SLP 524: Awakening the Self: A Conversation with Pete Evans Part One

In this expansive first part of this powerful two episode conversation, Kim sits down with Pete Evans to explore his extraordinary life journey. From his early days in the kitchen to becoming one of Australia’s most recognised chefs, entrepreneurs, and voices for self discovery.

They dive deep into themes of mental health, personal transformation, and the courage to live authentically. Pete shares how his career in food and television became a catalyst for inner growth, confronting insecurities, and learning to embrace both light and shadow.

The conversation flows through his reflections on handling pain and challenge, gratitude in adversity and his unique approach to parenting. Allowing children the freedom to discover their own beliefs and purpose. Pete also opens up about how the COVID period reshaped his trust in intuition and alignment, sharing his perspectives on following inner guidance even amid public controversy.

 

About Pete: Starting work in his first commercial kitchen at just 13, Pete Evans’ passion for food quickly evolved into a lifelong career. By 17, he was a full-time chef, and by 19, a restaurateur — opening numerous award-winning restaurants across Australia and cooking in some of the finest establishments around the world.

Pete’s career spans professional kitchens, television, film, publishing, and wellness innovation. He continues to consult on restaurant and wellness projects globally, developing menus and concepts that celebrate nutrition, sustainability, and flavour.

Pete has appeared in numerous television and film projects throughout his career. His acclaimed documentary The Magic Pill — exploring the powerful connection between food and health — continues to stream globally. He followed this with The Magic Plant, a documentary examining humanity’s evolving relationship with the cannabis plant, and the TV series AWAKEN, which delves into ancient and modern healing modalities for body, mind, spirit, and planet.

For over a decade, Pete co-hosted and judged Australia’s highest-rating television show, My Kitchen Rules. He also created and produced two seasons of The Paleo Way — a 16-episode series featuring global health experts and delicious anti-inflammatory recipes — and hosted PBS’s award-winning Moveable Feast, exploring the world’s best chefs, local produce, and sustainable food stories.

As one of Australia’s most published contemporary chefs, Pete has written around 25 cookbooks and lifestyle titles, many of which have become national bestsellers. A certified health coach through New York’s Institute of Integrative Nutrition, Pete is passionate about empowering people to take charge of their wellbeing through food and lifestyle choices.

His Paleo Way 10-Week Program has supported over 100,000 participants globally, complemented by a growing range of wellness-focused products for both people and pets — from cookware and supplements to ready-made meals and natural pet food.

Pete is deeply connected to nature and family. An avid surfer and ocean lover, he lives by the philosophy that food is medicine and that conscious living can transform every aspect of our health — physical, mental, and emotional.

As a sought-after keynote speaker on nutrition, wellness, and sustainable living, Pete continues to inspire audiences around the world to eat well, live mindfully, and thrive naturally.

His definition of Self Love is: Self love is loving all aspects of myself.

His favourite quote is: BE YOU!

Links to follow: Website: https://peteevans.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefpeteevans

Quotes: Like everyone else on the planet I am going through a journey of getting to know who I am. We are everything and one at the same time. The further I go the more I love my quirkiness and uniqueness. Our unique identity is our superpower. Television was a great opportunity for me to grow and learn more about myself. One of my strengths is being open to it all. What you are looking for is what you are. Am I searching for something out there or am I searching for myself. Who am I? Do I need to seek? Or can I accept myself for everything that I am, that I always have been and always will be with unconditional love, trust and acceptance. Surrender to the fact that I am me and stop trying to be like others. All of us are mirrors for everyone else. Pain isn’t punishment. It is a message asking you to listen more deeply. Illnesses showing up, is our bodies way of saying your body is out of harmony. Slow down. This is your invitation to explore it! What have I done to upset the flow. Don’t try and turn our children into young versions of ourselves. Let them experience their uniqueness in this world. Get out of the way and just facilitate the basics of the responsibility of being a parent. Let them creat