Northshore Podcasting

PHOTOS JOHNNY CHAUVIN

Podcasts have been growing in popularity over the past few years and are now all the rage, with no signs of losing luster! 41% of people in the USA tune into a podcast every month, and 28% do it weekly. Podcasts can be engaging and powerful through storytelling and debates. The most popular subjects are news, comedy, and true crime. However, in addition to the most popular subjects, listeners can find the most varied content imaginable. The podcast spectrum is immense with everything from model airplane enthusiasts to gardening clubs from local civic organizations to national political forums. With the right topics and content, podcasts are the perfect way to engage loyal followers who have similar interests.

Northshore Media Group has been paying attention as podcasting has evolved, and after a couple years of research and discovery has launched a new podcast division: Northshore Podcasting. This new division provides the Northshore with a highquality podcast service similar to those found in large metros such as New Orleans, Atlanta and DC. Northshore Podcasting offers individuals, businesses, and public agencies on the Northshore the facilities and equipment to produce professional podcasts with a variety of flexible options. The menu of options includes basic in-studio recording of high-quality raw audio, right up to full creation, production, and distribution of their custom podcast.

“There was a void on the Northshore for this increasingly popular service, so we filled it. Podcasting is so closely related to what we already do with our broadcast stations that this expansion was a no-brainer,” said General Manager Brian Shirey.

As family-owned Northshore Media Group transitions ownership from Wayne Dowdy to a trio of new owners, Brian Shirey, Eloise Cottrell and Charles Dowdy, they plan to continue to invest and expand to enhance services to the Northshore. In addition to their 12 radio properties which remain the backbone of the company, over the past few years they have expanded by adding multiple print publications, direct mail, and digital marketing. Podcasting is the latest expansion. Who knows what’s next!

“Listen to any of our radio stations or read one of our magazines and you’ll realize that we are all in when it comes to local content. It’s what sets us apart,” Shirey said. “Our podcasts will be the same. Sure, we can produce something for a national audience, but we’re excited to see what local ideas come forward.”

“Our focus is to produce radio and print products which are truly relevant to our local community,” Eloise Cottrell added. “We do that well, and it will remain the biggest part of our business. But many of the same principles we employ in our radio and magazines can be applied to the creation of a podcast. It is an excellent additional service to offer local businesses or individuals who are trying to stand out.”

Northshore Media Group recently launched Northshore Podcasting’s first dedicated studio in their Covington office which was designed by Niche Modern Home. Near-future plans call for at least two more podcast studios to be added at their Hammond location.

“We reached out to the guys at Niche Modern Home,” Charles Dowdy said. “We explained what we wanted and how we would use the space. Steve and Jeff were awesome. We can’t wait for others to see what they created for us.”

Northshore Podcasting offers a variety of options, from basic rental of that new space to a fully-produced podcast that includes guest sourcing, project management, production, audio hosting and promotion. This customized podcast approach will allow a variety of businesses and individuals to deliver engaging content consistently and easily.

Find out more about Northshore Podcasting at northshoremedia.net.

Spring has blossomed our Parish into its full glory with beautiful, breathtaking scenery and a lively social scene.

The Summer is a wonderful time in St. Tammany, full of festivities and sunshine. Whether you enjoy live music, historic parks and buildings, our beloved Tammany Trace or local restaurants, there is something for everyone in St. Tammany. I encourage all citizens and visitors to get outside to enjoy all that contributes to our remarkable quality of life.

Summer also brings the start of Hurricane Season. We were very fortunate in 2022 to not experience any tropical systems. While we hope for the same in 2023, preparedness is the key to a safe and successful Hurricane Season. Please take some time to check your generators, stock up on a few non-perishable items and revisit your family’s plan for storms.

Our Parish crews continue to work with all essential agencies to ensure quality services for our citizens, in addition to checking equipment, preparing sandbags and upgrading our drainage systems. Enhancing our drainage infrastructure remains at the forefront of my administration. We will exhaust every opportunity to ensure that our drainage systems flow efficiently to protect our citizens from floodwaters.

My administration has invested in innovative equipment to better access and clear drainage canals, while saving tax dollars. We have funded millions of dollars in projects to upgrade our pipes, culverts and ditches. For the first time in Parish history, we are examining drainage on a parishwide level and will budget solutions based on that analysis.

Simply put, my administration continues to work tirelessly to better our Parish and your quality of life, whether it is with regard to roads, drainage, water quality and more.

Serving as your Parish President continues to be one of my most humbling honors.

I hope everyone is enjoying and finding ways to stay cool this summer.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you, the citizens of St. Tammany Parish, for your continued support and for the trust you have placed in me and my deputies to keep you safe.

We stay committed to building a strong partnership with the community to preserve the wonderful quality of life we are so fortunate to have in our great parish.

Our efforts to improve the efficiency of agency operations are ongoing, and many exciting things are on the horizon for the Sheriff’s Office as we continue to grow and adapt to meet the changing needs of our community.

In March of this year, we broke ground on our new permanent 3rd District Patrol Station.

The site of the future 3rd District Station is located just off Highway 21 behind the Covington Target. This location reinforces my promise to improve response times, centralize manpower and increase visibility in the community.

The 5,500 square foot building will mirror the look of the Slidell Law Enforcement Complex on Brownswitch Road in a smaller scale. Cox Parker Contractors out of Mandeville won the bid for the project and have already begun construction with a completion date anticipated for Spring 2024.

In addition to 28 patrol deputies, the new station will also house property crimes investigators, community relations deputies, traffic deputies and representatives from the agency’s Crisis Intervention Team. Upon its completion, the new station will replace the temporary location that has housed the 3rd District Offices since the new patrol district was established in 2022.

The construction of this new patrol district office on the western end of our parish is a good thing for St. Tammany, and I am excited to see it come to fruition.

I encourage you to pass by and check out the progress as construction continues and, once the building is complete, please come visit and get to know the men and women who serve in our 3rd District.

Elizabeth T.

Elizabeth’s spirit is stronger than cancer.

Elizabeth was blindsided when at only 35 years old, she discovered a lump and found out it was breast cancer. She began treatment immediately, before moving to Madisonville. That’s when she opted to transfer to St. Tammany Cancer Center – A Campus of Ochsner Medical Center, which not only lowered her mileage to and from treatments, but also her stress levels. Upon completion of her chemotherapy treatments, Elizabeth underwent physical therapy through Ochsner’s integrative oncology services, to regain strength and range of motion in her upper body. We’re helping Elizabeth get stronger every day, so that she can experience the joys of life and motherhood. Whatever your reasons are for doing the things you do, we’ve only got one. YOU.

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