A one-way ticket, $100 and a dream of playing New Orleans music. That’s what brought Jon Cleary to the city he has called home for 45 years.

This week on The Mark Romig Show, Jon shares his journey from growing up in England to working at the Maple Leaf Bar and carrying the sound of New Orleans around the world. He discusses his new album, Live at the Royal Albert Hall, the story behind the Absolute Monster Gentlemen’s name and memories of playing with some of the city’s musical greats. Plus, Jon takes the Official New Orleans Questionnaire, revealing his favorite local foods, musical hero and enduring love for this wonderfully funky city.

Also in Episode 37:

• On The Table: Dr. Nicole Caridad Ralston, the voice behind @EATENPATHNOLA, explores New Orleans’ Hispanic food scene, from Peruvian ceviche and Colombian arepas to Cuban pastries and Honduran favorites. She even maps out a full day of delicious discoveries.

• 5-Minutes With: Filmmaker Michael Murphy and Dew Drop Inn owner Curtis Doucette, Jr. discuss Dew Drop Inn: Resistance and Resilience. Hear how this legendary venue challenged segregation, welcomed Black musicians and travelers, and helped nurture music that influenced the world.

• Move The Chains: FOX 8 Sports reporter Madeline Adams finds reasons for optimism after a difficult weekend for the Saints, LSU and Tulane, then previews the Pelicans’ season and the excitement of local high school football.

• This Week in New Orleans: April Dupré shares where to eat, drink and play.

• Positively New Orleans: Mark reflects on the Spanish and Hispanic heritage woven into the city’s architecture, food and community.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Jon Cleary: Featured Guest
16:12 Official New Orleans Questionnaire
26:53 On The Table: Nicole Caridad Ralston
37:56 Dew Drop Inn: Michael Murphy & Curtis Doucette, Jr.
1:01:38 Move The Chains: Madeline Adams
1:18:04 This Week in New Orleans
1:20:10 Positively New Orleans

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Ochsner Health: Featured Guest & Studio Sponsor
Blue Runner Foods: On The Table
New Orleans & Company: 5-Minutes With
Bienville Capital Group: Official New Orleans Questionnaire
Visit The Northshore: Community Sponsor

Discover more from Visit The Northshore on their podcast, All the Waves.

THE TEAM
Host: Mark Romig
Executive Producers: Glenn Haggerty & Keith Haggerty
Producer/Editor: Kal Landry
This Week in New Orleans Host: April Dupré

Follow The Mark Romig Show for more conversations celebrating the people, food, music, culture and sports of New Orleans. Share this episode with someone who loves the city!

The Mark Romig Show is produced by LOVE NOLA TV, the official tourism and visitor information channel of New Orleans, seen in thousands of downtown hotel rooms and locally across all major digital platforms.

🎧 Subscribe to The Mark Romig Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube
📺 Watch full episodes and clips on the LOVE NOLA TV YouTube channel
📍 Filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana

New episodes weekly.
For the love of New Orleans.

What makes the connection between New Orleans and the Saints so special? For Stan Verrett, it’s a story about family, identity and a city that never stopped believing.

On Episode 35 of The Mark Romig Show, the New Orleans native and longtime ESPN SportsCenter anchor joins Mark to reflect on his hometown roots, his new chapter hosting NFL Total Access on NFL Network and the unforgettable night the Saints returned to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.

Stan recalls witnessing Steve Gleason’s blocked punt on September 25, 2006, while covering Domecoming for ESPN. He shares what that moment meant to his family and the city, the lessons he carries from St. Augustine High School and Howard University, and why he still travels from Los Angeles to New Orleans for Saints home games. He also revisits Kobe Bryant’s remarkable final game and takes on the Official New Orleans Questionnaire, sharing his favorite po’boys, gumbo, music and Saints legends.

Also in this episode:

• On The Table: Cleveland Spears III shares the story behind the National Fried Chicken Festival as it celebrates its 10th anniversary October 9-11, 2026. Hear how the festival supports independent restaurants, brings people together and expands its food and live music experience.

• 5 Minutes With: Sig Greenebaum discusses NOLAxNOLA, the citywide music celebration running September 24–October 4, 2026. He explains how musicians and venues came together during a difficult time to create a lasting New Orleans fall tradition.

• Move The Chains: Corey Gloor, the Voice of the Green Wave, discusses Tulane football’s rise, the early season under Will Hall and what it takes to sustain success. He also shares a broadcaster’s perspective on the energy inside Yulman Stadium.

• This Week in New Orleans: April Dupre shares where to Eat, Drink & Play, with date-night dining, cocktails and live music.

• Positively New Orleans: Mark reflects on the 20th anniversary of Domecoming and the night a blocked punt became a symbol of hope. No White Flags.

ABOUT THE MARK ROMIG SHOW
Hosted by Mark Romig and produced by LOVE NOLA TV, The Mark Romig Show celebrates the people, stories, food, music, sports and culture that make New Orleans special. Watch on YouTube and Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Select segments also air on LOVE NOLA TV in more than 16,000 New Orleans hotel rooms.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Ochsner Health: Featured Guest and Studio Naming Rights
Blue Runner Foods: On The Table
New Orleans & Company: 5 Minutes With
Bienville Capital Group: Official New Orleans Questionnaire
Visit The Northshore: Community Sponsor

CHAPTERS
00:00 Opening highlights
00:18 Stan Verrett | Featured Guests
29:28 The Official New Orleans Questionnaire
42:45 Cleveland Spears | On The Table
1:00:15 Sig Greenebaum | 5-Minutes With
1:15:10 Corey Gloor | Move The Chains
1:31:36 This Week in New Orleans
1:34:15 Domecoming: 20 Yr Anniversary | Positively New Orleans

PRODUCTION TEAM
Host: Mark Romig
Executive Producers: Glenn Haggerty and Keith Haggerty
Producer/Editor: Kal Landry
This Week in New Orleans Host: April Dupre

EXPLORE MORE
National Fried Chicken Festival: https://friedchickenfestival.com
NOLAxNOLA: https://www.neworleans.com/nolaxnola/
Plan your New Orleans experience: https://www.neworleans.com

LOVE NOLA TV: www.lovenola.tv

Follow the show, share this episode and join us each week for another conversation celebrating New Orleans.

The Mark Romig Show is produced by LOVE NOLA TV, the official tourism and visitor information channel of New Orleans, seen in thousands of downtown hotel rooms and locally across all major digital platforms.

🎧 Subscribe to The Mark Romig Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube
📺 Watch full episodes and clips on the LOVE NOLA TV YouTube channel
📍 Filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana

New episodes weekly.
For the love of New Orleans.

Twenty years after Steve Gleason’s blocked punt helped make the Saints’ return to the Superdome an unforgettable moment in New Orleans history, Steve and his wife, Michel, join Mark Romig for a special edition of The Mark Romig Show.

Steve looks back on September 25, 2006: the emotional week before the game, the opening he saw in the Atlanta Falcons’ punt protection, and the moment he realized the night meant more than football. He also shares why he believes the people of New Orleans, already rebuilding their homes and lives after Hurricane Katrina, were the true force behind the city’s return.

Steve and Michel speak candidly about 15 years of living with ALS, their marriage, raising Gray and Rivers, and the family, friends, and caregivers who support them. Steve explains how “No White Flags” has changed for him over time and why acceptance, grief, and asking for help can also be acts of courage.

The Featured Guest conversation with Steve and Michel Gleason is presented by Ochsner Health.

Also in this special episode:

• On The Table, presented by Blue Runner Foods: Michel’s father, Paul Varisco, shares family stories and discusses Team Gleason and Mr. John’s Steakhouse, where Saints players have gathered for years.

• 5-Minutes With, presented by New Orleans & Company: Team Gleason CEO Blair Casey discusses the foundation’s work to help people living with ALS access technology, equipment, experiences, and support. He also talks about Team Gleason’s partnership with Ochsner Health and the new Ochsner Neuroscience Institute.

• Move The Chains: Juan Kincaid, Jeff Duncan, and Bobby Hebert join Mark to revisit Domecoming, reflect on Steve’s impact, and discuss the Saints today.

• The Official New Orleans Questionnaire, presented by Bienville Capital Group: Steve and Michel share favorite New Orleans memories, music, food, and traditions.

April Dupre brings us This Week in New Orleans. Mark closes with a Positively New Orleans tribute to Steve, Michel, and the continuing work of the Team Gleason Foundation.

SPECIAL THANKS

Thank you to WVUE FOX 8 New Orleans for helping bring this episode to life by sharing its studios, equipment, and production crew.

The Mark Romig Show is a LOVE NOLA TV original. Watch the show on the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 p.m.

The Mark Romig Show is produced by LOVE NOLA TV, the official tourism and visitor information channel of New Orleans, seen in thousands of downtown hotel rooms and locally across all major digital platforms.

🎧 Subscribe to The Mark Romig Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube
📺 Watch full episodes and clips on the LOVE NOLA TV YouTube channel
📍 Filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana

New episodes weekly.
For the love of New Orleans.

Episode 33 celebrates two families whose work has helped shape New Orleans sports for generations.

In the Featured Guest segment, presented by Ochsner Health, Mark Ehrhardt reflects on the life and legacy of his father, Malcolm Ehrhardt, their years working together at The Ehrhardt Group and their family’s recognition by the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. He also takes the Official New Orleans Questionnaire, presented by Bienville Capital Group.

Mark Romig is then joined by his siblings, Jay and Mary Beth Romig, to share personal stories about their father, legendary New Orleans Saints public address announcer Jerry Romig. They discuss Jay’s 50-year career with the Saints, Mary Beth’s 34 years in the Caesars Superdome control booth and what it means for the Ehrhardt and Romig families to be honored together.

On The Table, presented by Blue Runner Foods, Sandy Whann shares the 130-year story of Leidenheimer Baking Company, explains what makes authentic New Orleans French bread unique and reveals the history behind the city’s beloved po-boy.

In 5-Minutes With, presented by New Orleans & Company, Hancock Whitney President and CEO John Hairston discusses leadership, community investment and the economic importance of major sporting events.

In Move The Chains, Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President and CEO Jay Cicero previews GNOSF Honors and looks ahead to New Orleans’ pursuit of another Super Bowl and other major sporting events.

April Dupre shares where to eat, drink and play during Hispanic Heritage Month, and Mark closes with a Positively New Orleans reflection on the 25th anniversary of September 11 and the local volunteers who packed 194,000 meals for Second Harvest Food Bank.

The Mark Romig Show is produced by LOVE NOLA TV, the official tourism and visitor information channel of New Orleans, seen in thousands of downtown hotel rooms and locally across all major digital platforms.

🎧 Subscribe to The Mark Romig Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube
📺 Watch full episodes and clips on the LOVE NOLA TV YouTube channel
📍 Filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana

New episodes weekly.
For the love of New Orleans.

Matt Moscona, host of After Further Review and Locked On LSU, joins Mark for a candid conversation about Lane Kiffin, LSU’s playoff chances and the rapidly changing world of sports media.

Matt shares how he accidentally found his way into sports radio, why covering the Lane Kiffin story changed his career and how he built Morning Scone into a platform of his own. He also opens up about his son, Drew, becoming a business partner with Saints legend Drew Brees and his dream of helping families of children with special needs. Plus, Matt reflects on the legacies of Skip Bertman and his longtime friend Mike Detillier. Featured Guest brought to you by Ochsner Health.

Also in Episode 32:

• Gautreau’s General Manager Katie Adams and Executive Chef Rob Mistry discuss the history, hospitality and evolving menu of one of New Orleans’ most beloved neighborhood restaurants on On The Table presented by Blue Runner Foods

• Locked On Saints host Ross Jackson previews the Saints’ season opener against the Detroit Lions, analyzes the roster and key matchups, and makes his final score prediction.

• Brandon Demas, the first head coach of the Laketown Squadron, shares his journey from team attendant to head coach and explains how the Pelicans’ new G League affiliate will develop players and bring professional basketball to Kenner o 5-Minutes With presented by New Orleans & Company.

Mark closes the episode with a special Positively New Orleans tribute to Mike Detillier, whose knowledge, passion and unmistakable voice became part of the soundtrack of football season across Louisiana.

The Mark Romig Show is produced by LOVE NOLA TV, the official tourism and visitor information channel of New Orleans, seen in thousands of downtown hotel rooms and locally across all major digital platforms.

🎧 Subscribe to The Mark Romig Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube
📺 Watch full episodes and clips on the LOVE NOLA TV YouTube channel
📍 Filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana

New episodes weekly.
For the love of New Orleans.

New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore joins Mark Romig for a wide-ranging conversation about football, leadership, family and life in New Orleans.

Recorded at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, Moore reflects on his historic career at Boise State, where he went 50-3 as a starting quarterback, and shares his reaction to receiving an 11-foot statue and a permanent No. 11 tribute on the school’s famous blue turf.

Entering his second season as Saints head coach, Moore discusses the development of quarterback Tyler Shough, the importance of consistency and veteran leadership, and the identity he wants his team to establish. He also talks about raising four children, exploring New Orleans restaurants, attending Pelicans games and embracing the city’s traditions.

Then, during the Official New Orleans Questionnaire presented by Bienville Capital Group, Moore reveals his preferred po-boy and gumbo, offers one of the show’s best answers for his favorite New Orleans smell, and selects Archie Manning, Drew Brees, Sean Payton and Cam Jordan for his Saints Mount Rushmore.

Also in Episode 31:

FOX 8 Sports reporter Sean Fazende joins Move the Chains to analyze the Saints’ initial 53-man roster, Tyler Shough’s progress, the offensive line, running back depth, edge rushers, key veteran additions and the biggest questions entering the season. Sean also previews LSU football under Lane Kiffin and shares memories from Drew Brees’ Pro Football Hall of Fame celebration in Canton.

On The Table presented by Blue Runner Foods, Katy and Archie Casbarian share the story of Arnaud’s Restaurant and what it means to carry one of the French Quarter’s great family legacies forward. They discuss growing up inside the restaurant, rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, preserving classic Creole dining, the French 75 Bar, Friday lunches and the Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum.

Kevin Dolliole, Director of Aviation at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, joins Five Minutes With presented by New Orleans & Company. He discusses MSY’s nationally recognized customer experience, attracting nonstop flights, future expansion, roadway improvements, international travel and the airport’s role as the front door to New Orleans and the Gulf South.

April Dupre shares what’s happening around the city in This Week in New Orleans. Mark closes with a Positively New Orleans reflection on how airline miles, hotel points and credit card rewards help make travel more accessible while supporting New Orleans hotels, restaurants, attractions, musicians and thousands of tourism jobs.

The Mark Romig Show is a LOVE NOLA TV original podcast hosted by longtime New Orleans Saints public address announcer Mark Romig.

Hosted by Mark Romig
Executive Producers: Glenn Haggerty and Keith Haggerty
Producer and Editor: Kal Landry

Special thanks to Ochsner Health, Blue Runner Foods, Bienville Capital Group, New Orleans & Company and Visit The Northshore.

Subscribe to The Mark Romig Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and YouTube. New episodes are released weekly.

For the love of New Orleans.

The Mark Romig Show is produced by LOVE NOLA TV, the official tourism and visitor information channel of New Orleans, seen in thousands of downtown hotel rooms and locally across all major digital platforms.

🎧 Subscribe to The Mark Romig Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube
📺 Watch full episodes and clips on the LOVE NOLA TV YouTube channel
📍 Filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana

New episodes weekly.
For the love of New Orleans.

Tulane University President Michael Fitts joins Mark Romig for a wide-ranging conversation about Tulane’s momentum, its deep connection to New Orleans and the people, priorities and purpose guiding the university’s future.

Tulane Athletic Director David Harris discusses Green Wave athletics, the student-athlete experience and the growing excitement surrounding Tulane’s sports programs in our 5-Minutes with segment presented by New Orleans & Company. Sportswriter and analyst Jeff Duncan shares his perspective on the Saints, football season and the biggest stories in New Orleans sports.

Plus, Scot Craig of Katie’s in Mid-City joins Mark for an On The Table presented by Blue Runner, conversation about neighborhood restaurants, New Orleans hospitality and the food that has made Katie’s a local favorite.

It’s an episode filled with leadership, college athletics, Saints football and New Orleans flavor, hosted by Mark Romig.

The Mark Romig Show is produced by LOVE NOLA TV, the official tourism and visitor information channel of New Orleans, seen in thousands of downtown hotel rooms and locally across all major digital platforms.

🎧 Subscribe to The Mark Romig Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube
📺 Watch full episodes and clips on the LOVE NOLA TV YouTube channel
📍 Filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana

New episodes weekly.
For the love of New Orleans.