It's Ben a Week

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by his longtime friend Ruby for a chaotic, emotional, and unexpectedly inspiring conversation about moving across the world, starting over, heartbreak, and learning to embrace discomfort.  After spending the last two years living in London, Ruby is officially back in Texas — fresh off a breakup, a cross-country move, and a completely uncertain future. The two reflect on how much has changed since they first recorded a “practice episode” together years ago that never aired.  Ben and Ruby dive into:moving to new cities without knowing anyoneleaving behind horses, careers, relationships, and comfort zonesthe emotional reality of living abroadbreakups that ultimately changed their lives for the betterwhy travel changes your entire perspective on lifeand how sometimes the scariest decisions become the most rewarding onesThey also spiral into hilarious conversations about:the new “rat virus” panicconspiracy theoriespandemic flashbackseconomy flight traumaAustralians vs. AmericansFacebook pub crawls in Londonpirate ship party boats in Turkeyand why Texans treated COVID VERY differently than Los Angeles.  The episode also explores the pressure people feel to stay in their hometowns, fear of failure, and why taking risks can completely reshape your life.This episode is funny, honest, emotional, chaotic, and a reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do is book the flight and figure the rest out later.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben does something completely different.For the first time ever, Ben is sharing the audio/video from "I",  a documentary he created nearly 10 years ago while living in Los Angeles. The film premiered at the Twin Cities Film Festival with three sold out screenings and became one of the most meaningful projects he’s ever worked on.  The documentary explores identity, trauma, addiction, grief, self-love, religion, sexuality, mental health, and survival through deeply personal interviews with people from all different walks of life.The unique concept behind the project? Throughout the interviews, viewers only see the subjects’ eyes — highlighting raw emotion, vulnerability, and humanity before finally revealing the full person behind each story.  This emotional and powerful episode features stories about:addiction and recoverysuicide and griefbeing transgenderdrag and identitylosing childrenbody image strugglesfamily abandonmentreligion and faithsurviving traumaself acceptanceresilience and healingBen also reflects on creating the documentary while living in LA, why the project mattered so much to him, and how revisiting it 10 years later still impacts him today.  If you are listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube, you can now watch the full documentary thanks to new video podcast support.  This episode is emotional, inspiring, heartbreaking, hopeful, and a reminder that every single person is carrying a story you may never fully see on the surface.In this episode:Ben shares his documentary I for the first time on the podcast  The emotional concept behind filming only people’s eyes  Stories of addiction, overdose, and recovery  Conversations about being transgender and drag identity  Losing children, suicide, grief, and resilience  Body image struggles and self acceptance  Why trauma can sometimes lead to purpose and healing  The message that everyone deserves compassion and understanding  This episode contains discussions of suicide, addiction, overdose, grief, mental health struggles, and trauma that may be difficult for some listeners. Please listen with care and prioritize your well-being.If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available.In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with his friend Jen Kirk for an emotional and eye-opening Mother’s Day episode unlike any other.At just 16 years old, Jen became pregnant and made the heartbreaking decision to place her son up for adoption. But this isn’t just a story about adoption — it’s a story about survival, sacrifice, family, trauma, and what motherhood can really look like.  Jen opens up about navigating an open adoption in the late 1980s, choosing her son’s adoptive parents herself, and the emotional reality of watching him grow up from a distance through letters and photographs.  The conversation takes a shocking turn when Jen reveals that during her pregnancy, she was allegedly hidden away in a remote cabin after her stepmother attempted to take the baby for herself — leading to a terrifying situation involving private investigators, police, and a dramatic rescue coordinated by her mother.  Ben and Jen also discuss:the emotional side of adoption that nobody talks aboutabortion, choice, and societal judgmentreconnecting with her son 25 years laterblended families and healingthe lifelong emotional impact of adoptionwhy there’s little support for birth mothersand how everything eventually came full circleNow, nearly 40 years later, Jen has a close relationship with her biological son, his children, and his adoptive family — proving that families can take many different forms.  This episode is emotional, shocking, heartbreaking, healing, and a powerful reminder that motherhood is never one-size-fits-all.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with someone who changed his life — his ninth grade science teacher, Brenda Ramin.From getting kicked out of Catholic school to convincing a teacher to secretly take him to California, this episode is full of wild stories, chaos, and the kind of support that can change everything.Ben and Brenda reflect on their 20+ year relationship, the infamous Hollywood trip that changed everything, and what it was like being “that kid” in high school who didn’t quite fit the mold.They dive into sneaking into gated communities, getting chickenpox during a headshot trip, pushing back on authority, and how one teacher saw something in Ben that others didn’t.This episode is hilarious, nostalgic, and a reminder that sometimes all it takes is one person believing in you to completely change your path.In this episode:Getting kicked out of Catholic school and transitioning to public school  The teacher who actually understood Ben  The secret California trip that could’ve gotten her fired  Sneaking into a gated Malibu neighborhood to find The OC house  Getting chickenpox in LA during headshot week  High school rebellion, authority issues, and being “that kid”  Doing the Single Ladies dance at prom  Why one supportive teacher can change everything  🎧 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

Some weeks are great… and some weeks just push you to your breaking point.On this solo episode of It’s Ben A Week, Ben is back with a full-on rant — and honestly, it’s been building. Between chaotic customer service, confusing systems that make no sense, and interactions that leave you questioning humanity, this week had Ben asking: what is wrong with people?From a dentist appointment that somehow turned into a full-blown front desk disaster, to a restaurant experience that defies all logic, to the ongoing saga of Starbucks mobile orders that apparently no one understands — nothing is safe this week.Ben dives into:Showing up early to a 9 AM dentist appointment… that magically became 10 AMWhy front desk customer service can make or break a businessThe chaos of waiting, being ignored, and being told you’re wrong (when you’re not)Whether dentists are doing way too many X-raysA restaurant experience that makes zero sense from start to finishBeing rushed to order… and then completely ignoredThe logic behind ordering a tall drink (and not getting more liquid?)Why Starbucks mobile orders continue to be a universal struggleInternet trolls, random hate comments, and why people go out of their way to be negativeEating shit on a Segway and the aftermath no one talks aboutGetting ready to film a new movie and the chaos leading up to itThis episode is chaotic, relatable, unfiltered, and exactly what you need if you’ve ever dealt with frustrating people and thought: there’s no way this is real.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by returning guest Eleven for a conversation that blends astrology, manifestation, personal growth, and real-life chaos.From the “Year of the Fire Horse” energy to feeling like everything is almost about to take off, Ben and Eleven unpack what it means to be in a season of building, waiting, and trusting timing.They dive into the tension between staying grounded and craving freedom — from life on the ranch and daily responsibilities to the desire for spontaneity, travel, and expansion.The conversation expands into:• Astrology, Aries season, and collective energy shifts • Why so many people feel overwhelmed right now • Nervous system regulation and finding balance in chaos • Hot and cold therapy, dopamine, and discipline • What it really takes to hold success and “bigger capacity” • Manifestation, creativity, and stepping into your purpose • Dating culture, relationships, and intimacy in actingEleven also leads a powerful moment of intention-setting and pulls a card for listeners — centered around destiny, creativity, and believing in your own path.Plus, Breaking Point returns with Ben’s rant about Starbucks mobile orders — because even in a spiritual awakening… some things still need to be said.If you’re feeling stuck, on the edge of something bigger, or trying to find clarity in a chaotic world, this episode will hit.Connect with Eleven:Instagram: @iamelevenxxEmail for ceremonies: [email protected]🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by Melissa Daniels, a producer turned creator who left her life in Los Angeles to go on a cross-country “reset tour” — driving city to city and hosting potluck dinners with strangers.What started as a personal creative reset quickly turned into something much bigger: a social experiment around connection, loneliness, and what community actually looks like today.Melissa shares how burnout, the LA wildfires, and years of helping others execute their creative visions pushed her to finally step outside her comfort zone and create something of her own.Together, they dive into:• Why people feel more disconnected than ever (despite social media)• The difference between online connection and real-life relationships• Hosting intimate dinners with strangers across the country• How vulnerability creates instant community• Why discomfort is necessary for growth• “Fake it till you make it” vs “practice it until you become it”• Self-love, emotional regulation, and breaking negative patternsBen also shares his perspective on modern relationships, social media culture, and why genuine connection feels harder to find than ever.Plus, Breaking Point returns with a rant about people not responding to emails and Melissa’s nightmare Airbnb experience while road-tripping with her cat.If you’ve been craving real connection, meaningful conversations, or a reset in your own life, this episode will hit home.Connect with Melissa:The Reset Tour Project: http://www.theresettourproject.com/Find her on instagram hereMelissa is documenting her journey across the country through her reset tour, hosting community dinners and creating space for real, meaningful connection. She’s currently sharing updates through her personal Instagram and her mindfulness-focused page.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with trauma therapist Camryn Watson, LPC for a conversation that turns into something way more personal than expected.From breaking down what “trauma” actually means (and why it’s become such a buzzword) to exploring how our past shapes our present, this episode dives into the real psychology behind how we cope, avoid, and heal.  Ben opens up about his own childhood, his complicated relationship with his stepdad, and a completely unexpected moment that had him sobbing on the couch over Hannah Montana — and what it revealed about his past.They get into trauma vs. “wounds,” how two people can experience the same event completely differently, and why coping mechanisms like humor can both help and hide deeper emotions. Camryn explains how trauma impacts the nervous system, why some people stay stuck in a victim mindset, and what real healing actually looks like.The conversation also explores therapy misconceptions, inner child work, relationships, and the moment many people “turn on themselves” — often without realizing it.Plus, Ben and AJ unpack everything afterward, diving deeper into self-awareness, growth, and why having someone in your corner — whether it’s a therapist, coach, or mentor — can change everything.This episode is funny, honest, uncomfortable, and deeply relatable — all at the same time.Connect with Camryn Watson, LPC📧 Email: [email protected]🌐 Website: https://lifevibes.co🧠 Psychology Today Profile:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/camryn-watson-fort-worth-tx/988354🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with a guest whose story sounds unbelievable — until you realize it’s completely real.From being a normal teenager with a good life to becoming a four-time convicted felon, this episode dives into how a series of small decisions, bad influences, and a flawed system completely changed the course of her life.What started with unknowingly accepting a fake $100 bill quickly escalated into felony charges, jail time, a prison rehab program (SAFP), and 10 years of probation — all before the age of 20.She shares the full story, including:• How she was charged with organized crime and forgery • The moment she was arrested and sent to jail at 18 • What life is really like inside a women’s prison program • The reality of SAFP (Substance Abuse Felony Punishment) • Why probation can feel set up for failure • A false positive drug test that nearly sent her back to prison • How one mistake can follow you for lifeBen reacts in real time as the story unfolds — asking the questions everyone is thinking and unpacking how something so small turned into something so serious.This episode is a raw look at the justice system, accountability, second chances, and what it really means to move forward after your past doesn’t disappear.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben and AJ kick things off by celebrating the 20-year anniversary of Hannah Montana — and Ben fully leans into his lifelong obsession with Miley Cyrus, sharing stories from concerts, meeting her multiple times, and even ending up on The Ellen Show because of her.The conversation turns into a bigger discussion about celebrity culture, fame, and how social media has completely changed the way we experience entertainment. From the days of controlled media moments to today’s nonstop content overload, Ben and AJ break down why everything feels faster, louder, and less meaningful.Then it’s full chaos as they recap a nonstop travel stretch — from Cabo and Miami to Nashville and Austin for SXSW — including singing the national anthem at Mizzou, wild nights out, celebrity run-ins, and why Nashville might just be “Vegas with cowboy boots.”They also get into:• The reality of influencer culture vs real talent • Why everything on social media feels oversaturated • SXSW parties, iHeart & Spotify events, and unexpected reunions • Drag bars, country music overload, and Broadway in Nashville • Ranch life, landscaping struggles, and moving thousands of pounds of rockIf you love pop culture, Miley Cyrus, travel chaos, social media commentary, and unfiltered comedy podcasts, this episode is for you.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by Bethany Weaver, the actress and choreographer stepping into one of the most iconic roles of all time — Dorothy in Wicked.Bethany shares what it was like being cast in the highly anticipated Wicked film adaptation, how the role is intentionally portrayed in a more mysterious and physical way, and why her performance focuses on movement, silhouette, and storytelling rather than traditional on-screen presence.Ben and Bethany dive into the reality of building a career in acting, the discipline it takes to stay ready for opportunities, and what it actually looks like behind the scenes of a major film production. They also talk about Broadway, choreography, auditioning, and the pressure that comes with stepping into a character audiences already feel deeply connected to.As always, the episode keeps its edge — blending real career insight with humor, candid conversation, and Ben’s signature commentary.If you’re interested in Wicked, Broadway, acting, film casting, or behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories, this episode is a must-listen.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben recaps a wild trip to Missouri where AJ performed the National Anthem at a sold-out Mizzou vs Arkansas basketball game on ESPN. From courtside VIP access and locker room tours to experiencing his first-ever college basketball game, Ben shares what it was like watching AJ sing in front of 20,000 people.But the story doesn’t stop there.Ben also reflects on college culture, dorm life, and why living with roommates was never exactly his aesthetic. The conversation turns into a hilarious and slightly unhinged throwback when Ben calls his longtime friend Maria to revisit one of their most chaotic nights ever.After a Lady Gaga concert, a drunken piggyback ride went horribly wrong — resulting in a dislocated elbow, a late-night ER visit, Domino’s pizza delivered to the hospital, an attempted break-in to a medical drug cabinet, and two very intoxicated friends accidentally falling asleep in a hospital bed.Yes… it’s exactly as ridiculous as it sounds.Ben and Maria break down the full story, from the moment the injury happened to the questionable decisions that followed, and why looking back at your early twenties always makes you ask one question:What the hell were we thinking?This episode has everything: sports, concerts, emergency rooms, bad decisions, and the kind of stories that only get funnier with time.🎧 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

The world feels like it’s on fire — and Ben is boarding a flight anyway.On this episode of It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by friend Joe, a commercial airline pilot flying one of the largest passenger aircraft in the world, for a behind-the-scenes deep dive into aviation, fear of flying, turbulence, airplane safety, and what really happens in the cockpit.They break down:• Do you actually need airplane mode? • Can a plane fly on one engine? • What happens during turbulence? • Do pilots sleep on long-haul flights? • How safe is commercial air travel really? • What happens if landing gear doesn’t deploy?Joe shares real stories from 20+ years of flying — including engine failures, bird strikes, auto-land landings in low visibility, and why flying is still statistically safer than driving.Then in this week’s Breaking Point, Ben unloads on airport behavior — TSA confusion, zone boarding chaos, adults wearing pajamas, barefoot passengers, and why flying etiquette has completely collapsed.AJ joins at the end to talk turbulence anxiety, travel rituals, and their upcoming trips (including AJ singing the national anthem during wartime).If you’ve ever feared turbulence, questioned airplane safety, or lost your mind watching someone in 37B block the aisle — this episode is for you.🎧 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

Ben has done it again — he accidentally started internet drama.After posting a short clip about barrel racing culture being “a little clicky,” Ben somehow triggered 150,000+ views, thousands of comments, and a wave of angry Facebook users — all because he said, “Everyone needs to calm down. You’re not Beyoncé.”In this episode of It’s Ben A Week, Ben reads the wildest hate comments, responds to online trolls, and breaks down how quickly social media outrage spirals. From grammar wars to legal threats from “Debbie from Facebook,” this is peak internet chaos.Then the energy shifts to a chaotic recap of the 2026 Winter Olympics with returning guest Cassandra. They debate figure skating meltdowns, Olympic pressure, Lindsey Vonn’s injury, bobsled logic, and whether they could realistically train for the next Games.AJ joins at the end to talk about engagement anniversaries, relationship awareness, and why spatial awareness in a warm-up pen might actually be a life skill.If you love internet drama, Olympics commentary, comedy podcasts, or watching people argue in Facebook comment sections — this episode is for you.🎧 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

Valentine’s Day is over — and Ben has thoughts.On this episode of It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by stand-up comedian Lisa Curry for a brutally funny breakdown of modern relationships, social media culture, and why Valentine’s Day might be the most performative holiday of the year.Ben and Lisa dive into dating pressure, Galentine’s, joint Facebook accounts, and the theory that the more couples post about their relationship online, the more unstable it actually is. Ben shares the unhinged story of catching an ex swiping on Tinder in first class on a Valentine’s trip he paid for — yes, really.The conversation spirals into sports culture, NFL fandom, and whether professional sports might secretly be the most homoerotic institution in America. From men in tight pants tackling each other to emotional meltdowns over football losses, nothing is safe.In this week’s Breaking Point, Ben goes off on tandem bikes, while Lisa calls out dog owners who walk their pets while glued to their phones.AJ joins at the end for a post-Valentine’s relationship check-in, where they talk about social media expectations, cheap chocolates, and why small acts of love matter more than Hallmark holidays.If you’ve ever questioned Valentine’s Day, modern dating, social media relationships, or the emotional intensity of NFL fans, this comedy podcast episode is for you.Follow Lisa Curry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olympianlisacurry TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@olympianlisacurry🎤 Watch Lisa Curry’s stand-up special Emotionally Edging here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iipzHWRTbQc🎧 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

Ben is fresh off a trip to Mexico and immediately reminded why Facebook might be ruining his life. In this episode, Ben spirals (just a little) over online political fights, racism disguised as “memes,” performative outrage, and why arguing on social media never actually changes anyone’s mind.Fan-favorite guest Sherri Harris returns for Season 2 and brings one of the wildest stories yet — a terrifying heart scare that leads to an ER visit, an ambulance ride, a wildly incorrect diagnosis, and a crash course in America’s broken healthcare system… all while uninsured.The episode also dives into body image, beauty standards, plastic surgery honesty, nipple nightmares, pain pills, bad restaurant behavior, dirty bar glasses, and why Ben officially hits his Breaking Point with customer service everywhere.It’s funny, unfiltered, slightly unhinged, and deeply relatable — because sometimes it really has Ben A Week.🎧 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

This week, Ben goes solo and gets real about something we all deal with but rarely talk about: rejection.From career disappointments and missed opportunities to being ghosted, iced out, or simply left on read, rejection shows up in ways both loud and subtle. Ben opens up about a recent week that hit harder than expected, how setting high expectations can backfire, and why rejection hurts even when you think you’re “used to it.”Ben reflects on early experiences of rejection, from growing up feeling different to navigating acting, friendships, relationships, and creative careers where “no” often comes without explanation. He shares why ignoring people can be more painful than hearing no, how social media fuels comparison, and why rejection often feels personal even when it isn’t.This episode is part rant, part therapy session, and part reminder that rejection doesn’t mean failure — it often means redirection. Ben talks about learning when to sit in the feeling, when to let it go, and how not to let other people’s limitations talk you out of your dreams.If you’ve been feeling stuck, overlooked, or discouraged lately, this one’s for you.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben should really be saying It’s Ben A Weekend.After an unexpected Arctic blast hits Texas, Ben opens the episode iced in, frustrated, and fully spiraling as ranch life meets extreme weather. From frozen pools and broken automation systems to a three-foot koi fish recovering in the bathtub, nothing about this weekend goes according to plan.Ben breaks down:Why Texas is absolutely not built for Arctic weatherFrozen pools, non-functioning Jandy systems, and panic at four degreesA massive imported koi fish going belly-up and being moved into the bathtubWhy drastic temperature swings stress koi more than cold waterRanch life realities no one prepares you forWhy homeownership might actually be a scamThe $17,000 boat engine mistake that still haunts himBecause the roads are iced over and no one can leave, Ben is joined by the only guest available — his partner AJ Sarcione.Together, they dive into:Being snowed in and forced to slow downTexas fashion during snowstorms and finally wearing winter clothesPreparing animals for extreme cold and running generatorsWhy generators, space heaters, and extension cords are non-negotiableTheir first brutal Texas freeze in 2021 and being wildly unpreparedScooping pool water to flush toilets during a nine-day outageThe episode then shifts into a deeper conversation about humanity, outrage culture, and the pressure to perform beliefs online.Ben and AJ talk about:Why no one deserves violence — regardless of politicsThe dangers of social media turning everything into a warWhether creators owe public statements on every issueHaving real conversations instead of performative postingMeeting people where they are instead of demanding alignmentWhy empathy and dialogue matter more than choosing sidesThey wrap the episode with a reminder to stay warm, be kind, and remember that real conversations don’t happen in comment sections.🎧 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

Throwback Thursday.With Season 2 officially underway and new listeners joining, I wanted to resurface one of my favorite conversations from Season 1.This episode with comedian Urzila Carlson is funny, honest, and exactly the kind of conversation that defines It’s Ben A Week. If you’re new here, this is a great place to start.___________________________________________This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with Urzila Carlson — global comedy powerhouse, Taskmaster trauma survivor, and certified expert in both sarcasm and swearing.Originally from South Africa, now based in New Zealand, Urzila has taken the comedy world by storm with her Netflix specials, unfiltered stand-up, and razor-sharp takes on everything from LGBTQIA+ to not ending up porn. She’s a scene stealer in her new movie Kinda Pregnant, but first — we need Ben to get the name right! The episode opens with a full breakdown of:Ben’s latest FedEx meltdown while trying to ship coral for his reef tankThe broken customer service loop that left him yelling at a robotThen Urzila joins and they dive into:Her journey from South Africa to Texas to AucklandSwearing in comedy, why the word “cunt” shouldn’t offend youThe time she broke her collarbone on Taskmaster Why airports are built to enrage you (and why pre-boarding should be illegal)What it's like shooting Kinda Pregnant with Amy SchumerWhy lesbians might have it easier than gay men in publicHow comedy handles swearing, slurs, and cancel culture — and what it gets wrongParenting while touring, and being confused for Ursula the Sea Witch🔗 Follow Urzila Carlson:Website: www.urzilacarlson.comTikTok: @urzilacarlsonInstagram: @urzilacarlsonNetflix Special: Overqualified Loser on NetflixNew Movie: Kinda Pregnant 🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a WeekNew episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by actor, photographer, and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.📍 Listen & Subscribe:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts🔗 Connect with Ben:Instagram: @itsbenaweekTikTok: @itsbenaweekWebsite: itsbenaweek.com💬 Want to be on the show?Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by one of the longest friendships of his life — his childhood neighbor and lifelong friend, Maria Hynan. From growing up together on a lake in Wisconsin to navigating rebellion, mistakes, growth, and parenthood, this episode is a full-circle conversation about where we come from and who we become.Ben and Maria reminisce about meeting at five years old, fighting like siblings, rearranging Ben’s room every summer, Taekwondo classes, stolen fish from a pet store, and the chaos of growing up together. But the conversation quickly deepens as Maria opens up about her teenage years, strict parenting, rebellion, addiction, a life-changing pregnancy at 18, and how becoming a mother ultimately saved her life.Together, they talk honestly about breaking generational cycles, redefining parenting, and what it means to give your children a childhood they don’t have to recover from.Topics include:Growing up on a lake and spending every summer togetherChildhood fights, Taekwondo classes, and the infamous pet store fish incidentStrict parenting, rebellion, and acting out as a teenagerMaria’s pregnancy at 18 and the moment everything changedQuitting drugs and cigarettes cold turkey for her unborn childBecoming a young mother and finding purpose through responsibilityBreaking cycles of emotional and psychological abuseRaising children with honesty, openness, and compassionLetting kids learn without repeating the same traumaBen reflecting on staying true to his passions from childhood into adulthoodSaying “why not me?” and building the life you want out loudThe episode closes with the return of Breaking Point, where Ben spirals over rumors of a possible Hannah Montana 20th anniversary concert and Maria shares her frustration with people lacking basic self-awareness — especially when it comes to body odor.This episode is funny, emotional, raw, and deeply nostalgic — a reminder that some friendships don’t fade, they evolve.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with his longtime friend Greg for one of the most personal and grounded conversations yet. Greg opens up about welcoming a new baby, surviving the devastating Palisades fires, and what it’s really like when your home is suddenly at risk — or gone — overnight. From evacuating through smoke-filled streets to navigating insurance chaos, grief, and gratitude at the same time, this episode blends humor, heartbreak, and honesty in a way only It’s Ben A Week can.The conversation also takes its usual chaotic turn — covering dad jokes, fitness burnout, wellness trackers, goat lore, and a truly infuriating scam that sent Ben straight to his breaking point. Heavy topics, real laughs, and the reminder that sometimes all you can do is get through the week.In this episode, we cover:Greg welcoming his second child and adjusting to life with two kidsLiving through the Palisades fires and evacuating under extreme conditionsWhat it’s like when your house survives — but everything inside doesn’tThe emotional math of what you grab when you have minutes to leaveInsurance nightmares, under-insurance, and financial fallout after disasterCommunity support, survivor’s guilt, and rebuilding after traumaBen’s childhood home burning down and shared disaster experiencesFitness culture burnout, trainers from hell, and wellness tracking fatigueBen getting scammed out of $1,000 and hitting peak rage with Wells FargoBreaking Point: deferred mortgages, Zelle scams, and letting it all goBen There, Done That with AJ returns for 2026🎧 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

Season 2 of It’s Ben A Week is here.Hosted by barrel racer and photographer Ben McDonnell, It’s Ben A Week is a weekly comedy and culture podcast featuring candid conversations, unfiltered storytelling, and honest takes on relationships, identity, career chaos, and whatever the hell just happened this week.Season 2 launches with a refreshed look, elevated production, and a sharper creative focus — blending solo episodes with guest conversations from comedy, television, and pop culture.New episodes every week. Welcome to Season 2.🎧 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

Season Two is officially here.On the first episode of Season 2 of It’s Ben A Week, Ben returns after a three-week break feeling recharged, reset, and fully ready to level things up. With a brand-new studio, upgraded set, new artwork, and a fresh intro, Ben reflects on the wild first year of podcasting and what’s next for the show.Ben opens the episode talking about:Taking a much-needed break and realizing how strange it felt not recordingWriting notes in his phone when things happened and not having the podcast outletThe brand-new studio, elevated vibe, and “sexier” Season 2 lookHitting the Top 10% of video podcasts on Spotify last seasonWhy Season 2 is about refinement, confidence, and clarityBen then recaps an unforgettable holiday season, including:Attending Kathy Hilton’s iconic Christmas party in Beverly HillsPaparazzi outside the house and champagne vending machinesParis Hilton DJing in her childhood homeWalking away with an unreasonable number of LabubusWhy it felt surreal for a Simple Life superfanAfter reflecting on the energy shift from the Year of the Snake into the Year of the Fire Horse, Ben invites listeners to lean into change, momentum, and going after what they want in 2026.Then, Ben is joined by his partner and frequent collaborator AJ Sarcione to officially kick off Season 2.Together, they dive into:A chaotic LA weekend that included charity galas and exclusive partiesTraveling over the holidays and unexpectedly getting COVIDCancelled New Year’s plans and being stuck at home by 10 p.m.Launching a brand-new segment: Breaking PointBen’s rant about guests bringing alcohol to parties — then taking it homeAI videos becoming indistinguishable from realityJeff the Possum’s viral rise to over 4.5 million viewsChristmas cards, QR codes, cat food inserts, and postal chaosMerch, shipping costs, and why “free shipping” is a psychological scamA photography client dispute that spiraled into online harassmentSetting boundaries in business and choosing clients intentionallyLetting go of chaos from 2025 and moving forward with clarityThe episode closes with a reflection on boundaries, control, growth, and protecting your energy — setting the tone for what Season 2 of It’s Ben A Week is all about.🎧 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

This week on a special Bonus Episode of It’s Ben A Week, Ben couldn’t bring himself to leave a single Tuesday empty — so he returns with friend, spiritual guide, and fan favorite Eleven for a short but powerful New Year energy reading and manifestation session.Together, Ben and Eleven reflect on the end of 2025, the emotional weight of the year, and why most New Year’s resolutions set people up to fail. Instead, they offer a softer, more realistic approach to change — one rooted in awareness, compassion, and patience.Eleven breaks down:Why 2025 was the Year of the Wood Snake and how it forced us to shed old identitiesWhat “peeling back the underbelly” means for relationships, careers, friendships & self-worthHow 2026 — the Year of the Fire Horse — will bring speed, clarity, creativity, and illuminationWhy creators, entrepreneurs & rebels will thriveWhy illusions will dissolve quickly next yearHow to prepare spiritually, emotionally, and practicallyBen shares his take on resolutions:Why extreme goals failWhy small adjustments workWhy you’re allowed to “mess up” in January — because the true energetic new year begins in FebruaryThen Eleven pulls cards for the collective (shaman, hunter, apocalypse), unfolding themes of intuition, clarity, sovereignty, transformation, and new beginnings.This mini-episode is grounding, mystical, funny, honest, and the perfect companion as you step into 2026 with intention — and compassion.🔗 A NOTE FROM ELEVENAs you step across the threshold into a new year, this reading may have stirred something familiar—a truth rising from the last of the Snake’s shedding, or the first spark of the Fire Horse calling you forward. For those who feel that pull, Eleven extends an invitation to deepen the journey.She is opening space for 1:1 sessions designed to support anyone ready to explore their personal path, clarify what they’re carrying into 2026, and anchor the intentions that want to take form in the year ahead.Listeners can book a session here: https://www.bringsoul.life/portal/HomA new year offers a new map. Eleven is here to help you read it.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, we’re celebrating 50 episodes, one full year, and the end of Season One with a special highlight reel. Whether you’ve listened since the beginning or joined somewhere along the way, this episode captures the wild, emotional, hilarious, chaotic, meaningful, and unforgettable moments that defined 2025.From crying with mothers who have lost children… to screaming about Starbucks foam… to talking Bravo, Beyoncé, grief, scandal, relationships, sex toys, ranch life, Christmas trees, and Jeff the Possum… to interviewing directors, comedians, producers, influencers, and your own family… this year has been a rollercoaster — and this episode is the ultimate montage of it all.Enjoy a curated collection of the moments listeners replayed the most:The unhinged rantsThe heartfelt breakthroughsThe shocking confessionsThe funniest disastersThe guests who inspired usThe stories that changed youAnd the episodes that made It’s Ben A Week what it is todayBen also pops in throughout to reflect on:What he learned this yearWhat surprised himThe moments he’s most proud ofAnd the unexpected ways this podcast has shaped his lifeIt's the perfect ending to a year  — especially for Ben.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben wraps up his very first year of podcasting with a deeply personal and celebratory Season One Finale. After 50 straight weeks — zero missed Tuesdays — Ben sits down with the one person who started this journey with him: AJ. With thousands of listeners tuning in from across the world, Ben reflects on how the podcast began, how much it’s grown, and how much work went into creating something from scratch with no team, no production company, and no built-in audience.Ben opens the episode with a candid look back at:How he went from “not a podcast person” to launching his own showListening to podcasts during 4 a.m. drivesBelieving he could do it better than the people he was listening toBuying equipment, teaching himself editing, and learning everything the hard wayAll the technical chaos: broken cameras, audio drift, video not syncingWhy seeing thousands of listeners globally still blows his mindHow viewer DMs, comments, and Spotify Wrapped screenshots kept him goingAJ joins and the two dive into:AJ’s wild travel schedule and why he’s been MIATheir “helper” who worked one day and disappeared foreverThe holiday party of the year (Disney characters, uplighting, themed cocktails)Ben eating french fries in the bathtub the morning afterHow DoorDash has become Ben’s emotional support systemTheir year in concerts — Beyoncé, Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson, Rufus du Sol, Katy Perry, Brandy & MonicaThen the episode becomes a full-circle reflection on Season One:Ben revisits Episode 1 to hear how far he’s comeLearning to talk less, listen more, and actually interviewWhy Caroline Rhea’s advice changed everythingHis biggest interviewing challenges — guests who won’t talk vs. guests who won’t stopHis proudest guest moments: Margaret Josephs, Ursula Carlson, Rawson Marshall Thurber, Weston Brown, Blaine, Sherri, Victoria, Liam “Shoes”The episodes that unexpectedly became emotional pillars (Mother’s Day, Weston, Blaine)What this podcast has done for other people — not just BenWhy he’s grateful this show didn’t take off “too fast”The finale ends with a heartfelt conversation about Season Two:Ben taking two weeks off to reset, reimagine, and rebuild the setDebating new formats, episode lengths, and weekly vs. biweekly releasesAJ urging him to meditate, poll listeners, and get closer to who Ben really isThe possibility of new structure: guests, cultural commentary, games, call-insBen stepping into next year with confidence, clarity, and momentumIt’s emotional, honest, funny, chaotic, nostalgic, and full-circle — the perfect ending to an unbelievable first season.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben opens the episode by recapping the unbelievable viral rise of Jeff the Possum, whose video has now hit nearly 3 million views across TikTok and Instagram. Ben shares the wild influx of new followers, the hate comments from people wanting “more Jeff, less podcast,” and the unexpected chaos of going viral over a porch possum instead of the content he actually produces.But quickly, the episode shifts into something much deeper. Ben welcomes one of his close friends, Blaine, for a vulnerable and emotional conversation about navigating the holidays after unimaginable loss.Just five months ago, Blaine’s husband Danny — a beloved member of Ben and AJ’s friend group — passed away from spindle cell liposarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. Blaine opens up about:The first symptoms and misdiagnosesThe roller coaster from false hope to final goodbyeWhat it was like caring for Danny through hospital visitsThe moment Danny cried in the Paris catacombs, not knowing his tumor had already begunThe shock of how quickly everything changedThe grief that comes in waves — especially during the holidaysBen and Blaine share stories of Danny at his best: Trips, parties, speeches on boats, Coachella memories, Cristal bottles, face masks, and the way Danny balanced out all of the “difficult gays” in the friend group.Together they explore:How grief rewires your entire worldWhy holidays feel heavier after lossThe loneliness of going to bed without your personTrying to move forward without feeling like you’re leaving someone behindHow to support someone grieving — and what not to doThe guilt, the “firsts,” and the pressure to pretend you’re okayThe importance of talking about the person you lostReframing the holidays and building a “corrective experience”Blaine also shares unexpectedly touching and humorous moments — like accidentally calling Danny’s mom from Danny’s number, or the headstone being placed just days before recording.This episode is raw, heartfelt, honest, and full of love. It’s for anyone struggling during the holiday season, anyone going through grief, or anyone who has ever had to rebuild their life after losing a partner.🎧 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

⚠️ Warning: this episode is X rated and NSFWThis week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by his friend — Joy — for the dirtiest, wildest, and most X-rated episode in the history of the show. And before they even get to the sex talk, Ben has a Thanksgiving meltdown to unload.The episode opens with Ben’s Thanksgiving Eve nightmare: A scammer stole $1,000 from him — and did it so convincingly that even Joy admitted she would’ve fallen for it. Ben walks Joy step-by-step through the scam, including:How the scammer spoofed Order numberHow they knew his name, order number, voicemail, tracking, and totalHow they walked him through fake Zelle “refund codes”Why Wells Fargo is still investigatingAnd how the scammer called him again to try to steal his home addressThen the episode shifts into the Naughty Secret Santa the two are preparing for — including:Joy’s late sexual awakeningWhy she never talked about sex growing upHow shame, religion, family, and insecurity shaped her early adulthoodPorn, OnlyFans, and the difference between fantasy and real intimacyWhy communication and consent matter more than anythingThe danger of unsafe hookups and saying “no”Ben’s near-traumatic HIV scare in collegeThe reality of dating apps, scams, and safety for womenBen and Joy talk openly, honestly, and hilariously about everything most people are scared to admit — proving that talking about sex doesn’t have to be taboo, shameful, or secret.It’s the most unfiltered, eyebrow-lifting, educationally chaotic episode yet.🎧 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

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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by one of his best friends — actress and producer Laura Munoz-Bottini, who just happens to be the granddaughter of The Duke himself, John Wayne.The episode opens with martinis, cinnamon sticks, and chaos as Ben and Laura reminisce about their first acting class together in 2015, where Darrell the acting coach famously told Ben to “go write a letter in the closet and fight for Little Ben.” (Yes — in the closet.)From there, the conversation flows from laughter to legacy as Laura opens up about:Growing up as John Wayne’s granddaughter and calling him simply “Granddaddy.”Visiting his house, watching movies in his private theater, and the iconic treadmill story.How her parents taught her humility — to build her own name before ever mentioning his.The power of hard work and why her grandfather’s real legacy is about integrity, not fame.Stories from the John Wayne Museum in Fort Worth, including the custom station wagon built to fit his cowboy hat.A touching story of a man who wrote to John Wayne as a kid and was inspired decades later to open a film studio — a full-circle moment that connects generations of dreamers.The episode takes a hilariously unhinged turn when Laura recounts a career pitch gone wrong that ends with poop in a Tesla, while Ben shares his latest run-in with “Humpty Dumpty Margy” — a troll from his past who came back swinging in the YouTube comments.Together they dive into:Cancel culture and defending John Wayne’s legacy in a modern world.How Hollywood still boxes people in — whether it’s the “cowboy box” or the “gay box.”Imposter syndrome, aging gracefully, and why humor keeps them both sane.Their friendship — built on dark humor, authenticity, and laughter in all the wrong places.It’s part Hollywood history, part therapy session, and part comedy chaos.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, the Christmas season officially begins — and Ben’s not waiting for anyone’s permission. AJ’s out of town, the Halloween décor is gone, and Mariah Carey has defrosted, which means it’s tree-trimming time. Between giant ornaments hanging from the ceiling and a three-day decorating marathon, Ben dives into why Christmas joy should never be delayed — and why Thanksgiving can kick rocks (dry turkey, stuffing, and all).After some holiday chaos — including a performance of “Defying Gravity” on a party bus at 70 mph — Then Ben sits down with Shane, president of Hood County Christmas for Children, to talk about the real magic of the holidays: giving back.Together, they break down:How Hood County Christmas for Children provides gifts, bikes, books, and beds to over 1,600 local kids every yearWhat goes into the Angel Tree program and how to “adopt” a child for ChristmasWhy it takes an entire community — from volunteers to donors — to make holiday dreams come trueHow Shane balances family, career, coaching, and charity workWhy teaching kids gratitude, empathy, and work ethic matters more than everBen also shares his take on performative charity, social-media highlight reels, and why real generosity doesn’t need a photo op.It’s equal parts comedy, chaos, and Christmas heart — proving that holiday spirit and helping others will always be in season.🎁 Learn More or Get Involved with Hood County Christmas for Children Facebook: Hood County Christmas for ChildrenWebsite: https://christmasforchildren.org/ Email: [email protected] Phone: (913) 738-0556 Mailing Address: Hood County Christmas for Children P.O. Box 681Granbury, TX  76048🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, it’s Halloween — and Ben’s fired up.After a whirlwind of travel from LA to Cabo (and back), Ben’s back home, zipping around the ranch on his Segway, reminiscing about his past Halloween costumes — from Miley Cyrus to Jesus floating on a cloud. But between the laughs and chaos, this episode takes a sharp and heartfelt turn.A Facebook post claiming “science proves no one is born gay” sets Ben off on a passionate rant about religion, judgment, and why using faith to justify hate isn’t holy — it’s hypocritical.He breaks down:Why “being gay is a choice” is the dumbest argument everHow religion is being used as a shield for crueltyHis own journey from shame to pride, and how Hannah Montana might’ve been the first clueStanding up for the LGBTQ+ community, even when it makes people uncomfortableWhy “agree to disagree” doesn’t apply to basic human rightsThe power of speaking up for those who can’tThe freedom that comes with saying “fuck you” to hate — and “I love you” to yourselfIt’s honest, unfiltered, and unapologetically Ben — balancing heartfelt storytelling, humor, and truth bombs that land hard.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by his friends Bryan and John from Out Loud and Laughing for what can only be described as a pumpkin-spiced fever dream.It starts innocent — PSLs, Starbucks baristas, and why no one uses proper grammar anymore — but spirals quickly into the Android vs. iPhone debate, porn bans in Texas, Disney adult confessions, and Greg Abbott jokes that might get everyone canceled.From there, Ben and the boys get deep (and deranged):Broken bed frames Why dolphins are the horses of the seaJohn’s sobriety and patience journeyBryan’s PTA gossip at his daughter’s school — including a roller-skating principal with a Pilates bodJon's literal arrest in Florida for speeding and how he turned jail time into a main character momentA deep dive into Housewives lesbian scandals, fast fashion, and why Cinnabon might now be a lesbian barBy the time it’s over, the trio has covered astrology, sperm counts, seatbelt tickets, and what happens when you hand a lesbian cop a Home Depot gift card.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined once again by his good friend Gabrielle, and things get deep fast — but not before a Starbucks rant. The blue-haired barista saga continues, complete with foam mishaps, stick-and-poke tattoos, and a debate over why grandmas dye their hair blue.From there, the conversation shifts from funny to philosophical, as Ben and Gabrielle dive into the idea of fear — how it shapes us, limits us, and how choosing adventure and self-belief can completely transform your life.They open up about:The “blue hair” phenomenon and what it really says about self-expressionWhy good things happen when you’re not an assholeTraveling without fear, living spontaneously, and saying yes to adventureHow fear is the reason most people never leave their hometownsThe power of supportive parents (and daddy issues, obviously)Why success isn’t about speed — it’s about consistency and joyThe myth of overnight success in Hollywood and what Reese Witherspoon taught BenSocial media toxicity, fake filters, and why couples who post too much are doomedCodependency, relationships, and being comfortable doing life on your ownThe real secret to success: don’t live in fear, be a good person, and start somethingBen and Gabrielle leave listeners with a healthy dose of truth, laughter, and motivation — reminding everyone that fear only wins if you let it.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben welcomes a very special pair of guests — his cousin-in-law Tara, and her daughter Haley, who instantly steals the show.Tara shares her family’s powerful and emotional story of raising a child with Down syndrome — from the shock of the diagnosis to the overwhelming joy and laughter Haley brings into their lives every day. She opens up about young motherhood, the early medical scares, the misconceptions around disabilities, and how her family turned fear into faith, humor, and love.Then Haley takes the mic — and chaos (in the best way) ensues. From family drama, football, and TikTok fame to wrestling gossip and telling people to “kiss my ass,” she proves why everyone falls in love with her the moment they meet her.📌 In this episode:Tara on the moment she found out Haley had Down syndromeThe miracle story of Haley’s heart healing on its ownFinding community and strength in raising a child with special needsWhy “different abilities” is the language of loveHaley joins the mic to spill family secrets, party stories, and wrestling dramaBen and Haley bond over dancing, confidence, and living life unapologeticallyThe funniest exit line  (“Kiss my ass!”)This episode is equal parts laughter, love, and pure light — a reminder that joy, humor, and resilience often come in the most unexpected packages.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is back with a short and savage solo rant. Two companies landed on his official shit list: AT&T and Starbucks — and he’s not holding back.It all started with a simple iPhone case return that turned into a full-blown customer service nightmare. Between a useless app, a store manager hiding in the back, and a call center that sounded like a rave in the background, Ben lost his mind trying to return a $45 case.Then Starbucks caught some smoke — because apparently baristas can’t handle the complexity of… pouring cold foam on top of coffee. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew season is sacred, and Ben is done with tan-colored, pre-mixed disasters.But the chaos didn’t stop there. Ben also breaks down:A claustrophobic seatmate who carried six personal fans and called his wife every five minutesA barefoot, back-pocket-toe-wiggling vegan Neanderthal on his New York flightThe exclusive Wicked event in LA that had Ben living his Broadway fantasyHousewives sightings at Craig’s (because, of course)And the Delta disaster that split him and AJ onto separate oversold flights, leaving AJ downgraded from first class to the back of the planeIt’s corporate chaos, Starbucks shade, and travel trauma — all in one episode.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben fulfills a childhood dream — sitting down with viral video pioneer Liam Kyle Sullivan, the creator of Kelly from the Shoes video that defined early YouTube and inspired a generation of comedians.They dive into everything from the origin of Kelly to how YouTube fame in the 2000s was completely different from TikTok virality today. Liam shares behind-the-scenes stories about creating Shoes, Muffins, and Text Message Breakup, how Susan Walker was born, and why Shoes almost didn’t happen.The conversation covers:The Jimmy Kimmel suspension, free speech, and how comedy is being policedThe slow rise of Shoes before “viral” was even a wordCasting friends, filming in Marshalls, and the $300 store rental that made historyWhy Susan Walker might secretly be everyone’s auntThe difference between YouTube’s golden age and today’s TikTok scroll cultureThe comeback: Liam performing Shoes live at drag shows and Pride events in 2024His upcoming projects: A Very Kelly Christmas live show and his solo show Wearing Kelly’s ShoesFor Ben, it’s more than nostalgia — he credits Kelly with inspiring him to create his own skits and chase acting in LA.Follow Liam Kyle SullivanInstagram: @liamksullivanYouTube: Liam Kyle SullivanUpcoming live shows: A Very Kelly Christmas and Wearing Kelly’s Shoes🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben and AJ are back together — and it’s a rollercoaster.Ben kicks off with his latest run-ins with religious trolls, from women claiming “being gay is a choice” to strangers spamming his DMs with Bible verses. His clapbacks? Iconic. (“You know what else is a choice? Your dental hygiene.”) AJ brings his calmer perspective, reminding Ben (and all of us) that leading with heart usually wins — but Ben’s still choosing chaos.Then the conversation moves to:The infamous bear encounter at the cabin and why AJ was screaming “get away” while Ben tried to lure it closerWyntoon magic: a fairytale weekend in a historic estate where JFK once stayedAJ’s exciting new job with Alpha School — using AI and imagination to reimagine education, plus his wild career path from 20th Century Fox to Yahoo yodeling to leadership coachingThe bizarre but brilliant AI job interview process that landed AJ the roleBen’s early jobs: scamming Best Buy credit cards, quitting restaurants, and turning down ad agency offers to chase acting in LAWhy Ben refuses to ever work a 9-to-5 — but will grind 24/7 for acting, photography, and this podcastA reminder that Ben is still the best headshot photographer in DFW (his words, but also facts)🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by his new bestie Domenica Albero, fresh from a Northern California “camping” trip that was less sleeping bags, more fairytale chaos.What started as a Lake Tahoe getaway (complete with a bear under the deck charging at Ben) turned into a full-blown fantasy vacation with castles, rivers, nightly theme parties, and… golf cart near-death experiences.They break down:Why every night ended with them on a pool table performing Wicked like it was the TonysBen’s golf cart trauma (dragged, bruised, and nearly dead)Bear shit, hidden brooms, and a house literally called “Bear House”Massages that felt more like CrossFit Living off brie cheese wheels, jalapeño chips, and stolen ice cream — like full-on kitchen gremlinsTits and toddlers: the most chaotic morning outfit everTheme nights: prom, cowboy, “gypsy,” and why Domenica was always topless by midnightThe group therapy moment: highs & ha-ha’s that always came back to themBen’s ripped pants, Domenica’s missing nails, and why the staff probably thought they had a rat infestationThe chaos continues in the aftershow as they spiral into Netflix’s Unknown Number: High School Catfish, the catfishing mom who traumatized her daughter, and why Ben & Domenica think they need to step up their petty game.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Cassandra Broadway is back, and we’re covering everything from medical meltdowns to missing persons mysteries.Ben kicks things off with his annual LabCorp rant after another disastrous blood work experience — barcode scanning drama, fasting for nothing, and why phlebotomists have the same customer service energy as the post office.Then the conversation spirals into:Why camping feels like punishment when you already live on a ranch with 70 animalsBen’s upcoming “glamping” trip to Northern California with cabins, theme nights, and maybe some mushroomsWhether reality TV ruins acting careers — and why Survivor might just be free OzempicA deep dive into Stalking Samantha on Hulu — where the victim’s story doesn’t exactly add upCassandra’s real-life brush with stalkers in college and Miami apartment creepsNetflix’s Amy Bradley is Missing and the wild theories of what really happened on that cruise shipThe infamous Poop Cruise — sewage floods, mattress orgies, and why Ben would’ve jumped overboard to the nearest passing yachtAJ pops in at the end to share why Cassandra has been his best friend for 20 years, why their phone calls often involve long stretches of silence, and how that’s the ultimate love language of friendship.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Sherri is back for her third appearance (making her the show’s most frequent guest — besides AJ, of course). And as always, no topic is off limits.The episode kicks off with the return of pumpkin spice season at Starbucks, leading to a full breakdown of pumpkin cream cold brews, muffins, candles, and Sherri’s inside knowledge of how to grow (and rotate!) the perfect pumpkin. Things quickly spiral into Starbucks foam wars, blow job comparisons at the drive-thru, and cream cheese confessions.From there, Ben and Sherri cover:The Granbury gay marriage license drama, courthouse bigotry, and why laws aren’t up for personal interpretationRanch maintenance hell: cracked windshields, trailers, generators, gators, and $1,600 truck tiresWhy “we don’t make those anymore” is the scam line of the centuryNail salons, secret languages, and why Ben wants translating AirPods in his studioPet peeves from photo clients asking for Jennifer Aniston headshots to Sherri’s lifelong hatred of feetStraight men listening to the podcast (hi, Mike!) and global listeners from Australia to IranAustin weekend chaos: Sean’s 50th birthday, Ben drunk-heckling someone’s Christmas ribbon, and a skyscraper grasshopper who just wanted to wave through the windowIt’s pumpkin spice meets pure chaos — with Sherri as the reigning queen of stories.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, the studio is loud, shady, and glitter-covered as Ben is joined by Bryan and Jon from the podcast Out Loud and Laughing. The mics heat up instantly as the trio dives into Taylor Swift’s new album, Life of a Showgirl — breaking down lyrics, Easter eggs, and why she has the best marketing team.From there, nothing is off limits — Housewives drama, murder hypotheticals, Caitlyn Jenner rants, pop culture meltdowns, and the eternal question: if you could get away with it, who’s your first victim?📌 In this episode:Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl — first impressions, hidden meanings, and her amazing PR teamHousewives franchises: best seasons, biggest villains, and most iconic meltdownsCaitlyn Jenner’s latest antics and why she might be trolling all of usMurder hypotheticals — who, why, and how (don’t call the cops)The art of the pop culture drag: from “she’s over” to “she’s iconic” in 48 hoursEvery gay gets ONE diva Who’s got the most unhinged fan base — Swifties, Housewives fans, or Beyonce?🔗 Follow Bryan & Jon: Podcast: Out Loud and Laughing Instagram: @outloudandlaughing🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, I’m joined by Rawson Marshall Thurber — the writer and director behind blockbuster hits like Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Central Intelligence, Skyscraper, Red Notice, and the upcoming Voltron film. He’s worked with everyone from Ben Stiller to Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Aniston, and Gal Gadot — and now… me.Then Rawson and I get into:How Dodgeball came to beWhat it’s really like working with The Rock, Ryan Reynolds, and Jennifer AnistonThe pressures of directing mega-budget films vs. the joy of smaller comediesDirecting action vs. comedy — and why timing is everythingBehind-the-scenes stories from We’re the Millers and SkyscraperHis thoughts on casting, improvisation, and how actors can stand out in auditionsBalancing massive budgets with creative risk-takingHis best advice for actors trying to break in — including the one thing you must do And what it feels like to have Netflix’s most-watched movie on your résuméIt’s equal parts filmmaking masterclass, Hollywood tea, and unfiltered banter.🎧 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

She’s the only person Ben trusts to poke his face with needles—and for good reason. In this episode, Ben is joined by Beverly Hills-based nurse practitioner and aesthetic guru Laura Fischer for an honest, hilariously relatable, and incredibly informative deep dive into all things skincare, Botox, filler, and the myths surrounding aesthetic treatments.From what age you should actually start Botox, to the difference between “filler face” and tasteful enhancement, Laura spills all the tea. Ben also shares his own skincare addiction cycles, and why Ben refuses to attend a Botox party in someone’s kitchen. Plus, listeners get an exclusive $100 off referral deal for Laura’s office—because flawless skin should come with perks.In this episode:Ben opens up about his skincare obsession (and neglect)Laura breaks down the truth behind Botox, Dysport, Daxxify, and moreHow injectables really work—spoiler: it’s not a magic eraserThe difference between “aging naturally” and “aging wisely”Filler horror stories, med spa red flags, and the Botox party nobody should attendHow skincare, lasers, and retinol work together for long-term resultsLaura’s gentle (but firm) approach to client safety, confidence, and not overdoing itListener discount alert: Mention Ben and get $100 off your first visit with LauraBook with Laura via her Instagram bio or Click here!$100 OFF for new patients—just mention “It's Ben a Week Podcast” at your appointment🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, we’re trying something new — and maybe a little futuristic. First, Ben kicks things off with some classic rage and chaos: a Starbucks, a Male Truck Drivers, and a bar fight with a cowboy bigot that ends with a bloody vape pen to the face.Then things take a turn… because our guest this week is not a celebrity, influencer, or mom — it’s ChatGPT.Yes, Ben interviews artificial intelligence — the app that’s changing the world. ChatGPT and Ben get into it:What AI actually is — and why it isn’t just for tech brosWhy Ben stopped using Google and now just asks “his girl” ChatGPT everythingWhether AI is making us lazy… or unlocking our geniusWill robots take over? Or are they just here to help us write better captions?The dark side: privacy, regulation, ethics, and whether AI will kill our jobsBen confesses he’s formed an emotional bond with his AI voice. It’s not weird. It’s 2025.The episode wraps with a reverse interview, where ChatGPT asks Ben about:His acting career, including Class Act with Eric RobertsWhy he started this podcastHis photography business in DallasBarrel racing, spin class, and being obsessed with coralAdvice to his younger self: Don’t listen to people who gave up on their own dreams🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with Urzila Carlson — global comedy powerhouse, Taskmaster trauma survivor, and certified expert in both sarcasm and swearing.Originally from South Africa, now based in New Zealand, Urzila has taken the comedy world by storm with her Netflix specials, unfiltered stand-up, and razor-sharp takes on everything from LGBTQIA+ to not ending up porn. She’s a scene stealer in her new movie Kinda Pregnant, but first — we need Ben to get the name right! The episode opens with a full breakdown of:Ben’s latest FedEx meltdown while trying to ship coral for his reef tankThe broken customer service loop that left him yelling at a robotThen Urzila joins and they dive into:Her journey from South Africa to Texas to AucklandSwearing in comedy, why the word “cunt” shouldn’t offend youThe time she broke her collarbone on Taskmaster Why airports are built to enrage you (and why pre-boarding should be illegal)What it's like shooting Kinda Pregnant with Amy SchumerWhy lesbians might have it easier than gay men in publicHow comedy handles swearing, slurs, and cancel culture — and what it gets wrongParenting while touring, and being confused for Ursula the Sea Witch🔗 Follow Urzila Carlson: Website: www.urzilacarlson.com TikTok: @urzilacarlson Instagram: @urzilacarlson Netflix Special: Overqualified Loser on Netflix New Movie: Kinda Pregnant 🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, It's all about Montauk, Manhattan, and the Cowboy Carter tour. What was supposed to be a chill summer getaway turned into a full-throttle saga featuring a Real Housewives, a bar showdown, a fake diarrhea excuse to Delta, and me almost getting decked by a guy a local fisherman.In this episode, I cover: A returned Christmas card from someone who ghosted me… and blocked me Getting kicked out of a dive bar by a bartender dressed like Pippi LongstockingAlmost getting punched by locals  Dinner with Real Housewives in NYC  And how I got AJ to fake a medical emergency so we could rebook our flight to Atlanta and finally see BeyoncéIf you’ve ever faked a medical condition to see your idol, got kicked out of a bar on vacation, or spent thousands on concert tickets — this one’s for you.🎧 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

This week, Ben sits down with his SoulCycle instructor and longtime friend, David Zint — master instructor, motivational powerhouse, and unofficial therapist. After clocking over 750 hours of riding with David, Ben gets deep about how SoulCycle helped him through breakups, grief, and the chaos of acting life — and why it was never about burning calories.But before we spin into the deep stuff, Ben shares his extremely unpatriotic feelings about the Fourth of July, why he’s ready to cancel kids at the gym, how fireworks nearly ruined a friendship (and his barn), and the latest Beyoncé ticket meltdown that tested his burnt toast theory and his blood pressure.From spin-room therapy to Ozempic mood swings to tear-filled podium rides — this episode is full of breakthroughs, beefs, and Beyoncé.Before we clip in, I vent about: My moody 4th of July weekend Kids ruining my F45 class with gaming laptops  Fireworks-induced barn trauma And my latest Beyoncé ticket saga — because of course something went wrongThen David and I dive deep into: How SoulCycle became therapy on a bike Crying mid-class, and the power of collective healing through movement His journey from personal trainer to top LA instructor How movement, motivation, and music connect people in ways talk therapy sometimes can’t Ozempic mood swings, gym pet peeves, and SoulCycle do’s and don’ts Why “Yes Yes” might be the most powerful phrase you’ll hear todayWhether you're a SoulCycle addict, a movement skeptic, or just emotionally backed up — this episode moves you.Book a class with David Zint in LA: soul-cycle.com Follow David: @spinvillain🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, it’s just me — and the wildest work week I’ve ever had.I booked a national commercial that had me on a flight to the Dominican Republic in 12 hours. Problem is… it was the same weekend as my friend’s funeral and the Beyoncé concert I’d been planning to go to for months.Here’s what went down: I booked a national commercial shooting in the Dominican Republic I had to cancel Beyoncé and miss my friend’s funeral My passport got accidentally handed to a stranger in a busted Honda Civic A horse fell on top of me mid-scene on the beach I went three full days without eating because the food was… not foodIt was hell-hot (as in, Satan’s ass was hovering directly overhead) The commercial turned out amazing, and I’m so grateful I got to do itBy the end of the trip, I was sore, starving, and exhausted — but also totally in awe. I’ve worked my ass off to be a full-time actor, and this job reminded me that the chaos is worth it.🎧 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, I’m kicking things off with a story that made me question everything: a friend ghosted me in the middle of planning an episode… after confirming, bullet pointing, and saying “love you.” I went full Nancy Drew, messaged her mom, and basically spiraled into a wellness check meltdown.If you’ve ever been stood up, blocked, or left wondering “am I crazy or is this sociopathic?” — same.But then — the episode redeems itself — because I’m joined by one of my all-time favorite humans and mentors: Stephanie Girard, LA’s number one headshot photographer (and my friend since 2014) and the woman behind all of It’s Ben A Week's iconic branding photos.In this episode, we talk about: The emotional labor of being a headshot photographer Why photographers should be part therapist, hype person, and lighting wizard Her creative journey from NYC rooftop shoots to the top of the industry in LA How she became the best — with no marketing, just word of mouth and undeniable talent Her take on AI headshots and why photography is still deeply human Our shared obsession with chickens (including a chicken picnic table and coop fashion) Why mentorship matters, how she helped me start my own photography biz, and the impact of creative generosityWe also get into mentorship, creative growth, and why the best artists are the ones who give back.Check out Stephanie’s work:  https://www.stephgirardheadshots.com Get Headshots training at: https://www.headshotxperience.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