In this episode, Sean and Steve dive deep into the psychology of the kitchen and the physical reality of being a "lifer" in the industry. Fresh off a grueling 9-day stretch and battling the mystery of the "back pop" and sciatic nerve pain, the guys break down what it actually takes to be an elite line cook.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Better Burger" Feature: Why we’re pivoting to a healthy turkey burger for the New Year, the struggle of making hummus in-house, and the idea of targeting annual food trends

• The Zen of the Line: A discussion on reaching the "Flow State." We break down the four pillars of greatness: Speed, Order of Operations, Discipline, and Composure.

• Industry Realities: Reflecting on the "undiscovered talent" in chain restaurants and stories of the oblivious managers who didn't even know our names.

• Physical Toll & Recovery: Dealing with 11-hour shifts, the magic of RSO creams, and why propping your legs up might be the only thing keeping you mobile.

• RPS Championship: We settle the score with a high-stakes game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to open the show.

Whether you're a fry cook looking to level up your station management or a server who just wants to hear some relatable kitchen trauma, this episode is for you.

Follow us & Share: If you enjoyed the show, copy the link and send it to your group chat, your mother, or that server you haven't talked to in three years. We see the analytics—help us grow the feed! The Best Kitchen Shoes: Snibbs Our favorite shoes for those 12-hour shifts. Use our link to get $20 off your first pair: https://www.snibbs.co/wefeedthem (Disclosure: Using our link helps support the show with a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

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In this episode, we kick off by pulling back the curtain on restaurant technology and cinematic sequels. Sean breaks down the "infuriating" experience of launching the Toast POS system, detailing the hidden "a la carte" costs—from QuickBooks integration to Google review plugins—that make a powerful system feel like a subscription trap.

Then, we dive into a $1.29 Goodwill find: Still Waiting..., the 2009 sequel to the cult classic Waiting.... We discuss whether it captures the true stress of the industry or if it's just a "boner jam" overloaded with outdated sex jokes. Finally, we put our palates to the test with a blind lemon pepper "cutting," including a homemade recipe generated by Gemini AI that didn't quite hit the mark.

00:00 Intro

01:15 Toast POS Launch: Installing hardware until 5 AM

02:45 The Subscription Nightmare: Breaking down Toast's a la carte fees

14:35 Movie Review: Still Waiting, the 1.29 Goodwill sequel

42:10 The Great Lemon Pepper Blind Tasting begins

1:05:40 Testing the AI Recipe: Why Gemini lemon pepper failed

The Best Kitchen Shoes: Snibbs Our favorite shoes for those 12-hour shifts. Use our link to get $20 off your first pair: https://www.snibbs.co/wefeedthem (Disclosure: Using our link helps support the show with a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

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If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available—please consider reaching out to a trusted professional or a local support resource. SAMHSA’s National Helpline 📞 1-800-662-HELP (4357) 🌐 findtreatment.gov "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

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

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