Since 1986, STEPPIN’ OUT has been New Orleans’ only weekly arts and entertainment review.
Peggy Scott Laborde is joined weekly by regulars such as radio host Poppy Tooker and theater critic Alan Smason as they discuss the latest happenings around the Crescent City.
When:
Thursdays at 7pm
Fridays at 11pm
How to Watch:
WYES-TV, WYES.org/live, pbs.org and on the PBS app and on WYES’ YouTube Channel
Sponsors:
Octavia Books, Criollo, City of New Orleans / ArtsNew Orleans, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation Inc., Eugenie & Joseph Jones Family Foundation, Gayle & Tom Benson Charitable Foundation and Suzie & Pierre G. Villere
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the panelists and do not reflect the views or position of WYES.
Host and Producer Peggy Scott Laborde
On March 19, 2026 WYES celebrated 40 years of STEPPIN’ OUT. The show premiered on March 19, 1986 on WLAE before moving to WYES the following year. Sending thanks and congratulations on this milestone to Peggy, her weekly contributors, underwriters and the production team past and present on this special milestone. *The cake is from Swiss Confectionery.
Peggy Scott Laborde is a New Orleans institution. Since 1986, she has been the senior producer for the New Orleans PBS station, WYES-TV, where she has developed, produced, and hosted documentaries and in-studio productions about New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
Peggy has been honored for both her community and professional work, earning awards from the Press Club of New Orleans, the Mayor’s Conference on Women, the Public Relations Society of America, the American Council of Career Women, and American Women in Radio and Television. Since the ’80s she has been active in the New Orleans community, from theater and the arts to revitalization and conservation efforts.
In July 2025, the Press Club of New Orleans honored Peggy with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Have a question for Peggy? Email her at plaborde@wyes.org.
Follow Peggy on Facebook.
STEPPIN’ OUT “Katrina: 20 Years Later” Part 1 of 2
Premiered August 28th, 2025
This edition of the program will reflect on the city’s restaurant scene since Hurricane Katrina.
Appearing are Poppy Tooker of Louisiana Eats; Ian McNulty food writer for The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate and New Orleans local physician and dining aficionado Brobson Lutz.
STEPPIN’ OUT “Katrina: 20 Years Later” Part 2 of 2
Premiered September 4th, 2025
In this special edition, host Peggy Scott Laborde and guests reflect on the arts and culture scenes during the 20 years since Hurricane Katrina.
Gwen Thompkins, host of the public radio series, “Music Inside Out,” focuses on local music. Doug MacCash, arts and culture writer for the Times-Picayune-The New Orleans Advocate, discusses the New Orleans visual arts scene. Steppin Out regular Alan Smason looks back at theatre and T. R. Johnson, Tulane Professor of English and author of New Orleans: A Writer”s City, concentrates on local literary activities.
In June 2024, WYES aired a special episode of STEPPIN’ OUT featuring Poppy Tooker and Ian McNulty with host Peggy Scott Laborde.
SOFAB Recipes Featured
