The Placer Life shares gripping, touching, humorous or interesting stories of the amazing people and places of beautiful Placer County -- California’s best kept secret. From harrowing tales of wilderness survival to fascinating oral history from Placer’s greatest generation, hear from the real people of Placer why it’s the best place on earth to live, work, play and learn - and why we are proud to enjoy what we call the Placer Life. The Placer Life is a production of Placer County, California.

The Placer Life

In this first episode of our new four-part miniseries on the experience of World War II in Placer County, Placer Museums Administrator Ralph Gibson explains what life looked like before and during the war, and the enduring consequences of the war we still experience here today.

A transcript of this episode is available at: https://rb.gy/g0y6po

Prologue: The Placer life during World War II

Maybe you've driven by the "10th Mountain Division Memorial Highway" signs on your way to the mountain resorts along state Route 89. And maybe you've wondered, why here? There's no official connection to the 10th at all here, really. 

But in fact, the Tahoe we know and love today  - and America's experience of mountain sports in general  - would look a lot different if it weren't for the 10th. In this episode of "The Placer Life," the second of our four-part miniseries about the ways World War II changed life in Placer County, we share the incredible story of the 10th's heroic efforts during World War II - and how veterans of the 10th changed the way we look at the mountains forever. 

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains historical reenactments of combat that may be difficult for some listeners. Discretion is advised. Transcript: https://shorturl.at/grM15

To learn more about the history of the 10th Mountain Division and its influence on mountain sports, check out the Ninety-Pound Rucksack podcast: https://christianbeckwith.com/

And visit the SNOW Sports Museum popup exhibit at the Boatworks building in Tahoe City to see artifacts from the 10th Mountain Division's service during World War II: https://www.thesnowmuseum.org/snow-sports-museum-at-the-boatworks/

The Placer Life during World War II - Climb to Glory

Living near Auburn is an original Rosie the Riveter, 91-year old Betty Samson. Here, Betty talks about working as a plane engine mechanic in support of the war effort in the 1940s, what life was like during that time and what Veterans Day means to her now.

A transcript of this episode is available at: https://bit.ly/2RWJe3X

Betty Samson: Placer's Original 'Rosie the Riveter'

It was supposed to be just a quick overnight hike for Cody Michael and his dog, Bauer. But, losing his trail in the snow, Cody found himself lost in one of the most rugged areas of Placer County for four days and, he thought, possibly forever. Cody, his father, Howard, and Sgt. Ty Conners of the Placer County Sheriff’s Office share the most detailed account yet of Cody’s harrowing story, the tremendous lengths undertaken to find him and advice for how to stay safe if you are ever lost in the wilderness.

A transcript of this episode is available at: https://bit.ly/2tmd7Rm

Lost in the Wilderness: The Story of Cody Michael

Before setting up shop in Auburn, artist Frank Ordaz helped create the iconic worlds of “Star Wars, “E.T.” and “Indiana Jones.” Hear what it was like to work on those groundbreaking movies and how living in Placer County informs his art today in our latest episode of “The Placer Life.”

A transcript of this episode is available at: https://bit.ly/2Bzydjr

Hugging George Lucas: Placer artist Frank Ordaz’s journey from Star Wars to the Sierra

When Grace — a pseudonym — was at her lowest point, her 3-week-old son was taken away because she was breastfeeding him while using heroin and meth, in a household riddled with substance abuse and domestic violence. But that wasn’t where her story ended.

A transcript of this episode is available at: https://bit.ly/2tkNctd

A Return to Grace: A Story of Drugs, Child Abuse and the Road to Recovery

In this Halloween episode of "The Placer Life," we bring you tales of first-hand encounters with the supernatural in Placer County - at our Historic Courthouse and the Bernhard Museum. Hear how these ghost stories bring Placer's history to life and learn about more ways Placer County Museums can help you can commune with Placer's dead this Halloween season.

Read more about the people behind the stories: https://adobe.ly/2MbI9Ep 

A transcript of this episode is available at: https://bit.ly/2V7HdoK

The Placer Dead: Real-life ghost stories from Placer's museums

The Placer Dead has returned!  Would you stay the night in a house you knew to be haunted? Lois Larimore did exactly that and lived to tell the tale. She shares her experience and other creepy happenings from her youth while working at the old Butterworth's restaurant in Old Auburn. Lois also shares a celebrity ghost sighting that's not to be missed! 

Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-placer-life/id1183505610#episodeGuid=tag%3Asoundcloud%2C2010%3Atracks%2F701182282

Have a spooky tale tied to Placer County's past? Email us at placerghosts@gmail.com, and you could be featured in a future episode of The Placer Life.

A Return to Grace: A Story of Drugs, Child Abuse and the Road to Recovery

Placer County

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