If you’ve ever felt your chest tighten while the ticket machine prints incessantly- the sound of the ink scratching the paper - ribbons of tickets hitting the floor....you know: kitchens run on adrenaline and autopilot. We live for the hustle and the grind—until it takes us down. The cost is real: frayed patience, numbing out after shift, compassion fatigue, and talented humans losing their love for this craft.
In the latest Sovereign Kitchen Society podcast, I sit down with my friend Angie Colyer DuPree—founder of Hospitality Revival—to map a different path: one that centers around a calm, connected, & sustainable work environment.
She's teaching how to bring humane rhythm back to the line—and back to our homes. So many people are silently struggling with mental health issues, burn out, addiction, family issues and physical health issues.
Our hospitality community and service industry professionals need support. She's taking action to make a difference and this is her story.
What burnout actually looks like (so you can spot it early)
- Short fuses, snappy replies, eye rolls where jokes used to live.
- Numbing after shift (scrolling, sugar, booze) just to feel “nothing.”
- Compassion fatigue—guests feel heavy, teammates feel like “one more ask.”
- The grief when the craft you love starts tasting like cardboard.
Reality check: Burnout is unprocessed stress without a release valve. Our goal is to build those valves into the way we work.
The old ways left us a map (we just stopped reading it)
- Apprenticeship. How cool would it be to inspire people to step into their fullest potential?
- Food as medicine. Stockpots, ferments and breads are things we can teach our staff about, to help heal their stomachs which in turn, help regulate their moods and their mental well being. Mental health is a direct link to gut health
- A shared table. Staff meal as a daily reset. People first; plates second.
None of that removes the pressure but it helps build a healthy culture in a kitchen.
Hospitality Revival: practical help for real kitchens
Angie is building a hub for crews and leaders: support circles, trainings, and human-centered SOPs that prevent burnout and addiction before crisis hits. Think: clear compassionate leadership practices, access to therapy and group support, and operating procedures that protect standards and people. Built by folks who’ve lived it.
“We can’t just react when someone breaks, but we can design kitchens that keep people whole.”
Want to be a part of Angie's Pilot Program?
Listen to the episode
Catch my conversation with Angie Colyer DuPree on designing burnout-resistant kitchens and leading with care.
Join the Sovereign Kitchen Society (and bring this home)
JOIN TODAY USE PROMO CODE: GIFT ($5 for your first mo.)
Inside the membership, we practice this together:
- Livestream cooking classes (multiple times per week).
- Pantry build-outs from the ground up.
- Monthly menus + shopping lists tuned to season and budget.
- Farmer connections + sourcing guides to keep it local and clean.
- Live Q&As to get you unstuck with canning, preservation, and weekly prep.
Become the cook—and the leader—your kitchen needs. Join us and let’s rebuild a culture where food heals and people last.
Huggies to you,
Molly
Molly
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