The STL Bucket List Show

We’re joined by Executive Director Meera Nagarajan and Digital Creative Director Michelle Volansky of Sauce Magazine. Sauce has told St. Louis food stories since 1999 and it was an honor to host 2 longtime team members of the beloved local publication. Sauce Magazine, now in its 24th year delivering the most relevant insights and stories on dining in STL. Meera and Michelle are also the co-hosts of ‘The Sauce’, a St. Louis restaurant podcast.The two veterans in hospitality journalism share insights on what the job entails, favorite bites in the Lou, the reality of journalism in 2024, and more. Support the show

In this episode, we sit down with Ham Hamrah, a successful entrepreneur in the cannabis industry. Ham shares his inspiring journey of taking a personal risk that paid off big. From moving to the US at a young age to navigating through the mortgage industry, Ham eventually found his niche in the cannabis industry in Missouri.We discuss Ham's upbringing, his drive to succeed, and his strategy for being the first in the market with his business, Root 66. With 5 locations in the St. Louis area, Ham's business has flourished, and he shares his insights on entrepreneurship, the future of the cannabis industry, and more.Join us as we dive into a conversation with Ham about his journey, his successes, and what the future holds for him and Root 66.Support the show

Dr. Justin Firth joins us on the podcast today. Justin is one of the owners of Bankhead & Firth Orthodontics, a locally owned and operated Orthodontist in St. Louis. Bankhead & Firth has served St. Louis families for the past 50 years and now have 5 locations in the metro. In this episode we talked about Justin’s upbringing, career, and what the future holds for Bankhead & Firth Orthodontics.Support the show

Marcus is a legend in the fitness community here in St. Louis. In this episode, we talk with Marcus about his journey, upbringing, what it takes to compete, and more. Marcus Seidel is a Contest Prep coach and Personal Trainer from St. Louis, Missouri. He has studied nutrition and training for nearly two decades and has always had a fascination with bodybuilding and fitness. In addition to his accolades as a coach, he’s an NPC national-level competitor and former collegiate basketball player himself. His first competition was a Heavyweight Class win at the 2011 NPC Southern Indiana, and he has gone on to achieve several more wins, including a class win at the 2017 Junior USAs. With high-level experience both as a competitor and coach, in addition to his certifications from both the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the International Fitness Academy, he’s among the most qualified coaches in the country.Support the show

 Caiti is a friend, mother, wife, and successful business owner of the Jasper Paul PR & Marketing firm. During this episode Caiti discusses the dream team in her personal life and work life. She shows appreciation for her family and gives gratification to her JP team. The firm, which recently celebrated seven years in business, dedicates time to building successful relationships with a variety of major hospitality clients in the St. Louis region. Tune in to hear how Caiti pays homage to the love of her family, and has curated a team of hard working and like-minded partners that deliver results with their clientele. Keep an eye out for the amazing connections and work done by the Jasper Paul team.Also, Marissa is BACK for this special episode :) Support the show

In light of his unprecedented success in commercial real estate, Michael Staenberg considers philanthropy his greatest achievement in life. His commitment to creating quality communities and “paying it forward” is second to none. His core business strategy is making a difference in the community. Michael is the driving force behind St. Louis’ newest entertainment district, The District of St. Louis. Michael leads with passion and it’s on full display in this episode. He sits down with Host Luke Farrell to talk about his upbringing in Nebraska, entrepreneurship, giving back, and what the future looks like in Chesterfield. Support the show

We’re joined by former St. Louis Cardinal and 2011 World Series Champion, Jon Jay. Baseball is everything in St. Louis and it was interesting to learn about Jon’s upbringing, professional career, and what he’s up to after baseball. Philanthropy is a huge part of Jay’s mission, once he retired he launched The Jay Family Foundation. The foundation focuses on 3 pillars: Youth Development, Community, and Scholarship. It’s exciting to learn more about the charity and we look forward to attending his Golf Tournament in St. Louis on April 5th. Support the show

Firaol Ahmed is a student athlete at SLU that launched Moii Coffee in his dorm room at 20 years old. Born in Ethiopia, Firaol came to the United States at 14 years old with his family. Moii which means ‘CONQUER’ started with a big dream in a small college apartment. Coffee was always in his family dating back generations when his Great Grandfather achieved success in a small Ethiopian village selling coffee to Arab merchants.Firaol has became successful while still being a student athlete and running his business in between sports and class. Ahmed is on a mission to bring the true essence of Ethiopian coffee to the world and give people an unforgettable coffee experience. In this episode, Firaol makes coffee for our host Luke and talks all things entrepreneurship, coffee, and his upbringing.Support the show

Doug Auer, co-owner of Third Degree Glass Factory, MADE, and the Delmar Makers District. Over 20 years ago, Doug founded Third Degree on a strip of Delmar between Union and Kingshighway which is now known as The Delmar Makers District. The DMD has quickly become one of St. Louis’ hottest neighborhoods with 8 new restaurants opening in 2024 including concepts from Ben Poremba, HuSTLe Hospitality, and Alpha Brewing. Doug has big plans for the district and aims to bring people together to celebrate the rich history of this neighborhood through crafts, food, and entertainment. On this episode we learn a little more about what’s coming soon and what to expect over the next 12 months.Support the show

Shalie Dahl Moore was born in Southeast Alaska, her family harvested wild salmon, halibut, and shrimp. Growing up, Shalie spent most of her free time outside of school on her families fishing boat. Wheelhouse Fish Co. is inspired by her upbringing and the unique lifestyle of Alaskan fishermen and families. After ending up in the Midwest through college, Shalie is bringing wild Alaskan seafood to farmers markets across St. Louis and now a permanent pop-up location inside Ubran Eats. Wheelhouse Fish Co is passionate about connecting people with sustainably caught wild seafood that is sourced directly from the fishermen. Support the show

If you are from St. Louis, there’s a strong chance you’ve been to the famous Gioia’s Deli. Originally founded on The Hill back in 1918, Gioia’s has stood the test of time as a legit community staple. In 1980, the Gioia’s family sold the business to the Donley’s. In 2016, Alex Donley took over the brand from his mother with his wife and quickly began to grow the business to multiple locations. Gioia’s now has 4 St. Louis area locations and plans to continue the growth within St. Louis. Known for their famous Hot Salami, there’s really something special about a lunch trip to the famous Deli. In this episode, Luke Farrell chats with Alex about the journey, future plans, community, and more! Support the show

We’re joined by Nurse Mel, Caitlyn, and Darrien for a fun filled episode from the team at SSM Health. These three nurses are “influencers” with a goal to recruit, educate, and of course make you laugh. Luke Farrell sits down with the group to talk all things nursing, SSM Health, and more. Follow on IG: @ssmhealthcareers @nurse.dare@nursemel226_@nurse.caitlynnSupport the show

This episode is THE big one! Thank you to our listeners for following along with us for 100 episodes, guests, and special stories from the people of St. Louis. Not only is this a milestone podcast episode, but also a milestone life moment for hosts Lucas and Marissa Farrell, who have finally welcomed the birth of their first born, baby Mila! Episode 100 is welcomed by Rebekah Coste, owner of St. Louis's Premier Resource for Motherhood, the St. Louis mom group. In this episode, hosts Marissa and Lucas discuss the back story of Rebekah, and how she came to bring a reliable resource to families within the Stl region. St. Louis mom, is a news and media website and resource built by mothers, for mothers. The group offers multiple perspectives of family life and highlights experiences, events, and advice on family matters. Rebekah discusses the power of community and importance of family and friendships in the journey of parenthood.Support the show

On this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, Luke & Marissa chat with Jake from Fête Booth Fête Booth is St. Louis’ premier Photo Booth and Multimedia experience. Each weekend you will catch Fête Booth at countless events around St. Louis ranging from corporate gatherings, weddings, mitzvahs, wedding showers, and more. Jake absolutely loves the event industry and is truly the LIFE of the party. On this episode we take a deep dive on the business behind Fête and how they plan to continue to grow in St. Louis and beyond. This one was special for us, as we’ve had Fête at our wedding and multiple business events. Support the show

In this episode of The STL Bucket List, we chat with Cory Jobe, the President & CEO of Great Rivers and Routes. Explore the unique intersection of two iconic American roadways and the confluence of three mighty rivers in the Southwest Illinois region. Learn about the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, representing counties like Madison, Macoupin, Montgomery, Jersey, Calhoun, Greene, and the City of East St. Louis. Discover the evolution of the bureau from its roots as the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau in 1985 to its expanded identity as Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau in 2018.In this episode Lucas & Marissa Farrell chat all things events and tourism with Cory from GRR. Support the show

In this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, host Luke Farrell sits down with Patrick Huck, the co-founder of Advanced Training & Rehab. As a local and family-owned business, Advanced Training & Rehab has become a staple in the St. Louis community with over 20 locations.Patrick shares the essence of why people choose Advanced Training and Rehab for their physical therapy needs. The foundation lies in their unique culture, shaped by a clear vision, strong values, and a purpose that directs their daily actions. Since their establishment in 2000, they have been dedicated to delivering top-notch physical therapy services, aiding patients in recovering from sports injuries, orthopedic conditions, surgical procedures, and more.Having expanded across the St. Louis area, Advanced Training & Rehab brings their commitment to excellent care to communities far and wide. Their patient-centric approach prioritizes individual needs, offering customized treatment plans to help each person achieve their maximum recovery potential.Support the show

Welcome to the STL Bucket List Show! In this episode, hosts Luke & Marissa Farrell, joined by Sam Moore, Director of Public History at the Missouri Historical Society (MHS), explore the dynamic history of St. Louis. Discover MHS's founding mission in 1866, with over half a million annual visitors to the Missouri History Museum and a vast artifact collection supported by 4,500 members.Uncover MHS's core components: the Missouri History Museum, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, and the Library & Research Center. Soldiers Memorial, downtown, currently features the evocative exhibit "Vietnam at War & at Home." Meanwhile, the Missouri History Museum, nestled in Forest Park, is a nationally accredited institution showcasing local and regional history.Explore how the museum keeps history alive with rotating exhibits like "Coloring STL" and "Soccer City." Join Luke & Marissa and their guest, Sam Moore, for an engaging journey through St. Louis' past. Experience the stories that have shaped the city, with a glimpse into the vibrant present and exciting future.Support the show

In this episode, Ann and Chris, not twins but the next best thing, share their journey. Having successfully managed their first shop 13 years ago, the sisters took a break to ideate their next venture. Fueled by chardonnay and cheese boards, Project 2 emerged. At their "GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS" in St. Louis, MO, they invite you to explore their curated selection, showcasing their sophisticated style.Support the show

Welcome to another episode of STL Bucket List Show! Today, we're joined by Jan Marson and Darren Jackson, the driving forces behind Food City. This initiative is on a mission to revolutionize the St. Louis Metro Area's food scene, emphasizing inclusivity, sustainability, and social responsibility.Jan and Darren walk us through Food City's approach of supporting diverse stakeholders, from food entrepreneurs to farmers, policy advocates, and more. The common thread? A relentless commitment to "Food For All."Tune in as we explore how Food City acts as a catalyst for positive change, providing funding, resources, and mentorship. Discover the transformative power of accessible opportunities and how Food City is creating an environment where everyone can not just survive, but thrive. Join us for an inspiring journey through the STL food landscape!Support the show

Forest Park holds a special place in the heart of St. Louis residents, especially us. It’s the place we got engaged, enjoy day dates on art hill, ice skate at Steinberg, and so much more. We had the honor to host Roman Fox, the Horticulture Superintendent to celebrate A Day 4 Forest Park. This day will focus on our region’s greatest civic treasure – a place of beauty and joy for millions of visitors each year! Tune into KMOV Today, December 6th from 7am-6pm. Forest Park Forever is a private nonprofit conservancy that partners with the City of St. Louis to restore, maintain and sustain Forest Park. At 1,300 acres and filled with historic structures and expansive greenspace, Forest Park is expensive to care for. Your donations are crucial and help maintain our park – planting trees and flowers, maintaining the popular recreation path, adding visitor amenities, maintaining iconic sites like the Emerson Grand Basin and the World’s Fair Pavilion and so much more.Support the show