In this episode of Business is War, Elliott Forman sits down with Christopher Prasad, widely known as the “Hospitality King of New Orleans.” Christopher breaks down the trade secrets behind building a hospitality empire in less than a decade—how he identified winning concepts, secured premium locations, and scaled operations in the most competitive real estate corridors across the New Orleans metro.
From launching a recycling business to becoming a hospitality juggernaut, Christopher walks through the mindset shifts, deal structures, hiring standards, and execution systems that powered his rise—plus the mistakes he’d avoid if he were starting again today. If you want the real playbook on growth, location strategy, and operational discipline in hospitality, this is the one.
Produced by: Hunter Baxley and Aaron Henderson
Mental health has been treated like a taboo topic for decades. We whisper about it, hide it, downplay it, and hope nobody notices when we’re carrying more than we can hold. But the world has changed. Life has accelerated, business has intensified, and the weight on every one of us has grown heavier.The problem?Our internal bandwidth hasn’t evolved at the same pace.We’re operating at a crisis level—quietly, collectively, and dangerously.This video is a call to action.It’s time to make mental health a household word.Not something to hide. Not something to fear. Not something to carry alone.Real courage isn’t “toughing it out.”Real courage is speaking up before you break down.Real leadership is acknowledging the pressure before it becomes damage.In this conversation, we break down:• Why mental health has been underestimated for so long• How modern life is outpacing our emotional capacity• What real strength looks like in today’s world• Why addressing mental health is essential for how we live, lead, and perform• How to rebuild yourself without shame, guilt, or silenceThis isn’t weakness.This is awareness.This is survival.This is strength.If this message resonates, subscribe and share it with someone who needs it.The right conversation at the right time can save a life.
Co-Produced by Hunter Baxley & Aaron Henderson
In this episode of Business is WAR, former New Orleans City Councilmember Cyndi Nguyen sits down with Elliott Forman to talk about the realities of public service — from budget deficits and community rebuilding to the lessons learned from her first term and what she plans to do differently if elected again.A focused, no-nonsense conversation about leadership, accountability, and the fight to move New Orleans forward.#BusinessIsWar #CyndiNguyen #NewOrleans #Leadership #DistrictE #PublicService
Produced by Hunter Baxley
CoProduced by Aaron Henderson
**Triumph isn’t luck—it’s discipline.**
In this episode, **Stricen Carter (@sweetthangsnola)** shows how a young hustler turned an ice chest, a sidewalk, and a city’s heat into a real business. **Secondlines. Sold-out coolers. Designer Snoballs.** From pop-up to profit, she built systems, not excuses.**What you’ll learn*** How to **pivot** when plans change—and how to own the new path* Turning **street demand** into a repeatable operation (pricing, margins, logistics)* Building a **brand ladder** (originals → editions/products → mixers) that compounds over time.* Protecting your **IP & Partnerships** without losing creative control;* The role of **Faith, Grit, and Standards** when the pressure hits⚜ Why this story is a blueprint!⚜ The pivot—plans change, winners adjust!⚜ Pop-up economics: price, cost, margin!⚜ From hustle to **system**: events, secondlines, logistics!⚜ Brand & partnerships—how to structure the deal!⚜ Product ladder & scale: from the bar to the bottles!⚜ Legacy moves: the hill she’ll die on and leaving her mark!If this episode pushed you, **like, subscribe, and share** it with a builder who needs a win.Follow **Stricen Carter** and support **Sweet Thangs NOLA**.Also available on **Spotify** and **Apple Podcasts**.**#BusinessIsWAR #SweetThangsNOLA #StricenCarter #NewOrleans #Entrepreneurship #Triumph #SnoballBar #Hustle #Discipline**Produced by Hunter BaxleyCo-produced by Aaron Henderson
Chief Murphy J. Paul, Jr. (Ret.) visits the Business is WAR Podcast – War Room to break down what authentic leadership looks like when the stakes are public safety, trust, and results.
A former Deputy Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police and Chief of Police in Baton Rouge, Paul led reform during a hard season—expanding transparency, modernizing tech (including a Real-Time Crime Center), and building direct community dialogue.
He brings 33+ years of experience, advanced leadership training (FBI National Academy and FBI National Executive Institute), and national influence (IACP Board of Directors) to this conversation about accountability, data-driven strategy, and making change that lasts.
Chief Paul’s core belief—“crime isn’t just a police issue, it’s a community issue.”
In this episode, we cover:
Leadership under pressure: standards, discipline, and owning outcomes. Evidence-based policing vs. politics and noise. Transparency, body-worn tech, and the Real-Time Crime Center playbook. Community engagement that rebuilds trust—and reduces violent crime. Recruiting for character, training for excellence, and enforcing accountability. How leaders create culture—without excuses.
Produced by Hunter Baxley
Co-produced by Aaron Henderson
Politics meets private practice and entrepreneurship. In this Business is WAR episode, Elliott Forman enters the ring with Oliver M. Thomas—New Orleans City Councilmember (District E) and mayoral candidate—to talk candidly about finances, mechanics (systems & infrastructure), and the spirit of a city built to fight and win.We discuss:Finances: Attracting investment, growing small & minority-owned businesses, and building a citywide “war chest.”Mechanics: Fixing permitting, public works, and public safety—what actually drove a 10-year low in crime in New Orleans East, and how to scale that playbook citywide.Spirituality: Rebuilding trust, protecting culture, and leading with accountability.Guest linksWebsite: otforus.comSocial: @otforusSubscribe for more battlefield-tested conversations with founders, leaders, and policymakers.Business isn’t a game. Business is WAR.#BusinessIsWar #OliverThomas #NewOrleans #Leadership #Politics #EntrepreneurshipProduced by Hunter BaxleyCo-Produced by Aaron Henderson
Civil engineering isn’t just concrete and contracts—it’s a battlefield.In this episode of Business is WAR, Elliott Forman sits down with Iam C. Tucker, President & CEO of ILSI Engineering and the SBA’s 2024 National Small Business Person of the Year.We dive into:⚔️ How government delays choke development across the U.S.⚔️ The political and economic battles behind infrastructure.⚔️ What it takes to lead a minority-owned engineering firm in a white, male-dominated industry—and win.This isn’t theory—it’s real-world war stories from the frontlines of business, leadership, and survival.Business isn’t a game. Business is WAR.👉 Watch now, subscribe, and join the fight.#BusinessIsWar #CivilEngineering #Leadership #IamTucker #Entrepreneurship
Recorded live at (Bonita HQ, New Orleans), Elliott Forman sits down with Edwin M. Shorty to talk straight about public safety, jail operations, staffing, technology, and rebuilding community trust. No fluff—what’s broken, what it takes to fix it, and how leadership shows up when it counts.In this episode:Why he’s running and what “accountability” really meansStaffing, training, and standards inside the jailTechnology upgrades, contraband prevention, and transparencyCoordination with NOPD and city leadershipBudget discipline, measurable goals, and public reportingReentry programs and reducing repeat offensesSubscribe for more straight-talk on leadership, business, and public safety.#BusinessIsWAR #EdwinShorty #NewOrleans #PublicSafety #leadershiptraining
Patrice Farooq didn’t just bring the cupcakes — she brought a movement. As the powerhouse behind Cupcake Kitchen Houston, she built a brand known as much for flavor as it is for faith, culture, and community. Now, she’s shaking up New Orleans with that same unapologetic energy.
John Eason – Sidewalk Side Spirits | Turning Culture into Liquor and Legacy
In this episode of Business is WAR, Elliott Forman sits down with John Eason, founder of Sidewalk Side Spirits and the man behind the viral hit King Cake Rum Cream. From the streets of New Orleans to shelves across the South, John shares how he built a liquor brand rooted in culture, flavor, and hustle.
We talk about:
The creation of King Cake Rum Cream and how it took off
Branding a product that actually represents New Orleans
The struggles of distribution, regulation, and getting noticed
How to build a lasting legacy through storytelling and ownership
John pulls no punches and breaks down what it takes to succeed in an industry where few survive. If you're an entrepreneur, creator, or anyone trying to build something real — this one’s for you.
Follow Sidewalk Side Spirits:
Instagram: @sidewalksidespirits
Website: sidewalksidespirits.com
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🎙️ Hosted by Elliott Forman
💥 Business is WAR — Real Conversations. Real Entrepreneurs. Real Strategy.
#SidewalkSideSpirits #KingCakeRumCream #JohnEason #BusinessIsWAR #ElliottForman #NewOrleansBusiness
Welcome to the Business Is War Podcast, Hosted by Elliot Forman. Learn the ins and outs of starting, maintaining, and growing your business in 2025.