The Art Box

The Art Box - Episode 408 - Oral Story Telling is Art - Meet Brad McMullen

At the 41st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, we sit down with Brad McMullen, the Nevada Arts Council’s Folklife Specialist and Nevada State Folklorist, to explore a simple but powerful idea: oral storytelling is art.
From cowboy poetry stages to kitchen tables, Brad reminds us that stories passed from voice to voice carry history, identity, humor, and hard-earned wisdom. We talk about what makes a story “folk,” why tradition isn’t static, and how communities preserve themselves through narrative. It’s a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about memory, culture, and the living art of telling a good story.

The Art Box - Episode 407 - Art Is an Emotional Connection: A Fun Chat with Gus Brackett

We slipped out of our remote recording perch in the Cedar Media Room and wandered over to the Conference Center to spend some time with our friend Gus Brackett.
Gus wears a lot of hats — rancher, husband, dad, columnist, young adult author — and I’m proud to add friend to that list.
The plan? A quick five-minute update.
The reality? An hour-long conversation that I didn’t want to end.
Since I’d left the “official” recording gear back at the remote studio, we captured this one on my cell phone. So you’ll hear the hum of the gathering — folks chatting, boots shuffling, laughter rolling through the background. It’s real, it’s unpolished, and it fits Gus perfectly.
Our conversation wandered the wide range of topics you’d expect from a modern-day rancher-thinker:
Gus’ belief that “Art is an emotional connection between two people.”
The mythology of outlaws.
His young adult writing journey.
Artificial Intelligence (the digital kind — as opposed to the ranch version, Artificial Insemination).
And the daily adventure of keeping up with his kids.
You can find Gus’s books — including his award-winning Badger Thurston series — on Amazon. If you enjoy thoughtful Western storytelling grounded in lived experience, you’ll want to saddle up with his work.
Sometimes the best conversations aren’t planned. They just happen when you walk across the parking lot and decide to stay awhile.

The Art Box - Episode 406 - Parking Lot Serendipity: Nevada Travel Meets The Art Box in Elko

Sometimes the best conversations aren’t scheduled — they just happen.
At the 41st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, we rolled into the parking lot and, as luck would have it, arrived at the exact same time as our friends from Travel Nevada, Megg Mueller, Ali Anderson, and Alexandria Olivares-Wenzel. What started as a quick hello turned into an impromptu Art Box episode celebrating storytelling, sense of place, and the magic of Nevada’s wide-open spaces.
We talk about why events like the Cowboy Poetry Gathering matter, how travel connects culture and community, and what makes Nevada such a compelling place to explore, from its rural traditions to its creative heartbeat. There’s laughter, a little bit of behind-the-scenes tourism insight, and that unmistakable Elko energy that brings people together year after year.
Proof that sometimes the most authentic Nevada stories begin right there in the parking lot.
Find out more about the great things Travel Nevada does in our state: https://travelnevada.biz/
 

The Art Box - Episode 405 - Kinda Cowgirl Poetry - Meet Leigh Ratterman

We were delighted to discover Leigh Ratterman during a Poetry Open Mic session. Her prose lives playfully on the “I’m just learning to be a cowboy” side of the ledger—light, airy, self-aware, and full of charm. There’s an authenticity to her voice that draws you in right away.
Leigh has a wonderful story to tell and is so easy to visit with that we’re already hoping she’ll return for a full-length episode. We have a feeling our listeners are going to love her as much as we did.
You can follow Leigh on Instagram at @leigh_ratterman and @kinda_cowgirl_poetry.

The Art Box - Episode 404 - Unrequited Friendship - Larry Hillberg

We first met Larry four years ago at the Gathering, sharing the media room in the Elko Convention Hall. From that very first conversation, it was clear, Larry always has a story ready to tell. This year, I was lucky enough to capture three of them on the recorder. Don’t get too excited just yet, we’re releasing one for now, and saving the other two for our Harvest of Thought 2026 special coming this October.
Larry Hillberg has been broadcasting since 2001, starting with years of early morning radio before stepping into his current role as part of the long-running, extraordinary Saturday roots music mix at KVMR. He treasures every minute he spends behind the mic. What he values most is KVMR’s identity as the “Voice of the Community,” amplifying the work of hundreds of nonprofit organizations and individuals across its listening area.
Imagine a radio station powered by a small paid staff, sustained entirely through its own fundraising, memberships, and underwriters—supported in every conceivable way by hundreds of volunteers—where all on-air broadcasting is done by unpaid community members. It sounds impossible. And yet, for more than three decades, KVMR has been doing exactly that.
Find out more about Larry here: https://www.kvmr.org/users/larry-hillberg/
 

The Art Box - Episode 417 - Almost Heaven, Three Friends and a Mic

In our little hometown of Mesquite, creativity is always brewing around Mesquite Plaza, especially in the space between Juniper Outpost and the STEAM Center. This is the story of how three friends came together to craft a song that captures the spirit of our town, fueled by laughter, wordplay, and the magic that happens when you bring a talented singer into the mix.
Yes, we know Episode 417 is a bit out of order. Between wrapping up our Cowboy Poetry series and keeping our regular schedule rolling, things got a little… discombobulated. But hey — it’s our podcast, and we reserve the right to shuffle the deck now and then.
So sit back and enjoy Dave Siriani, DJ Van Dyke, and Steve as we chuckle our way through the origins of this little ditty. Stick around until the end to hear our musical masterpiece come to life.
We are really, really. really going to miss Dave and Charlotte and their Juniper Outpost.
 

The Art Box - Episode 403 — Cowboy Meditations with Gary Milliken

Recorded live at the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, this episode of The Art Box features a thoughtful conversation with filmmaker Gary Milliken and his wife Gail about Gary’s evocative film Cowboy Meditations. The film centers on cowboy and poet Dick Gibford, capturing his words, spirit, and reflections on life, the land, and the enduring traditions of the West. Blending poetry, imagery, and the quiet rhythm of cowboy philosophy, the project offers a contemplative bridge between modern audiences and the timeless wisdom of western heritage. Gary shares the inspiration behind the film, the creative journey of bringing Dick’s story to the screen, and why voices like his continue to resonate so deeply today.
Find out more at: https://cowboymeditations.com/
 

The Art Box - Episode 402 - Steering With My Knees - Meet Ben Larson

In this episode, we ride along with Montana storyteller and musician Ben Larson, whose work lives somewhere between western folk tradition and what he calls interstellar honkytonk. From tales of family, friends, and life on the road to reflections shaped by years spent working outdoors, Ben’s songs and writing capture the spirit of the modern rural West with honesty and heart. Broadcasting from his home base in Philipsburg, Ben has self-published four albums, three nonfiction books, and two poetry collections—and he’s currently on a musical quest to perform in all 56 counties of Montana, with 42 already behind him. You can find Ben at: http://oldmanben.com
 

The Art Box – Episode 412 - Where Music Awakens: Inside the Southern Nevada Symphony

In an absolute delight of an episode of The Art Box, we sit down with Susan Thiriot, director of the Southern Nevada Symphony Orchestra, as she prepares for the upcoming “A New World” concert on February 28. With over forty years of musical experience and one of the few female conductors in the nation, Thiriot shares her passion for inspiring confidence in young musicians now joining the orchestra in record numbers. Blending seasoned performers with student artists, the ensemble embodies her belief that music brings joy, hope, and unity across generations. For Thiriot, live music isn’t just performance, it’s a soundbath that reorders the chaos of life and awakens something deep within us.
We are so excited for the opening performance, please join us at the Virgin Valley High School 820 Valley View Drive Mesquite, NV 89027 for a Saturday February 28th afternoon matinee at 3 PM. Tickets can be purchased online at: https://www.snsymphony.com/

The Art Box - Episode 401 - Hiraeth: A Home the Heart Still Knows - Jessica Schley

In Episode 401 of The Art Box, we welcome Jessica Schley, writer, rider, realtor, rancher, and fierce advocate for the land.
Raised on a multigenerational working cattle and horse ranch in California’s Happy Canyon, Jessica grew up steeped in old cowboy stories, ranching traditions, and a deep respect for rangelands. Her latest book, Roots & Resilience: California Ranchers in Their Own Words, brings together the voices of 17 ranchers across the Golden State, weaving stories, poems, and essays that honor both heritage and hard-earned wisdom.
Jessica joins us fresh from the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, where she debuted new work and carried forward the tradition of ranch storytelling. As a recipient of the Della Johns Scholarship, named for the Nevada ranch woman who helped found the Gathering, Jessica embodies the strong, steady voice of women whose labor and leadership sustain both family ranches and rural culture.
Beyond the page, Jessica serves on the Legacy Council for the California Rangeland Trust, advocating for collaboration between ranchers and conservationists. With a background in rangeland ecology and land conservation policy from UC Berkeley, she brings both heart and science to the conversation, championing what she calls “Carhartt Conservationism”: finding common ground to steward the land for future generations.
This episode is about roots, resilience, collaboration, and the enduring belief that ranchers are conservationists, storytellers, and essential caretakers of the American West.
Click here to learn more about Jessica: https://www.jessicateonaschley.com/