Native As I Can Be: Between Two Cultures

Part two!

My very special guest again this week is Dewi Sungai Marquis Houston! Dewi is a mixed-race filmmaker, was born and adopted from West Java, and we discussed her film My Name Is Not Amy, which "examines the truth of her transracial, transnational adoption into white suburban America, triggering an awakening that challenges memory, coloniality, and the adopted name she was given." We get it on so well, this another two-parter! You can find her and husband/collaborator Jason's work at https://www.eight16creative.com/Instagram@eight16creativeGeno Ray on the internet:Instagram@thunderlips_pdx@n8ive_as_i_can_beYouTube@ThunderlipsPDXTikTok@thunderlips_pdxFacebookGeno Ray - personalGeno Ray Nativeasicanbe - show page

My very special guest this week is Dewi Sungai Marquis-Houston! Dewi is a mixed race filmmaker who was adopted from West Java.

We discussed her documentary film My Name Is Not Amy, which "examines the truth of her transracial, transnational adoption into white suburban America, triggering an awakening that challenges memory, coloniality, and the adopted name she was given."

We got it on so well, this had to be a two-parter! Dewi owns a production company with her husband Jason.

https://www.eight16creative.com/

Instagram

@eight16creative

Geno Ray on the internet:

Instagram

@thunderlips_pdx

@n8ive_as_i_can_be

YouTube

@ThunderlipsPDX

TikTok

@thunderlips_pdx

Facebook

Geno Ray - personal

Geno Ray Nativeasicanbe - show page

Part Two of my letter to Che. This episode has a lot of content about the death of a child, so it might not be everyone's cup of tea.

Geno Ray on the internet:

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@thunderlips_pdx

@n8ive_as_i_can_be

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@ThunderlipsPDX

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This is a solo episode, part one of two, and it is an idea I have been kicking around a while.

Every story has a reason, and this one’s mine.

I made this one for my little homie, Che — so that one day, if he ever wants to know who his old man was, he’ll have more than memories. He’ll have my voice, my truth, my story.

This is the story of how every twist and turn — the Army, the acting dream in L.A., the loss of my son Bams, alcoholism, finding a brand new family in Portland— all led me here, to Native As I Can Be.

Our people are storytellers, and I hope one day when he tells his, my chapter will be very meaningful to him.

In other news...

I found six new distribution networks to put the pod on, increasing my online presence. That is good.

I am presenting the actual story of the first Thanksgiving to Che's entire first grade class, and presenting some information about my tribe. That is REALLY good. And it leads right into my next update..

I have applied for a PR position with my tribe, and I am really really hoping I get that job. The years and years of walking concrete floors in cold warehouses are taking a toll on my soon to be 46 year old body; I am ready to start doing something more personally meaningful the remainder of my years. Wish me luck, send out the good vibes..

"Great things start in little rooms." - Andre 3000

Geno Ray on the internet:

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@n8ive_as_i_can_be

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@ThunderlipsPDX

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We went live on location at Dante's in beautiful downtown Portland Oregon. In this episode of 'Native As I Can Be,' I talk with Jason Moore, Native drummer of Dead Animal Assembly Plant. We discussed Jason's musical journey, his upbringing on a reservation, the influence of his family, and the challenges he faced after losing his father. Jason shares how his cultural heritage shapes his music and drumming style, and how he uses his platform to raise awareness about important issues, including the crisis of missing Indigenous women. The conversation also touches on the evolution of his stage persona, Scorn, and the importance of community in the Montana music scene.

This is my first attempt at filming on location. It was a lot of fun and hope to do it again soon. It will only get better from here!I apologize for the lack of closed captioning, as soon as I start mucking with it too much, the audio and the video stop syncing. There's also a little bit of dead air at the beginning, just power through.

Jason Moore on the internet:@deadanimalassemblyplant

@skorndaap

Geno Ray on the internet:

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@thunderlips_pdx

@n8ive_as_i_can_be

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@ThunderlipsPDX

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This week, my guest is Dr. Beverley Jacobs!

Dr. Jacobs has carried stories that most people could never bear. A Mohawk lawyer, scholar, and advocate, she has worked with Amnesty International, Native Women's Association of Canada, the Sisters in Spirit movement and pushed for a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Women across Canada.

Dr. Jacobs took time out of her very busy schedule talk about loss, legacy, and the long fight for justice. It’s a story of grief and power — of a woman who turned pain into purpose, and a community that refuses to be silent. This is definitely one of my most powerful interviews ever.

Geno Ray on the internet:

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@thunderlips_pdx

@n8ive_as_i_can_be

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@ThunderlipsPDX

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@thunderlips_pdx

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Native As I Can Be, episode 6 is here! We talked about growing up as a Native adoptee, finding her birth parents, and her connection and career communicating with relatives from the unseen world.

This week, I interviewed Melissa L. Bennett. Melissa is a domestic transracial adoptee and descendant of the Umatilla, Nimiipuu, Sac and Fox, and Anishinaabe Nations. She is a writer, storyteller and story listener, an educator, spiritual care provider, spirit worker, tarot reader, and ancestor whisperer. Melissa currently resides in rural Oregon where she lives with two cats, a lot of art supplies, and plenty of snacks.

Some of her essays can be found here:

https://expositionreview.com/flash-405/river-of-stars/
https://www.oregonhumanities.org/rll/magazine/joy-and-pain-spring-2023/creation-stories/
https://www.oregonhumanities.org/rll/beyond-the-margins/sema/
She can be found on Instagram @lostbirdtarot

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If you want to contribute to helping this podcast grow byleaps and bounds, head over to Kickstarter! I am attempting to raise money to get better cameras, mics, laptop and advertising. Every little bit, even $5, helps out a ton!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nativeasicanbe/native-as-i-can-be-between-two-cultures

Geno Ray on the internet:

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@thunderlips_pdx

@n8ive_as_i_can_be

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@ThunderlipsPDX

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@thunderlips_pdx

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Geno Ray - personal

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I sat down with a friend I have known all the way since the early 2000s (!), Jade Jesser.

Jade is an author, actor, former stand-up comedian, and a yoga instructor.

Couple things to know about this episode... this was recorded via Zoom and on Jade's TikTok Live stream, and my computer couldn't handle melding those two things together. So, you are seeing the TikTok version. I also couldn't get the captions to work.

Business stuff:

Jade Jesser:

TikTok

@baelfire.books.jj

Baelfire: Innocence Lost: Jesser, Jade: 9798551220602: Amazon.com: BooksIf you want to contribute to helping this podcast grow byleaps and bounds, head over to Kickstarter! I am attempting to raise money toget better cameras, mics, laptop and advertising. Every little bit, even $5,helps out a ton!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nativeasicanbe/native-as-i-can-be-between-two-cultures

Geno Ray on the internet:

Instagram

@thunderlips_pdx

@n8ive_as_i_can_be

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@ThunderlipsPDX

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@thunderlips_pdx

Facebook

Geno Ray - personal

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This week, I sat down with my very special guest, David Velarde.

David is an actor, screenwriter, and life enthusiast. He’s an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and strives to bring tribal authenticity to his acting roles and screenplays. 

YouTube: @davevelarde8261

Instagram: @david.a.velarde.3

Facebook: David Anthony Velarde

If you want to contribute to helping this podcast grow by leaps and bounds, head over to Kickstarter! I am attempting to raise money to get better cameras, mics, laptop and advertising. Every little bit, even $5, helps out a ton!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nativeasicanbe/native-as-i-can-be-between-two-cultures

Geno Ray on the internet:

Instagram

@thunderlips_pdx

@n8ive_as_i_can_be

YouTube

@ThunderlipsPDX

TikTok

@thunderlips_pdx

Facebook

Geno Ray - personal

Geno Ray Nativeasicanbe - show page

This week I sat down with my very special guest, Crystal Nicholson. She is a biracial author from Sacramento, CA that I *kinda* share some family ties with. We had a great conversation about growing up mixed, trauma, white supremacy, and, of course, children's books.

She can be found on TikTok at @the.rebel.author and her children's book Naya's Little Lionheart is available on Amazon.

Go check out my Kickstarter! I am working feverishly to make this podcast as large as I picture it my head and heart. I am trying to upgrade my equipment and get some more eyes/ears on the project. Check it out here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nativeasicanbe/native-as-i-can-be-between-two-cultures

A couple $5 donations and shares would really make this thing pop. Every little bit helps!