What Could Be Bad Podcast

Kicking off Season Two of What Could Be Bad, Benj is joined by Victoria Arlen (ESPN Host, Author and Olympic Champion) in his happy place, the home his grandparents built decades ago in Connecticut. Chatting on the deck behind the house above a beautiful New England cove, the two share a conversation about unique personal health challenges, the landscape of recovering both physically and mentally, and then moving forward and thriving - all through the lens of longstanding friendship and mutual respect.

In the What Could Be Bad Season One finale, Artist and Advocate Abby Wren, joins Benj Gershman for a conversation in Vail, Colorado. Wrenegade Media dynamic duo, Abby and her husband Wade Holland, are the Creative Directors and Hosts of GoPro Mountain Games CoLab Stage, which stands as a creative and collaborative space that brings many diverse performance elements together. Abby shares about her history and advocacy with Alopecia while Benj divulges his own experience with it. They touch on art, community, music and other topics, learning and listening to one another in a beautiful setting. Special thanks to Dave Dressman, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and the Vail Valley Foundation for creating this opportunity.

Filming at Studio West in San Diego California, CEO and Creative Director of Voices of Our City Choir, Steph Johnson connects with Benj Gershman for a meaningful discussion. Steph's artistic path collided with her calling to be of service to others when she brought the creative initiative to life. San Diego's unsheltered homeless choir receives resources, support, purpose and dignity from the community effort - all while Steph put her own personal career on pause for this higher purpose. The demands of this endeavor touched all sides in all ways while she learned the hard way about how to balance what her community needed, and needs, with what she can provide in maintaining form and function. The learning goes both ways as Benj sees himself in her efforts with how this current podcast project has pulled at him in various capacities. Enjoy these two new friends connecting with one another and taking a moment out of their lives to help one another understand and tell their unique stories.

Artist and Global Icon, Flavor Flav, joins Benj Gershman for an honest and heartfelt conversation about lessons that Flav has learned in his life and career in the entertainment industry. Having listened to a Public Enemy cassette tape during his middle school years, Benj inquires about the early days forming the band and being included in the game-changing record deal with Def Jam at a time when the executives there tried to get bandmate Chuck D. to sign without the hypeman, now legend. Sharing his beliefs and feelings on a range of other topics, Flav provides tangible and candid advice that Benj takes to heart in this very special episode.

Recorded in Nashville, TN, host Benj Gershman of rock band O.A.R. is joined by Make Wake Artists, Inc. Label Relations and Artist Management Executive, Alicia Mathews. The two share an honest conversation from both the perspective of artist and management, including personal stories from their careers within the music industry. Facing challenges early in her career and during the pandemic, Mathews reflects on the emotional toll that her work environment fostered through a lack of compassion for circumstances within and outside the scope of her employment. The toll affected her personal relationships and spilled over into the view of her immediate family, bringing up anxiety due to loss within her family. Tangents ensue as the two vivacious personalities enjoy one another's company, holding a cathartic and relatable exchange showcasing unique experiences from both music business professionals.

During this special episode while connecting in Music City, Nashville Tennessee, Benj Gershman talks with Pete Griffin, President and CEO of Musicians On Call (MOC). Through stories and life lessons, the two friends volley a dynamic heartfelt exchange back and forth. Having been involved with the entertainment industry during the course of his entire professional life, Pete shares that his initial interest to work in the music business stemmed from a deep desire to feel worthy of praise due to being bullied in his formative years. As his career progressed, a pervading sense of emptiness caused him to reevaluate the way he focused his time and energy, which brought him to a wonderful place leading from the front with Musicians On Call. This incredible organization embodies the power of music, and the subsequent healing it offers through personal interaction. MOC has directly impacted over one million lives during its twenty five years, and has development plans to expand their reach further around the world.

In this episode, Ryan Dusick provides an introspective look at creating the multi-platinum rock pop band, Maroon5, with bandmates Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael and Mickey Madden, who were later joined by James Valentine. Releasing Songs About Jane in the same timeframe that Ryan and host Benj Gershman met on the road (Summer 2002), Benj recalls the undeniable power of this new music as the two bands initiated a new friendship during two separate tours (Jeep World Outside Festival and an O.A.R. headlining run). Dusick soon had to bow out of his role as drummer for the globally successful band, due to a challenging injury, which later led to alcoholism and fallout in his private life. Ryan shares stories from his memoir, Harder to Breathe, and discusses his favorite memories of being in the band. Now recovered, Ryan spends his time being of service to others as a mental health therapist in Los Angeles California, and shares some key insights to how he incorporates compassion and curiosity into his daily life.

Longtime friends, Stephen Kellogg and Benj Gershman talk through the landscape of touring, recording, intra-band relationships, the role family takes while balancing a career, shared emotional challenges, and an appreciation for the art of performance. SK, a veteran artist, writer and most recently a comedian, divulges his personal thoughts on what it takes to give everything to your craft amidst the tradeoffs between this and the sacrifices involved. A loving husband and father, Stephen shares his perspective of having made it through the gauntlet of a lengthy career in the entertainment industry, with more ahead, while acknowledging gratitude for still getting to play the game. The episode is a personal look at both the rational and emotional aspects involved in sustaining a career within the entertainment industry, from the artist's point of view.

American Hero, Paul Rieckhoff (National Security, Veterans Affairs and Political Analyst, Host of the Independent Americans podcast, Founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Former US Army Infantry Officer, Author and Veterans advocate, Founder and President of Righteous Media, 9/11 First Responder, Iraq Veteran, Author: Chasing Ghosts, Frequent contributor on MSNBC, CNN and NewsNation, Visiting Lecturer of Political Science at Amherst College.) sits down with Benj Gershman (O.A.R. and What Could Be Bad) to discuss why everyone needs to step up in this global climate of instability. He shares about his own family health challenges, addresses veteran issues, speaks to global political health and socioeconomic circumstance, remarks on his soulful belief in the power of music, and most importantly recognizes that mental health and wellness is a connective tissue that we all share. This inspiring episode is a look inside a true leader's mind.

In Benj's first filming of What Could Be Bad, he connects with veteran Music Producer and Atmos Mixer, Matt Wallace, at Studio Delux in Van Nuys CA. The conversation stems from a deep yearning to balance one's professional career with one's personal life, and the two candidly discuss the realities they face in doing so. Matt shares about his challenges as a father raising a child with special needs, divorce, surviving prostate cancer and learning to love again. All while, maintaining significant new health practices to benefit himself, his partner, and profession.