The Ben Stortini Show

What is time? We’re always saying we’re too busy—that we just don’t have enough of it. But what if we each experience time differently without realizing it? Imagine we each carry a personal hourglass, shaped by how we live, what we feel, and where we put our energy. Every decision, emotion, and experience draws on our capacity until we need to rest, reboot, and recharge. My theory is that time fee...

Flying cars, elections, data centers in space, website hacks, heat ray laser guns, and the constant push to buy everything imaginable—all day, every day. From the moment we wake up, our algorithms go to work on us, distracting us at every turn with nonsense while selling us everything under the sun. We’re completely hypnotized, and some of us don’t even realize it’s happening. It’s time to pump th...

Silkk the Shocker once said, “You Ain’t Gotta Lie to Kick It,” and that couldn’t be more true. We’ve all lied to ourselves at some point, believing a story we tell ourselves that doesn’t quite match reality. From Carl Lewis convincing himself he could sing to the NBA turning a blind eye to Miami-era LeBron, self-deception comes in many forms. In this episode, I break down why we do it and how to s...

Livestreamed executions? Crypto scams, poisonous algorithms, and AI tools with zero morals. Parasites have been around for millions of years, surviving and reproducing by exploiting a host. Is that what’s happening right now? Are we creating the very parasite that will infect us all—and eventually destroy us? It feels like old-school morals and decency are dying, replaced by a way of living that’s...

As we get older, cognitive decline becomes a growing concern. Now that so many of us rely on AI for even the simplest answers, could we be letting our minds get too comfortable? Could that reliance speed up mental decline? Are we headed for “mind mush”? My good friend Omar Rowe returns to the show, fresh off turning 50, to talk about ageing in the age of AI—and whether outsourcing our thinking cou...

This one is for anyone who’s tired of feeling terrible—tired of being depressed, sick, and in pain while your body screams at you every day to get sober, but you feel like you can’t. It’s also for those who are sober and want to stay that way. I quit drinking in 2019 and have been sober ever since. I want this episode to be something you can come back to anytime you need a reminder of why you got...

My parents divorced when I was 10. I had so many questions, blamed myself and couldn’t understand why. Now, I’m watching friends and family experience divorce with kids caught in the middle—and my first thought is always about them. If your children won’t open up, remember: they’re listening and watching. Keep showing them love and showing them you’re trying. I also review the incredible new Eryka...

The Next-Life Training Theory suggests that each lifetime unknowingly prepares us for the next, carrying our abilities forward until we fulfil our ultimate purpose. This idea came to me while running and wondering why we work so hard if we eventually turn to dust. Maybe it was inspired by Daemon or recent discussions about AI and human extinction—but I had to explore it. I also reflect on a single...

My best friend is getting married, and we spent his bachelor party at an incredible Muskoka cottage on the water. I left feeling blessed, proud, and inspired after a competitive weekend of foosball, ping pong, pickleball—and even a little golf. There was also a dock, a little too much green, and Pickleball TV. I’m sharing the full weekend, my 9/11 story as we approach the 25th anniversary, and one...

Imagine, if you will… Parkdale, Toronto, around 2003. It’s one or two in the morning, and a real wiseguy at the Cadillac Lounge asks us if we want to join them at a backyard party. Naturally, we oblige. When we arrive, the backyard looks like a scene from a dream: a giant treehouse, lights everywhere, and a Home Alone-style wire running from the treehouse to an upstairs bedroom. But it’s what we d...

This episode is a journey through time, Toronto and the strange dimensions in between. While training for my next race, I crossed paths with three unforgettable people who seemed like travellers from the future—sent back to remind us to live freely and be ourselves. Then we jump through a portal to Toronto in 2009, where a hot summer ride on the Dufferin bus gets very messy. From there, we travel...

Seven people once tried to steal my 4Runner while my family slept. Then, last Friday, my lady called to say a man on a motorcycle was following her. The message is simple: stay ready so you don’t have to get ready. Protect your family, be a soldier, and be a lion. I also talk about duathlon training, running to Mystikal, why I hate golf and poker, and Toronto’s best cookies—Craig’s Cookies. I hope...

I bought a tri bike, so I guess I’m doing a triathlon. My addictive personality is officially locked in. I also saw a man at the gym who triggered a bizarre Toronto memory from 2003 involving a garbage bag of green, green lights, and aquariums everywhere. Then last night’s power outage got me thinking about Silicon Valley comparing AI to electricity—and why some tech nerds need to do a little more...

I had to get my guy, Adam "Iron Drini" Alessandrini, back on the show to let him shine. After competing at the Canadian Bodybuilding Nationals last week, he brought home a 3rd-place finish in his age group. I couldn't be more proud or happier for him, so this episode is dedicated to you, Adam. We talk about what it was really like preparing for the competition, the highs and lows of th...

The moment we touched down in Quebec, I could smell the Monster Energy drinks. The Esso green drink fiends were everywhere—it felt like we were under attack. The real reason we were there, though, was to welcome my sister's new baby. I couldn't be more proud of her. I also tell the story of dropping my little lady off at summer camp in The Beaches... some people really just need to relax....

My grandma (RIP) always told me I should be an actor. So, Grandma, I'm going to give this my all—my everything. After having my first audition just a week ago, I received another callback after sending in my second self-tape, making me two for two: two self-tapes, two callbacks. I can't explain how much fun I'm having since I started exploring this world. It really does feel like this...

I've always wanted to entertain. I've always wanted to be in front of the camera. So I finally took the first steps toward making that happen. I may be 46, but you're never too old to pursue your dreams. I got myself an agent, was asked to film a self-tape for a commercial, received a callback from the casting agency, and had my very first audition this week. I'm smiling as I write...

Last weekend was Father's Day. I had never reached out to my dad on Father's Day before, but for some reason, this year I wanted to. So I did. I genuinely wanted to wish him a Happy Father's Day, thinking it might make his day, knowing he probably wasn't getting any other texts. What happened next was embarrassing. But I made this show to get things off my chest, so here we go. Thi...

I couldn't wait for my Friday night cheat meal. I couldn't wait for that first bite... I sat down, turned on my documentary, and went in for my first bite of my Harry's burger. Boom. First bite... my back tooth breaks. Needless to say, my weekend turned into quite the adventure. I talk about my dentist appointment and meeting a dentist who sees the world the same way I do. Speaking of...

Life is like a jungle sometimes. Things move fast. One minute you're figuring out your own path, and the next your daughter is turning 10 and your 3-year-old son is bringing home his first medal. I almost didn't record this episode. I was in a bit of a mood. But I'm glad I did. We get into a wild neighbor story that reminded me of my own run-in years ago, talk a little religion, and di...

This episode is a love letter to running. Long before I became a runner, I watched my Grandpa run marathons. I saw the joy it brought him and the way people were drawn to him. To me, he wasn't just a runner — he was a hero. Since then, running has been there at every major crossroads in my life. It's helped me clear my mind, reset, prepare for what's next, and stay grounded through it...

This episode is about putting work into yourself and finally realizing how far you’ve actually come. When I started this show 2 years ago, I was a mess. But today? I feel like I’m back. Back to how I felt in 2009 when I met my soon-to-be wife — that funky groove, that confidence, that real version of me. In this one I talk about my best friend asking me to be his best man, old island summer memori...

White sand. Tans. Rosé. BBQ chicken. Aqua agua. Post-trip depression. Saint Maarten gave us exactly what we needed — peace. Watching my kids play in the ocean from our beach chairs outside the condo felt perfect. The waves, the heat, the music and the slow pace reset every cell in me. I ran hills, found an outdoor gym with giant tires to lift, and somehow balanced workouts with the vacation float....

Let’s take a trip down memory lane. No real format. No heavy structure. Just a trip back in time. With my family and I heading to St. Maarten, I wanted to leave you with something you could throw on, relax to, and get transported by while I’m away. After buying a CD drive and digitizing music I made over 24 years ago, I had an idea… Why not bring the guys back together and relive it? So I called u...

For 45 years, I’ve been chasing happiness. I’ve built a life I’m proud of — family, routine, fitness, all of it… and still, something feels missing. Lately, I’ve been asking myself — is it faith? is it God? Because in my hardest moments, I’ve caught myself praying… and I’m not religious. So why did I pray? This episode is me trying to figure that out — what that missing piece is, and why it won’t...