The Shift: A Podcast With Ben Brown

How much of your life has been shaped by trying to earn someone else's approval? In this episode of The Shift , I sit down with my good friend, actor Will Catlett, for one of the most honest conversations we've had about confidence, purpose, self-worth, and what it really means to become the person you're meant to be. We talk about why confidence isn't something you're born with, why boundaries ar...

What if the reason you feel stuck has less to do with your circumstances and more to do with what you're unwilling to sit with? In this episode of The Shift , I sit down with my childhood friend Rich Torrisi, chef and co-founder of Major Food Group, for a conversation about curiosity, discomfort, faith, and the unseen forces that shape our lives. We talk about what happens when you stop looking fo...

At some point, we all have to get honest with ourselves. We have to look at what's holding us back and ask: Is this still serving me, or is it keeping me stuck? In this episode of The Shift, I'm talking about what it really takes to put down the habits, addictions, and behaviors that no longer align with the life we want to live. Whether it's substances, social media, unhealthy relationships, or a...

In this episode of The Shift, I sit down with Dr. Morgan Anderson for an eye-opening conversation about attachment styles, childhood wounds, authenticity, and the hidden patterns that shape our relationships. We explore why so many of us find ourselves repeating the same relationship dynamics over and over again, even when we desperately want something different. Dr. Anderson explains how our earl...

In this episode of The Shift, I sit down with anonymous author and recovery advocate Justin Bridges for a powerful conversation about addiction, sexual sobriety, emotional healing, and the journey of becoming whole. Justin shares how growing up in a chaotic family system shaped his relationship with addiction, identity, masculinity, and self-worth. After getting sober at just 17 years old, he bega...

In this solo episode of The Shift, I talk about the process of unlearning. Not learning more. Not becoming someone new. Unlearning the versions of ourselves we became attached to long ago. I reflect on the identities I carried for years, the need for validation, the patterns I brought into relationships, and the ways I kept trying to escape myself through distractions, addiction, and external appr...

In this episode of The Shift, I sit down with Dr. David Forbes for one of the most impactful conversations I’ve had on the podcast so far. We talk about trauma, emotional release work, childhood wounds, therapy, emotional safety, and what it actually means to heal instead of just cope. Dr. Forbes shares a perspective on trauma that completely changed the way I think about emotional pain. That trau...

In this episode, I sit down with sex therapist, Amanda Adili to talk about addiction, healing, spirituality, and what it actually means to be true to yourself. Amanda shares her journey through addiction and recovery, and the deeper emotional work that began after getting sober. We talk about the tools that helped her reconnect with herself in a real way. Therapy. Two way prayer. Learning how to s...

In this episode, I sit down with Dane to talk about what it actually looks like to change your life. Not just saying you want to be different… but doing the work to become different. Dane shares his journey through sobriety and what he’s learned about replacing old patterns with something better. We talk about the idea that you can’t just remove the things that aren’t serving you, you have to give...

Do you have a difficult relationship with a parent? In this deeply personal episode of The Shift, I share my journey with my father—how his struggles with mental health and multiple suicide attempts shaped my life. I realized that a lot of my acting out through sex, substances, and risk was a way to cope with a pain I couldn’t fully name at the time. But this episode isn’t just about me; it’s abou...

In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with my dear friend Hal Strickland, a grateful 67-year-old from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, whose gratitude and spiritual wisdom have helped shaped my life. Hal, a profoundly optimistic man, shares his insights on forgiveness, faith, and the transformative power of letting go of resentment. There’s no single topic here—just a heartfelt conversation that will l...

In this episode, I talk about a time when I used to watch porn regularly as a way to check out. Then something changed. Right after finishing, I had to turn it off right away. Then I saw a guy on Instagram who had meditated for 83 days straight, and something about that inspired me. I never thought about meditation before, but suddenly I was doing it. As I practiced, I noticed how often I got phys...

What are you really thirsty for? In this episode, I sat down with Alex Qin, writer and director of “Thirsty Girl”, a film about a female sex addict.  Alex was haunted by her own childhood. She was scared of her mom and yearned for her dad. So, as a child, she dreamed about other men coming to save her.  But once she started drinking, she got the courage to start turning these fantasies into realit...

In this episode, I ask you a vital question: whose limits are you living by? I share a moment in a spin class when I pushed past what I thought was my max—and it made me question every limit I’d ever set. I reflect on growing up with ADHD, feeling othered, and molding a persona for external validation.  Now, seven years sober, I’m unlearning those patterns—and I invite you to do the same. It’s not...

In this first episode of The Shift, we confront the brutal truth: our addiction isn’t the real problem—it’s the fear we refuse to face. You’re not simply battling a habit; you’re running from your fears. And when that escape turns painful, you have a choice: keep running or face it all head-on. You can stop the cycle by entering into a relationship with yourself in a whole new way—and finally beco...