Louisiana Considered

If you’re a baseball fan, you know it’s impossible to watch a game these days without hearing about torpedo bats, the new bat design giving Major League hitters unforeseen power. But what is it about these bats that allows players to hit the ball so deep?

Louisiana Considered’s Alana Schreiber visited Marucci Sports, a bat company in Baton Rouge, to find out. 

Coming to Lafayette this week is a conference on Big Towns, a gathering of representatives from places too big to be towns and too small to be cities. The meeting is a chance for these big towns to learn from one another when it comes to economics, city planning and more. 

Christiaan Mader, founder and editor of The Current, and Heather Blanchard, CEO of United Way of Acadiana, tell us more about the event. 

A former president of Xavier University, the first woman to be mayor of Lake Charles, and a photographer and food writer are some of this year’s winners of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities’ Bright Lights awards.

Clare Shelburne, LEH program manager, tells us more about the awards and what it means to be recognized. 

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!

Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

As the Trump administration cracks down on immigration, students across the country are losing their international visas. 

The Times-Picayune/The Advocate’s Marie Fazio tells us about the students in Louisiana who’ve had their visas revoked.

The Musaica Chamber Ensemble is gearing up for its season finale with four trios, including a world premiere and the Beethoven Septet. Violist and president Bruce Owen joins us with the details.

A new sculpture exhibit in Baton Rouge hopes to shed light on a glaring problem in Louisiana’s criminal justice system: wrongful convictions. The organization, The Innocence Project of New Orleans, is the driving force behind the new exhibit, Exonerated: Portraits of the Wrongfully Convicted. The installation features nearly two dozen life-sized busts depicting former prisoners. 

Producer Matt Bloom sat down with Baton Rouge sculptor Becky Gottsegen and one of the exhibit’s subjects, Raymond Flanks, who was wrongly convicted of murder as a 20 year old. 

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, the NPR App, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

The 2026 midterm elections are a long way away, but millions of dollars are already flowing into the Senate race as incumbent GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy faces a challenge from fellow Republican State Treasurer John Fleming.

Greg LaRose, editor-in-chief for the Louisiana Illuminator, tells us more about what this race says about Cassidy’s vulnerability.

Under  a new Louisiana law, thousands of inmates  can no longer plead their cases to a parole board. This is thanks to a computerized scoring system adopted by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, which ranks an inmate's risk of reoffending. 

Calvin Alexander, a 70-year-old and nearly blind inmate is no longer eligible to speak before a parole board.  

Verite’s Richard Webster tells us more about Alexander and the thousands of other inmates whose cases are in limbo.

Following heavy rainfall in the Ohio River Valley, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has activated proactive flood fight protocols as water from upstream swells the Mississippi River.  

State climatologist Jay Grymes tells us how residents should best prepare for potential flooding.

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. 

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Today on Louisiana Considered, we bring you the first episode of “The Light Switch,” a new podcast from the Louisiana Illuminator that dives into the top political issues in our state. 

First, host  Greg LaRose speaks with senior reporter Julie O’Donoghue to discuss what’s on the table at the current state legislative session. Then Louisiana Senate President Cameron Henry, and explore where measles cases are emerging beyond Texas.

It’s Thursday and that means it’s time to catch up on politics with The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate’s editorial director and columnist, Stephanie Grace. We hear about the latest clashes between Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the Civil Service Commission, and a millage to support the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. 

The death penalty has been a major topic in Louisiana ever since the execution of Jessie Hoffman, Jr. one month ago. He was the first person in the state to be killed with nitrogen gas.

While many anti-death penalty organizations spoke up against this, there’s one Louisianan who’s been leading the charge against the death penalty for generations.

Sister Helen Prejean is a Catholic religious leader and author of several books, including, “Dead Man Walking,” which captures her experiences serving as a spiritual adviser for two people on death row. She joins us now for more on her life’s work, new book, and re-release of “Dead Man Walking,” as a graphic novel. 

Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. 

And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Last month, President Donald Trump’s administration slashed funding for the CDC’s HIV prevention programs. Administrators of similar programs in Louisiana — which has one of the highest rates of HIV per capita of any U.S. state — are bracing for the loss of federal grants too. Public health reporter Rosemary Westwood tells us what they’re doing to prepare for the loss of funding.

Also at the direction of the Trump administration, the National Endowment for the Humanities this month abruptly cancelled millions of dollars in disbursements for grants that had already been awarded. The NEH helps fund museums, archives, literary festivals, historic preservation and more.

A little less than half of NEH funds go directly to state-level endowments, like the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. LEH Executive Director and President Miranda Restovic discusses what these cuts mean for Louisiana.

A new technology competition is coming to Baton Rouge this June. The Nexus Technology Cup will award more than $100,000 to aspiring inventors and entrepreneurs. Tony Zanders, CEO of Nexus Louisiana, joins us for more on the competition.

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!

Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

April is National Autism Awareness Month, and in New Orleans, the next few weeks are full of events to promote acceptance of people all across the autism spectrum. 

Claire Tibbets, executive director of the Autism Society of Greater New Orleans, tells us more about April’s events as well as resources available for the autism community throughout the year.

The Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane is returning for its 58th season. On deck this year are hit Broadway musicals, “A Chorus Line,” “Company,” and “Carousel.” 

Artistic director Leonard Raybon tells us more about these upcoming performances and his new role at the head of the company. 

We all know that daily life requires energy and creates emissions. Like when you drive a car or buy a new pair of shoes. But how far would you go to account for your own carbon footprint? 

Former Coastal Desk reporter Halle Parker joined one New Orleans artist for a tree planting trip in Plaquemines Parish to try, as she tried to offset the emissions created by her artwork. 

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. 

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

The 2025 regular legislative session kicks off Monday, and lawmakers will try to tackle the state budget, the insurance crisis, and anti-hazing legislation. Capitol Access reporter Brooke Thorington joins us to break down some of the bills. 

Louisiana Public Broadcasting and the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) have teamed up with the nonprofit Chanbow  for “Kouri Vini 101”, a new educational digital series exploring Louisiana’s endangered Creole language and culture. 

The show’s host, actor  and singer Clif St. Laurent, and CODOFIL community development specialist Marguerite Justus tell us more about this new TV series.

Each April, downtown Lafayette comes alive for a five-day cultural celebration of music, art and cuisine from around the world. The 39th annual Festival International de Louisiane will kick off on Wednesday, April 23.

Festival marketing director Carly Viator Courville tells us more about all the bands, events and food guests can experience this weekend.

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. We receive production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. 

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Award-winning author and journalist Michael Lewis is out with a new book, “Who is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service.” The New Orleans native is the author of multiple books, many of which have turned into blockbuster movies, like “Moneyball,” “The Blind Side” and “The Big Short.” 

His latest work is collaboration with multiple writers and performers, like Dave Eggers, Casey Cep and W. Kamau Bell. They each profile federal employees and the fascinating work they’re doing for our government. 

Michael Lewis joins us to discuss his latest work and the importance of public service.

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. Matt Bloom and Aubry Procell are assistant producers. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time for our week in Politics with the Editorial Director and Columnist for the Times-Picayune/The Advocate, Stephanie Grace. Today she gives us a preview of the upcoming state legislative session and Gov. Landry’s agenda. 

Earlier this week, a run of “Hamilton” began at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans. The Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of the founding of the United States with a cast made up almost entirely of people of color.

Nathan Haydel, the actor who plays John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in this production has a deep connection to New Orleans. He joins us to discuss his journey into musical theater, and the influence of his great grandparents and legendary New Orleans chefs, Leah and Dooky Chase

There’s been a lot of coastal news out of Plaquemines Parish over the last week. The parish won its lawsuit against Chevron over damages to coastal wetlands, and the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project was suspended for 90 days. 

WWNO’s coastal reporter Eva Tesfaye joins us to explain what happens next. 

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. 

And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!