The Deal Podcast

42 Episodes

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How He Timed His $230M Exit — Then Did It Again

2026-02-2301:03:30

He sold his company for $230 million right before oil prices collapsed. It wasn't luck — it was a board meeting. Thomas Chance joins The Deal Podcast to share what 30+ years of building, selling, and starting over actually looks like from the inside. Thomas Chance is a serial entrepreneur, engineer, and Louisiana native who built CNC Technologies into the world's largest privately held offshore survey company — 600 employees, 10 offices worldwide, $25M EBITDA — then sold to Oceaneering in 201...

He Represented Grammy Artists. Now Doing Reverse Mergers On Wall Street

2026-02-2026:07

What do Grammy-winning songwriting credits, merchant cash advances for the Latino community, and a reverse merger into the OTC markets have in common? They're all part of Yoel Damas' story — and it's one you won't forget. In this episode of The Deal Podcast, Joshua Wilson sits down with Yoel Damas — entertainment attorney, Grammy-credited songwriter, and now CEO of a publicly traded revenue-based finance company targeting underserved communities. Yoel breaks down how a chance conversation led...

Why Athletes Go Broke (And How This Pro Snowboarder Avoided It)

2026-02-1838:21

What happens when a six-time X Games competitor realizes the athletes he idolizes are losing their homes, battling addiction, and going broke? Dan Brisse made a decision that changed his life — and now he's helping 750+ investors do the same through multifamily real estate. Dan Brisse is the co-founder of Granite Towers Equity Group, a private equity firm specializing in multifamily value-add apartments. Before building a real estate portfolio, Dan spent 15 years as a professional snowboarder...

Why the Smartest Lawyers Kill the Fewest Deals

2026-02-1601:02:05

What does nearly five decades of business law teach you about deals, people, and life? Veteran attorney Joe Giglio has spent 49 years in the trenches of business litigation, shareholder disputes, and M&A transactions — and the lessons he's learned go far beyond the courtroom. In this episode, Joe sits down with Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David to share the wisdom that comes from a lifetime of navigating high-stakes business conflicts, mediating shareholder disputes, and advising deal ...

He Sold His Family Business for Millions, Then Bought It Back 10 Years Later With His Son

2026-02-1255:48

Walter Hidalgo Jr. built a chemical company from scratch in 2001, sold it at the perfect time in 2014 (right before oil crashed from $120 to under $20/barrel), and felt completely lost after the exit. After a detour into the restaurant business, he reunited with his 25-year-old son to relaunch the original brand and this time, they're doing it together. In this episode, Walter opens up about the emotional reality of selling a business you built with your own hands, why cold calling strangers ...

Why Bankers Are The Least Greedy Partner In A Deal

2026-02-0945:43

In this episode, we sit down with veteran banker and operator Brady Como for a masterclass on debt, risk, and long-term dealmaking. With decades of experience spanning commercial banking, business liquidations, oilfield services, and real estate investing, Brady shares lessons most dealmakers only learn the hard way. This conversation explores: Why banks are often the least greedy partner in a transactionThe real difference between consumer debt and producer debtHow underwriting teaches disci...

From the Teller Line to the CFO Seat: How Trust Drives Better Deals

2026-02-0729:14

In this episode, we sit down with Tim Prevost, a third generation banker who worked his way from shredding paper and serving as a teller to becoming CFO of a community bank. Tim shares a rare inside look at how deals are evaluated from the banking side, why relationships still matter more than spreadsheets, and how judgment, timing, and trust influence lending, acquisitions, and long-term outcomes. This conversation covers: What commercial bankers actually look for in dealsHow teller-line exp...

Putting Private Equity On Chain: The Future of Capital, Liquidity, and Ownership

2026-02-0653:02

In this episode, we sit down with Joris Delanoue, founder of Fairmint, to unpack how tokenization and blockchain are reshaping private markets. Joris explains how Fairmint helps companies put their equity on chain by transforming cap tables into smart contracts, removing unnecessary intermediaries, and unlocking new paths to liquidity while preserving compliance and investor protections. This conversation covers: What it actually means to put equity on chainHow private company cap tables beco...

Building a Business on Faith, People, and Patience

2026-02-0457:06

In this episode, we sit down with Marvin Travasos, founder of Coastal Pumping Equipment, to unpack what it really takes to build a durable, multi-location industrial business rooted in faith, leadership, and long-term thinking. Marvin shares his journey from welder to owner, growing Coastal from a single operation into a four-location company serving oilfield, municipal, and disaster-response markets. More importantly, he explains why investing in people, accountability, and culture created r...

Building a Family Business That Lasts: Marriage, Risk, and Nine Locations Strong

2026-02-0259:05

In this episode, we sit down with Jared and Rachel Doise, husband-and-wife founders of Legends Born Grill, a nine location restaurant and bar concept built over more than 20 years in Acadiana. This is a real conversation about building a business together, navigating risk, staying grounded in values, and choosing sustainability over ego-driven growth. Jared and Rachel share how they balance vision and discipline, emotion and logic, faith and execution. This conversation covers: How a career d...

Why Culture, Not Strategy, Determines Whether Deals Actually Work

2026-01-3052:23

In this episode, we sit down with Kristine Goebel, founder of Accompany Suite, to unpack the real reasons companies struggle during growth, acquisitions, and exits. Kristine shares how emotional intelligence, communication, and leadership behavior directly impact profitability, retention, and deal outcomes. Drawing from her experience with Toyota, wealth advisory firms, and middle-market companies, she explains why most operational problems are actually people problems. This conversation cove...

Selling the Family Business Without Selling Your Soul

2026-01-2847:07

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Flash, former co-owner of Dixie Electric, a second-generation family business founded in 1979 and successfully exited after more than four decades. Mike shares the deeply personal story behind selling a family business that carried his parents’ names, supported generations of employees, and became part of the fabric of the local community. This is a rare, honest look at what happens before, during, and after the sale when legacy matters as much as price....

Patents Don’t Create Value. Businesses Do.

2026-01-2645:29

In this episode, we sit down with Ted Anthony, a veteran patent attorney with decades of experience advising founders, operators, and acquirers on intellectual property in M&A transactions. Ted breaks down how patents and trademarks actually function inside real deals and why IP should protect economic value, not be confused with creating it. This conversation covers: How patents show up in middle-market M&AWhy many founders misunderstand the value of patentsWhat buyers look for durin...

How Smart Dealmakers Turn Taxes Into a Strategic Advantage

2026-01-2336:11

In this episode we sit down with David Podell, a specialist in advanced tax mitigation strategies for founders, partners, and closely held businesses. David breaks down how defined benefit and cash balance plans can be used as powerful tools for owners who are paying too much in taxes and want to build personal net worth outside of their business. This conversation covers: How high-performing companies legally reduce six and seven figures in taxesWhy defined benefit and cash balance plans are...

How Smart Exits Eliminate Capital Gains and Preserve Momentum

2026-01-2115:20

In this episode, we sit down with Brett Swarts, founder of Capital Gains Tax Solutions, to unpack how founders, investors, and advisors can exit assets without watching 20–50% disappear to capital gains taxes. Brett breaks down the Deferred Sales Trust and explains how it differs from traditional strategies like 1031 exchanges, why timing and flexibility matter more than ever, and how smart exits preserve momentum for the next chapter. This conversation covers: Why capital gains tax is the bi...

From Louisiana to Leading Global Capital Markets

2026-01-1933:51

In this episode, we sit down with Rip Reeves, CEO of Institutional Investor, to unpack the evolution of global investing, asset allocation, and the allocator–manager ecosystem. Rip shares his journey from a first-generation college student in South Louisiana to Wall Street, portfolio management, and ultimately leading one of the most influential platforms serving CIOs, asset managers, and allocators worldwide. This conversation covers: How a single college class changed Rip’s career trajector...

How Banks Really Evaluate Middle Market Deals

2026-01-1639:11

In this episode, we sit down with Larry Attenhofer, a senior commercial banking leader at Hancock Whitney with nearly three decades of experience financing middle-market businesses. Larry walks through how banks actually underwrite deals, what separates strong borrowers from risky ones, and why relationships and communication matter just as much as financials. This conversation covers: How banks define the middle market and why it mattersWhat credit analysts and bankers look for in a “good” d...

Why Deals Fail After the Numbers Look Perfect

2026-01-1450:27

In this episode, we sit down with Andre Broussard, a seasoned CPA operating at the intersection of private equity, venture capital, and middle-market deal execution. Andre shares how he functions as a “CFO by the hour” for founders, operators, and investment groups and why accounting today is far more about psychology, judgment, and trust than debits and credits. This conversation covers: How CPAs support PE and VC firms before, during, and after exitsWhy psychology and sociology matter more ...

Courtroom or Boardroom? Why Transactional Lawyers Shape the Biggest Deals.

2026-01-1201:06:42

In this episode host Josh Wilson sits down with CJ Miller, a transactional attorney who has built his career in the boardroom rather than the courtroom. CJ shares his journey from growing up in a small family business in South Louisiana to becoming a trusted advisor for banks, entrepreneurs, and middle-market companies. He explains what transactional law really looks like day to day and why helping people structure deals, manage risk, and plan for the future brings lasting fulfillment. This c...

Relationship Banking, Deal Discipline, and Knowing When to Say No

2026-01-0537:19

In this episode of The Deal Podcast, we sit down with Edward Bienvenu, a commercial banker based in Lafayette, Louisiana, to unpack how relationship-driven banking actually works at the community level and why some of the best deals are the ones you never do. Edward shares his unconventional path into commercial banking, starting in biology before realizing finance offered the right balance of structure, people, and long-term impact. What began as an analyst role evolved into a career built o...

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