In this episode of Repertoire, I boogy down to street to James Island, South Carolina to sit down with Shaun Brian—chef, operator, community builder, and one of the most quietly influential figures shaping how seafood, hospitality, and leadership intersect in the Lowcountry.

Shaun’s story begins far from restaurant kitchens. Raised on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, he grew up foraging, fishing, gardening, and building—learning self-reliance, respect for food, and community responsibility long before he ever put on a chef coat. His upbringing spans Caribbean culture, West Indian household traditions, Rainbow Gatherings, Quaker boarding school, and a deeply formative reckoning with accountability that would ultimately shape his values as a leader.

We dive into:

• Growing up on a remote island and how fishing, foraging, and scarcity shaped his relationship with food.
• The Caribbean as a cultural crossroads—and how global flavors, preservation, and technique naturally coexist there.
• Early lessons in accountability, honesty, and consequence that became lifelong leadership principles.
• Why kitchens attract “misfits,” how pirate-ship culture once defined the industry, and why growing up is essential for longevity.
• The difference between treating cooking as a lifestyle versus building a sustainable career.
• Mentorship, burnout, and how to protect passion over a 30-year career in a demanding industry.
• Building Cuda Co. as a community-driven seafood operation—supporting fishers, feeding families, and training the next generation of cooks.
• Why trust, relationships, and showing up fully matter more than titles or ego.

Shaun and I talk openly about failure, shame, growth, leadership, and the unseen labor that makes restaurants work—from fixing broken equipment to carrying the emotional weight of teams and communities. It’s a deeply human conversation about values, evolution, and what it actually means to lead with integrity in hospitality.

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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