Business Under Fire

Tommy Bonner
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Whether you are an aspiring business owner or seasoned professional, tune in to discover secrets to entrepreneurial triumphs. In this First Season, Tommy Bonner will meet with 52 Business Owners of all walks of life, each ready to share their business tips and tricks as well as their trials and victories.

  1. APR 2

    Business Under Fire S2, E10 | The 5 Things I Learned In Business

    What separates the entrepreneurs who make it from the ones who burn out? Tommy Bonner has 26 years and 240 employees worth of answers. In this solo episode of Business Under Fire, Tommy gets real about what it actually takes to build and sustain a business — from mowing lawns out of an Acura Integra to owning restaurants, a nursery, and flying private jets. No guest, no filter — just hard-earned lessons and straight talk. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00:19 – Intro & surprise call from Blake Burt (first-ever podcast guest) 00:03:11 – Why Tommy recorded a solo episode today 00:04:07 – What separates the men from the boys: doing it anyway 00:05:00 – Tommy's backstory: 26 years of entrepreneurship, starting at 19 00:06:08 – How it all started: a black Acura Integra, a push mower, and $500/week 00:08:17 – Lesson #1: The Buck Stops Here — you are the fixer, bulldozer & firefighter 00:14:50 – Lesson #2: The Smartest Person Might Not Be the Owner 00:18:07 – Lesson #3: The Key to Success Is People — the Beer House hiring story 00:27:31 – Lesson #4: Speed Wins — Perfection Kills Momentum 00:30:25 – Lesson #5: It's Going to Be Harder and Take Longer Than You Think 00:31:17 – The baseball analogy: aim for singles and doubles, home runs will come 00:34:19 – What Tommy wants from the podcast & his businesses going forward 00:38:36 – The hardest three years of his life — and how they came out the other side 00:40:26 – What's next: buying businesses, construction projects & flying 00:42:17 – Closing thoughts & restaurant recommendations in Port Aransas 📍 Mentioned in This Episode: Beer House – Port Aransas, TX Seafood & Spaghetti Works – Port Aransas, TX Burnt Bean Co. (referenced) 📬 Connect with Tommy Bonner: ✉️ Tommy@BusinessUnderFire.com If you enjoyed this episode, text or email Tommy directly — he reads them. New episodes dropping regularly on Business Under Fire.

    46 min

  2. MAR 20

    Business Under Fire S02 E09 - The Hard Truth About Entrepreneurship

    In this episode of Business Under Fire, we sit down with Rob from First Fidelity Wealth Management for a raw, unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to build, grow, and sustain a business over the long haul. From marketing failures and scaling struggles to leadership challenges and personal discipline, this episode dives deep into the realities most entrepreneurs don’t talk about. If you’re a business owner (or want to be one), this is packed with hard-earned lessons you won’t want to miss.

    1h 27m

  3. FEB 26

    Business Under Fire S02 E07 | Dine With Kent!

    What happens when a 40-year highway construction worker picks up his phone, walks into an African café, and accidentally goes viral? You get Dine with Kent — one of the most authentic food platforms on the internet. Host Tommy sits down with Ken Burns, the Port Aransas-based food influencer behind the massively popular TikTok and Instagram page "Dine with Kent," to talk about his accidental rise to fame, his philosophy of "for me or not for me," and why real people are hungry for real reactions. From small business advocacy to upcoming appearances on the Tamron Hall Show and a feature in the New York Times, Ken's story is proof that passion + authenticity can take you anywhere — even if you started by leaning your phone against a glass of water.

    49 min

  4. FEB 19

    Business Under Fire S02 E05 | The Sign Guy Who Does It Right

    This episode, we're joined by Jereme Ragsdale, owner of Sign Design in Lubbock, Texas. Jeremy started his company in 2002 after being let go on a Friday — and was knocking on doors by Monday. Over 23 years later, he's built one of West Texas's most trusted full-service sign and design companies, with a team that's been with him for decades. From vehicle wraps and building signs to becoming the mini ad agency for small businesses all across the region, Jeremy's story is one of grit, craft, and small-town pride done right.

    1h 4m

  5. FEB 5

    One Year of Owning a Dry Cleaning Business | Business Under Fire S02 E04

    What does the first year of business ownership ACTUALLY look like? In this episode, we sit down with Ian Acosta, owner of Tip Top Cleaners in New Braunfels, Texas, for a brutally honest conversation about his first year running the oldest dry cleaning business in town (established 1942). Ian shares the highs, lows, and hard lessons learned from transitioning from employee to owner. From earning respect as a young entrepreneur to mastering the numbers game, this is essential viewing for anyone considering buying or starting their own business. If you thought business ownership meant instant wealth and freedom... think again. This is the reality check every entrepreneur needs to hear.

    1h 12m

  6. JAN 30

    Business Under Fire 2025 Wrap! S01 E42

    In this special year-end episode, host Tommy reflects on the first year of Business Under Fire with surprise guest Matt Wheeler from Lubbock, Texas. After completing nearly 50 episodes in year one, Tommy shares the raw truth about podcasting costs, the unexpected connections made, and the real ROI that goes far beyond download numbers. From spending $3-4K per month on production to being in the top 20% of podcasts with just 100-300 downloads per week, this episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to run a successful business podcast. Tommy also shares two powerful stories that made the entire year worthwhile: how the podcast helped two old friends reconnect before one passed away, and how a guest offered life-changing free treatments to Tommy's friend battling cancer. Whether you're thinking about starting a podcast, looking for business networking strategies, or just want to hear honest reflections on entrepreneurship, this episode delivers authentic insights you won't find anywhere else.

    1 hr

  7. JAN 30

    Business Under Fire S01 E41 | Championship Mindset Meets Business Mastery - Coach Michael Burt

    This conversation goes deep into what it takes to build winning organizations, the price of excellence, and why the top 1% think differently. From practicing 2.5 hours in an opponent's gym after a loss to building multiple businesses while staying hungry for more, Coach Burt reveals the mindset and strategies that separate champions from everyone else. Whether you're an entrepreneur, coach, or someone hungry for more, this episode will challenge you to raise your standards and get uncomfortable in pursuit of greatness.

    50 min

  8. JAN 30

    Business Under Fire S01 E40 | 25-Year-Old Disrupting the Restaurant Industry - Mason Still

    In this episode, we sit down with Mason Steel, founder of Town - a revolutionary software company transforming how restaurants manage their digital presence. At just 25 years old, Mason has already built and pivoted multiple companies, raised capital from investors, and is now servicing over 100 restaurants with his all-in-one platform. From selling health insurance at 18 to throwing massive college concerts, to launching a failed coupon app that taught him invaluable lessons, Mason's entrepreneurial journey is packed with real, actionable business wisdom. Join us as we dive deep into cold calling strategies, fundraising, the harsh realities of startup life, and why cheap lawyers will cost you more in the long run. Mason shares raw, unfiltered insights about what it really takes to build a business - the failures, the pivots, and the grind that nobody talks about.

    1h 17m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
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5 Ratings

About

Whether you are an aspiring business owner or seasoned professional, tune in to discover secrets to entrepreneurial triumphs. In this First Season, Tommy Bonner will meet with 52 Business Owners of all walks of life, each ready to share their business tips and tricks as well as their trials and victories.

Information

  • Creator
    Tommy Bonner
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Business Under Fire
  • Show Website
    Business Under Fire