He’s Ben Abused, Abandoned, and He Survived (ft. Weston Brown)

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with Weston Brown, a Texas native whose shocking and emotional story has captured national attention.Weston grew up in a hyper-religious, politically extreme household just outside Dallas — homeschooled, isolated, and forbidden from music, movies, doctors, or anything that didn’t fit a narrow version of “God’s plan.” When he came out as gay, he was fired from his church job, cut off from his family, and told he could never come home.Years later, Weston discovered that his mother — now living in Granbury — had become a political activist trying to ban books with LGBTQ+ characters. So he returned to Texas, took the podium at a school-board meeting, and made headlines across the country with his brave, heartfelt testimony. That moment inspired a documentary and his upcoming memoir.Ben and Weston dive into:Growing up under fundamentalist evangelical controlHow fear, isolation, and “purity culture” damage kidsThe shocking “poop brownie” story that went viral in GranburyWeston’s mother’s campaign to ban books — and her public defeatThe reality of homeschooling laws in Texas and children’s rightsHealing through therapy, marriage, and self-acceptanceHow religion is weaponized against LGBTQ+ peopleFinding purpose in advocacy and the power of representationIt’s an episode filled with courage, catharsis, and hope — proof that even in the most closed-minded places, truth and love will always find a way through. Follow Weston BrownInstagram: @wstn.brwnFilm: https://thelibrariansfilm.com/ Book: https://bannedthebook.com/  🎧 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