This episode begins with the idea that every life holds a hero’s journey. Ben Katt joins Rod Janz to talk about how his adventure began on a rainy run around Seattle’s Green Lake. That day, a quiet inner voice told him, “If you don’t have your heart, you have nothing.” It marked the start of an inner quest that led him to trade achievement and perfection for presence and authenticity.
Ben explains how real change starts with listening for those inner whispers, saying yes to the unknown, and getting help along the way. He shares how mentors and spiritual companions became guides on his path, helping him integrate—not defeat—the parts of himself driven by success and approval.
Rod and Ben talk about contemplative practice, simple meditation habits, and the courage it takes to slow down. Ben describes his work teaching meditation in prisons through the Within Project, showing how personal healing can ripple outward into service. They draw from Joseph Campbell, Pema Chödrön, and Richard Rohr to explore what it means to let go, find wisdom in suffering, and keep returning to the heart.
In the end, Ben reminds listeners that the hero’s journey isn’t about escaping life—it’s about entering it more fully. The way forward, he says, is always within.
Resources Mentioned
* The Way Home: Discovering the Hero’s Journey to Wholeness at Midlife—Ben Katt
* When Things Fall Apart—Pema Chödrön
* The Hero with a Thousand Faces—Joseph Campbell
* Falling Upward—Richard Rohr
* Atomic Habits—James Clear
