Cookie Jar Confessionals

Season one of Cookie Jar Confessionals comes to a close, but, not before we break down some of the most useful conversations, funniest moments, and, listener feedback. Check out T-Rex Cookie On;TikTokInstagramFacebookWe ship nationwide on, Goldbelly.comFind us in stores around the midwest. Check out our store locator. 

Cookies and Granola collide. In this episode, Tina sits down with Angie Gustafson, founder of Gustola Granola. Both got their start at local farmers' markets and, shared the same community kitchen as they started their business. Each share personal stories of packing up, shipping out, and selling in the wee hours of the morning and getting real-time feedback from customers.Check out Angie and her granola at, gustolagranola.com

Mukbang, translated from Korean to English as “eating broadcast.” Guest, Lindsay Moser creator of The Hunger Diaries and Cake Too Fitness goes deep on eating for the camera and, those who gain millions of social media followers doing it. The responsibility and reward of mukbang. Check out The Hunger Diaries!InstagramYouTube

Social media is a strange beast. The things we share, see, and go viral sometimes have no rhyme or reason. What does it take to generate nearly more than 10-million followers if you're a small business or personal brand? In this episode, Ben Tarrolly AKA Bentellect joins Tina to talk about going viral and creating sustainable social media success. Tina also shares her experience growing T-Rex on social media.Ben was a guest baker creating his own cookie for T-Rex. Part of the proceeds benefited NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. 

Cookie Jar Confessionals is taking a pause over the holidays. We'll be back with new episodes in 2022! In the meantime, check out;Nationwide Shipping on T-Rex CookiesStore and Retailer Locator of Frozen Cookie pucksPast guests on Cookie Jar Confessionals InstagramFind T-Rex on TikTok & Instagram

Entrepreneurs never think about going back to work for “The man” right? Being comfortable with the uncomfortable is a mindset to be embraced. Fitness coach, owner of The Warehouse, and personal trainer Nickie Carrigan sits down with Tina to talk about the grounding principles of being a business owner. 

In this episode, Tina talks with her brother, Cesar Castillejos about growing up as immigrants. Not only that but watching their parents struggle through entrepreneurship and how it solidified never choosing a path of entrepreneurship. Until they did. Hear some deeply personal stories of family, business and seeking a better life. 

What makes food worth talking about, writing about, and posting all over your social media feeds? No one has any idea. Do they? Our guest Stephanie Hansen does. Is the food worth sharing because of the recipe or the story behind it? Hansen is the host of the Weekly Dish on MyTalk 107 radio and hosts two podcasts, Makers of Minnesota and Dishing with Stephanie's Dish. 

In this episode, Jeff Munneke joins Tina. Jeff is the Vice President of Fan Experience for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. Jeff's a master relationship builder. Only one problem, you can't shake 20,000 hands each night. How the Timberwolves & Lynx became the first to overhaul a high-touch fan experience. And, insider tips on how to become a better relationship builder.

Sure, you're pursuing what you love. That doesn't mean you're immune from struggling to keep a healthy mindset or, are exempt from dealing with mental health struggles. In this episode, Tina welcomes Ph.D. Sherry Walling, clinical psychologist, entrepreneur, and host of the Zen Founder podcast to talk about the strategies of keeping a healthy balance in your life as an entrepreneur and well, just a human. 

Creativity is at the core of T-Rex cookie. Breaking the mold on flavors, recipes, and cookie size is what we're about. Check out our Tik Tok for some weird but good flavors! In this episode, Tina talks about creativity and taking a career leap with Eric Perkins. Perkins was the Sports Director at KARE 11, the NBC affiliate in Minneapolis. His work spanned 25-years there and has won numerous Emmys, is one of the most recognized TV personalities in the Twin Cities and has broken the mold of about every formula known to the news. 

COVID crushed the food industry. Restaurants, bakeries breweries were forced to get creative or close their doors to keep customers. T-Rex was no exception to embracing the “pivot” during a pandemic that ground everything to a halt. Guest is Bill “Billy The Bunman” Hanisch who owns Hanisch bakery. His unique way to give back while his shop was in need was what kept things going. 

Tina Rexing shares a quick recipe using T-Rex Cookies. New episodes of Cookie Jar Confessionals are available bi-weekly and published on Mondays. With the exception of Monday September 6. 

There is a dark underworld of competitive baking…We're just kidding, at least we think? Regardless for nearly 20-years Tina baked competitively at State Fairs including the Minnesota State Fair. Cutting your teeth here in the baking world is no joke. These people are serious!Go behind the curtain of the judgmental, the competitive, the recipe hoarders and the darn fine baked goods at these competitions. Guest is Cyndi Harles, founder of the Blue Ribbon Group a community of top tier bakers.© authenci

Imagine seeing where you got your start in business thrust into world headlines for all the wrong reasons. Tina tells the deeply personal story of how the birth of T-Rex Cookie and the dead of George Floyd are connected.Hundreds of businesses in Minneapolis-St.Paul were burned, looted, damaged or completely destroyed after days of protests & riots in 2020. Small businesses affected needed help. That's where the Du Nord foundation came in - raising nearly $1-million dollars to help close to 100-businesses pay for damages. CEO of Du Nord Spirits, Chris Montana is this episodes guest talking about the personal toll and building back. 

On this episode, Jill Pavlak Co-Owner of Urban Growler joins Tina as the guest. Being a woman, or a minority might help your marketing. So, why is that something some women owned business or minority owned businesses hesitate to talk about? Hear some of Tina's personal stories and, together Tina & Jill talk about the struggles of making a good product before marketing it a certain way. 

Failing is losing your business, destroying a batch of cookies, or leaving your cell phone in your pocket during the wash. In this episode, Tina and Minneapolis Chef David Fhima share stories of failure and how shifting your mindset is essential to growth. Fhima is the guest of this episode who Twin Cities Business Magazine proclaimed “likely closed more high profile restaurants than anyone in the Twin Cities" among all his success in a nearly 40-year career.Fhima is the executive chef for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx. He also runs his French-American restaurant Fhima's in downtown Minneapolis and is a master of the "pivot."

In this episode, Tina shares the inside story of her reality TV experience on Shark Tank. Fellow Shark Tank participant and Extreme Sandbox CEO Randy Stenger joins Tina on the podcast. What's behind the application? The Process and the pitch? Tina and Randy share it all about their journey in the door and out the door of the show that draws nearly 4.4-million viewers per episode on ABC. 

To a lot of us, self-promotion and sales can feel really gross - selling ourselves to others and essentially bragging about what we do. It doesn't have to be shameful. When you're selling a great product, and actually doing the work - sales doesn't have to be sleazy self-promotion. Especially what staying true to what you love. If you don't sell yourself no one else will as you're trying to get your footing in business. Real estate mogul Kris Lindahl joins Tina on this episode. Kris is one of the top agents in Minnesota and, it's hard to miss him if you live in the state. His face and real estate business is just about everywhere. 

We like to think successful people always are 100% sure of themselves. Truth is, that's a lie. Imposter Syndrome is doubting your abilities even when you have proven to be successful. That inner battle can hold us back from truly challenging ourselves to get what we want. In this episode, Tina talks about Imposter Syndrome how it's affected her, and how she's overcome those mental hurdles to build and continue to grow a sustainable business. Joining her is author, speaker, and coach Heather Whelpley who specializes in empowering people to overcome their inner self-doubt. 

Thanks for listening to the Cookie Jar Confessionals! Read more about Tina Rexing and T-Rex Cookie in the series description.In this episode: Saying “I quit” was just the beginning of a long journey of self-reflection, building my business to baking big A** cookies. It was also incredibly scary riding the roller coaster of uncertainty. If you're struggling out there about jumping off that proverbial cliff, people do it every day and survive. Bernie Dahlin who is the founder of Double Take Salsa joins the podcast to talk about his experiences in quitting a corporate job providing mortgages and building his business. 

Cookie Jar Confessionals is launching in May! It's a new bi-weekly podcast by Minnesota-based cookie entrepreneur Tina Rexing, owner of T-Rex Cookie. Tina proves that your perception of success is broken. Define it on your own terms. Are you looking for inspiration through honesty about business, life, hustling your way to make your dreams happen - or, just looking for some crazy & fun stories? Cookie Jar Confessionals will have it all. Join Tina Rexing who is sharing insights about her journey in corporate America then jumping off the cliff to build her business. Tina is joined by other business owners for authentic stories and conversations about quitting jobs, feeling like an imposter, struggling through the hardships, and in the end, staying focused on your goals. Subscribe now! And get the first episode when its published. All rights reserved by authenci LLC & T-Rex Cookie. 2021.