EPISODE #263: CAMPFIRE TALES ON A HALF-MOON NIGHT

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From our Campfire Stories in Joshua Tree on May 23, 2026, here’s a special one-hour edition of Desert Oracle Radio live from the desert behind the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, with the High Desert’s own Herb Benham IV opening the campfire festivities with a couple of proper cowboy songs. Ravens, rattlesnakes and other characters appear early and often in the stories & fables that follow.

David Poller Photo

Thank you for supporting this advertising-free program on our Patreon.com/DesertOracle page, where you can find a slightly longer version of this episode, plus dozens more live & Patreon-only episodes from our 10 years of DOR broadcasts & events. This is EPISODE #263: CAMPFIRE TALES ON A HALF-MOON NIGHT.

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EPISODE #262: THE NEW UFO FILES

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If you love flying saucers, maybe you’ve been following the release of a bunch more government UFO files. Maybe you’re disappointed that E.T. isn’t in there, signing a treaty with F.D.R. But it’s a very interesting window on the American UFO era, which is now 80 years old! 

PLUS: A tale from Death Valley, told at our recent Campfire Stories event in Joshua Tree.

This is EPISODE #262: THE NEW UFO FILES. Listen to the podcast now and on the radio Fridays at 10 p.m. on Z107.7 FM in Joshua Tree/Yucca Valley/29 Palms/Pioneertown/Wonder Valley … from Amboy to Zzyzx! Classic soundscapes by RedBlueBlackSilver.

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EPISODE #261: PLAGUE OF THE CRANE FLY + CAMPFIRE TALES FROM SKINWALKER RANCH

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Tonight’s episode features a previously secret recording of Campfire Stories from years gone by, plus an examination of the so-called “Mosquito Hawk” (or Skeeter Eater), which does not eat mosquitos. It doesn’t really do anything but fly into your mouth while you’re driving, or just walking through your own house. Information regarding our May 2 / May 16 / May 23 “Campfire Stories” in Joshua Tree is also provided, with more details at DesertOracle.com/event-calendar/

This is EPISODE #261: PLAGUE OF THE CRANE FLY + CAMPFIRE TALES FROM SKINWALKER RANCH. Listen to the podcast now and on the radio Fridays at 10 p.m. on Z107.7 FM in Joshua Tree/Yucca Valley/29 Palms/Pioneertown/Wonder Valley … from Amboy to Zzyzx!

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EPISODE #260: ARTEMIS, PYRAMIDS, TATOOINE & DEATH VALLEY

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We still live in the Time of Ancient Gods. At this very moment, in memory of a mission named for the god Apollo, astronauts of the Artemis mission are aboard the Orion spaceship, headed for La Luna. The mission is named for Blessed Artemis, goddess of the night, of the hunt, of the Moon. Daughter of Zeus. And just south of Death Valley National Park, one of the world’s three Deep Space Network bases is bringing in the data from Artemis by radio.

This is EPISODE #260: ARTEMIS, PYRAMIDS, TATOOINE & DEATH VALLEY. Listen to the podcast now and on the radio Fridays at 10 p.m. on Z107.7 FM in Joshua Tree/Yucca Valley/29 Palms/Pioneertown/Wonder Valley … from Amboy to Zzyzx!

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EPISODE #259: METEOR NIGHTS ON THE ROAD TO GRACELAND

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What’s going on with all these meteors & fireballs in the dark skies above? Where did Elvis Presley see a big UFO hovering over the Mojave Desert? And what drives so many people to the pilgrimage shrine of Graceland?

This is EPISODE #259: METEOR NIGHTS ON THE ROAD TO GRACELAND. Listen to the podcast now and on the radio Fridays at 10 p.m. on Z107.7 FM in Joshua Tree/Yucca Valley/29 Palms/Pioneertown/Wonder Valley … from Amboy to Zzyzx!

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EPISODE #258: SPRINGTIME IN THE DESERT MOUNTAINS

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It’s the magical time when the cold winter desert becomes an Eden of Wildflowers, as we luxuriate in the the spring warmth of the Sun & the birds are all delirious. Just like that, way up here in the Mojave mountains. ALSO: We dedicate this episode to the memory of Ray Barnes. PLUS: It’s the 50th anniversary of the desert-fanatic classic The Monkey Wrench Gang. New soundscapes by RedBlueBlackSilver.

This is EPISODE #258: SPRINGTIME IN THE DESERT MOUNTAINS. Listen to the podcast now and on the radio Fridays at 10 p.m. on Z107.7 FM in Joshua Tree/Yucca Valley/29 Palms/Pioneertown/Wonder Valley … from Amboy to Zzyzx!

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EPISODE #257: ED ABBEY’S 99TH BIRTHDAY & THE TREES OF MYSTERY

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Edward Abbey at Arches National Park.

Celebrating Ed Abbey’s 99th Birthday with a road trip to Arches National Park, setting of his beloved 1968 book, Desert Solitaire. AND: What’s going on within the federal government’s “experimental forests” in Sasquatch Country? New soundscapes by RedBlueBlackSilver.

This is EPISODE #257: ED ABBEY’S 99TH BIRTHDAY & THE TREES OF MYSTERY. Listen to the podcast now and on the radio Fridays at 10 p.m. on Z107.7 FM in Joshua Tree/Yucca Valley/29 Palms/Pioneertown/Wonder Valley … from Amboy to Zzyzx!

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EPISODE #256: BLACK WIDOW BABIES & EARLY-BLOOMING JOSHUA TREES

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It’s time for Strange & Unusual Facts. Mostly about the desert, the wilderness, critters and criminals. New soundscapes by RedBlueBlackSilver for this new year & new springtime on the way. This is EPISODE #256: BLACK WIDOW BABIES & EARLY-BLOOMING JOSHUA TREES. Listen now by podcast and on the radio Fridays at 10 p.m. on Z107.7 FM in Joshua Tree/Yucca Valley/29 Palms/Pioneertown/Wonder Valley … from Amboy to Zzyzx!

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THE ELDRITCH REPUBLIC: STRANGE TALES OF AMERICA

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To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, this is DESERT ORACLE RADIO’s new storytelling series: THE ELDRITCH REPUBLIC. Each episode covers a strange chapter in the history of America. We present these first three episodes to you, with original soundscapes by RedBlueBlackSilver, all written & hosted by Ken Layne.

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CHRISTMAS IN CHELSEA, WITH ST. NICHOLAS

THOMAS JEFFERSON’S UFO

YEAR OF THE ASSASSINS!

THE ELDRITCH REPUBLIC

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