Searching For Heroes With Benjamin Hall

When Searching For Heroes first launched, Ben’s mission was simple yet powerful: to offer listeners hope and strength through stories of extraordinary resilience — from those who faced unimaginable tragedy to others who found joy after profound grief. That mission remains at the heart of the podcast, but now Ben is expanding the vision.

In this new chapter, the podcast will dive deeper into the many dimensions of human resilience, focusing on them one theme at a time. Today, Ben explains why the podcast is evolving and why hearing multiple perspectives on a single topic is crucial — because resilience is never one-size-fits-all. He also reveals the first theme in the upcoming series, which kicks off Monday, July 7th.

To listen to the episodes mentioned in today's episode, visit the links below:
Rich Fierro: https://radio.foxnews.com/2023/12/10/a-question-of-fight-or-flight/

Maya Regev: https://radio.foxnews.com/2024/04/22/surviving-hamas-one-womans-story-of-survival/

Amanda Boxtel: https://radio.foxnews.com/2024/01/22/the-other-side-of-lifes-detours/
Dr. Lucy Hone: https://radio.foxnews.com/2024/07/01/rewiring-your-brain-to-be-resilient-with-dr-lucy-hone/
Dr. Joe Alderete: https://radio.foxnews.com/2024/07/08/the-principles-of-rehabilitation/ 

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For most Americans, the 4th of July means beaches and BBQs — but on that day in 2012, Army Staff Sergeant Monte Bernardo was fighting for his life in Afghanistan. After stepping on an IED, Monte lost both legs and his left arm, beginning a long and grueling recovery. With the help of his family and the Semper Fi & America’s Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides lifetime support for critically wounded or ill service members, veterans, and military families, he rebuilt his life — and his mindset.

Today, Monte joins Ben to discuss why he has no regrets about what happened while he was fighting for America's freedom, how he was able to keep a positive attitude while going through a painful recovery, and why the 4th of July is now the most important celebration in his life — because it's the day he survived.Find out more about the Semper Fi & America's Fund here: thefund.org

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Danny Combs' son, Dylan, was just two when he was diagnosed with autism. Although Dylan wasn't able to say "I love you, Dad" until he was six years old, he had started building complex LEGO sets by himself, with no instructions, three years prior. In speaking with his son's therapists, Danny wanted to highlight the fascinating skills his son possessed — but the primary focus was always on what Dylan couldn't do, not what he could.

In response, Danny set out to create a program that focused on the strengths and capabilities of young people with autism — which is how TACT, Teaching the Autism Community Trades, was born. He joins Ben to talk about the incredible impact TACT has had thus far, and why we must fight injustices facing the autism community.

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She became an atheist at just fourteen years old due to the suffering she saw in the world and problems she observed within the Catholic Church. Fast forward to now, she's a nun who has fully devoted her life to Christ and her mission: finding God in the midst of misery and providing a safe space for those who have been hurt by members of the Church.

Sister Theresa Aletheia Noble, co-creator of Sisters of the Little Way, joins Ben to discuss the epiphany that led her back to her faith, and the practice that landed her on the front page of The New York Times: 'memento mori,' a discipline centered around intentionally thinking about your death in order to ultimately improve the life you live.

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Roughly 133 million people in the U.S. struggle with chronic illnesses every day, and yet they're rarely talked about. 

Struggling with a chronic illness can oftentimes feel isolating when the pain endured is invisible, or when it feels impossible to explain what it's like to live in constant fear that severe pain could be on the horizon. For Tina Medlin, who's been living with Crohn's disease for roughly 30 years, she knew these feelings well. But instead of just accepting them as the norm, she set out to create a community where those with chronic illnesses feel supported, cared for, and heard.

Tina discusses how this mission led her to pioneer the Warrior Braids Ministry, a Christ-centered nonprofit that offers resources, support and community to those who live with chronic illnesses.

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Bonnie Carroll was living in Alaska with her husband, Army Brigadier General Tom Carroll, and thought life truly couldn't get better. However, that mindset crumbled when her husband's National Guard plane never landed — killing him and seven of his fellow soldiers in 1992. The grief Bonnie felt after losing the love of her life was insurmountable, but she refused to let this pain settle without finding a way to make it purposeful.

This Memorial Day, Bonnie joins Ben to discuss how that call to purpose led her to establish the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors — a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing compassionate care and resources to the families grieving a death in the active military or veteran community. She emphasizes the importance of finding meaning in the face of loss, and reminds us that on days like today, we must take a moment to stop, speak the names of the fallen and honor them by never forgetting who they are. 

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What is it like to tell two parents that their child won't live to see their 12th birthday? It's a question nobody wants to know the answer to, and yet is a challenge pediatricians face every day.

Recently, after one of his close family members got diagnosed with a brain tumor at just eight-years-old (one that is, thankfully, noncancerous), Ben was struck by the child’s bravery—as well as the calm strength of the pediatricians, who shoulder immense responsibility and yet possess unwavering positivity.

Today, Dr. Jerry Loughlin, a renowned expert in pediatric respiratory diseases, joins Ben to share how pediatricians develop these resilient qualities — especially when tasked with delivering devastating news or losing a patient.

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Last week, Benjamin had the remarkable opportunity to be in Rome for the Papal Conclave—a historic event with the announcement that Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost would become the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church.

Benjamin sits down with theologian and FOX News Contributor Jonathan Morris to reflect on witnessing Pope Leo XIV accept this extraordinary honor in person, and to explore the priorities emerging as he begins leading the Church. Their conversation also turns personal, as Jonathan shares the story behind his decision to leave the priesthood—a difficult choice that ultimately deepened his faith and sense of purpose. Together, they discuss how religion continues to offer people around the world an enduring source of resilience and hope.

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April 30th marked 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War. While Vietnam veterans are now honored and respected, that wasn’t always the case. When many returned to American soil in the 1970s, they weren’t welcomed as heroes—instead, they were often met with blame, regardless of whether their service was voluntary.

Now, half a century later, Vietnam veteran Jim Dickson and the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association are working to set the record straight. Their documentary, "Truths and Myths About the Vietnam War," explores the stark contrast between public perception of the conflict and the lived experiences of those who served.

Watch 'Truths and Myths About the Vietnam War' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjwyCaiJ0lE&ab_channel=AVVBAChannel

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Before the age of 16, JT Mestdagh had undergone over 16 serious surgeries -- with many believing he shouldn't have survived his first years of life. Despite the challenges, JT has been able to take every challenging, bad day, and turned it into one worth living.

JT joins Ben to discuss how living with VACTERL syndrome, a rare combination of several birth defects, severe dyslexia, and short-term memory loss has influenced his life, but never stopped him from trying to be the best he can be.

 He shares how that determination led him to do things doctors never thought would be possible—from everyday tasks like walking and reading to climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and starting the JT Mestdagh Foundation.

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