In our final episode before The Burnt Chef Journal takes a well-earned pause until 2026, we’re joined by hospitality veteran and leadership advisor Chris Tripoli for a deep and energising conversation about what truly drives long-term success in our industry: people.

Chris shares why “Happy Staff = Happy Guests” isn’t just a slogan - it’s a strategy. We explore the shift from simply managing people to genuinely leading them, and how today’s workforce is searching for more than a pay cheque. They want belonging, purpose, contribution, and appreciation - and when they get it, stress drops, burnout decreases, and performance naturally rises.

Drawing on decades of lessons learned, Chris unpacks the principles that shaped his career:

• Lead with kindness

• Respect and integrity cost nothing but return everything

• Listen to understand, not just to advise

• People-first environments reduce negativity and unlock productivity

• Winning isn’t about working more - it’s about working better with people

We also look ahead to the next decade of workplace culture in hospitality: improved training, ongoing development, healthier work–life balance, and the continued evolution toward environments where people feel safe, valued, and supported.

Chris leaves us - and his younger self - with timeless advice: slow down, ask questions, and let knowledge help you enjoy the journey.

As this series wraps, we want to thank every listener, guest, and supporter who has joined us on this mission to improve mental health and wellbeing across hospitality. The Burnt Chef Journal will return in 2026, stronger than ever.

Until then - take care of yourselves, and each other.

In this illuminating episode, we explore one of the most overlooked pillars of human health - daylight. Two centuries ago, humans spent 90% of their time outdoors. Today, we spend 90% of our lives inside, and it’s taking a silent toll on our health, performance, and happiness.

Our guest, Tony Macken, a lifelong advocate for outdoor living and workplace wellbeing, shares how modern lifestyles and indoor professions — especially in industries like hospitality — are disrupting our circadian rhythms, the biological clocks that govern our sleep, energy, and mental health.

Quoting Professor Russell Foster of Oxford University, he reminds us: “Circadian rhythm underpins every aspect of our health. We ignore it at our peril.”

From his experience as a Samaritan volunteer to his belief in goal-setting, mindfulness, and outdoor adventure (including plans to go snowboarding for his 70th birthday!), this conversation is a masterclass in reconnecting with nature, and with ourselves.

Join us as we uncover how sunlight, sleep, and self-awareness can transform not just personal wellbeing, but workplace culture for the future.

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, we’re joined by Clare Kenny — a leadership, culture, and wellbeing expert whose career has taken her across Europe and Asia, including leading Burberry’s global wellbeing strategy.

Clare opens up about her personal journey through anxiety, addiction, burnout, and an ADHD diagnosis, and how these experiences shaped both her life and her mission to help others thrive. Together, we explore what it really means to take care of ourselves in a world that rewards pushing through at any cost.

From the importance of setting boundaries and embracing vulnerability, to rethinking how we define success, Clare shares practical insights and profound lessons from two decades of personal and professional growth.

Join us for a candid discussion about the power of storytelling, the danger of numbing, and the urgent need to create workplaces where people can truly be human.