It's Ben a Week

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.   J...

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 Holl...

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 some...

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 stayi...

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 l...

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 hi...

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 fa...

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...

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,...

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 colleg...

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 a...

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...

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...

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 terri...

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 wh...

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 Tex...

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 W...

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...

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 gratitud...

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...

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...

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...

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 ab...

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 w...

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 prod...