Beyond the Chutes

Beyond the Chutes

by Doug Simcox
Society & CultureSports
Season 1
#191 Chris Anderson | Mike Swearingen, Hard Way Bull Riding & Life on the Rodeo Road
“I watched Mike Swearingen spur this bull to death and I said… that’s who I want to ride bulls like.” Recorded last fall at Mike Swearingen’s Rodeo Reunion in Wyoming, New York, Doug Simcox and Sam Swearingen sit down with northeast bull rider Chris Anderson — a guy who came into rodeo later than most… married, with kids… nearly 30 years old… and still went all in. Chris talks about getting his start at a backyard rodeo… discovering Mike Swearingen’s rodeo school… chasing rodeos across the Northeast… and building a life around bull riding. The conversation dives into: • Mike Swearingen’s Rodeo School • Starting bull riding at nearly 30 years old • Rodeo life with family on the road • Early northeast rodeo days • The Hard Way Bull Riding Association • Darlene Spafford’s important role behind the scenes • Weekly bull ridings, fair circuits, and legendary bulls like Flatline • Mike Swearingen, Sam Swearingen, and the riders who helped shape a generation of northeastern bull riders This episode is full of rodeo stories, old friends, hard-earned memories, and the kind of conversations that happen when rodeo people gather after decades on the road. Beyond the Chutes… presented by ParaSight System. Follow Beyond the Chutes for more real stories from the rodeo road. #BeyondTheChutes #BeyondTheChutes #BullRiding #ChrisAnderson #MikeSwearingen #SamSwearingen #HardWayBullRiding #RodeoHistory #NortheastRodeo #WesternSports #RodeoPodcast #CowboyLife #WesternHeritage #RodeoRoad #BullRider #IRA #RodeoStories
S1 · E191
Jun 2, 2026
14:19
#190 Inside The American Rodeo with Lane Peterson | The Road to Arlington, $2 Million & The Eastern Regional Finals
How do you get to The American Rodeo? How do the qualifiers work? What happens in Lexington… and what waits in Arlington? In this special standalone conversation pulled from our larger Lexington coverage, Doug Simcox and Sam Swearingen sit down with Lane Peterson, Competition Manager of The American Rodeo, inside the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park during The American Eastern Regional Finals. Lane breaks down the American’s unique format… the grassroots qualifier system… super qualifiers like St-Tite, Quebec… redemption rounds… regional finals… and the long road that leads to Arlington, Texas. Then comes the big stage. May 22 & 23 — Globe Life Field — Arlington, Texas. The contenders who survive the qualifier trail face off against the top PRCA rodeo athletes in each event… with $2 million dollars hanging in the balance. If you've ever wondered how The American really works… this is the episode. Beyond the Chutes… presented by ParaSight System. Follow Beyond the Chutes for more real stories from the rodeo road. #BeyondTheChutes #BeyondTheChutes #TheAmericanRodeo #AmericanRodeo #LanePeterson #RoadToArlington #GlobeLifeField #LexingtonKY #AlltechArena #KentuckyHorsePark #ArlingtonTexas #Rodeo #PRCA #IPRA #WesternSports #CowboyLife #RodeoPodcast #RodeoRoad #RodeoLife #WesternLifestyle #RodeoFans #BullRiding #SaddleBronc #BarebackRiding #TeamRoping #BarrelRacing #TieDownRoping #SteerWrestling #BreakawayRoping #RoadToTheAmerican #MillionDollarRodeo
S1 · E190
May 19, 2026
39:36
#189 Rolling Smooth: Behind the Scenes of Podcasting on the Rodeo Road
What really goes into building a podcast from the road? In this special crossover episode, Doug Simcox of Beyond the Chutes joins Stan Cromlish on the Wandering Gypsy RV Life podcast for a behind-the-scenes conversation recorded at Kickback Ranch in Raymer, Alabama. From rodeo arenas and campgrounds to editing bays and RV dinettes, Doug and Stan talk about what it really takes to build podcasts while living and traveling on the road. They dive into audio gear, video production, editing workflows, YouTube growth, RV systems, storytelling, sponsor relationships, and the challenges of creating content from inside motorhomes, horse trailers, and campground setups. You’ll hear conversations about: Podcast editing with Audacity, Descript, and the Zoom PodTrak P4 Recording inside RVs and managing sound, storage, and video workflows The rise of reels, shorts, and YouTube podcasting RV life parallels with rodeo life Building authentic brands without losing editorial freedom The story behind ParaSight System and their AI-driven veterinary technology Why storytelling still matters in both the cowboy and RV worlds This episode also introduces the upcoming Cowboys and Cowgirls Rolling Smooth collaboration series between Beyond the Chutes and Wandering Gypsy RV Life. Real conversations. Real road life. Real storytelling. Visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel for full video episodes, shorts, reels, and behind-the-scenes content from the rodeo road. Follow Beyond the Chutes for more real stories from the rodeo road. #BeyondTheChutes #RollingSmooth #WanderingGypsyRVLife #RodeoRoad #RVLife #CowboyLife #Podcasting #WesternLifestyle #FullTimeRV #RodeoPodcast #RVPodcast #CowboyStories #WesternHeritage #RoadLife #ContentCreator #YouTubePodcast #PodcastLife #RodeoFamily #CampgroundLife #TravelPodcast #StanCromlish #DougSimcox #HorseTrailerLiving #RVTravel #CowboysAndCowgirlsRollingSmooth
S1 · E189
May 12, 2026
36:45
#188 Cowboy to Full-Time RVer: Stan Cromlish’s Rolling Smooth Story
Stan Cromlish has lived the cowboy life—and now he’s built a new one on the road. In this first episode of Cowboys & Cowgirls: Rolling Smooth, we sit down with Stan—rodeo man, author of the Rolling Smooth series, and full-time RVer—to talk about the journey from the arena to life behind the wheel. This isn’t theory. It’s real-world experience from someone who’s lived both sides—rodeo roads and RV roads—and understands what it takes to keep moving forward. We talk about: The transition from cowboy to full-time RVer What life on the road really looks like The mindset it takes to make it work Why being “rolling smooth” matters more than you think If you haul horses, chase rodeos, or live life mile to mile—this series is for you. 👉 Start here. Then keep going—because every episode builds on the last. Follow Beyond the Chutes for more real stories from the rodeo road. #BeyondTheChutes
S1 · E188
May 5, 2026
38:17
#187 Jim Swearingen | He Set the Table for a Rodeo Dynasty
Recorded last fall at Mike Swearingen’s Rodeo Reunion in Wyoming, New York, this episode of Beyond the Chutes sits down with a true patriarch of rodeo in the East—Jim Swearingen. Husband to Nancy, father to Mike, Sam, Danny, Pearl, Patty, and Beth, Jim didn’t just raise a rodeo family—he helped build a rodeo community. From a small riding stable in Western New York to the early days of Little Britches Rodeo in the late 1960s, Jim put kids on horses and gave them a place to start. What followed shaped generations of cowboys and cowgirls across the Northeast. If you’ve ever been to the Attica Rodeo—founded in 1959 and still filling the stands today—you’ve felt the impact of the Swearingen family. This is more than a conversation. This is legacy, hard work, and the foundation of rodeo east of the Mississippi. Follow Beyond the Chutes for more real stories from the rodeo road. #BeyondTheChutes #BeyondTheChutes, #Rodeo, #JimSwearingen, #AtticaRodeo, #LittleBritchesRodeo, #RodeoHistory, #CowboyLife, #WesternHeritage, #RodeoFamily, #BullRiding, #CalfRoping, #CowboyLegacy, #WesternLifestyle, #RodeoPodcast, #AmericanRodeo, #CowboyStories, #RodeoLife, #PRCA, #IPRA, #EastCoastRodeo
S1 · E187
Apr 28, 2026
19:33
#186 American Rodeo Eastern Qualifier: Winner Interviews - $2 Million on the Line
From the dirt of Lexington, Kentucky at the Alltech Arena, this episode of Beyond the Chutes takes you inside the moment—live, unscripted, and right after the win. At The American Rodeo Eastern Regional Finals, the stakes are simple: win here, and you’re headed to Arlington, Texas… Globe Life Field… and a shot at a record $2 million. We talk with the winners as it happens—no retakes, no reset, just real reactions from the arena floor. They break down the rides, the runs, the horses, and the mindset it takes when everything is on the line. But this episode is more than just results—it’s a turning point. For the first time, Beyond the Chutes steps fully into video. New cameras. New workflow. Real-time pressure. One shot to get it right. Because if we’re going to grow this thing… we’ve got to go where the stories are—and capture them as they happen. Next stop: Arlington, Texas. Globe Life Field. May 22–23. $2 million on the line. One step closer. Follow Beyond the Chutes for more real stories from the rodeo road. #BeyondTheChutes
S1 · E186
Apr 21, 2026
30:27
#185 The American Rodeo: From Lexington to Arlington: Winning Rides, Big Stakes, One Step Closer
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
S1 · E185
Apr 14, 2026
1:17:16
#184 Kenny Phillips 1985 World Champion to ER Doctor - Truly Blessed
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
S1 · E184
Apr 7, 2026
31:44
#182 Bruce Brannen - So Broke, I Couldn't Pay Attention
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
S1 · E182
Mar 24, 2026
35:36
#181 Mark Staggs — Festus Comes to the Mountain Cove Rodeo Reunion | Comedy, Impersonations & Rodeo Stories
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
S1 · E181
Mar 17, 2026
24:33
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