What does it really take to build a business in the trenches — one plate at a time?
In this episode of American Operator, JC sits down with Robert Strong, Iraq veteran, chef and founder of Pretty Thai in Austin, TX. From late nights in a food truck to scaling a sauce brand through big name retailers, Robert breaks down the grit, risk, and resilience behind building something through his grief.
This isn't just another founder story. Robert shares the personal trials his family endured that kept them from being able to enjoy the success (at first) and how that launched his drive to create the Palmer Strong Foundation. He now focuses on making a difference for families in their most desperate times.
You’ll hear:
→ Why “don’t do it” might be the best advice for entrepreneurs
→ What most people misunderstand about the food business
→ The difference between being a great cook and being a great operator
→ How culture, authenticity, and obsession with quality helped Pretty Thai grow
Whether you’re dreaming of your first storefront or in the thick of scaling, this episode is for the ones doing the work.
🎧 Hit play. Get inspired. Keep building.
Subscribe to AO's Newsletter 🗞️
Find BTS with more Owners on Youtube 🎥
Follow us onInstagram: @TheAmericanOperator 📸
Follow Joseph Cabrera on LinkedIn 🔗
Subscribe to AO's Newsletter 🗞️
Find BTS with more Owners on Youtube 🎥
Follow us on Instagram: @TheAmericanOperator 📸
Follow Joseph Cabrera on LinkedIn 🔗
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.