The show must go on. When one of the biggest, if not the biggest parade of Mardi Gras rolls in New Orleans this year, there will be a mix of emotions. This year the “super” Krewe of Endymion will hold its first parade since the death of its founder, Ed Muniz. In this episode, I visit the Krewe’s den where many of its floats are housed to learn about how Muniz became one of the most influential figures in Mardi Gras history.

King Cake fever is spreading across NOLA. With a shorter Mardi Gras season this year, people in New Orleans seem to be even more fixated on the parties, parades and everything else that comes with this unique celebration. That includes King Cake. With their blend of cinnamon, butter icing and a seemingly endless variety of fillings, King Cakes are must haves at any Carnival celebration. Many bakeries in the New Orleans region offer their version of it. This time of year, those bakeries are uber busy trying to meet the demand for King Cake. People are standing in extra-long lines at the crack of dawn to get their hands on their favorite King Cake. You’d think with that kind of loyalty, somebody would’ve written a book on King Cake, but that wasn’t the case…until recently. In this episode I sit down with a man who authored two books on King Cakes. We discuss what makes King Cakes so irresistible and if it’s possible to anoint a king of King Cakes.

Louisiana political leadership is ruby red. Republican Jeff Landry was recently inaugurated as the 57th governor of Louisiana. Gov. Landry was preceded by John Bel Edwards, who was the lone Democratic governor in the Deep South. Republicans are now in firm control of state government, holding a super majority in both chambers of the Louisiana legislature. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Ed Chervenak, a political scientist at the University of New Orleans. We take a look at how Gov. Landry’s conservative politics may impact the state and a Democratic Party in Louisiana Chervenak says in utter disarray. 

Nerding out in NOLA. From Hollywood blockbusters to the t-shirts worn by kids, comic book heroes and science fiction are big business. At the recent Fan Expo New Orleans, people packed the city’s convention center to celebrate a culture that may have once been reserved for “nerds”. Since the time I was reading comics in the 80’s, that nerd culture has exploded into a bankable economy. In this episode, I take a look at the unique world of fandom and how twin sisters from the New Orleans area are trying to build a career around it. 

A sobering moment puts a New Orleans Police Dept. homicide detective on the path of sobriety. The beginning of a new year is usually a time when people make a change in life or start a new chapter in it. A common New Year’s resolution is improved health, and that sometimes means reducing or cutting out alcohol or other “vices”. Maggie Darling started what she calls a sober journey three years ago. In this episode, I have an honest and emotional conversation with Maggie as she describes her life before and after her sobriety.

Pay to play? It’s going to take big money for the Sugar Bowl and NOLA to remain in the College Football Playoff picture. The Sugar Bowl and the city of New Orleans have a long history of hosting one of the premier bowl games in NCAA College Football. But tradition alone won’t guarantee the Sugar Bowl a prominent place in future College Football Playoff games. The Sugar Bowl’s contract with the CFP expires in two years, and there’s a big effort underway to keep the Sugar Bowl relevant during a time of intense competitive changes in college football. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake. In this episode, I have a candid conversation with the CEO of the Sugar Bowl. Jeff Hundley shared some surprising details about what’s been done and what’s being done to keep the show going in New Orleans. 

The 12 Yats of Christmas, a holiday tradition that can only be from New Orleans. In the mid 1990’s, Benny Grunch and the Bunch gained local fame in New Orleans through their song, The 12 Yats of Christmas. It’s so specific to New Orleans that out-of-towners listening to it would likely be scratching their heads, while also laughing at the creative comedy in the holiday song. In this episode, I sit down with Benny Grunch, the man behind what’s become a timeless Christmas song for New Orleans natives. He told me some wildly entertaining stories of the band’s origins, his music, and how they represent the uniqueness of New Orleans culture. 

Becoming a minister in America’s largest maximum-security prison, Part 2. Alex was a juvenile when he was arrested and eventually convicted for his role in a murder. In part 1, Alex explained how he wasn’t the triggerman, but was convicted of being a principal to the murder because he refused to tell authorities about what took place. Alex was later sent to one what’s considered to be one of the most dangerous prisons in the nation: Louisiana State Penitentiary aka Angola. In part 2, Alex enters what was then a prototype seminary program in Angola and finds a pathway to spiritual and physical freedom. 

Becoming a minister in America’s largest maximum-security prison, Part 1. Louisiana State Penitentiary, (aka Angola) has long been considered to be one of the most dangerous prisons in the nation. Conditions in the prison and in the fields where inmates work have been said to be harsh and punishing. So, Angola would seem an unlikely place for someone to become a minister, but a prison seminary program has been changing lives within Angola’s walls, and also outside them. In this episode, “Alex” gives us his harrowing account of life in Angola and the lessons he learned after taking part in what was a prototype prison seminary program. 

Why is HIV/AIDS so prevalent in The South? The number of people living with HIV is highest in the American South. Louisiana recently ranked 4th in the nation when it comes to rates of HIV. In New Orleans, there’s a place which has been helping people with HIV for decades. In its early days, the location of Project Lazarus was kept secret. It was a place where many AIDS patients saw their last days because they had nowhere else to turn. In this episode, I visit the campus of Project Lazarus which no longer is a place where people with HIV/AIDS go to die, but rather, a place where they learn to live.