It's Ben a Week

Ben McDonnell
  • 4.9 (118)
  • 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, barrel racer, and photographer Ben McDonnell, it’s your weekly escape into outrageous stories, candid conversations, and unapologetic humor.

  1. Ben Having Breast Reductions (ft. Sherri Harris)

    2D AGO

    Ben Having Breast Reductions (ft. Sherri Harris)

    Ben is fresh off a trip to Mexico and immediately reminded why Facebook might be ruining his life. In this episode, Ben spirals (just a little) over online political fights, racism disguised as “memes,” performative outrage, and why arguing on social media never actually changes anyone’s mind. Fan-favorite guest Sherri Harris returns for Season 2 and brings one of the wildest stories yet — a terrifying heart scare that leads to an ER visit, an ambulance ride, a wildly incorrect diagnosis, and a crash course in America’s broken healthcare system… all while uninsured. The episode also dives into body image, beauty standards, plastic surgery honesty, nipple nightmares, pain pills, bad restaurant behavior, dirty bar glasses, and why Ben officially hits his Breaking Point with customer service everywhere. It’s funny, unfiltered, slightly unhinged, and deeply relatable — because sometimes it really has Ben A Week. 🎧 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

    52 min
  2. I've Ben Rejected

    FEB 3

    I've Ben Rejected

    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

    40 min
  3. We've Ben Frozen Solid in Texas

    JAN 27

    We've Ben Frozen Solid in Texas

    This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben should really be saying It’s Ben A Weekend. After an unexpected Arctic blast hits Texas, Ben opens the episode iced in, frustrated, and fully spiraling as ranch life meets extreme weather. From frozen pools and broken automation systems to a three-foot koi fish recovering in the bathtub, nothing about this weekend goes according to plan. Ben breaks down: Why Texas is absolutely not built for Arctic weatherFrozen pools, non-functioning Jandy systems, and panic at four degreesA massive imported koi fish going belly-up and being moved into the bathtubWhy drastic temperature swings stress koi more than cold waterRanch life realities no one prepares you forWhy homeownership might actually be a scamThe $17,000 boat engine mistake that still haunts himBecause the roads are iced over and no one can leave, Ben is joined by the only guest available — his partner AJ Sarcione. Together, they dive into: Being snowed in and forced to slow downTexas fashion during snowstorms and finally wearing winter clothesPreparing animals for extreme cold and running generatorsWhy generators, space heaters, and extension cords are non-negotiableTheir first brutal Texas freeze in 2021 and being wildly unpreparedScooping pool water to flush toilets during a nine-day outageThe episode then shifts into a deeper conversation about humanity, outrage culture, and the pressure to perform beliefs online. Ben and AJ talk about: Why no one deserves violence — regardless of politicsThe dangers of social media turning everything into a warWhether creators owe public statements on every issueHaving real conversations instead of performative postingMeeting people where they are instead of demanding alignmentWhy empathy and dialogue matter more than choosing sidesThey wrap the episode with a reminder to stay warm, be kind, and remember that real conversations don’t happen in comment sections. 🎧 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

    44 min
  4. [Throwback Thursday] Ben in the Bush with Urzila Carlson

    JAN 22 · BONUS

    [Throwback Thursday] Ben in the Bush with Urzila Carlson

    Throwback Thursday. With Season 2 officially underway and new listeners joining, I wanted to resurface one of my favorite conversations from Season 1. This episode with comedian Urzila Carlson is funny, honest, and exactly the kind of conversation that defines It’s Ben A Week. If you’re new here, this is a great place to start. ___________________________________________ This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with Urzila Carlson — global comedy powerhouse, Taskmaster trauma survivor, and certified expert in both sarcasm and swearing. Originally from South Africa, now based in New Zealand, Urzila has taken the comedy world by storm with her Netflix specials, unfiltered stand-up, and razor-sharp takes on everything from LGBTQIA+ to not ending up porn. She’s a scene stealer in her new movie Kinda Pregnant, but first — we need Ben to get the name right!  The episode opens with a full breakdown of: Ben’s latest FedEx meltdown while trying to ship coral for his reef tankThe broken customer service loop that left him yelling at a robotThen Urzila joins and they dive into: Her journey from South Africa to Texas to AucklandSwearing in comedy, why the word “cunt” shouldn’t offend youThe time she broke her collarbone on Taskmaster Why airports are built to enrage you (and why pre-boarding should be illegal)What it's like shooting Kinda Pregnant with Amy SchumerWhy lesbians might have it easier than gay men in publicHow comedy handles swearing, slurs, and cancel culture — and what it gets wrongParenting while touring, and being confused for Ursula the Sea Witch🔗 Follow Urzila Carlson: Website: www.urzilacarlson.com TikTok: @urzilacarlson Instagram: @urzilacarlson Netflix Special: Overqualified Loser on Netflix New Movie: Kinda Pregnant  🎧 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 🎧 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

    1h 17m
  5. This Has Ben a Lifetime Friendship (ft. Maria Hynan)

    JAN 20

    This Has Ben a Lifetime Friendship (ft. Maria Hynan)

    This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by one of the longest friendships of his life — his childhood neighbor and lifelong friend, Maria Hynan. From growing up together on a lake in Wisconsin to navigating rebellion, mistakes, growth, and parenthood, this episode is a full-circle conversation about where we come from and who we become. Ben and Maria reminisce about meeting at five years old, fighting like siblings, rearranging Ben’s room every summer, Taekwondo classes, stolen fish from a pet store, and the chaos of growing up together. But the conversation quickly deepens as Maria opens up about her teenage years, strict parenting, rebellion, addiction, a life-changing pregnancy at 18, and how becoming a mother ultimately saved her life. Together, they talk honestly about breaking generational cycles, redefining parenting, and what it means to give your children a childhood they don’t have to recover from. Topics include: Growing up on a lake and spending every summer togetherChildhood fights, Taekwondo classes, and the infamous pet store fish incidentStrict parenting, rebellion, and acting out as a teenagerMaria’s pregnancy at 18 and the moment everything changedQuitting drugs and cigarettes cold turkey for her unborn childBecoming a young mother and finding purpose through responsibilityBreaking cycles of emotional and psychological abuseRaising children with honesty, openness, and compassionLetting kids learn without repeating the same traumaBen reflecting on staying true to his passions from childhood into adulthoodSaying “why not me?” and building the life you want out loudThe episode closes with the return of Breaking Point, where Ben spirals over rumors of a possible Hannah Montana 20th anniversary concert and Maria shares her frustration with people lacking basic self-awareness — especially when it comes to body odor. This episode is funny, emotional, raw, and deeply nostalgic — a reminder that some friendships don’t fade, they evolve. 🎧 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

    55 min
  6. What Happens After It’s All Ben Lost (ft. Greg Young)

    JAN 13

    What Happens After It’s All Ben Lost (ft. Greg Young)

    This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben sits down with his longtime friend Greg for one of the most personal and grounded conversations yet. Greg opens up about welcoming a new baby, surviving the devastating Palisades fires, and what it’s really like when your home is suddenly at risk — or gone — overnight. From evacuating through smoke-filled streets to navigating insurance chaos, grief, and gratitude at the same time, this episode blends humor, heartbreak, and honesty in a way only It’s Ben A Week can. The conversation also takes its usual chaotic turn — covering dad jokes, fitness burnout, wellness trackers, goat lore, and a truly infuriating scam that sent Ben straight to his breaking point. Heavy topics, real laughs, and the reminder that sometimes all you can do is get through the week. In this episode, we cover: Greg welcoming his second child and adjusting to life with two kidsLiving through the Palisades fires and evacuating under extreme conditionsWhat it’s like when your house survives — but everything inside doesn’tThe emotional math of what you grab when you have minutes to leaveInsurance nightmares, under-insurance, and financial fallout after disasterCommunity support, survivor’s guilt, and rebuilding after traumaBen’s childhood home burning down and shared disaster experiencesFitness culture burnout, trainers from hell, and wellness tracking fatigueBen getting scammed out of $1,000 and hitting peak rage with Wells FargoBreaking Point: deferred mortgages, Zelle scams, and letting it all goBen There, Done That with AJ returns for 2026🎧 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

    46 min
  7. Season 2 Trailer – It’s Ben A Week

    SEASON 2 TRAILER

    Season 2 Trailer – It’s Ben A Week

    Season 2 of It’s Ben A Week is here. Hosted by actor and photographer Ben McDonnell, It’s Ben A Week is a weekly comedy and culture podcast featuring candid conversations, unfiltered storytelling, and honest takes on relationships, identity, career chaos, and whatever the hell just happened this week. Season 2 launches with a refreshed look, elevated production, and a sharper creative focus — blending solo episodes with guest conversations from comedy, television, and pop culture. New episodes every week. Welcome to Season 2. 🎧 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

    1 min
  8. Ben Is Back (ft. AJ)

    JAN 6

    Ben Is Back (ft. AJ)

    Season Two is officially here. On the first episode of Season 2 of It’s Ben A Week, Ben returns after a three-week break feeling recharged, reset, and fully ready to level things up. With a brand-new studio, upgraded set, new artwork, and a fresh intro, Ben reflects on the wild first year of podcasting and what’s next for the show. Ben opens the episode talking about: Taking a much-needed break and realizing how strange it felt not recordingWriting notes in his phone when things happened and not having the podcast outletThe brand-new studio, elevated vibe, and “sexier” Season 2 lookHitting the Top 10% of video podcasts on Spotify last seasonWhy Season 2 is about refinement, confidence, and clarityBen then recaps an unforgettable holiday season, including: Attending Kathy Hilton’s iconic Christmas party in Beverly HillsPaparazzi outside the house and champagne vending machinesParis Hilton DJing in her childhood homeWalking away with an unreasonable number of LabubusWhy it felt surreal for a Simple Life superfanAfter reflecting on the energy shift from the Year of the Snake into the Year of the Fire Horse, Ben invites listeners to lean into change, momentum, and going after what they want in 2026. Then, Ben is joined by his partner and frequent collaborator AJ Sarcione to officially kick off Season 2. Together, they dive into: A chaotic LA weekend that included charity galas and exclusive partiesTraveling over the holidays and unexpectedly getting COVIDCancelled New Year’s plans and being stuck at home by 10 p.m.Launching a brand-new segment: Breaking PointBen’s rant about guests bringing alcohol to parties — then taking it homeAI videos becoming indistinguishable from realityJeff the Possum’s viral rise to over 4.5 million viewsChristmas cards, QR codes, cat food inserts, and postal chaosMerch, shipping costs, and why “free shipping” is a psychological scamA photography client dispute that spiraled into online harassmentSetting boundaries in business and choosing clients intentionallyLetting go of chaos from 2025 and moving forward with clarityThe episode closes with a reflection on boundaries, control, growth, and protecting your energy — setting the tone for what Season 2 of It’s Ben A Week is all about. 🎧 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

    50 min
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Trailers

4.9
out of 5
118 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Ben McDonnell
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 It's Ben a Week
  • Show Website
    It's Ben a Week

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