624. Lafayette's visit to New Orleans, part 2

624.  Part 2 of Ed Branley's return to the porch to talk about the 200th anniversary of  the Marquis de Lafayette's visit to America in 1825. Fifty years after the Revolutionary War, Lafayette returned for a triumphant tour of the United States. Nowhere was he more welcome than in his visit to Louisiana. Ed is a volunteer docent at the Cabildo Museum in Jackson Square, and the Museum has a fantastic eshibit commemorating the occasion. 

623. Ed Branley, part 1

623. Part 1 of Ed Branley's return to the porch to talk about the 200th anniversary of  the Marquis de Lafayette's visit to America in 1825. Fifty years after the Revolutionary War, Lafayette returned for a triumphant tour of the United States. Nowhere was he more welcome than in his visit to Louisiana. Ed is a volunteer docent at the Cabildo Museum in Jackson Square, and the Museum has a fantastic eshibit commemorating the occasion. 

622. Elisa Speranza, Part 2

622. Part 2 of our conversation with Elisa Speranza about her novel, The Italian Prisoner. "1943. New Orleans. Rose Marino lives with her Sicilian immigrant parents and helps in the family grocery store. Her older brother and sister both joined the Army, and Rose prays for their safety as World War II rages overseas.When the parish priest organizes a goodwill mission to visit Italian prisoners of war at a nearby military base, Rose and her vivacious best friend, Marie, join the group. There, Rose falls for Sal, a handsome and intelligent POW.

621. Elisa M. Speranza, part 1

621. Part 1 of our interview with Elisa M. Speranza, author of The Italian Prisoner. "1943. New Orleans. Rose Marino lives with her Sicilian immigrant parents and helps in the family grocery store. Her older brother and sister both joined the Army, and Rose prays for their safety as World War II rages overseas.When the parish priest organizes a goodwill mission to visit Italian prisoners of war at a nearby military base, Rose and her vivacious best friend, Marie, join the group. There, Rose falls for Sal, a handsome and intelligent POW. Italy has switched sides in the war, so the POWs are allowed out to socialize, giving Rose and Sal a chance to grow closer.

620. Rien Fertel, Part 2.

620. Part 2 of our conversation with Rien Fertel. “I’m a Louisiana-born and based writer and teacher. My most recent book, out September 2022, is Brown Pelican, a human history of the very best bird. I’ve penned three earlier books. The Drive-By Truckers’ Southern Rock Opera, #133 in Bloomsbury's 33 1/3 series, about a road trip based on a recent classic album about a road trip. The One True Barbecue: Fire, Smoke, and the Pitmasters Who Cook the Whole Hog,

619. Rien Fertel, Part 1.

619. Part 1 of our interview with Rien Fertel. “I’m a Louisiana-born and based writer and teacher. My most recent book, out September 2022, is Brown Pelican, a human history of the very best bird. I’ve penned three earlier books. The Drive-By Truckers’ Southern Rock Opera, #133 in Bloomsbury's 33 1/3 series, about a road trip based on a recent classic album about a road trip. The One True Barbecue: Fire, Smoke, and the Pitmasters Who Cook the Whole Hog,

618. Shannon Eaves, Part 2

 Part 2 of our interview with Shannon Eaves. "Her book, Sexual Violence and American Slavery: The Making of a Rape Culture in the Antebellum South, was published by UNC Press in 2024. This study examines how the rape and sexual exploitation of enslaved women created a rape culture that was woven into the very fabric of antebellum society, influencing daily life for both the enslaved and enslavers....