Unscripted: A Nolapapa Podcast

Erik Alexander -- better known as Nolapapa -- has turned his New Orleans dad blog into one of the city's most popular interview shows. The format is loose and conversational: Erik sits down with someone interesting from the New Orleans area, and they talk for about an hour. The guest list ranges from local restaurant owners and jazz musicians to children's book authors, psychic mediums, police chiefs, and Emmy-winning set designers. A recent episode featured the team behind Bayona, one of the city's landmark restaurants. Another brought in a mentalist who grew up in New Orleans and now performs internationally. What makes the show work is Erik's warmth and genuine curiosity. He is not trying to be a journalist or a shock jock. He laughs easily, asks follow-up questions that show he actually listened, and creates the kind of atmosphere where guests open up about things they might not share in a more formal interview setting. The podcast was named the number one New Orleans podcast by Goodpods, and with 157 episodes and a 4.7-star rating, the audience clearly agrees. The show updates weekly and has been running consistently since 2020. Episodes are tagged explicit, mostly because the conversations go wherever they go without a filter. If you want a sense of what New Orleans people are actually like when they are relaxed and talking to a friend -- the humor, the pride, the community connections -- this is it. Erik is clearly in love with his city, and that energy comes through in every episode without ever feeling forced.