Maître D, foodie, fundraiser, philanthropist, career restaurateur, mentor, and Charleston ambassador – these are just a few titles bestowed upon Mickey Bakst. After nearly 50 years of working in the hospitality industry, Mickey co-founded Ben's Friends, a support group for members of the food and beverage industry battling substance abuse and addiction, alongside Steve Palmer. The mission of Ben's Friends is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse and addiction. Mickey has since retired from working full time in the hospitality industry but has dedicated himself to Ben's Friends and supporting workers in the hospitality industry. In role as Executive Director, he is focused on spreading the word about Ben's Friends to existing and emerging chapters across the country.

In this episode, Mickey joins his longtime colleague and friend, Steve Palmer, in a candid conversation on the current state of the hospitality industry, navigating stress and sobriety in his various roles through his career, and the lasting impact of their work with Ben's Friends.

Thank you to Stolon Food Lab for allowing us to use the space to film this episode.