In this edition of Western of the Month on Road Gang Radio, hosts Jimmy Mac and Lindsay Lawler welcome writer and historian Megan Kate Nelson to explore the 1967 Western classic El Dorado.

The discussion dives into the timeless question: “What is a hero to you?” – comparing on-screen portrayals of heroism with what real-life heroes look like. The conversation also reflects on the lasting legacy of Robert Redford, following his recent passing, and the mark he left on Western films and American culture.

Topics in this segment:

Revisiting El Dorado (1967) and its themes of courage and justice

The evolving definition of a hero, both on screen and in real life

Robert Redford’s impact on Western movies and American storytelling

Insights from Megan Kate Nelson’s work on American history and culture

About Megan Kate Nelson:

Megan Kate Nelson is a historian and author of Saving Yellowstone, The Three-Cornered War, Ruin Nation, and Trembling Earth. She has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, and Civil War Monitor. Nelson earned her BA from Harvard and her PhD in American Studies from the University of Iowa, and she has taught at Harvard, Brown, Texas Tech, and Cal State Fullerton.

Learn more: http://www.megankatenelson.com/

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