Moms of the Lou

This week on Moms of the Lou, Rebecca and Lauren sit down with Nicole Powell, mom of two boys and owner of Halcon Marketing. Nicole’s path has taken her from Manila to the Bronx, then New Jersey, St. Louis, and a 15-month stint in the D.C. area before her family came home to Eureka this summer. She talks about the reality of solo parenting while running a business, and why St. Louis feels like home for her family.Nicole also shares how Halcon started as a nighttime side hustle after a wedding dress boutique owner asked for help with a move. It grew to the point where she made a pitch deck for her husband to convince him she should go full time. Eight years later, she explains the difference between branding, marketing, and advertising, and gives mom business owners three places to start: know your audience beyond the surface, diversify your touch points, and don’t skip in-person connection. Stick around for rapid-fire questions, including her favorite spot for a girls’ night out.Connect with Nicole at halconmarketing.com and @halconmarketing on social.This episode is presented by St. Luke’s Hospital and St. Louis Children's Choir.

Rebekah and Lauren, hosts of the Moms of Lou podcast, address the complexities of maternal mental health, including postpartum experiences, maternal rage, and the ongoing nature of mental health challenges throughout different stages of motherhood. They both emphasize the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding these feelings and encourage mothers to seek help through self-referral or medical professionals. They list some excellent resources for mothers in the St. Louis area including:Mercy Intensive Outpatient ProgramNew Mom SchoolSSM Moms LineSt. Louis Crisis NurseryThe Hermann Center for Child & Family DevelopmentSt. Louis Diaper BankPreggo PerksMom Moment AppThis episode is sponsored by St. Luke’s Hospital. St. Luke’s is a trusted partner in every phase of your family’s health journey. Connect with St. Luke’s Hospital on Facebook and Instagram and schedule your appointment today!Rebekah Coste is the founder and owner of St. Louis Mom. Born and raised in St. Louis, she loves the city for its rich history and small-town feel, Cardinals baseball, and gooey butter cake! Rebekah has a bachelor’s degree in Magazine Journalism and a minor degree in French from the University of Missouri-Columbia. During her time at Mizzou, she completed internships with Associated Press Television News in Brussels, Belgium, Standard & Poors in New York, New York, and Alive Magazine in St. Louis. She returned to St. Louis where she worked in corporate communications, client proposals, and sales and account management communications at Express Scripts for five years. She then moved to Paris, France for three years to teach English in a French high school. She met and married her husband, Jean-Christophe, in France, and became a mom there, too! She is thrilled to be home in St. Louis. She is a full-time stay at home mom to three beautiful daughters and a son. She proudly became a French citizen in the summer of 2024! The Costes reside in Kirkwood. Rebekah is passionate about encouraging and equipping mothers on their motherhood journey. Her hope for St. Louis Mom is that it will be a powerful tool for building community between mothers and a space where mothers know how powerful their role is in raising up the next generation.Lauren lives in Kirkwood with her husband, Eric, and their two daughters, Claire and Frances. Both she and her husband are transplants, Lauren originally from San Diego and her husband, Charleston, SC. They’ve called St. Louis their home since 2013. Lauren taught both first and third grade for 10 years before becoming a full-time stay at home mom. Moving to a new city without friends or family forced her to get outside her comfort zone and establish friendships and discover all that St. Louis has to offer families. She understands the immense value of community which is what brought her to St. Louis Mom.We hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! To learn more about Moms of the Lou you can go to stlouismom.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! This episode was produced by St. Louis Mom. It was recorded and edited by STL Bucketlist Studios in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Rebekah & Lauren chat with Julie & Jonelle about the mission and historical evolution of Variety St. Louis, which has operated for over 90 years to support children with developmental, physical, or intellectual disabilities in the St. Louis area. The organization serves a 30-county area across Missouri and Illinois through four core program areas: Adaptive Medical Equipment, Therapy Services, Enrichment Programs, & Performing Arts. In the past year, Variety has served over 1,000 kids in the St. Louis area and has approved $1.3 million for adaptive equipment. Check out Variety’s special events by going to this link: https://varietystl.org/events/This episode is sponsored by St. Luke’s Hospital. St. Luke’s is a trusted partner in every phase of your family’s health journey. Connect with St. Luke’s Hospital on Facebook and Instagram and schedule your appointment today!About Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis:Founded in 1933, Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis (Variety St. Louis) has been serving St. Louis-area children and teens with special needs for over 90 years. We empower Variety Kids, ages birth to 21, by providing vital medical equipment and therapy services as well as the opportunity to participate in innovative Camp and Performing Arts programs. Variety St. Louis is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit (EIN#43-6078016), and all funds raised stay right here in St. Louis to help Variety Kids redefine their abilities. Click here to learn more about our programs and services: https://varietystl.org/impact/Julie ThompkinsJulie Thompkins is the Director of Health Services at Variety, where she oversees financial assistance programs for adaptive equipment and therapy. As a mother of three, Julie’s family has been connected to Variety since 2010, when her youngest son began attending Variety Adventure Camp. Having experienced firsthand the impact of Variety’s programs, she loves the opportunity to help other families access the resources and support they need.Jonelle MasciottiJonelle Masciotti has worked in the nonprofit sector since 2009 and currently serves as Director of Development at Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis. She loves bringing people together around a shared purpose and leading a team dedicated to creating more opportunities and brighter futures for children with disabilities and their families. Outside of work, Jonelle embraces life as a mom of two, making memories with her family and exploring all the fun, family-friendly adventures St. Louis has to offer.We hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! To learn more about Moms of the Lou you can go to stlouismom.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! This episode was produced by St. Louis Mom. It was recorded and edited by STL Bucketlist Studios in St. Louis, Missouri. 

In this episode of Moms of the Lou, Rebekah & Lauren chat with Chelsea Theodoropoulos. Chelsea discusses her journey of owning five Burn Boot Camp locations in St. Louis and how fitness transformed her life from burnout to leadership. Chelsea reflects on ten years of entrepreneurship, growing her business from three original locations to a full market presence in St. Louis. She shares how she navigated the challenges of leadership by learning through direct responsibility and drawing inspiration from her family's entrepreneurial background. She manages five specific Burn Boot Camp locations in Manchester, O’Fallon, South County, Kirkwood, and St. Charles. Sign up for a fitness class at Burn Boot Camp and book Chelsea Theodoropoulos for speaking engagements, workshops, and coaching! You can also connect with Chelsea on Instagram. This episode is sponsored by St. Luke’s Hospital. St. Luke’s is a trusted partner in every phase of your family’s health journey. Connect with St. Luke’s Hospital on Facebook and Instagram and schedule your appointment today!Chelsea Theodoropoulos is a multi-unit franchise owner and operator, personal trainer, and transformation coach who believes women are capable of far more than they often allow themselves to imagine. Her own journey began as a member of Burn Boot Camp, where she experienced firsthand how strength, confidence, and community can change the way a woman sees herself, especially through motherhood. What started as a personal transformation became a calling. Today, Chelsea owns and operates five Burn Boot Camp locations across St. Louis, and serves thousands of women throughout the community. Through her gyms, coaching, workshops, and keynote speaking, Chelsea helps women recognize the patterns keeping them stuck and build the courage to step toward what is possible. Her work explores identity, confidence, environment, self-leadership, and the imperfect process of becoming. Chelsea is also a wife and mom of two who understands the complexity of pursuing meaningful goals while navigating motherhood, leadership, and everyday life.We hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! To learn more about Moms of the Lou you can go to stlouismom.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! This episode was produced by St. Louis Mom. It was recorded and edited by STL Bucketlist Studios in St. Louis, Missouri.

Rebekah & Lauren chat with Rhonda Oesch, a farmer of Missouri CommonGround in this latest episode of Moms of the Lou. Rhonda discusses her journey in farming and agriculture education, and the work she does to help mothers learn more about food production. She empowers mothers who provide meals for their families around the dinner table and brings clarity for common misconceptions regarding food labels. She loves talking about food, family, and farming!This episode is sponsored by St. Luke’s Hospital. St. Luke’s is a trusted partner in every phase of your family’s health journey. Connect with St. Luke’s Hospital on Facebook and Instagram and schedule your appointment today!Missouri CommonGround is a group of volunteer farm women who share their real-life farming experiences and answer questions about food and farming. With so many food choices available, Missouri CommonGround serves as a resource to educate consumers about their food and dispel popular food myths.Rhonda and her husband farm corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, and cattle in northwest Missouri. She is a mother of three adult children, has two grandchildren and teaches agriculture education part-time. Rhonda is a strong advocate for the agricultural industry. Her passion for agriculture has grown out of the realization that it affects everyone’s daily lives. As an ag teacher, farm wife, and mom, her favorite place to spend time with friends and family is around the dinner table, which is why she believes everyone should feel confident in the food they eat. Her love of cooking grew out of the need to feed her family and wants moms across the U.S. to feel confident and free of guilt about what they feed their families.We hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! To learn more about Moms of the Lou you can go to stlouismom.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! This episode was produced by St. Louis Mom. It was recorded and edited by STL Bucketlist Studios in St. Louis, Missouri. 

This episode of the Moms of the Lou podcast features Loryn Nalic, owner of Balkan Treat Box and Telva at the Ridge. She just won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest. Loryn discusses her journey in the restaurant industry, starting with her Bosnian husband and learning to cook Balkan cuisine. She highlights the difficulties of balancing work and motherhood, the importance of flexibility for working mothers, and the emotional rewards of celebrating achievements and milestones with her children. She also includes recommendations for dining & Balkan cuisine at some of her favorite restaurants in St. Louis!This episode is sponsored by St. Luke’s Hospital. St. Luke’s is a trusted partner in every phase of your family’s health journey. Connect with St. Luke’s Hospital on Facebook and Instagram and schedule your appointment today!Chef Loryn Nalic is the chef and co-owner of Balkan Treat Box and Telva at the Ridge in St. Louis, Missouri. What began as a bold little food truck in 2017 has grown into one of the country’s most celebrated restaurants, known for its soulful, wood-fired interpretation of Balkan cuisine. In 2023, Loryn and her family expanded their vision with the opening of Telva at the Ridge, a restaurant and café inspired by the rich culinary traditions and evolving flavors of the Balkans. Loryn’s culinary journey began long before Balkan Treat Box. She spent years baking bread, working in pastry, cooking, serving, and managing events at some of St. Louis’ most respected restaurants. Her path took a transformative turn when she met her husband, Edo, a Bosnian refugee. Through his memories of home, Loryn discovered the cuisine and culture of the Balkans. Together, they traveled throughout the region, learning traditional techniques, tasting regional specialties, and recreating the dishes he missed most.Today, Balkan Treat Box and Telva remain true family businesses. Edo, his brother Emir, and their father Fadil work alongside Loryn every day. Together, they honor the traditions of Balkan cooking while bringing fresh perspectives and creativity to every dish, creating food that celebrates culture, craftsmanship, and community.In 2026, Chef Loryn Nalic received the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest, one of the highest honors in American dining. Prior to her win, she earned four James Beard Award semifinalist nominations and one finalist nomination in the same category, reflecting years of national recognition for her culinary excellence.Her restaurants have also received numerous national and regional accolades, including:• Food & Wine – Best Bites of the Year• Bon Appétit – Top 50 Restaurants in America• St. Louis Business Journal – Best Food Truck• Feast Magazine – Best New Restaurant• St. Louis Magazine A-List – Best Food Truck• Ian Froeb’s 100 Best St. Louis Restaurants – #1 Best Restaurant• St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Best New Restaurant• Sauce Magazine – Best New Restaurant and People's Choice AwardLoryn’s work has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, The Drew Barrymore Show and The Splendid Table. She has served as a guest chef aboard the Windstar James Beard Cruise through the Balkans and is a sought-after speaker at culinary, hospitality, and entrepreneurship conferences. Recognized as one of America’s leading voices on Balkan cuisine, Loryn combines personal storytelling with deep culinary expertise to share the traditions, history, and evolving flavors of the region with audiences around the world.We hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! To learn more about Moms of the Lou you can go to stlouismom.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! This episode was produced by St. Louis Mom. It was recorded and edited by STL Bucketlist Studios in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Rebekah and Lauren, hosts of the Moms of Lou podcast, kick off their third season by introducing themselves and their mission to support St. Louis moms. Rebekah founded St. Louis Mom in 2018 after moving back to St. Louis from Paris, aiming to help new moms find resources. Lauren joined as the social media manager in 2021. Both emphasize the unique and shared experiences of motherhood in St. Louis and highlight local events, resources, and family-friendly activities, aiming to promote the city's cultural offerings and support for families. The Moms of the Lou podcast releases biweekly on Thursdays, available on various platforms!This episode is sponsored by St. Luke’s Hospital. St. Luke’s is a trusted partner in every phase of your family’s health journey. Connect with St. Luke’s Hospital on Facebook and Instagram and schedule your appointment today!Rebekah Coste is the founder and owner of St. Louis Mom. Born and raised in St. Louis, she loves the city for its rich history and small-town feel, Cardinals baseball, and gooey butter cake! Rebekah has a bachelor’s degree in Magazine Journalism and a minor degree in French from the University of Missouri-Columbia. During her time at Mizzou, she completed internships with Associated Press Television News in Brussels, Belgium, Standard & Poors in New York, New York, and Alive Magazine in St. Louis. She returned to St. Louis where she worked in corporate communications, client proposals, and sales and account management communications at Express Scripts for five years. She then moved to Paris, France for three years to teach English in a French high school. She met and married her husband, Jean-Christophe, in France, and became a mom there, too! She is thrilled to be home in St. Louis. She is a full-time stay at home mom to three beautiful daughters and a son. She proudly became a French citizen in the summer of 2024! The Costes reside in Kirkwood. Rebekah is passionate about encouraging and equipping mothers on their motherhood journey. Her hope for St. Louis Mom is that it will be a powerful tool for building community between mothers and a space where mothers know how powerful their role is in raising up the next generation.Lauren lives in Kirkwood with her husband, Eric, and their two daughters, Claire and Frances. Both she and her husband are transplants, Lauren originally from San Diego and her husband, Charleston, SC. They’ve called St. Louis their home since 2013. Lauren taught both first and third grade for 10 years before becoming a full-time stay at home mom. Moving to a new city without friends or family forced her to get outside her comfort zone and establish friendships and discover all that St. Louis has to offer families. She understands the immense value of community which is what brought her to St. Louis Mom.We hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! To learn more about Moms of the Lou you can go to stlouismom.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! This episode was produced by St. Louis Mom. It was recorded and edited by STL Bucketlist Studios in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Tricia McGusty, the new president of Mercy Hospital, discusses her transition from Houston to St. Louis, her background in hospital administration, and her goals for Mercy. She emphasizes the need to improve patient access and mentions ongoing renovations, including a new patient tower and emergency department expansion. Tricia highlights the importance of preventive care and affordable healthcare, noting Mercy's efforts to navigate insurance gaps and provide cost-effective services. Click here to schedule your appointment at Mercy Hospital.This episode is sponsored by Swap the Playroom. Clear out the clutter and get toys that keep things fresh and exciting by renting toys through Swap the Playroom!Tricia McGusty serves as president of Mercy’s St. Louis communities, leading operations and strategy for Mercy’s hospitals and clinics in the St. Louis area. She joined Mercy in 2026, bringing more than 25 years of health care experience, the last 15 of which were in leadership roles at large hospitals. Prior to Mercy, Tricia served in executive leadership roles with HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest, most recently as chief operating officer. Tricia McGusty earned her master’s in business administration from the University of Houston Downtown and her bachelor’s in biology and psychology from Houston Baptist University. While with HCA, she completed their executive development program. Learn more about Tricia and her new role at Mercy Hospital.We hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! To learn more about Moms of the Lou you can go to stlouismom.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! This episode was produced by St. Louis Mom. It was recorded and edited by STL Bucketlist Studios in St. Louis, Missouri. 

This episode of the Moms of the Lou podcast features Tara Gallina of Take Root Hospitality. She talks about her journey from South Florida to New York City, where she attended culinary school and worked for Blue Hill at Stone Barns. She met her husband, Michael, at Blue Hill and they moved back to St. Louis in 2015 and eventually opened Vicia in 2017. In 2019, they acquired Winslow's Table. Tara emphasizes the importance of community and family, balancing work and motherhood. Check out their Father’s Day cookout at Vicia on June 21st!Tara Gallina is the co-owner and Chief Experience Officer of Take Root Hospitality, recognized as a hospitality-first leader in the St. Louis culinary community. She is dedicated to cultivating deep relationships with Midwest farmers, breeders, and fishers, translating their stories into thoughtful guest experiences at Vicia, Winslow’s Table, and Bistro La Floraison. Tara oversees front-of-house standards and an education-driven service culture, elevating every detail from beverage programs to takeaway offerings while maintaining a core focus on integrity and sustainability. Her path began after leaving a career in HR to study at the International Culinary Center in New York City, followed by a formative F.A.R.M.S. apprenticeship at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. During her tenure there, she gained a grounding in sustainable agriculture and mastered various front-of-house roles, eventually rising to lead bartender and senior service captain. Today, working alongside Michael Gallina, she connects her teams to food sources and ensures the farming community is integrated into every facet of the guest experience.We hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! To learn more about Moms of the Lou you can go to stlouismom.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! This episode was produced by St. Louis Mom. It was recorded and edited by STL Bucketlist Studios in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Sam Lander is a functional diagnostic nutritionist and local mom. In this episode of Moms of the Lou, she talks about her transition from addiction to sobriety, which improved her life and health significantly. Sam emphasizes the importance of addressing mental and emotional aspects alongside physical health. She currently creates sober wellness events in St. Louis, bridging her past as a DJ with her current passion for holistic healing. Sam encourages moms to explore sobriety for better health and well-being. You can connect with Sam through her website See Fit Living!Samantha Lander is a St. Louis-based single mom, entrepreneur, and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) practitioner who has been her own boss for over 20 years. Through her practice, See Fit Living, Sam helps women decode their "whole health story" when they just can’t quite put their finger on why they feel "sick and tired". She moves beyond the standard "sick care" model by using functional lab testing to identify the root cause of common "glitches" like hormonal imbalances, gut issues, and chronic fatigue. Sam is known for her radical authenticity, often sharing her own remarkable journey from addiction and divorce to resilience and healing. An international best-selling author and professional DJ, she is an expert at integrating cutting-edge tools—like precision peptides and environmental protection—into a lifestyle that works for busy parents. Whether she’s speaking at a national conference or raising her son, Jaxson, right here in STL, Sam is dedicated to helping moms fix their internal terrain and reclaim their biological edge.We hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! To learn more about Moms of the Lou you can go to stlouismom.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! This episode was produced by St. Louis Mom. It was recorded and edited by STL Bucketlist Studios in St. Louis, Missouri.