NDN All-Stars - Celebrating Great Native American Athletes of the Past and Present

21 Episodes
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By: Bill Black

In each episode, we will discuss the impact of one of our NDN All-Stars. We will share their bios, their accomplishments, and maybe one or two bits of trivia to spice things up. Our goal is to make sure that these great athletes are remembered and honored for their contributions to the proud history of Native Americans everywhere.

This Week In NDN All-Stars History - March 22 - 28
03/22/2026

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Native American athletes featured this week include Henry Armstrong, Joe Louis, Billy Mills, Ethan Bear, Ross Anderson, Derrick Begay, Tommy Morrison, and Joe Hipp.

This week in NDN All-Stars history features memorable moments across boxing, hockey, rodeo, skiing, and distance running.

Henry Armstrong records several victories during the 1930s and 1940s as he continues building one of the greatest careers in boxing history. Joe Louis also adds another win in Detroit during his dominant...


This Week In NDN All-Stars History - March 15 - 21
03/15/2026

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Native American athletes featured this week include Henry Armstrong, Jack Dempsey, Billy Kidd, Joe Hipp, T. J. Oshie, Cherokee Parks, and Joe Louis.

This week in NDN All-Stars history highlights major moments across boxing, baseball, basketball, and hockey.

Henry Armstrong adds several victories to his incredible boxing career during the 1930s and 1940s, including wins in Los Angeles, Houston, and New York. Jack Dempsey continues his early rise in the heavyweight ranks with another...


This Week In NDN All-Stars History - March 8 - 14
03/08/2026

Native American athletes featured this week include Joe Louis, Henry Armstrong, Jack Dempsey, Carey Price, and Zach Whitecloud.

NDN All-Stars Podcast

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network – The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

This week in NDN All-Stars history features big moments across boxing, hockey, basketball, and baseball.

Joe Louis scores an early knockout in Detroit, Henry Armstrong adds more victories to his remarkable career, and Jack Dempsey continues his rise in the heavyweight ranks.

We also move into more recent history with Za...


This Week In NDN All-Stars History: March 1 - March 7
03/01/2026

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network — The Headquarters for Sports Yesteryear.

In this episode, we look back at the week of March 1–7 and the Native athletes who helped define it.

We begin in 1934, when Henry Armstrong earned an eight-round decision victory over Perfecto Lopez — one of many performances during the rise of one of boxing’s most dominant champions.

And we close in the modern era with Lyle Thompson scoring his 350th career goal in the National Lacrosse League — becoming just the 28th player in league history to reach that mark, and...


From Survival to Stage: Juanita Anderson on Bodybuilding, Culture, and Strength
#2
06/30/2025

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this powerful episode of the NDN All-Stars Podcast, host Bill Black sits down with competitive bodybuilder Juanita Anderson to talk about more than just muscles and medals. Juanita shares her deeply personal journey as a Native woman navigating faith, identity, abuse, single motherhood, and competitive bodybuilding. Raised in a strict Christian household by a Jicarilla Apache father and Dutch/French mother, Juanita opens up about the cultural and spiritual challenges she faced when stepping into a sport...


NDN All-Stars - Promoting Great Native Athletes, Past & Present!
06/22/2025

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Welcome to the NDN All-Stars podcast! Join me, Bill Black, as we celebrate the many great Native American athletes who have made an impact in their sports!

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SUPPORT NDN ALL-STARS

If you enjoy the content here and would like to help support our mission of celebrating great Native athletes of the past and present, please take a look at our NDN All-Stars Shop. Proceeds from every purchase help us continue to...


Cherokee Hall of Famer Early Wynn and the 1959 White Sox – A Conversation with Author Lew Freedman
#1
06/14/2025

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of the NDN All-Stars Podcast, we sit down with award-winning sportswriter and author Lew Freedman to talk about one of baseball’s overlooked legends — NDN All-Star #23 Early Wynn (Cherokee), a Hall of Fame pitcher and 300-game winner who helped lead the 1959 Chicago White Sox to the World Series. Lew shares what inspired him to write about this gritty, blue-collar team and its underappreciated ace, and why Wynn's name deserves to be remembered alongside the all-time grea...


NDN All-Stars Podcast - Melissa Skeet - aka "Skeetfighter"
#6
12/03/2024

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of the NDN All-Stars Podcast, Bill Black talks with former roller derby skater and now trail skater and activist NDN All-Star #205 Melissa Skeet (Diné), aka "Skeetfighter" about her roller derby experience and about her marathon skate across the US to bring awareness to the tragedy that is MMIP (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons). This is a little bit of a different subject for the NDN All-Stars podcast, but it is a message that needs to b...


NDN All-Stars Podcast - Phil Barber speaks about Phil Jordon
#5
12/03/2024

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of the NDN All-Stars Podcast, Bill Black speaks with journalist Phil Barber or the Santa Rosa Press Democrat about his 2013 research and article about NDN All-Star #9 Phil Jordan (Wailaki/Nomlaki), the first Native American basketball player to be drafted and play in the National Basketball Association.

You can find out more about NDN All-Star #9 Phil Jordon here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Jordon

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NDN All-Stars Podcast - George Jones on Taffy Abel
#4
11/19/2024

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

Clarence "Taffy" Abel: Breaking Ice and Barriers in Olympic Hockey

📘 Summary:

In this powerful episode of the NDN All-Stars Podcast, I sit down with hockey historian George Jones—nephew of NDN All-Star #61 Clarence "Taffy" Abel (Chippewa), the first Native American to compete in the Winter Olympics and the first Indigenous player in the NHL. George shares rarely heard stories from his family history and Taffy's quiet but groundbreaking achievements, including serving as the U.S. flag bearer at the 1...


NDN All-Stars Podcast - Temryss Lane
#3
08/24/2024

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of the NDN All-Stars podcast, Bill Black speaks with Temryss Lane (Lummi) about her soccer career, from Washington State High School Player Of The Year to her college career and her international soccer play. She also shares her sports journalism activities and her current projects in Indian Country.

You can find out more about Temryss at her website:

https://temrysslane.com

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If you enjoy...


Baseball’s First Indian & a Marathon Legacy: Ed Rice on Louis and Andrew Sockalexis
#2
08/15/2024

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

NDN All-Stars Podcast Season 02, Episode 02 - Author Ed Rice

Summary:

In this episode of the NDN All-Stars Podcast, host Bill Black sits down with journalist and author Ed Rice, who spent more than two decades researching and writing Baseball’s First Indian, the definitive biography of NDN All-Star #4 Louis Sockalexis (Penobscot)—the first known Native American to play Major League Baseball. We also touch on his follow-up book about Louis’s cousin, NDN All-Star #154 Andrew Sockalexis (Penobscot), a talent...


NDN All-Stars - Mark Wagner - "NATIVE LINKS"
#1
07/30/2024

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of the NDN All-Stars podcast, my guest is historian and author Mark Wagner. He has written a new book - "NATIVE LINKS - The Surprising History of Our First People in Golf".

While Mr. Wagner is not of Native heritage, he has researched and written a quality book about the sport of golf in Indian Country. From talking about famous Native Americans who played the game to the current state of golf in...


NDN All-Stars Podcast - Teton Saltes
#7
07/14/2023

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of the NDN All-Stars Podcast, we are talking with professional football player and NDN All-Star #136 Teton Saltes (Oglala Sioux) who just completed his first season with the XFL Champion Arlington Renegades.

Find out more about Teton's work with the BEAR Project here: https://bearproject.net/

SUPPORT NDN ALL-STARS

If you enjoy the content here and would like to help support our mission of celebrating great Native athletes of the...


NDN All-Stars Podcast - Arigon Starr
#6
06/29/2023

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode, we continue our discussion about the new children's book "Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series". This book tells the story of the 1911 World Series which featured NDN All-Star #5 Charles Albert Bender (Ojibwe) and John Tortes Meyers (Cahuilla). We speak with illustrator Arigon Starr about her work on the book, and some of her other creative endeavors.

Find out more about Arigon Starr here, and check out her comic book series "Super...


Traci Sorrell on "Contenders", Baseball History, and Native Representation
#5
06/17/2023

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

NDN All-Stars Podcast - Season 01, Episode 05 - Author Traci Sorrell speaking about her children's book "Contenders"

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of the Indian All-Stars Podcast, host Bill Black sits down with award-winning Cherokee author Traci Sorrell to talk about her powerful new picture book Contenders. Co-created with illustrator Arigon Starr, the book tells the story of two Native baseball giants—NDN All-Star #5 Charles Bender (Ojibwe) and NDN All-Star #18 John Tortes Meyers (Cahuilla)—who faced off in the 1911 Worl...


NDN All-Stars Podcast - Shayna Powless
#4
05/17/2023

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In Episode 4 of the NDN All-Stars Podcast, we get to speak with professional cyclist NDN All-Star #112 Shayna Powless (Oneida). It's great hearing about all the varied pursuits that Native Athletes participate in and excel at!

You can find out more about Shayna and her racing career on her website - shaynapowless.com!

#NDNAllstars #ShaynaPowless #cycling #Oneida

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If you enjoy the content here and would like to help...


NDN All-Stars Podcast - Levi Horn
#3
05/09/2023

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In Episode 03 of the NDN All-Stars Podcast, we speak with Levi Horn (Northern Cheyenne) about his football career and about his activism promoting health and hope for youth in Indian Country.

SUPPORT NDN ALL-STARS

If you enjoy the content here and would like to help support our mission of celebrating great Native athletes of the past and present, please take a look at our NDN All-Stars Shop. Proceeds from every purchase help us continue...


NDN All-Stars Podcast - Ross Anderson
#2
04/05/2023

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode, it is my pleasure to speak with downhill speed skier NDN All-Star #54 Ross Anderson (Cheyenne/Arapaho/Mescalero Apache). I have been looking forward to speaking with Ross about his speed skiing career and to find out what it is REALLY like to go 154.06 miles per hour on two skis!

SUPPORT NDN ALL-STARS

If you enjoy the content here and would like to help support our mission of celebrating great Native athletes...


Elizabeth Phillips on MMA, Life Lessons, and Fighting for Community
#1
03/28/2023

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

NDN All-Stars Podcast - Season 01, Episode 01 - MMA fighter Elizabeth Phillips

Episode Summary:

In this episode of the NDN All-Stars Podcast, host Bill Black sits down with Indian All-Star #80, Elizabeth Phillips (Blackfeet/Choctaw), a professional mixed martial artist from Spokane, Washington, with roots in Omak, Washington and deep ties to Native communities. Elizabeth opens up about her path from street fights and college athletics to the UFC, as well as her career in child welfare and her drive...


NDN All-Stars Theme (Teaser #1)
07/13/2022

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

As we ramp up the NDN All-Stars podcast, here is a little tidbit for your listening pleasure.

NDN ALL-STARS BACKGROUND

Hey there—I'm Bill Black, and welcome to the NDN All-Stars Podcast. If this is your first time hearing about us, let me tell you what we’re all about.

This podcast is where Native sports history comes alive. Each episode shines a spotlight on the great Native American athletes you should know...