Pain affects more than 30% of adults around the world, and yet the only current options to deal with it either can harm your liver or be highly addictive. This is why it’s big news that local company South Rampart Pharma just finished Phase 1 trials on a pain killer that has shown neither of these issues. The company’s co-founder and John Ochsner Endowed Professor of Surgery in Innovation, Dr. Hernan Bazan, talks more about this exciting opportunity and what’s next in getting his drug to market.

After closing this summer for a major renovation and redesign, one of the city’s most iconic restaurants is back in business with a new look, a new format and a new Lagasse at the helm. On today’s podcast, Emeril Lagasse’s 20-year-old son E.J. talks about how he prepared for his leadership role, his boldest menu updates and his vision for the future of fine dining.

President and General Manager of the New Orleans Ernest N Morial Convention Center Michael Sawaya joins us on this week’s podcast to discuss the latest in the $557 million in renovations taking place — a result of which has recently been the receipt of three awards for sustainability and equity. He also shares an update on the anticipated mixed-use development River District, reception of the new Civil Rights Museum and the highlights from this year’s convention bookings.

Simone Maloz, campaign director of Restore the Mississippi River Delta, talks about the growth potential for the offshore wind industry in the Gulf of Mexico — and how future wind energy revenue could help power the state’s coastal restoration efforts.

We know it’s coming, but should we be concerned? What is S&WB doing to protect the city’s water supply now, and in the future from this threat and others? S&WB Executive Director Ghassan Korban shares the latest details, including how the national attention we’ve been receiving for this issue is going to help protect New Orleans in the future.  

This week’s episode features Will Green, incoming president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. One of the most powerful lobbying organizations in the state, LABI represents more than 2,000 Louisiana businesses. Green comes to the post after filling the top job at the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association.

The pandemic relief program for childcare just expired Sept. 30, which means 3.2 million children around the country are expected to lose access to care in the coming months and 70,000 childcare programs are likely to close. How will this affect Louisiana and what can be done to meet this critical need? Find out in this week’s podcast with Libbie Sonnier, executive director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children.

This week’s episode features Jennifer Baldwin, chief operations officer at Revelry, a New Orleans-based software development company. She explains how Revelry’s apprenticeship program has trained more than 50% of its permanent, full-time employees, and she talks about why Revelry is committed to growing Louisiana’s technology community — and economy overall.

This week, Sept. 20 and 21, the Women’s Business Enterprise Council South (WBEC South) will host their annual WE Summit Awards and Scholarship Gala at the Roosevelt Hotel. Who is the WBEC South and why should women owned businesses get certified with them? President and CEO Phala Mire shares all the details and benefits on this week’s podcast. 

Sean Mulligan, program and events coordinator for the Idea Village, talks about the nonprofit’s new music business accelerator, designed to support entrepreneurs seeking to solve problems or create new opportunities in the music industry.