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.

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🔗 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.

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🔗 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, I’m saving dogs, dodging kids at the gym, raging about kettlebells, and reflecting on Katy Perry’s outer space comeback tour. Oh — and I shot a gun for the first time. No big deal.

Then I’m joined by a brand new friend — yoga instructor, tarot reader, and all-around badass Gabrielle, who shares her incredible story of surviving emergency brain surgery at 14, losing her mom shortly after, being kicked out of her house at 16, and still somehow becoming a business owner, healer, and deeply self-aware human. Her story is raw, emotional, and wild — and full of moments that made my jaw drop.

We also talk:

• 🧠 Life after a traumatic brain injury
• 💔 Healing from childhood trauma and learning to forgive
• 🧘‍♀️ Why yoga (and therapy) might actually save your life
• 🔮 Tarot readings, spiritual shifts, and signs from the universe
• 🚫 Why the gym is not a daycare (I said what I said)
• 🎯 And what her tarot cards say about the future of this podcast

It’s inspiring, intense, and deeply real — just the way we like it.

🎧 Listen now: https://linktr.ee/itsbenaweek
🧘‍♀️ Check out Gabrielle’s yoga studio + classes: https://linktr.ee/gabrielle.kinser

🎧 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, things go off the rails fast — literally. I try to rescue a squirrel stuck in my truck tire and end up driving the wheels off my dually. Then I recap my stressful (and slightly unhinged) car buying journey and why I chose the new Audi Q6 over a Tesla. Spoiler: I just can’t give Elon my money.

Then AJ’s best friend of 20 years — and my instant bestie — Cassandra joins me for the full episode. This episode covers:

•  The great squirrel rescue gone wrong (lug nuts were… not reinstalled)
•  Car buying chaos, dealership drama, and why the Q6 won
• A wild Aruba bachelorette party  — featuring:
  • 15 strangers
  • 1 spelling bee
  • A broken rib
  • Pirate ships
  • Flamingos (kind of)
  • A stranger named Gina
  • And a 4-day drunken airport delay
• Cassandra’s life as a professional baton twirler (yes, really)
•  Conspiracy theories, reincarnation, dreams, and what might be lurking under Kansas
•  Red flags, including people who brush their teeth in the shower

Plus: AJ returns at the end to call me out about the tire incident, remind me I’m a menace with tools, and explain why I should not give homeownership advice.

—

PS: If you’ve ever been stranded in Aruba, twirled competitively, or blamed a coyote for your chaos… this episode is 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 on It’s Ben A Week, we’re honoring Mother’s Day — but not in the Hallmark card way. This is an episode about real moms, real loss, real love, and the unthinkable strength it takes to show up when life knocks you flat.

First up: I talk with my incredible friend Victoria, who shares the story of losing her newborn daughter Eden — and how grief became the most powerful fuel for her growth. She opens up about the trauma, therapy, and the promise she made to Eden that still guides her today — all while being days away from giving birth again.

Then I sit down with Sherri, who never planned to be a mom... until a phone call changed everything. She adopted her cousin’s baby, born with severe special needs, and was told the child wouldn’t survive past one year. That baby is now 14 years old. This is one of the most unbelievable stories you’ll hear — full of heartbreak, miracles, and fierce motherly love.

This episode is a raw and emotional ride, but it’s also a powerful reminder to put yourself in someone else’s shoes — even if they’re not shoes you’d ever expect to wear. 👟

To all the moms, moms-to-be, chosen moms, grieving moms, and women who mother in every form — this one’s for you.

—

PS: Beyoncé, please don’t sue me for the snippet I used. I did spin next to you at SoulCycle.

🎧 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

In this episode of It’s Ben a Week, I’m joined by my longtime bestie Elise Hansen to break down the chaos of Stagecoach and Coachella—two festivals that are as different as acid and whiskey. But first, we recap one of the wildest nights of our lives: AJ manifested his dream (again) and ended up singing on stage with the one and only Patti LaBelle. And yes, there's video.

In this episode we discuss:

• The chaos of airplane etiquette (why are adults bringing stuffed animals?)
• Coachella vs. Stagecoach: Which one is worth it?
• The bougie nightmare that is festival wristbands and pass hierarchy
• What really goes on at the VIP parties—like when Scooter Braun called me best-dressed 👑
• Our dream headliner lineups for future festivals (spoiler: Beyoncé and Patti made the cut)

Whether you're GA or all-access, you’ll relate to the rants and laugh at the luxury problems. This one has Ben a ride.

🎧 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 exposing one of my worst enemies: hangover anxiety—or as I like to call it, Ben-xiety. Why is it that after a fun night of drinking, I wake up convinced that everyone hates me and I'm about to get canceled by my friend group?

I break down why vodka is my toxic best friend, why I'm a world-class drunk texter, and why hangovers on vacation just hit different. Plus, I do a little "science" deep dive on why alcohol messes with your neurotransmitters (don’t fact check me).

Then I’m joined by one of my lifelong family friends and honorary nanny, Holly! We talk about my feral childhood obsessions (fish, frogs, turtling), the dog food prank she pulled on me, and how I got bit in the face by a chow chow. We also cover our chaotic wedding weekend adventure where we accidentally became unpaid wedding planners for a stranger.

It's a wild ride of memories, mischief, and minor trauma.

✨ Also, don’t forget to submit questions for my upcoming guests:
 🔮 A world-famous psychic
 🧠 A trauma therapist
 Submit anonymously (or not) at https://www.itsbenaweek.com/

—

PS: If you love the show, please leave a 5-star review. I’ll love you harder than I love vodka. 🥂

🎧 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 try to make sense of Easter... and somehow end up ranting about Braille drive-thru menus, espresso mispronunciations, and whether Jesus just Houdini’d himself out of that tomb. I also give you an inside look at my week—from dealing with Starbucks stick-figure family vans, to accidentally draining our ranch's entire propane tank for one 10-minute swim.

Then AJ joins me for the full interview segment and we finally tell the real story of how we ended up living on a Texas ranch. Spoiler alert: it involves a Scientologist, a $17.2 million Ponzi scheme, Kim Kardashian’s lawyer, a Penske truck, and a rattlesnake assassination that got me death threats.

We also read some of your DMs, including a koi pond update, my most clueless moment (gas prices, anyone?), and whether AJ should get his own roasting segment. Plus—live shows, drama fallout, and our infamous Christmas card tradition.

🚨 Got questions for my upcoming guests?
 🔮 A world-famous psychic
 🧠 A trauma therapist
 Send them anonymously (or not) at itsbenaweek.com or DM me on Instagram @itsbenaweek.

🎧 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

From beauty guru to jungle-dwelling death doula—this week’s guest has lived. Ben reconnects with his longtime friend Eleven (aka Lynette), a former YouTube star turned psychedelic guide, spiritual teacher, and self-described shapeshifter.

They dive into everything from ayahuasca trips, queer identity, and death work to what it really means to evolve, let go, and embrace change. And yes, there’s talk of puking in the jungle and shitting yourself in a white ceremonial robe. (You’ve been warned.)

Whether you're skeptical, curious, or just here for the ride—this episode is an honest, eye-opening, and often hilarious look at identity, healing, and the weird journey of being human. Plus, AJ returns for another dose of Ben There, Done That, and has a few complaints of his own.

In this episode:

• Ben opens with a rant about people not following through
• Lynette shares her journey from Christian influencer to psychedelic healer
• A wild ayahuasca experience involving exorcisms and... Taco Bell
• Honest takes on queerness, transformation, and life outside the binary
• Ben asks the big questions about death, purpose, and whether he should finally book a trip to Tulum
• A hilarious after-show segment with AJ covering toilet paper crimes and pantry offenses

Guest Links:

• Instagram: @iamelevenxx
• Email for ceremonies: [email protected]

🎧 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