Louisiana Anthology Podcast

647. We talk to Brad Dison about his book, The Trap, about the death of Bonnie and Clyde. "For far too long, Sheriff Henderson Jordan's role in ending the crime spree of Bonnie and Clyde has been overlooked or ignored. On the rare occasion that he is portrayed in films or documentaries, he is depicted as an insignificant character. Since 1934, we have accepted the notion that Frank Hamer located the outlaws and led the ambush against them. Henderson Jordan was the sheriff in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, when he learned that Bonnie and Clyde were hiding somewhere within the jurisdiction that he had sworn to protect. It was he who tracked the gang to their hideouts, who set the trap to capture them, and who led the ambush posse that ended their crime spree in a hail of gunfire. Author Brad Dison spent nearly a decade sifting through F.B.I. files, newsreels, newspapers, photos, telegrams, filmed interviews, and true crime magazines to separate fact from fiction. While detailing the gang's many crimes including theft, burglary, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, terrorism, torture, and murder in a play-by-play fashion, "The Trap" analyzes the events in Henderson Jordan's life which led to the final pursuit of Bonnie and Clyde and the legal battle which followed." Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Sheryl St. Germain. "Getting Rid of the Accent." "I thought I had gotten rid of it after I moved to Texas; speech classes and twelve years in another state — but I’d still fall back into it like into the gutter whenever I visited, even on the phone, whenever my mother called, forgetting I was a college graduate, forgetting I was an English major, saying things like wheah ya at sweethawt, or dat doan mean nuttn, ya awta seen da way she pawks dat caw, the sounds I was fed like milk as a child, the aw sound predominating as if it was just too much work to pronounce the r." This week in Louisiana history. October 11, 1800. Treaty of San Ildefonso signed. Spain traded Louisiana for territories in Tuscany. This week in New Orleans history. Warren Easton Becomes Superintendent of New Orleans Public Schools October 11, 1888 and serves until his death in 1910. This week in Louisiana. NOLA Funk Fest October 17-19, 2025 New Orleans Jazz Museum (The Old Mint) 400 Esplanade Ave. New Orleans, LA 70116 Email: info@nolafunkfest.com  (435) 602-0172 Admission Price: $40 Single Day $100 Weekend Pass Website     Get ready to groove to the beats of the funkiest musicians in New Orleans at the upcoming New Orleans Funk Fest 2025!      NOLA Funk Fest is a celebration of Louisiana’s rich music history and aims to educate, inspire, and empower tourists and locals alike, reminding attendees of the profound impact of Louisiana’s music on the world stage. Along with the funky tunes, food, drinks, artisanal crafts, and commemorative merchandise is available for purchase. Postcards from Louisiana. Victor Povoro leader of hospitality workers at Hands Off Protest.  Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

646. We talk to Dr. Thomas Smith about his series of Red String novels, set in 19th century Mississippi River and Central Louisiana. His first novel in the series is Just a Piece of Red String: Antebellum Voodoo and Vengeance. In antebellum Natchez, Mississippi, and the bustling city of New Orleans, cousins Sawyer Dundee and Solomon Witcher come into manhood, each charting a dramatically different course. While Sawyer remains in Natchez to run the family business, the charismatic Solomon seeks his fortune, chasing legendary buried treasure and trying his luck at cards in New Orleans. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Swanton. Natchez Stories. "36. Story of a Bison." While traveling about a hunter was overtaken by darkness and thought, “I will camp for the night and go home next morning.” Near by was something which he took to be a tree pulled up by the roots, and he thought, “I will make a fire there.” So he leaned his gun up against it and hung his shot pouch on it. But really it was a bison and what he hung his shot pouch on was the horn. It got up and ran off bellowing, carrying the shot pouch. After it got a long distance away it threw it off. This week in Louisiana history. October 4, 1792. Under Gov. Carondelet, the first theatre opened in Louisiana on St. Peter St., N.O. This week in New Orleans history. In 2008, William Jefferson sought re-election to the United States House of Representatives. Seven Democrats challenged him for the seat in the Democratic primary. In the October 4, 2008 Democratic primary, opposition to Jefferson was split among six contenders. Jefferson's 25% total was enough to give him a plurality and to send him into the runoff primary This week in Louisiana. World Championship Gumbo Cook-Off Bouligny Plaza 100 West Main Street New Iberia, LA 70560 October 11-12 Spoons at the ready! Also known as the Super Bowl of Gumbo, the World Championship Gumbo Cook Off is a free two-day event showcasing the best local gumbo chefs in New Iberia. Each year, dozens of cooking teams and thousands of enthusiasts gather to see who will take home trophies for each category and earn ultimate bragging rights. After filling up on gumbo, stroll down New Iberia’s Main Street. Take a walking tour of the historic buildings, or pop into local art galleries, boutiques, antique shops and more for some retail therapy. Postcards from Louisiana. Street Poet Michelle Schocht.  Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

645. Part 2 of our interview with David Ballantyne about post Civil-War Reconstruction of the Red River Valley. He has given the history on the area in his book, Fractured Freedoms: Reconstruction in Central Louisiana. “Fractured Freedoms is a riveting history of central Louisiana from the 1860s to the 1890s, focusing on majority-Black Rapides Parish during Reconstruction. Using the region as a case study, Ballantyne reveals what is, in part, a rural Reconstruction success story, emphasizing the resilience of Black politics and the persistence of significant divisions among white residents that allowed the Republican Party to gain and maintain power there. It was only with the collapse of state-level Republican power in 1877 that Democratic forces in the parish were able to dismantle local Republican political control and gradually constrict Black freedoms" (LSU Press). Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Rebecca van Laer, "First Date."    She orders oysters, of course I don’t know how to do this, to slip a three-pronged fork under the white flesh of some mollusk and wiggle soft globes of muscle from the black mass of shell, the lemongrass broth the dense gem swims in —     how to pop it out and into my mouth and then suck, savor the dense slip of it, then again: a sequence of teasing, eating, repeating, and this is only    our appetizer. I’m gulping My glass of pinot grigio, wet fingerprints along the stem because I can’t pronounce the name of a single entrée, meet her eyes across a candelabra with the weight     of a fresco above her head, ridiculous cherubs entreating with their fat blue eyes. Beside, the dark drapes and the billowing shapes of tablecloths curtain off any eaves this conversation could fade into, so it’s spotlight     perspective, precarious. She’s tongue tumbling into me, an outpouring of asks until I spill sauce, a thin line of it down the buttons on my blouse — she dabs     at me with her burgundy napkin, freshly dampened for the task. I shut my eyes and feel the whirl of the room, the orangey angels and her dry palms pressed against my chest, wonder if I’ll open up full-mouthed and mind-tied.   This week in Louisiana history. September 27, 1902. N.O. streetcar employees strike for 8-hr days and 25 cent per hr. minimum wage. This week in New Orleans history. The historic Saenger Theater reopened for the first time since Hurriane Katrina on September 27, 2013 with three performances by comedian Jerry Seinfeld; one on September 27 and two on September 28. The opening gala would be held October 3-6. This week in Louisiana. La Fête des Vieux Temps OCT 03 - 05, 2025 Friday 6PM Saturday 10AM Sunday 9AM 4484 Hwy 1, Raceland, LA. 70394 985-637-2166 Called the "Festival of Old Times" this event features a celebration of music, dancing, Cajun food, and arts & crafts show. This long standing event is a local favorite and showcases the true authentic Cajun culture of Lafourche Parish. Postcards from Louisiana. Royal Street Band. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

644. Part 1 of our interview with David T. Ballantyne about his book, Fractured Freedoms: Reconstruction in Central Louisiana. "Fractured Freedoms is a riveting history of central Louisiana from the 1860s to the 1890s, focusing on majority-Black Rapides Parish during Reconstruction. Using the region as a case study, Ballantyne reveals what is, in part, a rural Reconstruction success story, emphasizing the resilience of Black politics and the persistence of significant divisions among white residents that allowed the Republican Party to gain and maintain power there. It was only with the collapse of state-level Republican power in 1877 that Democratic forces in the parish were able to dismantle local Republican political control and gradually constrict Black freedoms." (LSU Press). Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. We've recently added Mosquitoes, one of William Faulkner's early novels. Faulkner was one of the South's greatest writers. He wrote this novel about the artists he had met in the French Quarter. He put them on a yacht that took them through Lake Pontchartrain until they ran aground and were stranded for several days. That's right, Faulkner basically created Gilligan's Isle.     "The violet dusk held in soft suspension lights slow as bellstrokes, Jackson square was now a green and quiet lake in which abode lights round as jellyfish, feathering with silver mimosa and pomegranate and hibiscus beneath which lantana and cannas bled and bled. Pontalba and cathedral were cut from black paper and pasted flat on a green sky; above them taller palms were fixed in black and soundless explosions. The street was empty, but from Royal street there came the hum of a trolley that rose to a staggering clatter, passed on and away leaving an interval filled with the gracious sound of inflated rubber on asphalt, like a tearing of endless silk. Clasping his accursed bottle, feeling like a criminal, Mr. Talliaferro hurried on.     "He walked swiftly beside a dark wall, passing small indiscriminate shops dimly lighted with gas and smelling of food of all kinds, fulsome, slightly overripe. The proprietors and their families sat before the doors in tilted chairs, women nursing babies into slumber spoke in soft south European syllables one to another. Children scurried before him and about him, ignoring him or becoming aware of him and crouching in shadow like animals, defensive, passive and motionless." This week in Louisiana history. September 20, 1717. Gov. LePinay recalled to France after "ruining the colony." This week in New Orleans history. The last space shuttle fuel tank rolls out of the Michoud Assembly Facility on September 20, 2010. This week in Louisiana. Louisiana Gumbo Festival October 10-12, 2025 326 Hwy 304 Thibodaux, LA 70301 Celebrate Louisiana's Rich Culinary Heritage Indulge in a diverse array of Cajun and Creole cuisines, savor our traditional gumbo recipe, and immerse yourself in the captivating rhythms of live Zydeco and Cajun performances. With exciting activities for all ages, there's something for everyone to enjoy.      The Louisiana Gumbo Festival began in 1973. During the 1970s, Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards signed a proclamation naming Chackbay the Gumbo Capitol of Louisiana. Annually, volunteers cook nearly 500 gallons of Gumbo during the festival weekend. You can also find various Cajun food, music, amusement rides, parade, auction, and so much more for the whole family to enjoy.      This year, we are offering Pay One Price Advanced Weekend Armbands for $65.00 + tax. 
Advanced Armbands allow children unlimited carnival rides throughout the duration of the festival. Advanced Armbands are available for purchase ONLINE ONLY until Friday October 10, 2025. Armbands will NOT be sold at the festival.      Advanced armbands can be picked up at the designated line of the festival ticket booth on Friday, October 11th beginning at 5:30pm. Postcards from Louisiana. Street Poet Melody Eloise. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

643. Part 2 of our conversation with Roxanne Harde about the Tremé series. Roxanne Harde on the Tremé series. "Set in post-Katrina New Orleans, this hour-long drama series, from executive producers David Simon and Eric Overmyer, follows the lives of ordinary residents as they struggle with the after-effects of the 2005 hurricane. Says star and New Orleans native Wendell Pierce, 'The only things people had to hang on to were the rich traditions we knew that survived the test of time before: our music, food and family, family that included anyone who decided to accept the challenge to return.' The large ensemble cast is supported by notable real-life New Orleanians, including many of its famous musicians." "Roxanne Harde is Professor of English at the University of Alberta's Augustana Faculty, where she also serves as Associate Dean, Research. A McCalla University Professor, Roxanne researches and teaches American literature and culture, focusing on popular culture, women’s writing and children’s literature, and Indigenous literature." Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. William F. Waugh's Houseboat Book. The South needs “Yankees.” An ex-Confederate, discussing Alexandria, said: “A dozen live Yankees would regenerate this town, and make fortunes at it.” They would pave the streets, cover in the sewers, build up the vacant spots in the heart of the city, supply mechanical work at less inhuman prices than are now charged, and make this rich and intelligent community as attractive in appearance as the citizens are socially. One such man has made a new city of Alexandria. He has made the people pave their streets, put in modern sewerage, water, electricity, etc., build most creditable structures to house the public officials, and in a word, has “hustled the South,” till it had to put him temporarily out of office until it got its “second wind.” This week in Louisiana history. September 13, 1987. Pope John Paul II begins three day visit to New Orleans. This week in New Orleans history. Drew Brees ties Billy Kilmer's touchdown passing record September 13, 2009. The Saints team record for passing touchdowns in one game was set at 6 by Drew Brees (Saint's vs. Detroit Lions) who tied with Billy Kilmer in a November 2, 1969 against the St. Louis Cardinals. This week in Louisiana. Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site 1200 N. Main Street St. Martinville, LA 70582 337-394-3754 888-677-2900 longfellow_mgr@crt.la.gov Site open daily open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's Day Admission/Entrance Fees $4 per person Free for senior citizens (62 and older) Free for children 3 and under     Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site explores the cultural interplay among the diverse peoples along the famed Bayou Teche. Acadians and Creoles, Indians and Africans, Frenchmen and Spaniards, slaves and free people of color-all contributed to the historical tradition of cultural diversity in the Teche region. French became the predominant language, and it remains very strong in the region today.     Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1847 epic poem Evangeline made people around the world more aware of the 1755 expulsion of the Acadians from Nova Scotia and their subsequent arrival in Louisiana. In this area, the story was also made popular by a local novel based on Longfellow's poem, Acadian Reminiscences: The True Story of Evangeline, written by Judge Felix Voorhies in 1907. Postcards from Louisiana. Cajun Band at Maison Dupuy. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

642. Part 1 of our conversation with Roxanne Harde about the Tremé television series. "Set in post-Katrina New Orleans, this hourlong drama series, from executive producers David Simon and Eric Overmyer, follows the lives of ordinary residents as they struggle with the aftereffects of the 2005 hurricane. Says star and New Orleans native Wendell Pierce, 'The only things people had to hang on to were the rich traditions we knew that survived the test of time before: our music, food and family, family that included anyone who decided to accept the challenge to return.' The large ensemble cast is supported by notable real-life New Orleanians, including many of its famous musicians." "Roxanne Harde is Professor of English at the University of Alberta's Augustana Faculty, where she also serves as Associate Dean, Research. A McCalla University Professor, Roxanne researches and teaches American literature and culture, focusing on popular culture, women’s writing and children’s literature, and Indigenous literature." "Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Mona Lisa Saloy. "Daddy's Philosophy: II." La joi de vivre, he says. The joy of life? I ask. Sure, the New Orleans motto, he says, the reasons for heavenly hips, drumstick thighs, and hug-able bellies. Yeah, ya right, even the French say that Daddy. No girl, not like we do. “We work like we don’t need the money. We love like we never been hurt. We dance like nobody’s watching. We eat like there’s no tomorrow.” This week in Louisiana history. September 6, 1717. John Law's Company of the West chartered. This week in New Orleans history. De La Salle High School opened on Tuesday, September 6, 1949. Operated by the Christian Brothers, they opened the doors to 76 Catholic freshman boys in an old house on Pitt Street. This week in Louisiana. Hollywood Down South: Louisiana's Film Trail Website Explore iconic locations of movies and TV shows on Louisiana's film trail.     Thanks to our diverse settings for movies (Louisiana has everything, including bustling cities, antebellum mansions and lush wilderness areas), generous state tax incentives for film producers and a sea of production support businesses ranging from state-of-the-art soundstages and post-production facilities to large-scale catering and transportation operations, Louisiana is a global player as a movie and TV filming location. We'd be remiss not mentioning that movie and TV stars rave about enjoying our food, music and joie de vivre away from the sets.     Louisiana has tours of sites for such shows as Easy Rider (1969) Steel Magnolias (1989) Interview with the Vampire (1994) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) Tremé (2010-2013) Swamp People (2010–present) Duck Dynasty (2012-2017) NCIS: New Orleans (2014-2021)     Visit our website to learn about specific tours. Postcards from Louisiana. Terry Gillum, Nurse at Hands Off Protest Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

Part 2 of our conversation with Josh Neufeld about his non-fiction graphic novel, A. D. After the Deluge. “A stunning graphic novel that makes plain the undeniable horrors and humanity triggered by Hurricane Katrina in the true stories of six New Orleanians who survived the storm. A.D. follows each of the six from the hours before Katrina struck to its horrific aftermath. Here is Denise, a sixth-generation New Orleanian who will experience the chaos of the Superdome; the Doctor, whose unscathed French Quarter home becomes a refuge for those not so lucky; Abbas and his friend Mansell, who face the storm from the roof of Abbas’s family-run market; Kwame, a pastor’s son whose young life will remain wildly unsettled well into the future; and Leo, a comic-book fan, and his girlfriend, Michelle, who will lose everything but each other.” Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. William Cullen Bryant. "The Hurricane."      Lord of the winds! I feel thee nigh, I know thy breath in the burning sky! And I wait, with a thrill in every vein, For the coming of the hurricane!      And lo! on the wing of the heavy gales, Through the boundless arch of heaven he sails; Silent and slow, and terribly strong, The mighty shadow is borne along, Like the dark eternity to come; This week in Louisiana history. August 30, 1893, Gov. Huey P. "the Kingfish" Long born in Winnfield. This week in New Orleans history. August 29, 1985. Shouting "Bring Back American Jobs to America" and anticipating layoffs, 30 local employees to form a picket line outside of the telephone company's Central Office in the Central Business on August 29, 1985. This week in Louisiana. Bluesday Tuesday Tuesday, September 2, 2025 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm East Side Daiquiris on the Circle 2214 Worley Drive Alexandria , LA 71303 Website Every Tuesday from 7 to 10, we celebrate Bluesday with some of the most talented musical performers in the Cenla area including Odell Wilson, Jamey Bell, & Trey Huffman! Enjoy great LIVE music, yummy drink specials, and delicious food from our new menu! Postcards from Louisiana. Cajun Band at Maison Dupuy Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

640. Bruce's son Kerr joins us for part 1 of our conversation with Josh Neufeld about his non-fiction graphic novel, A. D. After the Deluge. “A stunning graphic novel that makes plain the undeniable horrors and humanity triggered by Hurricane Katrina in the true stories of six New Orleanians who survived the storm. A.D. follows each of the six from the hours before Katrina struck to its horrific aftermath. Here is Denise, a sixth-generation New Orleanian who will experience the chaos of the Superdome; the Doctor, whose unscathed French Quarter home becomes a refuge for those not so lucky; Abbas and his friend Mansell, who face the storm from the roof of Abbas’s family-run market; Kwame, a pastor’s son whose young life will remain wildly unsettled well into the future; and Leo, a comic-book fan, and his girlfriend, Michelle, who will lose everything but each other.” Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Walt Whitman came to New Orleans for 3 months to write at the New Orleans Crescent. There he saw things he had not seen in New York. This poem is about one of those.  "I Saw in Louisiana a Live-Oak Growing." I saw in Louisiana a live-oak growing, All alone stood it and the moss hung down from the branches, Without any companion it grew there uttering joyous leaves of dark green, And its look, rude, unbending, lusty, made me think of myself, But I wonder’d how it could utter joyous leaves standing alone there without its friend near, for I knew I could not, And I broke off a twig with a certain number of leaves upon it, and twined around it a little moss, And brought it away, and I have placed it in sight in my room, It is not needed to remind me as of my own dear friends, (For I believe lately I think of little else than of them,) Yet it remains to me a curious token, it makes me think of manly love; For all that, and though the live-oak glistens there in Louisiana solitary in a wide flat space, Uttering joyous leaves all its life without a friend a lover near, I know very well I could not. This week in Louisiana history. August 23, 1714. St. Denis begins his exploration of Red River Valley. This week in New Orleans history. The grass-roots organization Levees.org, founded by Sandy Rosenthal and her son Stanford (while exiled in Lafayette after Hurricane Katrina) is devoted to educating America on the facts associated with the 2005 catastrophic flooding of the New Orleans region. On August 23, 2010 the group installed a Louisiana State Historic Marker which reads “On August 29, 2005, a federal floodwall atop a levee on the 17th Street Canal, the largest and most important drainage canal for the city, gave way here causing flooding that killed hundreds. This breach was one of 50 ruptures in the Federal Flood Protection System on that day. In 2008, the US District Court placed responsibility for this floodwall's collapse squarely on the US Army Corps of Engineers.” This week in Louisiana. Quad Biking Juderman’s ATV Park 6512 Shreveport Highway Pineville, LA 71360 Website Trails length: 5 mi/8 km Type: Swamp Elevation:130 - 160 ft/39.6 - 48.7 m     This 200 acre park has about 5 miles of marked woods trails, mud bogs and pits plus deep creek water crossings. The park is open every weekend but weekday riding is permitted if arrangements are made in advance. Park amenities include shaded picnic areas, air filling station, vault toilets plus an area for barbequing. The property also hosts various events throughout the year. Visitors should note that camping is not permitted and tire size is limited to 28 inches. The Gone Wild Safari Exotic Zoo is only a couple minutes away making this a good choice for a fun filled family weekend. Postcards from Louisiana. "The Hurricane." William Cullen Bryant. Sung by the Keller ISD 5th and 6th Grade Honor Choir. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

 639. Part 2 of our interview with Lori Peek about her book, The Continuing Storm, which she wrote with Kai Erikson. More than fifteen years later, Hurricane Katrina maintains a strong grip on the American imagination. The reason is not simply that Katrina was an event of enormous scale. But, quite apart from its lethality and destructiveness, Katrina retains a place in living memory because it is one of the most telling disasters in our recent national experience, revealing important truths about our society and ourselves. The Continuing Storm reflects upon what we have learned about Katrina and about America.Kai Erikson and Lori Peek expand our view of the disaster by assessing its ongoing impact on individual lives and across the wide-ranging geographies where displaced New Orleanians landed after the storm. Such an expanded view, the authors argue, is critical for understanding the human costs of catastrophe across time and space. Concluding with a broader examination of disasters in the years since Katrina—including COVID-19— The Continuing Storm is a sobering meditation on the duration of a catastrophe that continues to exact steep costs in human suffering. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. "The Hurricane" by William Cullen Bryant (November 3, 1794 – June 12, 1878) was an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post. Born in Massachusetts, in 1825, Bryant relocated to New York City, where he became an editor of two major newspapers. He also emerged as one of the most significant poets in early literary America and has been grouped among the fireside poets for his accessible and popular poetry. "Lord of the winds! I feel thee nigh,     I know thy breath in the burning sky!     And I wait, with a thrill in every vein,     For the coming of the hurricane! And lo! on the wing of the heavy gales,     Through the boundless arch of heaven he sails;     Silent and slow, and terribly strong,     The mighty shadow is borne along,     Like the dark eternity to come;" This week in Louisiana history. August 16, 1831. A storm called the "Great Barbados Hurricane" hit just west of Baton Rouge wiping out sugar cane crops from BR to south of N.O. and killing 1,500 people. This week in New Orleans history. Mayor Mitchell Joseph "Mitch" Landrieu born August 16, 1960 is the former Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, and a member of the Landrieu family. Landrieu is a member of the Democratic Party. He is the son of former New Orleans mayor and later a mayor himself, and the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development under Joe Biden. This week in Louisiana. Louisiana Rural Economic Development (LaRuE) Summit 2025 Sunday, August 24, 2025 12:00 pm - 11:59 pm Website Paragon Casino Resort 711 Paragon Place Marksville, LA 70351     The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana invites you to learn more about how rural communities and businesses can benefit from building relationships and creating strategic partnerships with local, state, and national leaders, federal agencies, corporate America, and Native American Tribes.     Topics include workforce development, agriculture, internet access and 5G expansion, healthcare, grant navigation, and more. Postcards from Louisiana. Crescent City Brewhouse. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

638. Part 1 of our interview with Lori Peek about her book, The Continuing Storm, which she wrote with Kai Erikson. More than fifteen years later, Hurricane Katrina maintains a strong grip on the American imagination. The reason is not simply that Katrina was an event of enormous scale. But, quite apart from its lethality and destructiveness, Katrina retains a place in living memory because it is one of the most telling disasters in our recent national experience, revealing important truths about our society and ourselves. The Continuing Storm reflects upon what we have learned about Katrina and about America. Kai Erikson and Lori Peek expand our view of the disaster by assessing its ongoing impact on individual lives and across the wide-ranging geographies where displaced New Orleanians landed after the storm. Such an expanded view, the authors argue, is critical for understanding the human costs of catastrophe across time and space. Concluding with a broader examination of disasters in the years since Katrina—including COVID-19— The Continuing Storm is a sobering meditation on the duration of a catastrophe that continues to exact steep costs in human suffering. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi by George H. Devol. A cabin boy in 1839; could steal cards and cheat the boys at eleven; stock a deck at fourteen; bested soldiers on the Rio Grande during the Mexican War; won hundreds of thousands from paymasters, cotton buyers, defaulters, and thieves; fought more rough-and-tumble fights than any man in America, and was the most daring gambler in the world. “Some men are born rascals, some men have rascality thrust upon them, others achieve it.” This week in Louisiana history. August 9 1975. The Superdome was opened as the hometown Saints met the Houston Oilers in an exhibition football game. The Oilers won handily, 31-7, in what was described as “a very lackluster” game. The Superdome cost $163 million to construct. This week in New Orleans history. Lee Harvey Oswald Arrested in New Orleans on August 9, 1963. August 9, 1963: Oswald distrubutes pro-Castro leaflets  downtown.  Bringuier confronted Oswald, claiming he was tipped off about Oswald's activity by a friend. A scuffle ensued and Oswald, Bringuier, and two of Bringuier's friends were arrested in the 700 block of Canal Street for disturbing the peace. He spend the night in jail. This week in Louisiana. Centenary State Historic Site 3522 College Street Jackson, LA 70748 Grounds open to visitors Thursday through Saturday open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's Day Buildings open for special programing or by appointment.  Admission/Entrance Fees $4 per person Free for senior citizens (62 and older) Free for children 3 and under     Originally opened as the College of Louisiana in 1826, the school occupied an old courthouse and other buildings in the town of Jackson. The college steadily grew and two dormitories were built on new property in 1832 and 1837. The West Wing, the latter of these two buildings, remains today.     After less than 20 years, the College of Louisiana closed because of declining enrollment. Suffering similar problems was the Methodist/Episcopal-operated Centenary College at Brandon Springs, Mississippi (established in 1839).     Centenary then moved to the vacant campus of the College of Louisiana. Since the all-male student bodies of the two institutions were effectively combined, the school succeeded with the name Centenary College of Louisiana now owned and operated by the Methodist/Episcopal Church South. Postcards from Louisiana. Little Freddie King FQF (French Quarter Fest). Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

637. It's been 20 years this month since Hurricane Katrina, and we're marking the anniversary this August and September. Today, we talk to Kionna Walker LeMalle about her Katrina-themed novel, Behind the Waterline. The novel takes readers to the home of a teenager and his grandmother in a New Orleans neighborhood on the eve of Katrina, where there are few resources and little warning of what is about to happen, in this novel that mixes magical realism with reality. When Hurricane Katrina approaches New Orleans, teenaged Eric and his grandmother and many of their neighbors decide to ride out the storm. Kionna Walker LeMalle's masterful debut novel brings her readers, like the rising water, onto Eric's street in the Third Ward, where stranded dogs bark for a time, where neighbors are floating on doors, and where Eric and his grandmother must take refuge in his second floor bedroom. After days of heat, dwindling supplies, and relentless rising water, neighbors begin to disappear and Eric's grandmother, already known as an eccentric, begins to falter. It is then that Eric--in a dream, a hallucination, or something else--discovers a room beyond his closet wall, a place he has never seen. What he discovers inside will send him on a path to discover secrets to survival, bitter progress, and, ultimately, the history of his own people--those he sorely misses and those he never even knew. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in Louisiana history. August 2, 1899. Fire sweeps through part of Lake Charles causing over $50,000 damage. This week in New Orleans history. First Saints game, August 2, 1967. The Saints lost to the Los Angeles Rams, 16-7, at Anaheim Stadium in the Saints first pre-season game.  The Saints 1967 pre-season record was 5-1. Their regular-season record was 3-11. This week in Louisiana. NOLA Pickle Fest August 6-10, 2025 New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center 900 Convention Center Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70130 Website     NOLA Pickle Fest (the game, not the food), benefiting the Brees Dream Foundation, returns August 6-10, 2025. This unique, festival-style pickleball tournament will feature 24 tournament-quality PickleRoll courts, live music, a celebrity exhibition match, VIP experiences, and much more.     There are three divisions of round-robin play: Women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles for skill levels 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0+. There are two brackets to compete in: Open & 40+ years old. Featured matches will be played on a center court with grandstand seating as well as Kern Studio Mardi Gras floats for VIP viewing. Postcards from Louisiana. Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra at French Quarter Fest. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

636. We talk to Frank Perez about the place of LGBTQ+ people in New Orleans history. “Want to learn about New Orleans’ rich and vibrant LGBT+ history? I can help with that! It has been my pleasure for the last several years to not only preserve and document that history, but also to be a small part of it.  I’ve written several books and hundreds of articles on local queer history and I’m proud to be a co-founder of the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana.  In addition, I also founded and love conducting The Rainbow Fleur de Lis Walking Tour, which is a leisurely sashay the French Quarter’s rainbow history.” (French Quarter Frank). Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Street poet Stevie Jean (@typewritergypsy) has written a poem for the Louisiana Anthology. MIDNIGHT JAZZ ON ROYAL STREET WITH ET. listen, fluctuating ups and downs of lost & found the heart seeks love and settles on warmth, the even flowing, unbended forward march of melody, feeling leaning out toward rumbling, fist bump, dark cloud passing by, we react, can’t help ourselves but to stop and stand, face the brass like dissidents against the firing squad breathless and furious to rise up the brass snaps against closed mouths, fistless, liveliness it loves regardless and will settle and will feed deep within, with renegade speed 9-26-19. royal, nola. typewritergypsy. This week in Louisiana history. July 26, 1810. Rebellion of West Florida Parishes. This week in New Orleans history. The first permanent picture show opened on July 26, 1896, at the Vitascope Hall at 623 Canal Street. This week in Louisiana. Satchmo SummerFest August 2-3, 2025 New Orleans Jazz Museum (The Old Mint) 400 Esplanade Ave. New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 522-5730 Website     Our two-day celebration is one of the only festivals in the world dedicated to honoring Louis Armstrong and features two stages of music, a delicious culinary lineup featuring Louisiana restaurants, and an incredible indoor lecture series poised to educate guests on Armstrong’s history and enduring impact.     Satchmo SummerFest is scheduled annually to coincide with Louis Armstrong’s birthday on August 4th; the first festival took place on what would have been his 100th birthday, the same year the New Orleans airport was renamed Louis Armstrong International Airport. The artist often stated in public interviews that he was born on July 4, 1900 (Independence Day), a date that has been noted in many biographies. Armstrong died in 1971 and his true birthdate, August 4, 1901, was not discovered until the mid-1980s. Postcards from Louisiana. Lawrence Cotton on piano at the French Quarter Fest. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

636. We talk to Frank Perez about the place of LGBTQ+ people in New Orleans history. “Want to learn about New Orleans’ rich and vibrant LGBT+ history? I can help with that! It has been my pleasure for the last several years to not only preserve and document that history, but also to be a small part of it.  I’ve written several books and hundreds of articles on local queer history and I’m proud to be a co-founder of the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana.  In addition, I also founded and love conducting The Rainbow Fleur de Lis Walking Tour, which is a leisurely sashay the French Quarter’s rainbow history.” (French Quarter Frank). Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Street poet Stevie Jean (@typewritergypsy) has written a poem for the Louisiana Anthology. MIDNIGHT JAZZ ON ROYAL STREET WITH ET. listen, fluctuating ups and downs of lost & found the heart seeks love and settles on warmth, the even flowing, unbended forward march of melody, feeling leaning out toward rumbling, fist bump, dark cloud passing by, we react, can’t help ourselves but to stop and stand, face the brass like dissidents against the firing squad breathless and furious to rise up the brass snaps against closed mouths, fistless, liveliness it loves regardless and will settle and will feed deep within, with renegade speed 9-26-19. royal, nola. typewritergypsy. This week in Louisiana history. July 26, 1810. Rebellion of West Florida Parishes. This week in New Orleans history. The first permanent picture show opened on July 26, 1896, at the Vitascope Hall at 623 Canal Street. This week in Louisiana. Satchmo SummerFest August 2-3, 2025 New Orleans Jazz Museum (The Old Mint) 400 Esplanade Ave. New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 522-5730 Website     Our two-day celebration is one of the only festivals in the world dedicated to honoring Louis Armstrong and features two stages of music, a delicious culinary lineup featuring Louisiana restaurants, and an incredible indoor lecture series poised to educate guests on Armstrong’s history and enduring impact.     Satchmo SummerFest is scheduled annually to coincide with Louis Armstrong’s birthday on August 4th; the first festival took place on what would have been his 100th birthday, the same year the New Orleans airport was renamed Louis Armstrong International Airport. The artist often stated in public interviews that he was born on July 4, 1900 (Independence Day), a date that has been noted in many biographies. Armstrong died in 1971 and his true birthdate, August 4, 1901, was not discovered until the mid-1980s. Postcards from Louisiana. Lawrence Cotton on piano at the French Quarter Fest. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

635. Part 2 of our talk with Kyle Crosby about his project, Louisiana Dread. "Louisiana Dread is a cultural project that shares and preserves stories of Louisiana history, culture, and folklore. Under the umbrella of Dreadful Productions, LLC, "Louisiana Dread" aims to bring awareness to important cultural aspects of Louisiana through several online series, such as LA Quick History, LA Drinks, LA Estates, LA Lingo, and LD Live. Each highlight  in Louisiana history that have otherwise been forgotten or misinterpreted, as well as share local horror stories that have been told for generations. Whether based on fact or complete fiction, Louisiana is seeping with horror stories that all share one common feature: the haunting setting of Louisiana. Along with the online series, a ten-episode television anthology script has been completed and awaits funding. To donate, please contact us at kyleladread@gmail.com The description can be seen below. "Louisiana Dread" is a video horror anthology series based on haunting Louisiana history, folklore, and culture. Set all throughout the Bayou State, each episode holds its own sinister tale of misfortune and evil" (Louisiana Dread). Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! Catharine Cole (Martha Field). "The Story of the Old French Market." Journalist Martha Field wrote under the pen name of Catharine Cole. She wrote this glimpse of the history of the old French Market in 1916 as an advertisement for French Market Coffee. Now 109 years later, we still think of the old French Market in New Orleans along with its world famous coffee. Time passes differently when we sit in the French Market and drink French Market coffee. Have a cup of coffee and read this wonder reminiscence of the French Market today! "I sit in a dim corner, where the tide of life passes me by, and muse and dream of days that are gone when all was unlike its present form save for the old Market and the selfsame aroma of the only coffee in all the world that has lived and thrived while the centuries passed, swiftly and silently, down the pathway of time." This week in Louisiana history. July 19, 1799. Interim governor Nicholas Vidal takes command of Louisiana. This week in New Orleans history. On July 19, 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald was fired from the Reily Coffee Company  "...because his work was not satisfactory and because he spent too much time loitering in Adrian Alba's garage next door (at 618 Magazine Street), where he read rifle and hunting magazines." This week in Louisiana. Tammany Trace 21490 Koop Drive Mandeville, LA 985-867-9490 crt@stpgov.org Website Originally a corridor for the Illinois Central Railroad, the Tammany Trace is now a hike and bike trail that spans from downtown Covington, through Abita Springs, Mandeville and Lacombe and ends in Slidell. A separate equestrian path parallels the Trace in several places. St. Tammany Parish government purchased the abandoned Illinois Central Railroad corridor on December 20, 1992. With the help of grants and federal dollars, St. Tammany Parish government has asphalted 31 miles, remodeled railroad trestles into pedestrian bridges, and maintained the Trace. Postcards from Louisiana. Phillip Manuel sings with Michael Pellera Trio play at Snug Harbor on Frenchmen St. in New Orleans.  Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

634. Part 1 of our talk with Kyle Crosby about his project, Louisiana Dread. "Louisiana Dread is a cultural project that shares and preserves stories of Louisiana history, culture, and folklore. Under the umbrella of Dreadful Productions, LLC, "Louisiana Dread" aims to bring awareness to important cultural aspects of Louisiana through several online series, such as LA Quick History, LA Drinks, LA Estates, LA Lingo, and LD Live. Each highlight  in Louisiana history that have otherwise been forgotten or misinterpreted, as well as share local horror stories that have been told for generations. Whether based on fact or complete fiction, Louisiana is seeping with horror stories that all share one common feature: the haunting setting of Louisiana. Along with the online series, a ten-episode television anthology script has been completed and awaits funding. To donate, please contact us at kyleladread@gmail.com The description can be seen below. "Louisiana Dread" is a video horror anthology series based on haunting Louisiana history, folklore, and culture. Set all throughout the Bayou State, each episode holds its own sinister tale of misfortune and evil" (Louisiana Dread). Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. One of our recent additions is a COVID diary by Frank Perez, who wrote about his experiences in the French Quarter during COVID. Saturday, March 21, 2020. 12:15 pm. "I receive a text from my friend Ben, an Episcopal deacon who lives a few blocks away, asking if I know anyone who is hungry. Ben is making dozens of brown bag lunches and delivering them around the Quarter to anyone in need. He assures me that he wears gloves and a mask while preparing the meals. I’m hungry now and heat up spaghetti leftovers from yesterday." At the end of his diary, he notes, "The Quarter itself is a poem. The souls are old here, and each has a story to sigh into any willing ear." (Perez). This week in Louisiana history. July 12, 1934. Birthday of famous pianist Van Cliburn who was a Musical prodigy who won the first quadrennial Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in 1958 when he was only 23. This week in New Orleans history. Happy Birthday, Tom Benson born in New Orleans on July 12, 1927. He ran car dealerships and also bought the Saints. This week in Louisiana. Tales of the Cocktail July 20-25, 2025 The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans 921 Canal St. New Orleans, LA 70112 Email: info@talesofthecocktail.com Website     Enjoy a week-long celebration of cocktails and mixology at the 23rd annual Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) event, taking place from July 20-25, 2025. This global cocktail conference, organized by the nonprofit organization Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, aims to educate, advance, and support cocktail professionals and enthusiasts alike.     Hosted by the Ritz Carlton in the French Quarter, this event is set to be a gathering of the brightest minds in the industry. This year, TOTCF has chosen the theme “Evolve” to celebrate the ongoing transformation of the cocktail industry with a dynamic lineup of signature programming, including educational seminars, Beyond the Bar events, tastings, Futures Labs, and much more. Postcards from Louisiana. Lawrence Cotton.  Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on  Facebook.

633. We talk to Heidi Kim about her research into the novel, Vieux Salomon. "Set in Guadeloupe, New Orleans, the surrounding Louisiana plantations, and briefly in other areas of the South, this is a key text of the history of slavery in Louisiana and the Deep South. There is obviously a difference between memoirs and novels in terms of perception and claims to nonfiction. However, in U.S. antislavery literature, both usually attempted to appeal to the same white mainstream readership (with the exception in this case of Testut’s audience being French-speaking and largely Catholic). Most claimed realism; even novels asserted that they depicted events that had happened or were familiar, even if the characters were fictional." "Heidi’s research and teaching ranges through 19th-21st century American literature, with specializations in the Japanese American incarceration of World War II, law and literature, and the Cold War period. She has also published on Walt Whitman and antislavery literature, including the partial translation of Louisiana Francophone novel Le Vieux Salomon, and collaborated on interdisciplinary environmental research" (Kim). Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! Camille Naudin (pen name). “La Marseillaise Noire — Chant de Paix.” "Let march on! Regardless of color, Men of color, unite; For the light of the sun is for everyone. May each happy race prosper, To the frontiers of humanity Engrave these words: I hope in Thee, Thou shalt reign, Equality." This week in Louisiana history. July 5, 1910. Gov. Sanders appointed to fill senate seat after Sen. McEnery dies, he chooses to remain governor. This week in New Orleans history. Moisant Airport renamed July 5, 2001. The New Orleans City Council unanimously approved the New Orleans Aviation Board's proposal to rename the New Orleans International Airport in honor of the great Louis Armstrong. This week in Louisiana. Lake Bistineau State Park 103 State Park Road Doyline, LA 71023 318-745-3503 1-888-677-2478 lakebistineau@crt.la.gov Website     Situated on the western shore of Lake Bistineau, this park offers a satisfying blend of beautiful vistas and outstanding recreational facilities. Memorable for its upland mixed hardwood forest, its open waters, and its enchanting stands of cypress and tupelo trees, the park offers two boat launches, hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, camping, cabins and excellent fishing!     Beginning in January with the "yo- yo" season and lasting through the spring, summer, and early fall, the dedicated fisherman can draw such freshwater catches as black crappie, large-mouth bass, yellow bass, catfish, bluegill, and red-ear sunfish from the lake's clear waters. Postcards from Louisiana. Delfeayo Marsalis at French Quarter Fest.  Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

632. Chip Lococo discusses his novel, The Devil’s Jazz:
A Gripping Historical Thriller of Murder, Music, and Madness in 1918 New Orleans, about the infamous Axman of New Orleans. “They have never caught me and they never will... I have been, am, and will be the worst spirit that ever existed either in fact or the realm of fancy.” — The Axman       In the haunted heart of New Orleans, as World War I draws to a close, a sinister presence stalks the streets. A brutal serial killer—known only as the Axman—emerges from the shadows, targeting the city’s Sicilian immigrant community with chilling precision. Inspired by true events, The Devil’s Jazz resurrects one of America’s most disturbing unsolved murder cases in a city steeped in music, mystery, and myth. Retired detective Giancarlo Rabito is pulled back into the darkness when the killings begin. The press fans hysteria. The public panics. And when the Axman sends a blood-chilling letter to the newspapers — promising death unless every home plays jazz on a chosen night — the city answers with a desperate and defiant flood of music.       Chip LoCoco was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he attended Jesuit High School and received his BA degree from Loyola University in 1990 with a concentration in History. He then went on to receive his JD degree from Loyola University Law School in 1993 and joined his father’s firm, Many & LoCoco, after being sworn in as an attorney in October, 1993. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Julie Kane, poet laureate of Louisiana, 2011-2013. “Moonrise on the Cane River.” "The moon is a surprised white face over the darkening river Even before a pair of blue-grey wings swoops down Between the O of its mouth and the O of a surfacing fish, And the phone rings, and it's you in Baton Rouge Grilling a silver catfish and staring at the moon." This week in Louisiana history. June 28, 1861. First Civil War battle engagement for Louisiana Tigers, at Seneca Dam on Potomac River. This week in New Orleans history. Hurricane Audrey. June 28, 1957. On June 27, the Hurricane Audrey reached peak sustained winds of 145 mph, making it a major hurricane. Without decreasing windspeed, it made landfall between the mouth of the Sabine River and Cameron, Louisiana the following day. Audrey killed at least 416 people, the majority of which were in Cameron Parish. This week in Louisiana. Essence Fest July 3-6, 2025 Various venues New Orleans, LA     What began in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate Essence Magazine's 25th anniversary has blossomed into an annual festival, which has welcomed hundreds of thousands of guests to the Crescent City each year over the past two decades. Often referred to as “a party with a purpose,” the Essence Festival of Culture promotes, celebrates, and explores health & wellness, spirituality, beauty & style, food, community & culture, entertainment, entrepreneurship, and much more within the African American community.     Attendees are invited to engage in panel discussions, shopping, meet-and-greets, activities, and of course, nonstop live music featuring some of the best in R&B, soul, funk, gospel, and hip-hop each and every Fourth of July weekend.     Essence Fest returns for its 31st year from July 3-6, 2025. Lineups will be announced closer to the event, but past headliners include Janet Jackson, Charlie Wilson, Usher, and Birdman & Friends, who will also honor three decades of Cash Money Millionaires. Postcards from Louisiana. Phillip Manuel sings with Michael Pellera Trio play at Snug Harbor on Frenchmen St. in New Orleans.  Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

631. Part 2 of Thomas Patterson joining us to discuss his new book, American Populist: Huey Long of Louisiana. "Thomas E. Patterson’s monumental biography of Huey Long is a profound reevaluation of his life and legacy, recognizing him as an inspirational progressive thinker, populist hero, and radical influence on the New Deal. Long transformed the politics of Louisiana by standing for the interests of citizens whom state officials had historically ignored. He eased suffrage restrictions so that more people could vote, and voters endorsed his program of more robust government services and shifting the tax burden to those better able to pay. In the United States Senate,... he advocated loudly and ceaselessly for the redistribution of wealth, expanding public works, increasing the money supply, insuring bank deposits, paying old-age pensions and veterans’ benefits, delivering a minimum income for families, and funding college and vocational education. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, along with other politicians and pundits, dismissed Long’s proposals as nonsense put forth by a reckless demagogue in search of votes.... Despite several biographies, acclaimed novels, and historical studies in the years since Long’s death, his reputation today is mostly caricature: a spellbinding speaker, a dictator, a populist firebrand who was unprincipled and corrupt. Using previously untapped personal papers of Long and his son Russell, other primary sources, recent scholarship, and his experience as a lawyer, Patterson provides a necessary corrective as he analyzes the contours of Long’s career, deconstructs the elements of his success, undercuts several myths related to his time in office, and explains the circumstances that led to his ultimate downfall. The result is the most comprehensive, balanced, and analytical study of the Kingfish to date." Thomas Patterson founded the Patterson Law Firm in Chicago, which focuses on helping businesses manages crises.  Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Infelicia by Adah Isaacs Menken. Menken left New Orleans to travel the world as an actress. "I will revel in my passion. At midnight I will feast on it in the darkness. For it was that which thrilled its crimson tides of reckless passion through the blue veins of my life, and made them leap up in the wild sweetness of Love and agony of Revenge! I am starving for this feast. Oh forget not that I am Judith! And I know where sleeps Holofernes." This week in Louisiana history. June 21, 1863. The Civil War Battle of Lafourche Railroad Crossing south of Thibodaux. This week in New Orleans history. Gerald Stith was the 18th mayor of New Orleans, serving from June 21, 1858 until June 18, 1860. This week in Louisiana. Tower Trax ATV Park 10247 LA-10 Fluker, LA 70436 Trails length:40+ mi/64.3+ km Terrain:2600 ac/10522 km² Consistence: Mostly mud One of the sports that is extremely popular in Hammond and attracts a lot of dirt lovers is quad biking. The best place to ride in the mud near Hammond is Tower Trax ATV Park. It is a 2600 ac/10522 km² area, offering more than 40 mi/64.3 km of trails, mud bogs, open meadows and deep creek crossings. Loose dirt, sand, a few steep hills, many water crossings, small jumps, berms, sand/gravel pits, a few roads, and some intersections are some of the amazing characteristics that you will come across in this awesome park. You might meet some rider traffic, so be prepared. The area is mostly suitable for amateurs, some novices and a little experts, containing hazards that are marked. Postcards from Louisiana. Ludwig. "Thank God and Huey Long."   Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

630. Part 1 of Thomas Patterson joining us to discuss his new book, American Populist: Huey Long of Louisiana. "Thomas E. Patterson’s monumental biography of Huey Long is a profound reevaluation of his life and legacy, recognizing him as an inspirational progressive thinker, populist hero, and radical influence on the New Deal. Long transformed the politics of Louisiana by standing for the interests of citizens whom state officials had historically ignored. He eased suffrage restrictions so that more people could vote, and voters endorsed his program of more robust government services and shifting the tax burden to those better able to pay. In the United States Senate,... he advocated loudly and ceaselessly for the redistribution of wealth, expanding public works, increasing the money supply, insuring bank deposits, paying old-age pensions and veterans’ benefits, delivering a minimum income for families, and funding college and vocational education. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, along with other politicians and pundits, dismissed Long’s proposals as nonsense put forth by a reckless demagogue in search of votes.... Despite several biographies, acclaimed novels, and historical studies in the years since Long’s death, his reputation today is mostly caricature: a spellbinding speaker, a dictator, a populist firebrand who was unprincipled and corrupt. Using previously untapped personal papers of Long and his son Russell, other primary sources, recent scholarship, and his experience as a lawyer, Patterson provides a necessary corrective as he analyzes the contours of Long’s career, deconstructs the elements of his success, undercuts several myths related to his time in office, and explains the circumstances that led to his ultimate downfall. The result is the most comprehensive, balanced, and analytical study of the Kingfish to date." Thomas Patterson founded the Patterson Law Firm in Chicago, which focuses on helping businesses manages crises. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Every Man a King is Huey Long's political autobiography. In it, he describes his youth in the politically progressive Winnfield, and his rise to power in politics. And his politics are more relevant today than ever. “God called, 'Come to my feast.' Then what happened? Rockefeller, Morgan, and their crowd stepped up and took enough for 120 million people and left only enough for 5 million of all the other 125 million to eat. And so many millions must go hungry and without these good things God gave us unless we call on them to put some of it back.”  This week in Louisiana history. June 15, 2015. Blaze Starr, dancer linked to Earl K. Long, dead at 83. This week in New Orleans history. Alfred Bonnabel, Jefferson Parish school director who served on the school board from 1872 through 1918, dedicated a two-room schoolhouse in Bucktown on June 14, 1908. This week in Louisiana. Check out the Andouille Trail. The River Parishes Find locations here.      The Andouille Trail is a unique culinary byway that will introduce you to our contribution to Louisiana cuisine. You'll find producers with wooden smokehouses, recipes that have been handed down for generations, and restaurants serving up andouille in traditional and inventive new ways. Download the info or check out the trail!     Andouille was born in the River Parishes as French and German culinary heritages combined. When you taste our andouille, you are tasting our culinary heritage. Be careful to not call it sausage — because of the coarseness of the ground pork, it's not considered sausage by locals, it's simply andouille. Special seasonings, the coarsesness of the grind, and the very wood added during smoking, make every producer's andouille product a unique culinary offering - you'll want to try them all! Postcards from Louisiana. Phillip Manuel sings with Michael Pellera Trio play at Snug Harbor on Frenchmen St. in New Orleans. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

629. Chad Adams returns to the podcast to discuss his new novella, Rapacity. “A desolate young girl finds herself trapped in rising floodwaters after her little brother is tragically killed in a hit and run accident during a catastrophic hurricane. As she and her mother fight to overcome their grief and the wrath of the storm, her faceless assailant sits out of harm's way with callous disregard for their struggles.” “Born and raised in Southeast Louisiana, Chad Adams has a love for the outdoors that dates back to early childhood fishing trips with his dad along the state’s beautiful gulf coast. His articles about duck hunting can be found in Louisiana Sportsman” (Amazon). Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 221 years. Order your copy today! This week in Louisiana history. June 7. 1892. Homer Plessy is arrested for taking a seat on a train that was marked "Whites Only." This week in New Orleans history. On Tuesday, June 7, 1983, the B-52's performed aboard the S.S. President steamboat river cruise. The show began at 9 p.m. for a $12.00 admission. This week in Louisiana. The Audubon Zoo 6500 Magazine St. New Orleans, LA 70118 Open Thursday – Monday 10AM – 5PM Last entry at 4:30PM Closed Tuesday & Wednesday (800) 774-7394 Website World-renowned Audubon Zoo is a 58-acre beautifully landscaped setting in historic Uptown New Orleans with award-winning natural habitat exhibits and a wide variety of more than 1,700 striking, rare and endangered animals representing more than 350 species of Africa, Central America, the Louisiana Swamp, and more. This AZA-accredited Top 10 zoo provides an unforgettable and authentic New Orleans experience. Cool Zoo with a lazy river, water soakers and slides is open seasonally. Postcards from Louisiana. Louisiana Book Festival Band. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.