Ope Cast The Pod

In this episode, Braden sits down with Anthony “Redd“ Williams who brings significant performance, choreography & teaching experience to the world of Commercial Hip Hop Dance. A Saint Louis native, Redd Williams has traveled all over the world teaching thousands of students. He has performed & choreographed on tours, movies, music videos, live stage & national television/commercials for the likes of Beyonce, JLO, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Daddy Yankee, Lil Kim, Nelly, Bia, Sza, Pepsi, Starbucks, Uncle Drew The Movie, American Soul, Disney Channel Games, and much more. Redd’s choreography has also been performed on the legendary “Showtime At The Apollo”. Redd served as Artistic Director of the Hip Hop Crew at the Center Of Creative Arts “COCA” in Saint Louis Mo for 15 years. He now owns his own Commercial Hip Hop Studio, Kode Redd Dance Studio.This deeply inspiring episode takes listeners through Redd’s personal and professional journey—marked by perseverance, purpose, and passion. With candid insight and grounded wisdom, Redd shares how he turned his creative ideas into action, why authenticity is his currency, and what it means to lead with heart in both business and life.You can follow Redd at:Website: anthonyreddwilliams.comInstagram: @redd818Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KodeRedd818

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

On this episode, Braden sits down with A-Game shares his St. Louis upbringing, journey into HipHop, work ethic, passion for pursuing his dreams, and more. His show stopping performances have led him to receive many achievements, like winning Revolt Summit's "Be Heard" competition. A-Game has performed with many well-known artists, including Ella Mai, J. Cole, Jhene Aiko, Saweetie, Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, and many others. In February 2025, he hosted the "St. Louis Super Bowl" which was an unforgettable night for St. Louis Hip Hop with 10 plus acts. A-Game is truly a rising star in the industry. You can follow A-Game on Instagram & Youtube at @Agamestl. You can purchase his new album by searching for "Middle Class Raps" on www.even.biz Note: In middle class fashion, the camera used on Braden was a GoPro which is why it's a little more pixelated than you're used to seeing.

On this episode, Braden sits down with James Beard Award winning chef and culinary visionary, Gerard Craft. They discuss his upbringing, expressing his creativity through graffiti art, early days as a photographer, his unexpected pivot to the culinary world, and his latest venture, Expat BBQ-a 16,000 sq ft, globally inspired concept at City Foundry STL. They recorded the episode on all three stories of the restaurants, while trying several dishes. Expat BBQ reimagines traditional American BBQ by infusing it with flavors from around the world, including China, Vietnam, Brazil, Afghanistan, and more. The expansive venue features a full service dining room, cocktail bar, private event space, and terrace. They are open Wednesday-Sunday. You can follow him at @gerardcraft on Instagram. For more information on Expat, visit ww.expatstl.com

On this episode, Braden sits down with Mario Iaccarino, behind Casa Don Alfonso at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. Mario shares the captivating story of his family’s culinary heritage, rooted in the traditions of Naples, Italy, and how they’ve brought their authentic flavors to the Midwest. From the art of creating dishes steeped in love and tradition to the inspiration behind Casa Don Alfonso’s warm and welcoming atmosphere, Mario reveals the secrets to crafting a truly unforgettable dining experience. Whether you're a foodie, a lover of Italian culture, or someone who appreciates the fusion of tradition and innovation, this episode is packed with insights that will leave you inspired—and maybe a little hungry. You can book your reservation to Casa Don Alfonso at https://www.casadonalfonsostlouis.com/

In this special episode, Braden reconnects with Matt Menietti from STL Startup Week 2024. Returning from Season 1, Episode 4 of Ope Cast, Matt recaps last year’s event, shares exciting new highlights for this year, and dives into what’s next. STL Startup week is taking place November 11-15 around St. Louis. For more details, visit stlstartupweek.com

On this episode, Braden sits down with one of the most notable names in St. Louis sports, Tom Ackerman. Tom is the Director at KMOX in St. Louis, the flagship station for the Cardinals (MLB) and Saint Louis University (NCAA), hosting radio shows for both teams. He's also a co-host of Total Information A.M., the top-rated show at the station, providing listeners with news, traffic, weather, business and sports each weekday morning. In addition to radio, he calls college basketball play-by-play on TV for the Missouri Valley Conference and host on the video board at Scottrade Center during Blues home games. I’m also the play-by-play broadcaster for SLU women’s basketball. He shares his journey into media, love for St. Louis, integrity in his role, involvement in UCP Heartland, love for food, and much more. You can follow Tom on X at @ackerman1120

On this episode, Braden spoke with actor, producer, and comedy legend, Guy Torry. Guy shares his St. Louis upbringing, time at SEMO, moving to Hollywood, Phat Tuesday's, movies, and much more. For 10 years, Guy had the hottest comedy night in the country. Originally called Phat Comedy Tuesday, he later changed the name to The Guy Torry Comedy Show. The night would attract A list comedians and celebrities from around the country. Stars like Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Prince, Charlie Pride, Shaq, Jay Z, Kanye West, Chris Rock, Chris Tucker, Dave Chappelle, Joe Torry, Bernie Mac, Kobe, Shaq, Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey and many more. Hollywood scouts and producers used Guy’s room as a means to scout talent. Braden's curiosity leads to him asking questions about guests like Tupac and Kobe. In his acting career, Guy has starred in critically acclaimed movies such as American History X, “Pearl Harbor”, “Life”, “Runaway Jury”, “Don’t Say A Word”, and the NBC mini series “The 70’s”. You can learn more about Phat Tuesday by watching it on Amazon Prime. You can follow Guy Torry on Instagram at @Guytorry or www.guytorry.com