[Music] addict IV drug user arrest record liar
I’ll ask you to think about those words
I’ll ask you to think about those words and think about the images that
and think about the images that
and think about the images that immediately come to your mind what sort
immediately come to your mind what sort
immediately come to your mind what sort of what sort of person am i describing
of what sort of person am i describing
of what sort of person am i describing what do they look like what is your
what do they look like what is your
what do they look like what is your story I’ll ask you to hold that image
story I’ll ask you to hold that image
story I’ll ask you to hold that image for just a minute
employer financially stable think about
employer financially stable think about those words what sort of person comes to
those words what sort of person comes to
those words what sort of person comes to your mind who is that what is their
your mind who is that what is their
your mind who is that what is their story
story
story those words could be used to describe my
those words could be used to describe my
those words could be used to describe my story all of those words because they’re
story all of those words because they’re
story all of those words because they’re all true they’re all a part of my story
all true they’re all a part of my story
all true they’re all a part of my story and while they don’t define me in total
and while they don’t define me in total
and while they don’t define me in total they define what has brought me to this
they define what has brought me to this
they define what has brought me to this moment to be on this stage I want to
moment to be on this stage I want to
moment to be on this stage I want to talk to you about the industry that I
talk to you about the industry that I
talk to you about the industry that I love love the restaurant business we
love love the restaurant business we
love love the restaurant business we have this amazing opportunity every
have this amazing opportunity every
have this amazing opportunity every night to have this intimate experience
night to have this intimate experience
night to have this intimate experience into your life your first date your
into your life your first date your
into your life your first date your anniversary dinner you’re getting
anniversary dinner you’re getting
anniversary dinner you’re getting together with old friends your divorce
together with old friends your divorce
together with old friends your divorce party the date you’re not supposed to be
party the date you’re not supposed to be
party the date you’re not supposed to be on we have the front row we have the
on we have the front row we have the
on we have the front row we have the front row to this beautiful theater of
front row to this beautiful theater of
front row to this beautiful theater of wonderful food and wine and in an
wonderful food and wine and in an
wonderful food and wine and in an enticing ambiance and that’s part of my
enticing ambiance and that’s part of my
enticing ambiance and that’s part of my industry and I also work in an industry
industry and I also work in an industry
industry and I also work in an industry where every night we leave work and we
where every night we leave work and we
where every night we leave work and we drink ourselves into unconsciousness
drink ourselves into unconsciousness
drink ourselves into unconsciousness we’re addicted to drugs and we’re
we’re addicted to drugs and we’re
we’re addicted to drugs and we’re overdosing in record numbers I work in
overdosing in record numbers I work in
overdosing in record numbers I work in an industry where when tragedy strikes
an industry where when tragedy strikes
an industry where when tragedy strikes in Charleston the phones start ringing
in Charleston the phones start ringing
in Charleston the phones start ringing about the charity fundraiser that we’re
about the charity fundraiser that we’re
about the charity fundraiser that we’re all going to come together to raise
all going to come together to raise
all going to come together to raise money for your charity there’s no more
money for your charity there’s no more
money for your charity there’s no more group of charitable people
group of charitable people
group of charitable people and chefs in this community to get asked
and chefs in this community to get asked
and chefs in this community to get asked to cook for your events and right after
to cook for your events and right after
to cook for your events and right after those events we have chefs at night
those events we have chefs at night
those events we have chefs at night after night restaurant people night
after night restaurant people night
after night restaurant people night after night say I’m not going to do it
after night say I’m not going to do it
after night say I’m not going to do it again tonight I’m only gonna have one
again tonight I’m only gonna have one
again tonight I’m only gonna have one I’m not gonna call the drug dealer and
I’m not gonna call the drug dealer and
I’m not gonna call the drug dealer and night after night after night they do it
night after night after night they do it
night after night after night they do it and they can’t stop
and they can’t stop
and they can’t stop I work in an industry where recently and
I work in an industry where recently and
I work in an industry where recently and many in recent years in Charleston a
many in recent years in Charleston a
many in recent years in Charleston a farmer their barn burned down all the
farmer their barn burned down all the
farmer their barn burned down all the livestock killed within 48 hours the
livestock killed within 48 hours the
livestock killed within 48 hours the Charleston restaurant community came
Charleston restaurant community came
Charleston restaurant community came together we did a barn raising
together we did a barn raising
together we did a barn raising we bought livestock the farmer was
we bought livestock the farmer was
we bought livestock the farmer was restored and I work in an industry where
restored and I work in an industry where
restored and I work in an industry where people drove home that night and died
people drove home that night and died
people drove home that night and died because they had had too much to drink
because they had had too much to drink
because they had had too much to drink at a recent festival very popular wine
at a recent festival very popular wine
at a recent festival very popular wine and food festival in the southeast three
and food festival in the southeast three
and food festival in the southeast three chefs under the age of 35 died of opiate
chefs under the age of 35 died of opiate
chefs under the age of 35 died of opiate addiction and the next day in the paper
addiction and the next day in the paper
addiction and the next day in the paper there wasn’t one mention the headline
there wasn’t one mention the headline
there wasn’t one mention the headline was about the bourbon tasting and the
was about the bourbon tasting and the
was about the bourbon tasting and the wine flight and where the after-party
wine flight and where the after-party
wine flight and where the after-party was I work in this industry that is
was I work in this industry that is
was I work in this industry that is filled with these charitable souls that
filled with these charitable souls that
filled with these charitable souls that are seriously addicted there was a study
are seriously addicted there was a study
are seriously addicted there was a study done of the National workplace of drug
done of the National workplace of drug
done of the National workplace of drug use in all workplaces the national
use in all workplaces the national
use in all workplaces the national average was eight point six percent drug
average was eight point six percent drug
average was eight point six percent drug use in the restaurant industry is 19
use in the restaurant industry is 19
use in the restaurant industry is 19 point one it’s time we shake it up in
point one it’s time we shake it up in
point one it’s time we shake it up in that same survey they looked at
that same survey they looked at
that same survey they looked at alcoholism in the workplace 6 percent in
alcoholism in the workplace 6 percent in
alcoholism in the workplace 6 percent in the restaurant industry eleven point
the restaurant industry eleven point
the restaurant industry eleven point five it’s time we shake it up we all
five it’s time we shake it up we all
five it’s time we shake it up we all turn in nightly to all the chef’s
turn in nightly to all the chef’s
turn in nightly to all the chef’s celebrity shows and we watch these guys
celebrity shows and we watch these guys
celebrity shows and we watch these guys with tattoos and they’re rock stars and
with tattoos and they’re rock stars and
with tattoos and they’re rock stars and they’re dying and they’re walking out of
they’re dying and they’re walking out of
they’re dying and they’re walking out of their restaurants calling it stress
their restaurants calling it stress
their restaurants calling it stress it’s an industry that I love it’s an
it’s an industry that I love it’s an
it’s an industry that I love it’s an industry that’s given me a life that I
industry that’s given me a life that I
industry that’s given me a life that I could have never possibly imagined I
could have never possibly imagined I
could have never possibly imagined I want to talk to you about another word
want to talk to you about another word
want to talk to you about another word sustainability we all shop at our
sustainability we all shop at our
sustainability we all shop at our organic grocery stores we want to know
organic grocery stores we want to know
organic grocery stores we want to know where our food is from we want to make
where our food is from we want to make
where our food is from we want to make sure the animals were ethically raised
sure the animals were ethically raised
sure the animals were ethically raised we we live in Charleston we want to talk
we we live in Charleston we want to talk
we we live in Charleston we want to talk about fishing in the right waters at the
about fishing in the right waters at the
about fishing in the right waters at the right time and we don’t talk about human
right time and we don’t talk about human
right time and we don’t talk about human sustainability
sustainability
sustainability I work in an industry where when we all
I work in an industry where when we all
I work in an industry where when we all come to work every day we talk about how
come to work every day we talk about how
come to work every day we talk about how many shots we did last night we
many shots we did last night we
many shots we did last night we high-five each other but when our friend
high-five each other but when our friend
high-five each other but when our friend who doesn’t look so good anymore who you
who doesn’t look so good anymore who you
who doesn’t look so good anymore who you can tell isn’t making it on time who you
can tell isn’t making it on time who you
can tell isn’t making it on time who you can tell is struggling we’re not an
can tell is struggling we’re not an
can tell is struggling we’re not an industry that stops and says are you
industry that stops and says are you
industry that stops and says are you okay it’s time we shake it up being
okay it’s time we shake it up being
okay it’s time we shake it up being sustainable means that we care about our
sustainable means that we care about our
sustainable means that we care about our people and we have those conversations
people and we have those conversations
people and we have those conversations that are uncomfortable we have we
that are uncomfortable we have we
that are uncomfortable we have we stopped and we pause and we say listen I
stopped and we pause and we say listen I
stopped and we pause and we say listen I think you need help it’s time we shake
think you need help it’s time we shake
think you need help it’s time we shake it up this is my friend Ben Ben was a
it up this is my friend Ben Ben was a
it up this is my friend Ben Ben was a happy guy Ben was a chef in Atlanta
happy guy Ben was a chef in Atlanta
happy guy Ben was a chef in Atlanta I met 20 years ago when we were opening
I met 20 years ago when we were opening
I met 20 years ago when we were opening a restaurant he was a blues guitar
a restaurant he was a blues guitar
a restaurant he was a blues guitar player he always had a joke he kind of
player he always had a joke he kind of
player he always had a joke he kind of reminded me one of those guys in the Rat
reminded me one of those guys in the Rat
reminded me one of those guys in the Rat Pack he always was having a good time I
Pack he always was having a good time I
Pack he always was having a good time I had lost touch with Ben in recent years
had lost touch with Ben in recent years
had lost touch with Ben in recent years and a mutual friend connected us I was
and a mutual friend connected us I was
and a mutual friend connected us I was opening a restaurant and I needed help
opening a restaurant and I needed help
opening a restaurant and I needed help and they said you know Ben is cleaned up
and they said you know Ben is cleaned up
and they said you know Ben is cleaned up his act so Ben walked in the door he
his act so Ben walked in the door he
his act so Ben walked in the door he said hey Steve I said hey Benny said
said hey Steve I said hey Benny said
said hey Steve I said hey Benny said I’ve cleaned up my act and I didn’t want
I’ve cleaned up my act and I didn’t want
I’ve cleaned up my act and I didn’t want to shake it up and say well what does
to shake it up and say well what does
to shake it up and say well what does that mean Ben worked for six weeks I
that mean Ben worked for six weeks I
that mean Ben worked for six weeks I never saw him take a drink he works 16
never saw him take a drink he works 16
never saw him take a drink he works 16 hours a day
hours a day
hours a day suddenly Ben’s stopped showing up to
suddenly Ben’s stopped showing up to
suddenly Ben’s stopped showing up to work we had put him up in a hotel room
work we had put him up in a hotel room
work we had put him up in a hotel room and I went to that hotel room to talk to
and I went to that hotel room to talk to
and I went to that hotel room to talk to Ben because I was worried
Ben because I was worried
Ben because I was worried and then wouldn’t answer the door a
and then wouldn’t answer the door a
and then wouldn’t answer the door a friend of mine said Steve you should
friend of mine said Steve you should
friend of mine said Steve you should call the police
call the police
call the police I knew the owner of the hotel I didn’t
I knew the owner of the hotel I didn’t
I knew the owner of the hotel I didn’t want to create a scene I didn’t want to
want to create a scene I didn’t want to
want to create a scene I didn’t want to shake it up I didn’t call the police Ben
shake it up I didn’t call the police Ben
shake it up I didn’t call the police Ben committed suicide and shot himself and I
committed suicide and shot himself and I
committed suicide and shot himself and I wish I had shaked it up the picture on
wish I had shaked it up the picture on
wish I had shaked it up the picture on the right is been surrounded by four
the right is been surrounded by four
the right is been surrounded by four other chefs three of those chefs were
other chefs three of those chefs were
other chefs three of those chefs were sober I was there that night I was sober
sober I was there that night I was sober
sober I was there that night I was sober something in Ben’s ethos something in
something in Ben’s ethos something in
something in Ben’s ethos something in the culture of our industry told him
the culture of our industry told him
the culture of our industry told him they couldn’t just reach out and say I’m
they couldn’t just reach out and say I’m
they couldn’t just reach out and say I’m struggling I need a hand
struggling I need a hand
struggling I need a hand can you help this time we shake it up I
can you help this time we shake it up I
can you help this time we shake it up I came back to Charleston after calling
came back to Charleston after calling
came back to Charleston after calling Ben’s mother and having to explain what
Ben’s mother and having to explain what
Ben’s mother and having to explain what had happened and the story started to
had happened and the story started to
had happened and the story started to unfold Ben and bit in detox six
unfold Ben and bit in detox six
unfold Ben and bit in detox six different times Ben didn’t know how to
different times Ben didn’t know how to
different times Ben didn’t know how to ask for help we have to shake it up so
ask for help we have to shake it up so
ask for help we have to shake it up so from that perspective with my friend
from that perspective with my friend
from that perspective with my friend Mickey bast a fellow restaurateur and
Mickey bast a fellow restaurateur and
Mickey bast a fellow restaurateur and sober person we started a nonprofit
sober person we started a nonprofit
sober person we started a nonprofit called Ben’s friends and we meet weekly
called Ben’s friends and we meet weekly
called Ben’s friends and we meet weekly we meet weekly as a safe place for
we meet weekly as a safe place for
we meet weekly as a safe place for people that are having a problem with
people that are having a problem with
people that are having a problem with drinking we meet weekly as a resource to
drinking we meet weekly as a resource to
drinking we meet weekly as a resource to get people into facilities to offer
get people into facilities to offer
get people into facilities to offer mental help to offer financial
mental help to offer financial
mental help to offer financial assistance we meet weekly just to show
assistance we meet weekly just to show
assistance we meet weekly just to show people that you don’t have to drink and
people that you don’t have to drink and
people that you don’t have to drink and be in the restaurant business we started
be in the restaurant business we started
be in the restaurant business we started a year ago there’s a Ben’s friends in
a year ago there’s a Ben’s friends in
a year ago there’s a Ben’s friends in Raleigh there’s one in Atlanta I get
Raleigh there’s one in Atlanta I get
Raleigh there’s one in Atlanta I get calls from all over the country people
calls from all over the country people
calls from all over the country people reaching out saying I want to help we
reaching out saying I want to help we
reaching out saying I want to help we have to do something I love my industry
have to do something I love my industry
have to do something I love my industry it’s provided a life beyond anything I
it’s provided a life beyond anything I
it’s provided a life beyond anything I could ever imagine
could ever imagine
could ever imagine but one thing I know is that you can be
but one thing I know is that you can be
but one thing I know is that you can be sober in the restaurant business that I
sober in the restaurant business that I
sober in the restaurant business that I want to spread that message I want to
want to spread that message I want to
want to spread that message I want to challenge the notion that you have to
challenge the notion that you have to
challenge the notion that you have to drink and do drugs in our industry and I
drink and do drugs in our industry and I
drink and do drugs in our industry and I want to shake it up thank you very much
want to shake it up thank you very much
want to shake it up thank you very much you
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