# How I Built Resilience: Live with José Andrés

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-04-30
- Length: 28m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-30-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-jose-andres

## Summary

José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, explains how his nonprofit scaled to serve nearly 3 million meals daily during the pandemic by partnering with over 500 closed restaurants and local organizations to fill gaps left by underfunded NGOs. He details the operational model of leveraging existing culinary infrastructure to feed frontline workers, homeless populations, and low-income families across more than 100 cities. Andrés also advocates for legislative changes, such as the proposed 'America Eats Now' bill, to streamline USDA support for small farmers and ensure food reaches those in need without bureaucratic delay. The conversation highlights the shift from his Michelin-starred fine dining to large-scale humanitarian logistics, emphasizing adaptation and community resilience.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-30-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-jose-andres#t=0) Introduction: José Andrés and World Central Kitchen
- [2:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-30-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-jose-andres#t=150) Scaling Operations: 200,000 Meals Daily and Emergency Response
- [4:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-30-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-jose-andres#t=255) Operational Model: Partnering with 500+ Restaurants and NGOs
- [8:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-30-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-jose-andres#t=521) Logistics: Stadium Kitchens, Hot Meals, and Food Distribution
- [10:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-30-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-jose-andres#t=647) From Michelin Stars to Humanitarian Activism
- [13:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-30-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-jose-andres#t=833) Industry Adaptation: Reinventing Restaurants and Supporting Workers
- [16:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-30-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-jose-andres#t=968) Public Engagement: How Individuals Can Help from Home
- [18:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-30-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-jose-andres#t=1096) Sustainability: Funding, Donors, and 'Boots on the Ground'
- [21:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-30-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-jose-andres#t=1304) Motivation: Clara Barton, Robert Egger, and Giving Back
- [25:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-30-how-i-built-resilience-live-with-jose-andres#t=1505) Hope and Unity: 'We, The People' and Weaponizing Empathy

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- World Central Kitchen (company)
- USDA (company)
- Minibar (product)
- Bazaar (product)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Visa (other)

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- [Founder Feature: Edouardo Jordan of The Food with Roots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-03-27-founder-feature-edouardo-jordan-of-the-food-with-roots) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#66 Sharing is Caring: How Alison Cayne & Haven's Kitchen share cooking confidence and industry knowledge](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-10-25-66-sharing-is-caring-how-alison-cayne-havens-kitchen-share-cooking-confidence-an) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#54 Stories from Inside Mondelēz International's CoLab Program with Pan's Mushroom Jerky & GoNanas](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-07-26-54-stories-from-inside-mondelez-internationals-colab-program-with-pans-mushroom) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Jen Liao of MìLà](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-08-23-founder-feature-jen-liao-of-mila) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Morgan Murdock of Unbothered Foods](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-05-02-founder-feature-morgan-murdock-of-unbothered-foods) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

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