Louisiana Insider

This year marked the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the greater New Orleans area. But, less than a month later, southwest Louisiana was hit by one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record and the biggest storm to hit the area in almost 50 years at that time. For 17 years, Randy Roach served as the mayor of Lake Charles. In 2005, he not only had to take in displaced New Orleanians following Hurricane Katrina, but then make the difficult decisions that came along with a direct hit by Hurricane Rita. This week, we chat with the former mayor about the experience of Hurricane Rita and reflecting back on 20 years later. 

Political analyst Robert Collins joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde to talk about the past historic Nov. 5 election. Collins, a political science professor at Dillard University and a political analyst for WVUE TV Fox 8, discusses what was learned from Donald Trump’s election including the domination of the Republican party not only for the presidency but in Congressional elections. He also discusses possible shifts in voting trends especially among Black  and Hispanic voters. The discussion raised important questions, particularly in preparation for future elections, including why so many pollsters were wrong.

Barbara Sillery has her favorite haunts, not just to visit but to write about. She has written several books about hauntings including in Louisiana, Mississippi (as well as its Delta country), Cape Cod and Nantucket. Sillery joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, with stories to tell. Sillery, a longtime resident of New Orleans, now lives on Cape Cod, where the ghosts might not have lived on plantation but sometimes as sea captains.

In 1873, though little known throughout the state, the Shreveport area suffered one of the greatest tragedies in Louisiana history. The region faced what is recorded as the third largest Yellow Fever epidemic in the nation’s history. In the course of three months there was an estimated 1,200 victims, approximately 1/4 of the city’s population. Cheryl White, a history professor at LSU-Shreveport, joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, in commemoration of the incident’s 150th anniversary. White tells about the mass grave, which contains the remains of approximately 800 victims, some never identified. There are many stories including the tragedy of five Louisiana-based priests who went to Shreveport to comfort the stricken and who became victims themselves. There is now an organized effort to have the Vatican canonize (declare to be saints) the priests. It is a story that should have a center place in Louisiana history.

Jim Brown has had quite a career including terms as Louisiana’s Secretary of State; Insurance Commissioner and a state senator. He is also a publisher, a columnist and a font of knowledge about the state and its politics. Brown joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, to talk about several topics including why college sports has, in fact, become professional; his thoughts on allowing TV coverage of trials; the state's insurance crisis, and what he hoped to discover during a recent trip to the holy land. It is conversation from an active mind at its best.

Millions of people listen to music on the radio. Over a half million people listen to radio each week to hear Nick Spitzer talk about music. Spitzer’s pioneering broadcast American Routes is way more than a D.J. spinning songs but a weekly two-hour public radio program that presents the breadth and depth of the American music scene and cultural landscape. Syndicated by 225 radio stations American Routes is the most widely heard regular presence for tradition-derived and community-based music on public radio today. Spitzer joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, to tell stories about the origins and characters of the nation’s many music forms. He also has interview clips including Jerry Lee Lewis; Willie Nelson and the late zydeco artist Clifton Chenier. The podcast presents a fun side trip into American routes.

A teenager named Abraham Lincoln was once part of the crew of a packet boat bringing goods downriver to New Orleans. As they approached the city they camped on the river banks up shore from New Orleans. There were rough characters who worked along the river. That night, young Lincoln and his group were attacked and beaten up. Fortunately, for history's sake, he survived and made it to New Orleans where he had another experience that also favored history’s sake. He saw the city’s slave markets and was appalled. What he saw in New Orleans influenced his attitude about slavery that would shape his political career. Author and professor Ted Widmer will moderate a panel, including New Orleanians Richard Campanella (who has written about the above Lincoln story) and the author C. W. Goodyear, titled “Hail to the Chief, New Orleans and the American Presidency.” Goodyear is the author of a new book about James Garfield. Widmer joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, to talk about presidents who spent time in the city either earlier before their time in office or as incumbents. It is a fascinating conversation a president whose reputation was made in New Orleans.

Whenever polls are taken of Louisiana’s most popular restaurants Commander’s Palace in New Orleans is usually near or at the top. That’s quite an accomplishment for a state already known for its great restaurants. Ti Martin, co-proprietor of Commander’s Place, and Executive Chef Meg Bickford join Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to stir into topics including Louisiana-grown products – the quality and availability, plus, revelations about the classic Brennan’s family style of service. (Did you know: At least three people work each table.) Bickford is a rising star whose resume includes apprenticing with Chef John Folse; Martin is an established leader in the restaurant community. We also ask the two to reveal their favorite at-home comfort foods.

There are thousands of hurricane stories. Some stories are tragic, others are heroic and many are truly compelling, especially for podcast listening. A documentary recently released by Louisiana Public Broadcasting, the statewide public broadcast system, entitled “Cajundome City” tells the story of how a college sports arena suddenly became the center of survival in the 2005 aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and then Rita. Trent Angers, a Lafayette-based author and book publisher who served as a co-producer of the documentary, and father and son co-directors Chris and Christopher Allain join Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, to tell about the compassion of the Lafayette community and the challenges of the effort. We will also hear about the University of Louisiana Lafayette celebrating its 125 anniversary and the successful dealmaking behind its creation.

Remember the comedian George Carlin? In 1958, when he was an airman at nearby Barksdale Air Force Base, his first appearance on a stage was in Shreveport. Carlin was the star of the Shreveport Little Theatre’s production of “The Happiest Millionaire.” That is one of the many surprising facts about the theater which, in another surprise, celebrated its centennial in 2022. Robert Darrow, the theater’s managing and artistic director, as well as Sherry Kerr, a Shreveport-based drama consultant, writer and actress, join Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, to talk about the theater – which Life Magazine once dubbed as one of the top three community playhouses in America. The history of the theater and its stars has been produced by Louisiana Public Broadcasting as a documentary entitled “Maker of Dreams.” (Check LPB Passport and streaming options.) Among the stories is that of a Shreveport native who auditioned for a role in the original making of “Gone With the Wind” and what happened to her career.

There are two things, among many, that we all need to do – eat, and be fit. The problem is that sometimes doing one contradicts the other. Fortunately, there are some dietitian who keep and eye on that sort of thing and who have the connections to help us walk the thin line. Molly Kimball is a one person fitness information boutique. She administers the popular Eat Fit programs for Ochsner hospitals; has several books on fitness recipes (including one about booze); she makes television appearances and has her own podcast.  Speaking of which, she joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, for our own podcast to talk about eating tips and health. She also spills the beans on breakfast and is it always the most important meal of the day.

Who would have thought that there would be a working farm on Jackson Avenue right in the heart of Uptown amid the mansions and the magnolias? Well, there is, and it is more than tomato plants stuck in the ground but all kinds of vegetables and fruits grown scientifically—all part of the urban farm movement . Michael Richard, farm director for Recirculating Farms – a non-profit group committed to being ecologically resourceful yet bountiful in its produce – joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to talk about how serious farming can be developed in urban neighborhoods. He also explains the process and benefits of water recirculation.

When hurricanes rumble from the Gulf, the high winds and storm surges sometimes re-locate unwilling sea mammals into surrounding land masses and waterways. That happened after Hurricane Ida in 2021, which displaced a dolphin into a bay near Grand Isle.  While the bay water was ecologically sound to support the new arrival, it offered no access to the Gulf. With the cooperation of several sea life specialist, plans were made to re-locate the mammal who during the interim had delivered a calf that swam at her side. Gabriella Vazquez, the Audubon Nature Institute’s Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Rehab Coordinator, joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to tell the tale of a relocation that required scientific knowledge, skill, strong backs and good hearts. We will also hear what the staff named the two dolphins and how researchers are able keep up with their whereabouts.

In 2010, during the time that Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser was Plaquemines Parish’s President, the BP Oil Spill took place. He became immersed in the issue, so much that the national media referred to him as the “Face of the Spill.” As Lt. Gov., Nungesser has additional battles including developing and promoting tourism. Nugesser joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, to express strong feelings about diversion projects as well as attracting visitors to the state. We will also hear about his recent trip to Australia and New Zealand.

If the subject is restaurants don’t call Stanley Dry; if the subject is kitchens, then he’s your man. Dry is the long time writer of the “Kitchen Gourmet” column for Louisiana Life magazine. He has also authored cookbooks; two of which; “The Essential Louisiana Cookbook” and the “Essential Louisiana Seafood Cookbook” were published by this magazine's parent company, Renaissance Publishing. He has written for national publications including The New York Times; Food and Wine Magazine and Travel & Leisure. And today, he is the guest for this podcast talking about vegetables that grow in his backyard, Louisiana blue crabs, shrimp and seasonal desserts. Dry joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot with emphasis on summer cooking. We will also hear about the science, evolution and preparation of soft shell crabs. Oh, he also bakes, but that is mostly in the cold months...

We learn history for several perspectives including political, social and military, but to really understand a place and the influences that shaped it, we need to hear from a geographer as well. Richard Campanella, a Tulane University research professor, combines the thoroughness of an academic with the communications skill of a popular journalist. Campanella joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to talk about the geography that made the New Orleans region. His books have dealt with the area’s cityscape; the Westbank and even Bourbon Street. His latest publication, “Draining New Orleans,” details the brilliant engineering that made it possible for a city to exist where much of it is below sea level. We will also hear about the invention that made dairy farms possible.

One person who most identifies a city is its mayor. There are council members, legislators, judges, sheriffs and police chiefs, but it's the mayor who usually, for better or worse, is in the best position to direct the future. Friday Ellis, the first term mayor of Monroe, joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, to talk about not just his city but also the vision of the state from his perspective and that of other City Hall colleagues. We will also hear about serious plans for AMTRAK rail service and downtown revival. Mayor Ellis’ wife Ashley also joins the conversation. The Monroe First Lady is a member of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education making them Northeast Louisiana’s ultimate power couple.

LSU is known for its achievements on the playing field and in the classroom, but before any of that could happen there were political battles and maneuvers to grow the university and to make it nationally prominent. Chief among the maneuverers was Huey Long who, during the seven year span when we he governor then Senator until being assassinated in 1935, made the university a personal cause. Robert Mann, a historian, author and a political consultant joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to talk about his book, “KINGFISH U: HUEY LONG AND LSU.” More than just telling the story about the evolution of a university, the book provides a fascinating study of the state and its politics.  We will also hear about the time that the LSU student body watched the Tigers play Vanderbilt. Only to do it, Long arranged to ship the students to Nashville by train.

There is a crop that is grown here in Louisiana that is not found anywhere else in the world. Even in Louisiana it is a rarity sprouting from the ground in only one parish. Perique tobacco has been cultivated in Louisiana for as long as there have been settlers, who learned techniques from the native tribe. The crop grows only in St. James Parish, where Convent is the manor town. Mike Matherne, whose family own one of the 25 perique farms, tells the story about the growth and fermentation of the plant. He joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, to talk about perique’s use as a flavorful condiment to mix with other tobaccos used in cigars and pipes. Why does it only grow in St. James Parish? You will have to listen. Hint: it has to do with what is below the soil.

When ordering, one might wonder why the cup in which their coffee is served has an image of the devil on the outside or, especially, why the coffee when poured into a serving bowl is on fire. The real jolt is yet to come as the server ladles Café Brulot into the bedeviled cup. There is a rich history, much tracing back to France, in which ingredients were burnt and mixed with seasonings before being enriched by another liquid. Café Brulot is the most famous example, and few cities do it better and in more different places, than New Orleans. Author Sue Strachan, who specializes in food, drink and other cultural quirks, joins Executive Editor of Louisiana Life Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to talk about her book, “The Café Brulot.” More than just telling stories of the drink itself, Strachan provides a history of some of the ingredients – such as cloves and oranges – and of restauranteurs and bartenders who popularized the drink. We will also her about a famous pirate – OK, a privateer – who might have taken a few sips of the burning booze himself.