The Deal Podcast
The Deal Podcast, hosted by M&A advisor Joshua Wilson, explores the human and financial aspects of building enterprise value in the lower- and middle-market. It features conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals like CPAs and attorneys, focusing on the strategies behind mergers and acquisitions. The show aims to demystify the deal-making process by highlighting the people and stories behind the numbers.
Episodes
Zero Investors, All Sisterhood: Bootstrapping a Licensed Brand — Elise Colomb
Elise Colomb was a nurse, a pharma rep, and a stay-at-home mom who sold art for fun. Then a friend saw her paintings and said, "We need to put these on products."Host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA, Managing Partner of FA Mergers, sit down with Elise Colomb, Co-Founder, Designer, and Creative Director of Sorority and Sisterhood, the hand-drawn luxury pajama brand she
From Exit to Endowment: Building a Legacy That Outlives You — Monica Zuschlag & Margaret Trahan
What happens to everything you've built after you sell — and after you're gone? Two Catholic foundation leaders share how owners turn a lifetime of work into a legacy that lasts.In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA, Managing Partner at FA Mergers, sit down with Monica Zuschlag, Board Chairman, and Margaret Trahan, Executive Director
Relationships Are the Product: How an Engineering Firm Wins Work — Aaron Travasos
Landing a two-year contract felt like a win. Aaron Travasos saw a deadline: "We have one to two years to replace this customer."In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA, Managing Partner of FA Mergers, sit down with Aaron Travasos, P.E., Principal at Gregory Consulting and Controls in Lafayette, Louisiana. Aaron left a steady engineerin
Building Toward an Acquisition From Day One with Kelly Hebert
She built her app with one end in mind from day one: get acquired. And she did it while owning 100% of the company and raising two kids under two.In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-hosts Scott Shea and Jeremy Beyt sit down with Kelly Hebert, VP of Design & Media at Robert Hebert Media and co-founder of Project Dryve, a navigation app built to solve the messy, real-w
What Every Founder Gets Wrong About Building With AI with Justin Obney
He built Lego-verifying software with his daughter and an AI chief of staff named Carl who texts his wife. Justin Obney has strong opinions about what founders keep getting wrong.In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Scott Shea sit down with Justin Obney, CEO of Obney AI, for a candid conversation on how business owners should actually think about artificial intellige
The Deal Behind Sports Betting, NIL, Revenue Sharing, and the Portal with Charles Hanagriff
33 years behind the microphone in Baton Rouge — and a master class on how college sports quietly became one of the biggest deal-making machines in America.In this episode of The Deal Podcast, hosts Joshua Wilson and Scott Shea sit down with Charles Hanagriff — veteran sports broadcaster, co-host of "Live at Lunch" on 104.5 ESPN, and the voice of Eagle 98.1 Gameday for over two decades —
Where Allocators and Dealmakers Actually Meet with Rip Reeves
He got told no 2,000 times before Wall Street said yes. Rip Reeves cold-called his way off a borrowed New York City phone book — and four decades later runs the company whose magazine first taught him the business.In this episode of The Deal Podcast, recorded on the Baton Rouge Podcast Tour, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Scott Shea sit down with Rip Reeves, CEO of Institutional Investor and forme
From Folding Towels for Nick Saban to Owning a Bank with Scott Gaudin
He cashed out everything during the pandemic — left a guaranteed paycheck to raise $30M and buy a bank that didn't exist yet. Five years later, it's quadrupled.In this episode, recorded live in Baton Rouge on our Louisiana Podcast Tour, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Scott Shea sit down with Scott Gaudin, President & CEO of Currency Bank. Scott traces his path from folding towels and
Playing Offense or Defense With Your Company's Value with Ben Vance
Should you grow your business or protect it? The answer depends on one number — and most owners don't know theirs.In this episode, Joshua Wilson and co-hosts Scott Shea (FA Mergers) and Jeremy Beyt (CEO, ThreeSixtyEight) sit down with Ben Vance, CPA, Director at Faulk & Winkler, who brings nearly 20 years in business valuation, transaction advisory, and family office work. Ben unpacks the
We're Not a Construction Company, We're a People Company — Lenny Lemoine
He built a national construction firm out of a town of fewer than 1,000 people — then sold it without feeling like he sold out.In this episode, Joshua Wilson and co-host Scott Shea sit down with Lenny Lemoine, founder of LEMOINE, the Louisiana services company he and his brother Tim grew from a family lumberyard into a 1,500-person leader in building, infrastructure, and disaster response. Lenny w
The Hidden Asset Smart PE Firms Protect at All Costs with Jeffrey Koonce
What separates the PE firms that build lasting companies from the ones that destroy them? Jeff Koonce says it comes down to one asset that never shows up cleanly on a balance sheet.Jeffrey Koonce is a Partner at Bernhard Capital Partners, a Baton Rouge-based services and infrastructure-focused private equity firm with more than $6 billion in AUM. A recovering CPA and former tax attorney at Phelps
The Family Office Playbook for Lower Middle Market Acquisitions — Erik Billet
Erik Billet and Jude David built a family office that's done 12 acquisitions in five years — without outside investors, without a fund clock, and without ever planning to flip a single company.In this episode, Erik Billet, CFO of Kin Capital Partners and CEO of Stately Doors and Windows, joins Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA, Managing Partner at FA Mergers, to walk through
Stuck in the Founder Trap? How to Free Yourself From the Day to Day with Jeff Martin
What happens when a buyer looks at your business and says, "The owner is too involved — we can't pluck him out"? That's the moment your exit value collapses. And it's the moment Jeff Martin has spent a career helping founders avoid.In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA and Managing Partner at FA Mergers, sit down with
From Ministry to Real Estate: Lessons From a Career Pivot with John Ray Perkins
He spent over two decades as a full-time Catholic minister. Then four kids, a tight bank account, and a global pandemic forced a pivot that would reshape everything.In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA and Managing Partner at FA Mergers, sit down with John Ray Perkins, a top-producing Realtor with Keller Williams Realty of Acadiana in Lafayet
Scaling a Law Firm Without Losing the Mission with Blake David
What does it take to scale a plaintiff's law firm to 17 attorneys across three offices — without losing the mission, the culture, or your sanity? Blake David has done it, and he's still trying cases.In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson sits down with Blake R. David, founding partner of Broussard, David & Moroux in Lafayette, Louisiana, alongside co-host Jude David,
How Founders Use Community Foundations to Protect Their Legacy with Missy Andrade
What if the smartest move before your liquidity event isn't talking to your banker — it's talking to a community foundation?In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Scott Shea sit down with Missy Andrade, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA), to unpack one of the most overlooked tools in middle market dealmaking: the community found
Eat What You Kill: The Bet-On-Yourself Model — Mark Weber
Mark Weber made $12,000 his first year in business. He never hired an employee. Three decades later, he's built a portfolio across life insurance, real estate, and mortgage lending — all on strategic partnerships and commission-only hustle.Mark Weber is a serial entrepreneur, inventor, and CEO of Mark Weber Enterprises — a multi-layered company spanning real estate, investments, insurance, an
Mergers and Acquisitions in the Nonprofit World
What if the smartest growth strategy in your community wasn't being run by a private equity firm — it was being run by a charity?Kim Boudreaux and Sarah Clement of Catholic Charities of Acadiana have spent the last two decades quietly executing one of the most disciplined nonprofit roll-up strategies in Louisiana — growing from a $1.2M agency with 23 employees into a $15M, 90-person, 14-organ
From Career to Calling: Inside Family Missions Company with Saul Keeton & Kevin Granger
What if the Lord interrupted your career at the peak of the American dream? Saul Keeton walked away from 25 years in commercial real estate. Kevin Granger left nursing and music behind. Both said yes to something bigger.In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson sits down with Saul Keeton and Kevin Granger of Family Missions Company — the largest lay Catholic foreign missionary organi
From Law to the Priesthood: Discerning the Call with Father Jim Brady
What does it actually take to walk away from a thriving career at the top of your game — and how do you do it without leaving wreckage behind?In this special episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA — Managing Partner at FA Mergers — sit down with Father Jim Brady, JCL, Pastor of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Lafayette, Louisiana. Before entering the pri
The Opportunity Machine: Powering Louisiana's Startup Boom — Destin Ortego
What happens when a former musician with degrees in graphic design and public relations becomes the executive director of one of Louisiana's most important startup engines? You get Destin Ortego — and a playbook that's helped founders raise $116M in venture capital and drive over $2 billion in economic impact since 2018.In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host
The Public-Private Partnership Playbook with Mike Tarantino
What does it actually take to land a $1.4 billion manufacturing deal in a parish of 70,000 people? Mike Tarantino has the playbook — and he's running it in real time.In this episode, Joshua Wilson and co-host Scott Shea sit down with Mike Tarantino, President and CEO of the Iberia Industrial Development Foundation, to break down the mechanics of modern economic development dealmaking. Mike wa
The Pattern Recognition Skill That Built Four Exits with Steven Pivnik
What if the same company could give you four bites of the apple? Steven Pivnik did exactly that — and nearly lost it all in between.In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson sits down with Steven Pivnik, serial founder, endurance athlete, and exit advisor who built and monetized the same software company four separate times before finally selling to a $4 billion competitor. Steven sh
Gatr Coolers: The Story Behind the Brand with Bryan McGehee
What does it take to turn a text message into a viral brand? Bryan McGehee, founder of Gatr Coolers, did exactly that — starting from a camper with his wife and kids, betting his house on a cooler company, and going full-time the same month COVID shut the world down.Bryan McGehee is the founder of Gatr Coolers, a premium customizable cooler and drinkware brand built out of Thibodaux, Louisiana. Br
Finding Your Highest and Best Use as an Entrepreneur — Dominic Dupré
What if the biggest mistake you're making isn't a bad deal or a wrong hire — but spending your life doing things you're capable of instead of things you were made for?Dominic Dupré grew up watching four cousins build successful companies in Louisiana's energy corridor. He graduated into the shale boom, swung sledgehammers on a workover rig, and had his entrepreneurial dreams de
The Growth by Subtraction Playbook for Middle Market Founders with Yarin Gaon
What if the thing slowing your growth isn't what's missing — it's what you refuse to cut?Yarin Gaon sold his fourth company at 28, ran turnarounds as an Entrepreneur in Residence at a venture capital firm, mentored 400+ founders through the University of Chicago and SCORE, and has earned an MBA along the way. Today he runs Fractional Partners, where he applies a private equity-style
The Partner You Need When You've Run Out of Gas — George Boudreaux & Nathan Rath
He was drowning in investor debt, swinging a hammer in Houston just to make payroll — and still found a way to build something worth fighting for. This is a story about grit, partnership, and what it really takes to grow a trade business from the inside out.George Boudreaux founded Pelican Roofing Company in Lafayette, Louisiana on July 4th, 2014 — not from a place of momentum, but from a burning
Building a Business With Your Spouse Without Losing Your Mind — Kenny & Stacy Maggard
She thought it was total BS. Then they built a company together — and haven't looked back since. Kenny and Stacy Maggard turned a margarita-fueled conversation into Azalea Health Services, a mission-driven mental health company serving seniors in long-term care settings across Louisiana and Texas.Kenny Maggard spent 15 years as a middle market banker at Capital One before stepping into privat
Running City Hall Like a Business with Mayor-President Monique Boulet
What happens when you hand the keys to an $850 million government operation to someone who thinks like an operator? You get fewer barriers, faster decisions, and a city that starts acting like it has a balance sheet to protect.In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson and co-host Jude David, JD, DCL, MBA and Managing Partner at FA Mergers, sit down with Mayor-President Monique Boulet
What Happens to Your Business If You Don't Make It Home Today with Taylor Davis
What happens to your business if you don't make it home today?Taylor Davis watched his father — a top vascular surgeon making great money — die at 48 with almost no coverage after a business partnership dissolved and the insurance went with it. His mother sold her dream home and went back to work. That experience became his life's mission.Taylor Davis is a Wealth Management Advisor with
The Success Story Behind The Gingerbread Twins with Billy & Denny
What does it take to turn a family baking legacy into a viral sensation? Billy and Denny, aka "The Gingerbread Twins", have been proving that faith, hard work, and butter cookies can build something extraordinary.Billy and Denny are the identical twin founders of Gingerbread Twins, a Lafayette, Louisiana bakery rooted in three generations of baking tradition. In this episode, they share
Why Your Book of Business May Be Worth More Than You Think — Dr. Jon Randall
Most financial advisors are sitting on their biggest asset and don't even know it. Dr. Jon Randall breaks down exactly what your practice is worth — and how to build it so buyers are lined up when you're ready.In this episode, Joshua Wilson sits down with Dr. Jon Randall, founder of eXtraordinary Financial Advisors (XFA) and author of The Extraordinary Financial Advisor Practice. With ov
The Lone Survivor of a Plane Crash — and the Lessons That Followed with Wade Berzas
He was the only survivor of a plane crash that killed five people — burned on 80% of his body, pulled from a coma, and given little chance of a full recovery. What Wade Berzas discovered in that hospital room became the foundation for everything he now teaches entrepreneurs.Wade Berzas is an EOS Implementer, business coach, and speaker who works with privately held entrepreneurial companies of 10
Why Creativity Without Data Is Just a Pretty Waste of Money with Jeremy Beyt
Most companies are spending money on marketing without knowing if it's working. Jeremy Beyt has built a career proving there's a better way — and it starts long before you run a single ad.Jeremy Beyt is the CEO and Co-Founder of ThreeSixtyEight, a full-service creative agency based in Louisiana known as the Challenger Agency. In this episode, Jeremy joins hosts Joshua Wilson and Scott Sh
From Oil Field Landman to Business Owner with Scott Rainey
Before Scott Rainey owned a safety consulting company, he was getting bit by dogs in North Louisiana — knocking on doors as a landman, trying to convince hostile landowners to let oil companies onto their property. That pivot into entrepreneurship wasn't clean. It nearly ended in bankruptcy. Here's how he got out, started over, and built something worth selling.Scott Rainey is the founde
Bootstrapped to VC-Backed: Scaling a Female-Founded Brand — Lauren Bercier
She spent thousands of dollars on wedding flowers she didn't even love — and watched them end up in the trash by the end of the night. That experience became the blueprint for a business that has now served over 60,000 weddings and helped couples save more than $100 million on flowers.Lauren Bercier is the Co-Founder and CEO of Something Borrowed Blooms, the leading silk floral rental company
Access Granted: Inside the Hilton Family Office — Mark Miller
What if you could invest like the Hilton family — without having $100 million in the bank? Mark Miller has spent nearly 40 years making that possible, and in this episode, he pulls back the curtain on exactly how it works. The strategies, the philosophy, the network — and the surprising backstory of how the Hilton family fortune ended up in a foundation instead of the family's hands.Mark Mill
No Operator, No Deal — How PE Firms Find the Right CEO with Travis Hann
Some PE deals don't fall apart in due diligence — they fall apart because no one can find the right CEO. Travis Hann has built his firm around solving exactly that problem. If the operator doesn't exist — or can't be found — the deal doesn't happen.Travis Hann is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Pender & Howe, a fast-growing boutique executive search firm serving mid-
He Buys Companies Everyone Else Is Running From — Nate Moore
He only buys companies everyone else is running from — and he's been doing it for 20 years.Nate Moore has built a 700-person operation by acquiring distressed childcare and home care businesses, walking into chaos where others see dead ends, and turning them around through leadership, structure, and a relentless belief in people.Nate Moore is a serial acquisition entrepreneur and founder of M
Value Creation vs. Wealth Acceleration: The Family Office Framework
Most business owners confuse value creation with wealth acceleration — and it's costing them everything after the deal closes. This episode breaks down the family office framework that changes how you think about your business, your exit, and your legacy.Joshua Wilson sits down with Benjamin Domingue, founder of Family Office Partners, a multifamily office serving private business owners from
Why Culture Kills More Acquisitions Than Bad Pricing — Scott Harkey
Scott Harkey put $750,000 cash down on an agency tuck-in — and turned it into $10 million in enterprise value inside his group. That's EBITDA arbitrage. And according to Scott, most independent agency operators grinding away at 17–25% margins have never once thought about it. This episode covers the deal math, the culture traps, and the billboard rollup opportunity most investors are complete
How a Banker Evaluates Business Acquisitions (The 5 Cs Explained)
What does a banker actually look for before saying yes to your deal? Ben Smith, Market President at Red River Bank in Lafayette, Louisiana, pulls back the curtain on how banks evaluate business acquisitions, equipment financing, and commercial lending — and what business owners can do right now to set themselves up for growth.Ben brings nearly 25 years of banking experience, starting in credit rev
When to Sell: The $50K Angel Investing Lesson — Bubba Page
Bubba Page watched a $50K investment grow to $200K on paper — then passed on the chance to cash out. A year later, that company went bankrupt. His position went to zero.That one decision — and the hard-won wisdom that followed — reshaped how he approaches every deal today. He calls it the cookie jar rule: when someone passes the jar, you take a cookie.Bubba Page is a 5x INC5000 serial entrepreneur
When to Order a Quality of Earnings — Elliott Holland
Most first-time buyers skip the QoE. Elliott Holland has spent 15 years watching that mistake blow up deals — and families. In this episode, he breaks down exactly when you need one, what it finds, and why the EBITDA number you're looking at may not be real.Elliott Holland is the founder and CEO of Guardian Due Diligence, a Harvard MBA, former private equity professional, independent sponsor,
What an Investigative Journalist Notices That Most Deal Makers Miss
What does an investigative journalist notice that most deal makers miss? Adam Daigle of the Acadiana Advocate has spent 15 years covering business, M&A, and economic development across Louisiana — and his pattern recognition for spotting winners and losers might be sharper than most investors in the room.In this episode of The Deal Podcast, Joshua Wilson and Jude David sit down with Adam Daigl
From Brazil to Rebuilding Downtown Lafayette
From tennis courts in São Paulo to building one of Lafayette, Louisiana's most ambitious mixed-use hotel developments — Gus Rezende's story is one of grit, community, and hard-earned entrepreneurial wisdom.Gus Rezende is the co-founder and managing partner of Social Entertainment, a Lafayette-based holding company with 300+ employees, 12 Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations, restaurant conce
90% of Family Wealth Is Gone by the Third Generation — Here's Why
90% of family wealth is gone by the third generation — and it's not bad investments doing the damage. It's governance failures, the hard conversations nobody has, and the failure to pass down the values and stories that created the wealth in the first place. In this episode, Tim Brown breaks down what actually separates multi-generational family offices from those that quietly fade back
What 18 Months Before Your Exit Should Actually Look Like
Most business owners are leaving money on the table — not because they're running a bad business, but because they can't prove how good it is. In this episode, we break down exactly what buyers look for and how to build a business that commands top dollar.Joshua Wilson sits down with Mark Sims, a former Chief Information Officer and Head of Strategy & M&A at Scott's Miracle-
"God Whispers" — How Faith Led to a Life-Changing Exit
What does it look like when faith and dealmaking become the same story? Brandon Robinson — a practicing CRNA turned multi-unit Planet Fitness franchisee — shares one of the most remarkable entrepreneurial journeys you'll hear on this show.Brandon built a portfolio of Planet Fitness locations in Louisiana from a standing start, backed by nothing but a $777,000 landlord contribution, a business
The 5 Dimensions of Private Equity Most GPs Ignore
What if most private equity firms are using AI completely wrong — and leaving massive IRR on the table because of it? Mohamad Chahine has sat in nearly every seat in the deal ecosystem: corporate engineer at Schlumberger, MBA consultant, PE deal team member, operating partner, and now PE tech founder. In this episode, he shares a rare practitioner's perspective on value creation, the trust cu
The Art of Venture Capital: How VCs Value an Idea
From sugar cane fields in New Iberia, Louisiana to investing in the next frontier of space technology — Theo Williams' path to venture capital is unlike anything you've heard. If you want to understand how early-stage VC actually works, this episode is required listening.Theo Williams is a Partner at Creations VC, a venture capital firm focused on dual-use space technology across data in
Platform vs. Tuck-In: The Private Equity Playbook Explained
Most business owners spend years building something great — and almost no time thinking about what comes next. The buyers on the other side? They think about this stuff every single day.In this episode, Joshua Wilson sits down with co-host and Kin Capital Partners co-founder Jude David — an M&A attorney turned acquisition entrepreneur who has closed hundreds of transactions and built a portfol
How He Timed His $230M Exit — Then Did It Again
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 of
He Represented Grammy Artists. Now Doing Reverse Mergers On Wall Street
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 tr
Why Athletes Go Broke (And How This Pro Snowboarder Avoided It)
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
Why the Smartest Lawyers Kill the Fewest Deals
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 life
He Sold His Family Business for Millions, Then Bought It Back 10 Years Later With His Son
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 t
Why Bankers Are The Least Greedy Partner In A Deal
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 transa
From the Teller Line to the CFO Seat: How Trust Drives Better Deals
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.
Putting Private Equity On Chain: The Future of Capital, Liquidity, and Ownership
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 conver
Building a Business on Faith, People, and Patience
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 marke
Building a Family Business That Lasts: Marriage, Risk, and Nine Locations Strong
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
Why Culture, Not Strategy, Determines Whether Deals Actually Work
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,
Selling the Family Business Without Selling Your Soul
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, hone
Patents Don’t Create Value. Businesses Do.
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 middl
How Smart Dealmakers Turn Taxes Into a Strategic Advantage
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 compani
How Smart Exits Eliminate Capital Gains and Preserve Momentum
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 p
From Louisiana to Leading Global Capital Markets
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 allocator
How Banks Really Evaluate Middle Market Deals
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 defi
Why Deals Fail After the Numbers Look Perfect
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 su
Courtroom or Boardroom? Why Transactional Lawyers Shape the Biggest Deals.
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
Relationship Banking, Deal Discipline, and Knowing When to Say No
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 stru
What Happens When the Deal Is Done and Purpose Is Still Missing?
In this episode of The Deal Podcast, hosts Josh Wilson and Jude David sit down with Paul George, consultant, speaker, and host of The Paul George Show, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, faith, business, and life after the exit.Paul shares his personal mission framework, “Love God, serve others, and die with no regrets,” and explains how a lack of personal clarity often leads to broken
Love, Truth, and the Business of Building What Lasts
On the show, we sit down with Lance Strother a coach, entrepreneur, inventor, man of faith, and lifelong developer of people. Lance is the kind of dealmaker who doesn’t just chase outcomes. He builds lives, teams, and cultures that last.Born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, Lance shares how his journey through coaching, ministry, invention, and business shaped a philosophy that challenges how m
What Makes a Great M&A Attorney?
What separates a good deal attorney from a great one? In this episode of The Deal Podcast, hosts Joshua Wilson and Scott discuss the legal side of mergers and acquisitions with veteran corporate attorney Frank Slavich, who brings over 25 years of experience in corporate law, M&A, lending, and commercial real estate.Frank unpacks the real role of an M&A attorney: not to kill deals, but to p
What Can Car Sales Teach You About Private Equity?
In this episode of The Deal Podcast, Dan Daly shares his remarkable journey from selling cars on the wholesale lot to overseeing ultra-luxury brands like Bugatti and Bentley, and now leading a $50M international private equity fund focused on boutique hospitality properties.Dan dives into:How competitive discipline (like training for an Ironman) shapes success in businessLessons from the car sales
Behind the Scenes of Middle Market Deals: A Roundtable with FA Mergers
Inside a Real Deal Roundtable: Lessons from Thousands of M&A TransactionsIn this exclusive episode of The Deal Podcast, the FA Mergers team, Jude David, Scott Shea, Chase Kenner, and host Joshua Wilson, sit down for a raw, behind the scenes conversation about what really happens when a mid market business goes to market.Topics discussed:The biggest mistakes sellers make when approaching an exi
From U.S. Marshal to Full-Time LP Investor with Philip Boggia
In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson sits down with Philip Boggia to unpack an unconventional investing journey that began in federal law enforcement and evolved into a full-time life as a limited partner investor.Philip shares how a single conversation with a supervisor during a government shutdown led him to read Rich Dad Poor Dad, rethink assets and liabilities, and begin a d
What Does It Really Take to Lead a Publicly Traded Bank?
What happens when a CPA discovers his greatest strength isn’t crunching numbers? In this powerful interview, Catalyst Bank CEO Joe Zanco reveals how a mop, a moment of humility, and a mindset of ownership shaped his rise through the banking world to leading a NASDAQ-listed bank.Joe shares hard-earned lessons from 10+ M&A deals, the real reason banks sell, how employee ownership changes culture
From Ambulances to Acquisitions: Blaise Zuschlag on Scaling Mission Driven Impact
In this episode, Blaise Zuschlag, EVP & Chief Administrative Officer of Acadian Companies, shares how a family-run ambulance service grew into a 5,000+ employee enterprise without losing its heart.Blaise walks us through:His pivot from JPMorgan to joining the family businessThe early days of Acadian Ambulance and a pivotal buyout decisionHow they use M&A to grow into new regions while pres
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