Nate Crawford on Stuttering & Building Morning Jay’s

When creativity, courage, and a good breakfast collide, you get something pretty special. Nate Crawford is a commercial photographer, content creator, and co-founder of Morning Jay’s, a nomadic breakfast pop-up in Chicago that is satiating appetites with scratch-made, joy-filled dishes.

As a person who stutters, Nate has navigated the ups and downs of communication in ways that have shaped his personal journey and his approach to business. From learning how to tell stories with intention to building a community that feels like family, Nate’s experience offers inspiring lessons on resilience, leadership, and embracing your voice.

We sat down with Nate to hear about his life, his business, and how stuttering has influenced everything from his morning waffles to his leadership style. 

Please note that some parts of this Q&A have been edited for clarity and grammatical accuracy.

National Stuttering Association: Please tell us about yourself.

Nate Crawford: My name is Nate Crawford. I’m originally from Central Illinois (shoutout 217!) but currently call Chicagoland home. I’ve been based out of the northwest suburbs (first Arlington Heights, then Des Plaines/Niles) but am moving to the Oak Park area mid-August. I’ve been a person who stutters since I was about five years old. Like many people who stutter, it has looked different throughout my life. Sometimes it's more present, sometimes barely noticeable, but it's always been a part of me.

I work as a commercial photographer and content creator, and I also run a small breakfast pop-up with my partner, Morning Jay’s. Having both a creative and hospitality-centric career, I’ve learned how to navigate the ups and downs of communication, especially in client-facing work and public situations, and it has taught me a lot about self-advocacy and grace. Stuttering hasn’t always been easy to accept, but over the years, it has become something I increasingly embrace. It is a part of my voice, both literally and figuratively, and I think there is a kind of strength in that.

NSA: Please tell us about Morning Jay's and its background.

NC: Morning Jay’s is a nomadic breakfast pop‑up based out of Chicago. My partner, Justen (the chef), and I (the baker/content creator) have always been lovers of good food and great hospitality. When having a less-than-stellar breakfast in a local diner, we realized we could do breakfast better—from scratch, with heart. That realization launched Morning Jay’s.

We began hosting small “cozy cafes” in our apartment last summer, inviting friends and colleagues to try our scratch‑made dishes—like goat cheese and onion jam danishes, chocolate-black sesame pop‑tarts, and Thai tea waffles with ube whipped cream and starfruit. These events were invitation‑only, community‑focused feedback sessions that brought people together over homey, intentional food.

From day one, the mission was clear: We wanted to create food that felt joyful and personal, not commercial. Donations from those cozy cafes helped us break even early on; we were turning a modest profit just a few months in. Then, a viral social video in the fall of 2024 amplified our reach, bringing more followers and opportunities to do things like plated brunches, menu drops, and public pop‑up events. 

NSA: Has stuttering ever influenced how you present Morning Jay’s, whether in how you talk with customers, tell your story, or build your brand?

NC: Most definitely! Like for so many who stutter, it influences every aspect of our lives. When you grow up with a stutter, you learn early on how to communicate with intention. You choose your words carefully, listen more, and become very aware of how stories are told and received. That sensitivity has made its way into every part of Morning Jay’s.

I’m not always the loudest voice in the room, but I’ve learned that storytelling doesn’t have to be fast or flashy to connect with people. Our brand is really built on that idea of slowing down, being thoughtful, and creating a sense of warmth and honest hospitality. Whether it’s a cozy caption on Instagram, a handwritten menu, or the way we describe a dish to a guest at a pop-up, I think there’s this thread of care and realness that comes from my own experience navigating the world as a person who stutters and the power of our words. 

There have been times I’ve felt nervous about speaking at events or introducing myself to someone new, but I’ve also found that sharing openly, both about our food and about who we are, helps build a stronger connection. Stuttering is part of my story, and in turn, is a part of Morning Jay’s. They’ve both taught me how to show up as myself.

NSA: What’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing that’s happened while running a café out of your apartment?

NC: There have been a lot of fun/unexpected moments! Anytime you work with food or host people, something is bound to go awry. At one of our spring cafes, the fire alarm in the complex went off halfway through and we had to evacuate outside to the street for a brief moment (all while a reporter and photographer from the Chicago Tribune were there covering our story, mind you!). Another fun moment was when we had two couples join us and the partners recognized each other as middle school classmates! 

NSA: Morning Jay’s has become more than a business; it seems to have built a following. Was that community part of your plan or did it surprise you?

NC: Community was always part of the dream, but the way it’s actually unfolded has surprised us in the best way. When we first started Morning Jay’s, we just wanted to make really good food and share it with people we cared about. It started with a few friends sitting around our apartment kitchen table, and slowly grew into pop-ups, pre-orders, and public events. We didn’t have a marketing budget or a five-year plan; we just led with intention, generosity, and a lot of extra breakfast potatoes. 

What surprised me most was how deeply people were connected to its spirit. Folks don’t just show up for the biscuits and cookies; they show up because it feels warm and familiar. Like they’re part of something. And as a queer couple, it’s been especially meaningful to see Morning Jay’s become a space where folks feel welcome, celebrated, and safe. We’ve had guests tell us it’s the first time they’ve felt truly comfortable at a food event, and that means everything to us.

I think there’s something really powerful about being seen and welcomed, especially first thing in the morning. And maybe, in a way, my own experience with stuttering helped shape that. I know what it feels like to not always feel heard. So we try to create a space where people do.

NSA: You’ve navigated creative fields like photography, food, and business...how do you decide when it’s time to take a risk on something new? Has being a PWS influenced how you take risks?

NC: I think risk has always felt like a companion in my life, whether I invited it or not. As a person who stutters, everyday communication can feel like a risk, like raising your hand in class, ordering at a restaurant, or introducing yourself in a meeting. So in some ways, I’ve been practicing taking risks all my life. 

Those experiences shaped how I approach creativity and business. I’ve learned that fear doesn’t always mean “don’t do it.” Sometimes it means “this matters to you.” So when I feel that mix of excitement and nervous energy, whether it’s launching a new pop-up, shifting careers, or pitching myself to a client, I try to pause and ask, “Is this discomfort because I’m growing?” If the answer is yes, then it’s usually worth the leap.

Being a PWS has taught me resilience, patience, and how to move forward even when the words don’t come out perfectly. And those same traits show up every time I try something new in my creative life. I don’t always know how it’ll go, but I trust I’ll figure it out. I’ve done it before.

NSA: What do you wish people understood about stuttering and entrepreneurship, especially when it comes to confidence or leadership?

NC: I wish more people understood that confidence and fluency are different. You can stutter and still be a strong leader. You can pause, repeat, or block on a word and still command a room, close a deal, or run a business. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about being the most polished speaker; it’s about being clear in your vision, honest in your communication, and consistent in how you show up.

Stuttering has actually made me a better entrepreneur. It’s taught me how to be prepared, how to listen, how to adapt under pressure, and how to build trust through authenticity. When you stutter, you don’t get to hide behind perfect delivery; you lead with substance.

There have been moments when I’ve felt self-conscious on a client call or nervous to pitch an idea, but I’ve also had people thank me for how grounded and thoughtful I am in conversation. That’s the kind of leadership stuttering can shape, the kind that isn’t afraid to slow down, be real, and own the room in your own way.

NSA: Is there anything else you'd like to add or say?

NC: I just want to say that stuttering doesn’t have to hold you back from building the life or career you want. It might shape how you move through the world, but it doesn’t define your worth or potential. If anything, it teaches you how to lead with empathy, be brave in the small moments, and find your voice, even when it shakes or stalls.

Whether you’re a person who stutters, someone just getting started in your creative journey, or someone who’s still figuring it out, I hope you know there’s space for you at the table. You don’t have to sound like anyone else to make an impact.

And if you ever find yourself in Chicago craving a biscuit, come say hi. We’ll be here, serving breakfast with love and building something bigger than ourselves, one bite at a time.

Follow Morning Jay’s on Instagram at @goodmorningjays.