Today’s guest is Ken Harris - a former chef whose career in hospitality began back in 1971, when becoming a chef in Australia was far from the glamorous or popular career path it can seem today. Over decades in the kitchen, Ken worked with people from all over the world, built a long career in hospitality, and worked in places including the Hyatt at Sydney’s Kings Cross and the Hilton Hotel.
But retirement didn’t mean stepping away from purpose.
After moving with his wife into AVEO’s Shortland Waters village during the COVID years, Ken noticed something important: many people entering retirement lacked confidence in the kitchen, and with that came questions about independence, health, connection, and even identity. What started as a small men’s cooking group in 2021 soon evolved into regular community dinners for dozens of residents — creating not just meals, but friendships, belonging, and purpose.
Now, through his writing and community work, Ken is helping older Australians build confidence in the kitchen and rethink what ageing well can look like — one meal, one conversation, and one shared table at a time.
Find Ken’s recipes and more info at https://seniorsinthekitchen.com/
06:02 Starting a men's cooking group
13:55 How Cooking fosters community
19:51 Adjusting to retirement cooking routine
21:26 Discussing Ken's passion for cooking
24:46 Preparing a delicious appetizerFor more on 100 Not Out go to www.100notout.com
Popular Podcasts
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com