Crystal Wahpepah (Kickapoo and Sac and Fox) loves her urban Native community in Oakland, California. As the owner of a successful Native catering business called Wahpepah’s Kitchen, she shows her love with food and by sharing food stories. In this episode, Crystal talks about her love for catering, the need for more Native flavors in the Bay Area (and everywhere else) and why she got chopped on the Food Network TV show “Chopped.” Hint: there was too much rotten fishy flavor in her dish.

E9: Crystal Wahpepah — "Win or lose"

The Toasted Sister Podcast is all about Native American food, food sovereignty, people and culture. Hosted and produced by Andi Murphy, Diné journalist.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

I'm pretty glad I found out about Nikki Tsabetsaye (Zuni) and her knife sharpening skills via a post/ad that was shared across my way. She's a pretty awesome person and her family owns Major Market grocery store in Zuni, New Mexico. In this episode (recorded while she sharpens my knives), we talk about sharp knives, knife stories and injuries. 

Also, we hear a preview of a special episode by the Unpacked podcast by AFAR that's about Native tourism. Here's the link to that episode: https://link.chtbl.com/mlOXPdeX

E87: Nikki Tsabetsaye - Sharp knives

In this episode I talk with Natalie Benally (Diné) about her film, “Indigenize the Plate” at a screening hosted by Tiny Grocer ABQ in Old Town Albuquerque. We talk about her journey to Peru for the film and how that inspired her to remember and revitalize traditional family ways of growing and eating. She’s the founder of Tse’Nato’, a digital storytelling company.

E86: “Indigenize the Plate” by Natalie Benally +LIVE RECORDING+

Cherokee chef Nico Albert Williams is just trying to make some corn soup. She’s the executive director of the Burning Cedar Sovereign Wellness in Tulsa (grand opening Sept. 14) and the vocalist for a badass doom/sludge metal band, Medicine Horse (debut album drop Sept. 8). In this music-filled episode, Nico and I talk about storytelling in music, religious horror and how she pivoted from the restaurant chef life to community leader.

E85: Nico Albert Williams – “Give myself some relief”

From the big city of Chicago, I bring you this episode featuring 2023 James Beard Award Best Chef of the Northeast, Sherry Pocknett (Wampanoag). We talk about her win, her battle with cancer and how her past shaped the chef she is today. Photo by Huge Galdones courtesy of the James Beard Foundation.

E84: Sherry Pocknett – “Not Your Average” James Beard Award winner

Things get a little switched up in this episode. This time, my sister, Alisha Murphy, economist for the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development, takes over an interview with Victoria Largo, new owner of Victoria’s Pizza brick-and-mortar restaurant in Crownpoint, New Mexico, our Navajo Nation hometown. She talks about the real struggles and triumphs of operating a food business on the Navajo Nation. It’s inspiring to hear from this enthusiastic and strong entrepreneurial spirit!

E9: Crystal Wahpepah — "Win or lose"

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