Join local realtor Brian Bendily as he takes you on a journey through Ouachita Parish in The 318 Experience podcast. Each episode, Brian sits down with fascinating community leaders, entrepreneurs, and successful individuals to discuss their journey to success and the challenges they've faced along the way. Through their stories, listeners gain a unique perspective on the heart and soul of Monroe, Louisiana, and the people who make this community great. Subscribe now to The 318 Experience and join us on this journey of discovery.
https://www.exploremonroe.com/the-318-experience
📞 318-378-5985
From becoming one of Louisiana’s youngest newspaper editors at just 22 to building his own marketing agency, DeRon Talley’s career has been shaped by storytelling, leadership, and service.
On this episode of The 318 Experience, DeRon joins Brian to discuss his journey through journalism, communications, entrepreneurship, ministry, and civic leadership. They dive into the story behind Key Marketing Solutions, what businesses often misunderstand about marketing, and why telling the right story matters.
DeRon also shares his perspective on Northeast Louisiana, his continued involvement with ULM, balancing business and ministry, raising a family, and why serving his community remains such an important part of his life.
It’s a conversation about building a business, developing as a leader, investing in your community, and defining the kind of legacy you want to leave behind.
CONNECT WITH DERON
Key Marketing Solutions
Website: patienceiskey.co (patienceiskey.co)
Email: marketing@patienceiskey.co (mailto:marketing@patienceiskey.co)
Phone: (318) 460-0654
ST. JOSEPH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
206 New Natchitoches Road
West Monroe, LA 71292
Sunday School: 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Worship: 11:30 a.m.
Monday Corporate Prayer: 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Mid-Week Worship/Bible Study: 6:00 p.m.
Church Website: stjosephmbcwestmonroe.org
18 Aug 2026
#96 Part I - Chris Cassagne - Source Louisiana
What happens when a major economic development project comes to Louisiana—and how can local businesses get involved?
In this episode of The 318 Experience, Brian sits down with Chris Cassagne, Executive Director of the Louisiana Growth Network at Louisiana Economic Development (LED), to talk about Source Louisiana and the opportunities it can create for businesses across the state.
Chris has been with Louisiana Economic Development since 2014 and now leads initiatives focused on helping Louisiana businesses expand, innovate, and grow through access to coaching, connections, and capital. A native of the Greater New Orleans area and an LSU graduate with an MBA from the LSU Flores MBA Program, Chris has built his career around strengthening Louisiana’s small-business ecosystem and helping companies scale.
A major focus of that work is Source Louisiana, a statewide platform featuring more than 80,000 Louisiana businesses and designed to help prime contractors and major projects identify local vendors, suppliers, and service providers.
Chris breaks down what Source Louisiana is, why it was created, how businesses can position themselves to take advantage of it, and why connecting major investment with Louisiana companies is so important to the state’s economy.
If you own or operate a Louisiana business and want to better understand the opportunities being created across the state, this is a conversation you’ll want to hear.
18 Jun 2026
#95 - Chad Ali - Choices Mentoring for Families and Youth
On this episode of The 318 Experience, Brian welcomes Chad Ali, Director of Programs for Choices Mentoring for Families and Youth, Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Wossman High School, award-winning filmmaker, and former Division I football player.
Chad shares his journey from the University of Wyoming to the worlds of film, music, coaching, and community leadership. The conversation explores the mission of Choices Mentoring, the impact of the Arts & Activism program, the Seeds of Change partnership, violence prevention efforts, youth development, and the vision for revitalizing South Monroe through arts, athletics, mentorship, and economic opportunity.
This episode is a powerful discussion about leadership, purpose, and investing in the next generation.
Who has been a guest on The 318 Experience
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Eric Hammons
Erin Stokes
Joey Hixon
Robert Moore
John Bruscato
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
3.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 43 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
63
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
Contact The 318 Experience
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of The 318 Experience?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
