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<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"><channel><title>By Ox Team to California - A Narrative of Crossing the Plains in 1860</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/by-ox-team-to-california-a-narrative-of-crossing-the-plains-in-1860--7170995</link><description><![CDATA[Embark on a journey through the rugged terrain of the American frontier, where resilience and adventure intertwine in the face of adversity. This podcast invites you to explore the trials and triumphs of those who ventured westward during the tumultuous year of 1860, as they sought a new life in California. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, showcasing the narratives of pioneering families, their struggles with nature, and the unbreakable spirit that drove them forward. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that illuminate the grit and determination of early settlers. Listeners will be captivated by the vivid tales of courage, hardship, and the bonds forged along the way. Discover a new book with every episode and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of America's pioneering history, where every turn of the page reveals a new facet of the human experience.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7170995/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright Travel Genre</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg</url><title>By Ox Team to California - A Narrative of Crossing the Plains in 1860</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/by-ox-team-to-california-a-narrative-of-crossing-the-plains-in-1860--7170995</link></image><lastBuildDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:23:33 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Travel Genre</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker88@podcastlibrary.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Embark on a journey through the rugged terrain of the American frontier, where resilience and adventure intertwine in the face of adversity. This podcast invites you to explore the trials and triumphs of those who ventured westward during the...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Embark on a journey through the rugged terrain of the American frontier, where resilience and adventure intertwine in the face of adversity. This podcast invites you to explore the trials and triumphs of those who ventured westward during the tumultuous year of 1860, as they sought a new life in California. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, showcasing the narratives of pioneering families, their struggles with nature, and the unbreakable spirit that drove them forward. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that illuminate the grit and determination of early settlers. Listeners will be captivated by the vivid tales of courage, hardship, and the bonds forged along the way. Discover a new book with every episode and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of America's pioneering history, where every turn of the page reveals a new facet of the human experience.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"><itunes:category text="Places &amp; Travel"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture"/><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>7e56e9ae-66f7-5da3-9159-d0fbbabdae25</podcast:guid><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>One-Act Play Collection 015-Various</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/one-act-play-collection-015-various--74631101</link><description><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74631101</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:03:08 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74631101/one_act_play_collection_015_various.mp3" length="184081051" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son;...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>22986</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Journal of a Voyage to Lisbon-Henry Fielding</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/journal-of-a-voyage-to-lisbon-henry-fielding--74599069</link><description><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74599069</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:03:19 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74599069/journal_of_a_voyage_to_lisbon_henry_fielding.mp3" length="152635396" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son;...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>19061</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Spell of Egypt-Robert Smythe Hichens</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/spell-of-egypt-robert-smythe-hichens--74567131</link><description><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74567131</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:03:09 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74567131/spell_of_egypt_robert_smythe_hichens.mp3" length="117166751" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son;...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>14631</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Wild Life on the Rockies-Enos A. Mills</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/wild-life-on-the-rockies-enos-a-mills--74536426</link><description><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74536426</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:09:43 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74536426/wild_life_on_the_rockies_enos_a_mills.mp3" length="126040131" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son;...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>15739</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>National Geographic Magazine Vol. 04-National Geographic Society</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/national-geographic-magazine-vol-04-national-geographic-society--74505379</link><description><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74505379</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:08:57 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74505379/national_geographic_magazine_vol_04_national_geographic_society.mp3" length="251290305" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son;...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>31380</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Last of the Plainsmen-Zane Grey</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/last-of-the-plainsmen-zane-grey--74467230</link><description><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74467230</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:08:11 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74467230/2760_last_of_the_plainsmen_zane_grey.mp3" length="207244329" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son;...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25880</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Story of Geographical Discovery How the World Became Known-Joseph Jacobs</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/story-of-geographical-discovery-how-the-world-became-known-joseph-jacobs--74434855</link><description><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74434855</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:08:57 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74434855/story_of_geographical_discovery_how_the_world_became_known_joseph_jacobs.mp3" length="139896787" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son;...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>17470</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Adventures of an Ugly Girl-Elizabeth Burgoyne Corbett</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/adventures-of-an-ugly-girl-elizabeth-burgoyne-corbett--74395346</link><description><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74395346</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:49:35 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74395346/adventures_of_an_ugly_girl_elizabeth_burgoyne_corbett.mp3" length="215042887" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son;...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26853</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Days on the Road Crossing the Plains in 1865-Sarah Raymond Herndon</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/days-on-the-road-crossing-the-plains-in-1865-sarah-raymond-herndon--74352012</link><description><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74352012</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 01:42:23 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74352012/days_on_the_road_crossing_the_plains_in_1865_sarah_raymond_herndon.mp3" length="161525497" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son;...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>20171</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Dave Brings Home A Wife (dramatic reading)-Steele Rudd</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/dave-brings-home-a-wife-dramatic-reading-steele-rudd--74213738</link><description><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74213738</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:09:17 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74213738/dave_brings_home_a_wife_dramatic_reading_steele_rudd.mp3" length="47793891" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son;...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>5968</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Lift-Luck on Southern Roads-Tickner Edwardes</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/lift-luck-on-southern-roads-tickner-edwardes--74167606</link><description><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74167606</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:09:34 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74167606/lift_luck_on_southern_roads_tickner_edwardes.mp3" length="277743820" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son;...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>34683</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>American Notes-Rudyard Kipling</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/american-notes-rudyard-kipling--74121746</link><description><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74121746</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 13:01:53 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74121746/american_notes_rudyard_kipling.mp3" length="80549596" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son;...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>10059</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Adventures of a Woman Hobo-Ethel Grace Lynn</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/adventures-of-a-woman-hobo-ethel-grace-lynn--73428102</link><description><![CDATA["Adventures of a Woman Hobo" by Ethel Grace Lynn invites listeners into the remarkable journey of a woman navigating life on the fringes of society. This compelling narrative captures the resilience and resourcefulness required to survive as a hobo, revealing themes of independence and the pursuit of freedom that resonate deeply today. Lynn's experiences shed light on the struggles and triumphs of those who dare to defy societal norms and carve their own paths. Her story serves as a timeless reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the quest for belonging, making it an enduring tale that continues to inspire and provoke thought in contemporary audiences.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73428102</guid><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:01:29 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73428102/adventures_of_a_woman_hobo_ethel_grace_lynn.mp3" length="158019658" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>"Adventures of a Woman Hobo" by Ethel Grace Lynn invites listeners into the remarkable journey of a woman navigating life on the fringes of society. This compelling narrative captures the resilience and resourcefulness required to survive as a hobo,...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA["Adventures of a Woman Hobo" by Ethel Grace Lynn invites listeners into the remarkable journey of a woman navigating life on the fringes of society. This compelling narrative captures the resilience and resourcefulness required to survive as a hobo, revealing themes of independence and the pursuit of freedom that resonate deeply today. Lynn's experiences shed light on the struggles and triumphs of those who dare to defy societal norms and carve their own paths. Her story serves as a timeless reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the quest for belonging, making it an enduring tale that continues to inspire and provoke thought in contemporary audiences.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>19733</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>By Ox Team to California - A Narrative of Crossing the Plains in 1860 - Lavinia Honeyman Porter</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/by-ox-team-to-california-a-narrative-of-crossing-the-plains-in-1860-lavinia-honeyman-porter--72930651</link><description><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72930651</guid><pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 17:04:06 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72930651/by_ox_team_to_california_a_narrative_of_crossing_the_plains_in_1860_lavinia_honeyman_porter.mp3" length="140181043" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:author>Lavinia Honeyman Porter</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son;...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Imagine a young, twenty-something woman in 1860, reared “in the indolent life of the ordinary Southern girl” (which means she has never learned to cook); married to a professional man who knows “nothing of manual labor;” who is mother to a young son; and who has just found out she is pregnant with their second child. Imagine that this couple has become “embarrassed financially” by “imprudent speculations,” and that they are discussing what to do. They decide to buy a wagon and three yoke of unbroken oxen and head overland to California."We were two such precious dunces,” writes Lavinia Honeyman Porter in her autobiographical account of their journey across the plains. “In a short time the six oxen were bought, driven to our home and turned loose in our barnyard--wild brutes, as handy as with their heels as with their horns. Not one of us was brave enough to venture into the corral with them and we soon concluded we had six white elephants on our hands.” From there on in, Lavinia's adventures get worse—and then better. For those who enjoy true stories of pioneering days and happy endings, this is an enjoyable read.(Introduction by Sue Anderson)]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>17523</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>california,crossing,geography,lavinia,narrative,oxen,plains,porter,team,travel</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/137aa166a53836099f82380659d51bb1.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
