On this episode, presented by Busey Bank, I’m sitting down Julie Shih, the visionary behind DD Mau Vietnamese Eatery. Julie opened her first location in 2018 with a mission to deliver fresh, healthy, and flavorful Vietnamese cuisine in a fast-casual setting. Eight years later, she’s making bold moves—relocating her Webster Groves restaurant into a stunning 6,000-square-foot space that she and her husband purchased and completely renovated.

 

This isn’t just a bigger kitchen and more seating—it’s a statement about growth, ownership, and long-term vision. In this episode, we’ll dive into what it takes to make a seven-figure investment in your brand, how Julie balances risk and opportunity, and what this expansion means for the future of DD Mau. We’ll also explore her approach to scaling without losing the soul of her concept and the lessons she’s learned as a leader in the competitive restaurant industry.

 

I'm also excited to welcome a new partner for the show - The Normal Brand - clothing rooted in Midwestern values. Co-founder Jimmy Sansone joined me awhile back (episode #67) and I'm a big supporter. They’re giving listeners 15% off one purchase of regularly priced clothing. Just use the code BAKEDIN at checkout. Head to thenormalbrand.com and find your new favorite fit. 

Let's roll...

#podcast #ddmau #webstergroves #joshallen #companionbaking #stlouis #stlmade

On this episode presented by Busey Bank, we sit down with  Drea Ranek and Melissa Nieberle, the founders of Lusso Style—a design house that’s redefining fan gear for women. What started as a luxury boutique 25 years ago has grown into a national brand partnering with major teams and retailers, from STL CITY SC to Bass Pro Shops. Their mission? To deliver fan apparel that’s as stylish and intentional as the women who wear it.

 

This conversation comes at a pivotal time. Over the last decade, the female fan base in major U.S. sports has surged—NBA and MLS now hover around 45–47% female fans, and even the NFL boasts nearly 80 million women in its audience. Yet for years, women were underserved when it came to quality merchandise. Lusso saw that gap and decided to change the game.

Today, we’ll talk about how they scaled from boutique to national partnerships, the design philosophy behind their collections, and what’s next for Lusso as women’s sports fandom continues to rise. And, as a note, my wife Melissa joined me as co-host since she’s both a fashion fan and huge sports fan. 

 

I'm also excited to welcome a new partner for the show - The Normal Brand - clothing rooted in Midwestern values. Co-founder Jimmy Sansone joined me awhile back (episode #67) and I'm a big supporter. They’re giving listeners 15% off one purchase of regularly priced clothing. Just use the code BAKEDIN at checkout. Head to thenormalbrand.com and find your new favorite fit. 

Let’s roll…

On this episode presented by Busey Bank, I'm sitting down with Nick Bognar—multiple James Beard Award semifinalist, chef, and the creative force behind three of St. Louis’ most celebrated dining experiences: Indo, Sado, and the newly opened Pavilion. Nick’s culinary journey started in his family’s kitchens, where his mom, aunt, and grandmother taught him the power of hospitality and flavor. From those early lessons to high-pressure kitchens in Austin and Cincinnati, Nick has blended tradition with innovation to create restaurants that consistently surprise and delight.

In this conversation, we’ll explore what Nick learned from his family and how those values infuse his kitchens today.

 

We’ll talk about leadership, scaling a restaurant group without losing its soul, and the creative discipline behind staying relevant in a competitive culinary scene.  

 

I'm excited to welcome a new partner for the show - The Normal Brand - clothing rooted in Midwestern values. They’re giving listeners 15% off one purchase of regularly priced clothing. Just use the code BAKEDIN at checkout. Head to thenormalbrand.com and find your new favorite fit. 

Let’s roll…

On this episode, presented by Busey Bank, I'm sitting down with Lisa Nichols—CEO of Technology Partners, host of the Something Extra podcast, and now author of the newly released book by the same name. For over 30 years, Lisa has led with purpose, building one of the most respected IT staffing and solutions firms in the Midwest, all while championing culture, transparency, and mutual wins.

We have a candid conversation about what it really takes to grow a company with heart. We’ll explore the lessons Lisa has learned from hundreds of podcast interviews, how she’s nurturing the next generation of tech leaders, and why she believes your growth quotient—your GQ—is just as important as your IQ or EQ.

We’ll also dive into her new book, Something Extra, and the character traits she believes define transformational leadership. 

I'm excited to welcome a new partner for the show - The Normal Brand - clothing rooted in Midwestern values. They’re giving listeners 15% off one purchase of regularly priced clothing. Just use the code BAKEDIN at checkout. Head to thenormalbrand.com and find your new favorite fit.

Let’s roll...

On this week's episode, presented by Busey Bank, I’m sitting down for the 2nd time with Dan Abel Jr., CEO of Bissinger’s Chocolates—a brand with over 350 years of heritage and a bold vision for the future. From handcrafted truffles to luxury retail boutiques, Dan is leading a nationwide expansion of Bissinger’s retail shops, bringing artisan chocolate experiences directly to consumers across the country.

We’ll dive headfirst into the strategy behind scaling with soul—why Dan chose to grow retail now, how he’s building teams that reflect the company’s values, and what it means to preserve craftsmanship in a world of automation. We’ll explore the new chocolate campus in St. Louis, the balance between wholesale and direct-to-consumer growth, and how culture, purpose, and quality remain at the heart of every decision.

Speaking of quality and purpose, I'm excited to welcome a new partner for the show - The Normal Brand - clothing rooted in Midwestern values. They’re giving listeners 15% off one purchase of regularly priced clothing. Just use the code BAKEDIN at checkout. Head to thenormalbrand.com and find your new favorite fit.

Let's roll...

On this week's episode presented by Busey Bank, we're celebrating 100! We brought together some hospitality heavyweights - Mitch Meyers (BeLeaf Cannabis), Ben Hillman (Hi Pointe Drive In & Taco Buddha), Kevin Lemp (4 Hands Brewery), Kevin Nashan (Sidney Street Cafe & Peacemaker) and Qui Tran (Mai Lee & Nudo House) - for an engaging conversation in front of a live audience. We touched on current projects and challenges, the value of collaborations, the evolution of leadership and the amazing spirit of the St. Louis community. Lots of insights from some real seasoned pros.

 

We also want to give a shout out to a new supporter of the show - St. Louis' own The Normal Brand. Great people, great story (episode #67) and some damn fine clothes. And they're offering listeners a one-time 15% off promotion. Just use the code BAKEDIN at checkout.

On this week's episode, presented by Busey Bank, I’m sitting down with someone who’s redefining what it means to be a modern media entrepreneur—Alexis Zotos. After 15 years in broadcast journalism, Alexis made the bold leap from the newsroom to building her own brand, podcast, and digital presence.

She’s a St. Louis native, a mom, and now a full-time content creator - We’ll talk about the business behind the pivot—how she’s monetizing her platforms, what it takes to run her own media operation, and whether storytelling or sustainability drives her strategy.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to leave a legacy career and build something from scratch, this episode is for you. Let’s roll…

 

#stlouis #companionbaking #joshallen #alexiszotos #modernmedia #socialmedia

On this week's episode, presented by Busey Bank, I welcome back Katie Lee from Katie’s Pizza and Pasta. Katie has been on an absolute heater since she was guest #2 back in 2023, culminating with this past week’s announcement that her frozen pizza line is now available in 1,800 Target stores. 

The perfect time to get her back on the pod and find out just how in the heck she managed to do that with only a small team of dedicated bakers. Plus, how she’s building an incredible group of talented chefs and food professionals, many of which she’s attracted from outside of St Louis. All the while filming a documentary on the Target launch, building new restaurants, and doing her best to be a mom and staying grounded.

So cool to give her a few minutes to share a little long form decompression from all that’s happening. Let’s go…

#katielee #katiespizza #target #wholefoods #stlouis #companionbaking

On this episode presented by Busey Bank, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Cliff Redford, better known as Dr. Cliff Worldwide Vet.

Dr. Cliff has been running Wellington Veterinary Hospital in Ontario, Canada for 25 years, but his impact stretches far beyond the clinic walls. From treating foxes and bald eagles at Canada’s busiest wildlife rehab center to performing surgery on a monkey in the streets of India, his journey is anything but ordinary.

We’ll talk about the making of his award-winning documentary Dr. Cliff Worldwide Vet, the leadership lessons he’s learned from working in war zones and remote communities, and how involving his kids in his work has shaped both his family and his legacy.

If you’ve ever wondered how passion, purpose, and a little bit of risk can transform a career — this episode is for you. Let’s roll…

#veterinarian #cliffredford #animals #warzones #DrCliff

On this week's episode presented by Busey Bank, I'm joined by someone who’s not just built a brand, but helped shape the identity of a city.

Aaron Park is the founder of Arch Apparel, a streetwear company rooted in St. Louis pride and creative grit. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Aaron came to Missouri for college and never looked back. Over nearly a decade, he’s turned Arch into a cultural staple—navigating shifting fashion trends, economic headwinds, and the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we dive into what it means to lead a creatively driven business, how mental health ties so intimately with small business ownership, and why Aaron believes small businesses can—and should—play a role in civic transformation.

#stlouis #apparel #civicpride #australian #entrepreneuer