We Recover Loudly – Personal Recovery and Mental Health Stories

This weeks special bonus episode is released especially for Transgender Awareness week.   I had the pleasure of being joined by my friends Phoebe and Rachel, hosts of The Joy Tuck Podcast, to discuss the challenges of being transgender, including the social expectations and the importance of the transitioning journey.  I met Phoebe in the rooms of recovery and was blown away with how much I related when she shared what it felt like moving through the world in an identity that did not feel like yours.  In the episode, we explore the parallels between toxic masculinity in the hospitality industry and the difficulties faced by transgender individuals when transitioning. The conversation highlights the resilience and survival instincts required in both situations, emphasising the need for more understanding and support in society. 

We also discussed 

• The similarities between our journeys, instead of focusing on why we are different, such as the feeling of wearing an identity that is not yours.
• What it is like to spend every day wearing a mask, and how heavy it becomes over time. 
• How to talk support team members who are transgender, or who are in the process of transitioning.
• The importance of compassion and connection to ensuring we are building inclusive workspaces.

This is an important conversation, and I feel privileged to have been able to have it.

@werecoverloudly www.werecoverloudly.com

Want us to come into your business and talk to your teams about addiction in the workplace?? Send us an email at [email protected] and we will be in touch!

This episode is sponsored by The Burnt Chef Project.

@theburntchefproject www.theburntchefproject.com

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

This is the second bonus episode, released as part of Addiction Awareness Week 2023.

On this episode I chat to fellow Burnt Chef ambassador Patrick Lingle. Patrick's journey began in restaurants during his youth, and he was immediately drawn to the energy and social aspect of the industry. We talked about the high demands and long hours of working in the restaurant business, along with the culture of socializing and often drinking after work and how challenging it can be to maintain work-life balance, given the demands of the job.

We also discussed 

• The allure of the fast-paced, high-energy environment.
• His personal journey of how his drinking gradually escalated from occasional wine tasting to becoming an all-day habit, leading to a DUI arrest.
• How the industry needs to take steps to educate its employees about responsible drinking and raise awareness about alcoholism, which was not part of the conversation when he began his career. 
• How plant based living has become such a big part of his new life, and how much he enjoys looking after his health now after so many years of abusing his body.

Patrick is such a great example of how you can go through so much in working the industry, becoming unaligned with what is authentic and your purpose but through hard work and determination you can turn it all around and have a beautiful and successful life.

@werecoverloudly www.werecoverloudly.com

Want us to come into your business and talk to your teams about addiction in the workplace?? Send us an email at [email protected] and we will be in touch!

This episode is sponsored by The Burnt Chef Project.

@theburntchefproject www.theburntchefproject.com 

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

This week's bonus episode, is released as part of Addiction Awareness Week 2023.

It is a conversation with the lovely Liz Bennett, who works in a pub for Hyde's Brewery. One of the things we want the podcast to do is offer a platform for people currently working in the industry, while being sober, to share how they do it! Liz approached us wanting to do exactly that, and this is a brilliant conversation where we connected on how she positively manages her team without the need for after work boozing. 

We discussed :

• The camaraderie and life skills working in hospitality offers.
• How hospitality is a place where young people can grow quickly and gain skills in dealing with diverse personalities, maintaining respect for others and themselves, and handling high-pressure situations.
• The importance of good management and leadership in ensuring a positive workplace environments and how much easier it is to do this when sober.
• That is is possible to have a strong bond with your team without having drinks after work.

This is a cracking episode showing what you can achieve when you make a decision to put down alcohol.

@werecoverloudly www.werecoverloudly.com

Want us to come into your business and talk to your teams about addiction in the workplace?? Send us an email at [email protected] and we will be in touch!

This episode is sponsored by The Burnt Chef Project.

@theburntchefproject www.theburntchefproject.com

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

Enjoy this bonus episode in honour of Sober October, a delightful conversation with myself and award winning NA wine maker Amanda Thomson. An entrepreneurial powerhouse, this is a fascinating story about how she came to be the owner of such a successful brand. We discuss :

• The growing no & low alcohol market.
• The methods used to create these special wines.
• The return to enjoying flavour rather than chasing oblivion

She has also offered listeners a generous 15% off a case of Noughty AF wines for the month of October. Just purchase a case of six bottles, and use the code RECOVER at the checkout. Offer valid until 31st October.

Head over to their website now, and get ordering! https://noughtyaf.com/

Make sure to follow Noughty AF on Instagram as well - @noughtyaf

@werecoverloudly www.werecoverloudly.com

Want us to come into your business and talk to your teams about addiction in the workplace?? Send us an email at [email protected] and we will be in touch!

This episode is sponsored by The Burnt Chef Project.

@theburntchefproject www.theburntchefproject.com

To find out more:

Instagram : @werecoverloudly @shell_righini

LinkedIn 

www.werecoverloudly.com

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

This is the final episode of Season One, and it was a pleasure to have Gizzi Erskine, a renowned chef as a guest.  Gizzi's passion for food and cooking started at a young age and she credits her mother for instilling this love in her. She began her culinary journey at Leith's School of Food and Wine in her early twenties and had the opportunity to work in some of the top Michelin-starred kitchens in London. However, she also witnessed the darker side of the industry during this time. Gizzi got caught up in the high-pressure environment and indulged in drug and alcohol use. This eventually led to her becoming a difficult and sometimes volatile chef to work with. Despite these challenges, Gizzi has achieved great success in her media career and has written seven acclaimed cookbooks. Currently taking a break from the industry after facing difficulties with her recent business, our conversation delved into the harsh realities of our profession and its culture. 

We discussed:

• The challenges we face in the culinary field, especially when confronted with toxic workplace dynamics that are too common.
• The positive side of the brigade system, such as discipline and hierarchy but how there needs to be a more balanced exchange of respect between different roles.  
• How being a passionate and driven chef can sometimes lead to being labelled as "too pushy" or "too loud," especially for women in the industry – And the damage that does.
• The normalization of substance use within the industry and the difficulty of calling out such behaviour due to its systemic nature.

Ultimately, we circled back to the core reasons why people like Gizzi and I love the hospitality field— the passion for food, the love it brings, and the connections it fosters.

To connect with Gizzi, follow her on socials @gizzierskine

@werecoverloudly www.werecoverloudly.com

Want us to come into your business and talk to your teams about addiction in the workplace?? Send us an email at [email protected] and we will be in touch!

This episode is sponsored by The Burnt Chef Project.

@theburntchefproject www.theburntchefproject.com

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

This week I am joined by my latest NA girl crush Laura Silverman. She is a trailblazer of the whole commercial alcohol-free movement. Sober herself since the age of 24, she recently celebrated 16 years of sobriety. She is the founder of Zero Proof Nation and Booze Free in DC, two platforms focused on highlighting non-alcoholic beverages and the culture driving their growth.  

Laura is frequently sought after as an industry subject matter expert by publications such as Wine Enthusiast, America’s Test Kitchen, Washington Post, and the BBC. She has recently launched the world’s the world's first global map of entirely alcohol-free establishments and is currently travelling around the USA visiting all these places and more.

We discussed:

• How much the NA sector has changed in the last 16 years and the positivity around the current sober trend is; sobriety is becoming more accepted and mainstream, and how even temporary breaks from drinking can plant the seed for change.
• Laura shares a personal story about unintentionally taking a sip of an alcoholic drink at an event and how it highlighted the need for greater respect and accommodation for people who choose not to consume alcohol, as well as training for team members.
• The growing trend of non-alcoholic beverages, and their value and profitability in the industry The Zero Proof Nation platform and the incredible global map of alcohol-free establishments Laura has developed.

This is a fun, funny and exciting chat about all the things that you gain when you try sobriety – We are sober, not boring!

To connect with Laura, follow her on socials @wearesober @zeroproofnation and check out www.zeroproofnation.com/

@werecoverloudly www.werecoverloudly.com

Want us to come into your business and talk to your teams about addiction in the workplace?? Send us an email at [email protected] and we will be in touch!

This episode is sponsored by The Burnt Chef Project.

@theburntchefproject www.theburntchefproject.com

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

This week I am joined by classically trained executive chef Dom Robinson. Currently working at Claude Bosi, Dom started his career at a restaurant called Fischers Baslow Hall. He moved to London aged 20 and has worked for the likes of Anthony Demetre, Adam Byatt and Tom Aikens. In 2017 he opened his own restaurant & won a Michelin star. However, a lifetime of being a heavy drinker & drug user, his alcoholism & addiction started to spiral. 

He got sober in 2020 and is purposefully very open about his story in the hopes that people who are still struggling will get a bit of identification & realise that we can recover.

We also discussed

• His passion for cooking and his exposure to influential chefs like Marco Pierre White and Keith Floyd and the rock-and-roll image of chefs in the late 90s and early 2000s, and how he was intoxicated with the ‘lifestyle’ they portrayed.  
• His experience of imposter syndrome when he was successful, and how this was part of the fuel to his increased alcohol and drug use.
• How vulnerability can be a double-edged sword in leadership. While leading by example is important, there are moments during high-pressure situations where leaders need to remain calm and composed for the sake of the team. Its hard to find that balance.

We also address how employers can approach conversations with team members they suspect may be struggling with addiction, emphasizing understanding, support, and having appropriate resources. An inspiring and important conversation to listen too.

To connect with Dom, follow him on socials @ domrobinsonchef

@werecoverloudly www.werecoverloudly.com

Want us to come into your business and talk to your teams about addiction in the workplace?? Send us an email at [email protected] and we will be in touch!

This episode is sponsored by The Burnt Chef Project.

@theburntchefproject www.theburntchefproject.com

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

This week I am joined by the vibrant, raucous, and hilarious Justin and Nariba, themselves podcast hosts of the brilliant Terms of Service. Nariba is a seasoned professional chef, working in every station from Dish to Chef de Partie which gives her an incredible understanding of the entirety of kitchens. Currently bartending, her passion for social justice means she brings her knowledge and awareness to the many difficulties in the service industry. Justin is a native Chicagoan and began his formal career in the industry behind the bar in Columbus. Inspired by the Michelin scene in Chicago, he went on to become the service director of 3 Michelin L20 in the Lincoln Park neighbourhood and consulted on countless food and beverage projects before launching his hospitality rooted creative agency, beCo.

Their podcast Terms of Service talks about everything service industry related, highs and lows, warts and all focusing on an open and curious dialogue that forces us to have sometimes challenging conversations about the reality of working in hospitality. 

In this episode we discuss

• How the pandemic affected the industry, both personally and as an industry in particular the acceleration of addiction during the pandemic due to isolation, uncertainty, and the absence of usual outlets for socialising
• The importance of community, identity, and connection in the service industry
• The challenges of seeking help, the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health issues, and the role that social interactions and the service industry itself play in facilitating substance use.
• The way hospitality stories are now portrayed in TV shows such as The Bear, and the harm that they could potentially be bringing to the industry due to the nature of the narrative.

We need more authentic conversations like the one I had with Nariba and Justin to begin addressing these challenges and promote positive change within the industry. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out more at www.termsofservice.media and follow @termsofservicepodcast on socials. 

Make sure you are following 'We Recover Loudly' on your favourite podcast platforms to get the notifications as soon as it is available – Spotify, Google, Amazon, Apple etc.

@werecoverloudly www.werecoverloudly.com

Want us to come into your business and talk to your teams about addiction in the workplace?? Send us an email at [email protected] and we will be in touch!

This episode is sponsored by The Burnt Chef Project.

@theburntchefproject www.theburntchefproject.com

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this episode, I chat with Colette Safhill. Colette, the mastermind behind multi award winning Myth Drinks, talks about how she created her non-alcoholic rum alternatives that taste just like the real deal. She wanted to ensure people have choices beyond booze so they can still enjoy social events without compromising their sobriety. Colette mentions how her drinks tap into nostalgia and taste like things from the past that bring back good memories. We talk about how attitudes towards sobriety and recovery have changed over the years. Colette opens up about her own struggles with addiction and how she found sobriety in her early 20s through some tough consequences. We talk about the reality of drinking and where it can lead, and there is mention of suicide. We also talk about the stigma that also can come with being sober and how hard it can be to talk openly about it, especially in industries like hospitality where alcohol is a big part of the scene.

We also discuss -

How giving up alcohol doesn't mean giving up on life. Find other ways to find joy and connections that don't rely on booze and find fulfilment in other things.

The stark reality that alcohol misuse disorder is a life-threatening disease.

The sober ‘trend’ and the increasing popularity of non-alcoholic beverages, acknowledging both the positive aspects of creating a new normal around sobriety and the potential challenges when it comes to treatment and recovery.

This is an uplifting conversation that shows the importance of being true to yourself and finding your own way in sobriety, and that there is a life of joy out there for you.

Make sure to follow Myth Drinks on social - @myth.drinks and check out the website where you can order directly. https://mythdrinks.co.uk/

Make sure you are following 'We Recover Loudly' on your favourite podcast platforms to get the notifications as soon as it is available – Spotify, Google, Amazon, Apple etc.

@werecoverloudly www.werecoverloudly.com

Want us to come into your business and talk to your teams about addiction in the workplace?? Send us an email at [email protected] and we will be in touch!

This episode is sponsored by The Burnt Chef Project. @theburntchefproject www.theburntchefproject.com

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this week’s new episode, I am joined by Andres Cabrera. Andres is the Beverage Director of Fat Tiger, NYC's first Dry Speakeasy. I connected with Andres after reading about Fat Tiger in Tasting Table, an online food and beverage newspaper. I was really struck by his mission to elevate the sober experience, by focusing on what Andres describes as ‘dry cocktails that are well-balanced, look well put together, taste great and have been made with love and care. He comments that people should not be ‘disrespected’ by being provided with sugar drenched mocktails because they have made the decision to not consume alcohol. His passion, and excitement for this emerged sector is exactly the energy we want to see, to push this style of drinking forward – Where the removal of alcohol does not affect the experience of the drink in any way … in fact it enhances them. We also discussed:

• The pull of the bartender rock star image and how seeing his superiors taking centre stage inspired him to take this career path
• The lack of opportunities bartenders have to develop and be celebrated in the same way that chefs are, and how he hopes this changes
• Not having to have a rock bottom, to decide to change his life – and how seeing people around him in the industry missing out on opportunities and not fulfilling their potential was a push to stop drinking.
• Internalisation and shame that we can experience in the industry due to the constant stream of positive, and negative guest feedback we get, and the damage it does to our identities when not managed – Including the propensity to numb out.

This is episode is a total vibe – Follow @vibeimbibe and @fattigergroup to see what is next for Andres!

Make sure you are following 'We Recover Loudly' on your favourite podcast platforms to get the notifications as soon as it is available – Spotify, Google, Amazon, Apple etc.

@werecoverloudly www.werecoverloudly.com

Want us to come into your business and talk to your teams about addiction in the workplace?? Send us an email at [email protected] and we will be in touch!

This episode is sponsored by The Burnt Chef Project.

@theburntchefproject www.theburntchefproject.com

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com