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

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

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

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

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

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

On this episode, Braden goes on a walk around Kennedy Forrest with Amy Witt, Forest Park Ecologist. She gives us an inside look on the work the dedicated team at Forest Park does to enhance the park for millions of visitors every year.

Braden has recently announced his partnership with Forest Park Forever where he'll give you all an inside look on the incredible work they do on his @BradENSTL platform. Follow www.forestparkforever.org as they celebrate everything Forest Park means to us and look forward to sustaining it for the generations ahead.

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

Ope Cast is BACK! Braden kicks off Season 3 with Larry Kirchner of Scarefest and Blacklight Attractions. Larry is a prominent figure in the haunted house industry and the mastermind behind several renowned attractions in St. Louis, including The Darkness, Creepyworld, and Lemp Haunted House. Known for his innovative approach, he also runs Blacklight Attractions, which specializes in designing themed attractions, and heads Scarefest, a company producing events and resources for the Halloween and haunt industry.

His work has transformed St. Louis into a hotspot for immersive haunted experiences, drawing locals and visitors alike. The Darkness, in particular, is famous for its intense, movie-quality sets, 3D elements, and high-tech scares, making it one of the top-rated haunted houses in the country.

Larry's s annual involvement with the TransWorld Halloween & Attractions Show also drives him and his team to innovate and revamp these attractions yearly. This dedication not only fuels his success but also sets a high bar within the industry, attracting other haunt professionals worldwide to witness his latest designs and creation You can follow Larry on all socials at @Scarefest or his website www.scarefest.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 sat down with Polo Ascencio of the St. Louis Cardinals Spanish Broadcasting Network. Polo shares his Tijuana upbringing, love for baseball, the journey of broadcasting Cardinals games in Spanish alongside Bengie Molina.

Over the years, Ascencio and Molina have expanded their reach, beginning with just two games in 2016 and now covering all home games and playoffs. Their broadcasts have brought the excitement of Cardinals baseball to Spanish-speaking fans worldwide, adding a vital voice for the Hispanic community in St. Louis and beyond. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, their passion and impact remain strong, connecting listeners from across the globe to their favorite team. This season, Polo partnered with the Cardinals Museum on Viva Los Cardenales. This takes you from the present day all the way back to 1913 detailing the Latin and Hispanic players who paved the way for the next generation. He shares his joy of bringing this exhibit to life. You can follow Polo on Instagram at @polosview or tune into the Cardinals Spanish Broadcasting Network WIJR 880 AM La Tremenda

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