WORLD FOOTPRINTS

World Footprints returned to New Orleans for our 7th annual French Quarter Festival 2-hour broadcast.  This year we set up at Tableau Restaurant, Dickie Brennan's newest culinary gem in Jackson Square.  

The first hour of World Footprints showcase New Orleans international outreach, the arts and history.  We introduce a hidden gem, The New Orleans Historic Collection.  The Historic Collection  is a museum, research center, and publisher dedicated to the study and preservation of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South region.  This year they are showcasing homegrown stars, The Boswell Sisters, and we are joined by the exhibit's curator Mark Cave.  We are pleased to introduce the granddaughter of Vet Boswell, Kyla Titus, who joins us to share treasured memories, her new book and her work to keep the memory of The Boswell Sisters alive.

We also talk about a special event that the world is sharing this year--the 70th anniversary of the landing at Normandy.  The National World War II Museum's Alan Raphael joins us to talk about how the museum is commemorating this anniversary and the special role that New Orleans played in WWII.

We promise you'll enjoy this first hour and we invite you back to listen to the 2nd hour broadcast where we talk about the history of Voodoo and spotlight the contributions of Africans in New Orleans.

Having grown up in the midwest we are always proud to share many of the regions undiscovered treasures.  On today's show, World Footprints will explore two state capitols--Indianapolis, Indiana and Lansing, Michigan (Tonya's hometown).  

Indianapolis is home to the world's largest and the fourth oldest children's museum.  Kim Harm from the museum will take us on a tour and share how a children's museum can change a child's life in unimaginable ways.  She will also talk about some of their exciting international exhibits, including China's Terra Cotta Warriors.

From its opening in 1879, the Michigan State Capitol Building has served as the gateway to the Mid-Michigan region.  Bolding standing in the heart of Lansing--Michigan's capitol city--the Capitol Building draws more than 100,000 visitors annually.  This beautiful landmark is one of only 13 Capitol buildings nationwide--including the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC--that have been designated as a National Historic Landmark.  We will tour the Capitol Building and hear stories of this remarkable historic structure with the Michigan Capitol's chief story teller, Matt Van Acker.

Emmy Award winning actor Eric Braeden, best known for his role as Victor Newman on the CBS Daytime Drama The Young and the Restless, joins World Footprints to share his travel experiences, early childhood memories and his adventures after immigrating to the U.S.  Then “gadget gurus” Ellen Barone, traveler journalist and publisher of several travel blogs; and John E. DiScala, better known as professional traveler Johnny Jet and publisher of JohnnyJet.com, join the show to share the latest travel essentials and travel tips.

Join World Footprints as we explore American History through the voices and houses of the country's Founding Fathers with award-winning author Myron Magnet.  In his book, The Founders at Home: The Building of America, 1735 - 1817, Magnet says that among all of our founders accomplishments the American Revolution has been the country's only enduring success.

We are also going to review American History from another angle--America's Whiskey Trail.   Saturday Evening Post contributor Todd Pitock will take us to the birth places of America's native spirit.

Finally, we will revisit our coverage of the Sochi Paralympic Games with a post script segment.  You will meet another favorite of the Games when we introduce two-time Silver Medalist Mark Bathum and his guide Cade Yamamoto.  Mark and Cade won their medals in the Men's Super G and Super Combined Alpine events for the visually impaired.

Today World Footprints will go on an American Ride, experience exhilarating thrills and preview a month-long California Wine Festival.

Television show host, historian and motorcycle buff Stan Ellsworth breaks the mold of the stereotypical high school history teacher.  A former NFL player, Stan is the Harley Davidson-riding host and creator of BYU-TV’s American Ride.  Join us as we hop on the “iron horse” with Stan as he takes us through American history.

As the author of “America’s Top Roller Coasters and Amusement Parks” Pete Trabucco knows a thing or two about high-speed thrills.  Pete is taking his need for speed and death-defying adventures to the airwaves in a new show, Thrill Ride Maniacs, and he’ll share the best places to enjoy a thrill in America.

With the month of April celebrating Earth Day, California wineries are embarking on a first time, month-long celebration called “Down to Earth Month.”  Gladys Horiuchi of The Wine Institute will preview the month’s festivities and some up and coming wine regions in California.

Two-time Academy Award-nominated producer/director Greg MacGillivray brings his latest IMAX film to World Footprints—ARABIA 3D.   Narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren, ARABIA 3D is the first major film production filmed entirely in Saudi Arabia.   In addition to our conversation with the director, World Footprints went inside the making of ARABIA 3D with principle character Hamzah Jamjoom and film-consultant Robert Lacey.

ARABIA 3D spans 21 centuries of Arabian history, beginning in present-day America, with the dreams of Hamzah Jamjoom, the first-ever Saudi Arabian film student at Chicago’s DePaul University.  Historian Robert Lacey, author of The Kingdom (banned from Saudi Arabia) and the just-released update, Inside The Kingdom, served as the film’s consultant.

From the nomads in the desert to young Saudis in the cities, from thrilling Red Sea dives to a poignant spiritual pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah (Mecca) for Hajj, ARABIA 3D’s journey reveals Arabia in an illuminating new light.

Keeping with our focus on meaningful films, Academy Award-nominated director Robert Bilheimer continues his conversation with World Footprints about his background in theatre and filmmaking, decision to focus on socially conscious messages and his nominated film Cry of Reason.

In honor of the Smithsonian Museum's newest T-Rex resident, World Footprints travels through Eastern Montana and explores the history and diversity of Big Sky Country's eastern border.  Today we'll fulfill a "need for speed" when we go drag car racing at Phillips County Motor Sports Dragstrip in Malta with racing champions Shaun and Dillion Carnahan.   We'll travel along the vast landscape of the Hammond Ranch where some of the most significant dinosaur discoveries have been made.  From Malta we'll head south to Billings and go behind the scenes at the Dino Lab where prehistoric creatures are restored fossil-by-fossil.  Finally, we'll visit the elegant Moss Mansion former home to Billings founder Preston Boyd Moss.  We'll learn how Moss' vision for Billings and his world travels influenced the city's growth and his home's design.

Today World Footprints talks to Chef Jose Pizarro, the “Father of Spanish Cooking in the UK.”   Chef Pizarro will talk about his new Spanish cook-book and life in the U.K.  Then Emmy winning actress Heather Tom, star of the CBS daytime drama, The Bold and the Beautiful, discusses her recent trip to Thailand and her journey towards stardom.  Finally, linguist and marketing executive, Larry Wojno, talks about effecitve cross-cultural communications.

World Footprints travels to New Orleans for our annual broadcast at French Quarter Festival.  We will broadcast live from the heart of the Quarter at Jackson Square in the Tableau restaurant--Dickie Brennan's latest gem.

This year we will be exploring the city's African-American history, New Orleans role in World War II, the history of voodoo, culinary arts and the performing arts.   We will also talk to a popular psychic. 

Join us for the world's largest music brunch and let the good times roll.

World Footprints travels from inside the Beltway to the banks of the mighty Mississippi River as we bridge two cities, Washington, DC and New Orleans with two guests who know a thing or two about both places.  Enjoy our conversation with political power couple James Carville and Mary Matalin--two people who have become a force for good in the Crescent City.