Biz Talks

Hosted by Biz New Orleans

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Episodes

305

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Sep 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

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.

August 4, 2026Episode 29624 min

Episode 296: What Will Be the Real Cost of the META Data Center?

The Alliance for Affordable Energy (AAE) has worked since 1985 to ensure that Louisianans have an equitable, affordable and environmentally responsible energy system. As one of the largest data centers ever to be built heads to Louisiana, the AAE has big concerns, and they are far from alone. Senior Government Affairs and Policy Advisor for AAE Jackson Voss shares his thoughts on last week’s New York Times article, what worries him the most, and why it’s not too late to take action. For more information on the Alliance for Affordable Energy, visit https://www.all4energy.org/

July 21, 2026Episode 29526 min

Episode 295: Incredible News from New Orleans Public Schools

Orleans Parish public schools — all 66 of them — have been raking in the wins, among the latest being ranking in the 99th percentile nationally for growth in reading and 98th percentile for math growth. This places the district among the fastest-improving large urban districts in the country. This week, we sit down with NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Fateama Fulmore to learn what has been causing this growth and the tough choices that will have to be made to keep it going.

July 14, 2026Episode 29421 min

Episode 294: Urban Conservancy Shares Why It’s Not Time to Leave New Orleans, It’s Time to Invest

While much attention has been given to a paper by Tulane University published in May that proclaimed New Orleans’ future as being “past the point of no return,” today’s Biz Talks guest sees much more hope. A veteran of the environmental field working in New Orleans for 18 years, Emily Snyder is the Program Manager at Urban Conservancy, a local nonprofit that runs multiple initiatives to strengthen our urban environment and economy. This week, she shares what work is exciting her right now, why she is not losing hope, and what else needs to be done.