Louisiana's Playground

Hosts Brady and Jillian break down the new Visit Lake Charles video series “I’ll Have the Usual,” a local spin on the Food Network show about the best thing you ever ate. Seven award-winning chefs, bakers, and food makers were asked to name their favorite gumbo, po’boy, and burger in town, with one rule: they could not pick their own restaurant. What came back was less about technique and more abo...

Guest Destyni Tran, the owner of Azalea Spa and Salon inside L’Auberge Casino Resort, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana’s Playground to make the case that self-care is maintenance, not luxury. She walks through what actually happens at a spa, why a massage does more than feel good, and what the viral head spa treatment is all about. It becomes a conversation about reinvesting in your own...

Guest Dave Evans, the chef behind Luna and Augustine and the founder of Chuck Fest, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana's Playground ahead of the free downtown festival returning Oct. 17. He traces Chuck Fest from a Luna block party in 2014 to a downtown-wide celebration that drew 15,000 people, explains why he stepped away and came back, and makes the case that Lake Charles can hold its ow...

Guest Marcus Lawson, a home chef and competition cook, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana's Playground for a snake draft of the best plate lunches in Southwest Louisiana. The three of them each pick their spots across specific weekdays, a Louisiana dish, and one free-for-all, landing on 12 places from fried chicken Wednesdays to a sauce piquante you have to get lucky to catch. Think of it...

Guests Brett Downer and Heather Partin, two longtime Lake Charles Little Theatre board members, join hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana's Playground to mark the theater's 100th anniversary season. They trace the company's origins to founder Rosa Hart, who wrote to Hollywood stars and once landed Lake Charles in the pages of Life magazine, and explain how an all-volunteer operation has survived f...

Lake Charles native Rusty Metoyer and New Orleans singer Robin Barnes connect Southeast and Southwest Louisiana through music, food and family history in this episode of Louisiana's Playground. Robin Barnes' Louisiana Love album and Discovering Home video series bring the two artists together to explore the culture, traditions and connections that run across the state. Barnes scrapped a finished d...

Guest Ryan O'Donnell, the brewmaster and executive director of brewery operations at Crying Eagle Brewing, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana's Playground to talk through the science and the art behind more than 600 beers, from a pickle sour to a Munich Dunkel finished with local honey. He explains why lagers take patience, how a Disney World dessert became a fan-favorite sour, and why a b...

Guest Devan Corbello, the Director of Public Relations at Visit Lake Charles, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana's Playground to break down how Lake Charles landed a Today Show shout-out as an affordable alternative to Las Vegas, and what the "Vegas dupe" label gets right and misses. The trio digs into the earned media strategy behind the segment, the southern hospitality that can't be fak...

Hosts Brady and Jillian mark 100 episodes of Louisiana's Playground with a countdown of the 100 things they love most about Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana, sorted into everything from the food that started it all to the natural beauty most people drive past. Guest Kyle Edmiston, the President/CEO of Visit Lake Charles, opens the episode to mark the show's move into a new multimedia studio an...

Guest Matthew Lundmark, the founder of Lundmark Creative, a Lake Charles-based video production and marketing company, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana’s Playground to go behind the scenes on Visit Lake Charles’ most recent video series, Made in SWLA, Built for America. The series’ creator delves into his most meaningful moments, the hardest shots to capture and the spirit behind the ser...

Guest Sara Lasher, Owner and Lead Planner at Sara Lasher Weddings and Events, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana’s Playground to make the case for Lake Charles as a premier wedding destination. From live oak canopies and lakefront sunsets to historic venues and Cajun catering that stuns out-of-towners, Sara breaks down why couples do not have to leave Southwest Louisiana to have the weddin...

Guest Dawn Wheat, the organizer for SWLA Pride Fest, joins host Brady and guest co-host Devan on Louisiana’s Playground to discuss the upcoming SWLA Pride Fest celebration. The all-day festival is packed with activities celebrating freedom, authenticity, and culture.  Find more information on where to eat, things to do, and events happening this weekend at VisitLakeCharles.org .  Stop by Lazy K Me...

Guest Dianna Ross, Executive Director of the Voices of Freedom Collective Foundation, join hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana’s Playground to discuss the foundation’s upcoming seven-day Juneteenth festival as well as her goal of uniting and uplifting the Lake Charles community.  Find more information on where to eat, things to do, and events happening this weekend at VisitLakeCharles.org .  Stop...

Guest Madison Yates, the Destination Services Specialist at Visit Lake Charles, joins host Brady and guest host Candy on Louisiana’s Playground to dive into the side of Lake Charles most people don’t talk about. From small shops and dive bars to gas station eats and roadside crabbing, they’re highlighting the experiences and habits that define how locals actually live, eat, and explore Southwest L...

Guest Paula Michalko, the owner/president of Self Fish Dreams, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana’s Playground to share the story behind her organization and the impact it’s making in Southwest Louisiana. Focused on creating meaningful, accessible moments on the water, Self Fish Dreams provides unforgettable fishing experiences for those who need it most.  Find more information on where to...

Guest Toni Chapman, the Digital Content Manager at Visit Lake Charles, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana’s Playground to find out how to do Lake Charles on a Budget! The trio discusses practical ways to mix free stops, affordable eats, and a few worthwhile splurges into your Southwest Louisiana itinerary.   Find more information on where to eat, things to do, and events happening this wee...

Guests Jerry “Sarge” Antoine and Ebony Broussard, the co-owners of Bayou Glamping, join hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana’s Playground to discuss how Bayou Glamping helps bridge the gap for those who want to connect with nature without leaving behind household comforts.  Find more information on where to eat, things to do, and events happening this weekend at VisitLakeCharles.org .  Stop by Kin...

Guest James Smithers, a local birding guide with American Birding Guides, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana’s Playground to discuss Southwest Louisiana’s impressive birding scene that boasts over 400 different species due to unique migration paths. The trio talks about the birding process, some of the birds to look out for and the best times and locations to do so.  Find more information...

Guest Ryan Kennedy, Wine Director and Sommelier at Bodega Wine Dive, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana’s Playground to discuss the upcoming Louisiana Food and Wine Festival. The date has changed, but the vibes will remain the same! The trio also talks plenty of wine and how to demystify it so you can truly start enjoying wine!   Find more information on where to eat, things to do, and eve...

Guest Eric Zartler, the Executive Director of Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana’s Playground to discuss the impact of sports on the Southwest Louisiana economy and tourism. Over the next seven weeks, 10 championship events (ranging from Gymnastics and wrestling to baseball and basketball) will prove that Lake Charles is where champions are crowned. ...

Guest Rodney Victorian, the captain of the Iowa Chicken Run, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana’s Playground to discuss the town’s old-school Mardi Gras tradition. From chasing down chickens and dancing in Iowa yards, to winding down and eating gumbo at the after-party, it’s a Mardi Gras celebration you won’t forget.  Find more information on where to eat, things to do, and events happenin...

Guest Tammy Grant, the President of the Louisiana chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, joins host Brady and guest host Emily on a special episode Louisiana’s Playground to discuss why Lake Charles is the perfect place for your group to host its next conference, meeting or convention.  Learn more about Visit Lake Charles’ Meeting Incentive Program at https://www.visitlakech...

Guest Zachary Aymond, the head chef at Pujo Street Cafe, joins host Brady and guest host Candy on Louisiana’s Playground to discuss the culinary scene in Southwest Louisiana. The conversation begins with influences and the experience at Pujo Street Cafe and wraps up with Chuck Eats Resturant Week and other projects VLC has planned in 2026.  Find more information on where to eat, things to do, and...

Hosts Brady and Jillian wrap up the year with a special Best of 2025 episode of Louisiana’s Playground. They look back on the people, places, experiences, and stories that defined 2025 through the lens of the podcast. From standout moments and new experiences to hidden gems and family-friendly favorites, this episode serves as a highlight reel of what made Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana such...

Guest Kyle Edmiston, the President/CEO of Visit Lake Charles, joins hosts Brady and Jillian on Louisiana’s Playground to discuss what is upcoming in 2026 for Lake Charles and all of Southwest Louisiana. From exciting new projects like the Mardi Gras Museum to thrilling championship sporting events, plenty is going on in the Chuck!  Find more information on where to eat, things to do, and events ha...