Biz Talks

Hosted by Biz New Orleans

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Episodes

307

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Oct 2026

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About the show

One-on-one interviews with Biz New Orleans magazine and local leaders about issues that affect businesses throughout the greater New Orleans region.

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60 recent

October 20, 2026Episode 30615 min

Episode 306: Can 480 Acres Transform Jefferson Parish's Economic Future?

Formerly known as Churchill Technology & Business Park, the newly named Churchill Innovation & Research Campus — or CIRC — encompasses 480 acres with the potential to attract new businesses, advanced manufacturing, research and investment. But this is about more than a name change. What will it take to turn that potential into jobs and economic growth? And what makes this site competitive on a national scale? President and CEO of JEDCO Jerry Bologna shares his insights on this week’s Biz Talks.

October 13, 202625 min

Episode 305: What If New Orleans Businesses Could Help Power the City?

What if local businesses could help keep New Orleans powered during outages — while lowering energy bills for everyone? That’s the idea behind the newly approved $28 million Neighborhood Power Plan. But how exactly would it work, and what could it mean for local businesses and residents? Garreth Johnson of Together New Orleans joins us to explain the ambitious initiative, which aims to create the largest per-capita virtual power plant in the country, strengthen the city’s electric grid and make power more reliable and affordable.

October 6, 2026Episode 30433 min

Episode 304: Why Does Selling a Home Cost So Much? Does It Have To?

Hint: Part of the answer, Grant Clayton says, has to do with a certain mega home-search company. But he argues there’s a better way — and he’s proving it. The Northshore resident launched 1 Percent Lists with his wife in 2015, and today the company is approaching 80 franchises nationwide. On this week’s Biz Talks, Clayton explains why he believes a 1% commission is more than fair, what consumers don’t understand about how real estate agents get clients and get paid, and what simple change he’d like to see to increase transparency.

September 29, 2026Episode 30323 min

Episode 303: What’s Next for Spanish Plaza and Riverwalk?

Andy Weiner, president of RockStep Capital, has built or acquired about 10 million square feet of shopping centers across the country — including New Orleans’ 250,000-square-foot Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. In this week's episode, Weiner shares what’s next for the landmark riverfront property, the unique strengths that continue to attract retailers and restaurants, and why he’s bullish on the future of brick-and-mortar retail.

September 22, 2026Episode 30227 min

Episode 302: Is Louisiana’s Economy Having a Moment?

On Sept. 2, The Pelican Institute released its summer 2026 Louisiana Economic Report and it showed some really good news, including that the state is currently outperforming other states in the region. The report found, among many other things, that Louisiana’s economy grew at a 2.9% annualized rate in early 2026 — faster than Texas (+0.9%), Tennessee (+1.2%), and Mississippi (+2.5%), and the 6th-fastest in the nation. And this is just the start of the good news. To share more, we welcome the Pelican Institute’s Senior Economic Fellow Vance Ginn.

September 15, 2026Episode 30140 min

Episode 301: What Does 100 Years of Advertising and Marketing Work Teach You About the Art and Science of Branding?

Celebrating 100 years in business this year, Beuerman Miller Fitzgerald (BMF) has helped some of the region’s, and nation’s, biggest brands find success — including names like Brennan’s, Tabasco, K&B Stores, Wesson and Coca-Cola. This week, BMF Co-Founder and Co-CEO Virginia Miller joins the firm’s President of Marketing and Advertising Ron Thompson to share their top tips for success, along with which branding lessons continue to stand the test of time.

September 8, 2026Episode 30033 min

Episode 300: How Does New Orleans Capitalize on Positive Momentum to Grow It’s Population?

For our 300th episode, we brought back one of our most popular contributors — in print and on Biz Talks — Frank Rabalais, who has spent years pushing back against New Orleans’ notorious “attitude problem.” Now, as optimism and confidence are taking hold, Frank argues that it’s time to stop simply hoping for growth and start thinking strategically about how to make it happen. His idea: Take advantage of a powerful national trend, combine it with what makes New Orleans uniquely attractive, and turn that opportunity into the population growth the region needs.

August 25, 2026Episode 29933 min

Episode 299: What Do Small Businesses Need to Know About Working with Content Creators?

Digital content creators wield influential power in the marketplace — power that local businesses, understandably, are looking to harness. But how do you find the right creator? What’s the difference between an influencer and a content creator? And what are some common mistakes and misconceptions to avoid? How much should you expect to pay? Bianca Cook, founder of The Nola Collective shares everything businesses need to know.

August 18, 2026Episode 29830 min

Episode 298: Why is Urban South Choosing Now to Launch a New THC Beverage?

The future of THC-infused beverages is again in a precarious position, but this time the threat is coming from the national government. While a federal ban on hemp-derived products is set to take effect on November 12 unless Congress acts, Jacob Landry, co-founder of Urban South Brewery explains why his company is moving forward and has just launched its third THC-infused brand. Landry shares what he is hoping for in the fall and what how much his brewery would be affected if the ban goes through.

August 11, 2026Episode 29727 min

Episode 297: Is There Another Way Louisiana Homeowners Can Get a Grant to Pay for a Fortified Roof?

Since 2024, the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program has been holding a lottery where lucky winners receive a grant of up to $10,000 to install a Fortified roof on their home — thus qualifying for lower home insurance rates. For those that don’t win the lottery, however, or who received a grant, but it fell short of covering the costs, FHLB Bank of Dallas is offering grants of up to $17,000 per home through its area member banks. Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of community investment at FHLB Dallas, shares more about this little-known opportunity and why interested homeowners should move quickly.