This episode of the Masculine Wilderness Podcast is nothing short of extraordinary. Host Tom Perez sits down with Josie Heyano, an Alaska-based social worker whose depth of insight, cultural grounding, and fierce compassion bring a rare clarity to conversations about masculinity, exploitation, and community healing.

What unfolds is a deeply moving exploration of Indigenous identity, relational accountability, and the complex realities of human trafficking in Alaska—a region where historical trauma, geographic isolation, and systemic inequities converge in devastating ways. Josie breaks down concepts like tundra pimping with honesty and nuance, exposing the long-standing roots of exploitation targeting Indigenous youth and rural communities.

But this episode isn’t just about the problem; it’s about the power of culture, connection, and collective care. Josie shares how Indigenous frameworks of interconnectedness offer pathways for healing, resilience, and prevention. She invites listeners to reconsider their relationship with anger, describing how women’s anger is often a powerful, defiant force for change, and how men’s anger can be transformed into grounded leadership and accountability.

Throughout the conversation, Josie weaves together personal narrative, cultural wisdom, and professional experience to illuminate what true community responsibility looks like. From the role of beauty and creativity in surviving hardship to the slow work of building trust across generations, this episode challenges listeners to show up more thoughtfully, more courageously, and more relationally.

This is an episode that lingers... a call to remember where we come from, who we are accountable to, and how we can show up for one another with more heart.

If you'd like, I can also elevate the chapter list, create a social caption, or draft promotional copy.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Masculine Wilderness Podcast

01:47 Josie Heyano's Cultural Introduction

03:42 Personal Stories and Connections to Alaska

05:52 Human Trafficking in Alaska

10:13 Roots of Exploitation in Alaska

15:06 The Role of Anger in Advocacy

19:46 Gender Dynamics of Anger

25:07 Men in Leadership and Community Responsibility

29:59 Listening and Respecting Women's Anger

34:31 The Shift in Human Trafficking Dynamics

35:55 Emotional Healing Through Connection

36:12 Traditional Practices and Gender Roles

40:18 Balancing Roles in Caregiving

42:12 Cultural Practices and Community Care

45:11 The Power of Relational Care

48:39 The Role of Beauty in Healing

54:38 Reconnecting with Roots and Traditions

58:36 Hope in Advocacy and Community Resilience

01:04:00 A Message to Men: Building Trust and Awareness

01:08:14 Masculine Wilderness Theme.mp3

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https://www.signifyconsultingak.org/