The Talking Circle

From the Super Bowl halftime show to what is Your Burning Desire. Today, we’re unpacking the halftime show friction, the news stories you can't (but try to) ignore, and where faith and our cultural critique fits into a polarized world. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s on our minds. Tune in and hang out.

This week, we’re keeping the conversation open as we dive back into our "What’s on Your Mind?" series. No scripts, no agendas—just honest reflections on what is going on in our world, community, and life.

A "burning desire" is an intense and all-consuming longing or passion. Or something that has just been in your mind and you have to share it with someone. Today, our hosts are sharing what has been on their mind. Join in on the conversation as we discuss junk journaling, the wisdom of parents, and discovery of "New Worlds."

The Holidays are finally over! Our hosts reflect on their Holiday Season and how they are coming into the New Year. Join in on the conversation and laughs around why we enjoy the holidays and are glad it's finally over.

At one point in my life I (Donnie) had to fly at least once a month. I flew to conferences, summer projects, and meetings. When I saw my family they would often ask me when my next trip was happening. But now I stay on the ground. The only travel I do is by car and once in a great while by plane. My family and I recently took a road trip to California for a conference hosted by NAIITS at Fuller Theological Seminary. The drive was long, but it gave us plenty of time to talk, listen to music, and see new landscapes. As much fun as it was to be in Pasadena, coming home was my favorite part. Listen to us as we discuss travel and give our best tips for traveling well.

Join us for a personal and insightful episode where we tackle the complex topic of Native American cultural appropriation. We begin by sharing personal stories and experiences, highlighting the difference between appreciation and appropriation. But rather than simply finding fault or demonizing the other, our goal is foster an open dialogue and create a discussions around why certain actions constitute appropriation and the impact they have.These conversations and discussions could create a bridge towards understanding, and moving towards a more positive and respectful interaction between people, communities, and cultures.

At one time or another we have all been asked the question: what do you do? For most it's an simple answer: I work in Finance, Education, Construction, or I am a Freelancer. But, for many of us it is difficult to explain exactly what we do. On today's episode, the host try to explain what it is they actually do. A lot of our work is not easily defined or fits in a typical work genre, but we mostly enjoy what we do.

Today our host are talking about their summers. Most summers are about relaxing, taking trips, and enjoying the sunshine. But for our host, it was about getting things done and suffering some injuries.

The Talking Circle was honored to sit down with Rashawn again. Rashawn joined us back when the podcast first started. It was good to sit down with Rashawn, who works with Native Intervasity, and hear about his time with the LiSteN '25.LiSteN is a project Rashawn has worked with for a while, and he takes a group of students, mostly college students, to the Navajo Reservation, to "listen" to the people. To learn more about Native Intervarsity or if you would like to support Rashawn, you can click here: https://library.intervarsity.org/library/native-intervarsity

Today, we give a quick update on the incident at the Door Christian Fellowship in Gallup, NM. The article we reference can be found here: https://navajotimes.com/reznews/protest-underway-in-gallup-over-video-mocking-dine-cultureWe also discuss how people tend to view the Church. Is it a place to have difficult discussions, or a place to avoid due to their lack of acknowledging past wrongdoings?

In June 2025, The Door Christian Fellowship Church put on a skit depicting a man in hell facing charges for his crimes. Skits like these are often used as a gospel outreach, but this church used elements from their neighboring nation, the Navajo. The man who was depicted going to hell was a Navajo medicine man. This upset many Navajo people who only knew about this skit because it made its way onto social media. Shortly after, many came out to the church in Gallup in protest. Join us as Bobby and I, seasoned missionaries, discuss the incident at the Door Christian Fellowship Church. There is also a special guest for this episode, Jacy Begay, and she is my niece.

The conversation of education among Indigenous communities often includes remembering and thinking about boarding schools. Residential boarding schools, both on and off the reservation, were supposed to solve the "Indian Problem." Instead, it traumatized several generations of Indigenous peoples who passed down much of that trauma to the following generations. Our ancestors who went to these boarding schools are called survivors, and not graduates, because of the abuse most of them experienced. Not every boarding school was bad, and not every student was abused, but this was a horrendous experiment in American history. The Talking Circle interviewed Susie Silversmith, a boarding school survivor, on episode 7 a while back.

In today's episode, we sit down with Sylvia again, and she gives us a recipe for cooking salmon. We also discuss Sylvia's work with Nations and the summer mission teams that have come to her community during the summer.

The Talking Circle welcomes Sylvia Shaquanie to the table to talk about her community, Keex' Kwaan, or as it is known on the map, Kake, Alaska. Sylvia is Tlingit, has two children, Kassandra and Kenny, and works at the Kake City School District. Sylvia has also directed several iterations of college students who come to her community under the Nations group. Sylvia says the summers in Kake are great. She enjoys subsistence living (living off the land), cruising in my Subaru, and watching beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Sylvia and her family enjoy going to Long Beach for picnics, making s'mores, fishing, and the 4th of July.

An emcee at a powwow once told a joke that reflected the reality of growing older. He said people often ask what the difference between an old person and an elder is. He went on to say that an old person is grumpy all the time and has nothing to teach, while an elder is grumpy all the time but has something to teach. We cannot avoid growing older, but we can choose to grow old in a good way. On today's episode, the hosts share their highs and lows of growing older. Most of us will eventually need readers. Others will have to make the biggest decision of their life and choose to go all natural with grey hair or find a way to hide it. Growing old in a good way begins with caring for our whole selves–mind, body, emotions, and spirit.

Men do in fact have feelings. We don't always express them to others, even towards our significant other. Why? We don't always know the feelings or how to describe them. Thankfully we have the Feelings Wheel (look up on Google) to help us decipher the feelings we may be experiencing. Also, an article written by Peter Wright suggests men don't talk about their feelings because we tend to regulate our emotions through actions rather than words (https://shorturl.at/XP2bp). Perhaps this is why men have so many hobbies, it is a place where we can share our feelings and emotions.

On today's episode, Renee talks about contributing to a chapter in a book called Voices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Hope in a World Longing for Justice. https://www.amazon.com/Voices-Lament-Reflections-Brokenness-Longing/dp/0800740904 Renee's chapter is titled Live in a Good Way. Our discussion comes from the questions Renee asks in her chapter. What does an upright community do every morning? How do they wake up? How do they set their intentions for the day? What are the activities that motivate them toward peace and good living among one another? Renee's hope was her chapter would remind people that living in a good way is a conversation and not a debate over who is right in how they live. That creates divisiveness instead of celebrating our uniqueness and similarities in how we and our communities seek to live in a good way.

Do you ever feel insecure? If so, how do you deal with those insecurities? Do you internalize them and never speak about them or try to find confirmation about those insecurities from other people? On today's episode, Renee shares one of her insecurities, her speaking abilities. Renee shares how easy it is for her to judge her voice, yet has grace on other people and their insecurities. Despite Renee's insecurities about her speaking ability, she leads today's conversation like a pro. Today's episode is about embracing who we are. Don't be shy to talk about your insecurities.

On today’s episode, we begin by balancing out what we talked about last week by answering the question, what is NOT awesome about your life? We move on to talk more in-depth about relationships. What do we long for in relationships? How much should we share (or not share) within the confines of a relationship? We also talk about whether our friendship circles are growing or shrinking as we grow older. Then, we talk about the porcupine dance. The metaphor of people being regarded as porcupines was created by author John Ortberg. In his book, Everybody’s Normal Till You Get to Know Them, Ortberg talks about how people are like porcupines filled with many quills. Those quills could be representative of our personalities, ego, annoyances, triggers, etc. When a porcupine wants to get close to someone, such as a potential mate, they must dance toward them to avoid being pricked by their many quills. This is much like the relationships we have, not only with romantic partners, but relationships with our friends, co-workers, and family. Thanks for joining us at the virtual table today.

The most common question people ask when meeting someone new is "What do you do?" But, Lissa Rankin, M.D. writes on PsychologyToday.com, "Why do we lead off conversations asking each other how we earn money? Why is this considered the defining characteristic of a person? How does that really help you know me at my core?" Instead, Dr. Rankin suggests we start asking, "What's Awesome About Your Life?" On today's episode, the co-host will share their stories of their typical interactions with new people. And, they will answer the question, "What's Awesome About Your Life?" On another note, Renee just completed her Yoga & Fitness training with Native Strength Revolution. As a now certified instructor, Renee can teach Yoga classes. For more information go to NativeStrengthRevolution.org

It is important to listen to the next generation. It is easy to criticize what they don’t do, what they’ve done, or what they should do. But what if people listened to them? To how they view the world, how they want to exist in it, and what they hope for in the future. They might not make a lot of sense when trying to articulate what those things are, but everyone started there. In this episode, we discussed how we all have a voice, but the challenge is a willingness to share what we believe, think, and observe about the world around us. I have always said if you give young people a chance to speak, they will have something to share. They have ideas, thoughts, and opinions about the world. Too often they are conditioned to stay quiet, just listen, and keep their thoughts to themselves. But what I love about Millennials is they won’t stay silent for long, because they are ready to speak. Christopher Eagle Bear is one of those young people who has a voice and is ready to share.

Our friend, mentor, and elder, Terry Wildman joins us at the table. Terry is the Chief Director of Rain Ministries. Terry and his wife Darlene live in Maricopa Arizona on the traditional lands of the Pima and Tohono O’odham. They founded Rain Ministries in 2002 as an Arizona non-profit organization while living on the Hopi Indian Reservation in Northern Arizona. The primary purpose of Rain Ministries is to encourage Indigenous Peoples to realize and fulfill the destiny the Creator has given them through his Son Jesus Christ and to partner with them in developing culturally significant ways to express their worship of the Creator and to make him known to others. Through Rain Ministries, we will also encourage and facilitate reconciliation between Christian churches and First Nations people. Terry is also the lead translator of the First Nations Version (firstnationsversion.com) of the New Testament. The idea for this project began in 2002 while Terry and Darlene lived on the Hopi Indian reservation in Northern Arizona. They were looking for ways to tell the story of the Bible to Native North Americans, in a culturally relevant context. Terry had no idea that he would end up leading a group of Natives to translate the entire New Testament and now parts of the Old Testament. To purchase FNV go to https://firstnationsversion.com/books To donate to the Wildmans go to https://firstnationsversion.com/donate For music go to https://firstnationsversion.com/music

Our friend from Panama joins us for a conversation. Jocabed Solano is the director of Indigenous Memory and a missionary at Unidos en Misión. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in theological studies at NAIITS. She is from the Gunadule Indigenous nation and is Panamanian. Jocabed has been kind enough to learn English, which is not her first or second language, so she could share with us some of the teachings of her people. My favorite part of this episode is learning about the hammocks that are prevalent in Jocabed’s community and island and how they connect them to the cosmos.

What is “Indigeneity”? The word derives from Latin to mean “born or originating in a particular place.” For Native American and First Nations people where a person is born is vital in the formation of their identity. “We, as Human Beings, are constantly developing our identity, from birth to the end of our lives. We build our identities based on our relationships to relatives, friends, community, geography, language, and other social factors” (Pamela D. Palmater, Beyond Blood: Rethinking Indigenous Identity, Page 7). But what if a person has been removed from their place of origin and does not know where they come from, who their relatives are, and are not taught their history, customs, language, and knowledges? On today’s episode, we sit down to talk with two women who are on a journey to reclaim their ties to their land, people, heritage, culture, and history. Ji-gaabiikwe Campeau is a Nakawe-iniikew (Saulteaux woman), Nêhiya-iskwe (Cree woman), and Metis woman and is a registered member of the Yellow Quill First Nation, a signatory of Treaty 4. She is the mother of Kenadee and they currently live in Regina, Saskatchewan. Christina Marie Quintanilla resides on the original lands of the Yokuts in Southern California. Her family is Indigenous from both sides of the US and Mexican border.

In 1999, Charles Robinson was asked to speak to an elementary school classroom regarding Native Americans. Dressed in his tribal regalia, the teacher introduced him as “a real live Indian.” Charles discovered very serious misperceptions regarding Native Americans and has since developed programs to reach students with historical facts about North America’s first inhabitants. To learn more go to TheRedRoad.org My favorite part of today’s episode is when Charles talks about the infamous White Vans that show up across America in most Indigenous communities every summer. I have dubbed these white van caravanners as the Big White Van Search Party because they go around looking for souls to steal, I mean save. As Charles reminds us and caravanners that once they come in, they do a little babysitting, visit for a little while, take pictures, and record stats to report, that little change will occur if there is no partnership with those who are part of that community.

Raymond Minnicon or Ray or Uncle Ray, is a descendant of the Kabi Kabi nation and the Gurang Gurang nation of south-east Queensland. He is also a descendant of the South Sea Islander people, with deep and abiding connections to the people of Ambrym Island. He leads Scarred Tree, an Aboriginal, Torres Strait, and Australian South Sea Islander ministry based in St John’s Glebe, Sydney. I (Donnie) have heard Uncle Ray speak a few times, mostly at the NAIITS Symposium, and am always astounded by Ray's wise words. But, also bewildered because of how he and his people in Australia have suffered under their government for too long. My favorite quote from Uncle Ray is, "Reconciliation is reconciliation with other humans. But, it is also with our total environment, and the whole of the cosmos–the air, the land, the sea, the sun, the moon, everything that He created." https://www.theforgivenessproject.com/stories-library/ray-minniecon/

Susie Silversmith was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation in Klagetoh, Arizona. Susie is born into Tsinaajinii (Black Streak Wood), and born for her father’s clan which is Honaghaahnii (One who walks around). Her cheis (maternal grandparents) are Totsohnii (Big Water), and her nalis (paternal grandparents) are Todichiinii (Bitter Water). Susie is married to Richard Silversmith, they have two sons and 3 beautiful granddaughters: Jenuine, Aleia, and Nayah. Susie graduated from high school in Fort Wingate, New Mexico. She is an elder, speaker, and volunteer at the Denver Christian Indian Center. Susie was also a member of the Doctrine of Christian Discovery task force, which reported to Synod in 2016. https://www.crcna.org/news-and-events/news/synod-repudiates-doctrine-discovery

Dr. Randy Woodley has been our friend, mentor, and teacher for quite a few years now. he earned a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies and remains active in ongoing discussions in a variety of areas concerning spirituality, earth-care, racial and ethnic identity, diversity, peace, social justice, eco-justice, interreligious dialogue, Indigenous studies, agriculture, and spirituality. Randy and his wife Edith, are the founders of Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm & Seeds. Through Eloheh they invite people to a new relationship with Creation and model sustainable farming practices and Earth justice. Dr. Woodley's has written a variety of books: The Harmony Tree: A Story of Healing and Community (Children's Book) Mission and the Cultural Other: A Closer Look Indigenous Theology and the Western Worldview: A Decolonized Approach to Christian Doctrine Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision Decolonizing Evangelicalism: An 11:59 p.m. Conversation QUOTABLE: “When we talk about peace, peace-making, and peace-building, we don’t ignore things. But we work through them. We don't work around them; we work through them. And, to do that we have to sit down and talk with one another.”

Dr. Terry LeBlanc has been active in full-time vocational ministry with the Native North American community since 1978. He was CEO and Director of Indigenous Pathways overseeing iEmergence and NAIITS, which is formerly known as the North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies. To learn more about NAIITS go to naiits.com Terry has recently stepped down as CEO and director of NAIITS to spend more time with his wife Bev whom he has been married for over 50 years. Terry has been the recipient of three fellowships and the Student of Highest Distinction award. He completed his Ph.D. at Asbury Theological Seminary and was awarded the DD honoris causa by Acadia University in 2015 and by Knox College in 2019.

*Potential Explicit Content—the word a** is used a few times in the podcast. Indigenous grandmas not only carry around a bag full of bingo daubers, candy, and Kleenex, but they also carry wisdom, stories, and jokes. Lenore Three Stars is part of the cohort of Indigenous Grandmas, also known as Badass Grandmas, under the auspices of Liberated Together. They offer a course entitled Decolonize with Badass Indigenous Grandmas. From LiberatedTogether.com: "Our Badass Grandmas share their stories, journey of decolonizing their faith, relationship with the land, as well as Native American history and some of their own art and research. This cohort is for non-binary folks of color impacted by patriarchy and women of color. " Today, Lenore shares with us her faith story and journey of decolonizing and deconstructing her faith. My favorite quote from Lenore for this episode is: “It is hard to shake that influence that what you have from your culture is not good enough for Christianity.” Lenore’s personal website: https://www.lenorethreestars.com

Mark Charles is a speaker, writer, and consultant. The son of an American woman (of Dutch heritage) and a Navajo man, Mark teaches the complexities of American history regarding race, culture, and Christendom in order to help forge a path of healing and conciliation for the nation. Mark has co-authored a book along with his friend, Soong-Chan Rah, entitled Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery. Mark's website is wirelesshogan.com and he is present on various social media platforms. And, don't forget to follow him on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wirelesshogan

For this episode, we sit down with Rashawn Ramone and listen to his story of growing up on the Navajo Reservation. Rashawn is also on staff with Inervasity and talks about how he got involved with this campus ministry, why he joined staff with IV, and the work he is doing currently. Rashawn's Intervarsity profile: https://intervarsity.org/about-author/rashawn-ramone-0

This introduction podcast introduces the host of the Talking Circle. Donnie Begay (Navajo) grew up on the Navajo Reservation and is married to co-host Renee. They currently reside in Albuquerque, NM along with their three daughters. Renee Begay (Zuni) is transitioning from her work with Cru to iEmeregence. Renee loves to ride her bike, cook amazing meals for her family, and working with students. Bobby GreyEagle (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota Oyate; Lake Traverse Reservation) is married to Tanya and they have two children. Bobby and his wife live in Bismark, ND. The Talking Circle is a metaphorical virtual kitchen table. A space for Indigenous people to sit down and talk. To discuss, converse, and argue about topics and do so in a respectful and where humor is always welcomed. All people, from all walks of life, are welcome to join in on the dialogue. Since we are all merely pitiful human beings trying to figure out the red road, white road, straight and narrow path, and seeking the road back to balance and harmony. These roads usually all help us become good human beings and not-so-horrible relatives. To Give: Renee Begay - https://iemergence.com/us/donate then select iEmergence New Mexico. Bobby GreyEagle - https://give.cru.org/0782131 Donnie Begay - https://give.cru.org/0416956