Collective Spirit Podcast

Stacy Wells (Choctaw) is a children’s author and a youth librarian. In this episode, Wells describes her forthcoming books for children, as well as the challenges of publishing Choctaw stories. Wells is a 2022 Artist in Business Leadership fellow with First Peoples Fund.

Del Curman (Crow Tribe of Montana) is a painter based in Sante Fe, New Mexico. In this episode, Curfman describes his evolution as a painter and how contemporary Native stories strengthen his work. Curfman is a 2022 Artist in Business Leadership fellow with First Peoples Fund.

Wetalu Henry (Nimiipuu) is a beader and seamstress of powwow and traditional regalia. Moreover, Rodriguez is a scholar and has led research about the mental and emotional health of Indigenous people. In this episode, Rodriguez advocates how sewing, beading, and her community work heals her people. Rodriguez is a 2022 Cultural Capital fellow with First Peoples Fund.

Content Warning: This episode discusses academic research on suicide ideation and cultural genocide of Indigenous people.

Aveda Adara (Diné) is a musician, DJ, vlogger, performance artist, and host of the Two Spirit Podcast. In this episode, Adara discusses how her sobriety and the LGBTQ+ community inspire her creativity. Adara is a 2022 Artist in Business Leadership fellow with First Peoples Fund.

Blossom Johnson (Diné) is the playwright of A Boarding School Play and monster SLAYer, among other works. In this episode, Johnson discusses how she balances the positives and pains of crafting Indigenous stories for the stage. Johnson is a 2022 Cultural Capital fellow with First Peoples Fund.

Tsanavi Spoonhunter (Northern Paiute Tribe, Northern Arapaho Tribe) is a journalist and documentary filmmaker. In the debut episode of the Collective Spirit podcast, Spoonhunter discusses the hardships and hopes of filming her award-winning short documentary film Crow Country: Our Right to Food Sovereignty. Spoonhunter is a 2022 Artist in Business Leadership fellow with First Peoples Fund.