Real Talk with Benny T

Benny T (@bennytomp18) and Maddie Miyahara (@maddie.miyahara) pull up from St. Louis, Missouri to recap the final segment of the California National Parks trip, including taking a ferry out to Channel Islands National Park in search for the Island Scrub Jay, a near disaster that happened to Ben once on the island, then completing their drive down Highway 1 through Malibu and San Diego, and finally, reflecting on what a journey it’s all been.

If you’ve enjoyed these CA National Parks episodes and wanna help grow the show, please let us know by leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts 🥳

Jordan Toma (@imjustakidwithaniep) loves a good comeback story. Whether it’s his own, a student’s he connects with during one of his speaking engagements, or even a total stranger’s he hears being shared on the social media platform Clubhouse, he just can’t help himself from rooting for the underdog.

That’s because for as long as he can remember, he’s been the underdog. As a kid, Jordan was diagnosed as having dyslexia, attention hyper-deficit disorder (ADHD), and an auditory processing disorder, which meant traditional classroom learning was a major challenge for him. So much so that merely the sight of a school bus used to send him spiraling into anxiety attacks.

Eventually, he was placed on an individualized educational program (IEP), and after struggling his way through high school, he thought there was no way he was going to college. The tests, the homework, the fact that he was about to graduate high school with a 1.7 GPA… he was convinced he was done with school forever.

His mom wasn’t, though. To her, there was no way he ~wasn’t~ going to college.

After being rejected by dozens of colleges and universities, they finally found the right fit – New Jersey’s Centenary University. There was only one catch: to enroll, it was mandatory that he’d have to move in early to begin their STEP Ahead program, leaving him only two days of summer.

He thought it would be the end of the world. Reflecting upon it in this episode, he believes it’s the best thing that could have ever happened to him.

Hear Jordan share the story of how the habits he formed during his time at Centenary transformed him into the unstoppable force he is today: from his first job post-grad selling windows door to door and becoming the top salesperson in the company, to passing a series of exams to become a financial advisor and going on to become one of the top producers in the country, to building his real estate portfolio, to becoming a TikToker and keynote speaker and traveling all around the country sharing his story with students.

I hope you’ll enjoy listening to this episode half as much as we enjoyed making it for you, and if you do, please let us know by dropping a quick rating and a review on Apple Podcasts, and by sharing it on social media or sending it to someone else you think needs to hear Jordan’s message!

Tim Schladand is a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed clinical alcohol and drug abuse counselor, and a certified Daring Way facilitator who runs a private practice. Fortunately for me, he also happens to live a few doors down and enjoys long conversations about vulnerability and social mobility.

Besides becoming the first person to ever join the show for a second time, Tim returned to the studio to circle back to our first discussion about the power of vulnerability, as well as a deeper dive into empathy, the importance of understanding where people are coming from, how we’ve become a passion-depleted society, the protests Tim and his wife led in Prospect, tribalism, and equity as it relates to society.

If you enjoy this episode or know of anyone that would, please share it on social media or send it to a friend, and please drop a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! It really helps grow the show.

Follow along @bennytomp18 and @realtalkwbennyt for more updates, upcoming guests, plus the best daily drip of nature content.

Shane Fowler (@ashanefowler) is a friend and former classmate from the University of Kentucky who went on to work at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in Los Angeles before attending Harvard Law School and successfully obtaining his JD.

Shane shares what it was like growing up as a poor, Black kid in Cynthiana, KY to making it to Harvard Law School (3:30), how he used his people skills and communication skills to build relationships, solve problems and bridge gaps (15:36), and the mentors and references that he leaned on to help guide him through the law school application process.

Then, Shane discusses what it was like working at CAA and starting in their mailroom, and what helped him realize that wasn’t his ultimate path (36:40).

Later in the episode, Shane shares his vision for creating more representation in the legal profession (40:00), his clerkship working for a federal judge (47:16), and how he’s feeling after the last couple years between COVID-19, the protests, and the ongoing fight for social equality in America (56:00).

If you enjoyed this episode, or know someone you think would, please share it! Subscribe and follow along on IG @bennytomp18 and @realtalkwbennyt so you never miss a drop. And if you have literally 60 seconds, please drop a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts. It really helps me grow the show 🙏🏼

Jim Phipps is a retired Army veteran with 24 years of service who now works the window at my local Starbucks. I usually see Jim in the mornings and always look forward to our encounters.

As time has gone on and I’ve learned more about Jim’s story, including why he chose to retire from retirement and why he gets up at 4:15am to do what he does, I began feeling inspired.

People say, “be the change you wish to see in the world,” and when I think of what the essence of that statement looks like in human form, it’s people like Jim who come to mind. To me, he embodies the power and impact we can have on others, as well as one's ability to rub off on their community. I thought to myself, here’s somebody doing something pretty cool, I’d like to pick that person’s brain and understand their “whys.”

So, that’s what we spend the first 15 minutes of the episode discussing: his “whys” and some stories that highlight the reasons he does what he does.

After that, (14:59), Jim opens up about his 24 years of military service, why he went into the Army initially, and what it was like serving deployments as a member of the transportation corps tasked with driving supplies all throughout Iraq’s Triangle of Death.

I ask Jim about close calls, survivor’s guilt, and how to reconcile bad things happening to good people within the context of war, which leads to Jim sharing a story of an incident that happened while he was away on rest and recovery (28:27), as well as speaking about his experiences with PTSD publicly for the first time.

Later in the episode, Jim tells the story of why him and his wife’s wedding was hatched in less than 72 hours (58:49), what it’s like being a military family and having a parent in the service (1:07:38), his favorite things about being a dad (1:10:10), and finally, the one big thing he tries to impart onto others (1:11:13).

Thanks to Jim for joining the show, and thanks to you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please let me know by leaving a rating a review on Apple Podcasts, or following along on IG @bennytomp18 and @realtalkwbennyt.

Benny T shares some exciting news and laments on where things are at before running through the itinerary of his upcoming 3-week road trip through California's National Parks. Enjoy!

Benny T (@bennytomp18) checks in for another midnight session coming straight off the after party and celebration of Whitney and Jerrett's marriage to share some thoughts on the night, the people, the ceremony, the reception, all of it. What a time 🥳

Major shoutout to the newly weds, congrats guys, may these next chapters in your life be filed with love, empathy, and happy days 🥰

And aye, if you ride with me, please drop me a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts, follow the IG account for the show @realtalkwbenny, and hashtag the fuck outta #iridewithbennyt 🤝

Interested to check out some of the other episodes I reference in this one? I got you right here ⤵️

For The Love Of The Game 💯

Apple Podcasts 🔗: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-talk-with-ben-tompkins/id1473977318?i=1000501474562

Spotify 🔗: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4opD3dC8FwoKMSofImVSgp?si=37e24192b87d4555

Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself 🎙

Apple Podcasts 🔗: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-talk-with-ben-tompkins/id1473977318?i=1000476622250

Spotify 🔗: https://open.spotify.com/episode/54J8ORcO4CoSJg3J6Sxh8d?si=50a58ea4a7fd4056

New Year's Special 🥳

Apple Podcasts 🔗: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-talk-with-ben-tompkins/id1473977318?i=1000503873255

Spotify 🔗: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5hUBFBTDu2ehFKrgssZydo?si=357e3c546e6c4988

Christmas Special 🎅🏼🎄🎁

Apple Podcasts 🔗: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-talk-with-ben-tompkins/id1473977318?i=1000503271294

Spotify 🔗: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0xBjv32a1DSTy1sbIw3Etg?si=fc527ae6e79547e2

Realest Talk: 18 of My Deepest Beliefs 💯

Apple Podcasts 🔗: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-talk-with-ben-tompkins/id1473977318?i=1000535370923

Spotify 🔗: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4t50Cb4cv8QnWu6fhTPoJN?si=7c942b030c2342ab

Br well, my friends, and I'll be back next week ✌🏼

My guest this week is Morgan McCombs (@morganmccombs), a friend and fellow Gemini who’s just launched a new platform and creative outlet, @impwr_now 🤗

Morgan shares the inspiration for this new account, as well as what her audience can expect to gain in terms of content, then fills me in on what life has been like for her since leaving the Bay Area where we first initially connected.

She shares the story of her COVID pivot, which was a pretty major one considering she was living in South Africa at the time, then shares what it was like moving to New York City and earning her stripes as a bona fide New Yorker in the midst of the global pandemic.

After sharing a few tips on how to establish yourself when you move to a new city, we spend a healthy chunk of time discussing energies, astrological signs, psychedelics, standup comedy and universal messages, how to handle situations where people project things onto you, and to whom/what Morgan attributes her independence and lust for life.

Major shoutout to Morgs for such a great time and for continuing to share her light and her stories with the world, I’m excited to continue watching and celebrating your growth 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

If you enjoyed this episode, please let me and Morgan know by dropping a quick rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! It takes two seconds but it’s a HUUUUGE help in growing the show. Follow along @bennytomp18 or @realtalkwbenny and take care until next week, my friends 🥳

Kicking things off this week, I make a few announcements at the top of the show (3:33), including the content listeners can expect over the next several weeks, some of the upcoming guests that will be featured on the show, and why I’m taking a break from the Uber Stories.

Then, I transition into my recap of my trip out west to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Sedona, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, and wrapping things up with a couple days in Las Vegas, including how he did at the roulette tables (22:37).

Please drop a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts, as well as following along on social media @bennytomp18 or @realtalkwbennyt 🥳

Ayeeee, sorry for the wait, I'm outta the office this week traveling on a little trip through the Southwest, visiting hella national parks and wrapping things up with a couple nights in Vegas before heading back. I never want to let a week go by without dropping ~something~ so there ya go.