Episode 213

213: On the Dock with Chef Jeremy Leinen

Published on: 11th October, 2022

Chef Jeremy Leinen is the Executive Chef of Dunwoody Country Club outside of Atlanta.

"I keep hearing people blame the unemployment and all that stuff for why people aren't returning to work. Obviously, this industry has a lot more work to do, culturally speaking. That's the reason why people haven't been rushing back to do it. And I get it."

Chef recently sat down for a conversation, and he discussed how COVID has impacted their lives and businesses.

Chef Jeremy's mother and grandmother both contracted the virus, and his mother is still dealing with the effects (referred to as "long COVID").

Despite this, he remains positive and believes things are slowly getting better. He advises others who may be considering reentering the workforce, telling them that the industry is changing and progressing positively.

Despite the challenges, there's still much to love about the restaurant industry.



In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. How Jeremy Leinen and his family coped with COVID-19.

2. How the hospitality industry has been affected by the pandemic.

3. What advice would Jeremy Leinen give to those considering re-entering the workforce?

Resources:

Chef Jeremy on Linkedin

Chef Jeremy in Club & Resort Chef Magazine

Chapter Summaries:

(00:00:00) - During the podcast, he talked about his family. His mom got COVID, and his grandmother has congestive heart failure. He used to work out a lot in the gym to keep himself sane during this difficult time. He worked with a coach then, but it was almost like living in a sane asylum.

(00:02:32) - One of his sous chefs got COVID. He and another sous chef both woke up sick on the same day. The test came back negative, but it was one of those rapid tests that you get wrong all the time. Mostly, his team maintained their health and had no serious issues.

(00:03:52) - A lot of people lost their jobs during the shit down. The industry is going through some growing pains, but things are changing. If you don't want to be in the industry, don't be in it. It's not going to be the Shangrila for a little while.

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

Chef and Fitness Coach Tarren Camm

Executive Chef James Shiley

Kriss Hall of the Burnt Chef Project

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About the Podcast

Chef Life Radio
Redefining Culinary Leadership
Chef Life Radio is for chefs and culinary leaders who already know how to cook, but were never taught how to carry responsibility without burning out, breaking their teams, or losing themselves in the process.

Hosted by Chef Adam Lamb, culinary leadership coach and creator of The Successful Chef™ framework, this show explores what it actually takes to lead in modern kitchens, emotionally, operationally, and humanely.

This is not a cooking show.

It’s a leadership conversation. Each episode cuts through industry noise to address the real work beneath the apron:

• Leading people instead of managing chaos
• Rebuilding personal agency in high-pressure environments
• Creating cultures rooted in trust, clarity, and accountability
• Reducing burnout without sacrificing standards
• Choosing sustainability over survival

Some episodes are solo reflections.
Some are conversations with chefs and leaders doing the work.
All of them are grounded in lived experience — not theory.

If you love the craft, but feel like the business has used that love against you, you’re not wrong.
You’re just ready for a different way to lead.

Chef Life Radio is where that conversation begins.

Register for the free monthly Culinary Leadership Lab: a live working space for chefs ready to lead without losing themselves @ https://link.cheflifecoaching.com/leadershiplab
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About your host

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Adam Lamb

Chef Adam Lamb is a culinary leadership coach and longtime industry veteran who helps chefs carry responsibility without burning out or betraying themselves.

After decades in professional kitchens, Adam’s work focuses less on “leadership skills” and more on restoring personal agency, clarity, and choice in high-pressure environments.

He is the host of Chef Life Radio and facilitator of the monthly Culinary Leadership Lab, a live working space for chefs ready to lead without losing themselves.

Find out more @ https://link.cheflifecoaching.com/leadershiplab