Chef's PSA Podcast

Epizody

• Three-Time James Beard Finalist on Building a Hospitality Empire Ep. 208 11.06.2026 1h 26min

  Chef Brian Lewis is the founder and CEO of Full House Hospitality Group and a three-time James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef Northeast, with nominations in 2018, 2022, and 2025. A Culinary Institute of America and Johnson and Wales University graduate, he apprenticed under Jean Louis Palladin, Marco Pierre White, and Eric Ripert before becoming the founding executive chef of Richard Gere's The Bedford Post Inn, which earned Esquire's Best New Restaurant in 2009 and an Excellent review from The New York Times. In 2015 he founded Full House Hospitality Group, which now operates The Cottage in Westport and Greenwich, Connecticut, and OKO in Westport and Rye, New York, with 125 employees across four locations.This episode opens with a story about a job interview that most chefs would have walked away from. Lewis did not walk away. He secretly prepared an eight-course meal before anyone asked, controlled the entire tasting, and landed the role that gave him what he calls a PhD in opening and operating a restaurant from the ground up.How he built Full House Hospitality Group around a single principle: only expand when operations can thrive without you in the roomWhy empowering teams with genuine autonomy inside defined guardrails is the only leadership model that scales across four restaurants and 125 peopleHow strategy and psychology replaced technique as his primary tools when he made the shift from chef to CEOAndré Natera and Brian Lewis cover the identity shift required when a chef stops being the creative voice in the kitchen and starts leading other chefs to express theirs, the role of kindness as a non-negotiable management standard, navigating reviews and social media pressure across multiple concepts, and the research trip to Japan that preceded the launch of OKO. The episode closes with rapid fire kitchen gear, stocks and dashi minimalism, and the chef Mount Rushmore.GuestBrian Lewis on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/brianlewischef/Full House Hospitality on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/fullhousehg/Links Subscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/Lead Like a Chef App → https://studio.com/apps/andre/leadlikeachef
• How to Hire 196 People in One Week: Jason Dady's Playbook Ep. 207 05.06.2026 1h

  Chef Jason Dady is one of San Antonio's most prolific restaurateurs, having opened 20 restaurants over 25 years through the Jason Dady Restaurant Group. A San Antonio UNESCO City of Gastronomy Chef Ambassador and Food Network veteran with appearances on Iron Chef Gauntlet, BBQ Brawl, and Beat Bobby Flay, Dady most recently opened Mexico Ceaty, a 25,000-square-foot food hall on San Antonio's River Walk at the Shops at Rivercenter. The concept opened April 20, 2026 and includes eight distinct dining and drinking venues celebrating Mexican and San Antonio food culture, with direct River Walk access.This episode covers the full operational story behind Mexico Ceaty, from a decade-old idea to 196 employees hired in one week.How an 18-month lease negotiation, financing setbacks, and a small Houston bank shaped the opening before a single taco was servedHow targeted social media ads and structured onboarding placed 196 employees across nine concepts in a single weekWhy SOPs and recipes calibrated to the gram are not micromanagement but the only way to maintain standards at scale.André Natera and Jason Dady cover the Eataly-inspired origin of Mexico Ceaty, the nine concepts inside the space, the transition from chef-operator to CEO, profit margin realities across fine dining and fast casual formats, and the EOS Traction L10 meeting structure that creates leadership accountability without requiring the founder in every room. The episode closes with career advice, the importance of stages as learning rather than labor, and rapid fire chef questions.GuestJason Dady on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chefjasondady/Mexico Ceaty on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/mexicoceatysa/LinksSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/Lead Like a Chef App → https://studio.com/apps/andre/leadlikeachef
• Bocuse d'Or Gold to America's Culinary Cup: Matt Peters Ep. 206 29.05.2026 1h

  Chef Matt Peters is the first American chef to win gold at the Bocuse d'Or, the most technically demanding culinary competition in the world. He trained under Thomas Keller at Per Se and The French Laundry and at Adour Alain Ducasse in New York before spending over a year preparing for the 2017 Bocuse d'Or in Lyon. He is currently Head Coach for Team USA at the 2027 Bocuse d'Or, coaching Chef Vincenzo Loseto and Commis Tyler Higson, and competed this year on CBS's America's Culinary Cup.This episode is the most detailed inside account of America's Culinary Cup that any competitor has given publicly. Peters does not filter it.What the sequestering process, point structure, and unexpected challenges like cooking someone else's food actually feel like from the insideWhy precision and technical refinement can work against you on television, and what the criticism that his food was too chefy actually meantThe sauce argument: why Keller-style clean reductions and Ducasse-style fat-emulsified sauces represent two fundamentally different philosophies, and why the choice defines your cooking voiceAndré Natera and Matt Peters cover the beef stroganoff versus Bocuse-style dish debate from episode one, mental fatigue from the finale curveballs, his honest format critique, the training timeline for Team USA 2027 on the road to Lyon, and where smart product use fits into a scratch cooking philosophy.GuestMatt Peters on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chefmattpeters/Links BlockLead Like a Chef App → ⁠https://studio.com/apps/andre/leadlikeachef⁠Subscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/
• Michelin Stars, Brisket Mastery, and the Price of Success Ep.205 22.05.2026 1h 5min

  Evan LeRoy is the co-owner and pitmaster of LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue in Austin, Texas. A Michelin star recipient in the MICHELIN Guide Texas 2024, number two on Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ Joints in 2025, and 2025 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best Chef Texas, LeRoy has spent nearly a decade redefining Texas barbecue through whole-animal butchery, locally sourced meats, and a cooking philosophy that refuses to treat barbecue as a fixed menu. His debut cookbook, New School Barbecue: Recipes for Next-Level Smoking and Grilling from Austin's LeRoy and Lewis, co-authored with Paula Forbes, is out May 12, 2026.In this episode, he gets direct about the one thing most chefs with new recognition do not want to admit: the star changed everything, and not all of it in ways that are easy to manage.What earning and retaining a Michelin star actually does to a barbecue operation in terms of volume, scrutiny, and internal pressureWhy Texas barbecue's dominance as the national formula is creating a copycat monoculture that is hurting the genreThe complete brisket process from trimming for airflow to Dalmatian rub ratios, wood selection, wrapping decisions, and the overnight heated restAndré Natera and Evan LeRoy cover the ways success can quietly destabilize priorities, how portioning precision and pricing realities shift under heightened expectations, and the three-year process behind translating LeRoy and Lewis's restaurant technique into nearly 100 home-cook-friendly recipes for the cookbook. The episode closes with how LeRoy steps away from the pressure and what he is watching in the broader BBQ landscape.New School Barbecue is available wherever books are sold, out May 12, 2026.This episode is sponsored by Rational USA. Learn more at https://rationalusa.comGuestEvan LeRoy on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evanleroybbq/Standard Links BlockLead Like a Chef App → https://studio.com/apps/andre/leadlikeachefSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/
• Fancy Chef Calls, $10K Restaurants, and Originals vs. Covers | Chef's PSA Ep. 204 15.05.2026 1h 33min

  Phillip Frankland Lee is the co-owner and executive chef of Scratch Restaurants Group, the Michelin-starred hospitality company he operates with his wife and executive pastry chef Margarita Kallas-Lee. The group includes Sushi by Scratch Restaurants, Pasta|Bar, NADC Burger, and Shokunin. Lee is a Top Chef Season 13 competitor, San Pellegrino Young Chef 2015 finalist, Zagat 30 Under 30 honoree, and Food Network record holder for most consecutive competition wins. This is his third appearance on Chef's PSA.His argument is direct: you can open a restaurant for $10,000 or less, break even in 60 days, and scale that model to 32 locations if you keep the footprint small, the staff lean, and every concept focused on one core product.How taking over already-permitted spaces eliminates the buildout cost that kills most restaurant openingsWhy small tasting-menu formats scale better than large casual concepts and how the math actually worksWhere chef inspiration ends and outright copying begins, and why that line matters more now than everAndré Natera and Phillip Frankland Lee cover the organic growth of NADC Burger from free pop-ups to multiple locations, the conversion of a Pasta|Bar location into a 22-seat boutique steakhouse, Lee's open world RPG framework for handling adversity, hard lessons from sharks and risky partnerships, and the detailed debate on homage versus originality in culinary culture. The episode closes with a preview of his upcoming podcast Fire the Board and new Austin-area concepts.GuestPhillip Frankland Lee on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/phillipfranklandlee/LinksLead Like a Chef App → ⁠https://studio.com/apps/andre/leadlikeachef⁠Subscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/
• How Chaos Builds Great Chefs: Josh Sutcliff on 55 Seventy Episode. 203 08.05.2026 1h 8min

  Chef Josh Sutcliff is the Corporate Executive Chef and Partner at 55 Seventy, a private members club for wine lovers with locations in Dallas and Houston. A Le Cordon Bleu graduate, CultureMap Dallas Rising Star Chef of the Year, and Zagat 30 Under 30 honoree, his career includes chef de cuisine at FT33, executive chef at Mirador, and stints at The Joule and Knox Bistro.He started washing dishes at 13. Federal agents had just arrested his father. His family was living in a camper. The kitchen gave him stability when nothing else did, and the chaotic, pirate-energy environment he found there never stopped feeling like home.Why consistency and station setup reveal more about a cook than talent ever willHow to map a chef career by starting at the end goal and working backward, not forwardWhat the shift from chef to business thinker actually requires when you are scaling new openingsAndré Natera and Josh Sutcliff cover the sports mindset that shaped his approach to kitchen teams, what makes young cooks succeed or stall, his systems for onboarding and standardized recipes, and the long game of reputation and networking in a small industry. The episode closes with the transition from day-to-day cooking to corporate executive chef and what that demands from a leader.GuestJosh Sutcliff on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jsutcliff/LinksSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Lead Like a Chef App https://studio.com/apps/andre/leadlikeachefShop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/
• From Celebrity Chef to a Bigger Mission. David Bull Episode 202 01.05.2026 1h 11min

  Chef David Bull is Austin's first Iron Chef America competitor, Food and Wine Best New Chef 2003, two-time James Beard Foundation nominee, and Regional Vice President of Food and Beverage at LaCorsha Hospitality Group. He led the Driskill Grill to three consecutive Austin American-Statesman number one restaurant awards, competed on Iron Chef America in 2006 as the first Austin chef to do so, and has since overseen 16 restaurant and hotel openings with LaCorsha across Texas, most of them historic renovations. He is also co-founder of the Mineral Wellness Center, a faith-based nonprofit in Mineral Wells dedicated to reducing mental health stigma and providing counseling and community resources.This episode covers the full arc: Austin's first celebrity chef, 16 properties, and the decision to walk away from all of it for something bigger.Why management agreements protect standards across multiple properties in ways licensing never canThe lease clauses, CAM charges, and pro forma details that quietly sink most restaurant deals before they openWhy mental health stigma in professional kitchens is a leadership and retention crisis, not a personal weaknessAndré Natera and David Bull go deep on the Iron Chef America experience, the operational realities of scaling a hospitality group, the trust required in a business partner before any contract is signed, evolving kitchen culture and mentorship across every staffing level, and Bull's personal decision to step back from fine dining and co-found the Mineral Wellness Center. The episode closes with a preview of his upcoming Restored and Delivered concept in Mineral Wells.This episode is sponsored by Rational USA. Learn more at https://rationalusa.comGuestDavid Bull on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chefdavidbull/Chef's PSA Subscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/
• Brandon Harpster on Cooking Smarter How Technology Changes Everything Overnight Ep 201 24.04.2026 1h 10min

  Brandon Harpster is the National Corporate Chef for Training and Events at RATIONAL USA. He trains chefs across the country, runs RATIONAL's culinary academies, and develops cooking programs that translate connected kitchen technology into repeatable, scalable results for working operators.This episode starts with a brunch disaster. A steamship round failed overnight at a country club, no monitoring, no alert, no way to intervene. Harpster uses that story to frame the entire case for connected cooking, and then spends the next hour proving it.How the iCombi Pro handles delta-T roasting, built-in resting, and consistent brunch egg production at volumeHow the iVario Pro runs overnight stock for better clarity and yield with no one in the buildingHow a 15-minute risotto program that requires only three stirs is a repeatable kitchen system, not a shortcutAndré Natera and Brandon Harpster cover the iCombi Pro, iVario Pro, and iHexagon across real kitchen scenarios including Peking duck skin development, brisket hybrid smoking workflows, zone heating, sous-vide-style cooking, and pasta-in-sauce preset functions. They also discuss what RATIONAL's corporate chef network actually does, how the training academies work, and what a field role in this industry looks like for chefs who want to move off the line.RATIONALRATIONAL USA Linktree → https://linktr.ee/rational_usaRATIONAL USA Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/rational_usa/Chef Brandon's Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/brandon.harpster/RATIONAL ChefLine → https://www.rational-online.com/en_us/customercare/contact-us/chefline/ | 866-306-2433Chef's PSASubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/
• Cooking for 5,000 Before Culinary School Chef Chad Welch Ep. 200 17.04.2026 1h 12min

  Chef Chad Welch is an American Culinary Federation Certified Executive Chef and Certified Culinary Administrator, a Jacques Pépin Foundation ambassador, and the executive chef with The Urban Stillhouse, an elevated dining concept with locations in St. Petersburg, Florida and Somerset, Kentucky. Horse Soldier bourbon bottles are formed with steel from the World Trade Center.He did not plan to become a chef. A Navy paperwork error put him in the galley instead of the engine room in 1992, scaling Armed Forces recipe cards to 5,000 portions aboard the USS America aircraft carrier, cutting frozen Cornish game hens on a band saw on his first day at sea, and cooking through storms that sent equipment crashing across the kitchen floor.What Navy galley cooking actually teaches about systems, scale, and pressure before culinary schoolWhy the shift from scratch kitchens to convenience products cost the industry a generation of skillHow the pre-Google era of memorization and mentorship built a different kind of chef, and what that means for anyone training todayAndré Natera and Chad Welch cover his first post-Navy restaurant job doing scratch pub cooking, his Mexican food upbringing and deliberate choice not to cook it professionally, the classic versus molecular cooking debate, and his work with the Jacques Pépin Foundation. The episode closes with the Horse Soldier Bourbon origin story and career advice from a chef whose entire path began by accident.This episode is sponsored by Rational USA. Learn more at https://rationalusa.comGuestChad Welch on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/handthatfeeds/The Urban Stillhouse St. Pete → https://www.instagram.com/urbanstillhousestpete/The Urban Stillhouse Somerset → https://www.instagram.com/urbanstillhousesomerset/LinksSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/
• Building a Restaurant Under Pressure With Emmanuel Chavez Episode 199 10.04.2026 1h 1min

  Everyone wants the spotlight. Until it actually hits.Andre sits down with Emmanuel Chavez from Tatemo in Houston to talk about what happens when your restaurant gets attention before you’re ready for it.Tatemo went from a tortilla operation to a full tasting menu fast. Recognition came with it. So did pressure.This conversation gets into what it takes to run a tight kitchen with almost no space, how leadership changes when expectations spike, and the mistakes that come with building something in real time.• What early success actually feels like• How to run a tasting menu in a small kitchen• Why leadership matters more than techniqueFollow Chefs PSA and send this to a chef who thinks they’re ready.Emmanuel Chavez on InstagramLINKS & RESOURCESSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.comVisit Chef’s PSA Website → https://chefspsa.comSponsored by RATIONAL USA → https://rationalusa.com
• Emmanuel Laroche on Madagascar Vanilla and Flavors Unknown | Episode 198 04.04.2026 1h 10min

  Chef Andre Natera sits down with Emmanuel Laroche, host of the Flavors Unknown podcast and author of A Taste of Madagascar, to explore the global story behind vanilla production and the process of writing a food book.Laroche shares his experience traveling to Madagascar, where roughly 80% of the world’s vanilla is produced, including the realities of hand pollination and the challenges of sourcing ingredients in remote regions.The conversation also covers Madagascar’s broader food ecosystem, including pepper, honey, cocoa, and caviar, and explores why many farmers grow vanilla for export rather than local use.Laroche breaks down his writing process and explains how aspiring authors can move from concept to published book through traditional publishing channels.• How vanilla is grown and why it requires hand pollination• How to write and publish a food book• Why understanding ingredients changes how chefs cookFollow Chefs PSA and share this episode with someone interested in food, travel, or writing.Flavors Unknown on InstagramLINKS & RESOURCESSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef’s PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/Sponsored by RATIONAL USA → https://rationalusa.com
• Dan Kennedy on Meat, Fire, and Ego | Episode 197 27.03.2026 55min

  Chef Dan Kennedy spent over 20 years in high end kitchens, most recently as head chef at Pasta|Bar Austin before the concept closed in February 2026. He is now working on Morri, his own concept in Austin.In this episode, Andre Natera and Dan Kennedy argue that social media has replaced technical skill with aesthetic performance, and duck is the clearest casualty.Why duck is almost always undercooked and how proper skin rendering changes the entire dishWhy wagyu and high-fat cuts need more heat than most cooks give them, not lessHow to build a tasting menu around timing and satiety instead of story and egoKennedy covers proper rendering technique, skin drying and aging, heat control, extended resting, and pre-service prep decisions that determine outcome before service starts. They also cover lamb, octopus, and grilling over binchotan and wood embers, using cake testers and feel over thermometers, and finishing with fat and flaky salt. On tasting menus, Kennedy favors 5 to 9 courses with canapés, cold starters, and two desserts, structured around deliciousness over narrative. The episode closes with reactions to America's Culinary Cup, commentary on Pasta|Bar's closure, and Chef's PSA merch.This episode is sponsored by Rational USA. Learn more at https://rationalusa.comGuestDan Kennedy on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/cocinero_dk/Dan's Hip Hop Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6WjAtI8aeONJSnk1FUAeYf?si=vvki6CM9SUSJ-k1BuOm15gLinksSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef's PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef's PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/Sponsored by Rational USA → https://rationalusa.com
• Top Chef Twins Brandon and Jonathan Dearden Ep. 196 20.03.2026 1h 23min

  Chef Andre Natera sits down with identical twin chefs Brandon and Jonathan Dearden to discuss rivalry, restaurant leadership, culinary school value, and the realities of running profitable restaurants.Both twins competed on Top Chef and built careers in very different directions. Brandon pursued fine dining and stages at elite kitchens, while Jonathan focused on leadership roles and restaurant managementThe conversation covers lessons from high-intensity kitchens like Alinea, the real value of culinary school, hiring pitfalls with impressive resumes, and how menu engineering helps restaurants stay profitable.They also discuss competing on Top Chef, the importance of building a chef brand online, and how AI tools are beginning to influence restaurant operations.What You Will Learn• The real return on investment of culinary school• What Michelin-level kitchens teach about discipline and systems• How restaurant owners engineer menus for profitabilityBrandon on InstagramJonathan on InstagramLINKS & RESOURCESSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef’s PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/Sponsored by RATIONAL USA → https://rationalusa.com
• Dallas Dining Debate with Josh Sutcliff and Drew Stephenson : Episode 195 13.03.2026 1h 31min

  Chef Andre Natera sits down with Dallas chef Josh Sutcliff and food commentator Drew Stephenson to unpack the viral debate surrounding the Dallas dining scene.After Drew’s Instagram post sparked widespread reactions among chefs and diners, the conversation expanded into a deeper look at restaurant success, Michelin expectations, and the economic realities of running restaurants in Texas.They discuss the polarizing response to Mamani, why tasting-menu-only restaurants often struggle in Texas, and the operational realities of Dallas restaurants, including large spaces, high rent, and limited kitchen infrastructure.The episode also examines how chefs balance creativity, identity, and profitability while navigating diner expectations, influencer culture, and the evolving fine-dining landscape.Restaurants discussed include Lucia, Sushi Cozy, Petra and the BeastDrew Stephenson on InstagramJosh Sutcliff on InstagramLINKS & RESOURCESSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef’s PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/Sponsored by RATIONAL USA → https://rationalusa.com
• The Problem With Tipping Culture : Jam Sanichat Ep. 194 07.03.2026 58min

  Chef Andre Natera sits down with Jam Sanichat, chef-owner of Thai Fresh in Austin, Texas, to explore how restaurant culture, wage models, and culinary traditions intersect.Jam explains why she eliminated tipping at Thai Fresh and replaced it with a transparent service fee designed to provide stable wages and reduce front-of-house and back-of-house pay disparities.The conversation also traces her journey from teaching Thai cooking classes and selling prepared foods at farmers markets to building Thai Fresh into a full restaurant and cooking school with vegan desserts, gluten-free ice cream, and a sustainability-focused sourcing philosophy.Jam shares how she crowdfunded a memoir-style cookbook through Kickstarter, breaking down the strategy behind a successful campaign including reward tiers, promotional planning, and production timelines.For cooks and chefs interested in Thai cuisine, Jam explains the five-flavor balance that defines Thai cooking and discusses pantry staples like fish sauce, pandan, and curry paste that help create bold, layered flavor.This episode blends restaurant economics, cookbook publishing insights, and practical Thai cooking knowledge for anyone curious about the intersection of hospitality business and culinary tradition.Thai Fresh Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thaifresh/LINKS & RESOURCESSubscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef’s PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/Sponsored by RATIONAL USA → https://rationalusa.com
• Most Chefs Shouldn’t Be Owners: James Trees Episode 193 26.02.2026 1h 10min

  Most chefs should not open a restaurant.James Trees explains why ownership is finance and leadership, not cooking. From prime cost and food cost velocity to EBITDA, triple net leases, and delivery app traps, this episode is a restaurant business masterclass.If you are thinking about opening your first restaurant, learn the numbers first.How prime cost actually worksWhy food cost velocity matters more than percentagesHow to negotiate leases and protect downsideBuilt for chefs serious about ownership and profit.Follow Chefs PSA and share this episode with a chef who wants to open a restaurant.James Trees InstagramLINKS & RESOURCESSubscribe on Substack → ⁠https://chefspsa.substack.com/⁠Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → ⁠https://shop.chefspsa.com/⁠Visit Chef’s PSA Website → ⁠https://chefspsa.com/⁠Sponsored by RATIONAL USA → https://rationalusa.com
• No Star Is Worth Your Health: Jake Rojas Episode 192 19.02.2026 1h 14min

  A Michelin-trained chef faces thyroid cancer and the real possibility of losing his taste.Chef Jake Rojas shares his diagnosis, treatment, feeding tube recovery, and how the experience reshaped his priorities around health and leadership. From El Paso competitions to three-star kitchens in Las Vegas, this is a conversation about discipline, identity, and why flavor is the only thing that truly matters.What Michelin kitchens teach about execution and respectHow serious illness reframes leadership and prioritiesWhy deliciousness outweighs presentation and hypeBuilt for chefs who want longevity, not just accolades.Follow Chefs PSA and share this episode with a chef who needs permission to prioritize their health.Jake Rojas on InstagramLINKS & RESOURCESSubscribe on Substack → ⁠https://chefspsa.substack.com/⁠Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → ⁠https://shop.chefspsa.com/⁠Visit Chef’s PSA Website → ⁠https://chefspsa.com/⁠Sponsored by RATIONAL USA → https://rationalusa.com
• She Left Finance to Open 2 Restaurants: Laila Bazahm (Ep. 191) 13.02.2026 1h

  She left finance to open two of Austin’s most talked-about restaurants.In this episode of Chefs PSA, Laila Bazahm explains how fine dining discipline, financial literacy, and cultural awareness shaped her path from Wall Street to restaurant ownership.This conversation is essential for chefs who want to open their first restaurant without guessing their way through funding.How to secure capital for a restaurantWhat elite kitchens actually teachWhy financial literacy determines survivalBuilt for chefs serious about ownership and leadership.ollow Chefs PSA and share this episode with a chef planning to open a restaurant.Laila on InstagramSiti on InstagramEl Raval on InstagramLINKS & RESOURCESSubscribe on Substack → ⁠https://chefspsa.substack.com/⁠Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → ⁠https://shop.chefspsa.com/⁠Visit Chef’s PSA Website → ⁠https://chefspsa.com/⁠Sponsored by RATIONAL USA → https://rationalusa.com
• How Chefs Escape Restaurants Without Going Broke : Joey Chavez(Ep. 190) 06.02.2026 57min

  Restaurant kitchens are breaking chefs.Joey Chavez left the traditional kitchen path to build a private dining business that protects income, health, and time. In this episode of Chefs PSA, Andre Natera breaks down what chefs are never taught about money, pricing, and long-term sustainability.This is a reality check for cooks questioning their future.You will learnWhy restaurant kitchens burn chefs outHow private dining actually paysWhy health is a financial issueFollow Joey on InstagramLINKS & RESOURCES Rational → Rationalusa.comSubscribe on Substack → ⁠https://chefspsa.substack.com/⁠Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → ⁠https://shop.chefspsa.com/⁠Visit Chef’s PSA Website → ⁠https://chefspsa.com/⁠
• Restaurants vs Private Dining with Chef Francis Pascal Ep. 189 30.01.2026 1h 2min

  Chef Francis Pascal of Vendador joins André Natera to talk private dining, leadership, contracts, pricing, and the real business behind luxury events. From immigrant roots to building a high-end operation, this episode is packed with practical insight for chefs looking to go independent.If this episode helped you, leave a 5-star rating and follow Chef’s PSA.Francis Pascal on InstagramLINKS & RESOURCES Subscribe on Substack → https://chefspsa.substack.com/Shop Chef’s PSA Merch → https://shop.chefspsa.com/Visit Chef’s PSA Website → https://chefspsa.com/