Best David Timberline Podcasts (2025)

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The Cabin That Calls Back: The Vanishing Phone Rings of Timberline Creek 11:02

Play Pause

3d ago11:02

11:02

Send us a text In this chilling episode of Mile High Mysteries, we head deep into the timbered slopes west of Salida to explore one of Colorado’s strangest unsolved legends: the phantom telephone calls of Timberline Creek. For over sixty years, hikers, hunters, and surveyors have all reported the same impossible phenomenon—a ringing phone inside a …

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#75: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying with Dr. Kristin Stultz Pressley 43:01

9d ago43:01

43:01

If you look down the list of Pulitzer Prize-winning musicals, past more recent capital "I" important musicals like "Hamilton" and "A Strange Loop," you eventually get to "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." Sure, it's a caustic take on corporate culture but prize-winning? That seems a stretch, even with the creative team behind argua…

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The Lost Campfire Choir: Colorado’s Phantom Campers of Poudre Canyon 10:31

10d ago10:31

10:31

Send us a text Episode 13 – “The Lost Campfire Choir: Colorado’s Phantom Campers of Poudre Canyon” In this chilling deep-dive, Mile High Mysteries explores the legend of Colorado’s Campfire Choir — phantom voices heard singing in Poudre Canyon for over a century. From the vanished Harrow family of 1953 to modern hikers reporting footsteps, humming,…

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The Ghost Blizzards Of Colorado 10:48

17d ago10:48

10:48

Send us a text Colorado’s weather is unpredictable at best — but what about the storms that never really happened? In this chilling episode of Mile High Mysteries, we explore the legends of Colorado’s ghost blizzards: phantom snowstorms that blind drivers, terrify miners, and vanish without a trace. From 19th-century pioneers to modern-day truckers…

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#80: Oh! Calcutta! with (a thankfully clothed) Dr. Jesse Rabinowitz 37:17

22d ago37:17

37:17

In approaching "Oh! Calcutta!" today, it's hard not to react with a "What! Really?!?" This is a show, that between the original production and its revival, had more than 7,200 performances on Broadway. Really? Full of nudity and bawdy - but also mostly bad - comedy, the popularity of this show is truly dumbfounding. And when dealing with something …

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The Phantom Road: Ghosts, Gates, and Fire on Riverdale 8:51

24d ago8:51

8:51

Send us a text Riverdale Road has been called “the most haunted road in America.” With legends of the Gates of Hell, phantom joggers, ghost cars, and even roadside apparitions, it’s a highway of horrors like no other. In this chilling episode, we drive through the stories and the shadows, headlights on — but nerves rattled. Be sure to subscribe and…

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Phantom Lights of the San Luis Valley 6:50

1M ago6:50

6:50

Send us a text The San Luis Valley appears again, this time with tales of phantom lights. For decades, residents and travelers have spotted glowing orbs moving across the horizon, vanishing without explanation. From folklore to science, we unravel this mysterious phenomenon and ask — what really lights up the valley nights? Support the show…

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#64: Jekyll & Hyde with literary authority, Grace Todd 38:27

1M ago38:27

38:27

Happy Halloween! We have the perfect show to dig into for spooky season - mostly because it's downright scary how bad this musical is! Frank Wildhorn's "Jekyll & Hyde" is a musical that, if there was a just theater god, would be forever relegated to the dustbin of Broadway history. There are many musicals I don't like but this is one I actively des…

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Hearts Carved in Stone: Love & Legend at San Luis Valley Petroglyphs 6:26

1M ago6:26

6:26

Send us a text Deep in the San Luis Valley, petroglyphs carved into stone tell stories we can’t fully understand. Were they messages, maps, or something far more mysterious? With a Nicholas Sparks-style narrative blending history, mystery, and emotion, this episode explores love, loss, and the timeless marks left behind. Support the show…

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Baby Doe’s Final Winter: Love, Loss & Solitude at Matchless Mine 6:39

2M ago6:39

6:39

Send us a text Baby Doe Tabor’s story is one of Colorado’s most heartbreaking legends. Once the wife of a silver baron, she lived her final decades in solitude at the Matchless Mine near Leadville. This deeply personal narrative blends history, loss, and the lingering presence of a life cut short — a haunting tale of devotion and downfall. Become a…

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#70: Grease (1994 revival) with Broadway veteran, Patti D'Beck 39:26

2M ago39:26

39:26

It's one of the most famous and beloved titles in musical theater. Because of its iconic mismatched lovers storyline and nostalgia evocation of the 1950s, "Grease" has been performed in high schools, colleges and regional theaters across the country for decades. The movie version with Travolta and Newton-John was the highest grossing movie musical …

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Haunted Shafts & Ghost Towns: Teller County’s Dark Underbelly 8:48

2M ago8:48

8:48

Send us a text Teller County’s mining history is lined with fortune — and misfortune. In this episode, we explore cursed mines, tragic heirs, and the ghost stories left in their wake. With a mix of history and eerie firsthand accounts, the past feels far closer than you’d expect. Support the showBy David

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Into Thin Air: Colorado’s Vanishing Hiker 10:26

2M ago10:26

10:26

Send us a text Colorado’s wilderness is as beautiful as it is unforgiving. Over the years, countless hikers have gone missing—but some disappearances defy logic. In this episode of Mile High Mysteries, we explore one such case: a hiker who stepped onto a trail and was never seen again. Through newspaper reports, personal accounts, and strange detai…

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#82: School of Rock and non-traditional venues with Brian Baez 41:04

2M ago41:04

41:04

"School of Rock" opened on Broadway just a few years after "Billy Elliot" closed but, even though the shows have some surface-level similarities, it's hard to think of two more different stories. The earlier show was a rough-and-tumble look at a working class young boy's potential escape from his impoverished life; the latter was about adults who a…

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Shadows in the Pines: Bigfoot and the San Juan Mountains 10:29

2M ago10:29

10:29

Send us a text High in Colorado’s rugged San Juan Mountains, hikers, hunters, and even seasoned locals have reported encounters with something they can’t quite explain—massive footprints, eerie calls in the night, and shadowy figures moving just out of sight. Could it be Colorado’s own Bigfoot? In this episode of Mile High Mysteries, we dig into ey…

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Vanished in the Valley: The Mystery of the Missing Hiker 9:05

2M ago9:05

9:05

Send us a text Every year, thousands of hikers set out on Colorado’s trails in search of fresh air, breathtaking views, and maybe a little peace and quiet. But sometimes, those trails keep their secrets. In this episode of Mile High Mysteries, we dive into the chilling disappearance of a hiker who walked into the mountains and never returned. Drawi…

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#81: Billy Elliot: The Musical with David Leong, Broadway fight director & former VCU chair of theater 33:05

3M ago33:05

33:05

Fifteen years ago, "Billy Elliot: The Musical" was all the rage on Broadway. It was a show where hot button social issues -- from labor relations to social mobility to questions about gender expression -- mixed with a searing family drama, plus there was a LOT of really great dancing. Tack on a score co-composed by Elton John and there was little d…

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The Lost Hours of Highway 285: Colorado’s Time Warp Road 7:01

3M ago7:01

7:01

Send us a text Highway 285 looks like any other Colorado road—towering peaks, winding curves, and the occasional herd of elk crossing at the worst possible time. But for decades, travelers have reported something far stranger than mountain traffic: hours lost without explanation, watches running backwards, and eerie silences where time itself seems…

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Echoes of St. Elmo: A Colorado Ghost Town Frozen in Time 6:26

3M ago6:26

6:26

Send us a text Once a booming mining town in the heart of the Rockies, St. Elmo now stands eerily silent—its streets empty, its buildings weathered but still holding on. Locals and visitors alike swear the town isn’t truly abandoned, with stories of ghostly shopkeepers, flickering lights, and strange footsteps echoing through the night. In this epi…

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#83: Movin' Out with Tony Award nominee Elizabeth Parkinson 49:01

3M ago49:01

49:01

Welcome to season 3 of "Chasing Phantom!" If this episode is any indication, it's going to be the best season yet. At a time when debate about Billy Joel, his music and his legacy, has enjoyed a surge of attention thanks to the HBO documentary, "And So It Goes," that debuted this past summer, I welcome Tony Award nominee and Astaire Award-winning d…

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Whispers in the Dunes: UFOs Over the San Luis Valley 3:36

3M ago3:36

3:36

Send us a text In our very first episode of Mile High Mysteries, we journey into the San Luis Valley—one of the most active UFO hotspots in America. Towering sand dunes meet endless night skies, and for decades, locals have reported strange lights, hovering craft, and unexplained encounters near Great Sand Dunes National Park. From government secre…

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Summer Bonus #2: Waiting for Godot 1:15:00

4M ago1:15:00

1:15:00

Hey there, Phantom Chasers! I've been a lax podcaster during the languid summer months but I'm prepping some very cool, very fun episodes for September. In the meantime, this is a conversation with my friend Grace Todd, whose podcast "Didn't Read It" is a must-listen for those who love classic literature...and erudite, playful and thoughtful conver…

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Summer bonus #1: Funny Girl Q&A 12:39

4M ago12:39

12:39

Phil Crosby and I had such a good time talking about "Funny Girl" that we rambled on for another 15 minutes or so answering questions posed by our live audience at Richmond Triangle Players. You get some more background on Barbra (of course), Phil demonstrating his forecasting prowess in talking about the Tony Awards and a final slice of a story fr…

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#78: Funny Girl, live podcast event and season 2 finale 58:38

4M ago58:38

58:38

The highlight of "Chasing Phantom's" brief history happened in May 2025 with the recording of what I hope will be the first of many live podcast events. Phil Crosby, the executive director of Richmond Triangle Players, has been a guest 6 times before so, after many times inviting him over to my house to record, he returned the favor! As with the en…

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#95: Guys and Dolls, but mostly Dolls with Rachel Abrams & Rita Neidich 34:13

5M ago34:13

34:13

Is there a more iconic musical than “Guys and Dolls?” Probably not. That doesn’t mean it’s easy to do well and my guests for this episode are a testament to how to make a classic musical really sing. This is a show that can be dominated by its many engaging male characters, so I wanted to push aside the Guys for just a bit and talk to the Dolls. “G…

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#62: Waitress and modern relationships with Kylee Marquez-Downie 39:18

5M ago39:18

39:18

Both me and my guest in this episode had the chance to see "Waitress" on Broadway and we chose not to. And boy, were we both sorry! It's not often with this podcast that we talk about a show you can see right now. But "Waitress" is one of those shows that had suddenly started appearing on regional stages all over the country so there's a pretty goo…

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#97: Amadeus, starlings and genius with Daniel Myssyk 30:17

6M ago30:17

30:17

Art about other art is fascinating to me, and only one of the many reasons I love "Amadeus," a play about music. Of course, it's also about envy of another man's genius: the play cemented the image of Salieri in popular culture. But really, at its heart, it's a play about faith and Salieri's contentious battle with his own faith, and also, playwrig…

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#79: Mummenschanz and the human experience with Heidi Rugg 33:00

6M ago33:00

33:00

Is it mime? Is it puppetry? Is it augmented sketch comedy? Rather than try to categorize "Mummenschanz," it seems best to just wonder at the inventiveness and enjoy the fun of the experience. That was certainly what people were doing in the 1970s and for many decades afterwards. "Mummenschanz" holds the record for longest running special on Broadwa…

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#96: In the Heights with RVA's Piragua Guy, Fernando Rivadeneira 31:16

7M ago31:16

31:16

Over the past 20 years or so, a handful of shows have revolutionized what can be done on Broadway. You could point to "Hamilton" as one of the biggest of those but that revolution actually started with "In the Heights," which remains my favorite of the two. Call me a traditionalist at heart but I love that it's a warmer and more personal show. And …

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#89: Cactus Flower and manic pixie dream girls with Jordan Schildcrout 35:39

7M ago35:39

35:39

Why is a conversation with Jordan Schildcrout always a good time? Because in the course of just 30 minutes chatting about the relatively obscure play “Cactus Flower,” you’ll hear about additionally fascinating plays like “Two for the Seesaw” and “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window.” Jordan and I dig into both the weird and wonderful aspects of “C…

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#94: Sugar Babies and the history of vaudeville with Phil Crosby 33:39

8M ago33:39

33:39

Easter is this weekend and, while you might think I'm featuring the show "Sugar Babies" to make an allusion toward those sweet treats found in children's Easter baskets, well, you're right! BUT, thanks to my always incredibly knowledgeable guest, Phil Crosby, it came to light that this throwback vaudeville revue would also make sense to highlight b…

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#87: Promises, Promises and the cultural divide with Jesse Rabinowitz 36:06

8M ago36:06

36:06

"Promises, Promises" had a dream team of talent, both backstage and onstage. Neil Simon, Hal David, and Burt Bacharach are the big three, but it was also directed by Robert Moore ("The Boys in the Band" off-Broadway, "Woman of the Year") and choreographed by Michael Bennett. It was also based on an incredible movie, "The Apartment." What could go w…

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#99 (tie): Memphis, "race records," and DJs with Melissa Chase 34:31

9M ago34:31

34:31

It's about music, it's about race relations, but it's NOT about how to be a good radio disc jockey. In giving a very loose account of the rise and fall of true-life music pioneer Dewey Phillips, the musical "Memphis" amps up the conflicts - which you would expect - in part by making the Phillips surrogate, Huey Calhoun, kind of an asshole. Still, t…

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#92: 1776, alpha males, and optimism with Debra Clinton 37:03

9M ago37:03

37:03

Am I too on the nose here? Pretty much any time seems like a good time to reflect on the founding of the United States of America, but boy howdy, does this current time we're in seem like a specifically good time to do so. The musical "1776" is a not-quite-historically-correct dramatization of the drafting and ratification of the Declaration of Ind…

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#99 (tie): Cabaret, the B Plot, and Meeskite with Doug Schneider 37:19

10M ago37:19

37:19

Nope - I am definitely NOT making any kind of political statement by doing an episode on "Cabaret" at this specific moment. Nope, not at all. My delightful conversation with actor and director Doug Schneider steers clear of any chatter about what's happening in politics in America right now. But, that said, this is certainly a good show to revisit …

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#98: Once, unexpected love, and the state of the American musical with Nathaniel Shaw 41:52

10M ago41:52

41:52

Valentine's Day has been commercialized to such an outrageous degree, pushing models of hetero-normative romantic commitment so hard that any other kind of love can end up seeming marginal or even invisible. That's one of the reasons why "Once" is such a fascinating story: a man and a woman fall into a certain kind of love but it's less romantic an…

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#81: MJ: The Musical with national tour star Jordan Markus 25:28

11M ago25:28

25:28

When you want to hear about Michael Jackson, it's best to talk to the man himself...or, given the impossibility of that, the man who's playing him. As of New Year's Eve 2024, the actor playing the title role in "MJ: The Musical" on the show's first national tour has been Jordan Markus. Markus worked his way up into the role, starting as an understu…

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#90 (tie): "Sleuth," classism, misogyny and Sondheim with Grace Todd 43:11

11M ago43:11

43:11

Happy New Year to all! During these cold winter months, there's nothing as cozy as an old-timey murder mystery and "Sleuth" is one of the twisty-est. Helping me navigate the plot -- not to mention the embedded commentary on class, race and misogyny -- is Grace Todd. As a literature doyenne with the fabulously entertaining podcast, Didn't Read It, G…

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#84: Brighton Beach Memoirs, family dynamics and Jill Bari Steinberg 35:44

12M ago35:44

35:44

Happy Hanukkah! Oh, and Merry Christmas, but to be honest, this is more of a Hanukkah-forward episode, only because "Brighton Breach Memoirs" is very succinctly the story of a Jewish American family, the challenges, foibles and laughs shared amongst the family members as they struggle through tough economic times in the 1940s. For this episode, the…

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Bonus Episode: #88: The King and I, spoiling the ending and more history with Phil Crosby 5:03

12M ago5:03

5:03

In the first ever bonus episode of Chasing Phantom, Phil Crosby and I talk about the ending of "The King and I," one that was a surprise to me so don't listen if you want it to be a surprise to you! We also get back into some of the history of the real life King of Siam and Anna Leonowens. This bonus is also an opportunity to drop a couple more sou…

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#88: The King and I, family, and forgotten stars with Phil Crosby 41:19

12M ago41:19

41:19

We are hurtling towards the holidays and so, for this episode, I make the case for "The King and I" to be considered among your holiday viewing options. Even though it's a 70+ year show, it's a smart and sophisticated musical with interesting cross-cultural dynamics. And so, of course, I turned to the smart and sophisticated Phil Crosby, most knowl…

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#9: Mamma Mia! Female friendships and communal effervescence with Grey Garrett 34:56

1y ago34:56

34:56

For this pre-Thanksgiving episode, we hurtle up the list of long-running productions to give everyone something to celebrate and lift our spirits. "Mamma Mia!" may be the longest-running jukebox musical ever to run on Broadway (so far) but it's story transcends that reductive label. As expertly elucidated by Grey Garrett, who won a Best Supporting …

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#101: Mister Roberts, humble heroes and thankfulness with Jesse Rabinowitz 38:25

1y ago38:25

38:25

On the week after Veteran's Day, my friend Jesse and I dig into "Mister Roberts," a play about sailors during World War II and humble hero who was an example of (mostly) passive resistance to a petty tyrant. When we recorded this episode, I had no idea how appropriate it would be to air during this week. Don't get me wrong - as a 1940s era comedy, …

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#85: Angel Street, Gaslight and spooky season with Lindsey Zelli 36:25

1y ago36:25

36:25

What could be more terrifying than to think you’re going insane? That basic horror makes “Angel Street” the perfect show to talk about during spooky season. Originally produced in London as “Gas Light” and adapted for the screen (twice) as “Gaslight,” this tale of a husband psychologically abusing his wife in order to access hidden riches was a sur…

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#102: Annie Get Your Gun and child stardom in the 1940s with Mary Ellen Ashley 35:49

1y ago35:49

35:49

When you want to know about a production, there's no better source than talking to someone who was in it. I never thought that would be possible with the original Broadway run of "Annie Get Your Gun" - I mean, it closed in 1949! But Mary Ellen Ashley, who had a marquee role as the Girl in the Lampshade Hat in the show, is still alive and very much …

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#90 (tie): Torch Song Trilogy, understudies and awards, with Keegan Ferrell 32:32

1y ago32:32

32:32

"Torch Song Trilogy" was a ground-breaking production and opened many doors for openly gay artists. It launched the career of Harvey Fierstein who would go on to write and perform in some additionally landmark shows on Broadway. In my hometown, it also was a landmark of sorts for one local actor, Keegan Ferrell. The recent college graduate was slat…

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#93: Equus, sex, religion and Daniel Radcliffe with McLean Fletcher 35:03

1y ago35:03

35:03

We all know that sex sells, but is that the only thing that drove thousands of people to see "Equus" back in the mid-1970s? Listen in on my discussion with McLean Fletcher as we discuss the explosive intersection of sex, religion and psychology that playwright Peter Schaffer squeezes into this sometimes disturbing tale. McLean starred in the Cadenc…

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#84: Lightnin' & the demise of long-running plays with Jordan Schildcrout 32:39

1y ago32:39

32:39

The chase is back on! Welcome to season 2 of the podcast dedicated to exploring...and sometimes explaining...Broadway's longest running shows! Today's episode features a true Broadway history whiz: author, dramaturg & professor Jordan Schildcrout has studied long-running plays in more depth than perhaps anyone else on the planet. In his book, "In t…

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Season Two starts Sept. 4th! 1:07

1+ y ago1:07

1:07

We're back - better than ever! The second season of "Chasing Phantom" will feature celebrity guests, unexpectedly popular productions, and a cavalcade of trivia, insights and lively conversation about the longest running shows on Broadway. Be sure and check out the first episode where I chat with an author, professor and dramaturg who has written p…

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#108: Pins and Needles (End of Season 1) 29:23

1+ y ago29:23

29:23

For this very special episode, we welcome Barbra Streisand to "Chasing Phantom" to help us explore a show that was a monster hit in the 1930s. OK, it's more the spirit and definitely the Voice of Babs that highlights this exploration of "Pins and Needles," more than the actual person (though if someone wants to send me a Cease and Desist in such a …