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 that celebrates the human body. From escaping an abusive marriage to reclaiming her strength and placing second in a major natural bodybuilding competition, Juanita’s story is about reclaiming voice, honoring heritage, and becoming the image she always needed to see.

Topics Covered:

• Juanita’s upbringing in a Christian Apache household
• Cultural and spiritual conflicts with competitive bodybuilding
• Her introduction to the sport through a gym friend
• The transition from church life to traditional Apache practices
• Surviving domestic violence and rebuilding as a single mom
• Competing naturally—without steroids or diuretics
• The emotional and physical recovery after losing her daughter
• Entering and placing 2nd in a natural bodybuilding competition
• Incorporating Indigenous identity into her stage performance
• Her mission to inspire other women, especially Native women

Guest Bio:

Juanita Anderson is a competitive bodybuilder with roots in the Jicarilla Apache Nation. Raised in a deeply religious home, she later reconnected with her Native traditions while facing—and overcoming—life’s biggest challenges. As a mother, survivor, and athlete, Juanita uses bodybuilding as a platform for healing, expression, and advocacy. Her journey reflects strength in every form—emotional, spiritual, and physical—and she continues to inspire Native women to honor their bodies and reclaim their power.

Resources & Mentions:

• Learn more about NDN All-Stars: ndnallstars.com
• Follow NDN All-Stars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
• Subscribe to the NDN All-Stars Podcast: https://ndn-all-stars.captivate.fm/listen

If Juanita’s story moved you, share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Follow the podcast on your favorite platform, leave a review, and support our mission to promote great Native athletes—past and present!

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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 retell these stories. Also, if you would like to donate to this effort, please visit our Patreon page.

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NDN ALL-STARS BACKGROUND

Hey there—I'm Bill...

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 retell these stories. Also, if you would like to donate to this effort, please visit our Patreon page.

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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—past and present. From Hall of Famers to hometown heroes, we tell the stories of Native athletes who made their mark—on the field, on the court, and in history.

We keep it real. No sugar-coating. No museum talk. Just straight-up stories told with pride and purpose—because representation matters, and these All-Stars deserve to be remembered right.

Some episodes are deep dives into a single athlete’s life. Others bring on guests—historians, authors, even the athletes themselves—who help us connect the dots between culture, identity, and achievement.

Whether you’re Native, a sports fan, a history buff, or just curious—this podcast will give you a new perspective on what greatness really looks like.

So if you're ready to learn, laugh, and maybe even get a little fired up—hit that follow button and join the team.

You can find more stories, merch, and updates at NDNAllStars.com. And be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube—just search for NDN All-Stars and you’ll find us.

NDN All-Stars – Promoting Great Native Athletes – Past & Present!

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 greats.

We dive into:

• Wynn’s Alabama upbringing and early dreams of playing football
• His dominance with the Cleveland Indians and standout 1959 season with the White Sox
• The evolution of pitching, the rarity of 300 wins, and why it’s unlikely we’ll see another
• Anecdotes about Wynn’s no-nonsense attitude on the mound — including legendary quotes about brushing back hitters, even his own mother
• The legacy of the 1959 White Sox, featuring Luis Aparicio, Nellie Fox, and more
• Why some baseball greats fade from public memory — and why they shouldn’t

Lew also gives us a sneak peek at his upcoming book on Yankees catcher Bill Dickey, and talks about the challenges of researching forgotten sports legends.

• 0:02 – Why Lew Freedman chose the 1959 White Sox
• 4:10 – Early Wynn’s Cy Young season and influence
• 10:00 – Wynn’s playing style and mound presence
• 18:45 – Remembering the overlooked stars of the era
• 24:00 – The rarity of 300-game winners
• 31:50 – Researching Early Wynn at the Baseball Hall of Fame
• 38:00 – New project on Yankees Hall of Famer Bill Dickey

Lew Freedman is an award-winning journalist and the author of over 100 books, many on baseball, Native American athletes, and sports history. A lifelong researcher and storyteller, his work helps preserve the stories of sports figures often forgotten over time. Learn more about Lew and his books here.

• Buy the Book: Early Wynn, the Go-Go White Sox and the 1959 World Series by Lew Freedman
• NDN All-Stars Blog: Stories about Native athletes like Early Wynn
• Follow us on Instagram: @ndnallstars

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the NDN All-Stars Podcast and leave a review to help more listeners discover these important stories. Share it with a baseball fan who should know the name Early Wynn.

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 retell these stories. Also, if you would like to donate to this effort, please...