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    Bedroom Radio

    The Elkhart Tapes is a podcast hosted by Derek Releford that dives into the rich history of the small town of Elkhart, Kansas. With 50 episodes available, the podcast features interviews with both past and present residents, sharing their happy, sad, and tragic stories of life in this tight-knit community.As a proud native of Elkhart himself, Derek is deeply passionate about preserving the stories and memories of his hometown. Through the Elkhart Tapes, he aims to shed light on the unique culture and experiences of this often overlooked corner of the country.Listeners of the Elkhart Tapes can expect to hear stories that are both heartwarming and heartbreaking, as well as gain a deeper appreciation for the resilience and spirit of the people who call this town home.To support the production of this podcast and ensure its continued success, fans can visit patreon.com/fatkidaz to become a patron of the Elkhart Tapes.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.
    enBack Home Media61 Episodes

    Episodes (61)

    "Stubby" Opens Up About Being A Murder Suspect in Ty Markart's Death 10/08/2010

    "Stubby" Opens Up About Being A Murder Suspect in Ty Markart's Death 10/08/2010
    In 1995 Ty Markart was found dead on the side of the road under suspicious circumstances. Many Elkhart teens were put in the suspect hat. This altered the rest of their lives.
    This is "Stubby's" version.

    **Audio is Sketchy, this was recorded over ten years ago.

    Support the show: www.patreon.com/fatkidaz
    Visit us online: www.backhomemedia.com
    Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation: (405) 848-6724

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.

    Don Helwig (1959-67)

    Don Helwig (1959-67)
    Today is Don Helwigs birthday. He was my grandfather. Sadly, he passed around 6 months ago.
    Luckilly I was able to sit down with him and do a live stream before he left us. He talks about Coming to Elkhart in 1959. He was chasing a girl, my grandma.
    They didn't quite work out as a couple. 2 kids and a quick divorce. I think this really impacted him,

    Kick back and listen to my grandpa tell us about his rambling ways.

    support Derek:
    www.patreon.com/fatkidaz
    More info:
    www.backhomemedia.com

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.

    Darin Ashworth

    Darin Ashworth
    It took some doing but we were finally able to locate Darin Ashworth. Turns out not much has changed. Still a teacher, Still a coach. Only now he has a beautiful wife and 3 little rugrats chasing him around.

    Check out this long overdue reunion.

    This is a Back Home Media production, recorded and produced in Phoenix, AZ.

    https://www.patreon.com/fatkidaz

    https://www.backhomemedia.com/elkharttapes

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.

    Mingo Rey Aranda

    Mingo Rey Aranda
    Mingo Rey Aranda is one of many Aranda's that call South West Kansas home. Through ups and downs his family has laid roots in the community and have thrived ever since.

    This is a Back Home Media production, recorded and produced in Phoenix, AZ.

    https://www.patreon.com/fatkidaz

    https://www.backhomemedia.com/elkharttapes

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.

    Diane Finn

    Diane Finn
    Diane Finn was my 8th grade science teacher. She and her husband moved to Elkhart in the late 70's and are still there to this day. He had taken a job at CIG, she went to work for the school system.

    Through up and downs they have planted roots and call Elkhart home.

    Sit back and get to know Diane.

    This is a Back Home Media production, recorded and produced in Phoenix, AZ.

    https://www.patreon.com/fatkidaz

    https://www.backhomemedia.com/elkharttapes

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.

    Timothy E Akers

    Timothy E Akers
    Tim's great grandfather Rev. Millard M. Akers and great grandmother Ethel Julia (White) Akers took a covered wagon from East of Liberal, Kansas and moved to Elkhart in the late summer of 1913. They lived in a dugout on Sherman’s Hill where Ethel stayed while Millard, who had purchased a claim in Baca County Colorado, spent his days building a small home.
    Tim's grandfather Richard L. Akers was the first baby boy born in the newly incorporated town of Elkhart on December 25, 1913.

    Rev Millard M. Akers and Ethel were the first pastors of The First Church of God.
    Tim started working for his dad in the Pioneer Men’s Store when he was 9. Tim talks about working for his fathers store and how the town successfully kept Walmart out but they still managed to steal all of the customers.

    Tim speaks about how Elkhart used to be a busy little town. We discuss previous census reports of over 5k people living in the area. A lot of business' came and went.

    One of those businesses was The Vault which was opened by Bob and Dian Boaldin. Tim was brought in to operate the men and women's store. The building used to be a bank, rumor is that it is the same bank that was robbed back in 1932.

    We talk about Suzanne Johnson and how that shook the town. Tim was in Kindergarten when she disappeared. He was at his dad's store when he heard she had been found deceased.

    We also talk about scary spooky stuff, the blue lady at the cemetery. Old buildings, old tunnels under main street...

    Check it out.

    This is a Back Home Media production, recorded and produced in Phoenix, AZ.

    https://www.patreon.com/fatkidaz

    https://www.backhomemedia.com/elkharttapes

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.
    Bedroom Radio
    enFebruary 25, 2021

    Cynthia Rausch

    Cynthia Rausch
    Cynthia Rausch grew up in and around Elkhart. Having 7 siblings and being home schooled, she had her own challenges early on. At around age 15 she began writing and performing music. Cut to now and she is a stay at home mom, teacher, wife and also has a hefty gig schedule.

    Come hang out and get to know Cynthia.

    This is a Back Home Media production, recorded and produced in Phoenix, AZ.

    https://www.patreon.com/fatkidaz

    https://www.backhomemedia.com/elkharttapes

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.

    If You Want To Get Away With Murder... (True Crime Podcast About Elkhart, KS)

    If You Want To Get Away With Murder... (True Crime Podcast About Elkhart, KS)
    It has been long said that "If you want to get away with Murder, do it in Elkhart"

    Was this true? Could someone really get away with murder in my hometown?

    Season one, coming soon.

    This is a Back Home Media production, recorded and produced in Phoenix, AZ.

    https://www.patreon.com/fatkidaz

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.

    Jordan Mitchell

    Jordan Mitchell
    Everyone knows Jordan Mitchell. You would think it was because he was the kid with the nice house on the hill. It's actually his music that keeps him in our lives. Jordan loves music. He started recording himself after recording with my brother on a not very good computer with a video editing program.

    Obviously he has come a long way since then.

    Sit back and get to know Jordan.

    This is a Back Home Media production, recorded and produced in Phoenix, AZ.

    https://www.patreon.com/fatkidaz

    https://www.backhomemedia.com/elkharttapes

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.

    Carl Herrman

    Carl Herrman
    I have been looking forward to this interview my whole life. Carl is the father of my childhood best friend. He was always supportive and not afraid to hand out a dose of tough love. Sit back and get to know Carl with me.

    This is a Back Home Media production, recorded and produced in Phoenix, AZ.

    https://www.patreon.com/fatkidaz

    https://www.backhomemedia.com/elkharttapes

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.

    Steve Boaldin

    Steve Boaldin
    Steve Boaldin left his hometown of Elkhart at a young age. He knew very early on what he was destined for. He was good at painting and he loved it.

    A couple of decades in he now has his own television program on PBS that in syndicated in all 50 states.

    Sit in as we get to know each other.

    This is a Back Home Media production, recorded and produced in Phoenix, AZ.

    https://www.patreon.com/fatkidaz

    https://www.backhomemedia.com/elkharttapes

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.

    Troy McCoy

    Troy McCoy
    Troy moved to Elkhart at a young age by way of Arizona. His mom was connected to a family farm in Morton County and they moved there to take care of a family member. Troy made some friends, kept quiet and eventually landed himself in a marriage at the age of 18 with a child on the way. Troy stayed in this union for 5 years until he was informed that he was not the father of his child. Troy had to move on and put the pieces together. He sought refuge in the comfort of his friends and his father whom he remained close with until his passing. Troy also got into online gaming which helped his mental well being tremendously. Troy talks about how he met his wife at a sandwich shop and how they pretty much hit it off. They had 2 daughters together and his wife had 2 already. Both of Troy's children had difficult births. Very premature.

    Troy seems to be doing well for himself. He has a great job in the oil and natural gas field, a awesome family and a really cool gaming channel. Search for "Get Owned Gaming" on Facebook to watch Troy's streams.

    This interview was a blast. It took me 30 years to get to know a guy who lived in the same county as me. I love it.

    Music by: Kelpie & Grammar Tree

    This is a Back Home Media production, recorded and produced in Phoenix, AZ.

    https://www.patreon.com/fatkidaz

    https://www.backhomemedia.com/elkharttapes

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.
    Bedroom Radio
    enNovember 04, 2020

    Troy McCoy Police Interview Concerning Co-worker Chris Watts

    Troy McCoy Police Interview Concerning Co-worker Chris Watts
    Elkhart Native, Troy McCoy went to work on August 13, 2018 just like any other day. He was running a few minutes behind when he got his first call from Chris Watts. Troy was his co-worker. Chris was on site where Troy was headed. The same site where Chris had just hid the bodies of his wife and children.

    I was torn on sharing this audio. I would never want to make Troy feel uncomfortable. I feel like he handled himself in an amazing fashion when faced with a police interrogation involving something of this nature.

    I knew Troy a little bit in high school. We never really ran in the same crowds but I always liked him. I used to joke that he should become a weather man. "and now your weather with Troy McCoy"... Had a nice ring to it.

    What Troy did with his life instead was become a badass. This case has been so publicized that we all kind of know the story. What I got from this audio is that I really like Troy McCoy. He sounds like a bright, intelligent and compassionate person. I would be lucky to work for a guy like that.

    This audio is pretty chilling. I will run this episode ad free.

    Ok, enough talking. Listen to Troy. What a badass.

    https://www.backhomemedia.com/elkharttapes

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.

    Dan Faulkner

    Dan Faulkner
    Dan taught me how to play guitar. He later became my principal.

    He was very respected amongst the students for his cool, calm and collected approach to influencing.

    When I was 17 it was apparent that High School was not for me. (Pay attention for grammatical errors). I had to tell Dan that I was quitting school. He got up and shut his office door and came and sat beside me. He told me that there was nothing wrong with me. He explained that everyone learns differently and that school wasn't for everyone.

    He encouraged me to enroll at the alternative high school on the same day. I now have a high school diploma.

    Join me as I get to know Dan Faulkner.

    This is a Back Home Media production, recorded and produced in Phoenix, AZ.

    https://www.patreon.com/fatkidaz

    https://www.backhomemedia.com/elkharttapes

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.

    Lance Lee

    Lance Lee
    Lance Lee grew up 2 miles outside of Elkhart. He was raised by Gina and Mark Lee. Lance's story is interesting. He spent his whole life believing that Mark was his father. He never really believed it. Looking nothing like him, acting nothing like him. It wasn't until Lance was 17 that he found out his real father was a man named Troy Boughner. Lance found this out 2 weeks after Troy's death. Lance never met him even though he lived in the same town his whole life. Lance lost contact with his mom, severing ties because of the environment he was raised in. It wasn't until his mother was diagnosed with Cancer that Lance decided it was time to go home. Lance lost his mother years before her death to opiate addiction. The only issue, his mom was only taking the prescribed dose. It was such a high dose that when she got Cancer, they told her they couldn't safely put her on a higher dose than she was already on for Fibromyalgia. Lance chose the route of drugs himself at first. Getting lost in the meth scene for a little bit. It was only then that he realized his true potential and left all of that behind. Sit back and listen to Lance's story. It's pretty interesting. ***Adult Language, Lance has a tough story, and he told it his way. Viewer discretion advised.

    This is a Back Home Media production, recorded and produced in Phoenix, AZ.

    https://www.patreon.com/fatkidaz

    https://www.backhomemedia.com/elkharttapes

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-elkhart-tapes--4285263/support.