Episode 22: Passport to the Ozarks – Kaitlyn McConnell

Season 2 (2019-2020)

Episode Description

Today's episode continues our multi-part series on "The Ozarks." Sure, you think you know about the Ozarks. The home of Branson, the Baldknobbers, and the Beverly Hillbillies…right? Well, in this series, we'll talk about the Ozarks—a region covering roughly half of Missouri—as a cultural identity as well as a physical place. So, come along for a trip to the Ozarks. This episode features a conversation with Kaitlyn McConnell about her efforts to preserve and promote the history of the Ozarks through her website Ozarks Alive and her recent book, "Passport to the Ozarks."

Episode Image: Car driving down a winding road in Lawrence County with Mt. Vernon, Missouri, in the distance [Charles Trefts Photographs (P0034), SHSMO]

About the Guest

A seventh-generation Ozarker, Kaitlyn McConnell began writing about the Ozarks while still in high school. Starting as a columnist for the Marshfield Mail, her research and writing on topics related to Webster County led to her selection as the History Channel's Student of the Year in 2007. Later, she served as the president of the Webster County Historical Society and authored a pictorial book on the history of Marshfield. Her most recent book, "Passport to the Ozarks," was published in November 2019. Presently, Kaitlyn curates the website Ozarks Alive as well as serving as Media Relations Manager for CoxHealth.

Episode Transcript

McConnell transcript.pdf