American Operator
by Joseph Cabrera
Why America Can't Find Electricians (And How We Fix It) | Emily…
About this podcast
See America’s small businesses the way they were meant to be seen — up close, on the ground, and through the eyes of the people who run them. American Operator documents the real stories of Main Street:
• We visit small businesses across the country.
• We highlight operators keeping their towns alive.
• We show what ownership actually looks like.
• And we expose the hidden cost of private equity roll-ups hollowing out local communities.
From family-owned shops to essential service businesses, from thriving main streets to towns devastated by outside ownership, we’re capturing the reality of American small business at a turning point.
Our mission is simple: keep America locally owned & operated by shining a light on the businesses, operators, and communities worth fighting for.
Subscribe and join the movement to rebuild, revive, and protect America’s small business backbone.
This is American Operator
Pod: @AmericanOperatorPodcast
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
Episodes
The newest 20 of 70 episodes
- Why America Can't Find Electricians (And How We Fix It) | Emily Escobar | AO 70 · 1 h 14 minMost people don't realize how difficult it is to become a licensed electrician. After more than 20 years in the electrical trades, Emily Escobar has seen firsthand why so many…
- Profit vs Care: The Crisis in Senior Living | James Lee | AO 69 · 2 h 14 minWhat happens when the people who cared for us become dependent on someone else for care? In this episode of the American Operator Podcast, JC sits down with senior living expert…
- The Secret to Building a Blue-Collar Brand People Love | Lance Ingram -Waterloo Turf | AO 68 · 1 h 1 minWhat if the secret to building a great business had nothing to do with the product… and everything to do with purpose, people, and brand? In this episode of the American Operator…
- Why Honest Mary’s Chose Slow Growth Over Private Equity | Nelson Monteith | AO 67 · 1 h 6 minWhat does it really take to build a successful restaurant business? In this episode of the American Operator Podcast, JC sits down with Nelson Monteith, founder of Honest Mary’s…
- What Makes Someone READY to Own a Business? | Will Fry | AO 66 · 52 minAmerica doesn’t have a shortage of small businesses. It has a shortage of people ready to take over. In this episode of the American Operator Podcast, JC sits down with American…
- How Plumbing Outfitters Built an Elite Team Culture in the Trades | Ashley and Warren Stroud |AO 65 · 1 h 11 minWhat does it actually take to build a successful trades business in America today? In this episode of the American Operator Podcast, JC sits down with Ashley and Warren Stroud —…
- A Masterclass in Business Growth | Wade Lombard | AO 64 · 1 h 3 minWhat actually grows a business? Not what most people think. In this episode of the American Operator Podcast, Wade Lombard—founder of Square Cow Moving—breaks down what it really…
- SBA Head Kelly Loeffler: The Future of Small Business in America | AO 63 · 28 minWhat does the future of small business in America actually look like? In this episode of the American Operator Podcast, we sit down with Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S…
- What Actually Makes a Business Sellable | Judd Goodrich | AO 62 · 44 minWhat actually makes a small business valuable? And why do some buyers succeed… while others fail fast? In this episode of the American Operator Podcast, JC sits down with Judd…
- Rebuilding American Manufacturing | Bret Boyd | AO 61 · 1 h 4 minWhat does combat leadership have to do with running a business? More than you think. In this episode of the American Operator Podcast, Bret Boyd—West Point graduate, Army Ranger…
- Stop Talking About Deals. Start Learning How to Run a Business | Joseph Cabrera | AO 60 · 20 minEveryone today seems obsessed with buying businesses. Spreadsheets. Deal terms. Financing strategies. ETA. Search funds. Private equity playbooks. But almost nobody is talking…
- The Internet Is Lying About Buying a Business | TJ BROGAN | AO 59 · 1 h 2 minMost people talking about buying a business are focused on deals, numbers, and financial engineering… But what actually happens after the deal closes? In this episode of the…
- From Iraq to Small Business Owner: The Brutal Truth About Buying Your First Business | Nathan Lenahan AO 58 · 1 h 9 minWhat does it really take to buy and run a small business? In this episode of the American Operator Podcast, JC sits down with Army veteran and entrepreneur Nathan Lenahan to talk…
- If You Wanna Build a Business, Make Cortisol Your Friend | Jonathan Lusk | AO 57 · 1 h 6 minWhat happens when a former Wall Street professional walks away — and goes back to building with his hands? In this episode, JC sits down with Jonathan Lusk — a former Goldman…
- No One Knows What They Are Doing, So Act Like You Do I Joe Soelberg - AO 56 I · 1 h 8 minNo one knows what they’re doing. The difference? Some people decide to act anyway. In this episode of American Operator, Joe Soelberg shares the mindset shift that changes…
- Business Owners Will Respect You If You Do These 5 Things I Joseph Cabrera - AO 55 I · 23 minAre you constantly getting rejected by owners? In this solo episode of **American Operator**, we break down the **five things that actually earn trust and respect from legacy…
- The Creator Of America’s Best Burger Chain I Patrick Terry - AO 54 I · 1 h 9 minHow do you scale a fast-growing brand without losing your soul? In this episode of American Operator, we sit down with the team behind P. Terry’s Burger Stand to talk about…
- You Learn By Getting It Wrong; Advice From A Rally Racing Champion I Texas Dave - AO 53 I · 1 h 30 minWhat if the best training for business leadership didn’t come from a boardroom but, from the racetrack? In this episode of American Operator, we sit down with Texas Dave to talk…
- Why A Business Owner Decided To Audit The Government I Scott Fitzpatrick - AO 52 I · 50 minWhat does accountability actually look like in government — and why does it matter to everyday Americans? In this episode of American Operator, we sit down with Scott…
- Petite Keep’s Shark Tank Success I Lindsay Mullenger I AO 51 · 55 minWhat really happens after Shark Tank? In this episode of American Operator, we sit down with Lindsay Mullenger, founder of Petite Keep, to break down her journey from building a…







