Life In Bold with Ben Hawes

Welcome to episode 75 of Life in Bold! I'm your host, Ben Hawes! I’m back with a brand new 2026 life update because a lot has changed. In this solo episode, I’m catching you up on my new job as an Office Manager in NYC at Rocket Money, getting my comedy career back up and running, releasing my Valentine’s Day album in February, and taking the Glowing Stars Tour on the road. I’m also sharing so...

What starts as a casual train of though by Ben turns into a layered self-inquiry about communication, connection, identity, and impact.

Welcome to Episode 72 of "Life in Bold" with Ben Hawes! In this episode, Ben takes us on a journey from his early inspiration by iCarly to his current success as a content creator and podcaster. Discover how iCarly sparked his interest in the internet and led him to create content for over 17 years. Ben shares exciting news about a new podcasting platform that has enhanced his production capabilit...

In this episode, I talk through the mix of feelings that hit me after my big trip back to California, a wedding in San Francisco, and my return to NYC. I ended up needing an "emergency life coaching session" with Claire from The Happy Hour in Nashville (virtually), and I walked away with some new insights that honestly shifted a lot for me. I get into the difference between success and s...

As 2025 winds down, I’m sitting with the big questions. Should I get a job again? Is my business working? What’s next for me creatively, financially, personally? This episode isn’t a highlight reel — it’s an honest check-in about what it feels like to chase big dreams when the year is ending and you’re not sure what the next one will bring. If you’ve ever questioned your direction or felt that mix...

In the very very iconic Episode 69 of Life in Bold, host Ben Hawes sits down with Mike Andronico, an Astoria-based musician and tech review journalist for CNN Underscored, to talk about his journey into music, friendship, and creative expression. Mike opens up about finding new friendships through band life, balancing two active music projects, and the release of Ghost Tour’s upcoming EP.Mike'...

In this episode of Life in Bold, I sit down with comedian, cabaret star, and international man of intrigue David Mills. We talk about everything from working with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant in Florence Foster Jenkins, to building a comedy career across San Francisco, New York, and London, to the magic of sitting on a stool and saying something funny. We also get into:Why London comedy audiences a...

In Episode 68 of Life in Bold , Ben Hawes sits down with Sarah Batchu, a bold first-time candidate for New York City Council in District 2. From knocking on doors to fighting for housing justice, Sarah is running a grassroots campaign focused on equity, housing, public health, and a healthy dose of queer visibility. She shares stories from the trail (including a surprise “I love Sarah Batchu!” mom...

In this episode of Life in Bold, I (Ben Hawes!) sit down with the absolutely iconic Liz Coin—actor, improviser, and full-on clown—to talk about what it actually means to live boldly as an artist. Liz gets real about bombing on stage, finding joy in the flop, and why letting her 11-year-old self run the show might be the best decision she’s ever made. We get into clowning, perfectionism, social med...

In this honest and deeply relatable episode, Host Ben Hawes sits down with fellow musical comedian and performer Seann Cantatore for her third time on Life in Bold. The two dive into the messy reality of pursuing creative dreams—the comparison traps, the Instagram illusions, and why “killing it” doesn’t always feel like success. Subscribe for new episodes!

Are you ready to make 2025 the year you finally step up your social media game? In this solo Life in Bold episode, I’m diving deep into the 3 traps that stop so many of us from posting as much as we should —and why those traps are holding you back from greatness. ⚡ Disclaimer : This isn’t about your work or stage performances. It’s about showing up authentically online, embracing the awkwardness,...

Get ready for 20 non-stop minutes of laughter and bold moments from Life In Bold in 2024! This compilation features the funniest, most memorable highlights from the year, showcasing the comedic journey of boldness with incredible guests and outrageous moments. Whether it's bold advice, hilarious stories, or unexpected twists, this video has it all! Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to L...

Join me, Ben Hawes, on a journey of boldness and self-discovery. After a quarter-life crisis at 29, I embarked on a mission to understand what it truly means to live life boldly. Through candid conversations with inspiring guests and personal reflections, I explore the mindsets, habits and actions that allow people to courageously pursue their passions and create the life they want. Whether you're...

In today’s episode, I review one of the most challenging and rewarding years of my life and discuss what I hope to achieve and accomplish in 2025.  Thank you for tuning in! 🎙️ Don’t miss out on the latest episodes—hit Subscribe for new bold conversations every week 🏳️‍🌈 Life in Bold is hosted by NYC’s Ben Hawes, a musical comedian and podcaster. Life In Bold helps you embrace your dreams and take...

In today’s episode (we made it to 60!!) I got to interview my very own life coach from Nashville’s The Happy Hour, which is a mental wellness studio focused on a variety of methodologies— they have therapy, life coaching, energy work, and so much more— and they recently launched a new app “The Daily Happy,” which is built to be your daily journey of self centering.  Claire has helped me so much in...

Today we have quite a treat with musician Kate Keller— I was so excited to interview Kate about her musical skills and authentic songwriting process — very bold and honest and I was thrilled to learn more about her process! Kate is a 27 year old New York based singer and songwriter, and just released her new song, “How It Ends” which tells the story of the possibilities of how a relationship may o...

Welcome to Episode 58 of Life in Bold! This week, I’m thrilled to bring you an incredible conversation with the one and only Steven Zakari—a phenomenal comedian, entertainer, and one of the most engaging podcast guests I’ve ever had the pleasure of hosting. This episode quickly became one of my all-time favorites, and I’m so excited to share it with you. In this episode, Steven and I dive deep int...

🎙️ Finding Boldness: Embracing Life's Transitions with Meg Chizek 🎙️ In this episode of Life in Bold , Ben sits down with comedian and former dancer Meg Chizek. From her one-woman show How to Give Up on Your Dreams to her transition from dance to comedy, Meg’s story is all about self-trust and following your intuition. Join us as we discuss life in your 30s, bold moves, and making the leap to embr...

In this episode of Life in Bold, Ben sits down with Andrea Coleman, a New York-based comedian and storyteller known for her powerful solo show Three White Guys Named John. Andrea shares her journey from practicing law to embracing comedy, revealing how her legal career influences her humor and her life philosophy. They dive into Andrea’s evolving relationship with the law, storytelling, and spirit...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the wonderful Valerie Ward for an in-depth conversation about her life, her journey with improv and comedy, and how she balances her corporate career with her creative passions.  Valerie shared her unique experiences growing up in Texas, from her quirky fashion sense in high school to her early love of theater and improv. We explored how tho...

In this episode of Life in Bold , I sit down with the incredibly talented Liz Coin to talk about her one-woman show, Lizzie Sunshine 🌞. Liz shares the deeply personal inspiration behind the show, which explores her brother’s addiction struggles, and how creating this piece helped her embrace her inner artist 🎭.  We dive into the highs and lows of performing in New York City, including her sold-o...

Lauren Arnett is an amazing improviser and actor in NYC who performs with many improv groups and makes people laugh all across New York City. Originally from Michigan, she grew up in a church where the church scene became her social life. Quiet in shy in high school, she now takes stages all over NYC to show the world what she’s got— in this episode we talk about our queerness, religion and christ...

My conversation with improv actor Patrick Darwin Williams was a riveting dive into masculinity in the 90s and 2000s, balancing football & theater (hello Troy Bolton!), moving to NYC in 2006, being a dad and husband, and basically an all-around interview with a fantastically talented and kind straight man. As a kid growing up in California, I had my own experiences with masculinity, coming out...

Emmy Harrington is a wonderful Actor based in NYC who has done many things, but is very well known for her Live theater show “SCORE” where she invites comedians to do an act based on a classic movie she assigns, and then she herself does an interpretive/interactive dance and performance for each movie score. She grew up a dancer with a family who puts on an annual variety show— and she once had th...

Jaydan Heather Malsky is a fantastic musician and comedian who hosts a wonderful recurring show called “CUNTRY” in NYC. CUNTRY is a mix of covers and original songs by Jaydan Heather that end up being really funny and entertaining to watch. Jaydan Heather has gone viral on TikTok multiple times, most notably from a video she made while at the Disney Hall of Presidents shouting at the Donald Trump...