The STL Bucket List Show

What happens when a dad’s dare turns into a commercial smoker, a 70-foot trailer, and one of St. Louis’s most talked-about barbecue spots? This week on the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Shawn and Chef Marvion of Maci’s Prime Barbecue to hear how a chance meeting at a fight night and one bite of brisket turned two strangers into business partners. They explain their no-sauce, no-bread phil...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Ono Ikanone, the chef and owner behind Levels, an authentic Nigerian restaurant in the heart of downtown St. Louis on Washington Ave. Ono Ikanone moved from Nigeria to St. Louis at 14, the youngest in a family that already had deep roots in the city. He figured out American life on his own, from traffic tickets to property taxes. He als...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Mark Sawyier, the founder behind GiftBetter. He’s reinventing the gift card so that every dollar stays in the community, one local business at a time. Mark came from New York City to go to WashU and started his first business from his dorm room. He stayed in St. Louis for 20 years of building companies, including a digital marketing age...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Charles Whitt, co-founder of the Mound City Film Festival — a free, full-day celebration of Saint Louis and the Midwest, one film, band, and bite at a time. What started last year as a monthly Mountainfilm series at Four Hands Brewing Co. downtown, created to celebrate Open Space STL's 60th anniversary, is now taking over Atomic by...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Jordan Franks, the founder behind Taste of Jack's — a fresh, small-batch St. Louis salsa brand — and brand ambassador Spring, one jar at a time. Jordan's salsa started as a COVID-era afternoon snack that suddenly clicked as a retail product, landing first at The Annex in Webster Groves and Fresh Thyme at City Foundry before gr...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Mike Seper, Director of Innovation and IP at UMSL, and Mark Munsell of GeoSTL, the minds behind the first-ever Missouri Innovation Week, happening October 13–17. Mark spent 25 years at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency working on some of the world's hardest problems. Now he's leading the new Spirit of St. Louis AI In...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Rachel King, the executive director behind MADE Makerspace — a creative hub on the Delmar Maker District where anyone can walk in and build just about anything, one project at a time. Rachel spent 15 years as a wedding photographer and earned a degree in clinical mental health counseling before joining MADE as membership director. She&a...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Logan Ice, founder of The Growth Den — a Saint Louis-based fractional growth and demand marketing consultancy helping local businesses stop guessing and start advertising with intention. Logan first landed in Saint Louis for Washington University, but it was a $5 scalped ticket to a Cardinals-Cubs game — and a stadium-shaking Pujols wal...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Bubba Sparxxx, the Georgia-born artist behind two of the 2000s' biggest crossover hits — "Ugly" and "Miss New Booty" — ahead of his stop in St. Louis for the Tacos and Tequila festival. Bubba talks about growing up on a dirt road in rural Georgia with, in his words, more natural ability than industry preparation...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Marie-Hélène Bernard, the President and CEO behind the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra — the second-oldest orchestra in the country, now settling into a fully rebuilt home at Powell Hall and its 147th season. Marie-Hélène arrived in Saint Louis in 2015 by way of Montreal, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Cleveland, drawn by an arts scen...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Derrick Walker Jr., founder of Rides N' School Supplies, the North St. Louis organization that's turned a single car show into scholarships, school supplies, and mentorship for kids across the city since 2019. Derrick was born and raised on a North St. Louis block he still lives on today, alongside eight other family members —...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Chris Bolyard, founder of Bolyard’s, to talk about building one of St. Louis’ standout butcher shops and the years of hard work, hospitality, local relationships, and passion for food that made it possible. Chris shares his journey from working in kitchens as a teenager to opening his own butcher shop in 2014, including the challenges o...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Mohit Patel, the owner of Barrel Blends Wine and Spirits — the St. Louis bottle shop that's grown from one store in Bridgeton into four locations across the region, one barrel pick at a time. Mohit's path to running a liquor store started nowhere near liquor at all. He came to the U.S. from India in 2006 to study pre-pharmacy...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Gesler and Chloe Joya, the husband-and-wife team behind Casero — the Salvadoran food truck that's become one of St. Charles County's most talked-about bites, one carne asada plate at a time. Their story starts with nothing. After Gesler lost his dream job during an immigration process and was sent back to St. Louis, the couple...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Mitch Baden, President and CEO of Royal Banks of Missouri, to discuss what it takes to lead one of St. Louis' longest-standing community banks in an industry that's constantly evolving. Mitch shares his remarkable 50-year journey in banking—from his memorable first day on the job to leading Royal Banks through rapid technologi...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Luke and Kevin Beattie, the father-and-son team behind Fox's Finest Market, to talk about bringing a historic Kirkwood storefront back to life and building a business centered around family, quality food, and community. Luke and Kevin share how their journey began in the automotive industry before taking an unexpected leap into hos...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Dr. Tayler Onion—host of the Hang Time podcast, professor at UMSL, former Division I volleyball player, and advocate for women in sports—to discuss one of the fastest-growing movements in athletics today. Tayler shares her journey from growing up on a small farm in rural Illinois to competing at the University of Illinois, earning her d...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Tre G, founder of WerQfest, to explore how a festival that started as a last-minute virtual event during the pandemic has grown into one of St. Louis's most important celebrations of Black queer art, music, and community. Tre shares his journey growing up in St. Louis, performing from a young age, studying at Berklee College of Mus...

In our first edition of 'At the Table', Brittany Dwyer and Sauce Magazine sit down with James Beard Award-winning chef Loryn Nalic of Balkan Treat Box to talk about her journey, her love for St. Louis, and the story behind one of the city’s most celebrated restaurants coming off her 'Best Chef Midwest' James Beard Award. Loryn shares how family, culture, hard work, and communit...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Tatyana Telnikova of Handlebar and Josh Smith of Neon Greens — two of the Grove neighborhood's most iconic business owners — to explore what makes this stretch of Manchester Avenue one of the most vibrant, inclusive, and exciting neighborhoods in St. Louis. Tatyana shares her unlikely journey from Moscow to St. Louis at age 16, how...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with St. Louis author, columnist, and novelist Debbie Baldwin to discuss her latest thriller, The Architect of Deception, a high-society murder mystery filled with secrets, privilege, and unexpected twists. Debbie shares her journey from growing up in St. Louis and attending Princeton and law school to building a career as a novelist. She re...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with filmmaker, storyteller, and My Friends and I founder Cami Cruz Thomas to discuss the making of Red Brick, Blue Tarp , a powerful new documentary examining the aftermath of the May 16 tornado and the ongoing recovery efforts across North St. Louis. Cami shares her journey from growing up in St. Louis and working for companies like Tesla...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Michael Alter, owner and founder of Fitz’s, to discuss the story behind one of St. Louis’ most iconic brands and how a small soda startup grew into a regional institution recognized across generations. Michael shares the history of Fitz’s, from its roots as a legendary St. Louis drive-in restaurant to relaunching the brand in 1992 with...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Katie of May’s Place and May’s Night Market to talk about building one of St. Louis’ most influential vintage brands and transforming a small local market into a citywide cultural event drawing more than 10,000 people. Katie shares the story behind launching May’s Place in South City, leaving the corporate fashion world behind, and crea...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Ross Chaifetz and Andrew Haines of the St. Louis Shock to talk about building one of the fastest-rising franchises in professional sports and why St. Louis has become one of the biggest pickleball markets in the country. Ross shares the origin story behind the St. Louis Shock—from identifying pickleball as an emerging investment opportu...