Native News and Talk

​Red Hoop Talk is a Native News and Talk show about how we stay #ClosetoCulture.

Our guests are diverse Natives talking about recent news and events, where they come from and what matters most to them. Join us to learn how Native Peoples protect culture while strengthening self-determination and sovereignty for Native Country!

Watch Live & Listen After

New episodes LIVE on the fourth Thursday of every month at 4 p.m. ET on our YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn pages. Listen after on Apple Podcasts, Audible and  Spotify!

Upcoming Episode

​WATCH LIVE: Thursday, May 22 at 4 p.m. ET
Mary Youngblood, a citizen of the Seminole and Aleut Nations, is a trailblazing musician and the first woman to professionally record the Native flute. She is also the first woman to win not just one, but two Grammy Awards for Best Native American Music Album. A classically trained flutist with a lifetime of musicianship that began with piano lessons at age six and guitar at ten, Mary’s path has always been guided by a deep connection to music and her culture.

Mary was gifted her first wooden Native flute as an adult—a moment that sparked a lifelong dedication to mastering the instrument, traditionally played only by men. Her music blends classical, blues, and traditional Native sounds to create haunting, melodic compositions that have captivated audiences across generations. With over 250 hand-carved flutes in her collection, each song she performs is uniquely shaped by the spirit and texture of the instrument itself.

She has released six acclaimed albums with Silver Wave Records, including Dance With the Wind, which won the 2007 Grammy Award, and Beneath the Raven Moon, which earned her the 2003 Grammy. Her recordings have also been recognized by the Native American Music Awards, the Association for Independent Music, and the New Age Voice, among others. Collaborating with legendary artists such as Ian Anderson, Bill Miller, and Joanne Shenandoah, Mary’s albums blend original melodies with messages of healing, identity, and connection to the natural world.
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Mary is also a respected educator and mentor who shares her knowledge of music and culture with the next generations. Her performances are known for their spiritual resonance, transforming the stage into a sacred space where music becomes both prayer and storytelling.
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Mary lives in Northern California, where she continues to compose, teach, and “dance with the wind” alongside the trees that inspire her.

Purchase a #CloseToCulture Shirt ​to Show Your Support!

​Support the Association and wear your values with pride by visiting our online store! We offer a variety of Native-designed, limited-edition t-shirts, long sleeves T's, and hoodies in a range of colors and sizes up to 4X. Each purchase helps sustain our vital programs. Shop now and make an impact while celebrating Native artistry and advocacy!
$29.99 T-Shirts | $34.99 Long Sleeve T 
​$44.99 Crewneck | $49.99 Hoodie

Hosted by Jennifer Robin

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Jennifer Robin, Red Hoop Talk Host, is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation with matrilineal connections to the Cherokee Nation. Jennifer is an award-winning producer, traditional singer, and 4th generation regalia and ribbon wear seamstress. Her exceptional craftsmanship has graced clothing for film productions and Disney’s ECHO. With an illustrious career in broadcasting, Jennifer has garnered five broadcast awards for excellence in programming and public service. 

As a prominent radio host, Jennifer Robin leads the acclaimed program Resilience Radio on KVMR 89.5FM, which highlights Native voices and music. Her program has not only achieved international recognition but also serves as a platform for authentic Indigenous voices. Jennifer’s ability to conduct honest and engaging interviews makes her show both entertaining and informative. She has spokend with notable figures such as Dennis Banks and John Trudell, among many others. 

Her dedication to her culture and active participation in ceremonies provide Jennifer with unique insights and connections. These connections allow her to delve deeper into subjects, capturing stories that many Native individuals might not feel comfortable sharing with strangers or non-Natives. 

​During the Standing Rock protest, Jennifer's fieldwork in Cannonball, North Dakota, was transformed into a compelling one-hour audio special, showcasing her ability to document significant events. As a broadcaster for SPIRIT Radio, Standing Rock’s official station, Jennifer's work has been both impactful and influential.

Jennifer's talent extends beyond radio; she is a recipient of the 2020-2023 CMAC/FOCV/KSEE grant for the television broadcast project, BIG TELL. As part of the Ofi Nia Production Company, Jennifer continues to produce content that resonates deeply with indigenous and global audiences. 

Her weekly program, Resilience Radio, features a diverse range of guests, including authors, artists, musicians, storytellers, and activists from various Indigenous backgrounds. Over the years, Jennifer has interviewed hundreds of individuals from Native Nations, First Nations, Maori, Mayan, Amazonian, Sámi, and Tibetan communities. 
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With a deep commitment to her culture and a passion for storytelling, Jennifer Robin continues to be a powerful advocate for Indigenous voices, shining a light on the rich and diverse narratives that shape our world. 

Be Our Guest

​​If you would like to be a guest on Red Hoop Talk, please send your photo and bio to [email protected] ​and let us know your story!

Episode Archive

2025
  • Episode 91: Dan Namakin (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservatin), Educator, storyteller, performer
  • Episode 90: Keith Secola (Bois Forte Band of Chipewa and Couchiching First Nation), Songwriter, musician, producer
  • ​Episode 89: Billy Mills (Oglala Lakota) Olympian, inspiration, youth advocate
  • Episode 88: Shannon O'Loughlin (Choctaw) Advocate, lawyer, instigator

2024​
2022
2021
  • Episode 70: The Repatriation Conference Special with Gail Dabuluz & Judy Ramos, Tlingit
  • Episode 69: Hope Huskey, Sequoyah Funds Tonya Carroll & Tara McCoy, Ray Kinsland Leadership Institute all EBCI 
  • Episode 68: Carly Griffith Hotvedt (Cherokee) from Indigenous Food & Ag Initiative, & Andrea Carter (Powhatan Renape Nation) from Native Seeds Search​
  • Episode 67: Grandmas: The Strength of Generations from the Association's Staff
  • Episode 66: Carolyn Dunne (Tunica-Choctaw-Biloxi), Professor of Theatre & Dance at CSU Los Angeles
  • Episode 65: Zack Khalil (Ojibway), filmmaker and artist 
  • Episode 64: Darrell Hillaire (Lummi Nation), Executive Director of Children of the Setting Sun Productions
  • Episode 63: From Repatriation to Rematriation: Honoring the Ancestors and Their Seeds - from the 2020 6th Annual Repatriation Conference 
  • Episode 62: Rose Petoskey (Grand Traverse Bands of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians), Attorney and mentor. 
  • Episode 61: Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne & Hodulgee Muscogee), how repatriation is a human right.
  • Episode 60: Dr. Gabrielle Tayac (Piscataway Indian Nation) activist and scholar
  • Episode 59: The "BEST OF" Red Hoop Talk, we revisit our favorite moments, share love, laughter, and stories as we celebrate 59 episodes of staying #CloseToCulture. 
  • Episode 58: Grandmother Drum: Women and the Drum, with Anishinaabe Grandmothers, Aunties and friends about the history and politics of the drum.
  • Episode 57: Nadema Agard (Lakota/Cherokee/Powhatan) and Pura Fe (Taino/Tuscarora) talk with us about women and ceremonies, birthing and rebirthing and the uprising of Indigenous women's strength. 
  • Episode 56: Gena R. Timberman (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) principle of the Luksi Group, LLC.
  • Episode 55: Frank Ettawageshik (Odawa), President of the Association on American Indian Affairs & Executive Director of the United Tribes of Michigan.
  • Episode 54:  Mishuana Goeman (Tonawanda Band of Seneca) Professor of Gender Studies, American Indian Studies, and Critical Race Studies in the Law School at UCLA.
  • Episode 53:  Jamie Marquez-Bratcher (Oglala Lakota), Kaitlin Lenhard (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), Colleen Medicine (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), and Shannon O'Loughlin (Choctaw), from the Association on American Indian Affairs. 
  • Episode 52: Hali McKelvie (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), Community Outreach Specialist for Uniting Three Fires Against Violence.
  • Episode 51: Thomas M. Yeahpau (Kiowa/Apache), filmmaker, musician, actor and writer of X-Indian Chronicles: The Book of Mausape and The Last Pow-Wow. 
  • Episode 50: Alvin Windy Boy Sr. (Cree), former Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Council Member, and Council Chairman of Rocky Boy Indian Reservation and founder and CEO of iResponse, LLC.
  • Episode 49: Women's History Month with Jackie Crow Shoe (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), Siena East (Choctaw/Isleta Pueblo), Pura Fé (Tuscarora/Taino), and Sandy White Hawk (Sicangu Lakota).
  • Episode 48: Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), Ojibwe writer and author of Firekeeper's Daughter
  • Episode 47: Kansas Begaye (Navajo), award-winning recording artist, inspirational speaker and Miss Indian World 2013-2014.
  • Episode 46: Raeanne Madison (Ojibwe), holistic doula, birth and parenting educator, and owner of Postpartum Healing Lodge.
  • Episode 45: Rory Wheeler (Seneca Nation), Native youth advocate and mentor
  • Episode 44: Patrick Del Percio (Cherokee, Italian, Irish), Cherokee language instructor, translator, and faculty at the University of Oklahoma
  • Episode 43: Celebrating Native Love with Sandy White Hawk (Sicangu Lakota), founder and director of First Nations Repatriation Institute, and George McCauley (Omaha), Indian Child Welfare Act Training Administrator for the University of Duluth
  • Episode 42: April D. Tinhorn (Haulapai, Navajo and Chinese), founder and owner of Tinhorn Consulting, LLC.
  • Episode 41: Dustin Martin (Navajo), athlete and Executive Director of Wings of America
  • Episode 40: Debra Yepa-Pappan (Pueblo of Jemez), Artist and Community Engagement Coordinator for the Field Museum
  • Episode 39: Colleen Medicine (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), the Association Program Director & River Kerstetter (Oneida Nation of Wisconsin), The Association Public Affairs and Outreach Coordinator
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2020