Jana Schmieding

Jana Schmieding is a Native American (Cheyenne River Lakota) comedian, actor, podcaster, and writer. She is best known for her roles hosting the podcast Woman of Size, and as a writer and actor on the sitcom Rutherford Falls, and an actor on Reservation Dogs.

Early life Schmieding is a Lakota

Schmieding grew up in Canby, Oregon, which had a primarily white population. As a result, she faced discrimination throughout her childhood. She states that she often educated her teachers about native culture more than they taught her. She credits her mother for her strong will and willingness to stand up for herself and her people.

Native background Schmieding is a Lakota woman. Her people are from Cheyenne River in the plains.

College Schmieding graduated from the University of Oregon in 2005 with a degree in theater arts. During her time in college, Schmieding participated and was a leader in many student organizations. She was the co-director of the Multicultural Center and was a member of the Native American Student Union. During this time she has stated that many of her duties involved collaborating with many different ethnic, cultural, and student unions. She also planned events and became an activist. Schmieding credits her time at the University of Oregon for discovering her love for activism in collaboration with people of color on a public scale.

In 2016, Schmieding moved to Los Angeles, where she worked at an education-related nonprofit and shifted gears from acting to writing.

Rutherford Falls

After three years of working on her writing, Schmieding was hired as one of 12 writers on Rutherford Falls, a Peacock original sitcom. The show focuses on relationships between characters in a Northeastern town and the Indian reservation it borders. She was hired by the show's co-creator, Sierra Teller Ornelas (Navajo Nation), who had previously been a guest on Schmieding's podcast.

Rutherford Falls launched with its entire first season available on demand on April 22, 2021. Early reviews praised Schmieding's performance on screen. Writing for The A.V. Club, Saloni Gajjar called Schmieding a "breakout performer," saying that "comedy vet [Ed] Helms...meets his match in co-star and relative newcomer Schmieding, who balances his rigor with a down-to-earth and equally captivating performance." Jen Chaney of Vulture also named Schmieding the show's "breakout star," calling her "a natural." In July 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, with Schmieding continuing as both a writer and co-star. The season premiered on June 16, 2022.

Schmieding's role in the series models how she continues to stand true to her roots and educates the world about native culture. The themes conveyed throughout the show, such as American history, race, equality, and social justice. Schmieding and series creator Sierra Teller Ornelas have worked together to bring these issues to the forefront in Hollywood and continue to showcase Indigenous actors, culture, and advocacy through the media.

Other work Schmieding appears as Bev, the clinic receptionist and one of the "aunties," in the series Reservation Dogs.

She also co-hosts the Sage-Based Wisdom podcast with comedian Brian Bahe, who is Navajo, Tohono Oʼodham, and Hopi. As of December 14, 2025, there have been 64 episodes of the podcast aired since its premiere episode was published on August 20, 2024.

Filmography