Greg Ravy is the CEO of Heroes of New Orleans, an organization expanding opportunities for youth through workforce development, entrepreneurship, and family support. We sit down with Greg to talk about why so many young people struggle to access meaningful career paths, how his team helps students build real-world skills, and the importance of exposing youth to options beyond what they see every day. Greg breaks down their individualized workforce approach, their hands-on summer entrepreneurship program, and the “expert brunches” that connect teens directly with professionals in the careers they’re interested in. He also shares why supporting parents is essential to breaking generational cycles and how Heroes of New Orleans is reshaping what’s possible for families across the city.

We also get into the launch of the new Heroes 360 Club—a community membership that opens access to a renovated gym, gaming room, makerspace, kitchen, and more. Greg talks through upcoming workforce cohorts, summer programs, and their major fundraising event at NOLA Motorsports. Thank you to Greg for sharing how Heroes of New Orleans is building the city’s next generation of leaders!

Mission Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

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Dan Fox is the Editor-In-Chief and publisher of ANTIGRAVITY Magazine, one of New Orleans’ most trusted alternative print publications. We sit down with Dan to talk about the origins of ANTIGRAVITY, its mission to document underrepresented culture, and how the magazine has grown from a DIY alt-rag to a community institution that’s influenced writers, artists, and local media for two decades. We also dig into their famously rigorous editorial process and how the team nurtures new voices, preserves cultural history, and continues to champion stories that often go overlooked.

We also explore the evolution of the ANTIGRAVITY Voter Education Guide, why it became a vital civic resource, and how it’s reshaped community engagement around local elections. Dan shares what’s next for the publication, how folks can support their work, and a few exciting events they have on the horizon.

Mission Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. Missions Bayou is hosted by Maya McGee and Brenna Gourgeot. Maya McGee is the Senior Director of Operations at Comfy Stone, where she helps nonprofits clarify and elevate their storytelling to better reflect their mission and impact. Brenna Gourgeot is a community organizer and data analyst focused on socioeconomic and environmental justice in Southeast Louisiana. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

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Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Amanda Takacs is the Program Coordinator and Seth Blitch is the Director of Conservation at The Nature Conservancy. We sit down with them to unpack the Louisiana Treesilience Program: how restoring and expanding urban tree canopy on public land keeps neighborhoods cooler, buffers storms, absorbs floodwater, supports wildlife, and even calms traffic. They break down the “right tree, right place” approach, why native and storm-resilient species matter, and how proactive maintenance (like pruning for storm readiness) protects people and infrastructure.

We also cover recent work in Lakeview, including removing hazardous/invasive trees, pruning mature oaks, and planting live oaks and bald cypress, and how community-led projects get funded and delivered. You’ll hear who can apply (cities, schools, churches, cemeteries, neighborhood groups), current eligibility tied to 22 parishes, funding available through early 2026 for one or two larger projects, and how communities can get canopy assessments or design help.

Mission Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Alison Hotard and Josie Delaune are the Executive Director and President of YLC. We sit down with them to talk about YLC’s 40th anniversary, why retaining young professionals matters in New Orleans, and how the organization is evolving, including alumni “Where Are They Now?” spotlights, a reunion, and fresh pathways for skills-based volunteering, mentorship, and civic engagement. We also dig into why relationships are the engine of change here and how YLC creates a real runway for emerging leaders.

We cover YLC’s legacy (from lighting the Crescent City Connection to sparking community initiatives) and their current push: keeping talent in NOLA through leadership development, Role Model events, and accessible memberships. Learn more about YLC at ylcnola.org and follow along for ways to get involved.

Mission Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Chuck Morse is the Executive Director and Bernadette Carriere is the Director of Thrive Business at Thrive New Orleans. We sit down with them to talk about the Barbara Lacen-Keller Park project in Central City, why honoring a beloved civic leader and culture bearer matters now, and how replacing concrete with green space can cool the neighborhood, reduce crime, and capture stormwater (targeting ~10,000 gallons in the first hour).

We also get into “porch culture,” preserving everyday history, and training indigenous residents to lead resiliency work so New Orleans is known not just for music and food, but for stormwater stewardship and community-led design.

Mission Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Austyn Malynn is the Program Manager at Girls on the Run New Orleans. We talk about how their after-school program pairs joyful movement with social-emotional learning to rebuild confidence for girls ages 8–14, culminating in a noncompetitive, “happy pace” Spring 5K where every finish is a win. We cover why confidence dips in middle school, why girls drop out of sports at higher rates, and how GOTR creates a safe, supportive space where participants set their own goals, process big feelings, and prove to themselves they can do hard things.

We also dig into access and impact: a sliding-scale fee structure, payment plans, and community coaching make sure any girl can participate, with seasons running twice a year for 8–10 weeks. We explore how listeners can participate, by volunteering time, sharing talents on the 5K committee, donating resources, or cheering at the finish line, to keep this confidence-building work moving forward in New Orleans.

Mission Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Alexis Marceaux is the Director of Community Programming for the Lafitte Greenway Partnership. We sit down with Alexis to explore how the Lafitte Greenway transformed from a post-Katrina grassroots vision into a vibrant 2.6-mile linear park connecting six New Orleans neighborhoods. Alexis shares how the Greenway’s programs, like the Supernova light and music festival, engage local communities and serve as a launching pad for emerging artists. We hear about the economic impact of the Greenway, how it’s attracting new businesses, and the powerful stories of residents reclaiming blighted spaces.

We also dive into Alexis’ passion for preserving Louisiana’s French heritage through music, her band’s mission to modernize Cajun songs, and how cultural preservation connects generations. Looking ahead, we discuss plans to complete the Greenway’s full 3.1-mile trail, expand green infrastructure to help manage stormwater, and plant 1,000 cypress trees to restore the area’s natural resilience. Join us as we celebrate the Greenway’s 10-year anniversary and its vital role as both a cultural and environmental asset for New Orleans.

Mission Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Don-Scott Cooper is the Producing Executive Director of Le Petit Théâtre, one of the oldest theaters in the United States. We sat down with Don to explore the incredible 108-year history of Le Petit, from its founding by French-speaking performers in 1917 to its ongoing role as a cornerstone of New Orleans’ vibrant arts scene. Don shares what makes live theater irreplaceable, why communal storytelling still matters today, and how La Petite provides opportunities for local artists to thrive.

We also dive into the theater’s robust education programs, which bring thousands of students through its doors each year with free performances, hands-on training, and support that breaks down barriers to arts access. Don reveals how these programs are creating the next generation of performers, technicians, and theater professionals, while ensuring that young people in New Orleans can experience the transformative power of live performance.

Mission Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

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Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Eric Seiferth is a curator and historian at the Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC). We sat down with Eric and our special guest host, Scott Tilton, to talk about HNOC’s two powerful new exhibitions: Making It Home, which tells the story of New Orleans’ Vietnamese community starting in 1975, and The Trail They Blazed, a deep dive into the local civil rights movement from the 1950s through the 1970s. Eric shares how both exhibitions were created with extensive community collaboration, oral histories, and a focus on honoring the voices of those who lived these stories.

We explore why sharing these recent histories is so important for understanding New Orleans today and how these exhibits aim to inspire civic engagement, especially among young people. Eric also gives us insight into HNOC’s mission to make local history accessible to everyone, their free museum spaces in the French Quarter, and the unique ways they connect past and present to tell a richer story of our city.

Mission Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

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Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Nia DeCoux is the Education Manager at BK Historic House and Gardens, a French Quarter museum that tells the layered stories of New Orleans through the lens of one historic home. We sat down with Nia, alongside special guest host Scott Tilton of the New Orleans Foundation for Francophone Culture (NOUS Foundation), to explore how BK House is reclaiming space for locals in a neighborhood too often treated like a tourist attraction. From live storytelling events like Quarter Kaleidoscope to youth programs that connect students to their city’s history, BK House is redefining what a museum can be.

We talk about the importance of community-rooted cultural spaces, the power of youth engagement, and how programs like YouthForce NOLA are helping the next generation find a sense of belonging in the French Quarter. Nia also shares upcoming events tied to BK House’s 200th anniversary, including Bastille Day and a new youth-created video series. This one is full of love for New Orleans and the people who make it home.

Mission Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/