Episode 236: 4Sisters Rice is Promoting Louisiana and Sustainable Farming One Grain at a Time

Louisiana is the 3rd largest rice producing state in the US and rice is one of the state's top agricultural exports. The family behind 4Sisters Rice knows the industry inside and out, and is doing everything they can to bring attention back domestically and locally to Louisiana. Meryl Kennedy is the youngest of the 4 Kennedy sisters behind the brand and acts as the company's CEO. Meryl shares her passion for the industry that is so vital to the state's economy, while also advocating for the US rice industry and working to move towards more sustainable practices across the board.

It is said that if you do what you love you’ll never work a day in your life. I believe that is true for Lafayette native Daniel Barousse. Barousse is a skateboarder and artist, who combines both of his passions into creating unique furniture pieces out of skateboards meant for the trash. Recently, none other than Aquaman himself found Barousse’s work through his robust social media channels and commissioned him for a chair. In this episode Barousse talks about his journey to finding his passion, making custom pieces for Jason Mamoa and his hope to change at least one kid’s life through his work and the skateboarding lifestyle. Follow Daniel and Barousse Works through their website and social media.

It’s common lore the ghost and spirit-infused stories of New Orleans. The vast history of the area along with the endless amounts of tragedy leave behind a lingering spirit you feel the moment you step into the city. But what lead to the Big Easy’s cemented status as one of the most haunted places? Mother/daughter duo Rory O’Neill Schmitt and Rosary Hartel O’Neill took the time to dive into the story of the ghosts, vampires and spirits that haunt New Orleans. Their new book "The Haunted Guide to New Orleans" takes readers on a journey that goes beyond the scary stories and into the heart ofwhat makes the city so spooky. This week, the two chat with us about what it’s like to write a book together, why they moved their focus to haunted history and the details that went into the research behind the words.*See the duo for a book signed Dec. 20, 2025 at Garden District Book Shop.

On Nov. 15, Beignet Fest in New Orleans will host its 8th annual event. Not only is this festival highlighting a culinary fan favorite, the event as a whole was created to support the Beignet Fest Foundation and its mission to celebrate and support children with autism and their families. This week, we hear from festival founder Sherwood Collins, who tells us about the creation of Beignet Fest, the foundation’s many community endeavors and what everyone can expect at this year’s event. 

Since 1906, the State Fair of Louisiana has been bringing Louisianians and visitors a like together for fun, food and the promotion of agriculture across our state. From the largest livestock show and carnival in the state, to lumberjack competitions and even a petting zoo - the state fair has a little something for everyone. The fairs marketing director Russell Adams shares insight into the festival, what people can expect and what the organization is doing to make sure everyone has a safe, fun time at the three-week event starting Oct. 30 in Shreveport. 

In this week's episode, editor Reine Dugas takes over the podcast to talk to John Hoffman. The Shreveport-native is the new drummer for the band Primus. Hoffman won the spot in a long audition process that saw thousands of competitors. Hoffman shares with Dugas his experiences with the band, the long audition process and his life in Louisiana.

You may know him as a member of Team Niall on the current season of "The Voice" on NBC, but Dustin Dale Gaspard is helping to put Cajun music and language on an international stage. The artist, from Cow Island Louisiana has officially made it to the third round of the singing competition after going head to head in the knockout round with another member of the team. Reba McEntire says he’s fascinating, his coach thinks he could win the show and we’re just all rooting for a member of the home team. In this episode, Dustin shares why he’s advocating so hard for the widespread appreciation Cajun music, how he got his start and what it’s like to be part of a huge TV show like "The Voice."

Each year, Food & Wine magazine shares their list for Best New Chefs in the country. Kelly Jacques – cofounder and chef of Ayu Bakehouse in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans – joins the ranks of Nina Compton, Anna Castro and Nicole Cabrera Mills as a Best New Chef. Jacques started the highly popular bakery following the COVID-19 pandemic and really made a splash on the famous Frenchman Street. In this week's episode, Jacques talks about her mission of bringing joy to the community and those who eat her food, plus what the honor means to her.

In today’s episode, we’re highlighting this year’s Festival Acadien et Creoles in Lafayette with VP of Programming & Development Patrick Mould. The festival, as it’s known today, is in its 51st year of bringing Cajun and Creole culture to the masses. The three-day festival is set to highlight the food, music and art of the region and includes multiple stages, art exhibit and symposium, chef demonstrations and more. For more information visit festivalsacadiens.com!

Nicole Beauchamp is a world-renowned paranormal researcher with a soft spot for the spirit of the Crescent City. Her recent contribution to the paranormal world is her newest book “Haunted French Quarter Hotels,” where she takes a dive into the history and hauntings of 10 New Orleans hotels. This week, we talk to the author about her new book, her personal paranormal experiences in the city and around the world, as well as the free and open-to-the-public book launch happening Oct. 4 in New Orleans.