The Native Room Podcast

This week on The Native Room, hosts Julian Thomas and Cody Trottier sit down with Indigenous hip-hop artist and entrepreneur Phat Homie for one of the rawest conversations yet. We talk about: ▪️ Growing up and life experiences ▪️ Gang life and the realities behind it ▪️ Leaving that lifestyle behind ▪️ Music, survival, and personal growth ▪️ Building Gill-T Records and what it represents ▪️ The st...

This week on The Native Room, we sit down with comedian, actor, and all-around entertainer Conway Kootenay, also known as Smudge Pan. Known for his hilarious takes on everyday Native life, Conway brings the laughs—but also the real stories behind the man. We get into his journey growing up, how he found comedy, and what pushed him to step into acting and performing. Conway also shares the story be...

On this episode of The Native Room, we sit down with Dakota House, best known for his role on North of 60, to talk about his journey from television to real-life impact in Indigenous communities. We get into: Life during and after North of 60 His program Going M.I.L.E.S. and the work being done with youth Inspiring Indigenous men and breaking generational cycles Real conversations about healing, f...

In this episode of The Native Room, we break down some of the most common Native stereotypes and put them to the test — true or false. From rez life assumptions to city Native realities, we get into the jokes, the misconceptions, and the ones that actually hit a little too close to home. Nothing is off limits — we’re talking about what people think about us, what we think about ourselves, and wher...

In this episode of The Native Room Podcast, we talk about what it really means to chase success as Indigenous men—especially when you weren’t given the blueprint. Growing up in environments where entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and business ownership weren’t commonly taught, many of us had to learn the hard way. We discuss coming from poverty, figuring things out on our own, and turning stre...

Episode 5 – Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) In this episode of The Native Room, we talk about the serious and ongoing issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). As two Indigenous men, we share our perspectives, thoughts, and questions around the movement, the awareness being raised, and how it affects our communities. We discuss how much of what we know about MMIP comes...

In this episode, we talk about our personal journeys into music — how we first got started, the early shows we performed at, and the experiences that shaped who we became as artists. We break down our influences growing up and how hip-hop culture played a major role in our lives, not just the music but the lifestyle around it. We get into the impact of hip-hop in Native communities, from rapping a...

In this episode of The Native Room, we have an honest conversation about what it means to be Native men in today’s world. We talk masculinity, identity, healing, fatherhood, and the pressures Native men face in modern society — at work, in relationships, and within our communities. This isn’t about pretending we have it all figured out. It’s about real experiences, real growth, and real conversati...

What does it really mean to grow up Native—on the rez, in the city, or somewhere in between? In this episode of The Native Room, Jules Thomas and Cody Trottier dive into the lived realities of rez life versus city life, unpacking the stereotypes, assumptions, and identity policing that many Indigenous people face. From code-switching and being told you’re “not Native enough,” to leaving home for o...

The Native Room is a space for real Native conversations. Hosted by Jules Thomas and Cody Trottier, the podcast dives into culture, music, stories, life, and everything in between.