Real Talk w/ Ben Tompkins

Hunter Porter is a real estate whiz, a statesman, an entrepreneur, a brother, son, Kentucky basketball fan, and a Senior Associate at BC Wood Properties. Hunter joined the show to share his life's story, including what experiences shaped him growing up and what lessons his parents instilled in him, as well as his transition from college into the real world, with a little Kentucky basketball nostalgia sprinkled in. Covering a few different sales positions he held and how he learned to overcome rejection, we later get into how he got his start in the commercial real estate industry, and how he is uniquely positions to be at the forefront of entrepreneurship. Hunter discusses the power of persistence throughout this episode, as well as some of his mentors and whose work he studies in the real estate industry. Later, he shares what qualities he believes makes a great leader, the importance of building out your network, and his next goals, before finishing with his realest talk. You can follow him on Instagram @hunter_a_porter, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Brock Roberts is a teacher, a molder of youth, a culture builder, a state champion, and he's currently the Head Football Coach at North Oldham High School, my alma mater. We open things up with how he was raised by a single mother and what he learned watching his mom hustle for him and his brothers, how his father's death is still an unsolved mystery in Kentucky, and how playing sports growing up helped shaped the person he is today. Brock also went to Thomas More College, where I played a season of college football, which I didn't know until this episode. We missed each other by a semester I think. Pretty wild. So, we spend some time talking about that, and also how he handled the identity shift going from a player to a coach after his career had ended. In this episode, Brock shares the lessons be strives to teach his players and students and how his position as coach is bigger than wins and losses. He also shares what it was like becoming an assistant coach with Martha Layne Collins High School and winning a state championship, to becoming the head coach at Eminence High School, and then ultimately, landing at North Oldham. Later, Brock defines his coaching style and philosophy, his go-to mantras and sayings, what makes a great leader, a time he hit rock bottom, the goals he's reaching for next, and finally, his realest talk. You can follow him on Twitter @bdroberts20, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Cayce Hamilton is a hustler, an MBA holder, a stereotype defier, a former soccer star, and she's currently the Corporate Group Sales Manager at Marriott. In this episode, you'll hear her share her story of growing up in a strict Catholic household and coming out as a gay woman, what it was like growing up in that structure from K-12th grade, the identity shifts that she's dealt with, and what that conversation was like with her parents. After that, we discuss the generational acceptance of gay people and how it's improved over time, then we jump into her career and some of the moves she's made. Following some time spent on Capital Hill, we talk about how she obtained her Master's Degree from Georgia State University, and how she was seven weeks away from reporting to Quantico, Virginia to work with the FBI when she decided it was all too familiar of a structure and chose to forgo that opportunity. Cayce shares what helped her heal and cope with feelings of identity, being who she wanted to be, who some of her mentors are, a movie that changed her life, and finally, we wrap things up with her realest talk. You can follow her on Instagram @cayceham, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Vicky Michelle is a true entrepreneur. She's a hustler, a healer, a risk taker, an artist, an adventure seeker, and she's currently a private chef for a fraternity house at Georgia Tech University. Vicky joined the show to discuss her entrepreneurial spirit, the businesses that she's grown, how old she was when she realized she loved cooking for people, and how she's raised her visibility and refused to dim her light. We talk about the power of healing that food can be for people, what helped motivate her after she felt stuck, healing from trauma, and the next goals she's striving for. Later in the episode, Vicky reveals how she taps into her creative process, she tells me about a time she hit rock bottom, who her mentors are, a movie that changed her life, and finally, as always, we wrap up with her realest talk. There aren't many people out there like Vick, and she embodies to me everything that is important about entrepreneurship, going for it, not knowing what you don't know and yet pushing on in spite of it all, and ultimately, carving out a path that's uniquely her own. This was a fun one, and I hope you enjoy it. You can follow her on Instagram @vickyshouseofsecrets, her linktree posted in the show notes, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Logan Cohen is a keynote speaker, an influencer with over 1.6 million TikTok followers, an entrepreneur, a licensed therapist and a trauma-informed coach. In this episode, Logan describes what had led him to this path of ultimately serving and coaching others, the chaos in his house growing up, and the transfer of generational trauma after his Grandfather survived Auschwitz by being on Schindler's List. We also tackle some other heavy topics, like Logan's addiction what it looked like, his sobriety journey, escapism and dissociation, how addiction sometimes is hard to identify in college, and ultimately what had to change in order for him to get sober. Later on, Logan shares how he launched and has built his business and following. the differences between trauma-informed therapy and traditional therapy, how he helps the people he works with to identify and process their trauma, and how to tell your story with respect to others being involved. We finish off with learning about Logan's mentors, why it's so important to become the hero of your own story, and finally, he shares his realest talk. You can follow him on Instagram and @healinghumanity777, on TikTok @healinghumanity777 as well, check out his website if you're interested in coaching services at logancohen.com, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Doug Scott is an avid Oregon Ducks fan, a native Oregonian, a software product manager, and he's the Co-Host of the QB11 Show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. I met Doug through Twitter, and reached out to him because I wanted to not only find someone to come on and talk some Ducks football, but I wanted to find the right person. Someone with a story to tell. And in this episode, Doug does just that. We go straight to the deep end as he opens up about living in rural Oregon, being the child of divorce and what it was like growing up with an absentee father. We discuss his mother's impact on him and what he learned from watching her hustle to make sure Doug and his sister didn't go without. Later in the episode, we weave through Doug's career trajectory and his time working as a pharmacy technician, before ultimately landing in the software engineering and product management space. After that, we spend some time nerding out and reminiscing on Oregon football, how he initially became a fan, how he became a podcaster, grading the Dan Lanning Era to this point, the expectations for the Ducks heading into the Big 10, some of his favorite players from over the years, some gameday best tips, and finally, his realest talk. You can follow him on Twitter @douglasts, check out his show the QB 11 Show everywhere podcasts are available, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Carson Hollingsworth is a teacher, a mentor, a brother, a builder of youth, and he's the JV basketball coach at Cambridge High School. We get pretty deep early as he shares the passing of his mother and brother and the impact they had on his life, as well as other life-shaping moments during adolescence. Then, we bounce around from his playing career, to injuries he dealt with and what inspired him to get through rehab and workouts time and time again, to ultimately transitioning from a player to a coach. After defining his own coaching style, Carson shares who some of the coaches are that he tries to emulate, as well as his favorite players growing up. Later in the episode, he details his first jobs coming out of college, when he committed to teaching as a career, and his favorite memories from playing ball. We wrap things up with the biggest things he tries to instill in the kids he coaches, how he overcomes adversity, and finally, his realest talk. This is another episode where we go deep and get personal when talking about his mother and his brother, and I appreciate that so much. Keep doing what you're doing Carson, keep making them proud, man. You can follow him on Instagram @carsonhollingsworth0, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Bradon Fortin is a beast. He's an athlete, the son of a former NFL player, a dad himself, he's one of the first people I connected with down here in Atlanta, and he's one of the Head Coaches and Lead Instructors at The Forum Athletic Club. In this episode, Bradon notes what it was like growing up in an NFL family, where his dad, Roman, was a stud for 12 seasons. He tells me what it was like playing football with a dad who was a pro, as well as lessons his dad has taught him over the years. Later on, we get into how The Forum has been built as a business from one location to three, all thanks to their approach to fitness and their unique Fast Twitch classes. After breaking down the benefits of HIIT-type workouts, he shares a few of his biggest success stories with clients, the goals he's striving for next, what his favorite part about coaching is, and finally, as wrap up with his realest talk. You can follow him on Instagram @bradon410, check out The Forum's website to see their facilities, drop by for a class if you're in the Atlanta area, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Linus Höglund, or Hogland as he's known to fans, is a name to know in the EDM scene. He's a hitmaker, a platinum-selling DJ, a content creator, and he's one of my favorite people to listen to right now. In this episode, we do a deep dive on his personal life, what it was like growing up in Stockholm, Sweden, who his role models are, sports he played growing up, and life shaping moments during his youth. He shares how he got started as a DJ, what it looked like in the beginning dropping songs on Soundcloud, how he's grown as an artist, and ultimately we arrive at his release, Letting Go feat. Kiddo, which caught the eye of Kygo, who then signed Hogland to his first deal. He describes what a surreal feeling it was watching Kygo play his song in front of fans, how he dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic as a performing artist, the difference between playing festivals versus shows, his creative process, Avicii's impact on him, his Mount Rushmore of artists, what he's working on next, and finally, his realest talk. It was an honor to have him on the show, he's definitely somebody that I expect to keep blowing up and gaining more traction in the music scene, and I can't wait until the day that I can see him live, wherever that may be. You can follow him on Instagram @hogland, check out his work on Apple Music and Spotify, his website hoglandmusic.com, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Davey West B is a rapper, a writer, an artist, he's that guy to get it poppin', and he's the man behind the projects Space Trip and Firewav. He released Space Trip in 2020, Firewav dropped in 2022, they're available on Apple Music and Spotify, and he's currently working on some more big things. Davey joined the show and explains what it was like growing up as on only child raised by a single mother in Philadelphia, the first time he became aware of death, and shares some of his mentors. Beginning when he was just 8 years old, Davey began writing in composition notebooks and details how his artist's journey got started. He dishes on artistic visibility and what it's like owning that spot, what the feeling is like when he performs live, and the hustle involved with promoting yourself and doing pop-ups. Later, we speak on the rap game, where it's at, who new artists are, the emergence of the female superstars that are dominating right now, and sadly this was taped before any of the Kendrick and Drake beef got kicked off, or else you know I'd be yelling team Drake over here. Davey shares all of this, plus what he's working on now, before giving us his realest talk. You can follow him on Instagram @dawavey1, check out his music on all streaming services, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Shannon Turner is a storyteller, an artist, an observer of life, and she's a podcast pro. Growing up with a father as a minister, Shannon shares how she moved around a lot as a kid being in the business of the church and how that shaped her growing up. We talk about the artist's identity and what it's like to lean into claiming yourself as an artist before she shares some wisdom on not everyone being for you and that feeling of being stuck in your 20s. Later in the episode, she reveals what it's been like transforming into the hero of her own story, what she believes makes a great storyteller, she coaches me through one of her deep listening exercises, and finally, she shares her realest talk. You can follow her on Instagram @story_muse, her YouTube account @storymuse, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Elizabeth Milano is the Queen of the comeback story. She's a journalist, a fighter, and an epic storyteller. Raised by a single mother in Atlanta, Elizabeth shares how growing up as an only child forced her to make new connections and friendships all throughout her life, as well as instilling grit in her from a young age. I call her the queen of the comeback story because in this episode, she details how she went from having a 0.0 GPA her freshman year of college, to packing up, transferring, earning a 4.0 GPA the next semester and achieving her Associate's Degree, and eventually transferring to and graduating from the University of Georgia. All of this happened as her mother battled breast cancer, so it was a challenging time for her, but she speaks on what helped her through those times and what that experience was like. Later in the episode, we go deep into her career in journalism, how she got into digital news, working at places like USA Today and Access Hollywood, and using the things she's learned along the way as stepping stones to the path that she's carved out for herself. We definitely nerd out journalist to journalist for a bit when talking about favorite stories she's covered, the rush of breaking news, journalism best practices, and storytelling's importance in society, before wrapping up with her dishing her realest talk. This was a fun episode and gets heavy at times and I'm glad to call this woman a friend and definitely respect her game when it comes to pursuing her own path. You can follow her on Instagram @elizabeth_milano_lipke, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Keenan Mulherin is a go-getter, an entrepreneur, a Wildcat, a salesman, a mover and a shaker, and he's the Director of Real Estate Relations for Padly. Keenan is also a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he attended during the same stretch I was in Lexington. We actually have a great time recapping the infamous SAE mummy-wrapped pledge that got lit on fire and the subsequent fallout. But anyways, it really wasn't until years later when I visited Atlanta and stayed with him and my friend Michael Choe for a week that we really got to know each other. Being a fellow transplant, I have nothing but the upmost respect for him and anyone else who decides to go out there in life and make a run at it. To carve out their own path. It takes guts. So what do we got for ya in this episode? We begin this episode breaking down where and how Keenan grew up, how being an only child shaped him, and eventually we dip into his first brushes with entrepreneurship. Shifting gears to the real world, Keenan reveals his first jobs, as well as making the decision to quit and move to Atlanta with nothing lined up, placing ultimate reliance on the self. It didn't take long before he entered the world of investment real estate, where he enjoys what he does and is crushing it. Later in the episode, we touch on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the market, I ask him what makes a great entrepreneur, he shares a dream deal that he's worked on, and we even get a tattoo peep show live in-studio. All of this, before Keenan shares his realest talk. Give him a shout on Instagram @lilmully and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Kevin Cole is an artist, a sculptor, a muralist, creative, Teacher of the Year, philanthropist, self-believer, death threat survivor, and an incredibly genuine human being. His works are featured in 5,000 collections around the world, including the Atlanta Airport and City Hall, and pursuing his dream has led him to places he never thought he'd see. Kevin describes his art as sound boards for human experiences, which is why I'm so drawn to them. They capture moments in time and tell a real story. They're thought provoking. And they're about people and their stories, which is exactly what we're doing here. When Atlanta hosted the Olympics in 1996, it was Kevin who was tapped by the Coca-Cola company to create a 15-story mural that would introduce Atlanta to the world. It's truly an iconic piece of work. You can see a picture of it here. In his own words, he describes what that process was like and why it had to be completed in a unique way and the challenges that arose. He also shares why he credits his mom for becoming an artist, reveals what it was like during the beginning of his artist's journey, what it looked and felt like, and ultimately how he carved a life for himself with his creations and built his business. Later, he shares his creative process and how he taps into creator mode, sheds some light on the intersection of commercialization and art, a wild story about how he narrowly missed 9/11, how to get out of a creative slump, and finally, his realest talk. Thank you, Kevin, for the time, the conversation, and everything you shared. All love baby. You can follow him on Instagram @kevincole2378, check out his website kevincoleart.com to see more of his work, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Lee Judge is a keynote speaker, a creative marketer, a DJ, and currently the CEO of Content Monsta, a digital media company based in Atlanta. Lee was my first mentor when I moved down to Atlanta in 2022 and we've stayed close ever since. So, it was only right that my first episode off the rip would be with my man right here. In this episode, we begin by learning how Lee grew up on a large production chicken and tobacco farming North Carolina, how that was his first foray in entrepreneurship, and later how he first got into radio and production at Eastern Carolina University. After moving to Atlanta to make his run at the music producing business, Lee realized that if he transitioned into marketing automation and marketing operations, he could build on what he had already been doing. And that's ultimately how Content Monsta was born – out of necessity. The COVID-19 pandemic suddenly made remote production a must-have, and Lee capitalized on it. Lee also shares his go-to song on the dance floor to get people moving when he DJs, and what it was like growing up as a Black man on a farm in North Carolina and witnessing systemic racism. One of the most poignant points of the interview comes when he opines on the saying “I don't see color” and why that is a harmful thing to say, even if you don't intend to do harm or realize it. Finally, Lee wraps up with some tips on public and keynote speaking, what makes a great storyteller, and finally, he shares his realest talk. Shoutout to Lee for taking the time to rap with me one time in the studio, and thanks for being my guy down here. It's hard to find good people but you're a real one, Lee. All love. Follow him on Instagram @aleejudge, check out his YouTube Channel, @aleejudge, if you need some help sharing your story digitally, hit up contentmonsta.com, and if you enjoy this episode, please drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building up this community.

Welcome, my friends. These are my mixtape days, so in honor of so many intros, I give you this one. There's an interlude on Lil Wayne's No Ceilings mixtape where he was this playing in the background and I really always loved the sound and the sample of Whitney… I had to bite it and run it for y'all man. This is Real Talk. Down here in Atlanta, had to do a little living Like an artist when they disappear when they're working on a new project. I had to do a little living and not only gather new material, but experience new things, travel to new places and connect with new people. But I got this very special batch of episodes for you. I've got platinum selling DJs, award-winning muralists, trauma specialists that boast 1.6 million followers on TikTok, entrepreneurs and business owners, rappers, journalists, coaches, chefs, sales men and women… I've got transplants, I've got locals, I've got people who joined me from Stockholm Sweden despite the time difference. I've got it all, and it's a beautiful collection of human beings and I'm finally ready to share their stories and this project with the world. I hope that these episodes inspire you, speak to you, that you connect with them and they resonate with you in a major way. Because at the end of the day, you are not alone. A lot of these guests are people who have never been on a podcast before, and I take the upmost pride in how well they did as a result of trusting me and feeling comfortable in that space to open up and share. I love it when people say, I've never told anyone this before, or, I never really connected those dots until just now, or this was therapeutic! Those affirmations are my why. That's the real shit. Every episode is a certified banger. Run it front to back and you will not be disappointed. Have a story you want to share with the world? Hit me at bennytomp18@gmail.com, or on social media @bennytomp18 or @realtalkwbennyt Shoutout Ikson for intro/outro music I've decided to go with the batch of episodes over dropping week to week because I'm the king of the binge. Benny the binger. Most of these are about an hour long, and I firmly believe that if the content if good enough, people will come back to it. And hopefully, if you enjoy one of these episodes and you're new to the show, checkout the backlog I have up on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. We're somewhere around 130 episodes at this point, I'm gonna serve y'all some new stuff here, let you discover the older stuff which are just as great, and then I'm gonna get back to work and have another drop for you later this year. In this batch of episodes, it's my pleasure to introduce the following men and women and their topics. I hope you enjoy these episodes half as much as we enjoyed playing em for you because we had a ball. Major shoutout to all my guests who came on and made time and shared everything they did. If you vibe with any of these episodes, please, drop a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share them with two other people. Put ‘em on. Help me grow this show and keep building this community. I've got some more guests to find and people to connect with, so enjoy these, and stay tuned for the next drop. This is Real Talk. Enjoy, my friends.

Nick Jourdan is an industry staple

Jamie Leddin is a powerhouse ⚡️ She's a leader, a storyteller, a mom and a wife, a lecturer at Vanderbilt University, and she is the Director of the Leddin Group, a Nashville-based boutique leadership consultancy firm that she runs with her husband, Patrick. I first crossed paths with both Jamie and Patrick while I was in undergrad at the University of Kentucky, where they co-taught a few business classes at the time. We've stayed connected through the years via LinkedIn and as I've followed her work, I couldn't think of a better guest I'd want to feature on the show. A naturally gifted speaker, Jamie came on and absolutely crushed this interview. We begin with how growing up in West Virginia shaped her early experiences in life (7:07), as well as the gap year she took in Denmark, then transitioning into motherhood and being a full-time mom and business leader (28:00). Later, Jamie shares how she strives to bring inclusivity to her classrooms (38:55), as well as some of her personal beliefs that people should bring their whole selves to work (45:42) and that everyone is a leader (56:35). We touch on storytelling as a skill, thought leadership, building trust through spoken word, organizational culture, women in leadership, building the business with her husband, and finally, Jamie wraps up with her realest talk (1:28:44). This is a special episode and one that I really enjoyed. I'm so glad we've stayed connected and could link back up for this interview, I hope you enjoy it as well! If you enjoy this episode… • Sarah Cummins on Entrepreneurship, Voluntary Discomfort and the Art of Dentistry • Kayla Weber Nord on Artistry, Kentucky Things, and the Creative Journey • Brad Steinfeld on Mountain Climbing, Medical Sales, and Hitchhiking Around the World • Tim O'Neil on Building Products and Processes from Scratch, Dealing with No, and Nuances of Networking

Sara Cummins is a hustler, a mother, a businessowner, a solo traveler, an artist, and a bad ass human being. Give her a Louisville Legend banner already. I've known her for most of my life as she's been my dentist and friend through it all. This is the woman who fixed me after I broke myself post Derby '17 and there's nothing I can say about her other than it's all love. Sarah joins the show to share her strengths, her insights, and her expertise on how to build a business and what she believes are the core keys any entrepreneur should have. We start with how she grew up and how her parents' divorce when she was young shaped her adolescence, and how she's strived to do things different through her own divorce (8:20) She takes us through her time in college (13:26), starting out as an artist, and eventually moving back home to make the shift into dentistry. She shares how the two things are synonymous for her. Then (24:12), we get into the meaty parts of how she built her business, starting from scratch, the system building that had to happen (27:57), the processes and the culture she built (33:30), and eventually, opening an additional location. We talk about what it's like being a mom and running a fulltime business and how she balances all of those things (37:20) Later, we go super deep when talking about rock bottoms (46:05), why she loves being in solitude and solo traveling, women in business, voluntary discomfort, and finally, she gives her realest talk. I'm so so grateful that she trusted me to share her story. Editing this episode, I felt like I was touching something so delicate, so fragile, because it's that special to me. Thank you, Sarah, for all that you do for the Louisville community!

Like fellow Louisville legend Bryson Tiller once rapped, I'm back and I'm better. It's true. Not only are we back and better than ever, I also have some big news to share on today's episode… your boy is now a Chief Storyteller in Atlanta. Thanks to everyone that has played a role in me getting to this point, especially my family and my new home in Cinamaker. Here's to new beginnings, new stories, new episodes, and new levels.

Hang tight until 5/18, my friends. I've got a major announcement to make and I couldn't be more thrilled

Real people, real stories, REAL

I really hate to have to do this, but in the best interest of me, I need to take a step back and put my focus into other areas of my life right now. I'm unwell and I need to get right. I will be back soon better and stronger than ever, but right now, I just need a couple weeks to get my shit together. Love me, Benny T.

Tyler Pope (@only1pope_) is an entrepreneur, a father, a football coach, a master barber, and he's the proud owner of the barbershop, Fadez on 4th

Graham Honaker (@tghonake) is a storyteller, a leader, a father and a husband, a writer, a culture-builder, and for the last several years, he's been the Executive Director of Principal Gifts at Butler University, where he oversees their marketing and fundraising efforts. He's also a college basketball junkie and co-author of the book, The Cinderella Strategy: The Game Plan Behind Butler University's Rise to Prominence

Scott Meier (@scott.meier.87) is on a mission to help others. But that mission started by helping the one person who needed his help the most: himself. When his brother got married in 2020, Scott was weighing in at 367 pounds. He still doesn't like looking at the wedding photos from the day. It's too painful. But that was his “line in the sand” moment

Eric Mathews (@ericsjoyride) is a hustler, a visionary, a salesman, a media savant, a mentor to many, and the Assistant Director of Media Relations at the University of Hawaii

Colby Hall (@colbyjameshall) is a stand-up guy, a statesman, a sales veteran, a hustler, traveler, man of faith, and a dear friend

Kayla Weber Nord (@kaylaweberart) is a force to be reckoned with. She's an artist, a mother, an entrepreneur, a live event painter, and oh yeah, she also plans weddings in her spare time when she's not traveling with her husband or hopping on podcasts like this one

Brad Steinfeld left Louisville when he was 16 years old. He wasn't getting what he wanted or needed there, and he had been bitten by the rock-climbing bug, so he packed his bags and eventually hitchhiked his way to one of the meccas of rock climbing in North America: El Dorado Canyon (11:52) By the time he was 23, his life unfolded like an adventure novel: full of stories of traveling around the world, climbing rocks and mountains, and living a minimalist lifestyle in places like Boulder, Alaska, Washington, and Yosemite

Ameet Patel (@aapatel27) is an entrepreneur, a hustler, a hotelier, the guy that brought Crumbl Cookies to Lexington, and he's the co-founder of Thoroughbred Hospitality Group. More importantly, he's a brother to me, someone whose work ethic I admire a lot, and he's also the very first person I ever attended a music festival with! Thanks for jumpstarting this lifestyle, my friend

Kaleb Leach (@kleach34) is an entrepreneur, a hustler, a leader, a traveler, a man of faith, an area scout in Europe for the NFL's International Pathway Program, part owner of Europe's Elite (@europes_elite), and most importantly of all, he's an incredible human being and one of my best friends in the world

Happy New Year, my friends

For the first time ever, I received a Spotify Wrapped. The numbers didn't tell my story as a listener… the numbers tell a spectacular story for my podcast

Christen Garland is a web/graphic designer, a brand specialist, a solopreneur, and a nurturer of all things growth. We first connected back in 2015 at the University of Kentucky: two students both just trying to figure out their paths. Through social media, we've been able to stay connected, and in the time since graduation, I've admired her hustle from afar as she's leaned into her gifts, her passions, and her pursuit of personal growth

Mayfield, Kentucky was recently hit by a historic E5 tornado that left in its wake a path of devastation and destruction in western parts of the state. It was one of five that touched down during the storms last weekend. At least 92 people have been confirmed dead across multiple states after more than 40 tornadoes pummeled a wide area on Dec. 10 and 11. My heart goes out to all of the families and the communities across Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee that have been affected by this, and especially so close to Christmas… it's just heartbreaking. I am extremely blessed to have not been personally affected by this, but if the wind had blown a different way, who knows what could have happened to a group of unaware hunters that included my brother, two of my cousins, and another one of our friends. They were at our farm just 20 miles from Mayfield and well within an area that could have very easily been just as impacted as anywhere else had the tornado veered a different route. Matty T (@datdudemattyt) joined me in the studio to describe what it was like tracking the tornado watch, the moment at which he realized they might be in some serious danger, the sounds, the funnel cloud that passed over their heads, and what it was like being so close to the most destructive tornado event in Kentucky's history. Many good people have lost everything overnight, are seriously hurting and many may never bounce back from this. If you'd like to help out, please consider donating to any of the following relief funds below, or to any others that are available. Every little bit helps. To my real ones that follow through with it, thank you so much

Tim O'Neil (@tim_oneil) is a business executive and a senior seller that's spent nearly two decades building products and processes, selling in the mobile gaming space, developing businesses, solving problems, maximizing value, and above all else, being a real one

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” – Charles Dickens – also, Ben Tompkins This is my story. I have a right to tell it. So, here we go. Welcome to the Thanksgiving Special, my friends

Benny T (@bennytomp18) and Maddie Miyahara (@maddie.miyahara) go live from Ashland, Oregon after a week of traveling/camping/visiting National Parks to recap the trip, the challenges/obstacles of podcasting on the road, plus offer a break down of the itinerary and a recap of time spent at the Grand Canyon for Maddie's end of the year Halloween Party

Benny T (@bennytomp18) and Maddie Miyahara (@maddie.miyahara) check back in from El Capitan State Beach in Santa Barbara, California after a very special handful of days spent in the Bay Area, which included a trip up to Santa Rosa to visit the Charles M. Schulz museum, fine Italian dining in SF with friends, meeting Maddie's Aunt Kim, Uncle Mike, and their two boys, hitting alllll of Ben's favorite spots in the North and South Bay, plus Ben shares his two biggest takeaways from the Bay and reflects on a moment of crisis. After the Bay days, our friends recap Big Sur, San Luis Obispo, Pinnacles National Park, and tease out where they're headed next. If you've enjoyed these CA National Parks episodes and wanna help grow the show, please let us know by leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts

Benny T (@bennytomp18) and Maddie Miyahara (@maddie.miyahara) pull up from St. Louis, Missouri to recap the final segment of the California National Parks trip, including taking a ferry out to Channel Islands National Park in search for the Island Scrub Jay, a near disaster that happened to Ben once on the island, then completing their drive down Highway 1 through Malibu and San Diego, and finally, reflecting on what a journey it's all been. If you've enjoyed these CA National Parks episodes and wanna help grow the show, please let us know by leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts

Jordan Toma (@imjustakidwithaniep) loves a good comeback story. Whether it's his own, a student's he connects with during one of his speaking engagements, or even a total stranger's he hears being shared on the social media platform Clubhouse, he just can't help himself from rooting for the underdog. That's because for as long as he can remember, he's been the underdog. As a kid, Jordan was diagnosed as having dyslexia, attention hyper-deficit disorder (ADHD), and an auditory processing disorder, which meant traditional classroom learning was a major challenge for him. So much so that merely the sight of a school bus used to send him spiraling into anxiety attacks. Eventually, he was placed on an individualized educational program (IEP), and after struggling his way through high school, he thought there was no way he was going to college. The tests, the homework, the fact that he was about to graduate high school with a 1.7 GPA… he was convinced he was done with school forever. His mom wasn't, though. To her, there was no way he ~wasn't~ going to college. After being rejected by dozens of colleges and universities, they finally found the right fit – New Jersey's Centenary University. There was only one catch: to enroll, it was mandatory that he'd have to move in early to begin their STEP Ahead program, leaving him only two days of summer. He thought it would be the end of the world. Reflecting upon it in this episode, he believes it's the best thing that could have ever happened to him. Hear Jordan share the story of how the habits he formed during his time at Centenary transformed him into the unstoppable force he is today: from his first job post-grad selling windows door to door and becoming the top salesperson in the company, to passing a series of exams to become a financial advisor and going on to become one of the top producers in the country, to building his real estate portfolio, to becoming a TikToker and keynote speaker and traveling all around the country sharing his story with students. I hope you'll enjoy listening to this episode half as much as we enjoyed making it for you, and if you do, please let us know by dropping a quick rating and a review on Apple Podcasts, and by sharing it on social media or sending it to someone else you think needs to hear Jordan's message!

Tim Schladand is a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed clinical alcohol and drug abuse counselor, and a certified Daring Way facilitator who runs a private practice. Fortunately for me, he also happens to live a few doors down and enjoys long conversations about vulnerability and social mobility. Besides becoming the first person to ever join the show for a second time, Tim returned to the studio to circle back to our first discussion about the power of vulnerability, as well as a deeper dive into empathy, the importance of understanding where people are coming from, how we've become a passion-depleted society, the protests Tim and his wife led in Prospect, tribalism, and equity as it relates to society. If you enjoy this episode or know of anyone that would, please share it on social media or send it to a friend, and please drop a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! It really helps grow the show. Follow along @bennytomp18 and @realtalkwbennyt for more updates, upcoming guests, plus the best daily drip of nature content.

Shane Fowler (@ashanefowler) is a friend and former classmate from the University of Kentucky who went on to work at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in Los Angeles before attending Harvard Law School and successfully obtaining his JD. Shane shares what it was like growing up as a poor, Black kid in Cynthiana, KY to making it to Harvard Law School (3:30), how he used his people skills and communication skills to build relationships, solve problems and bridge gaps (15:36), and the mentors and references that he leaned on to help guide him through the law school application process. Then, Shane discusses what it was like working at CAA and starting in their mailroom, and what helped him realize that wasn't his ultimate path (36:40). Later in the episode, Shane shares his vision for creating more representation in the legal profession (40:00), his clerkship working for a federal judge (47:16), and how he's feeling after the last couple years between COVID-19, the protests, and the ongoing fight for social equality in America (56:00). If you enjoyed this episode, or know someone you think would, please share it! Subscribe and follow along on IG @bennytomp18 and @realtalkwbennyt so you never miss a drop. And if you have literally 60 seconds, please drop a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts. It really helps me grow the show

Jim Phipps is a retired Army veteran with 24 years of service who now works the window at my local Starbucks. I usually see Jim in the mornings and always look forward to our encounters. As time has gone on and I've learned more about Jim's story, including why he chose to retire from retirement and why he gets up at 4:15am to do what he does, I began feeling inspired. People say, “be the change you wish to see in the world,” and when I think of what the essence of that statement looks like in human form, it's people like Jim who come to mind. To me, he embodies the power and impact we can have on others, as well as one's ability to rub off on their community. I thought to myself, here's somebody doing something pretty cool, I'd like to pick that person's brain and understand their “whys.” So, that's what we spend the first 15 minutes of the episode discussing: his “whys” and some stories that highlight the reasons he does what he does. After that, (14:59), Jim opens up about his 24 years of military service, why he went into the Army initially, and what it was like serving deployments as a member of the transportation corps tasked with driving supplies all throughout Iraq's Triangle of Death. I ask Jim about close calls, survivor's guilt, and how to reconcile bad things happening to good people within the context of war, which leads to Jim sharing a story of an incident that happened while he was away on rest and recovery (28:27), as well as speaking about his experiences with PTSD publicly for the first time. Later in the episode, Jim tells the story of why him and his wife's wedding was hatched in less than 72 hours (58:49), what it's like being a military family and having a parent in the service (1:07:38), his favorite things about being a dad (1:10:10), and finally, the one big thing he tries to impart onto others (1:11:13). Thanks to Jim for joining the show, and thanks to you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please let me know by leaving a rating a review on Apple Podcasts, or following along on IG @bennytomp18 and @realtalkwbennyt.

Benny T shares some exciting news and laments on where things are at before running through the itinerary of his upcoming 3-week road trip through California's National Parks. Enjoy!

Benny T (@bennytomp18) checks in for another midnight session coming straight off the after party and celebration of Whitney and Jerrett's marriage to share some thoughts on the night, the people, the ceremony, the reception, all of it. What a time

My guest this week is Morgan McCombs (@morganmccombs), a friend and fellow Gemini who's just launched a new platform and creative outlet, @impwr_now

Kicking things off this week, I make a few announcements at the top of the show (3:33), including the content listeners can expect over the next several weeks, some of the upcoming guests that will be featured on the show, and why I'm taking a break from the Uber Stories. Then, I transition into my recap of my trip out west to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Sedona, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, and wrapping things up with a couple days in Las Vegas, including how he did at the roulette tables (22:37). Please drop a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts, as well as following along on social media @bennytomp18 or @realtalkwbennyt

Ayeeee, sorry for the wait, I'm outta the office this week traveling on a little trip through the Southwest, visiting hella national parks and wrapping things up with a couple nights in Vegas before heading back. I never want to let a week go by without dropping ~something~ so there ya go.

Please enjoy this week's special… Uber Stories: Louder Than Life. Plenty of stories and audio from the weekend, plus some juicy new developments in the Machine Gun Kelly and Slipknot beef.