She’s the only person Ben trusts to poke his face with needles—and for good reason. In this episode, Ben is joined by Beverly Hills-based nurse practitioner and aesthetic guru Laura Fischer for an honest, hilariously relatable, and incredibly informative deep dive into all things skincare, Botox, filler, and the myths surrounding aesthetic treatments.

From what age you should actually start Botox, to the difference between “filler face” and tasteful enhancement, Laura spills all the tea. Ben also shares his own skincare addiction cycles, and why Ben refuses to attend a Botox party in someone’s kitchen. Plus, listeners get an exclusive $100 off referral deal for Laura’s office—because flawless skin should come with perks.

In this episode:

• Ben opens up about his skincare obsession (and neglect)
• Laura breaks down the truth behind Botox, Dysport, Daxxify, and more
• How injectables really work—spoiler: it’s not a magic eraser
• The difference between “aging naturally” and “aging wisely”
• Filler horror stories, med spa red flags, and the Botox party nobody should attend
• How skincare, lasers, and retinol work together for long-term results
• Laura’s gentle (but firm) approach to client safety, confidence, and not overdoing it
• Listener discount alert: Mention Ben and get $100 off your first visit with Laura

Book with Laura via her Instagram bio or Click here!

$100 OFF for new patients—just mention “It's Ben a Week Podcast” at your appointment

🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by actor, photographer, and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.

📍 Listen & Subscribe:
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🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
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Website: itsbenaweek.com

💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com

This week on It’s Ben A Week, we’re trying something new — and maybe a little futuristic. First, Ben kicks things off with some classic rage and chaos: a Starbucks, a Male Truck Drivers, and a bar fight with a cowboy bigot that ends with a bloody vape pen to the face.

Then things take a turn… because our guest this week is not a celebrity, influencer, or mom — it’s ChatGPT.

Yes, Ben interviews artificial intelligence — the app that’s changing the world. 

ChatGPT and Ben get into it:

• What AI actually is — and why it isn’t just for tech bros
• Why Ben stopped using Google and now just asks “his girl” ChatGPT everything
• Whether AI is making us lazy… or unlocking our genius
• Will robots take over? Or are they just here to help us write better captions?
• The dark side: privacy, regulation, ethics, and whether AI will kill our jobs
• Ben confesses he’s formed an emotional bond with his AI voice. It’s not weird. It’s 2025.

The episode wraps with a reverse interview, where ChatGPT asks Ben about:

• His acting career, including Class Act with Eric Roberts
• Why he started this podcast
• His photography business in Dallas
• Barrel racing, spin class, and being obsessed with coral
• Advice to his younger self: Don’t listen to people who gave up on their own dreams

🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by actor, photographer, and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.

📍 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts

🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
TikTok: @itsbenaweek
Website: itsbenaweek.com

💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with Urzila Carlson — global comedy powerhouse, Taskmaster trauma survivor, and certified expert in both sarcasm and swearing.

Originally from South Africa, now based in New Zealand, Urzila has taken the comedy world by storm with her Netflix specials, unfiltered stand-up, and razor-sharp takes on everything from LGBTQIA+ to not ending up porn. She’s a scene stealer in her new movie Kinda Pregnant, but first — we need Ben to get the name right! 

The episode opens with a full breakdown of:

• Ben’s latest FedEx meltdown while trying to ship coral for his reef tank
• The broken customer service loop that left him yelling at a robot

Then Urzila joins and they dive into:

• Her journey from South Africa to Texas to Auckland
• Swearing in comedy, why the word “cunt” shouldn’t offend you
• The time she broke her collarbone on Taskmaster 
• Why airports are built to enrage you (and why pre-boarding should be illegal)
• What it's like shooting Kinda Pregnant with Amy Schumer
• Why lesbians might have it easier than gay men in public
• How comedy handles swearing, slurs, and cancel culture — and what it gets wrong
• Parenting while touring, and being confused for Ursula the Sea Witch

🔗 Follow Urzila Carlson:
Website: www.urzilacarlson.com
TikTok: @urzilacarlson
Instagram: @urzilacarlson
Netflix Special: Overqualified Loser on Netflix
New Movie: Kinda Pregnant 

🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by actor, photographer, and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.

📍 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts

🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
TikTok: @itsbenaweek
Website: itsbenaweek.com

💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com

This week on It’s Ben A Week, It's all about Montauk, Manhattan, and the Cowboy Carter tour. What was supposed to be a chill summer getaway turned into a full-throttle saga featuring a Real Housewives, a bar showdown, a fake diarrhea excuse to Delta, and me almost getting decked by a guy a local fisherman.

In this episode, I cover:

•  A returned Christmas card from someone who ghosted me… and blocked me
•  Getting kicked out of a dive bar by a bartender dressed like Pippi Longstocking
• Almost getting punched by locals 
•  Dinner with Real Housewives in NYC 
•  And how I got AJ to fake a medical emergency so we could rebook our flight to Atlanta and finally see Beyoncé

If you’ve ever faked a medical condition to see your idol, got kicked out of a bar on vacation, or spent thousands on concert tickets — this one’s for you.

🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by actor, photographer, and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.

📍 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts

🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
TikTok: @itsbenaweek
Website: itsbenaweek.com

💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com

This week, Ben sits down with his SoulCycle instructor and longtime friend, David Zint — master instructor, motivational powerhouse, and unofficial therapist. After clocking over 750 hours of riding with David, Ben gets deep about how SoulCycle helped him through breakups, grief, and the chaos of acting life — and why it was never about burning calories.

But before we spin into the deep stuff, Ben shares his extremely unpatriotic feelings about the Fourth of July, why he’s ready to cancel kids at the gym, how fireworks nearly ruined a friendship (and his barn), and the latest Beyoncé ticket meltdown that tested his burnt toast theory and his blood pressure.

From spin-room therapy to Ozempic mood swings to tear-filled podium rides — this episode is full of breakthroughs, beefs, and Beyoncé.

Before we clip in, I vent about:

•  My moody 4th of July weekend
•  Kids ruining my F45 class with gaming laptops 
•  Fireworks-induced barn trauma
•  And my latest Beyoncé ticket saga — because of course something went wrong

Then David and I dive deep into:

•  How SoulCycle became therapy on a bike Crying mid-class, and the power of collective healing through movement
•  His journey from personal trainer to top LA instructor
•  How movement, motivation, and music connect people in ways talk therapy sometimes can’t
•  Ozempic mood swings, gym pet peeves, and SoulCycle do’s and don’ts
•  Why “Yes Yes” might be the most powerful phrase you’ll hear today

Whether you're a SoulCycle addict, a movement skeptic, or just emotionally backed up — this episode moves you.

Book a class with David Zint in LA: soul-cycle.com
Follow David: @spinvillain

🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by actor, photographer, and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.

📍 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts

🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
TikTok: @itsbenaweek
Website: itsbenaweek.com

💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com

This week on It’s Ben A Week, it’s just me — and the wildest work week I’ve ever had.

I booked a national commercial that had me on a flight to the Dominican Republic in 12 hours. Problem is… it was the same weekend as my friend’s funeral and the Beyoncé concert I’d been planning to go to for months.

Here’s what went down:

•  I booked a national commercial shooting in the Dominican Republic
•  I had to cancel Beyoncé and miss my friend’s funeral
•  My passport got accidentally handed to a stranger in a busted Honda Civic
•  A horse fell on top of me mid-scene on the beach
•  I went three full days without eating because the food was… not food
• It was hell-hot (as in, Satan’s ass was hovering directly overhead)
•  The commercial turned out amazing, and I’m so grateful I got to do it

By the end of the trip, I was sore, starving, and exhausted — but also totally in awe. I’ve worked my ass off to be a full-time actor, and this job reminded me that the chaos is worth it.

🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by actor, photographer, and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.

📍 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts

🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
TikTok: @itsbenaweek
Website: itsbenaweek.com

💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com

This week on It’s Ben A Week, I’m kicking things off with a story that made me question everything: a friend ghosted me in the middle of planning an episode… after confirming, bullet pointing, and saying “love you.” I went full Nancy Drew, messaged her mom, and basically spiraled into a wellness check meltdown.

If you’ve ever been stood up, blocked, or left wondering “am I crazy or is this sociopathic?” — same.

But then — the episode redeems itself — because I’m joined by one of my all-time favorite humans and mentors: Stephanie Girard, LA’s number one headshot photographer (and my friend since 2014) and the woman behind all of It’s Ben A Week's iconic branding photos.

In this episode, we talk about:

•  The emotional labor of being a headshot photographer
•  Why photographers should be part therapist, hype person, and lighting wizard
•  Her creative journey from NYC rooftop shoots to the top of the industry in LA
•  How she became the best — with no marketing, just word of mouth and undeniable talent
•  Her take on AI headshots and why photography is still deeply human
•  Our shared obsession with chickens (including a chicken picnic table and coop fashion)
•  Why mentorship matters, how she helped me start my own photography biz, and the impact of creative generosity

We also get into mentorship, creative growth, and why the best artists are the ones who give back.

Check out Stephanie’s work:  https://www.stephgirardheadshots.com
Get Headshots training at: https://www.headshotxperience.com

🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by actor, photographer, and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.

📍 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts

🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
TikTok: @itsbenaweek
Website: itsbenaweek.com

💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com

This week on It’s Ben A Week, I’m kicking things off with some real talk. We just lost a dear friend — Danny — to cancer, and my heart goes out to his husband Blaine and everyone in our crew who’s hurting. Life hit hard this week, but so did the laughs, the chaos, and the cocktails… because grief doesn’t come in a straight line.

We flew to LA for the week and let me tell you — travel was a disaster, AJ caught Labubu fever, I got bullied by a flight attendant with power trip energy, and Disneyland was amazing as we skipped every line with private tour guides.

Then, I’m joined by Barbara, a TV producer who's worked on:

• The Kardashians (where she's currently an executive producer)
• Vanderpump Rules
• Million Dollar Listing
• Southern Charm
• Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and more

We talk all things behind the camera:

•  What it’s really like working with the Kardashians
•  Which Housewives are just as chaotic IRL
•  How Heather Gay’s infamous black eye shook production
•  The secrets of casting, filming, and producing iconic reality moments
• How she made the leap from NBC page to Bravo boss And yes… what makes someone Housewife material

We also touch on AJ’s unholy obsession with Labubu dolls, Bravo cult energy, and why Ultimate Girls Trip: Ranch Edition is now my pitch to Bravo.

🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by actor, photographer, and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.

📍 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts

🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
TikTok: @itsbenaweek
Website: itsbenaweek.com

💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com

This week on It’s Ben A Week, I talk about why children don’t belong at the gym, why iPad babies are ruining customer service, and how I ended up almost cheering when a dumbbell landed on a toddler (he’s fine… allegedly).

Then I head back to LA for my best friend’s insane baby shower, and I reflect on how Pride Month is being erased by the government — including renaming the Navy ship named after Harvey Milk and quietly stripping trans names from the Stonewall monument. Not okay.

Then I sit down with Gilly Adams — actor, director, and professional clown — to talk about his incredible new documentary American Clown. We go deep on:

• 🤡 Clown stereotypes, from Pennywise to rodeo clowns
• 🎥 His work with John C. Reilly, David Arquette, and Steve-O
• 🩺 The overlooked good clowns have done — in hospitals, schools, and beyond
• 💔 Cancel culture, fear culture, and how wholesome things get rejected
• 🎭 What it really means to “put on the nose” and stay connected to your imagination as an adult
• 🧢 Why not everyone who wears clown makeup is actually a clown

Whether you love clowns, fear them, or haven’t seen one since your sixth birthday party — this episode might just change how you see them.

AMERICAN CLOWN
Premieres: MON, JUN 23 @ 7PM

https://danceswithfilms.ticketspice.com/dwf28-american-clown

🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by actor, photographer, and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.

📍 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts

🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
TikTok: @itsbenaweek
Website: itsbenaweek.com

💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com

This week on It’s Ben A Week, it’s my birthday… and I’m officially coming out — right here on the podcast. Surprise! I’m gay. 🌈 (Okay, not that shocking)

I’m turning 33, and this episode is a full reflection on self-love, Pride Month, and the journey of getting comfortable in your own skin. I talk about growing up closeted, internalized shame, high school bullies, my terrifying coming-out moment with my mom on the freeway, and how I finally got to a place where I can proudly say: I love who I am.

Then AJ joins me to recap my wild birthday pool party — including:

• 🎉 Surprise guests flying in from around the country
• 🍰 Me accidentally pouring Fireball all over the birthday cake
• 🔥 Fireball sunburns and Speedo chaos
• 🍻 Our new favorite drinking game: Beer Pressure
• 🎤 And our “Ben There, Done That” segment — complete with AJ’s coming out story (yes, he’s also gay — you’re welcome, world)

This episode is funny, unfiltered, and fully queer joy

—

PS: If you’ve never had Fireball pour down your back and fry into your skin in 95-degree heat… don’t.

🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by actor, photographer, and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.

📍 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts

🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
TikTok: @itsbenaweek
Website: itsbenaweek.com

💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com