Healing in the Bayou: Recent Episodes
Guilbeau Center
This podcast series looks at the history of health and healing in Louisiana. We examine many different types of health, from physical and mental well-being to social and economic insecurities. In our first season: each episode includes interviews with community members to learn about different experiences with mainstream medicine or alternative healing practices, including midwives, traiteurs, and traditional Indigenous healers. In season two, we look at the experiences of and responses to the COVID19 pandemic and the movement for Black lives in southwest Louisiana. Created by Marissa Petrou
By Clyde Mclaughlin
A first-year college student, a lawyer, and a Federal Agent give their two cents on 2020, COVID19, and the protests for Black lives.
By Michelle Lam
This episode of Healing in the Bayou will share the impacts of COVID-19 as a public health threat that served as a stress test at the individual and governmental levels. This has, in turn, demonstrated social and infrastructural weakness of society and its government.
By Jullian Bui
Season 3 continues our focus on Shared Histories: Documenting COVID19 and the Movement for Black Lives in Southwest Louisiana
By Zoe Huval, with contributions by Megan Ledet
Season 2 of Healing in the Bayou is part of Shared Histories: Documenting the experiences of and responses to COVID19 and the Movement for Black Lives in southwest Louisiana.
By Theresa Slovacek-Herrera and Kerri Sullivan Leger
Season 2 of Healing in the Bayou is part of Shared Histories: Documenting the experiences of and responses to COVID19 and the Movement for Black Lives in southwest Louisiana.
By Kameron Leblanc and Paetyn Wyble
Season 2 of Healing in the Bayou is part of Shared Histories: Documenting the experiences of and responses to COVID19 and the Movement for Black Lives in southwest Louisiana.
By Shydee Johnson and Kaci Breaux
Season 2 of Healing in the Bayou is part of Shared Histories: Documenting the experiences of and responses to COVID19 and the Movement for Black Lives in southwest Louisiana.
By Harrison Meyers and Evan Taylor
Season 2 of Healing in the Bayou is part of Shared Histories: Documenting the experiences of and responses to COVID19 and the Movement for Black Lives in southwest Louisiana.
This episode of Healing in the Bayou focuses on traditional faith healing practices of two different cultures: Creole and Cajun traiteurs and Mexican and Mexican American curanderas. Both of these traditions incorporate Catholicism and prayers to heal people as well as medicinal herbs and plants. This episode explores these traditions through a variety of interviews with traiteurs, community members in South Louisiana, a curandera, and a religious studies professor. Traiteurs and curanderas not only treat physical ailments, but also psychological, emotional, and spiritual problems. I believe these practices have stood the test of time and are still practiced today because of this holistic approach to health. - Juliane Mahoney
This podcast episode explores alternative approaches to pregnancy and childbirth in both the past and present. The correlation between modern stress and alternative medicine is also explored, as with the increase in social stressors, more and more individuals are seeking both more affordable and less intimidating ways to heal themselves. This correlation is seen as more women are looking for friendlier and more natural approaches to help with pregnancy and assist with delivery. -Annabelle Smith
This podcast examines how marginalized communities have been excluded from Western Medicine and how some of these communities' medicinal practices have been pushed aside or viewed as "inferior." I examine the ways in which segregated hospitals prevented African Americans from visiting them in the Jim Crow South. I then examine how sometimes medical practices were factually incorrect, with cases such as Patient Zero. Finally, I show how some communities willingly and/or were forced to use alternative medicinal practices as a way to make up for their lack of medical care. This podcast ends with a hopeful message, however, as the University of Maryland's Shock Trauma Director of Nurses explains new medical practices that encourage diversity training, cultural sensitivity, and how they are incorporating alternative medicinal practices into their daily work. Lastly, I interviewed nurse Danielle Smyth who explained how to balance both Western Medicine and alternative medicinal practices. -Kassi McAllister
Explore the Cajun healers in Southern Louisiana Bayous. We will examine who Cajun healers are as well as who and how they heal those who come to them. This podcast encourages those listening to challenge who they see as healers. We travel along the bayou across southern Louisiana to meet with several individuals who have first-hand experience with Cajun healers. These individuals talk about the Cajun way of healing along with some reasons they believe Cajun healers are disappearing. We briefly discuss Le Grand Dérangement to see how resilient the Cajuns are as a people. We talk about community healing, storytelling, and what the future holds for Cajun healers. We close with some ways anyone can be involved in the storytelling process, and a call to explore the history around you. -Malani Hoffpauir
This episode of the Healing in the Bayou Podcast discusses the concept of community health, what that looks like in different communities, and exploring what it means to you. - Ian Gregory-Graff