FIND THE GOOD NEWS

WITH ORAN PARKER

With Find The Good News I focus on good people doing good works. I visit with artists, educators, civic & spiritual leaders, musicians, business owners, students, volunteers, and everyday citizens who are using their creativity, resources, and talents to bring hope & happiness to their corners of the world. I discover the critical life experiences that shaped them, the perspectives that drive them, and the fundamental principals that have anchored them to a path of goodness. My name is Oran Parker, and I'm going to find the good.

FRESH EPISODE

EP. 131 - THE ROAD OUT BACK - FT. ANNE KLENKE

Creole Nature Trail All-American Road in Southwest Louisiana


PREVIOUS EPISODE

EP. 130 - THE REASON IS LOVE - FT. TONYA DOUCETTE

Project Trey–Recovery Café in Lake Charles, Louisiana


RECENT EPISODE

EP. 129 - THE DORMON LEGACY - FT. BAYLI BROSSETTE

Briarwood Nature Preserve in Saline, Louisiana


RECENT EPISODE

EP. 128 - THE PRINTING PRESS - FT. CANDICE ALEXANDER

Candice Alexander Art Studio in Lake Charles, Louisiana


RECENT EPISODE

EP. 127 - THE CUP OVERFLOWETH - FT. HUNTER FORMAN AND AARON QUINN

Village Coffee in Sulphur, Louisiana


RECENT EPISODE

EP. 126 - THE CITY AND THE SEASONS - FT. JILL LEO

Director of the Natchitoches Historic District Business Association and Natchitoches Main Street


RECENT EPISODE

EP. 125 - THE QUIETER STORIES - FT. REBECCA BLANKENBAKER

President & CEO, Cane River National Heritage Area


RECENT EPISODE

EP. 124 - THE BRIDGES THAT CONNECT US - FT. MATT KOCH, COLLEEN DESSELLE, AND EDDIE OAKLEY

CEO/President, Chief Marketing Officer, and past CEO of CSE Federal Credit Union


RECENT EPISODE

EP. 123 - THE RIGHT CHEMISTRY - FT. GEORGE SWIFT

CEO/President of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance

THE ROAD OUT BACK - EP. 131

 

For me, one of the most enjoyable things in life is a good-old-fashioned road trip that takes the side roads, hits the small stops, and offers the possibility of discovery, with textures outside of the mostly manufactured experiences found along the main travel arteries, saturated with common denominator brands and tourist traps. There’s something truly special about the untailored travel experience, with its rough, fuzzy edges and unknown factors. That type of travel pushes me to keep my eyes and ears open, cultivating the type of mindful attention that can be diminished by bloated itineraries and over-hyped hot spots.

 

The open, wild road is like listening to the radio instead of a curated playlist—along the winding miles comes a little static and overlapping signals, as well as that joyful feeling when your favorite song comes through. These trails open us up to the priceless mystery of random, unplanned occurrences. I’m one of the lucky ones because I live along Highway 27 South in Southwest Louisiana, where we have a road trip into the wild green heart of Louisiana’s Outback—the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road—right here in our own backyard.

 

In this episode of Find the Good News, I visited with my friend Anne Klenke, Vice President of Destination Development with Visit Lake Charles. Anne works with heart and passion to share our growing, green Gulf Coast gateway with visitors from across the country and around the world.

 

Whether it’s the painted scattered skies, the kaleidoscopic presentation of seasonal birds, our unique catalogue of wetland creatures, or the expansive Gulf Coast views, Anne has seen firsthand the memorable discoveries that writers and visitors make as they explore the far-and-away spaces along the Creole Nature Trail, starting at the trailhead, Adventure Point in Sulphur, Louisiana.

 

Over the past 15 years, Anne and I have worked together on countless projects that promote travel to the area and inform travelers as they make their way through. As rewarding as those projects have been, this conversation revealed just how deeply Anne’s heart is entwined with this space and place, giving me a new appreciation of the Outback right here at home.

 

So, I invite you to consider packing for a day trip to Southwest Louisiana—and when you get here, head south on Highway 27 and watch the manufactured world peel away as you wind along into the Louisiana wild.


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WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK MY GUESTS A QUESTION?

GET YOUR QUESTION INTO THE FISH BOWL!

Maybe you heard something on this show that helped you on your path to a happier life, but I need your finding the good. Get in touch and let me know what you think I should ask my upcoming guests and I'll see about getting your questions into the fishbowl in our Fishing For Goodies segment of the show! If you'd like to have your name and city/state/country read on the show just include it in your email when you submit your question. Your question will stay in the fishbowl for other guests to answer. Each guest will be fishing out 3 goodies each episode, so make sure your questions are creative, thought provoking, and designed to find the good! Don't be shy. I want to hear from you so we can find the good together.

 

Please note that by submitting you are allowing your content and questions to be used on the podcast. I'll do my very best to use your submission with respect and kindness. 


KNOW SOMEONE GOOD?

I'D LIKE TO TALK TO THEM.

Is there someone in your life that's working to make their patch of the world a better place? I'd like to talk to them so others can find out where their good comes from. Let's get them on the show, learn what makes them tick, and get that good news out there. 

Please note that by submitting you are allowing your content and questions to be used on the podcast. I'll do my very best to use your submission with respect and kindness. 


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