Turning Grilled Cheese into Gold: How Stephen Cusato Cooked Up a Hit Show

In this episode, I chat with Stephen Cusato, the creative mind behind "Not Another Cooking Show." Stephen shares his story about how his love for cooking started early, inspired by watching cooking shows and working his first job in a kitchen. His journey took him from running a food truck to becoming a popular YouTub influencer with millions of followers, teaching people how to cook in a fun and simple way.

Stephen opens up about his early struggles, including being dyslexic and feeling out of place in traditional school environments. These difficulties helped him develop a deep sense of grit and resilience. He shares how his passion for food started at a young age, from watching Japanese-dubbed cooking shows to working at a golf course's 19th hole. Stephen discusses the reality of running a food truck in New York, the challenges of making ends meet, and how that experience sharpened his cooking and business skills.

We also talk about the shift to creating content for his cooking show, and how he used platforms like Reddit to build his audience. Stephen explains his focus on making cooking approachable for everyone, especially those who feel intimidated in the kitchen. His goal is to bridge the gap between wanting to cook and actually having the skills to do so.

Throughout the conversation, Stephen highlights the importance of staying true to what you believe in, even when it's tempting to follow trends. This episode is perfect for anyone interested in food, making content, or starting something new. Tune in to hear Stephen’s story and gain a better understanding of what goes into building something meaningful.


00:00 - Introduction and Background
02:41 - Childhood and Love for Food
07:42 - Overcoming Challenges: Dyslexia and ADHD
10:53 - First Job and Experience in the Restaurant Business
16:30 - Transitioning to Food Content Creation
23:12 - Challenges and Success in the Food Truck Business
25:09 - Pursuing Photography and Videography
27:35 - Building a Client Base and Offering Unique Angles
29:32 - Overcoming Setbacks and Starting Not Another Cooking Show
31:41 - Discovering Personal Growth and Clarity
36:31 - The Journey to Success and the Importance of Perseverance
43:01 - Balancing Entertainment and Education in Content Creation
46:45 - Navigating Algorithms and Trends While Maintaining Authenticity

Stephen On Socials:
IG: @thefoodfreakk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephencusato
X: @thefoodfreak
Youtube: @NOTANOTHERCOOKINGSHOW
notanothercookingshow.tv

Jon on Socials:
IG: @streetschultz
FB: Jon Schultz
X: @JonSchultz_Onyx
LinkedIn: jonschultz1
www.jonschultz.com