Podhero Picks: The Native American Heritage Edition
2020 marks the 30th anniversary of Native American Heritage Month, where President George H.W. Bush declared November as a time for learning, appreciation, and understanding of Indigenous people in North America; shows that we cover here will include tribes in the US and Canada.
In honor of the month, we’re highlighting some of our favorite podcasts hosted by — and dedicated to — the Indigenous experience.
We don’t just recommend this show for the clever wordplay of its title, we promise! 2 Crees in a Pod returned for its third season this month (November 2020) for more episodes crafted to honor Indigenous helping practices. Hosts Amber Dion and Terri Suntjens bring educators, researchers, activists on the proverbial air to share knowledge, stories, and collectively bring listeners a show that, in their words, “unapologetically creates space for Indigenous resurgence.”
Start with: Reclaiming Space with Dr. Leona Makokis
Podhero’s Pick: Q & A Fun with Amber Dion and Terri Suntjens
Hosted by Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip) and Adrienne Keene (Cherokee Nation), this conversational and insightful podcast is indeed about relations and relationships: relationships to land, to tradition, and to one another. With guests, they create space for laughter, tears, and ultimately a better understanding of how everything — and everyone — is connected.
Start with: All My Relations and Indigenous Feminism
Podhero’s Pick: Healing The Land IS Healing Ourselves
Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo
Cases of murder and missing people often float to the surface when they happen to White victims, leaving crisis-level epidemics of missing and murdered folx of other races wildly underreported. Amid such a crisis for missing and murdered Indigenous women, one such story comes to light in this CBC podcast. Cleo was adopted in the US in the 1970s, only to go missing while hitchhiking back to Saskatchewan. Investigative reporter Connie Walker follows the trail of Cleo’s story, in the second season of the podcast (the first of which follows the murder of a different Canadian Indigenous woman, Alberta Williams.)
Start with/Podhero’s Pick: Episode 0 - Finding Cleo
Molly of Denali is a Peabody Award-winning PBS animated series dedicated to exploring the lives and traditions of a tight-knit Alaskan community, through the eyes of the curious and thoughtful ten-year old Molly Mabray. The companion podcast tells a new story, independent from the show, in eight parts each season. The latest season is a train mystery, with Molly serving as the lead detective. It’s engaging, fun, and perfect for the littlest listeners in your home.
Start with/Podhero’s Pick: Season 2, Episode 1 — All Aboard
Geno Ray’s Native as I Can Be is dedicated to exploring the Indigenous experience at its many intersection points with other identities and experiences. Alongside a wide range of guests, the show dives into the Indigenous experience and its relationship to mixed race, sexuality and gender identity; while also touching on issues like Native mascots, tribal gaming, and a number of other cultural issues.
Start with: Native as I Can Be: The Apple Indian (Pilot)
Podhero’s Picks: Karen Peck: Two Sides of the Adoption Coin
Five years on from the genesis of the #OscarsSoWhite conversation in film, equity and inclusion in film is still a relevant and multifaceted challenge — which includes representation of Native people. Host Ian Allison dives into the many ways Indigenous people have appeared in films — from Westerns, to cartoons, to sweeping epics, and all the movies in between. For film buffs who are interested in how onscreen portrayals affect our day to day lives, this show is for you.
Start with: Introduction to Native Film Talk
Podhero’s Pick: 1973 Oscars: Marlon Brando
It was important for us to include a number of light-hearted and joyful listens on this list, and Red Man Laughing is a wonderful example that defies stereotypes of stoicism and pain. This Indigenous arts and culture podcast is hosted by Anishinaabe comedian Ryan McMahon and is dedicated to exploring where Indian Country and mainstream culture meet. Through laughs, insight, travel around Canada, and occasional rants, McMahon offers an accessible and entertaining window into the many facets and features of Indigenous culture.
Start with: Death Rant, Powwow Pickup Pimp, The Highway
Podhero’s Pick: Family is the Movement
Originally developed to coincide with the trying of its case before the Supreme Court (Carpenter v. Murphy), Crooked Media delves into the convergence between the 1839 assassination of a Cherokee leader, and a small-town murder that took place 160 years later. Host and journalist Rebecca Nagle explores the events leading up to each, how they’re connected, and what the forthcoming ruling — since decided, in July 2020 — will mean for the tribes and parties involved.
Start with/Podhero’s Pick: 1. The Case
Self proclaimed “chubby Native” comedian and podcaster Jana Schmieding’s Woman of Size is a funny, thoughtful, and intersectional look at the world through the lens of size and body image, and includes several interviews with a far-reaching collection comedians, writers, and performers. In their words, the show was designed to explore “the way we think and talk about our bodies, the impact it has on our lives and how we’re claiming some damn space.” The guest list is impressive, varied, and highly knowledgeable, and what results is a fun and insightful listen for all.
Start with: Introducing Woman of Size
Podhero’s Pick: Samantha Nock — My Unceded Body
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