Talkin' St Pete

What are the biggest challenges facing St. Petersburg, Florida? In Episode 103 of Talkin' St. Pete, Ryan Bogden sits down with Kevin Batdorf, a St. Pete native, local businessman, community leader, and candidate running for Mayor of St. Petersburg, for an in-depth conversation about the future of the city. Kevin shares why he decided to run for mayor, discusses the biggest issues facing St. Pe...

What happens when a therapist and a chemical engineer quit their careers, move across the country, and bet everything on a business in a city where they don't know a single person? In Episode 102 of Talkin' St. Pete, Ryan Bogden sits down with Jake and Sydney Newsome, owners of The Burg Nutrition and St. Pete Nutrition Bar, to talk about their journey from Mississippi to St. Petersburg and...

Flowers changed Erica Holland's life. Now she's helping bring that experience to people across St. Pete. In Episode 101 of Talkin' St. Pete, Ryan Bogden sits down with Erica Holland, owner of Roaming Petal, to talk about the journey that took her from graphic design and international travel to building one of St. Petersburg's most unique creative businesses. Erica shares how a trip...

What does the future of St. Pete really look like? In Episode 100 of Talkin’ St. Pete, Ryan Bogden sits down with Mayor Ken Welch for one of the biggest conversations we’ve had on the show so far. From the future of the Rays and Tropicana Field to the Historic Gas Plant District, affordable housing, hurricane recovery, infrastructure, transportation, and local business growth, this episode covers...

What would St. Pete look like without the Rays? In Episode 99 of Talkin’ St. Pete, Ryan Bogden sits down with Doug Jackson, Founder of Douglas G. Jackson, P.A. and President of the Edge District Business Association, to talk about the growth happening around the Edge District and what losing the Rays could mean for businesses around Downtown St. Pete. Doug talks about how much restaurants, bars, a...

Gateway Subs has become one of St. Pete’s go-to spots for sandwiches, wraps, catering, and coffee. In Episode 98 of Talkin’ St. Pete, Ryan Bogden sits down with Morgan Zook, Founding Member & CMO of Gateway Subs, to talk about how the business grew from 2 locations to 6 across St. Pete, Tampa, and Ellenton while staying focused on quality, community, and supporting other local businesses. This...

There’s a new tower in St. Pete getting a lot of attention… and for good reason. In Episode 97 of Talkin’ St. Pete, host Ryan Bogden sits down with Mauricio Lan Agami (Developer, Valor) and David Cook III (Serhant) to break down Roche Bobois St. Pete Tower, one of the most talked-about projects in downtown St. Pete right now. This isn’t just another place to live. The project brings together desig...

Are people in St. Pete starting to choose THC drinks over beer? In Episode 96 of Talkin’ St. Pete, host Ryan Bogden sits down with Richie Hamm, founder of Outcast Brewing Company, to break down what’s actually changing in how people go out, and why it’s affecting breweries across the city. Richie shares what he’s seeing in real time, from alcohol sales dropping $175B (first time since prohibition)...

In this episode of Talkin’ St. Pete, host Ryan Bogden sits down with Bobby VanSweden, founder of Bob Vansweden Golf, to unpack the real story behind entrepreneurship, the part most people don’t see. Bobby’s journey doesn’t follow a straight line. From being on tour with rock bands at just 17… to building an award-winning business in St. Pete… his story is filled with risks, pivotal moments, and de...

In this episode of Talkin’ St. Pete, host Ryan Bogden sits down with Jason DeBruler, founder of Biohack Studios, to explore the science behind biohacking, longevity, and what it really means to train smarter in a busy world. Jason breaks down complex health concepts into practical, approachable ideas, from redefining what effective workouts look like, to why 15 minutes twice a week can still creat...

In this episode of Talkin’ St. Pete, host Ryan Bogden sits down with Nate Siegel, founder of Cheeky’s and co-founder of Willa’s, to unpack why St. Pete continues to attract people, businesses, and creative energy, and how that demand is quietly reshaping the city. From choosing St. Pete as a place to build, to understanding how desirability accelerates growth, Nate shares insight into what founder...

In this episode of Talkin’ St. Pete, host Ryan Bogden sits down with Steve Diasio, founder of The School of Creativity and Innovation and a leading voice in community-driven problem-solving, to unpack one of the most critical questions facing St. Petersburg today: Is the city moving too fast on the largest redevelopment project in its history? This conversation explores the issues influencing St....

In this episode of Talkin’ St. Pete, host Ryan Bogden sits down with Dr. John Licato, an associate professor of Computer Science and Engineering at USF and a leading AI expert, to explore one of the most fascinating and important conversations shaping our world today: the reality of artificial intelligence and how quickly it’s evolving. AI is no longer a distant concept, it’s becoming a powerful f...

In Episode 90 of Talkin’ St. Pete, host Ryan Bogden sits down with Dan Bavaro, the founder of Bavaro’s Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria, one of Tampa Bay’s favorite places to eat. From starting with nothing to building a restaurant brand now recognized across Florida and beyond, Dan shares the real story behind his entrepreneurial journey, the setbacks, the sacrifices, and the resilience that kept...

In Episode 89 of Talkin’ St. Pete , host Ryan Bogden welcomes Peter Tush, Curator of Education at the world-renowned Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. As one of the leading voices on Dalí’s life and legacy, Peter offers a fascinating look into the mind of one of art’s greatest visionaries. From the melting clocks of “The Persistence of Memory” to the bold and bizarre imagination tha...

In Episode 88 of Talkin’ St. Pete, Ryan Bogden sits down with Thomas duPont, the visionary founder of the world-renowned duPont Registry and now the driving force behind Registry Tampa Bay. As a lifelong leader in the luxury automotive space, Tom has shaped how car enthusiasts, collectors, and industry insiders connect with some of the rarest and most prestigious vehicles on the planet. In this ep...

In Episode 87 of Talkin’ St. Pete , Ryan Bogden sits down with Jared Dykas, a local stand-up comedian making waves in St. Pete’s growing comedy scene. From his journey into comedy to the renaissance of stand-up happening right here in St. Pete, Jared shares insights on what it’s like to pursue laughter as a craft, why comedians are such unique characters, and how the city has become a hub for crea...

In Episode 86 of Talkin’ St. Pete , Ryan Bogden sits down with Kate Harvey, founder of Goodness. Co — a local health-forward food brand offering prepared meals and nourishing products available both through delivery and at local stores across St. Pete. Originally from the UK, Kate shares her inspiring journey to Florida and the story behind launching Goodness. Co. Her mission is clear: to provide...

In Episode 85 of Talkin’ St. Pete , Ryan Bogden sits down with Meaghan Browning, the founder of Ruff Days — a one-of-a-kind doggie daycare based in St. Pete that's redefining how we care for our four-legged family members. Meaghan shares the story behind Ruff Days and the intentional process they use to introduce new dogs into the pack. From beach days twice a week to the use of platforms like...

In Episode 84 of Talkin’ St. Pete , Ryan Bogden sits down with Pat Baals, founder of the wellness brand Chuga, to talk about the grit, passion, and wild journey that led to building one of St. Pete’s most unique health-focused companies. From nearly losing his life in the Himalayas to discovering the power of Shilajit—an ancient resin long used for its healing properties—Pat shares the story behin...

In Episode 83 of Talkin’ St. Pete , Ryan Bogden sits down with Bior Guigni, the Executive Director of St. Pete Pride, for a powerful and heartfelt conversation about what it means to lead with inclusivity, purpose, and pride. From St. Pete’s rich LGBTQ+ history to its evolution into hosting the largest Pride celebration in Florida, Bior shares her inspiring journey, how she came to this role, and...

In Episode 82 of Talkin’ St. Pete , Ryan Bogden sits down with Colette Delange, founder of Rare Body Studio, for a behind-the-scenes conversation on what it really takes to run a successful business in the beauty and wellness industry. Colette shares her journey of building Rare Body Studio, what most people don’t see behind the polished brand, and how she navigates the challenges of entrepreneurs...

In Episode 81 of Talkin’ St. Pete , Ryan Bogden sits down with John Harvey , the founder and CEO of Opulent Africa , to explore the world of ultra-luxury safari travel. With over 17 years of experience curating bespoke journeys and a personal history in Africa that spans decades, John shares how one life-changing safari in northern Nigeria ultimately inspired a business rooted in passion, adventur...

In Episode 80 of Talkin’ St. Pete , Ryan Bogden sits down with Nicholas Gerli , the CEO of Reventure , to dive into his personal and professional journey — from commercial real estate to building one of the fastest-growing real estate data platforms in the country. What started as a “happy accident” quickly turned into a mission to help homebuyers, investors, and industry professionals make smarte...

In Episode 79 of Talkin’ St. Pete , Ryan Bogden sits down with Dylan Goren, the CEO and Co-Founder of Pillar — a cutting-edge software development company transforming the real estate investment space. Pillar automates site selection and due diligence, helping residential developers nationwide find land faster and make smarter decisions. Dylan shares the vision behind the company, how AI is reshap...