(01:16) A small-town “toast boy” grows into a gold-medal chef, then chooses a new kind of success. We sit down with Chef Joe Peroney to unpack a winding path from The Greenbrier’s relentless kitchens to the world stage at the Culinary Olympics, and how a sudden vision scare and a marathon reset his compass toward time, family, and impact.

(15:19) Joe lifts the lid on competition cooking, from training in unfamiliar kitchens to plating East Coast flavors as tiny, elegant starters. He also shares the quieter victories: trading 20-hour days for a role that still feeds millions, mentoring the next generation as part-time faculty, and creating a 32-layer lasagna that stops conversation in its tracks. For anyone weighing ambition against life outside the kitchen, his pivot offers a clear, human roadmap.

(42:08) Later, we also welcome Chef Barbara Ann of AB Kitchen with a life-changing kale salad—bright lemon, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, and a crunchy pumpkin-seed topper—proving wholesome can be addictive. Together, these chef stories show how food can be both world-class and weeknight-ready, and how the best meals often carry a lesson about what matters most.

If the episode moved you, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—what part of Joe’s journey hit home for you?

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