Say More with Carla Pesono

We’re kicking off Season 2 of Say More!Nick Harrison, aka Mr. Professor, is a comedian and influencer who turned a 15-year career in education into a full-blown content empire and now a nationwide tour. We sit down with Nick to unpack how a few TikTok videos during the pandemic turned into millions of followers, brand deals, and the Gen X Takeover Tour that’s selling out shows across the country. From grocery store jam sessions to working with major brands, he breaks down how consistency, authenticity, and just having fun built something way bigger than he ever expected.We also get into the real reason his content hits: connection. Nick talks about creating joy in a heavy world, the emotional impact his videos have had on fans, and why staying grounded matters even as everything scales. From music, nostalgia, and Buffalo Bills fandom to faith, family, and building a business off your personality, this conversation is raw, relatable, and exactly what Say More is all about.Say More with Carla Pesono is a bold, unfiltered podcast where food personality Carla Pesono sits down with the most interesting chefs, musicians, artists, and community figures—from New Orleans and beyond. A former TV news anchor turned food creator and media personality, Carla brings her newsroom curiosity and kitchen-table honesty into every conversation. It’s not about small talk. It’s about the full story—the messy, inspiring, real stuff people rarely get asked. Let’s pour a glass & Say More.Follow Say More with Carla PesonoYoutube: www.youtube.com/@CarlaPesono_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlapesonoWebsite: https://www.carlamedia.com/

Korey with a K is a viral comedian and content creator from New Orleans whose laid-back, improvisational skits rack up millions of views and keep the internet laughing. We talk with Korey about how he went from casually posting short Instagram videos to building a full-time career rooted in consistency, originality, and staying true to his values. He breaks down his creative process, why he avoids controversy-driven humor, and how pulling inspiration from everyday life has helped him stand out in an oversaturated social media landscape.We also dig into Korey’s breakout impersonations, including the Cam Newton videos that led to real-life collaborations, and how validation from the people he parodies shifted his perspective on success. Korey shares how the past year became his biggest growth period yet and opens up about filming his own improvised sketch comedy show, drawing inspiration from In Living Color and Key & Peele. This is a real conversation about patience, integrity, New Orleans culture, and using comedy to bring joy when people need it most.Say More with Carla Pesono is a bold, unfiltered podcast where food personality Carla Pesono sits down with the most interesting chefs, musicians, artists, and community figures—from New Orleans and beyond. A former TV news anchor turned food creator and media personality, Carla brings her newsroom curiosity and kitchen-table honesty into every conversation. It’s not about small talk. It’s about the full story—the messy, inspiring, real stuff people rarely get asked. Let’s pour a glass & Say More.Follow Say More with Carla PesonoYoutube: www.youtube.com/@CarlaPesono_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlapesonoWebsite: https://www.carlamedia.com/

Justin Kennedy is the general manager of Parkway Bakery & Tavern, one of the most iconic po’boy shops in New Orleans, whose story is inseparable from the city itself. We dig into Parkway’s roots as a neighborhood bakery founded in 1911, the real history behind the po’boy, and how this corner institution evolved alongside New Orleans’ changing neighborhoods, industries, and culture. Justin breaks down why French bread matters, how roast beef became the backbone of Parkway’s menu, and why doing things the right way—fresh, consistent, and from scratch—has always been non-negotiable.We also get personal about Hurricane Katrina, the moment that nearly ended Parkway but ultimately solidified its legacy and Justin’s lifelong commitment to it. From rebuilding after the storm to growing Parkway into a globally recognized spot—including earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand—this conversation is about community, family, mentorship, and service. For Justin, Parkway isn’t just a restaurant, it’s a living museum, a civic responsibility, and a place where New Orleans comes together across generations and backgrounds.Say More with Carla Pesono is a bold, unfiltered podcast where food personality Carla Pesono sits down with the most interesting chefs, musicians, artists, and community figures—from New Orleans and beyond. A former TV news anchor turned food creator and media personality, Carla brings her newsroom curiosity and kitchen-table honesty into every conversation. It’s not about small talk. It’s about the full story—the messy, inspiring, real stuff people rarely get asked. Let’s pour a glass & Say More.Follow Say More with Carla PesonoYoutube: www.youtube.com/@CarlaPesono_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlapesonoWebsite: https://www.carlamedia.com/

Arkesha Baquet is the co-owner of Li'l Dizzy's Cafe, one of New Orleans’ most iconic Creole restaurants in the Treme. We sit down with Arkesha to talk about what it really meant to step into a multi-generation family legacy during COVID, take over the restaurant after her father-in-law’s retirement, and keep a decades-long tradition alive while finding her own leadership style.We get into the real work behind Lil Dizzy’s Cafe's success today—preserving family recipes, building a strong team, investing in young talent, and leading with intention, consistency, and “positivity on purpose.” Arkesha shares how customer service, community, and authenticity have fueled the restaurant’s viral growth, celebrity visits, and national recognition, plus what’s next for Lil Dizzy’s Cafe as it continues to thrive in New Orleans and beyond.Say More with Carla Pesono is a bold, unfiltered podcast where food personality Carla Pesono sits down with the most interesting chefs, musicians, artists, and community figures—from New Orleans and beyond. A former TV news anchor turned food creator and media personality, Carla brings her newsroom curiosity and kitchen-table honesty into every conversation. It’s not about small talk. It’s about the full story—the messy, inspiring, real stuff people rarely get asked. Let’s pour a glass & Say More.Follow Say More with Carla PesonoYoutube: www.youtube.com/@CarlaPesono_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlapesonoWebsite: https://www.carlamedia.com/

Shan Samantaray is a co-owner and executive chef at LUFU NOLA, and his path to opening one of New Orleans’ most exciting Indian restaurants was anything but traditional. We sit down with Shan to talk about moving to New Orleans from India, meeting his future business partners by chance, surviving COVID layoffs, and turning pop-ups cooked out of an apartment into a full-scale restaurant rooted in intention, grit, and community. He shares how those early years shaped his leadership style, his respect for collaboration, and his belief that food should always be about feeding people first.We also dig deep into Indian cuisine beyond the clichés: regional cooking, street food, and why LUFU doesn’t label itself “authentic.” Shan breaks down how New Orleans seafood, seasons, and culture influence the menu, what it meant to land on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list, and why this city’s openness and humanity made it the perfect place to build something lasting. This episode connects the dots from apartment-prepped pop-ups to the moment LUFU was recognized by the Michelin Guide, and everything in between.Say More with Carla Pesono is a bold, unfiltered podcast where food personality Carla Pesono sits down with the most interesting chefs, musicians, artists, and community figures—from New Orleans and beyond. A former TV news anchor turned food creator and media personality, Carla brings her newsroom curiosity and kitchen-table honesty into every conversation. It’s not about small talk. It’s about the full story—the messy, inspiring, real stuff people rarely get asked. Let’s pour a glass & Say More.Follow Say More with Carla PesonoYoutube: www.youtube.com/@CarlaPesono_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlapesonoWebsite: https://www.carlamedia.com/

Briggs Barrios is the founder of Super Witch Ice Cream Co., one of New Orleans’ most talked-about small-batch ice cream brands, and his path there was anything but traditional. We sit down with Briggs to unpack how a former stock and commodities trader turned an ice cream obsession into a cult-favorite business built on intention, craft, and consistency. We get into his years of “market research,” the science behind premium ice cream, why hand-packing matters, and what truly separates small-batch ice cream from what you find in the grocery store.We also talk about the deeply personal story behind the name Super Witch, the grind of building a one-person operation from scratch, and how weekly pint drops helped grow demand without sacrificing quality. Briggs breaks down his most popular flavors, American vs. French-style ice cream, the role social media plays in selling out every week, and what’s next as Super Witch expands into high-end soft serve and cookies. It’s a real conversation about taking risks, trusting your curiosity, and building something meaningful—one pint at a time.Say More with Carla Pesono is a bold, unfiltered podcast where food personality Carla Pesono sits down with the most interesting chefs, musicians, artists, and community figures—from New Orleans and beyond. A former TV news anchor turned food creator and media personality, Carla brings her newsroom curiosity and kitchen-table honesty into every conversation. It’s not about small talk. It’s about the full story—the messy, inspiring, real stuff people rarely get asked. Let’s pour a glass & Say More.Follow Super Witch Ice Cream Co. – https://www.instagram.com/superwitchicecreamFollow Say More with Carla PesonoYoutube: www.youtube.com/@CarlaPesono_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlapesonoWebsite: https://www.carlamedia.com/

Toya Boudy is a culinarian, author, and multidisciplinary artist from New Orleans who has turned her life, culture, and grind into food, storytelling, and TV. We sit down with Toya to talk about growing up on the West Bank in a creative, food-loving family, cooking for the neighborhood at 15, navigating teen pregnancy and struggle, and eventually finding her voice through poetry, acting, culinary school, and television. We get into how she built her career on her own terms, kept her Blackness and integrity front and center, and why competition and comparison are illusions when you’re actually walking in your purpose.We also dig into the soul of New Orleans food and culture and how different cuisines across the world are more connected than people think. Toya shares the story behind her cookbook Cooking for the Culture (and her next one), plus the deeply personal origin of her vegan ice cream brand, Poetic Just•Ice Cream. We talk about fear, faith, imagination as “God’s playground,” leaving “safe” jobs, betting on yourself, and why living in alignment with who you really are has a way of bringing the right people, opportunities, and flavors straight to your table.Say More with Carla Pesono is a bold, unfiltered podcast where food personality Carla Pesono sits down with the most interesting chefs, musicians, artists, and community figures—from New Orleans and beyond. A former TV news anchor turned food creator and media personality, Carla brings her newsroom curiosity and kitchen-table honesty into every conversation. It’s not about small talk. It’s about the full story—the messy, inspiring, real stuff people rarely get asked. Let’s pour a glass & Say More.Follow Say More with Carla PesonoYoutube: www.youtube.com/@CarlaPesono_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlapesonoWebsite: https://www.carlamedia.com/

Season 1 Launching December 11th!Say More with Carla Pesono is a bold, unfiltered podcast where food personality Carla Pesono sits down with the most interesting chefs, musicians, artists, and community figures—from New Orleans and beyond. A former TV news anchor turned food creator and media personality, Carla brings her newsroom curiosity and kitchen-table honesty into every conversation. It’s not about small talk. It’s about the full story—the messy, inspiring, real stuff people rarely get asked. Let’s pour a glass & Say More.Follow Say More with Carla PesonoYoutube: www.youtube.com/@CarlaPesono_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlapesonoWebsite: https://www.carlamedia.com/