We Recover Loudly - Serving Essential Hospitality Conversations
Welcome to We Recover Loudly the podcast.
In season one, the mission was to spark conversations about addiction, recovery, and drinking cultures within hospitality. What we found was that these topics are closely linked to much bigger issues that we face in the industry, which truly deserve our attention and a space to be discussed. The podcast has evolved to delve into important matters surrounding addiction and recovery, as well as significant themes like burnout, sexual harassment, gender imbalance, mental health, chronic illness, stress, and eating disorders—the list goes on! This podcast isn’t just for individuals in recovery from drugs and alcohol working in hospitality; it’s for anyone who has dealt with challenges, tough working conditions, or health issues related to their experiences in this industry, who want to hear inspiring stories of strength and recovery.
Each episode features a mix of personal stories from myself and other incredible individuals who are currently in the industry or connected to the industry via a mental health space. We engage in conversations with hospitality leaders who are paving the way in providing training and resources to cultivate healthy workplace environments for their teams. This podcast aims to be a welcoming platform for everyone to share the challenges they've faced while working in hospitality and how they’ve overcome them... loudly!
So, let's turn it up and get loud, because when we recover loudly we stop others dying quietly.
We Recover Loudly - Serving Essential Hospitality Conversations
S2 Episode 003 - Devan Rajkumar - From Life gone up in flames to Fire Master
Welcome to this week’s episode of We Recover Loudly, with guest Devan Rajkumar, otherwise known as Chef Dev. Chef Dev has worked in the industry from a young man, climbing the ranks from dish pit to world renowned chef, writer and tv personality on shows such as Fire Masters. Having started in the industry with a desire to eventually be a food critic, it was working with Food Dudes that cemented his love of working on the frontline. As well as becoming addicted to the rush and adrenaline of service, in his personal life, Chef Dev had long struggled with drug and alcohol use.
Over the years his continued use increased until it got to a point where he had to change, or he was going to lose his life. He has always been very open about his sobriety, as well as his relapse, as he believes that the more open, he is with his story, the more people he can help – Something we could not agree more with!
Now over 30 months sober, Chef Dev is a fantastic role model to other chefs showing that you can come through really dark times, turn it around and become a success.
We discussed :
- His immediate addiction to the adrenaline of service
- That he feels he would have been an addict regardless of working in hospitality, but that the industry accelerated it.
- Coming back from his relapse over the pandemic, and how hard that period of isolation was for him - something alot of us can relate too.
- How important it is for leaders to show vulnerability, as that is actually showing true strength.
This was such a treat to record, and a really inspiring conversation.
Connect with Chef Dev –
@chefdevan
https://www.chefdev.ca/
@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 hello@werecoverloudly.com 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 hello@werecoverloudly.com
@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com
This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors:
Low No Drinker Magazine @lownodrinkermagazine
www.lownodrinkermagazine.com