This week on Louisiana Considered, we are bringing you the new podcast, “Leaving the Island,” a story about the nation's first attempt to relocate an entire community due to climate change. Today we’ll hear the first part of episode one.

In 2016, Louisiana received $48 million from the federal government to move the residents of Isle de Jean Charles, a small barrier island at the tip of Terrebonne Parish that has become uninhabitable due to climate change. This resettlement was seen as a pilot program that other communities in need of relocation could replicate. Today, we’ll learn what made the Island residents decide to leave their beloved home. 

But first, we hear from podcast host and journalist Olga Loginova about how she first became interested in this story, and what she hopes this podcast can accomplish.

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“Leaving The Island” is an Audiation Original Production, produced in partnership with the nonprofit newsroom Type Investigations. The story is based on an earlier print investigation by Columbia Journalism Investigations in partnership with The Center for Public Integrity and Type Investigations. Episode three was partially funded by Columbia Journalism School's Joan Konner Program in the Journalism of Ideas.

The series was reported, co-produced, written and hosted by Olga Loginova. Our Executive Producer and Showrunner is Sandy Smallens. The series producer is Max Wasserman, our story editor and co-producer is Susie Armitage and our investigative editor is Sasha Belenky. Sound design, mix engineering and original music composition by Tom Sullivan and Paul Vitolins of Audiography. Theme music by Mobéy Lola Irizarry. 

For more information about the series, check out leavingtheislandpod.com.