The Pretzel Path: Adam Shapiro on Creativity and Entrepreneurship

📺 Watch & Subscribe on YouTubeIn this episode of I’ll Meet You There, host Paige Nolan sits down with actor and entrepreneur Adam Shapiro for a funny, heartfelt, and inspiring conversation about creativity, parenthood, reinvention, and the winding road that led to Shappy Pretzel.Adam shares how simple act of cooking with his son during Covid lockdowns soon became an obsession: recreating the perfect Philadelphia soft pretzel. After Ryan Seacrest mentioned the pretzels on-air, what started as a playful idea quickly grew into Shappy Pretzel, drawing local demand, press attention, and a wave of unexpected momentum.Paige and Adam talk about the realities of entrepreneurship, the nonstop problem-solving behind the scenes, and the many twists the business has taken through production partnerships, bakery moves, and community support. Adam also reflects on balancing acting, theater-company work, fatherhood, and business ownership, while staying connected to authenticity, nostalgia, and the creative community that keeps him grounded.What We Explored This Episode00:00 Before Times Setup00:17 Morocco to Lockdown01:42 Pregnancy and Isolation03:35 Cooking with Albie04:21 Philly Pretzel Quest05:07 Seacrest Sparks Demand06:57 Driveway Pickup Goes Viral07:49 From Hobby to Business09:31 Scaling with Bakeries12:27 Finding a Stable Home14:47 Branding Gets Authentic22:40 Juggling Acting and Pretzels25:49 Theater Company Origin Story29:56 Mentorship and Gatekeepers34:14 Family of Educators35:39 Philly Roots and Fandom36:07 Raising Kids in LA Sports37:19 Best Soft Pretzel Debate38:43 Pretzel Baker Road Trip40:06 Pretzel Community on Set42:14 Mentorship and Paying It Forward46:19 Learning LA and Parenting52:24 LA Creativity and Culture54:40 Entrepreneurship Reality Check59:05 Imposter Syndrome and Confidence01:01:40 Acting and Pretzels Collide01:03:44 Wrap Up and Next BakeResources MentionedShappy PretzelConnect with AdamWebsite - http://www.shappypretzel.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shappypretzel/ & https://www.instagram.com/shappyshaps/Connect with PaigeWebsite - https://paigenolan.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paigenolanwriteFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/paigenolanwriterLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-nolan-0932751/🎙️Music by Boyd McDonnellCover art photography by Innis CaseyPodcast production & marketing by North Node Podcast Network