STL Hustle Insider Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/stl-hustle-insider STL Hustle Insider is the podcast spotlighting the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and community builders moving St. Louis forward. Hosted by Cortez Hustle, this show goes behind the scenes with local entrepreneurs, small business owners, community leaders, artists, organizers, and everyday builders who are creating impact across the city. Each episode explores the story behind the work, the St. Louis connection, the lessons learned along the way, and the ways the community can support what is being built. This is more than a podcast. STL Hustle Insider is a local media platform created to document the real hustle, real impact, and real stories shaping St. Louis from the inside out. Subscribe, share, and nominate someone we should feature. STL Hustle Insider The people, businesses, and movements building St. Louis. iHustle Media Group LLC 6ad42443-2cae-54fb-9570-3666af9bc28a yes Welcome to STL Hustle Insider | The Stories Building St. Louis en Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:00:10 -0600 Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:01:48 -0600 https://stlhustleinsider.com https://img.transistorcdn.com/78DZC67FE8RvVm63JoB8X-PLpAlF4sUGSA0iWYXWB_0/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS85NmNi/Y2E5NTc0ODhjZDUx/ZmVhOWIxMThmOWJm/NjY3Yi5wbmc.jpg STL Hustle Insider https://stlhustleinsider.com episodic H Cortez Springer STL Hustle Insider is the podcast spotlighting the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and community builders moving St. Louis forward. Hosted by Cortez Hustle, this show goes behind the scenes with local entrepreneurs, small business owners, community leaders, artists, organizers, and everyday builders who are creating impact across the city. Each episode explores the story behind the work, the St. Louis connection, the lessons learned along the way, and the ways the community can support what is being built. This is more than a podcast. STL Hustle Insider is a local media platform created to document the real hustle, real impact, and real stories shaping St. Louis from the inside out. Subscribe, share, and nominate someone we should feature. STL Hustle Insider The people, businesses, and movements building St. Louis. STL Hustle Insider is the podcast spotlighting the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and community builders moving St. stl hustle insider, st louis podcast, stl podcast, local business spotlight, iHustle Media Group LLC No No Rahn Williams on Food Safety, Brand Standards, and Building Black Excellence Through Systems 9 9 Rahn Williams on Food Safety, Brand Standards, and Building Black Excellence Through Systems full ad61c927-2614-4ce4-b894-b9e4322bb2b7 https://share.transistor.fm/s/aca1f329 Rahn Williams on Food Safety, Brand Standards, and Building Black Excellence Through Systems

A good business does not grow by accident. It grows when the systems, standards, people, and leadership are strong enough to operate beyond the owner.

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Rahn Williams, founder of Stokeswill Consulting, for a conversation about food safety, restaurant operations, brand standards, Black excellence, community networking, and the systems that help businesses grow.

Rahn shares his St. Louis story, from growing up with chronic allergies and asthma, using creativity as an outlet, graduating from Hazelwood East, attending Southeast Missouri State, and learning from early experiences that shaped his worldview.

The conversation then moves into business, where Rahn explains how working with his father in McDonald’s operations helped him understand systems, leadership, people, and the difference between working in a business and working on a business. Today, through Stokeswill Consulting, he helps food service entrepreneurs, restaurants, and community partners strengthen operations, meet food safety requirements, improve brand standards, and build toward growth.

In This Episode

Cortez and Rahn talk about:

  • Who Rahn Williams is
  • Stokeswill Consulting and the work Rahn does
  • Growing up in St. Louis and graduating from Hazelwood East
  • Living with chronic allergies and asthma
  • Creativity as an escape through writing, short stories, drawing, poetry, and hip-hop
  • Touring as a spoken word artist and releasing music
  • How his mother helped him stay on track in school despite missing days because of illness
  • Attending Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau
  • Experiencing racism in North County and Southern Missouri
  • Hazelwood East, Black awareness, and the Black Awareness Support Group
  • How exposure to African students helped expand Rahn’s worldview
  • Working for his father at McDonald’s
  • Why he did not appreciate restaurant work at first
  • Learning leadership through management
  • Seeing McDonald’s from a district-manager-level view
  • Why business is about leadership and people
  • How McDonald’s taught him the power of systems
  • Why restaurant owners need systems that work when they are not there
  • Rahn’s role as a ServSafe instructor and proctor
  • Food handler, food manager, and alcohol certification
  • Why certification is only one part of real food safety
  • What customers should look for when entering a restaurant
  • Why smaller restaurants need checks and balances
  • Why outside evaluations can help restaurant owners improve and grow
  • The role of brand standards in customer experience
  • Parking lots, windows, greetings, uniforms, order accuracy, service, restrooms, and timing
  • Why brand standards are more than food safety
  • Rahn’s Top Five STL restaurant picks
  • Stokeswill Community Partners Networking Event
  • Rahn’s business collective and community partnerships
  • How to connect with Stokeswill Consulting

Key Takeaways

  • Systems allow a business to operate even when the owner is not physically present.
  • Food safety certification matters, but the real work is putting food safety into daily practice.
  • Restaurant growth requires checks, balances, evaluations, training, leadership, and accountability.
  • Owners should not be trapped in every operational role forever. Their job is to build, expand, and improve the business.
  • Brand standards begin before a customer ever tastes the food.
  • Clean windows, parking lots, greetings, uniforms, restrooms, order accuracy, and service timing all shape the customer experience.
  • Black excellence in business is not just talent or ambition. It is standards, systems, consistency, leadership, and community connection.
  • Community partnerships can help entrepreneurs share resources, build networks, and create more opportunities together.

Featured Guest

Rahn Williams
Founder, Stokeswill Consulting
ServSafe Instructor / Proctor
Food Safety, Brand Standards, and Restaurant Operations Consultant

Rahn Williams is a St. Louis native, Hazelwood East graduate, creative, spoken word artist, hip-hop artist, consultant, and founder of Stokeswill Consulting.

Through Stokeswill Consulting, Rahn helps food service businesses and entrepreneurs strengthen food safety practices, complete certifications, improve operations, evaluate brand standards, and build systems that support growth.

Guest Links

Resources Mentioned

  • Stokeswill Consulting
  • ServSafe
  • ServSafe Food Handler
  • ServSafe Manager
  • ServSafe Alcohol
  • McDonald’s
  • McDonald’s University
  • Southeast Missouri State University / SEMO
  • Hazelwood East High School
  • Granemann Elementary School
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Black Awareness Support Group
  • Soul Vi Poetry Collective
  • Kathy’s Kitchen
  • Elicious Restaurant
  • St. Louis Fish & Chicken
  • Chicago Fish & Chicken
  • Miami Grill
  • Stokeswill Community Partners Networking Event
  • Upward Bound
  • 100 Black Men
  • SLU / Saint Louis University
  • Just Five
  • Custom Merchandise Markets
  • Shot by Derrick
  • 100 American Dreams
  • Harvest Time Farms and Fellowship

Episode Sponsors

STL Virtual Resource Center https://stlouishustleinsider.com/vrc

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit:
https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Music featured during the break:

https://the3kngz.bandcamp.com/track/see-me-prod-by-cry-story

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps are estimated and capped under the full 45-minute show length, including intro, outro, and commercials. Please adjust to match the final edited audio export.

00:00 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:45 - Who is Rahn Williams?
01:30 - Stokeswill Consulting and Rahn’s St. Louis roots
02:30 - Growing up with allergies, asthma, and creativity
04:30 - Writing, poetry, hip-hop, and creative escape
06:00 - Hazelwood East and Black awareness
08:00 - SEMO, college life, and growing up
10:00 - Racism, standing up, and life lessons
13:00 - Break and music from Rahn Williams
14:00 - Transitioning into business
15:00 - Working in his father’s McDonald’s
17:00 - Learning leadership and people management
19:00 - McDonald’s systems and business operations
21:00 - Stokeswill Consulting and ServSafe training
23:00 - Food safety certification and daily practice
25:00 - What to look for before eating at a restaurant
27:00 - Why mom-and-pop restaurants need checks and balances
29:00 - Getting owners out of the store
31:00 - Brand standards and customer experience
34:00 - Why systems support online branding
36:00 - Rahn’s Top Five STL restaurants
38:00 - Stokeswill Community Partners Networking Event
41:00 - Just Five and community business shoutouts
43:00 - How to connect with Rahn Williams
44:30 - Closing words from Cortez Hustle

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC.

The show spotl...

]]> Rahn Williams on Food Safety, Brand Standards, and Building Black Excellence Through Systems

A good business does not grow by accident. It grows when the systems, standards, people, and leadership are strong enough to operate beyond the owner.

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Rahn Williams, founder of Stokeswill Consulting, for a conversation about food safety, restaurant operations, brand standards, Black excellence, community networking, and the systems that help businesses grow.

Rahn shares his St. Louis story, from growing up with chronic allergies and asthma, using creativity as an outlet, graduating from Hazelwood East, attending Southeast Missouri State, and learning from early experiences that shaped his worldview.

The conversation then moves into business, where Rahn explains how working with his father in McDonald’s operations helped him understand systems, leadership, people, and the difference between working in a business and working on a business. Today, through Stokeswill Consulting, he helps food service entrepreneurs, restaurants, and community partners strengthen operations, meet food safety requirements, improve brand standards, and build toward growth.

In This Episode

Cortez and Rahn talk about:

  • Who Rahn Williams is
  • Stokeswill Consulting and the work Rahn does
  • Growing up in St. Louis and graduating from Hazelwood East
  • Living with chronic allergies and asthma
  • Creativity as an escape through writing, short stories, drawing, poetry, and hip-hop
  • Touring as a spoken word artist and releasing music
  • How his mother helped him stay on track in school despite missing days because of illness
  • Attending Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau
  • Experiencing racism in North County and Southern Missouri
  • Hazelwood East, Black awareness, and the Black Awareness Support Group
  • How exposure to African students helped expand Rahn’s worldview
  • Working for his father at McDonald’s
  • Why he did not appreciate restaurant work at first
  • Learning leadership through management
  • Seeing McDonald’s from a district-manager-level view
  • Why business is about leadership and people
  • How McDonald’s taught him the power of systems
  • Why restaurant owners need systems that work when they are not there
  • Rahn’s role as a ServSafe instructor and proctor
  • Food handler, food manager, and alcohol certification
  • Why certification is only one part of real food safety
  • What customers should look for when entering a restaurant
  • Why smaller restaurants need checks and balances
  • Why outside evaluations can help restaurant owners improve and grow
  • The role of brand standards in customer experience
  • Parking lots, windows, greetings, uniforms, order accuracy, service, restrooms, and timing
  • Why brand standards are more than food safety
  • Rahn’s Top Five STL restaurant picks
  • Stokeswill Community Partners Networking Event
  • Rahn’s business collective and community partnerships
  • How to connect with Stokeswill Consulting

Key Takeaways

  • Systems allow a business to operate even when the owner is not physically present.
  • Food safety certification matters, but the real work is putting food safety into daily practice.
  • Restaurant growth requires checks, balances, evaluations, training, leadership, and accountability.
  • Owners should not be trapped in every operational role forever. Their job is to build, expand, and improve the business.
  • Brand standards begin before a customer ever tastes the food.
  • Clean windows, parking lots, greetings, uniforms, restrooms, order accuracy, and service timing all shape the customer experience.
  • Black excellence in business is not just talent or ambition. It is standards, systems, consistency, leadership, and community connection.
  • Community partnerships can help entrepreneurs share resources, build networks, and create more opportunities together.

Featured Guest

Rahn Williams
Founder, Stokeswill Consulting
ServSafe Instructor / Proctor
Food Safety, Brand Standards, and Restaurant Operations Consultant

Rahn Williams is a St. Louis native, Hazelwood East graduate, creative, spoken word artist, hip-hop artist, consultant, and founder of Stokeswill Consulting.

Through Stokeswill Consulting, Rahn helps food service businesses and entrepreneurs strengthen food safety practices, complete certifications, improve operations, evaluate brand standards, and build systems that support growth.

Guest Links

Resources Mentioned

  • Stokeswill Consulting
  • ServSafe
  • ServSafe Food Handler
  • ServSafe Manager
  • ServSafe Alcohol
  • McDonald’s
  • McDonald’s University
  • Southeast Missouri State University / SEMO
  • Hazelwood East High School
  • Granemann Elementary School
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Black Awareness Support Group
  • Soul Vi Poetry Collective
  • Kathy’s Kitchen
  • Elicious Restaurant
  • St. Louis Fish & Chicken
  • Chicago Fish & Chicken
  • Miami Grill
  • Stokeswill Community Partners Networking Event
  • Upward Bound
  • 100 Black Men
  • SLU / Saint Louis University
  • Just Five
  • Custom Merchandise Markets
  • Shot by Derrick
  • 100 American Dreams
  • Harvest Time Farms and Fellowship

Episode Sponsors

STL Virtual Resource Center https://stlouishustleinsider.com/vrc

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit:
https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Music featured during the break:

https://the3kngz.bandcamp.com/track/see-me-prod-by-cry-story

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps are estimated and capped under the full 45-minute show length, including intro, outro, and commercials. Please adjust to match the final edited audio export.

00:00 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:45 - Who is Rahn Williams?
01:30 - Stokeswill Consulting and Rahn’s St. Louis roots
02:30 - Growing up with allergies, asthma, and creativity
04:30 - Writing, poetry, hip-hop, and creative escape
06:00 - Hazelwood East and Black awareness
08:00 - SEMO, college life, and growing up
10:00 - Racism, standing up, and life lessons
13:00 - Break and music from Rahn Williams
14:00 - Transitioning into business
15:00 - Working in his father’s McDonald’s
17:00 - Learning leadership and people management
19:00 - McDonald’s systems and business operations
21:00 - Stokeswill Consulting and ServSafe training
23:00 - Food safety certification and daily practice
25:00 - What to look for before eating at a restaurant
27:00 - Why mom-and-pop restaurants need checks and balances
29:00 - Getting owners out of the store
31:00 - Brand standards and customer experience
34:00 - Why systems support online branding
36:00 - Rahn’s Top Five STL restaurants
38:00 - Stokeswill Community Partners Networking Event
41:00 - Just Five and community business shoutouts
43:00 - How to connect with Rahn Williams
44:30 - Closing words from Cortez Hustle

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC.

The show spotl...

]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0600 H Cortez Springer H Cortez Springer 2666 Rahn Williams on Food Safety, Brand Standards, and Building Black Excellence Through Systems

A good business does not grow by accident. It grows when the systems, standards, people, and leadership are strong enough to operate beyond the owner.

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Rahn Williams, founder of Stokeswill Consulting, for a conversation about food safety, restaurant operations, brand standards, Black excellence, community networking, and the systems that help businesses grow.

Rahn shares his St. Louis story, from growing up with chronic allergies and asthma, using creativity as an outlet, graduating from Hazelwood East, attending Southeast Missouri State, and learning from early experiences that shaped his worldview.

The conversation then moves into business, where Rahn explains how working with his father in McDonald’s operations helped him understand systems, leadership, people, and the difference between working in a business and working on a business. Today, through Stokeswill Consulting, he helps food service entrepreneurs, restaurants, and community partners strengthen operations, meet food safety requirements, improve brand standards, and build toward growth.

In This Episode

Cortez and Rahn talk about:

  • Who Rahn Williams is
  • Stokeswill Consulting and the work Rahn does
  • Growing up in St. Louis and graduating from Hazelwood East
  • Living with chronic allergies and asthma
  • Creativity as an escape through writing, short stories, drawing, poetry, and hip-hop
  • Touring as a spoken word artist and releasing music
  • How his mother helped him stay on track in school despite missing days because of illness
  • Attending Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau
  • Experiencing racism in North County and Southern Missouri
  • Hazelwood East, Black awareness, and the Black Awareness Support Group
  • How exposure to African students helped expand Rahn’s worldview
  • Working for his father at McDonald’s
  • Why he did not appreciate restaurant work at first
  • Learning leadership through management
  • Seeing McDonald’s from a district-manager-level view
  • Why business is about leadership and people
  • How McDonald’s taught him the power of systems
  • Why restaurant owners need systems that work when they are not there
  • Rahn’s role as a ServSafe instructor and proctor
  • Food handler, food manager, and alcohol certification
  • Why certification is only one part of real food safety
  • What customers should look for when entering a restaurant
  • Why smaller restaurants need checks and balances
  • Why outside evaluations can help restaurant owners improve and grow
  • The role of brand standards in customer experience
  • Parking lots, windows, greetings, uniforms, order accuracy, service, restrooms, and timing
  • Why brand standards are more than food safety
  • Rahn’s Top Five STL restaurant picks
  • Stokeswill Community Partners Networking Event
  • Rahn’s business collective and community partnerships
  • How to connect with Stokeswill Consulting

Key Takeaways

  • Systems allow a business to operate even when the owner is not physically present.
  • Food safety certification matters, but the real work is putting food safety into daily practice.
  • Restaurant growth requires checks, balances, evaluations, training, leadership, and accountability.
  • Owners should not be trapped in every operational role forever. Their job is to build, expand, and improve the business.
  • Brand standards begin before a customer ever tastes the food.
  • Clean windows, parking lots, greetings, uniforms, restrooms, order accuracy, and service timing all shape the customer experience.
  • Black excellence in business is not just talent or ambition. It is standards, systems, consistency, leadership, and community connection.
  • Community partnerships can help entrepreneurs share resources, build networks, and create more opportunities together.

Featured Guest

Rahn Williams
Founder, Stokeswill Consulting
ServSafe Instructor / Proctor
Food Safety, Brand Standards, and Restaurant Operations Consultant

Rahn Williams is a St. Louis native, Hazelwood East graduate, creative, spoken word artist, hip-hop artist, consultant, and founder of Stokeswill Consulting.

Through Stokeswill Consulting, Rahn helps food service businesses and entrepreneurs strengthen food safety practices, complete certifications, improve operations, evaluate brand standards, and build systems that support growth.

Guest Links

Resources Mentioned

  • Stokeswill Consulting
  • ServSafe
  • ServSafe Food Handler
  • ServSafe Manager
  • ServSafe Alcohol
  • McDonald’s
  • McDonald’s University
  • Southeast Missouri State University / SEMO
  • Hazelwood East High School
  • Granemann Elementary School
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Black Awareness Support Group
  • Soul Vi Poetry Collective
  • Kathy’s Kitchen
  • Elicious Restaurant
  • St. Louis Fish & Chicken
  • Chicago Fish & Chicken
  • Miami Grill
  • Stokeswill Community Partners Networking Event
  • Upward Bound
  • 100 Black Men
  • SLU / Saint Louis University
  • Just Five
  • Custom Merchandise Markets
  • Shot by Derrick
  • 100 American Dreams
  • Harvest Time Farms and Fellowship

Episode Sponsors

STL Virtual Resource Center https://stlouishustleinsider.com/vrc

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit:
https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Music featured during the break:

https://the3kngz.bandcamp.com/track/see-me-prod-by-cry-story

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps are estimated and capped under the full 45-minute show length, including intro, outro, and commercials. Please adjust to match the final edited audio export.

00:00 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:45 - Who is Rahn Williams?
01:30 - Stokeswill Consulting and Rahn’s St. Louis roots
02:30 - Growing up with allergies, asthma, and creativity
04:30 - Writing, poetry, hip-hop, and creative escape
06:00 - Hazelwood East and Black awareness
08:00 - SEMO, college life, and growing up
10:00 - Racism, standing up, and life lessons
13:00 - Break and music from Rahn Williams
14:00 - Transitioning into business
15:00 - Working in his father’s McDonald’s
17:00 - Learning leadership and people management
19:00 - McDonald’s systems and business operations
21:00 - Stokeswill Consulting and ServSafe training
23:00 - Food safety certification and daily practice
25:00 - What to look for before eating at a restaurant
27:00 - Why mom-and-pop restaurants need checks and balances
29:00 - Getting owners out of the store
31:00 - Brand standards and customer experience
34:00 - Why systems support online branding
36:00 - Rahn’s Top Five STL restaurants
38:00 - Stokeswill Community Partners Networking Event
41:00 - Just Five and community business shoutouts
43:00 - How to connect with Rahn Williams
44:30 - Closing words from Cortez Hustle

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC.

The show spotl...

]]> rahn williams, No Osunlade on Yoruba Records, Afro House, AI & Protecting the Soul of Music 8 8 Osunlade on Yoruba Records, Afro House, AI & Protecting the Soul of Music full 009167a9-3723-49ca-8fdc-610c9e13e625 https://share.transistor.fm/s/1622b23b Osunlade joins STL Hustle Insider for a wide-ranging conversation about music, St. Louis, ownership, soul, and creative evolution.

He talks about growing up in North St. Louis, being adopted and raised as an only child, finding music as his outlet, learning piano at seven, attending Beaumont, playing in bands, being influenced by funk and Prince, and eventually leaving St. Louis for Los Angeles.

Osunlade also discusses working with major artists, moving through the traditional music industry, realizing that major-label pressure was pulling him away from his own sound, becoming a Yoruba priest, launching Yoruba Records, and building a label rooted in ancestral reverence, spirituality, soul, and independent ownership.

The episode also explores AI in music, stem separation, remixes, DJ culture, how technology is changing music, and why human musicianship, mistakes, live instruments, and emotional interpretation still matter.

Featured Guest

Osunlade
Founder, Yoruba Records
Musician, Producer, DJ, Artist, and Creative

Osunlade is a St. Louis-born musician, producer, DJ, artist, and founder of Yoruba Records, a label founded in 1999 specializing in deep soulful house. His career has taken him from North St. Louis to Los Angeles, New York, London, Milan, Croatia, Australia, and stages around the world.

Through Yoruba Records and his own creative work, Osunlade has helped shape and influence the sound and movement now widely connected to Afro House, soulful house, spiritual music, and global dance culture.

Guest Links

  • Yoruba Records on Bandcamp: https://yorubarecords.bandcamp.com
  • Yoruba Soul on Bandcamp: https://yorubasoul.bandcamp.com
  • Instagram: @yorubasoulofficial
  • TikTok: @yorubasoulofficial
  • Twitch: Yoruba Soul TV
  • MixedCloud: Search “Osunlade”
  • Streaming platforms: Search “Osunlade”
  • Upcoming album: Neon Box 
  • Documentary: Big Giant Wave 

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC.

The show spotlights the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, leaders, entrepreneurs, and movements building St. Louis from the inside out. Through real conversations and local storytelling, STL Hustle Insider brings attention to the builders, visionaries, and community movers shaping the future of the region.

Subscribe, recommend a guest, sponsor the show, or stay connected at:
https://stlhustleinsider.com

Legal Disclaimer

STL Hustle Insider is produced and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC. All show content, including video, audio, graphics, branding, and related media, is copyrighted property of iHustle Media Group LLC unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, sponsors, advertisers, or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official position of iHustle Media Group LLC, STL Hustle Insider, its partners, affiliates, or sponsors.

Content shared on this show is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, mental health, tax, investment, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything discussed.

Mentions, interviews, sponsorships, advertisements, products, services, events, or resources featured on STL Hustle Insider do not automatically constitute an endorsement, guarantee, or warranty by iHustle Media Group LLC.

By watching, listening to, sharing, or engaging with STL Hustle Insider content, you acknowledge that iHustle Media Group LLC is not responsible for any actions, decisions, outcomes, or results based on the information presented.

© iHustle Media Group LLC. All rights reserved.

]]> Osunlade joins STL Hustle Insider for a wide-ranging conversation about music, St. Louis, ownership, soul, and creative evolution.

He talks about growing up in North St. Louis, being adopted and raised as an only child, finding music as his outlet, learning piano at seven, attending Beaumont, playing in bands, being influenced by funk and Prince, and eventually leaving St. Louis for Los Angeles.

Osunlade also discusses working with major artists, moving through the traditional music industry, realizing that major-label pressure was pulling him away from his own sound, becoming a Yoruba priest, launching Yoruba Records, and building a label rooted in ancestral reverence, spirituality, soul, and independent ownership.

The episode also explores AI in music, stem separation, remixes, DJ culture, how technology is changing music, and why human musicianship, mistakes, live instruments, and emotional interpretation still matter.

Featured Guest

Osunlade
Founder, Yoruba Records
Musician, Producer, DJ, Artist, and Creative

Osunlade is a St. Louis-born musician, producer, DJ, artist, and founder of Yoruba Records, a label founded in 1999 specializing in deep soulful house. His career has taken him from North St. Louis to Los Angeles, New York, London, Milan, Croatia, Australia, and stages around the world.

Through Yoruba Records and his own creative work, Osunlade has helped shape and influence the sound and movement now widely connected to Afro House, soulful house, spiritual music, and global dance culture.

Guest Links

  • Yoruba Records on Bandcamp: https://yorubarecords.bandcamp.com
  • Yoruba Soul on Bandcamp: https://yorubasoul.bandcamp.com
  • Instagram: @yorubasoulofficial
  • TikTok: @yorubasoulofficial
  • Twitch: Yoruba Soul TV
  • MixedCloud: Search “Osunlade”
  • Streaming platforms: Search “Osunlade”
  • Upcoming album: Neon Box 
  • Documentary: Big Giant Wave 

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC.

The show spotlights the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, leaders, entrepreneurs, and movements building St. Louis from the inside out. Through real conversations and local storytelling, STL Hustle Insider brings attention to the builders, visionaries, and community movers shaping the future of the region.

Subscribe, recommend a guest, sponsor the show, or stay connected at:
https://stlhustleinsider.com

Legal Disclaimer

STL Hustle Insider is produced and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC. All show content, including video, audio, graphics, branding, and related media, is copyrighted property of iHustle Media Group LLC unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, sponsors, advertisers, or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official position of iHustle Media Group LLC, STL Hustle Insider, its partners, affiliates, or sponsors.

Content shared on this show is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, mental health, tax, investment, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything discussed.

Mentions, interviews, sponsorships, advertisements, products, services, events, or resources featured on STL Hustle Insider do not automatically constitute an endorsement, guarantee, or warranty by iHustle Media Group LLC.

By watching, listening to, sharing, or engaging with STL Hustle Insider content, you acknowledge that iHustle Media Group LLC is not responsible for any actions, decisions, outcomes, or results based on the information presented.

© iHustle Media Group LLC. All rights reserved.

]]> Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0600 H Cortez Springer H Cortez Springer 3093 Osunlade joins STL Hustle Insider for a wide-ranging conversation about music, St. Louis, ownership, soul, and creative evolution.

He talks about growing up in North St. Louis, being adopted and raised as an only child, finding music as his outlet, learning piano at seven, attending Beaumont, playing in bands, being influenced by funk and Prince, and eventually leaving St. Louis for Los Angeles.

Osunlade also discusses working with major artists, moving through the traditional music industry, realizing that major-label pressure was pulling him away from his own sound, becoming a Yoruba priest, launching Yoruba Records, and building a label rooted in ancestral reverence, spirituality, soul, and independent ownership.

The episode also explores AI in music, stem separation, remixes, DJ culture, how technology is changing music, and why human musicianship, mistakes, live instruments, and emotional interpretation still matter.

Featured Guest

Osunlade
Founder, Yoruba Records
Musician, Producer, DJ, Artist, and Creative

Osunlade is a St. Louis-born musician, producer, DJ, artist, and founder of Yoruba Records, a label founded in 1999 specializing in deep soulful house. His career has taken him from North St. Louis to Los Angeles, New York, London, Milan, Croatia, Australia, and stages around the world.

Through Yoruba Records and his own creative work, Osunlade has helped shape and influence the sound and movement now widely connected to Afro House, soulful house, spiritual music, and global dance culture.

Guest Links

  • Yoruba Records on Bandcamp: https://yorubarecords.bandcamp.com
  • Yoruba Soul on Bandcamp: https://yorubasoul.bandcamp.com
  • Instagram: @yorubasoulofficial
  • TikTok: @yorubasoulofficial
  • Twitch: Yoruba Soul TV
  • MixedCloud: Search “Osunlade”
  • Streaming platforms: Search “Osunlade”
  • Upcoming album: Neon Box 
  • Documentary: Big Giant Wave 

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC.

The show spotlights the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, leaders, entrepreneurs, and movements building St. Louis from the inside out. Through real conversations and local storytelling, STL Hustle Insider brings attention to the builders, visionaries, and community movers shaping the future of the region.

Subscribe, recommend a guest, sponsor the show, or stay connected at:
https://stlhustleinsider.com

Legal Disclaimer

STL Hustle Insider is produced and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC. All show content, including video, audio, graphics, branding, and related media, is copyrighted property of iHustle Media Group LLC unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, sponsors, advertisers, or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official position of iHustle Media Group LLC, STL Hustle Insider, its partners, affiliates, or sponsors.

Content shared on this show is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, mental health, tax, investment, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything discussed.

Mentions, interviews, sponsorships, advertisements, products, services, events, or resources featured on STL Hustle Insider do not automatically constitute an endorsement, guarantee, or warranty by iHustle Media Group LLC.

By watching, listening to, sharing, or engaging with STL Hustle Insider content, you acknowledge that iHustle Media Group LLC is not responsible for any actions, decisions, outcomes, or results based on the information presented.

© iHustle Media Group LLC. All rights reserved.

]]> stl hustle insider, st louis podcast, stl podcast, local business spotlight, No Smooth 1432 on Cornhole, Brotherhood, Mental Health, and Building Safe Spaces for Men 7 7 Smooth 1432 on Cornhole, Brotherhood, Mental Health, and Building Safe Spaces for Men full 6a5347d8-72d6-4afc-b936-1d0a37ddbf06 https://share.transistor.fm/s/75d5d34a Sometimes the game is not really the game.

In this special STL Hustle Insider spotlight episode, Cortez Hustle sits down with four men connected through Smooth 1432, a collective using cornhole, conversation, mentorship, education, therapy, and brotherhood to create safe spaces for men and young people across the St. Louis region.

This episode features Mike Elliott, Earl Docket, Jay McDaniels, and Josh Gilliam. Each man brings his own brand, profession, and calling to the table, but together they represent a larger movement: men showing up for other men, young people, families, schools, and communities.

Through Smooth 1432, Cornhole with Smooth, Fly Beyond Limits, The Breakfast Club, Vertical Therapy LLC, and 1432 The Podcast, this group is using something unexpected — cornhole — as a conversation starter for deeper topics like mental health, marriage, fatherhood, depression, trauma, purpose, education, mentorship, and community connection.

Earl Docket shares his work as an educator, coach, founder of Fly Beyond Limits, and creator of The Breakfast Club, a school-based mentorship effort focused on young Black male students, mental health, behavior, attendance, and self-worth.

Jay McDaniels, founder of Cornhole with Smooth, explains how he discovered cornhole during COVID, why he is introducing the sport to inner-city youth, and how cornhole can open doors to confidence, scholarship opportunities, discipline, and purpose.

Josh Gilliam, owner of Vertical Therapy LLC, talks about therapy, men’s mental health, confidentiality, trauma, and the importance of creating safe spaces where men and young people can process what they are carrying.

Together, these conversations show how Smooth 1432 is building something bigger than an event. It is a movement of men using play, purpose, and presence to reach the community.

In This Episode

Cortez talks with the Smooth 1432 collective about:

  • What Smooth 1432 is and why it exists
  • Creating safe spaces for men to connect, talk, and try something different
  • How cornhole became a tool for community engagement
  • Why men need spaces outside of work, home, and marriage where they can be honest
  • The pressure of being the only Black man in professional environments
  • Wearing a “mask” in certain spaces and needing time to decompress
  • Marriage, communication, and growing together as a couple
  • The role of 1432 The Podcast in conversations around marriage and men’s lives
  • Earl Docket’s work as an educator and coach
  • Fly Beyond Limits and the meaning of “First Love Yourself”
  • Depression, mental health, and the realities facing young people
  • The Breakfast Club and mentoring young Black males in school
  • Reducing suspensions, referrals, and chronic absence through intentional support
  • Why parents should not be afraid of IEPs and individualized support
  • The importance of consistency at home
  • Jay McDaniels’ journey from traditional sports to cornhole
  • Cornhole with Smooth and bringing the game into schools
  • Why cornhole is mental, strategic, and accessible
  • Scholarship opportunities and nontraditional sports pathways
  • Using cornhole as a conversation starter around purpose and identity
  • Josh Gilliam’s work through Vertical Therapy LLC
  • Why men need therapy and confidential spaces to talk
  • How trauma affects children and young people
  • Why therapy helps people stop dancing around the issue and address the real thing
  • Smooth 1432’s larger mission around men, youth, mental health, and community

Key Takeaways

  • Cornhole may be the activity, but connection is the mission.
  • Men need safe spaces where they can talk honestly without judgment.
  • Being the only Black man in a professional environment can create pressure, exhaustion, and emotional weight that often goes unseen.
  • Marriage requires more than telling people to communicate. Couples have to learn how to communicate as they grow and change.
  • Young people need adults who will listen to what they need, not just tell them what they need.
  • IEPs and educational supports should not be treated with shame. They can help children receive the individualized support they need to succeed.
  • Cornhole gives youth another pathway to confidence, teamwork, discipline, competition, and even scholarship opportunities.
  • Therapy is not weakness. It is a confidential space where men and young people can process trauma, loss, development, and life.
  • Smooth 1432 is showing that creative intervention can meet men and young people through something simple, then open the door to deeper conversations.

Featured Guests

Mike Elliott
Smooth 1432 / 1432 The Podcast

Mike Elliott is part of Smooth 1432 and 1432 The Podcast. His work centers on creating spaces where men, especially married men and Black men navigating professional environments, can connect, talk, and build community.

Earl Docket
Founder, Fly Beyond Limits
Educator and Coach

Earl Docket, also known by many young people as Coach Docket, is an educator entering his 23rd year in education. He serves at KIPP Inspire Academy and is the founder of Fly Beyond Limits, which stands for First Love Yourself Mentorship and Leadership. He also leads The Breakfast Club, a mentorship effort focused on supporting young Black male students.

Jay McDaniels
Founder, Cornhole with Smooth

Jay McDaniels is the founder of Cornhole with Smooth LLC, a podcast and brand using cornhole to reach youth and community members in a new way. Through the Cornhole with Smooth Youth Academy, Jay is introducing the game to schools and using it as a tool for purpose, confidence, mental focus, and opportunity.

Josh Gilliam
Owner, Vertical Therapy LLC
Licensed Professional Counselor

Josh Gilliam is a licensed professional counselor and owner of Vertical Therapy LLC. His work focuses on helping men and young people process trauma, loss, life development, emotional struggles, and the internal battles people often carry in silence.

Guest Links

Smooth 1432: [Add official website link]
Smooth 1432 Instagram: [Add link]
Smooth 1432 YouTube: [Add link]
1432 The Podcast: [Add link]
1432 The Podcast Instagram: [Add link]
1432 The Podcast TikTok: [Add link]
1432 The Podcast YouTube: [Add link]
Cornhole with Smooth Email: cornholewithsmooth@gmail.com
Cornhole with Smooth Facebook: [Add link]
Cornhole with Smooth Instagram: [Add link]
Cornhole with Smooth TikTok: [Add link]
Fly Beyond Limits: [Add link]
Earl Docket Instagram: [Add link]
Earl Docket Facebook: [Add link]
Fly Beyond Limits Email: [Confirm full email address]
Vertical Therapy LLC Instagram: [Add link]
Josh Gilliam / Vertical Therapy website: [Add link]

Resources Mentioned

  • Smooth 1432
  • 1432 The Podcast
  • Cornhole with Smooth
  • Cornhole with Smooth Youth Academy
  • Fly Beyond Limits
  • The Breakfast Club
  • Vertical Therapy LLC
  • NAMI St. Louis
  • KIPP Inspire Academy
  • Job Corps
  • St. Louis Virtual Resource Center
  • STL Virtual Resource Center
  • Cornhole
  • IEPs / Individualized Education Plans
  • Youth mentorship
  • Men’s mental health
  • Black male mental health
  • Marriage and communication
  • Youth mental health

Episode Sponsors

St. Louis...

]]> Sometimes the game is not really the game.

In this special STL Hustle Insider spotlight episode, Cortez Hustle sits down with four men connected through Smooth 1432, a collective using cornhole, conversation, mentorship, education, therapy, and brotherhood to create safe spaces for men and young people across the St. Louis region.

This episode features Mike Elliott, Earl Docket, Jay McDaniels, and Josh Gilliam. Each man brings his own brand, profession, and calling to the table, but together they represent a larger movement: men showing up for other men, young people, families, schools, and communities.

Through Smooth 1432, Cornhole with Smooth, Fly Beyond Limits, The Breakfast Club, Vertical Therapy LLC, and 1432 The Podcast, this group is using something unexpected — cornhole — as a conversation starter for deeper topics like mental health, marriage, fatherhood, depression, trauma, purpose, education, mentorship, and community connection.

Earl Docket shares his work as an educator, coach, founder of Fly Beyond Limits, and creator of The Breakfast Club, a school-based mentorship effort focused on young Black male students, mental health, behavior, attendance, and self-worth.

Jay McDaniels, founder of Cornhole with Smooth, explains how he discovered cornhole during COVID, why he is introducing the sport to inner-city youth, and how cornhole can open doors to confidence, scholarship opportunities, discipline, and purpose.

Josh Gilliam, owner of Vertical Therapy LLC, talks about therapy, men’s mental health, confidentiality, trauma, and the importance of creating safe spaces where men and young people can process what they are carrying.

Together, these conversations show how Smooth 1432 is building something bigger than an event. It is a movement of men using play, purpose, and presence to reach the community.

In This Episode

Cortez talks with the Smooth 1432 collective about:

  • What Smooth 1432 is and why it exists
  • Creating safe spaces for men to connect, talk, and try something different
  • How cornhole became a tool for community engagement
  • Why men need spaces outside of work, home, and marriage where they can be honest
  • The pressure of being the only Black man in professional environments
  • Wearing a “mask” in certain spaces and needing time to decompress
  • Marriage, communication, and growing together as a couple
  • The role of 1432 The Podcast in conversations around marriage and men’s lives
  • Earl Docket’s work as an educator and coach
  • Fly Beyond Limits and the meaning of “First Love Yourself”
  • Depression, mental health, and the realities facing young people
  • The Breakfast Club and mentoring young Black males in school
  • Reducing suspensions, referrals, and chronic absence through intentional support
  • Why parents should not be afraid of IEPs and individualized support
  • The importance of consistency at home
  • Jay McDaniels’ journey from traditional sports to cornhole
  • Cornhole with Smooth and bringing the game into schools
  • Why cornhole is mental, strategic, and accessible
  • Scholarship opportunities and nontraditional sports pathways
  • Using cornhole as a conversation starter around purpose and identity
  • Josh Gilliam’s work through Vertical Therapy LLC
  • Why men need therapy and confidential spaces to talk
  • How trauma affects children and young people
  • Why therapy helps people stop dancing around the issue and address the real thing
  • Smooth 1432’s larger mission around men, youth, mental health, and community

Key Takeaways

  • Cornhole may be the activity, but connection is the mission.
  • Men need safe spaces where they can talk honestly without judgment.
  • Being the only Black man in a professional environment can create pressure, exhaustion, and emotional weight that often goes unseen.
  • Marriage requires more than telling people to communicate. Couples have to learn how to communicate as they grow and change.
  • Young people need adults who will listen to what they need, not just tell them what they need.
  • IEPs and educational supports should not be treated with shame. They can help children receive the individualized support they need to succeed.
  • Cornhole gives youth another pathway to confidence, teamwork, discipline, competition, and even scholarship opportunities.
  • Therapy is not weakness. It is a confidential space where men and young people can process trauma, loss, development, and life.
  • Smooth 1432 is showing that creative intervention can meet men and young people through something simple, then open the door to deeper conversations.

Featured Guests

Mike Elliott
Smooth 1432 / 1432 The Podcast

Mike Elliott is part of Smooth 1432 and 1432 The Podcast. His work centers on creating spaces where men, especially married men and Black men navigating professional environments, can connect, talk, and build community.

Earl Docket
Founder, Fly Beyond Limits
Educator and Coach

Earl Docket, also known by many young people as Coach Docket, is an educator entering his 23rd year in education. He serves at KIPP Inspire Academy and is the founder of Fly Beyond Limits, which stands for First Love Yourself Mentorship and Leadership. He also leads The Breakfast Club, a mentorship effort focused on supporting young Black male students.

Jay McDaniels
Founder, Cornhole with Smooth

Jay McDaniels is the founder of Cornhole with Smooth LLC, a podcast and brand using cornhole to reach youth and community members in a new way. Through the Cornhole with Smooth Youth Academy, Jay is introducing the game to schools and using it as a tool for purpose, confidence, mental focus, and opportunity.

Josh Gilliam
Owner, Vertical Therapy LLC
Licensed Professional Counselor

Josh Gilliam is a licensed professional counselor and owner of Vertical Therapy LLC. His work focuses on helping men and young people process trauma, loss, life development, emotional struggles, and the internal battles people often carry in silence.

Guest Links

Smooth 1432: [Add official website link]
Smooth 1432 Instagram: [Add link]
Smooth 1432 YouTube: [Add link]
1432 The Podcast: [Add link]
1432 The Podcast Instagram: [Add link]
1432 The Podcast TikTok: [Add link]
1432 The Podcast YouTube: [Add link]
Cornhole with Smooth Email: cornholewithsmooth@gmail.com
Cornhole with Smooth Facebook: [Add link]
Cornhole with Smooth Instagram: [Add link]
Cornhole with Smooth TikTok: [Add link]
Fly Beyond Limits: [Add link]
Earl Docket Instagram: [Add link]
Earl Docket Facebook: [Add link]
Fly Beyond Limits Email: [Confirm full email address]
Vertical Therapy LLC Instagram: [Add link]
Josh Gilliam / Vertical Therapy website: [Add link]

Resources Mentioned

  • Smooth 1432
  • 1432 The Podcast
  • Cornhole with Smooth
  • Cornhole with Smooth Youth Academy
  • Fly Beyond Limits
  • The Breakfast Club
  • Vertical Therapy LLC
  • NAMI St. Louis
  • KIPP Inspire Academy
  • Job Corps
  • St. Louis Virtual Resource Center
  • STL Virtual Resource Center
  • Cornhole
  • IEPs / Individualized Education Plans
  • Youth mentorship
  • Men’s mental health
  • Black male mental health
  • Marriage and communication
  • Youth mental health

Episode Sponsors

St. Louis...

]]> Thu, 06 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0600 H Cortez Springer H Cortez Springer 2399 Sometimes the game is not really the game.

In this special STL Hustle Insider spotlight episode, Cortez Hustle sits down with four men connected through Smooth 1432, a collective using cornhole, conversation, mentorship, education, therapy, and brotherhood to create safe spaces for men and young people across the St. Louis region.

This episode features Mike Elliott, Earl Docket, Jay McDaniels, and Josh Gilliam. Each man brings his own brand, profession, and calling to the table, but together they represent a larger movement: men showing up for other men, young people, families, schools, and communities.

Through Smooth 1432, Cornhole with Smooth, Fly Beyond Limits, The Breakfast Club, Vertical Therapy LLC, and 1432 The Podcast, this group is using something unexpected — cornhole — as a conversation starter for deeper topics like mental health, marriage, fatherhood, depression, trauma, purpose, education, mentorship, and community connection.

Earl Docket shares his work as an educator, coach, founder of Fly Beyond Limits, and creator of The Breakfast Club, a school-based mentorship effort focused on young Black male students, mental health, behavior, attendance, and self-worth.

Jay McDaniels, founder of Cornhole with Smooth, explains how he discovered cornhole during COVID, why he is introducing the sport to inner-city youth, and how cornhole can open doors to confidence, scholarship opportunities, discipline, and purpose.

Josh Gilliam, owner of Vertical Therapy LLC, talks about therapy, men’s mental health, confidentiality, trauma, and the importance of creating safe spaces where men and young people can process what they are carrying.

Together, these conversations show how Smooth 1432 is building something bigger than an event. It is a movement of men using play, purpose, and presence to reach the community.

In This Episode

Cortez talks with the Smooth 1432 collective about:

  • What Smooth 1432 is and why it exists
  • Creating safe spaces for men to connect, talk, and try something different
  • How cornhole became a tool for community engagement
  • Why men need spaces outside of work, home, and marriage where they can be honest
  • The pressure of being the only Black man in professional environments
  • Wearing a “mask” in certain spaces and needing time to decompress
  • Marriage, communication, and growing together as a couple
  • The role of 1432 The Podcast in conversations around marriage and men’s lives
  • Earl Docket’s work as an educator and coach
  • Fly Beyond Limits and the meaning of “First Love Yourself”
  • Depression, mental health, and the realities facing young people
  • The Breakfast Club and mentoring young Black males in school
  • Reducing suspensions, referrals, and chronic absence through intentional support
  • Why parents should not be afraid of IEPs and individualized support
  • The importance of consistency at home
  • Jay McDaniels’ journey from traditional sports to cornhole
  • Cornhole with Smooth and bringing the game into schools
  • Why cornhole is mental, strategic, and accessible
  • Scholarship opportunities and nontraditional sports pathways
  • Using cornhole as a conversation starter around purpose and identity
  • Josh Gilliam’s work through Vertical Therapy LLC
  • Why men need therapy and confidential spaces to talk
  • How trauma affects children and young people
  • Why therapy helps people stop dancing around the issue and address the real thing
  • Smooth 1432’s larger mission around men, youth, mental health, and community

Key Takeaways

  • Cornhole may be the activity, but connection is the mission.
  • Men need safe spaces where they can talk honestly without judgment.
  • Being the only Black man in a professional environment can create pressure, exhaustion, and emotional weight that often goes unseen.
  • Marriage requires more than telling people to communicate. Couples have to learn how to communicate as they grow and change.
  • Young people need adults who will listen to what they need, not just tell them what they need.
  • IEPs and educational supports should not be treated with shame. They can help children receive the individualized support they need to succeed.
  • Cornhole gives youth another pathway to confidence, teamwork, discipline, competition, and even scholarship opportunities.
  • Therapy is not weakness. It is a confidential space where men and young people can process trauma, loss, development, and life.
  • Smooth 1432 is showing that creative intervention can meet men and young people through something simple, then open the door to deeper conversations.

Featured Guests

Mike Elliott
Smooth 1432 / 1432 The Podcast

Mike Elliott is part of Smooth 1432 and 1432 The Podcast. His work centers on creating spaces where men, especially married men and Black men navigating professional environments, can connect, talk, and build community.

Earl Docket
Founder, Fly Beyond Limits
Educator and Coach

Earl Docket, also known by many young people as Coach Docket, is an educator entering his 23rd year in education. He serves at KIPP Inspire Academy and is the founder of Fly Beyond Limits, which stands for First Love Yourself Mentorship and Leadership. He also leads The Breakfast Club, a mentorship effort focused on supporting young Black male students.

Jay McDaniels
Founder, Cornhole with Smooth

Jay McDaniels is the founder of Cornhole with Smooth LLC, a podcast and brand using cornhole to reach youth and community members in a new way. Through the Cornhole with Smooth Youth Academy, Jay is introducing the game to schools and using it as a tool for purpose, confidence, mental focus, and opportunity.

Josh Gilliam
Owner, Vertical Therapy LLC
Licensed Professional Counselor

Josh Gilliam is a licensed professional counselor and owner of Vertical Therapy LLC. His work focuses on helping men and young people process trauma, loss, life development, emotional struggles, and the internal battles people often carry in silence.

Guest Links

Smooth 1432: [Add official website link]
Smooth 1432 Instagram: [Add link]
Smooth 1432 YouTube: [Add link]
1432 The Podcast: [Add link]
1432 The Podcast Instagram: [Add link]
1432 The Podcast TikTok: [Add link]
1432 The Podcast YouTube: [Add link]
Cornhole with Smooth Email: cornholewithsmooth@gmail.com
Cornhole with Smooth Facebook: [Add link]
Cornhole with Smooth Instagram: [Add link]
Cornhole with Smooth TikTok: [Add link]
Fly Beyond Limits: [Add link]
Earl Docket Instagram: [Add link]
Earl Docket Facebook: [Add link]
Fly Beyond Limits Email: [Confirm full email address]
Vertical Therapy LLC Instagram: [Add link]
Josh Gilliam / Vertical Therapy website: [Add link]

Resources Mentioned

  • Smooth 1432
  • 1432 The Podcast
  • Cornhole with Smooth
  • Cornhole with Smooth Youth Academy
  • Fly Beyond Limits
  • The Breakfast Club
  • Vertical Therapy LLC
  • NAMI St. Louis
  • KIPP Inspire Academy
  • Job Corps
  • St. Louis Virtual Resource Center
  • STL Virtual Resource Center
  • Cornhole
  • IEPs / Individualized Education Plans
  • Youth mentorship
  • Men’s mental health
  • Black male mental health
  • Marriage and communication
  • Youth mental health

Episode Sponsors

St. Louis...

]]> stl hustle insider, st louis podcast, stl podcast, local business spotlight, No Devon Moody on The 89th Collective, Community-Rooted Innovation, and East St. Louis Ownership Ep. 6 6 6 Devon Moody on The 89th Collective, Community-Rooted Innovation, and East St. Louis Ownership Ep. 6 full 7a6f742f-fcb3-4598-bde2-bd20ae489315 https://share.transistor.fm/s/cc75a0bf What happens when someone stops waiting for community to be built somewhere else and decides to bring the resources home?

In Episode 6 of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Devon Moody, founder of The 89th Collective, for a conversation about East St. Louis, small business, family legacy, motherhood, village-building, ownership, innovation, and creating space for people who need to know they belong.

Devon shares how growing up as the youngest of ten, the daughter of a cobbler and a cosmetologist, shaped her understanding of entrepreneurship from an early age. Small business did not just inspire her. It helped pay for her life, sent her to college, and taught her how deeply local enterprise can impact a family and a community.

This episode is for entrepreneurs, community builders, creatives, consultants, business owners, parents, students, and anyone who believes innovation does not have to be disconnected from the neighborhood. It can be rooted in it. 

 

In This Episode

Cortez and Devon talk about:

  • Who Devon Moody is beyond the business title
  • Growing up as the youngest of ten with seven older brothers
  • Being raised by a cobbler, a cosmetologist, and a family of entrepreneurs
  • How small business paid for Devon’s life and opened doors for her
  • Lessons from her father, mother, and grandmother
  • Treating everybody with dignity, regardless of title
  • East St. Louis pride, East Boogie, and the City of Champions
  • Starting a candy store at 10 years old
  • Turning skills into opportunities through clothes, hair, papers, taxes, and service
  • Attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Navigating a predominantly white institution as a Black woman
  • The importance of the “Black House,” CBSU, and safe community spaces on campus
  • Relaunching a student retention program and seeing mentees complete degrees
  • Becoming pregnant senior year and still finishing school
  • Why village is everything, but village must be reciprocal
  • Asking for help without shame
  • The origins of The 89th Collective
  • Why timing mattered for opening a co-working and community business space
  • Opening The 89th Collective on 618 Day in 2025
  • Serving thousands of people across generations in the first year
  • Why Devon calls The 89th Collective a legacy launch pad
  • Honoring her grandmother as the “original CEO mom”
  • What community-rooted innovation means
  • Why innovation can be as simple as improving a process or solving a problem
  • Why Black entrepreneurs should not only create, but own
  • Moving from fear to ownership
  • Why it is okay to serve community and build wealth
  • Devon’s Top Five All ESTL recommendations
  • Her final word to people who think they do not belong

  

Featured Guest

Devon Moody
Founder, The 89th Collective

Devin Moody is a native of East St. Louis, Illinois, a mother, daughter, consultant, community builder, and founder of The 89th Collective.

Her work is rooted in helping people improve their quality of life by learning how to monetize their gifts, build legitimate businesses, access resources, and connect with community. Through The 89th Collective, Devin is building a legacy launch pad for entrepreneurs, creatives, youth, business owners, and community members in East St. Louis and the surrounding region.

Guest Links

 

Episode Sponsors

The 89th Collective

This episode was recorded at The 89th Collective Studios in East St. Louis, Illinois.

The 89th Collective supports entrepreneurs and business owners with space for classes and workshops, business mailbox services, community connections, networking, memberships, and access to resources.

Learn more at:
https://the89thcollective.com

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit:
https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor 

 
 

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Different This Time” by Lateef
Listen at:
https://LateefLive.com 

 

00:00 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:34 - Who is Devin Moody?
01:21 - Growing up in East St. Louis
01:42 - Youngest of ten and daughter of entrepreneurs
02:42 - Business lessons from family
03:10 - Treat everybody with dignity
04:41 - Growing up with older siblings
06:05 - East St. Louis, East Boogie, and City of Champions
06:45 - Starting a candy store at 10
07:29 - East St. Louis High School and student life
08:41 - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
09:29 - Navigating a PWI as a Black woman
10:18 - The Black House, CBSU, and safe spaces
12:29 - Student retention and the power of community
13:53 - Becoming pregnant senior year
16:11 - Building a village as a college student
17:56 - Asking for help without shame
20:14 - Break and music from Latif
21:00 - Welcome back from The 89th Collective Studios
21:45 - Why East St. Louis needed this ecosystem
22:12 - The early vision for a co-working space
23:30 - Timing, obedience, and bringing resources home
24:20 - Opening The 89th Collective on 618 Day
25:28 - Serving thousands of people across generations
26:19 - Gratitude after the first year
26:38 - Honoring Devin’s grandmother and the original CEO mom
28:10 - Community-rooted innovation
29:19 - Ownership, culture, and Black entrepreneurship
30:00 - Serving community and building wealth
31:45 - Moving out of fear and into legitimacy
32:29 - Owning the systems around what we create
33:44 - Devin’s Top Five All ESTL
34:09 - Personal Touch Boutique
35:00 - Delicious food truck
35:30 - Eastside Chop Suey and St. Louis-style rice
36:53 - Big Mama’s BBQ
37:26 - Skate King / Skate City
38:17 - Freestyle: You belong
39:25 - The 89th Collective address and contact
40:25 - Closing words from Cortez Hustle

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC.

The show spotlights the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, leaders, entrepreneurs, and movements building St. Louis from the inside out. Through real conversations and local storytelling, STL Hustle Insider brings attention to the builders, visionaries, and community movers shaping the future of the region.

Subscribe, recommend a guest, sponsor the show, or stay connected at:
https://stlhustleinsider.com

Legal Disclaimer

STL Hustle Insider is produced and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC. All show content, including video, audio, graphics, branding, and related media, is copyrighted property of iHustle Media Group LLC unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, sponsors, advertisers, or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official position of iHustle Media Group LLC, STL Hustle Insider, its partners, affiliates, or sponsors.

Content shared on this show is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, me...

]]> What happens when someone stops waiting for community to be built somewhere else and decides to bring the resources home?

In Episode 6 of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Devon Moody, founder of The 89th Collective, for a conversation about East St. Louis, small business, family legacy, motherhood, village-building, ownership, innovation, and creating space for people who need to know they belong.

Devon shares how growing up as the youngest of ten, the daughter of a cobbler and a cosmetologist, shaped her understanding of entrepreneurship from an early age. Small business did not just inspire her. It helped pay for her life, sent her to college, and taught her how deeply local enterprise can impact a family and a community.

This episode is for entrepreneurs, community builders, creatives, consultants, business owners, parents, students, and anyone who believes innovation does not have to be disconnected from the neighborhood. It can be rooted in it. 

 

In This Episode

Cortez and Devon talk about:

  • Who Devon Moody is beyond the business title
  • Growing up as the youngest of ten with seven older brothers
  • Being raised by a cobbler, a cosmetologist, and a family of entrepreneurs
  • How small business paid for Devon’s life and opened doors for her
  • Lessons from her father, mother, and grandmother
  • Treating everybody with dignity, regardless of title
  • East St. Louis pride, East Boogie, and the City of Champions
  • Starting a candy store at 10 years old
  • Turning skills into opportunities through clothes, hair, papers, taxes, and service
  • Attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Navigating a predominantly white institution as a Black woman
  • The importance of the “Black House,” CBSU, and safe community spaces on campus
  • Relaunching a student retention program and seeing mentees complete degrees
  • Becoming pregnant senior year and still finishing school
  • Why village is everything, but village must be reciprocal
  • Asking for help without shame
  • The origins of The 89th Collective
  • Why timing mattered for opening a co-working and community business space
  • Opening The 89th Collective on 618 Day in 2025
  • Serving thousands of people across generations in the first year
  • Why Devon calls The 89th Collective a legacy launch pad
  • Honoring her grandmother as the “original CEO mom”
  • What community-rooted innovation means
  • Why innovation can be as simple as improving a process or solving a problem
  • Why Black entrepreneurs should not only create, but own
  • Moving from fear to ownership
  • Why it is okay to serve community and build wealth
  • Devon’s Top Five All ESTL recommendations
  • Her final word to people who think they do not belong

  

Featured Guest

Devon Moody
Founder, The 89th Collective

Devin Moody is a native of East St. Louis, Illinois, a mother, daughter, consultant, community builder, and founder of The 89th Collective.

Her work is rooted in helping people improve their quality of life by learning how to monetize their gifts, build legitimate businesses, access resources, and connect with community. Through The 89th Collective, Devin is building a legacy launch pad for entrepreneurs, creatives, youth, business owners, and community members in East St. Louis and the surrounding region.

Guest Links

 

Episode Sponsors

The 89th Collective

This episode was recorded at The 89th Collective Studios in East St. Louis, Illinois.

The 89th Collective supports entrepreneurs and business owners with space for classes and workshops, business mailbox services, community connections, networking, memberships, and access to resources.

Learn more at:
https://the89thcollective.com

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit:
https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor 

 
 

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Different This Time” by Lateef
Listen at:
https://LateefLive.com 

 

00:00 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:34 - Who is Devin Moody?
01:21 - Growing up in East St. Louis
01:42 - Youngest of ten and daughter of entrepreneurs
02:42 - Business lessons from family
03:10 - Treat everybody with dignity
04:41 - Growing up with older siblings
06:05 - East St. Louis, East Boogie, and City of Champions
06:45 - Starting a candy store at 10
07:29 - East St. Louis High School and student life
08:41 - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
09:29 - Navigating a PWI as a Black woman
10:18 - The Black House, CBSU, and safe spaces
12:29 - Student retention and the power of community
13:53 - Becoming pregnant senior year
16:11 - Building a village as a college student
17:56 - Asking for help without shame
20:14 - Break and music from Latif
21:00 - Welcome back from The 89th Collective Studios
21:45 - Why East St. Louis needed this ecosystem
22:12 - The early vision for a co-working space
23:30 - Timing, obedience, and bringing resources home
24:20 - Opening The 89th Collective on 618 Day
25:28 - Serving thousands of people across generations
26:19 - Gratitude after the first year
26:38 - Honoring Devin’s grandmother and the original CEO mom
28:10 - Community-rooted innovation
29:19 - Ownership, culture, and Black entrepreneurship
30:00 - Serving community and building wealth
31:45 - Moving out of fear and into legitimacy
32:29 - Owning the systems around what we create
33:44 - Devin’s Top Five All ESTL
34:09 - Personal Touch Boutique
35:00 - Delicious food truck
35:30 - Eastside Chop Suey and St. Louis-style rice
36:53 - Big Mama’s BBQ
37:26 - Skate King / Skate City
38:17 - Freestyle: You belong
39:25 - The 89th Collective address and contact
40:25 - Closing words from Cortez Hustle

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC.

The show spotlights the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, leaders, entrepreneurs, and movements building St. Louis from the inside out. Through real conversations and local storytelling, STL Hustle Insider brings attention to the builders, visionaries, and community movers shaping the future of the region.

Subscribe, recommend a guest, sponsor the show, or stay connected at:
https://stlhustleinsider.com

Legal Disclaimer

STL Hustle Insider is produced and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC. All show content, including video, audio, graphics, branding, and related media, is copyrighted property of iHustle Media Group LLC unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, sponsors, advertisers, or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official position of iHustle Media Group LLC, STL Hustle Insider, its partners, affiliates, or sponsors.

Content shared on this show is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, me...

]]> Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0600 H Cortez Springer H Cortez Springer 2789 What happens when someone stops waiting for community to be built somewhere else and decides to bring the resources home?

In Episode 6 of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Devon Moody, founder of The 89th Collective, for a conversation about East St. Louis, small business, family legacy, motherhood, village-building, ownership, innovation, and creating space for people who need to know they belong.

Devon shares how growing up as the youngest of ten, the daughter of a cobbler and a cosmetologist, shaped her understanding of entrepreneurship from an early age. Small business did not just inspire her. It helped pay for her life, sent her to college, and taught her how deeply local enterprise can impact a family and a community.

This episode is for entrepreneurs, community builders, creatives, consultants, business owners, parents, students, and anyone who believes innovation does not have to be disconnected from the neighborhood. It can be rooted in it. 

 

In This Episode

Cortez and Devon talk about:

  • Who Devon Moody is beyond the business title
  • Growing up as the youngest of ten with seven older brothers
  • Being raised by a cobbler, a cosmetologist, and a family of entrepreneurs
  • How small business paid for Devon’s life and opened doors for her
  • Lessons from her father, mother, and grandmother
  • Treating everybody with dignity, regardless of title
  • East St. Louis pride, East Boogie, and the City of Champions
  • Starting a candy store at 10 years old
  • Turning skills into opportunities through clothes, hair, papers, taxes, and service
  • Attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Navigating a predominantly white institution as a Black woman
  • The importance of the “Black House,” CBSU, and safe community spaces on campus
  • Relaunching a student retention program and seeing mentees complete degrees
  • Becoming pregnant senior year and still finishing school
  • Why village is everything, but village must be reciprocal
  • Asking for help without shame
  • The origins of The 89th Collective
  • Why timing mattered for opening a co-working and community business space
  • Opening The 89th Collective on 618 Day in 2025
  • Serving thousands of people across generations in the first year
  • Why Devon calls The 89th Collective a legacy launch pad
  • Honoring her grandmother as the “original CEO mom”
  • What community-rooted innovation means
  • Why innovation can be as simple as improving a process or solving a problem
  • Why Black entrepreneurs should not only create, but own
  • Moving from fear to ownership
  • Why it is okay to serve community and build wealth
  • Devon’s Top Five All ESTL recommendations
  • Her final word to people who think they do not belong

  

Featured Guest

Devon Moody
Founder, The 89th Collective

Devin Moody is a native of East St. Louis, Illinois, a mother, daughter, consultant, community builder, and founder of The 89th Collective.

Her work is rooted in helping people improve their quality of life by learning how to monetize their gifts, build legitimate businesses, access resources, and connect with community. Through The 89th Collective, Devin is building a legacy launch pad for entrepreneurs, creatives, youth, business owners, and community members in East St. Louis and the surrounding region.

Guest Links

 

Episode Sponsors

The 89th Collective

This episode was recorded at The 89th Collective Studios in East St. Louis, Illinois.

The 89th Collective supports entrepreneurs and business owners with space for classes and workshops, business mailbox services, community connections, networking, memberships, and access to resources.

Learn more at:
https://the89thcollective.com

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit:
https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor 

 
 

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Different This Time” by Lateef
Listen at:
https://LateefLive.com 

 

00:00 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:34 - Who is Devin Moody?
01:21 - Growing up in East St. Louis
01:42 - Youngest of ten and daughter of entrepreneurs
02:42 - Business lessons from family
03:10 - Treat everybody with dignity
04:41 - Growing up with older siblings
06:05 - East St. Louis, East Boogie, and City of Champions
06:45 - Starting a candy store at 10
07:29 - East St. Louis High School and student life
08:41 - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
09:29 - Navigating a PWI as a Black woman
10:18 - The Black House, CBSU, and safe spaces
12:29 - Student retention and the power of community
13:53 - Becoming pregnant senior year
16:11 - Building a village as a college student
17:56 - Asking for help without shame
20:14 - Break and music from Latif
21:00 - Welcome back from The 89th Collective Studios
21:45 - Why East St. Louis needed this ecosystem
22:12 - The early vision for a co-working space
23:30 - Timing, obedience, and bringing resources home
24:20 - Opening The 89th Collective on 618 Day
25:28 - Serving thousands of people across generations
26:19 - Gratitude after the first year
26:38 - Honoring Devin’s grandmother and the original CEO mom
28:10 - Community-rooted innovation
29:19 - Ownership, culture, and Black entrepreneurship
30:00 - Serving community and building wealth
31:45 - Moving out of fear and into legitimacy
32:29 - Owning the systems around what we create
33:44 - Devin’s Top Five All ESTL
34:09 - Personal Touch Boutique
35:00 - Delicious food truck
35:30 - Eastside Chop Suey and St. Louis-style rice
36:53 - Big Mama’s BBQ
37:26 - Skate King / Skate City
38:17 - Freestyle: You belong
39:25 - The 89th Collective address and contact
40:25 - Closing words from Cortez Hustle

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC.

The show spotlights the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, leaders, entrepreneurs, and movements building St. Louis from the inside out. Through real conversations and local storytelling, STL Hustle Insider brings attention to the builders, visionaries, and community movers shaping the future of the region.

Subscribe, recommend a guest, sponsor the show, or stay connected at:
https://stlhustleinsider.com

Legal Disclaimer

STL Hustle Insider is produced and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC. All show content, including video, audio, graphics, branding, and related media, is copyrighted property of iHustle Media Group LLC unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, sponsors, advertisers, or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official position of iHustle Media Group LLC, STL Hustle Insider, its partners, affiliates, or sponsors.

Content shared on this show is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, me...

]]> devon moody, the 89th collective, stl hustle insider, No Carla Reid on Real Estate, Tax Sales, and Building Community Brick by Brick 5 5 Carla Reid on Real Estate, Tax Sales, and Building Community Brick by Brick full 034a7bc6-78a8-43ff-9f7f-e019ce7a192a https://share.transistor.fm/s/4ec54a73  Carla Reid on Real Estate, Tax Sales, and Building Community Brick by Brick


Real estate is not just about property. In the right hands, it can become a tool for legacy, stability, community repair, and generational opportunity.

In Episode 5 of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Carla Reid, founder of Brick X Brick Collective, for a powerful conversation about motherhood, social work, real estate investing, tax sales, ethical development, and what it means to build community with intention.

Carla shares her journey from growing up in St. Louis, becoming a mother at 15, finishing school alongside her daughter years later, working in social services, managing property for her mother, and eventually stepping into real estate investing for herself.

This episode is for anyone interested in real estate, community development, legacy building, affordable housing, tax sale education, and the belief that everyday people can learn the game and build something that lasts.

In This Episode

Cortez and Carla talk about:

  • Who Carla Reid is beyond the business title
  • Her identity as a mother, daughter, community champion, social worker, investor, and developer
  • Growing up in the West End of St. Louis City
  • Being raised by parents who worked in social work and nursing
  • Attending Oakville Senior High through the desegregation program
  • Becoming a mother at 15
  • How shame, responsibility, support, and resilience shaped her journey
  • What parents can do when a young person’s life takes an unexpected turn
  • The importance of support systems for young mothers
  • How Carla’s father taught her the meaning of community through family fish fries
  • Why community starts at home
  • Working full-time in social work while continuing school
  • Carla and her daughter both graduating in 2018
  • How her mother’s real estate decision introduced her to property management
  • Managing a four-family property and building relationships with tenants
  • Why Carla stopped managing properties for some out-of-state investors
  • Choosing to invest with integrity and provide quality housing
  • How Carla discovered tax sale investing
  • The mindset shift required to become a real estate investor
  • The difference between St. Louis City tax deed sales and St. Louis County tax lien sales
  • Why Carla used her own money to acquire but borrowed money to renovate
  • Her first tax sale property, renovation, refinance, and equity strategy
  • How social work influenced the way she thought about families affected by tax sales
  • Tax sale overages and why families need to understand what may be owed to them
  • The setup for Brick X Brick Collective and helping everyday people understand real estate

Key Takeaways

  • A difficult beginning does not define the rest of your life.
  • Strong support systems can change the future for young parents and their children.
  • Community is not just a public idea. It starts with how families care for, introduce, and support one another.
  • Social work and real estate may seem separate, but Carla’s story shows how both can be rooted in service.
  • Real estate investing can be done with integrity when the goal includes quality housing and community impact.
  • Tax sales can be a legitimate acquisition strategy, but they require education, patience, research, risk awareness, and the right professional support.
  • Being prepared matters. Opportunity is only useful when you are in position to act on it.
  • Legacy building often starts with one property, one decision, and one willingness to learn.
  • Carla’s social worker mindset pushed her to think not only about the investor, but also about families affected by the tax sale process.

Featured Guest

Carla Reid
Founder, Brick X Brick Collective

Carla Reid is a mother, daughter, community champion, social worker, investor, developer, and founder of Brick X Brick Collective.

Rooted in St. Louis, Carla brings together her background in social work, property management, real estate investing, and community advocacy to help people better understand real estate, tax sales, ownership, development, and legacy building.

Guest Links

Resources Mentioned

  • Brick X Brick Collective
  • STL Virtual Resource Center
  • St. Louis Community College
  • University of Missouri–St. Louis / UMSL
  • Florida A&M University
  • St. Louis City Juvenile Detention Center
  • Missouri social services / case management
  • St. Louis City tax deed sale
  • St. Louis County tax lien sale
  • North Point neighborhood
  • Justine Peterson
  • Invest STL
  • UMSL Neighborhood Leadership Fellows
  • Tax sale overages
  • LatifLive.com

Episode Sponsors

STL Virtual Resource Center

This episode was recorded at the STL Virtual Resource Center Studios in St. Louis, Missouri.

The STL Virtual Resource Center is designed to help St. Louis area entrepreneurs find resources in one place, including funding resources, networking events, co-working spaces, business development support, and other tools to help move their businesses forward.

Sign up or learn more:  https://ihustlemg.com/vrc

Relentless Defensive Firearm Academy

Social Lead Web by iHustle Media Group

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit: https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Different This Time” by Lateef
Listen at: https://LateefLive.com

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps are approximate and based on the transcript provided. Please adjust to match the final edited audio export.

00:00 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:28 - Who is Carla Reid?
01:27 - Growing up in the West End of St. Louis City
01:54 - Oakville, the desegregation program, and high school
02:32 - Becoming a mother at 15
03:40 - Finding out she was in labor
06:01 - Encouragement for young mothers
07:18 - What parents and caregivers can learn
08:47 - Shame, disappointment, and support
10:08 - Growing up around social work and service
10:29 - Family fish fries and Carla’s first lesson in community
11:32 - Community starts at home
12:59 - School, work, and social services
14:20 - The support system that made progress possible
15:12 - Returning to finish her degree
16:07 - Carla and her daughter graduate in 2018
16:46 - Break and music from Latif
17:12 - “Different This Time” by Latif
18:00 - Welcome back from STL Virtual Resource Center Studios
19:00 - How Carla got started in real estate
20:00 - Managing her mother’s four-family property
21:30...

]]>  Carla Reid on Real Estate, Tax Sales, and Building Community Brick by Brick


Real estate is not just about property. In the right hands, it can become a tool for legacy, stability, community repair, and generational opportunity.

In Episode 5 of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Carla Reid, founder of Brick X Brick Collective, for a powerful conversation about motherhood, social work, real estate investing, tax sales, ethical development, and what it means to build community with intention.

Carla shares her journey from growing up in St. Louis, becoming a mother at 15, finishing school alongside her daughter years later, working in social services, managing property for her mother, and eventually stepping into real estate investing for herself.

This episode is for anyone interested in real estate, community development, legacy building, affordable housing, tax sale education, and the belief that everyday people can learn the game and build something that lasts.

In This Episode

Cortez and Carla talk about:

  • Who Carla Reid is beyond the business title
  • Her identity as a mother, daughter, community champion, social worker, investor, and developer
  • Growing up in the West End of St. Louis City
  • Being raised by parents who worked in social work and nursing
  • Attending Oakville Senior High through the desegregation program
  • Becoming a mother at 15
  • How shame, responsibility, support, and resilience shaped her journey
  • What parents can do when a young person’s life takes an unexpected turn
  • The importance of support systems for young mothers
  • How Carla’s father taught her the meaning of community through family fish fries
  • Why community starts at home
  • Working full-time in social work while continuing school
  • Carla and her daughter both graduating in 2018
  • How her mother’s real estate decision introduced her to property management
  • Managing a four-family property and building relationships with tenants
  • Why Carla stopped managing properties for some out-of-state investors
  • Choosing to invest with integrity and provide quality housing
  • How Carla discovered tax sale investing
  • The mindset shift required to become a real estate investor
  • The difference between St. Louis City tax deed sales and St. Louis County tax lien sales
  • Why Carla used her own money to acquire but borrowed money to renovate
  • Her first tax sale property, renovation, refinance, and equity strategy
  • How social work influenced the way she thought about families affected by tax sales
  • Tax sale overages and why families need to understand what may be owed to them
  • The setup for Brick X Brick Collective and helping everyday people understand real estate

Key Takeaways

  • A difficult beginning does not define the rest of your life.
  • Strong support systems can change the future for young parents and their children.
  • Community is not just a public idea. It starts with how families care for, introduce, and support one another.
  • Social work and real estate may seem separate, but Carla’s story shows how both can be rooted in service.
  • Real estate investing can be done with integrity when the goal includes quality housing and community impact.
  • Tax sales can be a legitimate acquisition strategy, but they require education, patience, research, risk awareness, and the right professional support.
  • Being prepared matters. Opportunity is only useful when you are in position to act on it.
  • Legacy building often starts with one property, one decision, and one willingness to learn.
  • Carla’s social worker mindset pushed her to think not only about the investor, but also about families affected by the tax sale process.

Featured Guest

Carla Reid
Founder, Brick X Brick Collective

Carla Reid is a mother, daughter, community champion, social worker, investor, developer, and founder of Brick X Brick Collective.

Rooted in St. Louis, Carla brings together her background in social work, property management, real estate investing, and community advocacy to help people better understand real estate, tax sales, ownership, development, and legacy building.

Guest Links

Resources Mentioned

  • Brick X Brick Collective
  • STL Virtual Resource Center
  • St. Louis Community College
  • University of Missouri–St. Louis / UMSL
  • Florida A&M University
  • St. Louis City Juvenile Detention Center
  • Missouri social services / case management
  • St. Louis City tax deed sale
  • St. Louis County tax lien sale
  • North Point neighborhood
  • Justine Peterson
  • Invest STL
  • UMSL Neighborhood Leadership Fellows
  • Tax sale overages
  • LatifLive.com

Episode Sponsors

STL Virtual Resource Center

This episode was recorded at the STL Virtual Resource Center Studios in St. Louis, Missouri.

The STL Virtual Resource Center is designed to help St. Louis area entrepreneurs find resources in one place, including funding resources, networking events, co-working spaces, business development support, and other tools to help move their businesses forward.

Sign up or learn more:  https://ihustlemg.com/vrc

Relentless Defensive Firearm Academy

Social Lead Web by iHustle Media Group

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit: https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Different This Time” by Lateef
Listen at: https://LateefLive.com

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps are approximate and based on the transcript provided. Please adjust to match the final edited audio export.

00:00 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:28 - Who is Carla Reid?
01:27 - Growing up in the West End of St. Louis City
01:54 - Oakville, the desegregation program, and high school
02:32 - Becoming a mother at 15
03:40 - Finding out she was in labor
06:01 - Encouragement for young mothers
07:18 - What parents and caregivers can learn
08:47 - Shame, disappointment, and support
10:08 - Growing up around social work and service
10:29 - Family fish fries and Carla’s first lesson in community
11:32 - Community starts at home
12:59 - School, work, and social services
14:20 - The support system that made progress possible
15:12 - Returning to finish her degree
16:07 - Carla and her daughter graduate in 2018
16:46 - Break and music from Latif
17:12 - “Different This Time” by Latif
18:00 - Welcome back from STL Virtual Resource Center Studios
19:00 - How Carla got started in real estate
20:00 - Managing her mother’s four-family property
21:30...

]]> Thu, 23 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0600 H Cortez Springer H Cortez Springer 3740  Carla Reid on Real Estate, Tax Sales, and Building Community Brick by Brick


Real estate is not just about property. In the right hands, it can become a tool for legacy, stability, community repair, and generational opportunity.

In Episode 5 of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Carla Reid, founder of Brick X Brick Collective, for a powerful conversation about motherhood, social work, real estate investing, tax sales, ethical development, and what it means to build community with intention.

Carla shares her journey from growing up in St. Louis, becoming a mother at 15, finishing school alongside her daughter years later, working in social services, managing property for her mother, and eventually stepping into real estate investing for herself.

This episode is for anyone interested in real estate, community development, legacy building, affordable housing, tax sale education, and the belief that everyday people can learn the game and build something that lasts.

In This Episode

Cortez and Carla talk about:

  • Who Carla Reid is beyond the business title
  • Her identity as a mother, daughter, community champion, social worker, investor, and developer
  • Growing up in the West End of St. Louis City
  • Being raised by parents who worked in social work and nursing
  • Attending Oakville Senior High through the desegregation program
  • Becoming a mother at 15
  • How shame, responsibility, support, and resilience shaped her journey
  • What parents can do when a young person’s life takes an unexpected turn
  • The importance of support systems for young mothers
  • How Carla’s father taught her the meaning of community through family fish fries
  • Why community starts at home
  • Working full-time in social work while continuing school
  • Carla and her daughter both graduating in 2018
  • How her mother’s real estate decision introduced her to property management
  • Managing a four-family property and building relationships with tenants
  • Why Carla stopped managing properties for some out-of-state investors
  • Choosing to invest with integrity and provide quality housing
  • How Carla discovered tax sale investing
  • The mindset shift required to become a real estate investor
  • The difference between St. Louis City tax deed sales and St. Louis County tax lien sales
  • Why Carla used her own money to acquire but borrowed money to renovate
  • Her first tax sale property, renovation, refinance, and equity strategy
  • How social work influenced the way she thought about families affected by tax sales
  • Tax sale overages and why families need to understand what may be owed to them
  • The setup for Brick X Brick Collective and helping everyday people understand real estate

Key Takeaways

  • A difficult beginning does not define the rest of your life.
  • Strong support systems can change the future for young parents and their children.
  • Community is not just a public idea. It starts with how families care for, introduce, and support one another.
  • Social work and real estate may seem separate, but Carla’s story shows how both can be rooted in service.
  • Real estate investing can be done with integrity when the goal includes quality housing and community impact.
  • Tax sales can be a legitimate acquisition strategy, but they require education, patience, research, risk awareness, and the right professional support.
  • Being prepared matters. Opportunity is only useful when you are in position to act on it.
  • Legacy building often starts with one property, one decision, and one willingness to learn.
  • Carla’s social worker mindset pushed her to think not only about the investor, but also about families affected by the tax sale process.

Featured Guest

Carla Reid
Founder, Brick X Brick Collective

Carla Reid is a mother, daughter, community champion, social worker, investor, developer, and founder of Brick X Brick Collective.

Rooted in St. Louis, Carla brings together her background in social work, property management, real estate investing, and community advocacy to help people better understand real estate, tax sales, ownership, development, and legacy building.

Guest Links

Resources Mentioned

  • Brick X Brick Collective
  • STL Virtual Resource Center
  • St. Louis Community College
  • University of Missouri–St. Louis / UMSL
  • Florida A&M University
  • St. Louis City Juvenile Detention Center
  • Missouri social services / case management
  • St. Louis City tax deed sale
  • St. Louis County tax lien sale
  • North Point neighborhood
  • Justine Peterson
  • Invest STL
  • UMSL Neighborhood Leadership Fellows
  • Tax sale overages
  • LatifLive.com

Episode Sponsors

STL Virtual Resource Center

This episode was recorded at the STL Virtual Resource Center Studios in St. Louis, Missouri.

The STL Virtual Resource Center is designed to help St. Louis area entrepreneurs find resources in one place, including funding resources, networking events, co-working spaces, business development support, and other tools to help move their businesses forward.

Sign up or learn more:  https://ihustlemg.com/vrc

Relentless Defensive Firearm Academy

Social Lead Web by iHustle Media Group

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit: https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Different This Time” by Lateef
Listen at: https://LateefLive.com

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps are approximate and based on the transcript provided. Please adjust to match the final edited audio export.

00:00 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:28 - Who is Carla Reid?
01:27 - Growing up in the West End of St. Louis City
01:54 - Oakville, the desegregation program, and high school
02:32 - Becoming a mother at 15
03:40 - Finding out she was in labor
06:01 - Encouragement for young mothers
07:18 - What parents and caregivers can learn
08:47 - Shame, disappointment, and support
10:08 - Growing up around social work and service
10:29 - Family fish fries and Carla’s first lesson in community
11:32 - Community starts at home
12:59 - School, work, and social services
14:20 - The support system that made progress possible
15:12 - Returning to finish her degree
16:07 - Carla and her daughter graduate in 2018
16:46 - Break and music from Latif
17:12 - “Different This Time” by Latif
18:00 - Welcome back from STL Virtual Resource Center Studios
19:00 - How Carla got started in real estate
20:00 - Managing her mother’s four-family property
21:30...

]]> STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle, Carla Reid, Brick X Brick Collective, Brick by Brick Collective, St. Louis podcast, St Louis podcast, St. Louis real estate, St. Louis real estate investing, tax sales St. Louis, St. Louis tax sale, tax deed sale, tax lien sale, real estate investing for beginners No Calvin Dantley on Collaboration, Networking, and Building Better Leaders in St. Louis 4 4 Calvin Dantley on Collaboration, Networking, and Building Better Leaders in St. Louis full e35906f9-0aad-46b2-bfb1-b481a6d16468 https://share.transistor.fm/s/8d5e717a St. Louis gets called a “crabs in the barrel” city sometimes, but Calvin Dantley has not experienced it that way.

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Calvin Dantley, entrepreneur, connector, husband, father, and founder of Master Systems, for a conversation about collaboration, networking, branding, sales, learning and development, and helping first-time managers become stronger leaders.

Calvin shares his journey from Pittsburgh to St. Louis, how entrepreneurship runs through his family, what he learned from his father being known as “the picture guy,” and how that shaped his understanding of branding. He also opens up about sales, curiosity, making meaningful connections, and building Master Systems into a learning and development company focused on supporting new and first-time managers.

This episode is for entrepreneurs, business owners, managers, team leaders, connectors, and anyone who believes St. Louis grows stronger when people stop gatekeeping and start making the right introductions.


In This Episode

Cortez and Calvin talk about:

  • Why collaboration and non-gatekeeper culture matters in St. Louis
  • Calvin’s background as an entrepreneur, dad, husband, and connector
  • Moving from Pittsburgh to St. Louis
  • Why St. Louis and Pittsburgh feel similar
  • Growing up as a third-generation operator
  • His grandfather’s pharmacy business and his father’s photography company
  • The branding lesson Calvin learned from his father being called “the picture guy”
  • Calvin’s journey through Temple University and economics
  • Early sales experience, including Cutco
  • Moving through direct sales, business-to-consumer, business-to-business, tobacco, and health and wellness
  • How each career stop helped shape the business he is building now
  • Why curiosity helps Calvin connect people and solve problems
  • The difference between networking and wasting people’s time
  • The origin and evolution of Master Systems
  • Moving from in-person workshops to e-learning after COVID
  • Building animated videos, courses, voiceover work, and a learning library
  • Why Master Systems focuses on first-time managers
  • The challenges new managers face when leading people they used to work beside
  • Calvin’s Top Five STL recommendations
  • Why business owners should seek out local resources and relationships

Key Takeaways

  • Collaboration works best when people make thoughtful introductions that actually add value.
  • Branding is not just a logo. It is what people remember you for.
  • Curiosity is a business advantage when it helps you ask better questions, listen carefully, and connect problems to solutions.
  • Every career stop can become part of the toolkit for the business you are building.
  • First-time managers often need support with accountability, one-on-ones, performance conversations, and leading former peers.
  • St. Louis has more business resources than many owners realize, but people have to go out, network, ask questions, and get connected.
  • Growth is not the same as scaling. To scale, business owners and leaders need systems, training, and stronger teams.

Featured Guest

Calvin Dantley
Founder, Master Systems

Calvin Dantley is an entrepreneur, husband, father, connector, and learning and development professional. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Calvin moved to St. Louis in 2011 and has built deep roots in the local business community.

Through Master Systems, Calvin helps organizations support new and first-time managers with practical training, learning resources, and development tools designed to help leaders grow with more confidence and clarity.

Guest Links

Episode Sponsors

The 89th Collective

This episode was recorded at The 89th Collective Studios in East St. Louis, Illinois.

If you need a small event space, a business mailing address, memberships, local vendor discounts, or a place to connect with other entrepreneurs, visit: https://the89thcollective.com

Relentless Defensive Firearm Academy, helping responsible citizens across St. Louis train safely, legally, and confidently through firearm safety education, Missouri CCW classes, and self-defense training.

Learn more at RelentlessSTL.com or call 314-314-8485.

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit: https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Halo” by Lateef
Listen at:
https://LateefLive.com

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps were not included in the transcript. Please adjust these to match the final edited audio export.

00:00 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:45 - Introducing Calvin Dantley
02:00 - Who is Calvin Dantley?
03:15 - From Pittsburgh to St. Louis
05:00 - Entrepreneurship in Calvin’s family
07:00 - The branding lesson from “the picture guy”
09:00 - Temple University, economics, and sales
11:00 - From tobacco to health and wellness
13:00 - How each career stop shaped Master Systems
15:00 - Break and music from Latif
16:00 - Welcome back from The 89th Collective Studios
18:00 - Collaboration over crabs in a barrel
20:00 - Curiosity, networking, and making better introductions
23:00 - The rules of meaningful connection
25:00 - The origin of Master Systems
28:00 - COVID, e-learning, animated videos, and digital training
31:00 - Serving first-time managers
34:00 - The challenge of leading former peers
37:00 - Calvin’s Top Five STL
41:00 - Freestyle, resources, and workforce development
43:00 - Closing words from Cortez Hustle

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC.

The show spotlights the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, leaders, entrepreneurs, and movements building St. Louis from the inside out. Through real conversations and local storytelling, STL Hustle Insider brings attention to the builders, visionaries, and community movers shaping the future of the region.

Subscribe, recommend a guest, sponsor the show, or stay connected at:
https://stlhustleinsider.com

Legal Disclaimer

STL Hustle Insider is produced and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC. All show content, including video, audio, graphics, branding, and related media, is copyrighted property of iHustle Media Group LLC unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, sponsors, advertisers, or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official position of iHustle Media Group LLC, STL Hustle Insider, its partners, affiliates, or sponsors.

Content shared on this show is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, mental health, tax, investm...

]]> St. Louis gets called a “crabs in the barrel” city sometimes, but Calvin Dantley has not experienced it that way.

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Calvin Dantley, entrepreneur, connector, husband, father, and founder of Master Systems, for a conversation about collaboration, networking, branding, sales, learning and development, and helping first-time managers become stronger leaders.

Calvin shares his journey from Pittsburgh to St. Louis, how entrepreneurship runs through his family, what he learned from his father being known as “the picture guy,” and how that shaped his understanding of branding. He also opens up about sales, curiosity, making meaningful connections, and building Master Systems into a learning and development company focused on supporting new and first-time managers.

This episode is for entrepreneurs, business owners, managers, team leaders, connectors, and anyone who believes St. Louis grows stronger when people stop gatekeeping and start making the right introductions.


In This Episode

Cortez and Calvin talk about:

  • Why collaboration and non-gatekeeper culture matters in St. Louis
  • Calvin’s background as an entrepreneur, dad, husband, and connector
  • Moving from Pittsburgh to St. Louis
  • Why St. Louis and Pittsburgh feel similar
  • Growing up as a third-generation operator
  • His grandfather’s pharmacy business and his father’s photography company
  • The branding lesson Calvin learned from his father being called “the picture guy”
  • Calvin’s journey through Temple University and economics
  • Early sales experience, including Cutco
  • Moving through direct sales, business-to-consumer, business-to-business, tobacco, and health and wellness
  • How each career stop helped shape the business he is building now
  • Why curiosity helps Calvin connect people and solve problems
  • The difference between networking and wasting people’s time
  • The origin and evolution of Master Systems
  • Moving from in-person workshops to e-learning after COVID
  • Building animated videos, courses, voiceover work, and a learning library
  • Why Master Systems focuses on first-time managers
  • The challenges new managers face when leading people they used to work beside
  • Calvin’s Top Five STL recommendations
  • Why business owners should seek out local resources and relationships

Key Takeaways

  • Collaboration works best when people make thoughtful introductions that actually add value.
  • Branding is not just a logo. It is what people remember you for.
  • Curiosity is a business advantage when it helps you ask better questions, listen carefully, and connect problems to solutions.
  • Every career stop can become part of the toolkit for the business you are building.
  • First-time managers often need support with accountability, one-on-ones, performance conversations, and leading former peers.
  • St. Louis has more business resources than many owners realize, but people have to go out, network, ask questions, and get connected.
  • Growth is not the same as scaling. To scale, business owners and leaders need systems, training, and stronger teams.

Featured Guest

Calvin Dantley
Founder, Master Systems

Calvin Dantley is an entrepreneur, husband, father, connector, and learning and development professional. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Calvin moved to St. Louis in 2011 and has built deep roots in the local business community.

Through Master Systems, Calvin helps organizations support new and first-time managers with practical training, learning resources, and development tools designed to help leaders grow with more confidence and clarity.

Guest Links

Episode Sponsors

The 89th Collective

This episode was recorded at The 89th Collective Studios in East St. Louis, Illinois.

If you need a small event space, a business mailing address, memberships, local vendor discounts, or a place to connect with other entrepreneurs, visit: https://the89thcollective.com

Relentless Defensive Firearm Academy, helping responsible citizens across St. Louis train safely, legally, and confidently through firearm safety education, Missouri CCW classes, and self-defense training.

Learn more at RelentlessSTL.com or call 314-314-8485.

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit: https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Halo” by Lateef
Listen at:
https://LateefLive.com

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps were not included in the transcript. Please adjust these to match the final edited audio export.

00:00 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:45 - Introducing Calvin Dantley
02:00 - Who is Calvin Dantley?
03:15 - From Pittsburgh to St. Louis
05:00 - Entrepreneurship in Calvin’s family
07:00 - The branding lesson from “the picture guy”
09:00 - Temple University, economics, and sales
11:00 - From tobacco to health and wellness
13:00 - How each career stop shaped Master Systems
15:00 - Break and music from Latif
16:00 - Welcome back from The 89th Collective Studios
18:00 - Collaboration over crabs in a barrel
20:00 - Curiosity, networking, and making better introductions
23:00 - The rules of meaningful connection
25:00 - The origin of Master Systems
28:00 - COVID, e-learning, animated videos, and digital training
31:00 - Serving first-time managers
34:00 - The challenge of leading former peers
37:00 - Calvin’s Top Five STL
41:00 - Freestyle, resources, and workforce development
43:00 - Closing words from Cortez Hustle

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC.

The show spotlights the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, leaders, entrepreneurs, and movements building St. Louis from the inside out. Through real conversations and local storytelling, STL Hustle Insider brings attention to the builders, visionaries, and community movers shaping the future of the region.

Subscribe, recommend a guest, sponsor the show, or stay connected at:
https://stlhustleinsider.com

Legal Disclaimer

STL Hustle Insider is produced and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC. All show content, including video, audio, graphics, branding, and related media, is copyrighted property of iHustle Media Group LLC unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, sponsors, advertisers, or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official position of iHustle Media Group LLC, STL Hustle Insider, its partners, affiliates, or sponsors.

Content shared on this show is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, mental health, tax, investm...

]]> Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0600 H Cortez Springer H Cortez Springer 1894 St. Louis gets called a “crabs in the barrel” city sometimes, but Calvin Dantley has not experienced it that way.

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Calvin Dantley, entrepreneur, connector, husband, father, and founder of Master Systems, for a conversation about collaboration, networking, branding, sales, learning and development, and helping first-time managers become stronger leaders.

Calvin shares his journey from Pittsburgh to St. Louis, how entrepreneurship runs through his family, what he learned from his father being known as “the picture guy,” and how that shaped his understanding of branding. He also opens up about sales, curiosity, making meaningful connections, and building Master Systems into a learning and development company focused on supporting new and first-time managers.

This episode is for entrepreneurs, business owners, managers, team leaders, connectors, and anyone who believes St. Louis grows stronger when people stop gatekeeping and start making the right introductions.


In This Episode

Cortez and Calvin talk about:

  • Why collaboration and non-gatekeeper culture matters in St. Louis
  • Calvin’s background as an entrepreneur, dad, husband, and connector
  • Moving from Pittsburgh to St. Louis
  • Why St. Louis and Pittsburgh feel similar
  • Growing up as a third-generation operator
  • His grandfather’s pharmacy business and his father’s photography company
  • The branding lesson Calvin learned from his father being called “the picture guy”
  • Calvin’s journey through Temple University and economics
  • Early sales experience, including Cutco
  • Moving through direct sales, business-to-consumer, business-to-business, tobacco, and health and wellness
  • How each career stop helped shape the business he is building now
  • Why curiosity helps Calvin connect people and solve problems
  • The difference between networking and wasting people’s time
  • The origin and evolution of Master Systems
  • Moving from in-person workshops to e-learning after COVID
  • Building animated videos, courses, voiceover work, and a learning library
  • Why Master Systems focuses on first-time managers
  • The challenges new managers face when leading people they used to work beside
  • Calvin’s Top Five STL recommendations
  • Why business owners should seek out local resources and relationships

Key Takeaways

  • Collaboration works best when people make thoughtful introductions that actually add value.
  • Branding is not just a logo. It is what people remember you for.
  • Curiosity is a business advantage when it helps you ask better questions, listen carefully, and connect problems to solutions.
  • Every career stop can become part of the toolkit for the business you are building.
  • First-time managers often need support with accountability, one-on-ones, performance conversations, and leading former peers.
  • St. Louis has more business resources than many owners realize, but people have to go out, network, ask questions, and get connected.
  • Growth is not the same as scaling. To scale, business owners and leaders need systems, training, and stronger teams.

Featured Guest

Calvin Dantley
Founder, Master Systems

Calvin Dantley is an entrepreneur, husband, father, connector, and learning and development professional. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Calvin moved to St. Louis in 2011 and has built deep roots in the local business community.

Through Master Systems, Calvin helps organizations support new and first-time managers with practical training, learning resources, and development tools designed to help leaders grow with more confidence and clarity.

Guest Links

Episode Sponsors

The 89th Collective

This episode was recorded at The 89th Collective Studios in East St. Louis, Illinois.

If you need a small event space, a business mailing address, memberships, local vendor discounts, or a place to connect with other entrepreneurs, visit: https://the89thcollective.com

Relentless Defensive Firearm Academy, helping responsible citizens across St. Louis train safely, legally, and confidently through firearm safety education, Missouri CCW classes, and self-defense training.

Learn more at RelentlessSTL.com or call 314-314-8485.

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit: https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Halo” by Lateef
Listen at:
https://LateefLive.com

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps were not included in the transcript. Please adjust these to match the final edited audio export.

00:00 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:45 - Introducing Calvin Dantley
02:00 - Who is Calvin Dantley?
03:15 - From Pittsburgh to St. Louis
05:00 - Entrepreneurship in Calvin’s family
07:00 - The branding lesson from “the picture guy”
09:00 - Temple University, economics, and sales
11:00 - From tobacco to health and wellness
13:00 - How each career stop shaped Master Systems
15:00 - Break and music from Latif
16:00 - Welcome back from The 89th Collective Studios
18:00 - Collaboration over crabs in a barrel
20:00 - Curiosity, networking, and making better introductions
23:00 - The rules of meaningful connection
25:00 - The origin of Master Systems
28:00 - COVID, e-learning, animated videos, and digital training
31:00 - Serving first-time managers
34:00 - The challenge of leading former peers
37:00 - Calvin’s Top Five STL
41:00 - Freestyle, resources, and workforce development
43:00 - Closing words from Cortez Hustle

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC.

The show spotlights the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, leaders, entrepreneurs, and movements building St. Louis from the inside out. Through real conversations and local storytelling, STL Hustle Insider brings attention to the builders, visionaries, and community movers shaping the future of the region.

Subscribe, recommend a guest, sponsor the show, or stay connected at:
https://stlhustleinsider.com

Legal Disclaimer

STL Hustle Insider is produced and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC. All show content, including video, audio, graphics, branding, and related media, is copyrighted property of iHustle Media Group LLC unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, sponsors, advertisers, or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official position of iHustle Media Group LLC, STL Hustle Insider, its partners, affiliates, or sponsors.

Content shared on this show is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, mental health, tax, investm...

]]> stl hustle insider, st louis podcast, stl podcast, local business spotlight, No Trey L. Scott on Emerging Business Leaders, Cash Mobs, and Meaningful Impact in St. Louis 3 3 Trey L. Scott on Emerging Business Leaders, Cash Mobs, and Meaningful Impact in St. Louis full e70965f6-4c9a-44ea-88e5-a9422ac2db17 https://share.transistor.fm/s/228e844c Trey L. Scott on Emerging Business Leaders, Cash Mobs, and Meaningful Impact in St. Louis

Impact is not always meaningful. But when it is intentional, organized, and rooted in community, it can change the way people see themselves, their neighborhoods, and their local businesses.

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Trey L. Scott, founder and co-founder of Emerging Business Leaders, for a conversation about East St. Louis roots, community activation, cash mobs, faith, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and what it means to come back home and pour into the people who shaped you.

Trey shares how a promise made with his friends years ago became part of the foundation for Emerging Business Leaders, a collective focused on youth development, economic development, civic engagement, storytelling, business support, and helping overlooked people push their vision forward.

This is a conversation for entrepreneurs, organizers, community leaders, small business owners, faith-driven builders, and anyone who knows that local change does not happen by accident. It happens when people decide to get up, show up, and do the work.

The conversation covers Trey’s East St. Louis upbringing, his move to Glasgow Village, his time at Riverview Gardens and Lincoln University, his call to ministry, the formation of EBL, the power of cash mobs, the role of civic engagement, and the importance of supporting St. Louis businesses with more than words.

Trey also opens up about personal loss, building a business to honor legacy, advocating for Clean Slate legislation, creating a mobile “new-age chamber of commerce,” and encouraging entrepreneurs to take the first step even when they feel burned out, unsupported, or unsure.

In This Episode

Cortez and Trey talk about:

  • Why meaningful impact requires intention
  • Trey’s identity as a son, father, brother, entrepreneur, preacher, citizen, and follower of Christ
  • Growing up in East St. Louis and seeing the Arch across the river
  • Moving from East St. Louis to Glasgow Village
  • Watching neighborhoods change over time
  • Trey’s time at Riverview Gardens High School
  • The Wolf Pack promise to come back home and pour into the community
  • Trey’s call to ministry and the mentors who saw something in him early
  • What Emerging Business Leaders is and why it exists
  • How EBL became a collective of entrepreneurs and community activators
  • The origin of the cash mob concept
  • How EBL uses cash mobs to support local businesses with customers, content, exposure, and connection
  • Why cash mobs are about more than one day of revenue
  • The upcoming cash mob bus tour concept
  • Why EBL is being described as a mobile, new-age chamber of commerce
  • Ferguson, B Juice, STL Run Crew, and the connection between health and community work
  • Why civic engagement is part of business leadership
  • Trey’s personal loss and how it shaped his work
  • Advocacy around Clean Slate and second chances for formerly incarcerated individuals
  • The importance of stepping up as the next generation of community leaders
  • Trey’s Top Five STL recommendations
  • His final word to entrepreneurs who are tired, uncertain, or waiting to start

Key Takeaways

  • Meaningful impact happens when people move with intention, not just activity.
  • Local business support should include dollars, visibility, content, relationships, and repeat customers.
  • Community activation requires more than events. It requires systems, people, trust, and follow-through.
  • Civic engagement matters because policies directly affect businesses, neighborhoods, schools, public safety, housing, and opportunity.
  • Emerging Business Leaders is building a model that blends entrepreneurship, community organizing, storytelling, advocacy, and economic development.
  • Small businesses do not always need only money. Sometimes they need structure, bookkeeping help, branding, marketing, relationships, and access.
  • The next generation cannot only admire previous leaders. At some point, it has to step into the gap.
  • Entrepreneurs do not need to have everything figured out before they begin. They need to take the first step.

Featured Guest

Trey L. Scott
Founder and Co-Founder, Emerging Business Leaders
Also known as “The TikTok Preacher”

Trey L. Scott is an entrepreneur, preacher, father, community activator, and founder/co-founder of Emerging Business Leaders. Rooted in East St. Louis and shaped by his experiences in Glasgow Village, Riverview Gardens, Lincoln University, ministry, entrepreneurship, and personal loss, Trey is committed to pouring back into the people and communities that helped shape him.

Through Emerging Business Leaders, Trey and his team support local businesses, youth development, economic development, civic engagement, storytelling, advocacy, and community-based entrepreneurship.

Guest Links


Episode Sponsors

The 89th Collective

This episode was recorded at The 89th Collective Studios in East St. Louis.

If you have a business but you are still using your home address, The 89th Collective offers mailing address services, memberships, access to resources, co-working opportunities, events, and space for entrepreneurs to connect and get work done.

Learn more at:
https://the89thcollective.com

This episode is sponsored by Relentless Defensive Firearm Academy, serving the St. Louis area with firearm safety education, Missouri CCW classes, self-defense training, and private or group instruction for responsible citizens. Their mission is to help people train safely, legally, and confidently, with education and responsibility at the center.

Learn more at RelentlessSTL.com or call 314-314-8485.

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit:
https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Sweet Love” by Lateef
Listen at: LateefLive.com

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps are approximate and based on the transcript provided. Please adjust to match the final edited audio export.

00:01 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:18 - Introducing Trey L. Scott and meaningful impact
00:53 - Who is Trey L. Scott?
01:35 - Citizenship, ownership, and community responsibility
02:20 - Growing up in East St. Louis
02:51 - Seeing the Arch from across the river
03:18 - Moving to Glasgow Village
03:47 - Watching neighborhoods change
04:17 - Riverview Gardens, overachievement, and searching for identity
05:16 - The Wolf Pack promise
05:45 - Coming back home and the roots of EBL
06:58 - Trey’s church background and early mentorship
07:27 - Senior Chief Amitine and the call to ministry
08:26 - Ministry, growth, and becoming a man
09:12 - Break and music from Latif
09:58 - “Sweet Love” by Latif
10:08 - Welcome back from The 89th Collective Studios
10:55 - What is Emerging Business Leaders?
11:17 -...

]]> Trey L. Scott on Emerging Business Leaders, Cash Mobs, and Meaningful Impact in St. Louis

Impact is not always meaningful. But when it is intentional, organized, and rooted in community, it can change the way people see themselves, their neighborhoods, and their local businesses.

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Trey L. Scott, founder and co-founder of Emerging Business Leaders, for a conversation about East St. Louis roots, community activation, cash mobs, faith, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and what it means to come back home and pour into the people who shaped you.

Trey shares how a promise made with his friends years ago became part of the foundation for Emerging Business Leaders, a collective focused on youth development, economic development, civic engagement, storytelling, business support, and helping overlooked people push their vision forward.

This is a conversation for entrepreneurs, organizers, community leaders, small business owners, faith-driven builders, and anyone who knows that local change does not happen by accident. It happens when people decide to get up, show up, and do the work.

The conversation covers Trey’s East St. Louis upbringing, his move to Glasgow Village, his time at Riverview Gardens and Lincoln University, his call to ministry, the formation of EBL, the power of cash mobs, the role of civic engagement, and the importance of supporting St. Louis businesses with more than words.

Trey also opens up about personal loss, building a business to honor legacy, advocating for Clean Slate legislation, creating a mobile “new-age chamber of commerce,” and encouraging entrepreneurs to take the first step even when they feel burned out, unsupported, or unsure.

In This Episode

Cortez and Trey talk about:

  • Why meaningful impact requires intention
  • Trey’s identity as a son, father, brother, entrepreneur, preacher, citizen, and follower of Christ
  • Growing up in East St. Louis and seeing the Arch across the river
  • Moving from East St. Louis to Glasgow Village
  • Watching neighborhoods change over time
  • Trey’s time at Riverview Gardens High School
  • The Wolf Pack promise to come back home and pour into the community
  • Trey’s call to ministry and the mentors who saw something in him early
  • What Emerging Business Leaders is and why it exists
  • How EBL became a collective of entrepreneurs and community activators
  • The origin of the cash mob concept
  • How EBL uses cash mobs to support local businesses with customers, content, exposure, and connection
  • Why cash mobs are about more than one day of revenue
  • The upcoming cash mob bus tour concept
  • Why EBL is being described as a mobile, new-age chamber of commerce
  • Ferguson, B Juice, STL Run Crew, and the connection between health and community work
  • Why civic engagement is part of business leadership
  • Trey’s personal loss and how it shaped his work
  • Advocacy around Clean Slate and second chances for formerly incarcerated individuals
  • The importance of stepping up as the next generation of community leaders
  • Trey’s Top Five STL recommendations
  • His final word to entrepreneurs who are tired, uncertain, or waiting to start

Key Takeaways

  • Meaningful impact happens when people move with intention, not just activity.
  • Local business support should include dollars, visibility, content, relationships, and repeat customers.
  • Community activation requires more than events. It requires systems, people, trust, and follow-through.
  • Civic engagement matters because policies directly affect businesses, neighborhoods, schools, public safety, housing, and opportunity.
  • Emerging Business Leaders is building a model that blends entrepreneurship, community organizing, storytelling, advocacy, and economic development.
  • Small businesses do not always need only money. Sometimes they need structure, bookkeeping help, branding, marketing, relationships, and access.
  • The next generation cannot only admire previous leaders. At some point, it has to step into the gap.
  • Entrepreneurs do not need to have everything figured out before they begin. They need to take the first step.

Featured Guest

Trey L. Scott
Founder and Co-Founder, Emerging Business Leaders
Also known as “The TikTok Preacher”

Trey L. Scott is an entrepreneur, preacher, father, community activator, and founder/co-founder of Emerging Business Leaders. Rooted in East St. Louis and shaped by his experiences in Glasgow Village, Riverview Gardens, Lincoln University, ministry, entrepreneurship, and personal loss, Trey is committed to pouring back into the people and communities that helped shape him.

Through Emerging Business Leaders, Trey and his team support local businesses, youth development, economic development, civic engagement, storytelling, advocacy, and community-based entrepreneurship.

Guest Links


Episode Sponsors

The 89th Collective

This episode was recorded at The 89th Collective Studios in East St. Louis.

If you have a business but you are still using your home address, The 89th Collective offers mailing address services, memberships, access to resources, co-working opportunities, events, and space for entrepreneurs to connect and get work done.

Learn more at:
https://the89thcollective.com

This episode is sponsored by Relentless Defensive Firearm Academy, serving the St. Louis area with firearm safety education, Missouri CCW classes, self-defense training, and private or group instruction for responsible citizens. Their mission is to help people train safely, legally, and confidently, with education and responsibility at the center.

Learn more at RelentlessSTL.com or call 314-314-8485.

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit:
https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Sweet Love” by Lateef
Listen at: LateefLive.com

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps are approximate and based on the transcript provided. Please adjust to match the final edited audio export.

00:01 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:18 - Introducing Trey L. Scott and meaningful impact
00:53 - Who is Trey L. Scott?
01:35 - Citizenship, ownership, and community responsibility
02:20 - Growing up in East St. Louis
02:51 - Seeing the Arch from across the river
03:18 - Moving to Glasgow Village
03:47 - Watching neighborhoods change
04:17 - Riverview Gardens, overachievement, and searching for identity
05:16 - The Wolf Pack promise
05:45 - Coming back home and the roots of EBL
06:58 - Trey’s church background and early mentorship
07:27 - Senior Chief Amitine and the call to ministry
08:26 - Ministry, growth, and becoming a man
09:12 - Break and music from Latif
09:58 - “Sweet Love” by Latif
10:08 - Welcome back from The 89th Collective Studios
10:55 - What is Emerging Business Leaders?
11:17 -...

]]> Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0600 H Cortez Springer H Cortez Springer 2411 Trey L. Scott on Emerging Business Leaders, Cash Mobs, and Meaningful Impact in St. Louis

Impact is not always meaningful. But when it is intentional, organized, and rooted in community, it can change the way people see themselves, their neighborhoods, and their local businesses.

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Trey L. Scott, founder and co-founder of Emerging Business Leaders, for a conversation about East St. Louis roots, community activation, cash mobs, faith, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and what it means to come back home and pour into the people who shaped you.

Trey shares how a promise made with his friends years ago became part of the foundation for Emerging Business Leaders, a collective focused on youth development, economic development, civic engagement, storytelling, business support, and helping overlooked people push their vision forward.

This is a conversation for entrepreneurs, organizers, community leaders, small business owners, faith-driven builders, and anyone who knows that local change does not happen by accident. It happens when people decide to get up, show up, and do the work.

The conversation covers Trey’s East St. Louis upbringing, his move to Glasgow Village, his time at Riverview Gardens and Lincoln University, his call to ministry, the formation of EBL, the power of cash mobs, the role of civic engagement, and the importance of supporting St. Louis businesses with more than words.

Trey also opens up about personal loss, building a business to honor legacy, advocating for Clean Slate legislation, creating a mobile “new-age chamber of commerce,” and encouraging entrepreneurs to take the first step even when they feel burned out, unsupported, or unsure.

In This Episode

Cortez and Trey talk about:

  • Why meaningful impact requires intention
  • Trey’s identity as a son, father, brother, entrepreneur, preacher, citizen, and follower of Christ
  • Growing up in East St. Louis and seeing the Arch across the river
  • Moving from East St. Louis to Glasgow Village
  • Watching neighborhoods change over time
  • Trey’s time at Riverview Gardens High School
  • The Wolf Pack promise to come back home and pour into the community
  • Trey’s call to ministry and the mentors who saw something in him early
  • What Emerging Business Leaders is and why it exists
  • How EBL became a collective of entrepreneurs and community activators
  • The origin of the cash mob concept
  • How EBL uses cash mobs to support local businesses with customers, content, exposure, and connection
  • Why cash mobs are about more than one day of revenue
  • The upcoming cash mob bus tour concept
  • Why EBL is being described as a mobile, new-age chamber of commerce
  • Ferguson, B Juice, STL Run Crew, and the connection between health and community work
  • Why civic engagement is part of business leadership
  • Trey’s personal loss and how it shaped his work
  • Advocacy around Clean Slate and second chances for formerly incarcerated individuals
  • The importance of stepping up as the next generation of community leaders
  • Trey’s Top Five STL recommendations
  • His final word to entrepreneurs who are tired, uncertain, or waiting to start

Key Takeaways

  • Meaningful impact happens when people move with intention, not just activity.
  • Local business support should include dollars, visibility, content, relationships, and repeat customers.
  • Community activation requires more than events. It requires systems, people, trust, and follow-through.
  • Civic engagement matters because policies directly affect businesses, neighborhoods, schools, public safety, housing, and opportunity.
  • Emerging Business Leaders is building a model that blends entrepreneurship, community organizing, storytelling, advocacy, and economic development.
  • Small businesses do not always need only money. Sometimes they need structure, bookkeeping help, branding, marketing, relationships, and access.
  • The next generation cannot only admire previous leaders. At some point, it has to step into the gap.
  • Entrepreneurs do not need to have everything figured out before they begin. They need to take the first step.

Featured Guest

Trey L. Scott
Founder and Co-Founder, Emerging Business Leaders
Also known as “The TikTok Preacher”

Trey L. Scott is an entrepreneur, preacher, father, community activator, and founder/co-founder of Emerging Business Leaders. Rooted in East St. Louis and shaped by his experiences in Glasgow Village, Riverview Gardens, Lincoln University, ministry, entrepreneurship, and personal loss, Trey is committed to pouring back into the people and communities that helped shape him.

Through Emerging Business Leaders, Trey and his team support local businesses, youth development, economic development, civic engagement, storytelling, advocacy, and community-based entrepreneurship.

Guest Links


Episode Sponsors

The 89th Collective

This episode was recorded at The 89th Collective Studios in East St. Louis.

If you have a business but you are still using your home address, The 89th Collective offers mailing address services, memberships, access to resources, co-working opportunities, events, and space for entrepreneurs to connect and get work done.

Learn more at:
https://the89thcollective.com

This episode is sponsored by Relentless Defensive Firearm Academy, serving the St. Louis area with firearm safety education, Missouri CCW classes, self-defense training, and private or group instruction for responsible citizens. Their mission is to help people train safely, legally, and confidently, with education and responsibility at the center.

Learn more at RelentlessSTL.com or call 314-314-8485.

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit:
https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Sweet Love” by Lateef
Listen at: LateefLive.com

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps are approximate and based on the transcript provided. Please adjust to match the final edited audio export.

00:01 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:18 - Introducing Trey L. Scott and meaningful impact
00:53 - Who is Trey L. Scott?
01:35 - Citizenship, ownership, and community responsibility
02:20 - Growing up in East St. Louis
02:51 - Seeing the Arch from across the river
03:18 - Moving to Glasgow Village
03:47 - Watching neighborhoods change
04:17 - Riverview Gardens, overachievement, and searching for identity
05:16 - The Wolf Pack promise
05:45 - Coming back home and the roots of EBL
06:58 - Trey’s church background and early mentorship
07:27 - Senior Chief Amitine and the call to ministry
08:26 - Ministry, growth, and becoming a man
09:12 - Break and music from Latif
09:58 - “Sweet Love” by Latif
10:08 - Welcome back from The 89th Collective Studios
10:55 - What is Emerging Business Leaders?
11:17 -...

]]> stl hustle insider, st louis podcast, stl podcast, local business spotlight, No Nancy Jordan on Faith, Purpose, Business, and Building What God Gave You 2 2 Nancy Jordan on Faith, Purpose, Business, and Building What God Gave You full 38d4ee77-1f93-440e-a402-4c11944e166b https://share.transistor.fm/s/672ad929  Nancy Jordan joins STL Hustle Insider to talk about building a life and business around purpose. She opens up about growing up with faith, pursuing law, realizing the legal system was not fully aligned with her deeper mission, and discovering her purpose through helping people start businesses. 

 


What if the thing you keep doing to help people is not just a gift, but part of your assignment?

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Nancy Jordan, CEO of Grow Business Development LLC, for a conversation about faith, purpose, entrepreneurship, marriage, community economics, and mission-driven alignment.

Nancy shares how her journey took her from childhood faith to law school, to working in difficult areas of the legal system, to discovering that helping people build what God placed inside them was not just something she enjoyed. It was the work she was called to do.

This episode is for entrepreneurs, leaders, believers, nonprofit builders, corporate professionals considering entrepreneurship, and anyone trying to move from scattered ideas to clear, purpose-driven action.

The conversation also covers her book, Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success, her work with entrepreneurs around the world, the power of community economics, her upcoming From Employee to Entrepreneur workshop, marriage lessons after 23 years, and her favorite St. Louis recommendations.

In This Episode

Cortez and Nancy talk about:

  • Who Nancy Jordan is and why purpose has always shaped her life
  • Her early faith journey and coming to know the Lord at six years old
  • Moving through different Midwest cities before settling in St. Louis
  • Wanting to become a judge before fully understanding the legal path
  • What working around divorce, custody, domestic violence, and orders of protection taught her
  • The difference between what the law can do and where grace and faith step in
  • How volunteering at church helped her discover her real assignment
  • Turning helping people into a business without losing the heart of the work
  • Learning not to take a God-given vision and try to build it without God
  • Meeting her husband Will and lessons from 23 years of marriage
  • Her book, Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success
  • Why SMART goals did not fully resonate with her and how her own system was developed
  • Coaching and supporting entrepreneurs in other countries
  • Invest Change and the power of savings groups, trust, and community economics
  • The upcoming From Employee to Entrepreneur workshop
  • Nancy’s Top Five STL recommendations
  • Her final encouragement for anyone carrying a God-given vision

Key Takeaways

  • Purpose may already be showing up in the work you naturally do to help others.
  • A successful career path can still feel disconnected from the deeper work you are called to do.
  • The law may be designed to resolve and separate certain matters, but Nancy’s mission has been rooted in building, restoring, and supporting relationships.
  • Entrepreneurs often receive the vision from God, then make the mistake of trying to build it in their own strength.
  • Goals should not just sound impressive. They should honor God, become practical, and be built into daily action.
  • Community economics works when people establish trust, shared rules, and a commitment to building together.
  • Marriage requires keeping God first, even above the needs and expectations placed on a spouse.
  • If God gave you the vision, He did not make a mistake, but you may still need people to walk with you as you build it.

Featured Guest

Nancy Jordan - CEO, Grow Business Development LLC

Author, Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success

Nancy Jordan is a faith-driven entrepreneur, attorney by training, wife, mother, business development leader, author, and purpose advocate. She has been connected to St. Louis for more than 30 years and has helped entrepreneurs, organizations, churches, communities, and leaders move from vision to execution.

Through Grow Business Development LLC, Nancy helps people clarify what they are called to build, create goals that are grounded in faith and action, and move forward with structure, strategy, and support.

Guest Links

  • Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success: https://sixcessgoals.com/
  • From Employee to Entrepreneur Workshop: https://claritystartsnow.com/
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancymjordan/


Resources Mentioned

  • Grow Business Development LLC
  • Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success
  • Invest Change
  • From Employee to Entrepreneur Workshop
  • The 89th Collective
  • Truman State University, formerly Northeast Missouri State University
  • SIU School of Law
  • Joyce Meyer’s Dream Center
  • Tower Grove Park
  • St. Louis toasted ravioli
  • Saint Louis Zoo
  • St. Louis-style Chinese food
  • Jazz venue in the Central West End: [Confirm venue name]
  • LatifLive.com

Episode Sponsors

The 89th Collective

This episode was recorded at The 89th Collective Studios in East St. Louis, Illinois.

If you have a business but do not have a business address, The 89th Collective offers mailing address services, memberships, business resources, event space, co-working space, Wi-Fi access, and a place for entrepreneurs to get work done.

Learn more at:
https://the89thcollective.com

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit:
https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Different This Time” by Lateef
Listen at:
https://LatifLive.com

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps are approximate and based on the two-part transcript provided. Please adjust to match the final edited audio export.

04:56 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
05:47 - Who is Nancy Jordan?
06:49 - Young Nancy, faith, and purpose
08:23 - From Chicago to St. Louis
09:06 - Wanting to become a judge
09:33 - Law school and difficult legal work
10:18 - What the law can do and where grace steps in
11:24 - Discovering purpose through helping others
12:30 - Turning purpose work into paid business
12:55 - Building with God, not just in your own strength
14:21 - Meeting her husband, Will
16:37 - Marriage lessons after 23 years
18:26 - Break music from Latif
18:26 - Welcome back from The 89th Collective Studios
19:44 - Nancy’s book, Six Success Goals for Business
20:48 - Why SMART goals did not resonate with her
22:42 - The story behind the “success goals” name
23:01 - Entrepreneurship around the world
24:52 - The risk and resilience of global entrepreneurs
25:51 - Invest Change and community economics
27:52 - Pooling resources and rebuilding trust
28:55 - From Employee to Entrepreneur workshop
30:29 - Who the workshop is designed for
31:48 - Nancy’s Top Five STL recommendations
34:57 - Freestyle, Nancy’s final word
35:44 - If God gave you the vision, He did not make a mistake
36:38 - Closing

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is...

]]>  Nancy Jordan joins STL Hustle Insider to talk about building a life and business around purpose. She opens up about growing up with faith, pursuing law, realizing the legal system was not fully aligned with her deeper mission, and discovering her purpose through helping people start businesses. 

 


What if the thing you keep doing to help people is not just a gift, but part of your assignment?

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Nancy Jordan, CEO of Grow Business Development LLC, for a conversation about faith, purpose, entrepreneurship, marriage, community economics, and mission-driven alignment.

Nancy shares how her journey took her from childhood faith to law school, to working in difficult areas of the legal system, to discovering that helping people build what God placed inside them was not just something she enjoyed. It was the work she was called to do.

This episode is for entrepreneurs, leaders, believers, nonprofit builders, corporate professionals considering entrepreneurship, and anyone trying to move from scattered ideas to clear, purpose-driven action.

The conversation also covers her book, Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success, her work with entrepreneurs around the world, the power of community economics, her upcoming From Employee to Entrepreneur workshop, marriage lessons after 23 years, and her favorite St. Louis recommendations.

In This Episode

Cortez and Nancy talk about:

  • Who Nancy Jordan is and why purpose has always shaped her life
  • Her early faith journey and coming to know the Lord at six years old
  • Moving through different Midwest cities before settling in St. Louis
  • Wanting to become a judge before fully understanding the legal path
  • What working around divorce, custody, domestic violence, and orders of protection taught her
  • The difference between what the law can do and where grace and faith step in
  • How volunteering at church helped her discover her real assignment
  • Turning helping people into a business without losing the heart of the work
  • Learning not to take a God-given vision and try to build it without God
  • Meeting her husband Will and lessons from 23 years of marriage
  • Her book, Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success
  • Why SMART goals did not fully resonate with her and how her own system was developed
  • Coaching and supporting entrepreneurs in other countries
  • Invest Change and the power of savings groups, trust, and community economics
  • The upcoming From Employee to Entrepreneur workshop
  • Nancy’s Top Five STL recommendations
  • Her final encouragement for anyone carrying a God-given vision

Key Takeaways

  • Purpose may already be showing up in the work you naturally do to help others.
  • A successful career path can still feel disconnected from the deeper work you are called to do.
  • The law may be designed to resolve and separate certain matters, but Nancy’s mission has been rooted in building, restoring, and supporting relationships.
  • Entrepreneurs often receive the vision from God, then make the mistake of trying to build it in their own strength.
  • Goals should not just sound impressive. They should honor God, become practical, and be built into daily action.
  • Community economics works when people establish trust, shared rules, and a commitment to building together.
  • Marriage requires keeping God first, even above the needs and expectations placed on a spouse.
  • If God gave you the vision, He did not make a mistake, but you may still need people to walk with you as you build it.

Featured Guest

Nancy Jordan - CEO, Grow Business Development LLC

Author, Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success

Nancy Jordan is a faith-driven entrepreneur, attorney by training, wife, mother, business development leader, author, and purpose advocate. She has been connected to St. Louis for more than 30 years and has helped entrepreneurs, organizations, churches, communities, and leaders move from vision to execution.

Through Grow Business Development LLC, Nancy helps people clarify what they are called to build, create goals that are grounded in faith and action, and move forward with structure, strategy, and support.

Guest Links

  • Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success: https://sixcessgoals.com/
  • From Employee to Entrepreneur Workshop: https://claritystartsnow.com/
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancymjordan/


Resources Mentioned

  • Grow Business Development LLC
  • Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success
  • Invest Change
  • From Employee to Entrepreneur Workshop
  • The 89th Collective
  • Truman State University, formerly Northeast Missouri State University
  • SIU School of Law
  • Joyce Meyer’s Dream Center
  • Tower Grove Park
  • St. Louis toasted ravioli
  • Saint Louis Zoo
  • St. Louis-style Chinese food
  • Jazz venue in the Central West End: [Confirm venue name]
  • LatifLive.com

Episode Sponsors

The 89th Collective

This episode was recorded at The 89th Collective Studios in East St. Louis, Illinois.

If you have a business but do not have a business address, The 89th Collective offers mailing address services, memberships, business resources, event space, co-working space, Wi-Fi access, and a place for entrepreneurs to get work done.

Learn more at:
https://the89thcollective.com

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit:
https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Different This Time” by Lateef
Listen at:
https://LatifLive.com

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps are approximate and based on the two-part transcript provided. Please adjust to match the final edited audio export.

04:56 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
05:47 - Who is Nancy Jordan?
06:49 - Young Nancy, faith, and purpose
08:23 - From Chicago to St. Louis
09:06 - Wanting to become a judge
09:33 - Law school and difficult legal work
10:18 - What the law can do and where grace steps in
11:24 - Discovering purpose through helping others
12:30 - Turning purpose work into paid business
12:55 - Building with God, not just in your own strength
14:21 - Meeting her husband, Will
16:37 - Marriage lessons after 23 years
18:26 - Break music from Latif
18:26 - Welcome back from The 89th Collective Studios
19:44 - Nancy’s book, Six Success Goals for Business
20:48 - Why SMART goals did not resonate with her
22:42 - The story behind the “success goals” name
23:01 - Entrepreneurship around the world
24:52 - The risk and resilience of global entrepreneurs
25:51 - Invest Change and community economics
27:52 - Pooling resources and rebuilding trust
28:55 - From Employee to Entrepreneur workshop
30:29 - Who the workshop is designed for
31:48 - Nancy’s Top Five STL recommendations
34:57 - Freestyle, Nancy’s final word
35:44 - If God gave you the vision, He did not make a mistake
36:38 - Closing

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is...

]]> Thu, 02 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0600 H Cortez Springer H Cortez Springer 2389  Nancy Jordan joins STL Hustle Insider to talk about building a life and business around purpose. She opens up about growing up with faith, pursuing law, realizing the legal system was not fully aligned with her deeper mission, and discovering her purpose through helping people start businesses. 

 


What if the thing you keep doing to help people is not just a gift, but part of your assignment?

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Nancy Jordan, CEO of Grow Business Development LLC, for a conversation about faith, purpose, entrepreneurship, marriage, community economics, and mission-driven alignment.

Nancy shares how her journey took her from childhood faith to law school, to working in difficult areas of the legal system, to discovering that helping people build what God placed inside them was not just something she enjoyed. It was the work she was called to do.

This episode is for entrepreneurs, leaders, believers, nonprofit builders, corporate professionals considering entrepreneurship, and anyone trying to move from scattered ideas to clear, purpose-driven action.

The conversation also covers her book, Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success, her work with entrepreneurs around the world, the power of community economics, her upcoming From Employee to Entrepreneur workshop, marriage lessons after 23 years, and her favorite St. Louis recommendations.

In This Episode

Cortez and Nancy talk about:

  • Who Nancy Jordan is and why purpose has always shaped her life
  • Her early faith journey and coming to know the Lord at six years old
  • Moving through different Midwest cities before settling in St. Louis
  • Wanting to become a judge before fully understanding the legal path
  • What working around divorce, custody, domestic violence, and orders of protection taught her
  • The difference between what the law can do and where grace and faith step in
  • How volunteering at church helped her discover her real assignment
  • Turning helping people into a business without losing the heart of the work
  • Learning not to take a God-given vision and try to build it without God
  • Meeting her husband Will and lessons from 23 years of marriage
  • Her book, Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success
  • Why SMART goals did not fully resonate with her and how her own system was developed
  • Coaching and supporting entrepreneurs in other countries
  • Invest Change and the power of savings groups, trust, and community economics
  • The upcoming From Employee to Entrepreneur workshop
  • Nancy’s Top Five STL recommendations
  • Her final encouragement for anyone carrying a God-given vision

Key Takeaways

  • Purpose may already be showing up in the work you naturally do to help others.
  • A successful career path can still feel disconnected from the deeper work you are called to do.
  • The law may be designed to resolve and separate certain matters, but Nancy’s mission has been rooted in building, restoring, and supporting relationships.
  • Entrepreneurs often receive the vision from God, then make the mistake of trying to build it in their own strength.
  • Goals should not just sound impressive. They should honor God, become practical, and be built into daily action.
  • Community economics works when people establish trust, shared rules, and a commitment to building together.
  • Marriage requires keeping God first, even above the needs and expectations placed on a spouse.
  • If God gave you the vision, He did not make a mistake, but you may still need people to walk with you as you build it.

Featured Guest

Nancy Jordan - CEO, Grow Business Development LLC

Author, Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success

Nancy Jordan is a faith-driven entrepreneur, attorney by training, wife, mother, business development leader, author, and purpose advocate. She has been connected to St. Louis for more than 30 years and has helped entrepreneurs, organizations, churches, communities, and leaders move from vision to execution.

Through Grow Business Development LLC, Nancy helps people clarify what they are called to build, create goals that are grounded in faith and action, and move forward with structure, strategy, and support.

Guest Links

  • Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success: https://sixcessgoals.com/
  • From Employee to Entrepreneur Workshop: https://claritystartsnow.com/
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancymjordan/


Resources Mentioned

  • Grow Business Development LLC
  • Six Success Goals for Business: Six Elements for Godly Success
  • Invest Change
  • From Employee to Entrepreneur Workshop
  • The 89th Collective
  • Truman State University, formerly Northeast Missouri State University
  • SIU School of Law
  • Joyce Meyer’s Dream Center
  • Tower Grove Park
  • St. Louis toasted ravioli
  • Saint Louis Zoo
  • St. Louis-style Chinese food
  • Jazz venue in the Central West End: [Confirm venue name]
  • LatifLive.com

Episode Sponsors

The 89th Collective

This episode was recorded at The 89th Collective Studios in East St. Louis, Illinois.

If you have a business but do not have a business address, The 89th Collective offers mailing address services, memberships, business resources, event space, co-working space, Wi-Fi access, and a place for entrepreneurs to get work done.

Learn more at:
https://the89thcollective.com

Interested in sponsoring STL Hustle Insider?
Visit:
https://stlhustleinsider.com/become-a-sponsor

Music Attribution

Break music mentioned in this episode:

“Different This Time” by Lateef
Listen at:
https://LatifLive.com

Chapters

Note: Chapter timestamps are approximate and based on the two-part transcript provided. Please adjust to match the final edited audio export.

04:56 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
05:47 - Who is Nancy Jordan?
06:49 - Young Nancy, faith, and purpose
08:23 - From Chicago to St. Louis
09:06 - Wanting to become a judge
09:33 - Law school and difficult legal work
10:18 - What the law can do and where grace steps in
11:24 - Discovering purpose through helping others
12:30 - Turning purpose work into paid business
12:55 - Building with God, not just in your own strength
14:21 - Meeting her husband, Will
16:37 - Marriage lessons after 23 years
18:26 - Break music from Latif
18:26 - Welcome back from The 89th Collective Studios
19:44 - Nancy’s book, Six Success Goals for Business
20:48 - Why SMART goals did not resonate with her
22:42 - The story behind the “success goals” name
23:01 - Entrepreneurship around the world
24:52 - The risk and resilience of global entrepreneurs
25:51 - Invest Change and community economics
27:52 - Pooling resources and rebuilding trust
28:55 - From Employee to Entrepreneur workshop
30:29 - Who the workshop is designed for
31:48 - Nancy’s Top Five STL recommendations
34:57 - Freestyle, Nancy’s final word
35:44 - If God gave you the vision, He did not make a mistake
36:38 - Closing

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is...

]]> nancy m jordan, cortez hustle, stl hustle insider, st louis podcast No James Dickerson on Faith, Resilience, Entrepreneurship & Overcoming Adversity Ep 001 1 1 James Dickerson on Faith, Resilience, Entrepreneurship & Overcoming Adversity Ep 001 full 1cebcecc-ca89-4a83-8eb1-b4ec12e548f7 https://share.transistor.fm/s/2aaff8e7 James Dickerson’s story is about faith, grief, business, resilience, and the strength to keep going when life gives you every reason to stop.

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with James Dickerson for a powerful conversation about overcoming adversity, walking by faith, building successful businesses, and staying rooted in purpose through life’s hardest moments.

James shares how his entrepreneurial mindset started early, from creative business ideas as a young man to later building and exiting successful businesses. But this conversation goes far beyond business. He opens up about the impact of the crack epidemic on his community, the role mentorship played in shaping his life, the importance of faith, and how he continued to serve, lead, and grow through grief and personal loss.

This episode is a reminder that resilience is not about avoiding pain. It is about getting back up, leaning into purpose, and continuing to move forward with faith, community, and a reason bigger than yourself.

In This Episode

  • James Dickerson’s early entrepreneurial ventures
  • How a bike rental idea revealed his business instincts
  • The impact of the crack epidemic on his community and life
  • The role of faith in overcoming adversity
  • Building and exiting successful businesses
  • Why does a business become more valuable when it can operate without the owner
  • The importance of mentorship and spiritual foundation
  • How personal loss shaped James’ perspective on purpose
  • Community service, leadership, and giving back
  • Finding hope after grief and setbacks

Key Takeaways

  • Finding an itch in the marketplace and scratching it can lead to success.
  • A business that can operate without the owner becomes more valuable.
  • Resilience means getting back up after loss, grief, and setbacks.
  • Faith and community service can shape both personal and professional growth.
  • Mentorship and strong relationships can transform lives.
  • Purpose can help carry you through seasons that success alone cannot fix.

Episode Sponsors

This episode of STL Hustle Insider is made possible by our episode sponsors and community partners who believe in supporting local stories, local businesses, and the people helping move St. Louis forward.

Sponsored by:
Manly Mo-Jo — Premium Skincare & Wellness Brand for men.
Website: ManlyMo-Jo.com

Additional Support From:
iHustle Media Group — AI Systems & Marketing Integration for Local Businesses
Website: iHuslteMG.com

Interested in sponsoring a future episode of STL Hustle Insider?
Learn more at: https://stlhustleinsider.com/sponsor

Featured Guest

James Dickerson

Connect with James:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdickerson
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jamesdickerson

Resources Mentioned

Bishop E. Dwight K. — Mentor and spiritual guide
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwightk

The 89th Collective — Event Space in East St. Louis
https://the89thcollective.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and guest introduction
02:08 Who is James Dickerson?
03:09 Walking the entrepreneurial journey with faith
04:36 First speaking engagement and early success
05:55 Early entrepreneurial ventures: Bike rental business
08:36 Impact of the crack epidemic and community involvement
11:35 Community service: Shutting down crack houses
13:22 The importance of mentorship and faith in transformation
14:45 Overcoming loss, grief, and resilience
18:34 The power of mentorship and spiritual foundation
19:18 Building and exiting successful businesses
21:51 Resilience in the face of personal tragedy
24:36 The passing of James Dickerson’s daughter
25:34 Finding hope and purpose after loss
26:54 Closing thoughts and inspiring message

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle, spotlighting the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and movements building the city from the inside out.

Music Attribution

Music used in this episode is royalty-free/licensed for use by STL Hustle Insider.

Track: Halo
Artist/Creator: LaTeef
Website: LaTeefLive.com

All music is used in accordance with the applicable license terms.
2AKGZLMVLBPM9IAX

Subscribe, recommend a guest, sponsor the show, or stay connected at:
https://stlhustleinsider.com


]]> James Dickerson’s story is about faith, grief, business, resilience, and the strength to keep going when life gives you every reason to stop.

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with James Dickerson for a powerful conversation about overcoming adversity, walking by faith, building successful businesses, and staying rooted in purpose through life’s hardest moments.

James shares how his entrepreneurial mindset started early, from creative business ideas as a young man to later building and exiting successful businesses. But this conversation goes far beyond business. He opens up about the impact of the crack epidemic on his community, the role mentorship played in shaping his life, the importance of faith, and how he continued to serve, lead, and grow through grief and personal loss.

This episode is a reminder that resilience is not about avoiding pain. It is about getting back up, leaning into purpose, and continuing to move forward with faith, community, and a reason bigger than yourself.

In This Episode

  • James Dickerson’s early entrepreneurial ventures
  • How a bike rental idea revealed his business instincts
  • The impact of the crack epidemic on his community and life
  • The role of faith in overcoming adversity
  • Building and exiting successful businesses
  • Why does a business become more valuable when it can operate without the owner
  • The importance of mentorship and spiritual foundation
  • How personal loss shaped James’ perspective on purpose
  • Community service, leadership, and giving back
  • Finding hope after grief and setbacks

Key Takeaways

  • Finding an itch in the marketplace and scratching it can lead to success.
  • A business that can operate without the owner becomes more valuable.
  • Resilience means getting back up after loss, grief, and setbacks.
  • Faith and community service can shape both personal and professional growth.
  • Mentorship and strong relationships can transform lives.
  • Purpose can help carry you through seasons that success alone cannot fix.

Episode Sponsors

This episode of STL Hustle Insider is made possible by our episode sponsors and community partners who believe in supporting local stories, local businesses, and the people helping move St. Louis forward.

Sponsored by:
Manly Mo-Jo — Premium Skincare & Wellness Brand for men.
Website: ManlyMo-Jo.com

Additional Support From:
iHustle Media Group — AI Systems & Marketing Integration for Local Businesses
Website: iHuslteMG.com

Interested in sponsoring a future episode of STL Hustle Insider?
Learn more at: https://stlhustleinsider.com/sponsor

Featured Guest

James Dickerson

Connect with James:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdickerson
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jamesdickerson

Resources Mentioned

Bishop E. Dwight K. — Mentor and spiritual guide
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwightk

The 89th Collective — Event Space in East St. Louis
https://the89thcollective.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and guest introduction
02:08 Who is James Dickerson?
03:09 Walking the entrepreneurial journey with faith
04:36 First speaking engagement and early success
05:55 Early entrepreneurial ventures: Bike rental business
08:36 Impact of the crack epidemic and community involvement
11:35 Community service: Shutting down crack houses
13:22 The importance of mentorship and faith in transformation
14:45 Overcoming loss, grief, and resilience
18:34 The power of mentorship and spiritual foundation
19:18 Building and exiting successful businesses
21:51 Resilience in the face of personal tragedy
24:36 The passing of James Dickerson’s daughter
25:34 Finding hope and purpose after loss
26:54 Closing thoughts and inspiring message

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle, spotlighting the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and movements building the city from the inside out.

Music Attribution

Music used in this episode is royalty-free/licensed for use by STL Hustle Insider.

Track: Halo
Artist/Creator: LaTeef
Website: LaTeefLive.com

All music is used in accordance with the applicable license terms.
2AKGZLMVLBPM9IAX

Subscribe, recommend a guest, sponsor the show, or stay connected at:
https://stlhustleinsider.com


]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0600 H Cortez Springer H Cortez Springer 2596 James Dickerson’s story is about faith, grief, business, resilience, and the strength to keep going when life gives you every reason to stop.

In this episode of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with James Dickerson for a powerful conversation about overcoming adversity, walking by faith, building successful businesses, and staying rooted in purpose through life’s hardest moments.

James shares how his entrepreneurial mindset started early, from creative business ideas as a young man to later building and exiting successful businesses. But this conversation goes far beyond business. He opens up about the impact of the crack epidemic on his community, the role mentorship played in shaping his life, the importance of faith, and how he continued to serve, lead, and grow through grief and personal loss.

This episode is a reminder that resilience is not about avoiding pain. It is about getting back up, leaning into purpose, and continuing to move forward with faith, community, and a reason bigger than yourself.

In This Episode

  • James Dickerson’s early entrepreneurial ventures
  • How a bike rental idea revealed his business instincts
  • The impact of the crack epidemic on his community and life
  • The role of faith in overcoming adversity
  • Building and exiting successful businesses
  • Why does a business become more valuable when it can operate without the owner
  • The importance of mentorship and spiritual foundation
  • How personal loss shaped James’ perspective on purpose
  • Community service, leadership, and giving back
  • Finding hope after grief and setbacks

Key Takeaways

  • Finding an itch in the marketplace and scratching it can lead to success.
  • A business that can operate without the owner becomes more valuable.
  • Resilience means getting back up after loss, grief, and setbacks.
  • Faith and community service can shape both personal and professional growth.
  • Mentorship and strong relationships can transform lives.
  • Purpose can help carry you through seasons that success alone cannot fix.

Episode Sponsors

This episode of STL Hustle Insider is made possible by our episode sponsors and community partners who believe in supporting local stories, local businesses, and the people helping move St. Louis forward.

Sponsored by:
Manly Mo-Jo — Premium Skincare & Wellness Brand for men.
Website: ManlyMo-Jo.com

Additional Support From:
iHustle Media Group — AI Systems & Marketing Integration for Local Businesses
Website: iHuslteMG.com

Interested in sponsoring a future episode of STL Hustle Insider?
Learn more at: https://stlhustleinsider.com/sponsor

Featured Guest

James Dickerson

Connect with James:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdickerson
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jamesdickerson

Resources Mentioned

Bishop E. Dwight K. — Mentor and spiritual guide
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwightk

The 89th Collective — Event Space in East St. Louis
https://the89thcollective.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and guest introduction
02:08 Who is James Dickerson?
03:09 Walking the entrepreneurial journey with faith
04:36 First speaking engagement and early success
05:55 Early entrepreneurial ventures: Bike rental business
08:36 Impact of the crack epidemic and community involvement
11:35 Community service: Shutting down crack houses
13:22 The importance of mentorship and faith in transformation
14:45 Overcoming loss, grief, and resilience
18:34 The power of mentorship and spiritual foundation
19:18 Building and exiting successful businesses
21:51 Resilience in the face of personal tragedy
24:36 The passing of James Dickerson’s daughter
25:34 Finding hope and purpose after loss
26:54 Closing thoughts and inspiring message

About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle, spotlighting the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and movements building the city from the inside out.

Music Attribution

Music used in this episode is royalty-free/licensed for use by STL Hustle Insider.

Track: Halo
Artist/Creator: LaTeef
Website: LaTeefLive.com

All music is used in accordance with the applicable license terms.
2AKGZLMVLBPM9IAX

Subscribe, recommend a guest, sponsor the show, or stay connected at:
https://stlhustleinsider.com


]]> STL Hustle Insider, James Dickerson, Cortez Hustle, St. Louis podcast, St. Louis business, entrepreneurship, faith and business, resilience, overcoming adversity, personal growth, community impact, leadership, mentorship, mental health, grief and resilience, purpose, faith in action, business success, entrepreneur interview, Black entrepreneurs, St. Louis entrepreneurs, inspirational podcast, motivational interview, building business, overcoming grief, community service, The 89th Collective No Welcome to STL Hustle Insider | The Stories Building St. Louis 1 1 Welcome to STL Hustle Insider | The Stories Building St. Louis trailer e048d6a1-6aa8-4ab6-ad68-3fe0ecc7b180 https://share.transistor.fm/s/80e87182 Welcome to the official trailer episode of STL Hustle Insider, the podcast spotlighting the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and community builders moving St. Louis forward.

In this trailer, host Cortez Hustle introduces the vision behind the show, why this platform is being built, and what listeners can expect from future episodes. STL Hustle Insider was created to document the real stories behind the hustle happening across the city and the region — from entrepreneurs building from the ground up to community leaders creating opportunities for others.

This episode is an invitation to be part of the first wave. Whether you were born and raised in St. Louis, moved away but still claim the city, recently arrived, or are thinking about making St. Louis home, this podcast is designed to give you a front-row seat to the people and stories shaping the region.

If you believe local stories deserve a bigger platform, subscribe now, share the show, and nominate someone building something meaningful in St. Louis.

In This Trailer, We Cover:

  •  Why STL Hustle Insider was created 
  •  The mission behind spotlighting St. Louis stories 
  •  Who the podcast is designed to feature 
  •  Why this platform is bigger than just interviews 
  •  How local businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and community builders will be highlighted 
  •  Why listeners should subscribe before the first full episode drops 
  •  How to nominate someone for a future feature 

About This Episode

This trailer sets the tone for STL Hustle Insider and introduces the heart behind the platform.

Hosted by Cortez Hustle, this show will take listeners inside the stories, behind the brands, and around the city to meet the builders, dreamers, leaders, and local voices helping move St. Louis forward.

The goal is simple: document the hustle, celebrate the impact, and help more people discover who is building something meaningful in and around St. Louis.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
 00:12 Why St. Louis needs to tell its own stories
 00:30 Who this podcast will spotlight
 00:49 Why this is bigger than a podcast
 01:08 Who should listen
 01:26 What to expect from future episodes
 01:45 Subscribe and become one of the first 100 insiders
 02:00 Nominate someone building something meaningful in St. Louis


About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is the podcast spotlighting the people, businesses, and movements building St. Louis.

Hosted by Cortez Hustle, the show features conversations with entrepreneurs, small business owners, creatives, nonprofit leaders, and community builders who are creating impact across St. Louis and the surrounding region.

Each episode goes inside the story, behind the brand, and around the city to highlight the real hustle shaping the future of St. Louis.

Subscribe to STL Hustle Insider

Stay connected to the people, businesses, and movements building St. Louis.

Official Website:
https://stlhustleinsider.com

Follow the Show:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stlhustleinsider
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stlhustleinsider

Subscribe and Listen:
[Apple Podcasts Link]
[Spotify Link]
[YouTube Link]
[Other Podcast Platform Links]

]]> Welcome to the official trailer episode of STL Hustle Insider, the podcast spotlighting the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and community builders moving St. Louis forward.

In this trailer, host Cortez Hustle introduces the vision behind the show, why this platform is being built, and what listeners can expect from future episodes. STL Hustle Insider was created to document the real stories behind the hustle happening across the city and the region — from entrepreneurs building from the ground up to community leaders creating opportunities for others.

This episode is an invitation to be part of the first wave. Whether you were born and raised in St. Louis, moved away but still claim the city, recently arrived, or are thinking about making St. Louis home, this podcast is designed to give you a front-row seat to the people and stories shaping the region.

If you believe local stories deserve a bigger platform, subscribe now, share the show, and nominate someone building something meaningful in St. Louis.

In This Trailer, We Cover:

  •  Why STL Hustle Insider was created 
  •  The mission behind spotlighting St. Louis stories 
  •  Who the podcast is designed to feature 
  •  Why this platform is bigger than just interviews 
  •  How local businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and community builders will be highlighted 
  •  Why listeners should subscribe before the first full episode drops 
  •  How to nominate someone for a future feature 

About This Episode

This trailer sets the tone for STL Hustle Insider and introduces the heart behind the platform.

Hosted by Cortez Hustle, this show will take listeners inside the stories, behind the brands, and around the city to meet the builders, dreamers, leaders, and local voices helping move St. Louis forward.

The goal is simple: document the hustle, celebrate the impact, and help more people discover who is building something meaningful in and around St. Louis.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
 00:12 Why St. Louis needs to tell its own stories
 00:30 Who this podcast will spotlight
 00:49 Why this is bigger than a podcast
 01:08 Who should listen
 01:26 What to expect from future episodes
 01:45 Subscribe and become one of the first 100 insiders
 02:00 Nominate someone building something meaningful in St. Louis


About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is the podcast spotlighting the people, businesses, and movements building St. Louis.

Hosted by Cortez Hustle, the show features conversations with entrepreneurs, small business owners, creatives, nonprofit leaders, and community builders who are creating impact across St. Louis and the surrounding region.

Each episode goes inside the story, behind the brand, and around the city to highlight the real hustle shaping the future of St. Louis.

Subscribe to STL Hustle Insider

Stay connected to the people, businesses, and movements building St. Louis.

Official Website:
https://stlhustleinsider.com

Follow the Show:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stlhustleinsider
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stlhustleinsider

Subscribe and Listen:
[Apple Podcasts Link]
[Spotify Link]
[YouTube Link]
[Other Podcast Platform Links]

]]> Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:20:09 -0600 H Cortez Springer H Cortez Springer 162 Welcome to the official trailer episode of STL Hustle Insider, the podcast spotlighting the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and community builders moving St. Louis forward.

In this trailer, host Cortez Hustle introduces the vision behind the show, why this platform is being built, and what listeners can expect from future episodes. STL Hustle Insider was created to document the real stories behind the hustle happening across the city and the region — from entrepreneurs building from the ground up to community leaders creating opportunities for others.

This episode is an invitation to be part of the first wave. Whether you were born and raised in St. Louis, moved away but still claim the city, recently arrived, or are thinking about making St. Louis home, this podcast is designed to give you a front-row seat to the people and stories shaping the region.

If you believe local stories deserve a bigger platform, subscribe now, share the show, and nominate someone building something meaningful in St. Louis.

In This Trailer, We Cover:

  •  Why STL Hustle Insider was created 
  •  The mission behind spotlighting St. Louis stories 
  •  Who the podcast is designed to feature 
  •  Why this platform is bigger than just interviews 
  •  How local businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and community builders will be highlighted 
  •  Why listeners should subscribe before the first full episode drops 
  •  How to nominate someone for a future feature 

About This Episode

This trailer sets the tone for STL Hustle Insider and introduces the heart behind the platform.

Hosted by Cortez Hustle, this show will take listeners inside the stories, behind the brands, and around the city to meet the builders, dreamers, leaders, and local voices helping move St. Louis forward.

The goal is simple: document the hustle, celebrate the impact, and help more people discover who is building something meaningful in and around St. Louis.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
 00:12 Why St. Louis needs to tell its own stories
 00:30 Who this podcast will spotlight
 00:49 Why this is bigger than a podcast
 01:08 Who should listen
 01:26 What to expect from future episodes
 01:45 Subscribe and become one of the first 100 insiders
 02:00 Nominate someone building something meaningful in St. Louis


About STL Hustle Insider

STL Hustle Insider is the podcast spotlighting the people, businesses, and movements building St. Louis.

Hosted by Cortez Hustle, the show features conversations with entrepreneurs, small business owners, creatives, nonprofit leaders, and community builders who are creating impact across St. Louis and the surrounding region.

Each episode goes inside the story, behind the brand, and around the city to highlight the real hustle shaping the future of St. Louis.

Subscribe to STL Hustle Insider

Stay connected to the people, businesses, and movements building St. Louis.

Official Website:
https://stlhustleinsider.com

Follow the Show:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stlhustleinsider
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stlhustleinsider

Subscribe and Listen:
[Apple Podcasts Link]
[Spotify Link]
[YouTube Link]
[Other Podcast Platform Links]

]]> stl hustle insider, st louis podcast, stl podcast, local business spotlight, No