Kris Hall: Lifting the Curtain on Mental Health in Hospitality

Mental health has long been one of hospitality’s biggest unspoken struggles. In this deeply honest episode of Lifting the Curtain, Andy sits down with Kris Hall, founder of The Burnt Chef Project, to talk about depression, burnout, stigma, and why the industry must change — not someday, but now.Kris shares his personal journey through mental illness, therapy, and recovery, and how those experiences led him to create a global movement supporting hospitality professionals across every continent. From toxic kitchen culture and unrealistic expectations to leadership vulnerability, education, and psychological safety, this episode pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening behind the scenes — and what meaningful change actually looks like.This is not a surface-level conversation. It’s raw, practical, and filled with hope for an industry that desperately needs it.Key Topics & Timecodes:Kris’s personal mental health journey (00:04:40 – 00:06:30)Why hospitality workers don’t talk about mental health (00:06:45 – 00:07:40)The origins of The Burnt Chef Project (00:07:45 – 00:08:40)Why chefs face unique mental health pressures (00:16:40 – 00:18:30)Leadership, vulnerability, and psychological safety (00:19:30 – 00:20:30)Why education and training are critical (00:21:00 – 00:22:30)What real “success” looks like when lives are saved (00:23:30 – 00:25:20)Advice for young hospitality professionals (00:29:40 – 00:31:40)The future of hospitality mental health (00:27:00 – 00:29:00)Why You Should Watch:If you work in hospitality — or lead people who do — this episode will change how you think about leadership, culture, and responsibility.