BizzieSmalls

Join us as we catch up with our buddy Chris Graham, the organizer and champion of the Bossier City Farmer's Market, owner/operator of Man Made Soap, and the visionary behind building a thriving community of small business in our area. We chat about new must-visit vendors, the latest from Man Made Soap, and what Seinfeld reference will get us flagged on Youtube.PSA: If you didn't learn your lesson in his first episode, be warned: You'll be HUNGRY after this visit!

Bribed with baseball cards in first grade, Colvin Roberson quickly became a devoted collector, and carried on his mom's passion and his family's legacy through Shreveport Card Show. Now the leader of a thriving local card community, Colvin comes to the pod with expert insight into this classic pasttime. Listen in as we chat about card trends, the business behind the cards, and his new daily radio show.

Jason Wood is back for part two with a few hot takes, a shocking confession, and a tear-jerker moment. Don't miss it!

Friend of the pod and sometime podcast pastor Jason Wood is back to talk about work/life balance, treating your job like a calling, and creating a connected family environment.

Join us as we chat about designing accountability that works for you, the rewards of extra bandwidth, and how to orient your time as success in business happens.

Tune in to meet Pete John, the first franchisee for Dillas Quesadillas. From flipping chicken fingers at Canes to launching 5 successful Dillas locations, Pete has picked up on what creates a winning concept: culture. Listen as we discuss his strategy for building a team that stays on point, the importance of consistancy, and bringing something genuine and meaningful to a fast-paced world.

We welcomed local legend Rick Rowe to the pod this week.From a fear of public speaking to becoming the voice of a community, Rick brings passion and energy to every topic.A true lifelong Shreveport-Bossier native, Rick looks for the good in our community, and is a champion for local businesses, family values, and really burned bread.

Join Leighton and Josh for the first episode of season 3 - let's catch up.

🎧Join us as we take a look back our favorite moments of Season Two of the Bizzie Smalls pod, discuss a few hot takes, and make our dream guest list for Season Three! 🎧

Meet Ian and Scott, owners of The Training Ground in Shreveport.This fast-growing training facility combines personal training and physical therapy to create a dynamic, individualized training program for each member.With a focus on long-term health and mobility, Ian and Scott bring a unique holistic approach that yields long-term results. From investing in young athletes playing high school sports, to training older adults working towards increased health and physical capacity, there is a place for everyone at The Training Ground. Tune in!

Meet Taylor Love, athlete, coach and owner of 643 Training.Taylor is creating something outstanding with his new training facility - listen in about the magic mix of technology, expertise, and passion Taylor has infused into local baseball training.

Meet Ryan Bates, CEO and founder of Bates Chiropractic & Sports Therapy in Shreveport. Ryan relayed his love of sports to the world of sports medicine and wellness, opening an innovative local practice that serves so many in our communty - even our furry friends! From Nebraska basketball to taking on Leighton in the tennis courts, Ryan brings focus and excellence to everything he does, which makes him an exceptional partner in restoring health and wellness. We explore the history and misconceptions of chiropractics, health as you age, and developing resilience and a competitive edge.

Meet Carlotta Askew-Brown, Executive Director of the Bossier Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission.Join this fascinating conversation as we discuss her 17-year investment in Bossier City, and the intricacies of planning a community that functions well and accomodates thriving businesses and safe, happy citizens. Tune in for the inside scoop on the new stuff coming to Shreveport-Bossier, upcoming housing trends, Kid Rock as our candidate for B.C.'s representative, and hot takes on Johnny's Pizza.

Meet Chris, owner of So Goody Good Catering, meal prep, and known for his famous Louisiana stuffed pistolettes. With a few plot twists along the way, Chris followed his artistic passion from the music world to the world of cooking, with delicious results. We loved Chris's hustle, passion for food, and love for Louisiana culture. Tune in to hear what turns passion into a successful business - and get inside scoop on an exciting new development! Don't miss this one - and get ready to get HUNGRY!

Your favorite duo is back, and the chemistry has been called "undeniable". We're talking Storybrand theory, honing your elevator pitch, and defining if you are a "Yoda" or a "Luke Skywalker".Jump into this great conversation about how to relate to customers in a way that builds trust and puts you in the driver's seat.

Meet Evan McCommon, of Mahaffey Farms. Mahaffey is known for their locally-grown meat and produce, beautifully produced events, and their commitment to growing happy, healthy families in Shreveport-Bossier. From family land and Craigslist hogs, to a thriving farm and being featured on the plates of Shreveport's fine dining scene, Evan and his family have truly grown something remarkable. It's a story you don't want to miss!Warning: This episode will make you a farm-fresh loyalist!

Listen in on how these childhood friends turned a bad hot chocolate experience into holiday magic. Designed to delight customers at every stage of the visit, the details are what make the Lumiere experience truly magical, and they are constantly innovating to create the perfect blend of unique surprise and nostalgia. Listen and book your tickets... the season opens this Friday! ✨

Meet Trey McGuire, founder and director of EveryWarrior.org. Listen in our conversation about his journey to creating a community for local service members; the origin story of Every Warrior, the impact of Barksdale Airforce Base on our local economy and culture, and how many jerseys it took to get Leighton on the basketball court.

Meet Bob, hard-partying restaurateur turned small business guru. Bob loves people, he loves Shreveport, and he loves Ki Mexico's poblano tacos. Listen in on our conversation about his wild college days in the kitchen, his time helping to grow Great Raft Brewing into a national brand, and how he ended up as the face of a local accounting firm.

Meet Josh Cox, a genuine, certified Great Dude™️. Listen in on our conversation about going from his role as the third generation in a family business to launching his own entrepreneurial career, important lessons in humilty and obedience, and his family's incredible journey through foster care and adoption.

Meet Luke Thaxton, attorney, entrepreneur and investing whiz. Jump into our conversation about stepping into a family business, the impact of housing authority changes on private investors, and Luke's take on the affordable housing crisis. Don't miss his helpful advice for first-time investors and his roster of favorite lunch spots!

Meet the Podfather of Shreveport, our OG podcast inspiration. In addition to his podcast, Frequency Interrupted, DJ runs Red Wolf Media, the Pork & Fork catering, meal prep, and competition empire, and Mammoth Equipment Rental. Listen in on our chat about the value of networking, what is strategic and essential in marketing these days, and what number Josh would have been in Leighton's Myspace friends list.

Meet local legend Steve Wilkinson, owner of Cardinal Music and newly minted owner of Shreveport Music Co. Steve and his family are deeply rooted in the southern music scene, and we love his passion for providing great service and fostering great local music. Listen in on his "Bucc-ees Approach", what it takes to build a loyal customer base, and what is getting him excited about our local music scene.

Meet Brad Neffendorf, Head Coach of the LSUS Pilots.Listen in to our chat about Brad's background, what it takes to achieve a historic, undefeated season, and the leap from a good roster to a great team.

Meet Nico Manshack, local entrepreneur and the official Duke of Fun. 👑Nico is a busy guy - he manages Window World Shreveport by day, and runs Geaux Southern Rentals by night (and weekend). Listen to find out what to do when 50 Cent calls you, how to handle your first world light bulbs, and what position Leighton wants in his local Mardi Gras Krewe.PS: Shout out to Kennedy! 💛

We're back with one more solo ep before a quick mid-season break, and we cover a lot of ground. From daily rhythms and approaches to business budgets, to staying on mission as a company, to a *very* loose understanding of political campaigns and a quick music review, there is some good stuff in this one.

We have three generations of Allens on the podcast this week, and it was really special. Meet Carter Allen - plumbing intern, ABBA fan, and Leighton's son. Our second guest is Mrs. Leslie Allen; retired teacher, pastor's wife, and the hero who raised Leighton Allen. Enjoy this special conversation!

Meet Joey Guin and Myron Griffing - local creatives, entrepreneurs, and best friends. Tune in to hear the stories behind their successful businesses, gain insight on how to seamlessly merge creativity and practicality, and enjoy the BTS of a deeply supportive friendship (with a side of "picking").

Meet Logan Lewis, Executive Director of the Red River Revel. Listen in to our chat about the business behind the largest festival in Northwest Louisiana, the vital jump from civic pride to civic duty, and his passion for the details. You might also get some exciting BTS details about this year's Revel event...👀

Meet our guest this week, Coach Charles Thompson. Bossier City native, Air Force veteran, former radiologist, award-winning salesman, and current head coach of the LSUS bass fishing team - Charles has a great story, and we were honored to have him. We loved hearing about his passion for seeing young people succeed, his affection for the sport of fishing, and the journey to coaching a Top 10 fishing team.

Meet Chris Simmons, a local boy turned entrepreneur, pastor, ice cream mogul, and a certified Great Dude™️. Join us as we chat about the twists and turns of his career so far, the real estate industry post-Covid, and his potential political platform.

Meet Mike McSwain, a renowned local architect with a global reach. Listen in on our conversation about Mike's passion for design, the impact of infrastructure on the Shreveport community, and the unique legacy of Mike's work.

It's a threepeat today as Jason Wood and Jamie East return to the podcast, this time to walk us through the Five Voices personality assessment. They explain how this fascinating insight into how different personalities communicate, connect and lead is helpful when building healthy teams and businesses, and we get into Josh and Leighton's "voices" and their superpowers and weapons systems,

Meet Rodrigo, owner and visionary behind Shreveport's smash hit restaurant Ki Mexico. His creativity and passion has led him down a fascinating path; from his initial plans of a career in marketing, to working in some of the biggest restaurants in town, to growing his family's food legacy from salsa at the farmer's market to multiple successful concepts. Rodrigo's story is almost as tasty as his food. Don't miss it!

Meet Paul Reiser, "The Sonic Guy" and the host of the YouTube channel BusinessReal. Hear about his family's incredible entreprenurial legacy, Paul's journey from carhop to running 38 Sonic restaurants, and what keeps him busy these days.

Meet Todd Stanberry, VP of Metro Aviation. Join us as we hear about the origin story of this incredible company, the collaboration of nuns and news crews, Metro's brush with the cartel, and whether a helicopter could land on the Ivey's roof.

Meet Putt Putman, the owner of Putman Restoration, which was acquired by Belfor Property Restoration in 2024. Hear about the twists and turns of his career, the transition from small to BIG business, and what he loves about his role now.

Join Josh, Leighton, and Kayleigh to discuss the recent (and long-standing) controversies about Shreveport-Bossier, and hear why we embrace living here.

Meet Adam Lytle; Leighton's business partner, the leader of Team Lytle, and the Lunch Guru. Join us as we chat about the lessons he learned from his family's business, his unique path to education and real estate, his journey out of debt, and the pool noodle of the brain.

Meet Mark Mangham and Mike Mangham, the creatives behind Twin Blends Northwest History Hunters. We discuss how they turned their twin passions for old photos and local history into a series of projects that capture our nostalgia and appreciation for the Shreveport-Bossier area. Listen in to learn about a few of Shreveport's notable movers and shakers, some of Mark and Mike's favorite unearthed stories, and the first time Leighton missed a Sunday night church service.

Thanks for joining us for the 50th episode of Bizzie Smalls - we are grateful for your support!We're chatting about keeping the right people on the bus, the battlefield of customer service, and the culture of local vs chain models.

Chris Graham is a busy guy, and we were delighted grab some time to learn more about his many successful ventures. Organizer and Chief Taste Tester of the Bossier City Farmer's Market, Owner/Operator of Man Made Soap, and the visionary behind building a thriving community of small business in our area. PSA: Prepared to be REALLY hungry after this episide!

Tune in as we discuss shifting your mindset to rebrand problems into challenges, the correlation between business growth and personal growth, and how Leighton is like Dungeons and Dragons. 🎧

Listen in as we discuss the book Good to Great, by Jim Collins.We get into the three questions that define success, what rhythms to plug into every day, and we make some impassioned (and lightly threatening) bids for future pod guests. #Primus #RaisingCanes

Join us as we chat with Howard Davis, the Head of School and the visionary behind Providence Classical Academy. We discuss the unique story behind Providence, making the mission the primary goal, and the impact of factors like sports and technology on development.

Join us as we discuss a make-or-break topic for any business: goals. We get into goals vs. wishes, how to set S.M.A.R.T. goals, and the secret, vital foundation to goals that work for you.

Meet Shay & Hannah, the owner-operators of Priority Roofing in Shreveport. Listen in on our discussion about starting a business months before Covid hit, working with your spouse, adding the right players to your team, and the Bailiffs' passion for pond golf. 🎧

We're chatting about "Never Split The Difference", a guide to the principles of negotiation by former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss. We discuss the many ways we're all negotiating every day, the valuable insights this book has to offer, and the importance of keeping character at the center of your strategies. Tune in and drop your thoughts in the comments!

Meet Clint Davis and learn about the path that led to his ever-expanding practice, his perspective on psychology and theology, and listen in on our conversation about managing businesses, relationships, and working on yourself.Clint is a licensed professional counselor and owner of Clint Davis Counseling in Shreveport, Bossier City, and Benton, and author of Building Better Bridges.

Join us as we dive into Season Two! We're chatting about a new year, how current times are affecting our businesses, and the unexpected perks of having a friendly nemesis. Listen and share! 🎧