Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home

This week we highlight one of the many reasons we are so lucky to live here. You can find my full discussion with Morgan Walker, Executive Director of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, here.   Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:35 1. In the spring of last year you came to us from Paducah, Kentucky to take the reins as the Executive Director of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. Since 1948 Shreveport has been blessed to have a...

This week we are talking with one of our community's great couples who are filling gaps and doing hard things. You can find my full discussion with Lindsi and Dany Martin here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:34 1. Neither of you is from here yet both of you have contributed greatly to making our community better. Lindsi, for close to ten years you brought us the much beloved Well + Fed Louisiana restaurant. And Dany you ar...

This week we talk with one of our community's largest and most important employers about how to keep more of our young people in town. You can find my full discussion with Jay Johnson of General Dynamics Information Technology here.   Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:38 1. Jay, you are the Staff Vice President, Technology Shared Services, for General Dynamics Information Technology (or GDIT as many know it). GDIT is one of...

This week we talk all about what it means to be a good steward of the land, and as an extension, of your community. You can find my fascinating discussion with Archer Frierson here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:42 1. Let’s start here today.

 

Your family came to Louisiana from South Carolina. Can you tell me about this?

 

7:19 2. Your family and you, for lack of a better phrase, had a front row seat for the Haynesville Sha...

This week's episode is all about communication and collaboration. We look at one of our community's best examples of how to tackle some of our most complex issues - the way that CADA and numerous others are working together to reform the local crisis response system. You can find my full discussion with Janet Miller here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:36 1. In March of 2024, you were named the new executive director of the ...

I love talking about the Hispanic community which has grown and contributed so much over the last few decades to our city. You can find my full discussion with Maria Sermons, Vice President of Total Yard Care and President of the Hispanic Heritage Association, here.   Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:32 1. Your father started Total Yard Care with only his children as employees and now it’s a successful company with more ...

This week I get to share a small piece of the great legacy of The Shreveport Sun, which turns 105 later this year. You can find my full discussion with Ronald Collins Jr., the Editor, here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:48 1. On November 6, 1920, The Shreveport Sun was founded by Melvin Lee Collins, Senior. It is the oldest weekly newspaper for African Americans in Louisiana.

 

Fast forward to 2025. You are the fourth gener...

This week I sit down with one of our community's most important leaders, Tabatha Taylor, the Chair of the Shreveport City Council. You can find our full discussion here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:42 1. For more than 25 years, you have been advocating for autism awareness. Your adult son, Dominique, is non-verbal and was diagnosed with autism at age 2.

 

Your advocacy efforts have led to so much great change. Talk to me ...

I love sitting down with people who have taken their faith and made it their work and action. You can find my full discussion with Deidra Lewis-Robertson, Director of Friendship House for Community Renewal International, here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:37 1. You are an integral part of Community Renewal International as the Director of Friendship House and Director of Operation H.O.P.E., Helping Our Pupils Excel.

 

Let’...

Greg Powell is bringing the fun with his company SB Rides and helping to piece together the stories that shape us with his bike and bus tours. You can find our full discussion here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:31 1. How did you come up with the idea of Social Bike Rides or SB Rides as most know it?

 

6:52 2. Tell me about 515 Pierre Avenue.

 

11:42 3. You have led bike tours focused on black history for our local Juneteen...

The title of this week's episode is "It's all about perspective" (I title them each week for Channel 12 when they house the episodes on their KSLA 12 App). All that to say, I absolutely loved the opportunity to sit down with Emily Hays as she shared her fresh, useful and really instructive perspective. You can find the entire discussion here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:34 1. Born and raised in Shreveport, you ended up in...

This week we sit down with the one and only Maggie Martin. You can find my full discussion with the Shreveport journalistic icon here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:33 1. You have been an institution in Shreveport journalism. I read that it was a dream come true for you to be a journalist, one you chose many years ago when you were a young child reading The Times on your stoop in Queensboro.

 

What was it about journalism t...

This week our focus is Mardi Gras! You can find my full discussion with Tony Richardson and Karen Baker, Krewe of Gemini, here.   Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:28 1. Both of you are part of The Krewe of Gemini, the oldest parading Mardi Gras Krewe in Shreveport-Bossier.

 

We recently kicked off Mardi Gras season 2025 with Twelfth Night.

 

Tell me when it was and some of what happened that night.

 

5:10 2. Tony, you are ...

Like so many of my guests, Clarrissa's journey is an instructive one and so rich with valuable lessons for us all. You can find our full discussion here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:28 1. You and I first met about a year ago. As I have mentioned several times here, I currently chair the advisory board for LSUS’ Institute for Nonprofit Administration and Research (or INAR as most people know it).

 

You were one of 15 nonpr...

This week we sit down with one of the great thinkers about community that we have. You can find my full discussion with Mack McCarter here.  

 

Here are the questions that I asked:

 

0:46 1. Mack, you are the founder and coordinator of Community Renewal International, one of our community’s most impactful nonprofits that you first started in 1994. You are also one of the great thinkers about community that we have.

 

The what, wher...

Centenary College has experienced tremendous growth under Dr. Christopher Holoman, its president since 2016. When you sit down with Dr. Holoman, it's clear why. You can find my full discussion here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:39 1. On March 17, 2017, you were formally inaugurated as Centenary College’s 31st President.

 

Since taking over, Centenary has experienced tremendous growth, including its largest enrollment since...

So much wisdom in this conversation about what we make a 21st Shreveport-Bossier into. You can find my full discussion with Chase Boytim, Proprietor of Fatty Arbuckle's Pub, here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:32 1. You are deeply entrenched in Shreveport restauranteur and bar owner history, having gotten your start with the Cush brothers.

 

Let’s start here today.

 

Tell me about the Cush’s, how you first got in with them,...

Sitting down with Africa Price, this week's guest, it's so clear how she has excelled in numerous, key positions in our community. You can find our full discussion here.

 

0:34 1. You’ve had a varied and rich professional career. From executive editor of the Shreveport Times to Chief of Staff, Director of Governmental Affairs, and Director of Communications and Public Relations for two different Mayors of Shreveport. From Executive...