663. Matthew & Melissa Teutsch, Part 2.

663. Part 2 of our conversation with Matthew and Melissa, hosts of the the "This Ain't It" podcast, covering their response to MAGA religion. Hosted by Matthew Teutsch, a scholar of African American literature and Director of the Lillian E. Smith Center, and his wife Melissa Teutsch, the show explores the intersection of culture, politics, and history. Together, they engage in deep conversations about civil rights, the power of rhetoric, and the ongoing struggle for social justice in the American South and beyond. By examining the "interminable" nature of systemic oppression, the Teutsches challenge listeners to embrace the responsibility of resistance through education and empathy.

1. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!
2. This week in the Louisiana Anthology. "The Expedition of Hernando de Soto" was written by his companion Luis Hernandez de Biedma.
   "When we arrived, the queen sent us one of her nieces, in a litter carried by Indians. She sent the governor a present of a necklace of beads, canoes to cross the river with, and gave us half the village to lodge in. The governor opened a large temple built in the woods, in which was buried the chiefs of the country, and took from it a quantity of pearls, amounting to six or seven arrobes, which were spoiled by being buried in the ground. We dug up two Spanish axes, a chaplet of wild olive seed, and some small beads, resembling those we had brought from Spain for the purpose of trading with the Indians. We conjectured they had obtained these things by trading with the companions of Vasquez de Ayllon. The Indians told us the sea was only about thirty leagues distant."
   
3. This week in Louisiana history. January 30, 1704. Bienville was told that "Pelican" was on its way to Mobile with 27 young women.
4. This week in New Orleans history. Frostop on Jefferson Highway Closed January 30, 2007. Just a couple of blocks from East Jefferson High School on the corner of Phlox Avenue at 4637 Airline Highway, the Frostop Drive-in Restaurant was a popular stop for burgers and root beer.  Today Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits occupies the corner. Other local Frostop locations could be found around town back in the day, and a few still exist in the greater New Orleans area. These photographs are of the Frostop which was located on Jefferson Highway in the Jefferson Plaza Shopping Center (AKA Arrow Shopping Center) which were taken the day before it closed on January 30, 2007:
   
5. This week in Louisiana.
   Visit the Alexandria Zoo.
   3016 Masonic Drive
   Alexandria, LA 71301
   Hours: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)
   Website: thealexandriazoo.com
   Email: info@thealexandriazoo.com
   Phone: (318) 441-6810
   January is an excellent time to visit, as the cooler weather keeps many of the larger mammals more active:
   
   • Louisiana Habitat: A 3.5-acre exhibit showcasing native species like cougars, black bears, and alligators in a natural swamp setting.
   • The Train: The “Bayou Le Zoo Choo Choo” offers a 10-minute narrated tour around the perimeter of the park. 
   • African Experience: Features a 17-foot waterfall and habitat for lions, flamingos, and giant tortoises. ).
6. Postcards from Louisiana. Sporty's Brass Band. Party in NOLA / Happy Birthday.

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