Mental Health, Mentorship & Running a NONPROFIT Culinary School!

Join André Natera on this episode of Chef's PSA as he welcomes back Top Chef Season 18 winner Gabe Erales and Mike Diaz from Oseyo in Austin, Texas. They dive into a range of critical topics, offering unique perspectives from their diverse culinary journeys.

Discover insights on legendary figures like Jacques Pepin, Gabriel's intense experience in a French culinary competition, the paramount importance of mental health in the culinary industry, and the transformative benefits of mentorship. This conversation also sheds light on the challenges and immense rewards of running a nonprofit culinary school in Mexico through the Oido organization, which aims to provide life-changing opportunities for underprivileged youth. Tune in for an insightful, engaging conversation among chef friends, packed with lessons on cooking techniques, chef life balance, career advice, and building a sustainable kitchen culture.

⁠⁠⁠Learn about Marketscale⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gabe Erales Instagram

Oido Instagram

Oseyo Instagram

Join the Chef's PSA Community!

• Subscribe to my Substack for exclusive culinary content: https://chefspsa.substack.com/

• Visit Chef’s PSA for Books, Free eBooks, and More: https://chefspsa.com/

• Shop Chef’s PSA Merch to support the podcast: https://chefspsa.com/

CHEF ASHISH ALFRED: BAR RESCUE & The SHOCKING Truth About Running Restaurants!

Join host André Natera in this engaging Chef's PSA episode as he chats with award-winning chef and restaurateur Ashish Alfred. Known for co-hosting Bar Rescue, Chef Alfred candidly discusses the raw realities of running a restaurant, the authenticity of reality TV, and his formative experiences working in France.

This conversation delves into the crucial nuances of balancing culinary excellence with business pragmatism, the often-overlooked importance of physical fitness in the kitchen, and the evolving nature of the culinary industry. From mastering your social media presence as a chef to essential advice for aspiring restaurateurs, this episode offers a wealth of insider insights for chefs and food enthusiasts alike. Get the real story behind the scenes, from Bar Rescue challenges to building a sustainable restaurant business.

Ashish Alfred Instagram

Foods In Season

Join the Chef's PSA Community!

• Subscribe to my Substack for exclusive culinary content: https://chefspsa.substack.com/

• Visit Chef’s PSA for Books, Free eBooks, and More: https://chefspsa.com/

• Shop Chef’s PSA Merch to support the podcast: https://shop.chefspsa.com/

Join Chef André Natera for a vital conversation on mental health and wellness within the demanding culinary industry. This episode features esteemed guests Chef Harold Villarosa from Oko in Austin, Texas, and Beto Ortiz, the visionary founder of Humans of the Kitchen and the 86 Challenge.

This discussion bravely dives into the intense pressures, burnout, and necessary culture changes in kitchens. They highlight the critical importance of structured environments and healthy practices for a sustainable culinary career. Learn directly about the groundbreaking 86 Challenge, an initiative encouraging chefs to prioritize holistic wellness over 27, 54, or 86 days. Get exclusive insights into how individual chefs and restaurant teams can adopt healthier lifestyles for a more balanced and sustainable future in the kitchen. This is a must-listen for anyone in the culinary world seeking support and solutions for chef well-being.

The 86 Challenge

Sign up here!

Humans of the Kitchen Instagram

Harold Villarosa Instagram

⁠Sponsored by Foods in Season: Your trusted source for premium culinary ingredients.

Join the Chef's PSA Community!

• Subscribe to my Substack for exclusive culinary content: https://chefspsa.substack.com/

• Visit Chef’s PSA for Books, Free eBooks, and More: https://chefspsa.com/

• Shop Chef’s PSA Merch to support the podcast: https://shop.chefspsa.com/

Top Chef's Jo Chan EXPOSES Kitchen Truths: Mentorship, Competition & More!

Dive into an exclusive conversation on the Chef's PSA Podcast with host André Natera and Austin Chef Jo Chan. Known for her captivating run on Top Chef and her formative years in distinguished New York kitchens under culinary legends Jonathan Waxman and Marcus Samuelsson, Chef Jo offers unparalleled insights into the demanding yet rewarding culinary world.

In this must-listen episode, Chef Jo Chan shares her unexpected entry and experiences on Top Chef, giving future contestants and fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at the competition. Discover her unique perspective on the significance of being a good diner, the vital value of mentorship in a culinary career, and personal stories from her own chef journey. Learn why staying humble is crucial and how to cultivate supportive leadership in the kitchen.

Whether you're an aspiring chef, a Top Chef enthusiast, or simply a culinary enthusiast eager for authentic chef advice, this episode is packed with invaluable lessons and inspiration.

Sponsored by Foods in Season: Your trusted source for premium culinary ingredients.

Jo Chan Instagram⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn about Marketscale⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to my Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit Chef’s PSA for Books, Free eBooks, and More!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://chefspsa.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Chef’s PSA Merch!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔗 SOCIAL MEDIA

Join our vibrant culinary community across all platforms!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

There’s a difference. In this solo episode of Chef’s PSA, André Natera shares raw insights from the James Beard Awards and a powerful reflection on what it really means to thrive in the kitchen. From his visit to Charlie Trotter’s legendary restaurant to the chaotic, beautiful reality of line life, this episode pulls back the curtain on the fantasy vs. the grind.

If you’re dreaming of becoming a chef—or already deep in the hustle—this is your wake-up call.

New episodes weekly. More tools for chefs at ⁠chefspsa.com⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠

Foods In Season

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to my Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit Chef’s PSA for Books, Free eBooks, and More!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://chefspsa.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Chef’s PSA Merch!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔗 SOCIAL MEDIA

Join our vibrant culinary community across all platforms!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Will AI elevate the kitchen or erase the soul of cooking?

In this episode of Chef’s PSA, André Natera sits down with Helene Kennan, founder of Kennan Food Strategies, and Coner Seargeant, VP of Restaurants at Headington Companies. Together, they break down the coming wave of artificial intelligence in restaurants—from menu engineering and kitchen efficiency to the cultural impact on chefs, education, and hospitality leadership.

They explore:

• How AI can enhance creativity instead of killing it

• Why storytelling still matters in the age of automation

• What young chefs must learn now to stay relevant

• Burnout, balance, and building meaningful kitchen culture

• Flavor Forays, culinary icons, and advice from the front lines

Whether you're a chef, culinary student, or restaurant operator, this episode will reshape how you think about the future of food.

Don’t miss the segment on AI's role in culinary education and how it’s already changing the industry.

AI in restaurants, culinary innovation, Helene Kennan, Coner Seargeant, Chef's PSA Podcast, fine dining technology, kitchen automation, chef burnout, hospitality leadership, Flavor Forays, chef education, restaurant management, Michelin star kitchens, future of cooking, food tech podcast.

New episodes weekly. More tools for chefs at chefspsa.com

⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Learn about Marketscale⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to my Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit Chef’s PSA for Books, Free eBooks, and More!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://chefspsa.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Chef’s PSA Merch!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔗 SOCIAL MEDIA

Join our vibrant culinary community across all platforms!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of Chef’s PSA, host André Natera talks with Chef Casey Wall of Le Calamar in Austin. From his roots in Melbourne’s vibrant food scene to the challenges of navigating U.S. kitchen culture, Casey brings raw stories, honest advice, and plenty of laughs. They cover labor costs in Australia, what the Hat system really means, the importance of consistency in cooking, and how health and wellness play a major role in long-term chef success.

Whether you're a professional cook, culinary student, or someone just fascinated by life in a kitchen, this episode is a must-listen.

⁠Casey Wall Instagram

⁠Foods In Season⁠

⁠⁠Learn about Marketscale⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to my Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit Chef’s PSA for Books, Free eBooks, and More!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://chefspsa.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Chef’s PSA Merch!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔗 SOCIAL MEDIA

Join our vibrant culinary community across all platforms!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join Chef Andre Natera in an engaging and thought-provoking conversation with Chef Dan Kennedy, the Head Chef of Pasta Bar in Austin. With over 20 years of experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, Chef Dan shares his journey from a young cook to leading one of Austin's top culinary destinations.

In this episode, Chef Dan opens up about the challenges and realities of maintaining mental health in the high-pressure world of professional kitchens, and how important it is to create a supportive kitchen culture. He also discusses the evolving role of sous chefs, the balance of content creation with his demanding culinary career, and the influence of hip hop on his work and creativity.

Whether you're a seasoned chef or just curious about the behind-the-scenes world of professional cooking, this episode provides an honest look at the highs and lows of life in the kitchen, and the importance of finding balance in a demanding industry.

Watch now to learn more about kitchen teamwork, wellness, and how to navigate the evolving culinary landscape with insight from one of Austin's top chefs.

Subscribe to my Substack!

⁠⁠https://chefspsa.substack.com/⁠⁠

Visit Chef’s PSA for Books, Free eBooks, and More!

⁠⁠https://chefspsa.com/⁠⁠

Shop Chef’s PSA Merch!

⁠⁠https://shop.chefspsa.com/⁠⁠

🔗 SOCIAL MEDIA

Join our vibrant culinary community across all platforms!

TikTok - ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@chefspsa?lang=en⁠ ⁠

Twitter - ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ChefsPSA ⁠⁠

Instagram - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chefspsa/ ⁠⁠

Facebook- ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550525924555⁠⁠

Chef Kyle Knall joins Chef André Natera on Chef’s PSA to discuss his culinary philosophy, the launch of his new restaurant Cassis, and what it means to bring a new lens to Midwestern cuisine.

A three-time James Beard semifinalist, Knall shares his thoughts on leadership, simplicity, sourcing great ingredients, and how storytelling elevates hospitality. He also discusses balancing family life, the essentials of chef station setup, and his biggest lessons from opening Birch in Milwaukee.

This episode is filled with tactical insight and quiet wisdom for anyone working in or inspired by the culinary world.

Kyle Knall Instagram

Foods In Season

⁠Learn about Marketscale⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to my Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit Chef’s PSA for Books, Free eBooks, and More!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://chefspsa.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Chef’s PSA Merch!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔗 SOCIAL MEDIA

Join our vibrant culinary community across all platforms!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA on X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chef Aaron Bludorn returns to Chef’s PSA alongside Chef Allie Peña, executive chef of Bludorn Houston, to talk about what it means to grow as a chef—from early-stage mentorship to leading a culinary team.

Together with host André Natera, they break down:

• The importance of mentorship in building chefs

• Station setup standards and the value of everyday tools

• How AI and kitchen display systems are reshaping communication

• Why chef growth is rooted in discipline, culture, and curiosity

This episode gives chefs and hospitality pros an inside look at leadership through systems, creativity, and collaboration.

Aaron Bludorn Instagram

Allie Pena Instagram

⁠Learn about Marketscale⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to my Substack!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit Chef’s PSA for Books, Free eBooks, and More!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://chefspsa.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Chef’s PSA Merch!⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔗 SOCIAL MEDIA

Join our vibrant culinary community across all platforms!

⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA on X⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Chef's PSA Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠