High Country and Handmade: Stories of the western craft and way of life
High Country and Handmade dives deep into the world of western craftsmanship, leatherwork, and the people who keep tradition alive. Hosted by Frank Sievers of Standing S Leather in Idaho, each episode brings raw conversations with makers, ranchers, musicians, and storytellers from the high country. Whether you’re into handmade gear, cowboy culture, or just real stories told straight, this podcast is where western grit meets honest craftsmanship. 🎧 New episodes every [week/other week]. Follow and rate the show on Spotify to help more folks discover it!
Episodes
Cooney, a professional trapper with nearly 50 seasons under his belt, shares his journey from northeast Nevada to northeast Oklahoma, covering beaver, bobcat, coyote and nuisance trapping across private and public lands.
The episode walks through practical trapping techniques (landlines, pond dams, snares, drags), bait and lure making and sales, working with ranchers and state agencies, gear tips, memorable field stories and managi...
Join us for a great conversation with Mr. Larry Bennett, a lifelong outdoorsman from Montana. We talk about everything from prepping his traps,the challenges of trapping wolves and coyotes under changing seasons and regulations and everything else we can think of
He also discusses gear and bait tricks, building a small fur and leather business for retirement, and how wildlife, weather, and land access shape his hunting and t...
A little bit of something for everyone in this episode as Adam Dombrowski of Skki Knives shares his journey from learning bladesmithing as a teen to serving with the 101st, starting a custom knife business out of his parents' basement, and finding sudden social media success. The episode covers knife-making techniques, business decisions like drops vs. custom orders, and practical marketing tips that helped his Instagram grow.
Eric (Nordic Tales and American Trails) and Frank (High Country and Handmade) share a cross-posted episode exploring dog hunting across Sweden and the U.S. This is a very special episode to me, I learned a bunch and in my view, gained a new friend.
We cover breeds (Laikas, blue ticks, plot hounds, Karelian), seasons and regulations, training approaches, solo vs. pack hunting, and Frank's leatherworking and breeding perspectives.&nb...
Mr McNasty himself joins us again to discuss predator control: why targeted, preventative work matters for livestock and wildlife, especially during drought and fawn season. The conversation covers the impacts of coyotes, bobcats, wolves and grizzlies on pronghorn and mule deer, and how laws and politics can complicate management.
The episode also dives into practical trapping tactics, equipment, mentorship and ethical debates&mdas...
Thank you for joining us for a great conversation with Litehounds, we shoot the shit about damn near anything we can think of and end up running out of time. We could have went a couple more hours pretty easy. Check them out and let us know what we can do better. Thank you for following us and joining the shit show. Check out everything they have at Litehounds on instagram, facebook and TikTok. Standing S Leather
High Country...
We have a great visit with Josh Beesley of Snake River Hat Company. We discuss Josh’s journey from leatherwork and knife-making to building custom hats, the craft involved in beaver felt hats, and running a small handmade business while managing ranch life.
The conversation also covers hound hunting, family, wildfire impacts, and balancing passion with work. Check out Snake River Hat Company and follow the journey as they con...
Bonnie of Alaska Spirit Crafts shares her life long journey from living off‑grid in Alaska to settling in Alabama, explaining how she got started and where she is now in her career in fur sewing. She discusses her specialties—mostly hats and mittens—how she sources tanned pelts, and why she stopped tanning herself.
The conversation covers life with dogs, trapping and hunting stories, unusual customer requests, and the w...
Jesica Smith joins me again to take a dive into predictive programming, subliminal messaging, and how media may prime public perception—from The Simpsons to conspiracy theories about elites. Their wide-ranging chat touches on AI companionship and manipulation, the effects of social media on mental health, the impact of COVID, and changing cultural norms.
We also discuss prepping, survival skills, and community resilience in a...
In this episode of High Country and Handmade the I sit down with Nashville-based singer-songwriter Sean Tobin to talk about his move from New Jersey, the realities of life on the road, and the songwriting process behind tracks like the story-driven “0-9 base line wage” and other songs telling of a life well lived and traveled.
We cover side hustles and creativity — from leatherwork (always end up talking about tha...
Travis Chilson shares stories from the trapline, practical gear and dog-handling tips, and his lifelong interest in archaeology and natural history.
We also cover predator control, wildlife policy, and the political battles affecting hunting, trapping, and conservation today. What I thought was going to be a pretty straightforward conversation had more twists and turns then a roller coaster. Just the way we like our conversations. ...
On the newest episode we have the privilege of interviewing Camellia Cann, a North Idaho criminal defense attorney turned crime novelist. They discuss her two published thrillers and an upcoming summer-set third book, her writing process, self-publishing and editing choices, and the idea of seasonal releases to match a book's atmosphere.
We also discuss my hobbies—hound hunting, dog training, leatherwork—plus the challe...
Join Shane Mowery of Bone Maniacs for a candid conversation about hound hunting, trapping, bobcat and bear encounters, and the pressures facing rural life and wildlife management.
This episode blends field stories, trapline and archery updates, debates on predators and policy, and reflections on self‑reliance and preserving outdoor traditions.
Guest Rusty Kramer, president of the Idaho Trappers Association and the National Trappers Association, discusses trapping life in Southern Idaho — the challenges of an odd winter, low catches, and shifting species trends including wolves, bobcats, skunks, porcupines, otter and muskrats.
The episode also covers changing fur markets and niche demands, fur sale events and demonstrations, conservation and advocacy work by ITA/NTA...
Adam Joad of Scattered Hamlet discusses the band’s roots, blending country life with heavy music, the role of TikTok in their growth, and how authenticity shapes their songs and covers.
They also share personal stories about leatherworking, hunting, firearms, and the realities of touring as independent musicians, plus reflections on community, respect, and staying true to where you come from.
Turner Kincaid, who runs the Average Hired Man social page, joins to share an honest look at ranch life in southern Colorado — his herd, summer mountain permits, winter feed, and running about 350 mother cows plus replacement heifers and bulls.
The episode covers why locally sold beef costs more than the live cattle market price, the true costs of feed and infrastructure, rising land and horse markets, hunting and dog trainin...
In this episode Sarah from Rockin MST Leatherworks talks about how she got into leatherworking, running a small handmade business, and balancing family life with custom orders.
Topics include tooling and patterns, pricing and selling (Etsy and craft shows), the time‑consuming nature of hand‑stitching, learning from mentors, and finding customers while living in a rural area.
Bree joins a live conversation about life on and off the homestead — sharing her journey from Instagram’s Country Living Conservative to hands-on hunting, hound and trap experiences, deer and bear hunting, and managing chickens, goats, and other animals while preparing for winter.
The episode also covers bigger themes: staying connected to where food comes from, concerns about industrial food and pharmaceuticals, issues...
Pat Cummings joins the podcast to share tales of hiking, hunting, fishing mishaps, moving to Arizona, mentoring young hunters, fitness goals, and upcoming African hunts. The episode mixes outdoor talk with personal reflections on family, a few laughs we have shared and making the most of our active years. Something we all need to focus on more often. Please like, share and subscribe if you enjoy anything we do
Bailey chats about growing up around livestock and leatherwork, learning crafts from family, and the time and care behind handmade leather goods.
We discuss pricing, patterns, the intricacies of the craft, storytelling and preserving cowboy traditions, plus the role of social media in sharing and sustaining the trade and navigating an ever changing lifestyle.
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