Y’all know I talk about my mentor Chef Lisa Brooks all the time, but today is extra special because she is wine-ing down with me on the podcast! In this two part series (we talked for two and a half hours y’all), Chef Lisa is sharing all about her background, her opinions on culinary schools, her first impressions of me, and so much more. I hope you guys enjoy and laugh along with us in this episode. Stay tuned for part 2!

Connect with Chef Lisa Brooks!

• TikTok


• Instagram


• Website

In this episode:

• How Chef Lisa became a Chef and the signs that led her there


• Why she would never work in a restaurant


• Why she chose to go to culinary school at CPCC instead of Johnson & Wales


• All the ways she explored entrepreneurship while she was growing up


• How Food Lion recruited her as a chef


• How I pursued her for years until she finally agreed to be my mentor


• The moment I blew Chef Lisa’s mind with my vegan cooking


• All the stories from my own journey becoming a Chef that Chef Lisa witnessed and mentored me through


• Lessons Chef Lisa has learned as a personal chef from her own mentors


• What she expects from her mentees and her approach to mentorship


• The lessons she’s learned from me on appearance, professionalism, and vegan cooking


• What Chef Lisa considers the “it” factor in a fellow chef

Welcome to Plant Girl Magic! I’m Chef Joya, a celebrity vegan chef known for making the vegan versions of your favorite soul food and afro-caribbean dishes so good they rival the originals. On this podcast, I’m sharing the stories behind the magic, from my own vegan journey and celebrity stories, to topics I care deeply about like food injustice, family, and life as an influencer. If you have a topic you want me to cover on the podcast, please send me a DM on Instagram @cookingwithjoya.

The Plant Girl Magic theme music is produced by my brother, Y’oMusic.

Connect with Chef Joya!

• Instagram


• TikTok


• YouTube


• Facebook


• Website


• Chef Joya’s Nest