American Operator

DJ Smith runs a business built on a single truth: you only get one shot a year to get it right. As the founder of Holiday & Harvest Tree Farm in Austin, he operates in a world where Christmas isn’t a season — it’s a high-stakes sprint that determines the entire year. DJ Talks About: 🔴 Running a seasonal, zero-margin-for-error business where one weekend can make or break everything. 🔴 How gro...

Greg Gordon is unfiltered, unpredictable, and one of the most original operators you’ll ever meet. From renting margarita machines across Texas to running for Austin Mayor and accidentally building a global foam business, Greg’s story is a masterclass in saying yes, showing up, and figuring it out later. Greg Talks About:  🔴 Growing up with chaos, grit, and resilience — and how it shaped his oper...

On this Thanksgiving episode, JC reflects on gratitude, community, and what we lose when convenience replaces connection. It’s a reminder that Main Street still does something Amazon never will: bring people together. JC Talks About:  🔴 How the holiday rush buries gratitude and intention.  🔴 The difference between mass-produced gifts and Main Street craftsmanship.  🔴 Why small businesses shape...

At 20 years old, Tori Clark lost her father — and overnight, inherited her family’s charter bus company, Clark Travel , along with millions in debt. What followed wasn’t just a business turnaround. It was a six-year fight to survive, rebuild, and eventually redefine what success means. Today, she runs Spa Luxe , a hospitality-driven wellness brand rewriting the rules of the spa industry — built on...

In the heart of Vail Valley, Ryan Thompson and Sean McNeill run 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co. , a distillery paying tribute to the legendary 10th Mountain Division — soldiers who fought Nazis, came home, and laid the foundation for modern skiing and mountain recreation. From bartending in small-town Colorado to building a nationally recognized whiskey brand, Ryan and Sean share the grit,...

What happens when an Irish river guide turns his passion for adventure into a small business empire in the Colorado mountains? Ken Murphy, founder of Adventure Outdoors in Eagle, Colorado, shares how a one-way ticket to the U.S. turned into a lifelong pursuit of freedom, grit, and entrepreneurship. From ski lifts to whitewater rapids, Ken built a career around recreation — and then transformed tha...

What happens when you trade the desk job for a dog bus? For Evan, the journey from finance to fur started with one realization — he was meant to work outside, around animals, and on his own terms. After years behind a desk as a banker and analyst, he walked away from corporate life to care for horses, manage vet clinics, and eventually launch EZ Dog Stay & Play — a dog daycare and boarding bus...

Why do veterans make some of the best business owners in America? For John Panaccione, the answer starts with leadership, decision-making, and grit — traits forged not in a boardroom, but on the battlefield. John grew up in Rhode Island in a family with a long history of military service. After years as an Army officer — including a stint leading airborne tank units during Desert Storm — he learne...

The future of flight isn’t louder—it’s quieter. Mark Moore and Ian Villa are the co-founders of Whisper Aero, a Tennessee-based startup designing the next generation of electric propulsion—technology so quiet, clean, and efficient that it’s poised to transform everything from drones to airplanes to leaf blowers. After 32 years at NASA, Mark left government research to bring aviation innovation to...

He gave up his dream of becoming an astronaut to lead the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Col. Justin “Astro” Elliott’s story is one of grit, leadership, and choosing the harder path. Col. Justin “Astro” Elliott grew up in Houston, with NASA in his backyard and space in his sights. A first-generation Canadian-American, he fought through obstacles—like poor eyesight that nearly ended his aviation care...

What happens when three friends from Alabama bring Southern grit, barbecue, and a whole lot of hustle to the mountains of Colorado? You get Moe’s Original BBQ — a community-driven restaurant that’s grown from a Vail Valley train station into more than 50 locations across the country. In this episode of American Operator, JC sits down with founders Mike, Jeff, and Ben to unpack the story behind the...

For Brooks, the path to becoming a business owner wasn’t straight — but it was true. Brooks grew up hunting, fishing, and processing deer with his family, he always had a connection to food and community. After a short stint in college, years running a local deli, and time in the oil field, life took a sharp turn when COVID hit. Laid off and back at square one, he found himself working at the town...

Austin Pardon's Pod Description? Austin Pardon grew up bottle-feeding baby tigers and walking among exotic animals — a third-generation legacy that shaped his vision for Droptine Studios. What began as a passion for telling the stories of exotic animal ranchers and breeders has grown tenfold into a thriving creative business, serving both corporate clients and small operators alike. In this c...

In this episode of American Operator, JC sits down with Wade Lombard—an entrepreneur who went from disrupting the moving industry to building custom homes—to talk about leadership, discipline, and staying in your lane. Wade shares how key relationships shaped his path, why marriage transformed his priorities, and how understanding the Enneagram has helped him lead more effectively. From tackling a...

In this episode of American Operator, JC sits down with James, founder of Tarrytown Roofing, to unpack a life shaped by grit, urgency, and a drive to do things better. From being sent alone to a family ranch in Mexico at age 12—learning Spanish, ranching, and resilience—to building a career in sales before betting on himself in the roofing industry, James’ journey is a masterclass in adaptation. H...

Michael Summers didn’t start in the trades — he started on stage. A former theater major at Baylor turned tour manager for bands like Switchfoot, Jars of Clay, and Robert Randolph, Michael’s early career was all about storytelling, logistics, and making people laugh. Today, he owns Alamo Glass, a residential and commercial glass business in Texas — and his path from the entertainment world to blue...

Here is a description for Kaylee Watts - Thoughts? At the beginning of building a thriving laser skincare business, Kaylee Watts was juggling four jobs keeping Austin Laser Solutions running (all solo) — answering phones, treating clients, and managing books all between 6th Street bar shifts. What started as a grind turned into a scaled, multi-location operation with loyal clients and a growing te...

How do you lead a legacy brand without losing yourself in the process? Ricky Dickson spent 43 years at Blue Bell, working his way from the first day on the job to the CEO seat — and never forgot where he came from. In this episode of American Operator, Ricky shares what it really means to grow into leadership: staying grounded in service, leading with humility, and walking through both the sweet a...

In this episode of American Operator , Dr. Nick shares how his grandfather’s wisdom and belief in him sparked a fire to go independent. From those early days of doubt and hustle to building a thriving chiropractic practice, Dr. Nick reveals the discipline, patience, and purpose it takes to serve people well — and run a values-driven business. This is a story about honoring where you come from, pus...

When crisis hits, it's not just firefighters and first responders that show up — sometimes, it's your neighborhood small business owner. In this episode, we dive into real stories of local operators who stepped in when it mattered most. From natural disasters to community breakdowns, these entrepreneurs became unexpected heroes, proving that running a business isn't just about profi...

In this final episode of our First 30 Days series, we get tactical about improving the business you just bought —without breaking the machine. JC shares how to audit your customer and team experience, introduces a 5-step framework for solving process problems, and explains how to implement changes without burning trust or momentum. If you’re ready to lead smarter, not louder, and want to make your...

You don’t need to be a CPA to be a great owner. But if you don’t understand how your business makes, loses, or keeps money... you’re flying blind. In this episode of American Operator , JC walks through the core financial metrics every new business owner must track to know if the business is actually healthy… or just surviving. From weekly cash flow checks to retention rates and debt coverage, thi...

You just bought a business. Now what? The worst thing you can do is walk in and start swinging your authority around. In this episode of American Operator , JC breaks down exactly what the first 30 days should look like for any new owner. This isn’t the time to change everything. It’s the time to earn trust. From one-on-one conversations to walking the floor with humility, this episode will teach...

On this Independence Day, JC delivers a personal and passionate message on why small business ownership is the most American thing you can do . As we fire up the grills and watch fireworks, JC challenges us to think about what we're doing with the opportunity we've been given. He shares reflections from his time in uniform, the risk of losing legacy businesses, and how we need a new gene...

In this episode of American Operator, we sit down with Jeff and Jason Driskel — brothers, quarterbacks, and now business partners. While Jeff continues his NFL career, Jason has stepped into the full-time operator role as they grow a portfolio of service-based businesses that prioritize freedom, fundamentals, and long-term value. Their first acquisition? An accounting firm. Since then, it’s been a...