01/03/2020 In Podcast Episodes
Native American Ellen Blackcloud
Ellen (a pseudonym) shares about shares about discrimination, growing up poor, living on a reservation, riding the line between native culture and “white people things” and tells her story of grooming and sexual abuse from her father, being “trapped” in her own bedroom for years to avoid him, and how getting sober herself was the catalyst for healing and forgiveness.
She speaks about the open wounds that remain from generations of government mistreatment towards Native Americans and the stories of abuse, addiction, and violence that exist on native reservations today; and the need for healing and reconciliation for the trauma of the past.
Fabiana Pascuccio
01/17/2020 at 10:03 amI did enjoy the podcast. I like how it makes you feel less alone in regards struggles with mental health. Additionally, I found the interview with Ms. Ellen very interesting and inspiring because of the way she overcame her problems. Can’t wait for the next episode!
Aidan Quinn
01/17/2020 at 11:14 amI am not a podcast listener and this is actually the first real podcast I have listened to and I’m definitely impressed. Ellen shares her story of abuse, Native American culture, discrimination, her identity and more. Although it seemed like the podcast would be too long for me to listen all the way through, I’m glad I did and it was definitely worth it. I had never known the true struggles of American Indian people, especially women and children. I would definitely recommend this podcast to anyone interested in learning about Native American reservations as you are hearing directly from someone who grew up on one and their struggles in which many go through.
Beatricci Britney
01/18/2020 at 5:12 pmThis was truly inspirational, I find it very brave to talk about your feeling and opinions about your culture as well as the other cultures you mentioned on this podcast; you don’t want to offend anyone or say the wrong thing, but most of the things discussed on the podcast I found very relateable and it was very interesting to hear about the way your culture is treated and found it very relatable from how mine is treated in the US as well. Thank you, Ellen, for sharing your story it was very moving.
Fernando Raudales
01/19/2020 at 11:48 amThis podcast was honestly a good listen to sit through and experience. Even though I personally do not watch podcast or hear them I was able to understand the content that was being produced and be able to feel as if I’ve learned something after listening in. It was very clear to me the topic at hand and how it was explained and brought to me the audience it was not confusing or hard to understand. To me this podcast is for a more general audience anyone can enjoy this podcast be it a student, teacher, or just another person. The podcast is more of a first person point of view on a given situation so it is not the most credible source of information but I believe that the topic of how Ellen dealt with her trauma is credible and reliable for anyone that is going through or went through what she did. The information given is up to date since it is a recollection and discussion of past issues and how the person is dealing with them to this day. The podcast was entertaining to listen to I feel like I had an inside perspective of being a Native American women that grew up in a very terrible situation and the struggles through it. I would recommend this podcast for anyone interested in this topic of Discrimination and Sexual Abuse and how to deal with it through Ellen’s perspective. I would give this review 4 Stars for the discussion and clarity of the topic to keep me interested and listening to the story as well as the resolution to the problems and how it is still going on to this day.
Sabrina Valencia
01/19/2020 at 12:05 pmThe podcast of Ellen Blackcloud displays an intensely emotional journey next to her to each and every instance of her survivor story. Apart from the clear, easy to understand, direct and even peaceful language and effective communication between her and Paul Gilmartin, the atmosphere created while the interview was carried out was one facing the rawness of the problem and at the same time one focused on the present self-healing, and able-to-laugh, healthy state Ellen was now in thanks to her will power, resilience and strength for conquering the problem. It is truly heart-warming and amazing to see that this is not a website with interviews and stories limited to a specific group of academics or professionals but more to anyone who has experienced or is experiencing struggle in their life and has the intention and purpose to do something about it and not give up. Additionally, I believe this to be a podcast that gives up-to-date, credible, information about the mental issues concerning our society today and to which most people can somehow relate to. This podcast grabbed my attention towards a subject I knew nothing about, provided me with knowledge and awareness of the present situation of women in Native American communities and the discrimination and abuse suffered by American Indians in general. I was also touched and amazed by the capacity of Ellen Blackcloud to look beyond her suffering, not fall into resentment, and understand and come at peace with a White and Native American community that year after year rejected her; and moreover forgive and feel empathy for the suffering and pain of those who harmed her. I would recommend this podcast to anyone that, as part of our society, wants to immerse and look inside the issues of other cultures as to not only better inform himself but also see how could be possible to approach in a more humane, culturally embracing and active way to the Native American community. And to conclude, I am giving well-deserved 5 stars to this review.
Christina C
01/30/2020 at 9:45 amI give this podcast 5 stars . I can relate to dealing with stereotypes and bullying growing up. Thank you, Ellen for sharing incredible story.
Clerger Guisty
01/19/2020 at 12:41 pmThis Podcast is a very interesting activity that can help people to take control of themself. People always think that they are the only ones living in their situations. after listening to several testimonies of others they can realize that they are not the only ones living their situations.
Nicola Salino
01/19/2020 at 4:01 pmAt first I found the podcast to be a little depressing but hey that’s expected when covering depressing topics. We all have to talk about the negative things in our lives to some degree you know. There were some very funny moments in the show like when Paul kept teasing Ellen pretending to be stereotyping Native Americans. Overall a really deep and meaningful conversation that was pleasant to listen to and was able to teach me about another walk of life very different than my own.
Pedro Martin
01/19/2020 at 6:50 pmThis Podcast was of very good quality, clear and crisp sound and communication with no errors, This Podcast appeals to students as well as academics interested in studying psychology and mental illness, the information and credibility of this podcast was up to date and reliable,
The podcast feels very real and entertaining as well as raw and unscripted very emotional.
I would absolutely recommend this podcast to any students of psychology or people interested in mental illness.
This podcast I would rate 5 stars.
Osvaldo Guerra
01/19/2020 at 7:27 pmIt was my first time listening to a podcast about mental health, but I believe this helped me quite a lot. The sound quality was good and was never bored thanks to the wonderful host. I believe this catered to every group because everyone goes through things they need to hear about and get help with. The information is up to date and I think anyone going through something similar like Ellen would benefit a lot from this. This was a very entertaining podcast with all new things I learned that did not know people went through. I would recommend this podcast to anyone going through something similar that juts need to listen to people talk about things they might be going through. Paul was an excellent host and is very funny. I rate these 5 stars.
Coriya Edwards
01/19/2020 at 7:28 pmThis podcast is very eye opening and really informative about things that happened in her life and the different mindsets and doctrines of the natives in her reservation. It is a good podcast for everyone, no matter who you are, because it allows you to become more knowledgeable about a culture many people don’t know a lot about. The podcast seems like a credible source because it is coming from someone who has experienced these things and lived in a reservation. Overall, the podcast was very entertaining and kept me captivated the entire time, hearing the stories. I definitely recommend this podcast to anyone who wants to become knowledgeable about different subjects such as the native culture, abuse, addiction, poverty, discrimination, etc. I would give this podcast 4 out of 5 stars.
Manuel Guerra
01/19/2020 at 7:38 pmThis podcast was quite informative and fun to listen to, while Ellen Blackcloud and Paul Gilmartin touched some heavy topics they kept things humorous. Paul always kept the podcast interesting and humorous and was a great host. This podcast was fun to listen to and can be heard by anyone since mental health is vital to all. This story is a retelling about someones life and battle with mental health so I can say this is credible up to date information. It was quite interesting to learn about how Native Americans feel ostracized in a country where they should feel like they are at home. I recommend this podcast since Paul is a great host and I think he does a phenomenal job talking about this topics. Easily a 5 star rating.
Carissa Allen
01/19/2020 at 7:39 pmThe Podcast is very informative of what is having in other nationalities and other households. Ellen catered to everyone meaning as in a lot of people can relate to her story. The credibility of this interview is very accurate due to the fact that this is still happening in todays time. The podcast is very entertaining and I would most definitely recommend it to other listeners because it is important for her story to be heard and how she grow and developed from her past. Even though she shows resentment towards her mother she knows she still has love. She also went on into saying how it’s important for you to forgive yourself. I would give this podcast a 10 out of 10!
Paul M
01/19/2020 at 8:44 pmIn my opinion I found this podcast enjoyable and very entertaining, interesting, and informative. This is first podcast I ever listened to and to be quite honest I was very taken away by how much I actually enjoyed listening to the podcast. I liked the follow up questions that were being asked after Ellen had answered a previous question I was already thinking of another that I would personally ask if I were speaking to her. Questions were very clear, respectful and direct, and then answers were just as clear as the questions. Ellen was very easy to understand and she really made you see from her perspective of things that she dealt with. We still deal with discrimination and violence today almost the same type of violence and discrimination she dealt with so I believe the things she talked about from her past are still up to date. The mental health and recovery to a better state after her traumatic experiences throughout her childhood is very raw so I believe that this podcast should be viewed by students, professors, and anyone over 18. I would recommend this to friends who never watched a podcast so they can get the same feeling I did when I listened to a podcast for the first time so I can discuss it with them. If I were to give this podcast a rating it would be 5 out of 5 stars.
Katarina Baez
01/19/2020 at 8:50 pmThis podcast is a must-listen for anyone wanting the motivation to overcome their trauma. Ellen is a great example of a person who sought help and gained the necessary tools to manage her PTSD and cope with what happened to her as a child in a productive way. This podcast caters to academicians and students alike, wanting to learn more about Native American’s struggles to integrate effectively within US culture and how one woman overcame said struggles. Ellen’s self-awareness and introspection make this podcast exceptional; she makes it easy to put things into perspective and shines a positive light on different aspects of dealing with mental health. I would recommend this podcast to anyone going through troubled times. Ellen has every opportunity to cope with her issues negatively, but she chose the difficult route to go to therapy and grow from her experiences, rather than be defeated by them. Ellen and the interviewer deserve five stars for a compelling interview.
Stephanie Velazquez
01/19/2020 at 9:55 pmI don’t usually listen to podcast, but this one is interesting. Ellen Blackcloud spoke about her past struggles as a Native American and how much she faced descrimination. What caught my attention the most was her story on her being harrased by her father and the trauma it had on her mentality. I think these situations, of being sexually abused, is more common than we think and this podcast shines a light on this horrible act. This shows the great credibility this podcast has because this is still happening today. I believe this catered to everyone but especially students. At first I did not find this podcast interesting but then Ellen started speaking of her sexual abuse and it caught my attention. It is so common for this to happen to young girls and this shines a light on that.
Sophia Rives
01/19/2020 at 10:26 pmThis podcast is an open platform for people of any race, gender, or age to talk freely about their personal experiences thought process and as a person that never listened to podcasts like this, it doesn’t make me feel alone about my experiences in this world that we live in. A lot of the things that come up make me feel as though I’m not alone because it has happened to me or I have felt like that one way or another. As someone who does not listen to the podcast, I feel like this is a safe environment for people to talk freely about their past traumas current situations or just their thoughts. This is a beautiful community and I am happy to have heard this.
Giramar Laguerre
01/19/2020 at 10:27 pmThis podcast was very clear and detailed. Although I have a hard time focusing on long podcasts, I was able to grasp the central message that Ms. Blackcloud was trying to get across. The interviewer asked great questions that I believe helped Blackcloud get her points across in quite a deep and emotional manner. Throughout the podcast, as Blackcloud continues to get deeper into her history you can begin to hear the raw emotion in her voice that truly drives everything home. I believe that this podcast is catered specifically to a group of individuals who experience mental health issues and want a safe place to share their stories or who simply want to know that they are not alone and hear the stories of others. I believe that this podcast is giving up to date information about the struggles of Native Americans considering that these stories are mainly things that Ms. Blackcloud has personally experienced. I also believe that it gives very reliable and credible information about mental health issues and how deeply it can affect a person. I find this podcast interesting because it takes a deep look into the life of an ordinary woman who has so much to share. I believe that many lessons can be learned from life stories and I do believe that this in depth interview can truly be eye opening for anyone who is willing to lend an ear. I would recommend this podcast to anyone who denies the impact that sexual abuse, discrimination and any other hardships that people face can have on a person. I would give this podcast a five out of five stars because it is amazing to see anyone speak out on experiences like these with such a boldness and freeing sense of self. It was truly inspiring.
Robert Z
01/19/2020 at 10:31 pmThe podcast was very eye opening, Ellen Blackcloud story was astonishing and the interviewer Paul Gilmartin gave some real interesting questions. I feel like many cultures like to suppress scenarios like the one Ellen has overcome, but in reality expressing it benefits those who have gone or is going through something similar. It show people that there is a way out. I personally really enjoyed your story and would recommend to anyone. five stars
Joshua Trista
01/19/2020 at 10:36 pmThis was pretty deep to be honest
Ronald Alvarez
01/26/2020 at 3:51 pmGreat job Paul and Ellen, excellent episode! Greatly interesting interview, fascinating in nature and approach. Despite the difficult and painful topics, it remained clear and relatable to those of us not as immersed in the fields of mental health. It is always the mark of a good podcast to be able to reach a wide and diverse audience, and you manage it with ease. What it is even more commendable, you managed to make something so dreadful into something bearable with the timely use of humor; to the pint that I found myself laughing out loud in my car alongside you guys.
I will highly recommend your podcast to whoever cares to listen. Five stars!
I cannot say this enough, props to Ellen for all the growth she has gone through and all the courage it must have taken to put her story out there.
Rudy Almanza
01/29/2020 at 8:04 pmThis podcast was immersive and empowering to those in need of a healing voice. The information given by Ellen Blackcloud, is a matter in society that needs to be touched more upon. Blackcloud was very informative on the sickness of mental problems due to sexual and verbal abuse. I would recommend this podcast to anyone. Ellen yelled to us in the background, that you aren’t alone, seek out for help. This podcast deserves ten stars. Thank you, Ellen for the courage of sharing your story.
Ana I Alvarez
01/30/2020 at 7:54 amThis podcast created the space for this woman “Ellen Blackcloud” to share the deepest and most vulnerable aspects of her life. The interview questions helped to clarify what Ellen really meant in regard to her personal experiences and I’m glad this was an in-depth experience where listeners can learn more about the life of some Native Americans, especially Ellen’s. I feel like the podcast could easily be inclined towards mental health counselors or psychologist; however, anyone could benefit from hearing Ellen’s story. The podcast is reliable because it’s the autobiography of a person. These are real life events that happened to Ellen and she is being brave enough to share them. The podcast was very interesting to me because recently I have been learning about American history and how badly white settlers treated the Native American people. Through this podcast I was able to learn even more about what has happened to the Native American communities and the personal experiences of a Native person. I would recommend this podcast because not a lot of people know about the lives of Native Americans today. I would also share this podcast to spread awareness about abuse and the conditions of the reservations. I give this podcast 5 stars! I also thank those involved for being open and sharing their stories. Ellen, I wish you the best.
Roxane Pedron
01/30/2020 at 2:45 pmAs this being my first podcast, I have to admit I was very much captivated. It was so emotional to hear Ellen Blackclouds story, how she over came it, and who she is today. The level of clarity from both Paul when conducting the interview and Ellen Blackcloud and how she responded in clear detail was what made this podcast so interesting to listen to. It expanded my mind and introduced me to new ideas and concepts I hadn’t thought of before. Being someone who knows sexual assault individuals, this podcast taught me a lot in what they may be experiencing. The different triggers associated with sexual assault showed me that there was so much more to learn about these cases. I would highly recommend this podcast to almost anyone, just to spread awareness. But I do believe this podcast would benefit those within the healthcare field because doctor, nurses, practitioners encounter victims of sexual assault in many cases and this podcast gives first hand their experiences and triggers associated with their assaults. I would rate this podcast a 10/10 for the level of clarity and information it provided.
Jessica joseph
01/30/2020 at 10:14 pmI am so happy to have the opportunity to listen to this podcast. I learned a lot, and appreciate you all sharing deep stories with us to encourage and bring awareness. She explained her story very well. I am sorry anyone had to go through that. Stay Awesome Paul! All lives matter