Louisiana native Ryan André Brasseaux is a doctoral student at Yale University. A former Research Associate for public radio's American Routes hosted by Nick Spitzer, Brasseaux has served as a Cajun cultural expert for the National Council for the Traditional Arts, Associated Press, National Public Radio, Public Radio International, Canadian Broadcast Corporation, National Film Board of Canada, and the Food Network. He has lectured across the country, including the keynote address at Nashville's International Country Music Conference and invited lectures at Yale University, Tulane University, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, and to gatherings of Fullbright scholars.