Leia Gaccione is a chef and partner at The Saint Clair, where she leads the kitchen while helping shape the vision, culture, and long-term direction of the restaurant. Her work sits at the intersection of hospitality, leadership, and creative discipline, balancing craft, consistency, and ownership in an industry that demands everything.

In this episode, Drew and Leia talk about what it actually takes to build and sustain a restaurant, the pressure that comes with ownership, and the reality of committing fully to your work when there is no off switch. Leia opens up about leadership in the kitchen, earning trust over time, and the difference between loving the craft and carrying the responsibility of the business. They get into discipline, decision-making under pressure, and what it means to stay grounded while building something that lasts.

This conversation is exactly what Make Cool Sh*t is about. It is about commitment, accountability, and respecting the work enough to show up every day. If you are a founder, creative, or operator navigating high standards, long hours, and real responsibility, this episode will resonate.

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Make Cool Sh*t is a design and strategy studio for the mavericks and misfits. Want to work with us? Email us directly at [email protected].

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