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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