Business is War Podcast

She Was Broke, Hustling 3 Jobs… Now It’s the BEST Fried Chicken in America

This isn’t just a restaurant story… this is WAR. Before the awards, before the fame, before being named America’s Best Fried Chicken… she was grinding—working as a beautician, taxi driver, and cleaner just to survive. What started as a small bar in New Orleans turned into one of the most iconic food brands in the country—Willie Mae’s Scotch House. In this episode, we break down: * The REAL story behind a multi-generational empire * How Hurricane Katrina nearly wiped it all out—and how they came back stronger * Why most restaurants fail at consistency (and how they mastered it) * The secret ingredient that NO ONE can replicate: love + discipline This is more than food. This is legacy. This is what happens when you refuse to quit. Business is WAR. And this is how you survive it.

From LSU Star to NFL Setback to Restaurant Empire | Malachi Dupre on Football, Humility & Business

What happens when the dream you chased your whole life changes in an instant?In this episode of Business Is WAR, Elliott Forman sits down with Malachi Dupre — former #1 high school football player in America at his position, LSU standout, NFL draft pick, and now a New Orleans entrepreneur building businesses on his own terms.Malachi’s story is bigger than football.He talks about:growing up in a two-parent household and finding discipline earlywhy school structure works for some kids and fails othersarriving at LSU and being moved straight to the front of the linethe pressure of SEC football and what it really feels like to have a target on your backgetting drafted by the Green Bay Packers later than expectedwaking up in an ambulance after his first NFL gamerealizing there is no next level after the NFLpreparing for life after sports before the game was overbuilding income outside football through merchant services and constructionwalking away from pro football on his own termsopening a sushi restaurant with zero restaurant experiencewhy hospitality, humility, and constant improvement matter in businessThis conversation is about more than sports.It’s about identity.It’s about getting humbled.It’s about learning that talent can open doors — but character, awareness, and discipline are what keep you alive once you get through them.Malachi went from:elite recruitto LSU starto NFL realityto entrepreneur with multiple businessesIf you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or anyone trying to figure out what comes after one chapter closes, this episode is for you.Because business is war.And the people who survive are the ones who keep learning, keep adapting, and keep moving forward.Like, comment, subscribe, and share.#BusinessIsWar #MalachiDupre #LSUFootball #NFL #Entrepreneurship #NewOrleansBusiness #Hospitality #Mindset #Success #FootballToBusiness

He Risked Everything to Build JamNOLA During the Pandemic | The Business of Joy

What happens when you leave corporate America to build something completely your own… and the world shuts down? In this episode of the Business Is WAR Podcast, Elliott Forman sits down with Johnny Liss, founder of JamNOLA, the immersive art experience celebrating the culture, music, and creativity of New Orleans. What started as an idea inspired by immersive museums quickly turned into a massive entrepreneurial risk. Just weeks after signing dozens of artists and preparing to launch, COVID shut down the world — and tourism disappeared overnight. Instead of quitting, Johnny doubled down. Working with 100+ local artists, rebuilding an abandoned bakery, and creating 30 immersive installations, JamNOLA became one of the most unique cultural attractions in the country and helped support the local art community during one of the toughest times in modern history. Liss Multi In this conversation we break down: • The moment that sparked the JamNOLA idea • Why he walked away from a successful corporate career • Building a business when the economy collapses • How immersive experiences are changing tourism • Supporting local artists and culture through entrepreneurship • The realities of financing and surviving a startup This episode is about risk, creativity, resilience, and building something bigger than yourself. If you’re an entrepreneur, creator, or someone chasing a big idea — this conversation will hit home. 🎙 Business Is WAR Podcast Real stories from entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders fighting on the front lines of business. Subscribe for more episodes. #BusinessIsWar #Entrepreneurship #JamNOLA #NewOrleans #StartupStories #CreativeBusiness #ImmersiveExperience #Podcast

Cancer Didn’t Break Her — It Built a Movement (Courage Over Cancer Story)

Cancer isn’t always a diagnosis… sometimes it’s people. But for Tancharelle (Sherrill) Washington, cancer attacked her body — and forced a complete reset on life, purpose, and relationships. In this episode of Business Is WAR, we talk about the real side of breast cancer that too many people ignore: * Black women face a different reality — and are dying at a 41% higher rate * Diagnoses are happening younger and younger (she met a 19-year-old who needed a double mastectomy) * What it actually feels like to hear the diagnosis * How cancer exposes relationships — who stays, who disappears, and why * The mental battle: choosing faith, focus, and forward motion * How she turned the fight into Courage Over Cancer, supporting thousands of women with resources, care packages, and community * Why awareness isn’t enough — we need action, education, and support systems that don’t fail women in treatment This conversation is raw, necessary, and built to spark real change. If you’ve ever fought cancer, supported someone who has, or want to understand what it takes to survive — this episode is for you. ✅ Subscribe for more real stories that matter. 💬 Drop a comment: What’s one way we can better support women in treatment? #BusinessIsWar #CourageOverCancer #BreastCancerAwareness #BlackWomenHealth #HealthEquity #CancerSurvivor #PurposeDriven #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #RealTalk

From $25K a Year to CNN: Darryl Forges’ Unbelievable Rise | Business Is WAR

He applied to 34 news stations. Got rejected. Told he “wasn’t cut out” for news. Took a $25,000 job in a small Alabama town anyway. Three weeks later? He’s interviewing Oprah. Years later? Covering Kobe Bryant’s death. Reporting during the George Floyd protests. Standing at the White House. Correspondent for CNN. This is the story of Darryl Forges — Emmy Award-winning journalist, Louisiana native, and proof that success isn’t microwave… it’s reps, rejection, and relentless belief. In this episode of Business Is WAR, we break down: • Why rejection built him • What small markets teach you about greatness • The truth about working at CNN • Sacrificing fatherhood for career dreams • Why humility is the ultimate weapon • Inspiring the next generation of Black boys If you’ve ever doubted your path… If you’ve ever been told “you’re not good enough”… If you’re grinding in a small market dreaming of the big leagues… This episode is for you. 💥 Stop waiting on perfect conditions. 💥 Stop comparing your chapter 1 to someone’s chapter 20. 💥 Put in the reps. Because Business is WAR. — 🎙 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders, builders, and game changers. 📲 Follow Darryl Forges on social media. ⚔️ Protect yourself at all times. #BusinessIsWar #DarrylForges #SuccessStory #CNN #EntrepreneurMindset #BlackExcellence #PutInTheReps #Journalism #Leadership