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As we learn more about Pope Leo XIV, we fondly remember other Louisianians who made it to the top

Rick Sherak, CEO of Exokinetics, shares his incredible journey from serving as an Air Force officer to leading a company that develops transformative mobility devices. He discusses the importance of leadership, sales psychology, and creating compassionate company culture. Rick's passion shines through as he recounts heartwarming stories of how Exokinetics' Zeen device has profoundly improved the lives of people with mobility challenges, including children with cerebral palsy.   Guest links: https://gozeen.com/ | https://vimeo.com/1011399920 | https://vimeo.com/856975581/9994ad1cb8?share=copy Charity supported: Project ELEVATE Mobility Interested in being a guest on the show or have feedback to share? Email us at theleadingdifference@velentium.com.  PRODUCTION CREDITS Host: Lindsey Dinneen Editing: Marketing Wise Producer: Velentium   EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Episode 053 - Rick Sherak [00:00:00] Lindsey Dinneen: Hi, I'm Lindsey and I'm talking with MedTech industry leaders on how they change lives for a better world. [00:00:09] Diane Bouis: The inventions and technologies are fascinating and so are the people who work with them. [00:00:15] Frank Jaskulke: There was a period of time where I realized, fundamentally, my job was to go hang out with really smart people that are saving lives and then do work that would help them save more lives. [00:00:28] Diane Bouis: I got into the business to save lives and it is incredibly motivating to work with people who are in that same business, saving or improving lives. [00:00:38] Duane Mancini: What better industry than where I get to wake up every day and just save people's lives. [00:00:42] Lindsey Dinneen: These are extraordinary people doing extraordinary work, and this is The Leading Difference. Hello and welcome back to another episode of The Leading Difference podcast. I'm your host, Lindsey, and I am so excited to introduce you to my guest today, Rick Sherak. After serving as an Air Force officer, Rick spent over 25 years in the medical diagnostic industry as a commercial and product development executive. Leveraging his broad leadership and medical domain experience, he became CEO of Exokinetics in March 2024 to lead the company into its next expansion phase of market awareness and revenue growth.  Alrighty. Well, welcome, Rick, to the show. Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm so excited to speak with you. [00:01:30] Rick Sherak: Well, it's nice to meet you, Lindsey, and I'm glad to speak with you today as well. Should be fun. [00:01:36] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Excellent. Well, I would love if you would start by sharing a little bit about yourself and your background and what led you to MedTech. [00:01:45] Rick Sherak: Sure. Well, so I currently live just outside of Philadelphia with my wife and our four dogs. We just recently moved here from Boston, so we've had to quickly become Philadelphia Eagles fans. Go birds. We love it here. And my background is kind of interesting, a little bit diverse. I started off my career as an Air Force officer. I tried to follow my dad in his fighter pilot footsteps. Got almost there, but I had a medical disqualification, so I had to do a land based job, but really enjoyed the Air Force. It was a great way to pay for my college and to serve my country and also to learn leadership. It was like a masterclass in leadership. Talking about getting thrown into the leadership fire, and as a young 22 year old, lead a group of people on a mission, motivate everyone, and get everyone producing at their highest capacity. So that was a great way to start. But after I got out of the Air Force, I really wanted to go back to my roots, and that's in the sciences. I've always loved the sciences, especially the biological sciences. I have a degree in biological science from Baylor University. So out of the military, I was looking for an opportunity to use my interest in something that would support my family. So I started with Abbott Laboratories. And Abbott Laboratories, back in the day, was a Fortune 100 company, one of the up and coming medtech companies, had a pharmaceutical arm, but I belonged to the medical diagnostics side of it. And it was great. They, at the time, were hiring a bunch of ex military officers to be their field sales people and none of us knew how to sell. We were all out of either the Air Force, Army, Navy or Marines, but we learned quick. We understood, you know, there's the hill we have to take, but I really respected Abbott because they trained us not only how to sell, but how to sell with integrity, right? And they also, you know, they had 200 products that we had to learn and become masters at because we were selling to hospitals and medical laboratory clinicians, etcetera. But it was a great way to start my career, and I truly found that I loved it. One, I enjoyed the sales aspect. It was fun helping people solve problems with our products, and ultimately, help the patients get the best care right from their diagnostics. But two, it also taught me that I was pretty good at it. I did very well at Abbott. I promoted several times and won some national awards. And as a result, I was recruited away by another medtech company, which was a early stage organization called Ventana Medical Systems. I intended to be there for three years and learn everything I could and then expand my career. I was there for 15 years. And we had a ball. We took this little medical diagnostic company that came up with a transformative device that would automate very complicated processes in the pathology laboratory environment. So it was disruptive technology. We were going out there with something no one had ever seen before. And I joined them pre IPO. So we went public and then we started churning and burning and impressing Wall Street every quarter so that we can up our value. 15 short years later we sold the company to Roche Diagnostics. So what a great exit and just a wonderful experience and developing my leadership cause I was management as I quickly was filling levels as we were growing. But what a wonderful ride, that's something to see, somebody with an early vision to take it step by step to a wonderful exit. But we helped a lot of people, we became a market leader in immunohistochemistry automation, and it just truly was a great experience. But after Ventana, I wanted to do something a little different. So I stepped into the world of startups. I spent about 12 years in the startup world, worked for four startups, two of which died, which happens a lot in that environment. And then the other couple did pretty well. I really enjoyed it because now I was helping people on the oncology diagnostic side of medtech. So each startup had a unique laboratory technology that would better predict the patient outcome to a particular chemotherapy or targeted immunotherapy for their cancer. So, the whole purpose was to see how can we get better predictive value so that these patients don't have to suffer unnecessarily with the wrong drug. So that, again, was just a wonderful opportunity for me because more than not, I would come into these startups and have to create the commercial organization from scratch. That means I had to hire my own national sales team, my own marketing team, my own customer service team and logistics team to handle very delicate samples. But I loved it. It, it enabled me to take everything I learned from the air force, from Abbott, from Ventana and apply it to a small company environment. And I found that it was addictive, and that's why I stayed in it for many years. But then I did another turn and I took a sidestep because I loved also, has always been kind of a frustrated engineer. I joined an engineering company that just focused on design development of medical devices, and they hired me because of my diagnostic domain experience. And I went out and found early stage companies and brought them to this engineering firm so we could take the novel technologies from these companies and make them into a product that could be commercialized. So I did that for several years. Long story short today, I'm in a completely different type of medical device environment. I'm the CEO of Exokinetics, and Exokinetics is a very unique organization in that we decided to look at the mobility device market and fill the gap, because unfortunately people with mobility challenges are basically regulated to either wheelchairs or walkers or electronic scooters, all of which have significant problems to their health because they're not using their body in many cases. And fall prevalence-- people with walkers-- oh, it's just such a shame. There's over 50, 000 emergency room visits a year of people falling with their walkers. So anyways, Exokinetics has developed a very unique mobility device that gives people a lot more freedom. and safety in their daily challenges with mobility. So, sorry, it's kind of long. [00:08:44] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh, I loved it. No, I so appreciate it. Thank you for talking us through all of that. That was great. And so many questions, but I'll try to start at the end a little bit and then probably work my way back. But yeah, so, okay. So I'd love to hear more about the company that you are now involved in and this device. But I'd love to take it back a little bit further and say, what made you aware of this challenge existing that there isn't a great solution in the marketplace, or not maybe more updated options. So what made you aware of that challenge and then decide, "Okay, I think I have the tools, resources, ideas to fix it, to address it"? [00:09:25] Rick Sherak: It's a great question. I, one, I was not aware, right? I was not aware of the challenges. However, a buddy of mine, we go to the same church, you know, we're in a men's group, we're a bunch of old guys hanging out talking about stuff. And he was doing some investment investing into early stage or startup medical diagnostic companies. A very generous individual, and he knew of my background and he goes, "Rick," he goes, "I'm looking at this company. I'm not sure I want to invest, but maybe you can look at it with me." So I did some free consulting for him, he's my friend. And then he kept dragging me to this company to their board meetings. Right. And I'm going, "Hey, this is great," and I give him my advice because, because it was new for me. And that's how I found out, Lindsey, about the challenges that people with mobility issues have, is that the status quo now is, oh, you have Parkinson's, or you have cerebral palsy, or you've had a stroke. Put those people in a wheelchair and just let them live their life at that level. And I didn't realize how horrible that is for many of these people because they still have utility of their legs, right? But when you're confined to a wheelchair for long term, your legs will naturally atrophy, right? And become so weak that they won't be able to use them anymore. So what struck me, as mission driven, was that this company invented with their own engineers, this device that not only promotes people with mobility issues to use their body, but to use their body effectively moving around horizontally around the world, but also vertically. It enables them to go from a seated position to a standing position. And for us, for you and I, we're thinking, "Well, yeah that's pretty good." For them, that is a game changer being able to go from seated position to standing and then walk from that position all without the fear of falling. So, it really touched my heart as I learned more and more about the company and I kept giving more and more time to them. So eventually I was pulled aside and they said, "Rick, what's your appetite for running this company because we need to grow it and we need to get out there and help more people." So lo and behold, I've been here for almost a year. February 1st is my anniversary and it's been a great ride. I just love it. I have a passionate team, mostly of young people. I love it. I couldn't script better people, more compassionate, more caring. All of our customers are suffering in some way or another. Even our elderly customers that are just bad knees, bad hips, bad endurance, our device is perfect for them. So, yeah, you know, we're having fun. [00:12:27] Lindsey Dinneen: That's great. Well, yeah. Thanks for sharing a little bit about that too. And so, as you've stepped into this leadership role that you weren't necessarily anticipating was your next right thing, what were some of the challenges? Because you've had an amazing career, and like you've said at the beginning, you were learning leadership skills all throughout and you've had many iterations of different ways of approaching medtech, with the industry. But now as CEO, that's another thing. And so I'm curious, how was that transition to step into this leadership role and take it on? [00:13:03] Rick Sherak: No. And it has been different in many ways, but it's also very similar in others, right? Because in my opinion, leadership, really the definition from my perspective is that a good leader motivates effectively a group of people, talented people, and usually very diverse group of people, pulls them all together to accomplish an overall mission or goal, right? And it's it. That's the part I wouldn't say that's easy about my job now as a CEO, but it's natural and I love motivating my people. I'm a big fan of management by walking around and I try to talk to all my employees at least every day or every other day just to see what's going on, not only in the business side of things, but also in their personal side of things. I, I assume that nobody's going to respect me unless I earn it. And, I just wanna make sure that I'm leading by example and I'm the guy that either gets to the office first or leaves the office last, just trying to make sure that I'm there for my people when they need me. What is different, Lindsey, is that I am struggling with delegation because I want to do it all myself, right? And I know better. It takes me a long time to dye this hair white because I'm not that old, but just know better. But it's a struggle because you have to allow others to get things done and especially in a small company like this. We were still very early stage. People are wearing a lot of hats and I just have to allow them to go and give them the best guidance I can and then press on to the next thing, right? [00:14:49] Lindsey Dinneen: Absolutely. So, it sounds like you've been very intentional building a company culture that reflects the values that you care about, of course, and also reflects compassion, because you mentioned, your customers, for instance, are all folks that are in a difficult, challenging place. So how do you feel the importance blends from really intentionally cultivating a culture that is this empathic, creative problem solving, just really good culture, it sounds like, to how that affects how you basically present to the world who you are. [00:15:28] Rick Sherak: Yeah, well, no, that's a great question. So where our challenge is that our customer base is so broad, right? And like you said, all of our customers in our DTC business-- that's about 40 percent of our business is direct to consumer, right? But we have other customers, distributors. We have hospitals that use our device, physical therapy, occupational therapy, neurological research, you know, things like that. But the key, I think, from our perspective, is we want people to realize that, hey, we don't have 20 products, right, that we've gotten from other folks. We have designed and developed a very new and transformative device that only came about because we had our own internal engineers, and we've listened to what is needed out there to help people live a better, more free, more independent and active lifestyle. So, you know, interestingly, when we broadcast ourselves out there, I hope that people realize that, "Wow, this is not just a company selling something new, they design and develop this with their own people," right? There's a lot of love in our products, and people can tell because each one of our products is handmade, and it's customized to the individual ordering it by their weight, how much they weigh, and how tall they are, so we can adjust everything for them. And I tell you it's a lot of fun because some people literally take the time when they get their Zeen-- that's the name of our product, Zeen-- but they'll write us these wonderful notes on how this device has just transformed the way that they engage with their world. And, when you sit back and you go, "Hey, what difference are we making today?" Wow. That's why I think I have such a motivated group of people because every day we're talking to these wonderful, courageous individuals that have lost a big part of their ability to live effectively in the world and they're looking for something new, something meaningful and something that's going to help them. And when we can provide that it's just wonderful, very rewarding. [00:17:52] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Yeah. Of course. Just to know the impact that you're making and able to make. And so the days that get really tough or frustrating or whatever, you can still hold onto this anchor of, "But we're making a difference. We know that." [00:18:07] Rick Sherak: And we see it. We have visitors come to the factory just about every week. Maybe two or three visitors will come and they'll try it out. Try out the Zeen to say, "Hey, I saw it on social media, just want to try it. You guys are local." And that's when we really get that, that visceral customer experience, right? It's just crazy, Lindsey. I've seen people come in, bent over sitting on this little electric scooter with a joystick. And they come in and they just look broken, right? And then we get them into a Zeen, and then they're all of a sudden their spine starting to straighten, right? They start sitting up, and then we slowly and compassionately show them how the device works and everything, but we make sure that they feel safe and that they trust. And as soon as we get that go ahead, which often you just see it in their eyes, then we'll engage the levers and the Zeen will lift that person with-- it's kind of like a big bicycle seat under them. It lifts up with this non motorized lift mechanism, that we invented, up to 75 percent of a person's body weight. So now they go from the seating position to standing. Now, many of these people can't do that on their own. They can't extend their legs from seating to standing. They need other people to grab them and lift them, right? But now Zeen lifts them. Now they're standing. And again, it's just phenomenal because this person that came in on this scooter bent over is now standing. They're putting weight on their legs. They're stimulating their brain because there's weight on their legs. Right now, neural connections are starting to flow again, and their spine straightens, and they stand tall, and when they take those first steps, often it's very slow, just tiny little steps. But then we just leave them be, and we talk to their family that came with them, and we go get something to drink, get some snacks, start chatting, and just let them be. And it's amazing, you can just see their brains working, and their legs moving faster and faster. I've seen people barely moving at the beginning, and at the end, they're cruising, we call it the lap, they go around the office, around all the desks and everything, and everybody's clapping, you know. It's amazing. [00:20:28] Lindsey Dinneen: Wow. [00:20:28] Rick Sherak: It's so cool! I'm not trying to overstate it, but this is our daily life. So I'm just very happy and pleased that my background has led me here. It's a great way to finish my career. I want to stay here for as long as I can. Hopefully it'll be many years because I enjoy every day of it. [00:20:52] Lindsey Dinneen: Wow. That's incredible. Yeah, and thank you for sharing those stories. I was just imagining that, that laugh and how amazing. [00:21:00] Rick Sherak: It is so cool. [00:21:03] Lindsey Dinneen: Can't possibly get old. Just witnessing joy and hope, honestly, even hope alone is... [00:21:10] Rick Sherak: One of the best is this father comes in with his twin boys. And the boys have cerebral palsy. It's a disease that you get from birth, right? And their legs are just not good. They have no balance at all. And the father brings them in. He carries them because they don't even have a mobility device that really works for them, except for walkers, like an old person walker, right? But he carries them in, he puts them on the, in the lobby, and we bring over the Zeens, and these little boys are the cutest things you've ever seen. They're just, they're twins, they're chatty, they're so excited. We get them into the device, and their first few steps, it's like I said before, we're just tiny, tiny. But then they built their trust. And at the end of the visit, these boys were running. I mean, they were digging in with their little legs, fully supported, fully trusting the device and their hands were in the air waving. And their dad is just like tears. He's just like gushing. He's going, "One, I've never seen my sons run before. Two, they've never moved without their hands either holding a walker or crawling on the floor." He goes, "These boys are running around with their hands in there in the air." And they're saying, "Hey, look, Daddy, my hands are in the air. I don't need to use my hands." Of course, we have Kleenex boxes all over the office. [00:22:36] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. I'm pretty sure you'd have to, it's just part of the the office supplies. [00:22:42] Rick Sherak: Exactly. Yeah. We have a Costco membership for regular shipment of Kleenex. Yeah. [00:22:49] Lindsey Dinneen: That's amazing. Oh, thank you so much for sharing that story. That's incredible... [00:22:53] Rick Sherak: Oh, yeah. [00:22:54] Lindsey Dinneen: ...just for a father's heart. [00:22:56] Rick Sherak: Oh, it's just so amazing. Yeah, it's so amazing. [00:23:00] Lindsey Dinneen: So this is all incredibly exciting just the way it is right now, but I imagine there are future plans. Can you share a little bit about what's next? What are you excited about as you move forward? [00:23:12] Rick Sherak: Well, what's really exciting is our growth potential, right? So again, the Zeen is a very unique device, but it fits so many different segments of populations. Like we've been talking about people with chronic illness. That is our core group, right? We work with people with Parkinson's, MS, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, ataxia, you know, just about anything like that where people have strength, balance, or endurance issues. The other part that we're really excited about this year is that we didn't realize until those boys, how much our Zeen would help in the pediatric environment. So now we're making a very concerted effort going after the children's hospital physical therapy groups, showing them the amazing utility of a Zeen. And also because it's so adjustable, a person, a child can get into a Zeen early, let's say at the age of seven, and it could actually stay and grow with them until they're 14 or 15 years old. The whole thing adjusts up. So we're very excited about that market space. And we're also introducing the Zeen to luxury senior centers, because so many of our Zeen customers are just elderly people that don't want to give up, that have this incredible determination to either maintain or regain their mobility. Their knees hurt, their hips hurt, their endurance is down. So that's another avenue that we're introducing ourselves to, primarily through social media and publications through PR. But we're hoping this new awareness will get more Zeens out there. Our goal is really awareness. And that's one of the reasons that you and I are talking. I want to get out there as much as possible and let people know that there's other alternatives out there for their loved ones or for themselves if they have mobility challenges. And please check us out. We have a really cool website, a lot of videos, a lot of testimonials, and we just love helping people. And we're very fair in business. Our product is not cheap, but we give most customers a 14 day minimum home trial, and we say, "Use it a lot, as much as you can to make sure it's a good fit." If you don't like it, money back. So we try to be as fair as possible to make sure it's a good fit. [00:25:39] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, that sounds good. Yeah. And so for any of our listeners that are, you know, going to go and check out the website, just make sure you have your own stash of Kleenex. Oh man. [00:25:54] Rick Sherak: And every time we sell a Zeen, it comes with a virtual training session. So it's a one on one with one of my specialists. And I tell you, these folks are the best. So the best trainers and they're just the most delightful people, right? And they're like you. They're virtual, but you feel like they're right there with you. So we do virtual training for every one of our customers. And, it gives us that opportunity to see people eye to eye and to ensure that they understand their new tool and how to use it and how to, like I mentioned before, how to trust it, and realize that they're not going to fall, that they can move again, and they can do it safely. [00:26:34] Lindsey Dinneen: Amazing. Well, gosh, thank you so much for sharing about the company and... [00:26:38] Rick Sherak: Yeah. [00:26:39] Lindsey Dinneen: ...the device and the lives that it's impacting. And I just, I love learning about this. I'm so excited about the work that you're doing. So thank you for putting in the work. It's not easy. Startup world is difficult and especially medtech, but you've done it. So good job. [00:26:56] Rick Sherak: Well, and this is also interesting for me because it's manufacturing. Before, I didn't have to manage manufacturing. So manufacturing is a whole different beast with getting your parts, getting them ordered in time 'cause everything has to be built just right. This is like a high end super bike, you know, has the latest in technology for aluminum framing and engineering leverage. So that's a challenge for sure. But the other thing I wanted to plug real quick, Lindsey, if you don't mind, is again, we're a premium priced product, but we're not covered under insurance plans right now. That means Medicare or Medicaid. So, part of our outreach is we've created a foundation. It's a nonprofit foundation so that if we can find donors that want to support, the money goes into our foundation, and we take applicants and we provide grants for up to half the cost of a Zeen through the foundation. The other half is on the people that are trying to buy it. And, it's so interesting. Talking about putting skin in the game, right? People call and say, "Geez, I just can't swing that amount of money." Well, let's talk about the foundation, but you have to come up with half. And that creates such a-- it's such a partnership, and they're so excited. They'll be emailing my folks going, "Hey, I was able to raise 500 through a crowdfund! I just got to keep going!" And we're going, "Yeah, keep going!" And as soon as we hit that halfway mark, the foundation kicks in and covers it. So again, I just want to put a plug out there so that we can help very deserving people that just financially need a little support. Yeah. [00:28:37] Lindsey Dinneen: I love that. So that's a great way for even listeners to get involved, even if they don't necessarily personally need the device, but donating to this incredible cause, that would be awesome too. [00:28:48] Rick Sherak: Anything would be so appreciated. [00:28:50] Lindsey Dinneen: Great. Yes, absolutely. Well, okay. So pivoting the conversation a little bit just for fun. Imagine that you were to be offered a million dollars to teach a master class on anything you want. It can be within your industry currently, it could be about anything. What would you choose to teach? [00:29:13] Rick Sherak: You know, that's funny that you said that. I live right next to Villanova University, and a lot of my neighbors are professors there. And one of our best friends that lives a few houses down she's in the business ethics department. And she even said, she goes, "Rick, have you ever thought about teaching?" And I said, "You know, I've never really been a teacher." But if I were to teach, the thing I would love to do would be to capture over all these years of me being in this industry, the nuances of the psychology of sales. Because people think of sales as, "Oh, you're trying to trick people into buying, right?" Turn that completely upside down to, you're trying to assist people to buy. Because people really, when they're looking at your product, they want it. But they need help. They're counting on you to help them in that process. And it's a psychological bond when you're talking to somebody and you have a product and they have a need and you're trying to find that, that perfect combination, right? So that they feel, "Hey, this is great for me. It's worth every penny because I see the value." Versus having them feel, "Oh man, I'm going to get ripped off." So I would love to go down that path. I think that's so interesting because people are people, and salespeople, the best ones I've ever seen, like I mentioned before, are compassionate and caring, but they're also pleasantly persistent, right? And they just, they go, they listen and they say, "All right, but let's keep moving down the path." And people that are on the buying side truly want that. They want that partnership, that walking side by side down that path to purchase, because sometimes they're not courageous enough to buy just by themselves. So, to destigmatize sales would be kind of fun. [00:31:13] Lindsey Dinneen: I love that. That would be great. That'd be a great masterclass too, just to really dive into some of that, and yeah, to put a different perspective on your role and you're helping somebody to achieve what their goals are, to be honest. [00:31:26] Rick Sherak: Absolutely. [00:31:27] Lindsey Dinneen: I love that. [00:31:28] Rick Sherak: Absolutely. And we've all had those good experiences, and we've all had those bad experiences. [00:31:32] Lindsey Dinneen: Definitely. Definitely. So how do you wish to be remembered after you leave this world? [00:31:40] Rick Sherak: You know, that, that's interesting because I love to read. My morning time is my reading time. That's my time. It's me and my two collies. They're also early risers. The pugs, the two pugs, no, they'll sleep in with their mother. But in my reading and in my studies, essentially, I think it all boils down to at the end of the day, when the curtain starts coming down, wouldn't it be nice, when you're out, you're no longer here and people look back and they just say, "You know what? That guy or that lady really genuinely cared about other people." I think authenticity and being genuine is something I would love to be remembered for. And it's not easy, because sometimes you're not authentic to yourself, yet to others. [00:32:29] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. [00:32:32] Rick Sherak: But especially at this stage in my life, I just see caring for people is just amazing. Talking about, if everybody cared a little bit more for each other, it might be a different place. [00:32:43] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. And having the courage to be authentic and honest can sometimes also be, it does come with a little bit of vulnerability. So I love that. [00:32:55] Rick Sherak: Oh yeah. Oh my gosh. You know, it's all about, if you're just so lucky to have a little bit of grace, a little bit of wisdom, but like you said, a lot of courage. That's when it all means something, right? Cool. Oh. [00:33:10] Lindsey Dinneen: I know. What is one thing that makes you smile every time you see or think about it? [00:33:22] Rick Sherak: Well, you know, funny because we've been talking about leadership and sales. I just got to tell you a quick story because it always makes me smile. As I mentioned before, I was an Air Force officer and all of a sudden I jump out of the Air Force into a sales role with a medical diagnostic company. And, I just went through training. I got assigned to my territory. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I'm a Colorado boy. So Baton Rouge, Louisiana was a little bit different for me, but the company moved me down there, and I started my sales career. And my, my customers were all hospitals and clinical laboratories in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and the Bayou South, all those little towns in there. And I didn't realize it until after I started, but my territory was made out of the accounts the other sales people didn't want. [00:34:16] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh. [00:34:17] Rick Sherak: So the guys that were there, they cherry pick the good accounts, and the ones they didn't want, they made into my territory, right? The new guy. But I went in, I was dialed in. I had my brochures. I knew all my product knowledge. And I'd make appointments and I'd sit in front of these lab managers and these clinical influencers. And these lovely people, they would sit there. They would be so kind. They'd have their arms crossed. I go through my spiel and then they just look at me and they say, "Thank you, Rick, for coming. I'm not interested at this time." I go, "Okay." So this went on, Lindsey, for six months at every single hospital or clinical laboratory. I was like on the bottom of the sales list. I couldn't get anybody to buy anything. And it was like, it was so funny. And this is what makes me laugh. I'll never forget. I was down in south of Lafayette, and I was sitting in front of this lab manager and I've seen him every three weeks like clock work, right? And I'd always bring in new information, recap what we discussed before, and asked for the business. And he'd always say, "No, I'm not interested." But about six months in, he just looked at me and I got through my spiel. And he goes, "Rick," he goes, "Are you just going to keep showing up every three weeks?" And I said, "Yes, sir." And he says, "Look," and I mean, he's going, "Well, I'm not buying anything from you." And I said, "Yes, sir. But I, I truly feel that my products are the best products that you could use in your laboratory to make you more successful and to give your patients the best diagnostic information to help them fight their disease." Because it was mostly oncology focused. And he just looked at me and he goes, "You truly believe that?" I said, "Yes sir, I truly believe and I'm going to keep coming back until you believe." And he just sits back and he, I'll never forget this, he unfolded his arms, put his hands on the table and he goes, "Well, okay, then let me see what you got." And it was awesome. Lindsey, I swear there was like some underground communication channel because every hospital or clinical laboratory started listening to me after about six months. It was weird. And then another six months, I was on top of the sales rolls, and I had turned my territory around and we were just having a ball. But it was that persistence, it was just in the caring. I just cared. I was convinced my products were better, and he appreciated that. And, it, it was a fun, it makes me smile today because there's nothing like seeing somebody say, "Well, you know what, I trust you enough to listen to you now." [00:37:06] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Wow, that's awesome. They really had to go through that know, like, and trust you cycle or a journey. [00:37:15] Rick Sherak: These are long term Louisianians. I'm coming in as an outsider, too. So that was, I had to prove myself. But they are the one most wonderful people. Before I got promoted out of that territory, I used to show up at least once every, maybe two months, per hospital with all these crawfish and a big old pot and a boiler and I would be out in the parking lot. I'd be boiling crawfish and I called the lab and I'd say, "Hey guys, I got crawfish!" And they go, "Oh, Rick has crawfish!" And they all come out and we'd all eat crawfish. That's how you do it in Louisiana. It was a good time. [00:37:54] Lindsey Dinneen: Very cool. Thank you. Thank you so much for sharing about that. And just in general, being so willing to share so much of your story. I really appreciate it. I loved getting an opportunity to learn about you and your background and your heart for MedTech, your heart for the people that you're serving. So thank you. I know days aren't always a walk in the park as much fun as I know you're having, but I know you have good days and bad days. So thank you again so much for joining me. [00:38:19] Rick Sherak: Thank you, Lindsey. [00:38:20] Lindsey Dinneen: And I just wish you the most continued success as you continue to work to change lives for a better world. And just also thanks to our listeners for tuning in. And if you're feeling as inspired as I am, I'd love it if you'd share this episode with a colleague or two and we'll catch you next time. [00:38:40] Ben Trombold: The Leading Difference is brought to you by Velentium. Velentium is a full-service CDMO with 100% in-house capability to design, develop, and manufacture medical devices from class two wearables to class three active implantable medical devices. Velentium specializes in active implantables, leads, programmers, and accessories across a wide range of indications, such as neuromodulation, deep brain stimulation, cardiac management, and diabetes management. Velentium's core competencies include electrical, firmware, and mechanical design, mobile apps, embedded cybersecurity, human factors and usability, automated test systems, systems engineering, and contract manufacturing. Velentium works with clients worldwide, from startups seeking funding to established Fortune 100 companies. Visit velentium.com to explore your next step in medical device development.

Peggy Feehan, Executive Director of CODOFIL (Council for the Development of French in Louisiana), an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the French language and culture in Louisiana, joins Discover Lafayette to discuss the agency's mission and work. Born and raised in the New Brunswick province of Canada, Peggy grew up speaking French, enjoying the outdoors with deer and moose in her backyard. Fishing and hunting activities were prevalent, just like in Louisiana. While her region of Canada was predominantly Francophone, she learned English in school; some of her family spoke English, but it was not her first language. Peggy admits that she still thinks and dreams in French. And interestingly, she remembers watching American television and enjoying English-speaking shows such as Growing Pains and Family Ties which helped her in learning the English language. While Louisiana, and South Louisiana in particular, had many French-speaking citizens, the language was looked upon as uneducated and backward by some sectors of society. In 1921, a new Louisiana Constitution was adopted that mandated English as the official language of instruction in public schools. This effectively banned the use of French in classrooms. Many old-timers and their descendants clearly remember the shame felt when being ridiculed by teachers for using their native French language in school. The number of French-speaking people in Louisiana began to dwindle drastically as the decades passed. James "Jimmy" Domengeaux, a prominent Lafayette attorney and former U.S. Congressman, was instrumental in founding CODOFIL as a means to stop the loss of French-speaking Louisianians. CODOFIL was established in 1968 with the goal of preserving and promoting the French language and culture in the state. The council played a key role in advocating for French education and cultural programs, particularly in the Acadiana region of Louisiana. CODOFIL was empowered to “do any and all things necessary to accomplish the development, utilization, and preservation of the French language as found in Louisiana for the cultural, economic and touristic benefit of the state". Appointed by then Louisiana Governor John McKeithen, Domengeaux served as CODOFIL's first president from its creation until his death in 1988. Domengeaux was passionate about revitalizing French language education, and under his leadership, CODOFIL helped reintroduce French into Louisiana public schools. His work faced challenges, such as a lack of qualified teachers and resistance from some English-only advocates, but Domengeaux's efforts laid the foundation for a French cultural renaissance in the state. CODOFIL is an agency of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, under the direction of Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. It is the only agency physically situated outside of Baton Rouge and is housed in the former Lafayette City Hall across the street from our Lafayette Parish Court House. COD)FIL has been housed there since the mid-1980s except for a period (2014 - 2019) when extensive renovations were undertaken. It is a bright, beautiful space which delights visitors and employees alike. The hiring of international French teachers began in 1972. The recruitees from France and Belgium were flown to Louisiana in chartered planes and landed in Baton Rouge where they were met by yellow school buses and driven to their respective parishes. Approximately 100 teachers would be hired each year. One teacher from Belgium was Phillippe Gustin, who moved here in 1974 from Belgium. He ended up staying and went on to lead the Lafayette International Center for 28 years, serving as an outstanding ambassador for Lafayette and Acadiana in promoting business and cultural opportunities. Peggy moved to Louisiana 25 years ago to teach French in the St. Martin school system for CODOFIL. At the time, CODOFIL advertised in Canada to recruit French teachers,

Neil Saavedra and Amy King join Bill for Handel on the News. Harris and Trump's debate tonight is the election's latest landmark event. Line Fire blazes in Southern California, but cooler weather gives hope. Brush fire breaks out in Trabuco Canyon, evacuation orders issued. Tropical storm Francine nears hurricane strength as it approaches Gulf Coast. Louisianians are already closing the floodgates. Deadly missile strikes on Gaza tent camp. Body camera video of Tyreek Hill incident shows officers drag Dolphins player out of car near stadium.

Today's History Story: Fried Chicken Origins Even in the worst conditions, our ancestors found nourishment when it was scarce, using ingenuity to create the rich tradition of Black American cuisine. Yet, over time, stereotypes and misinformation have poisoned these histories and recipes, causing some Black people to distance themselves from our vibrant food culture. Today, Michael Twitty is here to set the record straight on everything from why Louisianians eat red beans and rice on Mondays to the profound connection between Black identity and American foodways. Michael, a renowned culinary historian, educator, and author of the James Beard Award-winning book “The Cooking Gene,” is filling our plate with a wealth of food knowledge that we can't wait to dig into—not to mention his special mac-and-cheese recipe that you can't get anywhere else! This is a finger-licking good conversation that will leave you laughing and reclaiming your culinary heritage, because we NOT losing recipes anymore! To learn more about Michael's work, visit www.thecookinggene.com. Black History Year (BHY) is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school and explore pathways to liberation with people who are leading the way. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.  Hosting BHY is Darren Wallace. The BHY production team includes Jareyah Bradley, Brooke Brown, and Amber Davis. Our producers are Cydney Smith and Len Webb for PushBlack, and Lance John with Gifted Sounds edits and engineers the show. BHY's executive producers are Julian Walker and Lilly Workneh. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Summertime is upon us – a time that often means travel, vacation fun, and family reunions. But to many Louisianians, summertime means hunger – and our children are the most vulnerable. When school is in session, breakfast and lunch are provided five days a week, but without extra support in the summer, that equates to missing 40 meals a month. Luckily, here in New Orleans, some big-hearted hospitality industry folks are stepping up to help. We begin with Amanda Toups of Toups' Meatery. Amanda and her husband, Isaac, first rose to the hunger challenge during the pandemic, when they handed out more than 200 meals a week to hospitality workers and their families in need. Over an 18-month period, the Toups crew delivered over 100,000 meals into the community. This summer, the indomitable duo are back at it again – now feeding food insecure children and families. Next, we speak with New Orleans newcomer Mark Bucher of the steakhouse Medium Rare. Mark is helping feed our community through his nonprofit, Feed The Fridge, a successful program first developed during the pandemic in Washington, D.C., where Medium Rare originated. Finally, we learn about Nourish Louisiana, a state-funded food purchase program that buys food from local farmers from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and feeds communities that need it most. We speak with two of the program's partners: Natalie Jayroe of Second Harvest Food Bank and Margee Green of Sprout NOLA. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

Summertime is upon us – a time that often means travel, vacation fun, and family reunions. But to many Louisianians, summertime means hunger – and our children are the most vulnerable. When school is in session, breakfast and lunch are provided five days a week, but without extra support in the summer, that equates to missing 40 meals a month. Luckily, here in New Orleans, some big-hearted hospitality industry folks are stepping up to help. We begin with Amanda Toups of Toups' Meatery. Amanda and her husband, Isaac, first rose to the hunger challenge during the pandemic, when they handed out more than 200 meals a week to hospitality workers and their families in need. Over an 18-month period, the Toups crew delivered over 100,000 meals into the community. This summer, the indomitable duo are back at it again – now feeding food insecure children and families. Next, we speak with New Orleans newcomer Mark Bucher of the steakhouse Medium Rare. Mark is helping feed our community through his nonprofit, Feed The Fridge, a successful program first developed during the pandemic in Washington, D.C., where Medium Rare originated. Finally, we learn about Nourish Louisiana, a state-funded food purchase program that buys food from local farmers from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and feeds communities that need it most. We speak with two of the program's partners: Natalie Jayroe of Second Harvest Food Bank and Margee Green of Sprout NOLA. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

Each Friday in February Mayor Arceneaux will share his “Friday Inspiration” which highlights the contributions of African American heroes who might not be known to many. This Fridays feature is Rev. Avery C. Alexander, an important leader in the struggle for civil rights for black Louisianians. Press play and be inspired. #BlackHistoryMonth #LoveShreveport #FridayInspiration

1.26.2024 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: UN's Highest Court Tells Israel To Prevent Genocide, Judge Blocks EPA Efforts In LA's Cancer Alley It's Friday, January 26, 2024. Roland's in Toledo, Ohio. Here's what's coming Up on Roland Martin Unfiltered streaming live on the Black Star Network. The International Court of Justice stops short of calling for a cease-fire but does demand Israel prevent genocide and ease the humanitarian plight of Gazans. Mark Thompson will join Roland to discuss the latest in the Israel-Hamas conflict. A Trump-appointed federal judge blocks the enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act's disparate-impact requirements against Louisiana agencies along Cancer Alley. Roland will talk to an advocate about how this ruling will affect Louisianians.  Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry wants to follow in Alabama's footsteps by finding other methods of executions. Alabama used nitrogen gas Thursday night to carry out a death sentence.  It's Time to Bring the funk on Roland Martin Unfiltered streaming live on the Black Star Network. Let's go. Download the Black Star Network app at http://www.blackstarnetwork.com! We're on iOS, AppleTV, Android, AndroidTV, Roku, FireTV, XBox and SamsungTV. The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Instant Trivia podcast episode 1007, where we ask the best trivia on the Internet. Round 1. Category: Shake, Rattle And Roll With Science 1: In these events Love waves shake the ground rather than rolling it. earthquakes. 2: Each time a rattlesnake does this, a new segment is added to its rattle. sheds skin. 3: Also meaning to upset someone, it's a fancy chemistry word for "shake", as in "Stopper the tube and blank the solution". agitate. 4: When you roll through a loop-de-loop on roller coasters, this 7-letter property keeps you in your seat. inertia. 5: Once the mace cover is removed, the seed is dried and this spice can be heard rattling inside and is now ready for harvest. nutmeg. Round 2. Category: Today'S Horoscope 1: This "chaste" sixth sign of the Zodiac gets bold today! You're feminine, but you can play with the big boys!. Virgo. 2: This sign has carried the water for "ages"! You're positive! Make things happen today!. Aquarius. 3: (June 21 - July 22)Why so crabby?. Cancer. 4: This masculine, mutable air sign is ruled by Mercury and knows there are 2 sides to everything, so think twice today!. Gemini. 5: This December-January sign is negative and can be stubborn, but not today; relax and you'll respond. Capricorn. Round 3. Category: Muhammad Ali At 70 1: Future heavyweight Muhammad Ali was born in Louisville Jan, 17, 1942 and named this. Cassius (Marcellus) Clay. 2: Ali won a light heavyweight boxing gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in this European capital. Rome. 3: Ali first took the heavyweight title with a 1964 upset win over this man. Sonny Liston. 4: In 2011 Ali said of this man, "the world has lost a great champion"; he had less kind things to say in the '70s. (Joe) Frazier. 5: For 8 years this actor insisted he wasn't up to playing Ali, but in the end Ali said, "I even thought he was me". Will Smith. Round 4. Category: Louisianians 1: This fitness guru who grew up big in Louisiana now urges, "One should eat to live; not live to eat". Richard Simmons. 2: "My Favorite Martian" on TV, he's really from New Orleans. Ray Walston. 3: Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire! He hails from Ferriday. Jerry Lee Lewis. 4: This sportscaster and former QB from Shreveport led the Steelers to Super Bowl titles in '75, '76, '79 and '80. Terry Bradshaw. 5: This Texas doctor famous for his advances in heart surgery is a transplant from Lake Charles, LA. Michael DeBakey. Round 5. Category: Iron Man 1: On Sept. 20, 1998 Ryan Minor replaced Cal Ripken Jr. of this team, ending Cal's incredible consecutive game streak. the Orioles. 2: From 1955 to 1962 Glenn Hall started an NHL record 502 consecutive games at this position, playing some of it on his knees. goalkeeper. 3: In 2018 bowler Alastair Cook broke a record by playing in his 154th straight test match in this sport. cricket. 4: Averaging 41.6 yards for each time he took the field, Jeff Feagles played in 352 straight NFL games at this position. punter. 5: Called the NBA's Iron Man, A.C. Green played 1,192 consecutive games and also collected 3 championship rings with this team. the L.A. Lakers. Thanks for listening! Come back tomorrow for more exciting trivia! Special thanks to https://blog.feedspot.com/trivia_podcasts/

Scoot talks to Metairie Bank Northshore Market President Paul Myers about the services available to Louisianians looking to buy their first home

Louisianians deserve to feel they are being lead in the right direction. We have compassionately strong and ambitious people in our society that want to hold our hand. They try so hard to help. When they do, it's up to us as a community to pay attention and recognize when they are in front of them. Representative Mandie Landry serves as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 91st district. Rep. Landry was the only member of the LA House of Representatives to file a gun safety bill in the last 2 years.  Because of this, She just received the 2023 Crime Fighter of the Year award! She is focused on helping all Louisianinans live a better life. She's the real deal, y'all . To find out more about her reelection campaign, check out her work at mandielandry.comCamp Able- NOLA director, Taylor Cheek helps to run a year round youth group for kids and adults with special needs housed at Christ Church in New Orleans. Dignity driven love.  Churches around the city help to bring compassion, education and ministry to our friends in the community that could really use it. A year long program really gives a place for these kids and adults alike to have fun, learn and grow as Taylor teaches them the fundamentals of becoming a loving and creative human. Find more about Camp Able NOLA on Facebook and on Instagram! Thank you to our family of amazing sponsors! Ochsner Hospital for ChildrenRouses MarkersWww.rousesmarkets.comKid's Dream Dress ShopWww.kidsdreamus.comSandpiper VacationsWww.sandpipiervactions.comZak George's Dog Revolution! Pinxav Diaper Rash CreamWww.pinxav.comComfort Cases Www.comfortcases.orgNew Orleans Ice Cream CompanyWww.neworleansicecream.comReal Estate with Steph & Berkshire Hathaway www.realestatewithsteph.comAudubon Institute www.auduboninstitute.org

Scoot talks about the impact that seeing the stereotypes of Louisianians in the 1969 film "Easy Rider" had on him as a young man

517. Part 2 of our interview with Windy Counsell Petre about Louisiana author Grace King. “Grace King was an American author of Louisiana stories, history, and biography, and a leader in historical and literary activities. King began her literary career as a response to George Washington Cable negative portrayal of Louisiana Creoles. King desired to create a sympathetic portrayal of Louisianians and Southerners based on her observations and experiences. King viewed herself as a type of representative for the region, although she herself was not in fact a Creole.  King also became a representative for Southern women. In her literary works, King focuses primarily on women and women's issues in Reconstruction and its aftermath. King also emphasizes how race and class affected the lives of women” (Wikipedia).  This week in Louisiana history. April 15, 1795. The Pointee Coupee Slave Rebellion. This week in New Orleans history. April 16, 1718. Official date of founding of New Orleans. This week in Louisiana. 2023 Annual Festival International De Louisiane Cajundome & Convention Center, Lafayette, Louisiana Apr 26 - 30, 2023 Website Le Festival International de Louisiane is a community-based, non-profit arts organization formed in 1986 to produce an annual visual and performing arts festival celebrating the French cultural heritage of southern Louisiana - primarily a combination of French, African, Caribbean and Hispanic influences. The largest outdoor, FREE Francophone event in the U.S., the Festival places special emphasis on highlighting the connections between Acadiana and the Francophone world. Each year, artists from Europe, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean and the Americas are invited to share their talents with the community. Since its creation, Le Festival International de Louisiane has become famous as a premier presenter of some of the most unique world musicians and performances in the United States. Popular artists such as Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, Black Joe Lewis, The Wailers, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, and Buddy Guy have all performed on our stages. Postcards from Louisiana. Brass band playing in Jackson Square.Listen on Google Play.Listen on Google Podcasts.Listen on Spotify.Listen on Stitcher.Listen on TuneIn.The Louisiana Anthology Home Page.Like us on Facebook.

517. Part 2 of our interview with Windy Counsell Petre about Louisiana author Grace King. “Grace King was an American author of Louisiana stories, history, and biography, and a leader in historical and literary activities. King began her literary career as a response to George Washington Cable negative portrayal of Louisiana Creoles. King desired to create a sympathetic portrayal of Louisianians and Southerners based on her observations and experiences. King viewed herself as a type of representative for the region, although she herself was not in fact a Creole.  King also became a representative for Southern women. In her literary works, King focuses primarily on women and women's issues in Reconstruction and its aftermath. King also emphasizes how race and class affected the lives of women” (Wikipedia).  This week in Louisiana history. April 15, 1795. The Pointee Coupee Slave Rebellion. This week in New Orleans history. April 16, 1718. Official date of founding of New Orleans. This week in Louisiana. 2023 Annual Festival International De Louisiane Cajundome & Convention Center, Lafayette, Louisiana Apr 26 - 30, 2023 Website Le Festival International de Louisiane is a community-based, non-profit arts organization formed in 1986 to produce an annual visual and performing arts festival celebrating the French cultural heritage of southern Louisiana - primarily a combination of French, African, Caribbean and Hispanic influences. The largest outdoor, FREE Francophone event in the U.S., the Festival places special emphasis on highlighting the connections between Acadiana and the Francophone world. Each year, artists from Europe, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean and the Americas are invited to share their talents with the community. Since its creation, Le Festival International de Louisiane has become famous as a premier presenter of some of the most unique world musicians and performances in the United States. Popular artists such as Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, Black Joe Lewis, The Wailers, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, and Buddy Guy have all performed on our stages. Postcards from Louisiana. Brass band playing in Jackson Square.Listen on Google Play.Listen on Google Podcasts.Listen on Spotify.Listen on Stitcher.Listen on TuneIn.The Louisiana Anthology Home Page.Like us on Facebook.

516. Part 1 of our interview with Windy Counsell Petre about Louisiana author Grace King. “Grace King was an American author of Louisiana stories, history, and biography, and a leader in historical and literary activities. King began her literary career as a response to George Washington Cable negative portrayal of Louisiana Creoles. King desired to create a sympathetic portrayal of Louisianians and Southerners based on her observations and experiences. King viewed herself as a type of representative for the region, although she herself was not in fact a Creole.  King also became a representative for Southern women. In her literary works, King focuses primarily on women and women's issues in Reconstruction and its aftermath. King also emphasizes how race and class affected the lives of women” (Wikipedia). This week in Louisiana history. April 7, 1682. LaSalle and Tonti reached mouth of Miss. River. This week in New Orleans history. Ground was broken for Tulane stadium on April 7, 1924.  It opened on October 23, 1926 with a seating capacity of roughly 35,000. New Orleans-Item sports editor Fred Digby popularized the term "Sugar Bowl" in 1927. The first Sugar Bowl game was played there on January 1, 1935, against the Philadelphia Temple Owls.  The last was on December 31, 1974 when Nebraska beat Florida 14-10. This week in Louisiana. Postcards from Louisiana. Big Dixie Swingers. Listen on Google Play.Listen on Google Podcasts.Listen on Spotify.Listen on Stitcher.Listen on TuneIn.The Louisiana Anthology Home Page.Like us on Facebook.

Scoot talks to Metairie Bank CEO John Leblanc about what happened to two California banks that collapsed this week, and what - if any - risk exists for regional banks around the US

There is so much talent in Louisiana that selecting finalists for Louisiana Life's annual Louisianian of the Year issue is one of the magazine's toughest challenges. But, It was accomplished! And, there are many promising prospects left for the future. Louisiana Life Editor Melanie Spencer joins Errol Laborde, the magazine's Executive Editor, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot to boast about this year's list consisting of a woman working to preserve the Houma Indian culture; a champion of preserving the wetlands; a nurse practitioner specializing in sickle cell cases; a teacher who has mastered keeping the attention of students and a Shreveport restaurateur expanding his family's legacy. Plus, we will hear why one designee says of her calling, “This is where God wanted me to be.”

This week, Kaylene & Anna are joined yet again by a guest! Listen in as they catch up from the holidays, cutthroat energy, and talk to Megan Plotka about her upcoming documentary CANS Can't Stand.For forty years, police and prosecutors have weaponized Louisiana's Crime Against Nature by Solicitation (CANS) law to terrorize queer/trans Louisianians. CANS Can't Stand follows a group of Black trans women in New Orleans who are fighting to repeal that law—and advance trans liberation across the state.Episode Fifty Four Show NotesTarot Card of the Week: Queen of Voices from The Muse TarotBro Book Review: Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers

The saying goes that in Louisiana, the coast loses about a football field of land every 100 minutes. Coastal Louisianians, especially Indigenous residents, are facing the brunt of land loss, seeing their ways of life slow-changing and having to adapt for survival. One predominantly Indigenous community living off the coast, Isle de Jean Charles, is already among one of the first climate migrants in the country. The last episode of Engulfed pieces together the impact of coastal erosion on Southeast Louisiana and how it's threatening indigenous communities' ways of life.

Allison Plyer is an expert on numbers – not the boring kind that we may have experienced in school, but the fascinating statistics that reveal information about our lives and futures, as well as trends in the state. Plyer, the chief demographer for The Data Center, joins Louisiana Life Executive Editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot for riveting revelations about people and places. Oh yes, we will also hear about the chief causes of stress among Louisianians. One of them may surprise you. Follow Plyer on Twitter @allisonplyer

What exactly is the purpose of roux in a gumbo or stew? And how about those prepared roux mixes? Louisiana Life's longtime food columnist and genius in the kitchen as well Stanley Dry ponders these question and others with Errol Laborde, Executive Editor of Louisiana Life, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot. They also talk top Louisiana seafood and meats. Oh yes, we will also hear Dry reveal his favorite Louisiana-linked desserts.

Scoot talks to WWL listeners about the controversial comment Senator Cassidy made when suggesting that the high maternal mortality rate among Black women is somehow not a problem for all Louisianians

Scoot talks to Louisiana State Treasurer John Schroder about the Unclaimed Property Mall Show at Lakeside this weekend

Ian talks to Kate Tannian from the Ponchartrain Conservancy about a month-long volunteer effort to clear the regions storm drains to abet plastic pollution and improve drainage before hurricane season

2 separate interview in one podcast... Representative Larry Frieman discusses his legislation for 2022. In my opinion, politics may be local but often times not only reflects the needs of the "locals," but often reflects the needs of our Country. Representative Frieman is working hard for his district.  And so is Larry Bagley, and he tells us about his legislation that will not only affect Louisianians.... but may get some national attention too.

Scoot talks to WWL listeners and Lt Governor Billy Nungesser about Gov. Edwards' new anti-litter campaign, and why Louisianians of all stripes seem fine with trashing our home

Rescuers in boats, helicopters and high-water trucks brought hundreds of people trapped by Hurricane Ida's floodwaters to safety Aug. 30, and utility repair crews rushed in after the furious storm swamped the Louisiana coast and ravaged the electrical grid in the stifling, late-summer heat. Residents living amid the maze of rivers and bayous along the state's Gulf Coast retreated desperately to attics and roofs and posted their addresses on social media with instructions for search-and-rescue teams on where to find them. More than 1 million homes and businesses in Louisiana and Mississippi — including all of New Orleans — were left without power as Ida, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the U.S. mainland, pushed through Aug. 29. The damage was so extensive that officials warned it could be weeks before the power grid was repaired. The hurricane blew ashore on the 16th anniversary of Katrina, the 2005 storm that breached New Orleans levees, devastated the city and was blamed for 1,800 deaths. (AP) This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.

DSR is back with the Boot State Bois Travis Opal and Trevor Lee of Hey Thanks! In Part II we find out what happens if we all hum in 432hz, the beauty of super fans, and where to catch Hate Things & Stank Wampa Stallions debut.. Planet Beach! Sound lets dig into the state of the music industry today with Hey Thanks! & DSR! Stay Safe all you Louisianians. The Rebellion is with you!   Check out Hey Thanks! and their new Single “From Me 2 U” Hey Thanks! Help Support DSR and our Buds! New Orleans' own Elmer's CheeWees  Grab your Music Gear with Bayou Merchandise & Specialties Hang with Daniel Merry on ALT 9.23 DSR Distrokid Pickled Pepper Hop Shop Save 20% on your order by using promo code: DSRTALKS See what else DSR is up too! Dank Swamp Rebellion

The hypocrisy of the Leftists in Congress has reached defining proportions. And it parrots the same hypocrisy of the Biden Administration from top to bottom. Also, Dominion Voting Systems is about to finalize an agreement with Louisiana to take over the election system putting EVERYTHING online. That means, "No auditing possibility" for Louisianians!

Patrick Madden hosted Monday's episode of Louisiana Considered.   WRKF's Capitol Reporter Paul Braun details the upcoming fiscal session in Baton Rouge.    We take a look back at a 2016 episode of WWNO's Tripod that discusses how the Claiborne Expressway disrupted a vibrant corridor of black-owned businesses.  Bobbi-Jean Misick reports on “Shots for Shots” – an initiative taken on by some New Orleans bars aiming to promote mass vaccination among Louisianians. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick Madden and Stephanie Grace co-hosted Friday's Louisiana Considered.   Reporter Jack Stripling details a meeting that occurred in April 2019 in which former LSU President King Alexander told Stripling that he was instructed by the board to fire the athletic director. Read the full story here.   State Representative Royce Duplessis joins us to discuss restrictive voting policies that limit Louisianians' access to the polls. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone knows flood insurance isn’t the most exciting topic. What this episode presupposes is: maybe it should be? It’s not difficult to imagine a future in which climate change-fueled storms and floods depopulate our coastal communities. Generations of Louisianians have been moving northward for decades, after all. But could the rising cost of flood insurance actually drive people away sooner? That’s the question we’re exploring this week. We talk to two experts who explain the history of flood insurance in the United States, where the program is headed, and why flood insurance affordability is a political problem. Rebecca Elliott is an assistant professor of sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her book is called Underwater: Loss, Flood Insurance, and the Moral Economy of Climate Change in the United States. Andy Horowitz is an assistant professor of history at Tulane University. His book is called Katrina: A History, 1915-2015. Do you have a question you want us to explore? Send it to us! There’s a super simple form on our website. Follow us on social media for bonus pictures and occasional memes. We’re on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Support for WWNO’s Coastal Desk comes from the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and listeners like you. If you like what you hear from Life Raft, consider making a donation to WRKF and WWNO to help keep the show going!

Spoiler alert!! The answer to the above question is that they are both among this year’s class of Louisianians of the Year. The two – Zydeco buff Herman Fuselier and teacher Nathalie Roy – are part of the nine selected this year by Louisiana Life magazine. Melanie Warner Spencer, the magazine’s managing editor, joins executive editor Errol Laborde, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot, to talk about this year’s talented group. You’ll even hear about how Bob Thames, a Shreveport brewer, was inspired by an ancient bottle of bourbon to raise money for hospitality workers suffering losses because of COVID. He collected $27,000!

Highlights:“Evers is the governor who poured oil on the fires of the Kenosha riots which were of course sparked by the shooting of Jacob Blake.”“Literally a few months ago, Jenny Durkan was the darling of the future of progressivism… She was considered one of the future leaders of the Democrat party. She’s now politically dead.”“For some reason, conservative Louisianians thought it would be a good idea to put a leftist liberal in charge of their state. Obviously, they’re having buyer’s remorse.”“More Democrats than ever are being targeted for removal from office which means more freedom and more prosperity for the rest of us.”   Timestamps: [03:11] Recall effort to remove the leftist Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers[06:18] The call to ‘Fire the Mayor”’ of Seattle's Jenny Durkan[10:04] On the efforts to oust Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant[10:30] The recall petitions for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer[11:47] Recall effort for the governor of Louisiana[12:14] Four recall petitions for Nevada Governor and the three recall efforts for California Governor Gavin Newsom[13:00] The recall petitions for Boise, Idaho Mayor Lauren McLean and city council member Lisa SanchezResources:  Do you want to become a Turley Talks Insiders Club Member? Join here!Download your copy of the “Fake News Antidote” Ebook here!Get Dr. Turley’s Book Bundle Offer: 5 of his best-selling books at 50% OFF  (Limited time offer only!) Click here!Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and/or leave a review.Do you want to be a part of the podcast and be our sponsor? Click here to partner with us and defy liberal culture!If you would like to get lots of articles on conservative trends make sure to LIKE Dr. Steve Turley’s Facebook Page and sign-up for the 'New Conservative Age Rising' Email Alerts. 

In episode 14, Shane Youman chops it up with 2 time Olympic triple jumper Walter Davis. The two Louisianians talk about everything from Walter's athletic family, his love for basketball, and how he was first introduced to track and field. Davis takes Shane on his journey from Leonville Louisiana, to Barton County Community College, on to the 2000 Olympic Games, then LSU, his time on the Pro Circuit, and even another Olympics!

This Week's Geek - Miranda Rozas:Social MediaIG - @sexydragonbuttmuncherKeep an eye out for a documentary in the works! This Week's Topic - All Things Cajun:(Source: Wikipedia - Cajuns)The Cajuns, also known as Acadians, are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and in the Canadian maritimes provinces consisting in part of the descendants of the original Acadian exiles—French-speakers from Acadia in what are now the Maritimes of Eastern Canada. In Louisiana, Acadian and Cajun are often used as broad cultural terms without reference to actual descent from the deported Acadians. Historically, Louisianians of Acadian descent were also considered to be Louisiana Creoles, although Cajun and Creole are often portrayed as separate identities today. Most Cajuns are of French descent. The Cajuns make up a significant portion of south Louisiana's population and have had an enormous impact on the state's culture. While Lower Louisiana had been settled by French colonists since the late 17th century, the Cajuns trace their roots to the influx of Acadian settlers after the Great Expulsion from their homeland during the French and British hostilities prior to the Seven Years' War (1756 to 1763). The Acadia region to which modern Cajuns trace their origin consisted largely of what are now Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island plus parts of eastern Quebec and northern Maine. Since their establishment in Louisiana, the Cajuns have become famous for their unique French dialect, Louisiana French (also called "Cajun French", although the dialect predates the Acadians' arrival in Louisiana), and have developed a vibrant culture including folkways, music, and cuisine. The Acadiana region is heavily associated with them. This Week's Thanks:Thanks to Visager for our theme song “Welcome Player.” You can find more of their music at visager.us. That’s V-I-S-A-G-E-R dot U-S. Remember to rate and subscribe to us on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and all your favorite podcast sites. And hey while you’re there leave us a review! We LOVE them. Thank you for listening, dear listeners. We’ll be back next week!

John Gray is an award-winning music educator, musician and entrepreneur based out Baton Rouge, La. A proud alumnus of McKinley High School (c/o 98’) and the Southern University Music Department, Gray’s foundation began on the stadium fields as a member of both the McKinley High and Southern University marching bands and has manifested into an astonishing career in the realm of music education, independent artistry and music business. Under the mentorship of the late jazz great/Master Teacher, Alvin Batiste, Gray received his Associate of Arts in Jazz (01’) as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Performance (05’) from Southern University. In the decade that would follow his undergraduate studies, Gray has been named as The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s Teacher of the Year (2013-2014), he has been the recipient of the Master Teacher Award at the Dunham School where he currently teaches, he has also been awarded The LINK’s Role Model of the Year award (in 2014), and also has been named as one of Louisiana Life Magazine’s Louisianians of The Year, as well as Arts Ambassador by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. He’s been named as one of the People to Watch in 2015 by The Drum Magazine, and a Top 40 Under 40 Black Entrepreneurs for 2014-2015. He has also received artist residency training through the renown Kennedy Center for the Arts and completed training at the Jazz @ Lincoln Center’s Directors Academy. He is a 2015 graduate of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Leadership Class, and has been a TEDx speaker as well as a 99u speaker. John currently teaches full time at the Dunham School, and performs professionally with The JGrayJazz Trio, The Michael Foster Project, The Soul Jukeboxx, The Uptown Jazz Orchestra, and The Treme Brass Band. He also runs his own music company, Continuum Music, specializing in the recording, promotion, and booking of jazz artists and their music.If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests.For show notes and past guests, please visit dougstonejazz.com/podcast-1Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Please fill out the sponsor formDiscover Doug’s music: dougstonejazz.com/musicInstagram: instagram.com/dougstonejazzsaxophoneFacebook: facebook.com/dougstoneBoston Sax Shop

Woody Overton takes on injustice in this weeks episode. "Rapides Burning" is the first episode in a three part series that tells of the heartbreaking, and disturbing facts about unsolved crimes and those that get away with crime in Rapides Parish, in central Louisiana. The case of "Who Murdered Courtney Coco?" brought these injustices to light and cannot be ignored. Be sure to listen to this episode and those that will follow. Please continue to contact Real Life Real Crime with information of injustice in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. Woody was a guest on the "The Gifted Life Podcast" this week. Check out the episode here (https://www.thegiftedlife.org/) and as usual please register to donate here (https://www.donatelifela.org/LPLTC.html?s=LPLTC) . LOPA is a passion of Woody's and he strives for each of his listeners to sign-up to donate their organs upon their passing. It's just a small way of giving a big gift- THE GIFT OF LIFE. Ads: NEW AD THIS WEEK:  Unsolved Case Files - Please click here (https://www.unsolvedcasefiles.com/) to purchase your first case file and use promo code RLRC to $5 off your order! Raycon- Snoop Dogg, Melissa Etheridge, Brandy, JR Smith, Mike Tyson, and Rich theKid are obsessed with Raycon earbuds. Get yours today. Click here (https://rayconglobal.com/pages/rlrc?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=rlrc) to be taken to the RLRC link for 15% off the best earbuds you will ever use! If you're a Veteran and need help increasing your VA disability rating, you should get in touch with The Increase Hunters (https://theincreasehunters.com) , they have helped thousands of disabled veterans increase their rating and get the disability benefits that they deserve. Executive Producer Toby Tomplay Music by: Toby Tomplay LOPA: RLRC puts its money where its mouth is and recently raise $250 for Cyndi's (Woody's wife) birthday. We would like to thank all that donated money and signed up to be a donor. Your contributions will be used to do great things! With a core purpose of Working for Hope, Working in Honor and Working to Heal, the LOPA Foundation solicits and receives donations to support LOPA’s efforts to educate and celebrate the everlasting gift of organ and tissue donation. Gifts made to the LOPA Foundation help increase LOPA’s capacity and honor the thousands of Louisianians impacted by donation each year. 

Our guest on this week's podcast is Louisiana State Treasurer John Schroder, who talks about Main Street Recovery, a new state program that will offer grants of up to $15,000 to reimburse businesses for pandemic-related expenses. Schroder also discusses the many potential challenges facing Louisianians in the months ahead as the state tries to recover from the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Marc Ehrhardt, Executive Director of the Grow Louisiana Coalition, discussed Senate Bill 359 and how it can affect the livelihood of Louisiana’s oil and natural gas industry and hundreds of thousands of Louisianians.

Matthew Ory embodies everything this podcast is about. His first appearance on the podcast is still elevating new listeners almost a year later. When Pain Becomes Power was raw & inspirational, even emotional at times—round two is even better.Matt is a real estate investor, criminal defense attorney & my lifelong friend. In this episode, he brings mental toughness & optimism to an uncertain time.He says that he's "quarantined" his thoughts about COVID-19's impact on South Louisiana. But not anymore. He says the high infection rate where he lives was inevitable due to the unhealthy lifestyle of most Louisianians. (According to a New York Times article updated daily, there are 255 cases of COVID-19 in New Orleans per capita, making it among the highest infection rates in the US.)Matt's also passionate about the media's mishandling of the pandemic—he believes we're not getting the whole story.We also share feedback we've received from his first appearance, answer questions from listeners & give tips for how to position yourself for a better future by exploring different investment vehicles.

Due to the alarming spread of the corona virus, a stay at home law been implemented by the Governor of Louisiana, but some people are not listening to the Governor stay at home law, Why?

Due to the alarming spread of the corona virus, a stay at home law been implemented by the Governor of Louisiana, but some people are not listening to the Governor stay at home law, Why?

Due to the alarming spread of the corona virus, a stay at home law been implemented by the Governor of Louisiana, but some people are not listening to the Governor stay at home law, Why?

With Louisiana’s State Election Saturday Oct 12 (Runoff Nov 16), Louis Avallone and Stephen Parr talk about what being a RED state candidate really means. Further, the Democrats in Louisiana continue to do things which are hurting business in the State, including raise taxes and otherwise make decisions which hurt good, hard-working Louisianians.

With Louisiana’s State Election Saturday Oct 12 (Runoff Nov 16), Louis Avallone and Stephen Parr talk about what being a RED state candidate really means. Further, the Democrats in Louisiana continue to do things which are hurting business in the State, including raise taxes and otherwise make decisions which hurt good, hard-working Louisianians.

"I like to always tell people you can't complain if you don't vote. One Acadiana doesn't endorse candidates. We take the opportunity to educate people on what the candidates stand for. We take the opportunity to educate the candidates on what our robust business-led public policy agenda is. We want people to know what the business community stands for and what they see as the things that are required for them to be successful."  Troy Wayman Troy Wayman, One Acadiana’s President and CEO, is our guest on the episode of Discover Lafayette. One Acadiana ("1A") is a business-led, privately-funded economic development organization serving a nine-parish area in South Louisiana with over 900 member companies and individuals. Approximately 700 of the group's members are based in Lafayette Parish, the home base of the economic development organization formerly known as the "Lafayette Chamber of Commerce." It’s been a busy time for 1A, between hosting candidate forums for the October 2019 elections and having Dr. Loren Scott deliver his annual Louisiana Economic Outlook. They’ve also just launched a five-year $15 million dollar strategic campaign, “IMPACT – The Campaign for One Acadiana", designed to sharpen its ability to capture new and expanding business opportunities and propel Acadiana forward. While 1A doesn't endorse candidates as it has in the past, that doesn't mean the organization is not "political." They work to disseminate information on 1A's positions on policy issues affecting infrastructure, workforce and education, and healthcare to all candidates to ensure a unified voice for the region's business community. This fall, 1A hosted three forums that showcased the candidates for Lafayette's Mayor-President, Lafayette Parish School Board, and Lafayette City and Parish Council races. Each event gave its members and the general public the opportunity to hear the candidates in person and witness each candidate's demeanor. Fortunately for our community, the candidate forums have been conducted in a civil and professional manner, which reflects well on the persons choosing to run as our elected servants. Troy encouraged all people to remember to vote on October 12, 2019. It is best to prepare ahead of time as the ballot is lengthy and covers everything from local and state elections to 4 Constitutional initiatives. Compete LA was announced recently at a 1A luncheon where University of Louisiana System President and CEO Jim Henderson announced the program's aim to re-engage the 653,000 Louisianians with some college credit but no degree. Troy explained that many adults have a significant amount of college credits but never completed their degree. With online classes, it has never been easier to earn college credits. The program is an opportunity to improve the state’s second to last ranking of those with bachelor’s degrees or higher. The program was introduced in early May and Compete LA has already engaged with more than 1100 students, 600 of whom have more than 120 course credits, the typical number of hours to earn a bachelor’s degree. 1A is supporting bills for the upcoming legislative session that will address impediments to students staying and/or returning to school: school debt racked up from parking tickets and other non-fee related charges prevent students from re-enrolling for classes or transferring to another university. Passage of a law that allows the university to work with students to develop a payment plan will allow students to move forward and universities to re-enroll students and receive tuition. “For Louisiana to be competitive in the economy of the future, we have to develop a more educated workforce,” Henderson said. “Compete LA is designed to cut through the red tape of returning to school and provide supports at every step of the student’s educational journey.” Another important initiative of 1A is "55 by 25" with a goal of increasing the proportion of working-age adults in Acadi...

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coupled with some medical researchers here and abroad, have found climbing rates of many STDs in this demographic. Herpes, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and even HIV and AIDS are no longer diseases only for the young. In fact, in seniors (ages 45-64+), rates for most of these infections has almost tripled in the past ten years.  With the possibility of pregnancy disappearing after a certain age, it can be more tempting for seniors to forego protection during sex. According to statistics from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, HIV diagnoses in older Louisianians went up from 2010 to 2011. For Louisianians aged 65 and over, the number rose from 66 in 2010 to 78 in 2011. The age 45 to 54.demographic went up from 207 in 2010 to 232 in 2011.

On this weeks episode the guys welcome on Brett Forde of Mystery Tackle Box. The guys talk about the creation of the company, what they offer, and much more. In addition to the interview, the guys talk about their recent fishing successes, Louisianians calling the cops on Taco Bell, Justin Bieber wants to fight Tom Cruise in the Octagon, voicemails and more. 

I'm often asked, "Where should we keep our last will and testament?" This is an important issue because, after you pass away, your original last will needs to be filed at the courthouse to start the court-supervised probate process (often called "Succession" in Louisiana). You have several options when it comes to where you should store your last will.Some people mistakenly believe that all Wills are stored at the courthouse. Your Will does not get filed at the courthouse until after you pass away and the Succession is underway. A probate/Succession cannot get started until after someone dies.Some choose to keep their original last will at their residence. This keeps the will easily accessible, but many Louisianians lost all of their important legal documents in recent hurricanes and floods around south Louisiana. If you do keep your last will and testament in your home, perhaps you should keep it in a waterproof and fireproof safe, preferably one large enough or built into the structure to prevent theft.Others decide to keep their will in their bank safe deposit box. If you do this, you must make a decision regarding whether you want to grant someone else the authority to access your box. If no one else is "on" your safe deposit box, then a court order will be necessary after you pass away to open your box and access the contents of your safe deposit box.Some people, at their attorney's suggestion, allow their attorney to keep their last will and testament. I've never been a big fan of the attorney keeping the originals of all of the Wills that he or she prepared. Attorneys can move around often. In addition, an awkward situation arises when the survivors may not want to use the legal services of that particular attorney or law firm after the death of a loved one. Many attorneys keep the original wills of their clients because it gives them a competitive advantage when it comes to the lucrative probate work that is necessary of the death of the will-maker.The Louisiana Legislature has authorized the Secretary of State to maintain a Will Registration Form. While you cannot enclose a copy or the actual will, you can document the intended place of our will or the name and address of someone who has information regarding where your will is located. We don't see this Louisiana Secretary of State Will Registration Form used very often.While there may be no "perfect place" to keep your last will and testament, you should, at least, let your trusted love ones know of the existence and location of your last will and testament.This post is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Please do not act or refrain from acting based on anything you read on this site. Using this site or communicating with Rabalais Estate Planning, LLC, through this site does not form an attorney/client relationship.Paul RabalaisLouisiana Estate Planning Attorneywww.RabalaisEstatePlanning.comPhone: (225) 329-2450

Interview with Rontherin Ratliff, John Isiah Walton, and Carl Joe Wiliams from the Level Arts Collective, whose show, Inside Out: Reflections on incarceration in Louisiana, runs through May 6 at the Double Shotgun gallery. Info below. Featuring Keith Calhoun, Glenn Ford, Ana Hernandez, Maria Hinds, Chandra McCormick, Brandan Odums, Sheila Phipps, Rontherin Ratliff, John Isiah Walton, and Carl Joe Williams. April 14-May 6, 2018 Opening reception: Saturday, April 14, 2018, 5-8 p.m. Gallery hours: Saturday & Sunday 12-5 or by appointment Louisiana currently has the highest per capita incarceration rate in the United States (and the world), with 816 people in prison for every 100,000 residents. That’s nearly double the national average. Since the late 1970’s the number of people in prison has grown 30 times faster than the state’s population. While New Orleans celebrates its “Tricentennial,” Inside Out seeks to recognize our incarcerated populations and provide insights into their lived experiences. Every day in the state of Louisiana thousands of people are enduring dangerous, torturous and inhumane conditions of confinement that have long lasting physical and psychological effects. Their voices are often marginalized, yet their resilience, creativity and experiences have much to contribute to the narrative of American life and history.  Much of this exhibit relates to Angola prison or LSP (Louisiana State Penitentiary), an 18,000 acre maximum security prison located on the banks of the Mississippi river in central Louisiana on land formally occupied by slave plantations. Also known as ‘The Farm’, Angola houses 6300 incarcerated men, most of whom have life sentences among whom most will die in the prison. The Department of Corrections paired with a racially biased legal system, perpetuates a legacy of slavery by disproportionately targeting black, brown and poor white people for incarceration, the majority of whom are housed in for-profit facilities. One in eighty-six adult Louisianians are incarcerated, nearly double the national average. Among black men from New Orleans, one in fourteen are behind bars; one in seven are either in prison, on parole or on probation.

The Boys do another EXPLOSIVE live show at Big Frank's Wing Slinger (He's Back) in Bastrop, Louisiana! And they're talkin' Justin Verlander's mental readiness for the Houston Astros' 2018 Season, questions surrounding Gordon Hayward's return to the Celtics, true love, deep sleep, and much more! All to the shock and delight of a SWARM of wing-eating, sports-crazed Louisianians.

Shellac Stack No. 52 celebrates the 100th birthday of bandleader Van Alexander, features some mandolin records, and packs a “punch” with Frankie Franko's Louisianians and Mutt Carey. We've also got records from Muggsy Spanier, Chick Bullock, Smith Ballew, Mel Blanc, and a 1917 Earl Fuller disc that will mow you down!

Getting together with family and friends is something Louisianians do best and in springtime, the weather s just right for barbecues and crawfish boils. This week on Louisiana Eats we re going around the state to investigate two primary foods that feed the masses this time of year. Sam Irwin grew up in crawfish country, so his fascination with our state s freshwater crustacean seems natural. Sam s the first of many guests to discuss the crawfish, as well as Chris Jay and Scott Gold, who join the conversation with their own advice about the mudbug. Then we ll turn to members of the Southern Foodways Alliance for some insights into barbecue. Chef Drew Robinson talks about running a barbecue joint with over 30 locations, and John T. Edge discusses the peace making capabilities of a great smoked pig. CRAWFISH BISQUE Serves 8 Yields 3 quarts 4 lbs. boiled crawfish 3 lbs. crawfish tail meat Stuffing 1 4 cup flour for roux 4 T oil 1 2 lg. onion finely chopped 1 2 lg. bell pepper finely chopped 1 stalk celery finely chopped 1 tsp. thyme 1 sm. can tomato paste 1 4 tsp. black pepper 1 2 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 tsp. salt 1 2 cup plain bread crumbs 1 T fresh parsley, chopped 3 green onions, thinly sliced 1 cup chopped crayfish tails 1 stick butter 1 2 cup flour for rolling heads Make a dark roux with the flour and oil. Add onions, then bellpepper and celery, and cook until tender. Add tomato paste and chopped tails. Add seasonings and simmer on low flame 10 15 minutes. Add bread crumbs, parsley, green onions, and butter. Fill each head with stuffing. Roll in flour and bake for 15 minutes in a 300 degree oven. Set aside. Crawfish Stock Take all peelings from crawfish, onions, celery, green onions, etc. and cover with 1 gallon of water. Bring to a boil, and boil for 5 minutes. Strain and reserve stock. Bisque 3 4 cup flour for roux 1 2 cup oil 1 onion finely chopped 1 bell pepper finely chopped 3 stalks celery finely chopped 3 qt. crawfish stock 3 4 tsp. cayenne pepper 2 tsp. salt 1 2 cup tomato sauce 2 cloves garlic finely chopped 2 cups crawfish tails 1 bunch green onion, thinly sliced 2 bay leaves 2 T thyme Make a dark roux with the flour and oil. Add onions, then bell pepper and celery. Add rest of ingredients

Getting together with family and friends is something Louisianians do best and in springtime, the weather s just right for barbecues and crawfish boils. This week onLouisiana Eats we re going around the state to investigate two primary foods that feed the masses this time of year. Sam Irwin grew up in crawfish country, so his fascination with our state s freshwater crustacean seems natural. Sam s the first of many guests to discuss the crawfish, as well as Chris Jay and Scott Gold, who join the conversation with their own advice about the mudbug. Then we ll turn to members of the Southern Foodways Alliance for some insights into barbecue. Chef Drew Robinson talks about running a barbecue joint with over 30 locations, and John T. Edge discusses the peace making capabilities of a great smoked pig. CRAWFISH BISQUE Serves 8 Yields 3 quarts 4 lbs. boiled crawfish 3 lbs. crawfish tail meat Stuffing 1 4 cup flour for roux 4 T oil 1 2 lg. onion finely chopped 1 2 lg. bell pepper finely chopped 1 stalk celery finely chopped 1 tsp. thyme 1 sm. can tomato paste 1 4 tsp. black pepper 1 2 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 tsp. salt 1 2 cup plain bread crumbs 1 T fresh parsley, chopped 3 green onions, thinly sliced 1 cup chopped crayfish tails 1 stick butter 1 2 cup flour for rolling heads Make a dark roux with the flour and oil. Add onions, then bellpepper and celery, and cook until tender. Add tomato paste and chopped tails. Add seasonings and simmer on low flame 10 15 minutes. Add bread crumbs, parsley, green onions, and butter. Fill each head with stuffing. Roll in flour and bake for 15 minutes in a 300 degree oven. Set aside. Crawfish Stock Take all peelings from crawfish, onions, celery, green onions, etc. and cover with 1 gallon of water. Bring to a boil, and boil for 5 minutes. Strain and reserve stock. Bisque 3 4 cup flour for roux 1 2 cup oil 1 onion finely chopped 1 bell pepper finely chopped 3 stalks celery finely chopped 3 qt. crawfish stock 3 4 tsp. cayenne pepper 2 tsp. salt 1 2 cup tomato sauce 2 cloves garlic finely chopped 2 cups crawfish tails 1 bunch green onion, thinly sliced 2 bay leaves 2 T thyme Make a dark roux with the flour and oil. Add onions, then bell pepper and celery. Add rest of ingredients except garlic, crawfish tails and parsley. Simmer 30 minutes, then add garlic. Simmer 10 minutes, then add tails and parsley. Simmer 5 minutes and add more stock if necessary. Reheat stuffed heads in bisque. Serve over rice. Add 5 6 heads per bowl, and eat by scooping the stuff out of the heads and eating together with rice and bisque.