Louisiana Anthology Podcast

570. This week we talk to musician Jackson Skillingstad. Hailing from the heart of Ruston, Louisiana, Jackson Skillingstad is a genre-defying singer/songwriter whose music blends the soulful essence of deep South roots with a fusion of rock, country, and hip hop vibes. It's a musical gumbo that mirrors the eclectic sounds of Louisiana, creating a unique experience that feels like a mosh pit of emotions. Influenced by legends like Elvis Presley, modern hip-hop icon Kevin Gates, and contemporary sensation Post Malone, Jackson Skillingstad brings a fresh perspective to the music scene. With a voice that resonates deep within the soul and lyrics that tell tales of life's twists and turns, Jackson Skillingstad invites you to join the journey through the diverse landscapes of their musical universe.Prepare to be captivated by the rhythmic concoction that is Jackson Skillingstad's music – a testament to the rich musical heritage of Louisiana, delivered with a contemporary flair that breaks down genre barriers. Step into the sonic world of Jackson Skillingstad, where every note tells a story, and every beat creates a rhythm that stays with you long after the music fades. April 24 Swing in the Oaks The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra performs a program of classics and popular music at the free concert at the Great Lawn and Peristyle in New Orleans City Park. Visit lpomusic.com. for details. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

569. We welcome Jeroen Dewulf back to the podcast to discuss his new book, Afro-Atlantic Catholics: America’s First Black Christians. "This volume examines the influence of African Catholics on the historical development of Black Christianity in America during the seventeenth century. Dewulf’s analysis focuses on the historical documentation of Afro-Atlantic Catholic rituals, devotions, and social structures. Of particular importance are brotherhood practices, which were critical in the dissemination of Afro-Atlantic Catholic culture among Black communities, a culture that was pre-Tridentine in nature and wary of external influences. These fraternal Black mutual-aid and burial society structures were critically important to the development and resilience of Black Christianity in America through periods of changing social conditions." "Jeroen Dewulf (born 1972 in Nieuwpoort, Belgium) is a Belgian scholar specializing in Dutch culture, the Dutch language, German Studies, slavery and African-American culture, Caribbean Studies, and Latin American Studies. He is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley." Website Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots Visit Event Website Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

568. We welcome author Lisa Wingate to the podcast to discuss her novel, Book of Lost Friends. “From the bestselling author of Before We Were Yours comes a dramatic historical novel of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post–Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its vital connection to her students’ lives” (NYT). "Louisiana, 1875: In the tumultuous era of Reconstruction, three young women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest: Hannie, a freed slave; Lavinia, the pampered heir to a now destitute plantation; and Juneau Jane, Lavinia’s Creole half sister. Each carries private wounds and powerful secrets as they head for Texas, following roads rife with vigilantes and soldiers still fighting a war lost a decade before. For Lavinia and Juneau Jane, the journey is one of stolen inheritance and financial desperation, but for Hannie, torn from her mother and siblings before slavery’s end, the pilgrimage west reignites an agonizing question: Could her long-lost family still be out there? Beyond the swamps lie the limitless frontiers of Texas and, improbably, hope" (Wingate). Books Along The Teche Literary Festival Facebook Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

567. This week we talk to novelist Diane McPhail, author of The Seamstress of New Orleans: A Fascinating Novel of Southern Historical Fiction. Set against the backdrop of the first all-female Mardi Gras krewe at the turn-of-the-century, the acclaimed author’s mesmerizing historical novel tells of two strangers separated by background but bound by an unexpected secret — and of the strength and courage women draw from and inspire in each other. “Constance Halstead, a young widow reeling with shock under the threat of her late husband’s gambling debts, has thrown herself into charitable work. Meeting Alice at the orphanage, she offers lodging in exchange for Alice’s help creating a gown for the Leap Year ball of Les Mysterieuses, the first all‑female krewe of Mardi Gras.... Piece by piece, the breathtaking gown takes shape, becoming a symbol of strength for both women, reflecting their progress toward greater independence.” Website Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

566. This week we talk to rap artist Mimzy MC. Rapper. Mimzy MC, born and raised Mim McCoy in Shreveport, LA, has been influenced by artists such as ICP, Korn, Eminem, Timbaland, and Cindi Lauper. She wishes to accomplish visual and listening pleasure with her unique style for all others to enjoy! Her philosophy regarding her visual art is, “My inward energy being manifested outwardly that cannot be expressed verbally. Only visually.” How she feels and how she is moved by music enhances her abstract techniques. She has branded clothing and other merchandise with her images. "There are no rules to art or music everyone is welcome" (Mimzy MC). Website Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

565. Catharine Cole, Louisiana journalist. Louisiana Studies Conference presentation. Stephen & Bruce give their presentation about Catharine Cole, one of Louisiana's first women journalists. Catharine was best known from visiting every parish in the state at that time, writing articles on each one that reached every corner of Louisiana and beyond. "Martha Reinhard Smallwood Field (May 24, 1854 – December 19, 1898), known as Mattie Field, was an American journalist. She usually wrote under the pen name Catharine Cole. She was one of the earliest professional women newspaper reporters in New Orleans, Louisiana. A champion of women's education and social justice, she also founded the city's first circulating library and helped found a number of other civic institutions." Wiki. Website Schedule Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

564. Candidate Richard Anderson talks to us about his campaign to be elected to the Louisiana DSCC. The Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) is the governing body for the Democratic Party of Louisiana and has sole responsibility for the affairs of the Louisiana Democratic Party. This is Richard's call for support: "For a NEW DAY, VOTE # 3 for Richard R Anderson of the Richard Anderson Campaign as the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee Member representing District 11-B encompasses BIENVILLE, CLAIBORNE and LINCOLN PARISHES in NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA during the March 23rd Election Cycle. Please REPOST and SHARE to ALL YOU KNOW in that region of Louisiana. Thanks for your time and help." "A PROACTIVE Democratic Party working on behalf of its constituents is key to gain the confidence and stimulate future participation but it's time to organize and get back to work with people that want better for themselves." Website choctawfiredept@gmail.com Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

563. Cordelia Frances Biddle visits with us this week. She has written a biography of Saint Katharine Drexel, the founder of Xavier University. Saint Katharine: The Life of Katharine Drexel. "Katharine Drexel devoted her life to social justice, creating schools for those whom racism marginalized and persecuted. Born in 1858, she died in 1955; her life reflects the nation’s history: the tumultuous years leading to the Civil War, Lincoln’s assassination, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the movement for Women’s Suffrage, and the Equal Rights Movement.” “Cordelia teaches creative writing at Drexel University’s Pennoni Honors College. She won the Honors College Teaching Excellence Prize in 2012, and The Adjunct Faculty Award in 2021.” Here’s the Beef Cook-Off

562. This week we talk to Greta de Jong about civil rights in North Louisiana. "Civil rights in North LA. Examining African Americans' struggles for freedom and justice in rural Louisiana during the Jim Crow and civil rights eras, Greta de Jong illuminates the connections between the informal strategies of resistance that black people pursued in the early twentieth century and the mass protests that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s. Using evidence drawn from oral histories and a wide range of other sources, she demonstrates that rural African Americans were politically aware and active long before civil rights organizers arrived in the region in the 1960s to encourage voter registration and demonstrations against segregation." "Greta de Jong is Associate Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her research focuses on the connections between race and class and the ways that African Americans have fought for economic as well as political rights from the end of slavery through the twenty-first century. She is the author of A Different Day: African American Struggles for Justice in Rural Louisiana, 1900-1970 (2002)." Website Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

561. Part 2 of our friend Kelly Jackson's return to the podcast to discuss her Metoyer documentary. “Kelly is the creator of the Cane River Film Festival. The film festival is sponsored by her historical preservation nonprofit – the Resurrection Fern Foundation. Resurrection Fern serves as a way for Kelly to support her community events and historical films. A project close to Kelly’s heart is the documentary “Resurrection Fern: The Life and Times of Marie Thérèse Coincoin,” a film about her ancestors in 17th Century Natchitoches, Louisiana. Kelly Jackson is a 7th generation descendant of Marie Thérèse Coincoin and Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer. “On Facebook in 2010, I noticed others with the odd name of my grandmother from Louisiana,” Kelly says. “She never knew of her family history, so finding these roots was life-changing.” Kelly was so inspired by Coincoin’s story from slavery to freedom that she wanted her to be the focus of her next film” (Soul Vision Magazine). Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

560. Part 1 of our friend Kelly Jackson's return to the podcast to discuss her Metoyer documentary. “Kelly is the creator of the Cane River Film Festival. The film festival is sponsored by her historical preservation nonprofit – the Resurrection Fern Foundation. Resurrection Fern serves as a way for Kelly to support her community events and historical films. A project close to Kelly’s heart is the documentary “Resurrection Fern: The Life and Times of Marie Thérèse Coincoin,” a film about her ancestors in 17th Century Natchitoches, Louisiana. Kelly Jackson is a 7th generation descendant of Marie Thérèse Coincoin and Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer. “On Facebook in 2010, I noticed others with the odd name of my grandmother from Louisiana,” Kelly says. “She never knew of her family history, so finding these roots was life-changing.” Kelly was so inspired by Coincoin’s story from slavery to freedom that she wanted her to be the focus of her next film” (Soul Vision Magazine). Krewe of Isis Parade Sataturday, February 10, 2024 6:00pm Kenner, LA The Krewe of Isis begins at Esplanade Mall on West Esplanade in Kenner. The all-female Krewe of Isis first started parading in Kenner in 1973. Comprised of 200+ riders and 20 floats, this Egyptian-themed krewe is known for its marching bands, dance teams and gloriously attired maids, as well as for its specialty throws including decorated bras in support of breast cancer charities. Postcards from Louisiana. Boardwalker & the 3 finger swingers sing at Bamboulas. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

559. C.J. Hunt returns to the Podcast to discuss "Neutral Ground — a documentary about memory, monuments, and how to break up with the Confederacy. The Neutral Ground documents New Orleans’ fight over monuments and America’s troubled romance with the Lost Cause. In 2015, director CJ Hunt was filming the New Orleans City Council’s vote to remove four confederate monuments. But when that removal is halted by death threats, CJ sets out to understand why a losing army from 1865 still holds so much power in America." C. J. visited the podcast with Kyle June Williams on April 25, 2014 (Episode 49) to discuss their web series Our Sunken City. If you haven't watched it yet, it's still available. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

558. We talk to urologist Martha Boone about her work at the old Charity Hospital and the books she's written about it. "The Big Free is Charity Hospital and it’s 1982 in New Orleans, and Charity is a big medical free-for-all. Elizabeth is one of the first women in the toughest surgery department in America. With her pearls and her pink plaid socks, she doesn’t fit in …at first. Half the doctors who start the surgery program never finish. Nothing in her proper southern upbringing prepares Elizabeth for the violence, debauchery and intensity of inner city trauma surgery. The Big Free is filled with unforgettable characters living the best and the worst New Orleans has to offer" (Boone). "Dr. Martha Boone is one of the first one hundred women board certified in urology. After 23 years of education, she practiced academic urology for five years and private practice for twenty-four. She was named TOP DOC in urology in Atlanta for over a decade. Her first novel The Big Free fictionalizes her first six months at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. Her current book, The Unfettered Urologist, is nonfiction and explains the pearls of wisdom she never had time to include in a short office visit. It will be available August 15,2023. Her third book, Mother Charity, will be released in March of 2024 and is the sequel to The Big Free. Dr. Boone retired to write full-time and travel with her husband" (Boone). Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

557. We're excited to have Chad Adams on the podcast to discuss his novel, How to Walk on a Marsh. “On his first ever hunting excursion as a young boy, James takes an uncalculated step in the delicate South Louisiana marsh that becomes the catalyst for a metaphor used by his dad which foreshadows his life: there’s an art to navigating the marshland, and the steps you take while on your journey can cause you to either sink or swim. Through their many adventures together, James’ dad helps him to recognize and learn that with a respect and appreciation for the outdoors, important lessons can be found, and an unwavering bond woven full of love and admiration between father and son can be had.” “Born and raised in Southeast Louisiana, Chad Adams has a love for the outdoors that dates back to early childhood fishing trips with his dad along the state’s beautiful gulf coast. His articles about duck hunting can be found in Louisiana Sportsman” (Amazon). The Krewe Bohème Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

556. Today we talk with Richard Sexton and Randolf Delehanty about the 2nd edition of their classic work, New Orleans: Elegance and Decadence. The book focuses on the interiors, furnishings, art collections, and gardens of a handful of creative people in New Orleans in the 1990s. Dreamers and urban pioneers, they included bohemian artists, artisans, architects, preservationists, activists, antiquarians, restaurateurs, and teachers, all living outside the American mainstream. They tolerated crumbling plaster, exposed lathe, and sagging galleries in exchange for communal festivity and joie de vivre. Richard is returning to the Podcast after an earlier visit when we discussed his book, Creole World. Krewe of Chewbacchus Parade Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

555. This week we talk to Randy Gonzales about his poetry book Settling St. Malo. "I am excited about the launch of a book I spent more than a decade writing. My research into Filipino Louisiana started as a way to understand my family’s Filipino story. I learned that without the fishermen at St. Malo, the shrimpers at Manila Village, and the seamen who settled in New Orleans, my Filipino ancestors may not have moved to Louisiana. Poetry — attention to sound, rhythm, and the emotional register of words — helped me organize and make sense of research and make it meaningful to me" (Gonzales). "I am a native New Orleanian of Filipino descent; a poet, writer, and community historian who researches and shares the stories of Filipino Louisiana; a scholar and educator, an associate professor of English at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette who holds the Dr. James Wilson/BORSF Eminent Scholar Endowed Professorship in Southern Studies; a father who wants his children to be proud of their heritage" (Gonzales). Feast of Epiphany Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

554. Part 2 of our interview of Derby Gisclair about his newest book, New Orleans Steamboat Stories – The Brief Lives of Mississippi Riverboats. "Steamboats shaped America’s future, its economy, and its culture while expanding trade and expanding the country’s footprint into new territories. This economic expansion was not limited to New Orleans, but also to Cincinnati, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Memphis, Louisville, Nashville, St. Paul, Kansas City, and Chattanooga. A round trip voyage from Pittsburgh to New Orleans that once took six months could now be accomplished in forty-five days. At the same time steamboats made it possible to circulate and disseminate the news and the mail, to spread the various immigrant cultures, food, and music. New Orleans Steamboat Stories contains stories of a handful of the different steamboats and the people who lived and worked on the Western rivers. They are brief in nature as the average life of a steamboat was generally short. But their impact culturally and commercially, esthetically and economically, made a lasting impact on the development of America" (Jefferson Parish). Website here Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

553. We chat with Derby Gisclair about his newest book, New Orleans Steamboat Stories – The Brief Lives of Mississippi Riverboats. "Steamboats shaped America’s future, its economy, and its culture while expanding trade and expanding the country’s footprint into new territories. This economic expansion was not limited to New Orleans, but also to Cincinnati, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Memphis, Louisville, Nashville, St. Paul, Kansas City, and Chattanooga. A round trip voyage from Pittsburgh to New Orleans that once took six months could now be accomplished in forty-five days. At the same time steamboats made it possible to circulate and disseminate the news and the mail, to spread the various immigrant cultures, food, and music. New Orleans Steamboat Stories contains stories of a handful of the different steamboats and the people who lived and worked on the Western rivers. They are brief in nature as the average life of a steamboat was generally short. But their impact culturally and commercially, esthetically and economically, made a lasting impact on the development of America" (Jefferson Parish). Webpage Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

552. Today we talk with Doug Duffey, North Louisiana blues musician. "Blues musician.Doug Duffey is a singer, songwriter, pianist, bandleader, music arranger, record producer, music publisher, poet, diarist, photographer and visual artist. From Monroe, Louisiana, Doug Duffey was inducted into the "Louisiana Hall of Fame" in April, 2001 and inducted into the National Blues Hall of Fame in 2009" (Wikipedia). Website Listen on Google Play. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.

551. Part 2 of our conversation with Shane K. Barnard about his research into Tabasco Sauce and Bayou Teche. Holding a Ph.D. in history, Bernard has served as historian and curator to McIlhenny Company for over twenty-five years. He is the author of Tabasco: An Illustrated History and several books about Cajun and Creole history. Teche: A History of Louisiana's Most Famous Bayou. Recipient of a 2017 Book of the Year Award presented by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. Shane K. Bernard's Teche examines this legendary waterway of the American Deep South. Bernard delves into the bayou's geologic formation as a vestige of the Mississippi and Red Rivers, its prehistoric Native American occupation, and its colonial settlement by French, Spanish, and, eventually, Anglo-American pioneers. He surveys the coming of indigo, cotton, and sugar; steam-powered sugar mills and riverboats; and the brutal institution of slavery. He also examines the impact of the Civil War on the Teche, depicting the running battles up and down the bayou and the sporadic gunboat duels, when ironclads clashed in the narrow confines of the dark, sluggish river" (Google Books). Website Listen on Google Play. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.