Ope Cast The Pod

In this episode, Braden connects with Executive Chef Grant Gildehaus of 801 Chophouse - his #1 restaurant of 2025 after an unforgettable steak experience. They dive into Chef Grant’s roots in the St. Louis food scene, his love for Wagyu, and what it takes to create a world-class dining experience. Make sure to try Chef Grant's food yourself at 801 Chophouse in Clayton.

This week Braden sits down with Hana Canhasi for an open conversation about her journey as a rising artist and the experiences that have shaped her sound. From her early beginnings to finding her voice in R&B and pop, Hana opens up about vulnerability in music, navigating personal growth, and turning real-life moments into art. The two dive into her upbringing, creative process, and what it me...

Braden recently sat down with Kennedy Caughell, who plays Jersey in Hell’s Kitchen They talked about her journey, the heart behind the character, and what it’s like bringing Alicia Keys’ music to life on stage. Hell’s Kitchen is a coming-of-age Broadway musical inspired by the life and music of Alicia Keys. Set in 1990s New York City, the story follows a 17-year-old girl growing up in Manhattan’s...

We sat down with Roz White, who plays Miss Liza Jane in Hell's Kitchen. We talked about her journey, what it's like bring Miss Liza Jane Alicia Keys' story to life, and why this show hits so close to home. Hell's Kitchen is a coming-of-age Broadway musical inspired by the life and music of Alicia Keys. Set in 1990s New York City, the story follows a 17-year-old girl growing up in M...

This week, Braden sat down with Tyler Wesley (Dallas Winston) and Bonale Fambrini (Johny Cade) from The Outsiders Musical at Stage Left Grille, right next to The Fabulous Fox, to talk about what audiences can expect when they see the show. The Outsiders is a powerful new musical based on the iconic novel by S.E. Hinton, bringing the story of brotherhood, class divide, and coming-of-age to the stag...

This week, Braden caught up with Robert Crenshaw, who’s currently traveling with The Wiz . You might catch him stepping in as a swing or understudy for the Tin Man. They also dive into some of the places that shaped his acting career like COCA & The Black Rep. It wouldn't be an interview with Braden if they didn't talk about food You can follow Robert's journey on Instagram at @_RobertCrenshaw...

On this episode, Braden meets with Danny Wicentowski & Martin 'Mac' McNally.. The conversation dives into the life of Martin McNally, who hijacked a plane in 1972 and spent 37 years in federal prison. It explores themes of regret, freedom, and the impact of his actions on aviation security. The discussion also highlights the storytelling process behind the documentary 'American Sky...

In this episode, Braden sits down with Emma Klues, Vice President of Communications & Outreach at Great Rivers Greenway , to talk about the vision behind connecting St. Louis through trails, parks, and green spaces. Great Rivers Greenway is leading the charge to make St. Louis a more connected, vibrant, and healthy region. From building and maintaining over 130 miles of greenways to creating s...

This week, Braden sat down with Steven Pursley, the chef and visionary behind Menya Rui, for an inspiring episode. He opens up about his upbringing, Japanese-American identity, and the early inspirations that drew him into the culinary world. We dive into his journey building one of the most celebrated ramen spots in the country, the feeling of being recognized by Forbes and Food & Wine, his o...

On this episode, Braden sits down with Beau Bommarito - a St. Louis native, former college basketball player, and rising actor where he shares his journey from the court to the camera. We dive into his upbringing, love for basketball, and how that led to co-founding Da Guys with his brother and friends - a digital community built around fun, hoops, and good vibes. Beau shares what it was like leav...

In this episode, Braden sits down with Anthony “ Redd “ Williams who brings significant performance, choreography & teaching experience to the world of Commercial Hip Hop Dance.  A Saint Louis native, Redd Williams has traveled all over the world teaching thousands of students. He has performed & choreographed on tours, movies, music videos, live stage & national television/commercials...

In this episode, Braden sits down with Emanuel Harrold and Shareef Keyes, the dynamic duo behind Brooklyn Saint. Brooklyn Saint is a genre blending music group rooted in jazz, rap, and house. Recorded just before their Festival of Nations performance, the conversation dives into their musical upbringings, growing up in families full of artists, and navigating the ever-evolving music industry. Toge...

In this milestone 50th episode of Ope Cast host Braden collaborates with the team from the Mostly Superheroes podcast for their first-ever crossover episode. The Mostly Superheroes crew includes host Logan Janis, along with co-hosts Andy "The Giggler" and Scotty Scoop. They dive into the origins of their podcast, their shared enthusiasm for community, and their interests spanning movies,...

On this episode, Braden sat down with Shayn Prapaisilp of United Provisions. Shayn shares his journey into the hospitality industry, working in the family business, favorite international snacks, and more. His family has been a longstanding force in St. Louis' food industry, owning multiple local businesses. They run United Provisions—a specialty grocery store in the Delmar Loop featuring inte...

On this episode, Braden sits down with A-Game shares his St. Louis upbringing, journey into HipHop, work ethic, passion for pursuing his dreams, and more. His show stopping performances have led him to receive many achievements, like winning Revolt Summit's "Be Heard" competition. A-Game has performed with many well-known artists, including Ella Mai, J. Cole, Jhene Aiko, Saweetie, Lil Uzi Vert, Yo...

On this episode, Braden sits down with Chef Liz Schuster of Tenacious Eats to explore her journey into the hospitality industry, her deep passion for films, and how she merges the two through her immersive "dinner and a movie" experiences. She shares insights into her creative process, the importance of doing things the right way, and the dedication it takes to be a pioneer in her craft....

On this episode, Braden sits down with James Beard Award winning chef and culinary visionary, Gerard Craft. They discuss his upbringing, expressing his creativity through graffiti art, early days as a photographer, his unexpected pivot to the culinary world, and his latest venture, Expat BBQ-a 16,000 sq ft, globally inspired concept at City Foundry STL. They recorded the episode on all three stori...

On this special episode, Braden takes you to the red carpet of Nelly's Black & White Ball that took place on December 15, 2024 in Downtown St. Louis. This incredible night of giving back supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Harris-Stowe State University. Braden caught up with the all-star lineup of guests including Nelly, Ashanti, Murphy Lee (Lunatics), Jermaine Dupri, Kyjuan (Lunatics), Sl...

On this episode, Braden sits down with Mario Iaccarino, behind Casa Don Alfonso at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. Mario shares the captivating story of his family’s culinary heritage, rooted in the traditions of Naples, Italy, and how they’ve brought their authentic flavors to the Midwest. From the art of creating dishes steeped in love and tradition to the inspiration behind Casa Don Alfonso’s warm...

On this episode, Braden goes on a walk around Kennedy Forrest with Amy Witt, Forest Park Ecologist. She gives us an inside look on the work the dedicated team at Forest Park does to enhance the park for millions of visitors every year. Braden has recently announced his partnership with Forest Park Forever where he'll give you all an inside look on the incredible work they do on his @BradENSTL plat...

In this special episode, Braden reconnects with Matt Menietti from STL Startup Week 2024. Returning from Season 1, Episode 4 of Ope Cast, Matt recaps last year’s event, shares exciting new highlights for this year, and dives into what’s next. STL Startup week is taking place November 11-15 around St. Louis. For more details, visit stlstartupweek.com

Ope Cast is BACK! Braden kicks off Season 3 with Larry Kirchner of Scarefest and Blacklight Attractions. Larry is a prominent figure in the haunted house industry and the mastermind behind several renowned attractions in St. Louis, including The Darkness, Creepyworld, and Lemp Haunted House. Known for his innovative approach, he also runs Blacklight Attractions, which specializes in designing them...

On this episode, Braden sits down with one of the most notable names in St. Louis sports, Tom Ackerman. Tom is the Director at KMOX in St. Louis, the flagship station for the Cardinals (MLB) and Saint Louis University (NCAA), hosting radio shows for both teams. He's also a co-host of Total Information A.M., the top-rated show at the station, providing listeners with news, traffic, weather, busines...

On this episode, Braden sat down with Polo Ascencio of the St. Louis Cardinals Spanish Broadcasting Network. Polo shares his Tijuana upbringing, love for baseball, the journey of broadcasting Cardinals games in Spanish alongside Bengie Molina. Over the years, Ascencio and Molina have expanded their reach, beginning with just two games in 2016 and now covering all home games and playoffs. Their bro...

On this episode, Braden spoke with actor, producer, and comedy legend, Guy Torry. Guy shares his St. Louis upbringing, time at SEMO, moving to Hollywood, Phat Tuesday's, movies, and much more. For 10 years, Guy had the hottest comedy night in the country. Originally called Phat Comedy Tuesday, he later changed the name to The Guy Torry Comedy Show. The night would attract A list comedians and...