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It’s not every day you meet a 9-year-old author with a love for baking and Beyoncé, but Avah Fobb is anything but ordinary. In this episode, David sits down with Avah and her mom, Jessica, to talk about their brand-new children’s cookbook, Baking with Avah: While Using Your Senses!. This isn’t just a book of recipes, it’s a sensory-rich, confidence-building experience designed by a kid, for kids.

David, Avah and Jessica talk about the intentional process behind organizing the cookbook around the five senses, which was meant to help kids learn to bake independently. You’ll hear how a family bonding experience turned into a published work, and why Avah’s story is inspiring parents and children alike. If you’ve got little ones at home (or know someone who does), this heartwarming conversation will leave you smiling, and maybe hungry, too. 

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

👩🏾 How a 9-year-old became a published author

🍫 The recipe David can’t stop thinking about

🎉 Making baking fun for kids (and a little messy)

🧁 The baking shows that inspire Avah to keep leveling up

Baking with Avah: While Using Your Senses! by Avah Fobb: https://shorturl.at/lt68l

Visit us online: https://www.scottvicknair.com/

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3TgD9jP

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Dr. Angelique Arcuri is more than an entrepreneur. She’s a community builder, educator, and champion for women in both the beauty and golf industries. In this episode, David sits down with Dr. Arcuri to talk about her remarkable journey from opening a salon right out of high school to becoming a certified optical specialist, beauty educator, and founder of Luxury Studio.

But her story doesn’t stop there. She’s also the founder of the Luxury Girls Golf Club, a growing community and nonprofit that brings professional women together for connection, mentorship, and charitable impact, on and off the course. From teaching over 100 students to creating safe spaces for women in traditionally male-dominated environments, Dr. Arcuri’s story is filled with resilience, vision, and consistency. 

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

👩‍🏫 Educating and mentoring over 100 beauty professionals

🎓 Going back to learn business the right way

⛳ The inspiration behind Luxury Girls Golf Club

🏌️‍♀️ Building a space for women to lead, play, and give back

0:00 – Intro

1:57 – Education & Background

5:09 – Luxury Studio & Passion for Teaching

7:53 – Importance of Consistency 

11:59 – Lessons Learned in Business

15:35 – Luxury Girls Golf Club, Inc. 

24:06 – Dr. Arcuri’s Superpower 

About our guest: https://myluxurystudio.com 

Learn more about Luxury Girls Golf Club: https://luxurygirlsgolf.com/ 

Visit us online: https://www.scottvicknair.com/

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3TgD9jP

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In this eye-opening episode, Brian Katz, personal injury attorney and President of the Louisiana Association for Justice (LAJ), joins David to unpack the truth about rising auto insurance premiums, so-called “tort reform,” and what’s really happening at the Capitol in Baton Rouge. With decades of experience in high-stakes litigation and legislative advocacy, Katz explains how insurance companies and lobbyists have shaped laws that disadvantage everyday Louisianans, while profits climb and premiums don’t budge.

Listeners will learn how the legal system protects citizens, why caps on damages often do more harm than good, and what the data actually says about rates and reforms. We want to cut through the spin and lay out the facts, from medical malpractice to auto accidents and loss ratios. You’ll learn what you can do to stay informed and make your voice heard. 

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

⚖️ What tort reform really means and who it benefits

🚗 Why Louisiana auto insurance rates remain among the nation’s highest

📊 Understanding the “loss ratio” and insurer profit margins

🧾 The history of tort reform in Louisiana

🧠 How you can get informed and involved in current legislation

About our guest: https://www.lafj.org/?pg=Katz_Brian 

Visit us online: https://www.scottvicknair.com/

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3TgD9jP

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Today we’re joined by Katherine Israel, an educator with over two decades of service and the 2023 winner of our High Seas and ABCs teacher cruise giveaway. We’re ​so ​excited ​to ​have ​Ms. ​Israel ​in ​the ​podcast ​studio ​to ​be ​able ​to ​talk ​to ​her ​about ​her ​educational ​career, her background, and the rewarding moments that she cherishes.  

​Ms. Israel's journey into education is both inspiring and relatable. Initially pursuing a career in nursing and social work, she found her true calling in teaching, a decision she has enjoyed ever since. She also offers practical wisdom for parents, talks about the power of humor in tough moments, and explains why de-escalation might just be her greatest superpower.

We hope you enjoy this heartfelt tribute to educators everywhere, reminding us of the vital role they play in shaping the future.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🏫 How Katherine pivoted from nursing to a 22-year teaching career

💡 Why “aha moments” keep her going—and why the hardest kids often win her heart

😌 Her approach to de-escalation with students and parents

🚢 Winning a well-deserved cruise—and what it meant to her

Nominate a teach for the 2025 award here: https://www.scottvicknair.com/philanthropy/high-seas-and-abcs/ 

Visit us online: https://www.scottvicknair.com/

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3TgD9jP

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What does it really take to grow a successful business from the ground up?

Today we sit down with entrepreneur Thomas Matthews for a candid conversation about the challenges, pivots, and lessons that have shaped his journey. Growing up in a large family of eight, he learned early on the value of hard work and determination. His entrepreneurial spirit ignited when his uncle gave him a chance to cut hair, leading to a thriving clientele built on exceptional customer service and word-of-mouth referrals.

From launching his first venture to scaling into new opportunities, Thomas shares real-world wisdom on mindset, mistakes, and staying hungry. As someone who has found success customer service, real estate, and the restaurant world, he has some great stories to share and will motivate you to take a chance by chasing your dreams. 

Get ready for stories, strategies, and a few hard truths about what it really means to build your own path in business.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🚀 How Thomas launched and grew his business

💡 Lessons learned from early failures and pivots

🔁 The importance of adapting and staying hungry

💬 Real talk on leadership, risk, and mindset

👥 Why your circle matters more than you think

0:00 – Thomas’ background

5:01 – Consistency with clients

9:09 – Hair studio

12:28 – Property company

22:58 – Managing risk

28:29 – Donuts 

33:34 – Overruled! Segment

Visit us online: https://www.scottvicknair.com/

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3TgD9jP

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Today we’re welcoming on a close friend of ours and someone we’ve grown to know well thanks to our shared love of wine. Join us as we sit down with Andy Delaporte, the Director of Sales for Fox 8 WVUE, to discuss a smattering of topics over a wonderful glass of Italian wine. 

We’ll get into his unexpected path into media and learn more about what makes a great salesperson, how to manage and motivate a team, and the power of relationships in business. But Andy’s story goes well beyond his successful sales career, so we talk wine, converting hockey fans, and the importance of building a strong personal network.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

📺Andy’s Unexpected Journey into Media

💼 Sales Tips & What Makes a Great Salesperson

🏒🎸 New York Islanders & The Grateful Dead

🍕🍤 The Great Restaurant Debate: New York vs. New Orleans

0:00 – Intro 

1:26 – Andy’s First Media Job

8:32 – Tips on Managing a Sales Team

10:01 – Qualities of Great Salesperson

15:02 – The Grateful Dead

18:18 – For the Love of Hockey

22:10 – Overruled!

26:02 – Andy’s Vast Wine Collection

34:46 – Favorite book 

36:02 – Andy’s superpower

Visit us online: https://www.scottvicknair.com/

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3TgD9jP

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Some of the great restaurant and food brands in our country have roots here in Louisiana and today’s guest is hoping to continue adding to that legacy. Paul Ballard is the co-owner and co-founder of Ballard Brands, which includes PJ’s Coffee and WOW American Eats. Both brands have experienced monster growth across the country, and we wanted to sit down with Paul to hear his story and learn more about what makes a business so successful. 

The story begins at Tulane University, where Paul met his wife, Torry. Their shared love for coffee blossomed into a passion that would eventually lead them to acquire PJ's Coffee, a brand founded by Phyllis Jordan, a pioneer in specialty coffee. They opened location number eight at the time, and the business has grown to more than 180 locations nationally and abroad.

Paul shares insights into the origins of PJ's, the importance of quality control, and the brand's impressive growth. Plus, we discuss the challenges of maintaining product consistency across franchises, the value of optimism in business, and the exciting future plans for PJ's and WOW American Eats. 

Here’s some of the key topics we discuss: 

☕ PJ’s Coffee Growth Story: From 8 locations to 182+

🏆 Lessons from Scaling a Franchise: Keeping quality high while growing fast

🚀 Entrepreneurial Mindset: The power of optimism & thinking big

🔥 WOW American Eats: How a midnight wing idea turned into a nationwide brand

0:00 - Intro

0:55 – The beginning 

5:42 – Explosive growth

9:05 – Maintaining Quality

13:10 – Future plans

17:45 – Core values

22:23 – WOW American Eats

28:42 – Balancing time and energy for all the brands

34:38 – Overruled or Sustained rapid fire

36:15 – Lessons learned

41:29 – Paul’s superpower

43:10 – Favorite books

Visit us online: https://www.scottvicknair.com/

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3TgD9jP

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We’ve made it through the chaos of another Super Bowl and are almost through another Mardi Gras, but all of that pales in comparison to the thought of an asteroid hitting Earth. That’s what scientist think could happen in 2032, albeit the chances are still extremely low. 

David and Brad weigh in on the fluctuating odds of impact, initially estimated at 3.1%, and question the reliability of such predictions, humorously pointing out the challenges of forecasting celestial events. They also explore NASA’s DART mission, designed to test our ability to redirect asteroids, and ponder the ethical implications of altering an asteroid’s path. Tune in for a unique blend of science, humor, and existential reflection on the uncertainties of the cosmos. 

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 – Intro

1:16 – Background on the asteroid

3:07 – Facts on the asteroid

4:27 – Predictions 

8:30 – Changing its path

13:55 – Final thoughts

Visit us online: https://www.scottvicknair.com/

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3TgD9jP

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In this week’s show, we had the pleasure of chatting with Adam Carry, the Chief Operating Officer of Reginelli's, a cherished pizza chain in New Orleans. Adam's journey with Reginelli's began in 2003, and since then, he has witnessed the remarkable growth of the company from its modest beginnings in 1996 to becoming a beloved brand with nine locations across the metro area.

Adam’s passion for Reginelli’s and the service industry is evident throughout the conversation, and we explore a variety of topics. From the story behind the pizza to his other favorites in New Orleans, Adam has found a home since coming to Louisiana for the first time in college.  

With a commitment to quality and community, Reginelli's has thrived, and Adam attributes much of their success to their core values: honesty, service, determination, and celebration. Find out where they could be targeting for future locations and the ideas they have for future menu items. 

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 - Intro

1:00 – How it started

3:25 – Core values

10:00 – Celebrating the little things

13:48 – His favorite foods on the menu

18:40 – Favorite New Orleans restaurant

21:05 – Favorite pizza

22:49 – Overruled or Sustained Rapid Fire

26:51 – Relationships 

30:03 – Business lessons he’s learned

35:40 – Favorite Reginelli’s memory

43:26 – Future of the Saints

45:15 – Future of Reginelli’s

Learn more about Reginelli’s: https://www.reginellis.com/

Check out Picnic Provisions & Whiskey: https://nolapicnic.com/ 

Visit us online: https://www.scottvicknair.com/

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3TgD9jP

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The assassination of President Kennedy more than 60 years ago continues to be one of the biggest conspiracy theories in our country’s history, but we could soon discover the truth behind that dark day in Dallas. Today, David Vicknair and Brad Scott explore the complexities surrounding the JFK assassination. 

With recent developments regarding the release of JFK files, we’ll look back on the historical context, various conspiracy theories, and the implications of government secrecy. Join us as we discuss the evidence, think through the motivations behind the assassination, and ponder what might still be hidden in the classified documents. This will be a fun listen for anyone intrigued by history, law, and the ongoing quest for truth.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 - Intro

1:25 – The latest release

4:00 – Conspiracy theories

10:50 – Connection to New Orleans

13:53 – What really happened?

Visit us online: https://www.scottvicknair.com/

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3TgD9jP