Advertise on podcast: Check It Out: St. Tammany Parish Library Podcast

In part one of our conversation with Chris Champagne, New Orleans writer, comedian, poet, and radio host, we talk about his career, books, and the Louisiana culture that has shaped so much of his work.  Chris shares stories from his years in poetry and comedy, and how those experiences led to writing books like Secret New Orleans, Secret Louisiana, and The Yat Dictionary. Stay tuned for Part Two of our conversation later this month. Learn more about St. Tammany Parish Library at: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org Find upcoming library events at: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/events

In part two of our conversation with Christian Serpas, frontman of Christian Serpas & Ghost Town, we dig into the family, writing, and creativity behind more than 25 years of music. Christian talks about his father, writer and broadcaster Paul F. Serpas, and the influence he had on his own approach to storytelling, creativity, and performing. He also shares the story behind his father's book, Tales of Louisiana Treasure, and his own books about the New Orleans Saints. Be sure to stick around to the end for a live performance of Christian's song Sixty Seconds. Learn more about the Friends of the Slidell Library Fall Concert Series at: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/concerts Learn more about St. Tammany Parish Library's upcoming events at: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/events

In this episode of Check It Out, James sits down with Christian Serpas, frontman of Christian Serpas & Ghost Town, for the first part of a two-part conversation about music, songwriting, and life on stage. Christian talks about growing up surrounded by Elvis, Sinatra, rock, country, punk, and classic New Orleans influences, and how those sounds eventually shaped Ghost Town's "twangified rock 'n' roll" style. He also shares how the band came together, what it was like finding their place in Louisiana's festival scene, and how their music led to nearly 2,000 shows and induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Along the way, Christian reflects on opening for artists like Dwight Yoakam, Merle Haggard, Blake Shelton, and Montgomery Gentry, the changing music industry, and the moments that remind him why songs still matter. Part two will feature the rest of the interview, plus a live studio performance. Learn more about St. Tammany Parish Library's upcoming events at: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/events Learn more about the Friends of the Slidell Library Fall Concert Series at: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/concerts

In this episode of Check It Out, James is joined by genealogy librarian Ramona Elder to remember Rosemerry "Fuhrmann" Hanian, a beloved Covington dance teacher whose influence shaped generations of local dancers. Ramona shares how Rosemerry's life grew from Covington's theater history into a career that included Broadway, East Indian dance, and decades of teaching. Then, several of Rosemerry's former students share memories of her artistry, high standards, unforgettable personality, and lasting impact on dance in St. Tammany Parish. Along the way, they reflect on the many styles she taught, the confidence and discipline she inspired, and the community she built. Learn more about St. Tammany Parish Library's upcoming events at: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/events Check out the new Makerspace at our Madisonville branch: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/makerspace/

In this episode of Check It Out, James sits down with Chris from We Dig, a Mandeville-based traveling rock shop experience, to talk about rocks, gems, geodes, fossils, and the adventures behind finding them. Chris shares how We Dig became a family business, what it's like traveling the country to dig for treasures, and how their hands-on library programs let kids and adults explore real specimens up close. Along the way, we talk about cracking geodes, digging quartz, finding fossils, panning for gold, and the stories hidden in the ground beneath us. Learn more about St. Tammany Parish Library's upcoming events at: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/events We Dig: https://www.facebook.com/p/We-dig-100090457474626/

This month on the Check It Out Book Club, James is joined by Megan and Erika from the South Slidell Branch to discuss Absolution by Alice McDermott. We talk about the novel's characters, its portrayal of American life in Saigon, the complicated nature of good intentions, and the revelations that reshape the story by the end. Content note: This episode includes discussion of miscarriage. Our next Book Club selection is Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke, a workplace comedy told entirely through Slack messages. We'll feature it in an upcoming episode of Check It Out. Submit your thoughts or questions for the episode at: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/podcast Find upcoming library events: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/events Learn more about Summer Reading: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/summerreading

In this episode of Check It Out, James sits down with paleontologist Mason Kirkland from the Louisiana Art & Science Museum to unearth the stories hidden inside fossils and talk about the Museum's upcoming Dino Day. Mason shares how a childhood fascination with dinosaurs became a career in paleontology, explains what paleontologists actually do, introduces us to Jason, the museum's remarkably preserved Triceratops skull, and much more. Along the way, we explore Louisiana's prehistoric past, the difference between mammoths and mastodons, where fossils can be found, what to do if you discover one, and how scientists use fossils to piece together the history of life on Earth. Mason also shows off several incredible and ancient specimens. Learn more about St. Tammany Parish Library's Summer Reading Challenge at: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/summerreading And other upcoming library events at: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/events

Our first Check It Out Book Club episode is here! This month, James is joined by Susan, manager of the Madisonville Branch, and Julie, a member of the Madisonville Book Club, to discuss The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker. We talk about the novel's central love story, Julia's search for the truth about her father, Tin Win's life in Burma and America, the book's fairy-tale quality, the meaning of hearing heartbeats, and how the Madisonville Book Club responded to the story. Our next Book Club selection is Absolution by Alice McDermott. The South Slidell Book Club will discuss it in person on July 9, and we'll feature it in an upcoming episode of Check It Out. Submit your thoughts or questions for the episode at: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/podcast Find upcoming library events: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/events Learn more about Summer Reading: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/summerreading

Check It Out is back! In our relaunch premiere, James, Jackie, and Eva introduce the new video version of St. Tammany Parish Library's long-running podcast and share what listeners and viewers can expect from future episodes, including community guests, authors, musicians, staff conversations, and our new podcast book club. This episode kicks things off with a look at the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge: Unearth a Story. We're joined by library staff members Jenny, Jillian, and Frank to talk about Summer Reading programs for kids, teens, and adults, kickoff parties at the Madisonville and Slidell branches, dinosaur-themed prizes, teen events, adult programs, America 250 events, and the new Makerspace at the Madisonville Branch. Plus, we test out some Summer Reading prizes, discuss favorite dinosaurs, and preview our upcoming Book Club episode on The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker. Learn more about the library and Summer Reading: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/summerreading Adult programs and resources: https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/adults Read along with us for our next Book Club episode, and send us your thoughts, questions, and comments about The Art of Hearing Heartbeats. https://www.sttammanylibrary.org/podcast

Join Us for a Conversation with Joy E. Rancatore   Get ready to be inspired by the incredible Joy E. Rancatore! A renowned author, editor, and mentor, Joy shares her wisdom and experiences with our hosts, Jackie Riecke and Eva Saladino.   In this episode, we delve into the world of writing, publishing, and creativity. Discover how Joy balances her passion for writing with the demands of running her own publishing house. Learn valuable tips on finding time to write and navigating the publishing industry.   Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, this episode is for you. Tune in to gain insights and motivation to fuel your creative journey. (Runtime 41:39)

Three library staff members from three different generations discuss library memories and library services and resources. Featuring Jackie Riecke and Eva Saladino. (Runtime 25:12)

Find out how to access Udemy with just your library card. Udemy is an online learning platform with updated, on-demand video courses across 75 categories in business, technology, design, and more. Learn anytime, anywhere. (Runtime 13:18)

2nd Class Petty Officer Radio Technician Bertram Groene participated in the latter part of the Tunisian campaign and in the invasion of Sicily during World War II. In this oral history interview, his daughter, Ms. Beatrice Groene, shares her own memories of her father as well as his own recollections of his service time from his personal journals.

Slidell Branch Manager Hilari Melerine joins host Amy Bouton as we continue our branch spotlight with our busiest library in the system, the Slidell Branch. Hear about plans for a future expansion as well as the plethora of services available at this branch. (Runtime 11:12)

Reference librarian Evan Kramer joins host Amy Bouton to discuss a couple of ongoing oral history projects at the St. Tammany Parish Library. The Veterans History Project and the Covid-19 Memory Project. Find out how you can participate and contribute to these projects that will provide valuable information for generations to come. (Runtime 23:27)