Louisiana Anthology Podcast

681. Part 1 of our conversation with Seth Pevey, who writes mystery fiction. Born in Louisiana, Seth spent many years working as a teacher and journalist in Asia before returning to his roots. He now writes fiction and non-fiction from his country home outside of New Orleans, drawing deep inspiration from the local landscape to craft rich, noir-infused Southern Gothic. This is his gritty, New Orleans-based crime fiction series following the ongoing adventures of Felix Herbert and a seasoned police detective named Melançon.  The Krewe (2018)   Roots of Misfortune (2019)   The Witness Tree (2019)   Casket Girls (2020)   Uptown Blues (2021) 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 222 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Bonnie Parker. "Bonnie and Clyde."  You've read the story of Jesse James Of how he lived and died;    If you're still in need    Of something to read, Here's the story of Bonnie and Clyde.  Now Bonnie and Clyde are the Barrow gang, I'm sure you all have read     How they rob and steal     And those who squeal Are usually found dying or dead.  There's lots of untruths to these write-ups; They're not so ruthless as that;    Their nature is raw;    They hate all the law The stool pigeons, spotters, and rats.  They call them cold-blooded killers; They say they are heartless and mean;    But I say this with pride,    That I once knew Clyde When he was honest and upright and clean.  But the laws fooled around, Kept taking him down And locking him up in a cell,    Till he said to me,    'I'll never be free, So I'll meet a few of them in hell.' This week in Louisiana history. June 5, 1713. Gov. Antoine Cadillac arrives in Louisiana. This week in New Orleans history. June 5, 1944: Thousands of New Orleanians worked through the night at Higgins Industries to prepare the landing craft used for the D-Day invasion the following morning. This week in Louisiana. Juneteenth Celebrations Across Louisiana June 14-19 (events held statewide in mid‑June) Locations vary by city; major celebrations in Lake Charles, Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans Website: explorelouisiana.com Juneteenth celebrations across Louisiana honor the emancipation of enslaved African Americans with festivals, concerts, food events, and community gatherings throughout the week leading up to June 19: Festivals & Concerts: Live music, cultural performances, and family‑friendly entertainment. Food & Vendors: Local cuisine, craft booths, and community cookouts. Commemorative Events: Educational programs, historical presentations, and unity marches. Postcards from Louisiana. The Rock Block Band at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar.  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. 

680. Celebrate a milestone with us! In this episode, we are marking the 13th anniversary of the podcast and the 14th anniversary of the Anthology project as a whole. To honor the occasion, we are sitting down with legendary local historian and author Ed Branley, the NOLA History Guy, to reflect on another  year of storytelling. Tune in as we look back at what we and Ed have accomplished over the last 12 months, dive into our favorite recent discoveries, and discuss the ever-evolving history of the Crescent City. Thank you for being part of our journey for over a decade! 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 222 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Pisatuntema. Myths of the Louisiana Choctaw. II    Soon after the earth (yahne) was made, men and grasshoppers came to the surface through a long passageway that led from a large cavern, in the interior of the earth, to the summit of a high hill, Nan' chaha. There, deep down in the earth, in the great cavern, man and the grasshoppers had been created by Aba, the Great Spirit, having been formed of the yellow clay.    For a time the men and the grasshoppers continued to reach the surface together, and as they emerged from the long passageway they would scatter in all directions, some going north, others south, east, or west.    But at last the mother of the grasshoppers who had remained in the cavern was killed by the men and as a consequence there were no more grasshoppers to reach the surface, and ever after those that lived on the earth were known to the Choctaw as eske ilay, or 'mother dead.' However, men continued to reach the surface of the earth through the long passageway that led to the summit of Nan' chaha, and, as they moved about from place to place, they trampled upon many grasshoppers in the high grass, killing many and hurting others.    The grasshoppers became alarmed as they feared that all would be killed if men became more numerous and continued to come from the cavern in the earth. They spoke to Aba, who heard them and soon after caused the passageway to be closed and no more men were allowed to reach the surface. But as there were many men remaining in the cavern he changed them to ants and ever since that time the small ants have come forth from holes in the ground. This week in Louisiana history. May 29, 1948. The Desire streetcars stopped running. This week in New Orleans history. May 29, 1985: Businessman Tom Benson officially purchased the New Orleans Saints, preventing the team from potentially relocating to another city. This week in Louisiana. French Market Creole Tomato Festival June 7'8 (traditionally the first weekend of June) French Market District, 1008 N. Peters Street New Orleans, LA 70116 Website: frenchmarket.org Email: [email protected] Phone: (504) 636‑6400 The French Market Creole Tomato Festival celebrates the arrival of Louisiana's beloved Creole tomatoes with food booths, cooking demonstrations, live music, and family activities throughout the historic French Market: Creole Tomato Dishes: Chefs and vendors showcase tomato‑based specialties and seasonal favorites. Live Music: Performances across multiple stages in the French Market and Dutch Alley. Family Activities: Kids' crafts, second‑line parades, and interactive food‑themed events. Postcards from Louisiana. Brass-a-holics play at Lundi Gras. 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. 

679. Can love and trust survive amid ethnic cleansing and imperial warfare? This week, we talk to Marianne Rabalais Sulser about her new novel, Like Snow Before Sun. Set in 1755 Acadia, it is the gripping tale of a woman torn between worlds, a desperate rescue mission, and an unlikely bond forged in the deep wilderness. Listen in for our full breakdown of this historical romance. Marianne Rabalais Sulser is a historical fiction author who specializes in bringing forgotten voices and histories to light. Drawing deeply from meticulous research, she writes narratives that explore shifting loyalties, survival, and the human spirit under the pressure of war. Like Snow Before Sun is her latest novel. 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 222 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Jennifer Reeser. The Lalaurie Horror.    A red, infernal light glowed, magnified By lachrymosal glass and tavern fume As I awaited my belated guide;    So tired of his delay ' though to resume My life within the world, without the wait Would seem like flight away, upon a broom.    I did not wonder why my guide was late. Instead, I pondered life's approaching fringe, To close the life in back of me: a gate.    Of iron this gate was wrought, pronged, with a hinge Constructed clean, but rusted through the springs And screeching, so to make a deaf man cringe;    The kind to carve a stone floor, when it swings, Embedded in its plate, an oval brooch, The numerals of French and Spanish kings. This week in Louisiana history. May 22, 1873. U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant finally offically recognizes Gov. Wm. Kellogg's Republican administration. This week in New Orleans history. May 22, 1873: The "Battle of Liberty Place" occurred as the White League attempted to overthrow the integrated Reconstruction government in the city. This week in Louisiana. Lake Claiborne State Park 225 State Park Road Homer, LA 71040 Open year‑round; ideal for late‑spring swimming, hiking, and lakeside recreation Website: lastateparks.com Email: [email protected] Phone: (318) 927‑2976 Lake Claiborne State Park offers rolling pine forests, sandy beaches, and one of North Louisiana's clearest lakes, making it a perfect early‑summer getaway for families, paddlers, and anglers: Swimming & Beaches: A designated swimming area with a wide sandy shoreline. Trails & Wildlife: Miles of forested hiking paths with birding and nature‑watching opportunities. Boating & Fishing: Clear water ideal for kayaking, water‑skiing, and bass, crappie, and bream fishing. Postcards from Louisiana. The Rock Block Band at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar. 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. 

Episode 678. Emily Zobel Marshall comes on the podcast to discuss her research on trickster characters, particularly the ones in her book, American Trickster: Trauma Tradition and Brer Rabbit. Trickster characters. Emily Marshall’s concept of the American Trickster explores a unique archetype that evolved from the fusion of diverse cultural folklore—primarily African, Indigenous, and European—into a distinctly American figure. Unlike traditional European tricksters who often serve as moral foils or agents of chaos, Marshall’s American trickster is defined by survival and subversion. This figure often operates within systems of extreme oppression, using wit, "masking," and linguistic dexterity to outsmart more powerful adversaries. Emily is a Professor of Postcolonial Literature at Leeds Beckett University. She is of French-Caribbean and British heritage and grew up in the mountains of Snowdonia in North Wales. An expert on the trickster figure in the folklore, oral cultures and literature of the African Diaspora, she has published widely in these fields, including her books Anansi’s Journey: A Story of Jamaican Cultural Resistance (2012, UWI press) and American Trickster: Trauma Tradition and Brer Rabbit (2019, Rowman and Littlefield). She develops her creative work alongside her academic writing and her collection Bath of Herbs was published by Peepal Tree Press in 2023. 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 222 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Louis Charles Roudanez. 'Is the Black Code Still in Force?'     'Sec. 9. If any slave shall strike a white person, for the first and second offense he shall receive such punishment as the jury shall think proper, but for the third offence the said slave shall suffer death; and whenever any slave shall have grievously and willfully wounded any white person, although it prove to be the first offense, such slave shall suffer death; provided the blow, wound, mutilation or bruises are not made or committed in defense of the person or property of his master.'     Does any sane person living in New Orleans today believe that such a law would, could or should be enforced by any civil power in this city under existing circumstances? Yet there it stands, printed in the 'Revised Statutes of Louisiana,' under the head of the 'Black Code,' and if we are to be guided by 'high authority' in legal matters, a judge in one of our anomalous courts would be derelict in his duty not to pronounce the sentence of death on a colored person, convicted under this statute, who had heretofore been held as a slave, and had never been manumitted according to the laws of Louisiana. This week in Louisiana history. May 15, 1915. Huey Long admitted to the Louisiana Bar as "a full fledged lawyer."  This week in New Orleans history. May 15, 1921: The first scheduled commercial flight arrived in New Orleans, marking the beginning of the city's modern aviation era. This week in Louisiana. Gonzales Jambalaya Festival May 15, 2026 Lamar‑Dixon Expo Center, 9039 S. St. Landry Avenue Gonzales, LA 70737 Held annually on Memorial Day Weekend; the 2026 festival is coming up later this month Website: jambalayafestival.net Email: [email protected] Phone: (225) 647‑9569 The Gonzales Jambalaya Festival is a South Louisiana tradition featuring world‑champion jambalaya, live music, carnival rides, and cooking competitions throughout the long Memorial Day weekend: World Champion Jambalaya: Daily servings from top cooks competing for the festival title. Live Music & Entertainment: Multiple stages with regional bands and family‑friendly performances. Carnival Rides & Activities: A full midway, games, vendors, and community events across the festival grounds. Postcards from Louisiana. Molly Ringwalds. My Sharona. Kenner Italian Festival.  Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

677. This week, we talk to Dustin Granger about  Louisiana politics. As a seasoned financial advisor with over two decades of experience, Dustin Granger has built his career helping Louisiana families navigate the turbulent waters of the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recurring hurricanes that shape life on the Gulf Coast. A lifelong resident and LSU alumnus, Granger now serves as the Treasurer of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Granger is a leading voice for economic reform and climate resilience. He advocates for a "New Louisiana" that breaks away from traditional corporate-heavy investments to embrace renewable energy, fair taxation, and sustainable infrastructure. In this interview, we discuss his recommendations for the current voting season, his strategies for stabilizing property insurance, his commitment to strengthening the state's middle class, and his ongoing work to revitalize the Democratic infrastructure across the Bayou State. 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 222 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Charles Asbury Stephens. The Ark of 1803.     It was a voyage of untold perils. Every year an increasing number of white outlaws, hidden in the caves along the river, harried and robbed the boatmen who floated down from the upper settlements. There were lurking bands of hostile Indians. And there was the river itself with its treacheries; its snags; its mud bars and its floods. It was no unusual thing for an ark to set out as this one was about to do, provided against all foreseeable disasters, and never be heard from afterward. Some were wrecked, some were robbed and their crews obscurely murdered. But no tidings of their fate came back to the solitary homes on the upper Ohio.     To set out on such a voyage with a single man or boy who could not be trusted, might mean the loss of the boat or even of every life on board of her. This week in Louisiana history. May 8, 1823. First gas lighting used in the American Theater of New Orleans. This week in New Orleans history. May 8, 1884: The World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition opened in what is now Audubon Park, showcasing New Orleans as a global trade hub. This week in Louisiana. Creole Nature Trail All‑American Road Louisiana Highway 27 & Highway 82 Corridor Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes, LA Open year‑round; ideal for spring wildlife viewing and coastal drives Website: creolenaturetrail.org Email: [email protected] Phone: (337) 436‑9588 The Creole Nature Trail is one of America's first National Scenic Byways, offering 180 miles of Gulf Coast marshes, beaches, wildlife refuges, and birding hotspots throughout the year: Scenic Wildlife Drives: Alligators, wading birds, and migratory species visible from roadside pull‑offs. Gulf Beaches: Access to quiet stretches of shoreline along the Cameron coast. Refuge Access: Connects to Sabine, Cameron Prairie, and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuges. Postcards from Louisiana. The Rock Block Band at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar. 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.