May Guests and Topics

May 2 Guest: Miriam Davey (host) Robert Thomas, Fred Sheldon Topic: Guest host Miriam Davey talked with Environmental Communications Professor Dr. Bob Thomas about opposition to Bush administration environmental and science policies. Dr. Fred Sheldon revealed developments at LSU's Museum of Natural Science. May 3 Guest: Karen Henderson (host) John Camp Topic: Guest host Karen Henderson talked with veteran journalist John Camp about his career, which produced four Peabody Awards, two of which were related to scandals in Louisiana. May 4 Guest: Chris Gautreau (host) Danny Plaisance, C.B. Forgotston Topic: Guest host Chris Gautreau talked with Danny Plaisance about survival as an independent bookseller; C.B. Forgotson updated legislative matters as the Louisiana Legislature winds up its second week of work. May 5 Guest: Beth Courtney, Ahn Trio Topic: Beth Courtney, President of Louisiana Public Broadcasting, discussed the controversy over alleged bias in public broadcasting; The Ahn Trio previewed their performance at the Manship Theatre. May 6 Guest: Susan Allan, Nicolas Kariouk, Jay Dearborn Edward Topic: Nicolas Kariouk and Jay Dearborn Edwards previewed their book, "A Creole Lexicon;" Divorce coach Susan Allan discussed relationship issues that often surface on holidays such as Mother's Day. May 9 Guest: Chuck Redden, Sandra Gourrier, Zia Tammami, Noel Tramontana Topic: Edwin Edwards' impersonator Chuck Redden recalled the legacy of Louisiana's four-term governor on the fifth anniversary of his conviction on federal crimes; John Fred's widow Sandra Gourrier and Zia Tammami remembered the Baton Rouge music legend who died three weeks ago; Noel Tramontana talked of her novel "Colored Glass" about life in segregated Louisiana. May 10 Guest: Barry Erwin, Kathleen Callaghan Topic: Barry Erwin, president of the Council for a Better Louisiana, analyzed the first two weeks of the regular session of the Louisiana Legislature; Lawyer Kathleen Callaghan previewed a women's leadership conference in Baton Rouge. May 11 Guest: Bobby Jindal, Kip Knight Topic: Congressman Bobby Jindal talked about his first years in the U.S. House; Ebay Vice President Kip Knight previewed an appearance in his hometown of Baton Rouge and told the story of the remarkable rise of his company. May 12 Guest: Bernie Siegel, Avner Cohen, June Marshall Topic: Dr. Bernie Siegel, best-selling author, talked of his contention that healing is related to psychological and physical fitness; Author June Marshall gave reasons why she believes the marriage of Rene' Zellweger and Kenny Chesney will fail; Dr. Avner Cohen, a nuclear weapons analyst, expressed concern about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. May 13 Guest: Joycelyn Elders, Mani Bhaumik Topic: Former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders analyzed proposed legislation to ban removal of a feeding tube in patients in Louisiana; Mani Bhaumik, a native India, talked of his move to the United States with three dollars upon arrival and his road to riches and spiritual enlightenment. May 16 Guest: Jim Brown Topic: Former Secretary of State and Insurance Commissioner Jim Brown talked of his career in politics, his stint in federal prison and about the problems of his successor as insurance commissioner, Robert Wooley. May 17 Guest: Wayne Parent, Kevin Chastain Topic: LSU Political Scientist Wayne Parent discussed the rise of Republicans in Southern politics and the influence of religion on the American electorate; Architect Kevin Chastain conveyed his support for preserving Kress Stores across the country, including the downtown Baton Rouge site of a 1960's civil rights showdown at the lunch counter. May 18 Guest: Janet Guthrie, B.J. Gallagher Topic: Janet Guthrie, first female driver at the Indianapolis 500, previewed her book "Life at Full Throttle: Ethicist B.J. Gallagher discussed the controversy over Newsweek's erroneous reporting about alleged abuses of Muslim prisoners in U.S. custody. May 19 Guest: Zell Miller, Lewis Unglesby Topic: Former U.S. Senator and ex-Governor Zell Miller of Georgia talked of the demise of Senate Democrats in the South and his reasons to support President Bush in 2004 while keeping his affiliation as a Democrat; Attorney Lewis Unglesby noted his reasons for backing the Democratic filibuster against some of President Bush's judicial nominees. May 20 Guest: Bob Davidge, Mikey Weinstein Topic: Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center CEO Bob Davidge discussed his 26 years at the hospital and the controversy about the proposed location for a new public hospital in Baton Rouge; Air Force Academy graduate Mikey Weinstein talked of alleged religious discrimination at the Academy. May 23 Guest: Emily Kern, Len Bahr Topic: Baton Rouge Advocate reporter Emily Kern recapped her five part series on child abuse in Louisiana; Len Bahr discussed his recovery from prostate surgery three and a half months after undergoing surgery for cancer. May 24 Guest: Andy Kopplin, Mark Hazlett Topic: Gov.Blanco's Chief of Staff Andy Kopplin spoke in favor of a one dollar hike in cigarette taxes to fund teacher pay raises; Native American Mark Hazlett espoused his support for the elimination of Indian nicknames for college  sports teams. May 25 Guest: John Spain, Bob Courtney Topic: Former WBRZ Station Manager and News Director John Spain and former WBRZ Capital Correspondent Bob Courtney reflected on their days at Channel 2 in Baton Rouge. The station is celebrating its 50th anniversary. May 26 Guest: Nina Berman, Margaret Harrell Topic: Photojournalist Nina Berman recapped her work photographing gravely wounded U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq; Margaret Harrell remembered her friend Hunter Thompson, the gonzo journalist who took his life on Feb. 20, 2005. May 27 Guest: Collis Temple Topic: Collis Temple talked of his past as the first African-American basketball player at LSU and one of the first 100 black students on the LSU campus. May 30 Guest: Sean O'Keefe, Ernest Gaines (encore of March 2, 2005 program) Topic: Novelist Ernest Gaines and LSU Chancellor Sean O'Keefe were featured in a repeat presentation of their March 2, 2005 back to back appearances on the program. May 31 Guest: Jack Germond, Mike Wolf, Kathleen Benfield Topic: Columnist Jack Germond discussed his nearly half-century of covering national politics and his early education in Baton Rouge; Attorney Mike Wolf and Kathleen Benfield of the American Family Association sparred over federal and state legislation pertaining to stem cell research.

June Guests and Topics

June 1 Guest: Jim Bouton, Kelly Viator Topic: Jim Bouton remembered the explosive reaction to his best-selling book "Ball Four," published 35 years ago. Bouton talked about drug use in baseball during his days as a player and today's revelations of steroid use in the game; Kelly Viator of the ALS Society in Louisiana revealed that five thousand Americans are diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease each year in the United States. June 2 Guest: Barbara De Angelis, Kathy Scherer, Bob Neese, Kate Trepagnier Topic: Barbara De Angelis talked of her new book "How Did I Get Here?" The New York Times No. 1 best-selling author offered tips for improving relationships; Bob Neese of Louisiana Public Broadcasting and artist Kate Trepagnier previewed an LPB art auction on Saturday; Kathy Scherer of  the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge discussed the start of the seventh year of the Saturday Arts Market. June 3 Guest: Jay Perkins, Lara Gautreau, Heart Voice Trio Topic: LSU Mass Communications Professor Jay Perkins recapped a week in which "Deep Throat" was exposed as former FBI operative Mark Felt; The Heat Voice Trio previewed their appearance at the Unitarian Church; Lara Gautreau of the LSU Museum of Art showcased a summer camp for teens at the Shaw Center for the Arts. June 6 Guest: John Maginnis Topic: Political columnist John Maginnis reviewed the 2005 Louisiana legislative session, and Gov. Blanco's attempts to secure 70 votes in the House of Representatives for her proposed dollar per pack increase on cigarettes. June 7 Guest: Laurence Leamer, Candice Jackson Topic: Laurence Leamer and Candice Jackson previewed their biographies about Arnold Schwarzenegger and former President Clinton. June 8 Guest: Jim Brandt, Andy Kopplin, Barry Weinstein Topic: Jim Brandt of the Public Affairs Research Council and Gov. Blanco's Chief of Staff Andy Kopplin discussed the governor's attempts to get two-thirds approval in the House for a dollar per pack increase in cigarette taxes; Rabbi Barry Weinstein reported from Israel on the status of the disengagement process. June 9 Guest: Tom Jaquez Topic: State Librarian Tom Jaquez remarked about his pending retirement after 30 years in his position under five different governors. Jaquez also took issue over legislative attempts to regulate library books. June 10 Guest: Andrei Codrescu Topic: Writer and professor Andrei Codrescu recalled his move from Romania to the United States in 1966. Codrescu reflected on his 38 books and his tenure at LSU where he has taught since 1983. June 13 Guest: Huel Perkins, Tony Guarisco Topic: Educator Huel Perkins recapped his 80 years in Baton Rouge and the strides toward racial progress during his life; Former State Senator Tony Guarisco remembered his legislative stint in the 70s and 80s, including his sponsorship of legislation to make medicinal marijuana legal in Louisiana in 1978. June 14 Guest: Mark Upton, Katherine Dunn, Jim Lomasson Topic: Attorney Mark Upton discussed the acquittal of pop star Michael Jackson on child molestation charges; Writer Katharine Dunn and photographer Jim Lommasson  previewed their book "Shadow Boxers," which details life in boxing gyms across the country. June 15 Guest: Barry Erwin Topic: Barry Erwin, president of the Council for a Better Louisiana, recapped the failure of Gov. Blanco to advance a cigarette tax increase to fund teacher pay raises. June 16 Guest: Carl Galmon, Akaya Windwood, David Lutken Topic: Civil Rights activist Carl Galmon of New Orleans analyzed the anti-lynching resolution passed by the United States Senate this week; Activist Akaya Windwood examined the divisions of class and race in America; Actor David Lutken talked about his lead role in Pump Boys and Dinettes, opening at LSU. June 17 Guest: Fred Skelton Topic: Former Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Fred Skelton expressed opposition to the Louisiana Legislature for nixing a proposed dollar per pack increase in cigarette taxes to fund a teacher pay hike. June 20 Guest: Donna Brazile Topic: Democratic Party strategist Donna Brazile talked about the idelogical division in Washington D.C. as well as her young life in Louisiana and education at LSU. June 21 Guest: Michael Reagan, Doug Ireland, C.B. Forgotston Topic: Talk show host Michael Reagan, the son of former President Ronald Reagan, discussed his efforts to fight child pornography on the internet; Capitol watcher C.B. Forgotston reviewed the legislative session; Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Director Doug Ireland previewed Saturday's induction ceremonies at Natchitoches. June 22 Guest: Hollywood Henderson Topic: Former Dallas Cowboys star Thomas Hollywood Henderson looked back at his life, which includes three Super Bowl appearances, a broken neck that ended his career, 28 months in prison, cocaine addiction, winning a 28 million dollar Texas Lottery jackpot and being clean and sober for more than 20 years. June 23 Guest: Albert Belle, Roger Villere, Maureen Harbourt Topic: LSU baseball great Albert Belle discussed his induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and his avoidance of his alma mater for the past 18 years; Louisiana GOP Chairman Roger Villere praised the death of a proposed boost in cigarette taxes recommended by Gov. Blanco; Attorney Maureen Harbourt looked at efforts for Baton Rouge to comply with federal ozone regulations from the EPA. June 24 Guest: Beth Courtney, Andy Kopplin Topic: Louisiana Public Broadcasting President Beth Courtney reviewed the 284-140 vote in the U.S. House to restore $100 million in suggested reductions for public broadcasting; Gov. Blanco's Chief of Staff Andy Kopplin lamented the close of the 2005 legislative session without a substantial teacher pay raise. June 27 Guest: Dave Spizale, Sonia Jefferson, Faye Williams Topic: KRVS General Manager Dave Spizale discussed battles over funding for public broadcasting during his 21 years at the Lafayette station; Sonia Jefferson, native of Columbia, Miss. and Faye Williams, native of Alexandria La. reviewed progress of the civil rights movement in the past four decades. June 28 Guest: Clyde Holloway, Phil Preis Topic: Former Congressman Clyde Holloway of Forest Hill expressed his support for displays of the Ten Commandments at courthouses; lawyer Phil Preis offered another view of two Supreme Court decisions on the Ten Commandments. June 29 Guest: Bruce March, Roy Fletcher Topic: Exxon-Mobil Baton Rouge Refinery Manager Bruce March talked of his two years in charge of America's second largest oil refinery; Political Consultant Roy Fletcher disclosed his role in killing Gov. Blanco's proposed tobacco tax to fund a teacher pay raise. June 30 Guest: Mike Huckabee, David Madden Topic: Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee discussed his 110 pound weight loss and the possibility of running for president in 2008; Writer David Madden unveiled the re-release of the book, "Loss of the Sultana" about the worst maritime disaster in the history of the United States.