Ben's Birthday Episode

Ben's Birthday Episode

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben celebrates his birthday, Pride Month, and something he’s never officially done before… coming out. In this deeply personal solo episode, Ben officially shares publicly that he’s gay and opens up about the journey it took to get there. From growing up in a small town, being bullied in high school, and struggling with self-acceptance, to finally learning how to fully love himself, this is one of the most vulnerable episodes yet. Ben talks about the importance of Pride Month, why LGBTQ+ visibility still matters, and the pressure so many people feel to hide who they are. He also opens up about family dynamics, internalized fear, dating closeted men, and the process of finally becoming comfortable enough to live authentically. The episode also features the return of AJ for a hilarious and heartfelt aftershow conversation about coming out stories, relationships, pool party chaos, Fireball disasters, and why gay people truly do throw the best parties. This episode is funny, emotional, chaotic, honest, and a reminder that everyone deserves to be loved exactly as they are. In this episode: * Ben officially comes out publicly for the first time   * Why Pride Month still matters   * Growing up gay in a small town   * Bullying, self-acceptance, and learning to love himself   * Family struggles and fear around coming out   * The reality of dating closeted men   * AJ shares his own coming out story   * Wild birthday pool party stories and Fireball chaos   * Why everyone deserves to live authentically   🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by photographer and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell. 📍 Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts 🔗 Connect with Ben: Instagram: @itsbenaweek [https://www.instagram.com/itsbenaweek/] TikTok: @itsbenaweek Website: itsbenaweek.com [https://itsbenaweek.com] 💬 Want to be on the show? Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com [https://itsbenaweek.com]

Ben Leaving Everything Behind (ft. Ruby)

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by his longtime friend Ruby for a chaotic, emotional, and unexpectedly inspiring conversation about moving across the world, starting over, heartbreak, and learning to embrace discomfort.   After spending the last two years living in London, Ruby is officially back in Texas — fresh off a breakup, a cross-country move, and a completely uncertain future. The two reflect on how much has changed since they first recorded a “practice episode” together years ago that never aired.   Ben and Ruby dive into: * moving to new cities without knowing anyone * leaving behind horses, careers, relationships, and comfort zones * the emotional reality of living abroad * breakups that ultimately changed their lives for the better * why travel changes your entire perspective on life * and how sometimes the scariest decisions become the most rewarding ones They also spiral into hilarious conversations about: * the new “rat virus” panic * conspiracy theories * pandemic flashbacks * economy flight trauma * Australians vs. Americans * Facebook pub crawls in London * pirate ship party boats in Turkey * and why Texans treated COVID VERY differently than Los Angeles.   The episode also explores the pressure people feel to stay in their hometowns, fear of failure, and why taking risks can completely reshape your life. This episode is funny, honest, emotional, chaotic, and a reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do is book the flight and figure the rest out later. 🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by photographer and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell. 📍 Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts 🔗 Connect with Ben: Instagram: @itsbenaweek [https://www.instagram.com/itsbenaweek/] TikTok: @itsbenaweek Website: itsbenaweek.com [https://itsbenaweek.com] 💬 Want to be on the show? Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com [https://itsbenaweek.com]

The Most Personal Thing I’ve Ever Ben Part Of

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben does something completely different. For the first time ever, Ben is sharing the audio/video from "I",  a documentary he created nearly 10 years ago while living in Los Angeles. The film premiered at the Twin Cities Film Festival with three sold out screenings and became one of the most meaningful projects he’s ever worked on.   The documentary explores identity, trauma, addiction, grief, self-love, religion, sexuality, mental health, and survival through deeply personal interviews with people from all different walks of life. The unique concept behind the project? Throughout the interviews, viewers only see the subjects’ eyes — highlighting raw emotion, vulnerability, and humanity before finally revealing the full person behind each story.   This emotional and powerful episode features stories about: * addiction and recovery * suicide and grief * being transgender * drag and identity * losing children * body image struggles * family abandonment * religion and faith * surviving trauma * self acceptance * resilience and healing Ben also reflects on creating the documentary while living in LA, why the project mattered so much to him, and how revisiting it 10 years later still impacts him today.   If you are listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube, you can now watch the full documentary thanks to new video podcast support.   This episode is emotional, inspiring, heartbreaking, hopeful, and a reminder that every single person is carrying a story you may never fully see on the surface. In this episode: * Ben shares his documentary I for the first time on the podcast   * The emotional concept behind filming only people’s eyes   * Stories of addiction, overdose, and recovery   * Conversations about being transgender and drag identity   * Losing children, suicide, grief, and resilience   * Body image struggles and self acceptance   * Why trauma can sometimes lead to purpose and healing   * The message that everyone deserves compassion and understanding   This episode contains discussions of suicide, addiction, overdose, grief, mental health struggles, and trauma that may be difficult for some listeners. Please listen with care and prioritize your well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7. 🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by photographer and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell. 📍 Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts 🔗 Connect with Ben: Instagram: @itsbenaweek [https://www.instagram.com/itsbenaweek/] TikTok: @itsbenaweek Website: itsbenaweek.com [https://itsbenaweek.com] 💬 Want to be on the show? Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com [https://itsbenaweek.com]

She's Ben Kidnapped While Pregnant (ft. Jen Kirk)

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with his friend Jen Kirk for an emotional and eye-opening Mother’s Day episode unlike any other. At just 16 years old, Jen became pregnant and made the heartbreaking decision to place her son up for adoption. But this isn’t just a story about adoption — it’s a story about survival, sacrifice, family, trauma, and what motherhood can really look like.   Jen opens up about navigating an open adoption in the late 1980s, choosing her son’s adoptive parents herself, and the emotional reality of watching him grow up from a distance through letters and photographs.   The conversation takes a shocking turn when Jen reveals that during her pregnancy, she was allegedly hidden away in a remote cabin after her stepmother attempted to take the baby for herself — leading to a terrifying situation involving private investigators, police, and a dramatic rescue coordinated by her mother.   Ben and Jen also discuss: * the emotional side of adoption that nobody talks about * abortion, choice, and societal judgment * reconnecting with her son 25 years later * blended families and healing * the lifelong emotional impact of adoption * why there’s little support for birth mothers * and how everything eventually came full circle Now, nearly 40 years later, Jen has a close relationship with her biological son, his children, and his adoptive family — proving that families can take many different forms.   This episode is emotional, shocking, heartbreaking, healing, and a powerful reminder that motherhood is never one-size-fits-all. 🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by photographer and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell. 📍 Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts 🔗 Connect with Ben: Instagram: @itsbenaweek [https://www.instagram.com/itsbenaweek/] TikTok: @itsbenaweek Website: itsbenaweek.com [https://itsbenaweek.com] 💬 Want to be on the show? Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com [https://itsbenaweek.com]

The Teacher Who Believed in Ben (ft. Brenda Ramin)

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with someone who changed his life — his ninth grade science teacher, Brenda Ramin. From getting kicked out of Catholic school to convincing a teacher to secretly take him to California, this episode is full of wild stories, chaos, and the kind of support that can change everything. Ben and Brenda reflect on their 20+ year relationship, the infamous Hollywood trip that changed everything, and what it was like being “that kid” in high school who didn’t quite fit the mold. They dive into sneaking into gated communities, getting chickenpox during a headshot trip, pushing back on authority, and how one teacher saw something in Ben that others didn’t. This episode is hilarious, nostalgic, and a reminder that sometimes all it takes is one person believing in you to completely change your path. In this episode: * Getting kicked out of Catholic school and transitioning to public school   * The teacher who actually understood Ben   * The secret California trip that could’ve gotten her fired   * Sneaking into a gated Malibu neighborhood to find The OC house   * Getting chickenpox in LA during headshot week   * High school rebellion, authority issues, and being “that kid”   * Doing the Single Ladies dance at prom   * Why one supportive teacher can change everything   🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by photographer and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell. 📍 Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts 🔗 Connect with Ben: Instagram: @itsbenaweek [https://www.instagram.com/itsbenaweek/] TikTok: @itsbenaweek Website: itsbenaweek.com [https://itsbenaweek.com] 💬 Want to be on the show? Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com [https://itsbenaweek.com]