When Courtney Yoes, local art sensation and instructor embodies the spirit of Zachary's vibrant community. We celebrate her influence, from the murals that grace children's play areas through her work in the school system. The narrative deepens as we explore the profound ways art tells stories. We tackle the complex dance of professional identity w…

Ever wondered about the myth of a cougar in Rouse's parking lot or chuckled at the thought of a city inspector doubling as a stand-up comic? Join us as Bryant Dixon, the Zachary City Planning and Zoning Director, brings lightness to the serious world of city planning. We bust myths, laugh at Scott Masterson's dad jokes, and unpack the complexities …

Discover the transformative power of your backyard as we're joined by Caitlin Robbins from Swampfly Native Landscapes to unravel the secrets of Louisiana's native plant ecosystems. Embrace a journey through the lush diversity of our local flora and fauna, learning how to turn your garden into a certified Louisiana habitat. From the unsuspected bene…

Step behind the scenes at the awe-inspiring Louisiana Night Jam with Jay Bennett, and hear firsthand from two-time champion Hannah Stralsova about the high-flying world of water ski jumping. This episode peels back the curtain on the sheer spectacle and athletic prowess on display at Bennett's Water Ski and Wakeboard School. Feel the pulse of the c…

Unlock the secrets of Louisiana's economic renaissance as we sit with Adam Knapp, a visionary in the state's push for progress. In a candid discussion, we peel back the layers of local economic strategies and the colorful food culture that not only feeds the body but also fuels the soul of this unique region. From the impact of gubernatorial decree…

Imagine the pulse of Baton Rouge's culture and entrepreneurial spirit coming alive right before your ears. Our latest episode takes you on a cultural safari through the city's traditions and innovations with special attention to Baton Rouge Entrepreneurship Week. We wax poetic about our adored BREC parks and debate the merits of the most buzzing la…

Have you ever wondered what it takes to capture the essence of a community in print and audio? Jen Gennaro, the creative force behind Porch Parish Zachary's Community Magazine and podcast, joins us for a story-rich tapestry of local flavor and charm. We traverse the journey of Counter Space Zachary's metamorphosis into a cultural cornerstone, and i…

Discover the heartbeat of Baton Rouge as Maggi Spurlock from the Baton Rouge Area Chamber joins me, Mike Gennaro, to unravel the city's vibrant local scene. We'll take you down memory lane, mourning the bygone havens of our beloved city while revealing our cherished eateries and music joints that keep the local charm alive. Witness how the simple y…

Unlock the secrets of commercial insurance with Danette Castellot, the esteemed president of the Louisiana Professional Insurance Agents, who joins us for a riveting episode that will forever change the way you view the intricacies of insurance coverage. Whether it’s the whimsical notion of insuring beloved fictitious characters like Garfield or th…

His high school resume includes membership in the Honors Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Future Farmers of America. To wind down, he spends time reading, or camping in the woods with his wife. And he loves his tiny toy breed puppy. These are some unexpected revelations from our interview with the Zachary Police Department's trailblaz…

When Mayor David McDavid decided to swap his morning espresso shots for decaf, little did he know it would be the least surprising change of his first mayoral year. Our fireside chat with him is more than just a cozy conversation—it's a treasure trove of heartfelt anecdotes and city updates that will leave you feeling like an insider in the world o…

Controversial and resilient—Storm, the spirit worker from Storm Kalmerz Metaphysical Healing Boutique, steps into the booth to tell her side of the story, sharing tales of perseverance against a backdrop of community scrutiny, and offering her perspective on the misunderstandings that shadow spiritual practices like hoodoo and herbalism. Our conver…

Ever found yourself daydreaming about the perfect small town, where progress and charm dance in harmony? That's the spirited discussion we waltz into with Ashley McHugh and Bryant Dixon, the visionaries behind Zachary's growth. They're not just the minds shaping our economic and zoning landscapes; they're the beating heart of community spirit, weav…

Hello to all of our listeners in Zachary who tune in every week. We’re back in the groove with new diggs, the winter issue just rolled out last Monday, and we’ve got nothing but good things ahead of us in 2024. While the winter season is a time of new beginnings to most, it is also a time when we can look to those less fortunate that are in need of…

Welcome back Zachary! When we hit 100 episodes, we took a breather to move to our brand new—actually 120 year old headquarters at Virginia Street in beautiful downtown Zachary. I may not be hosting for the full 120 years, but just take a moment to envision how amazing Zachary could be in that time frame. We’ve got to set that aside fear and channel…

Coach Little is Zachary Highschool’s Strength & Conditioning coach—and there is nothing little about him, at 6’3 280 pounds, he’s a larger than life human spark plug that enjoys rushing out on the football field with the team and pushing them towards greatness on and off the field. He’s the former strength & conditioning coach at McNeese University…

Jack Burk informed us that his mom would be turning 100 on Sunday, December 3rd, so Bre and I took a ride out to their sprawling family estate off Old Scenic Hwy. The driveway was 1 mile long, to give you an idea. We did the interview at the family’s dining room table, so you may hear some uncharacteristic background noise. Coincidentally, P&P just…

Host Mike Gennaro welcomes another local entrepreneur, one who many in the Z know simply as Benzer. The Benzer family was featured in the Fall family issue of Porch & Parish. Pick up a magazine at one of more than 50 local rack locations to read the story of how the Benzer House became home for a party of 7. This week we welcome Dustin Benzer to ta…

Host Mike Gennaro welcomes Luke Parks, an incredible young entrepreneur who is also a scholar and athlete and all around great human being. Luke is the owner of Royal Treats, a business that sells frozen, ready-to-bake desserts in stores across Greater Baton Rouge. City Court Judge David Conachen says, “We’re all going to be working for Luke Parks …

We’ve got the incredible Northwestern Middle School Cross Country coaches in the booth, and Coach David Onellion has just officially handed off the Baton to Coach Justin Doherty. Just a heads up, there are no Batons in XC—it’s a little known sport that is growing in popularity as a Fall sport that allows athletes of all makes and models to get thei…

Gardening coach Kellye Jeansonne of Wild Child Kitchen Gardens talks with host Mike Gennaro on a frost versus a freeze, what to dig up and what to plant in the Fall and Winter in this episode of Porch & Parish The Podcast. Change is hard, but we're welcoming a new season! It's time to harvest everything that thrives in the summer because Winter is …

Today’s show is all about perspective. We’ve got Rafael Nowicki, Polish-American immigrant and entrepreneur, owner of Biomedical Support Services, Inc. He’s got an incredible story of how he escaped communist Poland with the equivalent of $8.00 in his pocket and made his way to England and then Zachary, Louisiana. Big thanks to the Mayor of Zachary…

At P&P, we’re all about highlighting the best of Zachary, free of negativity and conflict. If you live long enough, we’ve all found ourselves in situations that have challenged our ability to be the bigger person. Today, we’ve got someone who stuck it out with us in the trenches when a neighboring politician was dogging our city to help win votes. …

Tall tales swirl around the dynamic figure known locally as AEKO, (an abbreviation of his real name, and pronounced “echo”), everyone’s favorite–and only–server at Asian Pearl. And some of them are true. Tune in as AEKO sits down with host Mike Gennaro to talk about his uncanny ability to remember hundreds, maybe thousands, of unique orders, why he…

Hey Zachary, I can feel a change in the air…can you? If you don’t have your Halloween decorations up and a PSL in hand, it’s time to get with the program. We’re going to talk about a unique perspective today, running—yes, if you know me, you know I like to run with my kids, if I can keep up. We’re going to be specifically talking about Girls on the…

Zachary Mayor David McDavid joins host Mike Gennaro for the quarterly Fireside Chat with the Mayor. Tune in to hear about the progress of road rehab projects, legislative changes, a deep dive into how annexation and taxes from unincorporated areas of the city work, and much more! These quarterly episodes are generously supported through our partner…

Now for today’s topic—Hometown Business with Hometown Pharmacy of Zachary. If you’ve seen the new sign at the former Medical Pharmacy West, now you can get the details about their opening date and more. The name says it all…hometown service that the residents of Zachary expect and certainly deserve. Continuing the long-time legacy of caring custome…

We’re continuing with our back to school showcase - you’ve heard from the ZHS Band of Blue Drum Majors, district athletic director and Broncos head football coach, Coach Brew, and this week we’re thrilled to have Zachary Schools Superintendent Ben Necaise with us in the booth! If you haven’t yet, go check out his article in the latest special editi…

Coach David "Brew" Brewerton is the Zachary Community School District Athletic Director and Head Football Coach of the Zachary High School Broncos. He's back for the second year in a row to talk all things athletics and football as the new school year kicks off! How to Start a Podcast Guide: The Complete Guide Learn how to plan, record, and launch …

Zachary High School Band of Blue Drum Majors Aaron Westbrook & Sara Lampton tell us what a Drum Major is, how they balance band, school and other extracurriculars, and how you can support local and students through the Band of Blue Foundation! Learn more about the Band of Blue and Band of Blue Foundation by following them on Facebook and Instagram.…

Publisher and podcast host Mike Gennaro welcomes editor Jen Gennaro and Bre Smith, managing editor and podcast producer, for an update on all the wonderful things happening at Porch & Parish! From the e-newsletter to Family Dinner and the new Zachary Community School Guide - join us for a candid conversation about our mission and the many ways to p…

Cybersecurity engineer and overall tech guru Jason Day joins host Mike Gennaro for an episode all about - you guessed it - cybersecurity! Jason walks us through best practices for protecting yourself from cyber threats in the home and at work. How to Start a Podcast Guide: The Complete Guide Learn how to plan, record, and launch your podcast with t…

Coach Sam Barham, long-time Zachary resident and beloved cross country, basketball and track coach with a 46-year-long career talks about overcoming adversity, being there for those who are grieving, and offers a sneak peek into the upcoming We Can Mens Conference he is co-hosting on August 5. Click here to learn more about the We Can Mens Conferen…

P&P has has one of the brightest minds we’ve ever managed to coax to our headquarters on High Street, and I’ve asked him to be here to bring talk about how our town can benefit from some of the latest emerging technology. LSU’s incredible Dr. Andrew Schwarz is with us—he’s professor in the Stephenson Entrepreneurship and Information Department in t…

In this episode, ShredHedz President Travis Gaspard explains leveraging technology to scale business, Zachary’s unique value proposition to larger companies, and walks us through the upcoming Rising Plains Business Center project, which will house the Zachary Business Co-Op. The company is in the process of renovating and rebranding 19850 Old Sceni…

Kellye Jeansonne of Wild Child Kitchen Gardens is here to give us some summer gardening project management advice and clarify what soil really is once and for all. It's not too hot, too late, or too early to start planting! Kellye gives practical advice for getting started with a garden TODAY. Learn more or sign up for the Wild Child Kitchen Garden…

Today, we'll meet a member of our Zachary extended family. He's a State Farm agency owner, a recently minted podcast host, and a pickleball fanatic who knows how to serve up more than just that. He ain't Jake from State Farm, but let's give a warm welcome to the incredible Cecil Graves! So grab your favorite spot, plug in those earbuds, and get rea…

Welcome back to another Zachary local experience. It’s summer, and a lot of you are traveling this week, so we dipped into the archives for one of our all time greatest episodes. We’re airing June 19th or Juneteenth. This day in 1865 is one of the most significant days in American history. Juneteenth commemorates Union Army General Gordon Granger's…

Welcome back to another exciting episode of The Porch & Parish podcast, where we bring you the stories, insights, and inspiration from the movers, shakers, and story makers of our community. Today, we have a special guest returning to our podcast booth. It's none other than Kenny Nguyen, the CEO and Co-Founder of ThreeSixtyEight Media. We wanted to…

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome, welcome, to another week of engaging home grown stories from the town we all love—I’m talking about the Z. But Zachary wouldn’t be anything without you, so I just want to let you know how grateful I am for you sharing these stories with us. Stories have a way of bringing everyone together, and today, we have a true lu…

Meet Scott Masterson, a dad of the highest quality, the City of Zachary Building Official and a renowned tomato enthusiast. Scott has been with the City of Zachary since 2003, having served as Building Official since 2007. In 2021, he was appointed to the Louisiana Construction Code Council, and in 2016, Scott was appointed by the Louisiana State C…

Hey, Zachary people and welcome to all Zachary newcomers! It is sunny with a high of 90 degrees today, and I’m lovin it. This week we welcome Ashleigh McHugh, Director of the Zachary Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has been an excellent partner organization to the Porch & Parish Community - Thank you for supporting our mission to create a Zachary …

Hey, Zachary people! Let’s talk travel! This week we welcome Sara Horn, Office Manager and Travel Guide at Zachary Travel and Cruise Center. Zachary Travel has been a Porch & Parish Community Partner since the very beginning - Thank you for supporting our mission to create a Zachary where everyone feels heard and engaged! We couldn’t do it without …

Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of Everthrive Counseling joins Porch & Parish Editor Jen Gennaro and producer Bre Smith for a conversation on mental health, motherhood and counseling. Leslie's approach to counseling is rooted in family systems and exploring how upbringing, early relationships, and past trauma may be impacting your life in…

Hey, Zachary people! We’ve still got dew on our tennis shoes from participating in Love the Boot Week community litter pick-up. The City of Zachary along with the Chamber of Commerce hosted the initiative and we’ve Got Mayor Mac McDavid with us today to keep us in the know about all the good things in the works for the Z. Even better, he’s going to…

Mike and Jen Gennaro welcome Jim Fleshman, Director of BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo - our area’s #1 year-round family attraction! Listen in to learn about new and upcoming exhibits, how the zoo's master plan is coming along, and a lot of fun animal facts to impress your friends! Check out Jen's article on the family's most recent trip to BREC's Baton Rou…

Baton Rouge Entrepreneurship Week (BREW) is a multi-day, multi-venue experience for entrepreneurs, inventors, investors, techies, creatives, foodies, and anyone with an interest in shaping our community. Host Mike Gennaro and Porch & Parish Editor Jen Gennaro welcome Na'Tisha Natt, Director of Marketing and Engagement at Nexus Louisiana and Narciss…

Rise Behavioral Services provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Zachary and the surrounding areas. RISE is the first center of its kind in Zachary! Owner Donyelle Clark-Kennedy, MS, BCBA, LBA discusses Autism Spectrum Disorder, working as a Behavior Analyst, and the services offere…

This week, hosts Mike and Maximo Gennaro welcome Zachary High School cross-country and track star Rhen Langley and Coach Julie Fink! Rhen is a senior at ZHS, an LSU signee, Fieldhouse record holder, and claimed the 2nd fastest mile time in Louisiana history. He's of Zachary’s most decorated runners, and he's joining us along with the incredible Coa…

You know, Zachary has a few things in no shortage– Smart kids, Mexican restaurants, realtors, churches, and banks. Today, you are going to learn about what makes a community bank different, and what makes this one particular bank exceptional. To explain that, we’ve got two great people in the booth today that fuel Bank of Zachary’s greatness. How t…