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This week, Ben goes solo and gets real about something we all deal with but rarely talk about: rejection.
From career disappointments and missed opportunities to being ghosted, iced out, or simply left on read, rejection shows up in ways both loud and subtle. Ben opens up about a recent week that hit harder than expected, how setting high expectations can backfire, and why rejection hurts even when you think you’re “used to it.”
Ben reflects on early experiences of rejection, from growing up feeling different to navigating acting, friendships, relationships, and creative careers where “no” often comes without explanation. He shares why ignoring people can be more painful than hearing no, how social media fuels comparison, and why rejection often feels personal even when it isn’t.
This episode is part rant, part therapy session, and part reminder that rejection doesn’t mean failure — it often means redirection. Ben talks about learning when to sit in the feeling, when to let it go, and how not to let other people’s limitations talk you out of your dreams.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, overlooked, or discouraged lately, 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
By Ben McDonnell4.9
115115 ratings
This week, Ben goes solo and gets real about something we all deal with but rarely talk about: rejection.
From career disappointments and missed opportunities to being ghosted, iced out, or simply left on read, rejection shows up in ways both loud and subtle. Ben opens up about a recent week that hit harder than expected, how setting high expectations can backfire, and why rejection hurts even when you think you’re “used to it.”
Ben reflects on early experiences of rejection, from growing up feeling different to navigating acting, friendships, relationships, and creative careers where “no” often comes without explanation. He shares why ignoring people can be more painful than hearing no, how social media fuels comparison, and why rejection often feels personal even when it isn’t.
This episode is part rant, part therapy session, and part reminder that rejection doesn’t mean failure — it often means redirection. Ben talks about learning when to sit in the feeling, when to let it go, and how not to let other people’s limitations talk you out of your dreams.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, overlooked, or discouraged lately, 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

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