Bethany Budde-Cohen – SqWires

Amy Guo - Sando Shack

On this episode of The Sauce Podcast, host Lauren sits down with Amy Guo, co-owner of Sando Shack and Hello Poké, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, Japanese comfort food, food halls, and the unexpected path that brought her family back to St. Louis. Amy shares the story behind Sando Shack — the Japanese-inspired sandwich concept known for its katsu sandos, fruit sandos, and creative flavors — and how what started as small pop-ups during the pandemic eventually grew into a food truck, a brick-and-mortar restaurant, and a new home in Maplewood. She also reflects on launching Hello Poké inside City Foundry and how a move from Seattle to St. Louis unexpectedly changed the direction of their lives and careers. From operating inside one of the city’s biggest food destinations to navigating entrepreneurship for the first time, Amy opens up about the realities of restaurant ownership, learning to lead, and adapting to constant change. The conversation also explores St. Louis’ growing food scene, Maplewood’s supportive small business community, authentic Asian cuisine in the city, and some favorite local spots around town. Along the way, Amy shares stories about food trucks, festivals, balancing multiple concepts, and why she believes St. Louis continues to evolve in exciting ways. In this episode: *  The story behind Sando Shack and Japanese-style sandwiches  *  Building Hello Poké at City Foundry  *  Moving from Seattle back to St. Louis  *  Launching restaurants during the pandemic  *  Pop-ups, food trucks, and early entrepreneurship  *  Expanding into a brick-and-mortar space  *  The move from Morganford to Maplewood  *  Challenges of restaurant ownership and leadership  *  City Foundry’s growth and St. Louis food halls  *  Maplewood’s business community and local support  *  Favorite St. Louis restaurants and hidden gems  *  Exploring authentic Asian food in St. Louis  *  Festivals, food trucks, and future plans  Come for the conversation. Stay for the culture. 🌿  ✨ Presented by SWADE Dispensary, with 12 locations across Missouri. Learn more at swadecannabis.com. Our other podcast sponsors are 4 Hands Brewing Co. and LHM. 🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major platforms.  📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Dave Glover - The Dave Glover Show

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide, mental health struggles, paranormal themes, and substance use that some listeners may find sensitive or distressing. On this episode of The Sauce Podcast, host Lauren sits down with longtime St. Louis radio personality Dave Glover for one of the wildest and most entertaining conversations yet — covering everything from his unexpected journey from lawyer to radio host, to mental health, cannabis, live music, Bigfoot encounters, ghost hunting, aliens, and the St. Louis restaurant scene. Dave reflects on celebrating 25 years on air with The Dave Glover Show and explains how he accidentally fell into radio after a career in law. He shares stories about improvising live radio for four hours a day, building authentic connections with listeners, and how personal tragedy transformed the direction of his show. The conversation also dives into mental health, therapy, and Dave’s experience using cannabis gummies to help manage anxiety and stress. From solo Cardinals games and favorite dispensary finds to live music and performing Beatles covers with his band, the episode balances heartfelt moments with hilarious stories throughout. Then things take a paranormal turn. Dave opens up about his lifelong fascination with Bigfoot, recounting a strange encounter in the Colorado mountains that left both him and a skeptical friend stunned. The conversation continues into aliens, UFOs, haunted houses, paranormal investigations, the infamous Sallie House, the Exorcist house in St. Louis, and unexplained psychic experiences that still stick with him today. Along the way, Dave also shares some of his favorite St. Louis restaurants, talks about the city’s evolving food scene, and reflects on why St. Louis deserves more credit nationally. From radio stories and live music to ghosts and cryptids — this episode truly goes everywhere. In this episode:  - Dave Glover’s accidental path from lawyer to radio host  - Celebrating 25 years of The Dave Glover Show  - Learning to improvise live radio  - Mental health, therapy, and vulnerability on-air  - Cannabis gummies and managing anxiety  - Performing live music and Beatles covers  - Favorite St. Louis restaurants and hidden gems  - St. Louis food culture and restaurant scene growth  - Bigfoot encounters in Colorado  - Aliens, UFOs, and government footage  - Paranormal investigations and haunted houses  - The Sallie House and the Exorcist house  - Psychic experiences and unexplained coincidences  - Playing baseball at 60 and staying creative Come for the conversation. Stay for the culture. 🌿  ✨ Presented by SWADE Dispensary, with 12 locations across Missouri. Learn more at swadecannabis.com. Our other podcast sponsors are 4 Hands Brewing Co. and LHM. 🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major platforms.  📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Alex & Jeff Henry - El Molino Del Sureste

“The Sauce” with Jeff & Alex Henry – Bringing Yucatán Cuisine to St. Louis Through El Molino del Sureste On this episode of The Sauce Podcast, host Lauren sits down with brothers Jeff and Alex Henry — the owners of El Molino del Sureste and Taqueria del Sureste — to talk about their journey from growing up between Missouri and Mexico to building one of St. Louis’ most exciting and celebrated regional Mexican restaurant concepts. The brothers share how their upbringing in Mérida, Yucatán shaped their connection to food, family, and hospitality, and how summers spent cooking with their grandparents inspired Alex’s path into the culinary world. They dive into the evolution from opening inside City Foundry STL to launching their standalone South City restaurant, where they’ve been able to fully showcase the depth and creativity of Yucatán-inspired cuisine. They also break down some of their standout dishes — from handmade masa creations and smoked sweet potatoes to traditional candied squash desserts — while explaining the techniques, ingredients, and philosophy behind their fully scratch-made kitchen. The conversation touches on seasonal menus, farm sourcing, house-grown herbs, and how their James Beard semifinalist recognition helped transform the trajectory of the business. Beyond the food, the episode explores the importance of family, cultural identity, mentorship, and staying deeply connected to both St. Louis and Mexico while building something truly personal. From Yucatán traditions to modern technique, from masa to mezcal cocktails — this episode is all about honoring heritage through food. In this episode: * Growing up between St. Louis and Mérida, Yucatán * Family traditions and learning to cook from their grandmother * Alex Henry’s path into the culinary world * Opening at City Foundry STL during uncertain post-pandemic times * Expanding into El Molino del Sureste in South City * Regional Mexican cuisine and Yucatán influences * Scratch cooking and farm-to-table sourcing * Handmade masa dishes and smoked sweet potato preparations * Traditional Mexican candying techniques and seasonal desserts * The evolving cocktail program and bringing on beverage manager Ben Bauer * Gardening, specialty herbs, and growing ingredients onsite * Becoming James Beard semifinalists and the impact on the restaurant * Favorite St. Louis restaurants and exploring the city * What’s next for the future of the Sureste restaurants Come for the conversation. Stay for the culture. 🌿  ✨ Presented by SWADE Dispensary, with 12 locations across Missouri. Learn more at swadecannabis.com. Our other podcast sponsors are 4 Hands Brewing Co. and LHM. 🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major platforms.  📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Bethany Budde-Cohen – SqWires

On this episode of The Sauce Podcast, host Lauren sits down with Bethany Budde-Cohen — owner of SqWires Restaurant & Market — to celebrate 25 years of one of Lafayette Square’s most beloved dining destinations and the story behind its lasting success. Bethany shares how she transformed a 130-year-old wire factory into a warm, character-filled restaurant, and the challenges that came with it — from construction setbacks and a major fire to navigating recessions and a global pandemic. Through it all, SqWires has remained rooted in its identity: elevated Midwestern comfort food, local sourcing, and a deep connection to the neighborhood. They talk about what’s kept SqWires thriving for over two decades, including house-smoked staples, a strong relationship with local farmers, and a commitment to consistency while still evolving with the times. Bethany also dives into the return and reinvention of the market concept during COVID, and how it’s become a curated, community-focused space for fresh, local goods. Beyond the food, the conversation highlights the importance of family in the business — including Bethany’s daughter stepping into a leadership role — and what it means to grow something that’s truly part of the fabric of St. Louis. From historic spaces to homemade herbs, from resilience to reinvention — this episode is all about building something that lasts. In this episode: *  The story behind SqWires Restaurant & Market  *  Transforming a historic wire factory into a restaurant  *  Overcoming a fire, delays, and economic challenges  *  What defines “elevated Midwestern” cuisine  *  House-smoked meats, brunch staples, and menu favorites  *  Sourcing local ingredients and working with farmers  *  The return and evolution of the SqWires market  *  Adapting through COVID and changing customer needs  *  Running a family business with the next generation  *  Why Lafayette Square is such a special community  Come for the conversation. Stay for the culture. 🌿  ✨ Presented by SWADE Dispensary, with 12 locations across Missouri. Learn more at swadecannabis.com. Our other podcast sponsors are 4 Hands Brewing Co. and LHM. 🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major platforms.  📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

BradenSTL - Foodies Eat First Fest

On this episode of The Sauce Podcast, host Lauren sits down with Braden— one of St. Louis’ fastest-growing food influencers — to talk about the highly anticipated Foodies Eat First Fest and how he’s turning the city’s food scene into a national destination. Braden breaks down the vision behind the festival, built “for foodies, by foodies,” and how he’s bringing together some of the most talked-about chefs, restaurants, and creators in one place — all at an accessible price point. From VIP all-you-can-eat experiences to curated vendor lineups and afterparties, this isn’t your typical food festival. But the conversation goes deeper than just the event. Braden shares his journey from corporate America to full-time creator, how he built a following by spotlighting local businesses, and why he believes St. Louis is one of the most underrated food cities in the country. They also dive into the future of Foodies Eat First — including expansion plans, restaurant week, micro festivals, and how content creators are driving real economic impact in cities like St. Louis. From toasted ravioli to Wagyu, from social media to city-building — this episode is all about passion, hustle, and putting St. Louis on the map. In this episode:  - The concept behind Foodies Eat First Fest  - How the festival makes high-end food more accessible  - Featured chefs, restaurants, and unique food experiences  - VIP vs General Admission breakdown  - Expanding into multiple festivals and events  - The rise of the creator economy in St. Louis  - Braden's journey from corporate to content creator  - How influencers are driving tourism and local growth  - Favorite underrated food spots around St. Louis  - The future of Foodies Eat First Come for the conversation. Stay for the culture. 🌿  ✨ Presented by SWADE Dispensary, with 12 locations across Missouri. Learn more at swadecannabis.com. Our other podcast sponsors are 4 Hands Brewing Co. and LHM. 🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major platforms.  📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.