Conversations with Rich Bennett

What if creativity could change someone’s entire future? In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Rich sits down with Diane Strand, an award-winning entrepreneur and founder of JDS Creative Academy, to explore how the arts are opening doors for foster youth, at-risk teens, and neurodiverse adults. Diane shares her journey from working on major productions like General Hospital and Frien...

Marriage is one of the biggest commitments you’ll ever make… but what does it really take to make it last? In this special solo episode, Rich Bennett shares heartfelt, real-life marriage advice inspired by his nephew’s wedding day and his own 29-year journey. This isn’t the typical fairytale talk. It’s honest, practical, and grounded in real experience. Rich opens up about the truth behind marriag...

Bourbon isn’t just a drink. It’s a story rooted in American history, innovation, and survival. In this solo episode, Rich Bennett takes you on a journey through the origins of bourbon, breaking down how it started with early settlers and evolved into one of the most iconic spirits in the world. Along the way, he clears up some of the biggest myths and misconceptions that people still believe today...

What if success isn’t really about money? In this episode, Rich sits down with Anthony Spark, entrepreneur and success coach, to break down what truly matters when it comes to building a meaningful life. With over two decades of experience, Anthony shares how identity, values, and fulfillment play a bigger role in success than most people realize. Anthony Spark is a seasoned entrepreneur and coach...

What if success wasn’t just about money, but about building a life you’re proud of? In this episode, Rich sits down with Gino Barbaro, a real estate investor who scaled from running a restaurant to managing over $450 million in assets. But this conversation goes far beyond business. Gino shares how his definition of success evolved to focus on family, faith, and creating a meaningful legacy. Gino...

What if dyslexia wasn’t a limitation but a hidden advantage waiting to be unlocked? In this eye-opening episode, Rich sits down with Russell Van Brocklen, a dyslexia researcher who went from a first-grade reading level to developing a system that helps students achieve graduate-level writing skills in less than a year. Russell shares the exact methods he uses to transform struggling learners into...

What if the diagnosis you were given wasn’t the end of your story? In this powerful episode, Rich sits down with Daniel Esposito, a former NFL player who was told he would need multiple joint replacements and live with chronic pain for the rest of his life. Instead of accepting that fate, Daniel spent years researching, experimenting, and ultimately transforming his health in ways doctors said wer...

What if the very thing you’ve been trying to fix about yourself isn’t broken at all? In this eye-opening episode, Rich sits down with Willie Blake, a high-performance coach who is redefining what it means to live with dyslexia. Diagnosed in first grade, Willie spent years struggling with self-doubt, feeling behind, and trying to fit into a system that wasn’t built for him. But everything changed w...

Some wounds don’t leave visible scars, but they shape everything. In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett , Rich sits down with Graham Robinson to uncover the truth behind childhood trauma and the lasting impact it has on our lives. From emotional neglect to buried pain that resurfaces decades later, Graham shares his deeply personal journey and how he turned that pain into purpose. If...

What if the best years of your life haven’t happened yet? In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett , Rich sits down with Ande Lyons, a 69-year-old entrepreneur, podcast host, and fierce advocate for redefining aging. Ande shares how she’s shattered outdated beliefs about getting older and why purpose, passion, and growth don’t have an expiration date. From launching businesses later in l...

What does it take to break into one of the most competitive industries out there? In this episode, Rich sits down with Billy Fanshawe, founder of Lytos Vodka, to talk about how a simple college idea turned into a patented product that’s challenging the status quo. Billy shares how he taught himself the science behind his formula, pushed through regulatory roadblocks, and built a brand from the gro...

What if music could become the most powerful legacy you leave behind? In this emotional and inspiring episode, Rich sits down with Jim Ebert, a veteran music producer and 25-year brain cancer survivor who is changing lives through his nonprofit, Cancer Can Rock. Jim shares how his journey through cancer led him to help others create something deeply meaningful—final songs that become lasting gifts...

What makes a local magazine last over 20 years in a digital world? In this episode, Rich and Wendy sit down with Sandy Kapinos and Debbie Umbarger from Harford’s Heart Magazine to uncover the passion, purpose, and people behind the county’s most trusted publication. Sandy, owner of Sonipak Design & Marketing, and Debbie, writer and fitness professional, share how the magazine has become a corn...

What makes a story truly stick with you? In this episode, Rich sits down with author and broadcaster Tory Gates to uncover how powerful storytelling can shape perspectives, spark emotion, and even change lives. Tory Gates is an award-winning author and longtime radio professional who has spent decades mastering the art of communication. From the newsroom to the world of fiction, he brings real-lif...

Ever wondered why a song can give you chills… or bring you to tears without a single word? In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Rich sits down with music expert Dr. Kurt Ellenberger to uncover the fascinating science behind why music affects us so deeply. From sound waves turning into electrical signals in your brain to the hidden math behind harmony and emotion, this conversation w...

What if joy isn’t something you wait for—but something you practice your way into? In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett , Rich sits down with Amy Dickens, author of 101 Ways to Spread Joy , to explore how she transformed her life from anxiety, burnout, and fear into one fueled by courage, play, and purpose. Amy shares her journey from struggling with social anxiety to traveling the w...

What happens when life forces you to start over? In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett , photographer, author, and podcast host James Walters shares how creativity became his lifeline during one of the most challenging seasons of his life. After facing personal loss, identity shifts, and major life transitions, James discovered that creativity was more than a hobby. It was a way to re...

Are we treating sickness instead of building real health? In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett , Rich sits down with chiropractor, wellness advocate, and author Dr. Rochelin Herold to explore why modern healthcare often focuses on managing symptoms instead of helping people truly thrive. Dr. Herold grew up in Brooklyn in a Haitian household that emphasized discipline, faith, and pers...

What happens when a witness becomes part of the story? In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Rich sits down with award winning author John David to talk about his gripping debut novel The Bystander. The story follows television reporter Pete LeMaster, whose camera captures a shocking active shooter incident that quickly goes viral and launches his career. But as the story unfolds, th...

Podcasting has exploded in popularity, but many creators are asking the same question: does every podcast really need video? In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Rich sits down with podcast industry expert Arielle Nissenblatt to talk about the power of audio-first storytelling and the evolving future of podcasting. Arielle has spent years helping creators grow their audiences, disco...

Leadership is easy to talk about, but much harder to practice. In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, leadership expert Ronald Reich shares what truly separates effective leaders from ineffective ones. With nearly three decades of experience training leaders across multiple industries, Ron dives into the real challenges managers face every day including difficult conversations, diseng...

What if the reason you still feel tired, inflamed, or stuck with health problems is because no one is looking at the real cause? In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett , Rich sits down with Reed Davis, founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition, to explore why so many people are stuck managing symptoms instead of actually getting better. Reed has worked with over 10,000 clients and tra...

What if healing from addiction could begin with earning the trust of a rescued dog? In this powerful episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Rich and cohost Wendy Beck sit down with Amy Harding, founder of Ethan’s Hope: Paws and Hands Rescues and Recoveries. After losing her son Ethan to addiction at just 23 years old, Amy chose to carry forward the vision he had for helping people in recovery...

What do you do when your world stops but everyone else keeps moving? Christina O’Mara joins Conversations with Rich Bennett to share the heartbreaking loss of her daughter Ariella  and how that grief led to the creation of the Sea of Hope Foundation. This is not just a story about loss. It is about lifting the veil, saying their names, and turning waves of grief into ripples of hope. In this episo...

What happens when survival mode stops working? Irina Shehovsov knows that breaking point well. After becoming a single mother to a newborn and five-year-old, she found herself emotionally exhausted, disconnected, and questioning everything. Instead of waiting for someone to rescue her, she made a life-altering decision: she would save herself. Irina is now a bestselling author, speaker, singer, ar...