In The Arena Podcast

In this episode of In The Arena, co-hosts Jared Miguez & Rebecca Saucier sit down with the talented father-daughter team behind Studio MV Designs—Matt Voelkel and Caroline Boudreaux. With over 35 years of architectural excellence, Matt shares how his love for art, culture, and design led him to establish one of the Northshore’s most respected firms. A Tulane-trained architect, he reflects on h...

In this episode, Jared Miguez and Lauren Navarre sit down with Kelly Rodriguez and Nick Rider of Resource Bank in Slidell, Louisiana—a city that’s currently growing and evolving rapidly. As longtime leaders and advocates for community-focused banking, Kelly and Nick give us a behind-the-scenes look at how Resource Bank has played a crucial role in that growth. Whether you're a business owner,...

In this episode, co-hosts Jared Miguez and Lauren Navarre sit down with Marcus McGehee, founder of The AI Consulting Lab. Raised in Louisiana and now based in Florida, Marcus is helping business owners across industries embrace automation, streamline systems, and scale smarter using AI. He breaks down how he got started, what sparked his success, and why AI isn’t just the future—it’s the now of bu...

What does the military really teach you about life, leadership, and success? In this powerful episode, Colonel Tom Gordon joins co-hosts Jared Miguez and Dominic Luke from the studio at Southeastern Louisiana University to talk about the real-life lessons that come from serving in the military. 🇺🇸 From assessing risk and doing hard things to building true resilience and surrounding yourself with t...

In this episode, we sit down with Dusten Hendrickson, the founder and CEO of Mailbox Money, a real estate investment company focused on solving the affordable housing crisis through scalable, sustainable development. With core values rooted in kindness, persistence, generosity, faith, and accountability, Dusten shares how his company is bringing real solutions to underserved housing markets. From...

This week on the podcast, hosts Jared Miguez and Dominic Luke sit down with Cory Hoag, a U.S. Army veteran turned mortgage expert, who brings a mission-driven mindset to the world of real estate finance. After years of honorable service, Cory found his second calling in helping others—especially fellow veterans—navigate the path to homeownership. His specialty? VA home loans. For Cory, helping sol...

In this episode, we sit down with Chad Carrone, the founder of DPCplus, a company that’s changing the way healthcare works in our community. Unlike traditional healthcare models that often prioritize profit over people, DPCplus is built on a bold belief: that everyone deserves affordable, dependable, and transparent healthcare. Chad shares how his company is choosing a different path—one that puts...

In this episode, co-hosts Jonah Fry and Mallory Davis sit down with sibling duo Kati Morse LeBreton and Caleb  Morse , creators of the Big Bad Boot Podcast, to talk about how a viral moment on TikTok unexpectedly launched their podcasting journey. They share: 🎤 How their viral video sparked the idea for a full-blown podcast 👫 The real-life sibling dynamic that keeps the mic (and laughs) going 💬...

In this episode, we sit down with digital strategist and international speaker Karen Velandia, whose training comes straight from industry giants like Russell Brunson, Gary Brecka (10X Health), Peng Joon, Eric Siu, and Tony Robbins. Karen shares her journey of helping over 400 real estate agents move from outdated strategies to powerful digital models—and how she and her team helped 3,000+ busines...

What do side hustles, small business, and state policy have in common? According to Louisiana State Senator Patrick McMath, everything. In this episode, Patrick shares his journey from entrepreneur and city councilman to becoming a leader in the Louisiana State Senate. With a background as a businessman and attorney, Patrick brings a unique perspective to public service—grounded in experience, eco...

Navigating Life as a Military Spouse and Entrepreneur: A Conversation with Donna Bach In this episode of In The Arena, we sit down with Donna Bach, a dedicated military spouse, mother, grandmother, and proud entrepreneur who has made a lasting impact on her community. With a B.A. in Social Work from Wichita State University, Donna has traveled and lived in many states before settling down in Slide...

In this episode of In The Arena, we sit down with two brothers who are making waves in the world of real estate—Sawyer and Samuel Benson. Sawyer, a Commercial Lender with Planters Bank, and Samuel, a Real Estate Specialist at 1 Percent Lists, share their journey of scaling their respective careers and businesses in the real estate industry. The Benson brothers talk about the importance of taking s...

🎙️ In this episode of In The Arena, we sit down with Christopher Couch, a business leader, attorney, and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in law, business management, and strategic planning. Chris is the founding member of Couch Lambert Law Firm, where he now serves as a Senior Advisory Member. He previously led the firm’s expansion across 9 states and represented some of the nation’s...

In this episode of In The Arena, co-hosts Jonah Mark Fry and Jared Miguez sit down with Ken Schallenberg, founder of Ken Schallenberg Photography. Based in Covington, Louisiana, Ken specializes in headshots, real estate imagery, and commercial photography.  KENSCHALLENBERG.COM Ken shares his journey from New Orleans to establishing his photography business in Covington, highlighting his passion fo...

In this episode of In The Arena, real estate investor and entrepreneur Courtney Fricke joins co-hosts Jared Miguez and Lauren Navarre to dive into the mindset and strategies that fuel business success. Courtney shares how personal growth directly impacts business growth and why staying consistent in your purpose is key to long-term success. From strategic marketing to navigating the changing real...

In this episode, we chat with Kelly Cox Vicari, founder of Healing with Horses Louisiana, a non-profit offering equine therapy to those struggling with physical, emotional, and mental challenges. Born from Kelly’s personal journey with her mother’s Alzheimer’s, this unique program pairs trained therapy horses with individuals to foster healing, trust, and self-awareness. Joining Kelly is Jennifer...

In this episode of In The Arena, we sit down with John Schroder, former Louisiana State Treasurer, businessman, and dedicated public servant. From his early days in law enforcement and the military to managing the state’s multi-billion-dollar investment portfolios, John’s career is a testament to resilience, service, and leadership. Born and raised in Jefferson Parish, John took a leap of faith by...

What would you do if money were no object? 🤔 That question changed everything for Ryan Enk , a real estate investor, entrepreneur, and author of The 7 Day Real Estate Survival Blueprint . He also runs the @RealEstateInvestorSecrets YouTube channel, where he helps others achieve financial freedom through real estate. In this episode of In The Arena Podcast , co-hosts Lauren Navarre and Jared Migue...

How does local media stay relevant in a rapidly changing digital world? Brian Shirey, Vice President & General Manager of Northshore Media Group, joins co-hosts Lauren Navarre and Jared Miguez to break it all down. From a small group of radio stations to a multi-platform media powerhouse, Northshore Media Group has grown into a key player in Louisiana and Southwest Mississippi, serving communi...

Welcome to this dynamic episode of the In the Arena Podcast, where media maven Marcus Clark sits down with co-hosts Jonah Fry and Mallory Davis to explore the art and business of creative storytelling. In this must-watch video, Marcus—an accomplished Media Producer, director, cinematographer, video editor, and photographer—shares his in-depth experience with videography in Louisiana, dives into th...

What does it take to go from cold calls to closing deals and owning a multi-state real estate portfolio? Drew Pearson knows firsthand. Drew started as a commercial real estate broker, grinding his way up before making the leap to ownership. Now, he manages 14+ self-storage facilities across two states , serving thousands of customers. His approach? Processes, discipline, and laser focus. In this e...

In this episode of In the Arena, we sit down with Ron Gitz, CPA, CGMA, the Executive Director and CEO of the Louisiana CPA Society, to discuss the future of accounting, CPA career opportunities, and the biggest challenges facing the profession today. Ron shares insights on: ✅ The CPA talent shortage and workforce challenges ✅ How Louisiana CPAs advocate for tax policies and licensing laws ✅ The...

On this episode of In The Arena , co-hosts Jared Miguez and Dominic Luke sit down with Dean Lopez , the Dean of the College of Business at Southeastern Louisiana University, and Emily Anthony , who leads the Office of Military and Veteran Success. Dean Lopez shares his insights on developing future business leaders , adapting curriculum to a changing world , and the role of higher education in sha...

On this episode of In The Arena Podcast, co-hosts Lauren Navarre and Jared Miguez sit down with real estate investor Paul Snow to discuss why success in real estate is all about playing the long game. Paul shares invaluable insights on: Riding the Waves: Real estate comes with its ups and downs—learn how to stay steady in volatile markets. Proactive Strategies: Why being proactive, not reactive, i...

This week, Lauren Navarre sits down with 20-year-old entrepreneur Ella Croteau, the owner of the luxury spray tan business, Golden by Ella. In this motivational episode, Ella shares her incredible story of growing up in an entrepreneurial family and how it inspired her to launch her own business right out of high school. From discovering her “why” to empowering young women to live with confidence,...