Louisiana Considered

The media group Time Out covers food and culture around the world. They recently ranked the best food cities across the globe, and to no surprise to those of us who live here, New Orleans is No. 1!

Chelsea Shannon, trending food and dining reporter for the Times Picayune/ The Advocate tells us a little more about the list and why New Orleans outranked other cities. 

Last week, we brought you the first episode of “Fueling Knowledge,” a series from the Sea Change team that explores the ties between the oil and gas industry and LSU. Today, we dive further into their investigation to learn about the strings attached to taking  big oil money. 

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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!

On March 29, voters in the City of St. George will elect their mayor and city council members for the first time. They will also decide if the city will adopt a home rule charter. 

Capitol Access reporter Brooke Thorington spoke with city spokesperson Andrew Murrell about what the proposed charter could mean for residents.

This week, the Louisiana-based Nous Foundation, is at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. to unveil a new French and Creole music album  featuring six Louisiana musicians before it enters the library’s permanent collection.

Scott Tilton, co-founder and co-director of the Nous Foundation, tells us how this opportunity came about, and the importance of preserving Creole heritage in public records. 

Tech companies have pledged hundreds of billions of dollars to build new data centers across the country–including in the South–which are the backbone of AI.

While billions being invested in communities might sound promising, the Gulf States Newsroom’s Stephan Bisaha reports that these centers create few permanent jobs.

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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!

The 2025 March Madness Tournaments are headed to the Sweet 16 rounds this weekend. While the LSU Tigers women’s basketball team is the only Louisiana team left standing, McNeese State made a big splash with a first round upset victory in the men’s tournament, and a viral team manager.

Reed Darcey, a reporter for the Baton Rouge Advocate, breaks down the recent games and what to expect as LSU prepares to face NC State.

The House of Representatives recently voted on a budget plan that aims to cut $2 trillion in mandatory spending over the next decade. This includes $230 billion in cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The move could severely impact funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP. 

Roy Chrobocinski, managing director of Save the Children, and Crystal Ellis, Louisiana state manager for Save the Children Action Network, tell us more about how these cuts will impact Louisianans.

The Louis Moreau Institute is marking 11 years with a contemporary classical music festival. Founded by New Orleans-native Morris Rosenzweig, the institute aims to celebrate the intersection of traditional classical music and familiar New Orleans sounds.

The institute’s artistic director Wesley Ducote tells us what to expect as composers from around the world gather for this festival.

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Diane Mack. 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!

In January, a Metairie family was deported to Honduras. They claim they were deceived by agents at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE. The family fled Honduras fearing gang violence over a decade ago and now fear they are banned from ever returning to the United States. 

Verite News’ Bobbi-Jeanne Misick has been covering this story. She joins us with more.

The 2025 March Madness tournaments are officially underway, so it should come as no surprise to see student athletes in a flood of recent advertisements and promoting sponsored content through social media. At LSU, athletes like Angel Reese and Livvy Dunne have made millions since the NCAA began allowing athletes to be paid for their names, images and likenesses. But what about athletes at smaller schools?

A group of LSU student-reporters researched how student athletes at Louisiana’s smaller universities are scrounging to make their own NIL deals. Student-reporters Ella Armstrong and Ty Cazeux join us with their findings.

Singer-songwriter Sarah Quintana grew up in New Orleans in a community of musicians, which eventually led her to pursue a career in the music industry. Her new album, “Baby, Don’t,” is her attempt at making a Louisiana record with her own unique spin. 

She joins us to discuss creating a fresh take on classic Louisiana songs and sounds.

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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!

Almost a third of people in Louisiana are on Medicaid. And hundreds of providers rely on federal reimbursements to operate.

But funding for the program is under threat. The Trump administration – and a majority of Republican lawmakers – say they want to cut funding for Medicaid to help pay for tax cuts. Many patients and providers in Louisiana are watching the debate in Washington closely. 

Alice Riener, chief executive officer of Crescent Care, a Medicaid provider in New Orleans, and Dr. Peggy Honoré, board president of the New Orleans Musicians Clinic, tell us about how these potential cuts could impact Louisianans. 

Universities have been cozying up to the fossil fuel industry for decades, and at LSU, the mid-twentieth century oil boom helped grow the institution. 

Yesterday, we brought you the first part  of “Fueling Knowledge,” an investigation from the Sea Change podcast that explores LSU’s relationship with oil and gas. Where we pick up today, we learn about the so-called “golden age” of the fossil fuel industry in Louisiana. 

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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 listeners like you. 

Thank you!

It’s Thursday, and The Times Picayune/the Advocate’s editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace is here to talk politics. Today we discuss the New Orleans mayor’s race, and the news that Oliver Thomas – New Orleans city council member who once pleaded guilty to bribery charges and served in federal prison – is officially a candidate. 

Universities have grown increasingly close to the oil and gas industry, and LSU is no exception. The university’s history with the fossil fuel industry goes back decades. 

Sea Change has reviewed thousands of documents going back a century to see how that relationship has affected student’s careers and climate policy. We listen to part one of the first episode of their latest series, ‘Fueling Knowledge.’ 

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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!

The state of Louisiana carried out its first execution in 15 years Tuesday, fatally poisoning Jessie Hoffman, Jr. with nitrogen gas. The state is expected to carry out more death sentences in the coming months. Currently, there are more than 50 people on death row.

Kat Stromquist has been covering this story for the Gulf States Newsroom. She joins us with more details. 

The Maroon, the student newspaper at the Loyola University of New Orleans, was just awarded the Pacemaker Award, recognizing their excellence in student journalism. And this Friday, the university will host its annual Media Day, celebrating their recent recognition and the importance of student publications.

Michael Giusti, director of student media and advisor to the Maroon, and editor-in-chief Sophia Maxim, tell us more about the award, the upcoming event, and the role of student reporters.

It’s hard for anyone to process grief, but this can be especially true for children who lose a parent, friend or otherwise important person in their lives. 

Camp Bearable is a grief camp for kids grappling with their feelings about loss. It helps kids learn to cope with their grief and take steps towards healing. The camp will take place this weekend in Slidell and registration is still open.

Miranda Lindsay, executive director of the Hospice House and assistant director Cheryl Scaglione, tell us more about Camp Bearable and how members of the community can help kids cope with  loss.

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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!

Paid parental leave is close to being an option for state employees in Alabama and Mississippi. Bills to make this law are working their way through both state legislatures, and comes as a trend as more states, including Louisiana, are providing paid parental leave to their employees. 

The Gulf States Newsroom’s Stephan Bisaha tells us why the push for paid parental leave has champions on both sides of the political aisle.

The New Orleans Ballet Association presents the return of the iconic Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. The dance company, which celebrates Black American cultural experiences and dance traditions, will perform two completely different performances. 

Choreographer Ronald K. Brown tells us about his piece, “Grace”, and Alvin Ailey’s iconic “Revelations,” and how you can see the shows. 

The fourth annual Tulane Book Festival is coming to New Orleans at the end of March. The event brings together over 180 authors and journalists for panel discussions, book signings and family-friendly activities. Some of this year’s guests include Connie Chung, Maureen Dowd, John Grisham and Bob Woodward. 

Festival co-chair Cheryl Landrieu tells us what to expect at the three-day event. 

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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!

Early voting is underway in Louisiana with four constitutional amendments on the ballot. Amendment 2, which concerns the state income tax, is already causing confusion among voters. 

Capitol Access reporter Brooke Thorington joins us to break down the ballot and the intricacies behind the proposals. 

A new exhibit at the New Orleans Jazz Museum explores one of New Orleans’ most influential institutions and its pivotal role in shaping the city’s cultural and musical legacy. “Economy Hall: The Hidden History of a Free Black Brotherhood” shows how free men of color formed a thriving intellectual community in the Antebellum era.

David Kunian, curator of the New Orleans Jazz Museum, tells us more.

The City of Baton Rouge will host  the first Professional Pickleball Tournament in Louisiana. The series will be held from April 4 to April 6at the Stacks Pickleball sports complex. And with the growing popularity of the sport, the event promises to be a big draw and have a large economic impact. 

Jason Suitt, the director of sports development at Visit Baton Rouge’s,, and Ethan Pippitone, a competitive pickleballer in New Orleans, tell us more about the sport and the upcoming event.

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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, 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!

Nine prisoners are walking free after being convicted in part on faulty evidence presented by Mississippi dentist Michael West and his pathological partner Dr. Steven Hayne. Seven of those nine convictions involved bite mark evidence, and three of the recently-freed men had been on death row.

There is one inmate left who awaits execution based on evidence presented by the now defamed medical professionals, and state prosecutors aren’t budging about his guilt. All the while, Louisiana had been gearing up for its first nitrogen gas execution, which has since been temporarily barred by a federal judge.

Richard Webster, a reporter for Verite News and ProPublica  has been following this closely, and joins us to share more. 

The 2025 March Madness tournaments are just around the corner, and all eyes are on the LSU women’s basketball team. The Lady Tigers won the championship in 2023, and lost in the Elite Eight in 2024. 

While this year’s squad will lack the familiar faces of Angel Reese and Haley Van Lith, fans will remember Flau’Jae Johnson, who has taken on a larger role with this year’s team. And of course, there’s the colorful coach Kim Mulkey and her unforgettable sideline jackets. 

Reed Darcey, who covers the team for the Baton Rouge Advocate, joins us to look back at  the regular season and offer tournament predictions.

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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Ryan Vasquez. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. 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!