Between Bites with Nina Compton and Larry Miller

On episode eight of the third season of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by New Orleans Pelicans TV color analyst Antonio Daniels. Antonio opens up about the heartbreaking loss of his brother while in college and how it shaped his purpose and drive to go from a 250th ranked prospect at Bowling Green to becoming the #4 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft. Antonio talks about the people that inspire him in today’s NBA, the challenges of breaking into broadcasting, and his love of New Orleans culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode seven of the third season of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller sit down with acclaimed restaurant critics and food journalists Brett Anderson and Brett Martin to explore the evolution of food media, from the shift from print to digital to the growing influence of social media on restaurant criticism. The Bretts discuss the decline of traditional food writing and the challenges of maintaining journalistic integrity in an era dominated by influencers. They reflect on how thoughtful critique shapes the dining industry and why independent restaurant journalism still matters. Listen in as they break down the art of restaurant reviewing and reveal their favorite unexpected food cities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode six of the third season of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by Touré Folkes, executive director of Turning Tables NOLA, a nonprofit advancing equity in New Orleans’ hospitality industry. Touré shares how his program is breaking barriers and creating opportunities for aspiring bartenders and beverage professionals as he reflects on the culture, spontaneity, and sense of community that make New Orleans special. Learn more about Touré’s journey from New York to New Orleans, the hardships he's had to overcome, and the experiences and connections that made him fall in love with the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode five of the third season of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller sit down with renowned author, journalist, professor and New Orleanian Walter Isaacson. Isaacson reflects on his remarkable career, from covering quirky New Orleans politics to leading Time Magazine and CNN. He candidly discusses the rise of partisan, opinion-driven journalism and how it prompted him to shift his focus to crafting narrative-driven biographies. With insights on writing, journalism, and Isaacson's love for New Orleans, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the art of storytelling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode four of the third season of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller sit down with Samir Mowad, General Manager of Caesars New Orleans. Samir shares his journey from growing up in New Orleans to overseeing the transformation of Harrah’s into Caesars. He reflects on his childhood memories of the French Quarter and Saints and LSU games, highlighting his deep personal connection to the city. Samir takes us behind the scenes of the massive Caesars renovation, discussing the challenges of rebranding, managing guest experiences during construction, and adapting to the post-pandemic hospitality landscape. He also dives into the impact of legalized sports betting, the Caesars Superdome partnership, and the excitement surrounding the casino’s new luxury hotel with its stunning views of Canal Street and the Mississippi River.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode three of the third season of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by Grammy Award-winning artist/songwriter/producer PJ Morton. Morton discusses the challenges and rewards of writing his autobiography, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning, as the process turned into a form of therapy, helping him uncover hidden themes and connections in his journey. PJ shares stories from his upbringing as a preacher's kid in New Orleans and highlights the influence that the city's rich musical culture had on his multifaceted career. Morton reflects on his journey to earning five Grammy awards and how being nominated alongside legends like Stevie Wonder inspired him. He shares stories about Stevie’s mentorship and how their friendship has influenced his music and advocacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode two of the third season of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by Chef Melissa Martin, owner of the Mosquito Supper Club in New Orleans. Chef Melissa explains the foundational philosophy of the Mosquito Supper Club, emphasizing the connection to Cajun culture and the importance of using local, fresh ingredients sourced from Louisiana with the goal of preserving Cajun heritage and traditions. Discussion shifts to Chef Melissa's two books, Mosquito Supper Club: Cajun Recipes from a Disappearing Bayou and Bayou: Feasting Through the Seasons of a Cajun Life, as she aims to dispel common myths and stereotypes about Cajun life and cuisine. Later we learn about Chef's new project on the West Bank of New Orleans where guests will be able to get a quick escape from the city life and experience a mix of hospitality and local culture while enjoying the beauty of the Mississippi River.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode one of the 3rd season of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green. Coach Green shares his love for the city of New Orleans, its culture, and how he and his family have embraced living here.  Green discusses transitioning from player to coach and the challenges and rewards of his coaching career, particularly in nurturing young talent as he expresses excitement about this season's Pelicans team. Later, Green talks about his favorite restaurants in New Orleans and the other cities he visits while traveling with the team and talks about how important nutrition is for NBA players.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode 12 of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by Grammy award-winning musician and composer Terence Blanchard. Blanchard gives a rich narrative about growing up in New Orleans that spans his early influences, artistic evolution, and professional achievements. He talks about the emotional power of music and shares some of the insights and early encouragement he received from jazz legends like Art Blakey and Alvin Batiste. Giving a mini-masterclass on the complexities and differences between producing music for film and composing and conducting operas and orchestras, Terence Blanchard's insights shine light on the technical aspects of composition and conducting while showing his philosophical approach to music as a dynamic storytelling tool. Terence passionately discusses music's role in healing and community building, noting how his New Orleans roots and the city's vibrant musical culture deeply influence his work, resonating with global audiences.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode 11 of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by Martha Wiggins, Chief Culinary Officer and Executive Chef at Cafe Reconcile. Chef Wiggins talks about the day-to-day operations and the foundational principles of Cafe Reconcile, emphasizing its commitment to nurturing young individuals in New Orleans through a comprehensive four-tier program. This initiative not only equips them with culinary and hospitality skills but also addresses their personal barriers, providing a holistic approach to their professional and personal development. Having transitioned from the high-pressure environment of traditional kitchens to the socially impactful space of Cafe Reconcile, Chef Wiggins shares her journey and the fulfillment she finds in working with the youth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode ten of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by award-winning New Orleans filmmaker Edward Buckles Jr. to discuss his love of filmmaking, storytelling, cooking, and New Orleans. Buckles talks about his critically acclaimed film "Katrina Babies", a documentary that was not only an outlet for his own trauma but also a means to explore the collective trauma experienced in New Orleans before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina. Inspired by his grandmother's dedication to preserving family photos, Buckles was drawn to collecting footage and assembling narratives at an early age. This would prove invaluable to Buckles on his nearly seven-year journey of interviewing and compiling stories for "Katrina Babies". Hear about Buckles' current and future projects as his work seeks to document collective traumas but also foster healing and understanding through the power of narrative.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode nine of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by renowned New Orleans singer-songwriter Mia Borders. Mia talks about her childhood musical inspirations, playing her first gig at Carrollton Station in 2006, and her day-of routine when preparing for a performance. Hear more about Mia's progression as an artist and business owner, her love of woodworking, and her soon-to-be released album "Firewalker".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode eight of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by Prince Lobo and his mother Dr. Biruk Alemayehu, owners of the Ethiopian restaurant Addis NOLA. Hear about Biruk's move from Angola to Louisiana when Prince was only two, staying afloat during the struggles of Covid, and expanding to a new space on Bayou Road in the Seventh Ward. Get a history lesson on Addis' special Ethiopian coffee roasting ceremony and the origin behind Prince's honey wine sourced from his personal Queen Bee Hive in New Orleans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode seven of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by New Orleans Pelicans forward/center Larry Nance Jr. Larry talks about becoming a part-owner of the Leeds United soccer club in England, his trade to New Orleans, and some of his first experiences with New Orleans food and culture. Later, Larry talks about his most recent community effort to help tackle the critical issue of food insecurity in New Orleans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode six of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by Jacqueline Blanchard, owner of the knife shop Coutelier and restaurant Sukeban in New Orleans. Jacqueline talks about the influences that drew her to cooking and Japanese culture at an early age. She talks about her progression from traveling home with duffel bags full of knives from Japan to serving as one of the best sources of Japanese steel in the New Orleans area. Hear about how Chef Blanchard learned Japanese, her travel do's and don'ts, and some of her favorites dishes along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode five of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by Marc Spears, senior NBA writer for ESPN and Andscape and the executive producer of The Conversations Project on Hulu. Marc talks about his desire to be an NBA star and how a junior high career day helped shift his perspective and define his path into journalism. The 2023 Curt Gowdy Media Award winner discusses his Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honor, his love of New Orleans and some of the highs and lows of the sports journalism world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode four of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller are joined by Chef Mason Hereford from the acclaimed New Orleans restaurants Turkey and the Wolf, Molly's Rise and Shine, and Hungry Eyes. Chef Mason shares how he scaled his career from a bar bouncer to a restaurant entrepreneur with innovative sandwiches as the foundation. The trio talk about Mason's Iron Chef experience, the lost-at-sea supply chain issues surrounding his New York Times bestseller Turkey and the Wolf: Flavor Trippin' in New Orleans, and the mutual love and appreciation that Mason and the city share.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode three of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, New Orleans Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon stops by to talk all things food; from his childhood full of fresh fish in Alaska to fine dining while traveling. Trajan talks about his first impressions of New Orleans cuisine, his favorite dishes when traveling in Italy, and his passions outside of basketball.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode two of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, New Orleans Chef Donald Link stops by to discuss his journey from South Louisiana to California and back. The multiple James Beard Award-winning chef talks about how he came up in the industry, the evolving restaurant culture, and some of his favorite New Orleans restaurants to eat at. The Link Restaurant Group was founded in January 2009 by James Beard Award Winning Chefs Donald Link and his business partner Stephen Stryjewski, with the goal to support the continuous growth of their family of restaurants, currently including Herbsaint, Cochon, Cochon Butcher, Calcasieu, Peche Seafood Grill, La Boulangerie and Gianna.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode one of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, New Orleans Pelicans Vice President of Basketball Operations & Team Development Swin Cash drops in to talk about her career journey and how she came to work with the New Orleans Pelicans. Swin talks about her first impressions of the city, her favorite restaurants, and what makes New Orleans special. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode 14 of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller catch up with New Orleans musical legend Branford Marsalis. With over four decades playing both at home and abroad, Marsalis' accomplishments include winning three Grammys, a Tony nomination for his work as a composer on Broadway, a citation by the National Endowment for the Arts as Jazz Master, and a 2021 Primetime EMMY nomination for the score he composed for the Tulsa Burning documentary.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode 13 of the Between Bites podcast, Nina Compton and Larry Miller catch up with Academy Award-winning production designer Hannah Beachler. Beachler discusses her progression from cleaning art department floors to creating Oscar-worthy production sets on big-budget films. With 2019's Black Panther, Hannah became the first African-American to win an Oscar for production design. Hannah also talks about how she came to live in New Orleans and the influence the city has had on her life and career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode 12 of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin and wife Meredith talk about their decision to move to New Orleans and join the Pelicans organization. David and Meredith talk about the impact of Pelicans Governor Gayle Benson, the family-like atmosphere of the team and staff, and the international scouting of both basketball players and wine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode 11 of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum talks about balancing a busy schedule as a player, father, husband, entrepreneur, and president of the NBA Players Association. McCollum goes in-depth about learning from his big brother, becoming the first player in Lehigh history to go pro, and being drafted 10th overall on his path to the NBA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode 10 of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, New Orleans Pelicans play-by-play announcer Joel Meyers talks about his illustrious broadcasting career of more than 25 years. Meyers came to New Orleans after six seasons as the Los Angeles Lakers' TV Play-By-Play announcer (2005-11) and two as the Lakers' radio play-by-play announcer (2003-2005). Meyers won two Emmy awards in his time as L.A.'s TV play-by-play man and previously served four years as the voice of San Antonio Spurs' television broadcast before joining the Lakers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode nine of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, Chef Susan Spicer talks about her legendary career cooking for nearly 45 years in New Orleans. Chef Spicer holds a pair of James Beard awards, one in 1993 for Best Chef: Southeast at her restaurant Bayona, and another in 2010 as she was inducted into the James Beard Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America. On top of being an accomplished chef, Susan Spicer is also a published author with her book Crescent City Cooking: Unforgettable Recipes from Susan Spicer's New Orleans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode eight of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, Chef Serigne Mbaye talks about how he went from washing dishes at a New York restaurant to being a 2023 James Beard Foundation award semifinalist for Emerging Chef. Chef Nina Compton knows a little bit about the James Beard Foundation awards. She was nominated for the James Beard award for Best Chef: South at her restaurant Compère Lapin. In 2018, Chef Compton won the James Beard award for Best Chef: South. The list of 2023 James Beard awards semifinalists, announced on Jan. 25, sees Chef Compton return as a nominee for Outstanding Chef, joining Chef Mbaye as hopefuls for this year's awards.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode seven of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, Ti Martin and Meg Bickford talk about the iconic Commander's Palace restaurant in New Orleans where they've worked together for close to 15 years. Ti Martin has been the co-proprietor of Commander's Palace since 1997 with her cousin Lally Brennan. From co-founder in the 90s of the New Orleans Proud to Call It Home campaign, to driving the force behind the new billion-dollar airport terminal as finance chair and 12-year member of the Aviation board, to being cofounder and chair of the board of NOCHI, a new 93,000 square-foot culinary and hospitality institute, Martin's energy appears boundless. Chef Megan “Meg” Bickford has called the Commander's Palace kitchenher culinary home since June 2008 and took on the role of Executive Chefat the New Orleanians' destination for leading edge Haute Creole cuisinein October 2020. With over 14 years of experience with the Commander'sFamily of Restaurants, Chef Meg previously served as the Executive Chefof Cafe Adelaide, the Commander's family's playful, modern Creolerestaurant.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode six of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, Sonny Lee talks about the amazing work his foundation Son of a Saint has been doing in the New Orleans area for close to 12 years. As President/Executive Director of Son of a Saint, Bivian “Sonny” Lee III has dedicated his life to enhancing the lives of fatherless boys. Since establishing the organization in early 2011, Sonny has grown Son of a Saint to reach 200 boys with an operating budget of more than $4 million. Prior to founding the organization, Sonny served as chief aide to Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans. He was previously the Director of Operations for the New Orleans Zephyrs AAA baseball team and Director of the New Orleans Jazz Institute.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode five of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, L. Kasimu Harris talks about his artistic inspiration, up and coming artists in the New Orleans area, and his past, present, & future projects. L. Kasimu Harris is a New Orleans-based artist whose practice deposits a number of different strategic and conceptual devices in order to push narratives. He strives to tell stories of underrepresented communities in New Orleans and beyond. Harris has shown in numerous group exhibitions across the US and two international exhibitions and has had eight solo photography exhibitions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode four of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, Dook Chase talks about his progression in the kitchen as he grew up inside the famous Dooky Chase's Restaurant in New Orleans. Edgar 'Dook' Chase IV is the grandson of the late Leah Chase, the legendary chef who ran Dooky Chase's Restaurant in the Treme for over 70 years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode three of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, Robin Barnes talks about growing up in the New Orleans music scene, her musical inspirations, as well as her fitness movement 'Move Ya Brass'. Robin grew up surrounded by jazz sounds, as made evident by a #5 debut on the Traditional Jazz Albums Billboard charts in 2016. As Robin got older and mainstream music began to take hold, she began to marry the old and the new to create her own unique blend of funky jazz, soul and R&B. In addition to being an award-winning music artist, she's also a voiceover actor, media host, and one of the city of New Orleans' biggest ambassadors and influencers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode two of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, Frank Brigtsen talks about his progression as a chef, the rich culture of New Orleans, his favorite foods to prepare and eat, and more. Chef Frank Brigtsen has been named one of the Top Ten New Chefs in America by FOOD&WINE magazine and America's Best Chef: Southeast by the James Beard Foundation Awards. He has also been named Chef of the Year by New Orleans magazine and Restaurateur of the Year by the Louisiana Restaurant Association – N.O. Chapter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode one of the Between Bites podcast with Nina Compton and Larry Miller, Brandan “BMIKE” Odums talks about his development as an artist growing up in New Orleans. BMIKE is a New Orleans-based visual artist who, through exhibitions, public programs, and public art works, is engaged in a transnational dialogue about the intersection of art and resistance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.