

Legends of the Old West
Black Barrel Media
Wyatt Earp, Jesse James, and Butch and Sundance. Lakota, Comanche and Apache. Wars, gunfights and robberies. This show covers the toughest lawmen, the wildest outlaws, and the deadliest towns — all the people and events that shaped the American West.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 9, 2025 • 38min
OUTLAWS Ep. 4 | “Dirty Dave Rudabaugh: Lincoln County Outlaw”
 Discover the chaotic life of Dirty Dave Rudabaugh, an outlaw who fled a murder charge and joined forces with Billy the Kid. As he escapes a harrowing jail break, the podcast delves into the intense rivalry with Sheriff Pat Garrett during the Lincoln County War. Explore his connection to iconic figures like Wyatt Earp and the infamous Earp War. The narrative takes a darker turn in Mexico, where gambling and violence define his later years, culminating in a violent end that sparks legends and myths. 

7 snips
Apr 2, 2025 • 36min
OUTLAWS Ep. 3 | “Dirty Dave Rudabaugh: Rustler and Robber”
 Dive into the wild world of Dirty Dave Rudabaugh, a cattle rustler turned infamous outlaw. Experience the chaos of the Royal Gorge War and the dangerous ties in crime-ridden Las Vegas. Witness his thrilling encounters with legends like Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. Learn about his transformation from a cowboy to a stagecoach bandit, including a chaotic train heist with his gang. Explore the tumultuous landscape of the Old West, filled with lawless action and gripping power struggles. 

10 snips
Mar 26, 2025 • 33min
OUTLAWS Ep. 2 | “Black Bart: End of the Road”
 Delve into the thrilling world of Black Bart, one of the West's most infamous stagecoach robbers. Hear about his daring heists and the relentless pursuit by detectives that eventually unraveled his identity. Discover the challenges he faced, from weather to unprofitable jobs, and his clever strategies. The podcast also touches on his polite demeanor during imprisonment and the mysterious rumors following his release. Finish with a look at his last caper, leaving behind a cryptic poem that adds layers to his legendary story. 

10 snips
Mar 19, 2025 • 37min
OUTLAWS Ep. 1 | “Black Bart: Outlaw Poet”
 Discover the fascinating transformation of Charley Bowles into the infamous outlaw Black Bart, driven by a desire for wealth and revenge against Wells Fargo. He cleverly disguises himself to execute suspenseful stagecoach heists, blending creativity with crime. Learn about his unique poetic flair and how he became a legendary figure, evading law enforcement with cunning tactics. The gripping tales of his adventures and encounters in the harsh Wild West showcase the enduring intrigue of this notorious outlaw. 

Feb 19, 2025 • 36min
DAKOTA WAR Ep. 6 | “Killdeer Mountain”
 In the wake of the executions of 38 Dakota warriors, the Dakota are forced to leave Minnesota. As they try to build new lives on a barren reservation in present-day South Dakota, U.S. army columns march west on punitive expeditions against the wider Sioux Nation. General Henry Sibley’s column fights three battles near Bismarck, North Dakota, and then General Alfred Sully’s column attacks a Lakota camp that is home to a rising star in the Lakota community, Sitting Bull. Join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: blackbarrel.supportingcast.fm/join Apple users join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes, bingeable seasons and bonus episodes. Click the Black Barrel+ banner on Apple to get started with a 3-day free trial. On YouTube, subscribe to LEGENDS+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: hit “Join” on the Legends YouTube homepage. For more details, visit our website www.blackbarrelmedia.com and check out our social media pages. We’re @OldWestPodcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Feb 12, 2025 • 31min
DAKOTA WAR Ep. 5 | “Judgment Day”
 The Dakota War is done, but the conflict isn’t finished. Colonel Henry Sibley convenes a military commission to pass judgment on 400 Dakota warriors. The commission performs hasty trials and sentences an historic number of warriors to death. President Abraham Lincoln intervenes on behalf of some of the condemned, but the year 1862 still ends with the largest mass execution in American history. Join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: blackbarrel.supportingcast.fm/join Apple users join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes, bingeable seasons and bonus episodes. Click the Black Barrel+ banner on Apple to get started with a 3-day free trial. On YouTube, subscribe to LEGENDS+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: hit “Join” on the Legends YouTube homepage. For more details, visit our website www.blackbarrelmedia.com and check out our social media pages. We’re @OldWestPodcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Feb 5, 2025 • 33min
DAKOTA WAR Ep. 4 | “The Turning Tide”
 With Fort Ridgely reinforced, Colonel Henry Sibley sends troops on a burial mission that results in a disastrous ambush. Dakota warriors continue to sweep through the western half of Minnesota, and Colonel Sibley leads a column out of Fort Ridgely to confront the warrior army. At the Battle of Wood Lake, Sibley’s force delivers a crushing blow to the Dakota army and turns the tide of the war. Join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: blackbarrel.supportingcast.fm/join Apple users join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes, bingeable seasons and bonus episodes. Click the Black Barrel+ banner on Apple to get started with a 3-day free trial. On YouTube, subscribe to LEGENDS+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: hit “Join” on the Legends YouTube homepage. For more details, visit our website www.blackbarrelmedia.com and check out our social media pages. We’re @OldWestPodcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Jan 29, 2025 • 34min
DAKOTA WAR Ep. 3 | “Siege of Fort Ridgely”
 After defenders at Fort Ridgely and New Ulm survive the first Dakota attacks, they re-fortify and brace for the second attacks. Dakota warriors assault both locations in greater numbers and threaten to overrun the two strongest pockets of resistance in southwestern Minnesota. Join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: blackbarrel.supportingcast.fm/join Apple users join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes, bingeable seasons and bonus episodes. Click the Black Barrel+ banner on Apple to get started with a 3-day free trial. On YouTube, subscribe to LEGENDS+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: hit “Join” on the Legends YouTube homepage. For more details, visit our website www.blackbarrelmedia.com and check out our social media pages. We’re @OldWestPodcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Jan 22, 2025 • 33min
DAKOTA WAR Ep. 2 | “Assault on Lower Sioux Agency”
 At dawn on August 18, 1862, hundreds of Dakota warriors launch a surprise attack on the Lower Sioux Agency in southwestern Minnesota. The Dakota are starving, and the traders at the agency are hoarding food. After the agency, the Dakota sweep across the landscape and attack homes, farms, and towns. Soldiers at the nearest army outpost, Fort Ridgely, rush to the agency, but they march into a devastating trap. Dakota warriors begin sieges at Fort Ridgely and the town of New Ulm. Join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: blackbarrel.supportingcast.fm/join Apple users join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes, bingeable seasons and bonus episodes. Click the Black Barrel+ banner on Apple to get started with a 3-day free trial. On YouTube, subscribe to LEGENDS+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: hit “Join” on the Legends YouTube homepage. For more details, visit our website www.blackbarrelmedia.com and check out our social media pages. We’re @OldWestPodcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Jan 15, 2025 • 32min
DAKOTA WAR Ep. 1 | “Acton Massacre”
 On August 17, 1862, four young Dakota men kill five white settlers near the village of Acton Township, Minnesota. The act of violence seems spontaneous, but it is fueled by desperation that had been building for years. That night, the leaders of villages in southwestern Minnesota gather for a heated council meeting. At dawn the next day, bands of the Dakota go to war against the settlers and the U.S. army. Join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: blackbarrel.supportingcast.fm/join Apple users join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes, bingeable seasons and bonus episodes. Click the Black Barrel+ banner on Apple to get started with a 3-day free trial. On YouTube, subscribe to LEGENDS+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: hit “Join” on the Legends YouTube homepage. For more details, visit our website www.blackbarrelmedia.com and check out our social media pages. We’re @OldWestPodcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 


