Baked-In with Josh Allen

Baked-In with Josh Allen

Josh sits down with industry innovators to uncover the unique ideas and values that are baked in to their businesses and have led to extraordinary success. These conversations can be a catalyst for other leaders to discover, develop and deliver powerful results!

Episodes

January 27, 2026 37 mins
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 re...
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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...
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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...
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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 i...
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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 t...
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October 27, 2025 60 mins
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, ...
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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 monetiz...
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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 bake...
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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 ...
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August 22, 2025 53 mins
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,...
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On this week's episode presented by Busey Bank, I sit down with Craig Kaminer, a New York native turned St. Louis tastemaker, whose career spans decades in high-profile public relations and luxury branding. From Microsoft and Tiffany to the Italian Government Tourist Office, Craig’s resume reads like a masterclass in influence. But what’s truly remarkable is his pivot—from publicist to publisher—leading Sophisticated Living St. Lou...
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On this episode presented by Busey Bank, I sit down with a powerhouse of passion, perseverance, and perfectly organized closets — Jennifer Williams, founder of Saint Louis Closet Co. At just 25, Jennifer left grad school, maxed out her credit cards, and took a leap of faith to start her own business — and what a leap it was! Fast forward to today, she’s built one of the largest custom closet companies in the U.S., all while staying...
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On this episode presented by Busey Bank, I'm joined by Adam Tilford, co-founder of Session Taco and the business mind behind concepts like Milagro Modern Mexican and the brand-new Lapez Mod Mex, started out studying physical therapy before realizing… he hated touching people. After a quick detour in real estate, he joined forces with his brother and chef, Jason, and took a $20,000 leap into the restaurant world. That leap turned in...
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On this week’s episode, presented by Busey Bank, I’m joined by someone who has done it all—built a $350 million consulting powerhouse, led digital transformations for Fortune 500 giants, and now? He’s turning that same business brilliance toward one of the most urgent health challenges of our time: Alzheimer’s. Ron Daugherty is the founder of Daugherty Business Solutions and now the visionary force behind Daugherty Enterprises and ...

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On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, I’m joined by someone who doesn’t just cook food—he crafts experiences. After nearly two decades working in acclaimed kitchens across the country and the globe—from Belgium to Blue Hill at Stone Barns—Chef Alec Schingel has finally gone solo. And he’s doing it with intention. His brand-new fine dining concept, Robin Restaurant, just opened its doors in the heart of Maplewood, Missouri...

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In this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, we’re excited to feature one of the city’s most impactful new initiatives: the UMSL EIC Entrepreneurship Certificate program, now open to the public for the very first time. Whether you're a brand-new startup or a seasoned business owner looking to scale, this program is designed to give entrepreneurs at every stage the tools, knowledge, and connections to...

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On this episode presented by Busey Bank, I’m joined by Chef Lasse Sorensen and producer Jason Pinkston, the duo behind Food is Love—a visually stunning, heart-forward food and travel series that started on St. Louis PBS and is now streaming on Amazon Prime and YouTube. We’ll talk about the show’s evolution from local kitchens to global cultures, the challenges of public TV funding, staying true to your mission while scaling, and wh...
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On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, I’m joined by one of my favorite humans, Mark Spewak, a passionate coach, entrepreneur, and the driving force behind the most connected running community in the region. Through his personalized coaching programs and unwavering support for runners of all experience levels, Mark has built more than just a business—he’s built a movement.

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On this week’s episode presented by Busey Bank, our guest is Lia Weber, founder and head pastry chef behind Made. by Lia — a beloved bakery that’s captured the heart of North County and beyond. Lia’s journey is a story of passion, persistence, and deep community roots. From launching her business out of a small apartment kitchen to opening a bright, welcoming storefront, she’s built more than just a bak...

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On this episode presented by Busey Bank, I’m thrilled to be joined by Tom and Shelley N, co-founders of Space Architects—a full-service architecture and design firm that’s redefining the way we think about space, community, and the built environment. Based in St. Louis, Space Architects is known for their collaborative, people-first approach to design. From revitalizing historic buildings to creating mo...

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