Just as he was about to open a restaurant in New York, chef Eli Kulp, severely injured in a train derailment in 2015, became a quadriplegic. Unable to cook in the kitchens he had built, he transformed this personal ordeal into a profound social commitment. He was able to transcend the limitations imposed by his disability by launching The CHEF Radio Podcast, a space for dialogue on the issues facing the culinary industry. The aim: to create a platform for open discussion of the challenges faced by culinary professionals, whether they relate to discrimination, resilience or other societal issues. “I want to shine a light on certain areas of the industry that need change, and use that influence as a well-known personality in the culinary industry to bring about positive change.” Away from the stoves, he is now evolving the art behind the microphone.
Podcast
The CHEF Radio Podcast
The CHEF Radio Podcast interviews are “conversations with those who shape the way we eat today”. Created by chef Eli Kulp, following the dramatic accident that left him a quadriplegic, the show focuses on the profound link between food, resilience and society. Through authentic discussions with chefs and restaurateurs, Eli builds a space where professionals share their experiences, tackling topics such as the impact of Covid-19, discrimination at work, or mental health. The aim is “to create a more conscious industry, and to help bring to the mic people who have been through trials and tribulations in their careers, whether they’re success stories or challenges people can relate to.”
