Baked-In with Josh Allen

Episode 68: Chad Mueller | Muay Thai & More Oct 31, 2024

Welcome to this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank. Josh steps into the ring with Chad Mueller—professional Muay Thai fighter, gym owner, coach, and now fight promoter. Chad’s journey into martial arts started at age 11, shifting to kickboxing by 16, and eventually leading him to Thailand, where he trained and fought with Team USA. Now back in the metro area, Chad has channeled his passion into building a thriving community of fighters, opening multiple gyms, and helping others pursue their own martial arts dreams. Josh and Chad dive into what it took to open his first gym from his parent’s basement, his vision for growing the sport, and the business metrics driving his mission. Get ready for an inspiring conversation on grit, growth, and leadership in and out of the ring. Let’s roll…

#muaythai #kickboxing #fighting #gym

Episode 67: Jimmy Sansone | The Normal Brand Oct 24, 2024

On this episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh sits down with Jimmy Sansone, founder and co-owner of The Normal Brand, a fashion company focused on easy, comfortable clothing suitable for both workdays and weekends. In the nine years since launching with a small collection of hats, Jimmy and his brothers, Lan and Conrad, have opened 11 stores – in cities including St. Louis, Nashville and Indianapolis – entered partnerships with nearly 500 stores nationwide and have continued to build a strong online brand. They talk about leading through core values, making managed bets into the future and the value of working out with your dad. Let’s roll…

Episode 66: Mich Hancock | TED x St. Louis & 100th Monkey Oct 10, 2024

On this episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh gets the chance to catch up with Mich Hancock, the Co-Founder and License Holder of TEDx St. Louis, an independently organized TED Event, and the connection they share dating back to 2021 when Josh presented his TEDx talk (https://www.ted.com/talks/josh_allen_changing_our_culture_by_watching_our_waste?subtitle=en). She’s also the CEO of 100th Monkey, a digital marketing agency that specializes in human-to-human interactions They talk about the history and her vision for TEDx St. Louis, how her marketing work uncovers other business challenges that need to be addressed, and how her work with kindness is opening new doors for her into the future. Mich is a wonderful advocate for her community and a leader in amplifying what St. Louis is doing better than most. Let’s roll…

Episode 65: Chef Bill Cardwell Sep 26, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh has the immense pleasure of catching up with Chef Bill Cardwell. Best known as a pioneer of creative seasonal fare in St. Louis, Bill has been a fixture in the local culinary field for 30 plus years. It’s hard to remember a time when Cardwell wasn’t at the helm of one of the best eateries in town including Cardwell’s, Cardwell’s at the Plaza and BC’s Kitchen or out in the community promoting the value of sustainability and seasonal cooking. He was also the first restauranteur to purchase Josh’s bread in late 1993. They talk about the state of the St. Louis food scene in 1980s and 1990s, the obstacles Bill faced during his career and his feelings on what dining is like today. Fun stuff in this one. Let’s roll…

#chef #stlouis #restaurateur #seasonalcooking

Episode 64: Brett Arndt | Experience Fresh Sep 19, 2024

On this episode, I get to chat with Brett Arndt, co-founder and CEO of Experience Fresh, a full-service vertically integrated agency, with a focus across #advertising, #brandstrategy, #production, #design, and #performancemarketing. They also happen to be St. Louis' fastest growing company on this years #Inc5000 list. With growth of nearly 1100% in the last 3 years and an audacious plan for the future, Brett certainly has his hands full. We talk about staying true to your core values through accelerated growth, authenticity and transparency in agency relationships, and the challenge of keeping up with the relentless hustle. I even sneak in some of my own marketing questions to satisfy my own curiosities. Let's go...

Episode 63: Mike Goldman | Waterway Car Wash Sep 12, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh has the pleasure of sitting down with long time friend Mike Goldman, Vice President and General Counsel of Waterway, the 50-year-old car wash brand that started as a simple operation in Kirkwood, Missouri and has since grown into a nationally recognized market leader with 29 locations in St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City, Denver and Cleveland. Their secret sauce continues to be human touch and personal connections in an industry driven by technology and automation. Josh and Mike talk about Waterway’s commitment to training and development via their “Learn to Lead” management training program, intentional expansion and slow growth and what’s next for brand. It’s hard not to see the value in their focus on their people. Good stuff. Let’s roll…

Episode 62: Meredith Knopp | St. Louis Area Food Bank Sep 05, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh has chance to sit down with Meredith Knopp, President and CEO of the St. Louis Area Foodbank. The Foodbank is responding to hunger in communities across 26 counties in Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois by donating food to more than 500,000 people in the form of 40-50 million meals annually. Josh and Meredith talk about the logistics in serving such a broad audience with a relatively small team, the creation of and the ongoing use of core values in her leadership, and the upcoming 9/11 National Day of Service during which the Foodbank is hoping to pack 375,000 meals in a single day. Lots of for-profit and non-profit advice in this one. Let’s roll…

For more information, to donate or to volunteer, check out www.stlfoodbank.org.

Episode 61: David Drier | Pedal The Cause Aug 29, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh gets the chance to sit with David Drier, the executive director of Pedal the Cause. Pedal provides critical funding for cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital through their annual cycling challenge. Since 2010, over $45 million has been raised – with 100% of those funds directly supporting 223 cancer research projects. This is an organization that is hugely important to Josh and his team at Companion. They’ve participated since the beginning – in a handful of events throughout the year and feeding 3,000-4,000 riders breakfast the morning of the event each September.

David and Josh talk about his long-term involvement in Pedal in honor of his daughter Victoria who passed away from brain cancer in 2018, staying relevant as a maturing organization and the process of strategic planning for the next 15 years. Lessons applicable to all kinds of companies. Let’s roll…

Please note: if you’d like to get involved with Pedal the Cause this September as a donor, rider or volunteer, please visit - https://pedalthecause.org/

Episode 60: Jack (Trip) Straub III | Staub's Fine Grocers Aug 22, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, I have the chance to catch up with Trip Straub from Straub’s Fine Grocers, the 123-year-old specialty market here in St. Louis. Trip and I share very similar family upbringings and it’s nice to talk legacy with someone carrying the torch for the fourth generation of his family’s business. We talk about the changing landscape of the grocery industry, the lessons learned from his big expansion mistake in 2008 and bringing in the next generation of leadership. Good one today. Let’s roll…

Episode 59: Doug Stritzel | Pickleman's Aug 15, 2024

On this week’s episode, Josh sits down with good friend, Doug Stritzel—founder and owner of Pickleman’s Gourmet Café who developed a love for food and an entrepreneurial mindset from an early age. Doug worked as the Chief Operating Officer in the QSR field with Jimmy John’s and Ritter’s Frozen Custard along with lots of experience with Wendy’s and Tim Horton’s. During that 15 years, he was creating and evolving the Pickleman’s brand which he eventually opened in 2005. Doug is a whirlwind of passionate drive on building systems and culture. They talk about the most important attributes of a restaurant franchise, his hands off approach to leading people and the power of deliberate growth in the hospitality industry. Take a deep breath and let’s roll…

#franchise #deli #business

Episode 58: Nicole Indovino | IndoVINO Wines Aug 08, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh has the immense pleasure of chatting with Nicole Indovino of IndoVINO Wines, a young, energetic, passionate winemaking entrepreneur producing wines in both Spain and Colorado. She also happens to be the daughter of two of his most favorite people in the world – Jill and Jay Indovino whose generosity and community service via Girls on the Run and Pedal the Cause respectively are hugely inspiring to him.

It's great to hear Nicole’s story of falling love with agriculture and harvests and the routine and monotony of winemaking – incredibly familiar to Josh relative to breadmaking. They talk about the challenges of launching a business in Spain, making bets on yourself and how important it is to find a sense of place in what she’s doing. To learn about Nicole’s business and projects, please visit www.indovinowine.com. Lots of great stuff in this one. Let’s roll…

Episode 57: Dave Boller | St. Louis Battlehawks Jul 25, 2024

On this episode we’re joined by Dave Holler, GM of the United Football League’s St. Louis Battlehawks. As a general sports fan I really enjoyed learning more about the structure of the league, how their helping develop players for the NFL, and have been of an experimental playground for innovative rules and technology. We talk about the hub league model with all the players living and training in Texas, fixed salaries for all positions, and the all hands on deck approach to launching a startup league… it’s a lot like any entrepreneurial journey, let’s roll!
#UFL #Battlehawks #Football #StartUp #StLouis

Episode 56: Fred Burmer | Lion's Choice Jul 18, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh sits down with Fred Burmer, the newly appointed CEO of St. Louis’ beloved Lion’s Choice. Burmer started working in quick-service restaurants as a part time worker at Pizza Hut restaurants while attending the University of Central Florida in Orlando and ultimately grew that franchise company from six to more than 50 locations. He later spent years with Yum Brands – the corporate leader of Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut. He brings all that expertise to the 57 year-old, 30 unit Lion’s Choice. They talk about the value of working in the service industry, his initial focus after extensive customer research and the future plans of expansion. Lots of great stuff in this one. Let’s roll…

Episode 55: Chris Eckert | Eckert's Farms Jul 11, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, I’m sitting down with Chris Eckert, the president and CEO of Eckert's Country Store and Farms in Belleville, Illinois. He is a seventh-generation farmer overseeing a vast operation that includes fruit and vegetable crops, a farm market, restaurant, garden center, and the country's largest pick-your-own business. Chris holds a degree in Agricultural Economics and has experience working in the produce industry outside of the family business. We talk about leading a multi-generational enterprise, lessons learned from Mother Nature and continuing to expand the entertainment aspect of their business. Great lessons in this one. Let’s roll…

Episode 54: Lucas Farrell | Bucket List Creative Jun 27, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh catches up with Lucas Farrell of STL Bucket List and Bucket List Creative. STL Bucket List is an independently owned media source right here in Downtown St. Louis that was originally created and founded by Lucas and his wife Marissa to share foodie adventures and everything great about our town. It’s blown up to have over 180,000 followers on social. Lucas parlayed that success to launch Bucket List Creative in 2019 to help local partners build their brand online through social media management, content creation and web design. Lucas handles all Josh’s social media – both Companion Baking and the podcast. They talk about the general state of social media and where’s it’s headed, the rise of influencers and their role in the landscape and how to measure success. Lucas gets it and it was fun to dive deep. Let’s go…

#marketing #content #stlmade #stlouis #bucketlist #podcasting

Episode 53: Brian Wahby | Eximius Productions Jun 20, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh sits down with Brian Wahby of Eximius Productions. As an entrepreneur, investor and advisor, Brian's creativity, curiosity, civic involvement and leadership has offered over 30 years of experience in a number of diverse areas. He founded Eximius in 2014 to primarily produce the Q in the Lou – the annual BBQ Festival in Downtown St. Louis. In 2018, Brian expanded the Q brand of festivals to the Denver market with the highly successful Denver BBQ Fest. Expansion to other markets followed including Kansas City, Jacksonville and Dallas. They touch on a lot in this episode including the role of happiness in building and managing a company, growing and scaling a festival brand and Brian’s outlook on the future of St. Louis. Let’s roll…

Baked In | Father's Day - The Allen Gang! Jun 15, 2024

Happy Father’s Day! Here’s a quick bonus episode with Josh and his five (5) kids talking about lessons learned from growing up in a small business family and their favorite baked goods. A great chance for the kids to fill their dad’s bucket with a little love. Let’s roll…

#family #fathersday #podcasting #baking #legacy

Episode 52: Danni & Steve | HuSTL Hospitality Jun 06, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh has the chance to sit with Danni Eickenhorst and Steve Ewing of HuSTL Hospitality – the group behind both Steve’s Hot Dogs and the Fountain on Locust. Danni (and her husband Marcus) got involved with Steve in February 2020 when he originally announced the closing of Steve’s Hot Dogs. They spent some time talking through how together they re-imagined the concept, worked through those changes throughout the pandemic and have grown the brand to now include not only the flagship location on South Grand, but satellites at Citypark, Enterprise Center and America’s Center.

Additionally, HuSTL will be very shortly opening an additional Steve’s Hot Dogs and The Fountain off Locust – a spinoff of The Fountain on Locust – this summer at Maker’s Locale, a new event and dining complex located in the Delmar Maker District. Josh and Danni and Steve get into a lot. Scale, growth, leadership, vision and even a little bodybuilding. Fun to talk to folks moving quickly. Let’s go…

Episode 51: Justin Kraudel | Monta Watches May 30, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh sits down with Justin Kraudel of Monta Watches, a luxury swiss-built brand based in St. Louis. In 2016, Justin walked away from a 12-year career in the wealth management industry to follow his passion for horology (watches). Monta designs and manufactures luxury sport watches with impeccable finishing and attention to detail. In a short period of time – relative to some of the decades old legacy brands – Monta has created a brand with a solid reputation for beautiful timepieces and terrific customer service. Most of their business has been built direct to consumer online, but they’re beginning to grow their business through local and regional jewelry stores. Josh and Justin talk about the state of the American watch market, the challenges of establishing a brand in an industry with so many legacy players and the supply chain obstacles of convincing Swiss craftsmen to come on board with a new start up brand. Super fun to chat with a self-admitted watch nerd. Let’s go…

#luxury #watches #innovator #design #swisstime

Episode 50: Josh Allen - A look at 50 Episodes May 23, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh is celebrating episode 50! He’s joined by good friend, collaborator and podcast producer extraordinaire, JB Anderson of Gaslight Studios. They dive deep into the story arc from Josh’s 2021 TEDx St. Louis talk to the ideation of the podcast. And they touch on many of the highlights from the first year of episodes, lessons learned, the role of the City of St. Louis and the ultimate guest wishlist. Please remember that the best way to support the show and keep the stories coming is simply to follow Baked-In on your favorite podcast player and leave a review. Let’s go…

Episode 49: Mike Konzen | PGAV May 16, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh is talking with Mike Konzen of PGAV. Headquartered in downtown St. Louis, PGAV is behind some of the most recognizable destinations locally and around the world. The global firm of designers, architects and planners is responsible for the design of places close to home such as the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station and the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame & Museum in addition to experiences at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, which opened last year. Their projects attract 120+ million visitors per year on 5 continents.

Josh and Mike discuss the recently opened World’s Fair exhibit at the Missouri History Museum in which PGAV played a big role, how he recruits and retains a talented team in St. Louis and beyond, empathy and its role in business and leadership, and their shared appreciation for mid-1970 Oldsmobile Cutlasses. It’s so cool to know that this type of immensely creative work is being done here in St. Louis. Let’s go…

Episode 48: Chris Ryan | ONCE FILMS May 09, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh gets the chance to talk with Chris Ryan, a filmmaker, publisher and entrepreneur based in St. Louis, MO. More than anything, Chris is a crafter of stories. He’s the founder and creative director of Once Films and the driving force behind STL.org. He brings a unique perspective and skill set to his work in film, marketing and civic engagement. They discuss the value of storytelling for businesses and non-profits, how the smartphone has propelled his business forward and why he’s fallen for his adopted hometown. Grab some popcorn and let’s go…

Episode 47: Kevin Lemp | 4 Hands Brewery May 02, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh sits down with Kevin Lemp of 4 Hands Brewery. Founded in the LaSalle Park neighborhood in 2011, 4 Hands Brewing Company has grown to become the largest craft brewery in the St. Louis area. Brewing a wide range of year-round, seasonal and limited release beers, 4 Hands is also home to 1220 Spirits, a botanically inspired craft distillery, and Withered Oak, a line of uniquely finished and artfully blended whiskeys. Additionally, 4 Hands operates a tap room and restaurant in downtown St. Louis and is expanding their brick-and-mortar footprint with their recent opening in The District of Chesterfield, the Memorial Day opening of a new Kirkwood location and an end of summer opening at Terminal 2 at Lambert International Airport. Josh and Kevin talk a lot about growth, expansion, teams, success and community. Kevin is an incredibly thoughtful guy who clearly has an immense passion for life (and beverages). Grab a City Wide and let’s go…

#craftbeer #craftspirits #stlmade #gallo #stlouis #innovation

Episode 46: Emily Pickel | Busey Bank Apr 25, 2024

The Baked-In podcast is presented by Busey Bank who also happens to be the guest on this week’s episode. Emily Pickel, Busey’s head of charitable relations for the Gateway Region, joined Josh to dive a bit deeper into their community giving, you know, the stuff Josh is always talking about with Busey. Emily has a Masters in Social Work from Washington University and spent a number of years in smaller non-profits before joining the team at Busey.

Josh and Emily discuss not only the ways in which Busey gives back but also how they incentivize their teams to volunteer and support their initiatives through paid volunteer hours and Pay it Forward Fridays to further the organization’s commitment to the positive progress of the communities it serves. They talk about how it’s hard for small and medium size businesses to put these efforts together when it’s usually done by folks wearing multiple hats. Emily has some great thoughts on how to make it work for all sizes of businesses. Lots of aspirational stuff in this one for all leaders. Let’s go….

Episode 45: Dr. Jody Sowell | Missouri Historical Society Apr 18, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh is joined by Dr. Jody Sowell, president and CEO of the Missouri Historical Society. Jody came to St. Louis in 2003 to pursue a doctorate in American Studies at St. Louis University and fell in love with our town. Eighteen years ago he took a small, temporary position at the History Museum and the rest is well…Under his leadership, the museum has been focused on community engagement and leaning hard into a cross cultural, multi-layered look at St. Louis history. He’s overseen 8 of the 10 most visited exhibits in the history of the museum. Josh and Jody talk about their shared appreciation for the power of an American Studies degree, the upcoming 1904 World’s Fair exhibit and building culture through communication and cheerleading. Lots of great leadership lessons in this one. Let’s go…

Episode 44: Curtis Francois | WWT Raceway Apr 11, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh has the chance to sit with Curtis Francois, owner and CEO of World Wide Technology Raceway. Located just a few minutes from the Gateway Arch and covering over 700 acres, the Raceway draws fans from all over the country. Only a decade since purchasing the facility, Curtis has created the only venue in the U.S. to host the elite series from each of the three major race sanctioning bodies - NASCAR, INDYCAR, and NHRA, in addition to 300+ additional events per year. Josh and Curtis discuss the state of racetrack in 2011, the complexity of managing, operating and scaling such a sprawling facility and the community engagement that is a big part of his organization. Rev your engines and let’s go…

#nascar #indyracing #midwest #nhra #stlmade

Episode 43: ChrisHansen | Kranzberg Arts Foundation Apr 04, 2024

On today’s episode, Josh sits with Chris Hansen of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation. Founded in 2006, the Foundation focuses on the development of artistic venues, studios and workspaces, short and long-term residencies, and community-based programming, to provide essential infrastructure for the arts to thrive in the St. Louis region. Chris and the Foundation take a very unconventional approach – via real estate development – to support a diverse artistic community. Chris has been with the Kranzbergs for over 10 years as the executive director driving the organization’s continued growth. This past summer, Forbes magazine named the Grand Center Arts District as the most exciting emerging arts district in America. Chris and Josh discuss the Forbes recognition, the venues that make up the bulk of his work and Music at the Intersection, the civic-led effort presented by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, that encompasses multiple stages set up in streets and green spaces throughout the neighborhood every year in September. Grab a lawn chair and let’s go…

#mati #musicfestival #culture #renovation #STLarts #stlmade

Episode 42: Mitch Meyers | BeLeaf Mar 28, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh has the opportunity to talk with Mitch Meyers. Mitch is a creative icon – from Spuds McKenzie to The Zipatoni Company to Cannabis. Widely recognized as the Mother of Bud Light from her early days at the Anheuser Busch companies, to working with plenty of Fortune 100 companies as the co-pilot of the famed Zipatoni, she has immense experience building brands and building cultures. They talk the Spuds campaign that really propelled Bud Light, building a culture of creativity in the 350 employee Zipatoni, retirement and unretirement, along with her new career leading BeLeaf, a medicinal and recreational Missouri cannabis company. Good stuff in this one. Let’s go…

#cannabis #budlight #advertising #zipatoni #stlmade #anheuserbusch #beleaf

Episode 41: Shalie Dahl Moore | Wheelhouse Fish Mar 21, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh drops a line with Shalie Dahl Moore who recently opened Wheelhouse Fish Co. – a sea to plate fish company providing products that she and her family catch on their own boats out of Petersburg, Alaska. She’s an incredibly passionate person launching into her business with a real focus on simply sharing her love for the people and the products from her hometown. Josh and Shalie talk about growing up on a boat, her journey to the Midwest on a basketball scholarship and how she brings her product to market. Wheelhouse Fish Co.’s items are currently available at Urban Eats in South City and the University City Farmer’s Market with lots more on the horizon. Grab your net and let’s go…

#fishing #seatotable #alaska

Episode 40: Jeff & Randy Vines | STL Style Mar 12, 2024

This week’s episode presented by Busey Bank is a celebration of St. Louis and 314 day! Josh catches up with Jeff and Randy Vines from STL-Style - a hub of civic pride, providing original St. Louis-inspired apparel and stuff and hosting a number of special events throughout the year at their incredibly bustling shop. They are unapologetically all about St. Louis. Self described, their flagship shop on burgeoning Cherokee Street is a gathering spot for local politicos, historians, writers, musicians, filmmakers and artists from all walks, who coalesce there regularly to discuss the current state of affairs in the City of St. Louis and beyond. Josh, Jeff and Randy have the chance to discuss their 2008 cover story in the Sunday NY Times that preceded the 2010 opening of their shop, the art of distilling a neighborhood down to a simple t-shirt graphic, and their steadfast belief in non-expansion.

Be sure and check out this weekend’s special events celebrating 314 Day. More info can be found at stl-style.com.

#branding #apparel #stlmade #stlstyle #cherokeestreet

Episode 39: Matt McGuire | Restauranteur Feb 29, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh sits down with Matthew McGuire – the landmark restauranteur behind two fabulous St. Louis dining destinations. Matt and Josh go way back. They discuss Matt’s journey from his first successful endeavor after college – King Louie – through his days with Gerard Craft’s restaurant group and Central Hall Food Table in the Central West End. Matt is a true hospitality professional with an incredible eye for detail and is really good at making spaces and food and service impeccably understated and delicious and comfortable.

Josh dives deep to understand the intentionality behind Matt’s approach to everything he does. How does he build a staff and a culture? What is he doing differently now then he did as a young restauranteur? It’s great to hear the secret sauce from someone who clearly knows how to create a successful organization.

#restauranteur #stlmade #explorestl #secretsauce #culture

Episode 38: Charli Cooksey | WEPOWER St. Louis Feb 20, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh Allen talks with Charli Cooksey, the dynamic leader of WEPOWER St. Louis.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The problems of racial injustice and economic injustice cannot be solved without a radical redistribution of political and economic power.”

Charli and her organization are doing that work in St. Louis by re-examining the local economy. She focuses on early childhood education, business acceleration and support and lots and lots of policy work. She has a strong vision for the future of the St. Louis and is mobilizing help from a variety of resources in order to get there. In the conversation, Josh and Charli catch up on sharing the TEDx St. Louis stage in 2021, her upbringing in North St. Louis and how it led to her commitment to advocacy and the power of a sabbatical.

Episode 37: Rebecca VanBergen | Nest Feb 13, 2024

On this week’s episode of the Baked-In podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh has the opportunity to talk with Rebecca Van Bergen of Nest. Nest is a nonprofit supporting the responsible growth and creative engagement of the artisan & maker economy to build a world of greater gender equity and economic inclusion. She founded Nest in 2006 after graduating with a Masters in Social Work from Washington University and winning a business/social enterprise competition which provided seed money for Nest. Over the years, she has garnered a tremendous reputation and numerous accolades for her work including being named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, a Levi Strauss & Co. Collaboratory Fellow, a PBS Changemaker, a CNN Young Person Who Rocks and one of the White House’s Top 100 Entrepreneurial Enterprises led by a young person.

Nearly 18 years later, Rebecca leads an organization that is partnering with brand leaders such as Etsy, Madewell, Patagonia, Target and West Elm to continue to improve transparency, social wellbeing, and economic opportunity for handworkers which includes both artisans and less skilled manual laborers, often working from their homes.

She is super inspirational. Josh and Rebecca talk about both starting businesses at 24, the challenges of leading a 100% remote workforce and Nest’s initiatives to assist makers in addressing the growing number of climate change issues.

#nonprofit #crafters #women #change #entrepreneur #stlmade

Episode 36: Jason Bockman | Up Late, Strange Donut, & More... Feb 07, 2024

On this week’s episode of the Baked-In podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh catches up with entrepreneur and fellow-baker, Jason Bockman – the man behind Strange Donuts, Up Late, IDK Ad Agency and a whole host of things we’ll probably never know about. He’s also a tremendous advocate for the City of St. Louis and actively involved with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Children’s Heart Foundation and Girls on the Run. He’s a guy that works tremendously hard to put himself in position for opportunities to present themselves. And then he dives in head first.

They talk about a lot including Jason’s upcoming second-location opening of the his overnight dining concept, Up Late, on February 17, celebrating 10 years with Strange Donuts and the power and the importance of being a dad. Jason brings an unparalleled energy to everything he does – including podcasting. The hustle is real folks.

#donuts #stlmade #stlouis #theloop #hustle

Episode 35: Wildgrain | Johanna Hartzheim & Ismail Salhi Jan 30, 2024

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh sits down (remotely) with some wonderful folks – Johanna Hartzheim and Ismail Salhi – the team behind Wildgrain. Wildgrain is the first bake-from-frozen artisan bread, pastry and pasta subscription box. Founded in early 2020, Wildgrain has grown exponentially in the last 3 years, has 15,000+ 5-star reviews and was recently voted the #1 subscription box in the country (a pretty crowded field) in USA Today. Full disclosure, Josh’s bakery – Companion – is one of many artisan shops across the country that are vendor/partners baking products for Wildgrain’s nearly 60,000 active members. They talk about the challenges in scaling a business that relies on outside manufacturers, the power of non-traditional marketing, and their aggressive plans for continued expansion. They’ve passed through milestones of growth in a matter of months that many businesses take years to experience. So many lessons to learn for all-sized companies in this one and their honesty and transparency is super refreshing. If you’re interested in a monthly subscription, be sure to check out all of their offerings at Wildgrain.com.

#directtoconsumer #artisanbakery #subscriptionbox #innovative #bread

Episode 34: Steve & Will Smith | New + Found Jan 23, 2024

On this week’s episode of the Baked-In podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh had the opportunity to sit down with Steve and Will Smith, the father-son development team at New + Found – the folks behind the City Foundry and lots of other projects in the St. Louis metro area. While the firm works around the country, the Smiths clearly have a strong personal desire to change how St. Louis works, lives and plays. They discuss the back story of the ideation of the Foundry concept that began as simply a food hall and has grown into a multi-dimensional gem for the city, how it brought Will back home to work with his dad, and the future development on the property. It’s really one of the many great things happening in St. Louis. Let’s go…

#architecture #renovation #urbandevelopment #familybusiness #stlmade #cityfoundry

Episode 33: Take Root Hospitality Jan 16, 2024

On this week’s episode of the Baked-In Podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh had a chance to catch up with Tara and Michael Gallina of Take Root Hospitality – who in less than 7 years have opened 4 distinct restaurant concepts in St. Louis and given the community dining and hospitality experiences on par with the best the town has to offer. They talk about the challenges of scaling their roles and their organization and how they define success after years in the industry. The restaurant business is never easy and their honestly and candidness is what makes these conversations so powerful.

#buseybank #takeroot #stlouis #success #cortex

Episode 32: 21C Hotel Team Jan 09, 2024

Can a hotel be more than a hotel? Can it profoundly impact a neighborhood and a community? On this week’s episode of the Baked-In Podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh sits down with the creative forces behind St. Louis’ newest boutique hotel – 21C Museum Hotel a multi-venue contemporary art museum, coupled with a hotel and chef-driven restaurant. GM JP Roberts, Director of Community Impact Christopher Randall and Executive Chef Matthew Daughaday all share their insights on what makes this place special and why they’re excited about their future in Downtown STL, specifically Downtown West. They discuss the vision for the hotel, the importance and focus on being great stewards and supporters of the neighborhood and attracting not only travelers but also locals to all the great things happening down on Locust street. The intentionality behind what they’re doing to drive more than simply “heads in beds” is certainly inspiring.

#art #hotel #intentional #DEI #chef

Episode 31: John O’Leary Jan 03, 2024

On this week’s episode of the Baked-In podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with world renown inspirational speaker, podcaster and best-selling author John O’Leary. John just wrapped on the film adaptation of his 2016 book - On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life. The movie will tell the story of O’Leary, who was burned on 100% of his body at age nine in a house fire. While this conversation could have gone in a million different directions, they spent the time together discussing the challenges of bringing this movie to the starting line and especially to St. Louis, the on-set culture John helped to foster with his daily presence and the lessons learned on set that had nothing to do with movie making. His infectious positivity is incredibly inspiring. For more on John, be sure to check out the Live Inspired Podcast with John O’Leary wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

#OnFire #inspiration #determination #stlouis

Episode 30: Jodi Allen Dec 20, 2023

On this week’s episode of the Baked-In podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh celebrates episode 30 with his Companion co-founder and sister, Jodi Allen. In the midst of all of the holiday craziness, they took a few minutes to look back on the 30-year history of the bakery and the lessons learned from family, the value of failure and, most importantly, the role their mom has played in their success. It’s the right time of year for a conversation like this one.

#family #als #baking #stlmade #holidays

Episode 29: Patricia Ryan Madson Dec 13, 2023

On this week’s episode of the Baked-In Podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh has the pleasure of catching up his former professor from Stanford University in the Bay Area. Patrica Ryan Madson taught acting and improvisation at Stanford for many years and she had an incredible influence on his life as an entrepreneur. Let’s face it, life and business are something that we all make up as we go along. The rules, or maxims as she calls them, of improv – say yes, start anywhere, show up, make mistakes, please – form the basis for finding success when we don’t necessarily feel like we have much control. Lots of fun stuff in this one – save for Josh fumbling through an improv exercise to illustrate an example. If you enjoy Patricia, be sure and check out her book: IMPROV WISDOM – Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up (Bell Tower, 2005).

#Stanford #Improv

Episode 28: Michael Dorf Dec 06, 2023

On this week’s episode of the Baked-In podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh chats with Michael Dorf of City Winery. Founded in New York City in 2009, the urban winery, restaurant and intimate music venue has more than a dozen locations across the US with plans to keep expanding. They recently opened their newest spots in Pittsburgh, PA and in St.Louis’ Foundry project. Michael and Josh discuss growing up in entrepreneurial food families, the value of understanding and appreciating the numbers from the beginning and the importance of focusing on your people and their development. They cover lots of good stuff in this one.

For more information about Busey Bank or to schedule a banking consultation, please visit www.busey.com.

#citywinery #entertainment #entrepreneur

Episode 27: Andy Cohen Nov 22, 2023

On this week’s episode of the Baked-In Podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh has the immense pleasure of talking to Andy Cohen – TV personality, best-selling author, award-winning producer and his cousin. Josh is always incredibly appreciative of time he gets to spend with Andy and they discuss their shared experience of growing up in their family’s food business, the lightening in a bottle creation of the world’s most popular reality soap opera and navigating celebrity with the two new additions to his family. Andy is, well, Andy – warm, engaging, generous, insightful. This one is a real treat.

#andycohen #realhousewives #realitytv #family #customcookies

Episode 26: Ben Hillman Nov 15, 2023

On this week’s episode, Josh has the chance to catch up with Ben Hillman, president of the chef-inspired burger joint Hi-Pointe Drive-In and co-founder of Chicken Out all through his family’s private equity company, Lewis & Clark Capital. For someone in his early thirties, Ben has his hands in a lot of cookie jars and has found success with a very people-first philosophy. It’s exciting for Josh to talk with young leaders so focused on developing and growing their people even in the midst of the fast-paced restaurant industry. They talk about a ton of stuff including site selection, closing underperforming locations and staying close to your teams.

Episode 25: Rick Wolf Nov 08, 2023

On today’s episode, Josh goes deep into the mind of Rick Wolf, creator and proprietor of Found Vintage, Found by the Pound and Mednik-Riverbend – one of the most vertically integrated company concepts around. They discuss the booming industry of donated and recycled clothing, $900 vintage t-shirts and monkey fur. Rick outlines the fascinating path traveled by an article of clothing placed in a local donation box and how it fuels a global industry for concert t-shirts, used Levis and recycled furs. Rick truly understands the secret sauce of this crazy world of textiles.

Episode 24: Joe Edwards Nov 01, 2023

On this week’s episode, Josh has the chance to catch up with Joe Edwards, the “Duke of Delmar”, who is the visionary and developer behind the Delmar Loop – one of the 10 greatest streets in America (per the American Planning Association 2007). Joe opened his first business – the iconic restaurant, Blueberry Hill – in 1972 with the hope of revitalizing a once popular high fashion district in St. Louis, MO. During the next 50+ years, Joe has added music venues, a hotel, additional restaurants, a bowling alley, and, most recently, a mini golf spot to the now bustling entertainment district. Josh and Joe discuss the early challenges, pushing all chips into the center of the table on multiple occasions and his optimistic vision for the future.

#STL #DelmarLoop #minigolf #blueberryhill #renovation

Episode 23: The Dierberg Family Oct 25, 2023

On this week’s episode, Josh had the honor of sitting with the Dierberg family – the 3rd and 4th generations of leadership at the grocery chain with St. Louis roots dating back to 1854. Bob Dierberg, Greg Dierberg and Laura Dierberg Padousis shared insights into multi-generational family businesses, how the definition of success has evolved over the years and charting a path into the future with the next generations in mind. The Dierberg family has been instrumental in helping Josh’s bakery, Companion, grow over the last 30 years and it was pleasure for him to sit with those who have been so impactful on his own entrepreneurial journey.

Episode 22: Dave Wolfe - Urban Chestnut Brewing Company Oct 11, 2023

On this week’s episode, Josh sits down with David Wolfe, co-founder of the Urban Chestnut Brewing Company in St. Louis. David, along with his co-founder Florian Kuplent, worked together in the New Products and Innovations division at Anheuser Busch InBev before embarking on their own craft brewing adventure in 2011. A lot has changed in the industry in the last dozen years, and Josh and David discuss the industry challenges coming out of the pandemic, UCBC’s commitment to sustainability and their success with local & regional collaborations. David is a brewing industry veteran with lots of knowledge to share on the state of beer. Prost!

#podcast #craftbeer #stlmade #AB #german

Episode 21: Melany Robinson - Sprouthouse Sep 27, 2023

On this week’s episode, Josh had the opportunity to catch up with Melany Robinson (LinkedIn: @melany-robinson) of Sprouthouse (LinkedIn: @sprouthouseagency) – a communications agency with offices in 11 markets across the US focused on helping clients in the restaurant and hospitality industry tell their story well beyond traditional PR. They talk a lot about food’s changing landscape and the power of listening even when your job is communicating. Melany brings such a unique perspective as a well-connected player who’s not stuck behind a stove.

#sprouthouse #linkedin #pr #culinaryworld #hospitality

Episode 20: Brian Lagerstrom - YouTube Chef! Sep 20, 2023

On this week’s episode, Josh has the great opportunity to sit with @brian_lagerstrom, chef and YouTube sensation. Brian, who spent time working with both @nichefoodgroup and @loafersstl before leaving professional kitchens behind and embarking on a career behind the camera. What started as a pandemic side hustle has blossomed into a full-time gig – with Brian hitting the elusive 1 million subscriber threshold in July 2023. They talk about the secret sauce of content creation that honors his vision while resonating with his growing audience, the art of revenue generation and the challenges of such a metric driven profession. Super cool to peel back the onion of a whole new frontier.

#podcast #youtube #chef #influencer #contentcreator

Episode 19: Rick Erwin - City Museum Sep 13, 2023

On this week’s episode, Josh sits with Rick Erwin, creative director at the City Museum in downtown St. Louis. Housed in the former warehouse of the International Shoe Company, the museum is the brainchild of internationally acclaimed and classically trained sculptors Bob and Gail Cassilly. The 625,000 square foot museum is full of all the weird and wonderful things cities leave behind. Rick leads the team of artists and certified playground engineers as they continue to build and expand the ever-evolving playground. They talk about the history of the museum, the inspiration to keep building and multiple leadership transitions including the death of Bob Cassilly in 2011 and the sale of the museum in 2018. Great to learn a little of the secret sauce of one of the region’s most celebrated attractions.

Episode 18: Michael Rubenstein - Wally’s! Sep 07, 2023

On this week’s episode, Josh has the chance to sit with Michael Rubenstein of Wally’s. Established in 2020, Wally's is a luxury travel center proud to serve as the Home of the Great American Road Trip. Specializing in great service, delicious food, clean restrooms, and retail souvenirs for everyone. They discuss the challenges of ramping up from 0 to 250 teammates in less than 3 years, building core values while serving thousands of customers daily and where the brand is headed in the future. Michael is truly a leader who believes that the devil is in the details. Buckle up and enjoy the show.

Episode 17: Rung for Women: Ali Hogan & Leslie Gill Aug 30, 2023

In this week’s episode, Josh has the honor of sitting with Ali Hogan and Leslie Gill, the founder and president respectively of Rung for Women – a career accelerator focused on helping women acquire the skills and training needed to uplevel their lives professionally and personally. They’ve already helped over 300 women in the St. Louis region gain traction in their careers and they’re just getting started! These two visionary leaders and their team at Rung believe in helping women go from “surviving to thriving” by taking a (w)holistic approach to advancement – offering child watch services, grab and go meals, financial education, healthcare services and counseling along with specific skills training in tech, geospatial and advanced manufacturing all a no charge to their members. Such an inspiring conversation.

Episode 16: Loryn Nalik - Balkan Treat Box! Aug 24, 2023

On this week’s episode, Josh talks with Loryn Nalic from Balkan Treat Box about growing her wildly popular food concept from a food truck dream to one of the most versatile and exciting food brands in St. Louis. They talk about navigating the early chaos of the opening of CityPark, approaching business with the humility and willingness to ask for help, and mentoring the next generation of emerging food entrepreneurs. It’s easy to see that Loryn’s secret sauce is a quick smile and a hearty laugh…even when the lines are long. Let’s go…

Episode 15: Jon Franko - Gorilla 76 Aug 16, 2023

In this week’s episode, Josh sits down with Jon Franko of Gorilla 76, an industrial marketing firm here in St. Louis that he co-founded in 2006. Jon, in addition to helping his manufacturing clients (read: blue collar brands) grow revenue and retain employees, is a passionate believer in the power of company culture. They discuss the new normal of remote work, the value of defining and living core values and how running plays a major role in Jon’s life following a MS diagnosis in 2016. Lace up your shoes and let’s go…

Episode 14: Tamara Keefe - Clementine’s Creamery Aug 09, 2023

On this week’s episode, Josh sits down with Tamara Keefe, founder, CEO and flavor temptress at Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery. In her late thirties, after a very successful career in consumer packaged goods on a global scale, Tamara opened a small ice cream shop in Lafayette Square in St. Louis, MO. Nearly 10 years and multiple locations later, she’s ready to grow across the country. They discuss obstacles and challenges and the stuff keeping her up at night. Grab a pint of your favorite flavor and enjoy.

Episode 13: Mitch Millstein Jul 26, 2023

This week, Josh catches up with Dr. Mitch Millstein, Professor of Supply Chain Management at UMSL and co-founder of Supply Velocity, a lean manufacturing and supply chain consulting firm. They discuss how supply chain management is having its “moment”, the secret sauce of becoming a you-can-count-on-me supplier and Mitch’s past work with Josh’s bakery on customer optimization. It all may sound like a mouthful, but Mitch has an uncanny ability to make complex business ideas super digestible (and pretty darn interesting) for all of us.

Episode 12: Tricia Zimmer Ferguson - Kaldi’s & More! Jul 19, 2023

This week, Josh sits down with Tricia Zimmer Ferguson, co-owner of the Kaldi’s Coffee family of businesses which includes brands in St. Louis, Nashville, Atlanta, Olympia, WA and the state of Hawaii. They discuss the secret sauce of building regional brands in multiple markets with a common thread of great coffee/tea and even better hospitality.

Episode 11: Greg Belt from Evergrain Jul 12, 2023

Last year, AB-InBev, thanks in large part to the work of this week’s guest, Greg Belt of Evergrain Ingredients, was named the most innovative company in America. Greg and his team at Evergrain have created the only upcycled certified plant protein in the world. And it’s all happening here in St. Louis. Josh and Greg discuss the secret sauce of converting what has historically been a byproduct of the brewing process into a viable and sustainable business.

Episode 10: Lorenza Pasetti (Volpi Foods!) Jul 05, 2023

Josh sits down with Lorenza Pasetti, CEO of the iconic Volpi Foods of South St. Louis, a 120-year-old manufacturer of artisan cured meats. They discuss the secret sauce of navigating the roll out of a national brand, how convenience stores are re-defining the retail food landscape and guiding a legacy company into the fourth generation.

Episode 9: Dan Abel Jun 28, 2023

Dan Abel knows a lot about chocolate. He and his team (including family) have taken two of the most iconic names in Chocolate "Bissinger's" & "Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate," and have generated 20X growth in the bast several years.

An incredible story based upon one of the world's oldest treats finding a way to integrate itself and grow into the next generation of technology, marketing, and creations!

Episode 8: Mike Weiss Jun 21, 2023

The "Big Shark" of bikes, Mike Weiss of "Big Shark Bicycle Company" joined Josh to chat all things two wheels... from popularity, brand partnerships, and the role a global pandemic played in exploding his business, and the industry, in both incredible and frustrating ways. An industry leader, Mike talks about the unique steps that he and his team took to meet the incredible demand for bicycles in the midst of Covid 19, and all the supply chain issues that came along with it!

Episode 7: Stanley Allen Jun 14, 2023

We’re celebrating Father’s Day this week on the podcast. Josh sits down with his dad, Stanley Allen, to share experiences of growing up in a family business and gain insights into leading with kindness. Very intimate conversation between a father and son who clearly admire one another.

Episode 6: Kevin Nashan Jun 07, 2023

Kevin Nashan keeps it simple. While his food has earned him "James Beard" awards, praise from culinary publications world wide, and an army of loyal customers... his secret sauce is hard work. Check out this incredible conversation between long time friends, Josh and Kevin, where they talk about growth, employee loyalty, triathlons, and linen bags!

https://www.sidneystreetcafestl.com/

https://www.peacemakerlobstercrab.com/st-louis/

https://www.latertuliarestaurant.com/

Episode 5: Mark Hyman May 31, 2023

Hyman LTD is a world leader in trading some of the most classic, unique, and impossible to find cars. Founder Mark Hyman is a character as unique as the cars. Josh and Mark have an incredible conversation that digs into why these cars are so special, some amazing barn finds, and what his favorite car in the collection is... and you'll never guess it! Navigating the world of high end hobbies and collectibles is difficult... But Mark has figured out the "Secret Sauce" when it comes to these beautiful automobiles!

Episode 4: Catherine Neville - Explore St. Louis May 24, 2023

Josh was able to sit down with the new VP of Communications for Explore STL, Catherine Neville. In this episode they talk about the rapidly changing face of tourism options here in the Gateway to the West, as well as our storied history that provides an incredible array of culture to feed off of... literally!

#tourism #midwest #culture #culinarycapital #feastmagazine

Episode 3: Gerard Craft May 17, 2023

Join us for an incredible conversation with Gerard Craft, "Chief Flavor Officer" for STL City SC and leader of Niche Food Group, as he talks about the incredible food driven fan experience at City Park, as well as the role failure plays in his company's culture!

Let's go!

Episode 2: Katie Collier May 11, 2023

Katie's Pizza & Pasta has had quite the evolution. From a storefront with no parking, to 48K+ Cardinal fan's a night in a 10,000 square foot space, with a simple focus on making great pizza! Check out this episode to hear her journey and discover how she "accidentally" fell into the frozen pizza business!

Episode 1: Maxine Clark May 03, 2023

Maxine Clark sat down and talked about the early days of Build-A-Bear, it's growth, and what some of the secret sauce was!

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