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Episode 1 - Melanie Boulet

 

In the first episode Melanie Boulet talks about how she met her husband Günter Bischof, her career change from teaching to being a tourist guide, the history of Louisiana and New Orleans from the colonial era to the present and New Orleans' famous French Quarter.

Melanie Boulet grew up in southeast Louisiana immersed in Cajun history and culture. A veteran of the Peace Corps, Melanie spent 28 years teaching World History in New Orleans, and as a teacher she always encouraged her students to find history outside the classroom walls. She has been the recipient of numerous teaching awards over her career, including the Jewish Community Center's Holocaust Teacher of the Year in 2019 and Gilder-Lehrman’s Louisiana History Teacher of the Year in 2017.

Melanie is married to historian Günter Bischof and in retirement has focused on her longtime passion of giving guided tours of New Orleans.  In this interview, Melanie talks about her life together with Bischof and its intersection with Bischof’s work. She also speaks about life as a tour guide in one of the most interesting cities worldwide.