We Always Lie to Strangers

52) Yocum Coins Part 2: Delaware Town

Release Date: 3/30/2025

Duration: 30 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: In this rather loose episode, we continue to lay out the historical context of the southern Missouri Ozarks before the creation of Yocum Coins. The main focus is the arrival and settlement of the Delaware tribe from the eastern United States as well as the commerce and economy of the region, which was primarily based around the fur trade. We also go on a bit of a rant about malt liquor and how cheap regional bars used to be We have a PatreonWe Always Lie to Strangers | Patreon

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

50) Mike Meyer Disfarmer

Release Date: 3/16/2025

Duration: 32 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The story of a photographer in the rural Arkansas Ozarks and his fame decades after his death

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

49) Picher, Oklahoma: The Most Toxic Town in America

Release Date: 3/10/2025

Duration: 30 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The rise and fall of Picher, Oklahoma, with some chat, of course

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

47) The Little Rock Bus Strike

Release Date: 2/9/2025

Duration: 56 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: This episode follows the overlooked bus driver's strike over wages in the Little Rock Metro area in the mid-1950's. We also learn a bit about the founding of Little Rock, North Little Rock and Cammack Village, as well as talk a little about Little Rock rap and a lot about the Arkansas & Missouri RailroadWe have a Patreon. We should do more on there, but we do release bonus episodesWe Always Lie to Strangers | Patreon

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

46) The All-American Red Heads

Release Date: 2/2/2025

Duration: 53 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The story of the first women's professional basketball team, The All-American Red Heads, founded in the rural Missouri Ozarks. Also, a bit about the history of women's basketball Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/c/WeAlwaysLietoStrangers

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

45) The Purple Martin Massacre

Release Date: 1/26/2025

Duration: 34 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The early history of Jefferson City, Missouri, followed by a lot of talking about birds. An Ozarks ornithologist's dream! We have a Patreon, subscribe for more episodes! We Always Lie to Strangers | Patreon

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

44) Wonderland Cave & An Incomplete History of Bella Vista

Release Date: 1/18/2025

Duration: 72 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The history of the Wonderland Cave in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Also, a far from complete history of Bella Vista, which is mostly known now for what Tony Soprano would call "a retirement community". The Sopranos doesn't come up at all, but I had to make the joke. We have a Patreon! Here's the link! https://www.patreon.com/WeAlwaysLietoStrangers

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

Show Announcement - Taking a Couple More Weeks Off & We Have a Patreon Now!

Release Date: 1/5/2025

Duration: 2 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: Just a quick announcement! We are taking a couple more weeks off but we have a Patreon now! Click the link and sign up for a new episode that's an addendum to our previous Orval Faubus series! https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-episode-1-119364745?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

43) The Angel of Ava

Release Date: 12/22/2024

Duration: 35 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: This episode, the "Christmas Special", tells the story of the Angel of Ava, a mysterious man who helped the people of Ava, Missouri in the winter into spring of 1940. We also give a brief history of Douglas County, Missouri and talk about Uline a lot more than I realized

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

42) Ernest "By Golly" Schilling

Release Date: 12/15/2024

Duration: 26 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The life story of a true Ozarks character, a man of somewhat mysterious origins who traveled extensively around the region working as a sign painter and artist.

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

41) A History of Beaver Lake

Release Date: 12/9/2024

Duration: 46 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: This episode is exactly as the title suggests: a history of Beaver Lake. Beaver Lake is a reservoir of the White River (one of many) and provides drinking water for much of Northwest Arkansas

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

40) John Battenfield & the Incoming Kingdom Missionary Unit

Release Date: 11/24/2024

Duration: 38 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: This episode gives the history of Gilbert, Arkansas "the coolest in town in Arkansas" and the story of John Battenfield, a religious prophet who set up an intentional community on the banks of the Buffalo River in the 1920s

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

39) Jean Wallace, the Mountain Maid of Roaring River

Release Date: 11/10/2024

Duration: 54 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: We discuss Jean Wallace, a self-claimed clairvoyant and homesteader of the rural southern Missouri Ozarks. A decent amount of discussion of Ozarks folk magic belief, including water witching/dowsing rods/divining rods (depending on who you ask) and dare I say, some high brow poop jokes

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

38) Cabin Orgy Deaths + Show Announcement

Release Date: 10/27/2024

Duration: 30 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: A shorter episode today, about some scandalous deaths in Fayetteville, Arkansas, not long after the end of prohibition. Also, an announcement about how episode releases are going to slow down for a couple of months because we are all very busy.

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

37) The Oklahoma Octopus

Release Date: 10/20/2024

Duration: 41 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: We have decided to go silly after the story of Orval Faubus. We discuss the Oklahoma Octopus, modern cryptozoology, octopuses in the Ozarks and the Lake Conway Monster. Also, the history of Cookson, Oklahoma and Tenkiller Ferry Lake

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

36) Orval Faubus Part 5 - The Rest of the Story (It Doesn’t Get Better)

Release Date: 10/13/2024

Duration: 76 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: We finally see the end of Orval’s time as governor and the rest of his life, and it doesn’t improve. Murder, suicide, and torture all make a major appearance in this episode. But so does Fay Jones, so, have some fun

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

35) Orval Faubus Part 4 - The Little Rock Crisis

Release Date: 10/6/2024

Duration: 68 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: This episode is about the defining legacy of Orval Faubus- violent resistance to integration in the Little Rock School District against federal orders after the Brown vs The Board of Education ruling

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

34) Orval Faubus Part 3 - Governor Faubus

Release Date: 9/29/2024

Duration: 55 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: Back to the main story of Orval Faubus, this week focuses primarily on his first term as governor, which is more politically progressive than not. We meet the White Citizens Council, a racist political group that ultimately influences Orval into the segregationist camp, and, as usual, talk lot about rural Arkansas high schools.

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

33) Commonwealth College

Release Date: 9/22/2024

Duration: 66 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: This week, we take a brief detour from Orval Faubus to discuss Commonwealth College, a short-lived leftist radical labor college in the rural Arkansas Ouachitas. I know the timing of this release is odd, in the middle of a series, but it makes sense! Orval Faubus is an alumni of sorts, after all

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

32) Orval Faubus Part 2 - The Pre-Governor Years

Release Date: 9/15/2024

Duration: 59 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: In the second episode about the life and times of Orval Faubus, we learn about his short-lived attendance at Commonwealth College, a left-wing work college in the rural Arkansas Ouachitas, followed by his experiences in Europe during World War Two. Then, we learn about his early political career, culminating in his election as Arkansas Governor in 1954.

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

31) Orval Faubus Part 1 - Meet the Faubuses

Release Date: 9/8/2024

Duration: 66 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: This is the first episode of a full series on Orval Faubus, the 36th governor of Arkansas. Orval's legacy rightfully focuses on his staunch segregationist policies, but if you look at his story, you can clearly see how American politics has always and will always be the same. This episode focuses more on Orval's father Sam, a prominent member of the Socialist Party in the Ozarks, and the history of Socialism in the Ozarks before its decline following World War I. We also learn about other family members, including a country singing brother named Doyle, and learn about Orval's childhood and some of his pre-political career adult years.

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

30) Round Top Mountain Plane Crash

Release Date: 9/1/2024

Duration: 58 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: In our loosest episode to date, we hear the story of a B-25 bomber that crashed on a mountain in rural Arkansas, on a site that is now a hiking trail. We also learn about a few more plane crashes in Arkansas and beyond. We also just chit chat for a lot longer than usual, discussing baseball, hiking trails throughout the Ozark National Forest, donkey basketball, flying on little planes from small town airports, Gus's childhood interest in ventriloquism and multiple hosts meeting Bill Clinton, among other things

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

29) Maud Duncan

Release Date: 8/25/2024

Duration: 54 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The story of Maud Duncan, the first woman to be elected mayor in the state of Arkansas, as well as her role as the long time editor of the Winslow American newspaper. We also discuss rural Arkansas school consolidation, the Olympics, sports in general, and Daniel's long-standing dislike of horses/horsepeople. In fact, from about 16:00-24:00, we are off topic the whole time!

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

28) Bullfrog Valley Gang

Release Date: 8/18/2024

Duration: 26 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: This week, down a cohost, we discuss the history of Bullfrog Valley, an area of the Southern Ozarks in Arkansas and the valley's most famous occupants, a gang of counterfeiters known as the Bullfrog Valley Gang. Also some discussions of headless horsemen and Quiz Bowl

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

27) The Lost Radium Mine of Butler Hollow, Missouri

Release Date: 8/11/2024

Duration: 34 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: This week, we learn about and discuss a found, hidden and lost radium mine, somewhere deep in the Mark Twain National Forest in the Southern Missouri Ozarks. (Specifically, the Piney Creek Wilderness area of the Mark Twain Natoional Forest)

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

26) Henry "Doodie" Tennison

Release Date: 8/4/2024

Duration: 37 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: In this episode, after an overview of Ghost Mountain, an allegedly haunted mountain near Fayetteville, we get into the story of Doodie, a student at the University of Arkansas and suspect in the infamous, unsolved Texarkana Moonlight Murders. We also talk about Fayetteville food trucks for a while

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

25) Dinosaur World

Release Date: 7/28/2024

Duration: 31 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: After the opening five minutes, mostly discussing Daniel's work injury history, we get to the story of Dinosaur World, a now abandoned sculpture park in Beaver, Arkansas. We also learn the history of the town of Beaver itself

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

24) The Widows of Seneca, Missouri

Release Date: 7/21/2024

Duration: 40 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: Some slight audio issues in this episode, which is the story of how Seneca, Missouri became a haven for widows in the early 20th century. Also some fun facts about quartz, radio stations and liquor store side-hustles

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

23) Valentine Tapley and His Beard

Release Date: 7/14/2024

Duration: 29 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: Down a host and outside of the Ozarks in northeast Missouri, we tackle the tale of Valentine Tapley's beard. We also supplement the last episode a little bit, despite no connection between the stories

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

22) Hallie's Rest Stop and Zoo

Release Date: 7/7/2024

Duration: 48 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: This episode is essentially a short, incomplete history of logging in the Ozarks, from the early 20th century through to the modern impacts of the industry, disguised as one man's attempt to build a tourist trap in the middle of the very rural Arkansas Ozarks. Smokey the Bear makes a guest appearance

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

21) Hornet Spooklight

Release Date: 6/30/2024

Duration: 61 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: This episode is everything you need to know about the Hornet Spooklight, from fact to fiction to folklore. Also a couple of ghost stories from the guys

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

20) Tuscumbia Space Penguins

Release Date: 6/23/2024

Duration: 58 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The story of a supposed alien encounter in the rural Missouri Ozarks. Also, some history for some communities in Miller County, Missouri, topped off with a bit of UFO/cryptid talk from the boys

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

19) The Wizard of Oto

Release Date: 6/16/2024

Duration: 42 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The story of the Wizard of Oto, a mysterious, unknown man in the rural Missouri Ozarks, who, much to the disappointment of the co-hosts, did his best to provide medicine and healing to locals and wasn't a literal wizard

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

18) Old Mike

Release Date: 6/9/2024

Duration: 28 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: In our first episode completely outside of the Ozarks, we tell and discuss the story of Old Mike, a mysterious traveling salesman throughout south Arkansas in the early 1900s and the bizarre story of what happened after his death in Prescott, Arkansas

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

17) The Tutt-Everett War Part 2

Release Date: 6/2/2024

Duration: 58 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The violent conclusion of the Tutt-Everett War, followed by the story of two of Hamp Tutt's sons. The tale Davis Tutt and his infamous shootout with Wild Bill Hickok on the Springfield square, concluded by Lewis Tutt, from his childhood in bondage to his role as an influential member of Springfield, Missouri's Black community post-Civil War. We also discuss the Ozarks continued willful ignorance of the history and legacy of slavery in the region. And of course, we talk a lot about bagpiping

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

16) The Tutt-Everett War Part 1

Release Date: 5/26/2024

Duration: 56 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: This episode begins with a long look at the removal of the Osage Nation from their ancestral home of the Ozarks, before we begin with the story of the Tutt-Everett War, a political power struggle in the early days of White and European settlement into the newly founded state of Arkansas. We also talk quite a bit about the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. https://www.osageculture.com Donations can be made to the Osage Nation today, for community development and historic preservation.

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

15) McDonald Territory

Release Date: 5/12/2024

Duration: 42 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: What happens when a county with a tourism heavy economy in southwestern Missouri feels slighted by the department of transportation? They become their own country! If it was serious or not is up to you to decide

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

14) The Eureka Baby

Release Date: 5/5/2024

Duration: 44 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: Down a host this week, we discuss The Eureka Baby, an infamous hoax in the early history of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, along with some talks of some other early Eureka Springs history. We also discuss multiple adaptations of the musical Cats, if you don't wanna hear that, skip to 6:30

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

13) Osage Baptist Church IED Incident

Release Date: 4/28/2024

Duration: 48 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The story of a failed bombing attempt in the very rural Ozarks that just leads to more questions than answers

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

12) The Blue Man - was there a Bigfoot in The Ozarks?

Release Date: 4/21/2024

Duration: 45 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: A discussion about The Blue Man of Spring Creek, an early wild man/bigfoot tale of the Missouri Ozarks, plus a few more around Arkansas and Oklahoma. Also, we talk about Rob Lowe and Anthony Weiner

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

11) The Ponca, Arkansas Truck Wreck Epidemic

Release Date: 4/14/2024

Duration: 26 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: A two-person episode discussing when the tourism town of Ponca, Arkansas was repeatedly attacked by out of control 18-wheelers. Also some classic rural Arkansas highway chats

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

10) Cleburne County Draft War

Release Date: 4/7/2024

Duration: 48 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The story of the most notorious of the World War I draft resistances in Arkansas. Raymond's history background really shines in this episode

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

9) I-44 Dynamite Truck Explosion

Release Date: 3/31/2024

Duration: 27 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The story of a strike, a scab, and a shot heard 'round the world (well, Springfield, Missouri)

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

8) Dardanelle Pontoon Bridge

Release Date: 3/24/2024

Duration: 19 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: Another short episode, a discussion about the Dardanelle pontoon bridge, which is exactly what it sounds like. This is the first episode that is technically outside the boundary of the Ozarks, but just barely. Hope you like bridges! We'll be back to a full episode next week

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

7) Hermann Jaeger

Release Date: 3/17/2024

Duration: 46 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The story of how a Swiss immigrant and viticulturist in the Missouri Ozarks saved the French wine industry. Also, a lot of discussion about fast food places in Harrison, Arkansas

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

6) Henry Starr

Release Date: 3/10/2024

Duration: 34 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The life and death of outlaw, bank robber and movie star Henry Starr. Also, a couple of subplots into other outlaws, gangs and lawmen of the Ozarks in the late 19th & early 20th centuries

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

5) Ozark Medieval Fortress

Release Date: 3/3/2024

Duration: 17 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The rise and fall of the Ozark Medieval Fortress, a tourist attraction in rural Boone County, Arkansas. This episode is shorter than normal and half the hosts are absent, but we will be back to normal next week!

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

4) Heber Springs Water Panther

Release Date: 2/25/2024

Duration: 32 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: This tangent heavy episode tells the tale of the water panther, from its appearance in Native American folklore in the Great Lakes region, to its surprising modern day update. Lots and lots of reservoir talk, essentially, a brief preview of what a podcast called “Reservoir Hogs” would be 

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

3) Gwen Shaw & the End-time Handmaidens

Release Date: 2/18/2024

Duration: 44 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The life story of Gwen Shaw, from her childhood in Canada, to her worldwide travels and finally her arrival in the Arkansas Ozarks, with the founding of the fringe Pentecostal group, the End-time Handmaidens. We also discuss allegations that the group is a cult (we're not saying they're a cult)

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No

2) The Gowrow

Release Date: 2/11/2024

Duration: 29 Mins

Authors: Sharp Woolston, Daniel Smiley, Gustav Carlson, Raymond Mathis

Description: The tale of the Gowrow, a true Ozarks original cryptid. We also talk Vance Randolph, rural Arkansas highways (again) and go over a handful of other Ozarks & Arkansas reptilian cryptids

Is Closed Captioned: No

Explicit: No