Recent brides and their fathers who paid for the wedding won’t be surprised to learn that the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is between $30,000 and $36,000, depending on the couple's choices, incuding the wedding location and number of guests. One of the major costs of any wedding is photography. In an image-driven society where pics of the most mundane activities are posted online for public consumption, capturing the biggest day of many women’s lives in pictures is often complicated. Along with conflicting emotions about body image, and the stress of a major financial investment, unlike the informal pictures of a birthday or a vacation, wedding photos capture a rite of passage and who doesn’t want to look their best for posterity? Wedding photographer Katelyn Craven of Butterflies of Hope Photography knows how to ensure that the money is well spent. Butterflies of Hope Photography is a family-owned photography studio founded by Katelyn’s mother, Heather Banker. Working out of their Prairieville studio, Katelyn leads all wedding photography under her own brand, Butterflies of Hope by Katelyn, and frequently travels across South Louisiana— from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, Lafayette and St. Francisville—for weddings and engagements. During the pandemic, many brides were either postponing big-ticket weddings or opting for smaller backyard unions at home. As a result, couples have become more aware of the environmental impact of their special day. Invitation cards, welcome bags, and other plastic props and tchotchkes that were once trendy but too often discarded are now passe for the environmentally-friendly couple. Wedding bouquets and flowers aren’t immune to the trend either, with planners noting fewer boutonnieres and more pocket squares for the groom and groomsmen. But what of the bride and her maids? Inspired by her own disappointing experience with a wedding florist, Lauren Bercier co-founded Something Borrowed Blooms, a rental service featuring premium silk floral collections that couples can rent for about 70% less than fresh flowers. What started with a dozen weddings a month has grown to more than 2,000 weddings per month during peak season, with over 55,000 weddings fulfilled to date. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There are a lot of things to plan for when moving to a new city: renting a UHaul, forwarding personal mail, driving the most efficient route to a new job. But few people plan for or even consider what perhaps is the most important aspect to a successful transition to a new city: making friends. Making new friends is hard in any city but especially so in small towns and cities where friends have known each other since grade school, raised children together, or gone to the same church for decades. In communities like Baton Rouge, friends are built-in to a rich life often centered around family. Making friends is further complicated by our obsession with our digital devices. Go to most any place, including a restaurant or bar where you might expect to meet someone, and you’ll notice people’s heads bent towards their phones, scrolling past social media posts and videos. Today, “friends” are often people you’ve never met IRL. Still, there are reasons and even places where a newcomer can meet friends with whom to have an in-person conversation. Stephanie Hansen of Les Amis Bake Shoppe and James Hyfield of Red Stick Reads own two such businesses in Baton Rouge. Following in the footsteps of her aunt and grandmother and using family recipes, Stephanie Hansen opened Les Amis Bake Shoppe in August 2013 with the help and support of her mom. What started as a weekend operation baking and selling cupcakes has grown over the last ten years into a retail shop and a commercial supplier specializing in French macarons and made-to-order cakes, selling wholesale to restaurants, hotels and venues like L’Auberge Casino. Les Amis, which is French for "the friends" increases its own circle of friends and customers with a move from Coursey Boulevard to Downtown Baton Rouge where it welcomes locals, newcomers, and tourists alike with their slogan "Where Good Friends Meet." If, by no fault of your own, you find yourself downtown at Les Amis without company but in need of companionship, then what goes better with a slice of cake than a good book? After years of working in management in food service at Whole Foods, James Hyfield yearned for a different career. He had always enjoyed reading, so with his wife Tere, James started small with a pop-up at the Mid City Makers Market that combined his love for books and his experience in food service. Prior to Covid, James and Tere ran eight to nine pop-ups around the city before in 2019 they opened their Red Stick Reads brick and mortar store on Eugene St., now located in a renovated warehouse off Government Street, near the Baton Rouge Music Studios. Today, Red Stick Reads bills itself as a gift shop designed as a bookstore where you can meet book-loving friends at weekly storytime events, author talks, and poetry readings. Some of our most vivid childhood memories are of birthday parties with multi-tiered, frosted cake with candles, small gifts wrapped in bright paper, and a gaggle of our closest friends. If we’re lucky, those same friends have celebrated other, equally memorable milestones with us over many years. But, if not, businesses like Les Amis Bake Shoppe, Red Stick Reads, and even Out to Lunch offer opportunities to make new friends and create lasting memories. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Would you be surprised to learn that the top five degrees in demand in the US are in healthcare, technology, engineering, business, and mathematics? Probably not. But as AI is introduced into nearly every facet of the workplace, college admission managers and HR directors are increasingly pointing to the importance of soft skills, the personal attributes and interpersonal abilities that define how you interact with others in the workplace. In the workplace of the future, they say, employers will seek out employees who demonstrate superb communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. Yet, our nation’s best colleges and universities don’t offer degrees in active listening or collaboration, do they? So what is an incoming freshman to do? My two lunch guests,Travis Noote of Boomerang Comedy Club, and Terence Delaine of NO Show Comedy, would say take a class in improv. Or explore stand up. Travis Noote fell in love with comedy in 2013 and became a devotee to improv, a form of live theatre in which the plot, characters, and dialogue are made up spontaneously by the performers at the moment of performance. Travis took improv classes in South Carolina, Atlanta, and Savannah before moving to Baton Rouge to be closer to family. As he’d done in other cities, Travis signed up for and was taking classes at the Latco theatre, which he learned was going to dissolve soon. So, acting a bit on a whim and with a good deal of spontaneity, in 2022 Travis took the reins of the Latco venue and founded The Boomerang Comedy Theater, effectively turning a hobby into a 9-5 job. If you are further in your comedic studies and perhaps pine for larger audiences on the West Coast, then Terence Delaine of NO Show Comedy is your man. No Show is a live production company operating in Los Angeles and Louisiana, hosting a monthly show at Squeaky Pete's in downtown Baton Rouge, as well as frequent shows at The Station. A native of Lake Charles, Terence has degrees in political science and public administration and a full-time job at the United Way. He's been working as a stand up comic for more than a decade. Terence recorded a comedy special album that will soon be released on all streaming sites, including YouTube. Living in Louisiana, when it comes to entertainment we often think of Baton Rouge as playing second fiddle to New Orleans. Well, that's the role people put Chicago in for years, in relation to New York City. But it might be worth pointing out that some of the nation's most famous and memorable comics, like Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Steve Carell, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Bill Murray, Catherine O’Hara, and Joan Rivers got their start at Chicago’s Second City, which recently celebrated 65 years of business. It will be interesting to see who comes out of the Baton Rouge comedy scene in the next 5 or 6 years. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Imagine if you had a few thousand dollars to spend however you wanted? What would you do? A few of my friends might put a down payment on a house. Others would take a long-dreamed about vacation. Or buy an expensive piece of art. Most would give some money to their favorite charity. Yes, Americans certainly are generous with their money. In 2023, individuals gave $374 billion dollars, representing 67% of total giving, according to Giving USA. Americans gave to organizations and grantmaking foundations working in human services, health, education, environment, and the arts, financially supporting an array of causes and programs essential to the social fabric of our communities. But by far, Americans gave to religious institutions and organizations: the churches, synagogues, and mosques that offer spiritual guidance and solace – a community of the faithful. Chris Spencer knows something about the importance of supporting your parish church. As CEO and President of the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana, Chris manages nearly $250 million on behalf of churches and philanthropists in the state, using his background in banking to help Methodist churches manage their investments and help donors with planned and legacy giving. The spiritual can be found in nature, too, and in different art movements, including Surrealism, Symbolism, and Spiritualism, a 19th-century movement that directly influenced modern art. Cana Brumfield began her exploration of art at a young age. Inspired by her mother, an art therapist and teacher, Cana grew up taking art classes and going to art camps. In 2024, Cana began selling her art to the public under the brand name Luna Leaf Studio. Incorporating upcycled materials, Cana’s art evokes a childlike love and wonder for nature and the environment by incorporating whimsical aspects of design. Her work can be found at local art markets, including Brickyard South and The Magical Spring market at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge. Art and religion have long shared an inseparable bond. From ancient cave paintings and illuminated medieval manuscripts to grand cathedrals and temple sculptures, art has historically functioned as a visual language of faith. And, all along, but perhaps today more than ever, art and religion both rely to some extent on a foundation of finance. Which is what brings Chris and Cana together over lunch on a show about business in Baton Rouge! Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
You've probably heard that public radio currently exists in an environment of less than zero public funding. "Less than zero" because when the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was disbanded, monies that had already been promised to public radio stations like WRKF were clawed back. Today, the only reason you're able to hear this conversation on Out to Lunch is because of the the actions of good corporate citizens who have stepped up to ensure that community conversations continue. One of those good corporate citizens here in Baton Rouge is a company called LUBA Workers Comp. LUBA Workers' Comp is a regional casualty insurance company providing workers compensation coverage in 1/4 of the United states. That is significant market penetration for a company that was founded and continues to be headquartered right here in Baton Rouge. Seeing LUBA Workers' Comp is a sponsor of Out to Lunch we're taking advantage of that relationship to invite an Executive Vice President of the company, Kelli Bondy Troutman, to talk about safety in the workplace. Most of us have heard of OSHA, the federal agency responsible for workplace safety and health. The agency that sets and enforces standards and provides training and assistance to ensure safe working conditions. But how many of us have ever studied the poster issued by OSHA that typically hangs in nearly every workplace cafeteria? Or who among us really studies the section about safety in the employee handbook? Probably very few of us. The reason is the same one most of us don’t pay any attention to the pre-flight safety announcement when we’re waiting for a plane to take off: there are so few plane crashes – or work accidents – that we feel we don’t need to care about it. But, of course, the very reason there are so few plane crashes and serious workplace incidents is because there are people working every single day to make air travel and our work places safe. One of those people is Adam Beary of Bear Process Safety, whose mission is to simplify safety by creating lean, innovative solutions to help build an easily manageable program for companies. Bear Process Safety offers process hazard analysis, process safety auditing, process safety training, standard implementation, and operating procedures. Since 2018, Bear Process Safety has been working primarily with larger chemical manufacturers and renewable energy companies but has recently branched towards smaller customers. Bear Process Safety was recognized as a BRAC Diversity Star award winner in the small business category for 2022, and CEO and President Adam Beary was a 2022 Business Report 40 Under 40 honoree. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In years past, formal dining rooms were used for Sunday dinner or holiday get-togethers, opportunities to cook a traditional meal, served on fine china, leisurely eaten among family or friends over a glass of wine. Today, estate sales are jam-packed with barely-used china no one wants because in most modern households meals are often fast-food or grabbed from the to-go counter and holiday meals are often catered and sometimes served on paper plates. So, what do you do if you are a homeowner with an underutilized formal dining room? Well, not so long ago Mauree Brooksher was in such a position when she and her husband bought a 50-year-old home with a traditional formal living room. Uncertain what to do with it, Mauree turned to social media for ideas. There, she found a blog showcasing a formal dining room converted into a mahjong room, with beautiful pictures of the tables and tiles. Mauree was hooked. Today, Mauree and her business partner Stephanie Politz, own and operate Mahjong Rouge, a club of sorts that offers mahjong classes and hosts tournaments to promote the game in the Capital Region. Founded in 2024, Mahjong Rouge has taught 1,300 students the tile-based game that dates back to the mid-1800s in China. Now, the game has become so popular that Mauree and Stephanie recently launched Mahjong New Orleans. What constitutes “fun” changes over time and is different in each culture, each community, and each family. Technology has greatly impacted the ways we entertain ourselves and interact with others. From radio to television to games played on our computers, technology is constantly evolving and therefore changing our lives in new and different ways. What hasn’t changed is the simple pleasure and joy of being in the company of others. People with a strong sense of community just feel better, leading to greater emotional resilience and higher life satisfaction. Mahjong is an old game with an enduring purpose of gathering family or friends around a table for an evening of fast-paced skill and cunning. By teaching mahjong classes in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Mauree and Stephanie are broadening people’s appreciation of Chinese culture and offering new opportunities for fun and community. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
By all accounts, it’s difficult to land a job or even an interview right now. There’s all kinds of reasons for that, including a stagnant labor market and sluggish hiring by cautious employers. Recent college graduates are bearing the brunt of what is one of the most challenging markets in years, with entry-level white-collar jobs being especially hard to secure. If you are unemployed and looking for inspiration, you’re in the right place. It took nearly 18 months for my lunch guest Nick Miner to be offered a job in design after graduating from LSU. After months of getting nowhere in his job search, Nick took a more aggressive approach to applying, made an e-portfolio, and started introducing himself to agencies. He ultimately landed a job at Mesh, a local ad agency where he was hired as the art director. Today, Nick Miner owns his own business Miner Design Company, specializing in logo design, branding, art direction, packaging design, illustration and graphic design. Tony Zanders was born and raised in New Orleans but made his career in tech in Boston and Silicon Valley. Eleven years ago, he returned to Louisiana to be closer to family and, during the pandemic, launched his second tech startup, Skill Type. Leaning into an international network of venture capitalists, Tony fundraised a 4 million dollar investment for his company from contacts in London, Silicon Valley, New York, Miami and in Louisiana, proving the old adage “it pays to have friends in high places.” While building his company in Baton Rouge, Tony became a coach and mentor at Nexus Louisiana. In 2024, Tony threw his hat in the ring for the role of president and CEO and was tapped for the position by the board. Today, he oversees 10 million dollars in annual revenue at Nexus Louisiana. After 2020, for a year or two, our default conversation was the pandemic. No matter what we were talking about, everything came back to what was happening before or after Covid. Today, the default conversation, especially in business, is AI. Is AI coming for my job? If so, when? What should I best do to prevent it taking my job, or what should I do if it does take my job? You might notice the use of "if." The fact is, right now, nobody really knows what the future of work will look like. But as it changes, Tony is in the forefront of that change, working with tech companies that are literally creating the future. On the other side of the coin, Nick is proving that no matter how creative technology can be, the source of all that creativity is, after all, a human being with the equivalent of a pen and piece of paper. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Since Starbucks opened its first store in Seattle in 1971, coffee shops have become a staple in nearly every city. In Berkeley, California there are approximately 59 coffee shops, resulting in one coffee shop for every 2,000+ residents, which is a higher ratio than Seattle. New York City has more coffee shops per capita than any other American city. When I read those numbers, I naturally thought to myself how do they all stay in business? How does each coffee shop or chain distinguish itself from its competitors? Katie Jenkins, Owner and Executive Director of Grace Therapy Center and Stir, has taken a thoughtful approach to business competition and growth. Grace Therapy Center is a clinic for children with autism and other developmental differences that Katie started in 2021. Now with three locations, Grace Therapy Clinic offers applied behavior analysis therapy (otherwise known as ABA) for indiividual children, children in social groups and at summer camps. Of all the positioning possibilities you could imagine for opening a coffee shop, tieing it to a series of specialty autism clinics isn't something even the folks at Starbucks or coffee shops in California or New York have thought of. But that's exactly what Katie Jenkins is doing with Stir Cofffee House on Airline Highway here in Baton Rouge. Stir employs Katie's child clients who mature and are old enough to join the workforce. The coffee industry is responsible for more than 2.2 million U.S. jobs and generates more than $100 billion in wages per year. Over the years, we’ve had several guests on Out to Lunch who have contributed to the coffee industry’s success locally. By providing job opportunities at Stir to those who might struggle to find traditional work because of their intellectual and developmental disabilities, Katie Jenkins is not only contributing to the coffee industry’s success in Baton Rouge but she's providing invaluable work and life experiences for her clients at Grace Therapy Center. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The reasons people give for starting a business aren’t all that surprising. Financial independence, pursuing personal passions, requiring a flexible schedule, or making a positive impact on the community often top the list. What’s surprising is how many businesses start in garages. Many of America’s most successful companies, including tech giants Amazon, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft, started in humble garages. Perhaps the most famous of which is Apple, founded by college dropout Steve Jobs in 1976. Today, Apple is a multinational corporation with annual revenue in 2024 of $391 billion. And the infamous garage on Crist Drive? It’s now listed on the city’s historic properties. Blood Closer to home, David Slaughter stepped away from commercial real estate in 2017 to open Orion Laboratories with his wife Rachel in a 800-square-foot garage office at the back of their home. Today, Orion Laboratories is the largest independent laboratory in Louisiana, processing labs seven days a week for area health systems, independent clinics, urgent care clinics, nursing homes, physician groups and surgery centers, stretching all the way from Baton Rouge to Monroe, and in 2023, David was named Business Report’s Young Businessperson of the Year. Oil Some businesses never get out of the garage. Like Vinnie Carollo’s for example. In Vinnie’s case, though, it’s not because the business failed. In fact, it’s a big success. And it’s still in a garage. Vinnie Carollo’s fascination with obscure, odd cars began with a Porsche 944 in need of a repair. As he tried to fix the vehicle, his dad joked that he should go to Porsche school to become a technician. Six months later, Vinnie left home to attend 23 weeks of instructor-led, hands-on training. Then, in 2015, after nine years of working at dealerships and servicing Porsches over the weekends in a friend’s car detailing and cleaning shop, Vinnie Carollo started Vex European and Exotic Auto Repair in a 900 square foot garage with one car lift. Vinnie quickly outgrew that space and, over the next two years, moved three times, ultimately to his current location on Benefit Drive. This garage is around 20,000 square feet, has 13 car lifts and employs up to 25 people. The good news about most modern European cars is, when something's wrong you can hook them up to a diagnostic computer and find out pretty quickly what's probably going on. It's not that simple diagnosing human problems. Yet. There's all kinds of talk about futuristic body scanners, but as far as we know that's way off in the future, and till that day arrives diagnostic medical testing as we know it will probably continue.Vinnie and David are both following a well-worn path taken by generations of entrepreneurs who show ingenuity and perseverance building successful businesses in specialized and essential markets. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.la.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
95 percent of the world’s bourbon is made in Kentucky. But that doesn’t stop aficionados of the smooth amber-colored liquor from debating where the name bourbon originated. Among Louisianans, there’s no question that bourbon got its name from the infamous street in the French Quarter in New Orleans. John Hampton has capitalized on both the proximity of Bourbon Street and our rich French Louisiana history to open Laissez Versez Distillery, a Baton Rouge-based bourbon distillery. With four bourbon offerings, the distillery has garnered several awards since launching in 2019 and serves it fresh from the barrel in the tap room at its Airline Highway facility. One Coffee After a night out drinking bourbon, you might need a strong cup of coffee to get yourself to work. For many, the jingle “The best part of waking up is Folger’s in your cup” still rings true, especially for at-home consumers. You would be forgiven for thinking "Starbucks" is synonymous with "coffee" these days but Folger’s still holds the leading market share in the U.S. ground coffee market, accounting for over 25%. But tastes and markets evolve, and if you have been paying any attention you know that the over 170 year-old brand faces stiff competition. Even here in Baton Rouge. Chris Nance says he and his partner didn’t know anything about coffee till 2023. Well, they knew a little about drinking it but not much about how its marketed. After 16 months of researcha nd development they came up with a plan to manufacture premium coffee in partnership with a roaster in Lafayette, called Reve, and to target blue collar workers with a brand they christened Backbone Coffee. the oldest piece of advice in the history of manufacturing and marketing is, "Build a better mouse trap." In other words, take a product that everybody needs and make yours better than what's already out there. There is no shortage of coffee or bourbon in the US, and especially here in Louisiana. So, in the better mousetrap theory of evolution, you have to make yours stand out from all the others to succeed. Chris has found a way to differentiate Backbone Coffee from all the competitors by taking a marketing approach that, surprisingly, nobody has thought of: blue collar coffee. And John is already hauling in awards for bourbon, which is no easy feat in the first decade of making a product that traditionally can take over a decade just to age enough to get to market. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.la. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Depending on your disposition for integrating technology into your work day, you believe AI is either a tool for increased efficiency and productivity. Or it presents challenges such as job displacement, the potential for bias and misinformation, and other ethical concerns. By the way, AI wrote that, which might foretell the end of my career as a writer and radio host. My two lunch guests today potentially worry about the future of their jobs too. Taylor Bennett is the founder & CEO of Mesh, an integrated advertising agency specializing in brand strategy, creative, web and digital marketing. For more than 20 years, Mesh has worked with local businesses such as Baton Rouge General and Visit Baton Rouge, as well as providing pro bono work for the Manship Theatre, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation, Ducks Unlimited and Jefferson United Methodist Church. In 2021, Mesh received the Best in Show Overall at the annual American Advertising Awards, also known as the Addy Awards. Max Zoghbi launched his career in cinematography with a daring adventure: together with his two best friends, Max traveled the entire 2,300 miles of the Mississippi River over 61 days in a kayak, documenting the journey through photos and video. After returning home, Max began picking up small video gigs—weddings, a commercial for a friend’s dad’s business—while working to break into the film and commercial industry. In 2011, Max founded Loupe Theory, providing direct production and agency work for Tostitos, Keller Williams, Cisco, NBA, Smoothie King, Lamar, Abercrombie & Fitch among others. Not since the introduction of the personal computer has technology influenced the workplace like AI seems poised to do. Whether you believe AI is an existential threat to the creative class or makes design work more efficient, it’s fair to say AI is here to stay. Max Zoghbi and Taylor Bennett are business people working in creative fields, both navigating a rapidly changing workplace. Yet, as with any business, flexibility, adaptation, and innovation have and will be the markers of their continued success. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.la.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If you read the bestseller “Bowling Alone” in 2000 or are taking notice of wellness stories offering advice on how to reconnect with others IRL, you know that Americans are facing a crisis of loneliness. According to an advisory issued in 2023 by then U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, about one-in-two adults in America report experiencing loneliness, a condition that impacts mortality at a similar rate as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. For entrepreneurs, business owners, or corporate executives who might be feeling “lonely at the top,” the isolation can have devastating effects, especially for men. Studies show that men experiencing social isolation or loneliness have a higher risk of premature death from all causes compared to those with strong social connections. So, where do you turn to for positivity and community? Albert Pellisier of Man Up! and Meredith Waguespack of Sweet Baton Rouge have some ideas. Albert Pellissier of Man Up! developed a passion for entrepreneurship while attending LSU when he published and produced student coupon books distributed at registration, a sorority-fraternity phone book, and the class schedule booklets. After college, Albert got into real estate, investing in multifamily units around the university and opening a salon suites concept, which is still operating. But Albert’s success in real estate isn’t why we invited him to Out to Lunch. He is also the founder of Man Up!, a business focused on offering secular, personal development retreats for men, and the author of “What’s on Your Back Burner?: Using Dormant Desire to Relight Your Fire.” Published in 2024, “What’s on Your Back Burner” offers a simple three-step process to resolve inner conflicts that keep individuals and entrepreneurs from realizing their goals. Meredith Waguespack failed out of two colleges — Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State University – before she graduated from Southeastern University in Hammond. While in college, Meredith worked full time at a Baton Rouge-based boutique, managing its two local stores until they closed, and then at Chico’s at Towne Center. In 2011, after working as an outside sales rep for a tech company and three years as a dental assistant, Meredith launched Sweet Baton Rouge—then called Southern Football Tees— as an online boutique. Now, nearly 15 years later, Sweet Baton Rouge offers Louisiana lifestyle apparel online and at a brick-and-mortar shop in Perkins Rowe. 80% of retail stores fail before their 10th birthday. Sweet Baton Rouge approaching its Sweet 16 is a testament to Meredith's business acumen and her positioning the store in the Baton Rouge community. The store hosts an annual pop up market with over 40 vendors, called The Ultimate Tailgate, and funds a college scholarship. In an increasingly polarized world, both men and women are looking for solace, support, and inspiration. In our digital age, many of us turn to social media or online chat groups to find like-minded people and community. But we typically find online connections don’t quite satisfy us like real world relationships. Even if that relationship is just friendship, or even casual conversation. Meredith and Albert are both in their own ways bridging the gap between the virtual and real worlds: using social media to create in-person events and experiences that foster community. Whether it’s comfortable t-shirts for game day or a secular retreat on a Louisiana farm, they’re building businesses while connecting people with their passions and goals. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ben Rabalais from Albaledo Media at itsbatonrouge.la.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Here’s a plotline we’re all familiar with, something from a novel or a movie. After years of good health, our heroine begins to feel less like herself. She feels sluggish and fatigued at work. She loses her appetite and can’t sleep at night. She begins to worry. So she makes an appointment with her doctor and the recommended specialists, of which there are many. Yet, the medical diagnosis is the same: there’s no cure for what ails her. Then, as in all Hollywood blockbusters, our heroine discovers a miraculous, surprising cure, recovers her health, and lives happily ever after. Hollywood describes these “ripped from the headlines” tales as “based on a true story.” In this episode of Out to Lunch we hear two of those true tales. NaQuellar “Nikki” Thompson was a stay-at-home mom with three children when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019. Her doctors had no explanation why the cancer progressed so quickly, so Nikki decided it must be in part a result of what she was eating. She became a vegan and, after three years of living a vegan lifestyle, opened Veganish Vibes on Bennington Avenue in 2022. Dr. Lynn Duhe was drawn to holistic medicine by her own health and wellness journey. In 2017, she began to suffer from migraines. When five different doctors gave her no hope for recovery, she turned to a chiropractor and a nutritionist for treatment. In 2019, Lynn Duhe launched Miracle Wellness Center, which became a full medical practice in 2022. Nikki and Lynn both turned to alternative medical treatments after receiving a potentially fatal diagnosis. With harrowing, true tales “ripped from the headlines” — both Nikki and Lynn were cured. But the story doesn’t end there. Separately, Lynn and Nikki decided to share what they had learned from their experiences with the public by opening their respective businesses. And today Baton Rouge is the better for it. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Photos by Ben Rabalais from Albaledo Media at itsbatonrouge.la.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When you think back on your most memorable meal, what comes to mind? The company you kept? The exceptional wine list? An entre made up of the freshest Louisiana ingredients? Chef Barrett Meeks and Abney Harper are two Baton Rouge restaurateurs making memorable meals for locals with successful establishments located just doors apart from each other on Corporate Boulevard in Baton Rouge. Executive Chef Barret Meeks of Mansurs On The Boulevard developed his passion for cooking when he was just 8 years old. He’d been invited into John Folse’s kitchen at Lafitte’s Landing Restaurant to see how a dessert was plated. Later, after graduating from LSU and the Louisiana Culinary Institute, he opened a food truck called The Bengalier. In 2015, Chef Meeks joined the kitchen staff at Mansurs on the Boulevard, working his way up the ranks to become Executive Chef in 2021. Abney Harper met her husband and business partner while a student at Tulane University Law School. Years later, after practicing law for over a decade, she left her practice to join the restaurant industry. Today Abney is the co-owner of two businesses: Prima Apres, a fast casual pasta and pavlova restaurant, and Sucre Baton Rouge, and Sucre Covington, desert restaurants famous for their macarons and gelato. Whether we're eating Italian cuisine, Creole specialties, or mom's favorite recipes, in Louisiana we love gathering around a table with family and friends for an exceptional meal. Those meals are often inspired by cCreole history and traditions and typically end with a sumptuous bread pudding or bananas foster. But other equally memorable meals end with bite-sized surprises like a French-inspired macaron or exotic pavlova, a meringue named after a Russian ballerina. In Baton Rouge we're thankful for these specialty culinary experiences that are made possible by Abney Harper and Barret Meeks. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Photos by Ben Rabalais from Albaledo Media at itsbatonrouge.la.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We all know raising kids takes a village—but what if you’re the one building that village? What if you're the one creating the spaces where children feel safe? Daycare Tessa Holloway is the Owner and Director of Kidz Karousel, a network of early learning centers with nine locations across South Louisiana. What started as a personal decision to save her children’s daycare in Port Allen has grown into one of the region’s most recognized family-centered childcare businesses. Tessa and her husband built Kidz Karousel around the needs of families, because they were one. Today, Kidz Karousel is a sought-after partner for major employers like Woman’s Hospital and Our Lady of the Lake. Daddy When we talk about building stronger communities, we often start with kids' education, mentoring and opportunities. But what if we went one step further and invested in the people raising them? That’s exactly what Levar Robinson is doing with Fathers on a Mission. After years of mentoring youth, Levar realized the deeper need wasn’t just helping kids—it was supporting their dads. Today, he leads a growing nonprofit that empowers fathers to be more present, more prepared, and more connected. And in doing so, he’s reshaping what family support looks like in Baton Rouge—and soon, across Louisiana. Parenthood isn’t easy—it takes dedication, patience, and a whole lot of support from the community around you. Levar and Tessa are both showing us that building stronger communities starts at home—whether that’s creating safe, nurturing spaces for kids or empowering the fathers who shape their lives. Their work is a reminder that real change happens when people step up, not just to fill a need, but to build something lasting for families and the whole city. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.la.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Only a particularly hard-hearted human could see a dog or cat in trouble and not want to help. Maybe you’d share a post on social media. Or make a donation to a shelter, or a Go-Fund Me for a pet. But would you contemplate turning your back on your current career and dedicating your professional life to saving the lives of thousands of pets? That’s what J.T Hackett did. (J.T’s real name is Jacelyn, but everybody calls her J.T.) For 12 years J.T. was co-owner of Petz Plaza, a pet-focused business that provides services like daycare, boarding, and grooming. That’s a business that’s focused on fortunate pets. In 2019, J.T turned her attention to less fortunate pets when she became the Director of Programs at Baton Rouge’s Companion Animal Alliance. The Alliance is a shelter that takes in over 9,000 stray or abandoned animals a year. In 2024, J.T. became the organization’s Executive Director. I mentioned that J.T was co-owner of Petz Plaza. The other co-owner of the business was her husband, Michael Hackett. When the Hacketts sold the business to private equity, Michael turned his attention to other successful ventures. Among them, he bought into The Main Squeeze – a juice franchise that started life in Lake Charles and now has stores spread across the country. In 2021 Michael decided to turn his expertise at business into a business. He founded a consulting company specializing in branding, public relations, business development and community outreach. The company is simply called Hackett Consulting and its wide range of clients include Rebuilding Together Baton Rouge, Our Lady of the Lake, a local automobile dealership, a mortgage lender, a concierge nursing group, and The Baton Rouge Area Chamber. What is as remarkable as the scope of these businesses is the fact that when a company hires Hackett Consulting they get Michael Hackett. He is the company. There are a lot of variations to marriage. There are couples whose marriage is a mystery, who seem to have nothing in common. At the other end of the spectrum there are couples like the Hacketts, who seem to have everything going for them. Typically, we have guests on this show who don’t know each other. We invite people to lunch who we think would get along, and could benefit professionally from knowing each other. Today we’ve worked backwards. We knew you J.T. and Michael get along, and that they benefit professionally from knowing each other. What we didn’t know is that their dedication - not just to each other and to business success, but to higher ideals and to Baton Rouge – is inspiring. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.la. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Asking for help isn’t always easy, but sometimes, it’s the smartest thing you can do, especially when it comes to learning. Amanda Martin learned that firsthand as a parent. When her kids hit middle school, she started looking for academic support — something beyond worksheets and flashcards. She found that the tutoring landscape felt outdated and uninspired. So Amanda decided to build the kind of place she wished existed: Studyville — a modern, membership-based tutoring lounge where students can get expert help with homework, test prep, college admissions and more, all in a space that makes learning feel engaging. Some people join an organization just looking for a job. They’re in and out. Others stay long enough to build a career. And in rare cases, they end up shaping the future of that organization from the top. That’s exactly the story of Alicia Vidrine. She started at the Tiger Athletic Foundation as an intern during her last semester at LSU, and over the years, she climbed the ladder step by step. Today, she’s the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Under Alicia’s leadership, TAF has expanded beyond funding facilities. Today, it helps power scholarships, operations and long-term support for student-athletes, all while adapting to a changing landscape in college sports. Working your way up the ladder in your career is never easy. It doesn’t matter if you can see the rungs of it from the start, or if you have to build your own ladder as you climb it. Both Amanda and Alicia exemplify this journey of growth and perseverance. Alicia climbed her ladder all while adapting to the ever-evolving world of college athletics. And Amanda built hers when looking for a better way to support her kid's education. Both of them saw opportunities to make a difference in their fields and took the bold steps necessary to bring your visions to life. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.la.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Food is culture. It’s memory and identity. But turning tradition into innovation takes more than a good recipe. It takes creativity, grit, and a deep understanding of what people crave. Yvette Bonanno knows that well. She grew up in the Baton Rouge restaurant scene and that early exposure sparked a lifelong love for food. Today, she’s combining that experience with cutting-edge food production as the founder of Crave-a-Ball, a Baton Rouge-based company turning classic Louisiana dishes into hand-held, deep-fried, ready-to-serve balls. Yvette’s aiming to build Crave-a-ball into the next great Louisiana food brand. In business, longevity is no accident. It’s the result of resilience, reinvention, and often, a strong sense of purpose passed from one generation to the next. Darren Pizzolato grew up in the heart of a legacy: Tony’s Seafood. Darren was born into the business—literally—and has never worked anywhere else. Over the years, he and his family expanded Tony’s Seafood into one of the largest seafood markets in the region, known for its live catfish, award-winning boiled crawfish. Darren's family was also a driving force behind the launch of Louisiana Fish Fry, a brand that went on to become a national staple before the family sold it in 2018. Today, he’s helping shape the next chapter of that legacy in collaboration with Yvette’s company Crave-a-ball. Food has always been more than just fuel here — it’s a connector, a tradition, and a way to bring people together. And once a tradition is started, it’s easy to follow along and stick with it. From Tony’s Seafood, a Baton Rouge staple that has kept the community coming back for decades, to Crave-a-ball, a new venture that is pushing the boundaries of boudin ball flavors, both companies are continuing the legacy of their families while adding to decades-old recipes. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.la.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Entrepreneurship can start in a lot of different ways. Sometimes it starts with a tiny idea that just grows alongside a community. Other times, it comes from a personal need—something you realize just isn’t out there yet, and you decide to build it yourself. That’s exactly what happened with Abbey Lovett. She’s a mom of two who saw something missing in the Baton Rouge business scene: a flexible, supportive workspace built with women in mind. So, she created Pathos Collective—a space that gives members 24/7 access to: a coworking area, a fitness center, professional development events, and is even working on bringing in in-house childcare. Since launching in November 2024, Pathos has hosted multiple sold-out events and has already grown to over 30 members. Some entrepreneurs start by spotting a gap in the market and figuring out how to fill it. Others follow a passion that ends up turning into something much bigger. Jenni Peters is definitely in that second group. She fell in love with running back in grad school, and that passion eventually led her to open Varsity Sports, a specialty running store in Baton Rouge. What started as a shop for serious runners has grown into a welcoming hub for the whole fitness community—offering everything from shoes and gait analysis to group runs for people at all levels. Now with locations in Baton Rouge, Mandeville, and New Orleans, Jenni hasn’t just built a business—she’s built a community. At the core of any great business is the ability to really connect with people. Whether it’s through a product, a service, or just creating a space where folks feel seen and supported—those connections are what make businesses thrive. And that’s definitely true for both Abbey and Jenni's businesses: they've both built something that goes way beyond business. Whether it’s a coworking space or a running store, when you create a sense of belonging, you’re building something that lasts. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.la.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Baton Rouge is a city known for its strong sense of community. But it’s also a city that’s becoming more aware of the need to protect and enhance its natural environment. In a region where development has often meant the loss of green spaces, there’s a growing movement to restore and care for what’s left—especially its trees. Sage Roberts Foley is Executive Director of Baton Rouge Green, an organization she’s been involved with since 2010. Baton Rouge Green is a nonprofit dedicated to planting trees, maintaining green spaces, and improving the urban landscape. Sage is passionate about making a tangible impact, and under her leadership Baton Rouge Green has taken on some ambitious projects that are already transforming the region. Trees are great to plant, but they’re not something that gives you an immediate return on your investment. Trees are, more than anything, an investment in our future. But a beautiful tree-canopy future for Baton Rouge isn’t going to be worth much if the future citizens of the city don’t have roots here. And that’s where the Baton Roots Community Farm comes in. Baton Roots is an urban farm. And a collection of agricultural projects that provide an opportunity for community members to learn best practices in sustainable agriculture. It’s an initiative that falls under the umbrella of a Baton Rouge organization we’ve talked about before on this show, The Walls Project. The Associate Director of Baton Roots Community Farm is S.K. Groll. Every year when June 1st rolls around we start talking about hurricanes. If this does anything - besides inducing a community-wide sense of anxiety - it makes us confront the fact that we’re living in a precarious place. Whether you believe climate change is man-made or simply the result of a natural cycle, we have to do whatever we can to make Baton Rouge resilient enough to withstand whatever nature and the future throws at us. While most of us do what we can by thinking positive thoughts and staying upbeat about life here, folks like Sage and SK are getting up every day and actually doing something to help ensure city life is not just sustainable, but better for future generations. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.la.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.