Heard Podcast

In this live event, world renowned "reader", Michael Verde uses one of the greatest pieces of American literature to change the way we read, relate to the written word, and expand what is possible for an artist.  Somewhere between brain candy and a soul massage, this will inspire you and open your eyes to see what, perhaps, has been there all along.

In this episode, Benjamin sits down with actress, and star of the new Amazon Original series, "Jack Ryan", Dina Shihabi to discuss diversity, equality, and the miracle of being alive. A unique voice in difficult times, Dina offers insight into what it means to know yourself, love those around you, and bask in the miracle of life.  

In this episode, Benjamin sits down with actress and cultural influencer, Ana Lorena Sanchez to discuss what life, love, and dating looks like in 2018.  The conversation goes to some unexpected places as Ana Lorena opens up about some personal things, and a surprise guest jumps in to reveal something previously unknown about the host.  You do not want to miss this podcast!

In 2012, host, Benjamin Mathes created Urban Confessional: a Free Listening Movement.  Since then, the movement has grown to over 80 countries with thousands of volunteers holding signs that say, "Free Listening".  In this episode, Benjamin uncovers the secrets to deep listening.  Often referred to as a "soft skill", this podcast will show you why listening is actually a "survival skill". Take notes and listen carefully, there's a lot of info in this episode!

In this episode, one of last season most popular guest, Michael Verde, returns to dive deep into the profound effects myths and metaphors have on our lives, literature, and cultural understanding.  A self-proclaimed "Reader", Michael is capable of revealing hidden truths embedded into the written word. Pulling from Biblical scripture and classic American Literature, he will open the aperture of what is possible when we allow ourselves to see more, understand more, and read in a new way.

In this episode, Benjamin sits down with self described "White, Lutheran, Rapper" and cultural innovator, Agape Dave. Join them as they wade through the muddy waters of cultural appropriation, racism, hiphop, Jesus, and how social anxiety may be cause of modern segregation. In this episode, Agape Dave will give you a 5 step process that will show you how to grow in your understanding of different cultures, discuss the nuances of Whiteness, and shed light on the very things that will bring us all together if we ever develop the courage to let it.

In this episode, Benjamin sits down with Kansas State University professor, Dr. Katie Heinrich to discuss her studies on one of the worlds leading workout programs, CrossFit.  She offers a unique perspective one the high intensity workouts and dives into nutrition, sports psychology, and why Crossfit isn't exactly what you think it is.  Whether you work out or not, you'll want to know the information she has to share!

Join Benjamin as he chats with actor and theatre artist, Cody Kearsley.  Currently starring as Moose Mason on Netflix's Riverdale, Cody opens up about his sobriety, his questions about life and spirituality, and what it means to be an artist.  In this podcast, we are reminded of the power of vulnerability, the universal message behind personal truths, and the difficult nature of experiencing the wholeness of life.

After suffering a near death experience in 2018, actor and stunt-man, Jose Lopez sits down with Benjamin to discuss what it really means to be alive.  His insights on life, death, and leaving a legacy will inspire you and make you think.  In this episode, Jose shares the depths of his personal and physical struggle, the miracles of science that kept him alive, and the importance of the community that lifted him up.  You do not want to miss this interview.

In this episode, Benjamin sits down with actor Daniel Sharman to discuss life, giving, and what it means to be an artist in a modern time.  From Teen Wolf, Fear the Walking Dead, The Immortals, The Originals, and the upcoming Netflix series, Medici, Daniel is an actor know across the world for his talent, his warmth, and his deep thinking…oh, and his over 4 million followers on social media.  In this conversation, Daniel gets personal and reveals things he’s never spoken of in his many public interviews.  Do not miss this engaging, provocative, and at times, comical interview with Daniel Sharman.

Improv Comedy, Metaphysics, and film production. Nothing is off limits in this episode as Benjamin chats with Hollywood producer, scientist, and published author, Ivan Orlic. The episodes begins with an invaluable lesson on how to approach famous people on the streets, and quickly moves into personal revelations about life, love and the art of making movies.

In this episode, Benjamin chats with 3 time Republican Georgia State Senator, Burt Jones.  From the University of Georgia football team to the state government, Burt opens up about what it takes to win an election, run a business, and raise a family in today’s world.  He also reveals exactly what it’s like to disagree with other members of the state Senate, and how we can all work together to make the world a better place.  Oh—and he’s met President Trump many times.  Wanna know what that was like…?  Listen to the end.  I think you’ll be surprised.

In this episode, Benjamin chats with King of Pops founder Nick Carse about life, risks, and how to create unexpected moments of happiness in the lives of people around you. In a classic deep dive, Nick talks about how he went from analyzing risk to taking risks: hint, it has something to do with the famous Harry Hand Case.  He also discusses how he and the team at King of Pops have created a Farm to Pop model by extending what it means to create small batch pops are made with love in the South. If you’re stuck at your job, but have a dream of changing the world, you need to listen to this interview.  Maybe you’ll learn the difference between a “decision” and a “choice”.

In this rare interview, Benjamin discusses the meaning of life with one of the world’s leading theatre and voice practitioners, Catherine Fitzmaurice. Together they discuss the dynamic nature of life, the beauty of death, and everything that happens in between. Catherine goes on to reveal that she is not afraid of something that tends to haunt us all, the importance of rethinking traditions, and how to make the world your peer. Throughout, there are laughs, deep breaths, and lots of truth. You do not have to be a theatre-goer to relate to her experience and the wisdom she’s derived from it.

In this episode, Benjamin sits down with speaker, author, and self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist, Mike Foster. From the very start of the episode, Mike re-frames our relationship to the difficult moments in life, and teaches us how to embrace and integrate our life journey no matter the circumstances. In fact, he will take you on a journey to discover how the very things you believe are holding you back, are the very things that give you an unfair advantage. Your story matters, and in this episode, Mike will show you why.

Season 2 is coming on April 10th! Check out the new guests, the new interviews, and all the new insight in just ONE WEEK!

James Kinney is back! It's a Christmas miracle! In this podcast, James puts forward the idea that wellness is the cornerstone of a happy and successful life, but how does perception concerning who we are, and what we want to be relate to maintaining that sense of wellness? Ben sits down with James Kinney once more, and the two dive into the importance of social currency, aligning the feedback that we get from others with our own self-perception, and what James Kinney plans to do when he runs for president in 2020.

Jeff Fink has struggled with depression since he was a teenager. His battle for emotional health and functionality took him through endless medications, therapy, and finally hospitalization. However, it wasn’t until he met Earl that his life finally began to turn around. Earl has been a life long friend and an incredible support as Jeff has pushed forward. He’s also a dog. Today Ben and Jeff sit down to discuss mental health, and the incredible impact that animals can have on our well being.

Whether its addiction, or overcoming our psychological trauma, recovery is a long and lonely road to walk. Former marine Billy Vaughan has done his best to ensure that the people who come to his organization have as much support as he can give. When he sits down to chat with Ben, the two talk about redemption and healing and how to come to terms with the individuals that some might think are too far gone.

We’ve all been in at least one awkward situation. Most of us think that those situations are relegated to bad small talk or a slight miscommunication between two people. However, sometimes awkward situations are more related to a deeper discomfort with an idea or concept. In his work with the elderly Michael Verde helps people confront awkwardness. He assists those experiencing dementia in creating meaningful connections with real people. The interactions can be weird and tough to stomach, but as Benjamin and Michael discuss today are absolutely necessary as our loved ones get older.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the time to reflect on gratitude is here. But that’s where a lot of people stop. Today Ben discusses the cycle of gratitude and how if your gratitude does not turn into giving, you’re stuck in the condition of receiving from others, while not giving back to those around you.

With age comes wisdom, and if you’re lucky, grace. Though if you’re too caught up in the pace of the everyday, it’s easy to forget that we’re only where we are today because we’ve stood on the shoulders of past giants to achieve new heights in the present. Adelyn Price has been able to see the progression of the last century. Join Benjamin and Adelyn as they discuss progress, the past, and where things are taking us tomorrow.

It’s no revelation that people are very concerned with appearances. There’s no industry that capitalizes on this concern more than the fitness industry. Brad Davidson is a fitness instructor who knows what it’s like to chase the preconceived notions of physical perfection, but he also knows what blindly chasing those ideals can cost. He’s lost parts of his hair due to stress, battled a failing thyroid, and at one point had the testosterone of an ill 85-year-old man. After a near death experience, Brad learned to stop living for the “ideal” and to start living for himself. Join Benjamin and Brad as they discuss, physical appearance, the determination of training, and what it’s like to lie your way onto an Olympic Bobsled team.

First impressions are everything. But when Adam Asher hands someone a business card he’s either met with immediate kinship or eye-rolling disdain. Adam is a conservative talk radio producer, but as much as we would like to assume things about someone based on their occupation, how we make our livelihood is only a part of who we are. Adam is driven to challenge the status quo, and the idea of what can be learned when we dig a little deeper into the people around us. Join Benjamin as he talks with Adam about conservatism, liberalism, and the unspoken ideas that connect the two philosophies together.

Dr. Earl Henslin has written 10 books and put thousands of hours into his practice of improving the mental and emotional well-being of his patients, but he’s perfectly happy to attest that most of the ideas he implements in therapy aren’t what he learned in Med-School decades ago, they’re from our constantly evolving understanding of the brain. Today Benjamin sits down with Dr. Henslin to discuss the brain, and how it’s much more than just where our passing thoughts come from. Our dreams are tied to our brain, and accomplishing them can be dependent on how we take care of it.

What is it that separates empathy and action? For some, it’s easier to remain focused on ourselves than it is to clue in to what’s going on with the folks around us. For others, we’re worried that by empathizing with others, we might somehow weaken our own ideals and perspectives. Edwin Rutsch has made it his mission in life to help teach what empathy is, and more importantly how to embrace it. Because it’s when we realize that we don’t have to abandon who we are to be with someone else, that something truly powerful can happen.

If scars are stories, Harrison Scott Key has more than enough to fill the books that he writes. Growing up in the south, he’s taken his share of licks and has come through each harrowing event with another funny story to tell. He contemplates life while washing kitchenware and feels that our uncertainty is what unities us. When Benjamin sits down to chat with Harrison, the two dive into humor, family, and many, many anecdotes. This is Harrison Scott Key.

For a city that was built on a foundation of distraction, in the aftermath of evil, Las Vegas is awake. The locals waited in line for eight hours to give blood. The city has started funds and efforts to house the families of the fallen who seek to come into the city to see the ones they've lost. When Benjamin went free listening in the streets of Vegas, he talked with many people struggling to make sense of how they feel. Today we all pause to reflect on what it means to listen in times of anguish.

We only know how strong we are when being strong is our only choice. Kendra Kinnison has survived Hurricanes. Her most recent brush with tumultuous storms happened when Hurricane Harvey ripped through southern Texas. However, she finds her calling in helping leaders navigate personal hurricanes that can arise when we choose to make ourselves vulnerable to the responsibility of leading. When she sits down with Benjamin, the two dive into the process of how we can take the mantle of leadership regardless of position or occupation.

They say to stick to what you know, and it seems like we do the same thing when it comes to what entertains us. We want the next big idea, while at the same time, we have a soft spot for the stories and formulas we’ve come to know and love. It’s hypocritical, but a reality of life. No one knows more about reality and television than Matt Sprouse. He’s a reality TV producer behind shows like Welcome to Myrtle Manor and Sons of Guns. In this episode he sits down with Benjamin to talk about what it’s like trying to capture life in front of the camera, while still shaping what’s unscripted into a story.

How do we release our need for control? It’s all too often that the hectic whims of the world seem to subject us to circumstances that we’d rather not be in. But usually, the most painful parts of those situations come from worrying about things we have no say over whatsover. In his time working with CEO’s and entrepreneurs, Benjamin has focused on two key concepts: The Career Matrix and the Creative Economy. In this episode, Benjamin unpacks these two ideas, and explores several elements that we can all use to improve our careers and our everyday lives.

It’s possible to feel alone even when we’re surrounded by people, but one of the best ways to reach out and make a connection is by using art. When it seems society is spinning out of control, art can be used as a platform to pull us back together. Today Benjamin sits down with artist and activist Damilola Apotieri to discuss his belief that no matter the circumstance, where there is life, there is hope, and it’s art that can help us find it.

Whenever we reach out, we open ourselves up to feedback. It can be positive or negative, but the concept of feedback alone can be daunting enough to some that it shuts down our willingness to communicate. Thomas Knox is the creator of Date While You Wait, and in the intimate settings he creates with strangers he’s constantly making himself vulnerable to feedback. When Ben sits down to chat with Thomas, they discuss everything from fashion, to family, to using the feedback we get from those around us to create even better things in the world.

In the wake of tragic events its easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of anger and confusion that almost assuredly follows. After the events of Charlottesville, it feels like tension has reached an all time high. In this episode, Ben sits down with Pearce Godwin of the Listen First Project to discuss what it’s like to listen to those who only seem to spew hate to cover up their hurt.

Whether we agree with them or not, there are certain people who have done so much, and seen so much, that their perspective gives a palpable credence to their stories and beliefs. Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jerry Boykin is one of those people. He has served his country with valor and dignity, but as a man of faith, he’s also had to weigh his religious beliefs against his choices on the battlefield. When he sits down with Ben, the two discuss religion, violence and reconciliation. The conversations might be polarizing, but as always, it’s worth listening to.

True courage is found when we prioritize the needs of others over the needs of ourselves. When that happens, it can inspire us to do the profound and daring. For Linda Mathes, it’s pushed her into the spotlight of leadership. She serves as the CEO to one of the most highly regarded non-profits in the world, The Red Cross. When she sits down with Benjamin to chat, she sheds light on what it means to lead, and what it means lead when millions of lives are affected by your decisions.  

It’s tough to speak of suffering. Helena Walsh is a renowned voice coach that’s worked with actors, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking a greater understanding of person to person communication. But one subject that often gives all of us pause is pain. Join Ben and Helena as they discuss everything from accents, to language, before digging into the need to accept pain, while being available for those going through it.

When Kyle Selig became involved in theater, it was because he wanted to reach out to the other people around him. As Kyle and Benjamin sit down to chat, they dive in to the purpose of theater as well as the responsibilities actors have to vulnerability and responding to the needs and struggles of society. Join in and watch the line blur, as the lessons and wisdom of the stage become applicable to all of us.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the UFC, Anderson Silva is no stranger to success. However, when he sits down to talk with Benjamin, the two dive into how moments of failure can be used to drive us to greater heights and deeper passions. For Anderson, that means venturing into a profession he’s never attempted before and figuring out how to build himself up to achieve his dream: Inspiring others to chase their own.

In the last 30 years, our discussions over gender and sexual identity have radically transformed. But even with all the progress that's been made, the dialogue can be awkward, difficult, and taxing despite the need for the discourse to occur. Joslyn DeFreece sits down with Ben to discuss what it's like to keep the conversation going and to remain optimistic, even when it feels like its going nowhere.

In this episode of the Heard Podcast, Ben packs up his computer and his microphone and hits up the nearby Silverlake Farmers Market to listen to anyone who has anything to say. Join Ben as he gets to know a harpist, a homeless man, and a lover of watermelon drinks while discussing everything from philosophy to musical theory to shooting your cremated ashes into space.

Cathey Armillas is a person who specializes in ideas. She spreads them, she cultivates them, and in her work, she regularly helps people get ready to present them at TED talks. Join Ben and Cathey as they discuss how we can harness something that starts as an idea, and turn it into something that can change the world.

With Father’s Day still fresh on our minds, Benjamin sits down to catch up with his dad on the happenings in his life. He opens up about being, “On the verge of insignificance.” Listen in, as the two of them discuss what it’s like to be a father, and what it’s like embracing a new phase of life when it’s time to watch those you’ve passed the torch on to carry on your cause.

When we stop to listen, we not only allow ourselves to be vulnerable to viewpoints we’ve never heard before, but we also engage in topics that are tempting to be close-minded about. In this episode, Benjamin meets up with adult film actress Tasha Reign to chat about sex, love, spirituality, as well as the lesser known details of the pornographic industry.

Benjamin sits down with actor Pete Gardner, and his son Matthew Gardner, to discuss what it means to balance being a success in our careers, in our family responsibilities, and with every other title that we claim to be! Together, Ben, Pete, and Matthew discuss how to seek well-rounded excellence without neglecting other interests in life. Join us, as we dive into what it means to chase a three dimensional greatness.

Ethan Sawyer, better known as College Essay Guy, is a master of questions. When Benjamin sits down with him to chat, the two quickly dig in to the power of curiosity and how our inquisitive nature can ignite passions in all areas of life. Join in on the conversation, as Ethan opens up to what it means to listen unconditionally.

Benjamin invites actress Ana Lorena Sanchez to converse about what it means to have a tribe of people that encourages us on our journey through life. Together, Ana and Ben examine how the communities that we find can shape us and our perspective we take with us into the world. Listen in, and open up to the possibilities made possible by the people we choose to rally behind and for.

Benjamin is joined by actor, director, and teacher Stuart Rogers as they discuss the importance of tradition and what it means to challenge the norms of today. Together, Ben and Stuart examine what exactly can happen when we challenge the authority of the past with the creativity we possess in the present. Join in on the conversation and listen as they discuss everything from the theatrically taboo, to the purpose of family roles, to our very reason for existence.

Benjamin sits down to chat with singer, songwriter and former member of Milo Greene, Andrew Heringer to examine how it feels to juggle our stress with our dreams and aspirations. Together, Ben and Andrew explore how our past and relationships can shape the paths we take in life and how to deal with the repercussions when moving forward. Listen in as Andrew invites listeners into his personal creative process, his spirituality, and even shares a song-in-progress from his new album.

This week Benjamin meets with Mitch Lewis – artist, optimistic cynic, and one-third of viral video comedian-provocateurs The Kloons. Exploring what it means to be a good person in 2017, Mitch and Ben dig into ego, ambition, sketch comedy, the roller coaster of viral fame, Burning Man, and the daunting practice of meditation. Open your mind to all possibilities in this episode, and discover the rich rewards of not knowing what you’re doing.

Benjamin meets with his 18-year-old cousin Price Willoch to riff on all things high school—prom, track meets, Instagram and six packs (abs). A direct line into what it means to be a post-millennial human, Price shares his individual take on locker room conversations, friendships and being authentically human in high school. Lean in to this episode, and share in the excitement of how young people like Price will shape our future.