Waiting Tables

On this episode of Waiting Tables, host John Bruscato sits down with Brandi Bayles Cole, an attorney, corporate executive, community leader, and candidate for West Monroe City Court Judge. Brandi shares her journey from working at West Monroe City Court as a college student to practicing law, leading corporate investigations for a Fortune 500 company, and ultimately pursuing a return to the courtr...

Steve and Dino Taylor join John Bruscato on the Waiting Tables Podcast for a conversation about family, business, hard work, and the community they’ve called home for decades. Steve shares the story of how he and a longtime business partner helped build CarTown into one of Northeast Louisiana’s most recognizable independent automotive businesses, while Dino talks about growing up in the business,...

Northeast Louisiana is in the middle of a period of growth unlike anything the region has seen in decades. But what does that growth actually mean for the people who live and do business here? On this episode of the Waiting Tables Podcast, John Bruscato sits down with Ben Stokes and Brandon Welch of Grow NELA to talk about the work happening behind the scenes to attract new investment, support exi...

John Bruscato sits down with Jamie Davis Jr., Louisiana farmer and Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, for a conversation about farming, politics, and the future of Louisiana. Jamie shares his story of growing up in rural Louisiana, working alongside his father on the family farm, and eventually building an operation that now farms roughly 3,200 acres across four parishes. He explains how a li...

On this episode of the Waiting Tables Podcast, John Bruscato sits down with a candidate for Mayor of Choudrant, Brandon Milner, whose story is built around service, perseverance, and a deep love for his hometown. After a motorcycle accident in 2017 left him with a severe spinal cord injury, he was told his life would look drastically different. Instead, he fought to regain his independence. Today,...

Ouachita Parish Sheriff Marc Mashaw joins John Bruscato on this episode of Waiting Tables to share the story behind his 36-year career in law enforcement and the experiences that ultimately led him to become sheriff. Sheriff Mashaw takes us from his early days working corrections and patrol to his time with Metro Narcotics, serving civil papers, supervising deputies, and eventually leading the Oua...

In this episode of Waiting Tables , host John Bruscato sits down with Louisiana State Representative Gabe Firment for an in depth conversation about the values that have shaped his life both inside and outside of public office. Before serving in the Louisiana Legislature and chairing the House Insurance Committee, Gabe built a career helping families recover after disasters as a claims adjuster an...

Louisiana State Senator Stewart Cathey joins host John Bruscato for a candid conversation about leadership, service, and the future of Louisiana. Stewart reflects on his military career, his time in the Louisiana Senate, and what led him to launch a campaign for Congress. He also shares his perspective on the issues shaping the state, including economic development, agriculture, infrastructure, ed...

John Bruscato sits down with Monroe attorney and District Attorney candidate Mennon Campbell for a conversation about his background, career, connection to the community, and decision to run for District Attorney. They discuss Campbell’s experiences that shaped his approach to leadership and public service, along with his vision for the District Attorney’s Office and the issues facing our communit...

What does it take to lead a police department in one of Louisiana's most talked about cities? In this episode of Waiting Tables, host John Bruscato sits down with Monroe Police Chief Victor Zordan for an honest conversation about crime, leadership, and the realities of modern policing. Chief Zordan shares stories from his decades in law enforcement, including undercover DEA operations, taking...

On this episode of Waiting Tables , host John Bruscato sits down with Congresswoman Julia Letlow for a personal and thoughtful conversation about faith, family, public service, and the responsibility of representing Louisiana. Julia reflects on the legacy of her late husband, Luke Letlow, and the lessons he taught her about serving people with humility and purpose. She shares how that foundation s...

On this episode of Waiting Tables, host John Bruscato sits down with John Fleming, Louisiana State Treasurer, physician, Navy veteran, businessman, former congressman, and candidate for U.S. Senate. Fleming shares his personal story, from growing up in a working-class home and losing his father at a young age, to paying his way through medical school through military service and building a career...

In this episode of Waiting Tables , John Bruscato sits down with Misti Cordell for a wide-ranging conversation about work, family, leadership, and the lessons that come from serving others. Misti shares her journey from pharmaceuticals and interior design to higher education, healthcare outreach, and public service. They talk about the value of real-world experience, why young people need more exp...

In this episode of Waiting Tables , John Bruscato sits down with Bigg Zigg to talk about his journey from coaching football to becoming one of the most recognizable sports photographers in the area. They get into the power of photography in helping athletes get noticed, the importance of mentorship, the culture around youth and high school sports, and the life lessons competition can teach. It’s a...

In this episode of The Waiting Tables Podcast , we sit down with Michael Echols for a wide-ranging conversation about service, leadership, business, and his run for Congress in Louisiana’s 5th District. Michael shares his story from Bastrop to ULM, from banking and business to restoring downtown Monroe one building at a time. The conversation covers real estate, public service, economic developmen...

What does it really mean to serve people well? In this episode of the Waiting Tables Podcast, sponsored by Bruscato Law, host John Bruscato sits down with Northeast Louisiana real estate professional Brian Benderley for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about service, relationships, and the responsibility that comes with helping people make life-changing decisions. Brian shares his journey from...

In this episode of Waiting Tables, Nolan West sits down with Dr. Ashley Owen, Director of Counseling Services at Louisiana Tech University, to talk about service in its many forms. From growing up in Farmerville and the Louisiana Watermelon Festival, to pageantry, mentorship under the late Freeman Stamper, and leading mental health care on a college campus through and beyond COVID, Dr. Owen shares...

In this episode of Waiting Tables, John and Allan sit down for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about why community still matters and how we rebuild it in a world that feels more divided and disconnected than ever. From backyard gatherings and riverfront events to local media, student internships, and telling the stories that traditional outlets no longer cover, this episode traces a 20-year jo...

In this hilarious, heartfelt, and brutally honest episode of The Waiting Tables Podcast (sponsored by Bruscato Law), host John Bruscato sits down with fashion powerhouse Hanna Lavergne, CEO of Herringstones Boutique, to talk legacy, hustle, and the heart behind Louisiana entrepreneurship. From selling soap in steel-toe boots to running a multi-location fashion empire, Hanna shares the real behind...

On this episode of The Waiting Tables Podcast , we pull up a chair for Mayor Friday Ellis . We talk about the overlap between hospitality and public service, how listening shapes better decisions, and the small habits that build trust. Mayor Ellis shares practical stories about showing up for people, staying calm when things heat up, and creating momentum in a community the same way a great team r...

In the premiere episode of Waiting Tables , we sit down with West Monroe High School’s head football coach, DeMichael Dizer , to talk about leadership, community, and what it takes to build a winning culture on and off the field. Coach Dizer shares his journey to becoming head coach of one of Louisiana’s most storied football programs, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and how he’s inspiring...