Actors and Ancestors
Joel D. Montgrand
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About the Show
A film and TV podcast that celebrates Indigenous actors, talks back to Hollywood stereotypes, and looks to the future of Indigenous Peoples on screen. Rocky Cree actor and show host, Joel D. Montgrand, brings you Indigenous actors like you’ve never heard them before – from up-and-coming stars to trailblazing elders. Roll out the red red carpet for this award-winning show!
This show is a Silver Award Winner for Best in TV & Film in the 2024 Signal Awards and a Silver Award Winner for Best Indie Podcast in the 2024 W3 Awards!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Regularly hosts outside guests
Production & Distribution
Recent Episodes
S2E5 Filling Big Shoes with Michelle Thrush
Michelle Thrush (Cree) tells JD about waiting for aliens to sweep her off to space and the power of Indigenous-led sets when handling stories of unthinkable trauma. She recounts her transformative…
You Might Also Like: Canardian ft. Joel D. Montgrand
Here's an interview with JD from a different show you might like! "Cows and Plows and Rescue Ranger Fumbles (ft. JD Montgrand)" -- Joel (JD) Montgrand, host and creator of the "Actors and Ancestors"…
Fifty Years of Troublemaking with Gary Farmer
JD meets up with Gary Farmer (Cayuga from the Six Nations of the Grand River) for a conversation about his fifty years in performance, blazing a trail for Indigenous actors to come, knowing your…
S2E3 Chasing a Moving Target with Rainbow Dickerson
Rainbow Dickerson is a Rappahannock-Thai actor and producer based in LA. She and Joel discuss what it’s like growing up in many places with a yearning for home, how specific on screen representation…
S2E2 Travelling the Powwow Highway with Wes Studi
The legendary Wes Studi joins Joel for an exchange about his sweeping career from "The Last of the Mohicans" to "Reservation Dogs" and everything in between. Wes is a Tsalagi (Cherokee) screen…
From CBC Unreserved: The Little Bird Story of the 60s Scoop
[Actors and Ancestors is sharing this episode in partnership with CBC Unreserved.] The "Sixties Scoop" was a time when Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and communities…
S2E1 Being a Good Relative with Dallas Goldtooth
Dallas Goldtooth is a Dakota-Diné actor, comedian, and writer. He is a land defender, gamer, and mediocre horseback rider who is kicking down doors in Hollywood, writing and acting in groundbreaking…
S2 TRAILER: Season 2 - Actors & Ancestors
Twice the medicine, twice the bannock, no spirit animals! Welcome to Season 2 of Actors & Ancestors, an Indigenous Film & TV podcast. ---Actors & Ancestors is created, produced and hosted…
S1E7 From "Hey Victor!" to "Hey Doctor" with Dr. Evan Adams
Dr. Evan Adams is an accomplished actor-turned-doctor from Tla’amin Nation. His iconic portrayal of Thomas Builds-the-Fire in the 1998 movie “Smoke Signals” cemented him in Indigenous film history.…
S1E6 Throwing Molotovs and Doing It Ourselves with D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai is an Oji-Cree-Anishinaabe actor born in Toronto whose people are from Big Trout Lake First Nation. On this episode, D’Pharaoh tells us how taking a chance and standing out in…
BONUS: Using the Jay Treaty – How to Work on Both Sides of the Border
Joel wanted to cast a wider net for roles and try to get work in the United States. But first, he needed to get a social security number. Follow Joel's journey over the border to get his SSN! The Jay…
Between Worlds Among the Stars with Isabella Star LaBlanc
Episode 5: Isabella Star LaBlanc is a Dakota actor living in Minnesota. She’s a lifelong theatre actor and self-described “bookstore girl” who got her start surrounded by stories and storytellers.…
Navigating the Industry Wolves with Anna Lambe
Episode 4: Navigating the Industry Wolves with Anna LambeAnna Lambe is an Inuk actor and filmmaker who’s a rising star to watch this coming year. Her breakout role was in The Grizzlies at just 18…
Ditching Leathers and Feathers with Darrell Dennis
Episode 3: Ditching Leathers and Feathers with Darrell DennisDarrell Dennis is a trailblazing veteran Secwépemc actor, comedian, and now– writer and director. Joel caught up with him on location in…
Fighting is My Medicine with Kali Reis
Episode 2: Fighting is My Medicine with Kali Reis Buckle up for this knockout interview with Seaconke Wampanoag actor, Kali Reis, aka Many Feathers Many Talents. Kali is the star of HBO's upcoming…
True North Strong and Cree with Joel D. Montgrand
Episode 1: True North Strong and Cree with Joel D. MontgrandActors and Ancestors is a brand new film and TV podcast for Indigenous actors and anyone else who wants to learn. This is a special first…
TRAILER: Actors and Ancestors
We've come a long way from "Cowboys and Indians". It's a new age of cinema where First Nations, Inuit, and Métis actors are finally on the world stage, telling our own stories. Get a…
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Profile compiled from public podcast metadata · Last refreshed June 15, 2026