About Rally the Tartans - Lifting Culture, Throwing Tradition.
Step into the world of Celtic festivals and Highland Games, where ancient tradition meets modern-day passion. Join us as we celebrate the athletes who lift and throw with power, the clans who carry centuries of heritage, the vendors who bring the culture to life, and the spectators who make it all unforgettable. Whether you’re tossing cabers or tapping your toes to the pipes, this podcast is your all-access pass to the most spirited events in Celtic culture.
In this special Independence Day episode of Rally the Tartans, host Michael Paul Wolfgar Lewis sits down with football coach Mark McCallum to explore the enduring Scottish influence on America, from the aftermath of Culloden to the Revolutionary War, and from the Highlands of Scotland to the athletic fields of today.
Together, they discuss leadership, perseverance, the importance of tradition, and why coaches, clans, and communities all share the responsibility of passing something greater than victories on to the next generation.
Two hundred and fifty years after America's founding, we celebrate not only the birth of a nation, but also the people and cultures whose sacrifices, ideas, and determination helped make it possible.
16 Jun 2026
SN 2 EPS 2 - Throwing Clubs, Lost History, and the Next Chapter of Scottish Athletics
Throwing Clubs, Lost History, and the Next Chapter of Scottish Athletics
In this episode of Rally the Tartans, we sit down with Clay Buchanan of the Clan Buchanan Throwing Club to explore one of the most important conversations facing Highland Games athletics today: how do we preserve our traditions while building for the future?
We discuss the rise of clan-supported throwing clubs and why they may be the key to developing the next generation of athletes. From recruiting newcomers and supporting competitors to strengthening clan engagement, throwing clubs offer a model that other Scottish organizations may want to follow.
We also reflect on the loss of the historic North American Scottish Games Athletics (NASGA) website, a resource that documented decades of results, records, and athletic history. What does the disappearance of that archive mean for the sport, and how do we prevent more of our heritage from being lost?
Finally, we look ahead to the future through the work of Scottish Athletes International and Danny Webster's new project, NASGA Scores, which aims to preserve results, records, and the stories of the athletes who built the sport we love today.
The future of Scottish athletics depends on more than great competitors—it depends on communities willing to preserve the past, invest in the present, and build opportunities for those who will carry the traditions forward.
Lifting Culture. Throwing Tradition.
4 Jun 2026
The Games Are Moving Forward - From the Throwing Circle to the Highland Games Field
After an unexpected hiatus, Rally the Tartans returns with a look at where we've been, where the Highland Games community stands today, and where we believe the future is headed.
In this season premiere, host Michael Paul Wolfgar Lewis opens up about the show's absence, the challenges behind the scenes, and the work that was happening while the microphones were silent. More importantly, we discuss a powerful truth: the Games never stopped. The culture never stopped. The athletes never stopped. We were rebuilding.
Join us as we recap the first half of the 2026 Highland Games season, highlight emerging athletes, celebrate the volunteers and organizers keeping traditions alive, and explore the growing momentum behind Scottish heritage and heavy athletics across North America. Highland Games continue to serve as a gathering place where sport, culture, clans, and community come together.
We also discuss two exciting possibilities that could help shape the future of Scottish athletics in the Ohio Valley:
The vision and early development of the Ohio Valley Scottish Heritage Foundation, dedicated to preserving, promoting, and growing Scottish heritage and culture.
Efforts to establish the first-ever Highland Games Sports Club at the University of Cincinnati, creating a pathway for collegiate athletes to discover and compete in the traditional heavy events.
From the shot put ring and discus cage to the caber field and stone circle, this episode explores how athletes are finding a second competitive home in Highland Games and why the next generation may be the most important one yet.
Whether you're a seasoned competitor, a proud clan member, or someone curious about stepping onto the field for the first time, this episode is a reminder that tradition isn't standing still—it's moving forward.
The Games are moving forward. The question is: are you coming with us?
#RallyTheTartans #HighlandGames #ScottishAthletics #ThrowingTradition #OhioValleyScottishHeritageFoundation #UniversityOfCincinnati #ScottishCulture #ClanLife #HeavyEvents #LiftingCultureThrowingTradition
11 Dec 2025
Rally the Tartans - Special Announcement
A quick announcement from host Michael Paul Wolfgar Lewis. Rally the Tartans is officially moving to Spotify for Podcasters! All new episodes, guest interviews, and exclusive content will now premiere there.Follow us on Spotify to stay connected, never miss an episode, and help us continue lifting culture and throwing tradition.Listen now → https://open.spotify.com/show/56dpgCTyOxYg4nVGwOqLB3?si=63e1015222dd4f0a
2 Nov 2025
Rally the Tartans – Episode 7: “The Scottish Diaspora & The Rebel Architect Danny Webster”
From the mist-covered Highlands to the heart of America, the Scottish spirit has never stopped building, adapting, and thriving. In this episode, host Michael Paul Wolfgar Lewis explores the enduring legacy of the Scottish Diaspora, how our people carried strength, tradition, and the Games themselves across oceans and generations. Then, we step into the circle with Danny Webster, the Rebel Architect behind The Backyard Rebellion, a grassroots Highland Games movement born in the heart of lockdowns. Danny’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and pure passion, proving that when the world tried to shut the Games down, he built a new arena to keep them alive. Heritage. Grit. Rebellion. This is what it means to Rally the Tartans. Visit https://backyardrebellion.com/ to register for games and buy some amazing merch!
20 Oct 2025
Rally the Tartans — lifting culture, throwing tradition. "Hammer Throws & Growing the Sport"
Before there were cages, medals, and modern gear — there was the Highland hammer. Forged from myth, muscle, and clan pride, the hammer throw stands as one of the oldest and most thunderous traditions in Celtic sport.
In this episode of Rally the Tartans, host Michael Paul Wolfgar Lewis takes you on a powerful journey through the origins and evolution of the hammer throw — from ancient Celtic warriors and legendary kings, to the Highland Games fields and Olympic stadiums of today.
Discover how this event became more than a contest of distance — it became a living symbol of strength, culture, and heritage.Whether you’re an athlete, a fan of the Games, or simply drawn to the stories that shaped Scottish tradition, this episode will have you gripping your boots, planting your feet, and feeling the weight of history swing through time.
Rally the Tartans — lifting culture, throwing tradition.
8 Oct 2025
Rally The Tartans - Lifting Culture, Throwing Tradition EPS 5 THE STONE PUT TRADITION
Before there were shot puts or stadiums, there were stones—and the Highlanders who hurled them. In this episode, host Michael Paul Wolfgar Lewis takes us deep into the roots of the Stone Put, one of the oldest and purest tests of Highland strength.
From the ancient clan challenges held on rugged Scottish hillsides to the modern competition circles of the Highland Games, we trace how a simple act of throwing a stone became a symbol of pride, heritage, and identity.
You’ll hear stories from the Games field, explore the evolution of technique from “braemar” to “open stone,” and learn why this event still captures the heart of both athletes and spectators today.
Whether you’re a competitor, a history buff, or just love the sound of the stones hitting the turf, this episode connects past to present in true Highland spirit.
Tune in. Step into the circle. And feel the weight of tradition.
16 Sept 2025
Rally The Tartans - Lifting Culture, Throwing Tradition EPS 4 Interview with Kerry Overfelt
Welcome to the only show where kilts clash with cabers, history dances with heavyweights, and the Highland Games come to life in full color. Hosted by Michael Paul Wolfgar Lewis — a former athlete, firearms instructor, and proud Clan Campbell member. This podcast shines a spotlight on the legends, lifters, and legacy builders of the Celtic festival circuit. Interviewing one of the Highland games most well known athlete and trainer, Kerry Overfelt.
14 Sept 2025
Rally The Tartans - Lifting Culture, Throwing Tradition EPS 3 with Adam Campbell "Kilts & Tartans"
Episode 3: Kilts & Tartans – With Adam Campbell In this episode of Rally the Tartans, we dive deep into the cultural heart of Scotland’s most iconic symbols: kilts and tartans. Joining me is Adam Campbell — Utah State Commissioner, Trustee of Clan Campbell Society North America, and Chairman of the Commissioner Resource & Community Outreach Committee. Together, we explore the origins and evolution of tartan, the story of the great kilt, and how these woven patterns became a powerful symbol of Scottish identity. Adam also shares insight into the role of Scottish Clan Societies today — how they preserve heritage, build community, and inspire future generations. What you’ll hear in this episode: The ancient roots of tartan and its journey to modern Highland dress The cultural significance of kilts beyond just clothing How Clan Societies connect members across North America and Scotland Ideas for growing engagement and keeping traditions alive Whether you’re a Highland Games athlete, a lover of Scottish culture, or simply curious about the story behind the cloth, this conversation will leave you with a new appreciation for what it means to wear your heritage with pride.
✨ Episode 3: Kilts & Tartans – With Adam Campbell ✨ In this episode of Rally the Tartans, we dive deep into the cultural heart of Scotland’s most iconic symbols: kilts and tartans. Joining me is Adam Campbell — Utah State Commissioner, Trustee of Clan Campbell Society North America, and Chairman of the Commissioner Resource & Community Outreach Committee. Together, we explore the origins and evolution of tartan, the story of the great kilt, and how these woven patterns became a powerful symbol of Scottish identity. Adam also shares insight into the role of Scottish Clan Societies today — how they preserve heritage, build community, and inspire future generations. 🔹 What you’ll hear in this episode: The ancient roots of tartan and its journey to modern Highland dress The cultural significance of kilts beyond just clothing How Clan Societies connect members across North America and Scotland Ideas for growing engagement and keeping traditions alive Whether you’re a Highland Games athlete, a lover of Scottish culture, or simply curious about the story behind the cloth, this conversation will leave you with a new appreciation for what it means to wear your heritage with pride. 🎧 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to help us grow the Rally the Tartans community! #HighlandGames #ScottishCulture #Kilts #Tartans #ClanCampbell
15 Aug 2025
Rally The Tartans - Lifting Culture, Throwing Tradition EPS 2 "The Caber - Art & Science"
Welcome to the only show where kilts clash with cabers, history dances with heavyweights, and the Highland Games come to life in full color. Hosted by Michael Paul Wolfgar Lewis — a former athlete, firearms instructor, and proud Clan Campbell member. This podcast shines a spotlight on the legends, lifters, and legacy builders of the Celtic festival circuit.
1 Aug 2025
Rally The Tartans - Lifting Culture, Throwing Tradition EPS 1 Light the Flame
A look into the highland games and the people that keep it alive.
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