CCJC: Audio Podcast Episode 00077, Season 2
Greetings from Gigi - Cajun Audio Podcast Corporation’s Advisory Board Member here! Let's pull back my heavy duty rubber bass fishing net curtain and stroll behind-the-scenes.
We know the Cajun Chronicles Podcast Corporation went quiet for a bit. One minute we were all deep in the bayou talking almost daily about the proper way to say "Tchefuncte" (pronounced "chuh-FUNK-tuh") which btw sorta sums up why world-wide we needed a Native American remedy for the headaches of today’s world. Tchefuncte seems like a medicine potion we could use a good dose of.
And the next thing you know, audio podcast radio silence. You probably pictured us all on a team-building retreat, wrestling alligators, or perfecting new Cajun and Creole recipes. In retrospect we should have hung out a “Gone Fishing” sign.
The truth is, the entire team took a much-needed sabbatical. This world lately has had everyone dealing with migraine size difficulties or life struggles. In our multi-cultural organization, we’ve survived largely. That’s a generations deep, Louisiana thing. Our ancestors knew enough to take strategic breaks to recharge, reset, and leap headfirst into the kind of passion projects that keep our creative fires burning.
My pet project? Let’s make that plural, as in multiple projects that were all connected. Mostly, it involved my going deep focused undercover. While the other 20 some members of the team were off exploring their own creative rabbit holes, I had a few personal missions to attend to.
First, some fantastic news I have to share with this community that has been so supportive. After a long, almost 18-year battle with Stage 4 Invasive Breast Cancer, I am once again in remission! The fight is never truly over, but for now, the invader is quiet for now. My lungs are clear and my oncologist appointments are blessedly infrequent. Any of your good vibes meant the world to me.
My first mission, was a labor of love for my 93-year-old Cajun mother, who I’m still caring for and who remains as sharp and feisty as a cornered crawfish. But my equally important passion project was for the next generation.
Being over 1,000 miles away in Central Florida, my great-granddaughter and her crew of avid bass young teen all girl anglers needed a field manual, a guide to cracking the code of catching and releasing elusive coveted monster largemouth bass. Since I couldn't be there in person, we together created the next best thing.
I went undercover online, helping form a crack detective agency with these young operatives. Our target: to demystify bass fishing and turn it into a thrilling adventure. This led to the creation of Brooke & The Reel Girls Bass Detective Agency. We weren't just "fishing,” we were on a quest to solve cases like the "Case of the Uncooperative Crankbait" and decode the "Mystery of the Perfect Plastic Worm Rig."
This whole multi-layered project is about teaching girls and young women how to read the water, trust their instincts, and handle any challenge with the confidence of a seasoned angler. It's a masterclass in life skills disguised as a mystery.
Now, the my debriefing is complete. We’re thrilled to finally declassify what we’ve been building in our secret lure lab:
THREE new e-book in a series for the Brooke & The Reel Girls Detective Agency! Volume 1, Cracking the Cases of Elusive Bass In Central Florida, is out now.
Volume 2, Decoding Drama - Fishing For Resilience, drops next week, with the Top Secret Field Manual following shortly after.
Because every good detective needs gear, we've also launched a new merch shop for the Reel Girls in all of us! Check out the awesome apparel and accessories here:
Brooke & The Reel Girls Mastering The Waters
PS – In the coming days, we will be sharing the pet passion projects each Cajun Chronicles team member concentrated on during their individual sabbaticals. It’s good to be back and catch up with all of you.
Thank you for your incredible patience and for being part of both of these amazing communities. The Cajun Chronicles Podcast Corporation looks forward to seeing what we have to offer you in these challenging times.
Our fictional and non-fictional tales are often inspired by real Louisiana & New Orleans history, but some details may have been spiced up for a good story. While we've respected the truth, a bit of creative license could have been used. Please note that all characters may be based on real people, but their identities in some cases have been Avatar masked for privacy. Others are fictional characters with connections to Louisiana or elsewhere.
A Word of Wisdom:
As you read, remember history and real life is a complex mix of joy, sorrow, triumph, and tragedy. While we may have (or not) added a bit of fiction, the core message remains: the human spirit's power to endure, adapt, and overcome.
© Jerilee Wei 2025 All Rights Reserved.
Share this post