It's Acadiana: Out to Lunch

These days, Facebook might be the last place you’d go for a taste of the sweet life. Social media is more likely to spike your blood pressure than your blood sugar. But it’s a pretty potent platform for launching a business or building a community. Foodies Jason Stoner is one of the mods at Foodies of Lafayette, a massive online community with more than 100,000 members. It’s now a nonprofit operated by Jason and the group’s founder, Heidi Jacobs MacDonald. Jason is also the chef and host of Sunday Dinners, a monthly dinner party that blends fine dining with good old-fashioned hospitality. Invitations are hard to come by at Sunday Dinners. There are just six spots at his dining room table, so it’s not uncommon for reservations to be auctioned off at local fundraisers. Jason is largely self-taught in the kitchen, sparked by the challenge of learning to cook for his kids. He grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and moved to Lafayette 15 years ago to be with his partner, Stephan. Cheesecake Seth Dahlen is owner of LA Cheesecake Bakery. Seth grew up in Perry and Abbeville and got his culinary start early, working in restaurants as a teenager. He fell for cheesecake while working at Black’s Café, where a coworker roped him into helping with dessert prep. That spark led to a slow, deliberate build—he and his wife started by selling cakes from their home and building a reputation through Facebook. By 2022, they opened a storefront in Lafayette. Now, he’s running a full-time bakery with a cult following, offering more than sixty flavors and even stocking a cheesecake vending machine at the mall. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you think you know dirty jobs, you probably picture Mike Rowe knee-deep in some sewer or wrestling livestock. But let’s be real: there’s nothing heroic about coming in after the cameras are gone to mop up someone else’s mess—that’s the real work, and it can be a solid business proposition. That’s especially true in Louisiana, where the air is wet and the floods frequent. All of that environmental damage needs someone to clean it up. And many of them turn to Rinea Blanchard. Rinea is the Owner and Operator of Superior Contract Cleaning, a Lafayette-based remediation and cleaning company that handles everything from mold and fire damage to hoarding cleanup and post-construction debris. Rinea started her business nearly three decades ago with a single account. Today, she operates a fleet that tackles big jobs across the country—and she still prefers restoring grout to taking on routine janitorial gigs. If Rinea is cleaning up life’s messes, Trey Boone is helping prevent a few of them—mostly the kind that come from bored, untrained, or anxious dogs. Trey owns the Lafayette franchise of The Dog Stop, a full-service pet care facility that boards, grooms, trains, and pampers hundreds of dogs a month. Trey bought the franchise in 2015 and now oversees operations across the state. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fashion is a $400 billion industry in the U.S. It includes household names with global reach and big-box scale. But in this massive market, there's room for the neighborhood shop — if you find the right niche. That’s right. If you want to get into the clothing industry, you don’t have to be afraid of fast fashion. Plenty of consumers are still out there looking for something curated, something custom — something that makes them feel unique. LaGina Bruno knows that first hand, she's the Owner of LAD Prints and More. LaGina is a graphic designer and vinyl printmaker based in North Lafayette. Her shop specializes in custom t-shirt design, vinyl printing, and personalized accessories — from mugs to umbrellas. LAD Prints began as a side hustle in 2017 while LaGina was still working full-time in insurance. In 2023, she took the leap into entrepreneurship, and in 2024, she opened a storefront just down the road from her home. Linda Soley Hurd is the Founder of Adeline Clothing. Linda started her online fashion brand in 2015 after realizing big changes were coming to the retail landscape. She turned her home-based business into a full-scale operation, eventually moving into a 14,000-square-foot warehouse in Lafayette. Adeline Clothing is entirely online, selling curated and proprietary fashion lines to customers across the U.S. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you'll work until you die.” That’s a bit of advice from Warren Buffet, "The Oracle of Omaha" and perhaps the world’s most successful investor. For most, it’s a dream. But for Drake Bajat it’s a personal philosophy and throughline in his serial entrepreneurship. Today, Drake owns Restoration One, a Lafayette-based company specializing in water, mold, fire damage, and biohazard cleanup. But he’s also operated a successful tax and accounting firm, owned a paint contracting company, and spent years in the oil and gas industry as a landman. He did well enough but wanted a business of his own that would give him control over his own time and money. He bought a Restoration One franchise after doing some market research. The company has four employees and averages about five jobs each week. While Drake is focused on making money while he sleeps, Whitney Lange is busy making money where others sleep—designing bedrooms, kitchens, and entire interiors that clients dream of. Whitney is the owner of DBR Designs, a full-service interior design firm in Lafayette. Whitney grew up inspired by home décor shows on HGTV and turned that passion into a thriving career. After earning her interior design degree from UL and working in local design and staging companies, Whitney purchased DBR Designs in 2023. She also owns House Dressings, Lafayette’s only dedicated home staging company. Whitney and her team offer detailed and personalized designs, handling everything from initial consultations to the finishing touches that make spaces feel like home. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Giada Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Great products start with an idea, and a lot of tinkering. Edison and his lightbulb. Jobs and Wozniak in their garage. The image is familiar—a lone inventor, obsessing over details, experimenting, failing, learning, and eventually discovering something great. South Louisiana has a pretty rich tradition of entrepreneurship and invention. Consider the crawfish boat, for instance. And, when you think about it, Cajun and Creole food in general can be likened to hare-brained contraptions. We’re constantly tinkering with ways to improve recipes to make them more efficient, cheaper or more flavorful — all without losing their essence. Gumbo There’s nothing more essential in Cajun cooking than the trinity — onion, bell pepper and celery, known around here as the Trinity, and depending on your bent toward Catholicism or sacrelige, even "The Holy Trinity." Dreux Barrah is Founder and Chief Chopping Officer at C’est Tout Dried Trinity Mix. Dreux’s path to business began in his home garden with an overabundance of bell peppers. He came up with drying vegetables as a way to preserve his surplus and created a dehydrated holy trinity. Through experimentation, Dreux perfected his process, even crafting custom equipment like his flour-toasting "Rouxster." Now, C’est Tout sells not just dehydrated vegetable mixes but also fully dried dish starters for classics like gumbo, jambalaya, and etouffee. Whiskey One thing Cajuns aren’t famous for is whiskey — apart from drinking it, we don’t really make it. That is, until Philip Mestayer came along. Philip is Co-Owner and Head Distiller at Distillerie Acadian, a small-batch distillery based in New Iberia. Philip started as a weekend hobbyist, distilling whiskey with his dad and brother. Their goal was ambitious—create Louisiana’s first bourbon, a spirit more associated with Kentucky Bluegrass than Cajun prairies. What began as a passion evolved into a business, but not without a whole lot of elbow grease. Philip designed and welded much of their initial distilling equipment himself, navigating complicated federal regulations, supply chain issues, and tricky logistics. Today, Distillerie Acadian offers seven unique spirits, from bourbon to handcrafted gin. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Americans love their pizza. We eat around 3 billion pizzas a year—that’s about 350 slices per second. And we wash down a good portion of it with wine: the U.S. is the world’s largest wine-consuming country, drinking nearly 1 billion gallons annually. Put that all together and you’ve got a complete meal. Pizza, of course, is ubiquitous in Lafayette. And it’s not hard to find a decent glass of wine. But it’s fair to say we’re not known for those delicacies. We’re more of a boudin and light beer crowd. And that’s why it might be hard to find a sommelier — a certified wine expert like Nick Dooley. Nick is a Level 2 Sommelier and founder of Nick Dooley Sommelier, a boutique wine education and tasting business based in Lafayette. Nick got his start in hospitality bussing tables at Ruffino’s, discovered a passion for wine, and steadily climbed the ranks of sommelier certification. After an impromptu Facebook gig turned into a hit, Nick launched his own business in 2024. Now, he organizes in-home wine events, curates pairings, and teaches clients how to savor the subtleties of the grape. He's also the wine manager at My Somm Wine Merchant in River Ranch. Red and whites aren’t just varietals, they’re sauces. And you can find both varieties on the pies at Jim Deggy’s Brick Oven Pizza. Paisley Turrubiartez is the co-owner and area manager of the Jim Deggy’s location in Downtown Lafayette. She started as a staffer on the original Jim Deggy's food truck in Pineville, where the concept originated, and worked her way up over seven years. When the company expanded to Lafayette, she became part-owner and took the reins of the new location. Jim Deggy’s serves craft beer and wood-fired pizzas with a dough that cold ferments for 96 hours and finishes in a 700-degree French oven. Their menu is built on traditional flavors with a local twist—and their brewery uses a water-saving Smart Brew system to make it all work. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Alisha Zachery Lazard at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running a nonprofit might sound like a mission of the heart. But it’s also very much a business. These organizations have to pay staff, keep the lights on, and provide services. Yes, they rely on philanthropy. But they also need to generate revenue, build partnerships, and constantly make the case for their value—not just to donors, but to the community at large. Acadiana has hundreds of nonprofits big and small. And to some extent they compete just like for-profit enterprises. There’s only so much money and attention in the world, even for a good cause. And what better cause is there than kids? Lore Linton is the Executive Director of the Children’s Museum of Acadiana, a nonprofit that blends play and learning for kids and their families. Lore has a long history with the museum, starting as a volunteer and working her way through nearly every role. She became Executive Director in 2023 and has since expanded programming, grown attendance, and taken on the everyday challenges of operating a museum inside a 100-year-old building. While half of CMA’s revenue comes from admissions and events like birthday parties, the other half comes from donations, grants, and sponsorships—the nonprofit hustle. Annie Spell has seen nonprofits from the other side of the ledger. A psychologist by training , Annie is also a longtime donor and board member of organizations like the American Cancer Society, Hearts of Hope, Miles Perret Cancer Services, and the Children’s Museum of Acadiana itself. Annie says she grew up in a family that modeled community involvement—her grandfathers included both a longtime judge and entrepreneur. Annie ran a small, focused clinical practice working with adolescents, and did pro bono work for children in the court system. In 2025, she was elected unopposed to the Louisiana Legislature. A major vehicle for Annie's philanthropy is the Tides Medical Foundation, a fund associated with the biomedical firm founded by her husband. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Alisha Zachery Lazard at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Email has been around since the 1970s. It’s quick, it’s convenient — and it consumes your life. If you’ve got an office job, chances are you spend most of your working life in an inbox. Email may be the engine of modern commerce, but it might also be the slowest way to get things done—especially in industries where precision and timing are everything. That’s the pain point Chuck Perret set out to solve. Chuck is the founder of Centerline.Co, a cloud-based data management platform for the construction industry. Chuck started his tech journey as a teenager working in his family’s blueprint shop, and eventually launched Centerline in 2021 after seeing firsthand how digital communication was breaking down in the construction world. Centerline helps architects and contractors collaborate more effectively by ditching the messy world of long email chains. It offers project-specific communication tools, document sharing, and bid coordination—all in one place. Today, Centerline serves over 75 architecture firms, with 12,000 users and more than 800 projects managed through the platform. If you’re going to hang a shingle in the digital world, you’ll need a different kind of architect: a web designer. Brandy Arnett is the CEO of Vibrandt Websites, a Lafayette-based web development company. Brandy's not competing with Squarespace or Wix on volume—she’s competing with them on care. Vibrandt builds custom websites with an emphasis on both technical precision and creative polish. Since founding the company in 2019, Brandy and her team of four have launched over 125 websites. And they’re not just building—they’re staying with their clients long after launch, offering same-day support and multiple redesigns over time. Eighty percent of their clients are local, ranging from SLEMCO to CASA to the City of Abbeville, but their reach is growing nationwide. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was once conventional wisdom in business that bigger was better. Economies of scale weren’t just preferable, they were inevitable, like a law of nature. But, while big-box stores and corporate franchises do have advantages in cost and efficiency, small businesses are proving they can thrive by leaning into their niches. Take Le-Grenadier, a cocktail lounge in downtown Lafayette where quality and atmosphere reign supreme. Owner Mia Stanford doesn’t just serve drinks—she creates experiences, crafting cocktails with premium ingredients, fresh-squeezed juices, and handmade bitters. A St. Landry Parish native with a background in hotel and restaurant management, Mia spent years in the spirits industry before opening her own bar. She envisioned a cozy, intimate space where patrons savor their drinks, not just consume them. Open only four nights a week and serving around 300 guests weekly, Le-Grenadier is a far cry from a high-volume bar churning out quick mixed drinks. Instead, Mia crafts vibe—sometimes even locking the door when the space reaches the perfect crowd. Mia's approach aligns with broader industry trends— the U.S. craft spirits market was valued at over $14 billion in recent years and continues to grow as consumers seek more artisanal and high-quality drinking experiences. A cocktail may be a cure for what ails your spirit. For other maladies, you might need a prescription. And despite the rise of big drug stores, there’s still a lot to be gained from getting your meds at a neighborhood pharmacy, like Soileau’s Pharmacy in New Iberia. Neighborhood pharmacies buck the high-volume model and instead rely on customer satisfaction and loyalty. With that in mind, Tala Bui and her husband, Hai, bought Soileau’s in New Iberia in 2024, carrying on its tradition of exceptional service. A pharmacist by trade, Tala had worked in large retail chains like Walmart before stepping into ownership. Unlike big-name pharmacies that process thousands of prescriptions daily with little patient interaction, Soileau’s prides itself on being a true community pharmacy. Independent pharmacies like Soileau’s account for about 30% of all retail pharmacy locations in the U.S., but their overall prescription sales market share is closer to 15%, compared to giants like CVS and Walgreens, which dominate the industry. CVS alone controls about 25% of the U.S. prescription drug market. Neighborhood pharmacies nevertheless remain vital, offering patient-centered care that stands out in the healthcare industry writ large. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frontiers aren’t just about the Wild West or outer space. They’re about discovery—whether it’s navigating a bayou or reshaping industry. Some frontiers lead us into nature, others to the grocery store aisle. For Janeene DeClouet, she seeks out frontiers for peace. She is the owner of Duc in Altum Kayaking, a kayaking adventure business with a spiritual twist. What started as a personal search for strength became a career spent helping others discover the beauty of the outdoors. A native of New Iberia, Janeene grew up in a large family and has always had a love for nature. She first discovered kayaking in 2006 when she was caring for her mother, who was suffering from dementia. Looking for a way to stay physically strong for the demanding role of caregiving, she and her husband took a guided kayaking trip through Pack & Paddle. The experience was transformative, offering both peace and a sense of empowerment. The couple gifted each other kayaks for Christmas, and Janeene found herself paddling regularly. What began as informal group outings turned into a business when friends started offering to pay her for guided excursions. Encouraged by the demand, she made it official in 2008, naming her business Duc in Altum—Latin for "draw into the deep." Today, Janeene leads small-group kayak tours throughout the region, averaging three trips per week. There might not seem like much left to explore in the rice business, unless you’re Michael Fruge. Michael is a second-generation rice farmer from Eunice, but he’s not just growing any rice—he’s growing Parish Rice, a high-protein, low-glycemic variety. Michael graduated from LSU with a degree in agronomy with a minor in agricultural business, and rather than return to the family farm, he spent 14 years as a sales rep in the rice industry. The job allowed him to travel extensively, learning from other farmers and gaining insight into the broader agricultural market. When he returned to farming full-time, Muchael set his sights on creating a branded rice product that could compete with larger national and international producers. Working with the LSU Ag Center, he selected a variety of rice known as "Frontier Rice" for its increased protein content. When dietitians tested the rice, they pointed out that it had a much lower glycemic index than traditional white rice. And that's the Aha! moment when Michael saw a unique marketing opportunity. Parish Rice was born in 2019, and today, it’s available in stores across Louisiana and Texas, with online sales reaching customers nationwide. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Acadiana, food has a way of carrying history with it—whether it’s a family recipe passed down for generations or a classic technique reinvented for today’s tastes. For Ryan Jannise, keeping a family tradition alive meant growing and scaling it. Ryan owns Lena’s Cajun Seafood Dishes, a company built on his grandmother’s beloved recipes. His grandmother, Lena Saltzman, was well-known for her cooking in the Delcambre area, where neighbors and friends sought out her seafood dishes long before they became a business. What started as a small, word-of-mouth operation grew into a full-scale food production company in 1990. But when Lena could no longer run the business, Ryan stepped in. Taking inspiration from his background in government and IT, Ryan modernized the company while staying true to the flavors that made Lena’s famous. Today, the company has more clients and operates at a much larger scale. Lena’s dishes can be found in stores across Louisiana and Texas. While Ryan preserves old traditions, Robert Sandberg is creating some new ones at Lucia Bakehouse. A Lafayette native, Robert’s first job in the industry was prepping food in a burger joint in Mexico, a far cry from the refined pastries he’s known for today. A stint at a French restaurant exposed him to pastry-making, and he fell in love with the precision and artistry involved. After training in Dallas and working under some renowned chefs, he returned to Lafayette, where he launched Lucia. Inspired by the Viennois baking style, Robert built his business from the ground up, starting with farmers markets and pop-ups and watching lines grow and grow. Lucia Bakehouse has quickly built a cult following and high demand for his small batch confections like French croissants and Roman maritozzi. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Architecture is more than just buildings—it’s about creating spaces that inspire, connect, and serve communities. That’s something Wes Thiele understands well. Originally from Atlanta, Wes moved to Lafayette in 2009, drawn by the steady opportunities in construction. Career prospects took Wes to Dallas, but Lafayette left an impression on him. When he got the chance to move back to Lafayette, he pounced on it. Today, Wes is a partner at Diverse Studio, a firm he co-founded in 2023 with a vision to make spaces that have real impact. It has offices in Dallas and Lafayette and six full-time employees. The firm specializes in commercial projects — schools, churches, civic centers and more. With every project, they try to create inspirational places. Wes is also a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accredited professional, meaning he specializes in green building practices. From designing spaces to preserving them—our next guest takes a different approach to shaping landscapes. Allen McClain is a lifelong farmer, managing thousands of acres of rice and crawfish. He studied agriculture at McNeese and is on the board of directors for the Louisiana Farm Bureau. But he’s also the founder of L’Terre, a unique retreat that invites guests to experience Louisiana’s natural beauty firsthand. In a nutshell, it’s a cross between agritourism and ecotourism. You can go birdwatching, catch your own crawfish, gator hunts, guided hikes and more. Allen’s farm is all about reconnecting people with the land — and there’s a lot of it: Six thousand acres. L’Terre attracts guests from across the globe. And they come for all kinds of reasons. The farm has hosted corporate retreats and films. Locals even pop by to take in the farm’s beauty. Whether you’re designing and constructing buildings, or enjoying the parts of Louisiana where there are no buildings in sight, it’s all about balance. Even the most ardent environmental ecologist has to go home to a building at night. And we wouldn’t be a citizen of Acadiana if we didn’t love and appreciate the peace and beauty of the natural world. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1992 during Bill Clinton's presidential campaign, LSU grad and Clinton Chief Strategist James Carville came up with two slogans for Clinton to focus on: "The economy, stupid" and "Don't forget about healthcare." Today, politicians and citizens alike are very aware of both of these issues, which are more or less now combined in what is called The Care Economy. Even if you haven’t heard of The Care Economy you’ve benefited from it. It’s an umbrella term economists have developed to describe a wide range of support services — health, counseling, teaching, childcare and more. Put together, it’s a $650 billion market worldwide, according to the World Economic Forum. At its most basic level, The Care Economy is about supplying for basic needs that in turn are necessary for people to work and thrive. Think about that through the lens of healthcare. For many people, navigating the healthcare system can be complicated, costly, or even out of reach. And that’s where Ashley Ophre comes in. Ashley is the CEO of the Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center, or SWLAHEC, which,if you're recounting tho s friend, is pronounced "SWAH LA HECK." SWLAHEC is one of many AHECs across the country. They were established by the U.S. government in the early 1970s as a way of addressing healthcare shortages. SWLAHEC operates about four dozen different health promotion and access programs. Ashley comes to this work from a personal place. She lost her mother to breast cancer at a young age. The diagnosis was late in part because of her mom’s lack of means. She started as COO of SWLAHEC in 2022 and stepped into the CEO role in 2024, where she oversees dozens of health initiatives across 13 parishes. Child care is another big part of the care economy. Lenita Turner has dedicated her life to it. After years in public schools, Lenita founded Little Scholars Learning Center in 2016. It’s a daycare center in Abbeville that focuses on high-quality early childhood education, preparing kids for kindergarten and beyond. The center offers classes for children ages one year through four years plus summer camps, holiday camps, and afterschool programs for kids ages four through ten. The learning center currently has almost one hundred children enrolled and employs twenty people. Keeping enough staff is a key challenge across the childcare industry. Lenita’s approach is to over-staff to make sure she has enough people on hand to operate. Lenita also runs a nonprofit, the Vermilion Women’s Resource Center, which helps families with education, employment coaching, and essential supplies. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some people build businesses on big ideas—others on big hearts. Sometimes, the best business plan is just knowing how to help people. Music might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to helping people, but for Vanessa Lomas, it’s her love language…or maybe help language. Vanessa is the owner of TheraCare Music Therapy. Ninety percent of TheraCare’s clients are autistic, have down syndrome or cerebral palsy. The idea behind music therapy is that it can help people express or cope with their feelings. That can be a powerful mode of connection, for instance, for people with autism. Vanessa is a military kid who’s lived all over the place. She landed in Lafayette in 2014 and has made it her mission to support people like her brother, who is autistic and nonverbal. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from William Carey University and a master’s in music and music therapy from Florida State University. She is a Board-Certified Music Therapist and also specializes in neonatal music therapy. Vanessa is also involved with CYT and volunteers at her church’s children’s ministry. Roy Hebert knows a thing or two about business. He’s been in banking, finance, and the oilfield, and now he’s giving that knowledge away for free. Roy is a mentor with SCORE, a nationwide organization that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. A Kaplan native, Roy attended UL for both his undergraduate degree and MBA. His career spans decades in the financial sector, including roles in commercial banking, corporate finance, and consulting. Roy is an adjunct professor at SLCC, and that’s where he discovered SCORE, a program of the U.S. Small Business Administration. SCORE, an acronym for Service Core of Retired Executives is a free service that connects experienced business leaders with burgeoning entrepreneurs. Roy says his clients come from all walks of life and range in sector and scale. They could be starting a landscaping business or getting an oilfield service company off the ground. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you hear the word "franchise" you probably think golden arches or a pepperoni pizza. But franchises can be as creative and personal as any small business. Today we’re diving into two different ways of running a business. On one side, you’ve got a franchisee — a business owner who taps into an established brand and system. On the other, a self-starter — someone who builds a business from scratch, learning and growing every step of the way. Christiaan's lunch guests today represent both paths, and both are thriving here in Lafayette. Joe Thomas is the owner of a local Frios Gourmet Pops, a franchise specializing in “happiness on a stick.” Before Frios, Joe worked for a manufacturing company. He got laid off in 2023. While on the job hunt, he explored striking out on his own. Maybe as a restaurateur or a landscaper. He landed on the idea of running a franchise, discovering Frios with a Google search. He was sold and launched his own franchise in 2023. Spreading happiness on a stick involves Joe operating a van, pushcart and mini cooler to sell Frios gourmet pops at local events and festivals. He sells about 1,700 pops a month. Born and raised in New Orleans, Joe came to Lafayette for school, earning degrees in electrical engineering and automotive technology. Outside of work, he’s an active member of the community — volunteering at his church, running with shelter dogs at Animal Aid, and tutoring kids in math and science. For many small business owners, the dream might be to start a franchise. Others might find themselves building one just to chase runaway demand. Caroline Merryman fell into baking cookies during the pandemic. She delivered them to friends and soon found herself taking orders on Instagram. Six months later, she opened a storefront for Caroline’s Cookies. When people started lining up around the block to buy her cookies, Caroline decided to drop out of school and focus on her business full time. Today, Caroline’s Cookies has become a legitimate business success: Caroline operates three locations: two in Baton Rouge and her OG shop in Lafayette. Despite the growth, Caroline still puts a personal touch on the business. Each week, she picks a random Lafayette business and shows up with a batch of warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies. It’s a great way to spread kindness, and her brand. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you hear the words "Gen Z," what word comes to mind? If you’re over 40, the answer is more than likely dismissive. When you look at the data, though, there’s one word that should come to mind: entrepreneurial. In 2023, a record 5 million new businesses were started in the United States. A massive portion of them were started by Gen Z entrepreneurs. About 50% of Gen Z respondents say they intend to start a business in the next five years. And about half already have side hustles. Yes, many are looking to become content creators or searching for work-life flexibility. But plenty others are starting brick and mortar companies. Like Geth Aguirre. At 19 years old, Geth launched Black Cat Coffee House, on Lafayette’s Northside. Geth was scrappy and resourceful in getting started, sourcing used espresso machines and acquiring excess inventory from another local coffee shop that closed. Within a year, Geth had paid off her first round of business loans and the shop has continued to grow its customer base. Today she has eleven employees and serves up to 200 customers each day. You don’t have to own a business to be a boss. At 21 years old, Kaitlyn Azemar became the youngest general manager in the history of Dogtopia, a national franchise of dog daycare and training centers with 270 locations nationwide. The company offers boarding, training and dog spa services. Kaitlyn trained her first dog at nine years old, a maltese poodle mix named Ragin that she taught 50 tricks. Fast forward a decade, and she left school to get into animal training full time. Kaitlyn uses a special training called LIMA, or least invasive, minimally assertive. The method prioritizes looking for physiological reasons why a dog might misbehave. She maintains a training certification from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. As a boss, Kaitlyn manages a company with 15 employees, many around her own age, whch, as you might imagine, comes with unique Gen Z challenges. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s always something to do in Acadiana. That’s great if you’re a consumer. Options for lifestyle and entertainment are a big part of your quality of life. But if you’re on the business side of the equation, an endless supply of activities makes for a crowded and competitive market. Throw in Lafayette’s notorious seasonality, and running an entertainment business can be challenging — but rewarding. Lafayette is a small market. That means we’re often off the radar for national tours in the performing arts space. But for years, we’ve had a steady stream of acclaimed productions and performers coming to town. Jackie Lyle has had a big hand in making that happen. Jackie has worked in performing arts promotion and advocacy for decades now. She currently serves as executive director of Performing Arts Serving Acadiana, a nonprofit she founded to advance performing arts in Acadiana. Most locals know it as PASA. If that sounds like a wide lens, it is. PASA supports all kinds of programs and shows. Jackie has staged performances by leading dance companies like Ailey II or the Kyiv City Ballet. They host jazz quartets, cabarets, off Broadway productions and more. Access is a key goal here. PASA brings these performers and performances to local schools and makes space for people with disabilities to get involved through the PASAble initiatives. PASA also set up a musical instrument recycling program called Play it Again. Jackie has spent most of her life in Lafayette. Before her career in arts advocacy she worked in advertising and marketing. Being a small market means Lafayette can struggle to attract big city amenities. Point in case: Ask anyone when we’re getting a Trader Joe’s. But when the national brands arrive, it can pay off big time. Case in point: Lafayette is a small fish in the stable of Topgolf, but it’s a location that’s punching well above its weight. Bryan Roger is Operations Manager for the Lafayette location. If you’re not familiar with Topgolf, it’s an international brand of hyped up driving ranges. The facilities are huge. Like parking decks that serve food, beer and golf balls by the thousand. Bryan says TopGolfers will hit 20,000 golf balls on a slow day. Bryan got to TopGolf by way of the restaurant industry. He grew up in a restaurant family and was previously an operations manager for Mexican food chain Chuy’s. Bryan was born in Lafayette but grew up in Mandeville. He returned to Acadiana about 20 years ago. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a saying in show business: Every musician wants to be an actor. And every actor wants to be a musician. For a lot of people, either option would be a dream job. Especially if they grow up to be doctors or lawyers instead. But do lawyers want to be doctors? Do doctors want to be lawyers?  Maybe. Maybe not. Even if you join the bar. You can still work in health care. Just ask Jack McGee. Jack is an attorney. He got a law degree from Tulane. But he's not practicing law so much these days. Instead, he's running a plastic surgery clinic. McGee Plastic Surgery is the only clinic in Lafayette headed by a double board-certified surgeon. That would be Jack's wife, Dr. Catherine Link-McGee.  Jack runs the clinic's business operations. And he still puts his law degree to work in contract negotiations and other office matters. And there are plenty of office matters to attend to. Unlike many plastic surgeons, the McGee's take insurance. The start-up challenges are daunting for starting a mom and pop surgery center, Jack says. But McGee has built a strong client base, serving 400 patients with a full-time staff of three.  There's plenty of lawyering in health care. For a lot of folks, medical malpractice suits might come to mind. But it's a much bigger sector in the legal industry with a range of issues to be litigated, both literally and figuratively.  Berryl Broussard is currently the in-house counsel for the Teche Action Clinic, a federally qualified health center. That essentially means it's a special type of clinic designed to address health needs in places with few doctors and hospitals with services for uninsured and underinsured.  Teche Action offers pretty much everything a patient might need. Primary care, dental care, counseling and more. The challenge here is how to make an action clinic sustainable. By definition, they receive federal funding, but it covers just a portion of the action clinic's operating budget.  Berryl has long career in health law and is a certified health care compliance professional. She was born and raised in Opelousas.   Right now there are around 100,000 students in law schools around the country. Each year about 30,000 of those students graduate and become lawyers. Most of these folks start out in various types of legal positions - working in a law office – but after a few years a number of them find their way into other occupations, many in business. It's not necessarily that they don't like being a lawyer, it's because unlike other post-graduate studies - which focus in on a narrow specialty – law training ranges from a broad education in federal regulation to personnel skills required for client counseling. A law degree is kind of the Swiss Army pocketknife of post-grad education. Berryl and Jack's individual journeys after law school have taken them down a lot of interesting paths, with further directions to come.  Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One way or the other, if you're in business in the 21st century, you're selling yourself. That's true whether you're selling crafts or services. Social platforms like TikTok, Instagram or YouTube are basically all marketplaces of personality.  You still need a product that people want, but that's not really enough. You need to connect with people if you want folks to buy what you're selling. When it works. It works. For many entrepreneurs today, the game is about virality. But lightning in a bottle isn't a business model. At some point, you've got to have structure to be sustainable. Ask Colette Bernard. Colette first went viral in 2021 selling two thousand t-shirts on TikTok. She was living in New York at the time just after graduating from the Pratt Institute. She paid off a little bit of her student debt and got out of the city. By the time she landed back in Lafayette where she grew up, she had a burgeoning online business with hundreds of thousands of followers craving her quirky, playful designs.  Colette now owns three businesses. A gift shop called Cocodrie, a vintage clothing shop called Retreaux and her design label, the Artist Colette. Social media is her fourth business, Colette says, and the one taking up most of her time.  An online presence is useful, of course, if you want to reach people. But if you want to help them, you'll need a more personal touch. Shalonda Thibeaux is a Christian Life Coach and she uses YouTube to spread her message. But most of her work is high touch. Clients book one on one sessions with her to get advice on navigating challenges and changes in their lives. Shalonda, who grew up in New Iberia and lives in Lafayette,  got into Life Coaching after working to move past trauma and confidence problems in her own life. Helping people has been at the center of every job choice she's made in her life. She spent eight years working in foster care for the state government and now works with a faith-based foster care service.  Shalonda also spent years as a jail minister for incarcerated women. In 2023, she got her life coaching certification and launched her coaching business, Talks with Shay, in 2024.  Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're looking for an optimum time to do something difficult, it's easy to find excuses to procrastinate. When you're a habitual smoker is there ever "a good time" to quit smoking? When you prefer sloth, is there ever "a good time" to start working out? The answer is, of course, it's always a good time, and it's never a good time.  It's the same with starting a business. There's never really a good time to start a business. The common wisdom is, life happens. Don't let it get in the way of the opportunity you see in front of you.  Rhonda Dalquist found her way to selling ice cream after a series of life altering disruptions.  Her husband lost a leg, and they sold their veterinary practice. She spent time caring for her parents through terminal cancer and her mother-in-law through a stroke. Rhonda came out on the other side of it with entrepreneurial spirit intact and an idea for a business that would satisfy her love of ice cream, nostalgia and people. In April 2024, she launched Creamery Coaster — a mobile ice cream service. The concept hearkens to a time when her mom sold homemade freeze-pops for a nickel.  Creamery Coaster sells ice cream cones, chocolate dipped cones, ice cream cups, sorbet, cookies, push-pops and more. And like her mother did it, the push-pops are homemade.  Rhonda sells the treats out of a bicycle cart named Magnolia. About 10 years into running a massage therapy business, Donna Wilson went back to school. She was looking for something that could balance with her home life.  Donna kept on the nursing path and became a nurse practitioner. When the opportunity came up to buy an occupational medicine practice, she jumped on it.  in June 2024, Donna launched her own clinic, Occupational & Integrative Medicine. The practice is unique in that it offers essentially two lines of health services — conventional medical treatment like check-ups and lab work and “integrative” treatment like nutrition coaching and hydration therapy.  Donna sees about 12-18 patients a day with a staff of three. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes in business you just need to go in a different direction. Maybe you're a victim of your own success. Maybe your work-life balance is out of whack. Maybe you're bored or maybe you just need a little extra cash on the side.  Recognizing the change is probably the easy part. Changing is the hard part — especially if you like what you do.  Rachel Sam figured out the change part the hard way. She built a successful program at UL. Got promoted. Had a daughter. But things got hard. Anxiety flared up and so did back pain. She took some time to heal and had an epiphany. She wrote it down in a book called “Hello, My Name is Happy.”  The experience moved her in a new direction. Rachel resigned from her role at UL in 2024 and went into consulting as Dr. Rachel Sam.  Rachel's consulting work is broad. She helps nonprofits lead workshops for teenagers. She consults with colleges and universities on academic success for students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some of the organizations she works with include SafeHavyn, the Lafayette Juvenile Justice Center and the Boys and Girls Club.  Sometimes a change can be a side-hustle. Maybe things are going pretty well, but you're looking for a little extra cash or a chance to pursue your dream.  That can all be daunting. And adding a new business to your workload is stressful. So why not try a taste of the sweet life with a franchise?  Kylie Roussell took that path with her husband and bought into the sweet tea life. Kylie is part-owner and operator of Lafayette's HTeaO franchise. HTeaO is a beverage company that specializes in iced teas — and they have lots of them, 26 flavors of iced tea alone. They also sell chais, coffees and espressos, drinks and a line of snacks. And that's before you get to the secret menu Kylie and her husband settled on HTeaO after first considering a restaurant. The franchise option presented an attractive alternative. Plus, she figured it wouldn't be hard to find a thirsty customer in sweltering Louisiana. Kylie lives in Iowa and originally looked at starting the tea shop in Lake Charles. They opted for Lafayette instead and launched with a location in River Ranch.  Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At this point, alternative foods aren't really alternative anymore. It's like music in the 1990s. What was sort of underground has really become mainstream as more and more people have changed their diets to be healthier or to eat more ethically.  Gluten free or vegan foods aren't just for speciality aisles anymore. They're marketed aggressively for what they are — or what they aren't — because companies know there are buyers out there.  Bianca Francis found her way to veganism by accident, she says. She was traveling for work and bought what turned out to be some meat gone bad. It put her on a path to finding some meatless recipes. By 2019, she was a full-on vegan. Now here's the thing. Bianca is a baker. She's always been a baker; it's something she learned from her mom. She started publishing vegan tips on a blog, and that became a springboard for her bake shop: Bianca Bakes Bliss. It's a home-based business that sells vegan gingerbread, cinnamon rolls, wedding cakes and more. You can order her cakes online or find her at local pop ups and farmers markets.  Creole cooking has never and will never go out of style. It's bold, it's playful, it's flavorful — it's addicting. That is if you try Logan Alfred's signature dish - crack wings. Folks line up outside his food truck — Southern Kreole Cravings — to get their hands on his spin on fried chicken wings with his own special sauce. Logan first created them while working as an offshore caterer. Rig workers gobbled up so many that Logan's onshore bosses took notice of the commissary invoices and flew to the rig to see what the fuss was about. Crack wings stayed on the rig menu from then on out.  In 2020, Logan launched Southern Kreole as both a food truck and a catering operation. Of course, Logan is more than just a wings guy. But the dish has become a runaway hit: He sells as many as 12,000 in a single year.  Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Giada Morgan at itsacadiana.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running a business is usually an exercise in multitasking. Whatever your one real gift is — that thing that got you into business in the first place — there's a pretty good chance you won't be doing it anymore once you've become successful enough. That can be bittersweet. But it's the way of the world. So it would make sense that what often separates good operators from great operators is the ability to do lots of different things well.  Sometimes it's better to be a jack of all trades, especially when you've got a lot to do. Take the music business. It's never enough to be proficient at an instrument. At some point, you gotta manage your act — get booking done, promote it, advance the show logistics, arrange rehearsals, setlists, egos, riders, the whole nine.  That gets much more complicated when you're in a wedding band. You're the soundtrack to someone's special day. So the stakes are high. That's why wedding bands can command top dollar. It's a smart business. But a tough one. Especially if you're like Matt Cobb and play 110 gigs a year.  Matt runs two different groups — Rouge Krewe and Parade Route. And, yes, he runs them. Besides bringing the hype to your cousin's wedding or your aunt's company Christmas Party, Matt is doing the books and managing the when, where and how of his band's hectic schedule. He started RougeKrewe in 2019 after graduating from UL with a degree in music education. The band got to be so in demand, that they couldn't fill all the bookings. So he started a second band: Parade Route.  Matt and his bands spend most of their time playing in Louisiana, but they've been booked out of state and abroad. Wherever they go, their motto is “We don't just play music. We bring life to the party.”  If playing hundreds of gigs sounds exhausting. Try managing properties. It's easy to get spread thin in the development business, and it's one of those industries that you learn by doing, not in business school. Ravi Daggula has been connected to several high profile developments in Lafayette. He got his start flipping residential properties after college and cutting his teeth in hospitality by working at a hotel. He got into historic revitalization with Maison Mouton, a restored Creole manor he converted into a bed & breakfast. It gave him the bug for more ambitious development projects, so Ravi kept at historic preservation concepts. Today his portfolio of properties are gathered under the banner of Belle Vie Hospitality.  Ravi is originally from India and moved to Lafayette to get a degree in computer engineering. He thinks of himself as an impact investor and looks for projects that will have value that extend beyond the property itself, and its return on investment.   Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hank Williams' 1952 song, Jambalaya On The Bayou, was the first time much of the world heard anything about us. What at first-listen to most people sounded like a bunch of nonsense syllables like Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky, turned out to be a menu of Cajun dishes – Jambalaya, crawfish pie, file gumbo. Today, if you're from Acadiana and you travel the world, when you've been away from home long enough you might find yourself tempted to try Cajun food someplace else. And, though you may be in a pretty Parisian bistro, or a cool café in Quebec, you feel confident declaring the jambalaya or the gumbo doesn't taste right. Because we invented these dishes, we set the standard for this kind of cuisine. But what happens when you strip away our homefield advantage? When it comes to other types of consumables, how do we stack up here in Acadiana?  Let's start with the two most popular and universally consumed human-made libations: coffee and beer. Is it fair to compare Acadiana coffee to, say, Colombian coffee? Or our local brew to German beer? Well, if we're going to hold them to our Jambalaya and Gumbo standard, they're entitled to hold us to their beer and coffee standard. Colombia is one of the coffee capitals of the world. So, if you live in Abbeville Louisiana, with a population of around 12,000, you couldn't expect to get a cup of fine Colombian coffee. Right?  Wrong. Because one of those 12,000 people in Abbeville is Natalia Hernandez Choate, who happens to be from Colombia, you can go to Nube9 Coffee, or visit Nube9 online, and get yourself a cup - or a gallon - of genuine Colombian coffee. You can also get a bag of Natalia's freshly imported Colombian coffee beans. Or you can pick up a bag of Nube9 beans at a number of select stores across Acadiana. By and large here in Acadiana, we like things the way they are. We don't like change. Maybe you grew up in Calcasieu Parish drinking Budweiser, believing it's “The king of beers.” In that case your concept of monarchy might need a little re-education. That was the program Eric Avery found himself embarking on in 2016 when he opened Crying Eagle Brewing Company in Lake Charles. Today Crying Eagle is a local staple. They have 20 craft beers on tap at their brew pub. They have a bistro, a beer garden, a tap room, and live music most nights. They introduce at least one new beer to the lineup every week. And they have 8 beers for sale in cans. The brewery employs 40 people. And how are they doing on the beer equivalent of the Jambalaya and Gumbo Scale? Pretty darn good. The Independent Craft Brewer's Association described Crying Eagle's “Divine Imagination” Double IPA as a "world class beer of superlative character and flawless execution." When someone calls you up and suggests going to get a cup of coffee or a beer, you know they don't mean it literally. The coffee or the beer are a reason to get together and socialize.  But the coffee on the table or the beer on the bar are far from irrelevant. I'm not sure that anyone's done a study on this, but I think you'll agree, it seems like better coffee and better beer make for better conversation and better occasions. So, Natalia and Eric, are not just responsible for producing thirst-quenching liquids, they're contributing to our happiness, and enhancing our relationships. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Giada Morgan at itsacadiana.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's getting easier by the day for your average person to become a graphic designer. Fire up a Canva account, and you can have  a logo in minutes. And Lord knows AI is only making that easier, and more surreal.  But, as things get easier for the masses, it puts a premium on stuff made by hand. Time was that it took blood and sweat to make the world beautiful. But, today? Well, imagine a robot trying to paint a boombox on a brick wall or the hood of a car. Foe some things, technology and machines won't do. For those occasions, you need an airbrusher. Like, for example, John Zant. John is celebrated in Lafayette for his hand painted designs. He likes the tough jobs and has developed a knack for painting on any kind of surface, like signs and glass and metal and brick. He grew up in New Mexico and moved to Lafayette in the 1980s to go college and picked up an airbrush when a fraternity brother got him a job at a local store.  John spent years honing the skill and went on to launch a career in exterior art. He painted his first mural at Pioneer Park in Jennings and today gets contracts from local businesses looking for signage or designs that will help them stand out.  John's also very active in the local skater community and is known by the moniker Bag of Boards.  Standing out is the name of the game in the high-end shoe business. Kids line up around the block to get the first shot at a limited edition sneaker. But if you want your footwear to be truly limited, you might hire Brandy Cavitt to paint your shoes.  Brandy is a graphic designer by trade. But her obsession is shoes. In 2024, she launched Shoe Fly Dirty Coast, a company that customizes sneakers on demand. The work is intensive. She conditions, massages, strips and softens shoe fabrics of all types — canvas, leather, you name it — so they can properly take paints. And she uses the high-end stuff to make the colors pop and stick. The process takes days but it can add years to the life of a shoe once properly treated with sealant.  Brandy's play is to cash in on sneaker culture, which puts a big emphasis on one-of-a-kind, hard-to-find wearables.  Brandy grew up in the Lafayette area and started her career in graphic design at 21. She's also a musician and previously worked for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's office. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you think maybe it's time we dispense with the myth of the starving artist? There are more than enough ways to make money in creative industries these days. And not just in applied arts like graphic design or architecture. "Marketability" can be a dirty word for some artists, but for others it's a goal that isn't at odds with expression. Even abstract expressionism.  Or as Andy Warhol put it, "The business of art requires strategy and analysis."  OK, you're right, that's not Warhol. That's a bit of wisdom from Lafayette artist Lynn Sanders.  Lynn is an abstract expressionist artist with a head for business. Before she carved out a career as a painter, she worked as a shopping center executive. That gave her insight into how retailers and consumers think. Once she picked up a brush, she applied that knowledge to her art business. Lynn first sold pieces out of a store she opened in a mall, making works for kids' rooms. She quickly figured out the money was in the rest of the house. Flash forward about 20 years, and Lynn sells pieces through galleries across the South. A lot of Lynn's work is purchased for interior design, and she produces some pieces on commission.  Lynn produces about 18 paintings a month and employs a full-time assistant in her Lafayette-area studio.  If you work in fashion, the idea that art and consumerism don't mix would seem insane. Clothing designers have long blended expression and marketability, selling the idea that what we wear can be a part of who we are.  Nothing makes you stand out quite like a custom hat. If that's something you're looking for, you might turn to Mia Montero, owner of the Montero Hat Company. Mia makes custom, hand stitched hats out of rabbit, nutria and beaver felts. Her hats are show pieces in a southwestern style. And she's made them for some high profile folks: Lauren Daigle and Louisiana First Lady Sharon Landry have Montero hats.  Mia got into the business while looking for ways to make a little extra money before moving to Nashville for a career in music. She learned the trade from Lafayette hatter Colby Hebert and struck out on her own.  Mia looked at planting roots in Music City, but a surprise offer to work as a worship leader in Lafayette brought her home. Music is Mia's first love and she released her debut record Sweeter Than Honey in 2023.  Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer is a tough time to be a parent. School is out. The sun is scorching. You need a break for your kids. Maybe they need a break from you.  That's why they created summer camp, a Godsend for working parents if there ever was one. Kids get a lot out of camp: time to play and be curious, maybe a chance to learn new skills and meet some new friends. Summer camp is time-honored. It's important. And if you're in St. Martin Parish, you might send your kid to camp at Teche Center for the Arts.  TCA is the primary historical and cultural center for the Teche area of Acadiana. Jeanne Blanchard McBride is the executive director.  TCA has a wide range of year-round programs. They put on chicken runs, concerts, cooking classes and other cultural encounters. A big part of their business is camps. They run art camps, fall camps and summer camps, all of which are priced to be affordable.  TCA is a nonprofit, so besides running the organization, Jeanne spends a lot of time raising money.  Jeanne grew up in Breaux Bridge. Before starting at TCA in 2021, she worked as an attorney and clerked for state and federal judges.  Summer camp is pretty much a universal childhood experience at this point. And there's a lot of demand for enrichment programming throughout the year. Especially for kids who could use some special attention to thrive.  Kali Picard is the founder of Borderless Color, a studio and enrichment center designed to include kids on the autism spectrum. Programs are individually customized and are open to the neurodivergent and neurotypical alike.  Kali was born and raised in Lafayette. Besides running Borderless, she works as a speech and language pathologist. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Giada Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a saying in the music industry: You have your whole life to make your first record. But one shot at making your second.  Novelist Jennifer Moorhead, wrote three books before publishing her debut, Broken Bayou in 2024. It's a thriller inspired by a real murder mystery, tapping into the nation's ongoing obsession with true crime.  Jennifer has always been a bookworm. She grew up in Shreveport and went to LSU, later moving to Dallas where she took up a novel  writing class at Southern Methodist University. That's when she wrote her first unpublished novel. She paused to have her first child and wrote a second book when her kids were old enough to go to school, shelving it after a couple of edits.  Jennifer dove into the publishing world with her third novel. She hired an editor. Worked with a literary agent and spent a year shopping the book. Unsuccessfully.  Along the way, she had written the first draft of a fourth novel, Broken Bayou — in 2015. Inspired by the story of a missing teacher who police believed drove her car into the bayou, Broken Bayou is a crime thriller that follows a child psychologist thrust into a grisly mystery in small town Louisiana.  The book was published by publishing imprint Thomas & Mercer and released in 2024, almost ten years after that first draft.  Jennifer's story of tenacity in the face of the relentless rejection of the publishing industry is almost a novel in itself. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why sell a product when you can sell an adventure? Experiences are a hot commodity in today's marketplace. They make memories. The kids love them. And they come in packages that don't need a warehouse. And when you sell an experience, you're usually selling expertise.  Let's say you want to go scuba diving. It's not as simple as throwing on an oxygen mask and riding a dolphin. You need training, equipment and certifications. It's an ordeal, but for adrenaline junkies and lovers of marine life — it's totally worth it. Greg Hidalgo got hooked on scuba at the age of 15. He worked his way through college teaching scuba classes and was recruited to teach diving at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Instead, Greg opened Divers Destination in 1986. Space would have to wait. Divers Destination teaches scuba classes and sells all the stuff you need to go diving. Their clients range from hobbyists to commercial divers and law enforcement. They also arrange international diving trips. A big attraction is a marine biology camp based in Rotan, Honduras, where young divers learn about fish, coral and dolphins. And Divers Destination also offers year round swim lessons in a heated, indoor pool.  We live in a globalized economy, in case you haven't heard. That means travel isn't just a matter of leisure for big companies — it's a necessity. And if you're dealing with executives or large groups, booking trips isn't as simple as an internet search. Travel agencies still have a lot to offer corporate travel. Steven Landry served as regional head of business development for Wings Global Travel from 2019 to 2024. Wings is itself an international firm, founded in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Wings helps companies put together comprehensive travel packages that move their clientele from door to door, managing every stop on the trip. Spread across time zones, Wings' operates around the clock, meaning they can respond to client emergencies and stay on top of changes in itineraries. Their clientele ranges from companies that spend millions on travel and logistics to small businesses with modest travel budgets.  Steven grew up in Lafayette and is also the founder and managing artistic director of the Acadiana Repertory Theater. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Lea Urdiales at itsacadiana.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We tend to think of entrepreneurs as people with an obsessive vision. They have an idea that will change the world or at least make them lots of money. They take it to the workshop and hack away for days, hours, years until they bring their genius to market and find success.  Sometimes, a business idea just sort of happens. Maybe it's a stroke of luck. And that could be a stroke of bad luck. Savvy entrepreneurs can make whatever hand their dealt — work.  Ari Dolegowski found his calling after he got hurt. He had been a phys ed teacher in New York and played in an adult soccer league. A physical therapist was on his team, so he asked for help. What he got was a new career. Ari became interested in the combination of eastern medicine and physical therapy practiced by his teammate. So he set out to do that himself. He set up shop in Lafayette in 2020 after he and his wife relocated to be closer to her family during the pandemic. That shop is called Ari D Therapy & Training. He practices massage therapy, prenatal massage, cupping and more. The idea is to combine Eastern and Western practices to help clients manage pain and injuries holistically.  Ari books session at his studio and makes house calls. Ari grew up in Colorado and spent time as a professional soccer players in leagues in Israel, Chile and the U.S.  Disasters are a fact of life in Louisiana. It's not so much luck as it is a changing climate. Dealing with the aftermath is a real pain. Especially when you get walloped by back to back hurricanes.  Imagine spending a month without power and then having to wrangle someone to fix your roof. And once that's done, you've got to haggle with your insurance company to pay for it. Well, there could be another way. You could call Colorwheel. A disaster recovery company founded by Beau Killingsworth.  Colorwheel is essentially a construction company with a twist. They don't just help you fix your roof, they help you with the insurance claims process, too.  Beau grew up in Lake Charles and had been through enough floods and hurricanes to know how much of a headache that was. He started colorwheel after working as an attorney in Lafayette and getting more familiar with the insurance claims process. He started the company in 2023. Beau is still a practicing attorney and contractor. He's also a podcaster. He hosts a show called One Big Headgame. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lafayette's restaurant scene is famously difficult. There are more restaurants per person in the Hub City than there are in New Orleans, Austin and even New York City. Plus, you're not just competing with the restaurant down the block. This is a place where everyone cooks. People set the standard in their own kitchens.  So what do you do if you move to Louisiana from a culinary capital like New York? How do you get ahead? Well, to start, you don't open a Cajun restaurant. Peter Cooke made that decision early on, when he opened Park Bistro, a fine dining concept grounded in Italian cuisine that's tucked into Lafyette's Saint Streets neighborhood.  Peter cut his teeth in high end cuisine in New York. At 25, he became the executive chef at Krupa Grocery near Prospect Park in Brooklyn and earned the restaurant a Michelin Star recommendation. He guided the restaurant through the pandemic and burned out. Plus, he married a girl from Louisiana. So he and his family relocated to Lafayette in 2022. Within a few months, he opened a restaurant and called it Park Bistro — a nod to his old New York neighborhood.  Chances are, if you're making a sandwich in Acadiana, you're using Evangeline Maid bread. It's a childhood staple known for its soft texture and surgary flavor. It's white bread. The processed stuff that's great for a grilled cheese sandwich or a dollop of barbecue sauce. Country bread it is not. For all its French heritage, artisan bread making has not really been a big thing in this neck of Louisiana.  But that's changing. One of the bakers behind a movement of craft bakeries is Chris Frazier of Boscoyo Baking Company.  Chris got into baking while working in the construction industry in Austin. He and his partner Haley met, and then ran bakeries in Portland, Oregon but moved to Lafayette to be closer to family. They opened Boscoyo in 2023.  Boscoyo zigs where white bread zags. They use stone milled whole grain flours and slow fermentation sourdough to make staples like Focaccia, Baguette, Ciabatta and their in-demand pan de campagne — the traditional french country loaf. They also offer pizza nights and cakes to fill out their business line. All of their baked goods are made with the same approach. No white flour and as much local sourcing as possible.  Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Giada Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quality isn't enough to sell a product. Consumers need to connect with what you're selling. And the first way they do that, usually, is by connecting with your brand.  What is a brand? Well, for one thing, it starts with a name. But any marketing agency will tell you it's more than that. It's your company's values. It's what makes your product stand out. It's the warm fuzzy feeling loyal customers get when they see your product on the shelves of their grocery store.  Of course, a name is important. Plenty of great products have been tanked by a lousy name. Sure, a cookie by any other name would taste as sweet. But that doesn't matter if no one buys it. And when we're buying products, we're often buying them on faith, and the promise of a brand.  So if you believe in your product, but it's not selling, maybe try shaking up the name. Think of it this way: Richard Starkey is an accountant. Ringo Starr is a Beatle.  Danielle Reggio's allergen-free baking company began life as Dani Cakes in 2016. Her gluten-, egg-, soy-, dairy- and nut-free cupcakes did pretty well at farmer's markets, but she felt like her expanding product line had outgrown the company name.  In 2022, she took on a new name: Whiskful Baking Company. Until then, Dani had been a home baker inspired by her own struggle with food allergies. Not long after the rebrand, Dani was able to quit her job to bake full time.  Today, Whiskful Baking Company makes a wide variety of allergen-free baked goods. Cookies, cakes, cupcakes, brownies, donuts, beignets, baguettes, dinner rolls and even pop tops.  Dani is originally from Carencro. Her bakery is located in Broussard.  Terrence Jones was in law school when decided to start a candy company. He created a brand — CBurns Tech and Confections — and a Facebook page to get started.  At first, the idea was to do business consulting and sell candy. When he tried to make a logo, he realized the concept was a little confusing. Some deft Googling led him to a branding opportunity: No one had claimed the name Louisiana Creole Pecan Candy. And Pecan Candies are Creole through and through. Terrence grew up making his family's pecan pralines, a tradition handed down from his grandmother.  Louisiana Creole Pecan Candy has two product lines. Creole-ish includes the Jones family pralines and a BBQ sauce. While Cajun-ish offers a white chocolate spin as well as an allergen free pecan candy.  The company now has three offices - in Lafayette, New Orleans and in Atlanta - and has received support from Beyonce's BeyGood foundation. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Giada Morgan and Liliana Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us think about business in terms of the point of sale. I've got a product. You've got money. You give me money for the product and boom: we have an economy.  But Adam Smith's invisible hand didn't put that product on my shelf. It likely came on a truck. And that truck was built with parts sourced from places near and far. Which in turn were manufactured with raw materials extracted from all four corners of the globe.  That's a supply chain. Ball it all up, and it's the backbone of the American economy.  Logistics are an important part of every business. Getting the items that you need when you need them has a big impact on your productivity and bottom line. And that's true if you're running a restaurant or building a rocketship. Time is money. So is distance. When companies need something jonny on the spot, many of them use GOPHR, an on-demand delivery app developed by Lake Charles native and resident, Warren Vandever.  GOPHR is sort of like Priceline for logistics. It connects businesses and consumers to a fleet of 650,000 networked vehicles operated by independent contractors. The app can scan an object to produce a cost estimate, and links up the delivery with the right-sized vehicle. They ship just about everything. Paper clips, building supplies and industrial equipment.  Warren founded the company in 2019 after a decade in the military.  Louisiana has a long history in the logistics business, thanks to its industrial history and the offshore oil and gas industry. And many firms with legacies offshore have diversified their portfolios along with the state.  Complete Logistical Services is a company out of the Northshore area that helps offshore and maritime firms with staffing and recruiting. The person in charge of selling those services is James Brown.  James is the sales manager at CLS and has a background in marketing. And that has him working in a brand new world for the Gulf of Mexico: SPACE. In recent years, CLS has carved out a niche working with space tourism firms and companies developing offshore wind platforms.  James handles day-to-day client outreach, farming new prospects and making sure current CLS clients have what they need. He grew up in Metairie and lives on the northshore.  Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some things are better left to the professionals. If you're a VIP with a target on your back, security is one of those things. Protection Personal security is a highly specialized business. It takes discipline, preparation and the willingness to put your life on the line for your client. Risking life and limb isn't for everyone. And that's why few people get into personal security.  Those who do, like Myron Fonseca, often come from backgrounds in the military or law enforcement. Myron comes from both. Myron spent 31 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as Colonel. He served as a commander in Iraq and received a Gold Star.  In the 1970s, Myron began a career in policing. He worked in SWAT and as a bailiff for a judge. The experience sparked an idea to go into personal security. In 2022, he started Top Brass Protection. Top Brass offers security services for individuals, families, businesses, homes and valuables. He also helps clients develop response plans for emergencies and disasters, including active shooter preparation. But the bread and butter of Top Brass is executive protection — personal security for VIPs. Pole Dance If you need protection, you'll need a body man. If you want to work on your body and your body image, you might try pole dancing. And yes, you'll need some training. Just ask Magnolia Love.  Magnolia is the owner of Magnolia's Playground, a pole fitness and yoga studio. Magnolia struggled with body image issues and self-esteem in her 20s. And in 2012, she discovered pole dancing on Youtube. She liked the idea, bought a pole and tried to teach herself. It took years to learn but took off when she moved to Texas and started taking classes.  When she moved home to Scott, Magnolia decided to open a pole fitness studio herself. She bought four poles and installed them in a mother-in-law suite in her backyard. Something clicked. She gathered students, and in 2023 Magnolia opened a brick and mortar studio in Downtown Lafayette.  The studio attracts 60 students each week and has 25 studio members. Magnolia employs seven teachers and hosts 15 classes per week.  Magnolia is also a certified yoga instructor and a certified funeral director and embalmer. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At some point, you're going to hand the keys to your business to someone else. That's true whether you're hiring employees or contractors or planning for succession. Life happens. And it's just not in the cards for you to be able to run your business, by yourself, forever. For many entrepreneurs, selling big is the dream. In the startup space, they call it an “exit” — the point at which some big fish gobbles up your smart idea and pays you handsomely for it. But the unicorn exit is a rare thing (that's why they call it a unicorn, after all) and lots of firms out there need to think about life after the founder. Even if you're running a mid-sized company, chances are, one day, you'll want to sell off your business and enjoy the fruits of your success. So what do you do? That's trickier than you might think. Fortunately, there are people out there who can help. Jude David is co-founder and Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions for Final Ascent, a firm that specializes in helping mid-market businesses find buyers. Jude has a background on the legal side of finance. And he his co-founder Steve Conwell realized that mid-level businesses — those with valuations between $10 million and $200 million — weren't served by the investment banks that typically helped the big companies find buyers and partners for mergers. So they launched Final Ascent in 2017 to fill that void. They've grown to acquire clients all over the U.S., and primarily do their client work remotely.  The company helps business owners think through how to prep their business for sale, making sure the company's profile is as attractive as possible to bump the value of the sale.  Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marketing your new business idea can take a few different shapes.  You might take a deep dive with market research and try to define the demographic slice of consumer you're looking for. Before you even bring your product to the shelves, you'll try to understand the potential for growth: How many customers are out there who would want what you're selling? How much disposable income do they have? What services are they already using?It's a way of measuring your potential. And that can be crucial to attracting investors, especially to a new idea and a niche product. But for a lot of entrepreneurs, the very first market test is themselves.  Kelly Hebert has a background in marketing and runs a media and design company with her husband. But Kelly is here to talk about a feeling we're all familiar with: hangriness. On a long road trip, Kelly got a little hungry and irritable and had a frustrating time finding a place to eat on her route. The experience inspired a search for an easier way. That led her to Dryve, a new travel app designed for parents.  Dryve helps them make easier pit stops with streamlined searches for coffee, restaurants, fuel and more. The idea is to quickly direct parents to what they need with as little distraction as possible.  Not every business idea requires extensive market research or design. Sometimes you just need a gimmick.  People like to poo-poo a kitschy calling card, but let's face it: Everyone in business is trying to stand out. And little stands out more than Santa riding a lawn mower. If you run into that yuletide vision in Lafayette, you're probably looking at Santa Sutton. Santa's idea began as a way of getting noticed. He took his dad's old Santa suit and started riding an electric scooter, just to see if he could go viral.  And he did. Santa on a Scooter became something of a sensation on TikTok, and Santa parlayed that fame into a business: Santa on a Mower. Santa on a Mower is exactly what it sounds like. And it works. Since launching in 2022, Santa has signed dozens of properties to manage year round.  Before that, Santa worked for 15 years as a chef and was born and raised in Lafayette. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're gonna be first, you're gonna take a risk. All the more so if you're going to market with a foreign concept.  People are creatures of habit. We look to the world we know to understand new concepts. And if something we're trying is unlike anything we've tried before…that can be a recipe for failure. Think of it this way: People who are remembered for being ahead of their time aren't usually remembered for being wildly successful. It's a contradiction in terms.  To illustrate: Imagine trying to explain yoga to a bunch of Cajuns in the 1980s.  Movement Yoga is so commonplace now, it's hard to fathom. But that's pretty much the story of Jerry Smith-Guidry, who was one of the very first people to teach yoga in Lafayette. A self-described “type A” personality, she discovered wellness and yoga in 1989 and fell in love. She went on to create the yoga program at Red Lerille's Health Club here in Lafayette.  Today, Jerry runs Acadiana Yoga & Wellness studio, which she founded in 2009. Acadiana Yoga offers a range of wellness services, including yoga classes, massage, reiki, pilates and more. It's also the only Yoga and Pilates mat certification in Lafayette.  Meat It's one thing when you're introducing something new, and another thing entirely to introduce something misunderstood. Like bologna. Yes, bologna. And if you're eating a slice of cajun smoked bologna made by Ross Brown, go ahead and get rid of any preconceived notion of how that sausage is made. This is Bougie Bologna — High grade stuff made from pork shoulder. 100% free of byproducts, mechanically separated meats, and the unmentionables you usually find in bologna with the first name O-S-C-A-R. Ross got into making bologna to convince his wife to like it. He learned the process from YouTube and started selling at a local bar — the Freetown Boom Boom Room in Lafayette. It caught on. And in 2022, Bougie Bologna was born. Ross quit his job offshore and has moved into bologna full time. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I had a journalism student approach me a while back for a story. I asked him, “what kind of a journalist do you want to be when you grow up?” He said, “A food writer. Because AI won't take my job.”  Won't it though? I suppose if they create a neural simulation of what it's like to eat boudin, they could. But the panic around AI is big; mostly because few people really understand it. The models making headlines, like ChatGPT, are really only the latest in a long line of advances in technologies designed to assist work - that is make it easier on people. Most companies still rely on people. And they need people to be good at what they do. AI can make work more efficient, but it can also help companies select and train their employees.  That's the concept behind iCan, a company founded by David DeCuir. David spent years in the oil and gas industry and noticed that workforce development was a big problem. His company employed lots of people, but they struggled to make sure they all knew what they were doing.  So he developed a new training program for his employer and cut $2.5 million off their annual bottom line.  Saving money is making money in business, so David struck out on his own. And iCan was born. iCan's cloud-based software helps companies set up custom platforms that use chatbots to train employees on anything from HR guidelines to procedures.  Since launching fulltime in 2022, iCan has expanded from the energy industry to work with utilities and processing facilities. David grew up in Lafayette and currently lives in the Geismar/Dutchtown area. Helping companies get better is a massive industry. We generally call them consultants. And their product lines can range from expert assistance to IT.  If you're in Lafayette, you've heard of CGI. And you probably think of it as a tech company.  But it's better understood as a consulting firm, and it's one of the largest in the world.  Will LaBar is VP of consulting service for CGI and worked for the company out of Lafayette since 2000.  Will was CGI employee number one in the Lafayette market. CGI employs hundreds in the area.  Will is in charge of CGI's onshore delivery program. He leads a team that helps smaller markets get technology jobs, coordinating between local governments, business sectors and universities.  Will grew up in New Jersey and has worked for CGI since 1998. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America has had a complicated relationship with Downtowns. When we invented the suburbs in the mid-20th century, Downtowns were left behind, only to make a roaring comeback in the 21st century.  That story should sound familiar for folks in Lafayette. Lafayette's Downtown was left for dead in the 1980s and 1990s. It was practically a no-man's land in the late 20th century but started coming back to life at the turn of millennium.  That turnaround didn't come from nowhere. In 1983, some local business leaders created Downtown Lafayette Unlimited, a nonprofit group that promotes activity and commerce in Downtown Lafayette, sort of like a chamber of commerce. Most folks know DLU by its major public programs like Downtown Alive! and most recently the building of an inclusive playground at Parc Sans Souci. Today, DLU is headed by Jessica Hauerwas, who took over as DLU's executive director in 2023.  Jessica comes from a marketing background. She moved to Lafayette from Houma to go to UL and got jobs in marketing and business development at Acadiana Center for the Arts, Brand Russo and LogoJet.  Jessica got involved in DLU as a board member, becoming board president. Her job today is to promote Downtown as a destination and community asset and to raise money for DLU's programs and activities.  American Downtowns can be pretty old. That's why folks left for the suburbs in the first place: lots of cheap, new stuff. But Downtowns have great bones and great buildings. Putting them back into proper form is a great way to freshen up the built environment and create a sense of place. For that kind of work, you'll need an architect. Nic Bourque, is an architect's architect. Fun fact: Nic was the first person to receive a master's degree in architecture from UL. From there, he worked as a staff designer in Baton Rouge before returning to Lafayette to open his own firm in 2013.  Nic joined veteran firm Holly & Smith Architects in 2022, where he now serves as its studio director.  Holly & Smith have earned a reputation for restoring forgotten buildings, particularly in Downtowns and main streets. They work mostly on commercial projects, with some residential contracts mixed in. They've carved out a niche for themselves in sustainable design and specialize in using passive climate control systems, landscaping and shading to achieve comfortable interiors with a smaller carbon footprint. The firm has locations in Lafayette, New Orleans and Hammond. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in  downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show  by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fitness is a big industry. Over the last decade, the global market for fitness has nearly doubled to around $100 billion.  You've probably seen the results of that boom around town. Think of the world of 24/7 gyms and fitness centers, smoothie shops and personal trainers. That world is expanding not just in size  but in variety. And it's drawing in ideas and disciplines from the world of the arts, too. There are fitness programs based on ballet and dance. They combine movement, performance, expression and a pretty good workout.  That would be one way to describe aerial arts. You might be more familiar with how it's applied to gymnastics or the circus: high flying trapeze acts or silk climbers.  You can get a taste of the high life with a little help from Rachel Adams, co-founder and co-owner of Sky Craft, an aerial arts studio right here in Lafayette. Rachel started taking aerial arts classes in 2015 with Erin Welch, who is now her business partner. They co-founded Sky Craft in 2022. The studio offers group and private instruction, as well as aerial performers for hire — no pun intended. Rachel and Erin often do pop-up performances at major events like Festival International or nonprofit fundraisers.  About 80% of Sky Craft students are kids, Rachel says. But interest among adults is steadily (ahem) rising. Exercise might be good business, but the fundamentals of physical fitness are something most of us learn in school. Do you want a career in physical education? Well, it's not really good enough to be the football coach anymore — you've got to know what you're doing. K-Lynn Mckey, is someone who can help you with that. K-Lynn grew up in Monroe and has lived in Lafayette since 2019 where she's a senior instructor in UL Lafayette's School of Kinesiology and the program coordinator for K-12 Health and PE. In a nutshell, K-Lynn's job is to teach teachers. And that job description is shifting fast. K-Lynn's program includes online instruction, which presents a challenge in and of itself: How do you teach someone to teach physical education in a Zoom room?  A 21st century problem if there ever was one. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show  by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who doesn't want a taste of the sweet life?  Most folks are looking for a chance to indulge. Even when times are tough. Maybe especially when times are tough. When the economy goes down, ice cream sales go up: in the two years after the 2008 mortgage crisis, ice cream sales went up 25%.  even when times aren't bad, there's never really a bad time for dessert. You can eat cake or frozen yogurt year-round in Acadiana. And that's not just because it's always hot. The local dessert market is on the move. Food trucks are flying around Johnston Street. That's because a food truck is a great vehicle for a home grown dessert business. You can keep mixing and baking at home, without the trouble of operating a commercial kitchen and front of house.  Nina Marie Charles has taken her craft as a cake artist from her house in Carencro all the way to Netflix. She was a contestant on Is It Cake in 2022. Locally, she's known for her elaborately designed wedding cakes and for her food truck — Nina Creole where rolls are the name of the game: she makes them sweet and savory, with Louisiana spins on a fried egg roll. Nina grew up in Carencro and worked in insurance and disaster response for several years before launching her cake business in 2016. Nina Creole was launched in 2021.  Of course, if you're going to indulge, why not go big and get all the toppings. Sweet Magnolias Creamery can bring the whole frozen yogurt experience to your backyard. And my guest Charity Lewis is the one driving the truck. Sweet Magnolias is named for a mini pig on Charity's mini farm. The mobile fro yo truck isn't the only venture named for Maggie the pig. Charity also operates a nonprofit — Magnolia Kids Club — and a farmers market — Maggie's Organic Market.  Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com. Charity is originally from Detroit but moved to Louisiana after a 10-year stint in Arizona.    She got the idea for the frozen yogurt shop from taking her kids to shops in Phoenix. And each summer, Sweet Magnolia's serves a little homage to her time in Arizona: the prickly pear lemonade.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ask any business owner in a small town: What's the secret to success? And they'll tell you: relationships. When everyone knows you, where you go to church and whether your mom can make a roux, you're trading on a reputation bigger than your own.  Relationships drive business development and they can define success. That's true if you're selling barbecue sauce or underwriting commercial loans. Your word and your values mean something. So when a small town business endures, that's usually a mark of strong community roots. Or a mark of making a high quality roux. Besides barbecue sauce, jarred roux is the secret sauce behind the longevity of Kary's Roux and Pig Stand in Ville Platte. Ross Lafleur is the general manager.  Kary's is well known for its line of specialty sauces and seasonings. You can find them at just about any grocery store in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Florida.  It started life as a restaurant. Ross' grandfather bought the restaurant he worked in as a teenager. He and his business partner found success bottling and selling the barbecue sauce they served with their plate lunches. Ross's dad, Kary, joined the business in the 1970s, and the Lafleurs splintered off to focus on manufacturing. And that's the business Ross now oversees. It comes with a lot of cooking. 21st century marketing is one thing, but the best way to sell a sauce, is the good old fashioned taste test. It's also Ross's favorite part of the job.   Whether you're selling jarred roux or running a restaurant, there's a pretty good chance you'll need somewhere to put all that money or maybe get a loan. And if you're living in a small town, a community bank is a great option. Banking, like a lot of other industries, is hot on consolidation. But community banks like St. Landry Bank and Trust still offer value to main street markets, where customers put a premium on knowing the people they business with.  At St. Landry Bank, Shelly Fontenot is the person to know. She leads business development for the Bank, meaning she spends a lot of time on the road building relationships and giving customers a taste of what community banking is like.  St. Landry Bank has been around a long time. It was founded in the late 19th century and is still firmly rooted in St. Landry Parish, with several branches in Opelousas and shops in Port Barre, Eunice, Scott, Carencro and in Lafayette.  Shelly had an unconventional path to banking. She got a degree in Fire Science and worked in the health and medical resources field out of school. She joined St. Landry Bank after connecting with her boss through a local Kiwanis Club. Shelly is from Ville Platte and now lives in Pine Prairie. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Dylan Babineaux at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kids hate math. You've probably heard that before. Except, it's not exactly true. One survey commissioned by Texas Instruments found that kids were twice as likely to say they like math than hate it. Now, Texas Instruments sells calculators. Make of that what you will. That same survey found that about 70% of kids said they would like math more if they better understood how it applied to their future.  I'm a simple country journalist. I use numbers all the time: probabilities, data analysis, reading white papers on science and the economy. You can't convince me that math doesn't mean something, especially when coding is one the nation's most in-demand jobs.  Ashley Carter loves math. More specifically, she loves to teach it. Ashley got a degree in finance but has made a career in tutoring with her company Minds Matter Tutoring. Math is the number one subject kids ask for help with, Ashley says. But she can help with any K through 12 discipline.  Ashley is the only tutor in Lafayette certified by the National Tutoring Association and one of only three in the state. She brings a compassion for parenting to the structure of her business model. Ashley is a mom of two, including one child with dyslexia.  Ashley grew up near New Orleans and lives in Lafayette. She launched Minds Matter in 2019. So you don't think you'll need math when you get older? Try telling that to a business exec reading budgets and P and L's. More to the point, you never really stop learning if you want to find success in business. And there are folks out there who can help you do that.  Dr. Phyllis Donatto spent years as an educator and now runs FTH Dimension, a workplace coaching consultancy.  FTH Dimension's trainings revolve around what Phyllis calls the three C's: Connect, Communicate, Collaborate. She offers group trainings that include personality assessments, workplace observation and one on one coaching. And her clients range from individual entrepreneurs to corporations.  Phyllis grew up in Eudora, Arkansas, and became the first college graduate in her family. She earned a doctorate in education from UL Monroe and now lives in Lafayette. Besides being an executive coach, Phyllis is also the author of the popular children's book, Mom There's a Rooster In The House. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

East to New York City. West to Los Angeles. Pick your poison as the saying goes. Out of one swamp. Into another. For the Louisiana diaspora, home is hard to quit. Home is where the heart is, after all.  Many transplants become boomerangs, a demographic term of art for people who go away and come home. At least, that's the hope if — like Louisiana — you're a net exporter of people and talent.  Coming home can be a double-edged sword. It's comforting. But, in creative industries, it can mean making do in a smaller market with opportunities hard to come by.  On the flipside: You might become the change you want to see in the world.  Kelly Clayton was the first in fifteen generations in her family to leave Louisiana. Kelly is a poet, playwright and workshop facilitator. She left for New York in 1991 with a suitcase and seven boxes of books. And she meant it as a one-way ticket. But she returned to Louisiana in 2010.  Back home, Kelly has continued working as a literary artist here. She teaches poetry and creative writing, and organizes programs for formerly incarcerated people and kids in the Louisiana Juvenile Detention Center. In 2020, she published her poetry collection Mother of Chaos Queen of the Nines. Kelly grew up between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, but lives in Lafayette.  When Rachel Nederveld left home for Los Angeles, she knew she'd eventually come back home to Lafayette. Rachel is a film producer and podcaster, and made her name for herself in documentary circles with works like The Tuba Thieves and Footwork.   Rachel first worked in the music industry, getting a job with the legendary indie label K Records and opening Lafayette's location of the Tipitina's Music Co-Op in 2008. She got into film production in 2010 and moved to L.A. in 2014.  Being a producer is sort of like being the CEO of a film, Rachel says. She's responsible largely for the logistics and fundraising. Her films have premiered at SXSW, Sundance, Tribeca and Lafayette's hometown festival, Southern Screen. Rachel returned to Lafayette in 2022 and is also developing a career in podcasting. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find potos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are few words in the english language that more poetic when strung together than "coffee" "weed" and "cobbler." Yes, this is another "only in Acadiana" episode of Out to Lunch. So let's dive in. For a lot of entrepreneurs, the dream of owning a business is about independence. The money helps, of course. But what they're really after is a kind of self-expression or self-determination. They want the satisfaction of working on their own terms, of doing things their own way.  Working for someone else can offer stability, but it can be confining  — especially when you have an unusual idea. You might not think a coffee shop is an unusual idea. But you've probably not been to a coffee shop quite like Coffeeweed Cottage in Lafayette. It's the brainchild of Denise Champagne McClure.  Coffeeweed  (which is technically a colloquial term for chicory) doubles as a cafe and home decor showroom. You can buy a cup of joe — artisan roasted — and shop for books, local crafts and…plants.  Denise is a trained horticulturist, and a big part of Coffeeweed's vibe is its grow bar. Customers book grow bar sessions, pick plants and pots and get a lesson on how to help their new green friends thrive.  Denise grew up in Cecilia and opened Coffeeweed in 2023.  So diving headfirst into a new concept isn't the only path to striking out on your own. Plenty of entrepreneurs take advantage of franchising opportunities.  That's how Christy Nolan and her husband Patrick came to open a Lafayette location of the fast-growing dessert chain: the Peach Cobbler Factory.  There's no mystery here. The Peach Cobbler Factory is known for…wait for it…peach cobbler. But the concept serves up a much bigger dessert menu that encourages experimentation. Customers can mix and match toppings how they like.  Christy and Patrick both work full time outside of running their Peach Cobbler location. The idea was to find a concept that would give them an off-ramp to retirement. They toyed with a few ideas but fell in love with the Peach Cobbler concept when a friend opened locations in Alabama. A taste test at a location in New Orleans sealed the deal. They opened their location in 2023.  Christy grew up in Erath and now lives in Abbeville. She works for AT&T and her husband works offshore. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Liliana Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Acadiana is famous for ingenuity. Look no further than a crawfish boat to see what I mean.  You might say that innovation is in the water. And that's because the peoples who settled here needed to be clever to survive. Of course, these days, necessity isn't the only mother of invention. We live in the sportsman's paradise, after all.  Fishing is what led Brian Signorelli to his signature invention. He was out on his boat one morning, fishing in some familiar waters, juggling a handheld flashlight and trying to work the throttle to avoid a stump. He hit a stump. And an idea hit him. Basin Boat Lighting. Basin Boat Lighting is a patented safety lighting and signal system for watercraft. It fixes right on to a boat and can be powered by an adaptable charger that can use whatever power tool battery pack you prefer.  The idea has been a hit with boating enthusiasts and kayakers and Brian has since expanded the line to include more sophisticated and powerful units. Everything he produces meets or exceeds Coast Guard standards and is made right here in the U.S. of A — and by veterans, too.  Brian is a Navy vet, a medical fraud investigator and a registered nurse, too.  Maybe on your way to your favorite fishing hole, you've noticed a lot more RVs cruising the highway. It's not your imagination, the RV and camping industry has exploded, especially since the pandemic. And camp sites have popped up around the country. But here's a problem: You could book a spot for your camper a year in advance, hit some bad traffic on the way in and miss your booking. That means you might need a spot that night. And until Terry Broussard developed the app Spot2Nite, you were pretty much out of luck. Think of Spot2Nite as Priceline for RVs. It makes it easier for wayward campers to run down last-minute spots by marketing last-minute inventory at area camp sites.  It's pretty much full service. It can filter availabilities based on the type of vehicle you drive, preferences for amenities and can even do the booking for you, with 24/7 customer support.  Terry and his son-in-law developed the business after Terry had retired from a long career in the healthcare industry. It's since become the perfect retirement business. He can operate on the move in his own RV with a remote workforce.  Terry is also a veteran. He served for 21 years as an air force nurse and later became a veteran recruiter for Acadian Ambulance.  Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all like to think of our businesses are unique. We come up with a value proposition or a mission statement designed to stick out in the market. But the reality is, pretty much every industry is crowded with competitors and copycats selling pretty much the same thing. That's capitalism.  Now throw in the internet and the number of competitors explodes. It doesn't just affect businesses that are used to locking down a local geographic advantage  — like car dealerships, for instance.  Krisitie McMath Hebert knows all about that. She's a third generation auto-dealer at Arceneaux Ford in New Iberia. Her father courted her to the family business right out of college, with the debut of a new Ford dealer incentive program. His offer: a salary, a car and paid off student debt. So, Kristie took that opportunity and ran with it. Today, she oversees the dealership's four departments and its 42 employees. And she is the first woman named chair of Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association.  It's not just car dealerships that have dealt with a shifting playing field. Today, you can get any number of mental health services online — and not all of it by ChatGPT. The counseling industry has changed quite a lot, even for folks working locally.  Shelly Killingsworth is a counselor and the founder of Worth Counseling, a boutique counseling service that specializes in integrative mental health.The approach is holistic. Food, mind, body and spirit affect mental health, Shelley says, and that guides how they treat patients. In-person visits feature a sensory, spa-like experience. And Worth also provides online services.  Shelly got her start as a contract counselor, developing enough clientele to launch Worth in 2019. The center now employs 9 counselors and is still growing. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Service businesses are tricky. For the most part, you're selling assistance. And even when folks know they need help, things can get tense.  Imagine making a living when your clientele is by definition struggling. When someone brings you a mess, you need to be able to clean up with confidence, compassion and clarity.  Savings Clarity is where Sonya Colliver starts with her clients. Sonya is the founder of the money management company Fix It Change It.  And that brand about sums up her approach. When clients come to her in debt or dire financial straits, Sonya cuts to the chase with a color-coded spreadsheet: "Is this something we can fix or change?" Pretty straightforward. And straight talk is essential when you're helping families navigate money problems.  Sonya also helps business clients and has a background in business herself. She and her husband have owned an HVAC company, Lake Mechanical, for over 24 years. She's done money management work for years and officially incorporated Fix It Change It in 2020.  Sober Getting back on your feet takes more than a rebound. People who suffer from addiction often need a period of transition to get started on the long road to recovery. Many will make that transition from in-patient rehab back into independence at a sober living house. That was Luke Moore's journey and along the way he found himself dissatisfied with the quality of sober living homes. So he prayed about it and started his own here in Lafayette: The Captain's Table.  The Captain's Table sets itself apart with a higher standard of living. The weekly or monthly fees come with necessities and Netflix, while residents provide their own food and toiletries. The house has eight beds and the residents do most of the upkeep and commit to self-improvement programs.  Luke has since relocated to Monroe and the day-to-day operations of the facility are overseen by a live-in manager. Luke also operates a garbage can cleaning service called Bin Bros. Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Follow your dreams. It's what they tell you as soon as you learn to dance or play guitar. What they don't tell you is — prepare for building maintenance and customer service.  For entrepreneurs of any stripe, reality is coming and it's a cold drink of water. It takes a lot of work and unglamorous work at that, once you get to the promised land. Really savvy operators can turn that insight into another opportunity. That's what Tim Benson did after following his dream of working in the music business.  Tim Benson is the owner and founder of the Music Academy of Acadiana, located right here in Lafayette. He started the academy after his band broke up and spending a few years teaching lessons privately.  One thing Tim figured out about running a music school: A lot of them have pretty crummy customer service. So he hatched a new company and service called PhoneScore, which provides feedback and reviews of how employees handle telephone interactions.  Bad phone etiquette is a weak link in marketing for a lot of businesses, Tim says. Many will spend loads of cash on SEO and advertising, only to introduce their brands to customers with a lousy greeting. Oh, and Tim helps with the SEO stuff too. He founded NetScore, a digital marketing service that helps brands with content, digital ad placements, newsletter campaigns and more.  Tim grew up in Carencro and along with his business ventures is still living the dream as a gigging musician. Allison Brandon spent years in dance and theater instruction before taking the plunge to follow her dream: opening an arts education and performing arts center here in Lafayette: Wonderland Center for the Performing Arts.  The school grew out of small scale productions she developed from a weekly program for kids. Wonderland brought that idea to a much bigger stage, literally. Wonderland organizes some serious productions and houses a suite of theater and performing arts classes, most of it formatted for kids and teens. It hosts private lessons for voice, piano, dance, audition prep and even some specialty courses like Greek theater.  The community around Wonderland has grown considerably since Allison opened her first brick-and-mortar space in 2017. Today it works with about 120 students and employs a staff of 15, including 12 teachers.  Wonderland also houses Allison's other theatrical ventures: the Looking Glass Theater Company and the Mad Thinkers, an interactive theater workshop for kids.  This is Allison's first time on Out to Lunch IRL but not her first time on the show. Her debut appearance was during the Covid 19 pandemic when we were all working remotely on Zoom. This IRL edition of Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every business has an origin story: the moment where it all clicked and made sense. Most of the time, it's the stuff of myth and legend. Successful businesses rarely fall from the sky and bonk you on the head. Unless, Sir Isaac Newton had it in his mind to bottle gravity and sell it.  For most entrepreneurs, getting from the idea to success is more about force of will than innovation, especially if you work in a niche industry. For Brent Broussard, inspiration came from therapy.  Brent took an interest in his therapist's beaded bracelet, and his therapist suggested making bracelets might help Brent work on his patience. So Brent got to work, and in 2021, Beads by Brentley was born.  Brent's bracelets are made with earthy beads like obsidian, lava, turquoise and tiger eyes. Right now, his company is mostly e-commerce end-to-end. He sources the beads online and sells them through Facebook and Shopify, with some inventory sold at Lone Wolf Gatherings in Lafayette.  Brent also operates a nonprofit called Acadiana Vanguard Youth Initiative. The program helps young people on Lafayette's Northside develop financial literacy skills, as well as life coaching and business coaching. Both the nonprofit and Beads by Brently are housed under Brent's company Broussard Enterprise Group.  Brent grew up on the Northside and spent years in sales before moving into entrepreneurship.  "Politics is Louisiana's favorite sport," the saying goes. But it's not necessarily a big industry. The landscape for political communications and strategy is relatively narrow and limited to policymakers in Baton Rouge. Breaking into the business from outside the Capitol is not an easy thing to do. You've got to ride a wave of victory to get somewhere in politics, and that can be hard with small-time candidates and causes, who often don't have big budgets or name recognition. Azi Yazdi-Kaufman is a political strategist and created the Blue Jay Strategic Consulting Group, a firm she launched in 2023. Azi had worked around communications and marketing for years, but moved officially into political strategy while working to change a piece of legislation that would have prohibited some foreign nationals from owning property in Louisiana. Azi is the daughter of an immigrant and she brought that perspective to her lobbying work.  Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know the saying: They don't build them like they used to. When it comes to homes and buildings, that's usually said like it's a bad thing. But with a changing climate and changing marketplace, building things like we used to — brick by brick, nail by nail — just doesn't cut it any more.  Enter modular construction. The idea isn't totally unheard of. Prefabricated buildings have been around for decades. But New Iberia's Tiago Atwi and his brother have brought a new twist on the concept with their comany, Boxy Construction.  Boxy designs and delivers steel framed, modular structures for residential and commercial construction. Think of it like real-life legos. Boxy ships all the parts you need, pre-fabricated with the fastenings and holes you need to set up the building quickly.  Tiago is a mechanical engineer by trade and worked on wind turbines out of college, getting his start on modular construction for a company based in Atlanta. He decided to bring the concept home to New Iberia where he grew up. And Boxy was born.  It's not just building standards that have changed. They don't make soap like they used to either. Ebony Robert figured that out when her son had a stubborn case of eczema. On a trip back home to visit family in Orlando, her great grandmother encouraged her to make him some old fashioned lye soap.  It worked. And suddenly, Ebony had a good problem on her hands: she needed to make a lot more soap. That journey led her to founding Ebony's Beauty Hair and Skin Care. By 2015, she was selling her products in stores and online. In 2018, she opened a storefront in Lafayette's Northgate mall. The brand has grown tremendously. Ebony's products are sold by Amazon, Walmart and carried by Doordash. Her shop carries about 3,000 different beauty and wellness products. But her handmade soaps are still the star of the show — and Ebony still mixes, labels and ships them all herself.  In 2020, Ebony opened the Entrepreneurship Learning Academy to help others learn how to run businesses.  Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Lilliana Morgan at itsacadiana.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.