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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

 

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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.

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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 rollercoaster 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.

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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.

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Benjamin meets with entrepreneur, management consultant and musician James N. Kinney to explore what it means to be authentically engaged in all areas of life. Diving into what it means to truly connect, Benjamin and James explore values, personality and more before James invites listeners to be bold in connecting with him and actually gives out his personal phone number. Listen in and learn how being human means living inside a question and holding the possibility of being right and wrong at the same time.

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