Business is War Podcast
by Elliott Forman
Welcome to Business is War: Tactics for a Winning Strategy with Elliott Forman — your ultimate battlefield guide to conquering the world of business. Here, we break down competitive strategies, leadership insights, and tactical moves inspired by real-world warfare principles to help you dominate your market and outsmart your rivals.Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or aspiring business leader, Elliott’s proven tactics and practical advice will equip you with the mindset and tools to win in today’s cutthroat business arena. From negotiation techniques and strategic planning to psycho
Episodes
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In One Split Second: Turning Pain Into Purpose
Mark Raymond Jr. came to Business Is War, delivered a masterclass in resilience, and showed what it means to turn tragedy into purpose. After a devastating spinal cord injury on July 4, 2016, Mark had to fight for more than recovery, and he had to rediscover the desire to live. That desire became...
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JJ Simmons Brings the Scoop | Media, Money, Faith and Owning the Narrative
JJ Simmons brings the scoop, literally with a spoon, on this episode of Business Is War. Elliott Forman sits down with the voice behind New Orleans on Fire to talk media, money, faith, entrepreneurship, branding and the power of owning the narrative. JJ shares how he built a community driven…
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Gary Chambers Jr.: Do Good, Seek Justice | Business Is WAR Podcast
Gary Chambers Jr. has never waited for permission to speak truth to power.In this powerful episode of the **Business Is WAR Podcast**, Elliott Forman sits down with the Baton Rouge native, civil rights advocate, entrepreneur, speaker, and political strategist whose fearless voice has made an…
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Melika Honore Brings the Hammer | Credit, Taxes, and the Foundation for Growth
Melika Honore enters the Business Is War studio, brings the hammer with a powerful history lesson, and breaks down the financial foundation every entrepreneur needs. From taxes and credit to real estate and employees, this conversation examines small business survival and scalability, while...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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....
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From Prison to Purpose | Ameer Baraka on Dyslexia, Discipline & Mental Freedom
Ameer Baraka’s life changed the moment he realized something powerful: 👉 No one was coming to save him. Growing up unable to read, pushed toward the streets, and later facing years in prison, Ameer hit a turning point. What followed was a transformation through discipline, faith, education, and...
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Discipline Over Motivation: Music, Mastery & Evolution with Grammy Award Winner Irvin Mayfield
In this episode of Business Is War, we sit down with Grammy Award–winning musician and cultural leader Irvin Mayfield for a deep, honest conversation about discipline, mastery, and the realities of evolution—in music, business, and life. Irvin breaks down why most people quit before they ever…
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21 Years Incarcerated: Love, Marriage & Redemption | Fox & Rob’s Story
After 21 years of incarceration, Fox and Rob sit down with Business is WAR for one of the most powerful conversations we’ve ever recorded.This isn’t just a love story — it’s a story of redemption, resilience, and rebuilding life from the ground up. We talk about what it really takes to come home,...
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Financial Literacy Isn’t Optional: Trust, Life Insurance & Building Legacy (w/ Will Ballard)
Welcome back to Business is War. Elliot Foreman sits down with financial professional Wil Ballard for a real conversation about financial intelligence—earning, protecting what you make, and building a future with discipline. They unpack why many families distrust financial institutions, the…
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Pivots, and the Price of Power: Trench Talk Between CEOs Who Survived the System
Every executive understands this truth: success is never a straight line—it’s a contested battlefield. Our guest today operates with that reality as standard operating procedure. Calvin Mills Jr. has spent more than two decades navigating complex environments.
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Prime Real Estate, Prime Execution: Christopher Prasad on Winning New Orleans
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...
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The Mental Health Crisis We’re Ignoring — And Why It’s Breaking Us - with Da'Trice Smith, MSW.
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...
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The Battle for District E: Cyndi Nguyen on Leadership, Deficits & the Future of New Orleans
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...
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From Pop-Up to Profit: How the Queen of Snoballs built a business on hustle, grit, and faith - NOLA!
**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...
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Chief Murphy J. Paul, Jr. (Ret.) — Accountability, Reform & Community | Business is WAR
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...
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From District E to a Citywide Vision: Oliver Thomas on Leadership & New Orleans, and the Future. ⚜
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...
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Iam C. Tucker: Breaking Barriers in Civil Engineering | Business is WAR Podcast
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...
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Edwin Shorty for New Orleans Sheriff: Public Safety, Accountability & Leadership | Business is WAR
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...
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From H-Town to the Big Easy: Patrice Farooq's Sweet Relocation and Sweeter Vision
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.
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Hustle & Spirits: John Eason of Sidewalk Side Spirits
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...
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Overcoming Business Challenges in 2025
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.
About this show
Welcome to Business is War: Tactics for a Winning Strategy with Elliott Forman — your ultimate battlefield guide to conquering the world of business. Here, we break down competitive strategies, leadership insights, and tactical moves inspired by real-world warfare principles to help you dominate your market and outsmart your rivals.Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or aspiring business leader, Elliott’s proven tactics and practical advice will equip you with the mindset and tools to win in today’s cutthroat business arena. From negotiation techniques and strategic planning to psycho
Hosted by
Elliott Forman
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