All Y'all Podcast

A few years ago, All Y'all friend and storyteller Maya Lau told us that we should conduct exit interviews with folks who are moving out of Shreveport. The idea burrowed into our brains, and we've reconsidered it many times since. We could build an archive of peoples' answers to the question "So, why are you moving out of Shreveport?"

It's not, as Sara puts it, "a bitch-fest." It's an opportunity to hear - in their own words and voices - the folks who've decided that, for one reason or another, the Shreveport-Bossier community will no longer be their home.

Our first exit interview features Jim Hayes and Christine Cox-Hayes, who were brought to Shreveport by Jim's job in the film industry. The couple put down roots and ended up staying in Shreveport long after the film industry had withered. Sara led our first-ever All Y'all exit interview with Jim and Christine on the eve of their move to Santa Fe.

The first time we met Farah Cowley, at a business networking event in Shreveport, her warm smile, Southern drawl, and friendly demeanor won us over. We'd never have guessed that Farah had immigrated to the United States from Amman, Jordan - as a 14 year-old-girl who spoke very little English - just six years prior. For Farah, the path from the Middle East to Deep South was fraught with dangers seen and unseen.

Her incredible journey, and what it says about America, is the subject of this podcast-exclusive episode of All Y'all.

Thanks, Sponsors!

This episode of All Y'all - and every other episode and live event that we'll present in the 2018-2019 season - is presented by Marilynn's Place, Williams Creative Group, and Red River Brewing Co.

The first time we met Farah Cowley, at a business networking event in Shreveport, her warm smile, Southern drawl, and friendly demeanor won us over. We'd never have guessed that Farah had immigrated to the United States from Amman, Jordan - as a 14 year-old-girl who spoke very little English - just six years prior. For Farah, the path from the Middle East to Deep South was fraught with dangers seen and unseen.

Her incredible journey, and what it says about America, is the subject of this podcast-exclusive episode of All Y'all.

Thanks, Sponsors!

This episode of All Y'all - and every other episode and live event that we'll present in the 2018-2019 season - is presented by Marilynn's Place, Williams Creative Group, and Red River Brewing Co.

Annie Kendig is a badass. At our 2015 live event, "Ladies Night," Annie bravely took the stage to share the incredible true story of how she and her family traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to adopt their third child, Tauntine. Annie's story reminds us that all mothers are fighters - and some are action movie heroes.

Annie Kendig is a badass. At our 2015 live event, "Ladies Night," Annie bravely took the stage to share the incredible true story of how she and her family traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to adopt their third child, Tauntine. Annie's story reminds us that all mothers are fighters - and some are action movie heroes.

For our 50th episode of the All Y'all podcast, we're proud to present a podcast-exclusive interview with a genuinely fascinating Shreveport native: Byron Wilcott, who is better known to his fans as Main Event Pro Wrestling superstar Big Daddy Yum Yum. Wilcott's career as a pro wrestler has taken him all over the world, and he's got lots of incredible stories to tell. We caught up with Wilcott before a recent match in Shreveport, where he regaled us with tales of meeting Ric Flair, dinner with a Yakuza boss, and more.

For our 50th episode of the All Y'all podcast, we're proud to present a podcast-exclusive interview with a genuinely fascinating Shreveport native: Byron Wilcott, who is better known to his fans as Main Event Pro Wrestling superstar Big Daddy Yum Yum. Wilcott's career as a pro wrestler has taken him all over the world, and he's got lots of incredible stories to tell. We caught up with Wilcott before a recent match in Shreveport, where he regaled us with tales of meeting Ric Flair, dinner with a Yakuza boss, and more.

William Joyce may be Shreveport, Louisiana's most celebrated storyteller. He's won an Academy Award, several Emmys and countless other honors during his career as an author, illustrator and filmmaker. The All Y'all team has enjoyed a long friendship with Bill; but, until he shared this story, we'd never heard the unbelievable story of how his mother and father met and what witnessing their love meant to Bill as a boy.

It is a powerfully personal reflection on the relationship between love and courage.

"Love for another person can make you so much stronger than you ever thought that you could be," Bill says in the story. Amen to that.

William Joyce may be Shreveport, Louisiana's most celebrated storyteller. He's won an Academy Award, several Emmys and countless other honors during his career as an author, illustrator and filmmaker. The All Y'all team has enjoyed a long friendship with Bill; but, until he shared this story, we'd never heard the unbelievable story of how his mother and father met and what witnessing their love meant to Bill as a boy.

It is a powerfully personal reflection on the relationship between love and courage.

"Love for another person can make you so much stronger than you ever thought that you could be," Bill says in the story. Amen to that.

This is a special episode of All Y'all, highlighting our other podcast, Stuffed & Busted.

The third, and possibly final, episode of Stuffed & Busted is a long-form tribute to our favorite restaurant of all time: Lucky Palace Chinese Restaurant in Bossier City. On Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, the James Beard Foundation announced their list of semifinalists for the annual James Beard Awards, and Lucky Palace Chinese Restaurant in Bossier City was right there on the list nominated for Best Wine Program.

For more info or to subscribe to Stuffed & Busted, visit http://stuffedandbusted.com