“Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”

“Rub some dirt on it.”

“Suck it up and deal with it.”

“You’re tough.”

“Drown it in Pendleton.”

For generations, these statements have been heard on the ranch, behind the chutes at a rodeo or in the backyard. Western “cowboy” culture is drowning in the tradition of swallowing our problems and taking pride in being tough and never asking for help. While there is no doubt that folks who live the western lifestyle are gritty and resilient, this culture of silence and toughness seriously complicates our lives. People in cowboy culture have been suffering in silence, and until recently there have been limited options for support that felt culturally appropriate or available, especially to men, in cowboy communities. But options are growing, and thanks to a few creative and passionate guys out there, a healthy culture shift is steadily taking place.

My husband, Mark, and I recently had the chance to talk with Jeremy Morris, the founder of Wild Courage, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping men find community, hope and identity in conversations with each other. They organize “fire nights” and retreats and offer a counselor network and other resources for men and women.

Wild Courage started with, and still makes, a podcast. Shortly after their first few episodes had gone out, Morris says, “I had a working cowboy send me a check for $800 to my home address, thanking me for changing his life. It didn’t feel right to deposit that check into my personal account, so we formed a nonprofit.”

“The power of not feeling alone and having someone articulate what you’re feeling is extremely healing. It’s powerful and hope-giving.”
– Jeremy Morris

Cowboy and artist Jeff Mundell created this drawing and dedicated it to Jeremy Morris.

The real value in the podcast is that it’s accessible for folks everywhere. “I had never cared to listen to podcasts in the past, but (Wild Courage) is different: it is 100 percent genuine and raw,” Mark said. “Hearing the stories of challenges and redemption from the hosts and guests on the podcast has changed my life for the better, and I know it has helped some of my friends out of really dark places in their lives. Every episode I have listened to has something that is relatable to something I’ve experienced.” 

Morris told us he’s heard that from many people. “I’ve had cowboys come up to me and tell me, ‘Until I found your podcast, I thought I was messed up. I thought I was the only one, and I want you to know that now I don’t feel as messed up and alone,’” he said. “The power of not feeling alone and having someone articulate what you’re feeling is extremely healing. It’s powerful and hope-giving.” 

Another barrier to getting help is the cost: most counseling starts at $150 an hour, and most working cowboys can’t afford that. Wild Courage offsets the cost of counseling and connects people to counselors. “It’s important for guys to know that we have these resources available to support their healing. All together, we can make a difference. People don’t have to get help through us; we just want people to get help, and to break the stigma of needing to get help.”