You like your chefs on a pedestal? We prefer them behind the line, sweating bullets over a broken ticket machine. In this special (and slightly unhinged) episode of You’re Not Special, Aaron Loman Jack and the gang crack open the cult of Michelin stars and James Beard Awards—those glitzy, anxiety-inducing badges that have chefs chasing perfection like it’s a fix.

We’re talking:

• Why the Michelin Guide started as a damn tire company pamphlet

• How anonymous inspectors decide if your food is gold or garbage

• The mental cost of chasing a third star (spoiler: some chefs snap)

• What the fork a James Beard Award really means—and why it matters more

• Who’s hoarding the most stars and why you’ve probably never heard of them

• And why every restaurant crew should get the damn credit—not just the dude with his name on the door

We’ll take you from roadside sandwich shops to culinary temples in the clouds, through the grit, the glory, and the absolute gaslighting of the gourmet world. If you've ever wondered who decides if a restaurant is "worth the detour," or if stars are just glittery shackles, this episode’s your jam. Bring a napkin—this one gets messy.

And remember:
You’re not special—unless a dead man’s foundation or a French tire company says you are.

What do you get when a TEDx speaker and a firecracker chef walk into a podcast after a 12-hour shift? This episode. Buckle up as Erin and Dr. Sizzle dissect Burnt—Bradley Cooper’s sweaty kitchen redemption arc—with the kind of side-splitting, spicy banter that’ll leave your spatula curled.

They cover everything from:

• Michelin-star madness and chef rage (read: flying pans and fish apologies)

• Why sous vide isn’t a food saver—and what Erin used to think it was

• Escargot vs. hamburger helper: the comfort food identity crisis

• Chef power dynamics, knife nerdiness, and... knife blue balls?

• And how shucking a million oysters might just be the ultimate sobriety program

If you’ve ever been screamed at in a walk-in, romanticized kitchen life, or just love a good F-bomb-laced laugh, this one’s your five-star course. Come for the movie review, stay for the rebel energy.

👉 Rated “Yes, Chef” for explicit language, food nerd tangents, and totally unfiltered storytelling.

What happens when front-of-house meets back-of-house and sparks (or grease fires) fly? In this Year Not Special episode, Erin, Dr. Sizzle, and guest couple Nathan and Heather spill the tea (and maybe some sauce) on what it’s really like to date your coworker in the chaotic world of restaurants.

From walk-in flings to fire alarms, meatballs on the ground, and the unforgettable scent of burnt garlic rage — we’ve got it all. Plus: why shift drinks are basically relationship therapy, how not to clean up after a kitchen fire, and the reason no one wants a “burning sausage” in their life (trust us).

🍻 Come for the romance, stay for the kitchen disasters.

🎧 Warning: Contains salty language, hot takes, and possibly a ghost of a meatball.