We Never Met

In this episode, Sam meets Courtney Lesnik, the founder and owner of the vegan pop-tart company, Toast’d. They chat about vegan pop-tarts, the science of baking, her massive growth, creativity, culinary artists, experimenting with weird flavors, fitness, moving around the world, living in a city vs. vacationing, eating pop-tarts as a kid, and added sugar.

In this episode, Sam meets illustrator, artist, entrepreneur, and graphic designer, Kristen Best. They chat about being a graphic designer before an illustrator, technology, studying linguistics, her love of music, archeology, teaching yourself how to draw, illustration style, meaningful commissions, northern California, and starting a family creative agency.

In this episode, Sam meets entrepreneur, chef, yogi, photographer, and ceramicist, Karen Pride. They chat about growing up in the Midwest, working in the culinary industry, owning three restaurants in Portland, Eastern philosophies, juggling four businesses at once, yoga, burning out, veganism, pursuing your own path, ceramics, and more/less lists.

In this episode, Sam meets artist and illustrator Lauren Marvell. They chat about her fascination with blank things, finding your passions, art school, playing the bassoon, her unique style, creating patterns, past jobs, Washington Park, and designing for Hacienda Beer Company.

In this episode, Sam meets the founders and owners of Tactile Craftworks, Anna Warren and Sarah Heck. They chat about creating leather goods, working in a prop shop, the history of objects, using lasers on leather, traveling, maps of cities, friendship bracelet businesses, improving at your craft, donating to the national parks, and bees.

In this episode, Sam meets the founder of Great Northern Distilling, Brian Cummins. They chat about central Wisconsin, growing up in Ohio, chemical engineering, the paper industry, starting a distillery, creating the recipes for craft spirits, sourcing local ingredients, the origins of gin, brandy drinking in Wisconsin, old fashioned theories, and prohibition laws.

In this episode, Sam meets the owner and founder of Grasshopper Goods and professor at National Louis University, Karen Tardrew. They chat about how Grasshopper Goods started, being a professor, her life-changing trip to the Caribbean, refurbishing a pizza truck, being the first mobile boutique in Wisconsin, curating items for the truck, connecting with people, working through adversity, cancer, and opening up a brick and mortar shop.

In this episode, Sam meets morning show host at 99.1 The Mix, Tony “Radar” Hess. They chat about how he got into radio, Tony Super Radio, working mornings at FM106.1, talking with a smile, being local, transitioning morning shows, building relationships, meeting Willie Nelson, social media, and the future of radio.

In this episode, Sam meets the founder of Roar Philanthropy, Lauren Nelson. They chat about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, being a survivor of childhood cancer, volunteering, creating Roar Philanthropy, kidneys, healthcare, not drinking alcohol, survivor’s guilt, the future of Roar, and high school volunteerism.

In this episode, Sam meets the founders of Allie Boy’s Bagelry & Luncheonette, Staci Lopez and Ben Nerenhausen. They chat about what brought them to Milwaukee, going to culinary school in California, working at a Michelin 3-star restaurant, being married and business partners, creating a positive kitchen environment, burn out, why they got into the culinary field, and the pandemic.