It's Ben a Week

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben tackles one of life’s greatest inconveniences: grocery shopping. What starts as frustration over a parasite outbreak linked to lettuce quickly turns into a full-blown breakdown of everything that’s wrong with the modern grocery store experience.  
From fluorescent lighting and mysteriously rearranged aisles to self-checkout machines that never work, wandering shopping carts, awkward parking lot conversations, and the ongoing debate over who actually returns their cart, Ben hilariously dissects every step of the weekly grocery run.  
Along the way, he shares his thoughts on:
the lettuce parasite outbreak
why grocery stores feel like casinos
self-checkout becoming a part-time job
shopping cart etiquette
people who block entire aisles
grocery store fashion choices
and why running into acquaintances is somehow the worst part of the entire experience.
If you’ve ever found yourself arguing with a self-checkout machine or silently judging someone who abandoned their shopping cart, this episode is 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 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

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by one of his favorite people—and the veterinarian responsible for saving more of his animals than he can count—Dr. Sally Everett from the Granbury Animal Clinic.  
The two look back on the unbelievable story that started their friendship after Ben and AJ’s tiny barn cat, Chrissy, suffered a life-threatening medical emergency that left her intestines literally hanging out. Against all odds, Sally saved her life, and the rest is history.  
From there, the stories only get crazier.
Ben and Sally revisit Phil the pig’s complicated surgery, custom diapers for a cat, late-night emergency vet visits, Christmas concerts, Mariah Carey, Pete’s Piano Bar, party buses, inside jokes, and the unforgettable nights that turned a veterinarian into one of their closest friends.  
Later, AJ joins the aftershow to share even more behind-the-scenes stories, including the clinic appreciation party that lasted until 2 a.m., Hendrix’s dental surgery, and why Sally has officially become part of the family.  
This episode is hilarious, heartfelt, and full of stories that prove life is always more entertaining when animals—and good friends—are involved.
In this episode:
How Sally saved Chrissy the barn cat’s life  
The emergency surgery that started a lifelong friendship  
Phil the pig’s surprisingly complicated surgery  
The custom diapers made for a tiny bobtail cat  
Emergency vet visits and life with dozens of animals  
Mariah Carey concerts and the quest for better seats  
Pete’s Piano Bar, bottle service, and unforgettable nights out  
Hendrix’s dental surgery and why dog teeth matter  
The funniest and strangest moments from life at a veterinary clinic  
🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by photographer and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.
📍 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts
🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
TikTok: @itsbenaweek
Website: itsbenaweek.com
💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben kicks off the episode by honoring a dear friend of the podcast, Heidi, whose courage, humor, and zest for life left a lasting impact on everyone who knew her. Ben reflects on her battle with cancer, the importance of living life fully, and why she’ll always be remembered.  
Then… the chaos begins.
What was supposed to be a relaxing Fourth of July pool party quickly turned into one of the most expensive weekends Ben has ever had. Between a broken pool robot, a massive hornet nest, a snapped sprinkler line, an exploding air conditioner, a mysteriously green swimming pool, a draining koi pond, and a horse trailer that nearly caught fire, it truly became a weekend to remember.  
Along the way, Ben also shares his completely unfiltered opinions on:
why Thanksgiving is overrated
Black Friday shopping
fireworks
hot dogs
owning a home
and why he’d happily trade it all for condo living.
Later, AJ joins the aftershow to recap the Fourth of July weekend, celebrate Heidi’s life, debate homeownership, and call Ben out for his online shopping habits.
This episode is heartfelt, hilarious, chaotic, and proof that when it rains… it pours.
In this episode:
Remembering Heidi and the legacy she leaves behind  
Why Fourth of July isn’t Ben’s favorite holiday  
The truth about Black Friday shopping  
Why fireworks aren’t as exciting anymore  
A Fourth of July weekend filled with expensive home disasters  
The mystery of the green swimming pool  
Why homeownership sometimes feels like a full-time job  
AJ’s thoughts on ranch life, maintenance, and online shopping  
🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by photographer and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.
📍 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts
🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
TikTok: @itsbenaweek
Website: itsbenaweek.com
💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben welcomes back fan-favorite guest Sherry Harris for one of their most unpredictable conversations yet. What starts as a debate about Texas drivers quickly spirals into a hilarious and surprisingly deep discussion about déjà vu, wildlife, near-death experiences, fear of dying, AI, prison, Pride Month, and everything in between.  
Ben and Sherry swap stories about living in small-town Texas, dodging turkeys, porcupines, snakes, tarantulas, and other unexpected wildlife before diving into bigger questions about life, aging, time, and what might happen after we die.  
Later, AJ joins Ben for the aftershow to talk about his brand-new perm, spray tans before vacation, hair insecurities, why Sherry is one of their favorite guests, and the importance of self-confidence. The conversation wraps with a thoughtful discussion about Pride Month, identity, religion, and why acceptance matters.  
This episode is funny, philosophical, chaotic, and proof that the best conversations are often the ones with no agenda.
In this episode:
Why Texans still don’t know how to use a yield lane  
Growing pains as Granbury continues to grow  
Turkeys, porcupines, snakes, tarantulas, and Texas wildlife  
Déjà vu, dreams, and theories about the brain  
Near-death experiences and the fear of dying  
AI, deepfakes, and fears about the future  
AJ’s new perm and vacation prep  
Self-confidence, identity, and finding comfort in who you are  
A candid conversation about Pride Month and acceptance  
🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by photographer and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.
📍 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts
🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
TikTok: @itsbenaweek
Website: itsbenaweek.com
💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com

This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by one of his closest friends, Laura, for a conversation that quickly goes off the rails — and that’s before the cocktails really kick in.
After opening the episode with a rant about people who keep their phones on Do Not Disturb, and addressing a decades-old rumor from his Minnesota barrel racing days, Ben welcomes Laura back to the podcast for a hilarious, completely unfiltered catch-up.
Together, Ben and Laura dive into:
Why people having their phones on Do Not Disturb drives Ben absolutely insane
A barrel racing rumor that somehow refuses to die
Being a “gold star gay” and why strangers remain fascinated by Ben’s love life
Ben’s latest skincare obsession: microneedling and salmon sperm treatments
The beauty procedures people will try in the name of looking younger
Friendship, aging, and the ridiculous things we convince ourselves to spend money on
Family stories that somehow get more unbelievable every year
Horse life, ranch life, and growing up in Minnesota
Pop culture, random observations, and several conversations that should probably have stayed off-mic
Why some friendships are built entirely on making each other laugh
As always, the conversation bounces between heartfelt, ridiculous, and completely inappropriate with very little warning.
Pour yourself a drink and join Ben and Laura for one of the most relaxed and funniest episodes of Season 2 so far.
🎧 Subscribe to It’s Ben a Week
New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by photographer and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.
📍 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Wherever you get your podcasts
🔗 Connect with Ben:
Instagram: @itsbenaweek
TikTok: @itsbenaweek
Website: itsbenaweek.com
💬 Want to be on the show?
Submit your story or pitch at itsbenaweek.com