Modern Cowboy

Join me and Chris for a fascinating look into his life on the cusp of the release of his album and his undying passion for  Cowboy tradition and the modern cowboy lifestyle.
For 2019 Chris is set to release a highly anticipated new album. Chris teamed up with Nashville producer, Trent Willmon, who will be producing the album. Chris wrote or co-wrote 11 of the 12 songs to be included on the album and Willmon co-wrote 8 of the 12 songs.  As a songwriter Trent has written many songs that have been cut by other notable artists including Brad Paisley, Eric Church, Little Big Town, Cody Johnson, Blake Shelton, Maddie and Tae, Merle Haggard, Wade Hayes, Randy Houser, Kevin Fowler, Granger Smith, Roger Creager, and many more. Trent also is credited with the Billboard top 5 hit “Keep on Lovin’ You” by Steel Magnolia, and Montgomery Gentry’s #1 hit “Back When I Knew it All.”
As a producer Trent has truly shined and is credited in large part for the rise of Nashville’s newest sensation, Cody Johnson. Cody’s Album, “Ain’t Nothin’ to It”, also produced by Willmon reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Country Charts in 2019.
Chris was raised in a small town in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Here he developed a love for horses, and everything about the cowboy lifestyle. He was drawn to the old cowboys around town who took him under their wing and taught him about horses. Chris built a love of starting colts and building confidence in young horses. By combining his love for horses and a love for art and photography, Chris started Diehard Cowboy–A company built to share the cowboy lifestyle and his authentic music with others. Chris spends as much time as he can riding horses and starting colts. Chris also works for several ranches to get a reprieve from his regular schedule. You can take a glimpse in this life by following. @Diehardcowboy_
Chris got somewhat of a late start into his music career. Earlier in life the fear of singing in front of other people kept him from getting on stage. Even though Chris never sang in public until he was in college, music was always present. Chris would often write songs while driving, or riding his horses, but singing would only happen around his close friends. Friends soon began to encourage him to sing more and to share his songs. Eventually Chris started writing and recording the songs that he had written but they were only heard by those in his inner circle.
A turning point came when Country Musician, Collin Raye, heard a burnt CD of a few of Chris’ songs. Collin asked if Chris would be willing to open an upcoming concert for him. The night of the concert came and Chris faced his fear, took the stage, and sang to a hometown crowd. This was a moment that changed Chris’ life. After encouragement from Collin Raye, Chris set his sights on pursuing his career as a songwriter and performer. It took a lot of  work to overcome his fear. Chris spent a full year singing once a week at a local venue with his guitar before he finally felt he could play for a crowd. Eventually Chris was playing for larger audiences in shows across the country. He played during the Houston Rodeo at NRG park,  and even packed his guitar to Missouri.
In 2017 Chris was selected as a finalist at the Kerrville Songwriting Competition in, Kerrville, Texas. Many past finalists had gone on to become notable performers  like, Steve Earl, Tom Russel, Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, Hal Ketchum, and Zane Williams.
Chris has always been a big supporter of the men and women who serve our country and communities. He has written two songs in their honor. “Every Time I Hear the Rain” as well as “He Still Pays the Price.”
As a musician Chris sticks to his country roots. He loves playing traditional country music with influences like George Strait, Merle Haggard, and Chris Ledoux. These influences are also reflected in Chris’ writing. Chris writes songs that are authentic and true to his character. His songs will resonate with all who love honest country music.
Resources: Chris Petersen
Website
Instagram
Show Music: “The Ropin Pen” By: Trent Willmon
Trent Willmon Website
MC Podcast Production & Editing: Matt Kirschner
Website Right Trac Media

Join me as I talk with Adam Banton a Professional BMX’er, musician and co-owner of The Biker and Baker Granola Company. Adam says, “I feel very fortunate to have spent the last 27 years riding my bike, 16 of which have been Pro.” He  live in Scottsdale, Arizona and is active year round traveling around the country filming for web edits, shooting photos for online content and magazines. His other passions include hiking, camping, mountain biking, snowboarding and cooking healthy meals.
Resources: Adam Banton
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
The Biker and Baker Granola
Show Music: “The Ropin Pen” By: Trent Willmon
Trent Willmon Website
MC Podcast Production & Editing: Matt Kirschner
Website Right Trac Media

Join me as I talk with this amazing “Wonder Woman”. Renae Cowley is a former Miss Rodeo Utah turned professional barrel racer. Her 9-5 job is working on capitol hill as a lobbyist but when she is not influencing public policy you can always find her in the saddle. Renae began her western lifestyle by learning horsemanship and leadership in the 4-H horse program and now enjoys mentoring youth in their 4-H experience. She is a highly driven person with a passion for sharing her journey with others. Her hope is that by chronicling her equine experience online that others can be inspired by her successes and learn from her mistakes.
Resources:
Instagram
Website
Facebook
Show Music: “The Ropin Pen” By: Trent Willmon
Trent Willmon Website
MC Podcast Production & Editing: Matt Kirschner
Website Right Trac Media

Join me as I talk with Scott Mendes about his PRCA & PBR bull riding career and his passion as the Founder & Executive Director of Western Harvest Ministries.
Western Harvest Ministries is a non-profit 501 c3 organization that is incorporated in the state of Texas. We are dedicated to ministering to the youth of America and to all that love the western heritage. We desire to share the unconditional love of God and his grace through conducting western events that will both challenge and equip all participants and spectators to place their personal relationship with the Lord Jesus first place in their lives. Our goal is to continue to see the Lord transform the lives of these young people as they are able to perform in a sport that they love. We are in the process of developing our property in Weatherford, TX that will serve as a ministry headquarters. This property will allow us to produce many various types of events. The ministry currently owns it’s own full size rodeo arena, and has recently purchased (2) 24×64 metal classroom buildings that are set up on the new property. The property has several hundred feet of highway frontage that we will offer for advertising to off set some of the production cost associated with the outreach events. For the past several years, Western Harvest Ministries has operated throughout the United States conducting Christian Bull Riding events and training camps, as well as, many special youth and church speaking engagements. Your support will enable us to better reach the Weatherford and Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex and our country as well.
Scott Mendes is a national speaker and would love the opportunity to be a speaker at your next event or special service.
Resources:
Facebook
Western Harvest Ministries Website
Show Music: “The Ropin Pen” By: Trent Willmon
Trent Willmon Website
MC Podcast Production & Editing: Matt Kirschner
Website Right Trac Media

TIGERMOUNTAIN FOUNDATION
Darren Chapman is a community pro-activist who has committed his life to helping people.  He is Founder and CEO of TigerMountain Foundation (a.k.a. TMF), which has implemented Empowerment Initiatives to uplift communities and eliminate blight. TMF’s initiatives are community garden / landscaping development, audio, visual and performance art, community service and volunteerism. The gardens promote healthy living and active lifestyles by feeding, engaging and enfranchising the community.
TMF’s Asset Based Community Development model was developed with the thought that anyone and everyone can and should be connected and feel a part of society. The end game strategy is urban renewal and community restoration via participants who are encouraged to stay engaged and motivated to keep positive and develop their individual very important assets. Darren’s motto is to change one mind and attitude at a time, encouraging all who have been touched to pay it forward, which will undoubtedly make the immediate and surrounding community and world a better place to live. Darren currently resides and works in South Phoenix and the Phoenix Metropolitan area.
Resources: Follow
Tigermountain Foundation Website
Show Music: “The Ropin Pen” By: Trent Willmon
Trent Willmon Website
MC Podcast Production & Editing: Matt Kirschner
Website Right Trac Media

Join me as I talk with Addie & Tommy Izko about their amazing life adventure. Imagine going out about your day sorting cattle, fixing fences, schooling colts, and living the typical life of a rancher and cowboy. Now imagine doing so in the deep wilds of Africa. Riding through vast mountain ranges and dry desert valleys amongst free roaming cheetahs, baboons, and kudu. This is the day to day life of Thomas and Addie Izko. Living in southwest Namibia, Africa, the second least populated country in the world, one needs to be comfortable with wide open spaces and not a soul in sight. As well as adaptable to extreme heat as Namibia is also the oldest and driest desert in the world making for tough conditions on the regular. Most might find an endeavor like this daunting, but as a fellow desert dweller and horse lover, born and raised in Phoenix Arizona, Addie was thrilled to marry into this adventure. She picked up and left everything she knew and moved over 9000 miles to join Tommy – a wild horse trainer, nature photographer, and proud Namibian born German. Together they continue the Izko family legacy as the 5th generation to ranch in the most wild and rugged area imaginable.”
Resources: Follow Addie & Tommy
Addie Instagram
Tommy Instagram
Better Half Leather
Ranch Koiimasis
Ranch Koiimasis Hardy Quarter Horses
Show Music: “The Ropin Pen” By: Trent Willmon
Trent Willmon Website
MC Podcast Production & Editing: Matt Kirschner
Website Right Trac Media

Join me in one of the most interesting and western interviews we have had on the Modern Cowboy with Texas Special Ranger Wayne Goodman. Wayne began his law enforcement career with the North Richland Hills Police Department in 1987. He worked patrol for 12 years before transferring to the Criminal Investigations Division in 1999. Wayne worked crimes against children with his main focus on internet predators and child pornography cases. He retired from the Police Department in 2010 and worked as a Detective for the Lakeside Police Department after his retirement and taking six months off. In 2011 Wayne was appointed as a Special Ranger with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. His duties are the investigation of livestock thefts, equipment thefts, bank fraud involving agriculture as well as assist other law enforcement agencies with investigative assistance.
Resources: Follow Wayne
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
Show Music: “The Ropin Pen” (Live) by: Trent Willmon
Trent Willmon Website
MC Podcast Production & Editing: Matt Kirschner
Website Right Trac Media

It wouldn’t be uncommon to find this international award-winning photographer propped on his elbows in the mud, boots covered in manure, facing a rearing horse, all for the sake of the perfect shot. He’s a man who does whatever it takes to push the limits of creativity. Early in life, as a young boy, Chris was inspired while being at the library looking through magazines like National Geographic and LIFE at his local library. Today he is always on the lookout for a different angle, a new way to push himself while exploring deeper creativeness beyond the technical limitations of his image making tools. Fundamental to his creativeness is the trust he’s gained over the years with those he follows, allowing him unprecedented access to create his iconic images.
Chris’ images have been regularly published in some of the most celebrated western publications, in addition, his images have been used in national and international advertising campaigns with some of the world’s most notable brands.  Chris and his wife are self-employed and based in Utah where a majority of his Western work has been captured alongside the local cowboys and cowgirls of the American West.  Chris’s work can be found at http://www.cdphotog.com, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cdphotog/, and on Facebook. To have him cover your next branding just contact him thru his website and check for availability.
Resources: Follow Chris
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Show Music: “The Ropin Pen” (Live) by: Trent Willmon
Trent Willmon Website
MC Podcast Production & Editing: Matt Kirschner
Website Right Trac Media

Join me and Beni as we discuss everything cowboy from rodeo, ranching, politics, music, business & life in general. Beni has been a cowboy most of his life, growing up on a ranch in North Dakota and competing in the great sport of Bull Riding.  A former PBR World Finalist, Beni still raises cattle on his family ranch.
Music has always been on the table but in recent years since retiring from riding bulls it has become more of a focus.  Along with his Dad, Dennis, they have written and recorded music for television shows on RFD-TV, Special Cowboy Moments and Wild Rides.
Also, Beni performs with his band Breaking Eight which is a high energy country rock act, that puts a little different spin on some of the cowboy music that you can hear on the TV shows or at a solo acoustic show.
Resources: Follow
Facebook
Show Music: “The Ropin Pen” (Live) by: Trent Willmon
Trent Willmon Website
MC Podcast Production & Editing: Matt Kirschner
Website Right Trac Media

Join me as I talk with Father & Son Modern Cowboys Andy & Austin Houge.
Austin Hogue is the Owner / CEO of electric 3H corriente cattle / quarterhorses & Rafter 3H Ranches L.L.C. A horse trainer and roping cattle breeder Austin is a PRCA card holder competing calf roping, saddle bronc riding and team roping.
Andy Hogue retired PRCA Bull Rider owner / creator of Rockin 3H BBQ sauce and Angus cattle rancher in Lakeview, Oregon.
Resources: Follow Andy & Austin
Facebook
Show Music: “The Ropin Pen” (Live) by: Trent Willmon
Trent Willmon Website
MC Podcast Production & Editing: Matt Kirschner
Website Right Trac Media