Powwows, pheasants and peace pipes.

We (Armchair Productions) have just launched another three podcast episodes for Travel South Dakota and I love it that we keep finding such amazing experiences (and stories) in the state of infinite variety. I research, write and and host the Travel South Dakota Stories podcast series. In this series we go pheasant hunting, fishing for walleye, join in the country's biggest powwow in Rapid City and follow the trail of Lewis and Clark.

EPISODE 10 HEROES OF THE HUNT In South Dakota, hunting and fishing traditions run deep, woven into the very fabric of the state's culture. Folks travel from across the country to experience the pheasant hunting capital of the world and to cast for walleye in the state's serene rivers and lakes. Join host Brian Thacker at Thunderstik Lodge, one of South Dakota's premier pheasant-hunting retreats, for a hunt alongside veteran guides and some of the happiest bird dogs you'll ever meet. Then we hit the water, jigging for walleye and saugeye on the wide Missouri River and beneath the hydroelectric dam at Lake Francis Case. But it's not just about the hunting and fishing - it's about sportsmanship, storytelling, respect for nature and sharing the day's abundance. LISTEN HERE

EPISODE 11 THE POWWOW SPIRIT The Black Hills Powwow in Rapid City is the biggest powwow in the United States, where dancers, singers, artists and spectators come from across North America to honor the spirit and beauty of the Great Plains Indigenous culture. The powwow comes alive through handcrafted regalia and the spirited dancers who embody history. Join us as we take in the sounds and stories from this enduring celebration that bridges generations and cultures.

LISTEN HERE

EPISODE 12 LEWIS & CLARK AND THE TETON SIOUX There are two sides to every story. That's especially true when Lewis and Clark met the Teton Sioux. Their 1804 journey through South Dakota wasn’t just about exploration — it was where two worlds met along the Missouri River. Long before the Corps of Discovery arrived, Boyd Gourneau, chairman of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, says his ancestors and other Indigenous tribes had already built full lives here, rooted in storytelling and protecting the land. When Lewis and Clark reached Fort Pierre, they encountered the Teton Sioux at Fischers Lilly Park — a meeting that began in ceremony and curiosity but soon turned uneasy as trust gave way to tension. In this this episode, host Brian Thacker sits down with guests to revisit that moment through both Native and explorer eyes, revealing how hope, pride and misunderstanding shaped one of America’s most powerful early encounters. LISTEN HERE