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Curious Cousins OK Podcast
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All things Kooky and Spooky in the Sooner (or Cowboy) state! Native Oklahomans and cousins, Jess and Tiff, explore all the dark history, paranormal, and true crime in their home state.
23episodes
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Ep 159 OK Cold Cases
Mar 600:45:05Tap to summarizeIn a departure from our usual schedule, this week we are slowing down to look backward. Driven by a surge of missing persons reports, and a personal desire to cut through the noise of a busy season, we are revisiting three names that the world has begun to whisper, but must never forget."Time heals all wounds" is a lie told to those who aren't waiting for a phone call that never comes. In this episode, we explore why a case only truly goes "cold" when the public stops looking. We discuss the shifting landscape of 2026, where forensic genealogy is turning decades-old dead ends into DNA matches, and why your memory of a "minor" detail from years ago might be the final piece of a family's puzzle.We also take a quick look at 3 "cold" Oklahoma cases: Billy “Wild Bill” Lange (2016): A ranch hand with a steady routine who vanished from a job site near Binger, Oklahoma. His truck was found abandoned on I-40, but Bill—and his cracked glasses—were nowhere to be found.James Curt “Kirt” Peavy (2016): He walked away from a home in Broken Bow with a payroll check in his pocket and never looked back. Ten years later, his family is still haunted by a three-minute call from a blocked number that serves as his final footprint.Ondre Vondell Ogans (2007): A Tulsa man who left on a bicycle to meet a friend and never returned. We discuss the suspicious circumstances of his disappearance and the fears that he may have been targeted for his sexual orientation.We break down the data driving modern investigations:The Scale: There are currently over 26,200 active missing persons cases and 15,480 unidentified remains in the NamUs system.The Hope: Forensic science is peaking. In 2025 alone, breakthroughs in degraded DNA samples solved multiple "Jane Doe" cases from the 70s and 80s.The Power of You: A 1% increase in the national homicide clearance rate means hundreds of families get answers. Public awareness is the fuel for that progress.Justice doesn't have an expiration date. If you traveled I-40 in March 2016, or lived in Broken Bow or Tulsa during these disappearances, listen closely. You might be the witness who doesn't know they are one."To those who are missing: we are still looking. We haven't forgotten you, and we won't stop until your story has its final sentence."Links & Resources:OSBI Cold Case Tipline: (580) 248-4050Tulsa Police Department: (918) 596-9143National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)Sources:NameUSOSBI Cold CasesOK Cold CasesThe Charley ProjectMissing & Murdered FB PageTPD Unsolved Crimes
Transcribe →EP 158 Belvidere Mansion
Feb 2000:48:17Tap to summarizeEpisode 158: The "Belle" of Rogers County – The Belvidere MansionIn this episode, we travel to Claremore, Oklahoma, to explore the Belvidere Mansion, a three-story Victorian Gothic "castle" with a history as grand as its four turrets. Built at the turn of the 20th century by wealthy entrepreneur John Melville Bayless, this 9,000-square-foot masterpiece was meant to be a dream home—but it quickly became a site of tragedy and transition.From its origins as a high-society residence to its stints as a specialized hospital for "blood diseases" and a 12-unit apartment complex, the Belvidere has seen it all. We dive into the life of the ambitious Bayless family, the eerie "Kooky Facts" surrounding the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair materials hidden in the walls, and the heartbreaking string of deaths that left the mansion filled with more than just memories.The Highlights--The Visionary: The story of John Melville Bayless, the man who built Claremore's infrastructure but died just six months before his "dream home" was finished.Architectural Salvage: How pieces of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair ended up as permanent fixtures in an Oklahoma mansion.The Darker Years: The mansion’s transformation into the Cinnabar Hospital in 1919 and its eventual slide into disrepair as a "condemned hazard."The Residents Who Never Left: From the "friendly" ghost of John Bayless greeting guests on the porch to the tragic, lingering presence of his daughter Bland and the "distraught woman" of the 1940s.Modern Day: A look at the mansion's rebirth via the Rogers County Historical Society, featuring a tea room (The Pink House), a genealogical library, and a ballroom that still hosts weddings today.Spook Scale--We discuss the "hotspots" identified by paranormal investigators, including:The Basement: Disembodied footsteps and "ghost stick figures" captured on SLS cameras.The Second Floor: The most active area, where visitors report the sensation of a rope burn on their necks and whispers asking, "Who are you?"The Self-Flushing Toilets: Because even spirits appreciate indoor plumbing.Plan Your Visit--If you’re brave enough to visit the Belvidere in person, here is what’s on the 2026 calendar:Dine: Grab lunch at The Pink House (Mon–Sat, 11 AM – 2 PM).Events:Stargazers Gathering: March 12, 2026.Nightcap at the Belvidere (Tales of the Macabre): April 26, 2026.Kentucky Derby Garden Party: May 3, 2026.Sources:Rogers County Historical SocietyTravelOKLegends of AmericaClaremore Museum of HistoryGhosts and Legends of Oklahoma by Mike RickseckerOklahoma's Haunted Route 66 by Tanya McCoyOHS - Claremore
Transcribe →Ep 157: OK Black Rodeo
Feb 1300:45:12Tap to summarizeEpisode 157: OK Black Rodeo – The Dust, The Duty, and The DynastyIn this episode, Tiff kicks up the red dirt of Oklahoma to uncover a history often "whitewashed" out of the Hollywood Western: the formidable legacy of the Black cowboy. From the "Soul Circuit" of all-Black towns to the modern-day "Super Bowls" of rodeo, we explore how Oklahoma became the epicenter of a movement where skill met defiance.We dive into the linguistic origins of the word "cowboy"—originally a derogatory label that Black riders reclaimed as a badge of honor—and trace the 100-year history of the Boley Rodeo, a Memorial Day tradition born in one of America's wealthiest historic all-Black towns.The 1-in-4 Statistic: Despite mainstream narratives, roughly 25% of cowboys on the 19th-century trail were Black. Oklahoma’s unique status as Indian Territory made it a sanctuary for skilled Black, Native American, and Mexican riders.Boley & Okmulgee: We break down the differences between these two titans. Boley is the historical soul, while Okmulgee (home of the Roy LeBlanc Invitational) is the professional heart.The Legend of Bill Pickett: Meet the "Dusky Demon," the Oklahoman who revolutionized the sport by inventing bulldogging (steer wrestling)—a technique inspired by herding dogs.Modern Shifts: We discuss the major 2026 news: the Roy LeBlanc Invitational's historic move from Okmulgee to Shawnee to accommodate its massive, growing audience.If you're ready to trade the headphones for the grandstands, we’ve got your 2026 roadmap. So listen in as we celebrate the "Soul Circuit"—a world where the DJ plays R&B, the BBQ is legendary, and the riders are some of the best in the world.Sources:University of IllinoisOklahoma State UniversityTamron Hall Show Boley RodeoBill Pickett RodeoMVSKOKE Media
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