When you're making your gumbo or jambalaya and using fresh okra, do you do anything to keep it from getting slimy?

I would ask Allison.

Fry it a bit in a hot skillet.

No okra in Jambalaya please

Don’t think Mr Wilson used okra in his gumbo either.

ive always put it in right at the last

When you go to putting veggies in gumbo and jambalaya it becomes a soup and a disgrace, but to each his own. This is exactly why anyone outside of Louisiana doesn’t truly know how good southern Louisiana Cajun food is. My SIL puts okra in her gumbo also, that stuff is nasty, but then again I don’t like okra so cook away make it how you like it and it’s probably good.
Hell damn Yankees eat cold rolls wth.

Before you add your Okra into the dish. Cut it up and boil it in water for about 5 minutes, then drain it, then add it to your gumbo.

It's literally defined as using okra. Your sil is correct.

Steam it, no slime

Put it in early enough so that is cooks down all the way, breaks ups and all you have left are the crawdad eye balls and little bits of green okra. The slime thickens and adds flavor to the gumbo, it goes away.

No.

That’s the entire intent of having the okra in there

SIDEBAR

what brand is available retail, that is authentic and really good?
and where is it available?

Yeah leave the okra out.