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June 10, 2025 42 mins

This week on It’s Ben A Week, I talk about why children don’t belong at the gym, why iPad babies are ruining customer service, and how I ended up almost cheering when a dumbbell landed on a toddler (he’s fine… allegedly).

Then I head back to LA for my best friend’s insane baby shower, and I reflect on how Pride Month is being erased by the government — including renaming the Navy ship named after Harvey Milk and quietly stripping trans names from the Stonewall monument. Not okay.

Then I sit down with Gilly Adams — actor, director, and professional clown — to talk about his incredible new documentary American Clown. We go deep on:

  • 🤡 Clown stereotypes, from Pennywise to rodeo clowns
  • 🎥 His work with John C. Reilly, David Arquette, and Steve-O
  • 🩺 The overlooked good clowns have done — in hospitals, schools, and beyond
  • 💔 Cancel culture, fear culture, and how wholesome things get rejected
  • 🎭 What it really means to “put on the nose” and stay connected to your imagination as an adult
  • 🧢 Why not everyone who wears clown makeup is actually a clown

Whether you love clowns, fear them, or haven’t seen one since your sixth birthday party — this episode might just change how you see them.


AMERICAN CLOWN
Premieres: MON, JUN 23 @ 7PM

https://danceswithfilms.ticketspice.com/dwf28-american-clown

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New episodes every week filled with unfiltered stories, wild guests, and brutally honest laughs. Hosted by actor, photographer, and professional barrel racer Ben McDonnell.

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