When summer arrives in Red Lodge, one voice that says here comes the 4th of July and the Red Lodge Home of Champions Rodeo is that of PRCA legend and longtime Rodeo announcer Doug Mathis. In this July 4th podcast special, we sit down with Doug Mathis and hear his story of 35 years behind the mic at some of the biggest rodeos in the country, including our very own Home of Champions Rodeo in Red Lodge, Montana. We talk about his life on the road and at home on the ranch outside Stephenville, Texas along with his wife Dee, daughter Shiloh, son-in-law Luke, and grandson Brodie, what it means to be “the voice” of communities like Evergreen, Colorado and Red Lodge, and how he’s seen the sport — and small towns — change over the decades.
Doug shares his story from working in the NFR media room for 26 years, appearances on the big screen, to winning prestigious awards like the 2019 WPRA Announcer of the Year. In this behind the scenes 4th of July conversation with one of rodeo’s most familiar voices you experience the authenticity and real world experience of one of rodeo’s brightest stars.

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Welcome to this episode of Red Lodge - the Podcast. Today we welcome 20-21 Red Lodge High School graduate Elijah Reynolds. After earning a full-ride football scholarship to Montana State University, Elijah played three seasons with the Bobcats before making the difficult decision to hang up his football pads and dive headfirst into the world of competitive triathlons.

Elijah shares how he navigated this decision, and the transition from a college athlete under the lights to a solo endurance racer on the open road and open water. From his first sprint races, to the 70.3 mile Victoria and 70.3 Boise Ironman events, Elijah is now training for his first full Ironman coming up this fall, 2026. The full triathlon includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run. After graduating from Montana State with a degree in Civil Engineering, Elijah now works as an engineer and discusses the journey and adventure he has taken from the gridiron to triathlons.

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Welcome to this edition of Red Lodge - Downtown, an audio space where we provide the listener with a look at various events and projects taking place in and around Red Lodge, Montana. This content opens up a glimpse into the interesting people and happenings that highlight the social fabric of this unique place that sits at the foothills of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and gateway to Yellowstone National Park.

In this downtown edition, we welcome Dr. Rick Schmidt, with the ELEVATION SCIENCE Institute. The Elevation Science Institute is stationed and operates in the summers out at the Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association, which is set on the slopes of Mount Maurice just outside of Red Lodge, Montana at the base of the scenic Beartooth Mountains. The Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association (YBRA), was founded in 1936, and is a field station that has a long history of facilitating science education and research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This non-profit organization, the YBRA, serves as a base camp for field course operations for colleges, universities and institutes.

While not officially part of the YBRA, It is here at the Yellowstone Bighorn research association, that the Elevation Science Institute headquarters each summer and brings the mission of inspiring people of all ages to explore our planet through hands-on paleontology and natural history. The Elevation Science Institute offers an exciting opportunity to work alongside scientists and dig for dinosaurs in the fossil-rich & rugged landscapes of southern Montana and northern Wyoming.

In this episode, Dr. Rick Schmidt shares what it’s like to lead field expeditions in the landscapes of southern Montana and northern Wyoming—and how everyday people can join the crew experiencing the thrill of discovery, and hands-on digs that can be a life-changing adventure for learners of any age.

Dr. Rick Schmidt is an educator, outdoorsman, and paleontologist, who grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, fell in love with the outdoors and has spent years working with the Elevation Science Institute. He is currently the director of Educational Programming and a Field Expedition Crew Chief.

His teaching has been recognized by organizations ranging from the National Association of Geoscience Teachers to the Geological Society of America,

In 2012 he received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching—the highest honor the U.S. government gives to a science teacher.

Dr. Rick Schmidt joins us for this special edition of Red Lodge - Downtown