St. Pete has changed dramatically over the last decade. But as the city keeps growing, are we at risk of losing some of what made people fall in love with it in the first place? In this episode of Talkin’ St. Pete, Ryan Bogden sits down with Dustin LaChance, a St. Pete native, entrepreneur, Chick-fil-A franchisee, former pastor, dad of four, and founder of The Watchman, a men’s community built around brotherhood and having someone who’s got your back. Dustin has watched St. Pete transform firsthand. When he left in 2008, downtown looked completely different. By the time he returned in 2015, the city was changing fast. Young people could afford to move downtown, take chances, start businesses, and become part of the culture that helped make St. Pete what it is today. Now, Dustin worries that the same growth making St. Pete more desirable could also make it harder for those people and local businesses to stay. He and Ryan talk about rising costs, downtown development, housing and condos, the local real estate market, the Rays potentially leaving St. Pete, new development around Tropicana Field, and whether the city can continue growing without losing its local character. But Dustin’s story goes much deeper than St. Pete’s growth. At 19, he tracked down the phone numbers of Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy and Dan Cathy and kept calling because he wasn’t afraid to hear no. That persistence got Chick-fil-A’s attention, eventually led to a corporate role, and helped put him on the path to becoming a Chick-fil-A franchisee at just 21 years old. Dustin also shares why he became a pastor, how an idea with no real event experience turned into a night at Tropicana Field with Tim Tebow and 22,000 people, and what happened when his own life took a difficult turn. After going through a divorce, Dustin found himself isolated and dealing with depression. One night at a St. Pete run club made him realize that if he could feel that alone after years of having a strong community around him, there had to be other men going through difficult seasons without anyone in their corner. That experience helped inspire The Watchman and its mission of helping men “find their 6”, people they can depend on, be real with, and go through life alongside. Ryan and Dustin also get into purpose, money, success, faith, AI, the future of work, and why real human connection may become even more important as technology becomes a bigger part of everyday life. Dustin shares what he learned as a pastor about wealth and happiness, why he believes purpose and community matter more than what you own, and why sometimes the people around you matter more than whether you’re sitting at Starbucks or on a yacht in Italy. From becoming a Chick-fil-A franchisee at 21 to building community in St. Pete, navigating failure and success, taking bigger risks, and watching his hometown transform, this conversation is ultimately about what makes a life, and a city worth building. Do you think St. Pete can keep growing without losing what made it special? 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with the entrepreneurs, business owners, community leaders, and people helping shape St. Petersburg, Florida. ➜ Follow Dustin LaChance on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustinlachance/ ➜ Follow Ryan Bogden on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan.bogden/ ➜ Talkin' St. Pete Website: https://www.talkinstpete.com/ ➜ Talkin' St. Pete Podcast Episodes: https://www.talkinstpete.com/blog ➜ Subscribe to Talkin’ St. Pete on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLQaOD7_fKqYL_XzXaDN5Q ➜ Interested in being a guest on the show? https://linktr.ee/talkinstpete ➜ Ryan Bogden is a licensed REALTOR®. ➜ Sponsored by Bogden Homes: https://www.bogdenhomes.com #talkinstpete #stpete #stpetelocalpodcast #stpetebusiness #stpetelocal #StPeteCommunity
