Baked-In with Josh Allen

On this week’s episode of the Baked-In podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh celebrates episode 30 with his Companion co-founder and sister, Jodi Allen. In the midst of all of the holiday craziness, they took a few minutes to look back on the 30-year history of the bakery and the lessons learned from family, the value of failure and, most importantly, the role their mom has played in their success. It’s the right time of year for a conversation like this one.
#family #als #baking #stlmade #holidays

On this week’s episode of the Baked-In Podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh has the pleasure of catching up his former professor from Stanford University in the Bay Area. Patrica Ryan Madson taught acting and improvisation at Stanford for many years and she had an incredible influence on his life as an entrepreneur. Let’s face it, life and business are something that we all make up as we go along. The rules, or maxims as she calls them, of improv – say yes, start anywhere, show up, make mistakes, please – form the basis for finding success when we don’t necessarily feel like we have much control. Lots of fun stuff in this one – save for Josh fumbling through an improv exercise to illustrate an example. If you enjoy Patricia, be sure and check out her book: IMPROV WISDOM – Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up (Bell Tower, 2005).
#Stanford #Improv 

On this week’s episode of the Baked-In podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh chats with Michael Dorf of City Winery. Founded in New York City in 2009, the urban winery, restaurant and intimate music venue has more than a dozen locations across the US with plans to keep expanding. They recently opened their newest spots in Pittsburgh, PA and in St.Louis’ Foundry project. Michael and Josh discuss growing up in entrepreneurial food families, the value of understanding and appreciating the numbers from the beginning and the importance of focusing on your people and their development. They cover lots of good stuff in this one.
For more information about Busey Bank or to schedule a banking consultation, please visit www.busey.com.
#citywinery #entertainment #entrepreneur 

On this week’s episode of the Baked-In Podcast presented by Busey Bank, Josh has the immense pleasure of talking to Andy Cohen – TV personality, best-selling author, award-winning producer and his cousin. Josh is always incredibly appreciative of time he gets to spend with Andy and they discuss their shared experience of growing up in their family’s food business, the lightening in a bottle creation of the world’s most popular reality soap opera and navigating celebrity with the two new additions to his family. Andy is, well, Andy – warm, engaging, generous, insightful. This one is a real treat.
#andycohen #realhousewives #realitytv #family #customcookies

On this week’s episode, Josh has the chance to catch up with Ben Hillman, president of the chef-inspired burger joint Hi-Pointe Drive-In and co-founder of Chicken Out all through his family’s private equity company, Lewis & Clark Capital. For someone in his early thirties, Ben has his hands in a lot of cookie jars and has found success with a very people-first philosophy. It’s exciting for Josh to talk with young leaders so focused on developing and growing their people even in the midst of the fast-paced restaurant industry. They talk about a ton of stuff including site selection, closing underperforming locations and staying close to your teams.

On today’s episode, Josh goes deep into the mind of Rick Wolf, creator and proprietor of Found Vintage, Found by the Pound and Mednik-Riverbend – one of the most vertically integrated company concepts around. They discuss the booming industry of donated and recycled clothing, $900 vintage t-shirts and monkey fur. Rick outlines the fascinating path traveled by an article of clothing placed in a local donation box and how it fuels a global industry for concert t-shirts, used Levis and recycled furs. Rick truly understands the secret sauce of this crazy world of textiles.
 
 

On this week’s episode, Josh has the chance to catch up with Joe Edwards, the “Duke of Delmar”, who is the visionary and developer behind the Delmar Loop – one of the 10 greatest streets in America (per the American Planning Association 2007). Joe opened his first business – the iconic restaurant, Blueberry Hill – in 1972 with the hope of revitalizing a once popular high fashion district in St. Louis, MO. During the next 50+ years, Joe has added music venues, a hotel, additional restaurants, a bowling alley, and, most recently, a mini golf spot to the now bustling entertainment district. Josh and Joe discuss the early challenges, pushing all chips into the center of the table on multiple occasions and his optimistic vision for the future.
#STL #DelmarLoop #minigolf #blueberryhill #renovation

On this week’s episode, Josh had the honor of sitting with the Dierberg family – the 3rd and 4th generations of leadership at the grocery chain with St. Louis roots dating back to 1854. Bob Dierberg, Greg Dierberg and Laura Dierberg Padousis shared insights into multi-generational family businesses, how the definition of success has evolved over the years and charting a path into the future with the next generations in mind. The Dierberg family has been instrumental in helping Josh’s bakery, Companion, grow over the last 30 years and it was pleasure for him to sit with those who have been so impactful on his own entrepreneurial journey.

On this week’s episode, Josh sits down with David Wolfe, co-founder of the Urban Chestnut Brewing Company in St. Louis. David, along with his co-founder Florian Kuplent, worked together in the New Products and Innovations division at Anheuser Busch InBev before embarking on their own craft brewing adventure in 2011. A lot has changed in the industry in the last dozen years, and Josh and David discuss the industry challenges coming out of the pandemic, UCBC’s commitment to sustainability and their success with local & regional collaborations. David is a brewing industry veteran with lots of knowledge to share on the state of beer. Prost!
 
#podcast #craftbeer #stlmade #AB #german

On this week’s episode, Josh had the opportunity to catch up with Melany Robinson (LinkedIn: @melany-robinson) of Sprouthouse (LinkedIn: @sprouthouseagency) – a communications agency with offices in 11 markets across the US focused on helping clients in the restaurant and hospitality industry tell their story well beyond traditional PR. They talk a lot about food’s changing landscape and the power of listening even when your job is communicating. Melany brings such a unique perspective as a well-connected player who’s not stuck behind a stove.
#sprouthouse #linkedin #pr #culinaryworld #hospitality