Whiskey, Memory & the Stories We Inherit – with Deborah Taffa

What happens when your childhood is shaped by two worlds—one Native, one assimilated—and neither quite fits?In this episode, I sit down with Deborah Jackson Taffa, Quechan and Laguna Pueblo author of the powerful memoir Whiskey Tender. Part coming-of-age story, part cultural excavation, Deborah’s book is a lyrical and unflinching look at growing up in 1980s New Mexico, navigating family secrets, displacement, and the long shadow of U.S. policy on Native identity.We talk about the dualities that shaped her story—the rebel and the student, the silence and the truth—and how writing her memoir became an act of reclamation. Deborah also shares insights into how her upbringing, her ancestors, and her children all helped shape the story she tells on the page.Whether you’re a memoir writer, a lover of untold history, or simply someone trying to make peace with where you come from, this one's for you!Follow Deborah here:https://deborahtaffa.comFind us here:https://linktr.ee/4LoveofMemoir