Fanachu! Podcast

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From the Fanachu archives - here is the first ever episode of Fanachu, recorded and hosted by the Godfather and Founder of Fanachu - Manny Cruz way back in 2016. Fanachu began through a series of coffee shop conversations and community meetings organized by Independent Guåhan, the first of which became this podcast episode recorded at Java Junction recorded on November 4, 2016. 

Featured on this episode are Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero, Jesse Chargualaf, BJ Bell, Becka Garrision and Michael Lujan Bevacqua. 

Look out for more episodes from the archives as migrate Fanachu content to new platforms. 

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On January 26, 2023, a group of activists protested a ceremony for the reactivation of the new US Marine Corps Base on Guam, Camp Blaz. Despite not disrupting the event in any way save for the holding of banners and signs, they were escorted away by Guam Police SWAT officers. 

This February 2023 episode of Fanachu features the voices of some of those protestors who were representing the group Prutehi Litekyan (now Prutehi Guåhan), discussing what motivated themselves to demonstrate that day, especially the consequences and costs of the US military buildup that the local government and media weren't adequately discussing. As of 2025, Camp Blaz has been reopened, but the protests continue. 

This episode features as guests Monaeka Flores, Paige Aguon, Ally Sablan and Daesha Ojeda. It is hosted by Michael Lujan Bevacqua and originally aired on February 1, 2023. 

The audio for this episode was produced by Tåsi Chargualaf and features intro and outro music from oliver_dee. 

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For the 250th episode of Fanachu recorded back in 2023, we welcomed as guest former Guam Commission on Decolonization Executive Director Edward A. Alvarez, who served in that capacity during the administration of Maga'låhen Eddie Calvo administration. He has been a guest on Fanachu many times over the years and for this episode he focused on ways, despite Guam's current political status as an unincorporated territory or a non-self-governing territory, we can still begin to thinking outside the colonial box. 

This episode went live on March 29, 2023 and was hosted by Michael Lujan Bevacqua. 

The audio for this episode was produced by Tåsi Chargualaf,

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Mike Muña was active duty military serving in the US Coast Guard on Guam, when he began to experience discrimination and encountered bigotry against Chamorus that targeted his family and threatened to tear them apart.

For this 2022 episode of Fanachu Mike and his wife Moanike'ala share their experiences challenging the systemic racism that they've encountered in the US military.

This episode first premiered on November 22, 2022 and was hosted by Michael Lujan Bevacqua

The audio for this episode was produced by Tåsi Chargualaf,

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In 2022, Fanachu put out a call for Chamorus living outside of the Marianas to share their reflections and experiences in the diaspora. Dozens of artists, writers, musicians and performers responded and in 2023 we released an online zine titled "Voices of the Chamoru Diaspora" edited by Amara Rose San Agustin. For this episode of Fanachu, four of the 40 who were included in the zine joined for a virtual launch episode to discuss both their experiences as diasporic Chamorus and their particular submissions. 

Appearing as guests on this episode were Isa Gagarin, Ed Sablan, Aren Kerr and Connie Santos. You can download a copy of the zine at this link. 

This episode first premiered on March 22, 2023 and was hosted by Amara Rose San Agustin

The audio for this episode is produced by Tåsi Chargualaf and includes the song "Kantan Chamorro" by Gus and Doll.

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The majority of the Chamoru people in the world today are unable to speak their native language. To help keep the language a living part of our community, it is imperative that we do away with the stigma of not being able to speak Chamoru and instead focus on normalizing the everyday learning of Chamoru. For this episode of Fanachu, a group of active learners of the Chamoru language from the Marianas and the diaspora shared their experiences.

Appearing as guests on this episode were Jessie Neal, Tristan Quintanilla, Davina Cruz-Armstrong and Janai Limtiaco. 

This episode first premiered on March 15, 2023 and was hosted by Michael Lujan Bevacqua. 

The audio for this episode is produced by Tåsi Chargualaf and includes the song "Typhoon Karen" by The Charfauros Brothers. 

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The late Joaquin “JC” Concepcion or Siñot Kin was an integral part of the Fanachu team before he passed away in October 2023. Through his collaboration with Fanachu over several years he hosted almost four dozen Fino' Chamoru dikike' na podcast episodes of "Kuentos Guåhan" and also helped organize a dozen episodes in our series highlighting the roots of contemporary Chamoru musicians from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. 

Siñot Kin developed a passion for music early on and first joined the group the Radiants in the 1960s. Despite some breaks, he would still be playing with them at the time of his passing decades later. For this episode of Fanachu he talked about his love of music in general, love of Chamoru music in particular and love of Chamoru language and culture and why we need to keep it alive for future generations. 

This was a Fino' Chamoru episode of Fanachu and first premiered on January 25, 2023 and was hosted by Michael Lujan Bevacqua. 

The audio for this episode is produced by Akli'e' Chan Bevacqua and includes the song "Munga Yu Ma Fino Inglesi" by Johnny Sablan. 

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The Tiempon Españot or Spanish period of Guam History lasted for more than two hundred years and was a time filled with many dramatic changes for the Chamoru people in terms of their culture and identity. There are many misconceptions about this period of history that have been reinforced in Guam History books over the years, that have marginalized the voices of Chamorus who were both becoming integrated into and challenging the Spanish empire at this time. 

For this episode of Fanachu from 2022, Dr. Carlos Madrid from the Micronesian Area Research Center at the University of Guam will be shared some insights into Guam in the 1800s and how we can re-imagine the period to provide a more accurate story of the Chamoru experience and perspective.

This episode originally premiered on December 28, 2022 and was hosted by Michael Lujan Bevacqua. 

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This episode of Fanachu featured as guest Shaylin Salas, an activist for climate justice, decolonization and the recipient of an Indigenous Youth Arts Fellowship from Cultural Survival. At the time of this podcast episode in February 2023, she was working on a climate change response guidebook and shared more about this project as well as an article that she had published in 2022 titled "Guahan Means 'We Have'" during her interview. 

This episode premiered on February 6, 2023 and was hosted by Michael Lujan Bevacqua. 

The audio for this episode was edited by Akli'e' Chan Bevacqua and features the song "Mungga Yu' Ma Fino' Inglesi" by Johnny Sablan. 

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Season 8, Episode 328 of Fanachu was hosted by Tori Manley Speaking, premiered on November 14, 2024 and is the next installment in her series "The Environment and You." 

Here is her description for the episode on "Matriarchal Waters" as well as some resources to further your understanding on these issues.

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"In environmental advocacy, we often hear that 'water is life.' This episode explores the deep connection between women's rights and the state of our water. We speak with Senator Sabina Flores Perez, an educator, environmental advocate, and community organizer who has served in Guam's 35th, 36th, and 37th Legislature. We also interview Audrey Mesa Taylor, a young leader at Guåhan Sustainable Culture, and an Umko', who remains anonymous, sharing her perspective as a pioneering feminist observing Guam’s transition from lush jungles to rapid urban development. Together, these voices highlight the cultural, environmental, and social significance of water, underscoring its vital link to gender equality and community resilience." The linkage between our water resources and Sustainability. We have made much progress regarding our environment and women's rights. We have created much momentum in Guam and Micronesia; however, both have yet to progress slowly. Three Chamorro women of different ages, focus, and knowledge spaces were interviewed. In addition, here are a few resources. The linkage between our water resources and Sustainability. We have made much progress regarding our environment and women's rights. We have created much momentum in Guam and Micronesia; however, both have yet to progress slowly. Three Chamorro women of different ages, focus, and knowledge spaces were interviewed. In addition, here are a few resources. 

Prutehi Litekyan Save Ritidian

Micronesia Climate Change Alliance

Hita Litekyan

Petition · A Call to Climate Action: Ban Single-Use Plastic Bottles at Guam Community College - Guam · Change.org

Guahan Sustainable Culture

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