Andrew K. Smith Conducts Charlie Kirk's Final Interview Just Hours Before His Assassination at Restaurantology Event
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Andrew K. Smith Conducts Charlie Kirk's Final Interview Just Hours Before His Assassination at Restaurantology Event
Andrew K. Smith, co-founder and managing director of the Savory Fund, shares the profound experience of interviewing Charlie Kirk just hours before his assassination. The Turning Point USA founder appeared at Smith's Restaurantology 2025 event in Salt Lake City, delivering an inspiring message about entrepreneurship, faith, and optimism for America's future. Smith recounts how Kirk's lighthearted demeanor, entrepreneurial spirit, and genuine desire to help others left a lasting impression on the audience. What began as a hesitant invitation due to political concerns transformed into a unifying moment as Kirk shared timeless wisdom, discussed his real estate ventures, and even expressed interest in future collaborations. Forty minutes after leaving the stage, the unthinkable happened, forcing Smith to return and inform the stunned audience of the tragedy.
Andrew K. Smith never imagined that his interview with Charlie Kirk would become historic for such tragic reasons. As co-founder and managing director of the Savory Fund, Smith had invited the Turning Point USA founder to speak at Restaurantology 2025, an event for restaurant entrepreneurs in Salt Lake City. Kirk arrived at the venue about an hour before their conversation began, and they spoke for approximately 40 minutes before he took the stage for another 35 minutes.
After a brief conversation and a photo, Kirk departed through the back door, climbed into a suburban with his security detail, and began the 40-minute drive to Utah Valley University. He never made it. Shortly after arriving at the auditorium, Kirk was assassinated, sending shockwaves through the nation and leaving Smith and his audience in disbelief.
An Unexpected Connection
The interview came about through an unexpected connection. Kirk's cousin worked with one of Smith's restaurant brands, Houston Hot Chicken, and suggested Smith speak with his relative. Smith admitted he knew of Kirk but didn't follow him closely. However, once they connected, Smith was struck by Kirk's entrepreneurial mindset.
"His mind and his entrepreneurial edge was just amazing," Smith recalled. "I'm like, you're an entrepreneur. And he goes, well, yeah, I think I am. I'm like, no, you are."
Despite some attendees being hesitant about Kirk's appearance due to political concerns, Smith and Kirk agreed to keep politics off the table. Before going on stage, Kirk asked, "What can I do to help?" This question left a profound impression on Smith, who realized Kirk genuinely wanted to serve the audience.
Timeless Wisdom on Entrepreneurship and Life
During the interview, Kirk shared profound insights that resonated far beyond the business world. One particularly poignant moment came when he discussed the phrase "this too shall pass."
"It's good no matter what season of life that you're in," Kirk explained. "If you're going through the worst of times, this too shall pass and things are going to get better. If you're going through the best of times though, it's really humbling. Like this too shall pass and this will fade away because this will not last forever."
Kirk described how this time-transcendent truth applies to all periods of life as an entrepreneur, humbling you when needed, building you up when necessary, and providing hope during difficult seasons.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit
Kirk's perspective on entrepreneurship struck a chord with the audience of restaurant owners and business leaders. He defined entrepreneurs as problem solvers working against the tide, people willing to quit companies during their ascent, take out second mortgages, dive into savings, or liquidate their 401(k)s to pursue their vision.
"I think there's really something admirable about that kind of ambition," Kirk stated. "It makes the world a better place. I would say that the more that we can cheerlead the economy, the better. And the more that we can say that it's good, the more that it will be good."
His optimism extended to America's position in the global economy. "I would much rather be the United States than continental Europe right now," he said. "I would much rather be the United States than a lot of these other countries."
A Man of Faith and Business
Smith was struck by Kirk's authenticity and the way he integrated his faith into his business endeavors. "He was a man of faith. And he wore it on a sleeve like he said right on our conference. But you could feel that spirit," Smith observed.
Kirk wasn't just there to speak; he was actively pursuing his own entrepreneurial ventures. Smith recounted how Kirk was developing properties and even suggested collaboration during their preparation calls. "He's like, 'Andrew, you should put some of your restaurants on my land.' And I'm like, 'Okay, well, we should talk about that.' In the middle of everything he's doing. And he's texting me saying, 'Hey, what did you think about that piece of land?' I mean, he was an entrepreneur."
Before leaving the venue, Kirk expressed interest in doing more events like this in the future, telling Smith he would call after the UVU event to discuss further collaborations.
The Moment Everything Changed
The atmosphere in the auditorium had been electric. Kirk's lighthearted, fun, and unifying presence had created positive energy throughout the venue. Then came the devastating news.
Friends who had attended the event and then gone to UVU contacted Smith's team backstage. "They just said, 'I think you just had Charlie on stage. He was just shot,'" Smith recalled. "It was hard to even imagine the way to process that. It was surreal."
Smith had the difficult task of informing the audience. When he announced what had happened, the reaction was immediate and profound. "There were gasps in the audience. It was a pin you could hear a pin drop. I mean it was very quiet," he said. "It was sobering too because you're like, he was just here."
Lessons from a Final Interview
Smith's experience with Kirk challenged his preconceptions. Like many, Smith had formed opinions based on headlines and videos without really knowing the person behind them. Meeting Kirk changed everything.
"My mind was completely rocked with just getting ready for this months before," Smith admitted. "He was gritty... He was a good man."
Even those in the audience who had reservations about Kirk's appearance due to political differences found themselves inspired by his message. His focus on entrepreneurship, optimism, faith, and building a better future transcended partisan divides.
The interview serves as a reminder of life's fragility and the importance of seizing each moment. Kirk left the stage full of life, energy, and plans for the future. Forty minutes later, everything changed. As Smith's story reminds us: enjoy your day, hug your loved ones a little tighter, and never take a single moment for granted.
