Episodes

  • Bouki Fait Gombo | Senegal to Louisiana

    Bouki Fait Gombo | Senegal to Louisiana
    Jun 15 2025
    On this episode of Culture & Flavor, Zella talks with Gabrielle Deculus, a cultural strategist, marketing architect, and the visionary founder of Saint Josephine, a creative consultancy and production house rooted in community and committed to social good. She brings almost 20 years of experience blending cultural storytelling, event production, and strategic marketing to help brands and organizations make meaningful, lasting impact. Gabrielle has led and collaborated on campaigns for powerhouse clients and community leaders alike — from producing Kanye West’s Sunday Service in Baton Rouge to aiding in the production of Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour and Drake’s It’s All A Blur Tour in New Orleans. Through Saint Josephine, she has created transformative experiences and content for institutions such as Habitat for Humanity, Black Education for New Orleans, Greater New Orleans Funders Network, AARP, Step Up Louisiana, the City of New Orleans, and Viiv Healthcare, Dillard University among many others. A lifelong culture bearer and advocate for creative equity, Gabrielle was named the 2025 Zydeco Ambassador by C.R.E.O.L.E., Inc., and is the producer of the "Live at NOLA Zydeco Fest" album, released January 2025 on all major streaming platforms. She is the co-founder of The Big Easy Vibe Fest, a New Orleans-based festival celebrating cannabis innovation and culture, and continues to produce signature cultural events like the New Orleans Zydeco Festival, Beaucoup Hoodoo Festival, and Know-La at The Essence Festival. Gabrielle's work has been recognized with the 2019 Excellence in Innovative Influence Award from 100 Black Men of Metro New Orleans, Inc., a Proclamation of Gabrielle Deculus Day from the City of Baton Rouge, recognition from Essence Magazine and BeyGOOD Foundation for disaster relief efforts, and International Women’s Day Awards for leadership in cultural and social innovation.
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    49 mins
  • Dew Drop Inn | Curtis Doucette Jr.

    Dew Drop Inn | Curtis Doucette Jr.
    Jun 8 2025
    On this episode of Culture & Flavor, Zella talks with Curtis Doucette, Jr., owner and developer of the Dew Drop Inn, a restored music venue and boutique hotel in New Orleans, Central City. A New Orleans native, Curtis is also the co-founder and CEO of Iris Development, a real estate firm focused on rehabilitating blighted properties and creating affordable housing in New Orleans and New York City. Before founding Iris in 2012, Curtis developed and managed a multimillion-dollar portfolio of residential real estate in Louisiana, utilizing creative financing to serve low- and moderate-income residents. In 2021, Curtis acquired the historic Dew Drop Inn, once home to legendary artists like Ray Charles and Little Richard. After a three-year renovation, it reopened with a 350-person music venue, 17 guest rooms, a restaurant, and a pool club. Curtis holds an M.S. from Columbia University and a B.A. from Dillard University, and is committed to community development and supporting minority-owned businesses.
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    39 mins
  • Your Kitchen is Your Pharmacy

    Your Kitchen is Your Pharmacy
    Jun 1 2025
    On this episode of Culture & Flavor, Zella talks with Dr. Aris Latham, a Panamanian-born raw food pioneer, chef and health & wellness influencer. Dr. Latham is known as the "father of gourmet ethical raw foods cuisine in America" and is the founder of Sunfired Foods, a raw, sun-powered lifestyle that emphasizes the life force of food. Latham's influence in the raw food movement started in 1979 with his company, Sunfired Foods. He developed Sunfired Cuisine, a method of raw food preparation that avoids traditional cooking and emphasizes the natural vitality of ingredients. He's also known for his work with Sunfired Academy and his involvement in various events and programs, including retreats and online courses.\ Dr. Latham's philosophy emphasizes that food is a powerful tool for healing and that we are naturally designed to be healthy and vibrant. He promotes a holistic approach to wellness that incorporates nutrition, mindful living, and community. His teachings and practices are focused on helping individuals regain their vitality and live a more energetic, fulfilling life.
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Son of the Soil | George McCalman

    Son of the Soil | George McCalman
    May 25 2025

    On this episode of Culture & Flavor, Zella talks with George McCalman, artist, author, and creative director based in San Francisco and Grenada. McCalman’s background in the editorial world has been a foundation of his storytelling, and his decision to cultivate his fine art practice alongside brand and strategy work reframed his perspective and synthesized the importance of design in his professional practice. His first book ‘Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and Unseen’ was published in Sept 2022 to accolades by The New Yorker’s Hilton Als, NPR, The New York Times, and The San Francisco Chronicle. His book won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work by a Debut Author in Feb 2023.

    Socials:

    @George.McCalman

    @McCalmanCo
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    1 hr
  • Insatiable City | New Orleans

    Insatiable City | New Orleans
    May 18 2025
    On this episode of Culture & Flavor, Zella talks with Theresa McCulla, 2025 James Beard Foundation Semi-Finalist and curator at Mars, Incorporated. McCulla served as the Curator of the American Brewing History Initiative at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. She also worked as an Arcadia Fellow for Harvard Library, Food Literacy Project Coordinator at Harvard University Dining Services, and a European media analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency. McCulla earned a PhD in American Studies and an MA in History from Harvard University, a Culinary Arts Diploma from the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, and a BA in Romance Languages from Harvard College. Her writing has been awarded by the James Beard Foundation and the North American Guild of Beer Writers. Her first book, Insatiable City: Food and Race in New Orleans, was published in May 2024 by the University of Chicago Press. Insatiable City was named a Best Book of 2024 by Smithsonian Magazine.
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • German Soul with Justin Robinson

    German Soul with Justin Robinson
    May 11 2025
    On this episode of Culture & Flavor, Zella talks with Justin Robinson is a Grammy award-winning musician and vocalist, cultural preservationist, and historic foodways expert about his latest project, German Soul and their mutual German lineage. Robinson grew up in Gastonia, North Carolina. Influenced by the musical tastes of his grandparents, he grew to love a diversity of musical styles. Robinson holds a BA in Linguistics from UNC-Chapel Hill and an MS in Forestry and Environmental Science from NC State University. He is a member of the Conservation Trust for North Carolina Board of Directors. Justin's song with North Carolina banjo player, Rhiannon Giddens, 'Old Corn Liquor' is featured on Ryan Coogler's Sinners soundtrack. Justin's latest project, German Soul traces his familial lineage, culinary intersections with the Upper South and the German world.
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • Yo Soy De Aqui

    Yo Soy De Aqui
    May 4 2025
    On this episode of Culture & Flavor, Zella talks with Puerto Rican Chef Carlos Portela. Chef Carlos is from Caguas, Puerto Rico. After many career experiences across the globe, Chef Carlos Portela founded his life project, Orujo Taller. His avant-garde style ranges from primitive to modern, using endemic ingredients to Puerto Rico and pre-colonial influences. He bases his cooking methods on temperature control, precision, and the flavor of Caribbean cuisine. He now brings these concepts alive at Orujo, in the bustling San Juan neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Portela, a Johnson & Wales University graduate in Rhode Island, belongs to different culinary organizations such as the Chaine des Rotisseurs, CREA (Culinary Research Educational Academy), American Culinary Federation, and Slow Food International. In 2020, he completed a course in Science and Cooking from Harvard University. As a lifelong learner of the culinary arts, Chef Portela has hosted numerous workshops and training for young chefs and gastronomy enthusiasts. Portela has traveled the globe to Europe and Latin America, representing Puerto Rican Gastronomy. As a connector and advocate of Puerto Rican chefs, he works on expanding the philosophy of food sovereignty and knowledge of the cuisine of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, which is among the most complex in history and flavor. Carlos Portela was recognized as a 2024 James Beard Foundation 'Best Chef South' semi-finalist.
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    47 mins
  • Chef Nina Compton

    Chef Nina Compton
    Apr 27 2025
    On this episode of Culture & Flavor, Zella talks with St. Lucian native Nina Compton, Chef/Owner of gastronomic gems Compère Lapin and BABs in New Orleans, along with her fast-casual restaurant, Nina’s Creole Cottage in Caesar’s New Orleans about her recently released cookbook, KWÉYÒL/CREOLE. Since her flagship restaurant, Compère Lapin opened in 2015, the restaurant has garnered critical acclaim – both nationally and locally – for Compton’s one-of-a-kind Caribbean-inspired Louisiana cuisine. Sister restaurant BABs (formerly Bywater American Bistro) has been touted as one of the city’s best restaurants, showcasing house-made pastas and other ingredient-driven fare. Compton has been name-checked across the globe was named "Best Chef: South" by The James Beard Foundation. In April 2025, Chef Compton released her first cookbook, KWÉYÒL/CREOLE: Recipes, Stories and Tings from a St. Lucian Chef’s Journey which tells the story of her thrilling culinary journey from St. Lucia to Jamaica, Miami, and New Orleans.
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    43 mins
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