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.

698. Bruce Craft

698. Kerr and I interview Bruce Craft at the Punjabi Dhaba Restaurant about his article about it in the new book, Get It while It's Hot. Located off Interstate 12 inside a truck stop in Hammond, Louisiana, Punjabi Dhaba is a renowned roadside eatery serving authentic, home-style North Indian cuisine to truckers, locals, and travelers alike. Celebrating classic Punjabi culinary traditions, the restaurant offers robust, flavorful dishes like butter chicken, garlic naan, and spicy curries, making it a beloved hidden gem of Southern highway dining.