In response to the death of a colleague who struggled with addiction, Steve Palmer and fellow restaurateur Mickey Bakst established Ben’s Friends, a community of restaurant owners, managers, chefs and other workers who seek sobriety. Palmer tells how Ben’s Friends came to be because he wants to raise awareness of substance abuse in the F&amp;B industry and let those who struggle with addiction know there’s acceptance and help.

03 | Ben’s Friends: How a hospitality tastemaker is saving others from addiction

Lodging Leaders is a weekly podcast that examines news and topics trending in the hospitality industry, shared through engaging stories told by co-hosts Jon Albano and Judy Maxwell, and amplified by interviews with experts and other thought leaders.