The Deal Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Marvin Travasos, founder of Coastal Pumping Equipment, to unpack what it really takes to build a durable, multi-location industrial business rooted in faith, leadership, and long-term thinking.

Marvin shares his journey from welder to owner, growing Coastal from a single operation into a four-location company serving oilfield, municipal, and disaster-response markets. More importantly, he explains w...

In this episode, we sit down with Jared and Rachel Doise, husband-and-wife founders of Legends Born Grill, a nine location restaurant and bar concept built over more than 20 years in Acadiana.

This is a real conversation about building a business together, navigating risk, staying grounded in values, and choosing sustainability over ego-driven growth. Jared and Rachel share how they balance vision and discipline, emotion and logic, ...

In this episode, we sit down with Kristine Goebel, founder of Accompany Suite, to unpack the real reasons companies struggle during growth, acquisitions, and exits.

Kristine shares how emotional intelligence, communication, and leadership behavior directly impact profitability, retention, and deal outcomes. Drawing from her experience with Toyota, wealth advisory firms, and middle-market companies, she explains why most operational ...

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Flash, former co-owner of Dixie Electric, a second-generation family business founded in 1979 and successfully exited after more than four decades.

Mike shares the deeply personal story behind selling a family business that carried his parents’ names, supported generations of employees, and became part of the fabric of the local community. This is a rare, honest look at what happens before, dur...

In this episode, we sit down with Ted Anthony, a veteran patent attorney with decades of experience advising founders, operators, and acquirers on intellectual property in M&A transactions.

Ted breaks down how patents and trademarks actually function inside real deals and why IP should protect economic value, not be confused with creating it.

This conversation covers:

• How patents show up in middle-market M&A
• Why many founde...

In this episode we sit down with David Podell, a specialist in advanced tax mitigation strategies for founders, partners, and closely held businesses.

David breaks down how defined benefit and cash balance plans can be used as powerful tools for owners who are paying too much in taxes and want to build personal net worth outside of their business.

This conversation covers:

• How high-performing companies legally reduce six and seven...

In this episode, we sit down with Brett Swarts, founder of Capital Gains Tax Solutions, to unpack how founders, investors, and advisors can exit assets without watching 20–50% disappear to capital gains taxes.

Brett breaks down the Deferred Sales Trust and explains how it differs from traditional strategies like 1031 exchanges, why timing and flexibility matter more than ever, and how smart exits preserve momentum for the next chapt...

In this episode, we sit down with Rip Reeves, CEO of Institutional Investor, to unpack the evolution of global investing, asset allocation, and the allocator–manager ecosystem.

Rip shares his journey from a first-generation college student in South Louisiana to Wall Street, portfolio management, and ultimately leading one of the most influential platforms serving CIOs, asset managers, and allocators worldwide.

This conversation cover...

In this episode, we sit down with Larry Attenhofer, a senior commercial banking leader at Hancock Whitney with nearly three decades of experience financing middle-market businesses.

Larry walks through how banks actually underwrite deals, what separates strong borrowers from risky ones, and why relationships and communication matter just as much as financials.

This conversation covers:

• How banks define the middle market and why it...

In this episode, we sit down with Andre Broussard, a seasoned CPA operating at the intersection of private equity, venture capital, and middle-market deal execution.

Andre shares how he functions as a “CFO by the hour” for founders, operators, and investment groups and why accounting today is far more about psychology, judgment, and trust than debits and credits.

This conversation covers:

• How CPAs support PE and VC firms before, d...

In this episode host Josh Wilson sits down with CJ Miller, a transactional attorney who has built his career in the boardroom rather than the courtroom.

CJ shares his journey from growing up in a small family business in South Louisiana to becoming a trusted advisor for banks, entrepreneurs, and middle-market companies. He explains what transactional law really looks like day to day and why helping people structure deals, manage ris...

In this episode of The Deal Podcast, we sit down with Edward Bienvenu, a commercial banker based in Lafayette, Louisiana, to unpack how relationship-driven banking actually works at the community level and why some of the best deals are the ones you never do.

Edward shares his unconventional path into commercial banking, starting in biology before realizing finance offered the right balance of structure, people, and long-term impact...

In this episode of The Deal Podcast, hosts Josh Wilson and Jude David sit down with Paul George, consultant, speaker, and host of The Paul George Show, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, faith, business, and life after the exit.

Paul shares his personal mission framework, “Love God, serve others, and die with no regrets,” and explains how a lack of personal clarity often leads to broken businesses, burnout, and regret af...

On the show, we sit down with Lance Strother a coach, entrepreneur, inventor, man of faith, and lifelong developer of people. Lance is the kind of dealmaker who doesn’t just chase outcomes. He builds lives, teams, and cultures that last.

Born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, Lance shares how his journey through coaching, ministry, invention, and business shaped a philosophy that challenges how most leaders think about success. We...

What separates a good deal attorney from a great one? In this episode of The Deal Podcast, hosts Joshua Wilson and Scott discuss the legal side of mergers and acquisitions with veteran corporate attorney Frank Slavich, who brings over 25 years of experience in corporate law, M&A, lending, and commercial real estate.

Frank unpacks the real role of an M&A attorney: not to kill deals, but to protect clients while keeping transa...

In this episode of The Deal Podcast, Dan Daly shares his remarkable journey from selling cars on the wholesale lot to overseeing ultra-luxury brands like Bugatti and Bentley, and now leading a $50M international private equity fund focused on boutique hospitality properties.

Dan dives into:

• How competitive discipline (like training for an Ironman) shapes success in business
• Lessons from the car sales floor that translate directly ...

Inside a Real Deal Roundtable: Lessons from Thousands of M&A Transactions

In this exclusive episode of The Deal Podcast, the FA Mergers team, Jude David, Scott Shea, Chase Kenner, and host Joshua Wilson, sit down for a raw, behind the scenes conversation about what really happens when a mid market business goes to market.

Topics discussed:

• The biggest mistakes sellers make when approaching an exit
• Why waiting until you’re “read...

In this episode of The Deal Podcast, host Joshua Wilson sits down with Philip Boggia to unpack an unconventional investing journey that began in federal law enforcement and evolved into a full-time life as a limited partner investor.

Philip shares how a single conversation with a supervisor during a government shutdown led him to read Rich Dad Poor Dad, rethink assets and liabilities, and begin a decade-long transition away from a t...

What happens when a CPA discovers his greatest strength isn’t crunching numbers? In this powerful interview, Catalyst Bank CEO Joe Zanco reveals how a mop, a moment of humility, and a mindset of ownership shaped his rise through the banking world to leading a NASDAQ-listed bank.

Joe shares hard-earned lessons from 10+ M&A deals, the real reason banks sell, how employee ownership changes culture, and what most people get wrong ab...