• Episode 95: Craig Kaminer | Sophisticated Living St. Louis
    Aug 15 2025
    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. Louis, a luxury lifestyle magazine that’s not only survived the digital revolution, but thrived in it. In a time when print is often considered obsolete, Craig has built an omnichannel media powerhouse that reaches tens of thousands of affluent readers through elegant storytelling, high-impact visuals, and a hyper-local lens. We’ll explore how he launched the magazine, the evolution of luxury media, and why Sophisticated Living continues to be the go-to resource for brands that want to connect with the city’s most influential voices.
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    54 mins
  • Episode 94: Jennifer Williams | STL Closet Co.
    Jul 24 2025
    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 deeply rooted in her St. Louis community. In this episode, we’re talking about the grit it takes to grow from nothing and the values that shape a thriving company culture. We’ll also explore how she leads with heart, gives back with purpose, and keeps moving forward — even when the world throws curveballs. Let’s roll… #closets #organization #innovation #leadership
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    48 mins
  • Episode 93: Adam Tilford | Session Taco (Formerly Mission Taco)
    Jul 17 2025
    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 into a mini-empire—with seven restaurants, a solid wholesale tortilla chip business, and a cult following across St. Louis and Kansas City. In this episode, Adam pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like to build—and rebrand—a restaurant group, how a lawsuit forced a bold pivot, what he loves about hospitality, and the key metrics he actually cares about as a business leader. We’ll talk growth, leadership, chip sales, and fire rebuilds. Let’s roll… #tacos #stlouis #disaster #covid #insurance #brothers
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    49 mins
  • Ep. 92: Ron Daugherty | Daugherty Foundation
    Jun 12 2025

    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 the Daugherty Foundation. His journey began in a small office in 1985 with one bold belief—that technology, when done right, could change lives. And it has.

    But Ron’s impact doesn’t stop at boardrooms and tech stacks. He’s a leader with purpose, channeling decades of success into community-driven innovation, supporting caregivers, funding critical research, and using AI to bring hope to families affected by cognitive decline. We’ll explore leadership with purpose and how one man’s mission is transforming Alzheimer’s care—one breakthrough, one patient, and one family at a time. Let’s roll…

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    51 mins
  • Ep 91: Chef Alec Schingel | Robin Restaurant
    Jun 5 2025

    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, bringing what he calls “fine comfort” to the table—think elevated Midwest cuisine with zero pretension and total purpose. But what does it actually take to go from idea to brick-and-mortar? What are the real leadership and business decisions behind building a restaurant from scratch—not just the food, but the systems, the space, the people?

    Alec joins us to talk about the 18-year journey that led to this moment, the hurdles of opening his own place, the metrics he’s using to define success, and why obsessing over every detail—from warm bread to water refills—isn’t just hospitality... it’s strategy. Let’s roll…

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Ep. 90: UMSL Entrepreneurship Certificate Program
    May 30 2025

    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 grow. Backed by partners like Arch Grants, WEPOWER, and Schnuck Markets, and tied to the high-stakes Anchor Accelerator PitchFest competition, UMSL EIC is building a vibrant pipeline of opportunity—and they’re not slowing down anytime soon. Joining us is Dr. Scott Morris, Executive Director of the UMSL EIC, to walk us through the vision behind the program, how it’s changing the game for founders in our region, and what’s next for this thriving hub of innovation. Let’s roll…

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    44 mins
  • Food Is Love | Lasse Sorenson & Jason Pinkston
    May 23 2025
    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 what sets Food is Love apart in a crowded media landscape. Let’s roll… #foodislove #chef #stlouis #pbs #creativecontent #bourdain
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    51 mins
  • Episode 88: Mark Spewak | Spewak Training
    May 8 2025

    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.

    His approach is about much more than just race times or personal bests; it’s about fostering a sense of belonging, perseverance, and personal growth. In today’s conversation, we’ll explore how Mark’s own journey as an athlete and mentor inspired him to create a community that empowers others to achieve their goals—both on and off the road. Let’s roll…

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    55 mins