Celebrate Canal! Coalition is a resident-driven initiative working to reimagine Canal Street as a place that truly serves the people who live and work in New Orleans. We break down how this grassroots coalition formed, why past revitalization efforts fell short, and what makes this approach different by starting with community leadership instead of top-down mandates. Drawing from successful models like Times Square and downtown Raleigh, we talk through the coalition’s vision for restoring Canal Street as a vibrant, local-first destination.

We also unpack the coalition’s plan to divide downtown Canal Street into distinct segments, including retail, theater, riverfront, and biomedical areas, and how ideas like pedestrian-friendly design, public art, family-focused attractions, housing, and higher-end retail could finally bring sustained life back to the corridor. Hosted by Etosha McGee and Charles Miller, this conversation explores what it takes to move from talk to action, why locals matter in shaping the future of downtown, and why Celebrate Canal! may be the most promising effort yet to bring Canal Street back for New Orleans, not just tourists.

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Helena Moreno is the newly elected Mayor of New Orleans, and we break down what her first few weeks in office are signaling for the city. We talk through what she’s inheriting from the previous administration, including the budget deficit, public works challenges, and long standing infrastructure issues, and what early actions suggest about her priorities during the political honeymoon period.

We also dig into visible changes residents are already noticing, like streetlight repairs, road work, and pedestrian safety enforcement, while staying honest about the skepticism many New Orleanians feel after years of broken systems. The conversation covers recent controversies around Mardi Gras spending and DJ pay, questions about sustainability leadership in city government, and what accountability could look like moving forward. As always, we’re watching closely, staying critical, and tracking whether early momentum turns into lasting change.

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Community colleges in Louisiana are doing far more than most people realize, and we’re breaking down why they matter now more than ever. This week, we lean on Charles’s perspective as a professor at Nunez Community College to unpack how schools like Nunez and Delgado are expanding access, partnering directly with industry, and creating real pathways into high-demand fields like healthcare, aerospace, coastal restoration, culinary arts, and technology.

We also dig into the shifting perception of community colleges, why more students are choosing them as a first option, and how dual enrollment, credential programs, and workforce-driven curriculum are helping keep talent in Louisiana. From affordability and accessibility to fighting brain drain, we explore why community colleges are quietly shaping the future of education and the economy across the state.

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Leah Chase School is New Orleans’ first traditional public school run by the Orleans Parish School Board in nearly 20 years, and its early struggles have sparked a much bigger conversation. We break down why the school is facing declining enrollment and financial challenges, and why those issues can’t be separated from the city’s post-Katrina shift to an all-charter system, the loss of neighborhood schools, and decades of disruption to educators, families, and communities.

We also zoom out to connect K–12 education to higher education, workforce development, and the long-term future of Louisiana. From housing affordability and population loss to the question of whether public education should keep being outsourced, we argue that one or two school years isn’t enough to judge success. If charter schools were given decades, then rebuilding a strong, locally run public school system deserves real investment, patience, and courage.

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Gayle Benson is the owner of the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans, and this episode breaks down what her leadership means for the future of professional sports in New Orleans. We dig into growing concerns around the Pelicans’ performance, recent front-office decisions, and the broader questions fans are asking about investment, priorities, and long-term commitment to the city.

We also unpack the bigger picture—why the Pelicans often feel like second fiddle to the Saints, how market size and fan accessibility factor into team success, and whether bold, history-making moves could reinvigorate interest locally and nationally. From arena challenges to organizational culture, we’re taking a clear-eyed look at where things stand and what could come next for New Orleans basketball.

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Xavier University of Louisiana is launching a new medical school in partnership with Ochsner Health, and we break down why this is a major moment for higher education, healthcare equity, and economic development in Louisiana. Etosha and Charles dig into what this partnership means for the city, the state, and the Gulf South, including why this will become one of only a handful of HBCU-based medical schools in the country and how it strengthens New Orleans’ growing biomedical district.

We talk about the long-term impact of building a full pipeline for Black doctors and healthcare professionals, the role research and teaching hospitals play in stabilizing local economies, and how this move helps combat brain drain by keeping talent rooted in Louisiana. From workforce development to healthcare access in underserved and rural communities, this is one of those rare higher-ed stories that checks a lot of boxes, and we’re giving it the attention it deserves.

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50 Cent is becoming one of the most powerful private players in downtown Shreveport. We break down how Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has quietly acquired more than 20 properties, signed ultra-low-cost leases with the city, and laid out a long-term vision to bring G-Unit Productions, studios, and a sports and entertainment district to northern Louisiana. We walk through what’s been promised so far, what’s actually happening on the ground, and why city leadership is betting big on a celebrity-led revitalization strategy.

We also dig into the bigger questions this raises: whether Shreveport is putting too many eggs in one basket, how tax incentives and special districts factor into the deal, and what success, or failure, could mean for residents, workers, and the state as a whole. From comparisons to Tyler Perry Studios and Disney’s company-town model to skepticism about guardrails and local impact, we examine whether this is a bold revival play or a risky experiment.

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We're back with an update on the UL Lafayette budget crisis. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is facing major financial and leadership shifts, and we’re breaking down exactly what’s happening. We revisit the university’s dramatic budget deficit reduction—from $25 million to $2 million—what cuts were made, how academics and research were protected, and why athletics continues to operate in the red. We also look at enrollment challenges, the long-term impact on campus operations, and what these changes signal for higher education across Louisiana.

We also unpack growing concerns around the presidential search, including reports of a potential new president being named without a public search process. As always, we’re keeping our eye on how transparency, leadership decisions, and statewide higher-ed trends affect our communities.

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