The Freeman Report

In this episode I recap our trip to Italy done over 12 days where we visited Venice, Florence, Sicily and Rome.  I don't think you can pack much more into a trip than what we did and it was a wonderful time had by all 19 on the trip. I also give medical updates on my Liver disease, learning something on my last appointment that I did not know before about the late stages of liver disease as I...

The response to my episode on Finding Hope was truly overwhelming.  I did not expect nor anticipate so many reaching out.  Having started a new trial drug today for my PBC, not sure if I have the placebo or the real drug, the trial will last about a year.  My intent is to offer to be a participant in any new trial they start.   Was a little concerned this morning because of new medicaton I am on f...

In this episode I talk about my journey for the last nine years after learning I have an incurable liver disease.  My intent is for others that may have been informed that they have a serious disease, whether it is cancer or some other debilatating illness. there can be hope.  I discuss both my mental and physical path but want people to know there can be help out there.  My intent was also to hav...

Last year while attending a conference in the D.C. area my friend Dave Cox told me he a trivia question for me and if I answered correctly I would win a prize.  All he did was mentioned the name and I rattled off several facts and he simply said "Damn son, you win the prize."  I also saw the Eagles in concert a few months ago in New Orleans and that too got me thinking about trivia of Ro...

When she was a teenager she was trying out for the Olympic swim team when something did not feel right in her shoulder.  The team doctors wanted to do exploratory surgery but her Father stepped in and told them absolutely not.  Linda Roberts did not make the Olympic team but a desire to understand her injury spurred her to go to medical school.  After doing her undergraduate studies at Muskingum U...

Sometime in 2007, Dr. Vince Hafeli got into his truck after dinner at home and started driving.  Was he on his way to the store, the office or perhaps even a sporting event?  No he was headed to the place where he was going to take his own life.  A phone call made him stop.  Who made the call and how did impact his decision not to take his own life. You will need to listen to this episode to find...

In 2006 her husband Dr. Joel Nasca, a plastic surgeon and next door neighbor and good friend Dr. Larry Ferachi, an orthopedic surgeon, were both diagnosed with prostate cancer.  Janey Nasca was determined that both men would beat the cancer.  Joel was 59 at the time and Larry was only 56 years old.  Men their age did not get prostate cancer.  Neither man beat it but their diagnosis's  started...

Just about every city or town across America at one time had iconic places where people would shop, eat or be entertained that no longer exist.  Baton Rouge certainly has it's share and in this episode the gang is back to discuss and reminisce about some of those places.   Even if you are not from my hometown may listening will stir memories of places where you grew up.  Please email about pl...

Today is Election Day in Louisiana and I give my thoughts and make a few predictions.  Also comment a little bit on fighting City Hall. KF

Macie and Carson reached out to me about giving them advice on how to start a podcast and I told them why don't we do one together.  Macie is Communications Director  and Carson is Director of Governmental Affairs for ABC for the State of Louisiana.  In this episode they give a fresh perspective on politics and Carson and I discuss a few of the upcoming races. Enjoy - KF

In 1984 Jeff Doucet kidnapped eleven year old Jody Plauche and took him to California.  Jeff had essentially become a member of the Plauche family as Jody's karate instructor.  Little did everyone know that Jeff had been sexually abusing Jody for over a year.  Jeff was finally caught and upon returning to Baton Rouge Gary Plauche, Jody's father. was waiting at the airport.  As the televi...

Brian Turner was returning to Baton Rouge from Tampa Bay over the Thanksgiving Weekend when he stopped at the Buc-ees just inside the Alabama state line.  It was raining and he got a little wet but thought nothing of it.  Monday he went to work and thought he might have a cold or possibly the flu from being in the rain.  When he went home that evening he called his sister and told her did not feel...

In this episode the musical gang gets back together and explores the same song performed by different artists.  It is really interesting to hear how musicians have, in some cases, quite different takes and you may not even know it is the same song.  Although there are many to choose from we narrowed it down to just a few with some history on some of them.  You might even know of a few yourself. En...

In this episode of the Freeman Report I sit down with two former Chiefs of Police to discuss the current state of Crime in Baton Rouge but their perspectives can really be related to just about any major city in the United States.  Is there hope for our country?  One thinks so and the other was a little more cautious. It should be noted that former Chief Pat Englade, who was a guest on my very fir...

At the age 2 Danielle Mixon’s son withdrew and went into his own world and would have severe tantrums.  Danielle was an Occupational Therapist herself and began working with her son trying to reach him and bring him back but nothing seemed to work.  A friend suggested she take her son to a therapist that was doing something different, and this therapist began working with the son but also gave Dan...

 In November of 2022 while attending a conference in the Washington D.C. area I heard a presentation on Opioids and Suicide in the construction industry.  During the presentation Rick Rhinehart of CPWR informed the audience that the #1 industry in the United States for Suicide by opioids was the construction industry.  Having been in the industry for over 40 years I was skeptical but intrigued and...

Little did I know when I did the Acupuncture podcast with Stewart Sommers it would lead me to discover Dr. Larry McCaskill, a Veterinarian who practices acupuncture on animals. Once I started to look into Dr. McCaskill's background there was so much more to the man.  He played football at LSU and then left his senior year to become a pilot and flew in Vietnam and later the Gulf War.  Doesn&ap...

He is the winningest Coach in the Shreveport/Bossier area of North Louisiana but he is so much more than a coach.  He is now 93 years old and played football for LSU, The Louisiana State University in the late 1940's and early 1950's.  After serving in the army during the Korean War, he returned to Shreveport and began coaching on the high school level.  Today the stadium at Captain Shre...

We had so much fun on the first episode we decided to do another.  In this episode Claire talks about pain and how the body deals with it.  She also discusses the brain and how it plays a significant part in how it sends messages to the body to protect itself from danger, including pain.   Claire is a Physical Therapist who treats patients from a holistic perspective and may be somewhat on the for...

Pat is what I would call a Renaissance Man.  Not knowing what he wanted to major in at Union College in New York, a friend asked him if he would interested in a Cultural Anthropology for the summer but he would have to travel to Barbados.  He thought it would be fun and agreed.  The next summer he ended up in Mexico and finally the following summer made his way to Spain and had now found his major...

She claims she is a physical therapist with an identity crisis.  Her background is in pain neuroscience, chronic disease, mental health, trauma, fascia and myofascial release, trigger points.  Sounds like a mouthful but after you listen you will realize her approach to physical therapy is so much more.  When most of us think of physical therapy we think of it as part of post surgery, pain manageme...

Did you know that 96% of all manufactured goods are directly touched by the chemical industry?  The next time you sit in your car look around at all of the products and think how many are made as a result of the chemical industry.  The industry contributes heavily through taxes to schools and municipalities and, in fact, in many cases in Louisiana a major chemical company is more that likely the l...

Most people think it might be painful but Acupuncture is far from it.  In fact it helps alleviate pain, stress, digestive issues and so many more.  If you have back pain or migraine headaches you may want to give acupuncture a try.  There were times where I could barely walk but one of my sisters convinced me to go see Stewart Sommers, a Certified Acupuncture Practitioner and after just one sessio...

At the age of 10 he had a brother, John,  born prematurely and some thought John would never leave the hospital and make it home.  Everyday after school Marion Edwards would go sit with John until one day he was well enough to go home.  How did older brother Marion get him home?  On a city bus and then he put John in his room to look after him.   When he was 11 his sister Louise wanted a piano but...

The Gang is back and sit down to reveal what we consider to be the Top Ten One Hit Wonders. Wayne Barbin, Randy Amar and I discuss our top ten list, some background on the artists and how we arrived at the chosen songs and artists.  I really thought we would all have a lot in common but that was not to be as Wayne once again stunned with his #10 choice.  Once again what I thought would be a simple...