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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 actor, 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 actor, 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.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 actor, 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 🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New 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: @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 actor, 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 actor, 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 actor 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 actor, 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 actor, 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/Hom A 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 actor, 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 actor, 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 actor, 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 actor, 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 NSFW This 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 actor, 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 favorite people on earth — Jennifer Geisser, Executive Vice President of Communications for Bravo and Peacock Unscripted, and the woman running the entire Bravo universe while Ben runs around in sparkly shoes. Before Jen even joins the chat, Ben unleashes a full rant on: Getting blocked from the Granbury Breaking News Facebook page (shocker)Being surrounded by trash families at the theaterMoviegoers who crinkle Skittles bags during emotional Wicked momentsSnapchatting during a movie Children running in the aisles of Wicked like it’s Chuck E. CheeseThen Jen arrives, and chaos officially begins. Together, Ben and Jen break down their insane week: BravoCon madness — 30,000 fans, celebrities everywhere, panels, parties, and production on a scale Ben’s never seenThe Sprinter van moments, including Ben sitting with his Bravolebrities like it’s totally normalJen managing talent, PR crises, logistics, executives, and Bravo’s entire empireBen sneaking his way onto the Bravo float at Pride like he belongs thereA recap of every after-party, including Ben and Jen being physically allergic to going home earlyThe suitcase catastrophe at 5 a.m. — duct tape, panic, and a broken zipperFlying from Vegas to NYC on no sleep and running into Jen’s boss at the gateBarely making it to the Wicked movie premiereJen dressed exactly like Glinda and Ben pushing little children out of the way so she could take a photo in the bubbleFalling asleep during Wicked because they were literally deadBen peeing next to Jonathan Bailey (a core memory)Getting nearly run over by Michelle Yeoh’s dressTheir night at Mary Jane on Broadway (late, obviously)The sea-turtle charity event in BrooklynDelta upgrades, diamond perks, and Ben stealing Jen’s global upgradeIt’s pure chaos, nonstop laughter, Bravo tea, Wicked obsession, and friendship at its finest. 🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New 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: @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 Brown Instagram: @wstn.brwn Film: 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 actor, 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 actor, 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