Elation Podcast

Mia Borders is a New Orleans–based musician and the founder of Third Coast Entertainment, and she joins us to talk about her creative origin story, her relationship with guitar and songwriting, and how she found her lane as an artist at a young age. We dig into her early musical education, growing up Uptown, and how those formative experiences shaped the way she approaches music with confidence, intention, and independence.

We also get into the business side of being a working musician, how Mia’s background as a paralegal influenced her mindset around contracts, ownership, and protecting her work, plus why she founded Third Coast Entertainment to push for more equity, representation, and opportunity in the music industry. From thoughtful conversations around AI as a creative tool to the realities of being a musician in New Orleans, this episode is about building a sustainable career, advocating for marginalized artists, and using music to bring people together across differences.

Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home. 

Follow Elation Entertainment

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/

Website: https://www.elationent.com

Gerard Longo is the founder and CEO of Underground Music Collective. We talk about what it really takes to build a creative platform with longevity, from being intentional with your time and energy to knowing when to say no, clearing distractions, and building a community that actually supports growth. Gerard shares why this past year has been the most impactful of his life and how focus, alignment, and purpose have helped Underground Music Collective evolve.

We also dig into the realities of today’s music industry, including why artists need to “know enough to be dangerous” on the business side, how collaboration beats competition, and why old-school networking and showing up still matter. Gerard breaks down the balance between art and business, the value of building complementary teams, and what New Orleans’ creative spirit gets right compared to more corporate music cities. This conversation is packed with perspective for artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs who want to build something meaningful without losing the soul of the work.

Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home. 

Follow Elation Entertainment

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/

Website: https://www.elationent.com

Fiona Bloom is the owner of The Bloom Effect, a one-stop shop agency helping artists build real momentum through marketing, branding, publicity, and global connections. We sat down with Fiona live at NOLA MusicCon at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Center to talk about her path from college radio DJ to internationally respected tastemaker, and how relationship-driven strategy fuels long-term artist growth.

We dig into what it actually takes to build buzz in today’s music industry, why showing up locally still matters, and how artists can stack opportunities beyond traditional PR—from festivals and visuals to collaborations and community building. Fiona also shares her deep connection to New Orleans, the city’s undeniable talent, and what’s still needed to strengthen its music infrastructure, offering real insight for artists focused on patience, consistency, and sustainable careers.

Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home. 

Follow Elation Entertainment

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/

Website: https://www.elationent.com

Robin Kindrick is the owner of Track Dat Sync, a full-service music licensing company, and she joins us live from NOLA MusiCon inside the Jazz & Heritage Center to talk about sync, strategy, and what it really takes to build a sustainable music career. We get into her journey from songwriting to licensing, how placements in TV, film, ads, and video games actually work, and why sync can be a powerful lane for artists looking beyond streaming.

We also dig into the bigger picture of the New Orleans music scene—confidence, culture, and where education still needs to catch up with talent. Robin shares insights on radio vs. streaming, why humility matters just as much as confidence, her favorite local artists and venues, and what makes New Orleans special for creatives trying to grow without leaving the city. This conversation is equal parts industry game and inspiration, straight from someone who’s been in it and is still pushing it forward. 

Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home. 

Follow Elation Entertainment

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/

Website: https://www.elationent.com

This special episode is a celebration of the moments that defined the Elation Podcast in 2025. We’re revisiting the conversations that made us laugh, think, reflect, and feel inspired — from creative breakthroughs and hard-earned lessons to unforgettable stories straight from the heart of the music and creative community. It’s a highlight reel of the energy, honesty, and passion that make Elation what it is.

Huge thank you to every incredible guest who sat down with us in 2025 and trusted us with their stories — this year wouldn’t exist without you. If you’re new here, this is the perfect place to jump in. And if you’ve been rocking with us all year, consider this a reminder of why we do it. Tap into the rest of the Elation Podcast for full episodes, deeper dives, and more creative conversations that keep the inspiration flowing.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:06 Choppa - Why I Don't Buy Weed For Rappers

1:21 Juvenile - Juvie's Crazy Fan

2:15 Cookie Hood - Friends with Pablo Escobar

4:06 HaSizzle - Conspiracy Theories I Believe

8:08 Malik Mingo - Kendrick Lamar vs Lil Wayne for the Super Bowl

9:06 Nate Cameron - How Do We Push New Orleans Culture Forward?

10:25 Danovan Calhoun-Bettis - New Orleans Will Be Disney World

12:10 Tavia Osbey - Becoming Manager of Tank and the Bangas

13:17 Tank Ball - I Have a Million Songs

16:00 Don Bartholomew - I Recorded Them First

17:21 Amanda Mester - Hip Hop is Social Justice

19:51 Julia Heath - New Orleans is the Birthplace of American Music

Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home. 

Follow Elation Entertainment

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/

Website: https://www.elationent.com

Rob Schwartz is the Co-Founder and Chief Music Officer of ACX1 Studios and a Governor for the Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy, with a career that spans music distribution, radio, festivals, sync licensing, and global music education. We sit down with Rob live at NOLA MusicCon to talk about building sustainable careers in the music industry, creating multiple revenue streams, and why artists need to think beyond gigs if they want long-term success. He breaks down his work running a massive creative incubator, launching radio stations, mentoring artists through the Grammys, and turning big ideas into real platforms that serve independent musicians.

We also dig into the evolution of DistroFest, Rob’s artist-first festival and conference designed to give musicians both stage time and industry knowledge, and what cities like New Orleans can do to better support original artists. From the realities of today’s oversaturated music landscape to the importance of branding, self-trust, and learning the business side of creativity, this conversation is packed with real-world insight for anyone navigating music, media, or creative entrepreneurship.

Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home. 

Follow Elation Entertainment

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/

Website: https://www.elationent.com

Jordan Koppens is the Marketing Director and Arts Market Producer at Arts New Orleans, and she’s been quietly shaping the creative ecosystem of this city for years. We talk about her journey from growing up between Louisiana and Mississippi to coming back to New Orleans in 2010 to dive into the music scene, curate shows, and build spaces where artists could experiment and grow. Jordan shares how New Orleans has changed post-Katrina, what gentrification and corporate ownership have meant for native musicians, and why she calls this city “the biggest art class with no teacher.”

We dig into how Arts New Orleans and the Arts Market of New Orleans give artists real opportunities to build sustainable creative businesses through open-air markets, public art, and youth programming. Jordan breaks down how the juried art market works, how they support over 300 Gulf South artists, and how programs like LUNA Fête, the Young Artist Movement, and the Percent for Art initiative are investing directly in local creators, from youth muralists to artists whose work now hangs in city buildings. We also get into the behind-the-scenes challenges of producing outdoor markets—from permits and tax bonds to unpredictable weather—and why supporting these spaces is essential to keeping New Orleans culture alive and in the hands of the people who create it.

Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home. 

Follow Elation Entertainment

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/

Website: https://www.elationent.com

Bradford Roublow is a Senior Supervisor at Live Nation and the owner of Bentley Barz Entertainment, using both business savvy and deep industry experience to lift up New Orleans artists. We talk about how he went from reading friends’ performance contracts and selling cars to fund the dream, to managing artists like BJ So Cole and working closely with venues like House of Blues and the Fillmore. Bradford breaks down why the music game is really “90% business, 10% talent,” how he became the bridge between independent artists and major venues, and what it takes to navigate deals, protect your work, and actually build a career in this industry.

We also dive into his time in New York interning with Roc Nation and Cinematic Music Group, working around teams for artists like Meek Mill and Megan Thee Stallion, and how those early networking moves are now coming full circle with major placements for his clients. We’re all about celebrating the people pushing New Orleans culture forward, and Bradford shares how he’s giving back through local showcases, building a management firm that can employ a team, and creating more structure and opportunity for our city’s raw talent.

Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home. 

Follow Elation Entertainment

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/

Website: https://www.elationent.com

Emily Madero is the President & CEO of French Quarter Festivals, Inc., and she joins us to break down what it really takes to run one of the most beloved cultural institutions in New Orleans. We get into her journey to New Orleans, her post-Katrina commitment to rebuilding the city, and how French Quarter Fest has stayed fiercely local while attracting nearly a million people each year. Emily shares how the festival preserves culture, drives massive economic impact, and keeps its roots authentic—plus how safety, programming, and community engagement have evolved over 43 years.

We also explore the future of French Quarter Fest, the rise of Satchmo SummerFest and the upcoming Holidays New Orleans Style, and why keeping events free and accessible is essential to the city’s cultural heartbeat. As always, we’re here to celebrate creativity, collaboration, and the people who make New Orleans feel like home. Tune in and tap into the spirit of the Quarter with us.

Learn more about the upcoming Holidays New Orleans Style: https://fqfi.org/holidays/

Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home. 

Follow Elation Entertainment

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/

Website: https://www.elationent.com

Don Bartholomew is a music producer, engineer, and CEO of BangnWorld — and one of the quiet giants behind New Orleans’ most influential sound. We sit down with him to talk about growing up under the legacy of his father, R&B pioneer Dave Bartholomew, building his first studio from scratch, and becoming the first engineer to ever professionally record Lil Wayne, BG, Magnolia Slim, Ms. Tee, UNLV, and more. Don breaks down those early Cash Money days, what he saw in Wayne as a kid, and how the grind, unity, and originality of that era shaped the future of New Orleans hip-hop.

We also explore the evolution of the producer’s role, the importance of artist development, and why today’s artists need more collaboration and less competition. Don shares stories about Mannie Fresh, Mia X, and the crossover between Cash Money and No Limit, along with updates on his current projects — including Ladies Man and the 16/16 collaboration featuring Juvenile, Mystikal, and 3D Natee. As always, we’re here to celebrate the creatives who shaped the culture and continue to push New Orleans forward.

Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home. 

Follow Elation Entertainment

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/

Website: https://www.elationent.com