The Burnt Chef Journal

Coping with Trauma: Lauren and Jo's Journey

In this deeply moving episode, Lauren and Jo open up about their personal experiences with trauma and how it led them to use alcohol as a coping mechanism. Lauren shares her story of facing overwhelming events that left her feeling isolated, driving her to seek solace in alcohol. Jo recounts her own battle with unresolved trauma and the role alcohol played in her life as a way to manage her intense emotions and stress.

Through their heartfelt conversations, Lauren and Jo shed light on the often-hidden struggle of using alcohol to self-medicate in response to trauma. They discuss the challenges they encountered, the turning points in their journeys, and the steps they took towards healing and finding healthier coping strategies. Their experiences aim to burn the stigma surrounding mental health and addiction, offering hope and understanding to listeners who may be facing similar battles.

Join us for an inspiring and honest discussion that emphasizes the importance of seeking professional support and the power of resilience in the face of adversity.

 

Lauren is the Commercial Director for Loopcycle, and Chairwoman for CIBSE TM65 for Commercial Catering Equipment.

Jo is a presenter and MHFAid Instructor for the mental health charity State of Mind Sport.

 

This episode is full of raw emotion - if you'd like to spark a conversation about how you're feeling: 

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📧 Email burntchef@cicwellbeing.com (Global)

 

Kelly Higginson & Paulo De Tarso | What support does the hospitality industry get in western speaking countries from their government?

✨ Hospitality Highlights ✨

On 10th May, Kris Hall and Cara Houchen were joined by guest speakers for another live episode of Hospitality Highlights!

Our guest speakers were:

⭐ Kelly Higginson, CEO of Restaurants Canada

⭐ Paulo De Tarso, Restaurateur and TedTalk Speaker

 

Listen in as we discuss the support the hospitality industry gets in western speaking countries from their government, and what can each country can learn from each other. 💭

Marguerite Keogh & Andy Tait | Hospitality apprenticeships, levy funding, and the challenges businesses face accessing these.

✨ Hospitality Highlights ✨

On 3rd May, Kris Hall and Cara Houchen were joined by guest speakers for another live episode of Hospitality Highlights!

 

Our guest speakers were:

⭐ Andy Tait (CMgr FCMI, MBA), Director of Quality of Performance Learning Group

⭐ Marguerite Keogh, Head Chef at Five Fields

 

Listen in as we talk apprenticeships, levy funding, and the challenges businesses face accessing apprenticeships. 💭

Jeremy Dixon: Champion for Mental Health and Speciality Food service Industry Veteran

This week's guest on The Burnt Chef Journal is Jeremy Dixon! Jeremy has dedicated the past 15 years of his career to the speciality foodservice industry, and is currently at the helm of Ochil Foods, a business that was originally established by his parents 35 years ago. Together with David Laing, Jeremy strives to continue and expand upon their legacy to serve Scotland’s chef.

In addition to his professional achievements, Jeremy lives with bi-polar affective disorder, an experience that has profoundly shaped his perspective on life and mental health. His journey has included over a year spent in NHS Mental Hospitals, where he encountered some of the most remarkable and talented individuals. These interactions have fuelled his passion for mental health advocacy and inspired him to help others achieve their full potential.

In his spare time, Jeremy has been laying the groundwork for Empath Centres—centres of excellence dedicated to teaching life skills to those entangled in the mental health system. This system often leads individuals to rely on sickness benefits, which can exacerbate their challenges. The Empath Centres aim to break this cycle by offering apprenticeships across various fields such as business, the arts, the armed forces, and education. Their goal is to guide individuals towards meaningful career paths and fulfilling lives.

Through Empath Centres, Jeremy is committed to creating opportunities that empower people to thrive, leveraging their unique talents and abilities. He believes that with the right support and guidance, everyone can lead a productive and rewarding life.

Take a listen to this episode as Jeremy shares his personal experiences and how he aims to support others.

www.ochilfoods.co.uk

Bianca Tavella and Lisa Hobbs | Does the industry do enough to encourage those with disabilities or health issues into the sector?

The Burnt Chef Project founder, Kris Hall, and co-host Cara Houchen were joined by guest speakers:

⭐ Bianca Tavella, Founder and CEO of Fair Shot

⭐ Lisa Hobbs, CEO of Etymon Projects

 

Listen in as they discuss Rishi Sunak's worries of "benefits becoming a lifestyle choice", and whether the industry does enough to encourage those with disabilities or health issues into the sector. 💭

 

Hospitality highlights is recorded live every Friday at 9:30am BST across LinkedIn and Facebook - join in this week.

Kate Nicholls & Mex Ibrahim | Hospitality Highlights - The minimum wage increase and the impact this may have on hospitality.

The Burnt Chef Project founder, Kris Hall, and co-host Cara Houchen were joined by guest speakers:

⭐ Kate Nicholls OBE, CEO of UKHospitality

⭐ Mex Ibrahim, Founder of Women In The Food Industry

Listen in as they discuss the rise of the minimum wage and the impact this may have on the hospitality industry. 💭

 

Hospitality highlights is recorded live every Friday at 9:30am BST across LinkedIn and Facebook - join in this week.

Naureen Ahmed - Inspiring Women In Hospitality

This week, our guest host Hulya is joined by Naureen Ahmed.

Naureen is a seasoned hospitality professional, a fervent community builder, an engaging storyteller, and the visionary founder of ‘Inspiring Women in Hospitality’.

With a life journey that saw her living in four different countries by the age of 10, Naureen's path to the hospitality industry felt predestined. Her academic pursuits led her to the EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, where she felt an immediate kinship with fellow students, each with their own unique stories.

Embarking on her career with a position at the Landmark London Hotel, Naureen quickly embraced the operational aspects of hospitality, setting the stage for a significant tenure at STR. Over 12 years, she transitioned through roles from analyst to head of departments, playing a pivotal role in transforming STR into the recognised brand it is today. Naureen's leadership style is marked by inclusivity and a focus on building multicultural team environments.

Recognising the underrepresentation of women in hospitality, Naureen launched the ‘Inspiring Women in Hospitality’ podcast to amplify female voices and inspire change within the industry. Her efforts expanded in September 2023 with the creation of the Inspire Community, a platform designed to foster support among women through mentorship and career development discussions.

 

Listen in as we discuss burnout from the female's perspective.

 

WEBSITE: https://www.inspiringwomeninhospitality.com/

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naureen-ahmed-28253a35/

MEMBER SITE: https://iwih.campground.fyi/forms/66a937a8-456e-42e4-b5aa-2bd127c9a9ef

PODCAST LINK: https://open.spotify.com/show/6likjvIbK2B17g6pQu3QMm

Hospitality Highlights - The Single Biggest Shift

This episode of Hospitality Highlights is hosted by Cara Houchen, and was joined by guest speakers:
⭐ Carissa Teeling, Head of People at House Made Hospitality
⭐ Rebekah Billingsley, Marketing Director of Planday

Tune in as the team discuss Planday's campaign The Single Biggest Shift, and whether planning rotas ahead can create happier and healthier teams, who are more likely to stay in the industry. 💭

 

Watch live every Friday across LinkedIn and Facebook!

Sally Abe and Hrishikesh Desai | Can robots can replace people in hospitality?

On 5th April, our Hospitality Highlights hosts, Kris Hall and Cara Houchen, were joined by:

⭐ Sally Abe of The Pem

⭐ Hrishikesh Desai of Farlam Hall

 

Listen in as we discuss whether robots can replace people in hospitality.💭

 

Watch live every Friday across LinkedIn and Facebook!

Navigating Responsibility in the Workplace: A conversation with Liz Burley

This week on The Burnt Chef Journal, Kris Hall is joined by Liz Burley, a highly experienced employment lawyer who can advise on the whole range of HR and employment law issues. Liz advises both employers and employees on contentious and non-contentious matters and believes that seeing things from both sides of the same coin makes her a better advisor for all her clients. She is particularly skilled at advising on disability and mental health issues in the workplace, and employee data and privacy.

Kris and Liz discuss where the line is between employer's and employee's taking responsibility regarding mental, physical and financial health, from both a legal and moral perspective.

We hope you find this discussion as interesting as we did! 💡