What happens when a therapist and a chemical engineer quit their careers, move across the country, and bet everything on a business in a city where they don't know a single person? In Episode 102 of Talkin' St. Pete, Ryan Bogden sits down with Jake and Sydney Newsome, owners of The Burg Nutrition and St. Pete Nutrition Bar, to talk about their journey from Mississippi to St. Petersburg and how they built two thriving nutrition bars in less than a year. Jake and Sydney share how they left careers in clinical mental health and engineering to pursue entrepreneurship, why they chose St. Pete, and how the city's welcoming business community helped them grow faster than they ever imagined. What started as a protein shake and energy tea shop quickly became something much bigger. Today, The Burg Nutrition has become a community gathering place where people come not only for healthy drinks, but also for conversation, connection, and a sense of belonging. Throughout the conversation, Jake and Sydney explain why they believe human interaction matters more than ever, how they built a culture focused on relationships, and why they train their team to remember customers by name rather than treat them like transactions. The conversation also covers: - Leaving traditional careers to start a business from scratch - Moving from Mississippi to St. Pete without knowing anyone - Opening two nutrition bars within months of each other - The growth of St. Pete's fitness and wellness community - Building relationships with customers and creating community - Why human connection still matters in a technology-driven world - Managing employees, leadership, and rapid business growth - The challenges of operating multiple locations - Collaborating with local gyms, fitness studios, and small businesses - The importance of hiring for personality and customer service - Authenticity on social media and building a local brand - The future growth of St. Pete and preserving the city's character - Entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and betting on yourself Jake and Sydney also share the story behind some of The Burg Nutrition's most popular menu items, including the Butterfinger, Captain America, Vanilla Elvis, Frog Spit, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch protein shakes, along with how customers can customize drinks with protein, collagen, electrolytes, creatine, BCAAs, and clean caffeine. One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is the impact St. Pete's entrepreneurial community has had on their success. From local business owners offering guidance to fitness studios opening doors for partnerships, Jake and Sydney explain why collaboration, not competition, has helped them build strong relationships throughout the city. The episode also offers valuable insights for anyone thinking about starting a business, making a major life change, or moving to St. Pete. Their story is a reminder that sometimes the biggest opportunities happen when you're willing to leave your comfort zone and take a chance on something new. If you're interested in entrepreneurship, health and wellness, small business growth, fitness, leadership, or learning more about the people helping shape St. Petersburg, Florida, this is a conversation worth watching. 🎙️ Real conversations with people shaping St. Pete. ➜ Follow The Burg Nutrition on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theburgnutrition/ ➜ Follow Ryan Bogden on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan.bogden/ ➜ 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 #StPetersburgFL #DowntownStPete #StPeteLocal #StPeteSmallBusiness #SupportLocalStPete
