At the Mountain Cove Rodeo Reunion in North Georgia, you never know who you’re going to meet.
In this episode of Beyond the Chutes, hosts Doug Simcox and Sam Swearingen sit down with comedian and impersonator Mark Staggs, a performer whose voice work can instantly transport you from the rodeo arena to the streets of Dodge City.
Mark brings the legendary Festus from Gunsmoke back to life in a hilarious conversation filled with classic Western humor and stories from the stage. Along the way he shares how he first discovered his gift for impersonations, the unexpected moment he met the real Festus as a young Marine in Arizona, and how that encounter helped shape a career that now includes more than 70 character voices.
You’ll also hear Mark slip effortlessly into impressions of John Wayne, Liam Neeson, Christopher Walken, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro, along with the comedy routines that keep crowds laughing at rodeos, fairs, chuckwagon gatherings, and Western events across the country.
Mark also talks about his years serving as a NASCAR chaplain, his life performing in places like Pigeon Forge, and why making people laugh is a gift he believes was meant to be shared.
Recorded live during the Mountain Cove Rodeo Reunion, this episode is a reminder that rodeo isn’t just about what happens in the arena — it’s about the characters, stories, and laughter that travel the rodeo road.
Learn more about Mark Staggs at: markstaggs.com
#BeyondTheChutes #Rodeo #MountainCoveRodeo #Festus #Gunsmoke #MarkStaggs #WesternComedy #RodeoPodcast #CowboyStories #WesternHeritage #RodeoReunion #CowboyCulture