When the Frogs Sleep

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of When the Frogs Sleep, Winter Dawn and Kieran talk about that in-between time where winter isn’t fully gone but spring keeps trying to show up. From surprise snowfall to the first warm day that gets everyone outside, they talk about getting ready for a new season. 

Send us Fan MailIn tonight's episode, When the Frogs Sleep unpacks the balance and tension between who we are versus the versions other people expect to see.Labels are meant to help people identify things, but what happens when the labels don't fit? Or when people decide a label for you? This episode reflects on moments that impacted identity and expression along with the expectations people hold when you give them a label. Identity is something evolving, not fixed, and there's importance in being honest about the gap between who we are and the version of us the world is more comfortable with.

Send us Fan MailKieran is joined once again by his sibling, Echo Davis (They/Them), to reflect on their experiences travelling while navigating identity. They discuss the realities of being part of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community in countries where acceptance is limited, the assumptions people make about where you are from, and what those moments reveal about belonging. 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of When the Frogs Sleep, we talk about the relationships that shaped us, from family to friendships and everything in between. We reflect on the examples of healthy connection we were given and the mistakes we had to learn from ourselves. We share what it has looked like to let people go, repair when possible, and take responsibility for our own growth.

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 3.4 of When the Frogs Sleep, Winter Dawn and Kieran celebrate the podcast’s three-year anniversary by reflecting on what it has meant to build a creative project together. They speak honestly about the challenges of working closely within a personal relationship and the importance of creating and enforcing boundaries to protect both the work and each other. The episode highlights lessons learned about communication and balance, while looking ahead with hope for the future of the podcast as a space for continued storytelling and community connection.

Send us Fan MailIn this week's episode, Winter Dawn and Kieran are joined by Ashley Dawn Bach (She/They) in a conversation about the ways our lived experience shapes our advocacy and work. Ashley Dawn shares her experience within the child welfare system, and the emotional labour of advocating within systems that have caused harm, while pursuing reconnection to culture and community. Rather than focusing on outcomes or conclusions, Ashley Dawn and When the Frogs Sleep reflect on how reconnection occurs over time, experience becomes a form of knowledge, and how care and accountability guide the work we choose to take on. 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of When the Frogs Sleep, Winter Dawn and Kieran sit down with Chief Chris Skead of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation for a conversation rooted in story, history, and lived experience. Chief Skead reflects on growing up in community, the teachings he received from his grandparents, and how those early lessons continue to shape his approach to leadership today.Together, they discuss the realities and challenges of leadership, the responsibility of carrying history forward, and the importance of remaining open to learning, especially when answers are not always clear. Chief Skead speaks about creating space for youth, supporting culture and language, and ensuring that land-based knowledge and community stories are protected, shared, and passed on to future generations.

Send us Fan MailIn this week's episode, co-host Winter Dawn is joined by City of Kenora Councillor Lindsay Koch (she/her) for a conversation about relationships, community building, and the responsibility that comes from holding space in public life. Together, they explore what it means to lead through relationships and trust, and how listening to stories and lived experiences is essential to making balanced, informed decisions. Councillor Koch reflects on her role within the community, the ongoing process of learning in leadership, and how humility, curiosity, and care shape the way she shows up.Their conversation focuses on leadership without easy answers; where advocacy is rooted in relationship and listening is the foundation for navigating complex community needs.

Send us Fan MailIn the 20th episode of When the Frogs Sleep, Winter Dawn and Kieran come together for a discussion about the realities of adulthood. They reflect on new responsibilities, changing expectations, and the process of understanding who we are as we grow. 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of When the Frogs Sleep, Winter Dawn and Kieran reflect on the teachings that shape how we live, listen, and move through the world. Some lessons are shared through stories, some through laughter, and others through the act of watching those who came before us.Together, they explore how these teachings find us, sometimes early and sometimes years later, and how they continue to guide our relationships with family, community, the land, and ourselves. This conversation invites listeners to think about what they carry, what they are learning, and what they may one day pass on.An episode for anyone reconnecting with their own stories.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Winter Dawn sits down with Anishinaabe percussionist and composer Anang Binesi from Manidoo Bawitigong, Treaty #3. Growing up between powwows and piano lessons, Anang Binesi has always moved between two musical worlds. Now, as a student and emerging artist, he’s exploring how to bridge Anishinaabe worldviews with Western classical traditions.Together, they talk about what it means to listen differently—to hear music not just as sound, but as story, relationship, and responsibility. Anang reflects on moving away from home to study music, the encouragement and challenges that shaped his path, and how identity and storytelling live at the heart of his compositions.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of When the Frogs Sleep, we talk about Gwiingwiishi — the whiskey jack, and the lessons it carries about humility, connection, and coming home to ceremony. Through conversations on feasting, cultural renewal, and being Two-Spirit, we explore what it means to listen when teachings arrive in unexpected ways.We close with a bedtime story inspired by Niigaan Sinclair’s article, “Anishinaabe stories about the mischievous, wise gray jay” (Canadian Geographic), reminding us that Gwiingwiishi’s trickster ways often reveal deeper truths about relationship, laughter, and moving in a good way.

Send us Fan MailWinter Dawn and Kieran explore what it means to move through change with honesty and care. They share stories of uncertainty, resilience, and rest, reflecting on how slowing down can be its own form of strength. Both unpack what accountability looks like during transition, how to decide what’s worth holding onto versus letting go, and the role of community and teachings in finding balance along the way.The Work of Rest invites listeners to think about renewal not as a pause from the work, but as part of it: a necessary phase in the ongoing cycles of life, leadership, and learning.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of When the Frogs Sleep, Kieran Davis is joined by special guest Sarah Whorpole (She/They) for a heartfelt conversation about friendship, identity, and advocacy. Together, they explore the ways gender and community intersect in our lives, and how finding belonging can be both challenging and transformative.Sarah shares stories of how friendship has shaped their journey, offering insight into the power of connection and care. Kieran and Sarah discuss what it means to be an advocate - not only for others, but also for yourself - and the importance of harm reduction as an act of love and responsibility within a community.This conversation invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences of friendship, allyship, and self-discovery, while reminding us that advocacy begins with listening, compassion, and creating safer spaces for everyone.If you or someone you know could use support, here are some resources to check out:9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline – 24/7 across CanadaHope for Wellness Help Line – 1-855-242-3310 or online chat (for Indigenous peoples)Kids Help Phone – 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868CMHA Ontario – ontario.cmha.caTalk4Healing – 1-855-554-4325 (for Indigenous women in Ontario

Send us Fan MailAs the first guest of the new season, Kieran sits down with his sibling, Echo Davis (They/Them), for a conversation about growing up together, navigating identity, and the ways family can shape — and support — who we become. Echo shares the moments that defined their journey, from experiences and moments that gave them the confidence to live authentically. The conversation doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff — from handling misgendering and discrimination, to the misunderstandings about gender that still persist. Echo opens up about the challenges of moving away for education, the unexpected lessons learned, and what it was like to return home. Throughout, Kieran and Echo weave in humour with practical guidance on how friends and family can show up for someone questioning or exploring their identity.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Winter Dawn and Kieran explore the significance of names and how names are not just identifiers, but how we’re connected to our ancestors. Through their reflection, they share their own naming journeys and the differences in how their names honour their identities. Together, they share how their naming ceremonies have grounded them as 2SLBGTQ+ Anishinaabe people in identity, community, and direction. This episode is not intended to replace ceremony, traditional protocols, or time spent with Knowledge Keepers and Elders. Instead, it offers personal reflections and lived experiences from our own journeys as Anishinaabe and two-spirit people. We acknowledge that naming protocols, teachings, and practices may differ depending on your Nation, community, clan, gender, and personal relationship to the land and Spirit. We encourage listeners to seek out guidance through ceremony and with Elders in their own nations and territories.

Send us Fan MailIn the return of When the Frogs Sleep, Winter Dawn and Kieran rewind to May 2024 to unpack the weight of expectations — from the ones we set for ourselves to those others place upon us. They explore how appearances, pressure, and performance shape our choices, our self-image, and the way we move through the world. It’s a candid reflection on learning to create space for authenticity, to make peace with what we can’t control, and to redefine success on our own terms.

Send us Fan MailAfter a long year of life changes, new jobs, and adventures, co-hosts Winter Dawn Lipscombe and Kieran Davis return to hosting and storytelling on When the Frogs Sleep. Join the frogs as they reflect on their time away and the importance of self-care in a world that prioritizes the hustle and burnout culture. Please note this episode touches on mental health themes, we encourage you to press pause and seek support if you need to. Kids Help Phone: Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868Hope for Wellness: Call 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) or connect to the online Hope for Wellness chat

Send us Fan MailJoin co-hosts Winter Dawn Lipscombe & Kieran Davis for this week's episode of When the Frogs Sleep where they reflect on the 150th anniversary of the signing of Treaty #3, visiting Treaty #3, and the mystery of the missing Lac Seul Adhesion.In the spirit of National Indigenous Peoples Day, they highlight the importance of celebrating Indigenous culture and delve into what it truly means to uphold and honour treaty relations. Chi-Miigwetch to a fellow WTFS supporter, Sarah Whorpole, for gifting When the Frogs Sleep with tonight's bedtime story, Kits, Cubs, and Calves: An Arctic Summer  written by by Suzie Napayok-Short and illustrated by Tamara Campeau. 

Send us Fan MailIn this special episode commemorating Pride Month, Kieran Davis and Winter Dawn Lipscombe take the opportunity to share their personal stories and reflections on gender and identity. They both recount their own journeys, navigating through self-discovery and expectations.Through stories, the co-hosts  open up about their experiences, highlighting the significance of community, advocacy, and allyship, and the importance building supportive networks.As the episode concludes, Kieran and Winter invite listeners to join them in honoring and embracing diversity. Through sharing their own stories and advocating for change, they inspire listeners to embrace their own identities and stand as allies in the ongoing pursuit of equality.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, co-hosts Winter Dawn and Kieran reflect on their experience attending the Tournament of Hope gala and discuss the importance of role models and visibility for Indigenous youth. Throughout the episode,  Kieran and Winter Dawn highlight the leaders and role models that shaped their journeys and helped in reclaiming their own identities. Tonight's bedtime story is "Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes" written by Wab Kinew. 

Send us Fan MailAs the snow and ice melts, the frogs croaking at night signals the change of the season. But with the beginning of spring here, so is the start of fire season. In this episode of "When the Frogs Sleep," co-hosts Winter Dawn and Kieran reflect on their favourite memories of spring growing up and Kieran's return to firefighting. Indigenous communities have long held traditional eco-knowledge about the responsible use of fire, illustrated in tonight's bedtime story, The Fire by Thomas Peacock. 

Send us Fan MailIn this week's episode, Host Kieran Davis welcomes his Kokum, Florence Sanderson, to When the Frogs Sleep as the podcast's first guest where they talk about how stories as a young girl impacted the adventures and travel of Florence throughout her life. Florence shares stories about her favourite travel memories and experiences with her family and Kieran reads his favourite bedtime story, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 

Send us Fan MailNanabozho, or Nanabush, is a great spirit in the Anishinaabe culture, known for being a shapeshifter and a trickster, and is an important figure in Anishinaabe storytelling where his experiences were used to provide guidance and teach moral lessons. Tonight's bedtime story comes from the book, Braiding Sweetgrass,  and shares how Nanbozho walked the four directions to learn from the earth and be human.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, hosts Winter Dawn Lipscombe and Kieran Davis take a trip to Thunder Bay where they discuss how their recent travel for work also provided an opportunity to visit family and how exploring the region has been an opportunity to rest from their busy schedules. One of the highlights of their trip was learning about the importance of Mount McKay to the Anishinaabe people and their visit to Old Fort William, tonight's bedtime story is Thunder Bay from Gii-Nitaa-Aadisooke: Ojibwe Legends from Lac Seul written by Patricia Ningewance.

Send us Fan MailIn celebration of International Women's Day, today's episode is dedicated to our mothers and honouring their advocacy and leadership. Hosts Kieran Davis and Winter Dawn Lipscombe highlight the significance of recognizing and uplifting Indigenous women in leadership roles, that historically, Indigenous women  held significant roles in their communities as caregivers, mediators, and decision-makers. However, colonization and the residential school system have suppressed women from their traditional roles.It is essential to prioritize and uplift Indigenous women in leadership roles as they bring a unique perspective and approach to leadership that is community-oriented and focused on caring for the people and the land.  Through recognition and support of Indigenous women's leadership, we can work toward building more resilient and thriving communities.

Send us Fan MailThis week's episode focuses on the Legend of Sioux Lookout and talking about the battle between the Sioux and Anishinaabe peoples. Sioux Mountain served as a key lookout point for the Anishinaabe in their ambush of the Sioux  and exemplifies the resilience and ingenuity of Indigenous peoples. To read the full story visit: https://siouxlookout.com/about-sioux-lookout/

Send us Fan MailWelcome to When the Frogs Sleep! Join us for our first episode where we talk about the stories that influenced our lives, the importance of storytelling, and how When the Frogs Sleep got started. Tonight's bedtime story is the Anishinaabe Creation Story from The Mishoomis Book: The Voice of the Ojibway written by Edward Benton-Banai.