the winter of our resistance Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-winter-of-our-resistance The Winter of Our Resistance is an eight-part podcast series featuring personal accounts from individuals of diverse cultural and community backgrounds who lived through the 2025–26 Metro Surge in Minnesota. Through intimate conversations, participants share their experiences of fear, uncertainty, resistance, and solidarity during a period marked by immigration enforcement, detainment, deportation, and widespread community unrest. Each episode offers a distinct perspective on how this period affected individuals, families, and neighborhoods, revealing both the personal consequences of federal immigration enforcement and the ways communities came together to protect and support one another. Together, these eight stories create an oral history of a defining moment in Minnesota, preserving the voices of those who lived through it and bearing witness to the courage, resilience, and collective action that emerged. 2026 868c6343-f63b-545f-84d8-0d15454f10e6 yes en Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:06:58 -0500 Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:07:09 -0500 https://img.transistorcdn.com/P6XKZtZzw5v2k4V1WsMJ4B0bycA3vd_NLdhNzSNG1eo/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9lMzI3/NDBiNzFhYTAzNWQw/YmVlYTViNmRkYjg0/NGY3OC5qcGc.jpg the winter of our resistance episodic In Progress The Winter of Our Resistance is an eight-part podcast series featuring personal accounts from individuals of diverse cultural and community backgrounds who lived through the 2025–26 Metro Surge in Minnesota. Through intimate conversations, participants share their experiences of fear, uncertainty, resistance, and solidarity during a period marked by immigration enforcement, detainment, deportation, and widespread community unrest. Each episode offers a distinct perspective on how this period affected individuals, families, and neighborhoods, revealing both the personal consequences of federal immigration enforcement and the ways communities came together to protect and support one another. Together, these eight stories create an oral history of a defining moment in Minnesota, preserving the voices of those who lived through it and bearing witness to the courage, resilience, and collective action that emerged. The Winter of Our Resistance is an eight-part podcast series featuring personal accounts from individuals of diverse cultural and community backgrounds who lived through the 2025–26 Metro Surge in Minnesota. metro surge, minnesota, occupation, belonging, family, deportation, resiliency, protest, In Progress info@in-progress.org No No Sai Thao 8 8 Sai Thao full ec20c6ba-533e-4381-ab66-9c55c3221ff7 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f0088004 I'm not a refugee or an immigrant and although I'm a citizen I don't belong.

In The Winter of Our Resistance, Sai Thao, a Hmong American artist, mother, and co-founder of In Progress, reflects on a lifelong struggle with belonging and how Metro Surge has intensified feelings of fear, isolation, and displacement within her community. Drawing on her experiences with motherhood, grief, cultural identity, and systemic inequality, she challenges conventional ideas of safety and solidarity while emphasizing personal agency, informed action, and preparing the next generation for an uncertain future.

]]> I'm not a refugee or an immigrant and although I'm a citizen I don't belong.

In The Winter of Our Resistance, Sai Thao, a Hmong American artist, mother, and co-founder of In Progress, reflects on a lifelong struggle with belonging and how Metro Surge has intensified feelings of fear, isolation, and displacement within her community. Drawing on her experiences with motherhood, grief, cultural identity, and systemic inequality, she challenges conventional ideas of safety and solidarity while emphasizing personal agency, informed action, and preparing the next generation for an uncertain future.

]]> Sun, 27 Sep 2026 20:22:34 -0500 Sai Thao Sai Thao 987 I'm not a refugee or an immigrant and although I'm a citizen I don't belong.

In The Winter of Our Resistance, Sai Thao, a Hmong American artist, mother, and co-founder of In Progress, reflects on a lifelong struggle with belonging and how Metro Surge has intensified feelings of fear, isolation, and displacement within her community. Drawing on her experiences with motherhood, grief, cultural identity, and systemic inequality, she challenges conventional ideas of safety and solidarity while emphasizing personal agency, informed action, and preparing the next generation for an uncertain future.

]]> metro surge, minnesota, occupation, belonging, family, deportation, resiliency, protest, No Niizhoogabaw Wahpepah 7 7 Niizhoogabaw Wahpepah full 6f5ff07e-ecd2-4d7b-8064-1700f0cb1b35 https://share.transistor.fm/s/5b5ef092 Be strong, stand up for what's right. Just remember your past, language, your elders, you know, remember your people, you know, just be who you are.

In The Winter of Our Resistance, Niizh Wahpepah, also known as Two Standing Man, an Ojibwe educator and father from the Leech Lake Reservation, recounts his experience being stopped and detained by federal immigration agents while traveling to work. Reflecting on the fear experienced by his family, the historical treatment of Indigenous peoples, and the importance of tribal identity, he emphasizes cultural resilience and the responsibility to prepare the next generation to stand strong in the face of adversity.

]]> Be strong, stand up for what's right. Just remember your past, language, your elders, you know, remember your people, you know, just be who you are.

In The Winter of Our Resistance, Niizh Wahpepah, also known as Two Standing Man, an Ojibwe educator and father from the Leech Lake Reservation, recounts his experience being stopped and detained by federal immigration agents while traveling to work. Reflecting on the fear experienced by his family, the historical treatment of Indigenous peoples, and the importance of tribal identity, he emphasizes cultural resilience and the responsibility to prepare the next generation to stand strong in the face of adversity.

]]> Sat, 26 Sep 2026 22:35:30 -0500 Niizhoogabaw Wahpepah Niizhoogabaw Wahpepah 1179 Be strong, stand up for what's right. Just remember your past, language, your elders, you know, remember your people, you know, just be who you are.

In The Winter of Our Resistance, Niizh Wahpepah, also known as Two Standing Man, an Ojibwe educator and father from the Leech Lake Reservation, recounts his experience being stopped and detained by federal immigration agents while traveling to work. Reflecting on the fear experienced by his family, the historical treatment of Indigenous peoples, and the importance of tribal identity, he emphasizes cultural resilience and the responsibility to prepare the next generation to stand strong in the face of adversity.

]]> metro surge, minnesota, occupation, belonging, family, deportation, resiliency, protest, No Azomali Obisakin 6 6 Azomali Obisakin full 083ed22e-a556-46f0-bf4c-459edd540774 https://share.transistor.fm/s/071a06e1 If you're allowed to say hate, I'm allowed to say love. I'm allowed to share the truth.

In The Winter of Our Resistance, 13-year-old Azomali Obisakin reflects on growing up with Nigerian and Mexican heritage while navigating the fear, anger, and uncertainty surrounding Metro Surge. From organizing a school walkout to witnessing how immigration enforcement has changed everyday life for her family and classmates, she shares a young person's perspective on cultural identity, belonging, and the importance of speaking out.

]]> If you're allowed to say hate, I'm allowed to say love. I'm allowed to share the truth.

In The Winter of Our Resistance, 13-year-old Azomali Obisakin reflects on growing up with Nigerian and Mexican heritage while navigating the fear, anger, and uncertainty surrounding Metro Surge. From organizing a school walkout to witnessing how immigration enforcement has changed everyday life for her family and classmates, she shares a young person's perspective on cultural identity, belonging, and the importance of speaking out.

]]> Sat, 26 Sep 2026 18:06:31 -0500 Azomali Obisakin Azomali Obisakin 780 If you're allowed to say hate, I'm allowed to say love. I'm allowed to share the truth.

In The Winter of Our Resistance, 13-year-old Azomali Obisakin reflects on growing up with Nigerian and Mexican heritage while navigating the fear, anger, and uncertainty surrounding Metro Surge. From organizing a school walkout to witnessing how immigration enforcement has changed everyday life for her family and classmates, she shares a young person's perspective on cultural identity, belonging, and the importance of speaking out.

]]> metro surge, minnesota, occupation, belonging, family, deportation, resiliency, protest, No Guadalupe Puentes 5 5 Guadalupe Puentes full 92da9ef4-3d3b-4e80-975f-14e86d2cbd73 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b5063abb I can feel the chaos in the air, and I'm familiar with this.

In The Winter of Our Resistance, Guadalupe Puentes, a retired military veteran living in Saint Paul, reflects on the fear, uncertainty, and heightened tensions he experienced during Metro Surge. Drawing parallels between military operations in Iraq and federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, he explores the psychological impact of living under constant uncertainty, the solidarity emerging across communities, and his concerns about what may happen when public attention fades.

]]> I can feel the chaos in the air, and I'm familiar with this.

In The Winter of Our Resistance, Guadalupe Puentes, a retired military veteran living in Saint Paul, reflects on the fear, uncertainty, and heightened tensions he experienced during Metro Surge. Drawing parallels between military operations in Iraq and federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, he explores the psychological impact of living under constant uncertainty, the solidarity emerging across communities, and his concerns about what may happen when public attention fades.

]]> Sat, 26 Sep 2026 12:10:24 -0500 Guadalupe Puentes Guadalupe Puentes 312 I can feel the chaos in the air, and I'm familiar with this.

In The Winter of Our Resistance, Guadalupe Puentes, a retired military veteran living in Saint Paul, reflects on the fear, uncertainty, and heightened tensions he experienced during Metro Surge. Drawing parallels between military operations in Iraq and federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, he explores the psychological impact of living under constant uncertainty, the solidarity emerging across communities, and his concerns about what may happen when public attention fades.

]]> metro surge, minnesota, occupation, belonging, family, deportation, resiliency, protest, No Castro Xavier Tavera 3 3 Castro Xavier Tavera full db115fd5-51f1-4243-8277-701ddaaec0dc https://share.transistor.fm/s/18714505 For sure this time is an x-ray on all of us, right? You can see inside who we are, how are we reacting, how we're not pretending anymore.

Photographer Xavier Tavera reflects on his nearly thirty years in Minnesota and the personal and emotional challenges of documenting Metro Surge as a Mexican immigrant. Moving between moments of community joy and confrontations with hatred, he explores the responsibilities of a photographer, the struggle to manage anger, and the power of art and everyday acts of kindness to transform how we care for one another.

]]> For sure this time is an x-ray on all of us, right? You can see inside who we are, how are we reacting, how we're not pretending anymore.

Photographer Xavier Tavera reflects on his nearly thirty years in Minnesota and the personal and emotional challenges of documenting Metro Surge as a Mexican immigrant. Moving between moments of community joy and confrontations with hatred, he explores the responsibilities of a photographer, the struggle to manage anger, and the power of art and everyday acts of kindness to transform how we care for one another.

]]> Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:21:27 -0500 Castro Xavier Tavera Castro Xavier Tavera 813 For sure this time is an x-ray on all of us, right? You can see inside who we are, how are we reacting, how we're not pretending anymore.

Photographer Xavier Tavera reflects on his nearly thirty years in Minnesota and the personal and emotional challenges of documenting Metro Surge as a Mexican immigrant. Moving between moments of community joy and confrontations with hatred, he explores the responsibilities of a photographer, the struggle to manage anger, and the power of art and everyday acts of kindness to transform how we care for one another.

]]> metro surge, minnesota, occupation, belonging, family, deportation, resiliency, protest, No Jack Ger Vang 2 2 Jack Ger Vang full e5de3c50-f2c4-463d-9382-3afc9f64579b https://share.transistor.fm/s/69f9afca If the village is on fire, I'm not going to wait around for it to die down or to burn up just to be able to start up again.

Musician Jack Ger Vang reflects on his family's history as Hmong refugees and how Metro Surge has renewed fears of displacement, particularly among elders who have already experienced war and forced migration. Through his experiences participating in protests and supporting immigrant communities, he explores the meaning of belonging, intergenerational trauma, and the solidarity that emerges when diverse communities stand together.

]]> If the village is on fire, I'm not going to wait around for it to die down or to burn up just to be able to start up again.

Musician Jack Ger Vang reflects on his family's history as Hmong refugees and how Metro Surge has renewed fears of displacement, particularly among elders who have already experienced war and forced migration. Through his experiences participating in protests and supporting immigrant communities, he explores the meaning of belonging, intergenerational trauma, and the solidarity that emerges when diverse communities stand together.

]]> Fri, 25 Sep 2026 10:41:36 -0500 Jack Ger Vang Jack Ger Vang 491 If the village is on fire, I'm not going to wait around for it to die down or to burn up just to be able to start up again.

Musician Jack Ger Vang reflects on his family's history as Hmong refugees and how Metro Surge has renewed fears of displacement, particularly among elders who have already experienced war and forced migration. Through his experiences participating in protests and supporting immigrant communities, he explores the meaning of belonging, intergenerational trauma, and the solidarity that emerges when diverse communities stand together.

]]> metro surge, minnesota, occupation, belonging, family, deportation, resiliency, protest, No KingDemetrius Pendleton 1 1 KingDemetrius Pendleton full 05d96f42-871e-4693-befb-83d0974396da https://share.transistor.fm/s/5d55a86f There's one thing about the truth, it deserves no apology.

Photographer and independent journalist KingDemetrius Pendleton shares his firsthand experiences documenting Metro Surge in Minneapolis, including the demonstrations following the killing of Renee Good and his own encounters with federal immigration agents. Reflecting on the physical risks of photojournalism, his personal journey, and his commitment to marginalized communities, Pendleton speaks to the importance of bearing witness, documenting injustice, and refusing to remain silent.

]]> There's one thing about the truth, it deserves no apology.

Photographer and independent journalist KingDemetrius Pendleton shares his firsthand experiences documenting Metro Surge in Minneapolis, including the demonstrations following the killing of Renee Good and his own encounters with federal immigration agents. Reflecting on the physical risks of photojournalism, his personal journey, and his commitment to marginalized communities, Pendleton speaks to the importance of bearing witness, documenting injustice, and refusing to remain silent.

]]> Thu, 24 Sep 2026 21:34:58 -0500 KingDemetrius Pendleton KingDemetrius Pendleton 1435 There's one thing about the truth, it deserves no apology.

Photographer and independent journalist KingDemetrius Pendleton shares his firsthand experiences documenting Metro Surge in Minneapolis, including the demonstrations following the killing of Renee Good and his own encounters with federal immigration agents. Reflecting on the physical risks of photojournalism, his personal journey, and his commitment to marginalized communities, Pendleton speaks to the importance of bearing witness, documenting injustice, and refusing to remain silent.

]]> metro surge, minnesota, occupation, belonging, family, deportation, resiliency, protest, No