Biz Talks

New York City native and real estate mogul Charles D. Urstadt fell for New Orleans’ rich culture when he moved here eight years ago. Last year, Urstadt joined with fellow New Orleanian and veteran Tony Award-winning producer Dale Mott to form a new live theater company called Edgewood Entertainment focused on producing works by authors from marginalized communities. In this week’s podcast, Urstadt...

On April 14, the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter officially cut the ribbon on a new home in Mid-City. The converted hotel will allow the shelter to grow its services for homeless families in the metro area and double its sheltering capacity. On this week’s podcast, NOWCS CEO Dawn Bradley-Fletcher talks about why this move will help the city break the cycle of homelessness.

A Louisiana native and mortgage industry professional for more than 30 years, Ross Miller is on the board of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB). In this episode, he shares some shocking facts about how insurance works in Louisiana and the efforts his organization is fighting for on the local and national levels.

Coulter McMahen, president of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association, was in New Orleans recently to talk to dealers here about the state of the industry. On this week’s episode, he provides an overview of the industry — from the Tesla lawsuit to EV infrastructure and 2024 legislative priorities.

Wednesdays at the Square brings top local artists and vendors into Downtown’s Lafayette Square for 10 weeks every spring – this year through May 8. What does it take to put on this type of “mini festival” every week and what impact does it have? Young Leadership Council’s new Executive Director, Allison Hotard, and Board Member and Event Co-Chair (with Emad Jabbar), Erica Sensenbrenner, share all...

A new report from Gary Wagner, an economist at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, shows that the state has experienced its biggest job growth in nearly 20 years. He explains what’s happening and what the state can do to spur additional growth while combating “brain drain.”

Walt Leger III, president and CEO of New Orleans & Company, the official destination sales and marketing organization for New Orleans, drops by to talk about the highlights and challenges of 2023 and what lies ahead for one of the city’s top industries, including the work that’s being done to prepare for the Super Bowl.

This year’s New Orleans Entrepreneur Week will feature more than 100 sessions and special events featuring business leaders and experts in entrepreneurship, innovation and tech. And … it’s free! Liz Maxwell, director of communications and strategic initiatives at the Idea Village (the event’s producer), gives an overview and shares insider tips to get the most out of the event.

The Super Bowl is a year away, but in many ways it’s like the fourth quarter for the host committee, which has been preparing for this event for years. Entergy executive Marcus Brown, who is the chair of the New Orleans Super Bowl LIX Host Committee, shares the team's to-do list and priorities as the city prepares to put its best foot forward on the global stage.

Famed chef, author and entrepreneur Alon Shaya chats with us this week to share the impetus behind creating his own company, Pomegranate Hospitality, and how he is working to create a more positive, supportive working culture. He also shares the details on his latest ventures, including an upcoming expansion into Las Vegas.

This week, Joseph Toomy talks about efforts to increase cooperation between south Louisiana's five ports, the Port of New Orleans’ plans to build a new container terminal in St. Bernard Parish, the rebound of the city’s cruise ship industry and more. Toomy is chairman of the board of commissioners of the Port of New Orleans. He’s also a veteran lawmaker who represented Dist. 85 in the Louisian...

How do we go about making the much-needed change in how we view and talk about New Orleans and why is now the perfect time to start? Both of these questions are answered in the second part of this conversation with New Orleans native Frank Rabalais.  Listen to part 1 here.

Last October, BizNewOrleans.com featured an opinion piece by New Orleans native Frank Rabalais that hit back at the all-too-common negative attitude regarding life in the city. It quickly became one of our most popular reads. In a conversation so involved we split it into two episodes, Rabalais expounds on his views that the evidence overwhelming shows that New Orleanians have plenty to be proud o...

This week, Biz New Orleans Editor Kim Singletary talks about the greater New Orleans executives who made the biggest impact in 2023, and she reveals who earned the distinction of CEO of the Year.

Leaders at LWCC, the state's largest workers comp insurance provider, have spent the past four years rediscovering their company’s purpose — and it is paying off. On this week’s episode, LWCC Chief Strategy Officer Seth Irby and business consultant Lauren Hatcher share what they’ve done, how they did it, and the amazing results they’re seeing. 

If 2022 was the year of big problems, 2023 was all about trying to fix them. On this week’s episode, Biz New Orleans editor Kim Singletary talks about the year’s biggest business stories, including the legislature’s efforts to address the homeowners’ insurance crisis, the groundbreaking of the Mid Barataria Sediment Diversion project and the rise of the River District neighborhood development.

This week, we talk to national tipping expert, and Cornell University professor, Mike Lynn about the factors that have led many consumers to become frustrated with the seemingly ubiquitous flip-around white pads that are prompting gratuities in more and more places. Do you tip 20% when picking up your own pizza? Do you add a gratuity when buying groceries from a local market? Lynn talks about how...

On this week’s podcast, real estate developer Louis Lauricella talks about his team’s vision for the $1 billion River District neighborhood, which he says may be the “largest, private, non-energy project in the history of our state.”

Approaching her third year on the job, New Orleans City Park CEO Cara Lambright oversees more than 300 employees and a $30 million dollar annual budget to maintain a 1,350-acre green space that’s 50 percent bigger than Central Park in New York City. The 170-year-old park is home to the largest collection of old live oaks in the world. On this week’s podcast, Lambright talks about the park’s ongoin...

Pain affects more than 30% of adults around the world, and yet the only current options to deal with it either can harm your liver or be highly addictive. This is why it’s big news that local company South Rampart Pharma just finished Phase 1 trials on a pain killer that has shown neither of these issues. The company’s co-founder and John Ochsner Endowed Professor of Surgery in Innovation, Dr. Her...

After closing this summer for a major renovation and redesign, one of the city’s most iconic restaurants is back in business with a new look, a new format and a new Lagasse at the helm. On today’s podcast, Emeril Lagasse’s 20-year-old son E.J. talks about how he prepared for his leadership role, his boldest menu updates and his vision for the future of fine dining.

President and General Manager of the New Orleans Ernest N Morial Convention Center Michael Sawaya joins us on this week’s podcast to discuss the latest in the $557 million in renovations taking place — a result of which has recently been the receipt of three awards for sustainability and equity. He also shares an update on the anticipated mixed-use development River District, reception of the new...

Simone Maloz, campaign director of Restore the Mississippi River Delta, talks about the growth potential for the offshore wind industry in the Gulf of Mexico — and how future wind energy revenue could help power the state’s coastal restoration efforts.

We know it’s coming, but should we be concerned? What is S&WB doing to protect the city’s water supply now, and in the future from this threat and others? S&WB Executive Director Ghassan Korban shares the latest details, including how the national attention we’ve been receiving for this issue is going to help protect New Orleans in the future.  

This week’s episode features Will Green, incoming president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. One of the most powerful lobbying organizations in the state, LABI represents more than 2,000 Louisiana businesses. Green comes to the post after filling the top job at the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association.