In Episode 14, we welcome Gigi Modrich, an Indian law practitioner, roller derby skater, and stand-up comedian. She was brought up in a multiethnic household: her mother is Jicarilla Apache and her father is Croatian American. While she is multiracial, her upbringing focused on her Native American culture. After attending Dartmouth College, she earned her Juris Doctorate from Cornell Law School and then joined a law firm to serve Tribal clients. She now lives in Los Angeles, where she teaches beading at a Native non-profit.

We discuss Gigi's upbringing and her Jicarilla Apache identity; the historic and ongoing challenges that Native Americans grapple with; her fight against stereotypes in her childhood and the friendships she found in college; her legal accomplishments in protecting the rights of other Natives; and her ongoing transition into comedy and how she is building a community through humor. The story of her identity is heart-wrenching in so many ways--but her strength and courage are incredibly inspiring, and her awesome sense of humor is sure to make you laugh!

For more information on Gigi, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode14-gigi/.

CrossWorld Puzzles is a podcast that explores how multicultural individuals consider life’s big questions, such as where to be based, how to build their career, who to spend their life with, etc.