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Whitney Virden is a savvy businesswoman in Bartlesville, Oklahoma willing to share about her journey into entrepreneurship which took her from humility to tenacity. Hear about her journey of learning to lead through servant leadership as well as the boldness to stand up for herself in the business world. And when you find yourself in Bartlesville, be sure to "Bloom by" the Bloom-By Bakery and Cafe on Frank Phillips Boulevard and tell her the Calling to the Good podcast sent ya! CallingToTheGood.com

I just might love this interview above any other I've been blessed to do on the Calling to the Good podcast - and the reason for that is the heart that John England brought to it - and his willingness to share about the tough places that shaped his heart. Grab a cup of coffee and sit in on this one - I hope you love it as well! CallingToTheGood.com

Taking you inside the Lodge on the Delaware Tribe Ranch, as well as a jumping into the history and vision of the tribe - this episode of Calling to the Good finds host, Kelly Hurd, visiting and enjoying some light-hearted conversation with the Board of Directors of the Delaware Tribe Ranch - Jim Perrier, Tanayia Hubler, Dale Goode and ranch manager Shaun Scott up near Sedan, Kansas - where spacious meets spectacular! Thank you to our sponsors - the Delaware Tribe Ranch, Yellow Brick Cafe, T-Bar Mercantile, Pawhuska Western Swing Festival, and Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival Thank you to Sierra Dunkle Media Co. for the video footage and photos. Thank you to Wyatt Goode for ranch photos.

It's been 50 YEARS since Michael Martin Murphey's hit song, Wildfire, first debuted - and not only is a remake of this timeless treasure with none other than Cody Johnson now available, but Wildfire the movie hits Fandango's streaming services tomorrow, October 10, 2025!! Here's your chance to hear the backside story of how Michael wrote this hit song that was at first rejected by the executives in the industry. You'll get to hear all about the movie, as well as Michael's insight into American freedoms, our country's history, as well as his deep appreciation for music and its roots! This episode of Calling to the Good is your chance to get to know the real Michael Martin Murphey, and we think you're gonna love him!

When it comes to music, Carlos Washington loves western swing, rodeo, and cowboy classics, so it's no surprise that he's in the middle of creating his own music legacy that is timeless. Having been awarded 2018 & 2023 Songs of the Year and also having earned multiple award nominations for Western Entertainer, Performer, Group & Album of the Year, Carlos Washington is also a cowboy at heart with an engineering degree to boot! Not only will you enjoy Carlos' music, but his personality is pretty shiny too! Thanks for pulling up this episode of Calling to the Good with Carlos Washington!

With a twinkle in his eyes that reminded me of Johnny Gimble and a smile like that of Bob Wills, Jason Roberts took us on a journey down the road of where it all began for him. We talked a little Willie, we talked a little George, and of course we spent a little time Asleep at the Wheel , and then he played us out with a tune called 𝑭𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 on his fiddle. I was blessed to sit down with the man behind Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys under the direction of Jason Roberts - and the moment definitely did not disappoint! You're gonna love every minute of this one! Enjoy! Thank you to the Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival and Mr. Mike Markwardt for sponsoring this western swing series, as well as for the use of the pics in the vodcast! Also, special thanks to the Coleman Theater in Miami, Oklahoma for the use of your ballroom as our recording studio - and to Michelle Loftis for riding shotgun with me! BirthplaceOfWesternSwing.com CallingToTheGood.com

After losing two of her daughters just before Christmas in 2023, Jennifer Adair could have crumpled and crawled into her bed and never gotten up again... I can relate to her heartache as a mother, but what she did next is an inspiring story you'll want to hear. Pawhuska has a new non-profit in its midst. It's Growing Arts Pawhuska - and its founder is Jennifer Adair. Listen in as Jennifer takes time to tell her story to host, Kelly Hurd, and you just might wipe a few tears and be encouraged to choose to live again as well.

For the first time since Little House on the Prairie, actor Stan Ivar (John Carter) and Pamela Roylance (Sarah Carter) are together again on stage at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks, California - AND to make it even better, Little House's former Casting Director, Susan McCray is the play's director! Listen in as Susan, Pam, and Stan reminisce with host, Kelly Hurd, about their Little House on the Prairie days, their first impressions of Michael Landon, as well as give you a glimpse into their upcoming performance in which play attendees can even participate in a question and answer session, meet the cast, and get autographs following each performance! Find out more and get tickets at the link below:https://susanmccrayproductioncom.ludus.com/index.php

Sitting in the green room backstage at the Western Swing Festival in Snyder, Texas - Billy Mata took time to look over his shoulder back to when it all began and the journey along the way. If you're looking for greatness cloaked in humility, you'll find it in Billy Mata - along with a big heart, an unmistakable style, and one of the smoothest voices you'll ever hear! From traditional country to western swing, and from Bob Wills to Ray Price and Johnny Cash - Billy Mata makes it all his own - while making music like it used to be! BillyMataEntertainer.com I'm your host, Kelly Hurd - and I approve of this episode. ;) Thanks for traveling with me, John Hurd!

Enjoy this interview with Cary Ginell - a veteran radio broadcaster, folklorist, and author of ten books on American music. He is an award-winning writer and music historian who took a moment to sit down with host, Kelly Hurd, recently and discuss the beginnings of the western swing music genre. Through Cary's reminiscing about the days of Milton Brown, Bob Wills, and the Light Crust Doughboys, you'll feel as if you stepped back into the 1930s! Get to know Milton Brown and Bob Wills a little better through the insights of Cary Ginell. And in the opinion of Kelly Hurd - Bob Wills is still the king, of Western Swing!

It was Mother's Day at Joey and Sherry McKenzie's house down in Texas. Bob Wills' daughter, Carolyn, was there as well - when Joey McKenzie of The Western Flyers took time to sit down for a little one-on-one interview about how a fiddle-loving youth from Oregon stepped into his dream of Western Swing and found the love of his life as well! The Western Flyers | Western Swing & Country Band

Bob Wills passed from this life on May 13, 1975, and almost 50 years to the day, I got to sit down with the daughter of the King of Western Swing - Carolyn Wills - to reminisce about her childhood, talk about what it was like at her house growing up, as well as celebrate her new success as an award-winning author with her children's book, "Glory Be! It's Punkin's Story!" about her father's horse, Punkin'. Many thanks to the folks at the Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival and its founder, Mr. Michael Markwardt for sponsoring this Western Swing series on Calling to the Good! For tickets to their annual Western Swing festival in Fort Worth, Texas each year check out their website at BirthplaceOfWesternSwing.com! To order a copy of Carolyn's children's book visit BobWills.com CallingToTheGood.com

I remember Monday nights on NBC and later rushing home from school to watch Charles Ingalls and the folks of Walnut Grove on Little House on the Prairie. In this episode, we are visiting with the gal everyone just loved to hate on Little House - that notorious Nellie Oleson (aka actress Alison Arngrim)! Listen in as Alison tells us about Willie (Jonathan Gilbert), Harriet (Katherine McGregor), Charles (Michael Landon), and more! Here's your opportunity to get to know the actress behind Walnut Grove's spoiled brat and step onto the set with her way back in the day! I hope you enjoy this interview! CallingToTheGood.com

Morey Sullivan is a legend in his own time. He brought the band that Hank Thompson later dubbed The Brazos Valley Boys - and they are still playing good music today! Join us down at Good Time Charlee's in Pawhuska, Oklahoma as Morey Sullivan and host, Kelly Hurd, talk about how it all began with Hank Thompson and where it's all headed today! Also, Hank Thompson's Brazos Valley Boys will be playing at the 2025 Pawhuska Western Swing Festival the weekend of November 14-15. Find out more at PawhuskaWesternSwingFestival.com! CallingToTheGood.com

If you haven't already tuned in to American Country Network (ACN), after listening to this episode you just might want to, because ACN is airing original country music content that you're gonna love! We have two of the network's creatives on Calling to the Good today and they are also BOTH performing at the upcoming Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival in Fort Worth, Texas in November! Steve Markwardt and Curt Ryle of Clarksville Creative Sound share about their new show, "Small Town Sound," on ACN, as well as give a little insight on Country Music and its roots in Western Swing!AND - we've even included a word from ⁠Tucker Carlson⁠ on this one!I'm Kelly Hurd, your host - and consider yourself invited to join us! Thank you to the Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival for sponsoring our Western Swing series! Find out more at: BirthplaceOfWesternSwing.com CallingToTheGood.com ACNCountry.com