On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, I’m sitting with Brittany Dwyer, the visionary behind DISCO! DISCO! is not your typical event planning company. It’s an innovative organization that merges traditional event strategy with cutting-edge software solutions, helping businesses connect with their audiences in ways that truly resonate. Brittany and her team have been transforming how companies approach events, not just as one-off experiences but as integral parts of their customer and employee engagement strategies. In this conversation, we’ll explore the obstacles Brittany has faced scaling DISCO!, how she’s navigated the ever-evolving event landscape, and what keeps her up at night as she looks to the future. We’ll also dig into the broader, theoretical value of events — how they can be a game-changer for building stronger customer relationships and fostering an engaged workforce. Let’s roll…

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, I have the chance to sit with David Stine and Stephanie Abbajay of David Stine Furniture. David is a master craftsman whose journey began with sustainably sourced wood from his family farm, transforming it into heirloom-quality furniture. Stephanie, with her background in communications, joined the business to help it grow and reach a wider audience. Together, they’ve navigated the challenges of balancing creativity with business, sustainability with scalability, and a marriage with a shared entrepreneurial journey. Today, we’ll explore what it’s like building a company that marries old-world craftsmanship with modern design, how they manage to work seamlessly as a couple, and what it takes to build relationships with clients who value authenticity and quality. I’m excited for you all to hear their insights on the intersection of artistry, business, and partnership. Let’s roll…

Today I got to talk with Andy Karandzieff of the iconic Crown Candy Kitchen, St. Louis' oldest ice cream and soda fountain. Opened in 1913 by Andy's grandfather Harry, who brought his confectionary skills from Greece, along with a dream to provide a family-friendly environment to enjoy the delicious creations. Andy Candy as he's affectionately known, is the third generation keeping this legacy alive in North St. Louis. He's a huge advocate of the city, and he isn't afraid to put his money where his mouth is, living and working in the same historic neighborhood. We touch on a lot during this conversation, including the weight of carrying on traditional candy making, lessons learned from his father, and his mom's advice about taking vacations when you can still enjoy them. Let's roll!

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…

On this week’s 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…

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

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…

On this week’s episode 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…

On Episode 64 of the Baked-In Podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh chats 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...

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…

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

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/

Jack (Trip) Straub, III  – Straub’s Fine Grocers

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…

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…

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…

On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, Josh is joined by Dave Boller, the GM of the United Football League’s St. Louis Battlehawks. Josh really enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the structure of the league, how they’re helping develop players for the NFL and how the UFL is a bit of an experimental playground for innovative rules and technology. Josh and Dave talk about everything from the hub league model with all players living and training in Texas, fixed salaries for all positions and the all-hands-on-deck approach to launching a start-up league. It’s a lot like any entrepreneurial journey. Let’s roll…

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…

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…

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 and his team handle 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…

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…

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…