In this episode of The Growth Voyage Podcast, we sit down with Joshua Samuels, a former professional chef whose journey through the hospitality industry exposed him to the intense realities of kitchen culture, mental health struggles, addiction, and identity.
Josh shares what it was really like working long hours in high-pressure kitchens, the lack of belonging many chefs experience, and how physical health challenges and drugs became a form of escape. From toxic professional environments and institutionalised abuse to finding mentorship and rebuilding self-worth, this conversation reveals the hidden side of the culinary world.
A major health scare ultimately led Josh toward sobriety and a completely new direction. He opens up about processing family grief, meeting his wife, becoming a father, and navigating the rarely discussed topic of male postpartum depression.
Today, Josh has retrained as a cognitive hypnotherapist, helping others understand the unconscious mind and break patterns that keep them stuck.
This episode explores resilience, healing, fatherhood, identity, and what it means to rebuild your life after walking away from an industry that once defined you.
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Connect with Josh:
- Website: https://www.joshdoestherapy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshdoestherapy/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuasamuelstherapist/
Josh's song recommendation: Billy Joel - Piano Man
Josh's book recommendations:
- Mel Robbins - Let Them
- Mark Mason - The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck