of our conversation with Wes Ward, recorded during the Beyond the Chutes Texas Swing 2025 inside the BTC Bus at a Chute 2 Productions bull riding, Wes opens up about the long road that follows a lifetime in the saddle. After riding bareback horses for more than two decades, Wes faced the question every cowboy eventually must answer: What do you do when you can’t get on anymore? From transitioning into rodeo production and announcing, to building a life beyond competition, Wes reflects on the decisions, detours, and mentors that shaped him along the way. This episode dives deep into rodeo’s business realities — moving between the IPRA and PRCA, navigating permits and rookie seasons, college rodeo, hauling with the right people, and learning how to make a living without breaking yourself in the process. Wes also shares candid insight into equipment changes, judging rules, the evolution of bareback riding, and why production and presentation matter just as much as the riding itself. Along the way, Wes honors the people who influenced him most — mentors like Jack Wiseman, friendships formed on the road, lessons learned from rodeo legends, and the quiet guidance that came later in life through faith, service, and teaching the next generation. This is not a highlight-reel episode. It’s a reflection on longevity, purpose, and the responsibility to pass things on better than you found them. This is Beyond the Chutes, presented by ParaSight. Hosted by Doug Simcox. These stories matter. #BeyondTheChutes #WesWard #TexasSwing2025 #RodeoPodcast#BarebackRiding #RodeoHistory #CowboyLife #RodeoAnnouncer#IPRARodeo #PRCARodeo #Chute2Productions #ParaSight#TheseStoriesMatter

In Part 1 of this Texas Swing episode of Beyond the Chutes, host Doug Simcox sits down with legendary rodeo cowboy and announcer Wes Ward for a powerful, story-driven conversation recorded on the road in October 2025. This episode centers on Wes Ward’s early rodeo journey and his deep, personal friendship with Lane Frost — how they first met, traveled together, competed together, and forged a bond that shaped both of their lives. Wes shares rare, firsthand stories of Lane long before fame, revealing the character, humility, and work ethic that made Lane more than just a champion — it made him unforgettable. Wes also reflects on the mentors who shaped him, including the defining moment when Jack Wiseman “taught him how to win,” and how those lessons carried through his bareback riding career, rodeo announcing, and life beyond the arena. This episode explores rodeo heritage, cowboy values, faith, perseverance, and the unseen moments that shape champions. Recorded during the Beyond the Chutes Texas Swing and proudly supported by Parasight Systems, Part 1 sets the foundation for a deeper continuation of Wes Ward’s story in Part 2.