683. Theresa McCulla. "Insatiable City."

683. Joining us today is historian and curator Theresa McCulla to discuss her book, Insatiable City: Food and Race in New Orleans. A 2025 James Beard Award nominee and named a Smithsonian Best Book of the Year, Insatiable City uncovers the complex, dual nature of the Crescent City’s legendary culinary culture. McCulla—who has served as a food and drink curator for institutions like the Smithsonian—dives deep into the archives to reveal how the pleasures of New Orleans cuisine have always been deeply intertwined with race, labor, and systems of power, tracing this evolution from 19th-century slavery to 20th-century tourism.

682. Seth Pevey, Part 2

682. Seth Pevey, part 2 of our conversation with Seth Pevey, who writes mystery fiction. Born in Louisiana, Seth spent many years working as a teacher and journalist in Asia before returning to his roots. He now writes fiction and non-fiction from his country home outside of New Orleans, drawing deep inspiration from the local landscape to craft rich, noir-infused Southern Gothic. This is his gritty, New Orleans-based crime fiction series following the ongoing adventures of Felix Herbert and a seasoned police detective named Melançon.
 The Krewe (2018) 
 Roots of Misfortune (2019) 
 The Witness Tree (2019) 
 Casket Girls (2020) 
 Uptown Blues (2021)

681. Seth Pevey, Part 1

681. Part 1 of our conversation with Seth Pevey, who writes mystery fiction. Born in Louisiana, Seth spent many years working as a teacher and journalist in Asia before returning to his roots. He now writes fiction and non-fiction from his country home outside of New Orleans, drawing deep inspiration from the local landscape to craft rich, noir-infused Southern Gothic. This is his gritty, New Orleans-based crime fiction series following the ongoing adventures of Felix Herbert and a seasoned police detective named Melançon.
 The Krewe (2018) 
 Roots of Misfortune (2019) 
 The Witness Tree (2019) 
 Casket Girls (2020) 
 Uptown Blues (2021)

680. Anniversary episode with Ed Branley

680. Celebrate a milestone with us! In this episode, we are marking the 13^th anniversary of the podcast and the 14^th anniversary of the Anthology project as a whole. To honor the occasion, we are sitting down with legendary local historian and author Ed Branley, the NOLA History Guy, to reflect on another  year of storytelling. Tune in as we look back at what we and Ed have accomplished over the last 12 months, dive into our favorite recent discoveries, and discuss the ever-evolving history of the Crescent City. Thank you for being part of our journey for over a decade!

679. Marianne Rabalais Sulser

679. Can love and trust survive amid ethnic cleansing and imperial warfare? This week, we talk to Marianne Rabalais Sulser about her new novel, Like Snow Before Sun. Set in 1755 Acadia, it is the gripping tale of a woman torn between worlds, a desperate rescue mission, and an unlikely bond forged in the deep wilderness. Listen in for our full breakdown of this historical romance. Marianne Rabalais Sulser is a historical fiction author who specializes in bringing forgotten voices and histories to light. Drawing deeply from meticulous research, she writes narratives that explore shifting loyalties, survival, and the human spirit under the pressure of war. Like Snow Before Sun is her latest novel.

678. Emily Zobel Marshall.

Episode 678. Emily Zobel Marshall comes on the podcast to discuss her research on trickster characters, particularly the ones in her book, American Trickster: Trauma Tradition and Brer Rabbit. Trickster characters. Emily Marshall’s concept of the American Trickster explores a unique archetype that evolved from the fusion of diverse cultural folklore—primarily African, Indigenous, and European—into a distinctly American figure.

677. Dustin Granger

677. This week, we talk to Dustin Granger about  Louisiana politics. As a seasoned financial advisor with over two decades of experience, Dustin Granger has built his career helping Louisiana families navigate the turbulent waters of the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recurring hurricanes that shape life on the Gulf Coast. A lifelong resident and LSU alumnus, Granger now serves as the Treasurer of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Granger is a leading voice for economic reform and climate resilience. He advocates for a "New Louisiana" that breaks away from traditional corporate-heavy investments to embrace renewable energy, fair taxation, and sustainable infrastructure.

676. Frances Kolb Turnbell, 2

676. Part 2 of our conversation with Frances Kolb Turnbell about Spanish Colonial Louisiana. Frances recently published an important history entitled, Spanish Louisiana: Contest for Borderlands, 1763–1803.  What happens when a fading French colony is handed over to a Spanish Empire determined to impose order? In this episode, we dive into Frances Kolb Turnbell’s landmark book, Spanish Louisiana. We explore a Mississippi Valley that was far more than just a line on a map—it was a "fluid zone" where Spanish governors, defiant French colonists, Indigenous diplomats, and enslaved people seeking manumission constantly negotiated the terms of their own freedom.

675. Frances Kolb Turnbell, 1

675. Part 1 of our conversation with Frances Kolb Turnbell about Spanish Louisiana. Turnbell has written the first history of the Spanish period of colonial Louisiana: Spanish Louisiana. Part 1. Contest for the Borderlands: 1763-1803. What happens when a fading French colony is handed over to a Spanish Empire determined to impose order? In this episode, we dive into Frances Kolb Turnbell’s landmark book, Spanish Louisiana. We explore a Mississippi Valley that was far more than just a line on a map—it was a "fluid zone" where Spanish governors, defiant French colonists, Indigenous diplomats, and enslaved people seeking manumission constantly negotiated the terms of their own freedom.

674. Leslie Bary, Part 2

674. Part 2 of our conversation about prison reform with returning guest Leslie Bary. In this episode, we discuss Leslie Bary’s recent article, “From Angola with Love: Activism, Academics, and the Abolitionist Future,” which chronicles her thirty-year journey providing post-conviction relief and solidarity for death row and maximum-security prisoners at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Leslie examines the intersection of praxis and theory, the limitations of the prison-industrial complex, and the evolving relationship between academic work and abolitionist activism.

673. Leslie Bary, Part 1

673. Part 1 of our conversation about prison reform with returning guest Leslie Bary. In this episode, we discuss Leslie Bary’s recent article, “From Angola with Love: Activism, Academics, and the Abolitionist Future,” which chronicles her thirty-year journey providing post-conviction relief and solidarity for death row and maximum-security prisoners at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Leslie examines the intersection of praxis and theory, the limitations of the prison-industrial complex, and the evolving relationship between academic work and abolitionist activism.

672. "Liberty in Louisiana" presentation for the Cabildo

672. Bruce and Stephen give a new presentation about Liberty in Louisiana. This was a Friends of the Cabildo event. The Louisiana State Museum and Friends of the Cabildo’s Second Thursday Lecture Series is held on the second Thursday of each month, beginning at 6 p.m. at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint or on Zoom. Every month a different topic is explored from Louisiana’s unique history. Programs are free of charge; refreshments courtesy of Friends of the Cabildo. For more information, contact Friends of the Cabildo at 504.523.3939 or go to the events page for the most updated lecture schedule.

671. Kayla Hardy

671. On this episode of the Louisiana Anthology Podcast, we are joined by Kayla Hardy to discuss her new novel, Quarter Queen. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century New Orleans, the story follows a young woman’s journey through the mystique and social complexities of the French Quarter. Kayla shares how she blended historical research with rich storytelling to capture the spirit of an era where power and tradition often collided.

670. Sophie White

670. Sophie White joins us to discuss her book, Voices of the Enslaved: Love, Labor, and Longing in French Louisiana. Sophie also has a companion website, "Voices of the Enslaved: A Digital Humanities Approach to Encountering the Archive." This website is well worth your time. It has an article on the earliest reference to voudou, for example, with primary documents and detailed analysis. In Voices of the Enslaved: Love, Labor, and Longing in French Louisiana, Sophie White uncovers a rare and startling "soundscape" of the 18th century. While most history books treat enslaved people as silent statistics, White mines the meticulously recorded trial records of the Louisiana Superior Council to find something revolutionary: the direct testimony of over 150 men and women.

669. Marcelle Bienvenu, Part 2

669. Part 2. We continue Women's History Month by concluding our conversation with Marcelle Bienvenu. Whe is an author working on the history of Creole cooking. Marcelle Bienvenu's highly anticipated new release of her timeless classic, Who's Your Mama, Are You Catholic, and Can You Make A Roux? is a treasure trove of over two hundred recipes, revised with a Foreword by Emeril Lagasse and sumptuous color photography capturing the essence of every season. Marcelle is a cookbook author and food writer who has been preparing Cajun and Creole dishes since the 1960s.

668. Marcelle Bienvenu, Part 1

668. We begin women's history month by talking to Marcelle Bienvenu about the history of Creole cooking. In a city known worldwide for its food, the women of New Orleans have led the way. Marcelle Bienvenu's highly anticipated new release of her timeless classic, Who's Your Mama, Are You Catholic, and Can You Make A Roux? is a treasure trove of over two hundred recipes, revised with a Foreword by Emeril Lagasse and sumptuous color photography capturing the essence of every season.

667. Kass Byrd, Part 2.

667. Part 2 of our conversation with Kathleen Kass Byrd about her book on the history of Natchitoches. "Kathleen M. Byrd’s Natchitoches, Louisiana, 1803–1840 is an examination of one French Creole community as it transitioned from a fur-trading and agricultural settlement under the control of Spain to a critical American outpost on the Spanish/American frontier and finally to a commercial hub and jumping-off point for those heading west. Byrd focuses on historic events in the area and the long-term French Creole residents as they adapted to the American presence.

666. Kathleen 'Kass' Byrd. Natchitoches History, Part 1.

666. Kathleen Kass Byrd, part 1, joins us to discuss her book on the history of Natchitoches. "Kathleen M. Byrd’s Natchitoches, Louisiana, 1803–1840 is an examination of one French Creole community as it transitioned from a fur-trading and agricultural settlement under the control of Spain to a critical American outpost on the Spanish/American frontier and finally to a commercial hub and jumping-off point for those heading west. Byrd focuses on historic events in the area and the long-term French Creole residents as they adapted to the American presence.

665. Zella Palmer, Part 2.

665. Part 2 of our interview of Zella Palmer, expert on Creole and African cooking. She released a documentary, The Story of New Orleans Creole Cooking: The Black Hand in the Pot. She is also the author of Recipes and Remembrances of Fair Dillard, 1869-2019.Zella, educator, food historian, author, and filmmaker, serves as the Chair and Director of the Dillard University Ray Charles Program in African-American Material Culture.

664. Zella Palmer, Part 1.

664. Part 1 of our interview with Zella Palmer about the influence of African cooking on creole cuisine. The Story of New Orleans Creole Cooking: The Black Hand in the Pot. She is also the author of Recipes and Remembrances of Fair Dillard, 1869-2019. Zella, educator, food historian, author, and filmmaker, serves as the Chair and Director of the Dillard University Ray Charles Program in African-American Material Culture. Palmer is committed to preserving the legacy of African-American, Native American, and Latino culinary history in New Orleans and the South.