Episode 16

Diana Greenlee: Uncovering the Story of Poverty Point

Published on: 3rd September, 2025

More than 3,000 years ago, a Native American community in what is now Northeast Louisiana built monumental earthworks - such as mounds, ridges, and a vast plaza - at Poverty Point, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For nearly two decades, Dr. Diana Greenlee, station archaeologist at Poverty Point, has worked to uncover what life was like for the people who lived there so many years ago.

"Every time I do some work there I think, this is the first time in over 3,000 years that somebody has touched this. That's a pretty cool feeling."

Hear Diana talk about:

  • How the massive earthworks at Poverty Point were constructed
  • Evidence of art, craftsmanship, and daily life at the site
  • What we know about the mounds and ridges built by the people who lived there
  • How modern tools like ground-penetrating radar reveal insights without excavation
  • The moment she discovered a previously undocumented mound

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About the Podcast

Tell Me What It's Like
Everyday People. Defining Moments.
*The show is taking a short break for the holidays — new episodes return in January 2026.*

Ever wonder what it really feels like to live through something extraordinary?

Host Stacy Raine talks with people who’ve faced defining moments, from running a world marathon to surviving a rare illness to building something entirely new. Hear the real experiences behind extraordinary choices as they discuss how it happened, what it felt like, and what they learned along the way.

About your host

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Stacy Raine

I was 16 when I conducted my first interview. I was a nervous high school kid assigned to interview a WWII veteran. It was an incredibly emotional conversation, and an experience I still think about to this day. I didn’t know it then, but that moment would shape everything that followed.

As a nonprofit communicator and podcast producer, I’ve spent my career thinking about the stories we all have to share. Tell Me What It’s Like unearths the backstory to the small and large moments that changed everything.

One of my biggest beliefs is that sharing stories connects us – as long as we're willing to listen.