Shows
Sea ChangeWetlands Radio: Part 4For the fourth and final episode of our collaboration with Wetlands Radio, a series about coastal restoration: ways we can all help repair our coast. So...what does a bottle of Two Buck Chuck and slinging back oysters have to do with building land? Find out how one man's trash transforms into coastal treasures. And then, to close out the series on coastal restoration, we learn about the crown jewel of Louisiana science: a research project that exemplifies how everything is connected. EPISODE CREDITSThis episode was hosted by Executive Producer Carlyle Calhoun and Wetlands R...
2026-02-1132 minSea ChangeWetlands Radio: Part 3Oil and gas canals. You’ve likely heard about the canals—tens of thousands of them, ever-widening, shredding the wetlands. The canals are what some scientists say is Louisiana’s major cause of land loss. In Part 3 of our collaboration with Wetlands Radio, we explore the impact of canals, why industry has gotten away with the damage, and what's being done about it now.And then, what does it actually look like for Big Oil to clean up after itself? We bring you an interview about the current, controversial lawsuits aiming to hold the oil and gas indust...
2026-01-2830 minSea ChangeWetlands Radio: Part 2The media is full of stories about the coastal land loss crisis in Louisiana, dire predictions of climate change and sea level rise, and polarizing accounts of controversial projects. What's less known is that Louisiana is really good at something. A world leader, in fact. When it comes to coastal restoration, some say Louisiana is number one. Because project by project, Louisiana is piecing this ragged shoreline back together.Over the next four episodes of Sea Change, we're going to feature Wetlands Radio. The series is a deep dive into Louisiana's coast - both how i...
2026-01-1433 minSea ChangeWetlands Radio: Part 1Louisiana is a world leader in coastal restoration. Many would even say number one. The media is full of stories about the coastal land loss crisis in Louisiana, the dire predictions of climate change and sea level rise, and polarizing accounts of controversial projects, but what is also true is that Louisiana is making tremendous strides piecing this ragged shoreline back together little by little. Over the next four episodes of Sea Change, we're going to feature Wetlands Radio. The series is a deep dive into Louisiana's coast - both how it came to be imperiled and a...
2025-12-2933 minSea ChangeUnderstanding the Mysterious Loop CurrentThe amazing science behind understanding mysterious but critical ocean currents. And specifically, understanding the current in our backyard, the Gulf’s Loop Current.We talk with scientists leading a huge multi-country research collaboration that is going to great lengths and depths to understand the especially unknown Loop Current. We talk about how currents connect us, how they are basically a thermostat for the globe, and why, more than ever before, we need to understand them. EPISODE CREDITSThis episode was hosted by executive producer Carlyle Calhoun. Our theme music is by Jon Batiste, and...
2025-12-1837 minSea ChangeFarming the Ocean: Part 2This is part 2 of a 2-part series exploring the future of farming seafood in the Gulf. We know this: demand for seafood is soaring. We won't be able to sustainably meet that demand from wild-caught fisheries. And there’s a growing global movement to farm more and more of our seafood. The Gulf is one of the LAST places in the world where there is still a major wild oyster harvest. Lately, though, that harvest…is in trouble. In this episode, we ask: What can the downfall and resurrection of the oyster tell us about a future of fa...
2025-12-0323 minSea ChangeFarming the Ocean: Part 1This is part 1 of a 2-part series exploring the future of farming seafood in the Gulf. Americans eat a lot of farmed seafood — but the vast majority of it comes from overseas. We just don’t farm fish on a big scale in U.S. waters. Now that might start to change. There are proposals to build massive fish farms in U.S. federal waters. And guess which coast is likely to be the first home for these new farms? You guessed it, the Gulf.So is this a miracle cure or a looming ecological disaster?EPI...
2025-11-2130 minSea ChangeClassic Episode: Riddle of the Kemp's Ridley Sea TurtleThe story we are bringing you today is about sea turtles. In fact, it’s about the smallest and most endangered of sea turtles, called the Kemp’s Ridley. It’s a surprising and optimistic tale about a turtle’s return to Louisiana. We reported this episode back in 2023, but we wanted to revisit it because who doesn’t need more sea turtles in their life right now? And also because there has been some big news for sea turtles recently.This episode was hosted and produced by Carlyle Calhoun. Sea Change's theme music is by Jon Bati...
2025-11-1337 minSea ChangeNo Matter the WaterWhat does it take to stay rooted on the Gulf Coast, even as the land and weather change around us? We meet individuals, from a poet to a minister to a computer programmer, each finding their own creative ways to adapt and fight for the future of their communities. From amphibious homes to inland retreats to processing our changing environment through poetry, we hear how people's ingenuity is helping chart a new path forward.To hear more from Rachel Nederveld's oral history series, No Matter the Water, click here or find it wherever you get your podcasts.
2025-10-2528 min
Louisiana ConsideredBreaking down Louisiana v. Callais; Holocaust Cantata presents music from concentration camps; WWNO’s benefit concertThe U.S. Supreme Court is hearing Callais v. Louisiana, a seminal redistricting case that focuses on the constitutionality of the state’s congressional map. The court will consider whether Louisiana’s creation of a second majority-Black district in 2024 — which was required by the Voting Rights Act — is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th and 15th Amendments. John Cusick serves as Assistant Counsel for the Legal Defense Fund, the organization arguing to keep the map as it is. He spoke with WRKF’s Report for America Corps Member, Alex Cox, for more.The Symph...
2025-10-2124 minSea ChangeThe Quiet Revolution Saving Fish and FishermenThere was a time back in the 1980s when overfishing had decimated popular fish like red snapper and grouper in the Gulf. But then, there was a dramatic turning point, when both fish and fishermen in the Gulf were kind of saved. Today, we hear the remarkable success story of how unlikely partners joined forces to save an industry and an ecosystem.In this episode, Environmental Defense Fund's Executive Director, Amanda Leland, water resilience author, James Workman, and fisherman, Buddy Guidon, talk about how catch shares created a quiet revolution. To learn more, check out A...
2025-10-0931 minSea ChangeThe Trojan SeahorseToday, we’re bringing you a wild story. It’s about a covert ocean adventure from back in the Cold War days that inadvertently set off a brand new industry. And it’s an industry that’s been in the news a lot lately: deep-sea mining. Earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order to try to fast-track deep-sea mining, while many countries are calling for more research before any mining can proceed or an outright ban. The deep ocean is the least known place on Earth, and scientists say we are only beginning to understand the power...
2025-09-2432 minSea ChangeThe Next Big One: Are We Prepared?Today, we bring you three stories exploring what it really takes to be ready for the next big storm. But at their core, these stories are about something deeper: the determination to keep living here on the Gulf Coast, and about the choices we’re making that will decide whether that’s possible.Thanks for listening to Sea Change. This episode was hosted by Carlyle Calhoun, Eva Tesfaye, and Michael McEwen. Eva and Michael reported the stories. Carlyle Calhoun is Sea Change's executive producer. Emily Jankowski is our sound designer, and our theme music is by Jon Bati...
2025-09-1037 minSea ChangeA Train Ride Through Katrina's LegacyFor the first time since Hurricane Katrina made landfall 20 years ago, you can take a train ride across the Gulf Coast, from Mobile to New Orleans. And all these years later, the cities along that route are still living with the storm's aftermath. In this episode, we hop aboard the train and make four Gulf Coast stops along the way to share that story. About what happened during Katrina. How some places built back better, and how others are still trying to figure out how to rebuild.This episode was reported and hosted by Stephan Bisaha of...
2025-08-2727 minSea ChangeSea Change Live! 20 Years After KatrinaTwo decades after Hurricane Katrina and its devastating aftermath reshaped New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, we gathered to remember all that was lost, reflect on the lessons learned, and pay tribute to all the good that has been done in the two decades since. And, we look to the future: where do we go from here, and how can this region not just survive but thrive?Renowned jazz musician Dr. Michael White performs original music written in response to Katrina and reflects on connections between recovering from the tragedy and the city's jazz culture. (Dr. White...
2025-08-2043 minSea ChangeClassic Episode: If I Get Called Resilient One More Time...This August marks twenty years since Hurricane Katrina. Today, we are bringing you a story we first aired in 2023. It’s about a word heard everywhere after Hurricane Katrina. And people across the Gulf Coast have strong and complicated feelings about it. The word is resilient. A special thanks to Rob Verchick, author of The Octopus in the Parking Garage: A Call for Climate Resilience. And, to everyone who spent time with us for this story, from a construction site in rural Alabama to the streets of New Orleans’ Gentilly neighborhood. Also, a big, big thank...
2025-07-3051 minSea ChangeThe Unlikely Hero of El BosqueEl Bosque, Mexico, a tiny fishing village on Mexico’s Gulf Coast, is quickly vanishing into the sea. In this episode, we journey to El Bosque to meet the town’s unlikely hero—one woman determined to fight for a future for her community as her neighbors flee the encroaching waves.This episode was reported by Alvaro Céspedes. It was hosted by Carlyle Calhoun and Alvaro. Editing by Johanna Zorn, Carlyle Calhoun, with additional help from Ricardo Lopez Cordero. Translation by Elsa Gil (as Lupe Cobos) and Sofia Garfias (as Cristina Pacheco). Fact-checking by Garrett Hazelwood. Our them...
2025-07-1633 minSea ChangeSome Like It Hot, Especially Bull SharksClimate change is bad news for almost everyone. Emphasis on almost, because believe it or not, one marine species is absolutely thriving as the Gulf warms: Bull sharks! Get ready for some shark science as we learn why bull sharks are increasing in numbers across the Gulf and getting hungrier. This episode was hosted by Carlyle Calhoun and Katelyn Harrop. Katelyn conducted the interview. Our theme music is by John Batiste, and our sound designer is Emily Jankowski. Carlyle Calhoun is the executive producer. Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production. We're part of th...
2025-07-0229 minSea ChangeBetween Land and Water: Tribal Relocation and ResistanceClimate change is altering the land we live on, and Indigenous communities are on the frontline. In this episode, we bring you to Alaska, where rapid permafrost thaw is threatening the Native village of Nunapitchuk. Then, we head to Louisiana, where the Pointe-Au-Chien Indian Tribe is watching their land disappear underwater due to sea level rise. These threats are forcing these tribes to make the difficult decision: to stay and adapt, or to leave their ancestral home. This episode was produced in collaboration with the Economic Hardship Reporting Project. This episode was reported by Eva Te...
2025-06-1835 minSea ChangeSaving Sharks to Slave Trade ShipwrecksIf you’ve ever dreamed of what it would be like to be a marine biologist or marine ecologist, days spent scuba diving and swimming alongside sea turtles, all to better understand and protect our ocean, well then, you’re about to meet one of your heroes. Today, we are bringing you an episode of the podcast Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant. It’s an award-winning show from our friends at Nature on PBS featuring some of the coolest champions of nature, including someone you are about to meet: marine ecologist Alannah Vellacott. Sea Change i...
2025-06-1039 minSea ChangeThe True Cost of FertilizerThe chemical industry is big business in Louisiana. Companies here manufacture plastics, fuels, pesticides, and cleaning products. But one part of the chemical industry that’s often overlooked is the fertilizer business. Today, you’re going to hear the story of modern fertilizer, and how this powerful concoction of chemicals has radically reshaped how we farm and what we eat. In this episode, we follow the journey of fertilizer from Louisiana to the Midwest, then back down along the Mississippi River to a place it creates in the Gulf. A place called: The Dead Zone.This...
2025-05-2234 minSea ChangeSea Change Live! Music & the WetlandsLast week, we hosted a Sea Change live event at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. We wanted to talk about the science behind the massive land loss crisis we are experiencing, what it means to live in a vanishing landscape, and importantly, what we can do about it. But this is New Orleans, so we also wanted to celebrate! Celebrate the culture and joy of living in this special place. And while we can’t share food through the airwaves, we can share music. Join us for an incredible concert and conversation with musicians and scientists about the...
2025-05-1150 minSea ChangePredicting the Ocean's FutureWe are all affected by ocean conditions, and we're talking about huge things like global food security and human health, to fisheries we depend on, to the transport of a whopping 90% of the world's goods. So it's vitally important to understand ocean conditions. What can the fascinating field of ocean forecasting tell us about the future for us on land and for life under the sea?Want to learn even more? Click here to read the report "Forecasting the Ocean."This episode was hosted by Carlyle Calhoun, and Eva Tefaye conducted the interview. O...
2025-04-2522 minSea ChangeLeaving the IslandLike much of coastal Louisiana, Isle de Jean Charles is rapidly disappearing into the Gulf because of coastal erosion and sea level rise. Scientists predict the island will be completely underwater by 2050.Almost a decade ago, the federal government awarded the state of Louisiana $48 million dollar to resettle members of the Jean Charles Choctaw Nation from Isle de Jean Charles. This was the first project of its kind and initially, it was held up as a model for how to move communities at risk out of harm’s way.But journalist Olga Loginova's deep reporting un...
2025-04-0941 minSea ChangeFueling Knowledge: Part TwoLast time, we learned about the nearly century-old bond between the oil and gas industry and one university — LSU. In the second and final episode of our series, "Fueling Knowledge," we look at how much money is flowing into universities and what the industry may hope to get in return. This relationship comes with big benefits: student mentors, scholarships, research funding, and new buildings, among others. But is all that money truly free? No strings? Or could it be part of a corporate playbook to help keep the industry alive?Listen to part one of the series he...
2025-03-2134 minSea ChangeFueling Knowledge: Part OneUniversities have grown increasingly close with the fossil fuel industry. Oil and gas money is flowing into universities around the world, shaping everything from students’ careers to climate research that can influence global energy policy. Some professors and students are sounding the alarm. They worry this influx of fossil fuel money could compromise the credibility of research institutions, tainting the information produced. That they are even being used as pawns in a fossil fuel propaganda campaign.These ties go way back. To understand this relationship, and what's at stake, we zoom in on the oil-and-gas-branded cam...
2025-03-1234 minSea ChangeKeep Expanding Your Blue MindThere’s this conversation from one of our early Sea Change episodes, and it's about our relationship with the ocean--with water. How being in or near water changes us for the better. The marine biologist Wallace J Nichols has said: “It is true that oceans give us life, but our planet’s wild places also make life worth living and help heal us when we are broken.” He said it's not going to be fear and guilt that motivates us to protect the ocean; it happens when people are connected to the value of the ocean. Because when we value so...
2025-02-2626 minSea ChangeThe Disconnect: Power, Politics, and the Texas BlackoutIn February 2021, power went out for 4.5 million households across Texas. The blackout killed hundreds. And people wondered: “How could this happen in the energy capital of the U.S.?” Today, we bring you part of that fascinating backstory, and it starts with an East Texas con artist who inadvertently kicked off the biggest oil boom in US history. Reporters Mose Buchele and Audrey McGlinchy of KUT's podcast The Disconnect: Power, Politics, and the Texas Blackout take us on a Wild West story to understand the power of the fossil fuel industry in Texas and how that power led t...
2025-02-1532 minSea ChangeRising Water, Rising RiskMore and more Americans face the threat of flooding. And as a country, we are woefully unprepared. Cities like Charleston and Miami already see routine coastal flooding. Hurricane Helene recently hammered many inland communities with flooding. And the risk is only rising. FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) sells about 90% of the nation's flood insurance policies, but only a small percentage of Americans are covered. In an effort to account for climate change, expand coverage, and make the NFIP more "fair," FEMA recently overhauled its flood insurance program. It's called Risk Rating 2.0, and the sweeping changes are p...
2025-01-3034 minSea ChangeElevate or Relocate: FEMA's Dreaded RuleFlooding is the most common natural disaster — by far. As more and more towns are devastated by floods, people are facing the tough question of how to rebuild — or even if they can. In this episode, we travel to two towns to discover how one obscure federal policy designed to stop the cycle of flood damage is leading to opposite destinies. Thanks for listening to Sea Change. This episode was reported and hosted by me, Carlyle Calhoun. This episode was edited by Jack Rodolico with editing help from Eve Abrams. Additional help from Halle Parker, Eva Tesfaye, Ryan...
2025-01-1726 minSea ChangeThe Power of HopeAs 2024 comes to a close, we are taking this time to focus on hope. While this year has been rough for the climate and the environment in many ways, there is also so much good happening out there. There are wins to celebrate and reasons for optimism. Today, Sea Change sits down with an expert on hope, and learn why evidence-based hope is essential in our fight against climate change. To learn more about evidence-based hope and hope expert extraordinaire Elin Kelsey, click here!Thank you so much for listening to Sea Change th...
2024-12-3130 minSea ChangeAll Gassed Up - 1 Hour SpecialThere’s a lot going on in the world of liquified natural gas, or LNG. And we are here to tell you about it! The Department of Energy just released its big report on whether exporting more LNG is in the public interest…spoiler alert: it’s not. One of the largest LNG facilities in the world, located just south of New Orleans, recently began production. And there are a slew of other export terminals waiting in the wings for approval. Almost all of them are located on the Gulf Coast.There are two competing LNG narratives…fossil f...
2024-12-2052 minSea ChangeThe Bridge to NowhereWe kicked off this season of Sea Change with a globetrotting journey. A quest to understand a booming new industry on the Gulf Coast: liquified natural gas, or LNG.In a historic move, the Biden Administration froze any decisions on new gas export projects…until it could study how shipping so much American gas overseas could affect the economy, health, and the climate.Well, that long-awaited study was just released. The findings? Increasing LNG exports is bad news for American consumers, communities, and our climate. But that might not mean much to the new administration de...
2024-12-2026 minLouisiana ConsideredCrisis pregnancy center accused of privacy violations; LGBTQ activists work to restore Upstairs Lounge fire memorial; mid-skill job trainingEarlier this week, a nonprofit watchdog filed a complaint asking Louisiana’s Attorney General to investigate whether a crisis pregnancy center in New Iberia broke state law. The pregnancy center allegedly posted clients’ personal information online, despite claiming that it follows federal health privacy laws.WWNO/WRKF broke the story, and reporter Rosemary Westwood joins us for more.About half of jobs in New Orleans are considered “mid-skill.” That means you need a high school degree, but probably not a bachelor’s. It’s good news for teenagers who don’t want to go to college, or wh...
2024-12-1324 minLouisiana ConsideredWhat’s on the ballot this Saturday; SCNO to perform Handel’s ‘Messiah’Baton Rouge voters will decide between the leadership of incumbent Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome or political newcomer Sid Edwards in this Saturday’s runoff election. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune editorial director and columnist Stephanie Grace joins us to discuss the final days of the race.The Symphony Chorus of New Orleans is preparing for holiday performances of Handel’s “Messiah” oratorio, which ends with the famous “Hallelujah” chorus. SCNO Music Director Steven Edwards spoke with WWNO/WRKF’s Diane Mack about the work’s enduring popularity and what concertgoers can expect at the performances next weekend.
2024-12-0524 minSea ChangeSacred and SubmergedThe Lemon Tree Mound is a sacred place for the Atakapa/Ishak-Chawasha tribe. And it's disappearing under the rising waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In this episode, we travel out into the bayous of South Louisiana to understand what this one small sacred place means for the Land Back Movement and climate justice, and why efforts to save our coast matter, even if they really mean only buying time. Click here to read more about the return of the sacred land to the tribe, and here to learn more about the efforts to save it.
2024-12-0423 minSea ChangeIntroducing: Hazard NJ "First a Miracle, Then a Curse"They are called PFAS or “forever chemicals.” They originated in New Jersey decades ago with a promise of a future made easier by science. They’ve spread into countless products and polluted countless places throughout the world. Now, they are even in our blood.Today we are bringing you the first episode of Hazard NJ's new season that dives into the history of forever chemicals and efforts to solve the PFAS pollution crisis. This episode is hosted by journalist Jordan Gass-Pooré, and produced by NJ Spotlight News. Listen to the rest of the season here on Apple...
2024-12-0129 minSea ChangeClassic Episode: Salty ChefsThis is a time of celebrating food and giving thanks to the people who grow it, catch it, and prepare it. That’s why today we are bringing you an episode we first aired back in May of 2023. Food connects us to our past, to our memories, to each other, and to the world around us. It’s powerful. But food systems–from how we grow or catch things to how we transport them –are also incredibly complex. As climate change increasingly impacts the world, we are seeing some of the first effects of that through our food....
2024-11-2739 minSea ChangeFrom Sea to Rising SeaSea level rise is this big, scary reality. We’re always hearing predictions from scientists that the oceans will swallow islands, flood major cities, and wipe out huge stretches of coastline. The longer we burn fossil fuels, the bigger the surge. It sounds apocalyptic on this huge, global scale. But also totally abstract – it’s hard to picture. What will it mean for the sea to rise two feet… 4 feet…even 7 feet by the end of the century?Turns out, it depends where you look. In this episode, we’re going to drop in on communit...
2024-11-1436 minSea ChangeLights, Camera, Action: Climate Change in HollywoodHollywood has been cold on climate change, mostly relegating the issue to documentaries. We talk to two people who are trying to change that.We first talk to David Sirota, who co-wrote the Blockbuster hit, "Don't Look Up" with Adam McKay, and then we talk to Anna Jane Joyner, the founder of Good Energy, a nonprofit that supports TV and film creators in telling authentic stories that reflect our reality: a world in a climate crisis. For more about journalist and screenwriter David Sirota, check out his news organization, The Lever. And his podcast unveiling c...
2024-10-3134 minSea ChangeFish to ForkYour expert guide to sustainable seafood is here! Get ready to feel the salt spray, and tuck into a wide-ranging conversation about what's on your plate and the future of our ocean. Seafood has been called our "last wild food." Humans have been enjoying seafood for a long time—over 2 million years. But in recent decades, how we catch and eat fish and shellfish has changed dramatically. Even though it might not always seem like it when we are digging into a Po'Boy with so much fried shrimp that they’re falling out the ends—our ocea...
2024-10-1826 minSea ChangeThe Future Is Not Yet Written: A Conversation with Ayana JohnsonWhat if we get it right? That's the question marine biologist, climate expert, and writer Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson explores in her new book. Ayana joins us to talk about climate solutions we have right now and what's possible for the future of our planet. Looking for a link to the book? "What If We Get It Right? Visions of a Climate Future"This episode was hosted by Eva Tesfaye and cohosted by Halle Parker. Our managing producer is Carlyle Calhoun Despeaux. Our sound designer is Emily Jankowski and our theme music is by Jon B...
2024-10-0229 minSea ChangePartly Cloudy With a Chance of Climate ActionTV Weather Gets Heated. In a world where weather is getting more extreme, the role of meteorologists is becoming more important—and controversial—than ever. Meteorologists have been fired over reporting on climate change, and others have left stations because of death threats. But that hasn’t stopped Jeff Berardelli, Chief Meteorologist for Tampa Bay’s WFLA News. He’s leaning in. In this episode, Jeff Berardelli tells Carlyle what it’s like to be a weatherman in the time of climate change. And answers questions like: why do certain spots get hit by more hurricanes? And what do chang...
2024-09-1834 minSea ChangeIn Hot WaterOur oceans are heating up—what does that mean for all the life that lives in the sea...and us?Today we’re going on a trip to Florida…we’re hanging out in the Keys, and we're going fishing, and scuba diving all to find out what’s going on beneath the surface. Just how bad is hotter water for sea life in South Florida, and for the people that depend on it? And how are scientists leading the charge to save this ocean ecosystem?This episode was reported and hosted by Jenny Staletovich and co-hos...
2024-09-0530 minSea ChangeThe Stormy Insurance Crisis in the Sunshine StateThe home insurance market is collapsing all across the country. Big, brand-name insurance companies are walking away from the riskiest states. And, the companies that are sticking around are often doubling and tripling rates over just a few years. Nothing like this has ever happened before. And nowhere is this crisis worse... than Florida. In fact, Florida is the origin story of this crisis: the home insurance market in every other state seems to be headed down the road that Florida has paved. This episode was hosted by Jessica Meszaros and Carlyle Calhoun. This episode was written a...
2024-08-2120 minSea ChangeBringing Back the BeachEven though New Orleans has water in every direction, it’s hard to access. And for a city with increasingly sweltering summers, this irony is painful.In this episode, we’re going to talk about the uncomfortable history of Lincoln Beach, how it led to New Orleans not having any public beaches today, and how a community has rallied together to get their beach back. We start in the era of segregation, where if you were Black, the only place to soak up sun and sand was Lincoln Beach. This episode was reported and hosted by Ev...
2024-08-0733 minSea ChangeNuoc: A Viet-Cajun StoryIn Vietnamese culture, water and home are so linked that they share a word. The Vietnamese word for water is nước. But nước also means homeland.Today–how the Vietnamese community has to reimagine its relationship with water as Louisiana’s coastline changes. In this episode, we’ll travel to a shrimp dock, a tropical garden, and a neighborhood surrounded by canals to examine one question: What does it mean to live with water in a place where everything about water is changing? This episode was supported by the journalism non-profit the Economic Hardship Repo...
2024-06-1232 minLouisiana ConsideredLa. advances education savings accounts for parents; state officials talk hurricane preparationsIt’s Thursday, which means it’s time to catch up on the week in politics with Stephanie Grace, editorial director and columnist of the Times Picayune/The Advocate.We’ll get the latest on the effort to hold a constitutional convention this summer, as well as the status of a few other pieces of legislation. Louisiana is getting very close to becoming the latest Republican-led state to approve education savings accounts, more commonly known as ESAs. The accounts give parents tax dollars to spend on private school tuition and other expenses. It’s Gov. Jef...
2024-05-3024 minLouisiana ConsideredPublic defenders weigh in on Landry’s crime policies; how communities can build climate resilienceThis year’s legislative session has been an active one when it comes to criminal justice and public safety. Gov. Jeff Landry called a special session on crime earlier this year, where legislators undid many of the state’s 2017 criminal justice reforms.Alaina Bloodworth, executive director of the Black Public Defender Association, says public defenders are often excluded from the debate about how to lower crime rates. The Bayou Culture Gathering is hosting a conversation about building resilience in coastal communities in Louisiana this Friday. It’s in conjunction with the Center for Planning...
2024-05-2324 minLouisiana ConsideredTulane grad discusses commencement after anti-war protests; libraries roll out restrictions on youth cardsCollege graduations across the country have been disrupted this month as students continue to protest Israel’s war in Gaza. Xavier University of Louisiana canceled its commencement speaker, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, after nearly 1,800 people signed a petition asking she be removed. Tulane University, the site of a recent pro-Palestinian encampment, has upped security measures for its graduation this Saturday. To get a sense of how students are feeling, Aubri Juhasz, WWNO and WRKF’s education reporter, spoke with a senior at Tulane about her experience as a student...
2024-05-1724 minSea ChangeRedfish BluesToday, we hear the story of one fish and its journey to fame: the red drum, or more commonly known as the classic redfish. And whether the decline of this fish is a warning of a bigger collapse.This episode was produced in collaboration with the Food & Environment Reporting Network, an independent, nonprofit news organization. This episode was reported and hosted by Boyce Upholt. Halle Parker introduces the show. The episode was edited by Carlyle Calhoun and Morgan Springer. Our managing producer is Carlyle Calhoun. Emily Jankowski is our sound designer, and our theme music is by...
2024-05-1534 minSea ChangeThe Drowning South: A Conversation with the Washington PostThe ocean is rising across the South faster than almost anywhere else in the world. Today, Eva Tesfaye, a reporter for Sea Change, talks to the two journalists behind the Washington Post’s new series “The Drowning South.” Chris Mooney and Brady Dennis discuss their data-driven reporting, which takes them from Texas to North Carolina. It’s a fascinating conversation about how journalists are finding ways to tell the complicated stories of climate change and offers deep insight into why the south is especially at risk. That’s coming up after the break.
Links to the first stories in...
2024-05-1026 min
Louisiana ConsideredLa. congressional map battle heads to Supreme Court; NOLA pianist pushed boundariesIt’s Thursday, which means it’s time for our look at the week in politics. Joining us is Stephanie Grace, the Times Picayune/The Advocate’s editorial director and columnist.
This week, we’re discussing the latest news in the legal saga around Louisiana’s new congressional district map. We’ll also get an update on Gov. Jeff Landry’s efforts to hold a constitutional convention this summer.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students’ rights are at the center of another clash between Landry’s administration and President Biden.
Late last month, the state’s Republic...
2024-05-0924 minSea ChangeAll Gassed Up: Inside the International Fight Against LNGSea Change’s series, “All Gassed Up,” exposes the enormous scale of the global expansion of liquified natural gas. Our reporting revealed that this gas expansion not only has big impacts on local communities like Cameron Parish but also on the planetary scale for our future climate. The expansion threatens the effort to slow climate change. And, there's a lot of money at stake. Some countries and companies are investing billions and billions of dollars to make the most of this LNG boom.
Until recently, the growth of the global gas industry has flown under the radar. But we...
2024-05-0338 min
Louisiana ConsideredJazz Fest poster artist honors The Dixie Cups; community park opens under NOLA expresswayAbortion care is about to get even more difficult to access for people across the Gulf South when a new ban takes effect in Florida on May 1.
The ban outlaws nearly all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, which is often before many people know they’re pregnant.
Rosemary Westwood, WWNO/WRKF reproductive health reporter, has more on how abortion access is about to get even more difficult.
The busiest part of a highway is usually the cars driving on the road. But in one part of New Orleans, there’s a lot happen...
2024-04-3024 min
Louisiana ConsideredSpeaker Mike Johnson backs Ukraine aid; La. teachers consider quitting over low payIt’s Thursday, which means it’s time for the week in politics. Stephanie Grace, the Times Picayune/The Advocate’s editorial director and columnist, talks about House Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to back more military aid to Ukraine. That decision rattled several House Republicans this week. They’ve since called for his removal.
Johnson also visited Columbia University in New York City this week to meet with Jewish students and leaders as anti-war protests there continue — and spread to other U.S. college campuses.
State leaders decided again this year not to give teachers a per...
2024-04-2524 min
Louisiana ConsideredAir quality declines in Baton Rouge, improves in NOLA; Rice’s Whale advocates seek protectionsAll week, we’re hearing from public school teachers in Louisiana about how they’re feeling as living costs rise and wages stagnate.Yesterday we heard from a teacher who’s thinking of leaving the profession after only a year in the classroom because of low pay.
On today’s show, Aubri Juhasz, WWNO/WRKF education reporter, brings us the story of another teacher facing a tough decision.
In 2021, ecologists discovered that a group of whales residing exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico was a unique species of whale.
The Rice’s whale is now con...
2024-04-2524 min
Louisiana ConsideredSlidell clears debris from tornado damage; Jazz Fest cooks serve up crawfish dishesTwo tornadoes touched down in the city of Slidell, north of New Orleans, earlier this month. The severe weather damaged hundreds of buildings in the area. Thankfully, nobody was killed.
But recovery efforts are expected to be ongoing for the next several months. Gov. Jeff Landry issued an emergency declaration after visiting the area last week.
Greg Cromer, Slidel’s mayor, joins the show to share more on the city’s ongoing recovery efforts.
Louisiana loses teachers every year. Some go to neighboring states. While others leave teaching completely. And a big part of the...
2024-04-2324 minSea ChangeAll Gassed Up, Part 3: The Sugar Daddy of LNGJapan was the world’s largest importer of LNG for half a century. In the final episode of “All Gassed Up,” we travel to Asia to learn how the global gas industry is expanding — how the need for LNG continues to be sold.
Right now, LNG is in its golden age – times are good, profits are high. And Japan’s big bet is that these good times will keep rolling. That more and more of the world will get hooked on LNG. And this whole global gas expansion hinges on the Gulf Coast.
Come with us to unrave...
2024-04-1741 min
Louisiana Considered1 in 5 Baton Rouge students is chronically absent; exhibit pairs quilting and planetsStudents in the Baton Rouge area are missing school — and a lot of it.
More than 50,000 students across the area’s school districts had more than five unexcused absences last school year. That’s according to the latest research from the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, which analyzed local attendance rates.
Jake Polansky, the chamber’s manager of economic and policy research, joins the show to share takeaways and potential solutions.
A new report from the Louisiana Department of Health shows Black women who are pregnant continue to die at much higher rates than white preg...
2024-04-1524 minSea ChangeAll Gassed Up, Part 2: The German ConnectionUntil the Ukraine War, Russia was Europe’s biggest supplier of natural gas. After the invasion, political leaders wanted off Russian gas, and fast. So, they turned to the U.S. In part two, we follow American gas all the way to Germany — Europe’s biggest energy consumer, where the energy crisis hit hardest. US LNG provided a lifeline for Germany. But what happens when a country gets hooked?“All Gassed Up” is a special 3-part series from Sea Change. This special series is part of the Pulitzer Center’s nationwide Connected Coastlines reporting initiative. For more information...
2024-04-0241 min
Louisiana ConsideredInside Louisiana’s massive LNG plant expansion; Republicans defeat abortion rights amendmentToday we bring you part one of the first episode of “All Gassed Up,” a special series from Sea Change. We go to Cameron Parish to discover a massive expansion of liquified natural gas, or LNG, and learn what that means for the Gulf Coast.
It’s been a busy week at the legislature for reproductive rights. For a rundown of a few key bills, we’re joined by Rosemary Westwood, WWNO/WRKF reproductive health reporter.
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Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber; our contribut...
2024-03-2924 min
Louisiana ConsideredGlass bottles restore vanishing coastline in St. Bernard Parish; Baton Rouge downtown sees economic growthIn St. Bernard Parish, after years of decline, volunteers have started to restore part of Bayou Bienvenue’s marsh. And the project relies on an unlikely hero: glass bottles. Halle Parker, WWNO/WRKF Coastal Desk reporter, has the story.
The International Downtown Association released a report comparing Baton Rouge with similar small-to-mid-sized cities. It found Baton Rouge’s downtown saw 7% job growth over the past 5 years. Other Louisiana cities saw a decline during that same period.
To go over the data and to tell us what it says about the city’s health, Whitney Hoffman Sayal...
2024-03-2024 minSea ChangeAll Gassed Up, Part 1: The Carbon CoastRight now in the US, there is a GAS BOOM. A liquified natural gas boom — or LNG. The US produces the most LNG in the world. And the epicenter of this massive expansion? It’s here on the Gulf Coast.For the last year, we’ve traversed Louisiana trying to uncover what this growing LNG industry means for the state. But, after talking with everyone – from shrimpers to energy insiders – we realized that the stakes were far bigger. If we really wanted to tell the whole story, we had to travel even farther. In this 3-part series, we follow...
2024-03-1939 min
Louisiana ConsideredLandry declares crawfish season disaster; La. drops FAFSA requirement for high schoolersBeginning next year, Louisiana’s high school seniors will no longer have to complete the federal student aid form to graduate. The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted last week to scrap that requirement. Supporters of the move argued it put an undue burden on students and their families.
Aubri Juhasz, WWNO/WRKF education reporter, has been following this story from New Orleans and joins the show with more.
Gov. Jeff Landry issued a disaster declaration for Louisina’s crawfish industry last week in response to the state’s record bad catch. Landry said hi...
2024-03-1124 minSea ChangeIntroducing Season 2Sea Change is back with a brand new season. And this time, the stakes are even higher. We launch new investigations, travel around the world, and look at how a sea change is underway to solve some of our biggest problems.
Come with us to investigate and celebrate life on our changing coasts. Every two weeks, we bring you stories that illuminate, inspire, and sometimes enrage, as we dive deep into the environmental issues facing coastal communities on the Gulf Coast and beyond. We have a lot to save, and we have a lot of solutions. It’s ti...
2024-02-2002 min
Louisiana ConsideredLa. Freedom Caucus’ anti-LGBT messages; investigation into judicial funds; carpooling in Baton RougeLast year, a group of conservative state legislators started the Louisiana Freedom Caucus. It’s modeled after the Congressional Freedom Caucus, which has, among other things, thrown the U.S. House speakership in turmoil.
The Louisiana Illuminator reported last week that the Louisiana Freedom Caucus sent anti-LGBTQ text messages to voters on Election Day. Reporter Julie O’Donoghue joins us for more.
In Louisiana, judges have a financial incentive to set high bail and secure convictions. State law allows them to issue fees to criminal defendants, and then use the money to pay for court expe...
2024-01-3124 minSea ChangeA World of HopeSometimes, it can be hard to find the bright spots amid feelings of uncertainty about the future of our planet. But they're there. Today on Sea Change, we're focusing entirely on solutions. Stories about the good.
We hear about a landscape architect in China who's pushing his city to become spongier as part of the global push for cities to rip up their concrete. And whether recognizing a river or forest's legal right to exist could help save our world.We also hear from two experts about how you can start taking small steps in your own...
2023-12-2234 minSea ChangeThe American WhaleThere are only around 51 Rice’s whales left in the world. And they’re the only whale that stays in one country’s territory: they live exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico…in US waters. A uniquely American whale. This also means the responsibility to protect these whales lies with the United States, but are we protecting them?That’s a question NPR Investigations reporter, Chiara Eisner had. With so few Rice’s whales left on the planet, she wanted to know what–if anything–is being done to prevent their extinction. Today on Sea Change, we hear the story o...
2023-12-0726 minSea ChangePardon the IntrusionToday, we are exploring a growing threat to our freshwater supplies in coastal regions all over the country. With climate change, we are experiencing sea-level rise and more frequent droughts, both of which make it easier for saltwater to creep into places we don’t want it.
First, we go to Plaquemines Parish, an area that’s been dealing with the effects of saltwater intrusion on their drinking water for months. An extreme drought across the Midwest has meant a less-than-mighty Mississippi. Which, has allowed seawater to come up the River—otherwise known as our drinking water supply...
2023-11-2237 minSea ChangeDesigning With NatureAs we experience worsening impacts from climate change, we’re wondering: How can we rethink engineering? Instead of trying to control nature, can we design with nature?
There are more than a thousand miles of levees and floodgates lining each side of the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Thousands of dams also hold back water and sediment throughout the Mississippi basin. But the thing is, you can’t totally harness a river such as the Mississippi. And, research has shown that our efforts to tame the river have actually made our risk of flooding worse when you add...
2023-11-1034 min
Sea ChangePresenting: KQED’s Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in AmericaToday on Sea Change, we are bringing you an episode from our friends at KQED. The story you’re about to hear is from the third season of their podcast called Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America.
Climate change is intensifying wet periods across California, untaming waterways humans corralled with dirt and concrete. In this episode, “Searching for Home on Higher Ground,” reporter Ezra David Romero takes us to Pajaro, California, where he asks a question that many of us here on the Gulf Coast have also had to ask: when the water comes for your home, how do...
2023-10-2528 minSea ChangeFlood By FloodAs natural disasters worsen and extreme weather grows more frequent, it’s led to more people being displaced across the planet. Sometimes, we call those people climate migrants. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that in the last year alone, around 3 million Americans were displaced by natural disasters. But for some climate migrants, displacement isn’t always so immediate or apparent, but it is often tangled up in bureaucracy and a broken system.
Today on Sea Change, we explore what it means to recover after disaster. First, we travel to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where we look at how...
2023-10-1141 minSea ChangeRiddle of the RidleyKemp's Ridleys are the most endangered sea turtle on the planet...can they lose their nickname of the "heartbreak turtle"? Today, we go on a journey to the remote Chandeleur islands to try to find the mysterious Kemp’s Ridley turtles, who, after 75 years, have been discovered on the shores of Louisiana. It’s a story of loss and restoration, of hope and heartbreak.
Hosted by Sea Change managing producer Carlyle Calhoun. Editing help by Nora Saks, Garrett Hazelwood, and Halle Parker. Our sound designer is Maddie Zampanti. Sea Change is a production of WWNO and WRKF. We a...
2023-10-0231 minSea ChangeAbandoned in (Plant)ation CountryEarlier this year, we told the story of how a change in the White House had the potential to turn the tide for Black communities fighting against environmental pollution in Louisiana's industrial corridor nicknamed Cancer Alley — one of the country's largest hotspots for toxic air.
The Environmental Protection Agency's new leader pledged to use all the tools in his toolbox to deliver "environmental justice," and his agency launched a groundbreaking investigation into alleged civil rights violations by the state. Environmental advocates thought it could be the moment everyone waited for after years of debate over discrimination.
Th...
2023-09-1531 minSea ChangeExpand Your Blue MindIt's summertime. Most of us hope to spend time on the beach, or by a river, or a pool, and we thought we'd try to understand why? Why do we want to be by water, and why does it make us feel so good? And it’s not just us. Understanding how the power of water makes us healthier and happier is actually a growing field of research.
Today, we're diving into our human connection to oceans and how we can harness that love of water to help us protect the largest gulf in the world -- ou...
2023-08-1845 minSea ChangeThe Craft of Climate WritingHumans have always used stories to make sense of the world…that’s just how our brains work. And, so it makes sense that we need stories to help us understand the enormity of climate change.
Today, we talk with Jeff Goodell, Katharine Wilkinson, and Nathaniel Rich—three authors who write books that people want to read…maybe can’t put down…about the biggest existential threat of our time: climate change.
For more information about the authors and their books featured in today’s episode, please check out these websites:
Jeff Goodell: https://jeffgo...
2023-08-0234 minSea ChangeI'd Like My Life BackOn April 20th, 2010, out in the Gulf of Mexico, the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig exploded. The oil spill that followed is still considered the largest environmental disaster in the history of the United States. Today, we are looking at the impacts of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster 13 years later. We hear about the ongoing health effects on people who helped clean up the oil spill and ask, has the broken system that led to this avoidable disaster been fixed?
We speak with investigative reporter Sara Sneath (@SaraSneath) about her reporting on the health impacts on spill...
2023-07-2043 minSea ChangeWe Could All Use A Little CreativityWe know that everyone has a role in tackling the climate crisis, so what about artists? We talk with Atlanta-based artist Heather Bird Harris, who has begun making her own paint out of the earth to talk about environmental crises in Louisiana. And we sit down with ecologist Ashley Booth and historian Jeffery Darensbourg to hear how art can combine with other disciplines to communicate in a way they can't.
Then, we go to A Studio in the Woods — literally, a studio tucked deep in the woods — to see a rock puppet show grappling with our increasingly extr...
2023-07-0534 minSea ChangeRescuing our PastWhat does it mean to keep a history alive when the place itself is disappearing? As climate change causes worsening storms and sea level rise, it’s not just people’s homes and businesses that are at risk of vanishing but also the places that hold our past.
We travel across Louisiana's coast, meeting people who are working to prevent histories from being forgotten, from a local African American museum to the country’s first permanent Filipino settlement. And later, we talk with experts about how they’ve navigated historic preservation in an era of climate change.
A...
2023-06-2133 minSea ChangePresenting: Parched "The Boldest Idea of All"Pulling water from another river, like the Mississippi, has tantalized people in the southwest for decades.Today we are bringing you an episode from a new podcast from our friends at Colorado Public Radio. The podcast is called Parched, and it’s about how the multi-decade drought in the West is impacting the Colorado River. It’s about people who rely on the river that shaped the West—and have ideas to save it.
For those of us living here in the Mississippi River basin, climate change is leading to extreme rainfall and historic floods. But out West, they are dealing with the opposite problem—far too little water.
The episode you are a...
2023-06-0727 min
Louisiana ConsideredIt’s human v. ocean in new, climate justice-themed experimental musical, ‘Ocean Filibuster’This week, the Louisiana legislature is poised to pass a $5 million tax credit for donations to anti-abortion pregnancy centers. The bill’s author, Senator Beth Mizell, has said these centers can improve Louisiana’s crisis in maternal and infant health. But a WWNO/WRKF survey found that most provide nearly no maternal health care, nearly no reproductive health care, and some provide health misinformation.
Public health reporter Rosemary Westwood reported this story for WWNO and WRKF. She joins us now for more.
Tulane’s Summer Lyric Theatre is gearing up for its 56th season. Interim artistic...
2023-06-0624 minSea ChangeIf I Get Called "Resilient" One More Time...When we talk about climate change, we hear one word all the time: resilient. We use it to talk about everything from our houses, to our power grid, to ourselves. Earlier this spring, we asked our listeners to tell us how you feel about this word. And you blew up our voicemail box.In this episode of Sea Change, we hear your responses. And we ask: how can we address the physical forces of climate change and the broken social systems that make it an even greater threat? We hear stories about efforts from across the Gulf...
2023-05-2349 minSea ChangeSalty ChefsFood connects us to our past, to our memories, to each other, and to the world around us. It’s powerful. But food systems–from how we grow or catch things to how we transport them –are also incredibly complex. As climate change increasingly impacts the world, we are seeing some of the first effects of that through our food.
So we’ve been wondering… How can we keep enjoying the food we love to eat without hurting the ecosystems it comes from? And how can we support the people who make a livelihood producing that food? Today on Sea...
2023-05-1038 minSea Change(Plant)ation CountryLouisiana is home to the country's largest hotspot for toxic air — an industrial corridor nicknamed “Cancer Alley.” More than 150 petrochemical plants line the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Amid the boom, many Black communities live with a disproportionate amount of pollution.
But years of protest have begun to bear fruit. We travel the Mississippi River to learn what has allowed the industry to flourish on its banks, see how the tide might turn in one neighborhood’s fight for clean air, and ask what’s next for a growing environmental justice movement as federal regulators...
2023-04-2648 minSea ChangeMusic Fights BackWe talk with people working at the intersection of music and the environment and ask how one can influence the other. Grammy-award-winning Cajun punk musician Louis Michot of the Lost Bayou Ramblers and Rev. Lennox Yearwood, who leads the national environmental advocacy group, the Hip Hop Caucus, tell us about how they use music to inspire action on the climate crisis and environmental injustice.
Hosted by Halle Parker and Carlyle Calhoun. Our managing producer is Carlyle Calhoun. Our sound designer is Maddie Zampanti.
Sea Change is a production of WWNO and WRKF. We are part...
2023-04-1141 minSea ChangeShrimp on the LineWe love shrimp in the United States. As a country, we eat over 2 billion pounds a year, making it the most consumed seafood in the country. So times should be really good for shrimpers, right? But shrimpers say things have never been worse and that their whole industry here in the United States is on the brink of extinction.
This narrative episode goes on a journey from the fishing docks to shrimping in the bayous exploring land loss, climate change, and other issues endangering the future of the Gulf shrimp industry. We also uncover the threats imported s...
2023-03-2937 min
Sea ChangeIntroducing Sea ChangeLiving on the coast means living on the front lines of a rapidly changing planet. And as climate change transforms our coasts, that will transform our world.
Every two weeks, we bring you stories that illuminate, inspire, and sometimes enrage, as we dive deep into the environmental issues facing coastal communities on the Gulf Coast and beyond. We have a lot to save, and we have a lot of solutions. It’s time to talk about a Sea Change.
Sea Change is a new podcast hosted by Carlyle Calhoun and Halle Parker. Join us as we...
2023-03-1401 min
Louisiana ConsideredWhere are all the hurricanes? Meteorologist details Louisiana outlook during peak of storm seasonOn today’s episode of Louisiana Considered, the WWNO/WRKF Coastal Desk reports on this year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season, and commemorates Hurricane Ida’s landfall one year ago. This episode originally aired on Monday, August 29, 2022. To hear the full episode, click the “play” button above.
Despite what has felt like a quiet start to this year’s hurricane season, NOAA still forecasts above-normal storm activity in the Atlantic. Ben Schott, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service office in Slidell, explained why storms have been slow to form after two years of record-breaking seasons, and what we can e...
2022-08-2924 min
Louisiana ConsideredInside the clinic at the heart of the SCOTUS decision that could overturn Roe v. WadeAs the Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization approaches, it seems unlikely that Gov. John Bel Edwards will veto two bills passed by the state legislature that would enforce some of the harshest abortion bans in the country. Capitol Access reporter Paul Braun gives us the latest updates on the backlash the bills have received from women’s health advocates, pro-choice legislators and the Biden administration.
In the second episode of Banned: The Mississippi Case To End Roe V. Wade, WWNO/WRKF public health reporter Rosemary Westwood visited Jackson Women’s Healt...
2022-06-1724 min
Louisiana ConsideredUpcoming Peace Officers Memorial Day pays tribute to those lost in the line of dutyAs the state legislature is in the national spotlight for a controversial bill that would criminalize abortion, WWNO/WRKF Capitol Access reporter Paul Braun discusses what the bill entails and why the state’s biggest anti-abortion group opposes the bill’s passage.
May 11-17 is National Police Week, a tradition that goes back 60 years to honor public servants. Darrell Basco, President of the Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police, joins us to talk about the week, and specifically to detail Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, which takes place Sunday, May 15.
WWNO and WRKF have par...
2022-05-1224 min
Louisiana ConsideredAs WWNO celebrates its 50th anniversary, here's a look back at the station's history50-years ago today WWNO first signed on the air, becoming the NPR station for southeast Louisiana. Fast-forward a half century later and WWNO continues to proudly serve the New Orleans region with news and music programming.
To celebrate this milestone, WWNO veteran broadcaster and award-winning producer, Fred Kasten, tells us a bit more about the station’s history.
New Orleans’ French Quarter Fest is back after a two-year pandemic hiatus. Festival president and CEO Emily Madero tells us more about what to expect at the largest showcase of Louisiana music.
Today’s episode of Loui...
2022-04-1924 min
Louisiana ConsideredLouisiana Considered: Bike routes in the works in New Orleans and Baton Rouge
Karl Lengel hosted this Wednesday’s episode of Louisiana Considered.
RoadWork NOLA Mobility and Safety Outreach Manager David Lee Simmons and Healthy Community Services Founder and Executive Director Angela Chalk join us to talk about the City's collaboration with the NOLA Complete Streets Coalition on Moving New Orleans Bikes, which aims to expand transportation options in New Orleans and make the City’s streets more accessible to cyclists, pedestrians and transit riders.
WWNO/WRKF reporter Aubry Procell reports on a Capital Region Planning Commission project to link bike paths in five parishes, creating an ambitious Baton Rouge metro area bike and...
2022-01-0524 min
Louisiana ConsideredLouisiana Considered: OperaCréole celebrates Black Women in opera
Diane Mack hosted this Tuesday’s episode of Louisiana Considered.
WWNO/WRKF education reporter Aubri Juhasz reports on the latest guidance from the state health department for schools as students return from holiday breaks.
OperaCréole founders Givonna Joseph and Aria Mason discuss their unique company’s upcoming 10th anniversary concert, which will be “A celebration of Black Women in classical music and civil rights, from Ida B. Wells to Kamala Harris.” The concert takes place Jan. 21, 2022 at 7:30 PM.
Phunny Phorty Phellows Captain Peggy Scott Laborde joins us to talk about the Krewe’s upcoming Twelfth Night celebration, which will kick off th...
2022-01-0424 min
Louisiana ConsideredLouisiana Considered: State’s supply of rapid tests dwindles as Omicron surges
Patrick Madden hosted this Monday’s episode of Louisiana Considered.
WWNO/WRKF public health reporter Rosemary Westwood updates us on the availability of COVID-19 tests in Southeast Louisiana.
In an interview first heard on NPR’s Morning Edition, NPR Congressional Reporter Claudia Grisales speaks with U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger about what the agency has done to recover from the riots at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Several Gulf States Newsroom reporters present some of their best reporting from 2021.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2022-01-0424 min
Louisiana ConsideredLouisiana Considered: Special education programs and more in New Orleans schools
Patrick Madden hosted this Monday’s episode of Louisiana Considered.
WWNO/WRKF education reporter Aubri Juhasz speaks with the Center for Learner Equity’s Jennifer Coco about a recently-published guide that helps New Orleans parents of children with disabilities to find schools with the right special education programs for their children. Aubri also visits New Orleans’ first academy for English language learners who speak Spanish as their first language.
Gulf States Newsroom wealth and poverty reporter Stephan Bisaha speaks with Mississippi residents who would face serious financial trouble if federal child tax credit payments and SNAP benefit increases lapse at the en...
2021-12-2024 min
Louisiana ConsideredLouisiana Considered: How public schools account for pandemic “learning loss”
Patrick Madden hosted this Monday’s episode of Louisiana Considered.
WWNO/WRKF education reporter Aubri Juhasz reports on how Louisiana school boards submitted simulations of standardized test scores to account for a loss of learning time during the pandemic.
Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s Desare Frazier and WWNO/WRKF’s Rosemary Westwood speak with Mississippi Edition host Karen Brown about the upcoming Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which will determine the future of abortion access in the United States.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2021-12-0624 min
Louisiana ConsideredLouisiana Considered: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization opening arguments
Karl Lengel hosted this Wednesday’s episode of Louisiana Considered.
WWNO/WRKF News Director Patrick Madden discusses the potential impact of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in South Louisiana and the decision to carry NPR’s special coverage of the case’s opening arguments on air at both stations.
WWNO/WRKF Public Health reporter Rosemary Westwood reports on the scene outside of the Supreme Court chambers just after the case’s opening arguments.
In a piece aired earlier this week on All Things Considered, NPR Senior Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg details the history of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 S...
2021-12-0124 min
Louisiana ConsideredLouisiana Considered: Supreme Court case will determine abortion access in Louisiana
Diane Mack hosted this Tuesday’s episode of Louisiana Considered.
Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s Desare Frazier and WWNO/WRKF’s Rosemary Westwood speak with Mississippi Edition host Karen Brown about the upcoming Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which will determine the future of abortion access in the United States.
The Symphony Chorus of New Orleans’ Music Director Steven Edwards discusses the Chorus’ upcoming performance of Handel’s “Messiah” on Wednesday, Dec. 8.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2021-11-3024 min
Louisiana ConsideredLouisiana Considered: “Music Inside Out” returns on WWNO and WRKF
Patrick Madden hosted this Monday’s episode of Louisiana Considered.
Music Inside Out host Gwen Thompkins debuts her new show, “Back by Popular Demand - The Music Inside Out Sessions,” which features the stories of musicians whose lives and careers were upended by the COVID-19 pandemic and how they were able to get by. In this episode, vocalist Erica Falls (Galactic, Allen Toussaint) tells us how the pandemic derailed her 2020 headliner touring plans and how her grandmother’s bread pudding recipe helped her make ends meet.
WWNO/WRKF Morning Edition host Karen Henderson speaks with Public Affairs Research Council of Louisian...
2021-11-2324 min