Episode 25: A Tribute to Frenchie Prigeon Fontenot
In this special episode, we pay tribute to Prigeon Fontenot, one of the last of Louisiana’s French-speaking Cajun veterans of World War II. Raised on a rice farm near Rayne, Louisiana, Prigeon entered the U.S. Army in 1944 and served with the 9th Armored Division in Europe, where his native French became an unexpected asset. Drawing from interviews recorded with Prigeon over the years, we hear his story in his own words and in his native language—from growing up in south Louisiana and going off to war to his experiences in France and Germany. The episode also follows one of the final great adventures of Prigeon’s remarkable life: his return to France at age 100 with the Best Defense Foundation. Amanda Thompson, executive director of the Best Defense Foundation, joins the show to discuss the organization’s work with World War II veterans, while Josh Talley, Prigeon’s chaperone on the 2026 journey, takes us inside the trip and shares what it was like traveling through France with this unforgettable Frenchie.
10 May 2026
Episode 24: Cajun French—From the Schoolhouse to WWII
In this episode of the Frenchie Podcast, we explore the remarkable transformation of Cajun French from a language discouraged in Louisiana classrooms during the 1920s to a valuable military asset during World War II. Featuring rare archival audio discovered at the Center for Louisiana Studies, listeners will hear an extraordinary conversation between two legendary Cajun veterans and Louisiana National Guard leaders—Gen. Bob LeBlanc and Gen. Curney Dronet. Together, these two Acadian citizen soldiers discuss language, identity, military service, and the emergence of a new pride in being Cajun during and after the war.
7 Mar 2026
Episode 23: Les Femmes Frenchie
In this special episode of Frenchie, host Jason Theriot is joined by his daughter and guest co-host, Mae Theriot, to spotlight the stories of two Cajun women who served their country during World War II. The episode features the voice of Army Nurse Lt. Effie Tanner Logan of Lafayette, who spent eighteen months overseas caring for wounded soldiers in North Africa and Italy during some of the most difficult campaigns of the war. Listeners also meet Beulah Dugas of St. Martinville, a Cajun “Rosie the Riveter” who left home to weld Liberty ships at the Delta Shipbuilding yards in New Orleans. Together, their stories highlight the vital role Louisiana women played both on the front lines and on the home front—reminding us that the French-speaking Cajun generation contributed to victory in many ways. Team Theriot is also joined by Monica Ordonez, award-winning director of "Love Letter of WWII" that features a Frenchie love story: www.melangedanceofnola.com/love-letters-of-wwii
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 16 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
18
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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