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Baked-In with Josh Allen

Baked-In with Josh Allen

By: Gaslight Studio STL c/o Josh Allen
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 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!Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Episode 106: Dan Warner & Jim Clark | Switzer's Licorice

    Episode 106: Dan Warner & Jim Clark | Switzer's Licorice
    Feb 10 2026
    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…
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    46 mins
  • Episode 105: Julie Shih | DD Mau Vietnamese Eatery

    Episode 105: Julie Shih | DD Mau Vietnamese Eatery
    Jan 27 2026
    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
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    38 mins
  • Episode 104: Lusso Style

    Episode 104: Lusso Style
    Jan 13 2026
    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…
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    58 mins
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