Native American Culture Explained w/ Powwows.com Founder Paul Gowder (E99)

January 30, 2025

Powwows are vibrant social and cultural gatherings that celebrate Native American arts, traditions, and heritage. These events serve as a vital space for preserving and sharing Indigenous history and culture through music, dance, storytelling, art, and crafts.

Today, we are excited to welcome Paul Gowder, a speaker, coach, consultant, and the founder of PowWows.com. Paul shares the inspiration behind creating PowWows.com, a platform dedicated to celebrating and preserving Native American culture.

In our conversation, Paul explores the significance of powwows and the power of storytelling, emphasizing that we connect through stories. Over the past 25 years, Paul has encountered numerous challenges while building PowWows.com. In this episode, he reflects on his journey and shares valuable insights into the current state of Native American culture and history.

Paul also brings attention to critical issues, including the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness and action.

During this episode, you will learn about:

[02:03] Who is Paul Gowder?

[05:51] Takeaways from Podfest 2025

[09:29] Inspiration behind starting PowWows.com

[16:20] Significance of Powwows

[20:58] Challenges in Paul’s journey

[30:39] How Disney & Powwows shaped Paul’s daughter’s path

[35:46] Impactful places Paul has visited

[40:37] The value of storytelling

[44:31] Native American culture & history today

[49:48] Missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis

[59:32] Creativity

[01:04:39] PowWows.com Traffic & Membership

[01:09:24] Closing remarks

Key Takeaways:

Podcasting in America is the most trusted media source due to the deep relationships people form through the shows. ~Brian Bogert [08:36]
Powwows are cultural events and gatherings that celebrate Native American traditions through music, dance, art, crafts, and community. ~Paul Gowder [16:20]
One of the first rules of business is to remain in business for one more day. ~Brian Bogert [24:27]
We relate to each other through stories. ~Paul Gowder [41:34]
People love the things they understand. ~Paul Gowder [47:20]
As of 2016, 5,712 cases of missing and murdered Native women were reported in the United States. However, the Department of Justice opened only 116 of these cases. Additionally, between 2005 and 2009, U.S. attorneys declined to prosecute 67% of similar cases. [54:58]
Everyone is creative; we just have barriers. ~Paul Gowder [00:02:02]
Community isn’t just a Facebook group; it’s anyone who interacts with your content and ecosystem. By treating everyone this way and adopting a community-first mindset, your community will grow. ~Paul Gowder [01:09:24]