We talk a lot about musical instruments in New Orleans, so much so that it feels like our music dates back thousands of years. But the santur , a trapezoid-shaped stringed instrument, actually does date back thousands of years. NolaVie’s Kelley Crawford invited Dr. Sepehr Saberian into the studio to discuss and play the santur.

Often, movies and TV shows just can’t seem to get New Orleans right. But Garden District , a new TV series written by local playwright Rosary O’Neill, promises to change that. NolaVie’s Renée Peck brings us a preview of the TV show with actress Kelly Lind and producer Jennifer Taylor. Visit ViaNolaVie for a related article written by Renée Peck.

LOUD is a New Orleans theater company centered on queer youth. It’s a space where students explore new modes of self-expression, as well as traditional technique. NolaVie’s Kelley Crawford invites co-director Cameron-Mitchell Ware into the studio to learn more about the program. Visit ViaNolaVie for a related article written by Kelley Crawford.

The way we experience the past and the present is changing, and that extends to how people experience tours. Alyssa and Trevor Scott of Spectral City Tours are launching what they call a Surreal History Party, which will have guests interacting with history all from the comfort of their home. NolaVie’s Kelley Crawford invite them into the studio to learn more. Visit ViaNolaVie for a related article written by Kelley Crawford.

Filmmaking often requires the efforts of a small army, from the actors and director to the lighting and sound crew. With Louisiana’s film industry booming once again, there’s a local nonprofit that’s creating a pipeline of young talent as well. Kirby Voss, Executive Director of The COOL Cooperative, joins NolaVie’s Brian Friedman to explain the story behind his organization. Visit ViaNolaVie for a related article written by Brian Friedman.

In a city so culturally invested in creativity, New Orleans artists are often faced with a lack of financial investment in their creations. That was part of the impetus behind the Lucky Art Fair, a showcase for underrepresented artists that made its debut earlier this year. NolaVie’s David Benedetto invited co-founders Rosalie Smith and Regina Parkinson into the studio to hear about the project. Visit ViaNolaVie for a related article written by David Benedetto.

New Orleans is getting a lot more colorful lately. Local and national artists are turning blank brick and concrete walls into massive outdoor artworks, including five new murals that were recently unveiled on downtown buildings. NolaVie’s Renée Peck speaks to Arts Council Director Heidi Schmalbach about new movements in public art and how it can transform the local community. Visit ViaNolaVie for a related article written by Renée Peck.

John Pope has built a reputation in New Orleans by writing about local luminaries and unsung heroes after their deaths. In this second and final installment of NolaVie’s profile of New Orleans’ pre-eminent obituary writer, Brian Friedman and John Pope discuss the life lessons that can be gleaned from writing about the dearly departed. Visit ViaNolaVie for a related article written by Brian Friedman.

John Pope covered several different beats over more than 4 decades at the Times-Picayune . But he’s best-known as the city’s pre-eminent writer of obituaries. In this first installment of a two-part conversation, NolaVie’s Brian Friedman and John Pope discuss life, death, and the art of the obituary. Visit ViaNolaVie for a related article written by Brian Friedman.

The road to Angola, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, is long and isolated. It sets the plantation-turned-prison back from lush and hilly West Feliciana Parish, an otherwise picturesque corner of the state.