Advertise on podcast: Native As I Can Be: Between Two Cultures

Back once again is 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.  We spent our time discussing Natives roles in media, ICE and whatever else popped into our heads. Check it out! YouTube: @davevelarde8261 Instagram: @david.a.velarde.3 Facebook: David Anthony Velarde 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

Back once again is 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.  We spent our time discussing Natives roles in media, ICE and whatever else popped into our heads. Check it out! YouTube: @davevelarde8261 Instagram: @david.a.velarde.3 Facebook: David Anthony Velarde 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

Yo! Part two of my interview with Becca Flat is here! Becca Flatt is a Mixed Race, Black and white, closed, domestic infant, interracial adoptee. Becca recently lost her Dad, her birthfather, and her birth sister in the span of 3 months and is currently walking through a massive amount of grief and loss. Her Dad was a major pillar in her life and she is learning to navigate the physical loss of him but not the spiritual loss. We talked about the intersections of race and identity and she reflected on her experiences as an adoptee raised in a mixed-race family, grappling with societal expectations and her own sense of belonging.  Becca on IG:@mending_the_adopted_heart G's particulars:Instagram@thunderlips_pdx@n8ive_as_i_can_beYouTube@ThunderlipsPDXTikTok@thunderlips_pdxFacebookGeno Ray - personalGeno Ray Nativeasicanbe - show page

Yo! Part one of my interview with Becca Flat is here! Becca Flatt is a Mixed Race, Black and white, closed, domestic infant, interracial adoptee. Becca recently lost her Dad, her birthfather, and her birth sister in the span of 3 months and is currently walking through a massive amount of grief and loss. Her Dad was a major pillar in her life and she is learning to navigate the physical loss of him but not the spiritual loss. We talked about the intersections of race and identity and she reflected on her experiences as an adoptee raised in a mixed-race family, grappling with societal expectations and her own sense of belonging.  Becca on IG: @mending_the_adopted_heart G's particulars: Instagram @thunderlips_pdx @n8ive_as_i_can_be YouTube @ThunderlipsPDX TikTok @thunderlips_pdx Facebook Geno Ray - personal Geno Ray Nativeasicanbe - show page

Episode 18 is here with my very special guest, ClaireSterling. Claire is an Air Force veteran (military police!) and trans woman. We discuss her upbringing surrounded by Satanic panic and religious indoctrination. We touch on her time in the military, gender dysmorphia, secret marriages and the hazards of living inauthentically. Claire Sterling: Instagram @a.rogue.goddess 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

Happy New Year! Episode 17 is here with my very special guest, Claire Sterling. Claire is a Air Force veteran (military police!) and trans woman. We discuss her upbringing surrounded by Satanic panic and religious indoctrination. We touch on her time in the military, gender dysmorphia, secret marriages and the hazards of living inauthentically. 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

Here we are, back for part two of my interview with my Uncle Bill! He’s an enrolled member of The Klamath Tribes who grew up on a historic 160-acre homestead in Estacada, Oregon. He spent time in Germany serving his country in the US Army, has a degree in art education and is a 2x cancer survivor. Uncle Bill was also part of a tribal committee who worked to restore federal recognition to the Klamath tribe. I did something a little different for this episode. We recorded our original interview in November, and then he came by Hungry Bear Studios about a month later to show me some of the various beadwork and other things he has created over the years. I was having as helluva time editing this into the existing footage, so you will notice a lack of captions, the audio is up and down, etc. I am going to be working with a new editing program for the next episode to see if it helps. I was hella frustrated by then end of the process, basically gave up and published it as is. Geno Ray on the internet:Instagram@thunderlips_pdx@n8ive_as_i_can_beYouTube@ThunderlipsPDXTikTok@thunderlips_pdxFacebookGeno Ray - personalGeno Ray Nativeasicanbe - show page

In this episode, I sit down with my uncle Bill Ray and record an oral history — a life lived across a lot of different worlds. He’s an enrolled member of The Klamath Tribes who grew up on a historic 160-acre homestead in Estacada, Oregon. He spent time in Germany serving his country in the US Army, has a degree in art education and is a 2x cancer survivor. Uncle Bill was also part of a tribal committee who worked to restore federal recognition to the Klamath tribe. We talk about land, identity, service, education, relationships, and what it’s like to move through all these spaces while staying grounded in who you are. 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! My guest today is my friend Pastor Kenji Nitta. Kenji’s been in ministry for over 25 years — pastoring and walking with people through all kinds of seasons. He’s got a bachelor’s in Social and Behavioral Studies from George Fox, a master’s in Theology and Leadership from Gonzaga, and a chill ass preaching style that makes him easily accessible to us non-churchy types. He loves prayer, people, and a good Bruce Lee quote. Kenji hopped on the pod for a real conversation about faith, mental health, and the pressure to “just pray it away.” We talk healing, mixed identity, cultural silence, and how churches can better support people who are struggling. Kenji's particulars: INSTAGRAM @kenji.nitta @inkutattoos.kenji YOUTUBE @kenjinitta 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

My guest today is my friend Pastor Kenji Nitta. Kenji’s been in ministry for over 25 years — pastoring and walking with people through all kinds of seasons. He’s got a bachelor’s in Social and Behavioral Studies from George Fox, a master’s in Theology and Leadership from Gonzaga, and a chill ass preaching style that makes him easily accessible to us non-churchy types. He loves prayer, people, and a good Bruce Lee quote. Kenji hopped on the pod for a real conversation about faith, mental health, and the pressure to “just pray it away.” We talk healing, mixed identity, cultural silence, and how churches can better support people who are struggling.Kenji's particulars: INSTAGRAM @kenji.nitta @inkutattoos.kenji YOUTUBE @kenjinitta 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! 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: Instagram @thunderlips_pdx @n8ive_as_i_can_be YouTube @ThunderlipsPDX TikTok @thunderlips_pdx Facebook Geno Ray - personal Geno Ray Nativeasicanbe - show page

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: Instagram @thunderlips_pdx @n8ive_as_i_can_be YouTube @ThunderlipsPDX TikTok @thunderlips_pdx Facebook Geno Ray - personal Geno Ray Nativeasicanbe - show page  

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: Instagram @thunderlips_pdx @n8ive_as_i_can_be YouTube @ThunderlipsPDX TikTok @thunderlips_pdx Facebook Geno Ray - personal Geno Ray Nativeasicanbe - show page