A Round with Steve and Cole

Barstool Politics

Welcome Back Faithful Listeners!

As the political landscape shifts drastically across the nation, New Orleans has elected Latoya Cantrell as our first female mayor. Counicilperson Cantrell has been active for years, bringing about change to a city that she clearly cares deeply about. It's an exciting time, and all of us here in NOLA are anxiously awaiting to see what changes are coming.

To shed some light on this, John Pourciau joins us to talk about his experiences in politics and the work that he has done as Mayor Elect Cantrell's City Council Chief of Staff.

In the second half of the show, the three of us are joined by Derrick Freeman, a modern day renaissance man here in New Orleans. Among other skills, Derrick is an extremely talented musician. We're such big fans that we made one of his songs the theme music to this show! Derrick brings important perspective from someone who is not just a musician but also a long time citizen of New Orleans.

Anywho, I know they say not to talk about politics in a bar, but we're going to break that dumb rule. As always, thanks for tuning in.

Cheers!

Steve

 

Going All Gin

Welcome Back Faithful Listeners!

Another fresh, tasty episode is here for you to enjoy. Our topic this week is gin, but from two very different perspectives.

In the first half of our show, Fred Parent joins us to talk about his role as brand ambassador for Hendrick's gin. Fred is no stranger to bartending and has honed his craft over the years in New York City. We get the chance to pick his brain about what it's like making the transition from the bar to brand work, as well as get his perspective on the role of a modern brand ambassador in the liquor industry.

Gus and Ed Haik join us in the second half of our show to chat about what it's like to be on the forefront of the boom in craft distilling in New Orleans. The Haik brothers own and operate Cajun Spirits and produce several great products including 3rd Ward Gin.

Anywho, pour yourself some gin for the win and enjoy this week's episode. Thanks as always for tuning in!

Steve

No Laughing Matter

Welcome Back Faithful Listeners!

On this episode we have the chance to pick the brains of two local comedians and get their take on the state of the New Orleans comedy scene.

Our first guest, Brock LaBorde, is a veritable jack of all trades. He's one of the owners of the New Movement Theater (with locations in New Orleans and Austin), organizes Hell Yes Fest, and is the personal assistant of a legit Hollywood bigwig. By providing nightly improv shows and classes, Brock and his theater provide a invaluable resource to a city where humor comes naturally to so many.

In the second half of this week's episode, Laura Sanders joins to provide insight into what it's like being a stand-up comedian in New Orleans. Laura hosts the Bear With Me open mic at Twelve Mile Limit every Monday night at 9 PM, and she regularly performs both locally and around the country. Her quick wit and knowledge of how to properly showcase a diverse group of comedians always makes for a great show.

Anywho, I'm grateful for the chance to get to know the folks who make us laugh a little bit and learn about the hard work that it takes to bring that laughter to the stage. I really feel like this should be ending on some sort of punchline...

Cheers!

Steve

 

A Very Spooky Episode

Welcome Back Faithful Listeners!

Halloween celebrations in New Orleans are one of the things that make this city so incredibly special. I've been a huge fan of this ghoulish holiday ever since I was a little kid. Candy, mischief, scary stuff, and getting to be a completely different person for a night. What's not to love?

To further explore the uniqueness of Halloween in New Orleans, we are joined this week by two fantastic guests. The first, Hope Kodman vonStarnes, is no stranger to the show. Hope joined us for an episode in Season 1 where we discussed her efforts to open up Dynamo, her adult boutique. This time, Hope gives us insight into her other job as a New Orleans tour guide who regales visitors with tales of ghosts, murderers, and the macabre.

Our other guest, Jennifer O'Blenis, is a veteran of the New Orleans nightlife. Her experiences as a bartender on Frenchman St during Halloween range from humorous to pretty much what you'd expect from one of the most wild, chaotic times of year.

Anywho, great stuff here inluding Cole's favorite Halloween candy, tales of New Orleans axe murderers, and our favorite Halloween movies and shows to get you in the spirit of the season.

Cheers y'all!

Steve

Meat Me at Toups

Welcome Back Faithful Listeners!

One of the greatest parts of doing this show is getting the chance to sit down and talk with people that I have met but really don't know too well. It's even better when the people you get to chat with are as interesting as our guests this week: Isaac and Amanda Toups.

Isaac and Amanda are Louisiana natives who followed their passion for food and hospitality by opening the magnificent Toups' Meatery in the Mid-City neighborhood of New Orleans.

Since opening, their flagship restaurant has received heaps of well deserved acclaim and adulation. They've earned several James Beard nominations, and Isaac to competed on the television show Top Chef, where he was a finalist and won fan-favorite.

With the success from all of these endeavors, Amanda and Isaac have now been able to open a second restaurant: Toups South, located in the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in Central City.

I'm a bit of a fanboy, admittedly. In my opinion, both of their restaurants rank as some of the best in the city. And aside from that, Amanda and Isaac are just cool and hilarious people.

Anywho, check it out and thanks for tuning in!

Steve

Bummin' Around

Welcome Back Faithful Listeners!

This week we had the pleasure to host two of the hardest working "Bums" on the planet: none other than Jeff "Beachbum" Berry and Annene Kaye, AKA Mr. and Mrs. Bum.

My personal history with Jeff and Annene goes back many years. I first met them as a bartender and would go on to help them open up their fantastic French Quarter Tiki paradise, Latitude 29.

Here we get the chance to talk about the process of opening Latitude, the current state of Tiki, and the bar industry as a whole.

Check it out, and let us know what you think?

Steve

How Sweet It Is

Welcome back faithful listeners!

It's good to be back online. We took a brief hiatus re-tool the show a bit, and we are extremely excited to bring to you Season 2 of A Round with Steve and Cole!

On this week's episode, we get a chance to chat with Skylar Stroup and Stephen MacDonald, two members of one of our favorite New Orleans bands: Sweet Crude.

Composed exclusively of longtime Twelve Mile Limit regulars, Sweet Crude has found success bringing upbeat, culturally conscious music to the masses. Sweet Crude is dedicatied to the preservation of Cajun French through their lyrics, which are in both English and French.

Skylar and Stephen are not only rockstars, but childhood friends from Mandeville who now work at the same company, iSeatz. Their employers are survivors of the bursting tech bubble of the late 90's and now a pillar in New Orleans tech industry, or "Silicon Bayou".

This episode was recorded at a time when both Stephen and Skylar could not be on the road with their band due to work and personal responsibilities. Balancing passion and responsibility is something that I think all of us strive for, and it's great to get perspective on how to manage this from two highly talented individuals.

Anywho, it's great to be back. Enjoy the conversation and the music and let us know what you think?

Cheers!

Steve 

Before the Flood

Welcome Back Faithful Listeners!

With the recent flooding in New Orleans, there has been a lot of talk about water and the way that our community deals with it.

On this week's episode, we decided to approach the subject of water from a more macro perspective, as opposed to concentrating solely on the current state of our streets, pumps, and drains.

We are joined this week by two amazing guests. Ariadne Acevedo, Outreach Team Coordinator at the Gulf Restoration Network, discusses growing up on the Gulf Coast in Texas and how that and her time at Loyola University led her to her current non-profit work.

Maggie Olivier, a South Louisiana native who works in the Jefferson Parish Floodplain Management and Hazard Mitigation Department, talks about the role that the government plays in helping to manage the risks that water may pose to a community and steps that are being taken in Jefferson Parish to mitigate how flooding impacts their residents.

Anywho, another great episode about what it's like living here in New Orleans. Thanks for tuning in, and we'll catch you next week!

Cheers,

Steve

The Bar's a Stage

Welcome Back Faithful Listeners!

To most out there, our guest this week needs no introduction. To everyone else, allow me to introduce the one and only Kimberly Patton-Bragg. Kim has been a fixture of the New Orleans cocktail scene for years. She was the first President of the USBG Chapter here in NOLA and has run several prominent bar programs throughout the city.

KPB (as us cool kids like to call her) is a naturally hospitable person. It's no wonder that she chose to pursue her passion for bartending over a career in stand up comedy and acting. It's clear, though, that her training for the stage makes her a unique and unforgetable barkeep.

Besides her accolades, one of the things that I love most about Kim is her desire to mentor and teach others. She has trained a multitude of folks the craft of bartending. Many of us (yes, I too am included here) have taken the knowledge that she imparted to develop our own unique careers.

She cusses like a sailor, loves to drink bourbon, is pretty handy with a rapier, and is one truly special individual. We had a blast getting the chance to get to know her better in this episode, and hope y'all enjoy!

Cheers!

Steve

Keep the Change

Welcome Back Y'all!

Tipping is a subject that may seem a bit taboo in polite company. People may know how much to tip on a typical meal, but there is a lot of debate on how to appropriately tip in many other situations.

Cole and I are intimately familiar with what we see as the proper way to tip at a bar, but even between us we have a difference of opinions.

On this week's episode, we explore tipping at bars, restaurants, and a few other spaces where people might not know the proper protocol when it comes to leaving a tip.

Joining us this week is Marci Semper, who works as a stripper on Bourbon Street (and has also waited tables and tended bar.) She lends insightful opinions on how to properly compensate for the various services offered in the club. We are also joined by Josh Benitez, who is not only a musician but also a pedi-cab driver who gives his thoughts on customer interactions in both of those worlds.

Join us and learn how to tip like a pro! Thanks as always for tuning in.

Steve