"Today was one of those days where I don't even know why I'm doing this."

We’ve all been there. Between a "Fryer of Death" that won't stop beeping, CO2 leaks, and the "Golden Handcuffs" of a business loan, sometimes the industry feels like a trap. In this episode, we vent about the morning from hell before diving into the first-ever round of The Chopping Block.

We’re ranking the world’s most iconic cocktails in a tournament-style bracket to find out what stays on the menu and what gets cut. From the "Lemon Drop" debate to the Espresso Martini craze, we’re killing darlings and settling the score.

Finally, we get real about survival. We discuss the "80% Rule" of high kitchens, the shift toward medicinal cannabis (Schedule III), and the internal battle of "Selective Sobriety"—trying to find that thin line where you can finally feel right and act right.

Inside the Episode:

00:00 – The Morning from Hell: Mechanical Failures & Burnout

12:45 – Tangentially Managed: Dealing with Ego and Incompetent Bosses

28:30 – THE CHOPPING BLOCK: Ranking the Classics (Round 1)

45:15 – The Martini Identity Crisis: Shaken, Stirred, or Thrown Away?

01:05:20 – Selective Sobriety: The 80% Rule in the Kitchen

01:25:00 – Feel Right, Act Right: A Journey Through Industry Addiction

🎥 watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@wefeedthem?si=ip-Oi1CuUigIAFyq

🎧 LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO PODCAST:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0RKgIORu43VHm5fcdipFT7

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-feed-them/id1859129229

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a4866f0b-d6b5-4d18-a9bc-29b2fc4f8443/we-feed-them

📲 CONNECT WITH US:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wefeedthempod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584447723299

Website: wefeedthem.com

In this episode of We Feed Them, Sean Collins and Steven Barry sit down with chef Justin Williamson to pull back the curtain on the grit, the grind, and the unexpected healing power of the professional kitchen. Justin shares his journey from the high-stakes world of fine dining to his current role in a bakery, exploring why he finally chose to trade 12-hour "flame and fire" shifts for a better work-life balance.

• The Fine Dining Burnout: Justin opens up about the mental struggle of working 11 AM to 11 PM shifts and the isolation of being "awake when no one else is".

• The Kitchen as a Sanctuary: A deep dive into why "ragtag" and "broken" people often find a sense of belonging in the windowless, high-heat environment of a restaurant.

• Engineering to the Line: Why Justin walked away from a computer science degree to find his passion in the "pirate crew" culture of hospitality.

• Life After the Line: What it’s like to finally have Sundays off, reclaim "adult" milestones like mowing the lawn, and the reality of what chefs actually eat at home (hint: it’s mostly frozen pizza).

🎥 watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@wefeedthem?si=ip-Oi1CuUigIAFyq

🎧 LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO PODCAST:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0RKgIORu43VHm5fcdipFT7

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-feed-them/id1859129229

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a4866f0b-d6b5-4d18-a9bc-29b2fc4f8443/we-feed-them

📲 CONNECT WITH US:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wefeedthempod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584447723299

Website: wefeedthem.com

"Every sweat ring tells a story."

In this episode, Sean and Steve dive deep into the messy, high-pressure world of "Kitchen Beef." From early-career bullying and ego trips to the evolution of mutual respect behind the line, the guys get real about how the culture of the kitchen shapes—and sometimes breaks—the people in it.

Inside the Episode:

• The Aldi Haul: Testing out $17 worth of snacks

• The Tall Hat Pecking Order: The ridiculous history of the Chef’s Hat and the hazing rituals of the "New Guy" hat.

• Hygiene & Heat: A raw (and slightly awkward) look at staying clean during a 110-degree summer double-shift.

• The Evolution of Beef: Stories of old grudges, throwing pans, and finally growing up enough to respect the person next to you.

🎥 watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@wefeedthem?si=ip-Oi1CuUigIAFyq

🎧 LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO PODCAST:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0RKgIORu43VHm5fcdipFT7

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-feed-them/id1859129229

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a4866f0b-d6b5-4d18-a9bc-29b2fc4f8443/we-feed-them

📲 CONNECT WITH US:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wefeedthempod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584447723299

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wefeedthempod?_r=1&_t=ZP-9278vKWbJHS

Website: wefeedthem.com

Aldi snack test and budget hauls. Cyberpunk 2077 and gaming after work. Why video game kitchens look too clean. The history and hierarchy of the tall chef hat. Surviving the heat and hygiene of a 110-degree kitchen. Why kitchen beef starts over things like unstocked cheese. Transitioning from a punk dishwasher to a professional cook.