Let's Talk with Mark & Michelle

Angels Landing! Could you do this hike?

A tragic accident in Zion National Park. Authorities say a hiker fell to his death April 17th from the popular Angels Landing trail.  Angels Landing is considered one of the most dangerous hikes in America. To get there, hikers need to navigate Hogsback, a narrow, knife-edge ridge with chains for a handhold. Since 2000, there have been at least 18 confirmed fatalities on the trail.  Michelle and I hiked it a couple years ago. It's not for the faint of heart. Here's a re-podcast of our adventure.

Real Ranch Life. Real-life Rip!

When we moved from Las Vegas to Tulsa almost 30 years ago, Michelle told friends and family we were headed for full-on ranch life. Chickens, cows, pigs, maybe a prairie dog or two. We’d raise our own beef and pork, and Bessie would handle the fresh milk. Because that’s what everyone in Oklahoma does… right? Turns out, not so much. We never “bought the farm,” so to speak. But the idea of living off the land still has its pull - and watching Yellowstone over the years definitely didn’t help. We do have a friend who’s actually living the dream. Greg Ganzkow, his wife Rachel, and their three kids run a working ranch in Osage County. A couple years back, we toured Keystone Ranch for an episode of American Dream TV. Let me tell you… it’s the real deal. And Greg? He looks a lot like Rip from Yellowstone. He even told us there is a train station nearby - thankfully he didn’t take us to it. We also recorded a podcast with Greg in 2023. He shared some eye-opening stories about real ranch life - the highs, the lows, the life-and-death moments, and rescuing calves in sub-zero temperatures. Ranching is tough, but it’s meaningful work. I tip my rarely worn Stetson to the ranchers and farmers who do it every day. Plenty of people romanticize the lifestyle, just like we did. But how many are truly built for it? Watch this and ask yourself: Is this for me?

Why you can't afford NOT To Have a home warranty!

Do you need  a home warranty? Michelle and I welcome Lindsay Padilla of On Call  to our podcast to talk about what a home warranty is, how much it costs, what it covers and why most (but not all) homeowners should buy one. We've had one that covers the big ticket items in our homes, like major appliances and pool pumps, for decades and it's really paid off. https://oncallhomewarranty.com/ [https://oncallhomewarranty.com/]

Insane Audio! How to make your adventure podcasts sound better

I can't express enough how important sound is to a podcast. You say, but don't all podcasts have sound? I'm talking about good sound. Sound you can hear. How many times have your tried to listen to a video or podcast and can't understand what they're saying? That detracts from the experience. Michelle and I use mics whenever we're out fishing, hiking, etc. And because of that we capture some great moments. In this podcast from Rocky Mountain National Park, I include some of those great moments. And all because we use mics.  https://bit.ly/RodeWirelessGoii https://bit.ly/MicMiniDJI

Day Old Twin Moose Calves in Rocky Mountain National Park

We love a good adventure and are always on the search for wildlife in and around our national parks. We witnessed a rare sighting in Rocky Mountain National Park this spring ... a mother moose with her twin calves that were less than 24 hours old. It was quite a sight to see them take some of their first wobbly steps in this world. Enjoy it with us.  You can watch this podcast here: https://bit.ly/Dayoldtwinmoosecalves