Conversations with Rich Bennett

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 Ande shares how she’s shattered outdated beliefs about getting older and why purpose, passion, and growth don’t have an expiration date.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...

March 1933. The Great Depression has Americans on edge, banks are shutting their doors, and fear is moving faster than facts. In this America Explained episode, Rich Bennett sets the scene and then shares a historic voice that helped steady the country: Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first Fireside Chat, delivered March 12, 1933. Roosevelt doesn’t talk like a politician here. He talks like a neighbor, br...

What if the biggest missing piece in fighting poverty isn’t food or housing—but furniture? In this powerful episode, Alicia Hamilton of Fresh Start Furnishings joins Rich alongside Natalie Johnson, COO of Inner County Outreach, to announce a major partnership that will expand services across Harford and Cecil Counties. After furnishing 321 households and serving over 900 individuals in one year, A...

What happens when a marriage looks successful on the outside but feels disconnected behind closed doors? In this powerful episode, Rich Bennett sits down with intimacy coach and bestselling author Xanet Pailet to talk about sexless marriages, emotional safety, and why intimacy does not die overnight—it slowly goes underground. After leaving a 26-year marriage at age 50, Xanet rebuilt her life and...

When was the last time you showed up for someone when it cost you something? In this solo episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett , Rich explores the art of showing up for people even when it’s inconvenient. Not the social media version. Not the easy version. The real version that requires sacrifice, humility, and effort. From sitting in hospital waiting rooms to attending small events when no...

Have you ever lost track of time inside a book? That’s no accident. In this episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, mystery romance author Melissa Roos shares how she went from growing up seven miles outside a small Iowa town to publishing six emotionally layered suspense novels in just five years. Melissa opens up about overcoming shyness, choosing indie publishing for creative control, build...

Jenny C. Cohen’s story will move you. An award-winning dancer, embodiment coach, and cancer survivor, Jenny shares how dance became her lifeline through breast cancer, trauma, and unimaginable family challenges. From competing internationally while in treatment to supporting her daughter through mental health struggles, Jenny reveals how reconnecting with the body can restore strength, clarity, an...

Noah May joins Rich Bennett for one of the most honest conversations yet about mental health, resilience, and survival. Diagnosed with clinical depression at 14 and anxiety at 18, Noah shares how his symptoms escalated into severe nausea, dramatic weight loss, and daily fear that left him physically shaken. As a member of the Class of 2020, he also faced the emotional toll of graduating during the...