Story & Lesson Highlights with Brandon Thomas of Westside

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Brandon Thomas. Check out our conversation below.

Brandon, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Cycling gives me uninterrupted thinking time — it’s where a lot of my best ideas come together. Baking healthy desserts taps into the same creative problem-solving muscle I use in marketing: experimenting, refining, and finding the balance between structure and creativity. Both keep me grounded while pushing me to think differently, which ultimately shows up in the work I do.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Brandon—the founder of Guilt Free Pastries, where indulgence meets integrity.
My story began with a personal wake-up call: I realized that I’d veered off course when I reached 300 pounds, and decided it was time to turn my life around. My transformation brought me down to a healthier, happier 175—and sparked the birth of something far more meaningful than a bakery. Today, Guilt Free Pastries is more than a dessert business; it’s a movement I call the Guilt Free Lifestyle™.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks bonds between people is misalignment—when communication becomes transactional, assumptions replace curiosity, and people stop feeling seen or valued. Disconnection often starts quietly, not with conflict, but with a lack of presence and empathy.
What restores those bonds is intention. Listening without the need to respond. Leading with honesty. Creating shared experiences that bring people back into alignment. When people feel understood, supported, and included, trust naturally rebuilds—and connection follows.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes — there were moments when giving up felt like the practical choice. Building Guilt Free Pastries (GFP) wasn’t a straight line. There were long stretches where resources were tight, momentum was slow, and the vision felt bigger than the support around it.
What kept me going was understanding that struggle wasn’t a signal to stop — it was feedback. Each setback forced me to refine the model, sharpen my discipline, and reconnect with why I started in the first place. I didn’t build GFP just to sell desserts; I built it to challenge how people think about health, access, and sustainability.
Looking back, the moments I almost walked away are the same moments that built the foundation I still stand on today.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes — it is. What people see publicly is the same person I am behind the scenes. I’m intentional about showing up honestly, whether I’m talking about health, business, or the uncomfortable parts of growth.
Social media, for me, isn’t a performance — it’s a reflection. The videos, the conversations, the messaging all come from lived experience, not a script. I share what I’ve learned in real time because transparency builds trust, and trust is the foundation of any meaningful connection.
If anything, the public version of me is simply a more articulated version of who I’ve always been — someone committed to growth, wellness, and helping others move forward in a sustainable way.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
They’d miss access to worry-free, healthy desserts. More than the product itself, they’d miss the peace of mind that comes with knowing they can enjoy something indulgent without compromising their health or values.
Guilt Free Pastries was built to remove friction — the stress, the second-guessing, the trade-offs people are used to making with food. That sense of trust and ease is what customers come back for, and it’s what I’m most proud to have created.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.guiltfreepastries.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guiltfreelifestyle1/
• Twitter: https://x.com/GFP_EatMoreFat
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuiltFree_Lifestyle

Image Credits
Erica Joyner Mitchell