Baked-In with Josh Allen

On this week's episode presented by Busey Bank, I'm sitting down with Jill Butler, the founder and CEO of RedKey Realty Leaders, an independent brokerage based right here in St. Louis that has carved out a unique position in a crowded and often commoditized industry. Jill has built a business that’s deeply intentional about who they bring in, how they show up, and what they stand for—and in an industry where top performers can often go anywhere, that kind of clarity matters. In this conversation, we dig into how she’s built that culture from the ground up, why she’s leaned into in-office connection at a time when many have gone remote, how she thinks about attracting and retaining top talent, and how she’s evaluating growth—both organically and through potential mergers and acquisitions. We also talk about her role in the broader St. Louis community and how initiatives like her upcoming Elevating St. Louis event are helping extend the RedKey brand beyond just transactions. This one’s really about building something intentional—and building it to last. Let's roll... If you enjoy conversations like this, you can find full episodes and more on YouTube.  #realestate #stlouis #missouri #homeowners  Link to event here

On this episode presented by Busey Bank, I sit down with a founder whose story is a great reminder that some of the most impactful businesses don’t start with a grand plan—they start with a simple observation and the willingness to take a risk.   Andrew Glantz is the founder of GiftAMeal, a business he started while he was still a student, after noticing how often people take photos of their food—and asking a powerful question: What if something good could happen every time that phone came out? What began as a college idea grew into a national platform working with more than a thousand restaurants, helping provide millions of meals to families in need—while also driving real, measurable results for the restaurants themselves.   Earlier this year, GiftAMeal entered a new chapter with its acquisition by Swipe Savvy, and in this conversation, we go deep into the founder journey: how Andrew monetized a mission, built a team, navigated scale, made the decision to sell, and what it means when purpose and performance truly align.   If you enjoy conversations like this, make sure to find our full episodes on YouTube — Now, let’s roll...

On this week's episode presented by Busey Bank, we’re again tapping into one of the most explosive cultural and business stories of the last five years: the rise of women’s sports. Media coverage of women’s sports is up 275%, fan engagement is soaring, and the demand for women‑centered sports experiences is reshaping the landscape of entertainment and hospitality. And at the center of that movement is The Sports Bra — the world’s first sports bar dedicated exclusively to women’s sports, a concept born in Portland in 2022 that quickly became a national symbol of representation, fandom, and cultural momentum. Today’s guest, Heather Hill, isn’t the founder of The Sports Bra — but she is one of the hand‑selected leaders bringing this mission to new markets. Heather, along with her co-owner and childhood softball teammate Sara Pilsner, is launching the first St. Louis franchise as part of the brand’s extremely selective initial expansion into just four U.S. cities. For our audience of founders and builders, Heather’s story offers something powerful: what it looks like to take a movement‑driven brand, translate it into a new market, and build community, culture, and operational excellence from day one. This is category creation in real time, and Heather is operating at the front edge of it. If you enjoy conversations like this, make sure to find our full episodes on YouTube — Now, let’s roll...

This week, we’re telling an unusually honest manufacturing story: how a legacy candy got shelved by a giant—and then came back without sanding off the edges that made it special. The brand is Switzer’s Licorice, born in St. Louis in 1888 when Frederick M. Switzer turned street‑cart candy into a company that would become a national licorice leader built on real licorice extract and a denser, chewier bite. Through the 20th century, Switzer grew big, then disappeared into corporate portfolios—ultimately landing at Hershey in the 1990s, where it conflicted with Twizzlers and St. Louis production was shut down, effectively discontinuing the brand. Fast‑forward to 2005: the founder’s grandsons, Michael and Joe Switzer, reintroduce the brand at the All Candy Expo in Chicago, aiming for authenticity over scale—Cherry Red and Old‑Fashioned Black back on shelves, distributed through nostalgia‑friendly channels. Today, we’ve got Dan Warner, Switzer’s managing CEO, on the revival playbook, and Jim Clark, a factory veteran, on the craft: the texture windows, the batch judgment, and the choices you make when you refuse to modernize away the soul of a candy.    I'm also excited to welcome a new partner for the show - The Normal Brand - clothing rooted in Midwestern values. Co-founder Jimmy Sansone joined me awhile back (episode #67) and I'm a big supporter. They’re giving listeners 15% off one purchase of regularly priced clothing. Just use the code BAKEDIN at checkout. Head to thenormalbrand.com and find your new favorite fit.  Let’s roll…

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 renovated.   This isn’t just a bigger kitchen and more seating—it’s a statement about growth, ownership, and long-term vision. In this episode, we’ll dive into what it takes to make a seven-figure investment in your brand, how Julie balances risk and opportunity, and what this expansion means for the future of DD Mau. We’ll also explore her approach to scaling without losing the soul of her concept and the lessons she’s learned as a leader in the competitive restaurant industry.   I'm also excited to welcome a new partner for the show - The Normal Brand - clothing rooted in Midwestern values. Co-founder Jimmy Sansone joined me awhile back (episode #67) and I'm a big supporter. They’re giving listeners 15% off one purchase of regularly priced clothing. Just use the code BAKEDIN at checkout. Head to thenormalbrand.com and find your new favorite fit.  Let's roll... #podcast #ddmau #webstergroves #joshallen #companionbaking #stlouis #stlmade

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 conversation comes at a pivotal time. Over the last decade, the female fan base in major U.S. sports has surged—NBA and MLS now hover around 45–47% female fans, and even the NFL boasts nearly 80 million women in its audience. Yet for years, women were underserved when it came to quality merchandise. Lusso saw that gap and decided to change the game. Today, we’ll talk about how they scaled from boutique to national partnerships, the design philosophy behind their collections, and what’s next for Lusso as women’s sports fandom continues to rise. And, as a note, my wife Melissa joined me as co-host since she’s both a fashion fan and huge sports fan.    I'm also excited to welcome a new partner for the show - The Normal Brand - clothing rooted in Midwestern values. Co-founder Jimmy Sansone joined me awhile back (episode #67) and I'm a big supporter. They’re giving listeners 15% off one purchase of regularly priced clothing. Just use the code BAKEDIN at checkout. Head to thenormalbrand.com and find your new favorite fit.  Let’s roll…

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 kitchens in Austin and Cincinnati, Nick has blended tradition with innovation to create restaurants that consistently surprise and delight. In this conversation, we’ll explore what Nick learned from his family and how those values infuse his kitchens today.   We’ll talk about leadership, scaling a restaurant group without losing its soul, and the creative discipline behind staying relevant in a competitive culinary scene.     I'm excited to welcome a new partner for the show - The Normal Brand - clothing rooted in Midwestern values. They’re giving listeners 15% off one purchase of regularly priced clothing. Just use the code BAKEDIN at checkout. Head to thenormalbrand.com and find your new favorite fit.  Let’s roll…

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 it really takes to grow a company with heart. We’ll explore the lessons Lisa has learned from hundreds of podcast interviews, how she’s nurturing the next generation of tech leaders, and why she believes your growth quotient—your GQ—is just as important as your IQ or EQ. We’ll also dive into her new book, Something Extra, and the character traits she believes define transformational leadership.  I'm excited to welcome a new partner for the show - The Normal Brand - clothing rooted in Midwestern values. They’re giving listeners 15% off one purchase of regularly priced clothing. Just use the code BAKEDIN at checkout. Head to thenormalbrand.com and find your new favorite fit. Let’s roll...

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 the strategy behind scaling with soul—why Dan chose to grow retail now, how he’s building teams that reflect the company’s values, and what it means to preserve craftsmanship in a world of automation. We’ll explore the new chocolate campus in St. Louis, the balance between wholesale and direct-to-consumer growth, and how culture, purpose, and quality remain at the heart of every decision. Speaking of quality and purpose, I'm excited to welcome a new partner for the show - The Normal Brand - clothing rooted in Midwestern values. They’re giving listeners 15% off one purchase of regularly priced clothing. Just use the code BAKEDIN at checkout. Head to thenormalbrand.com and find your new favorite fit. Let's roll...

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, the value of collaborations, the evolution of leadership and the amazing spirit of the St. Louis community. Lots of insights from some real seasoned pros.   We also want to give a shout out to a new supporter of the show - St. Louis' own The Normal Brand. Great people, great story (episode #67) and some damn fine clothes. And they're offering listeners a one-time 15% off promotion. Just use the code BAKEDIN at checkout.