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Zydeco Nation

by Barry Yeoman on January 31, 2012

The French Creoles of South Louisiana are a rural people whose roots contain a blend of African, French, and other ancestries. During the era of legalized segregation, they developed close-knit communities and a vibrant musical culture. Then, starting in World War II, many Creoles started looking west in search of greater opportunity and freedom, and […]

Zydeco Nation: Meet the Musicians

by Barry Yeoman on January 31, 2012

Andre Thierry The 32-year-old star of the West Coast zydeco scene, Andre Thierry has deep roots in the culture. His parents and grandparents were all part of the migration of Louisiana Creoles to Northern California. Thierry spent much of his childhood living with his maternal grandparents, Houston and Lena Pitre, who organized the famous dances […]

Zydeco Nation: Photos

by Barry Yeoman on January 31, 2012

One of the best things about producing Zydeco Nation was the chance to collaborate with John Noltner, a Minnesota-based photographer whose work has been published in numerous national magazines. Noltner is also the creator of A Peace of My Mind, a multimedia arts project. His work exhibits regularly across the country, and he leads lectures […]

Zydeco Nation: Meet the Dancers

by Barry Yeoman on January 31, 2012

Betty LeBlanc The daughter of a laborer, Betty LeBlanc grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana, where Sundays were devoted to three things: church, food, and dancing. “Church was No. 1,” she recalls—and afterward her neighbors would host outdoor meals at their homes. “I remember dancing,” she says. “My mom used to tell me, ‘Come on in […]

Trying to Keep Sane, One Goat at a Time

by Barry Yeoman on July 28, 2011

A year after the sealing of the BP oil well, Louisianans are still dealing with the emotional toll of the spill. Meet Isadore “J.J.” Creppel, a shrimper and net maker who has found his own way to cope. Produced by Barry Yeoman and Richard Ziglar for KRVS, Lafayette, Louisiana, and the Louisiana Public Broadcasting “GulfWatch” […]

In Desperation, Seafood Workers Sign Away Their Rights

by Barry Yeoman on July 7, 2011

For many of Louisiana’s oyster shuckers, shrimp peelers, and deckhands, survival after the BP oil spill meant accepting one-time payments of $5,000 check and signing away the rest of their rights. Meet Tam Nguyen, who shucked oysters for 30 years before the disaster. Produced by Barry Yeoman and Richard Ziglar for KRVS, Lafayette, Louisiana, and […]

At the Edge of the Gulf, Dulac Re-learns Resilience

by Barry Yeoman on June 17, 2011

The Houma Indians and Cajuns who live in in this South Louisiana fishing village have watched its population drop by more than 50 percent since 1990. Now they’re calling upon their traditional survival skills to help them weather some 21st-century disasters. Produced by Barry Yeoman and Richard Ziglar for KRVS, Lafayette, Louisiana, and the Louisiana […]

MacArthur Genius Says the BP Disaster is Far from Over

by Barry Yeoman on June 6, 2011

The Guardian has described Louisiana chemist Wilma Subra as BP’s “worst nightmare.” A winner of the MacArthur Genius Grant, Subra has spent 30 years giving technical assistance to local groups dealing with environmental problems. She says there’s ample reason for concern about human health and seafood safety on the Gulf Coast. Told entirely in Subra’s […]

Charter Boat Captain to GCCF: “I’m Not Settling”

by Barry Yeoman on May 27, 2011

The Gulf Coast Claims Facility has predicted that most businesses will recover from the BP oil spill by the end of 2012. Like many others, Bryce Michel isn’t so sure. Business at his company, Topwater Charters in Cocodrie, Louisiana, is down 50 percent this year. Michel worries it may never fully recuperate. Told entirely in […]

Louisiana Musician Finds His Own ‘Solution to Pollution’

by Barry Yeoman on April 19, 2011

Drew Landry’s “BP Blues” helped focus attention on the plight of fishermen and oilfield workers after the Deepwater Horizon blowout. Now Landry is collaborating with bluesman Dr. John on a CD of environmental songs. A sampler will be released April 20, the one-year anniversary of the oil spill, during a New Orleans concert. Produced by […]

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