On January 7, Trish Nelson and her former colleagues from the Spotted Pig gathered around a podium in the offices of New York State Attorney General Letitia James to announce the end of a months-long investigation that uncovered a hostile work environment and "severe and pervasive incidents of unwanted touching and unwelcome sexual advances" by majority owner Ken Friedman. While the settlement provided some closure for the former employees, there's still a tremendous amount of work left to do to if they want to heal personally and move the industry to a healthier, safer place. Nelson sat down with me for a raw, emotional conversation about the culture of fear that keeps vulnerable workers from speaking out, her decision to break the silence, and her hope for the future of the industry she loves.

Note: This episode contains mentions of emotional and sexual abuse. If you need to talk to someone, Crisis Text Line is available 24/7 at #741741 or via Facebook Messenger, and The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network's (RAINN) counselors can be reached at 800-656-HOPE.

Note: This episode contains mentions of emotional and sexual abuse. If you need to talk to someone, Crisis Text Line is available 24/7 at #741741 or via Facebook Messenger, and The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network's (RAINN) counselors can be reached at 800-656-HOPE.

https://www.foodandwine.com/news/spotted-pig-sexual-harassment-settlement

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