It's Acadiana: Out to Lunch

If you’re going to run a good business, you’ll need to know the tools of your trade, literally and figuratively. Sometimes it’s knowing how to find talent. Other times it’s owning the crane nobody wants to buy. Because here’s the thing: every project needs both muscle and machines. And neither comes cheap these days, especially in the world of construction.  The...

Wellness isn’t just kale smoothies and yoga classes anymore. It’s mushrooms as brain boosters, IV drips for recovery, tinctures, biohacking, and more. These trends aren’t fringe, they’re big business, generating $1.8 trillion in U.S. sales alone in 2024. And they’re on the move in Acadiana too.  Christiaan's guests on this edition of Out to Lunch are building bus...

There’s a reason you don’t hear people bragging about shopping for a new bank. Most of us choose one when we’re young and stick with it—even if we’re frustrated, even if it means worse service or fewer benefits. We treat it like a utility, not a relationship. That’s good news if you’re running a big bank. Not so good if you’re trying to build a bank...

Here in Lafayette, comedy is growing up. The scene is expanding, more shows are popping up. It’s become a draw for national touring acts. And comics are choosing to stay—or come back—because there’s actually something to build here.  That’s pretty remarkable. Lafayette wasn’t really on the map as a comedy town until the last decade or so. But comedy itself...

Some things are so familiar we stop thinking about them. Bread, for example. Or curry. They show up in so many meals they’re practically background noise. Staples. Comforts. Universals. So what happens when someone decides that’s not good enough? On this edition of Out to Lunch we’re talking about reimagining the familiar — turning the everyday into something exceptional. I...

For every entrepreneur, the fantasy of your own business is about being in control of your destiny.  For a lucky few, that pays off with the job — and lifestyle — of your dreams.  One way to get there is to help other folks fulfill their own fantasies. Or maybe even one — at least temporarily. That fantasy might be waltzing through an evening of elegance in the gown of...

Ideas always sound good in theory. Especially business ideas. That’s the deception of entrepreneurship. Even the simple stuff gets complicated. Take my guests today. One started a business hauling junk. The other lends tools out for free. Simple, right? But as they’ll tell you, there’s a lot more to it once you pop the hood. Anna Kojevnikov is co-founder of the Lafayette Tool Lib...

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, operated...

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 th...

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 somethin...

“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 Restoratio...

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...

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...

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 hun...

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...

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 L...

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...

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 S...

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...

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...

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 ar...

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 wh...

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 respond...

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 busi...

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. Jac...