Searching For Heroes With Benjamin Hall

"One day you're going to see it will be fine." - Mark Schonwetter In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, survivor Mark Schonwetter and his daughter Isabella Fiske join Benjamin to shed light on the importance of acceptance, resilience, and faith. Mark was a young child when the Nazis occupied Poland during World War II. He talks about fleeing his home to the Dębica Ghetto, surviving near starvatio...

 "You can't just take away someone's right, because you think it's something they can't do." - Hari Budha Magar World Record breaking mountaineer and Pride of Britain winner Hari Budha Magar shares his commitment to defy all odds and continue seeking adventure despite losing his legs in 2010 to an IED in Afghanistan whilst serving with the British Army’s Ghurkha regiment. Hari retells his journey...

"Resilience is something that is built." - Robert Paylor Motivational speaker and author of 'Paralyzed to Powerful', Robert Paylor, a former University of California, Berkeley rugby player, was paralyzed from the neck down during the 2017 National Championships. Instantaneously, an unforgettable day quickly became a pivotal moment in his life. Despite this life-altering injury, Robert has shown in...

"Life keeps moving, so grab that opportunity now." As 2026 kicks off, Benjamin is looking forward to the Lunar New Year as we begin the transition from the Year of the Snake to the Year of the Fire Horse. He explains why now is the time to let go of the past and to seize new opportunities. Benjamin discusses his New Year's resolutions and encourages everyone to make changes that support growth and...

“No matter how difficult your life is…you can find your way through.”  This year on Searching for Heroes, Benjamin connected with people who endured some of life's most difficult moments and yet displayed profound resilience and unshakeable hope. Benjamin also introduced different themes to the podcast, with vulnerable and beautiful conversations on solitude, forgiveness, and rebirth. After speaki...

The Ellen Maguire Foundation's Noel Maguire spends his days working as a pallbearer and nights working the overnight shift as an Upper East Side doorman in Manhattan. While juggling two jobs, Noel spends any free time he has caring for Manhattan's homeless. Noel discusses the incredible work of The Ellen Maguire Foundation, which he founded to honor his mother who was the inspiration behind his qu...

"People want something to believe in."   Vietnam War veteran, New York Times bestselling author, and founder of GoDaddy, Bob Parsons, shares his passion for helping veterans navigate the mental health challenges associated with transitioning to civilian life.  Despite nearly flunking out of high school, Bob enlisted in the Marines during the Vietnam War to serve his country. While abroad, he was s...

Why do some people run towards danger while others avoid it? Wisconsin Congressman Derrick Van Orden was driving to a memorial for the anniversary of his daughter's passing when he witnessed a horrific car crash. In an instant, he jumped into action, using his training as a Navy SEAL combat medic to save an 11-year-old boy's life. Congressman Van Orden recounts his experience on that pivotal day a...

While rock climbing in North Wales, Darren Edwards fell nearly 100 feet, paralyzing him from the chest down with a severe spinal cord injury. He credits his best friend’s quick thinking for saving his life on the day of the accident, when, in a split-second decision, his friend jumped after him. Darren shares his experience recovering from the accident, what it was like to lose a relationship clos...

When the militia group known as the "West Side Boys" held former Royal Irish Regiment soldier Ian Getty captive in the African jungles of Sierra Leone, he didn’t know if he'd make it through the night. Twenty-five years later, Ian visited the site where he was held hostage. Ian details the terrifying seventeen days in captivity and the moment the Special Air Service (SAS) came to his rescue.  He r...

When Shandra Woworuntu was 24 years old, she left her home country of Indonesia in hopes of finding a job and a better life in the United States. Once she arrived in America, she quickly realized the job she had applied for did not exist and she was thrust into the unimaginable. Shandra joins Benjamin to share her human trafficking survival story and her commitment to protecting and advocating on...

"Freedom, it's priceless." Eli Sharabi's life changed forever when he was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. After nearly 500 days in captivity, Eli was freed this past February, and he returned home to the heartbreaking reality that his wife and two daughters had been killed.  Almost nine months later, Eli shares his experience being held hostage, how he manages his grief, and...

'Saved' is really what happens when the tunnel finally widens and a hand reaches through the dark and grabs you.”  With his own life as a reference, Benjamin will explore a new theme: saved. Over the next few episodes, he will sit down with people who were pulled out from captivity and brought home, as well as the people who risk their lives to save people in these circumstances. Benjamin will dis...

“The scars of what I lost was proof of what I had gained.” In honor of the podcast’s 100th episode Benjamin reflects on impactful conversations and lessons he’s heard along the way. Benjamin’s journey is built on resilience, along with the stories and guests that are highlighted. Stories of accepting, adapting, and embracing moments in life that we couldn’t see coming and those that we did. He als...

Former NFL star and best-selling author Tim Green discusses his battle with progressive neurodegenerative disease (ALS) and how it transformed him not only physically but spiritually.  Despite no longer being able to speak, Tim continues to write, work, and communicate using an AI-generated voice and eye-tracking. He shares how his diagnosis reframed his values and purpose, while strengthening his...

What if you woke up and lost 20 years of memories, and had no recollection of your husband and child? In 1991, that nightmare became a reality for Anne Howell. Author of All That I Forget Anne Howell retells the journey of rebuilding her life after being diagnosed with retrograde amnesia at 30 years old and waking up in the hospital with the belief that she was 9 years old again.    Anne details t...

Host of The Connectors Podcast Quinten Sheriff was raised in a sheltered environment in Zimbabwe. At a young age, he was given parameters for how and who he should be, until one day he decided he was ready to take ownership of his life and run away with his partner to live in his truth as a gay man in Southern Africa. What Quinten believed to be a desire to escape was ultimately a commitment to ex...

There's no set instruction manual for rebuilding your life, but the first step is simply, just to start. Following several impactful conversations on the topics of rebirth and new beginnings, Benjamin reflects on what it means in his own life. After being severely injured in Ukraine and returning home, Benjamin's outlook on family, purpose, and resilience was reframed. He was allowed to re-experie...

"If God didn't have a different plan and purpose for my life, I don't think I would be here today." Author, speaker, and former Colombo Family Caporegime Michael Franzese details his experience with the mob and the epiphany that ultimately led him to turn a new chapter and step away from his life of crime. Years later, Michael's life is dedicated to helping young people, who become entranced by th...

"It turned into this dark thing where I was using my pain as a party favor." In 2018, Aaron Stark's story of rebirth captivated the nation when his TED Talk entitled "I Was Almost A School Shooter" went viral.  Aaron details how his traumatic childhood introduced him to a life of self-destruction and low self-esteem. He joins Ben to share how the unconditional kindness of a friend ultimately gave...

Although not everyone experiences trauma that drives significant change, many people undergo transformations and choose to redirect their lives for a new purpose. Ben describes the courage it takes to go through a rebirth and how inspiring these stories are to people who desire a new lease on life.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Award-winning journalist and the founder of 'The Forgiveness Project,' Marina Cantacuzino, explains the inspiration behind her passion project, 'The Forgiveness Project.'  She shares stories of forgiveness and how her research deepened her understanding of the topic.  Marina examines the nature of forgiveness, providing examples of individuals who have experienced tragedies and how they've navigat...

On December 14, 2012, Scarlett Lewis experienced a life-altering pain when she, along with the world, discovered that her 6-year-old son Jesse, 19 of his classmates, and 6 educators had been killed in a school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school.  The morning of his murder, Jesse left three words, "Norturing Helinn Love" behind on the kitchen chalkboard, as a permanent reminder of his incredi...

Does our society require us to forgive?  Author of "You Don't Need To Forgive," Amanda Ann Gregory, ponders whether it is a dire necessity.  As a trauma survivor, Amanda understands what it is like to struggle with the idea of forgiveness, and now as a licensed trauma psychotherapist, she helps others conquer the subject. She describes the importance of feeling all the emotions following a trauma,...

"There are victims at both ends of the gun," was Azim Khamisa's response when asked how he was able to forgive and build a relationship with his son's killer. After the gang-related murder of his son Tariq in 1995, Azim grappled with the concept of forgiveness, leaning on his faith and family to help him heal. He shares his story of forgiveness and the steps he believes people can follow on their...