Floodlines

There is a viscerally human thread through out this entire podcast. It was rich and layered, I felt the reality deep in the pit of my belly. I know a podcast is good if I’m making sounds while listening and my family says “what are you listening to?”. Vann was an incredible interviewer, reporter and story teller. I’m deeply moved by the personal stories shared, especially Le-Anne. I loved listening to Le-Anne tell her story and share her experience. She is so brave. I understand Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans in a way that makes it all feel so much more real.

I wish I could give you 10 stars. Vann does an absolutely outstanding job giving perspective to the impact on the communities of New Orleans. I clearly remember having close family in the city, and not being able to communicate with them. Your interview with Michael Brown was amazing. Thank you for this comprehensive telling of this complex story. I’m a big fan, Vann ❤️

Fantastic deep dive into the societal aftermath of Katrina and direct impact on the families experiencing this hell.

As a young mother in North Atlanta at the time of Katrina hitting, I remember watching the news and to know that they sensationalized false violence and made these fellow humans live the way they did makes me sick. As I listened to all the stories, LeAnn’s struck me the most. She is really an amazing person. My heart ached for her losses and all the challenges she faced, but as much as it ached I was so uplifted by how she raised her daughter to be amazing and curious and kind. Something in her voice and her lightness when talking about growing up in Treme, sort of felt like home. To think about how afraid they were when the storm hit and what they had to endure in the aftermath, just makes me sick. To think that the people in charge allowed this… it just makes me so upset, mad, and outraged… thank you for telling this story. You did a wonderful job. I don’t know how you kept your cool when talking to Michael Brown… I wanted to reach through my phone and slap him and ask him what in the hell he was thinking letting those folks starve and keeping them trapped… and not bringing in people to really help them. I really hope that they have built levy systems that will work and not fail. I hope that they have a better plan for the people of New Orleans in the future.

This was an unbelievably honest podcast. Painful and truthful. And I totally appreciate how FEMA Brownie crashed out when the journalist tried to hold him accountable. It was a perfect analogy for white privilege and systemic racism. New Orleans deserves so much more and this podcast lays it all out. Also, Le-Ann is an amazing Queen.