704. Alan D'Souza, Part 1

704. Today we talk with Alan D’Souza, a jazz pianist originally from India. Al is a fixture of the Baton Rouge music scene, bringing a sophisticated ear and deep-rooted passion for jazz to stages across the Capital Region. Known for his expressive playing style and effortless command of jazz standards and contemporary grooves, he adds a vibrant, soulful energy to every performance. Whether collaborating with local ensembles or leading small-group arrangements, Alan continues to enrich the region's rich musical landscape with his engaging musicianship and dedication to the craft.

703. Madison Tensas, Part 2

703. Part 2 of our presentation on Madison Tensas. Download the PowerPoint here. Henry Clay Lewis (1825-1850) published Odd Leaves from the Life of a Louisiana “Swamp Doctor” under the pen name of Madison Tensas, M.D. Lewis originally published his sketches separately in The Spirit of the Times, a sporting and hunting magazine published weekly in New York. He then combined the stories into his book in 1850, which he published a few months before his death.

703. Madison Tensas, Part 2

703. Part 2 of our presentation on Madison Tensas. Download the PowerPoint here. Henry Clay Lewis (1825-1850) published Odd Leaves from the Life of a Louisiana “Swamp Doctor” under the pen name of Madison Tensas, M.D. Lewis originally published his sketches separately in The Spirit of the Times, a sporting and hunting magazine published weekly in New York. He then combined the stories into his book in 1850, which he published a few months before his death.

702. Madison Tensas

702. Part 1 of our Madison Tensas presentation. Our PowerPoint is located here. Henry Clay Lewis (1825-1850) published Odd Leaves from the Life of a Louisiana “Swamp Doctor” under the pen name of Madison Tensas, M.D. Lewis originally published his sketches separately in The Spirit of the Times, a sporting and hunting magazine published weekly in New York. He then combined the stories into his book in 1850, which he published a few months before his death.

701. Kurt Heinlein

701. This week we talk to Kurt Heinlein about his play, Evangeline Drowning. Kurt Gerard Heinlein is an actor, director, playwright, and theatre professor at Missouri State University. Formulated directly from on-site interviews, Evangeline Drowning explores the human and environmental impact of Louisiana's rapidly disappearing coastal wetlands through the personal stories and voices of local youth facing the loss of their heritage, homes, and community stability.

700. Highlights of Our Podcast

700. Welcome to our 700^th episode. Stephen and I discuss the podcast and significant episodes you might want to listen to.

• Episode 88: Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
  • Guest & Topic: We interviewed renowned historian, author, and activist Dr. Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz. We brought her on to discuss her lifelong dedication to human rights, indigenous sovereignty, and her critical historical insights regarding social justice and Native American histories.

699. Billy Augustine

699. We talk to Billy Augustine about his novel, Four Funerals in Mamou.  His novel delivers an authentic coming-of-age story rooted in small-town Louisiana culture, following protagonist Dewey Fontenot after he flees his Cajun hometown following a stint in jail, only to be repeatedly drawn back years later by a succession of family funerals. A native of Beaumont, Texas, who spent much of his youth visiting relatives in Mamou, Augustine draws heavily on his real-life family ties across Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana to craft a humorous and real narrative about second chances, loud and loving families, and the places that never truly let you go.