2023 Top Episodes of Louisiana Insider

From crawfish and Heavenly Hash to conjuring spirits and exploring the rhythm of America, we’ve covered a lot this year on “Louisiana Insider.” For the final week of the year, we’re shining some light on some of our most popular episodes from 2023.

Have a favorite or a story we haven’t covered yet? Email us at errol@myneworleans.com and kelly@myneworleans.com.

Episode 118: Governors in History with Robert Mann

There are four meaningful seasons in Louisiana: football, hurricane, Carnival and elections. All are important; two are fun. Robert Mann, holder of the Manship Chair in Journalism at LSU and a former staffer with Governor Kathleen Blanco and Senators John Breaux and Bennett Johnston, as well as once a newspaper reporter joins for a riveting conversation about politics, especially gubernatorial history and elections.

Episode 127: The Disease – One Man’s Journey Through a Life with Leprosy

Officially known as “Hansen’s disease” but the world recognizes the jarring, more familiar term “leprosy.” A place in south Louisiana known as Carville was, along with a facility in Hawaii, the national center for the care of patients with the disease. Author Anne Harmon Brett joins to tell her moving story of being raised by parents who first met at Carville. Based on the memoirs of her father and her own recollections, Brett tells stories of compassion, family loyalty and determination. Brett also discusses the contemporary status of the disease. This is a moving story not to be missed.

Episode 128: Vieux Carré – The Cocktail and the Neighborhood

According to legend, the original cocktail was invented in an apothecary in New Orleans’ Vieux Carré. The neighborhood, with its many restaurants and bars, is such a watering hole for classic drinks it seems only right that there would be an actual cocktail named The Vieux Carré. There is, and it has been around since the 1930’s. Though less known than other mixed drinks, it is now having a revival!John De Mers, an author who specializes in food and drink, joins  to talk about the colorful history of cocktails and especially one that is the title of his new book, “The Vieux Carré.” Published by LSU Press, the book is rich in history and photography.

Episode 132: Télé-Louisiane – Un Renouveau Français

French is perhaps one of the most beautiful languages. It is also a vital part of Louisiana’s history. Through the effort of some dedicated individuals looking to preserve our culture, we have the opportunity to hear more of the language and various local dialects. Because of the organization Télé-Louisiane, a language revival will be part of the history of Louisiana. Will McGrew, chief executive officer and co-founder of Télé-Louisiane, and Caitlin Orgeron, the organization’s chief operating officer, join to talk about promoting the language through the legislature, educational videos, the power of social media and more. Catch their program “La Veillee,” a weekly statewide series on Louisiana Public Broadcasting spoken entirely in French and hosted by Orgeron, each Thursday at 7:45 p.m.

Episode 135: Perique – The “Only in Louisiana” Crop

There is a crop that is grown here in Louisiana that is not found anywhere else in the world. Even in Louisiana it is a rarity sprouting from the ground in only one parish. Perique tobacco has been cultivated in Louisiana for as long as there have been settlers, who learned techniques from the native tribe. The crop grows only in St. James Parish, where Convent is the manor town. Mike Matherne, whose family own one of the 25 perique farms, tells the story about the growth and fermentation of the plant. He joins to talk about perique’s use as a flavorful condiment to mix with other tobaccos used in cigars and pipes.

Episode 138: Discoveries in Our Geography – Views from Richard Campanella

We learn history for several perspectives including political, social and military, but to really understand a place and the influences that shaped it, we need to hear from a geographer as well. Richard Campanella, a Tulane University research professor, combines the thoroughness of an academic with the communications skill of a popular journalist. Campanella joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to talk about the geography that made the New Orleans region. His books have dealt with the area’s cityscape; the Westbank and even Bourbon Street. His latest publication, “Draining New Orleans,” details the brilliant engineering that made it possible for a city to exist where much of it is below sea level.