Episode 206

206: On The Dock with Chef James Shirley

Published on: 20th August, 2022

1 206

Chef James Shirley worked for the city of Chicago and began cooking as a side hustle.

He got a job at a restaurant and quickly learned that he knew nothing about cooking. The executive chef at the time, Tony Montuano, took him under his wing and taught him everything he knew.

Since then, Chef James Shirley has had an illustrious career in the culinary world.

Not to say that it didn't have its challenges!

Here are the steps you need to follow also to get Success in the industry:

1. Make sure you have a strong work ethic

2. Take advantage of opportunities when they come your way

3. Don't give up, even when things are tough

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode
Show artwork for Chef Life Radio

About the Podcast

Chef Life Radio
For Chefs Who Want to Lead Without Losing Themselves
Chef Life Radio is not about working harder, optimizing systems, or hustling your way out of exhaustion.
It’s about restoring authorship.
Hosted by Chef Adam Lamb, Chef Life Radio explores the invisible emotional and leadership load carried by people who love their work, and quietly let that love become obligation.
Through reflective solo episodes and lived stories, the show names what most professionals feel but rarely articulate:
When responsibility becomes erosion
When endurance replaces choice
When leadership turns into self‑sacrifice
This isn’t motivation. It’s recommitment.

Chef Life Radio is for people who want to remain excellent without disappearing from their own lives — and who are ready to lead from clarity instead of depletion.

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
Support This Show

About your host

Profile picture for Adam Lamb

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