It's Ben a Week

Ben McDonnell
  • 4.9 (150)
  • Comedy Interviews
  • Updated Weekly

"It’s Ben a Week" is an unfiltered, bold, and hilariously unpredictable podcast where Texas grit meets Hollywood wit. Hosted by actor and barrel racer Ben McDonnell, it’s your weekly escape into outrageous stories, candid conversations, and unapologetic humor.

  1. 6h ago ·  Video

    It’s All Ben Leading Up to This

    It’s officially premiere week. After months of filming, waiting, keeping secrets and counting down the days, Ben is just two days away from the premiere of The Traitors: New Blood—and it’s finally starting to feel real.  This week, Ben reflects on what it feels like to finally reach a moment he’s spent years working toward. From seeing himself on billboards and magazine covers to getting recognized in public, becoming a meme and discovering just how deeply Traitors fans will investigate someone’s life online, the experience has been exciting, surreal—and occasionally terrifying. But for Ben, this moment represents something much bigger than appearing on a reality show. After years of acting, auditions, rejection, photography, podcasting and trying to build a career in entertainment, it’s an opportunity to do the thing he’s always wanted to do on a bigger scale: make people laugh.  And with plenty of new people about to discover the podcast, Ben gives everyone a proper introduction to the life behind the cowboy hat: growing up in Minnesota, moving to Los Angeles, acting, becoming a headshot photographer, barrel racing, meeting AJ, buying a Texas ranch over FaceTime and somehow ending up with more than 70 animals. Then AJ joins Been There, Done That for a premiere-week check-in involving Ben’s now-famous cowboy hats, a potential new business venture, rescue kittens, a bakery employee who didn’t recognize Ben from his own professionally retouched photo, Ben becoming a meme, the temptation to read comments online—and, naturally, another complete redesign of the koi pond.  The waiting is over. The train has left the station. Here we go. In this episode: The Traitors: New Blood premiere weekWhat it feels like for Ben to finally reach this momentWhy he’s trying not to wish the experience awayBecoming recognizable in public for the first timeSeeing himself on billboards, magazine covers and memesThe good—and very bad—side of reading comments onlineWhy making people laugh has always been the real dreamA reintroduction to Ben for new listenersGrowing up in Minnesota and moving to Los AngelesActing, photography, barrel racing and podcastingBuying a Texas ranch over FaceTimeLife with more than 70 animalsAJ’s custom cowboy hatsThe bakery employee who didn’t recognize Ben from his own photo 😂Becoming a memeAJ’s advice about staying off RedditWhy Ben is rebuilding the koi pond… againGetting ready for premiere night🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by 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

    It’s All Ben Leading Up to This

  2. Sep 8 ·  Video

    There’s Ben a Tumor Named Bubba (ft. Risa August)

    This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with author, speaker and endurance athlete Risa August for an incredible conversation about what happens when the life you carefully planned suddenly takes a completely different road.  For nearly seven years, Risa knew something in her body wasn’t right. Despite unexplained weight gain, headaches, changes in her body and eventually debilitating symptoms, she says she was repeatedly told by doctors that she was fine. Finally, Risa insisted on an MRI—and one week later learned she had a tumor at the base of her brain and a rare disease called acromegaly.  Brain surgery removed part of the tumor, but doctors discovered the remaining portion was wrapped around her carotid artery and couldn’t safely be removed. Faced with radiation, lifelong medication and a body she no longer recognized, Risa found herself sitting on her couch in a pair of “gnarly gray sweatpants” wondering what her life was supposed to look like now. Then she asked herself a different question: What can I do?  Her answer? Ride a bicycle from Canada to Mexico. Risa shares how that 41-day journey changed her relationship with her body, perfectionism and the expectations she’d spent much of her life trying to meet. She also introduces Ben to “Bubba”—the name she gave the tumor she still lives with today—and explains why humor became part of how she reclaimed ownership over something that once terrified her.  Ben and Risa talk about medical self-advocacy, resilience, humor as a coping mechanism, letting go of perfection, taking life’s biggest goals one tiny step at a time, and why changing your life doesn’t necessarily require changing everything overnight. In this episode: The symptoms Risa experienced for nearly seven years before her diagnosisWhy she finally insisted that her doctor order an MRILearning she had a brain tumor and acromegalyBrain surgery, radiation and discovering part of the tumor was inoperableWhy Risa named her remaining tumor “Bubba”Going from Ironman athlete to struggling to get off the couchThe “gnarly gray sweatpants” moment that changed her perspectiveDeciding to bike from Canada to MexicoRiding for 41 days with only a handful of rest daysLetting go of perfection and the person she thought she was supposed to beWhy humor can be powerful during life’s darkest momentsThe difference between a huge life change and taking one small stepRisa’s award-winning book The Road UnpavedChoosing what “living” looks like every single day Learn more about Risa and follow her journey: Website: https://www.risaaugust.com Instagram: @risaunleashed  https://www.instagram.com/risaunleashed/ TEDx Talk — “How a Single Word CAN Rebuild Your Life”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK9SITnpvcA 🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by 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

    There’s Ben a Tumor Named Bubba (ft. Risa August)

  3. Sep 1 ·  Video

    Success Has Never Ben a Straight Line (ft. Debra Berman)

    This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with friend—and AJ’s former boss—Debra Berman, a powerhouse marketing executive whose career has taken her from advertising and consumer brands to serving as Chief Marketing Officer of JCPenney and Yahoo!  Debra takes Ben inside the career journey that eventually brought her to the C-suite, from working on household brands like Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Maybelline and Bacardi to helping rebuild JCPenney’s relationship with its customers during a critical period for the company. She shares what it was like walking into a room of more than 400 employees on her first day, the importance of making leadership human, and how her team used bold marketing—including an intentionally typo-filled Olympics campaign—to get people talking about JCPenney again.   Then Deb shares how an unexpected speaking engagement helped lead to an opportunity at Yahoo, where she joined during one of the most fascinating chapters in the company’s history. She and Ben discuss working alongside Marissa Mayer, the changing role of digital marketing, the eventual sale to Verizon, and how Deb discovered a certain employee named AJ who would become an integral part of her team—and eventually Ben’s husband.   Deb also gets candid about navigating corporate America as a woman, the pay disparities she believes existed throughout her career, why becoming CEO was never the goal, and the advice she gives anyone wondering how to take the next step professionally. Her philosophy is refreshingly simple: stop obsessing over titles, do the work, stay curious, and choose opportunities that give you more than one possible path forward.   Then on Been There, Done That, AJ joins Ben to reflect on working with Deb at Yahoo, why colleagues once called him the “Deb whisperer,” and the importance of truly listening to the people around you. The conversation expands into creativity, branding in the age of AI, why great creative work still requires human judgment—and ends with AJ revealing a little piece of Yahoo history: he’s the voice behind the Yahoo yodel.   In this episode: Deb’s journey from advertising to the C-suiteWorking on some of America’s most recognizable consumer brandsTaking over marketing at JCPenney during a major turnaroundThe intentionally misspelled Olympics campaign that got everyone talkingWhy career success doesn’t always happen on your termsHow one speaking engagement unexpectedly led to YahooWorking with Marissa Mayer and navigating Yahoo’s sale to VerizonHow Deb discovered AJ inside Yahoo  Deb’s experience as a woman climbing the corporate ladderWhy she believes women still have work to do when it comes to equal payWhy she never focused on becoming a CMOThree pieces of advice for anyone feeling stuck in their careerWhy AJ was known as the “Deb whisperer”Branding and creativity in the age of AIWhy human judgment still mattersThe story behind AJ becoming the voice of the Yahoo yodel  🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by 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

    Success Has Never Ben a Straight Line (ft. Debra Berman)

  4. Aug 25 ·  Video

    It’s Ben a KAOTIC Summer

    This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is back from three weeks in Europe—and before he can talk about the incredible vacation, he has a few things to get off his chest about getting there and back. From overweight luggage and sweltering jet bridges to questionable international business-class service, missed connections, sprinting through the Philadelphia airport, getting separated from AJ, missing bags, and a compensation battle that came down to just four minutes, Ben has some thoughts for American Airlines. And yes, he fully acknowledges these are first-class problems.   Ben also talks about the whirlwind following his Traitors: New Blood announcement, getting recognized in public for the first time, some interesting new auditions—and, most importantly, the return of the pumpkin cream cold brew. Then AJ joins Been There, Done That to recap their unforgettable three-week European adventure aboard their friends’ yacht, KAOS. From thunderstorms at the Acropolis and dancing in Mykonos to helicopter rides over Santorini, visiting the hotel from The White Lotus in Sicily, drinking entirely too much sake in Capri, partying beside an erupting volcano, and making their way through St. Tropez, they revisit some of the most unbelievable moments of the summer.   And because coming home to the ranch can never be simple, Ben and AJ introduce the newest member of the family: Sally the duck—who promptly disappeared for three days before staging a miraculous return from underneath a hay pallet.   Airline drama, yachts, volcanoes, sake, pumpkin cold foam and a missing duck. Somehow, it’s all Ben a week. In this episode: Life after the Traitors: New Blood cast announcementBen’s first time being recognized in public for the show  Ben’s grievances with international air travelThe 19-hour journey home from EuropeGetting separated from AJ after a missed connectionWhy four minutes became a $300 argumentBen’s thoughts on airline status and loyalty programs  The proper way to order a pumpkin cream cold brewThree weeks aboard KAOSZeus crashing their visit to the AcropolisMykonos, Santorini and a helicopter adventureVisiting The White Lotus hotel in SicilyBen accidentally taking 12 shots of sake in Capri  Club KAOS and an erupting volcanoSt. Tropez, beach clubs and an unforgettable Euro summerSally the duck’s three-day disappearanceAJ’s upcoming National Anthem performance  🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by 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

    It’s Ben a KAOTIC Summer

  5. Aug 25 ·  Video

    The Secret Has Finally Ben Revealed

    This week on It’s Ben A Week, the secret is FINALLY out: Ben is officially joining the cast of The Traitors: New Blood, premiering September 17th on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock!   After months of keeping one of the biggest secrets of his life, Ben can finally talk about traveling to Scotland, entering the castle, and becoming one of 22 contestants on the first U.S. civilian season of the hit competition series. As a longtime fan of The Traitors, Ben breaks down how the game works, explains Faithfuls, Traitors, murders, banishments and the infamous Round Table, and shares what it feels like to go from binge-watching the show at home to actually becoming part of it.   Ben also reflects on the journey that brought him here. Just months before filming, he recorded an episode about rejection and wondering when his next “yes” would finally come. Now, after one of the most mentally, physically and emotionally challenging experiences of his life, Ben opens up about feeling like years of hard work may finally be leading to his moment.   Then AJ joins Been There, Done That to reveal what it was like keeping Ben’s secret, convincing everyone he was away filming a Christmas movie, and holding down the ranch while Ben disappeared to Scotland. They also talk about discovering The Traitors together, why AJ thinks he’d make an incredible Traitor, and what they’re most excited—and nervous—to see when the finished episodes finally air.   The game has already been played. The secrets have been kept. Now it’s finally time to watch it all unfold. In this episode: Ben officially announces The Traitors: New Blood  How The Traitors actually worksGoing from superfan to contestant  Filming in Scotland and experiencing the game firsthandWhy Ben decided to say yes to reality televisionLooking back at rejection before getting one enormous “yes”  Why this experience feels like a major turning pointWhat Ben can—and definitely cannot—reveal before the premiereAJ’s elaborate Christmas-movie cover story  Whether AJ would make a better Faithful or TraitorThe nerves of waiting to see how everything was editedWhat listeners can expect from It’s Ben A Week throughout the season  🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by 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

    The Secret Has Finally Ben Revealed

  6. Aug 11 ·  Video

    Nothing Has Ever Ben This Toxic (ft. Sydnee Carter)

    This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by fellow barrel racer and friend Sydnee Carter for an episode dedicated to exes, cheating, red flags, and one breakup story that quickly turns into something straight out of a true-crime documentary.   Ben kicks things off by revisiting some of his worst relationships—from discovering a boyfriend cheating through messages on a forgotten laptop and confronting him outside a hotel room, to catching another boyfriend swiping on Tinder while they were sitting together in first class on the way to Mexico. Through it all, Ben reflects on the strange intuition that told him something was wrong before he ever had proof.   Then Sydney shares a breakup story that takes the episode in an entirely different direction. After ending an on-again, off-again relationship, her ex’s behavior began escalating—from showing up unexpectedly and contacting friends and family to appearing at places she was dating someone new. Then Sydney’s neighbor spotted a man dressed entirely in black running across her property. Police searched Sydney’s home and discovered a hidden camera in her bedroom. Then Sydney found another. And another.   What followed was a years-long ordeal involving police investigations, fingerprints, protective orders, another arrest, probation, allegations of similar behavior involving another woman, and ultimately a shocking prison sentence.   Ben and Sydney unpack how relationships can change after a breakup, why people ignore obvious warning signs, the importance of trusting your intuition, and the unsettling reality that sometimes you don’t fully know how someone will react until a relationship ends. This episode starts with bad-boyfriend stories and somehow ends in a courtroom. Buckle up. In this episode: Ben’s history of being cheated on  The gut feeling that told Ben something wasn’t right  Confronting an ex outside a hotel after watching his messages in real time  Catching a boyfriend using Tinder on the way to Mexico  Sydney’s toxic on-again, off-again relationship  When her ex’s behavior began escalating after their breakup  Discovering three hidden cameras inside her home  The police investigation and protective order that followed  Why trusting your gut—and paying attention to red flags—matters  🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by 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

    Nothing Has Ever Ben This Toxic (ft. Sydnee Carter)

  7. Aug 4 ·  Video

    Ben Dropping the Beat (ft. Remington Runyan)

    This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with 18-year-old DJ and producer Remington Runyan to talk about discovering a passion for music, performing at iconic venues, and chasing a dream that’s only just beginning.   Ben first met Remington years ago through family friends, but after watching him unexpectedly take over the DJ booth at Nikki Beach in St. Barths, he knew there was something special happening. Remington shares how a DJ controller he barely touched for two years became the start of a new obsession after the California wildfires forced his family to evacuate. With the help of friends, countless hours of practice, and a growing love for house music, he quickly found himself playing parties, beach clubs, and even one of the most iconic venues in the Caribbean.   The two also discuss: how DJs read a crowdwhy song selection is more important than people realizethe truth about pre-recorded DJ setsproducing original musicCoachella dreamsand what it feels like to perform for hundreds of people.Whether you’re an aspiring artist or simply curious about the world of electronic music, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a creative career from the ground up. Stay connected with Remington: 🌐 Website: www.remingtonrunyan.com 📸 Instagram: @remingtonrunyan 🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by 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

    Ben Dropping the Beat (ft. Remington Runyan)

  8. Jul 28 ·  Video

    Ben Living Every Day (ft. Diane Love)

    This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with his dear friend Diane Love for one of the most heartfelt conversations of the season. The two first met in Cabo San Lucas over poolside cocktails and an unforgettable Beyoncé dance party. But behind Diane’s infectious energy is a story of unimaginable loss, resilience, and choosing joy every single day.   Diane shares the story of her son Wyatt, who was diagnosed as a child with the rare genetic disease Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). Doctors warned he might not live past the age of 10, but Wyatt defied expectations—traveling the world, competing in gymnastics, attending college, and embracing life with remarkable courage.   Then, at just 22 years old, Wyatt’s life was tragically cut short in a Lyft accident after a newly approved driver became lost on the way home. Diane opens up about the heartbreaking night she lost her son, the years-long legal battle that followed, and why she now encourages every rideshare passenger to check their driver’s experience before getting into the car.   Ben and Diane also discuss: trusting your intuitiongrieving differentlyfinding humor after unimaginable lossfaith and healingliving fully despite uncertaintyand why every day deserves to be celebrated.Despite experiencing profound heartbreak, Diane continues to inspire others through advocacy, fundraising for ALD research, and her commitment to choosing joy every day. This episode is emotional, inspiring, and a powerful reminder that life is fragile—and worth living to its fullest. For more information on ALD and to help check out www.cureald.org 🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by 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

    Ben Living Every Day (ft. Diane Love)
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4.9
out of 5
150 Ratings

About

"It’s Ben a Week" is an unfiltered, bold, and hilariously unpredictable podcast where Texas grit meets Hollywood wit. Hosted by actor and barrel racer Ben McDonnell, it’s your weekly escape into outrageous stories, candid conversations, and unapologetic humor.

Information

  • Creator
    Ben McDonnell
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 It's Ben a Week
  • Show Website
    It's Ben a Week

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