Episode 224: NBC Nightly News' Tom Llamas Shares His Connection to Louisiana

This year marked the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the greater New Orleans area. But, less than a month later, southwest Louisiana was hit by one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record and the biggest storm to hit the area in almost 50 years at that time. For 17 years, Randy Roach served as the mayor of Lake Charles. In 2005, he not only had to take in displaced New Orleanians following Hurricane Katrina, but then make the difficult decisions that came along with a direct hit by Hurricane Rita. This week, we chat with the former mayor about the experience of Hurricane Rita and reflecting back on 20 years later. 

Earlier this summer Tom Llamas took over the reigns as the anchor and managing editor of NBC’s Nightly News. A graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, and married to a local New Orleanian, the Big Easy has been like a second home for the journalist. I recently interviewed him for our sister publication New Orleans Magazine and recorded the conversation that spanned career, new beginnings and what New Orleans and Louisiana means to him. 

Next to the St. Louis Cathedral and the Crescent City Connection, the Superdome is a visual icon of the city, completing the well-known skyline of the Big Easy. Through the ups and downs of football to playing host to the likes of The Rolling Stones and Muhammed Ali, The Superdome has seen the city through many phases since its opening. One, most notable, was the domed building’s role in Hurricane Katrina. As the home of the New Orleans Saints celebrates its 50th anniversary and we look back on 20 years since Katrina, this episode we’re taking a journey from the beginning with Evan Holmes. Holmes is the General Manager of the now-named Caesars Superdome, as well as the Smoothie King Center and ASM New Orleans. 

Lafayette has been nominated in USAToday’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Place to Visit for Fall. A contest you can help the city win by voting up until Sept. 8.This week, Ben Berthelot, president and CEO of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, shares some insight into the culture, food and fun that continue to make Lafayette the place to be – especially this fall – in Acadiana. 

Last December, Louisiana Life writer Kevin Rabalais set out in the early morning hours outside of Natchitoches with Richard Armstrong, his daughter Camille, hunting dog Gage and the rest of their crew to go duck hunting. A hunter his entire life, Richard talks with us about the ins and outs of hunting in Louisiana: the sport of it all, the artistry of the motions and the way hunters are helping with wildlife conservation.

About 30 minutes outside of Covington, sits Isabel, Louisiana in Washington Parish - the now host of a crystal-clear private lake that has officially opened to the public for day passes and cabana bookings. With kayaks, fishing spots, a 3-mile nature walking trail and more, Lake Isabel Farm is shaping up to be the perfect beach day getaway. Owner Anthony Sedlak joins us to chat about the inception of Lake Isabel Farm and the future offerings that are already in the works.  

"The Dirty South" recently became available to stream on Amazon Prime and Roku. The 2023 film – staring Shane West, Willa Holland and Dermot Mulroney – was meant to bring a viewers into the small towns that create the South... while adding in a little crime, drama and intrigue that garnered an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was written and directed by Natchitoches native Matthew Yerby, produced (and staring) New Orleans native Andrew Vogel, with music composition by Abita Springs native Tyler Forrest. This week's episode talks to the Louisiana men about creating a movie in Louisiana, with Louisianians and for our great state and those small towns that are the backbone of the region.

On July 17, the state officially canceled the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project - the biggest coastal restoration project in the country, made possibly by funds from a settlement of the 2010 BP Oil Spill. This week, Pontchartrain Conservancy Executive Director Kristi Trail answers the question as to why the project was cancelled and what many believe this means for the preservation of our state at a whole. Trail urges those interested in attending meetings, submitting their own plans and more visit the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority website.

Canal Street in New Orleans has a long history of fashion, culture, nightlife and great food. For decades it was a main stop for New Orleans visitors and families alike. In recent years, Canal Street has lost a bit of its glimmer. Sandra Herman is the founder of the Celebrate Canal! Coalition, a citizen-led coalition aimed at revitalizing Canal Street. This week, Herman talks about why it's important to bring people back to Canal Street and how her team is determined to make that happen.

Abi Caswell opened her BATTER, A Bakery in Downtown Hammond in 2022. The self-taught baker went from popping up at local farmer's markets to going viral on TikTok and expanding to open a new shop in New Orleans. Caswell shares her journey with listeners and highlights the value small businesses hold in the city of Hammond. Follow Caswell's journey, along with her over 285,000 followers, on TikTok here.