Spoiler Alert: This season rocked! If you're listening out of order, turn back 9 episodes now to Season 3 Opener: Hit Play and Play Again! You don't want to miss any of the enlightening, inspiring conversations with our amazing lineup.

If you're here because you've listened all the way through, a big thank you and… wasn't everyone on the show fantastic!? Just really good people doing really great things for their cities - Chicago and Houston. Here are some of Lauren and Greg's favorite takeaways from this season...

Family was a theme that found its way into all of our episodes this season. Lauren's interview with Harold Green, for instance, focused on the family of artists he's recruited for his Flowers for the Living Collective. The phenomenal Lili K and Megan McNeal, FFTL collective members, also talked about the importance of family, however you define it. "Your vibe attracts your tribe," as Megan told Lauren. And, indeed, she's right. Previous podcast guests Krystal Metcalf and Sam Trump are all part of that same tribe.

John Reed, owner of BCK in Houston (by way of Newport Beach), chatted with Greg about taking care of his team and respecting the community he moved into.

The team behind Bayan Ko impressed Greg with their mix of family flavors and Do Well Sandwich Co shared their passion for community-focused entrepreneurship.

A side note: If you haven't listened to our episode featuring El Burro and the Bull, do so now! We chatted with them last season and their story about starting out and scaling up in Houston dovetails nicely with what Bayan Ko and Do Well Sandwich Co are facing at the onset of their respective businesses.

"It's those like little moments of that nostalgia and that comfort that you get from from food and how that's translated," Greg says. "That's why I think chefs gets so, so passionate about those recipes. And when someone has a bad experience, you know back to that Whisk episode. I remember him saying that when someone has a bad experience it affects him."

As for what's next, Lauren and Greg are taking care of business, personally and podcasting-wise. Lauren's trying to crush it with her social media clients, running social strategy for restaurants, retailers, and brands. In between, she'll be catching shows all over town.

Greg's probably going to Chicago Gourmet. He's a little festival shy. You'll have to tune in to hear his harrowing story. It may or may not have anything to do with wine.

Until then, let us know who YOU want to hear from! We're always open to your recommendations for food and music in Chicago and Houston so hit us up via the usual channels.

Thanks for listening!

Get all the links and show notes for the season (and previous seasons) at http://www.laurenignited.com!

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What does a guy from upstate New York with a successful restaurant in Newport Beach do to expand his business? He opens an even bigger spot in Houston just before Hurricane Harvey hit, naturally. Greg chats with John Reed, co-owner of Bosscat Kitchen and Libations, about staying successful amidst challenges and taking care of your customers and staff.

John was a successful sports bar owner in California when a rude bartender at a gastropub pushed him to open the first BCK. "Listen, we're going to open up a craft bar and restaurant," he said, "It's going to serve everything from Coor's and Jameson to a $14 well-crafted cocktail, but we're going to do it with with a great attitude." Business partner Leslie Nguyen came up with the idea to focus on whiskey. They opened in Newport Beach at a time when the concept didn't exist in cities outside the biggest three in the country.

BCK has a relaxed atmosphere but is serious about their menus. John says they're cross-cultural dishes with a southern-inspired twist. Cornbread madeleines, pig candy with kimchi, and a chouchou ketchup have all garnered BCK exceptional reviews on Yelp and even interest from review giant.

Becoming a part of Yelp's campus headquarters, however, put too many financial strains on BCK's expansion plans. John knew that if BCK wanted to expand they had to consider points beyond the state.

Read on at http://www.laurenignited.com/BCK

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This episode will make you smile. There's so much good energy swirling around singer and Chicago native Meagan McNeal. Lauren had the chance to chat with her about life after her amazing, if short, run on NBC's The Voice, the guiding principle she wants to instill in her children, and how the city's vibe promotes artistic collaboration.

Since launching her solo career in 2007, Meagan has opened for legendary Motown acts Dwell, Avery Sunshine, John B, and The Velvelettes. She's performed background vocals for Eminem and The O'Jays. She's also had the privilege to work with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on their Peace Initiative Community Partnership.

And, of course, she was a member of Jennifer Hudson's team on season 13 of The Voice, an experience that pushed her well outside of her comfort zone. As for being voted off during the battle round, she says it worked out the way it was supposed to for a number of reasons. "You either win or you learn," Meagan says. "You never lose." That's an affirmation she and her six-year-old son have recited together since he was three. It's the same one she'll share with her second son who's due to be born around the time of this podcast hits the air.

Motherhood has taught her to give more compassionate feedback to other female artists. "If I could just go back and put my hand over that girl's mouth," she laughs looking back at her 22-year old self. "Now, as a mother and just as an older woman," she says, "the message is more compassionate."

Back to showing up, Meagan tells Lauren that says she's always learning from the artists here in Chicago. People like Harold Green, Lili K, Sam Trump, Dee Alexander, Makaya McCraven. Anyone who shares her passion to study study study, learn learn learn.

Meagan says, "Your vibe attracts your tribe." That's a theme that gets repeated often this podcast. Like Meagan, many of the talented guests that sit down to chat have come out of or collaborated with Sidewalk Chalk and Harold Green's Flowers for the Living collective.

Lauren couldn't let Meagan get away without asking her where she likes to eat in Chicago and what's up for the rest of 2019. A couple of her favorite restaurants are Give Me Some Sugah in the city's South Shore neighborhood and Virtue in Hyde Park. As for 2019, she's anxiously awaiting her little arrival.

Best wishes, Meagan!

Check out the full show notes at http://www.laurenignited.com/MeaganMcNeal

Check out Meagan on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (although we have a feeling she's going to have her hands full the rest of the year).

Photo cred: @doug.morence.sr

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Family is everything for Raquel Quadreny and fiancé Lawrence Letrero, the couple behind Bayan Ko in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood. Greg pulls up a chair at this 30-seater and digs into the inspiration behind the Cuban Filipino focus.

The menu is perfectly edited: Cuban dishes that Raquel grew up eating alongside specialties from Lawrence's Filipino heritage. "We're really representing what we eat every day, what we enjoy eating and who we are," says Lawrence.

It's a mash-up that clients have enjoyed eating since Bayan Ko opened in late 2018, to the point of eating them out of menu items on a consistent basis. "People just love to come here," adds Raquel, "to experience the space and our services and just kind of enjoy."

There's a lot to enjoy. But if you're expecting a fusion on a plate, you'll be delightfully surprised. Each dish is a spin on a classic, not a mashed-up reinvention. Smoked ham hock croqueta tots are a small-plates take on a Cuban classic. The oxtail kare kare is a hand-me-down recipe from Lawrence's mother.

"I'm like, I don't care how much it sells it's going on [the menu]. But I'm surprised at how many people have really been open to it," says Lawrence. "I knew the Filipinos would but I don't know all the foodies would come out."

Their tiny BYOB under the elevated tracks, or "L", is a labor of family love from front to back. After a few pop-up shop runs to test their concept, Raquel and Lawrence, went in search of a space to call their own. Once found, they enlisted Lawrence's father and brother-in-law to help with the buildout. When she wasn't tricking out the decor, Raquel got to work staffing the front of house while Lawrence did what he does best: cook.

And what about the restaurant's name? Well, you'll just have to listen in to find out!

Hungry? Make reservations at OpenTable or via Facebook.

And read more at http://www.laurenignited.com/BayanKo

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The Dip draws inspiration from jazz, reggae, funk, and soul. But as Lauren found out for this episode, don't call this electrifying 7-piece group out of Seattle a soul band. "I think that, from a historical standpoint, soul music is the music as a black art form, and we're not African-American," says Tom Eddy, lead vocalist and guitarist.

On their latest album, The Dip Delivers, the band definitely pays its respects to that culturally important genre and artists like Stevie Wonder and The Temptations. They also count The Beach Boys and sessions musicians like The Wrecking Crew as Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section as influences. "It's all these recordings where everything's in the room and feels so alive and the players were so killer," says Jarred Katz, the band's drummer.

Album art is another aspect of the band's overall aesthetic. Created by Dan Gneiding of Grayhood, the designs draw on the great old vinyl covers of the past while capturing the band's modern vibe. But it's not all vintage, all the time. Spotify keeps the band up-to-date on each member's latest discovery.. Beyond the weird songs, Jarred also likes following artists from the same record label, like Stones Throw Records or Colemine Records,.

From a musician standpoint, Tom digs Spotify's ability to serve up every iteration of a single song. "You see Chet Baker or you… see Ella Fitzgerald play this and it's all right there one after another and it's so informative."

The band's currently on the road in support of the new album. Give it a listen on Spotify or Apple Music and check out tour dates at their website.

Find out more at http://www.laurenignited.com/TheDip

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Step inside Dove's Luncheonette in Chicago and you know you're in for a great time. Greg chats with Dove's chef de cuisine Tom Carlin and bartender Courtland Green to find out how the retro 42-seat diner dishes out big taste and modern experiences.

Dove's has a serious pedigree. As a member of One Off Hospitality Group, everything about the little diner under the elevated tracks, or "L", has been thoughtfully considered by the same team whose award-winning concepts include Blackbird, Avec, Violet Hour, and The Publican, among others.

Even the name has a diner-era lineage. "It's pulled out of a Nelson Algren novel A Walk on the Wild Side which takes place kind of along the border of Texas and Mexico," Chef Tom explains. And those border flavors inspire the restaurant's menu. "The location of Dove, where he lived, kind of brought that Tex-Mex thing."

But Dove's prides itself on not sticking to standard Tex-Mex fare. The classic enchilada gets an update to appeal clients from one of Chicago's most eclectic neighborhoods. "I try to keep the enchiladas vegetarian to surprise people," he says. "It's tofu guisado. That's the Wicker Park swing to it. I think I'm going to do yucca for the next one."

Learn more at http://www.laurenignited.com/dovesluncheonette

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If you're not familiar with Chicago-based vocalist Lili K yet, you'll be one of her biggest fans by the end of this episode. Originally known for her standout guest features for Chance the Rapper and Vic Mensa, she established herself as a knockout star in her own right with the 2015 release of her self-produced, full-length debut album Ruby.

She's appeared on ABC and Fox, played festivals like Made in America, North Coast Music Festival, and Pitchfork, and has been written up in Vibe, Huffington Post, and Consequence of Sound. And for all the Houstonians out there Lili K has collaborated with The Suffers so there's a lot of Chicago/Houston crossover.

Get ready to get deep!

Full show notes: http://www.laurenignited.com/lilik

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Greg sat down with the husband and wife team behind Do Well Sandwich Company in Chicago to chat about finding your footing as a new business and being there for the community.

Mike and Malaika Wells finish each other's "sandwiches" (literally) in a way that only couples who have been together since third grade can. It only made sense that they'd wind up in business together. Mike started out doing his own thing, making smoothies until that became too expensive. Malaika had spent her professional life in logistics and operations. Although neither of them had ever run a full-time food business, the idea of creating a space in their underserved community, someplace that fed the soul and the body appealed to them.

Catering was a natural start while they searched for a more permanent footprint. But storefronts cost money. Enter Boxville, a market space in Washington Park created out of old shipping containers.

Mike and Malaika shed some light on being a couple in business together. Their experiences call to mind the husband and wife duos of El Burro and the Bull in Houston and Café Tola in Chicago. "I mean, it actually brought us closer together," Mike says, "and it's not easy."

Get the full show notes at http://www.laurenignited.com/dowell

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Think all spoken word performers recite stale coffeehouse poetry? Think again! Listen in as Lauren gets to know Harold Green, Chicago poet and multifaceted genius behind the artists collective known as Flowers for the Living. His fresh brew of aural and visual stimuli draws fans from around the globe and close to home, including Rahm Emanuel, the city's mayor.

To say that Harold knows everyone doing something special on the Chicago performance scene is an understatement. He's like the ghost behind every guest featured on LaurenIgnited. "That is me, the artist collector," Harold laughs. His Rolodex is no joke: Lili K, Meagan McNeal, etc.

Harold's been curating next level performances and putting together ensembles since his days college days. Attend a FFTL show and you'll immediately sense that the vibe is different, inclusive. Positive. You feel it at Soul Speak too, his open mic and writing workshop series.

The projects showcase Harold's ability to foster connections and entertain at the same time.  FFTL, began in 2014 as a solo YouTube "I wound up calling all of my super friends to come on board," he says. Friends like Erthe St. James, Dee Wilson,  Prince Jericho, and the three background singers he's dubbed the Muses. Since then, FFTL has blossomed into a full-blow orchestra with 20+ members.

Get the full scoop at http://www.laurenignited.com/haroldgreen

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Catch Harold and Flowers For The Living at The Promontory on May 17, 2019.  Find him on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and SoundCloud.

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Welcome to Season 3! And this time around, Lauren and Greg have decided to roll out all the fresh content all at once. You won't want to miss the conversations with amazing chefs, artists, restaurants owners -- and now you don't have to.

Lauren and Greg got the chance to go so profesh, recording the intro in a real, live podcast booth courtesy of 1871, Chicago's technology and entrepreneurship incubator. Lauren mentors startups in all things social media at 1871 so check out their membership offerings and events.

Lauren visited India and Houston during the off-season and Greg stayed on this continent. "If anyone out there is a runner,  he says, "I would highly highly recommend the Disney Marathon!" The route runs through all of the Disney theme parks and there are character photo ops, too! He'll spend the summer getting ready The Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October.

Like Lauren, he found time to eat well while away. He says that, from beginning to end, the  menu and sense of community at Aliment In San Francisco make for a great dining experience. When in Las Vegas, he counts CraftSteak, Gordon Ramsay, and Giada by Giada de Laurentiis among his favorites.

Closer to home, he's looking forward to the Latin inspired concept by Chef Stephanie Izard, set to open soon. This will be her fourth restaurant, after Girl and the Goat, Little Goat Diner, and Duck, Duck, Goat, with Boka Restaurant Group.

Lauren and Greg met back up at Twain in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. The occasion was a special event hosted by Between Bites, a philanthropic organization supporting charitable causes through food-centered storytelling. Top Chef winner Joe Flamm contributed a moving piece dedicated to the memory of his friend and fellow chef-testant Fatima Ali.

As for the season, Lauren goes all in with singer Lili K. They discuss women in the music industry and, as you can imagine, this strong, powerful lady has a lot to say. It gets deep, y'all!

Singer Meagan McNeal chats with Lauren talks about her experience on NBC's The Voice  She shares her thoughts on what it's been like for her as an artist transitioning from single woman to mother.

Two members of The Dip, a seven piece band out of Seattle, join Lauren and you'll definitely want to check them out. They're headed to Chicago in April so listen in!

Lauren wraps up the music side of things with Harold Green, a Chicago poet whose voice is his instrument. Harold puts on some of the most amazing shows with his Flowers for the Living collective.

Greg's on restaurant duty and this season he's running the gamut, interviewing chefs and owners at different stages of business development.

First up is Do Well Sandwich Company in Chicago. Co-owners Malika and Mike Wells share what it's like to start a business and make an impact on their community.  You won't want to miss this conversation.

At the opposite end is Dove's Luncheonette, another huge success from One Off Hospitality, the same team that owns Big Star and Publican. He discovers how Dove's soundtrack is as important an element as the food..  

Circling back to the theme of staring out, Greg talks with Raquel Quadreny and fiancé Lawrence Letrero about their Filipino-Cuban mashup Bayan Ko. Find out how they've managed to stay humble in the midst of sell-out crowds and what they've got planned for the future.

Greg wraps up by talking community and expansion with John Reed, co-owner of BCK in Houston and Bosscat Kitchen and Libations in Newport Beach. He shares his experiences expanding into Houston, setting down roots, and living through Hurricane Harvey.

Such great episodes this season! And LaurenIgnited will be more active on Instagram this year so connect with them via DM and send those likes.

Now it's time for you to hit play and play again. Enjoy the season!

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