We Feed Them

a food industry podcast

EP 2: Labor Exploitation: The Price of Being Undervalued and Chinese Secrets

What happens when your passion for the kitchen runs headfirst into a bad boss and unfair pay? We’re diving into the history of being undervalued in the food industry.

Hosts Steve and Sean discuss:

  • The Zero-Dollar Promotion: Sean’s infuriating story of being offered a kitchen manager title —with zero change in his salary—and his decision to walk out.

  • The Steak n’ Shake Midnight Escape: The legendary moment Steve quit a late shift that had him feeling like a “dork in a bow tie.”

  • The Pay Question: We talk about what a serious cook, fresh out of school, is really worth today and the psychological shift that comes with receiving your first real raise.

FINAL FOCUS: We examine the serious ethical questions about where our food comes from, diving into the hidden truth behind forced labor and slave conditions in the Chinese fishing fleets—a vital conversation about what we support with our dollar.

Topics Covered