Roughly 79 million people worldwide stutter. In St. Louis, the National Stuttering Association (NSA) is building connection, confidence, and community — so no one has to navigate it alone. On this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, host Lucas Farrell sits down with Chad Mannisi (Chair of the NSA Board of Directors) and Christine Rose (Regional Chapter Coordinator & speech-language pathologist at SLU) to talk about creating safe spaces, advocacy, and resources for people who stutter and ...

The Old Orchard Fall Festival is back—and bigger. This week on The STL Bucket List Show, host Luke Farrell sits down with Madeleine Wiering, of Papillon Press, and Lexie Toomey, of First House, to share how Webster Groves’ Old Orchard District is turning Big Bend into a two-day neighborhood celebration. Festival at a glance: 🗓️ Oct 25–26 • 10 AM–6 PM both days📍 Old Orchard, Webster Groves (Big Bend Blvd between East Dale & Summit)🎟️ Free to attend — RSVP encouraged What to expect: ...

From North City & North County to the NFL and back home to lead, Brandon Williams’ journey has always been about team—and today that team is the 6–18-year-olds served by Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis. On this week’s episode of The STL Bucket List Show, host Lucas Farrell sits down with Brandon (Hazelwood East alum, Wisconsin Badger, former 49er/Ram/Steeler) to talk about why out-of-school time matters and how BGCSTL is helping kids feel safe, seen, and supported across the r...

This week we sat down with Amee Colvin from the Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA) and Steve Crider, owner of 2nd Shift Brewing, to talk about Brew in the Lou, one of St. Louis’ favorite fall festivals celebrating local beer, food, music, and community. Brew in the Lou returns this weekend at Francis Park, featuring more than 40 local breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and food trucks. The event supports scholarships and educational programs for local Lutheran schools. Amee shar...

Jarrett Young, Head of School at City Academy, joins The STL Bucket List Show to share how a small independent school in North St. Louis is transforming opportunities for kids and families through access, love, and education. We cover: Jarrett’s journey: North STL → St. Louis Public Schools → MICDS (DSEG) → Bowdoin → Harvard → back home to lead City AcademyWhy 100% of students receive financial aid, with families paying ~$3,900 toward a $28,000 educationThe City Academy model: no buses, daily...

At 16 years old, Joshua “Mr. Fresh” Danrich has taken a garage-born idea and turned it into a shelf-ready product now sold in 100+ Walmart stores across Missouri — plus Schnucks, Dierbergs, and Mobile On The Run. On this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, host Lucas Farrell digs into Joshua’s journey from science-loving kid to CEO of Mr. Fresh, an air freshener & deodorizer brand made with 100% essential oils. We cover: Pitching at Walmart Open Call (and landing the golden ticket)Formul...

On this episode, host Lucas Farrell sits down with Latoya Thompson, the force behind Bougie Bites—the plant-based, fast-casual spot turning non-vegans into regulars with smashburgers, fries, and big hospitality. Latoya opens up about the real journey: from personal styling and home-care entrepreneurship to a food truck, a ghost kitchen, and now a brick-and-mortar in Overland. We dig into radical transparency (yes, she posts payroll), why guest experience beats hype, and how to “stand on busin...

Frizz Fest is back! On this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Tee Parks—festival MC, media host, and arts educator—along with Kendra & Steven Hunt of With Love Skincare, a Blooming Business that started as a DIY solution for their son’s eczema. We dive into: What “safe, seen, and celebrated” looks like at Frizz FestHow the festival uplifts 80+ Blooming Businesses year-roundThis year’s highlights: hair show competition, youth zone, Black-owned farmers market, food + dri...

On this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Elliott Brown and Brandon Panosh, the duo behind The Biscuit Joint in Midtown, to talk about their next chapter — Scouts, a fine dining concept rooted in community, hospitality, and the spirit of their early pop-ups. What began as intimate Dinner at the Loft evenings has grown into a neighborhood-driven food group, blending creativity, culture, and a love for St. Louis. We dive into: How a loft supper club during the pandemic evolv...

In this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, Lucas welcomes Discover Downstate Illinois and LongStory Coffee for a conversation all about the heart of Southern Illinois and the growing coffee culture that is connecting communities across the region. We explore the Discover Downstate Illinois Coffee Trail, a curated path that takes you through locally owned coffee shops and roasters who are passionate about their craft. LongStory Coffee shares how they started, the values that guide their busi...

On this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Tasha Mueller, founder of R&R Farms 1904 in Wentzville, MO. Tasha shares her powerful journey from battling unexplained seizures as a young adult to finding healing through intentional living—and how that personal experience eventually inspired her to start growing hemp and creating CBD products right on her family’s century-old farm. What started with 11,000 hemp seeds and zero farming experience has since become a mission-dri...

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we’re joined by Riya Kurian, the founder of Next Horizon —a boutique travel planning company that curates personalized, meaningful trips across Europe and beyond. Riya shares how a spontaneous year teaching in France ignited her passion for cultural connection and solo travel, eventually leading her to leave the corporate world and launch her own business. From planning once-in-a-lifetime honeymoons to advising on credit card points, Riya walks us ...

On this episode of The STL Bucket List Show, host Lucas Farrell sits down with Dr. Alex Garza, Chief Community Health Officer at SSM Health, to talk about the intersection of healthcare, community impact, and leadership in St. Louis. Dr. Garza shares powerful insights from his career as an emergency physician, former head of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force, and Army veteran. We dive into his mission at SSM Health to create healthier communities through innovation, compassion, a...

This week, Lucas sits down with Larry Hagner, founder of The Dad Edge and host of one of the top fatherhood podcasts in the world. Larry is a St. Louis native, a father of four boys, and a guy who’s made it his mission to help men become better husbands, stronger fathers, and more grounded leaders. Lucas, a dad of two under two, gets real with Larry about the ups and downs of parenting, the pressure men feel to have it all together, and why creating community around fatherhood matters more t...

This week on The STL Bucket List Show, host Lucas Farrell sits down with two of St. Louis’s most influential tastemakers: Gerard Craft, James Beard Award-winning chef and founder of Niche Food Group, and David Wolfe, co-founder of Urban Chestnut Brewing Company. Recorded at STL Bucket List Studios, this episode dives into their exciting new partnership: a permanent Fordo's Killer Pizza location inside the Urban Chestnut taproom in The Grove. From the art of wood-fired pies to the evolution of...

On this week’s episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Chris Hoffmann, CEO of Hoffman Brothers, one of St. Louis’ most respected family-owned companies. Chris shares his personal journey from Kirkwood kid to Marine Corps officer to business leader, opening up about lessons from the military, leadership growth, and what it means to scale a business while staying rooted in values. We dive into: Hoffman Brothers’ rapid growth from 45 to 650+ employeesThe launch of Hoffmann Brother...

This week on The STL Bucket List Show, we're joined by award-winning journalist and local storyteller Alexis Zotos to talk about her brand new podcast, What’s New in the Lou — recorded right here at Bucket List Podcast Studio. After years on your TV screens reporting the biggest stories in St. Louis, Alexis is taking her deep community knowledge and unmatched storytelling skills to the mic. We dive into what inspired her to launch this new project, the future of local media, and how she’s con...

This week on The STL Bucket List Show, host Lucas Farrell sits down with Andrew Haines, the Chief Operating Officer of St. Louis Shock Pickleball, the city’s brand-new professional pickleball team making waves both locally and nationally. In this episode, Andrew shares how pickleball has exploded across St. Louis, what it takes to launch a pro sports team in this fast-growing space, and what fans can expect from their first major event happening July 17–20 at Chaifetz Arena. Whether you're a ...

In this special episode, host Lucas Farrell welcomes two of the minds behind one of St. Louis’ most celebrated coffee brands—Eric Peters and Conor VanBuskirk, the crew behind Upshot Coffee and the Official Coffee Partner of STL Bucket List. This conversation is personal. Upshot isn’t just another local business to Lucas, it’s part of his weekly routine. From brewing his daily espresso to bringing his family into the shops on the weekends, Upshot has been a staple in his life for years. T...

Laurie and Dodie - two friends who didn’t see menopause coming and definitely didn’t expect it to feel this overwhelming. When the symptoms showed up (and no one had warned us), we went looking for answers and came up short on anything that felt truly supportive. Support the show