We live in fractured, divided times where sometimes even simple facts about basic reality are too much for folks to agree on. Partisan politics, social media and the internet serve to divide us and keep us apart. And experts tell us all the time that even though we’re more digitially connected than ever, we’re paradoxically more isolated and lonely.

How do we address this complex challenge? On this edition of Out to Lunch, Stephanie is visiting with two community-engaged local entrepreneurs, one focused on bringing people together, the other on helping them heal.

Sean Braswell is owner of Simple Joe Café, a mid-city diner that serves breakfast and lunch and has positioned itself since opening in 2015 as a community gathering spot. The kind of place where neighbors meet up for home-cooked meals or friends meet weekly for coffee, and just linger and visit in a warm friendly atmosphere.

Sean began his professional career in the military, serving in the Marines and the Navy simultaneously, later went into sales and mortgage brokering, then nursing. Neither was the right fit. Along the way, he worked as a waiter and eventually worked his way up to head staff trainer at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse here in Baton Rouge. And that’s when he realized that opening a restaurant might be the thing.

In the years since it’s opening, Simple Joe has regularly topped the lists of people’s choice awards, like Best of 225.

When he’s not busy at the restaurant, Sean believes in volunteering and giving back to the community he loves so much. 

Amanda Hargrove is Director and Chief Financial Officer of Hope Community Services, a mental health services agency that provides individual and family therapy, medication management, psychiatric support and treatment to children and adults.

Hope primarily serves people in East Baton Rouge parish, though in the years since Covid it has branched out to offer telehealth services as well, which has enabled it to reach a broader service area.

Amanda and her partner in Hope, Monica Parker, founded the agency in 2014. 

Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.la.

We live in fractured, divided times where sometimes even simple facts about basic reality are too much for folks to agree on. Partisan politics, social media and the internet serve to divide us and keep us apart. And experts tell us all the time that even though we’re more digitially connected than ever, we’re paradoxically more isolated and lonely.
How do we address this complex challenge? On this edition of Out to Lunch, Stephanie is visiting with two community-engaged local entrepreneurs, one focused on bringing people together, the other on helping them heal.
Sean Braswell is owner of <a href="https://www.simplejoecafe.biz/">Simple Joe Café</a>, a mid-city diner that serves breakfast and lunch and has positioned itself since opening in 2015 as a community gathering spot. The kind of place where neighbors meet up for home-cooked meals or friends meet weekly for coffee, and just linger and visit in a warm friendly atmosphere.
Sean began his professional career in the military, serving in the Marines and the Navy simultaneously, later went into sales and mortgage brokering, then nursing. Neither was the right fit. Along the way, he worked as a waiter and eventually worked his way up to head staff trainer at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse here in Baton Rouge. And that’s when he realized that opening a restaurant might be the thing.
In the years since it’s opening, Simple Joe has regularly topped the lists of people’s choice awards, like Best of 225.
When he’s not busy at the restaurant, Sean believes in volunteering and giving back to the community he loves so much. 
Amanda Hargrove is Director and Chief Financial Officer of <a href="https://www.hopecsinc.com/">Hope Community Services</a>, a mental health services agency that provides individual and family therapy, medication management, psychiatric support and treatment to children and adults.
Hope primarily serves people in East Baton Rouge parish, though in the years since Covid it has branched out to offer telehealth services as well, which has enabled it to reach a broader service area.
Amanda and her partner in Hope, Monica Parker, founded the agency in 2014. 
Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://www.mansursontheboulevard.com/main/home">Mansurs on the Boulevard</a>. You can find photos from this show by <a href="http://albaledomedia.com/">Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez</a> at <a href="https://itsbatonrouge.la/2024/12/02/cafe-hope/">itsbatonrouge.la</a>.

OUT TO LUNCH finds Baton Rouge Business Report Editor Stephanie Riegel combining her hard news journalist skills and food background: conducting business over lunch. Baton Rouge has long had a storied history of politics being conducted over meals, now the Capital Region has an equivalent culinary home for business: Mansur's. Each week Stephanie holds court over lunch at Mansur's and invites members of the Baton Rouge business community to join her. You can also hear the show on WRKF 89.3FM.

It's Baton Rouge: Out to Lunch

OUT TO LUNCH finds The Advocate business reporter Stephanie Riegel combining her hard news journalist skills and food background: conducting business over lunch. Baton Rouge has long had a storied history of politics being conducted over meals, now the Capital Region has an equivalent culinary home for business: Mansur's on the Boulevard. Each week Stephanie holds court over lunch at Mansur's and invites members of the Baton Rouge business community to join her. You can also hear the show on WRKF 89.3FM.

OUT TO LUNCH finds The Advocate business reporter Stephanie Riegel combining her hard news journalist skills and food background: conducting business over lunch. Baton Rouge has long had a storied history of politics being conducted over meals, now the Capital Region has an equivalent culinary home for business: Mansur's on the Boulevard. Each week Stephanie holds court over lunch at Mansur's and invites members of the Baton Rouge business community to join her. You can also hear the show on WRKF 89.3FM.

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