TriPod: New Orleans at 300

TriPod: New Orleans at 300 was produced by WWNO, the city's NPR station, in partnership with the Historic New Orleans Collection. Hosted by Laine Kaplan-Levenson, each episode focuses on a single story or subject from the city's deep, layered past. The series earned a 4.9-star rating from nearly 200 listeners who praised its careful research and accessible storytelling. The show covers everything from pre-colonial Choctaw history and the indigenous name Bulbancha for the region to the European settlement, the complex legacy of slavery, the birth of jazz, and the modern cultural movements that keep reshaping the city. Kaplan-Levenson brings each story to life through interviews with historians, community members, and everyday New Orleanians who carry these histories in their families and neighborhoods. Though the series wrapped its main run and released its final episodes by 2021, the 20-episode archive remains an essential listening resource for anyone who wants to understand how New Orleans became what it is. The production quality reflects WWNO's public radio standards, with clean audio, thoughtful pacing, and a narrative style that never talks down to its audience. For history buffs, visitors preparing for a trip, or locals looking to deepen their connection to the city, TriPod is a compact, rewarding collection that rewards repeated listens.