 |
The Ozark PodcastThe Ozark Podcast sits down with men and women from around the Ozarks that have a passion for the outdoors. Author: Kyle Veit & Kyle Plunkett
In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker. Our guests and the information they share are especially relevant to men and women in northern Arkansas, southern Missouri, eastern Oklahoma, and southeast Kansas. Language: en Genres: Nature, Science, Sports, Wilderness Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
Listen Now...
Ep. 239 - The Old Ozark - The Sweet Sounds of Big Sugar Creek (S2:E5)
Friday, 18 September, 2026
Welcome to the Old Ozarks with Dr. Brooks Blevins... This week, we're boiling down sap and tuning up the shape notes — from the vanishing rituals of Ozark sugar camps to the banks of Big Sugar Creek, birthplace of one of gospel music's biggest names. We'll start with the sweet, half-forgotten world of sugarin' off time: granny gourds, alder spiles, kittles of boiling sap, and the snow-day treat known as a waxin', plus a tour of the sugar-flavored place names still dotting the map. Then it's on to the long sweetenin', the life of Albert E. Brumley — sharecropper's son turned shape-note prodigy under mentor Eugene Bartlett, Hartford Music Company songwriter, and eventual owner of Powell, Missouri's own gospel publishing empire. We'll trace hits like "Turn Your Radio On" and "Jesus Hold My Hand," and dig into the surprising, decades-long journey of his most famous song of all, "I'll Fly Away" — from a cotton field daydream to one of the most recorded songs in American history, claimed by gospel, country, and just about everybody in between. It's a story of how a little creek in southwestern Missouri became the symbolic heart of Southern gospel music. Let's dive into this episode of The Old Ozarks... What is The Old Ozarks? The Old Ozarks is your gateway to the forgotten history of the Ozarks. Hosted by renowned historian Dr. Brooks Blevins (the leading authority on the region’s history), this podcast explores the lives, legends, and landscapes that have shaped this unique region. Whether you’re a native Ozarker, a new resident, or a curious listener, join us as we share the stories that make the Ozarks special and connect us to our past.
