Ben's Birthday Episode

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben celebrates his birthday, Pride Month, and something he’s never officially done before… coming out.In this deeply personal solo episode, Ben officially shares publicly that he’s gay and opens up about the journey it took to get there. From growing up in a small town, being bullied in high school, and struggling with self-acceptance, to finally learning how to fully love himself, this is one of the most vulnerable episodes yet.Ben talks about the importance of Pride Month, why LGBTQ+ visibility still matters, and the pressure so many people feel to hide who they are. He also opens up about family dynamics, internalized fear, dating closeted men, and the process of finally becoming comfortable enough to live authentically.The episode also features the return of AJ for a hilarious and heartfelt aftershow conversation about coming out stories, relationships, pool party chaos, Fireball disasters, and why gay people truly do throw the best parties.This episode is funny, emotional, chaotic, honest, and a reminder that everyone deserves to be loved exactly as they are.In this episode:Ben officially comes out publicly for the first time  Why Pride Month still matters  Growing up gay in a small town  Bullying, self-acceptance, and learning to love himself  Family struggles and fear around coming out  The reality of dating closeted men  AJ shares his own coming out story  Wild birthday pool party stories and Fireball chaos  Why everyone deserves to live authentically  🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by photographer and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.📍 Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts🔗 Connect with Ben: Instagram: @itsbenaweek TikTok: @itsbenaweek Website: itsbenaweek.com💬 Want to be on the show? Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com