Knitted Heart

In this final episode of Knitted Heart, Ben speaks with his entire cast and crew from a feature length film captured in one fluid shot in July of 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Many critics said it couldn't be done. 

Ben speaks with globally recognized atmospheric scientist, Katharine Hayhoe, PhD. "I don't accept global warming on faith", Hayhoe asserts,  "I crunch the data, I analyze the models, I help engineers and city managers and ecologists quantify the impacts.In 2014, Hayhoe was named one of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People and the Foreign Policy's 100 Leading Global Thinkers. In 2015, Hayhoe was named one of the Huffington Post's 20 Climate Champions.  In 2017 she was named one of FORTUNE's world's greatest leaders.  Dr. Hayhoe speaks with Ben about the big issue that exacerbates many disparities, and humanitarian emergencies we're all facing together around the globe, and a way political polarization and tribalism that keeps us from just talking about it can be absent in a true coming together to heal our planet.   More info on Dr. Hayhoe can be found at KatharineHayhoe.com

In this episode, Ben speaks with Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm of the self-governed Vuntut Gwitchen First Nation. Located in Old Crow, the northern-most village in the North Yukon, Canada, Chief Dana carries generations of Indigenous Wisdom gained from intimate fidelity with the Land as teacher.  A scientist, philosopher, and a lover of people and planet, this discussion is sure to leave you with a treasure trove of ancient truths we can all benefit from. 

In this episode, Ben speaks with global thought leader on women living a childless life, Jody Day. Jody is the British founder of Gateway Women, the global friendship and support network for childless women with a social reach of over 2-million. From her arduous journey, Jody carries heart-healing wisdom for all of us, and I’m so grateful to share with this invigorating conversation with you. The gift of grief is the pearl of great price we are all invited to behold. www.gateway-women.com

In this episode, Ben speaks with immunologist, Doctor Steve Meress, MD. Dr. Meress has gotten the reputation amidst several doctors as the Doctor’s Doctor, the physician that Physicians send their loved ones to, as well as patient’s they are out of treatment options with. Patients from around the globe travel to Fon du Lac, Wisconsin to see Steve — prior to Covid of course — because he’s that good. Dr. Steve happens to be the doctor Ben went to in 2010 when he was extremely sick, and countless doctors he went to couldn’t quite identify what was going on with him. As Covid 19 rages, Steve has an abundance of practical medical wisdom for all of us to consider as we face big questions of a vaccine roll out, and how we can mitigate the risk of ending up in the hospital. Steve is the founder of Fox Valley Wellness Center in Fon Du Lac, Wisconsin. More information at www.foxvalleywellness.com((( )))

In this episode Ben speaks with Jason Vanderhoven, founder of the brewed Chocolate company, Choffy. At the height of his battle with chronic Lyme disease Ben's doctor told him to quit drinking coffee and start drinking Choffy to boost my immune system and pave a wider path for his body to heal itself. After several years of phone correspondence with Jason Ben realized that Jason has too much to say about how Choffy is the healthiest and best tasting coffee substitute out there; the true 'pick me up' our bodies can depend on to keep our energy stable, prevent mid-day crashes, and support our busy lives through immune detoxifying and replenishing of minerals and antioxidants. Oh yeah, Choffy is the realization of a dream Jason had about a Brazilian woman serving him brewed chocolate in a quaint hut. Jason woke up and knew this was his vocation. More info at Choffy.com((( )))

Ben speaks with Petter Neby, CEO of Switzerland-based tech company, Punkt. A big believer and dedicated user of the mobile phone by Punkt. (MP02) , Ben talks with Petter about his vision for Punkt. , and the importance of Tech serving us rather than vice versa. “Today’s world is consumed with technology," Petter asserts, “and I think we are too distracted by it in day-to-day life. I founded Punkt. to offer a viable alternative for those feeling overwhelmed by the advanced technologies that have pervaded modern lifestyles. Punkt. is about using technology to help us adopt good habits for less distracted lives.” More info on Punkt. at punkt.ch ((( )))

In this episode Ben speaks with Ian Smith, co-founder of the record label, Last Night From Glasgow, made to pay it forward. Hear how Ian created a zero-bullshit environment for artists to record and press their albums while never being indebted to the label a single cent. It sounds too good to be true, but there's a secret about Last Night From Glasgow that everyone should know: It’s 100% true, and it's the best way to get every record they press drop-shipped to your door for a fraction of what you'd pay at a record store. To start getting vinyl and other goodies shipped to your door for a crazy-good deal, become a member at lastnightfromglasgow.com — Then spread the word. LNFG subscriptions are the perfect Holiday or Birthday gift for that person who’s impossible to buy for. ((( )))lastnightfromglasgow.com

Ben speaks with daughter of the American icon poet Audre Lorde, Dr. Elizabeth Lorde-Rollins. Elizabeth has so much to say about the countless challenges of growing up Black in America and how a Black lesbian revolutionary mother who refused to remain silent inspired her to stand strong, live her truth, and take pride and joy in what burns in her heart to do day in day out. Ben is honored to have had this beautiful conversation with Elizabeth. Expect to walk away with a renewed fire to be Love in the midst of an unparalleled time in America’s fledgling history.

Ben speaks with author, director, and acting teacher extraordinaire, Anthony Meindl. Tony recently released his memoir, "You Knew When You Were Two", a heartrendingly vulnerable journey of a wildly imaginative and compassionate kid who grew up in small-town Indiana carrying a secret he was dying to share, but feared the great cost of daring to step out and Be his truest, freest self. Anthony is the founder of the Anthony Meindl Actors Workshop with studios in Los Angeles, New York, London, Vancouver, Toronto, Atlanta, Sydney, Santa Fe, Chicago, and Capetown. Take a deep breath and open your heart to the beauty, humor, and true compassion that radiates from this very lovable person. More info at anthonymeindl.com or knittedheart.com ((( )))

Ben speaks with wilderness guide and acclaimed author of books exploring off-the-grid living, Mark Sundeen. Mark is best known for his books, "The Man Who Quit Money", "The Unsettlers", and "Car Camping". Before you heat up that microwave burrito, consider a cup of tea from herbs you grew in your garden and listen somewhere that enlivens your sense of wonder. This episode is packed with food for the soul that has nothing to do with microwave burritos and everything to do with making room to commune with beauty. ((( )))

In this episode Ben talks with filmmaker and sacred places activist Toby McLeod. Having produced and directed important films such as In the Light of Reverence and Standing on Sacred Ground, Toby has committed the last 40 years of his life to earning the trust of numerous indigenous communities around the globe, whose intimate relationship with the Land outlives the Colonial purging of their sacred places. Toby’s Sacred Land Film project has documented this assault, made in the name of progress and proselytizing, which has led to irreparable loss for generations of aboriginal peoples native to these homelands, Sacred cultural landscapes inhabited for thousands of years before they were pioneered by white settlers and latecomers seeking fortune at any cost. Toby’s openness, humility and dedication to the long and arduous road through the complicated history of these long-established cultures has touched Ben at the core. Ben hopes this conversation will impact you at the depth it has him.More information on Toby's work at StandingOnSacredGround.org and SacredLand.org((( )))

Ben speaks with Pigment Forager, Heidi Gustafson, of Early Futures. Hold on to your butts. This conversation knocked Ben off his. Heidi’s wholehearted devotion to contemplating our past and activating our future through the fully sensory experience of “playing with rocks”, as she says it, has so much to wisdom to teach us, some of it exhilarating, and most of it humbling. The pigment in our rocks and soil whispers living counsel from the hills, from the very ground we walk, excavate, drill, build, and exploit. In this conversation you can hear and feel Heidi’s bleeding heart for us to heed the Wisdom when the rocks of history cry out. More info on Heidi's work at www.earlyfutures.com

Ben speaks with Writer, TV Producer, and Black activist, Kim M. Williams. Kim is the author of such books as 40 hours and an Unwritten Rule, about the the double standard Black Women face in Corporate America. Kim’s first book was received so well, Kim adapted it into the three-season smash hit, and very addicting YouTube series, The Unwritten Rules. With 2020 calling America to seriously re-assess the truest definition of Freedom by catching up on centuries of Black history that never made it into most school curricula in America, Kim’s books and episodic series prove to be excellent resources unto that end. Kim worked in Los Angeles in TV production & Post production for 20 years, until she made a big move to Johannesburg, South Africa, where she writes and produces content for her company, InkSpot Entertainment, and teaches film making workshops to girls throughout the African Continent. Kim's humorous and engaging demeanor make this conversation an easy and fascinating listen. For more information on Kim, visit her website at inkspotentertainment.com. More info on at knittedheart.com/BLM ((( )))

In a deeply inspiring conversation about the Mythic Feminine, Ben speaks with renowned Writer, Psychologist, and Mythologist, Dr. Sharon Blackie. For Myth lovers and storytellers of all mediums out there, Sharon so beautifully re-casts our widely-accepted 20th century model, known as Joseph Campbell's “Hero’s Journey”, into a more expansive and all-gender empowering paradigm that charts endless trajectories unto new horizons for us all to adventure beyond. Dr. Blackie's two most recent books, If Women Rose Rooted, and Foxfire, Wolfskin (and other Stories of Shapeshifting Women), explore her favorite topic amidst her studies: The Mythic Feminine. More information about Dr. Sharon Blackie can be found at www.sharonblackie.net ((( )))

Ben speaks with his friend, J. Todd Anderson. The Coen Brothers’ storyboard artist since 1987's Raising Arizona, J. Todd’s proven track-record of making the film on paper first is what attracted Ben to adopt J. Todd's tricks-of-the-trade into his own film making. After Ben spent two weeks in 2016 with J. Todd at his tranquil home in Dayton, Ohio planning one of his upcoming films, Ben will never go back to another method of prep for any production.To all you filmmakers out there. J. Todd brings with him endless boots-on-the-ground experience making movies. Consider this conversation a rich opportunity to extract a train car full of film-making gold. So with that, sit back, relax and absorb the wise and humor-laden words of the one and only, J. Todd Anderson.

Ben speaks with taboo-trashing and nerve-jangling comedian and activist, Margaret Cho. Margaret is a social justice warrior, known to stand up for the LGBTQ and People-of-Color communities. Growing up under, what she calls, “dignified Korean etiquette” Margaret’s sees her comedy as activism that forces social discomfort, with an ultimate hope to look our ugliness in the mirror and deal with it. Margaret speaks of the horrors of this unprecedented convergence of the Covid19 Pandemic, the murder of George Floyd by police brutality, and the historic rise of the Black Lives Matter revolution that was long overdue. We even get a chance to laugh our asses of about Donald Tr%#p's awkward Bible photo and the the wincing-horror of egg-shaped penises.

In this episode, Ben speaks with poet and Trappist monk, Brother Paul Quenon. At age 79, Brother Paul has lived a life of contemplative silence at Our Lady of Gethsemani monastery, deep in the knobbed woods of rural Kentucky, since he was 18 years of age. The lens from which Paul views life always sends me home pregnant with a renewed buoyancy and celebration of the seemingly small, and typically-unnoticed whisperings in life that are gently inviting us to stop and absorb their wisdom. A living paradox that keeps on giving, it’s the useless details we overlook in pursuit of what most of us call useful, or profitable, that Brother Paul reminds us, are the true agents of inner transformation, joy, and Reckless Love. And if that isn’t cool enough, Paul lived with and studied under social agitator and author, Thomas Merton, for 10 years.Regardless of your philosophy about life: A person of faith, an atheist, a Satanist or a nothing-ist; We invite you to be wide open and awake to the nuance and poetry that radiates from Brother Paul’s being. After all, we’re all made of the same stuff, I am you and you are we. ((( )))

This is Part 2 of Ben's discussion with Hollywood icon director and actor Joan Darling. In this episode Joan dives deep into the heavier issues of our existence, including fear of death. If you have yet to hear Part 1 of Ben's discussion with Joan in Episode 03, it will be well worth listening to this intimate conversation in sequential order.

This is PART 1 of 2 episodes where Ben speaks with Emmy award-winning writer and director, Joan Darling (M*A*S*H*, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The President's Analyst). Joan is a world-respected trailblazer; a female director in the blooming era of 1960s film and television. Joan speaks of how invigorated she is by the truthful art-form of not knowing what's around the corner, and losing her breath with shock and delight. Be overtaken with surprise and wonder at how Joan connects the universal dots between acting and just being who we all are at our very core: hilarious.

Ben speaks with twins, Rachael and Paul Swinton about their swift rise to musical notoriety in the U.K. with their debut, self-titled album "Cloth", which most assuredly rewards close scrutiny.

Russel Hulsey is an American Contemporary Artist, Actor, and Poet, whose conceptual Art installations, paintings, poetics, and performances have been exhibited around the world. At the zenith of his notoriety as a visual artist, Russel stepped away from the predictable provision his commissioned art contributed to his bank account and said "Yes, and" to the summons of legendary acting guru, Sanford Meisner, to "live truthfully under imaginary circumstances". In just two short years, Russel has starred and acted in over a dozen independent feature films, with three more currently in post production. Through it all, Russel's poetry has been the golden thread contextualizing his journey as an Artist. Amidst our conversation Russel shares two of his poems speaking to him amidst the Covid 19 pandemic.