Is workplace culture just perks and pizza… or is it how your team feels on Sunday night before Monday morning?

In this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, Lucas Farrell sits down with Jamal Cornelious — executive coach, leadership strategist, and host of Gateway to Growth — to talk about what it really takes to build meaningful careers and stronger workplace culture in St. Louis.

From navigating career pivots to launching Mission Defined, Jamal shares how leaders can create environments where people actually want to show up — and why culture isn’t a slogan, it’s a standard.

They discuss:

 - Why “culture” is more than office perks and team happy hours

 - The Sunday night test: how to measure if your workplace is healthy

 - The reality behind career growth (and why social media isn’t real life)

 - How St. Louis professionals can build influence in a relationship-driven city

 - The Show-Me State mindset — and why credibility matters here

This conversation goes beyond business strategy — it’s about leadership, identity, accountability, and building something that lasts in St. Louis.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a mid-career professional, or leading a growing team, this episode challenges you to rethink what culture actually means.

Check out the Gateway to Growth Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fnkGXd8OAH9GZjX3txQKl

🎙 New episodes drop every Wednesday.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY WEEK 🔔

🎧 LISTEN ON:
Apple Podcasts ▶ https://apple.co/36ycuuO

Spotify ▶ https://spoti.fi/3svGoqS

🔗 CONNECT WITH STL BUCKET LIST:
Instagram ▶ https://www.instagram.com/stlbucketlist/?utm_source=Instagram
Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com

🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST
Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode?
Email ▶ [email protected]
Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com/about-us

Support the show

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

Is Energizer Park home to the best food hall in the country… that just happens to be inside a stadium?

In this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, Lucas Farrell sits down with STL CITY SC’s Matt Sebek (Chief Experience Officer) and Chef Gerard Craft (Flavor Officer) to break down how they’ve transformed match day into one of the most unique food and fan experiences in the country.

From launching the City Flavor program to generating over $7 million for local restaurants, this conversation dives into how STL CITY SC is redefining stadium dining, sustainability, and community impact.

They discuss:

- The 4 new 2025 food partners: Motor Town Pizza, Taco Buddha, Biscuit Town, and Goshen Coffee

 - How fan feedback shapes the stadium menu (hello breakfast + NA options 👀)

 - The strategy behind 100% local food vendors — and why it’s the “hardest way” to do stadium food

 - Zero waste matches, composting, and eliminating single-use plastics

 - How the stadium drives traffic back to local brick-and-mortar restaurants

This isn’t just about soccer — it’s about culture, community, and creating 17 massive parties a year in downtown St. Louis.

Whether you’re a diehard soccer fan or just here for the biscuits and Detroit-style pizza, this episode shows how STL CITY SC built a stadium experience that feels uniquely St. Louis.

🎙 New episodes drop every Wednesday.

Support the show

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

In this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, Luke sits down with Megan Brandt, Ryan Brandt, and Bethany Jobe of Stone Reserve, a St. Louis–based stone distribution warehouse redefining how homeowners, designers, and fabricators experience natural stone.

The conversation explores Stone Reserve’s roots as a family business, their deep ties to fabrication, and what sets them apart from traditional distributors. Ryan shares how traveling directly to quarries in places like Brazil and Italy allows the team to hand-select premium slabs, ensuring quality, consistency, and standout materials you won’t find anywhere else.

Bethany brings insight from decades in the stone industry, breaking down common misconceptions about natural stone, durability, maintenance, and how materials like quartzite, marble, and sintered stone actually perform in real homes and commercial spaces. The group also discusses backlit stone, exotic colors, and the artistry behind turning slabs into one-of-a-kind installations.

They reflect on standout projects—from intricate custom fireplaces to restaurants and large-scale commercial work—and what it means to build long-term relationships with designers, builders, and fabricators across St. Louis.

Plus, the team shares their favorite local spots, what inspires them about the St. Louis community, and why they believe natural stone isn’t just a surface—it’s functional art meant to age beautifully over time.

Support the show

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

In this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, Luke sits down with Lauren Healey, Executive Editor of Sauce Magazine, for a behind-the-scenes conversation about what it really takes to keep a legacy local publication alive, relevant, and growing in 2026.

Lauren shares the honest story of where Sauce was last summer, why the acquisition happened fast, and what the last six months have looked like rebuilding with a small team and a strong freelance bench. They talk about how modern media has changed, why print still matters, what performs online (yes, people love lists), and how Sauce’s work can tangibly move the needle for restaurants and small businesses across St. Louis.

They also get into Lauren’s path into journalism, from small-town life outside Springfield to building a career in magazines, and what she still loves about writing about food: telling stories that feel joyful, meaningful, and community-driven.

Plus: what’s coming next for Sauce in 2026, including upcoming issues, expanded distribution, and the return of Food Truck Friday this spring.

Listen now and stay tuned for a big year ahead for Sauce Magazine.

Support the show

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

This week, Luke sits down with Bernadette Faasen, owner of Cobalt Smoke & Sea, to talk about what it really takes to run a restaurant, build a loyal community, and create a dining experience that feels “worth it” every single time.

They get into:

• How Cobalt was designed to feel like an experience, not just dinner
• Balancing restaurant life with being a mom of three boys, and never missing a game
• Why the Let’s Get Cupid pop-up exists, and how it turns February into something fun
• What people misunderstand about owning a restaurant, and Bernadette’s advice for women building businesses
• Her STL favorites, from Katie’s Pizza & Pasta and Napoli to women-owned staples like Genovese Jewelers and Ju Ju Bs

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday.
📍Follow @stlbucketlist for more STL recs.

Support the show

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

From Vegas mega-resorts to St. Louis entertainment weekends, this episode goes behind the scenes with Mike Jerlecki, Vice President and General Manager for Hollywood Casino St. Louis and River City Casino (PENN Entertainment).

We talk about what it’s really like running a casino operation, how the guest experience is built from the ground up, and what’s coming next for sports betting in Missouri.

In this episode, we cover:

• Mike’s path through the casino industry, from valet to leadership, and why hospitality is the whole game
• What’s changing in gaming tech, cashless wallets, mobile betting, and responsible gaming controls
• The vision for new sports books at Hollywood and River City, massive screens, full-service food and drinks, and big-game energy
• How casinos impact St. Louis beyond entertainment, education funding, jobs, scholarships, and community partnerships
• Why live experiences still win, concerts, UFC, packed sports books, and the social “third space” people crave

Support the show

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this week's episode of The STL Bucket List Show, Luke sits down with Justin Mincher (President) and Tyson Cameron (Vice President) from Team St. Louis, a local organization building an inclusive community for LGBTQ+ people and allies through sports, social events, and healthy lifestyle programming.

From volleyball leagues that are at-capacity to pickleball socials that welcome total beginners, Team St. Louis is creating a true “third space” where people can move, meet friends, and feel like they belong.

In this episode, we cover:

• What Team St. Louis is, how it started, and why sports build community differently than typical rec leagues
• Pickleball + volleyball programs, divisions for all skill levels, and how they help newcomers find a team
• Why “third spaces” matter, and how they’re expanding beyond bar-centered social scenes
• Upcoming highlights like the Team St. Louis float trip and new ideas like a hiking club
• Their long-term vision, including building a future facility to support even more programming

✅ Learn more, register, or donate: teamstlouis.org
📲 Follow Team St. Louis on Instagram + Facebook for updates

Support the show

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this week's episode of The STL Bucket List Show, host Lucas Farrell sits down with Nick Sansone of Sansone Group. 

Nick is a St. Louis real estate leader with deep family roots in the region, and a huge passion for supporting local businesses, restaurants, and the community. In this conversation, Nick shares what it’s like building a family business where the company name is also the family name, and why relationships, trust, and showing up in real life still matter more than ever.

We cover:

• Nick’s St. Louis roots, Italian heritage, and early memories that still shape the family today
• The Sansone family approach to business, culture, and carrying a legacy forward
• Why relationship building is still the real “secret weapon” in real estate
• The old-school habits that stand out now, handwritten notes, follow-ups, and in-person meetings
• Nick’s favorite St. Louis staples, from The Hill to Carl’s Drive-In
• Advice for the next generation trying to break into real estate and stand out in an AI-heavy world

🎙️ New episodes drop every Wednesday.

📍 Follow STL Bucket List for more people, places, and stories that make St. Louis special.

Support the show

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

From North County and Jennings to film, music, and cinematic short-form storytelling, Eric “Remrod” Mayes has been using creativity to spotlight St. Louis for years.

In this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, Remrod shares how his early passion for music, photography, and film led to building a platform rooted in positivity, consistency, and community impact. We talk about what it really takes to stay creative long-term, why giving back to local businesses matters, and how he approaches short-form video in a way that feels both cinematic and authentic.

You’ll hear:

• How growing up in STL shaped his creative path
• Why spotlighting local businesses is bigger than content
• His process for shooting, scripting, and editing short-form videos
• The balance between creativity, family, and consistency
• A first look at Half Order, his upcoming documentary exploring Chinese cuisine and Black culture in St. Louis

Whether you’re a creator, entrepreneur, or someone who loves discovering the stories behind STL’s hidden gems, Remrod’s perspective offers a thoughtful look at how culture, community, and creativity intersect.

🔗 Connect with Remrod: www.remrod.com | @remrod

Support the show

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

From Dallas to downtown St. Louis, from corporate banking to coaching and community building, Britteney Ofodile has been quietly shaping spaces that help women lead with confidence and grow with purpose.

In this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, Britteney shares how moving to a city where she knew no one became the catalyst for building Her Move, a digital community for mompreneurs and ambitious women, and how she ended up consulting for one of downtown’s buzziest spots, The Moniker. We also get into the difference between customer service and true hospitality, what it takes to build social capital in St. Louis, and why moms deserve more than a “thank you” text.

You’ll hear:

• How a stay at home season pushed her to reinvent herself
• The story behind Her Move and creating community for mompreneurs
• What she’s learned helping build The Moniker into a downtown staple
• The real difference between customer service and hospitality
• How to show up for the moms in your life in small but powerful ways
• Why collaboration and “bringing something to the table” matters in STL

Whether you are a mom, an entrepreneur, or just someone trying to find your lane in St. Louis, Britteney’s story is a reminder that you can start over, build something new, and still honor your values and your family.

🔗 Connect with Britteney:
http://britteneythecoach.com/

Support the show

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO