What Ben Didn't Know...

In An Old Train , Ben has built his whole day around a single photograph. Big Boy 4014, a massive, restored steam locomotive, is scheduled to thunder past his town. Ben has done everything right: He scouted a ridge above the tracks, hauled his gear through the trees, and checked the timetable again and again. Ben is determined to be in the perfect place at the perfect moment. But while Ben is focu...

In this episode, Ben and Amy are headed into Chicago for their anniversary dinner. Ben just wants a smooth ride, a good steak, and as little small talk as possible. Amy is wondering what kind of driver they'll get. And Santiago, their driver from a small village in Chile, is quietly carrying a dream. Over the course of one car ride, a routine trip into the city turns into a long, winding conversat...

In this episode of What Ben Didn't Know... On Fat Tuesday, or for Ben, Paczki Day, he is as giddy as a kid, dragging his sleepy wife Amy out of bed for a run to The Garden Bakery and its variety of Polish donuts. While Ben obsesses over flavors, childhood memories, and the eternal mistake of trying the rose paczki "just one more time," Amy mostly humors his ritual, enjoying how something as simple...

In this episode of What Ben Didn't Know... Ben's commute to his downtown office takes an unexpected turn. After a tense train ride, he's forced to use a ride-sharing service due to unexpected rain and a forgotten umbrella. His driver, Richard, proves to be more than Ben bargained for, filling the journey with uncomfortable conversation and a few close calls on the road. "The Driver" explores the s...

In this episode of What Ben Didn't Know... As summer fades into autumn's gray embrace, Ben discovers a new sanctuary for his lunch breaks: a cozy local coffee shop. But today, he's running late. Miranda, a college student, finds herself at the same café earlier than usual, seeking a break from her studies. When an unexpected delay in Ben's order leads to a simple act of kindness, it sets off a cha...

Welcome to the inaugural podcast of What Ben Didn't Know..., a series of short stories about a man named Ben. Ben meets people. He doesn't know things. In this short story, Ben feels the need to get out of the workplace during his lunch break, and when the weather is nice, he likes to take a walk in a nearby park. As fate would have it, on this day, Laura, who lives near the park, decides to go fo...