A huge thank you to everyone who entered our Parish Porch raffle, and an even bigger shoutout to our incredible sponsors who made it happen: Country Kitchen Gonzales, Curve Mart, and Ascension Community Theatre. Your support helps keep local stories alive.

Each winner is taking home a prize bundle from amazing local businesses who believe in what we’re building.

BUT WAIT… 👀
Before you click away, there’s one more thing. A secret announcement slipped in that no one saw coming. Let’s just say… it's legendary, and we're obsessed.

🎙 Stay tuned, Parish Porch family. Big things ahead.

Support the show

Interested in becoming a guest or sponsor? Reach out to us directly at parishporch@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE!

In this episode of Parish Porch, we sit down with Sophia Crook, Science Educator for LIGO Livingston, one of only two gravitational wave observatories in the United States. Sophia walks us through how LIGO detects ripples in space-time, what it’s like working at the forefront of astrophysics, and how the public can engage with the science right here in Livingston Parish.

We discuss:

• What gravitational waves actually are (and why they matter)
• LIGO's role in global scientific discovery
• How Louisiana ended up on the cutting edge of astrophysics
• Free public tours and field trip opportunities
• Encouraging kids and curious adults to ask big questions

Mentioned in this episode:

• Visit LIGO Livingston: https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/LA
• Schedule a public tour: https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/LA/page/Community-Tours
• Explore LIGO for educators: https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/LA/page/Educators

🎧 Tune in to hear how our little corner of Louisiana is making a massive impact on science across the universe.

Support the show

Interested in becoming a guest or sponsor? Reach out to us directly at parishporch@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE!

This week on Parish Porch, we’re shining a spotlight on one of the most impactful programs shaping young leaders in our community, JROTC. Commander (Aaron) Bates, a retired U.S. Navy officer, joins us to talk about his journey from cadet to commanding officer and how he’s now using that experience to guide students at St. Amant High School.

We talk about:

• The real purpose of JROTC (spoiler: it’s not military recruitment)
• How discipline, structure, and mentorship can change a teenager’s life
• What Commander Bates looks for in his cadets, and how he builds leadership from the ground up
• The personal path that led him from Metairie to Covington to 27 years in the Navy
• Why he believes JROTC is one of the most valuable programs in public education today

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or former cadet yourself, this episode is packed with insight into what’s working in Louisiana schools and why programs like JROTC deserve more attention.

Resources:

• Follow the St. Amant High School NJROTC Program on Facebook!
• Connect with Commander Bates via the St. Amant High School website
• Veterans support via the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs

COME MEET US!

This Friday, the 25th, Parish Porch will be at the Gonzales Lowe's! Stop by, learn more about what we do and why, and enter our raffle for a chance to win some local goodies from Country Kitchen, Curve Mart, and Ascension Community Theatre.

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Support the show

Interested in becoming a guest or sponsor? Reach out to us directly at parishporch@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE!