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 risk, and plan for the future brings lasting fulfillment.

This conversation covers:

• The role of a transactional attorney in business growth and M&A
• Why Louisiana law is different from the rest of the U.S.
• The reality of career pivots and returning to what fits
• Lessons learned from moving in-house and back to private practice
• Practical advice for business owners preparing to sell their company

This episode is for founders, dealmakers, attorneys, and operators who care about process, clarity, and building something that lasts.

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. What began as an analyst role evolved into a career built on advising business owners, structuring thoughtful deals, and helping companies grow responsibly.

This conversation goes beyond credit scores and spreadsheets. Edward explains how experienced lenders evaluate deals from a global perspective, looking at the full picture of a business owner’s assets, risks, and long-term plans rather than relying on automated approvals or one-dimensional metrics.

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 after successful exits.

The discussion explores the contrast between nonprofit and for profit leadership, the role of mission and values in building scalable companies, and why many founders wait too long to think about succession, legacy, and life beyond ownership.

Listeners will hear honest insights on:

• Why profit and purpose are not opposites
• How attachment to money and identity can quietly undermine leaders
• What happens when founders sell their business without a plan for what’s next
• How faith, discernment, and discipline show up in real-world dealmaking
• Why the most successful exits are prepared years in advance

This episode is for founders, operators, and investors who want to build businesses that last, exit well, and live with clarity beyond the transaction.

Connect with the Guest:

Paul George: LinkedIn

Connect with the Hosts & The Deal Podcast:

Joshua Wilson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/

YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@thedealpodcast

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 explore why having “many irons in the fire” is not a flaw when it’s rooted in a clear mission, and how authenticity becomes one of the strongest forms of insurance for a fulfilled life.

This conversation goes deep into themes leaders rarely talk about openly:

• Why love can be a serious business strategy with real teeth
• How humility and truth drive real growth in the boardroom
• What inventing, failing, and finding the right business partner actually teaches you
• Why asking boldly and early changes the trajectory of your career
• How loss, faith, and service shape resilient leaders and dealmakers

Lance also shares the story behind building and launching a nationally recognized sports training product, what he learned about partnerships, and why integrity matters more than ROI alone.

If you lead people, build companies, or wrestle with balancing ambition, faith, and responsibility, this episode will challenge and encourage you.

Connect with Lance on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-strother-8360243b/

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 transactions moving. You’ll hear how he balances business logic with legal risks, the importance of choosing the right partners, and how emotional attachments can sabotage a sale.

From succession planning to the infamous “Texas Shootout” clause, this is a must-listen for dealmakers, founders, and brokers looking to close clean deals. Frank also shares insights on how AI is (and isn’t) currently impacting legal practices.

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 to dealmaking and turnarounds
• His experience scaling automotive dealerships from underperformers to global leaders
• The mindset required to thrive in international investing and lifestyle-driven real estate
• His upcoming Golden Visa Fund targeting high-growth opportunities in Portugal, Costa Rica, and Japan

This is a masterclass in execution, customer experience, and the power of betting on yourself.

Connect with the Guest:

Dan Daly: LinkedIn

Connect with the Hosts & The Deal Podcast:

Joshua Wilson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/

YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@thedealpodcast

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 “ready to retire” can cost you millions
• What buyers are really looking for and why momentum matters
• The myth of inflated valuations and the danger of unrealistic expectations
• How independent sponsors often retrade deals and why it happens
• When FA Mergers turns down a sell-side engagement
• The truth about upfront fees and what to demand from your advisor

Whether you’re an owner, operator, or investor, this episode is packed with tactical wisdom from people who live in the trenches of dealmaking every day.

Connect with the team

• Jude David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-david-jd-dcl-mba-172a6a76/
• Scott Shea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-shea-0514b2a4/
• Chase Kenner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasekenner/
• Joshua Wilson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/

In this episode of The Deal Podcast, Phil Boggia joins Joshua Wilson for a compelling conversation on leaving the security of banking to build something new from scratch, Surcle, a venture-backed talent platform built for engineering and product teams.

Phil shares the unique lens he brought into startup life after years in private banking and capital markets. He opens up about the transition from banker to builder, what early-stage risk really feels like, and how Surcle is reshaping how technical talent is sourced globally.

This is a must-listen for anyone navigating the leap from corporate comfort to entrepreneurial chaos.

What You’ll Learn:
• How Phil transitioned from private banking to tech startup
• The mindset shift required to go from capital allocator to operator
• Why Surcle is betting on deep tech + expert talent as the future of work
• Lessons learned from managing risk both personal and financial
• The reality of going from spreadsheets and structure to chaos and clarity
• What to look for when building or backing early-stage startups

Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-boggia-38a284278/