From Passion to Profit | Stone Cakes | Episode #12

In this episode of Chasing Heritage, Chase Hardin interviews Stone, founder of Stone Cakes, for a powerful conversation about purpose, entrepreneurship, and the unexpected moments that can change your life.

Stone shares how his journey began in fitness and modeling, eventually leading him to New York Fashion Week, where a missed flight and a simple slice of cheesecake sparked the idea that would become his business.

From that moment, he committed to creating a vegan cheesecake that could deliver the same experience and emotional connection as traditional desserts, while serving a community often overlooked in the food industry.

The conversation explores the realities of entrepreneurship, including leaving a stable job, navigating uncertainty, and learning to trust both the process and his faith. Stone also shares key lessons on execution, consistency, and why being prepared is essential when opportunities arise.

Additionally, the episode highlights how authenticity, storytelling, and creating real experiences for customers can set a brand apart in a competitive market.

This episode is a powerful reminder that purpose often comes from unexpected places, and that success is built through action, resilience, and faith.

Transcript

SPEAKER_05 0:00

All the reviews are honest, and I don't like, like we just saying the fake thing. I don't like, don't be fake with me. If it's something to it or something you don't like, don't say it. This is not paid. Yeah. Like I just want you to be honest with me because that helps me be better.

SPEAKER_01 0:11

Now a lot of people miss their moment, not because they weren't in the room, but because they didn't speak up.

SPEAKER_05 0:17

God always sends somebody every time they always tell me, you gotta keep doing this. This is your calling. You got a gifted hands. This is what you're meant to do. Continue. And they it's always like that every time.

SPEAKER_01 0:33

Impact. I watched your social media, kind of follow you there, and you just bring this powerful energy to the camera. And I'm like, you know what? I'm gonna call this guy. Like he has something to give, something to share. And then when I got to meet you in person, like it just brought it to a whole nother level. And then I tried your cheesecake. And see, that right there was the icing on top, right? And so you know a lot about sweets. I actually have a culinary degree. I worked in kitchens for 10 years, so I dibble dabble a little bit. But uh just share a little bit like where does this passion, this fire for creating, serving, you know, just providing life in the form of cheesecakes come from?

SPEAKER_05 1:19

And it's funny you asked me that because I was I think all the time, like, where did this come from? Um I always grew up like in the kitchen with my mom and my grandma. My grandma used to always bake, and my mom tried to bake, but she was never really there. Um but my grandma was the one, I was a kind of I was an obese kid, so I grew up really big. I always loved to eat, like food has always been my comfort. Um so just seeing my grandma bake all the time. Uh when I got older, I started to like sweets as well. I'm like, I got a really bad sweet tooth. So I've always loved sweets, like even till this day. Um, it wasn't until cheesecakes was almost always my favorite dessert as well. Okay. So it wasn't until I went to New York because I modeled as well. So I did some modeling for New York Fashion Week.

SPEAKER_00 2:01

Wow, wow, you model.

SPEAKER_05 2:02

Yeah. Whoa.

SPEAKER_00 2:03

Okay, keep going. We'll we'll we'll pin that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 2:05

So I did some modeling for New York Fashion Week um uh last year. Well, what's this? 2024, six, four, five, uh September of 2024. Okay. Um, and that's when I in New York, it was like this famous uh cheesecake spot we had to go to. So me and my best friend, we missed our flight to go get a slice of cheesecake. Mind you, I was on a strict vegan diet then, but she was like, she was like, Stone, we're here. We're in New York. We have to go get a piece of cheesecake. And it's her favorite dessert, and it's my favorite dessert. We was like, okay, yeah, I did all my shows. I have to treat myself. I'm learning to treat yourself like you don't be so hard because we can often be hard on ourselves a lot of times, um, especially when we're like on a strict diet and we have weight goals. So I was like, okay, so we went to the spot and got some cheesecake. I sat in the airport and I was already upset because we missed the flight.

SPEAKER_00 2:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 2:58

The only thing it was to do was to eat that cheesecake. So I was like, I'm gonna go ahead and bust it up. I wanted to wait until we got on the plane, but I said, I'm gonna go ahead and bust it over now. I ate that cheesecake and all my worries and cares went away. I was just so happy in the airport. I was like, I'm so glad. I don't care about the flight being missed. Like that moment right there, it gave me goosebumps. And then I was on the plane when we finally was able to board, I was on the plane. I was like, my stomach's not right. So I noticed that the cheesecake kind of messed me up because I've been on a strict vegan diet. That's right. So I ate it and I was like, the whole flight, I was over it because, you know, the milk and everything. So I was thinking to myself during the flight after I was like, it has to be something that vegans can have that tastes just as good as this cheesecake. Yeah. Because there are no good vegan cheesecakes, in my opinion, there are no good vegan cheesecakes. You're right. Except for yours. Except mine, yeah. So I was like, it has to be something. So I called my grandma, I called my mom. I was like, it has to be something that we can do. I was like, I'm gonna make a cheesecake. She was like, a cheesecake. I was like, yeah. So I got home the very next day. I went shopping. I was like, I'm just gonna try it.

SPEAKER_00 4:00

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 4:02

I was so excited that night before I went to bed. I was up at like one o'clock in the morning, yes, baking. And I told my best friend, I said, All right. So I still have the video on my phone where I pulled my first stone cake out of the oven. And I was like, this is my first one. And I always go to that video and it kind of I'm grateful for why I started at. I'm glad I still had that video. So I I was I remember I was on the phone with her, I said, I can't wait till the morning to try my first like cheesecake. I said, I hope it's good. I was nervous. I'm always nervous when you're trying something new. So I was like, I'm nervous. So I woke up in the morning, that was the first thing I ate. I didn't even brush my teeth or nothing. I was like, went in there and cut a piece of cheesecake. Yes. So I did it, and I was like, Oh my gosh, this is amazing. Man. I said, This is amazing. She was like, Stone, really. I said, Yes. I called everybody I knew in Charlotte, and I was like, Y'all have the gum and get a slice it. I was slicing it very thin. When I say I call everybody, I knew there were foodies, all my friends were foodies. I sliced it and everybody came and got a slice, and it was like, Stone, this is amazing. This is amazing.

SPEAKER_01 5:02

Yeah, that is that is just really powerful, man. And like in that short little story, like you highlight so much, you know, about like history, growing up around food, um, you know, the the entrepreneur fire, right, that we get as entrepreneurs from an idea to walking it through. Um, but let's dig a little deeper like into like where that first came from, like with your grandma, because I share a similar story with my mother, because I had three brothers. Okay. And I grew up and we we didn't have a lot of time with our mom, right? She's taking care of the house, doing laundry. I mean, just all the work that goes with raising four boys. And so none of the other boys wanted to be in the kitchen.

SPEAKER_04 5:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:48

So I saw that as time like that I got to have, you know, with mom. So it was like really special to me, really drove me into wanting to become a chef from from that feeling. So just share a little more of like, you know, being with grandma, being with mom, like cooking in the kitchen. Like, what did you guys make?

SPEAKER_05 6:05

Okay, so I grew up as the only child. Okay. So I was the only child, and I was back and forth between my mom and my grandma's house. Yes. So, but like I was saying, the baker was my grandma, who I remember baking the most. It was never like every day or every week, even. It was more so like around the holidays. Okay. She baked around the holidays, and my grandma always had the best desserts. Um, so I just remember being in the kitchen with her from I had I didn't have a passion for baking then. Right, right. I was just like, I know I like to eat and I know I like to lick the bowl when she gave me the bowl. Okay, why not? Yes. So that's what it was, and I was, and like I said, I was thinking, I was like, where did this come from? Like, where did I discover this passion and the such joy from baking? And for me, I know it it stands from that child, just in the kitchen with my grandma having her bake, she playing her music and everything, and we're just in the kitchen together, baking. I mean, smelling the aromas, we smelling the cake, the family, that that whole thing. And now till this day, when I come in the house and say if I have a cake, bacon, I smell the oven. It takes me back to that moment every single time.

SPEAKER_01 7:05

Yeah. And so there's really something to be said about resting in your joy, you know, like resting in your purpose. And so many people go through life, like they just have a job, maybe they have money, beautiful family, but they get home, blah. Yeah. You know? And like, it's such a different feeling when you get to have that purpose and you know what it is. Yes. Um, so that's really amazing for you. But what also inspires me is that essentially in a two to three year period, you went from one career, like one track, to something in my mind, like, isn't even connected.

SPEAKER_04 7:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:45

Right? Yeah. So share a little bit about right, that journey from being in a fashion, doing modeling, which maybe you still do, but also transitioning into like that true joy.

SPEAKER_05 7:56

Okay, so yeah, my I've always knew that the office wasn't wasn't where I was supposed to be. I started off in property management. So that's my background. I've been in property management for years. Yes. So even moving here, I still had my property management job when I moved to Atlanta from Charlotte. Right. Um, but I just knew it had to be more. Um, I started off in fitness. That was my first like entrepreneur journey. I was a fitness instructor. I trained, um, certified in everything. So I train, I still do all that stuff. I do group fitness classes. Yes. I have a group fitness class still that I did. It's called Stone Lit Dance Fit.

SPEAKER_01 8:28

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 8:28

So where we just caught um 45 minutes of hit, high intensity interval training. I love it. I started doing that, and then I got into modeling. Modeling has always been a hobby of mine. I just loved to model. It's just fun. I like walking and runways. I have a great runway runway walk, and that was kind of my thing. So that was how I got to New York because I was heavy in my fitness, because I was working my business, and then I was just modeling, I was just getting bookings after bookings. Um and now it's just, it's, it's like a full circle moment because it's like I went from fitness to now baking. Like, it's some people, like when I when I tell them, they was like, oh no, are you still trainer? I was like, yeah, not really. They said, how do you get into making cheesecakes? Yeah. I was, I just say God, like I had he had a plan for my life. Like, I thought I wanted to do this, but he said, no, we're gonna go ahead and do this. Yes. And it's amazing because I feel so satisfied, even my journey just cut getting to Atlanta, how um he able he was able to use that property management job to get me where I am today. Yes. Because when I was in the office, I knew it. I I wasn't fulfilled. Yeah. I wasn't fulfilled. I was in there, I was dreading going to work, I was depressed. That depression is a real thing, and it'll come and it'll come out of nowhere. That's right. Um, but it's something when you start operating in your true calling, your true passion, when I left that job, I can say I have felt the best I've ever felt. Of course, we get worried about finances and money. We don't know if it because we got a guarantee check to all of a sudden now you have to make your you have to work to get your money now. It's not every Friday, you're not getting paid. Like every other Friday. It's like you have to get your money. And that's the real grind. That's that's the real grind. But honestly, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Like I love it. And I like I said, I'm grateful for the job. I'm grateful for um Um the company I was with, but I thank God every chance I get just allowing me to operate in my passion and finally feel fulfilled and doing something that I love doing. Yeah, and it's putting smiles on people's faces. Like it's it's it's like when people just taste it. Because I know I'm a food, I love cheese. So I if I get that feeling, I can't wait till you taste it. And then you gotta get that experience too. It's an experience. Man, that's so cool. That's so cool.

SPEAKER_01 10:35

And so the the name Stone Cheesecake obviously comes from your name, right? Yeah, but like is there more to the stone? Like anything else? So no, it's just stone cakes.

SPEAKER_05 10:49

Okay. No, it's just stone cakes. So yeah, we we call it that. It's it's my name, and it's stone cakes, yeah. No, no. We call it, we call it you get stoned. So it's just like an experience, it's the ex it's the stoned experience. Yeah, like when you taste it, it's like oh my, it's like an high that you just get, like, this is so good. Like they call it sugar rush, high, whatever you want to call it. Yeah, it's just like this is amazing.

SPEAKER_01 11:13

So, so share with me like what what is like your number one selling cheesecake?

SPEAKER_05 11:19

Oh, like if you had to like politically Miss Strawberry Crunch.

SPEAKER_01 11:24

Miss Strawberry Crunch.

SPEAKER_05 11:26

That strawberry crunch is the number one.

SPEAKER_01 11:27

All right, tell me, tell me, give me high-level culinary description of strawberry crunch.

SPEAKER_05 11:32

So, strawberry crunch, I just was playing in the kitchen one day. I was like, I want something strawberry. I used to love the strawberry shortcake ice cream when we were a kid. I that's one of my fondest memories as well. Um, my grandmother gave me the 25 cents and walked down to the store to get one of those strawberry shortcake ice cream. Okay. With the strawberry cream? Yes, sir. So I remember that. I was like, what about making that into a cheesecake? And I was like, I really, I think that's possible. So I'm in the kitchen, I'm playing around. My friend's like, Stone, you really about to do that? I said, I think I can do it. So I of course made my base. My base of all of my stone cakes are the OG base. So the OG is just original cheesecake base. So I make Stuckies, I bake cookies as well. So my cookies are called Stuckies. They're cheesecake-stuffed cookies. So I do my base with the cookies, and then I did the the stone cake base, which is the cheesecake, and then I do a um cream cheese spread on top of the base. Yes. And then I bake a strawberry cake on top of that. Wow. And then I just layer it with I coat it with the cream cheese icing that I make, and then I make a strawberry crunch like um mixture. Yeah. So I do it with that, and I coat the whole cake with the strawberry crunch mixture. Yeah. And it's so good. It's so good. So good. It's so good.

SPEAKER_01 12:58

So, like, not only do you have a passion for what you do, do you provide smiles, right, each time that someone gets a bite.

SPEAKER_04 13:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:06

But you also give back, right? And so I called you about a couple weeks ago and invited you to come and donate your gift to help feed over 500 kids. And you just said yes.

SPEAKER_04 13:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:19

Like you didn't you didn't question it, you didn't go, like, what am I gonna get out of it? Like, like you just said yes. So, like, share a little bit more of that, like kind of serving heart, you know, of like how you want to create that smile. Like, talk a little bit more about that.

SPEAKER_05 13:34

I love that. Of course, as a brand, and I always wanna be a person that's able to give back. And what I love, I believe in sowing seeds. You sowing seeds, you little seeds, like that's all. You always get something back from it. Not that you're looking, but it's just like the fact that you're you've been blessed with the gift. Why not share your gift? That's what God gave you the gift for. Why not share your gift? I'm not gonna sit on it. If I know that I can let uh 500 kids taste this cheesecake and it's really good, I know when I was a kid, I loved it. So I said, I have to get it to these kids. And kids love sweets, kids love cheesecake, all the kids I know. And just when I cried on, you don't even know, on that way home, I cried. I was like, it's so crazy. I said, man, those kids really love these cheesecake bites. And it just felt so good being in like I haven't been around that many kids or in a school in a long time. And it's like now it's like all of a sudden I'm in there with my business and I'm able to be a representation to kids and letting them know, hey, we have a you're a baker, you're a male baker, and not only a male, but you're a black male baker. You're in here. I have my chef coat on for a reason. I wanted people to see that and see that positive role model, letting you know, hey, you can too do this as well. And just being there and they ask me, you bake, you bake, you you're a baker? Like, yeah, I bake. You made these, and just the questions they ask, I'm just like, yeah. Yeah. And they like, oh, that's so cool. Like hearing the little stuff like that. I'm just like. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 15:01

This episode is also sponsored by Parrot Marketing. If you're a business owner and want to grow with Facebook ads, Parrot Marketing handles everything from script writing and recording sessions to high-quality content and campaign management. And the last 12 months, they've generated over five million views for Heritage Montessori School, leading to 75 new enrollments. If you want real results and a team that executes for you, visit ParrotMarketingAI to find out more. You know, as young kids, we're we're told to dream. Yeah. Right? But unfortunately, that word dream stays distant, it stays away, almost unattainable. Like we can only access when we're asleep. Right. But when you see somebody in the real flesh that looks like you, shakes like you, sounds like you, that's reality. Yeah. So by you being there, you created a reality, a real moment, a real attainable goal. Yeah. No longer a dream. And uh the power of what that is to provide to another person is exactly why I get up every day and and and I work with kids. So I'm grateful that you came and shared that. And uh and you have in your future more inspiration, you know, to definitely give to people.

SPEAKER_02 16:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:18

But um, you blew me away with your cheesecakes. Um so I know that other people have like tried them. Yeah. So like share like a cool story or like, you know, the most famous person that you've kind of met and dealt with with your cakes. Like, give us a little something there.

SPEAKER_05 16:34

So uh the cool the story I always remember was this one lady. Um, I had just moved here. I think I've been in, I was in Atlanta for like a month, and she was like, Oh, I heard of you. You do the cheesecakes, right? I was like, Yeah, they call stone cakes. Uh so she was like, Oh, I'm gonna have to try it. She said, I love cheesecake. And I just remember, I was like, Yeah, try it. She said, I haven't had a good vegan cheesecake. I was like, Well, here's stone cakes, I'm here, so you have to try it. So I just remember, like, I recorded her as well. I she took a piece of that cheesecake and she just got quiet. And then next thing you know, I was like, oh, I said, Oh, I said, Do you like it? And she was just like, I was like, what is going on? But then next thing you know, I started seeing like the tears come down her face. And I was like, Oh. And then I didn't know this is the first time that I experienced something like that. I didn't know what was going on. And she was like, she was just like and I was like, what's wrong? She said, This right here. She said, You just made my she said this is what I needed. She said, This took me back to childhood. She was like, This right here. She said, I've been I've been missing this and I don't know what you did. She said, but you gotta keep doing it. She said, This right here, she said, This is what I've been missing. And she was just like, Thank you. She just told me, she said, thank you. While she's crying, she was like, Thank you. And I was like, Thank you, God. Like, I don't know what I did, but I feel like I healed something in that lady. Like, and from that moment, I was just like, even when people don't have a good day, sometimes I'll be like, You want a piece of cheesecake? You like cheesecake? And I just give it to them. Yeah. I just give it to them. Like if if if that little thing can make her, I know it can make you feel better.

SPEAKER_02 18:05

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 18:06

Like even me and myself, like going through like recently last week, we go through things. That's right. Like me, I'll eat a when I'm sad or down, I'll eat a piece of cheesecake.

SPEAKER_04 18:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:13

And that'll make me feel so much better. And you and you nailed something in in kind of your story you were sharing earlier, which is loving yourself, right? And and taking that time to see yourself. You know, in in this day and age, there's so much on social media and just life that's fake. And and not fake in a sense that it doesn't exist, but fake for you, right? Because even if you get behind that fancy car, is it really gonna connect with you? Like is that really the joy that you needed? And so by creating something, one, that's healthy, two, that people who are usually overlooked, which are people with dietary restrictions or vegans in general, but you've taken something that's unhealthy and overlooked, uh overlooked population doesn't get access to, and you've created a space where they have something that is really built just for them. Um and that is just so incredibly special. Um, just a thought process, right, that goes behind developing, and then the fact that you're authentic, right? Like you're you're genuine in wanting to provide not just an item or a service, but a true experience and a feeling. And you know, when I watch your social media, when I met you and I tried your cake, like that is by far the thing that sets your business, you know, really apart. Um, and it really is incredible. Um, but you've also been um acknowledged at Sleddy Vegan, right?

SPEAKER_04 19:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:44

Um so share share a little bit about that. You know, like how did how did you get up into Sluty Vegan?

SPEAKER_05 19:49

My slutty vegan experience was mind-blowing. Like it's I tell the story all the time. So um Pinky Cole, though, you know, the owner um of Sledy Vegan, so she was on live one night and we're on Instagram, and I'm just like, yeah, I'm gonna listen to her because she always drops good knowledge. I love her. Like her mind is and the way she thinks and the way she just comes up with stuff is like immaculate. I've never seen it before. So I'm just listening to her. I'm like, this lady, I'm like, she is dope. Like she just, her mind is like this. So I remember she was like, I'm gonna bring a few people up. She said, just entrepreneur, just let us know what you do. So I'm thinking, like, she's I'm getting ready to get in the shower, by the way. Let's let's pinpoint that. I'm linking the shower. So she was like, Yeah, I'm bringing people up. So I just hit the button, I'm like, I'm about to get in the shower. So she was like, all right, she's like, hello, who we have here? And I'm like, I said, nobody ain't saying that. That's what's going on. She was like, hello, so I was like, I got up my phone, my phone was laying on the counter. I was like, hello? I was like, oh. So I hold my phone up. I was like, hey. She was like, hey, what are you? We should name what you do. So I was like, I'm stoned. I said, I just moved here from Shawland, North Carolina, and I bake um vegan cheesecake. She was like, What, wait, you do bake vegan cheesecakes? I was like, yeah. And I was like, they're really good. She said, wait, you do vegan cheesecake? I was like, yes. And she was like, um, pretty much long. So she was like, Do you have some on you? I was like, yeah, I actually do. And she was like, um, I want you to uh send, she said, send me some. She said, she said, send me one. I was like, okay, she said, you got them on you right now. I was like, yeah, she said, send me one. So I made sure I went and got the best one. I had one out saving for me, actually. But I was like, you know what, this is the moment. So I was like, I went to the fridge, I got her three of them. I did the strawberry crunch, I think I did like an OG, and I can't remember the other one I did, but I remember she um, she was like, okay, y'all, she said, so when he sends me these cheesecakes, uh, I'ma try them on live. Yeah. And I'm gonna let all y'all know like how they are or whatever. So I was like, oh, I was nervous. I was like, please let this lady like my cheese. And she said, I'm gonna be honest with you. Now she told me that too. She said, I'm gonna let you know one thing. She said, I'm gonna be honest. Honest with you, and I'm not gonna sugarcoat nothing. And I love that. I always say in all my um reviews, everything that I do, if you look at my page, all the reviews are honest, and I don't like like we just saying the fake thing. I don't like, don't be fake with me. If it's something to it or something you don't like, don't say it. This is not paid. Like I just want you to be honest with me because that helps me be better. That helps me get better. So I just remember the Uber. I'm shaking the whole time, packing the cheesecake. I put a staple on the bag. I may put my business card there because I had stone cake bags. I made it look so pretty. And I told the lady when she came, I was like, this is for a very important person. I said, please make sure you drop slow so they don't fall over. And the lady was like, I got you. I was like, okay. So then um she ended up tasting it. She was like, All right, y'all, I got the cheesecake on live. So I'm like this. I had my iPad and my phone. Everything was set up. I was like, okay, I call all my friends. I said, y'all, go to this lady page and make sure y'all tune in. So she on there, and at first she let the kids try it. And then she was like, oh my gosh, she was like, the kids really love it. The kids was going crazy. And they was like, I want some more, I want some more. So they was like, all right, y'all, the kids love it. So then she ended up trying it. She was like, This is really good. She said, Y'all, she was like stone cakes. She and she I tell this guy looked that video too sometimes. And she was like, This is stone cakes. And from there, it was like, she was like, Can you come to Sloudy Vegan? She said, You got enough to come to Sloody Vegan tomorrow. And then I was like, I'll have enough. I was like all night baking. All night baking. Yes. And I was like, I have enough. She said, Slutty vegan tomorrow, two o'clock. And she said, make sure you guys pull up. Man, I went to Sluddy Vegan, I was in there. Um, and I was just, I was nervous, but I felt like I was where I was supposed to be. It just felt so good. And for her to take that time and give me that opportunity to just to trust my product and allow me to come into her establishment. And the people, everybody came in there, loved it. Like loved it. They was like, where are you gonna be at? Where you gonna be at? Till this day, me still being in Sluddy Vegan now, and it was supposed to be just like a month. She said, Come for a month, we're gonna see how it goes. If it goes good, we can talk about it and then have, you know what I'm saying, work about having uh work on having you in here like permanently. So I was like, okay, bet. So now to this day, it's like you and Sluddy Vegan this week, you and Sluddy Vegan this week. And I love it, and I'm I'm just so grateful, and I always tell her, I'm just so grateful, and I thank her for that opportunity because I know not a lot of people do it, but as long as I stay to true to my course and keep God first, I know he's gonna keep leading and opening doors for me like that. Yes with people like her. And she she is she's just a blessing, man.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

Yeah, like yeah, that's so cool, man. And in like, I'll actually share, I was on that call when she offered you to come to a restaurant. I was like, look at this lady just blessing and providing opportunity, but not only that, you are ready.

SPEAKER_04 24:42

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:43

Now a lot of people miss their moment, not because they weren't in the room, yeah, but because they didn't speak up.

SPEAKER_05 24:50

One thing I got from her, she said, sorry to cut you off. Yeah, you know. But I always say that speed breeds success. That message she got, and I think Pinky Cole, thank you for that message. Speed breeds success. Now I think about it like you have to have, if you have you ready, you don't have to worry about getting ready. You stay ready, you don't have to worry about getting ready. And sometimes you just gotta, when it's time, when the time is there, you gotta catch it.

SPEAKER_01 25:13

It's gotta go, baby.

SPEAKER_05 25:13

You gotta catch it.

SPEAKER_01 25:15

Yeah, I love this. I love this, man. So let's let's just talk a little bit more like actually making a vegan cheesecake. Like this ain't easy.

SPEAKER_04 25:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:24

Right? Because there's no egg, yeah, there's no dairy, yeah, right? Like all of the normal traditional things when you think cheesecake, because I know, yeah, are not available for you. Right. So, like, how did you go from not really cooking in a while to making the best vegan cheesecake? Like, what is that process?

SPEAKER_05 25:43

So, false, I always cook. Okay. I can cook down. I can cook down.

SPEAKER_01 25:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 25:48

And I've always liked to bake sweets, but not to the point, I'll bake something and have my friends come over and be like, y'all want something? Like peach cobblers and stuff like that. And I'll go every now and then and do like some Star Bark, store bark cookies or something like that. But I've always liked to cook. Yeah. But I've never tried baking myself until the cheesecakes, and I was like, I like bacon. That's right. It was the smells that did it for me. It was that nostalgia from those smells from being with my grandma when I was young. I was like, it smells like grandma's house in here. Yes. And it just felt so good. This was right. Um, but it's just really finding the right ingredients. Like the ingredients I use, um, they're all plant-based ingredients. Like, you know, the vegan world is bit it's becoming more, well, I can say it's it's more popular than it was back then. 15 years ago, yeah. There was nothing. Right. So it's a lot easier now to recreate or create things and make them plant-based. Um, so I just found the right ingredients. I did a couple times play with some things just to see how it would taste. I tried to switch it up a little bit, but I realized what I had already was it, and don't change it. When you have something, and if something is good, don't go tampering with it. You have to learn how to leave well enough alone sometimes. And I said it's good, I'm gonna leave it alone. Um, and it's just from the plant-based butter to you know, my base I use. Everybody when I tell them, like, when I use it, like, what is it nuts in it? No, it's no dairy. Yeah, it's no dairy, no nuts. I'm not gonna make you give your seat.

SPEAKER_01 27:17

No, I'm not, I'm not doing it's like if there is a a plant, a vegan brand of products or product line, like what what would that be? What's a vegan brand that makes lots of things that you that you like would recommend for people to like try? Because vegan can be very healthy. Yeah, you know, and that doesn't mean like you could just be vegan in your butter, you know, or just cut out eggs or whatever that is, and maybe not everything else.

SPEAKER_05 27:45

Earth Balance has a really good butter, I can say that. And it's a lot of brands. It's like just the Just brand J U S T. That's really good brands too. Um, and then I like um what I've been doing when I'm on a r in a on a rush, in a rush. Yeah. I do like the Garden Nuggets, it's like a black bag. It's like the ultimate something like that. Gardeen nuggets. I'll do those. Yeah, but um, I'll find some vegan food real quick. Yeah, especially with this lifestyle, how I am now, how busy I am. Okay. I can't do fast food, but I'll pop some nuggets in everything.

SPEAKER_01 28:14

I love that, I love that. What uh what's the most creative ingredient that you have used in your in your cheesecake? Like some of you are like, really? Oh yeah, we're running that.

SPEAKER_05 28:28

That's a good question. Yeah. It probably would be I'm sorry, I just thought about my. So yeah, it probably would be the uh sheesh. I would say the apple caramel or the apple caramel. So I make a homemade caramel sauce that takes forever. If y'all know anything about caramel, like that sugar, and actually have to stare it the whole time with the at least stare an hour. Yeah. Yeah, it's a lot. But that one with the apples, even if you're not like a real apple like pie lover, it's something with those apples and a cheesecake, and I do a crumble top, like a crumb top to it. Yeah. So it's almost like a cobbler top, and then you just drizzle that caramel on top of it. Yes. And you take that little slit.

SPEAKER_01 29:22

It's I I feel like you have a bit of like a food science brand.

SPEAKER_05 29:26

I do.

SPEAKER_01 29:26

So, like, do you like take orders? Like, let's say I wanted you to make me like a pineapple upside down cheesecake. Yeah. Maybe you could throw something on like.

SPEAKER_05 29:35

I would, I would. That's how I actually that's how I've gotten a lot of the recipes that I have now is from my friends and people like, can you do this? Like the chocolate turtle. I'll do a turtle. Have a turtle one. I've never attempted turtle or even tried turtle until I did a turtle cheesecake.

SPEAKER_01 29:48

Yeah. This episode is sponsored by Heritage Montessori School in McDonough, Georgia. Heritage is a K through 12 Montessori school located right in the heart of McDonough, focused on developing independent, confident, and capable students. If you're looking for a school that combines strong academics, character development, and supportive community, now is the time to explore your options. Enrollment is open now. Visit heritagemontessorie.school to learn more and take the first steps towards your child's future. Wow.

SPEAKER_05 30:22

What's in the turtle cheesecake? It's just the chocolate, the the I use chocolate pecans and caramel. I turtle it up, and I do a uh I do a chocolate cookie crust on that one.

SPEAKER_01 30:34

Okay, okay, I'm loving this, man. Yeah. So, like, where where do you see stone cakes? Like, let's just say you keep grinding this out. This is a legacy company, right? In let's say 75 years, where do you want stone cakes to be? Do you want it to be like frozen on the shelves? No, we're on the shelves. Do you want the stone cake factory?

SPEAKER_05 30:57

Stone cake factory, we're on the shelves. We have several dessert bars in the city. You go to a city near you, you're gonna see a stone cake dessert bar. So it's gonna be a vegan dessert bar. We're gonna have the stone cakes, we have the stookies with, again, as the cheesecake stuffed cookies, cupcakes, we're gonna have different milks for you guys. So we got the chocolate milk, vanilla milk, strawberry milk for that. We're gonna have wine, you wanna like a little hook, whatever you want to do. It comes to the bar, hangout, jazz music, we're gonna have live music, jazz music, you gotta come to Iron. You gotta come to Stone Cakes and really get the experience. Get the experience. I love that. A nice nightcap at Stone Cakes.

SPEAKER_01 31:30

Yes, that vision casting is powerful to me, my friend.

SPEAKER_05 31:33

Yep, and then we're gonna have them in stores, so you can go to Whole Foods, you can go to Walmart, we're gonna see about Walmart. But yeah, we're gonna be in stores.

SPEAKER_01 31:40

Ain't nothing wrong with being in Walmart. You're gonna be in front of a lot of people. Listen, we're in front of a lot of people. And we're just going, man. Um, so you come up with like some really cool names for like all of your cheesecakes. Like, what do you what do you do with that? Like, do you just like write it down or you just like kind of spit off some of the things?

SPEAKER_05 31:57

I just remember it. I I remember it comes to me, and I'm just like, we're gonna call you like the peaches and cream stone cake. We're gonna call you, you're giving it life. Yeah, the strawberry crunch stone cake, the apple care. I just call it really what it is, and just it's the stone cake. Like the wedding cake has been my most popular one. So pretty much the wedding cake is just a French vanilla cake layer on top of the stone cake base. Yes. And I had three orders for that yesterday. It's like the wedding cake is like that. It's so good. If you like French vanilla, then you'll love it.

SPEAKER_01 32:23

Yeah, that's beautiful. So, I mean, most of what we talked about today has just been really positive and uplifting. But there's always times in an entrepreneurial journey where it's like heavy. Yeah. You know, and you're like, man, am I am I doing it right? Like, do I need to keep going? You know, so share, you know, share a little story of of a time where it was kind of hard. Yeah. You know, where it wasn't all going great.

SPEAKER_05 32:48

That actually happens more than people think. Like, I try not to show it, but I also try to be very vulnerable with my my fans and my people that follow me on Instagram. Yeah. Um, because entrepreneurship is not always like what you see, like, hey, the positive, like you made it, like you're doing this. It's it's a lot of down moments to it. It's a lot of times where you think, like, is this really what I'm supposed to be doing? Um, and every time I have that moment where I think, is this what I'm supposed to be doing? I'll have a whole lot of crash out right before I have to be at an event. And the event just confirms to me that I'm where I'm I always get confirmation. God always sends somebody every time that always tells me, You gotta keep doing this. This is your calling, you got a gifted hands, this is what you meant to do. Continue to, and they it's always like that, every time. And that's why I said, man, God is so real, and you can't doubt him, and you just have to trust him. He is so I when I I promise you, every time I'm about to get, like, feel like I'm gonna give up, it's always a confirmation to exactly what I'm feeling. Like, I burnt some cheesecakes one time, and I was just over it because I fell asleep and they they burned because I was I was tired, I was grinding. Um, I was over, I was I was gonna throw them away. I mean, I end up repurposing those cheese. Something is like just like cut them up and use them for samples. I cut those things up to use them for samples, and now everybody's asking for a creme brulee cheesecake. I'm like, I don't even do, I said that was a burnt stone cake. Like, I don't even do creme brulee, so I'm like, do I do burnt stone cake? But that's what everyone was saying. They was like, this is amazing. And it's just like repurposing things and just going with the flow, what you got, but also praying, and like I said, I can't mention enough, keep God first because entrepreneurship is not for the weak over your hearted. Like you have to be connected to God because if you're not connected, then I feel sorry for you. Yeah, that's all I can say. But yeah, every time, like, it's it, and it's so much, it feels like it's so much that you feel like you're supposed to be doing, or it's like, what am I not doing? Like, what do I need to do? I've learned with me and how my mind works. Write everything down. I live off my calendar now. Okay. Um, sometimes I may double book something and I'll be so upset with myself, but I live and I write everything down. That's right. Because we our brain is a muscle and oftentimes we overextend, but we will forget if we don't write it down. So we have to learn how to write things down and really trust the process, man, and just know that God is gonna lead you, thinking that he's gonna lead you right where you're supposed to go, he's gonna put everybody in your path. You don't need to go looking for it. Yeah, just keep moving. And one thing that I learned just show up. Show up. Just show up. Regardless of how you feel, show up. Yeah, show up and know it's bigger than you. When you know that it's bigger than you, like we have an assignment, we put on this earth for something, and it's bigger than us. You have to go outside of yourself and know it's not for you, it's not you. God has you here for someone, it's for something. It's bigger than you. Let's go. So I can't let my people, I feel like I can't let y'all down. Like I have something that y'all really love. And I know I have people now like, I'm look, I'm look, I need this, I'm going through. Are you are you? I'm like, yeah, I got you. Like, just pull up. And I what that moment and those times makes me go harder and make me go stronger. And it's like, I got this. I know I got it.

SPEAKER_01 35:56

Man, it's so beautiful. And and your testimony, right, to God's favor and his love and his grace over our lives is is the thing that is a difference in in all of our experiences. And unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there who don't live that way. They don't walk that way. Maybe because they never got to have somebody who showed them, right? So every time when we use our platform and we speak to that grace and that power and that mercy to God, we're connecting with somebody on the other end who just needs to hear there's an answer, right? There's always a way out, there's always something more, but the access to that power can only come through God. And uh it's really cool that you're here to be able to just continue edifying that and and really building that, you know, really building that in. And you know, we live in an age and time where the churches they don't operate the same way. They they used to. You know, there's an authenticity that's kind of missing um behind the pulpit now. And so I believe that God is raising and still doing his mission, as he always did, but it's not with the churches as much anymore. Right? It's in this new generation of business owners, uh, people in the streets, actually going out, providing the services. And when you meet someone who's been blessed by the glory of the Lord, you can tell, man, they're they're shiny. You know, what they touch hits different. You know, they have a power about them that is unmistakably, you know, real. And uh that's one of the things that you carry with you, my friend, is really, really cool uh to just experience and be around and um and try it in your food, yeah, right? Yeah, because the cook with a little bit of uh love from the Lord and throw in some food, man. It's top tier.

SPEAKER_05 37:55

It's hidden, it's just hidden different. But yeah, beautiful. I just think, man, just his strength, just giving me the strength. Like, even those nights when you're up all night, and then people always like you everywhere. They always say, You everywhere. How you got the energy? That's that's that's my answer. Yeah, because I couldn't do it without him. That's right. I couldn't, but I'm just so grateful, even like to be here in this moment. I don't take anything for granted. I don't know everything is a part of my divine assignment and my my purpose here on earth, man. So I'm just grateful for all this. I'm grateful for you just having me here, like everything, just the drive here. I just just think and I'm listening to gossip. I'm just I'm just grateful, man.

SPEAKER_01 38:32

Yeah, I love that. I also love how you shared, you know, like you'll be feeling the stress of life and the weights and like what you signed up for, and you say you have a crash out.

SPEAKER_05 38:43

Yes, real bad.

SPEAKER_01 38:45

And like I'm laughing at that because like I do the same thing. And I think most people do this, yeah, right? It's like they plan for something, they're so close, they're right up on it, and it's it's it feels like it's too much.

SPEAKER_04 38:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:58

But having that faith to just follow through, right? At the 11th hour, got two hours left, you got 10 cakes to make, how are we gonna get there?

SPEAKER_04 39:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:08

Instead of calling it out, canceling the order, grinding through. Yeah. You know? But then, like you said, delivering it and what you thought wasn't good enough was more than enough. But only because you put faith in that and and you follow through.

SPEAKER_04 39:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:25

And and I feel that same thing. Like every time we throw an event here at the school, and there's so much planning, so much alignment, like are people gonna like this? And I'm just stressed out to the max.

SPEAKER_04 39:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:36

And then as soon as it starts, like it just goes away. It just floats away because it's like one way or the other, I'm here.

SPEAKER_04 39:42

Yeah. That's it.

SPEAKER_01 39:43

And it's not gonna be what it's gonna be. Yeah, there is no move, shake, left, right, it's happening as it should. And every time I feel that way, I get to the end of the event, I get home, and I'm like, man, we killed. That's it. We killed. That's it. That's what I'm saying. We we hurt somebody else. And uh because I've been on the earth more and more, and I've put my faith in that more and more, I am able to accomplish more and more with less. And it's that faith component that really combines and adds to that, which is that multiplication of Christ. Yeah, man. He will take a little and make it unending, yeah. Right? Forever and ever. So it's just really cool to again have another person across the table that just loves the Lord and and really understands what what it is we're here to do. That's it, man. Well, Mr. Stone, it's been awesome having you here with us on the podcast today. Um, you've dropped some gems about cooking and life and entrepreneurship. Um, go ahead and take a few moments and look at the camera. Share with our listeners like how can they get in contact with you? What's your social media? You know, what's the best way for them to get stoned?

SPEAKER_05 40:57

Okay. What's going on, y'all? It's your boy Stone here. Y'all know we rockin' and rolling. Listen, how y'all can find me is on Instagram. If y'all go to Instagram, it's it's Stone Cakes on Instagram, I t-s, s t-o-n-e, c A K-E-S on Instagram. Or y'all can feel free to visit my website at www.stonecakes.com. I'm also on Facebook as well at It'S Stone Cakes on Facebook. Um, I can't wait to see y'all. I can't wait to for y'all to experience the goodness of stone cakes and get y'all stone. Let's go.

SPEAKER_01 41:30

Awesome, everybody. We just finished up another incredible podcast here on Chasing Heritage with Mr. Stone, the owner and founder of Stone Cakes. What an amazing experience it was to talk about vegan cheesecakes, how he's bringing a southern dish to a new level, opening the doors for individuals who don't normally get to enjoy desserts. As always, like and follow us because our goal is to provide the most exciting informational interviewees on chasing heritage, and that can't happen without your support. We'll see you guys next time on Chasing Heritage.