Best Let S Make Sense Of It Podcasts (2025)

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Samin Nosrat: Do Dinner Parties Have Healing Powers? 53:18

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8h ago53:18

53:18

Samin Nosrat found a love for cooking through working in acclaimed restaurants and visiting kitchens around the world. She became a star after releasing her hit cookbook Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat – which also became a Netflix series. But to her surprise, all that success left her feeling empty. Sam chatted with Samin in her ‘secret garden,’ surrounded …

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Can Michael Lewis Make Wall Street Entertaining Again? 1:18:24

2d ago1:18:24

1:18:24

Author Michael Lewis is best known for writing Money Ball, Liar's Poker and The Big Short, his seminal book about the 2008 financial crisis that later became an Oscar-winning film. He sat down with Sam for a recent Live Talk Los Angeles event to celebrate the 15 year anniversary and new audio book of The Big Short. They revisit the biggest lessons …

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They Let Him Say What?! with Jay Jurden 45:37

1h ago45:37

45:37

Comedian Jay Jurden loves seeing just how far he can push a joke. In his debut special, Yes Ma’am, Jay makes fun of everyone from millennials to Kid Rock to his own open marriage. Sam chats with Jay about his writing process, why you won’t hear a single Trump joke in his set, and why every comedian who has ever made fun of you might owe you money. …

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Is Rap Music Dead? with Broken Record’s Justin Richmond 27:23

2d ago27:23

27:23

For the first time in 35 years, there are no rap songs in Billboard’s Top 40. Is hip-hop in trouble? Sam breaks down what it all means with Justin Richmond, music journalist and host of Pushkin’s Broken Record podcast. The two chat about the warning signs that might have led to this moment, how hip hop has evolved, and how Black music continues to …

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50 Years After the Edmund Fitzgerald | A Conversation with Bruce Lynn 54:54

3d ago54:54

54:54

Names of the men It's been fifty years since the SS Edmund Fitzgerald was lost in Lake Superior during a snow squall. Gordon Lightfoot's song "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" made the ship infamous. Lightfoot wrote the song because he felt the boat and its crew were not being honored the way they should have been. My guest on this episode is Execut…

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Is the Grind of a Comedian Never-Ending? 32:30

8d ago32:30

32:30

Comedian Jazmyn W. pokes fun at everything from being a single mom to dating post-divorce. It’s part therapy, part life advice, and 100% real. She chats with Sam about why she isn’t afraid to be honest in her stand up, the realities of working as a comedian and content creator, and why even though she has over a million followers on TikTok, she cou…

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Is Jaws Really a Horror Movie? 27:46

14d ago27:46

27:46

It’s a bonus episode! From now on you’ll get Sam in your feed two times a week with a new segment we’re calling Not Safe for Radio. Sam will chat with friends, writers, podcasters (and sometimes the team behind this show) about what we’re obsessed with to what we’re reading to pop culture hot topics and more. This week… When Sam placed Jaws on our …

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Shoulda Been a Sugar Baby? w/ Phoebe Robinson 50:55

13d ago50:55

50:55

We were all burned by the #GIRLBOSS era… just ask comedian Phoebe Robinson. Her latest standup special I Don’t Wanna Work Anymore gets into all the ways hustle culture made us all tired. Phoebe and Sam break down the realities of the girlboss, trad wives and tired baddies everywhere. They also reflect on the legacy of her comedy podcast 2 Dope Quee…

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Exploring Two Wild Worlds: From Appalachia to Africa 42:12

19d ago42:12

42:12

From the Appalachian Trail to the African savanna, this episode explores what it means to live between two wild worlds. Each year, military veteran, Brian N. Johnson leaves his home in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee and travels to Kenya to lead safaris, capture wildlife through his lens, and share the powerful rhythm of life where lions hun…

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Horror Movie Faves & Should Taylor Swift Retire? 50:12

21d ago50:12

50:12

Hallelujah! It's finally spooky season! Time to break down the very best of Hollywood horror. Joining the show are culture journalists Brittany Luse (host of NPR’s It’s Been a Minute) and Tre’vell Anderson (host of the film podcast SEATED). They rank their favorite scary movies of all time and build the definitive Horror Movie Mount Rushmore. Can a…

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Episode #36 Podcast Series Theme: Healing the Heart of the Believer —One Conversation at a Time. 7:53

25d ago7:53

7:53

Episode #36 Podcast Series Theme: Healing the Heart of the Believer —One Conversation at a Time. https://youtu.be/yYFCE-oi5rQ When faith and pain collide, it can shake the very core of who you are. Many believers are silently suffering—hurt by people, wounded by systems, and carrying grief that’s been buried under service, titles, and expectations.…

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Can KPop Heal Us All? w/ Songwriter Mark Sonnenblick 51:34

1M ago51:34

51:34

Maybe there actually was a song of the summer? At least if you’ve seen the hit movie KPop Demon Hunters. The film’s hottest song, Golden, has been dominating the Billboard Hot 100 charts since August. And it’s the most popular film to ever hit Netflix. Songwriter Mark Sonnenblick helped create the soundtrack’s major pop anthems. He talks about brin…

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Episode 33 Abigail the Warrior Princess Battle Ready Faith, Marriage & the Making of Resilient Women 39:13

1M ago39:13

39:13

🎙️ The Dee-Brief With Dr. Dee Podcast Episode #33: Abigail the Warrior Princess “Battle Ready: Faith, Marriage & the Making of Resilient Women” https://youtu.be/EOr0IDObMDc In this empowering episode, Dr. Dee sits down with Abigail—known as the Warrior Princess—for a candid and faith-filled conversation on resilience, marriage, and the power of God…

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Episode #34: Let’s Talk About It – Healing, Hope, and the Work of Grief with Tony Lynch 36:48

1M ago36:48

36:48

Grief asks for language, presence, and patient practice. In this conversation, Dr. Dee sits down with Tony Lynch to talk plainly about loss—how it reshapes our identity, what support actually helps, and the daily rhythms that move us from surviving to steadily healing. We unpack myths that keep people silent, the difference between “fixing” and tru…

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Episode #32: Unmuted – The Power of Healing Voice & Vision with Mirah Young 4:48

1M ago4:48

4:48

In this inspiring episode of The Dee-Brief with Dr. Dee, I sit down with Mirah Young, a powerful woman of vision, resilience, and purpose. Together, we explore what it truly means to find your voice after silence and to walk boldly in the vision God has placed within you. Mirah shares her personal journey of healing and transformation, revealing ho…

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Uncovering the Hidden Power of Zoning 33:24

1M ago33:24

33:24

By wanderingpen

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Can Satire Save Democracy? w/ The Onion CEO Ben Collins 51:57

1M ago51:57

51:57

Ben Collins became CEO of The Onion after a long career working in traditional news, so he's got major thoughts about speaking truth to power. He breaks down the role of satire in our current politics and what journalism is getting wrong about free speech. Ben also talks about relaunching The Onion’s print newspaper and why AI will never write a go…

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Is It Ever OK to Lie? w/ June Squibb 51:25

1M ago51:25

51:25

Actor June Squibb became a Hollywood leading lady in her 90s, decades after she first began acting. She tells Sam about finding stardom in older age, her Broadway debut in Gypsy in 1959, and why it’s alright to bend the truth every now and then. They also discuss her latest starring role in Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great. …

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LIGHT and DARK 8:36

2M ago8:36

8:36

Episode Summary In this reflective episode, Dick Foth explores the rhythm of life through the lens of seasons, the autumnal equinox, and the contrast between light and darkness. From family celebrations to global tragedies, he reflects on how we hold both joy and sorrow in the human experience. Drawing from Ecclesiastes, the Lord’s Prayer, and the …

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Are Nepo Babies Cool Now? with Zosia Mamet 50:05

2M ago50:05

50:05

Zosia Mamet is known for her breakout role as Shoshanna in the millennial core HBO series Girls. She breaks down the show's lasting legacy, what her character would be up to today, and why younger generations are still connecting with the show. Plus, Zosia’s new book of essays, Does This Make Me Funny?, gets candid about being a self-described “B-m…

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Can Pop Culture Cure a Broken Heart? w/ Anna Sale 50:28

2M ago50:28

50:28

Anna Sale hosts one of our favorite podcasts (and probably yours too) Death, Sex & Money. In honor of her show, Sam and Anna roundup their picks for the best movies, tv shows, music and books all about (you guessed it!) death, sex and money. Together they get into the timeless lessons on grief in The Lion King, why Bonnie Raitt’s catalog is the ult…

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What Remains: Autumn, Memory, and Meaning 12:03

2M ago12:03

12:03

Why does autumn feel like a story we're living inside? In What Remains: Autumn, Memory, and Meaning, Christine weaves poetry (Keats, George Eliot), paintings (Van Gogh, Millais), and music (Neil Diamond's "September Morn," Mumford & Sons' "October Skies") with the psychology of nostalgia—how scent, colder air, and seasonal change stir memory, belon…

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Should We Still Care About Fashion? w/ Robin Givhan 50:55

2M ago50:55

50:55

Pulitzer Prize–winning fashion critic Robin Givhan joins Sam to talk style, luxury, and legacy. Sam also asks the eternal question: which jeans should he wear—skinny, baggy, barrel, or wide leg? Robin offers sharp fashion advice and dives into her new book, Make It Ours: Crashing the Gates of Culture with Virgil Abloh. They unpack the rebellious in…

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A Brief History of Terrible Lyrics (from Switched On Pop) 42:54

2M ago42:54

42:54

Why do bad lyrics happen to good people? From ‘suckin' on a chili dog’ to ‘making love to his tonic and gin,’ even the biggest hits from our favorite artists can feature lyrical turns that make us feel quizzical, offended, or even downright nauseated. Sam joins Nate and Charlie, hosts of the Vulture music podcast Switched on Pop, to plumb the depth…

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Love Letters, War, and the Story That Wouldn’t Let Go 43:05

3M ago43:05

43:05

What happens when a box of forgotten World War I love letters sparks a story too powerful to stay hidden? In this episode, author Patti Stockdale shares her twenty-year journey of transforming family history into historical fiction, marked by hope, faith, and perseverance. From balancing romance and history on the page to overcoming rejection and f…

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Episode #31: The Journey That Changed Us Reflections from Ghana, West Africa 50:54

3M ago50:54

50:54

🎙️ Episode #31: The Journey That Changed Us Reflections from Ghana, West Africa 👣 https://youtu.be/0RITXZvJTtc In this soul-stirring episode, The Dee-Brief with Dr. Dee takes you on a journey across continents and deep into the heart. Join Dr. Dee and special guests, Rachel, Allicha, and Jenn as they reflect on their life-changing pilgrimage to Gha…

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Does Pop Culture Give a F*#% about Friendship? 40:58

3M ago40:58

40:58

BFF’s Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays (Text Me Back! Podcast) dive into what pop culture gets right (and wrong) about friendships. The duo share their hot takes with Sam, make a case for renaming Love Island to Friendship Island, and ask if MTV’s The Real World ruined the country. Plus, should some problematic celebrities (cough *Cardi B* cough)…

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Bob the Drag Queen: What is Freedom? 49:07

3M ago49:07

49:07

Harriet Tubman… as a rap icon? Bob the Drag Queen’s new book Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert reimagines the historical icon as an abolitionist rapper in present-day America. Bob tells Sam about Tubman’s radical impact on history and why he’s obsessed with her legacy. They dive into what freedom means in 2025. Plus, Bob shares hilarious impressions …

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William Thompson: The Forgotten First Colonel of the U.S. Army 43:03

3M ago43:03

43:03

Before Washington crossed the Delaware… before the victory at Yorktown… there was William Thompson In June 1775, this frontier fighter from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, became the very first colonel of the United States Army—leading an elite Rifle Battalion whose skill, precision, and daring helped shape America's fight for independence. Most A…

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Big Freedia: Is Twerking Next to Godliness? 46:58

3M ago46:58

46:58

Big Freedia is best known as the Queen of Bounce, but her new gospel album Pressing Onward showcases her holy roots. She tells Sam about growing up as a young gay church kid in New Orleans, what moved her to make a gospel album, and how twerking and praising God go hand in hand. Plus, Big Freedia breaks down her iconic feature on Beyoncé’s 2016 hit…

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Introducing Joy In The Journey Children & Youth Book Series 13:17

3M ago13:17

13:17

Healing Begins Here: Introducing Joy in the Journey™ – A Trauma-Informed Book Series & Curriculum for Students K–College By Dr. Darlene “Dr. Dee” Williams Certified MWBE | NYC Schools Vendor- https://youtu.be/b2OdoZxjR5c In today’s classrooms, students are carrying more than just books—they’re carrying the weight of grief, trauma, anxiety, identity…

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Episode #30: Burnout to Breakthrough: Healing, Hustle, & The Black Business Legacy w/ Dr. Claire Green-Forde, LCSW 34:53

3M ago34:53

34:53

From Burnout to Breakthrough: Healing, Hustle, & The Black Business Legacy In honor of Black Business Month 2025, Dr. Dee dives deep into the untold story behind the success—where purpose meets pressure, and hustle often hides heartache. This episode explores the emotional cost of legacy-building for Black entrepreneurs, and how healing must be par…

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Did Beyoncé Change Country Music Forever? 59:13

4M ago59:13

59:13

Beyoncé just wrapped her Cowboy Carter era, which saw an acclaimed world tour, historic Grammys wins, and a lot of backlash. So what does her massive crossover really mean for country music and its politics? Writer and cultural critic Tressie McMillan Cottom joins Sam to unpack whether or not country music still has a race problem (spoiler alert: i…

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From True Crime to Thriller Fiction: A Conversation with Journalist and Author John Luciew 59:56

4M ago59:56

59:56

What happens when a journalist who’s spent decades covering real-life crime turns to fiction to tell the stories that linger? In this compelling episode of The Wandering Pen Podcast, host Christine Musser sits down with award-winning Patriot-News journalist and thriller novelist John Luciew. John shares how his investigative reporting on the chilli…

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Amazing Grace 17:17

4M ago17:17

17:17

In this unforgettable episode, Dick Foth shares the astonishing true story of John Newton — the man behind the beloved hymn Amazing Grace. Born in London’s East End and raised by a devout mother, Newton’s early years were filled with Scripture, song, and spiritual formation. But after her death, he descended into rebellion, becoming a slave trader …

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Carrying the Thread: A Lifetime of Love, Loss, & What Remains 34:32

4M ago34:32

34:32

n this solo episode, Christine Musser opens her heart to share a personal story of profound grief, layered over decades—the loss of her only sister, her middle brother at age 15, and her husband of 43 years. What begins as a reflection on loss becomes a compassionate offering to others walking the same path. Christine explores what it means to carr…

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Are We Living in a Feminist Dystopia? 49:43

4M ago49:43

49:43

This week, writer Anne Helen Petersen unpacks the idea of Feminist Exhaustion — a term she coined to describe the burnout, backlash, and disillusionment many women feel toward the hollow promises of modern feminism. Sam and Anne explore how pop culture shaped (and warped) our ideas of empowerment through shows like Scandal, Girls and basically ever…

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Checking in from the public media dumpster fire 4:07

4M ago4:07

4:07

Anyone else exhausted?

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What’s Worth Watching (and Skipping) in 2025 So Far? 53:43

4M ago53:43

53:43

We’re halfway through the year, so it’s time for a pop culture check-in! Sam is joined by two of your faves — Linda Holmes (Pop Culture Happy Hour) and Ronald Young Jr. (Leaving the Theater, Weight For It) — to break down the best and worst of the year so far. From Sinners to The Studio to Love Island and the online discourse that kept us all talki…

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Confessional Poetry & Private Pain: From Sylvia Plath to Etheridge Knight 23:20

4M ago23:20

23:20

What happens when poetry dares to tell the truth? This episode of The Wandering Pen dives into the raw, revealing world of confessional poetry—a groundbreaking literary genre born in postwar America that redefined poetic voice, vulnerability, and truth-telling. Hosted by writer and educator Christine Musser, this 30-minute literary exploration trac…

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Swing Thoughts 11:37

4M ago11:37

11:37

What can golf teach us about life? On a warm summer morning in Fort Collins, Colorado, Dick Foth hits the links with longtime friend Steve Harris. As they talk between swings, a deeper conversation emerges about discipline, patience, rhythm, and starting fresh. Steve shares how golf became a therapeutic outlet during a difficult season, and how the…

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Can Atsuko Okatsuka Turn Family Trauma Into Comedy Gold? 54:26

4M ago54:26

54:26

Atsuko Okatsuka’s comedy is bright and joyful, yet rooted in trauma. In this episode, she joins Sam to talk about her wild childhood, including being kidnapped by her grandmother, growing up undocumented in LA, and navigating her mother’s schizophrenia. They also talk about Atsuko’s new Hulu special Father, and what it reveals about marriage, menta…

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The Power of Storytelling: Join the Journey to 1,000 Listens 8:04

4M ago8:04

8:04

What makes a story worth preserving? This episode reflects on the power of oral storytelling, honoring the guests who’ve shared their voices on The Wandering Pen Podcast. Christine shares her vision, her gratitude, and her mission to reach 1,000 listens by July 31—one story at a time. Join the journey, press play, and pass it on. Featuring episode …

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Woodstock '99: Mosh Pit at the Apocalypse with Sam Sanders and Lindy West (From The Big Flop) 42:45

4M ago42:45

42:45

Today we’re sharing an episode from our friends at The Big Flop! Every week, the show unpacks pop culture’s most fascinating flops, frauds, and fiascos. In this episode, host Misha Brown throws back to Woodstock '99 with Sam and Lindy West (Text Me Back!). The music fest was meant to commemorate the original 1969 festival with “three days of peace …

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Let Freedom Ring! 29:53

4M ago29:53

29:53

In this powerful Fourth of July episode of Stories from the Road, Dick Foth sits down with long-time friend and decorated Army veteran, Sergeant Major Kirk Foster, to reflect on the meaning of freedom. From the quiet back porch in Fort Collins, Colorado, the two share stories of service, sacrifice, and legacy. Kirk recounts his journey from enlisti…

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Solo Travel, Grief, and the Camino de Santiago: A Healing Pilgrimage 41:03

4M ago41:03

41:03

What happens when you walk 500 miles alone—carrying nothing but a backpack and the weight of grief? This episode explores the transformative power of pilgrimage, the search for renewal after loss, and the unexpected healing found on the Camino de Santiago. Christine Musser talks with author and artist Maryanna Gabriel about her book Walking the Cam…

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Is Allison Williams Afraid of Her Own Movies? 51:16

5M ago51:16

51:16

Allison Williams became a millennial icon as Marnie on HBO’s Girls — but her second act is even more thrilling. From Get Out to M3GAN, she’s carved out a new space as a horror star and unexpected scream queen. In this episode, Allison joins Sam to unpack what draws her to morally messy characters, and why she keeps playing women we love to hate. Th…

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From Covered Bridges to Cold Cases: Finding Story in the Shadows 56:00

5M ago56:00

56:00

What stories lie beneath forgotten headstones, behind the silence of a covered bridge, or along the curve of an old back road? In this episode of The Wandering Pen Podcast, we meet a historian, folklorist, and storyteller who’s made it his mission to uncover Pennsylvania’s forgotten past—one cemetery, mystery, and legend at a time. Together, we exp…

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A United Nations of Red Flags (From Normal Gossip) 52:46

5M ago52:46

52:46

We’re taking a little break from the show week, but very excited to share an episode from the Normal Gossip podcast. It’s a hilarious show with a simple premise: listeners send in the strangest, juiciest gossip they’ve heard, then host Rachelle Hampton dishes it all out. In this episode, Sam and Rachelle break down a case of “accidental” love-bombi…

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The Sacred Land Beneath Our Feet: Echoes of the Endless Mountains 12:03

5M ago12:03

12:03

In this poetic solo episode of The Wandering Pen Podcast, host Christine Musser invites listeners into a world before paved roads and power lines—a time when the Endless Mountains were sacred ground to the Iroquois, Lenape, Delaware, and Shawnee peoples. Through mist and memory, rain and rhythm, Christine reflects on the spirit trails, sacred water…