How the West Was 'Cast

Johnny Guitar (1954) - with Author Brooks E. Hefner

On this deep-dive episode, author and professor Brooks E. Hefner visits the studio to chat with Andrew Patrick Nelson about director Nicholas Ray's fever-dream Weste

Great Western Movie Posters - with Artist Tracy Stuckey

Since the birth of the genre, Hollywood has promoted Western movies with eye-catching posters promising adventure, romance and frontier justice at every turn. In this spr

BONUS EPISODE! The Lone Pine Film Festival

Here’s a question for you: What do the beloved Westerns The Ox-Bow Incident, 3 Godfathers, Ride Lonesome, The Gunfighter, Nevada Smith and How the West Was Won all have i

The Thicket (2024) - with Director Elliott Lester

Are you brave enough to venture into the harrowing world of The Thicket? Join us for an in-depth conversation with visionary director Elliott Lester, the man behind the m

The Westerns of Clint Eastwood - with 'Clint' Biographer Shawn Levy

A towering figure in the history of the Western, Clint Eastwood redefined the image of the lone hero with his portrayal of the flint-eyed, morally ambiguous gunslinger in

The Searchers (1956) - with Author Glenn Frankel

You asked for it, so we’ve delivered! Since the launch of this podcast, John Ford’s masterpiece The Searchers has been our most frequently requested film by far. In this

Ride the High Country (1962) - with Author Robert Nott

On this trailblazing episode, reporter and historian Robert Nott drops by to discuss Sam Peckinpah's Ride the High Country. Robert is the author of several acclaimed

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 (2024)

On this super-size episode, Matt and Andrew discuss the biggest Western movie event in recent memory. Is Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 a bold and

Western Movie Books – with Authors Henry C. Parke and Cory Everett

Read any good Western movie books lately? On this page-turning episode, we’re highlighting some of our favorite books about the Western genre. From biographies and coffee

Horizon: An American Saga (2024) – Trailer Reaction

The official trailer for Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga was just released, and Matthew Chernov and Andrew Patrick Nelson are sharing their first reactions to i

A "Secret" Announcement from How the West Was 'Cast!

Want to hear a secret episode of How the West Was ‘Cast? We’ve recorded a new hourlong show that won’t be published online. But we’ll gladly send you the secret episod

Warner Brothers and Westerns - with Author Chris Yogerst

This year marks the centennial anniversary of Warner Brothers, the legendary Hollywood studio founded by Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner. To commemorate the occasion,

Revenge of the Horror Westerns

It’s the Halloween season, so we’re returning to the terrifying topic of horror Westerns! Join us as we discuss, dissect, and dismember six of the scariest, eeriest, and

BONUS EPISODE! Into the Wild Frontier - with Showrunner Paul Epstein

On this special bonus episode, we take a look at the factual Western drama series Into the Wild Frontier, which is entering its fourth season on the INSP network. Our ver

Little Big Man (1970)

1970 was an important year for Indian-themed Westerns, with A Man Called Horse and Soldier Blue both released within months of each other. But by far the most popular Ind

Overlooked Westerns of the 1990s

Return with us now to the decade that gave the world Zima®, Beanie Babies, and the Macarena. That's right, we're traveling back to the 1990s for a discussion ab

Ride Lonesome (1959) - with Writer & Producer Kirk Ellis

Written by Burt Kennedy and directed by Budd Boetticher, the intense 1959 Western Ride Lonesome stars legendary actor Randolph Scott as a bounty hunter traveling across a

Blood on the Moon (1948) - with Film Scholar Alan K. Rode

The gripping story of a down-and-out cowhand who becomes ensnared in a complex scheme to dupe a local rancher out of a fortune, the moody 1948 film Blood on the Moon comb

A Tribute to Western Movie Hats - with Actor & Hatmaker Travis Eller

Hold on to your hats, folks! On this episode, we're taking an in-depth look at some of the greatest Western movie hats of all time. You'll hear about iconic hat

Western Film Scores - with Musician Mark Swan

Think about your favorite Western and chances are you can practically hear the rousing theme music playing in your head. On this melodious new episode, musician Mark Swan