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Josh Harris, founder of The Bon Vivants, is a San Francisco native and hospitality veteran, Harris is the owner of Trick Dog and the upcoming Quik Dog. A passionate ultra trail runner, vintage watch dealer, and advocate for non-alcoholic drinking culture, he’s been sober since 2003. Harris also co-founded the BV Run Club and established The Bon Vivants Scholarship, raising nearly $850,000 for nonp...

Scott Crawford is the Chef/Owner of award-winning Crawford and Son and Jolie in Raleigh, NC. A five-time James Beard Foundation semifinalist for “Best Chef: Southeast,” Crawford earned the coveted Forbes Five-Star award at three properties prior to introducing Crawford Hospitality, and has earned accolades such as Esquire “Best New Restaurant,” Newsweek’s “101 Best Places to Eat in the World,” Tri...

Kendall Bierman is a licensed therapist and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. Her passion for this work stems from her own experience navigating anxiety and substance abuse in college, ultimately finding sobriety with the support of a compassionate therapist. Now, she specializes in helping young adults with anxiety, substance use, body image concerns, and relational challenges. Using evidence...

LP O’Brien is a highly decorated and award-winning Afro-Boricua mixologist. Her dedication to education, innovation, and cultural integration through cocktail creations led her to establish LP Drinks. LP was famously crowned the winner of Netflix's new television series, Drink Masters, and has been recognized by DISCUS, Global Bar 100 Industry People To Know, and the Dame Hall of Fame.  She is...

In this conversation, Julia shares her multifaceted journey through the hospitality industry, her relationship with alcohol, and her path to sobriety. She discusses the chaos of working in restaurants, the challenges of navigating alcohol in a high-pressure environment, and the transformative experience of embracing sobriety. Julia highlights the importance of self-reflection, creativity, and lead...

Shell is a hospitality veteran with 18 years of FOH experience, specializing in operations, training, and business development. She has worked with some of London’s top restaurant groups, including Hawksmoor, Gaucho, and Polpo. After experiencing a life-changing burnout in 2020, Shell shifted her focus to improving mental health and working conditions in hospitality, pushing difficult conversation...

Liz Mendez is a writer, producer and founder of Aldea Hospitality + Productions. Spending three decades in and around restaurants, has laid the foundation for Liz’s portfolio career - spanning: radio, wine, and tech. As a former wine bar owner and award winning sommelier, with a degree in Communications from DePaul University - Liz has always believed in creativity as our greatest superpower. Afte...

Amber Falter is a standup comic, writer, artist, and producer in Columbus, Ohio. Voted Best Comedian by Columbus Alive 2019, Amber is the producer of Beef Ghost Comedy and is the co-host and producer of Columbus Stand Up for Choice. She has been a regular on Don’t Tell, Funny Bone and Super Dope Comedy showcases. **My bio should be more like “somehow still alive after drinking liquor like a wartho...

Julie Fontes writes about addiction and other consequences of living from a quaint coastal community in southern California. She enjoys being weird and can’t decide whether to write or exercise first in the morning. One thing that she is sure of is that she will be waiting tables in the evening, and that this is a very professional interview.  Like a Normal Person  is Julie’s first book.  Listenin...

Joel has spent over 20 years helping businesses grow and making a difference in the hospitality world. He was the founder of Heard and Saint City Culinary Foundation, which focused on mental health for service industry workers and is now the managing partner at Hagan Rivas Marketing and Media Group. His work has been highlighted in places like Bon Appétit Magazine, and he’s passionate about suppor...

Chris Cardone, founder of Continuous Beverage Solutions, has over 24 years of experience in bartending, hospitality, and consulting for diverse establishments in New York. He was named Bartender of the Year in 2017 at the Diageo World Class US competition, later becoming a judge and educator for the competition. Chris is the Chief Mixologist for Via Carota Craft Cocktails and a partner and directo...

2024 'Best New Chef: Mountain' James Beard Award Winner  Chef Matt Vawter  and his business partner and director of hospitality, Patrick Murphy, both veterans of Denver's F&B scene, made personal choices to stop drinking alcohol in recent years. Upon recognizing the limited options for non-drinkers dining out, they expanded  Rootstalk's booze-free offerings  (their restaurant i...

Robert St. John, a native of Hattiesburg, MS, is a restaurateur, author, philanthropist, and international travel guide dedicated to community and service. He founded Onward Hospitality, managing concepts in Hattiesburg and Jackson, MS. Since discovering his passion for restaurants at 19, St. John has opened over a dozen eateries, including Crescent City Grill and Ed’s Burger Joint. He writes a we...

Growing up on California's coast, Michelle started drinking at 14, where binge-drinking was common through college. Despite attempts to abstain for health reasons, social and cultural pressures made it challenging, especially with work centered around alcohol. Over time, she realized alcohol heightened her anxiety and drained her energy, becoming a crutch. In Spring 2021, influenced by the imp...

Justyn Brogan is the General Manager of Urban Farmer Denver and The Cruise Room (one of the oldest bars in Denver, born the day after Repeal in 1933). He has been sober for over eight years. Justyn spent the first three years of his sobriety as a server and bartender. He then took a step back from management to focus on "cleaning up his life" before returning in 2019. He is active in the...

Emily Hyland’s debut poetry collection, Divorced Business Partners , is forthcoming with Howling Bird Press in October 2024. Hyland's poetry has appeared in The Brooklyn Review, Frontier Poetry, and The Hollins Critic, among others. She earned her MFA in poetry and her MA in English education from Brooklyn College. Her cookbook, Emily: The Cookbook , was published by Ballantine Books, an impri...

Mel is a 15+yr industry veteran based out of Arizona. They are a proud Mestiza, Mom of 3, and recovering addict. They believe the Universe is always conspiring for us. Listening in Columbus, Oh? Care about where your food comes from? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yellowbirdfs.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start your order for farm fresh food, and enter NOPROOF30 for 30% off your cart. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Founded in 2016, the mission of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠...

Best-selling author, TedX speaker, James Beard semifinalist, mental health advocate, and restaurateur Steve Palmer is a food & beverage industry leader with more than 40 years of experience. As founder, managing partner, and chief vision officer of the award-winning Indigo Road Hospitality Group (IRHG), Steve has played an integral role in growing the Charleston, SC-based hospitality company f...

Laura Silverman  is an alcohol-free trailblazer. She’s been sober since 2007 and is the founder of  Zero Proof Nation  and  Booze Free in DC , two platforms focused on highlighting non-alcoholic beverages and the culture driving their growth. She serves in advisory roles to for and non-profits in the wider industry, bringing her expertise and lived experience to the table.  Laura has given univers...

Gabriel + Cliff: Gabriel Rucker, Executive Chef and Co-Owner, Le Pigeon and Canard Two-time James Beard Award winning Chef Gabriel Rucker is Executive Chef and Co-owner of Le Pigeon and Canard in Portland, Oregon. Over the years, his highly original, off the cuff creativity and recipe-free approach to cooking has gained him national acclaim. A native of Napa, California, when school no longer piqu...

Kristen Bear is an actor, writer, and sobriety hype girl based in Nashville, TN. After years of bouncing from coast to coast Kristen found herself back in her home state in February 2020, disillusioned, and desperate for change. Now, at over four years sober, one of her biggest passions is sharing her sobriety journey and helping others find their own way to freedom. Find Kristen on IG and Substac...

Drawing on 15+ years of experience managing bar programs in San Francisco, Phoenix, Oakland, and San Diego, Karl Goranowski is the Fenton Family Restaurants’ tenured Beverage Director across all five of the brand’s restaurant/bar concepts in Tucson, AZ. On a weekly basis, Karl can be found curating five distinct cocktail lists, a 250+ bottle wine program, and four craft beer programs –– across BAT...

Chef Ricky Bella is a Portland native who's been cooking since the age of 17. Trained on the job and without culinary school, he has worked in some of the best kitchens in Portland for 16 years. He's been sober for 4 1/2 years now and has been pushing for the subject of addiction and mental health to be more openly talked about in his community ever since. Listening in Columbus, Oh? Care a...

"Sean is an aging midwesterner with no intention of being an old man. He loves service and cultivating social vibes for everyone." Listening in Columbus, Oh? Care about where your food comes from? Head to ⁠yellowbirdfs.com⁠ to start your order for farm fresh food, and enter NOPROOF30 for 30% off your cart. ⁠Founded in 2016, the mission of ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Ben's Friends ⁠⁠⁠ is to offer hope, fe...

Kim Lerner is a consultant, leadership coach for hospitality businesses and professionals at only yummy, always. She is also a professor on faculty at CUNY Kingsborough and The Institute of Culinary Education. On this journey through an ever-changing landscape, she defined the fundamentals of her own leadership style:  kindness, trust, community, and building an in-house culture that transcends it...