Advertise on podcast: The STL Bucket List Show

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Mark Sawyier, the founder behind GiftBetter. He’s reinventing the gift card so that every dollar stays in the community, one local business at a time. Mark came from New York City to go to WashU and started his first business from his dorm room. He stayed in St. Louis for 20 years of building companies, including a digital marketing agency and the employee engagement platform Bonfire. When Bonfire’s clients kept asking for local gift card options, Mark dug into the numbers. Americans spend nearly $270 billion a year on gift cards, and about 90% of it goes to national chains. In St. Louis alone, close to $2 billion a year leaves the region. GiftBetter connects to the gift card systems local merchants already use, like Square, Toast and Clover. It adds video messages, custom physical cards you can load on the spot, and lets the recipient choose where to spend it. Merchants pay nothing to join. It’s a conversation about why St. Louis is built for founders, what a gift card really says about the person giving it, and what happens when a startup’s growth is measured in dollars kept at home. They discuss:  - Mark’s path from NYC to WashU, and why St. Louis’s affordability, access and talent kept him here  - How Bonfire’s corporate clients sparked the idea for GiftBetter  - GiftBetter’s pillars: local spending, personalization, custom physical cards and recipient choice  - How the platform helps merchants with cash flow and gives companies easy gifting with built-in tracking  - Advice for young founders on de-risking, staying focused and ignoring vanity metrics Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Charles Whitt, co-founder of the Mound City Film Festival — a free, full-day celebration of Saint Louis and the Midwest, one film, band, and bite at a time. What started last year as a monthly Mountainfilm series at Four Hands Brewing Co. downtown, created to celebrate Open Space STL's 60th anniversary, is now taking over Atomic by Jamo in The Grove on Saturday, November 7th. Charles walks us through the day, from live art demos curated by Third Degree Glass Factory and climbing clinics with Climb So iLL to sets from Atomic Junction and chef-driven Atomic Eats pairings with Four Hands, plus the Mountainfilm tour lineup and regional filmmakers tackling our rivers, reforestation, native pollinators, and healing outdoors. He also shares why the festival leans environmental, what it took to screen 42 films this summer, and his vision for turning Mound City into a walkable, multi-venue neighborhood festival. It's a conversation about Saint Louis stories, the great outdoors, and what happens when a city stops waiting for big events to come from somewhere else. They discuss:  - Growing a brewery film series into a full-day festival  - Live art, local music, and food and drink pairings at Atomic by Jamo  - Regional films on rivers, reforestation, and native pollinators  - Bringing Mountainfilm's tour and outdoor adventure to STL  - Planning your free day out and where Mound City goes next Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Jordan Franks, the founder behind Taste of Jack's — a fresh, small-batch St. Louis salsa brand — and brand ambassador Spring, one jar at a time. Jordan's salsa started as a COVID-era afternoon snack that suddenly clicked as a retail product, landing first at The Annex in Webster Groves and Fresh Thyme at City Foundry before growing to farmers markets, Food Truck Friday, and all 26 Dierbergs locations. He walks through the lineup — Sassy, Spice, Magic, and Unicorn — early collaborations like a Hi-Pointe special with Mike Johnson, and a new partnership with Keon Watkins of Sauce So Good that started with a chance meeting with Spring at Soulard Market and turned into a hit pop-up at Foodies Eat First Fest, planned in under two weeks. He gets candid about the regulatory and distribution realities of CPG, bootstrapping without giving up equity, and the personal sacrifices behind a brand named as a nod to his daughters. It's a conversation about grit, fresh ingredients, and building something that lasts long enough to become someone's nostalgia. They discuss:  - Turning a COVID-era snack into a salsa on Fresh Thyme and Dierbergs shelves  - The Sassy, Spice, Magic, and Unicorn lineup and why fresh beats shelf-stable  - Collaborating with Spring, Sauce So Good, Hi-Pointe, and Sugarfire at Foodies Eat First Fest  - The real work behind CPG: regulations, distribution, and staying grassroots-funded  - Family, sacrifice, and a 10-year vision for a salsa with a story 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Mike Seper, Director of Innovation and IP at UMSL, and Mark Munsell of GeoSTL, the minds behind the first-ever Missouri Innovation Week, happening October 13–17. Mark spent 25 years at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency working on some of the world's hardest problems. Now he's leading the new Spirit of St. Louis AI Innovation Center, named after the nine St. Louis civic leaders who bet on a young aviator in 1927. The two walk through a week built for students as much as leaders: AI-for-good panels with Nvidia, Google, AWS, and World Wide Technology, a free student expo, an awards night at the Saint Louis Science Center Planetarium, and a 33.5-hour hackathon (the length of Lindbergh's flight) where high schoolers take on real challenges from the City of St. Louis. They also get into where geospatial and ag tech overlap, vibe coding, and why replacing workers with AI is a race to the bottom. It's a conversation about betting on the next generation and what happens when St. Louis decides to lead. They discuss:  - Launching Missouri Innovation Week and the Innovate USA Summit & Expo  - The NGA, GeoSTL, and St. Louis' geospatial economy  - The Spirit of St. Louis AI Innovation Center and using AI for good  - Getting kids building with hackathons, robotics, and vibe coding  - Why cutting jobs for AI is a mistake, and how to equip teams instead Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Rachel King, the executive director behind MADE Makerspace — a creative hub on the Delmar Maker District where anyone can walk in and build just about anything, one project at a time. Rachel spent 15 years as a wedding photographer and earned a degree in clinical mental health counseling before joining MADE as membership director. She'd only just been promoted to executive director when the May 16th tornado blew out the building's windows. By 7 a.m. the next morning, volunteers were lined up at the door, and once MADE was cleaned up they moved on to help the neighbors. Since then the mission has grown toward "make, connect, belong." That looks like $10 community classes for people priced out of or intimidated by the machines, a Maker to Market entrepreneurship program, and the Upward Spiral project: 26 Little Free Libraries covered in 3,000 community-made tiles. Now MADE is throwing its first in-person fundraiser. Maker Fest is an 18+ festival of creatives on October 2nd, with food and drinks from three Delmar restaurants, live demos, hands-on stations and a hard cap of 300 guests. It's a conversation about resilience, belonging and what happens when a neighborhood decides the only option is to keep moving forward. They discuss:  - Rachel's path from wedding photographer and counselor to running MADE  - The May 16th tornado and how the community showed up the next morning  - How MADE's mission shifted toward make, connect, belong, including $10 classes and "bad art"  - What to expect at Maker Fest: tastings, screen printing, a live wood lathe demo, maker vendors, Four Hands Brewing and Bold Spoon Creamery  - Membership, 50+ pro-grade machines, businesses born at MADE and the Upward Spiral project 🎟 Get Maker Fest tickets ▶ madestl.com/makerfest Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Logan Ice, founder of The Growth Den — a Saint Louis-based fractional growth and demand marketing consultancy helping local businesses stop guessing and start advertising with intention. Logan first landed in Saint Louis for Washington University, but it was a $5 scalped ticket to a Cardinals-Cubs game — and a stadium-shaking Pujols walk-off grand slam — that convinced him to stay for good. After a detour to Seattle helping Varsity Tutors open a new office and years consulting for enterprise clients like Edward Jones and Centene, he built The Growth Den around a different model: instead of open-ended retainers, he embeds as a fractional head of growth, builds the tools and AI models a business needs, and then hands them the keys. In this conversation, Logan and Luke dig into the fundamentals every Saint Louis business owner should know — the difference between demand generation and demand capture, where a restaurant with a $500 budget should actually spend it, why protecting your own brand terms on Google comes before anything flashy, and the single biggest mistake he sees business owners make with their ad accounts. It's a conversation about building a business without losing your family in the process — and why, for Logan, the real ROI is never missing bedtime. They discuss:  - Why a Cardinals game sealed Logan's decision to call Saint Louis home  - Building The Growth Den around an embedded, fractional growth model instead of retainers  - The real difference between demand generation and demand capture  - Where a local restaurant should spend its first $500 in ad budget  - Knowing when it's time to stop DIY-ing your marketing and bring in help Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Bubba Sparxxx, the Georgia-born artist behind two of the 2000s' biggest crossover hits — "Ugly" and "Miss New Booty" — ahead of his stop in St. Louis for the Tacos and Tequila festival. Bubba talks about growing up on a dirt road in rural Georgia with, in his words, more natural ability than industry preparation, and walks through the different eras of his career — the cultural weight of "Ugly" during the TRL and 106 & Park years, and the sheer commercial size of "Miss New Booty," made with Mr. Collipark and the Ying Yang Twins and named for a line from the movie The Players Club before it took on a life — and a literal meaning — of its own. He traces his sound, which he calls "country hip hop" (or, more accurately in his telling, "hip hop country," since hip hop comes first), back to growing up idolizing Outkast and the Dungeon Family and being signed to Big Boi. He's candid about a long struggle with addiction and alcoholism that he says started as an internal condition long before his first drink, what it took to get sober in an industry that still encourages drinking and partying, and how the drug landscape facing young artists today — fentanyl, gas station opiates, nitrous — is a different, harder world than the one he came up in. These days he splits his life between the foot of the Rockies in Utah, where he doesn't record at all, and Atlanta, where recording is treated like a work trip; on the music side, he's releasing new singles like "Pop It" featuring Bun B ahead of Impolite Gentleman 2, and playing a stacked St. Louis lineup at Tacos and Tequila alongside Rick Ross, Paul Wall, Young Joc and Murphy Lee. It's a conversation about longevity, honesty, and staying rooted in exactly where you're from — even when the whole industry is telling you to be someone else. They discuss: - Growing up on a farm in Georgia and the different cultural weight of "Ugly" versus the sheer size of "Miss New Booty" - Coining "country hip hop" (really hip hop country) and the Outkast/Dungeon Family roots behind it - An unusually candid look at addiction, sobriety, and how the music industry treats partying - Splitting time between Utah and Atlanta, and treating recording like a "work trip" - New music with Bun B and Paul Wall, and playing St. Louis's Tacos and Tequila festival Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Marie-Hélène Bernard, the President and CEO behind the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra — the second-oldest orchestra in the country, now settling into a fully rebuilt home at Powell Hall and its 147th season. Marie-Hélène arrived in Saint Louis in 2015 by way of Montreal, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Cleveland, drawn by an arts scene she says rivals anything on the East Coast — and walked in with a plan already in mind: preserve Powell Hall and rebuild it into the Symphony's future home, an eleven-year, privately funded undertaking that reshaped an entire block of Grand Center. She arrived just after the killing of Michael Brown, choosing to lean into Saint Louis's hardest conversations rather than avoid them, and that same community-first instinct now shows up in 130-plus local partnerships, the IN UNISON chorus's three-decade collaboration with Black churches, and an education philosophy she sums up as a cycle of life — the three-year-old in a classroom today becomes the 24-year-old on a first date at the Symphony, then the subscriber, then the board member. It's working: forty percent of last season's audience was brand new. It's a conversation about legacy, risk-taking, and building an orchestra — and a neighborhood — that grows its own future one generation at a time. They discuss:  - Moving to Saint Louis from Boston in 2015 and rebuilding Powell Hall over eleven years  - Leading the Symphony through the aftermath of Michael Brown's death  - Growing 130+ community partnerships, including the IN UNISON chorus's work with Black churches  - Building a pre-K-through-college education pipeline for future audiences and board members  - Explaining why 40% of last season's audience was brand new 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Derrick Walker Jr., founder of Rides N' School Supplies, the North St. Louis organization that's turned a single car show into scholarships, school supplies, and mentorship for kids across the city since 2019. Derrick was born and raised on a North St. Louis block he still lives on today, alongside eight other family members — including his 97-year-old grandmother. His path to Rides N' School Supplies started while mentoring teenage boys through the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis inside the Juvenile Detention Center. After a year of one-hour weekly sessions, he realized the bigger opportunity wasn't helping kids after they'd already ended up there — it was keeping them out in the first place. So he and his cousin, both Dodge Charger owners at the time, turned their shared love of cars into a car show built around scholarships and community resources. Nine years later, the organization is a family affair: his wife serves as treasurer, his mom and dad are involved day to day, and his son's godfather runs creative strategy. Derrick shares the story of Stefan Riggins, a scholarship recipient now studying at Harris-Stowe, and opens up about the organization's most personal project: restoring a donated 1979 Corvette in memory of his late cousin Morris, known at the O'Fallon Park rec center as "Mo Fallon," who passed away playing basketball in 2019. They talk about a dream Harris-Stowe full-ride partnership, nearly $60,000 in scholarships given out so far, and what it means when parents pull Derrick aside in tears. It's a conversation about using cars to open doors, family showing up for family, and building something in St. Louis that outlasts any one car show. They discuss:  • Building Rides N' School Supplies from a single car show in 2019  • Mentoring teens at the Juvenile Detention Center through 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis  • Realizing prevention could matter more than intervention  • Growing up on the same North St. Louis block as eight family members, including his 97-year-old grandmother  • Running the organization as a family — wife, mom, dad, and cousins all on the team • Using cars as a hook to introduce kids to bigger life lessons • Watching community members show up for the kids even in the rain  • Following Stefan Riggins's journey from scholarship recipient to Harris-Stowe student and fraternity brother  • Teaching real-world skills through the Automotive Symposium, from oil changes to electric vehicles  • Restoring a 1979 Corvette donated in memory of his late cousin, Morris "Mo Fallon"  • Partnering with Rankin Technical College to expand automotive training • Dreaming of a full-ride Harris-Stowe scholarship partnership  • Wanting to bring his Uncle Sheldon's 1968 Plymouth Road Runner back to the next show  • Trading rapid-fire picks on dream cars and favorite St. Louis sandwich spots Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Chris Bolyard, founder of Bolyard’s, to talk about building one of St. Louis’ standout butcher shops and the years of hard work, hospitality, local relationships, and passion for food that made it possible. Chris shares his journey from working in kitchens as a teenager to opening his own butcher shop in 2014, including the challenges of stepping out from behind the kitchen line and learning how to connect with customers from the other side of the counter. He reflects on starting the business with his wife, learning the importance of hospitality, and building a space where customers can not only buy quality meat but also learn how to cook and understand where their food comes from. The conversation goes deep on Bolyard’s relationships with local farms, why transparency is so important, and how Chris chooses farmers who share his standards for raising animals. He explains his philosophy that animals should have the best possible life before becoming food, and why humane farming and processing ultimately affect the quality of the final product. Chris also opens up about expanding the original butcher shop into a restaurant, how the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly changed the business, and how the meat shortages of 2020 introduced Bolyard’s to a much larger audience. From brunch and butcher classes to mentorship and creating a space for the Maplewood community, the conversation explores what it really takes to build a lasting local business. From entrepreneurship and family to farming, food, mentorship, and the future of the St. Louis food scene, this episode is a look at the person and philosophy behind one of the city’s most unique food businesses. They discuss:  - How Chris went from working in kitchens as a teenager to opening his own butcher shop  - The challenges of opening Bolyard’s in 2014  - Learning to transition from working in the kitchen to serving customers  - Building the business alongside his wife  - Chris’ philosophy on animal welfare and humane farming  - How the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly helped grow the business  - Using the whole animal and minimizing waste  - Creating a space for the Maplewood community  - Teaching butcher classes and mentoring the next generation of restaurant workers  - Why supporting local farmers and businesses is so important  - The future of Bolyard’s and Chris’ goal of spending more time in the cut room and kitchen Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Mohit Patel, the owner of Barrel Blends Wine and Spirits — the St. Louis bottle shop that's grown from one store in Bridgeton into four locations across the region, one barrel pick at a time. Mohit's path to running a liquor store started nowhere near liquor at all. He came to the U.S. from India in 2006 to study pre-pharmacy at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, fell in love with research instead, and spent the next decade chasing two biotech startups and a PhD developing a new antimicrobial aimed at antibiotic-resistant "superbugs." When that work proved too slow a path to support a growing family, he pivoted to something that could pay the bills sooner. He opened his first Barrel Blends wanting to fix what felt like a broken retail experience — grab a bottle, get in line, check out, nothing more. Drawing on the hospitality he grew up with in India, where showing up at someone's door unannounced is normal and feeding guests is instinct, he built stores meant for people to linger: wide aisles, open bottles poured right at the register, and a team trained to be on the floor talking to guests instead of standing behind a counter. That philosophy is what turned the Valley Park flagship into what it is today — a small bar next to the register that grew into a full bar, a walk-in cigar humidor, and a golf simulator, built one guest request at a time. It's also why barrel picks are treated as a real commitment rather than a marketing gimmick: Mohit and his team travel to distilleries, taste barrels alongside guests and staff, and skip months entirely when nothing meets the bar. It's a conversation about building a business around hospitality instead of transactions, treating a barrel pick as a promise instead of a product drop, and what happens when a liquor store becomes a family's third home. They discuss: • Trading a career in scientific research for a shot at retail after two biotech startups and a PhD • Immigrating from India in 2006, learning to do his own laundry, and adjusting to life outside a joint family household • Developing a new antimicrobial aimed at antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" during his PhD, and why that work is still ongoing on the side • Opening the first Barrel Blends in Bridgeton to fix what felt like a mundane, transactional liquor-store experience • Bringing Indian-style hospitality into retail — wide aisles, open bottles poured at the register, and a team trained to be on the floor • How Barrel Blends actually earns a barrel pick — traveling to distilleries, tasting with guests and staff, and skipping months when nothing's good enough • Missouri's own thriving whiskey scene, from Ben Holladay to Still 630 Distillery • How the Valley Park flagship's bar grew from a small counter setup into a full bar, walk-in cigar humidor, and golf simulator • Discovering that more than 70% of Barrel Blends' revenue comes from returning guests • The Father's Day bourbon-and-food-pairing tradition Mohit built as a tribute to fathers, having grown up far from his own family in India • Where in St. Louis County Barrel Blends might plant its next flag Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Gesler and Chloe Joya, the husband-and-wife team behind Casero — the Salvadoran food truck that's become one of St. Charles County's most talked-about bites, one carne asada plate at a time. Their story starts with nothing. After Gesler lost his dream job during an immigration process and was sent back to St. Louis, the couple moved into an empty apartment with no furniture, no jobs, and only a couple of borrowed forks. With Gesler unable to legally work but able to cook, and Chloe able to legally own a business, they bet everything on the one recipe he knew by heart — his mom's carne asada from El Salvador — and started selling it out of the Ballpark Village dog park with a borrowed grill and tent. From there it was a failed homemade trailer, a hand-painted Penske truck shipped in from out of state, run-ins with the health department, and years of prepping in borrowed kitchens at 4:30 in the morning before Casero became the truck people now line up for. The conversation covers what it actually took to get there: the human side of food truck hospitality, sourcing from Orlando's and local farmers instead of distributors, the community of St. Louis restaurant owners — Elliot, Lauren, Balkan Treat Box's Loryn and Edo — who mentored them along the way, and the couple's refusal to raise prices or cut corners even as demand exploded. They dig into the chaos of selling out of handmade tortillas in 30 minutes flat, their faith as the driving force behind every turning point, and the brick-and-mortar restaurant they're now building toward — one with its own prep kitchen, its own tortillas, and its own walk-in cooler. It's a conversation about betting everything on a single recipe, staying ethical when it would be easier not to, and what happens when a community decides to root for you. They discuss:  • Losing a dream job to immigration issues and starting over with an empty apartment  • Betting everything on one carne asada recipe from Gesler's mom in El Salvador  • Selling out of the Ballpark Village dog park with a borrowed grill and tent  • The night the line wrapped around Ballpark Village and GM Marcus jumped in to help  • A failed homemade food trailer and the hand-painted Penske truck that followed  • Constant run-ins with the health department before doing it "the right way"  • The relentless persistence it took to get a spot at Frankie Martin's  • Sourcing meat, produce, and now local chicken from Orlando's, El Morelia's, and Maninos  • Faith, getting the truck blessed, and God's timing through years of failed attempts  • Selling out of handmade tortillas in 30 minutes and the scramble to keep up with demand  • Mentorship from Balkan Treat Box's Loryn and Edo and St. Louis's uniquely supportive food scene  • Their "we don't want buts" philosophy and refusing to raise prices to chase profit  • Building content and storytelling around the truck instead of traditional advertising  • The brick-and-mortar restaurant dream — their own prep kitchen, walk-in cooler, and tortillas Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Mitch Baden, President and CEO of Royal Banks of Missouri, to discuss what it takes to lead one of St. Louis' longest-standing community banks in an industry that's constantly evolving. Mitch shares his remarkable 50-year journey in banking—from his memorable first day on the job to leading Royal Banks through rapid technological change, digital banking, and strategic expansion across Missouri and Illinois. He reflects on the lessons learned from working alongside his older brother, how community banking has changed over the decades, and why Royal Banks continues to invest in both technology and neighborhood branches despite the industry's shift toward digital-first banking. The conversation explores what makes community banks different from national institutions, the importance of building relationships with local businesses, and why reinvesting in St. Louis remains at the core of Royal Banks' mission. Mitch also shares his passion for supporting local nonprofits, preserving the independence of the bank, and helping strengthen the communities it serves for generations to come. From entrepreneurship and leadership to philanthropy and the future of community banking, this episode is a conversation about investing in people, places, and the future of St. Louis. They discuss: Mitch Baden's 50-year career in banking and the story behind his unforgettable first day How Royal Banks of Missouri was founded more than 60 years ago The evolution of banking from paper records to mobile-first digital banking Why community banks continue to matter in an increasingly digital world The technology investments that helped Royal Banks serve customers through COVID-19 Expanding into Illinois and rural Missouri while staying rooted in St. Louis Why Royal Banks continues investing in neighborhood branches and local communities Mitch's relationship with his older brother and the mentorship that shaped his career The importance of supporting local nonprofits, schools, and community organizations What makes St. Louis a unique place to live, work, and build a business Mitch's vision for keeping Royal Banks independent for generations to come Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Luke and Kevin Beattie, the father-and-son team behind Fox's Finest Market, to talk about bringing a historic Kirkwood storefront back to life and building a business centered around family, quality food, and community. Luke and Kevin share how their journey began in the automotive industry before taking an unexpected leap into hospitality. They discuss why they believed Kirkwood needed a neighborhood fine foods market, the story behind restoring an 1875 building, and what it's been like building a business together across generations. The conversation dives into their vision for sourcing fresh seafood, premium meats, locally raised pork, imported specialty foods, and chef-prepared meals—all while creating a welcoming neighborhood market where customers can shop, learn, and gather. They also reflect on the challenges of renovating a historic building, working alongside local businesses, and creating a company they hope will serve the Kirkwood community for generations to come. From entrepreneurship and family business to great food and small-town community, this episode is a conversation about building something designed to last. They discuss:  - Why Luke and Kevin left the automotive industry to launch Fox's Finest Market  - The inspiration behind opening a neighborhood fine foods market in Kirkwood  - Restoring a historic 1875 building in the heart of downtown Kirkwood  - What it's really like working together as a father-and-son business  - Bringing in fresh seafood, premium steaks, and Missouri-raised pork  - Building an in-house kitchen with chef-prepared meals, pastries, and seasonal specialties  - Curating local products alongside imported gourmet foods  - The importance of customer service and creating a true neighborhood market  - Supporting and collaborating with other Kirkwood small businesses  - Their vision for making Fox's Finest a multi-generational St. Louis institution  - Future plans for catering, e-commerce, and expanding the Fox's Finest concept Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Dr. Tayler Onion—host of the Hang Time podcast, professor at UMSL, former Division I volleyball player, and advocate for women in sports—to discuss one of the fastest-growing movements in athletics today. Tayler shares her journey from growing up on a small farm in rural Illinois to competing at the University of Illinois, earning her doctorate studying women in sports leadership, and launching Hang Time, a podcast dedicated to telling the stories of women who are changing the sports industry. She reflects on the unexpected story behind becoming the Outback Bowl's famous "Bloomin' Onion" mascot, how that experience inspired her first podcast, and why she ultimately rebranded to focus exclusively on women's sports. The conversation explores the incredible rise of women's athletics, the lasting impact of Title IX, why representation in coaching and leadership matters, and how media coverage, fandom, and athlete-driven storytelling are creating opportunities that didn't exist just a few years ago. Tayler also shares her vision for building a stronger community for women working in sports throughout St. Louis, the lessons she's learned as both an athlete and educator, and why she believes the city is ready for even more investment in women's professional sports. From unforgettable championship moments to the future of sports media, this episode is an inspiring conversation about leadership, community, and the people helping shape the next generation of sports. They discuss:  - Growing up on a farm in Industry, Illinois, and playing volleyball at the University of Illinois  - Winning the "Be the Bloom" contest and becoming the Bloom and Onion mascot at the 2019 Outback Bowl  - Launching the Bloom Pod during the pandemic and its focus on everyday people with big ideas  - Finishing a doctorate on women's self-perception of power in sports leadership during Title IX's 50th anniversary  - The decision to rebrand and relaunch as Hangtime, focused solely on women in sports  - Interviewing ESPNW founder Laura Gentile and what it took to build a media category from scratch  - The Deloitte projection of $3 billion in women's sports revenue for 2026  - Why traditional brands still don't know how to market to women's sports fans  - Growing up without girls' sports and finding a North Star in local player Sam Quiggle  - The 1999 U.S. Women's World Cup and Brandi Chastain as formative childhood moments  - Reaching the national championship match with Illinois volleyball in 2011  - Teaching in UMSL's Sports Management program and getting students into the Super Bowl, Final Four, and NFL Draft  - Hangtime's first in-person event at Urban Chestnut and the upcoming membership launch on August 1st  - Bringing more pro women's sports — WNBA, NWSL, PWHL — to St. Louis Support the show 🎙 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 Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ [email protected] Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO