When Hurricane Katrina hit, Gary LeBlanc did what he knew best—he showed up to cook. But what he found on the ground was far from comforting. The food being served to survivors wasn't physically or spiritually nourishing. That moment sparked the idea for Mercy Chefs, a faith-based disaster relief organization committed to serving high-quality, home-cooked meals to people in crisis.

 

In this episode, Ben Walter and Kathleen Griffith sit down with Gary to hear how he built Mercy Chefs from the ground up, often with no money in the bank and no backup plan. They'll also discuss the true price of answering a calling, and what it takes to serve others when the storms just keep coming. These are The Unshakeables.

When Hurricane Katrina hit, Gary LeBlanc did what he knew best&mdash;he showed up to cook. But what he found on the ground was far from comforting. The food being served to survivors wasn't physically or spiritually nourishing. That moment sparked the idea for Mercy Chefs, a faith-based disaster relief organization committed to serving high-quality, home-cooked meals to people in crisis.
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In this episode, Ben Walter and Kathleen Griffith sit down with Gary to hear how he built Mercy Chefs from the ground up, often with no money in the bank and no backup plan. They'll also discuss the true price of answering a calling, and what it takes to serve others when the storms just keep coming. These are The Unshakeables.

The Unshakeables podcast from Chase for Business and iHeartMedia's Ruby Studio dives into the make-or-break moments that changed everything for small business owners. Those who stand firm in their resolve have a special name. We call them The Unshakeables. Join Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business, and a lineup of special cohosts as they speak with real small business owners across America. Hear real stories from real people behind the small businesses that power their communities every day. The Unshakeables is an award-winning podcast, having won Gold at the 2025 ANA B2 Awards in the Podcast and Industry Sector Spotlight categories. 

The speakers’ opinions belong to them and may differ from opinions of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates. Views presented on this podcast are those of the speakers; they are as of the podcast release date and they may not materialize. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. ©2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The Unshakeables podcast from Chase for Business and iHeartMedia's Ruby Studio dives into the make-or-break moments that changed everything for small business owners. Those who stand firm in their resolve have a special name. We call them The Unshakeables. Join Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business, and a lineup of special cohosts as they speak with real small business owners across America. Hear real stories from real people behind the small businesses that power their communities every day. The Unshakeables is an award-winning podcast, having won Gold at the 2025 ANA B2 Awards in the Podcast and Industry Sector Spotlight categories.&nbsp;
The speakers&rsquo; opinions belong to them and may differ from opinions of&nbsp;J.P. Morgan Chase &amp; Co. and its affiliates. Views presented on this podcast are those of the speakers; they are as of the podcast release date and they may not materialize. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. &copy;2025 JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co.

The Unshakeables

Called to Serve: Mercy Chefs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9d86972b-acbc-4d93-a8ef-b2f4015edae9/transcript

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