In this episode, Braden sits down with Emanuel Harrold and Shareef Keyes, the dynamic duo behind Brooklyn Saint. Brooklyn Saint is a genre blending music group rooted in jazz, rap, and house.

Recorded just before their Festival of Nations performance, the conversation dives into their musical upbringings, growing up in families full of artists, and navigating the ever-evolving music industry. Together, they share the story of how Brooklyn and St. Louis came together to create a sound that’s as soulful as it is fresh.

Since the recording, Brooklyn Saint lit up the stage on 314 Day, a beloved celebration of St. Louis culture—further cementing their status as hometown heroes with a global vibe.

Tap in to hear the full story, and follow their journey on Instagram @brooklynsaintmusic

In this milestone 50th episode of Ope Cast host Braden collaborates with the team from the Mostly Superheroes podcast for their first-ever crossover episode. The Mostly Superheroes crew includes host Logan Janis, along with co-hosts Andy "The Giggler" and Scotty Scoop. They dive into the origins of their podcast, their shared enthusiasm for community, and their interests spanning movies, books, wrestling, and more.​ Mostly Superheroes is a talk show and video podcast that features fans reviewing movies and TV shows, celebrating music, and pursuing great stories. Don't miss this engaging conversation and be sure to check out Braden's guest appearance on Mostly Superheroes, where he shares an exclusive recap of his time at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival in Miami, discusses potential upcoming projects, and more. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OecidYuNqY4You can follow them at @mostlysuperheroes on all platforms or visit their website at www.mostlysuperheroes.com

On this episode, Braden sat down with Shayn Prapaisilp of United Provisions. Shayn shares his journey into the hospitality industry, working in the family business, favorite international snacks, and more. His family has been a longstanding force in St. Louis' food industry, owning multiple local businesses. They run United Provisions—a specialty grocery store in the Delmar Loop featuring international foods. They've also have other ventures like Global Foods Market in Kirkwood, Chao Baan, King and I (St. Louis' first Thai restaurant), Oishi Sushi in Creve Coeur, and Oishi Sushi and Steakhouse in Chesterfield. Suchin Prapaisilp heads the family’s enterprises as president and CEO of STJ Group Holdings LLC, the umbrella company for their various businesses.Make sure to visit United Provisions the next time you're near the Delmar Loop and follow them at @unitedprovisions

On this episode, Braden sits down with A-Game shares his St. Louis upbringing, journey into HipHop, work ethic, passion for pursuing his dreams, and more. His show stopping performances have led him to receive many achievements, like winning Revolt Summit's "Be Heard" competition.

A-Game has performed with many well-known artists, including Ella Mai, J. Cole, Jhene Aiko, Saweetie, Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, and many others. In February 2025, he hosted the "St. Louis Super Bowl" which was an unforgettable night for St. Louis Hip Hop with 10 plus acts. A-Game is truly a rising star in the industry.

You can follow A-Game on Instagram & Youtube at @Agamestl. You can purchase his new album by searching for "Middle Class Raps" on www.even.biz

Note: In middle class fashion, the camera used on Braden was a GoPro which is why it's a little more pixelated than you're used to seeing.

On this episode, Braden sits down with Chef Liz Schuster of Tenacious Eats to explore her journey into the hospitality industry, her deep passion for films, and how she merges the two through her immersive "dinner and a movie" experiences.

She shares insights into her creative process, the importance of doing things the right way, and the dedication it takes to be a pioneer in her craft. Chef Liz's commitment to storytelling through food make this a conversation you won't want to miss.

You can follow Chef Liz on Instagram at @Tenacious_eats or visit her website www.tenaciouseatsstl.com to see a full list of events.

On this episode, Braden sits down with James Beard Award winning chef and culinary visionary, Gerard Craft. They discuss his upbringing, expressing his creativity through graffiti art, early days as a photographer, his unexpected pivot to the culinary world, and his latest venture, Expat BBQ-a 16,000 sq ft, globally inspired concept at City Foundry STL. They recorded the episode on all three stories of the restaurants, while trying several dishes.

Expat BBQ reimagines traditional American BBQ by infusing it with flavors from around the world, including China, Vietnam, Brazil, Afghanistan, and more. The expansive venue features a full service dining room, cocktail bar, private event space, and terrace. They are open Wednesday-Sunday.

You can follow him at @gerardcraft on Instagram. For more information on Expat, visit ww.expatstl.com

On this special episode, Braden takes you to the red carpet of Nelly's Black & White Ball that took place on December 15, 2024 in Downtown St. Louis. This incredible night of giving back supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Harris-Stowe State University.

Braden caught up with the all-star lineup of guests including Nelly, Ashanti, Murphy Lee (Lunatics), Jermaine Dupri, Kyjuan (Lunatics), Slo Down (Lunatics), Mason Wynn (Cardinals), Mikayla Mcghee (Miss Missouri), Sydney Thomas (Influencer/Model), Richard Fortus (Guns N Roses), Michael Claiborne (Hall of Fame Broadcaster), Blanco Brown (Country Singer), Brian Michael Cox (Grammy Award Winning Producer), and more.

Nelly and Metro Boomin announced that they will be having the "Smoking Hayride Festival" coming to St. Louis which will be half country and half hip hop.

On this episode, Braden sits down with Mario Iaccarino, behind Casa Don Alfonso at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. Mario shares the captivating story of his family’s culinary heritage, rooted in the traditions of Naples, Italy, and how they’ve brought their authentic flavors to the Midwest.

From the art of creating dishes steeped in love and tradition to the inspiration behind Casa Don Alfonso’s warm and welcoming atmosphere, Mario reveals the secrets to crafting a truly unforgettable dining experience. Whether you're a foodie, a lover of Italian culture, or someone who appreciates the fusion of tradition and innovation, this episode is packed with insights that will leave you inspired—and maybe a little hungry.

You can book your reservation to Casa Don Alfonso at https://www.casadonalfonsostlouis.com/