Katrina Stories

In this episode we talk with the founders of the I-10 Witness Project to learn how Mondo Bizarro got into the business of oral histories.  We hope this episode will provide you with some context and background on all of the stories you'll hear on this podcast.  We will return next week with more first-hand accounts from Hurricane Katrina. Katrina Stories  is a documentary podcast built from first-...

The Louisiana Superdome was meant to be a shelter of last resort — a place of safety during the storm. But for many who took refuge there, it became a place of terror, confusion, and turmoil. In this episode, we hear from Lanisha, Errol, Cheryl and Gloria who lived through the chaos inside the Dome.   Their stories offer a firsthand account of what it was like inside. A word of caution: while almo...

As Hurricane Katrina bore down on New Orleans, not everyone had the means or opportunity to evacuate. In this episode, we hear from Courtney, Robin, Adonica and Rose— four residents who lived through the storm in New Orleans. Courtney recalls how fast the water rose, cutting off options for escape. Abram found herself wading through flood waters along the I-10 in the heat with no food. Adonica was...

There were a lot of reasons why people stayed in New Orleans for Katrina.   Some people stayed because that's what they always did for hurricanes, they even threw parties for the occasion.   Some people wanted to be on hand to help others and protect their property.   The majority of people who stayed simply didn't have a choice.   Today Christine and Ashley talk about the circumstances of many Ne...

Welcome to the first episode of Katrina Stories: Tales from the I-10 Witness Project .   Whether you evacuated before or after Hurricane Katrina, the road out of New Orleans was often just the beginning of a new set of hardships. In this episode, we hear from Verna, Ruby, Maeci, Thien-An, and Bob— each offering a different perspective on what it meant to leave. From overcrowded buses and unwelcomi...

Katrina Stories is a documentary podcast built from first-person accounts recorded after Hurricane Katrina as part Mondo Bizarro 's I-10 Witness Project. Each episode weaves together voices that reveal the human impact of the storm—stories of loss, resilience, anger and hope. The series preserves these testimonies as living history, offering listeners an intimate connection to the people and place...