Louisiana Insider

It all began with the word “Acadian," which became Americanized to “Cajun” and then popularized to define life’s necessities including a two-step in Mamou and the spiciness of fried chicken. Join Errol Laborde, executive editor of Louisiana Life, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot as University of Louisiana at Lafayette professor and documentary maker Nathan Rabalais discusses his production “Finding Cajun,” which made its broadcast debut on Louisiana Public Broadcasting. We will hear about the history of the people and the word, as well as, a delve into the timeless question about preference, “boudin or cracklins?”

One of the most powerful men in the history of what is now Louisiana was Jean Lafitte. At his peak, Laffite was a mixture of pirate king, Mafia Don and local hero. For as famous as he was there is still much mystery to the Lafitte story, including his place and year of death. North Carolina-based mother and daughter co-authors Ashley Oliphant and Beth Yarbrough join Errol Laborde, executive editor of Louisiana Life, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to reveal discoveries from their new book "Jean Laffite Revealed: Unraveling One of America’s Longest Running Mysteries." The ending of this story is far different than anyone ever knew. Oh yes, we will also hear about finding Laffite’s sword and how the pirate and Andrew Jackson actually got along.

We know about the interstates and federal highways that lace the state, but there is a lot to be learned from exploring the old roads. Louisiana is rich with trails all of which have fascinating stories from the gulf coast to the state’s northern tip. Sharon Calcote, the director of the Louisiana Scenic Byways program, joins Errol Laborde, executive editor of Louisiana Life, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to tell tales from 19 designated trails. Oh yes, we will also discover one trail where the story was made into a movie that won an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Glen Pitre’s first film “Belizaire: the Cajun” (1986) starring Armand Assante was backed by Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute. Pitre would go on to have more successes, including “The Scoundrel’s Wife” (2002) starring Tatum O’Neal. Roger Ebert, the late film critic on the Chicago Sun-Times, described Pitre as a “legendary American regional director.”

Pitre’s latest effort is “Mary, Queen of Vietnam,” a documentary about the state’s thriving Vietnamese population.

Pitre joins Errol Laborde, executive editor of Louisiana Life, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to talk about film making on the Bayou.  Oh yes, we will also discover his favorite boudin, white or red.

Hardly anyone knows it, but the Louisiana-based Sazerac Company has become one of the top liquor brand distributors in the country. Plus, it operates the amazing new Sazerac House museum in New Orleans.

Rhiannon Enlil, a historian for the museum, joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, to talk about the bounty from the bar and New Orleans’ controversial claims to be the birthplace of the cocktail. Oh yes, we will also discover if Sazeracs and Old Fashions are related.

Where a bridge crosses the Mississippi River, connecting St. Francisville on one side and New Roads on the other, is a little like crossing the English Channel. There is the French culture on the New Roads side and a touch of English heritage in the St. Francisville vicinity. True, the Mississippi is a lot longer than the English Channel, but we’re just trying to make the point. There is a lot to discover in Louisiana. In this year where travel – especially international – is challenging, staycations might be the way to go. Travel writer Chere Coen joins Errol Laborde, Executive Editor of Louisiana Life, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to talk about great staycation spots around the state – some that you might not have thought of before.  Oh yes, we will also mention which of the city’s towns has been called, “the happiest city in America.”

Besides sending many of its best overseas, Louisiana played important roles in World War II including ship manufacturing, training and housing German POWs. Dwight Eisenhower even spent times here overseeing maneuvers. Louisiana is still part of the World War II story as it is home to the war’s national museum. Kim Guise, a curator for the museum, joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde and podcast producer Kelly Massicot to talk about the war and her specialty, the role of women. Oh yes, we will also hear music from the era!

Spoiler alert!! The answer to the above question is that they are both among this year’s class of Louisianians of the Year. The two – Zydeco buff Herman Fuselier and teacher Nathalie Roy – are part of the nine selected this year by Louisiana Life magazine. Melanie Warner Spencer, the magazine’s managing editor, joins executive editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, to talk about this year’s talented group. You’ll even hear about how Bob Thames, a Shreveport brewer, was inspired by an ancient bottle of bourbon to raise money for hospitality workers suffering losses because of COVID. He collected $27,000!

They’re not all Cajuns nor are there any admirals in the bunch, but they have certainly experienced battles on the water and on the land. Rob Gaudet, the founder of the Cajun Navy, joins Louisiana Life executive editor Errol Laborde and podcast producer Kelly Massicot to talk about the group's rescue effort through high waters and cyclones including Hurricane Harvey in Houston and the storms that have hit Lake Charles and Southern Louisiana. You’ll even hear how a skilled communication's system has become part of the weaponry of war and how pirogues performed in the streets of Houston.

Cajuns are often associated with seafood, especially the crawfish, but in the prairie areas of south Louisiana, Cajuns are pork eater. Dixie Poche, author of the book the “Cajun Pig,” joins Errol Laborde, executive editor of Louisiana Life magazine, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to savor the pork. Oh yes, they will also discuss the appeal of hog’s head cheese.