The Ben Stortini Show

This episode jumps back to 1989–1990 , right around the time my parents divorced. My Dad moved into Sault Ste. Marie , while we stayed on St. Joseph Island at my Grandpa’s — my Dad’s Dad — which tells you everything you need to know about the kind of heart he had. RIP Grandpa. He had the old house next to his rebuilt place ready for us, and when I think about that house now the memories come flood...

Four grown men. One bone fide conversation. Max P returns to the show with some big personal news he shares here first. Joining the ride are Slang Hugh and Sir Toks from the podcast Darkness with a Ginger Hue . We talk about the pressure surrounding marriage — family expectations, cultural influence, media conditioning, and why so many people feel pushed toward the “industry standard” of life. Fou...

In this episode of, I salute my Dutch side and remember my incredible Oma and Opa , two people I miss deeply. I share a few stories from World War II when they were still in Holland , including the time my Oma refused to let a German soldier take her music away . My Oma also believed she could see spirits and ghosts , and I recount a few of the stories that still give me chills today. I also talk...

Episode 50. And we celebrate it the right way — with a brother. The Iron Drini — Adam Alessandrini — joins me from Sault Ste. Marie for round two, and this one goes deep. He opens up about the highs and lows… gambling, addiction, hospital visits, losing it all, near-death moments — and the real comeback that followed. A true get-back story. Adam, thank you for the honesty. Nothing but respect. We...

Before Wi-Fi. Before followers. We jump back to the 90s — no internet, no social media, no cell phones… just cords down the hallway and the freedom of being unreachable. Unintentional cool. Grunge. Plaid shirts. Dad’s pants. Thrift-store finds. Copying someone was lame — being original was everything. The summer of ’98 — the music, the nights, the invincibility. I lost my… you’ll hear it. It was a...

Addiction doesn’t always look dark — sometimes it looks like a party. In this raw episode, I share my family history with alcoholism, how close I came to that edge, and why nearly seven years of sobriety means everything to me. From my YTV days crashing a corporate Christmas party as a “Party Shark,” to musical time warps with Massive Attack, a stop in Cardiff, and some Dancing Outlaw Jesco White...

In this episode, I share a moment during COVID when something inside me shifted. Through breathwork and meditation, I had a spiritual experience that’s hard to explain — but I try. I also talk about what aging feels like for me now, plus a dive into the history of Orange Sunshine during the revolution of the 60s, and a surreal story about a borrowed flute in a 1968 studio session tied to Donovan....

Sometimes growing up means outgrowing people. In this episode, I talk about the tough decision to cut off a friend who crossed the line — something I still reflect on, but know I had to do. I briefly touch on what’s happening in America, then lighten the mood with funny old-people moments, reggaeton, college vibes, and the usual real-life randomness. Life, boundaries, laughs, and music — just us f...

Me Time is essential. In this episode, I explore why disappearing into something you love is necessary for the mind, body, and soul. I reflect on my dad getting lost in his guitar, a North Bay neighbor who unknowingly decoded the meaning of Me Time, and how those moments stuck with me. I also share my recent MRI results and the new goals I’m setting moving forward. A reminder that floating away is...

In this episode, I dig into the archives — from being an absolute menace of a nephew at my grandpa’s house on the island with Uncle Danny, to the time I almost fought the rapper K-os. Add in my lifelong love affair with Windex and a whole lot more in between. It’s nostalgia, chaos, laughter, and a few life lessons along the way… plus a reminder to always stay clean — inside and out. Catch new epis...

This episode is about Missing — That feeling we all carry that something in life is missing, and the moment we begin to understand what we truly need. From a St. Joseph Island missing person mystery worthy of Netflix to the ridiculous lengths I once went just to get BET Rap City without cable , this episode moves through the memories and moments that quietly shape us. So....don't "Miss&#34...

At 45, I’ve graduated to Fine Italian Velour. After years of the relentless grind—parenting, fitness, and career—I realized I was missing one goal: Leisure. This episode isn't just about a tracksuit; it’s a metaphor for a new way of moving. I’m implementing the “Aura of Velour” into my daily life—choosing presence and ease over constant friction. Join me as I reflect on the defining moments of...

AI is moving fast—with little regulation and real consequences. In this episode, I break down why the business of AI is spiraling, why waiting isn’t an option, and how everyday humans still have a voice. As the world speeds up, this is a reminder not to lose your memories, your thinking, or who you are. I also share a health update, my goals heading into 2026, set the mood with perfect holiday wis...

This episode is all about hard work — the real kind. The sweaty, callused, “no screens, maybe a little blood on your sleeve” jobs that shape you when you’re young. From washing dishes in an Italian restaurant run by a wild owner to lying above bowling pins with no AC, these tough jobs don’t hurt the soul — they build it.. Tap in for Hard Work | Ep #40 and let’s go back to the jobs that made us who...

This episode might just freeze time . I revisit the day I ate one too many avocado chocolate balls… not knowing they were loaded with something extra . What followed was a blinding white light and hours where time didn’t feel real. I also dive into addiction , how I quit smoking, and how I learned to control my addictive personality for good. Pause your timeline and tap in — you might’ve already h...

We all hit crossroads — moments we need to destroy and rebuild. Right before COVID I tore my bicep, and it wasn’t just surgery and physio… it was a full mind, body, and soul reset. To this day, my life still feels divided into chapters: before my lady, before my kids, and before the torn bicep . We are now in the after. Catch new episodes of The Ben Stortini Show every Friday—hope you'll join...

Max P is back! We’re diving deep into the world of conspiracies and the brain rot taking over parts of society. Old-school social skills are fading while focus blurs. Time to wake up and see reality. Catch new episodes of The Ben Stortini Show every Friday—hope you'll join the journey! Contact Ben: Feedback: ben.stortini@gmail.com Podcast links below: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/172...

A train in India. A hole in the floor. One question — what you gonna do? A wild, real reminder to laugh, stay humble, and be grateful just to be alive. Catch new episodes of The Ben Stortini Show every Friday—hope you'll join the journey! Contact Ben: Feedback: ben.stortini@gmail.com Podcast links below: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/172DaMj6RI8TQCHiAxVCmh?si=2c3b3c1a976e4608 Apple Po...

This episode is all about Motivation. I’m joined by one of the most positive, upbeat, and inspiring people I know — the legend himself, Ryan Decoste . Originally from the booger-freezing winters of North Bay , Ryan now calls the Toronto area home and brings the kind of energy that’ll light a fire under you. If you’ve been needing a boost, this one’s for you. Tune in and get inspired. Catch new epi...

This episode is a reunion of sorts — I get to sit down and chop it up with one of my oldest friends from the Island, Dave Chapman. Nothing more needs to be said. Just good vibes, real stories, and a lot of laughs, love ya bud. Catch new episodes of The Ben Stortini Show every Friday—hope you'll join the journey! Contact Ben: Feedback: ben.stortini@gmail.com Podcast links below: Spotify: https:...

This episode is all about Sports — simple as that. I grew up playing them all and loved every minute. But taking my 3-year-old son to his first basketball camp? That feeling was unreal. Almost impossible to describe… but nothing is truly impossible. Stelo you are next. Catch new episodes of The Ben Stortini Show every Friday—hope you'll join the journey! Contact Ben: Feedback: ben.stortini@gma...

After watching the Blue Jays smack the Yankees in New York and seeing the boys celebrate in pure joy, I couldn’t help but think back to times in my own life when partying and pure joy collided. Those wild, unforgettable moments that remind you what it means to really live. Catch new episodes of The Ben Stortini Show every Friday—hope you'll join the journey! Contact Ben: Feedback: ben.stortini...

With the Blue Jays winning their first division in a decade, my love for baseball returns along with a rare fond memory of chasing Rickey Henderson cards with my Dad. Let's also go back to summer camp—where eating all the cantaloupe brought on some early kid stress. Catch new episodes of The Ben Stortini Show every Friday—hope you'll join the journey! Contact Ben: Feedback: ben.stortini@gm...

This episode dives through the portal back to a time before AI could make music and art. Ben and Slang Hugh reflect on the past, look to the future, and remind us that the soundtrack of the heart is always felt—not prompted. Find Slang Hugh everywhere - @slanghugh Catch new episodes of The Ben Stortini Show every Friday—hope you'll join the journey! Contact Ben: Feedback: ben.stortini@gmail.co...

When I came back from the U.K., I had nothing but broke lint in my pockets and a few memories to hold on to. After landing my job back, I needed a place to stay—and that’s when my old friend JJ came through for me. Those years living together turned into some of the most unforgettable and fun times of my life. In this episode, I look back on the laughs, the lessons, and the bond of true friendship...