This week Jeff shares the story of Dell Burke, a legendary figure of Wyoming’s frontier history.

Dell Burke operated the iconic Yellow Hotel in Lusk for nearly six decades, running a brothel and speakeasy that became both infamous and respected in the region. Known for her sharp business sense and commanding presence, she built a lasting enterprise in a time and place where survival required grit, strategy, and resilience.

But her legacy goes beyond notoriety. Dell was also known for her generosity and philanthropic contributions to the local community, creating a complex and fascinating story of a woman who thrived outside societal norms while quietly giving back.

This is a story of power, contradiction, and carving your own place in history.

Visit us on Linktree for the collection of links, Instagram, or email us at jeffandsamshow@gmail.com.

Sources
Read, June Willson. Frontier Madam: The Life of Dell Burke, Lady of Lusk. Twodot
Prairie Public – Dell Berke and the Yellow Hotel
https://news.prairiepublic.org/podcast/dakota-datebook/2021-11-04/dell-berke-and-the-yellow-hotel
Niobrara County Library – Obituary Records
https://www.niobraracountylibrary.org/obituaries/obituary-details/?id=872
Ranchers.net – Little Wyoming History discussion
https://www.ranchers.net/threads/little-wyoming-history.58154/
My Favorite Murder – Episode “Cow Women”

Sam shares the devastating and deeply unsettling case of Murder of Shanda Sharer, a crime that shocked the nation and exposed the darkest edges of youth violence.

In 1992, 12-year-old Shanda Sharer was abducted, tortured, and ultimately murdered by a group of teenage girls in Indiana. What makes this case especially disturbing isn’t just the brutality—it’s the psychology behind it. Drawing from research on adolescent violence, group dynamics, and behavioral development, this story explores how peer influence, identity formation, and unchecked aggression can spiral into unimaginable tragedy.

Sam breaks down not only what happened that night, but why—digging into studies on youth violence, gang-like behavior, and the role of environment and psychology in shaping extreme actions. It’s a case that forces a hard question: are monsters born… or are they made?

This one is heavy. And it stays with you.

Visit us on Linktree for the collection of links, Instagram, or email us at jeffandsamshow@gmail.com.

Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9512271/
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-27055-009
https://www.catch-22.org.uk/resources/understanding-violence-in-young-people/
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/virtual-reality/articles/10.3389/frvir.2023.1142241/full
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Shanda_Sharer
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-01-31-mn-1053-story.html
https://people.com/shanda-sharer-inside-killing-indiana-girl-burned-alive-11764118
https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/what-gang-definitions
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5215800/

Jeff tells the tragic story of the Nutty Putty Cave Incident.

In 2009, John Edward Jones went spelunking with his brother and a group of friends inside Nutty Putty Cave in Utah. What began as an adventure quickly turned into a nightmare when John mistakenly entered a narrow, unmapped passage and became trapped upside down.

Despite an intense rescue effort that lasted for hours, the extreme conditions, positioning, and physical strain made recovery impossible. John ultimately did not survive. The cave was permanently sealed, turning it into his final resting place.

This is a heartbreaking story of exploration, risk, and the limits of rescue - and a sobering reminder of how quickly things can go wrong. Visit us on Linktree for the collection of links, Instagram, or email us at jeffandsamshow@gmail.com.

Sources

• Museum Facts – Nutty Putty Cave: John Edward Jones’ Tragic Descent
  https://museumfacts.co.uk/nutty-putty-cave-john-edward-jones-tragic-descent/
• Medium – One Minute Horror Story
  https://medium.com/the-shortform/one-minute-horror-story-07ac90c802c4
• All That’s Interesting – Nutty Putty Cave
  https://allthatsinteresting.com/nutty-putty-cave
• MDLinx – Upside Down for 7 Hours: Doctors Debate Survival Possibilities https://www.mdlinx.com/article/upside-down-for-7-hours-doctors-debate-survival-possibilities/2vSrzwK1iEay4pw2PnMdUz
• HowStuffWorks – How Nutty Putty Cave Works
  https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/nutty-putty-cave.htm
• The Science Survey – Spelunking: Dangerously Enjoyable or Enjoyably Dangerous?
  https://thesciencesurvey.com/spotlight/2026/03/10/spelunking-dangerously-enjoyable-or-enjoyably-dangerous/
• Wikipedia – Nutty Putty Cave
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutty_Putty_Cave
• NBC News coverage
  https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna34157005
• Brandon Kowallis – The Nutty Putty Cave Rescue: One Rescuer’s Perspective
  https://www.brandonkowallis.com/2024/02/the-nutty-putty-cave-rescue-the-death-of-john-jones-one-rescuers-perspective/
• Morbid Podcast episode (YouTube)
  https://youtu.be/Z2WgfUcSOLI?si=Gcmn_IAcx8OoZIJn