The Sadvocate Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Listen & Connect: New episodes of The Sadvocate Podcast are released every week!  Listen: Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and TheSadvocate.com.  Follow: Follow TheSadvocate on Facebook, Instagram, and X.  Join the Community: Join our Facebook group, "The Sadvocate Podcast".  Contact Us: Text your comments, suggestions, or questions to 225-255-2480. 

Send us Fan Mail Dave Roppolo and Drew Murrell welcome Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate Julia Letlow to The Sadvocate Podcast for a conversation about family, education, and her unexpected path to public office. From her career in higher education at ULM and Tulane to raising two children while serving in Washington, this episode explores the experiences that shaped Letlow’s approach to pub...

Send us Fan Mail Dave Roppolo and Drew Murrell welcome Michael Echols to The Sadvocate Podcast for a conversation about his Northeast Louisiana roots, business background, and run for Congress—with plenty of Sadvocate humor along the way. From restoring historic buildings to tackling government bureaucracy, Echols brings a business owner’s perspective to Louisiana’s challenges. The discussion cove...

Send us Fan Mail Dave and Drew welcome Justice of the Peace candidate Robert Ainsworth to The Sadvocate Podcast for a conversation about his unconventional path to practicing law. Robert talks about growing up around horse racing, working as a casino dealer, and attending Southern University Law Center part-time at night. He also discusses St. George and the litigation surrounding its incorporatio...

Send us Fan Mail Dave and Drew welcome Central mayoral candidate Aaron Moak to The Sadvocate Podcast for a conversation about Central’s future—and the everyday issues residents want fixed. A fifth-generation Central resident, former firefighter, business owner, and councilman, Moak brings experience in both Central city government and the East Baton Rouge Metro Council. We explore his decision to...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode #51 of The Sadvocate Podcast with Dave & Drew, hosts Dave Roppolo and Drew Murrell welcome Wendy Edwards, a candidate for Family Court judge in East Baton Rouge Parish, Division C. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in and around Family Court, Edwards discusses her journey from clerking for Judge Jennifer Luse to her extensive work teaching and serving on t...

Send us Fan Mail Judicial candidate AJ Sabine joins Dave and Drew for Episode 50 of The Sadvocate Podcast to discuss his run for the 19th Judicial District Court, Section 1, Division M. We explore his journey from police work to journalism to law, his courtroom experience, and what motivated him to seek a seat on the bench. The conversation covers improving court scheduling and case management, hi...

Send us Fan Mail Louisiana State Representative Lauren Ventrella joins Dave and Drew on The Sadvocate Podcast to talk about her journey from practicing law to the Legislature—and whether working at the Capitol means she’s still handling wrecks. We discuss her fight with Cox over internet service in Central, holding providers accountable, and the challenge of lowering insurance rates while protecti...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 48 of The Sadvocate Podcast, hosts Dave Roppolo and Drew Murrell sit down with former state representative and mayoral candidate Ted James. James reflects on his experience in the Legislature and the Small Business Administration, and shares what he learned from voters during the 2024 Baton Rouge mayoral race.  The discussion covers his perspective on Mayor-President Si...

Send us Fan Mail Dave and Drew welcome State Representative Paul Sawyer to Episode 47 of The Sadvocate Podcast for a conversation about one of the Capital Region’s biggest headaches: flooding. From the Comite River Diversion Canal to dredging the Amite River, the discussion explores what major flood-control projects could mean for homeowners, why they take so long, and how parishes can work togeth...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 46 of The Sadvocate, we sit down with Central Mayoral Candidate Lon Vicknair. This conversation explores Lon's 20-year career in the U.S. Navy, his experience navigating East Baton Rouge government as Chief of Staff to Mayor-President Sid Edwards, and his vision for the City of Central.  Listen & Connect: New episodes of The Sadvocate Podcast are released every...

Send us Fan Mail WAFB investigative reporter Chris Nakamoto joins Dave Roppolo and Andrew Murrell for a conversation about chasing answers, holding public officials accountable, and covering Louisiana stories that practically write their own satire. From officials dodging microphones to the excuses reporters hear, we explore where investigative journalism meets The Sadvocate. Follow The Sadvocate...

Send us Fan Mail LSU football takes center stage on this special sports edition of The Sadvocate Podcast! Dave Roppolo and Drew Murrell welcome Ron McDaniel to preview the Tigers’ upcoming season, discuss the Lane Kiffin era, and tackle the question every LSU fan is asking: How good can this team be? From a rebuilt roster and transfer portal additions to Leavitt’s offense and a crowded receiver ro...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 43 of The Sadvocate Podcast, Dave Roppolo and Andrew Murrell welcome the creator of Adventures of Seigen Lane,  the popular Facebook page documenting the traffic, strange encounters, questionable driving, and everyday chaos found along one of Baton Rouge’s busiest roads, and why the page is misspelled. The conversation covers the incident that inspired the page, its wil...

Send us Fan Mail Dave and Drew interview EBR Parish Wunderkind Mason Batts about his age, campaign win streak, and EBR Parish government. Plus, Dave and Drew read your texts about Justice of the Peace, Dearman's and more. It’s Baton Rouge news without the press releases — The Sadvocate Podcast with Dave & Drew. Text the show: 225-255-2480 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and TheSadvocat...

Send us Fan Mail Dave and Drew are back with another round of Baton Rouge news, politics, crime, and the stories that make you wonder what exactly is going on around here. This week, the guys break down Jayden Daniels sending LSU a cease-and-desist over his jersey number , a BRPD sergeant working and driving on a suspended license , and the latest on St. George’s proposed part-time volunteer polic...

Send us Fan Mail Dave & Drew welcome Zachary City Councilwoman Ambre Devirgilio to Episode 40 of The Sadvocate Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about local government, politics, growth, development, and what really happens once you get inside City Hall. Ambre talks about what she has learned during her first term on the Zachary City Council, what surprised her about local government, th...

Send us Fan Mail Dave and Drew talk about Mason Batts from Mayor Edwards office becoming the first no show on the Sadvocate, running for Justice of the Peace and alleged investigations into potential alleged indictments. Listen & Connect: New episodes of The Sadvocate Podcast are released every week!  Listen: Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and TheSadvocate.com.  Follow: Follow TheSadvocat...

Send us Fan Mail Dave and Drew talk about Drew running for Justice of the Peace and the City of Baton Rouge Mayor versus the Metro Council versus the Parish Attorney office. Listen & Connect: New episodes of The Sadvocate Podcast are released every week!  Listen: Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and TheSadvocate.com.  Follow: Follow TheSadvocate on Facebook, Instagram, and X.  Join the Comm...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 37: Dave and Drew dive straight into the latest headlines, starting with the massive $19 million awarded to St. George for safety and traffic improvements on Siegen Lane. They also cover Boosie's quest for a $300,000 refund after a pardon effort fell through.  On the political front, the guys discuss the ongoing state corruption probe that led East Baton Rouge Metro C...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 36 of The Sadvocate Podcast, hosts Dave Roppolo (writer at the Sadvocate) and Drew Murrell (St. George Councilman and local attorney) sit down with special guest Franz Borghardt of the Borghardt Law Firm.  Franz shares his unique perspective from working as a public defender, prosecutor, and defense attorney. Franz talks Court TV and Nancy Grace. Listen & Connect: N...

Send us Fan Mail Dave and Drew are back for Episode 35 of The Sadvocate Podcast , breaking down the latest news, controversies, and unusual stories from across the Baton Rouge area. This week, they discuss the debate surrounding St. George’s new street signs, the Denham Springs man convicted after $40,000 was discovered inside a wall, allegations involving a volunteer in the Governor Jeff Landry r...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 34 of The Sadvocate Podcast with Dave & Drew , Dave Roppolo and Drew Murrell welcome Mark Belgard, better known as the Ascension Parish Department of Memes . Mark talks about what really defines Ascension Parish, the jokes locals love and hate, the misconceptions Baton Rouge has about Ascension, and how his comedy page unexpectedly became a platform for helping loca...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 33 of The Sadvocate Podcast with Dave & Drew , Dave Roppolo and Drew Murrell catch up on what’s happening around St. George and the Baton Rouge area. This week’s news includes the latest developments in the CATS corruption case, Louisiana DOTD’s plan to use AI for interstate traffic flow, new controversy involving Pastor Tony Spell, and the District Attorney should...

Send us Fan Mail Wade Evans, Mayor of the City of Central, joins Dave and Drew for his second visit to The Sadvocate Podcast. This episode covers the latest news out of Central, progress made over the last four years, the future of Main Street 2030, drainage improvements, the Sullivan widening project at Hooper, favorite Central restaurants, and the rumors only The Sadvocate would ask about. Plus,...