Life In Bold with Ben Hawes
by Ben Hawes
Queer. Funny. Bold. This is the podcast connecting you to inspiring people who are doing the work to live the lives they've imagined. Finding authenticity, moving forward with boldness, following dreams, and laughing along the way. Hosted by comedian Ben Hawes in New York City. Listen today and subscribe for new episodes every other Monday.
Episodes
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75. Life Update 2026: New Job, New Comedy Era & My Club Cumming Debut
Welcome to episode 75 of Life in Bold! I'm your host, Ben Hawes! I’m back with a brand new 2026 life update because a lot has changed. In this solo episode, I’m catching you up on my new job as an Office Manager in NYC at Rocket Money, getting my comedy career back up and running, releasing my...
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Why me? Why impact? An honest conversation about my internet "success" motivations. Episode 72
What starts as a casual train of though by Ben turns into a layered self-inquiry about communication, connection, identity, and impact.
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Reaching New Heights: Ben Hawes on Podcasting and Personal Growth
Welcome to Episode 72 of "Life in Bold" with Ben Hawes! In this episode, Ben takes us on a journey from his early inspiration by iCarly to his current success as a content creator and podcaster. Discover how iCarly sparked his interest in the internet and led him to create content for over 17...
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Defining "Success" vs. "Security" in Life, Career, and Creativity | Episode 71
In this episode, I talk through the mix of feelings that hit me after my big trip back to California, a wedding in San Francisco, and my return to NYC. I ended up needing an "emergency life coaching session" with Claire from The Happy Hour in Nashville (virtually), and I walked away with some new...
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2026 Is Almost Here... What Am I Doing With My Life? | Episode 70
As 2025 winds down, I’m sitting with the big questions. Should I get a job again? Is my business working? What’s next for me creatively, financially, personally? This episode isn’t a highlight reel — it’s an honest check-in about what it feels like to chase big dreams when the year is ending and...
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Episode 69! Mike Andronico on Music, Friendship, and His Most Personal Song Yet
In the very very iconic Episode 69 of Life in Bold, host Ben Hawes sits down with Mike Andronico, an Astoria-based musician and tech review journalist for CNN Underscored, to talk about his journey into music, friendship, and creative expression. Mike opens up about finding new friendships…
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David Mills On Working w/ Meryl Streep, London Cabaret, and Finding His Style | Life In Bold Ep. 68
In this episode of Life in Bold, I sit down with comedian, cabaret star, and international man of intrigue David Mills.We talk about everything from working with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant in Florence Foster Jenkins, to building a comedy career across San Francisco, New York, and London, to the...
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NYC Council Candidate Sarah Batchu on Bold Leadership, Housing, & Queer Rights | Life in Bold Ep. 67
In Episode 68 of Life in Bold, Ben Hawes sits down with Sarah Batchu, a bold first-time candidate for New York City Council in District 2. From knocking on doors to fighting for housing justice, Sarah is running a grassroots campaign focused on equity, housing, public health, and a healthy dose…
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66. "Turns Out I'm A Clown" – Liz Coin Talks Bombing & Letting Her 11-Year-Old Self Run the Show
In this episode of Life in Bold, I (Ben Hawes!) sit down with the absolutely iconic Liz Coin—actor, improviser, and full-on clown—to talk about what it actually means to live boldly as an artist. Liz gets real about bombing on stage, finding joy in the flop, and why letting her 11-year-old self…
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65. Seann Cantatore on the messy reality of pursuing creative dreams
In this honest and deeply relatable episode, Host Ben Hawes sits down with fellow musical comedian and performer Seann Cantatore for her third time on Life in Bold. The two dive into the messy reality of pursuing creative dreams—the comparison traps, the Instagram illusions, and why “killing it”...
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64. Three Traps Keeping You From Posting On Social Media (And How to Break Free in 2025)
Are you ready to make 2025 the year you finally step up your social media game? In this solo Life in Bold episode, I’m diving deep into the 3 traps that stop so many of us from posting as much as we should—and why those traps are holding you back from greatness. ⚡ Disclaimer: This isn’t about…
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63. Life In Bold Podcast Compilation: 20 Minutes of Hilarious Moments From 2024 😂🎙️🎉
Get ready for 20 non-stop minutes of laughter and bold moments from Life In Bold in 2024! This compilation features the funniest, most memorable highlights from the year, showcasing the comedic journey of boldness with incredible guests and outrageous moments. Whether it's bold advice, hilarious...
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62. End-of-Year Special: How I Embraced Boldness in 4 Years – Listen as You Step Into 2025 <3
Join me, Ben Hawes, on a journey of boldness and self-discovery. After a quarter-life crisis at 29, I embarked on a mission to understand what it truly means to live life boldly. Through candid conversations with inspiring guests and personal reflections, I explore the mindsets, habits and…
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61. My 2024 In Review & 2025 Intentions: Money, Weight Loss, Entrepreneurship & My Bold Journey
In today’s episode, I review one of the most challenging and rewarding years of my life and discuss what I hope to achieve and accomplish in 2025. Thank you for tuning in! 🎙️ Don’t miss out on the latest episodes—hit Subscribe for new bold conversations every week 🏳️🌈 Life in Bold is hosted…
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60. Overcoming Jealousy & External Pressure: Life Coach Claire Price on Finding Your 'Daily Happy'
In today’s episode (we made it to 60!!) I got to interview my very own life coach from Nashville’s The Happy Hour, which is a mental wellness studio focused on a variety of methodologies— they have therapy, life coaching, energy work, and so much more— and they recently launched a new app “The...
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59. Kate Keller on Finding Boldness in Songwriting, Music Theory, and Attracting a Genuine Fan Base
Today we have quite a treat with musician Kate Keller— I was so excited to interview Kate about her musical skills and authentic songwriting process — very bold and honest and I was thrilled to learn more about her process! Kate is a 27 year old New York based singer and songwriter, and just...
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58. Steven Zakari on Homophobia in Comedy, Being Yourself, and BoA
Welcome to Episode 58 of Life in Bold! This week, I’m thrilled to bring you an incredible conversation with the one and only Steven Zakari—a phenomenal comedian, entertainer, and one of the most engaging podcast guests I’ve ever had the pleasure of hosting. This episode quickly became one of my...
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57. Meg Chizek on Finding Boldness: Embracing Life's Transitions & Trusting Your Intuition
🎙️ Finding Boldness: Embracing Life's Transitions with Meg Chizek 🎙️ In this episode of Life in Bold, Ben sits down with comedian and former dancer Meg Chizek. From her one-woman show How to Give Up on Your Dreams to her transition from dance to comedy, Meg’s story is all about self-trust and...
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56. Andrea Coleman on Leaving Law, Finding Divine Signs, and the Power of Storytelling in Comedy
In this episode of Life in Bold, Ben sits down with Andrea Coleman, a New York-based comedian and storyteller known for her powerful solo show Three White Guys Named John. Andrea shares her journey from practicing law to embracing comedy, revealing how her legal career influences her humor and…
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55. Comedian Valerie Ward on Finding Balance in Improv & Business
In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the wonderful Valerie Ward for an in-depth conversation about her life, her journey with improv and comedy, and how she balances her corporate career with her creative passions. Valerie shared her unique experiences growing up in Texas…
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54. Lizzy Sunshine's Liz Coin on Addiction, Improv & Big Dreams
In this episode of Life in Bold, I sit down with the incredibly talented Liz Coin to talk about her one-woman show, Lizzie Sunshine 🌞. Liz shares the deeply personal inspiration behind the show, which explores her brother’s addiction struggles, and how creating this piece helped her embrace her...
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53. Improviser Lauren Arnett on Growing Up Christian, Bisexuality & Women, and Sex in Movies
Lauren Arnett is an amazing improviser and actor in NYC who performs with many improv groups and makes people laugh all across New York City. Originally from Michigan, she grew up in a church where the church scene became her social life. Quiet in shy in high school, she now takes stages all over...
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52. Patrick Darwin Williams on Modern Masculinity, Growing Up In Theater & Teaching Improv in NYC
My conversation with improv actor Patrick Darwin Williams was a riveting dive into masculinity in the 90s and 2000s, balancing football & theater (hello Troy Bolton!), moving to NYC in 2006, being a dad and husband, and basically an all-around interview with a fantastically talented and kind...
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51. Actor Emmy Harrington on Great Movie Scores, Dancing, and Getting People To Your Comedy Show
Emmy Harrington is a wonderful Actor based in NYC who has done many things, but is very well known for her Live theater show “SCORE” where she invites comedians to do an act based on a classic movie she assigns, and then she herself does an interpretive/interactive dance and performance for each...
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50. Jaydan Heather on her CUNTRY Comedy Show in NYC, Tucker Carlson Comments & Funny Homophobia
Jaydan Heather Malsky is a fantastic musician and comedian who hosts a wonderful recurring show called “CUNTRY” in NYC. CUNTRY is a mix of covers and original songs by Jaydan Heather that end up being really funny and entertaining to watch. Jaydan Heather has gone viral on TikTok multiple times,...
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49. “Tik Tok Teacher” Helen Polise Talks Social Media Growth & Being a Comedy Mama
Helen Polise is best known as the “TikTok Teacher” on social media, teaching folks how to make the most of their experience on social media— but she is so much more! She’s a podcast host, a vlogger, and a commercial producer, and she’s kicking life in the booty with her amazing young energy.…
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48. Seann Cantatore on Her Musical Comedy Tour & Finding Comedy Fans
Seann Cantatore is a fantastic musical comedian who is (say it with me) GOING ON TOUR!!! Yes, you heard me, this summer, Seann Cantatore may be coming to a city near you, and you better go to her show biatch! Seann sings funny tunes about all things, including being an angry New Yorker, Shaving…
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47. Nicole Pascaretta on High School Dress Up Days, Movie Musicals & Sketch Comedy
Nicole Pascaretta is a New York Based performer who specializes in Improv, Sketch, and Musical Comedy and in today’s episode we talk all about her growing up in Michigan, what high school was like, dressing up in costumes, getting started in comedy, moving to NYC, and what her message is in...
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46. Comedian Jess Elgene on Country Music, Texas & Gender
Jess Elgene is a wonderfully talented comedian and performer in New York City. She performs improv, stand-up comedy, sketch shows, and musical comedy, and Las creates comedy content on TikTok and Instagram. She’s partly known for her viral videos, including known for a mega-viral hit she created…
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45. Comedian Florence Friebe On Self Awareness, Therapy & NYC Friendships
Florence Friebe is a wonderfully talented musician, improv comedian, and actor who spent an hour with me as we discussed so many important and interesting topics! We chat about our families growing up, who we were in high school, how we came to get into comedy and music, how we work to learn more...
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44. Life Update: Starting My Own Business & Believing In Myself
I’m back with a solo podcast episode about starting my own business and believing in myself in 2024. I am running my own Photo Booth business after losing my job in January—and it’s not easy! Listen in to hear my thought process and how I’m choosing challenge and living more boldly. Once you're...
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43. Jimmy Schatz on Being an NYC Actor, Dating Men & Sex In The Queer Community
Jimmy Schatz is back for his second time on the Life in Bold podcast, and we’re getting real about acting in NYC, pursuing a career in comedy, dating, hookups, and more. :) Jimmy has a monthly comedy show at The Stonewall Inn. Be sure to follow him below to get the latest updates about dates!…
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42. Natalie Fill on Growing Up With a Dream, Good Energy, and Believing in Yourself
NYC stand-up comedian Natalie Fill is back for her second appearance on the Life in Bold Podcast, and we get deep! We talk all about growing up with an interest in acting and entertainment, how to radically believe in yourself and engage with your own delusional self-confidence, and how we choose...
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41. Sunny Laprade on Comedy Careers, Going Viral, and Transphobia in Joke Writing
In today’s episode, Ben interviews 8-year New York City stand-up comedian, Sunny Laprade. As a 23-year-old comedian, Sunny knows a TON about what it takes to build a comedy career, and she has a vast knowledge of comedy legends and role models in the space. We talk about things like how we want…
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40. Coming Out, Self Love, and Getting Engaged with NYC Comedian Jilberto Soto
Jilberto Soto is an amazing and accomplished New York City stand-up comedian. I met Jilberto a year ago when he was opening for Jimmy Schatz at the Stonewall Inn. He was so funny and his comedy was compelling, and now I know why. It's empowering, it's self-love, and it's power. Don't try to tell...
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39. Improviser Julia Schroeder on Women's Sports, Body Image & Improv Comedy in NYC
Ahh, the one and only Julia Schroeder. I love this girl. An Improviser, Actor, and all-around funny person who I've admired for about a year now. Julia is a heavy hitter in the New York City improv and comedy scenes-- but she has quite a story. She's so funny but we also get deep in this episode...
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38. Musical Comedy Stardom, Avoiding 9-5 Jobs & Being Kind with Seann Cantatore
Seann Cantatore is a New York City Based musical comedian and a damn good one at that! She is a role model to me and shows me just how good and funny music can be! A dainty pianist, a mad New Yorker, and someone who shaved her pubes for nothing (link to the music video below), Seann made me…
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37. Solo Comedy Shows, Gay Voice, and Making Social Content with Comedian Jimmy Schatz
THANK YOU for listening!! New Episodes Every Month! Subscribe here to get the latest! Today I'm with NYC comedian and storyteller, Jimmy Schatz. I met Jimmy in early 2023 when I visited his solo show at The Stonewall Inn -- the show totally showed me the value of growing your audience…
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36. Bisexual Dating & Comedy Careers with NYC Comedian Natalie Fill
Today we're chatting all things BOLD with NYC up-and-coming stand-up comedian, Natalie Fill. We chat about growing up queer, what it's like to date in NYC, building a career in comedy, and standing boldly in your dreams and aspirations. THANK YOU for listening!! New Episodes Every Other Monday!...
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35. Growing a Comedy Career & Making Silly Music with Comedian Reagan Allen
23-year-old New York City-based musical comedian Reagan Allen is one of my favorite acts on the scene. She sings hilarious songs on stages around NYC and even just debuted her joint cabaret-style show with Seann Cantatore, Cantatore & Allen! In this episode, we talk about the ins and outs of...
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34. How To Find Inner Peace & Love Your Life with Bryetta Calloway
Welcome back to Life In Bold, the show where I get to connect you to inspiring people who are doing the work to live the lives they've imagined. Today, we've got Bryetta Calloway who is a marketing expert and stage performer who has a deep understanding of the human experience, especially around...
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33. Navigating Comedy, Childhood Bullies & Making Queer Friends in New York City
Welcome to Episode 33 of Life in Bold! Today we have on Kayla Barry who is a comedian in New York City --- we met at an open mic night a few weeks back and immediately hit it off. Kayla is finding success in Comedy, featuring at Open Mic Nights and Putting together solo shows and more! THANK YOU...
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32. Gun Violence, Bold Politics & Getting Active (Nashville Shooting Response)
This week in the United States, we experienced yet another school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee. 6 people have died as a result. It's upsetting and it's frustrating, but today it caused some reflection within me and helped me to think about who I want to be, how I want to show up, and what I...
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30. BOLD Body Image, Self Love & Confidence
In this episode, I explore my relationship to my body image as it relates to things like my confidence, dating, and my willingness to put myself out there with pride. We explore body image in the gay and queer community as well as in my childhood and experience through childhood, teenhood…
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29. Bold Creativity & Setting Boundaries with Michelle Arno from Studio Marno
Today's episode is a gift! I have on my good friend and favorite creative mind, Michelle Arno for her 7th appearance on Life in Bold. In this chat about creativity, we talk about what it takes to truly be an authentic creative, how to navigate getting things done, and setting boundaries around...
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28. Redefine Your Life & Trust Your Gut with Career Coach Carolyn Lai Moore
Today's show is with Authentic Career Coach Carolyn Lai Moore, whose back for a second dose of sharing how she lives her life in BOLD. Carolyn spent 15 years in sales leadership roles and has spent the last 2 years building Wildlight, a career coaching service based on finding clarity,...
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27. Human Leadership & How To Quit Drinking with Kerstin Todd of Pixar
In today's episode, we get to talk with Kerstin Todd, who works in HR at Pixar, knows a bunch of cool stuff about landing your dream job, human and empathetic leadership, and has recently quit drinking for health reasons. We really get into it today and we made a rule amongst ourselves that we…
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26. The Anatomy of a BOLD Friendship (Bold Reflection)
Taking Inspiration from Brené Brown's "The Anatomy of Trust" talk, Ben outlines the anatomy of a bold friendship. Based on an experience seeing a friend in a bar who was deflecting and avoiding engaging in boldness, Ben dives into what boldness actually means when it comes to friendships in 2023....
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25. New Year Goal Setting and Self Love with Michelle Arno from StudioMarno
Press Play! In this last episode of Life in Bold, we've got a good one! Michelle Arno is a talented artist, twitch streamer, and friend who has a lot to say about living your Life In Bold. In today's episode, we chat about the Life in Bold year in Review as well as going into the new year in 2023...
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24. "Tik Tok Teacher" Helen Polise: Social Media Strategy and Healthy Mindsets
What a treasure it was to chat with Helen Polise, The Tik Tok Teacher! Helen has built an amazing community of over 700,000 followers on Tik Tok by teaching folks how to use social media online. She is the founder of Hello Socialize and owns her own TV Commercial Production Company, Muthership...
About this show
Queer. Funny. Bold. This is the podcast connecting you to inspiring people who are doing the work to live the lives they've imagined. Finding authenticity, moving forward with boldness, following dreams, and laughing along the way. Hosted by comedian Ben Hawes in New York City. Listen today and subscribe for new episodes every other Monday.
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Ben Hawes
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