This week on It’s Ben A Week, Ben is joined by one of the longest friendships of his life — his childhood neighbor and lifelong friend, Maria Hynan. From growing up together on a lake in Wisconsin to navigating rebellion, mistakes, growth, and parenthood, this episode is a full-circle conversation about where we come from and who we become.
Ben and Maria reminisce about meeting at five years old, fighting like siblings, rearranging Ben’s room every summer, Taekwondo classes, stolen fish from a pet store, and the chaos of growing up together. But the conversation quickly deepens as Maria opens up about her teenage years, strict parenting, rebellion, addiction, a life-changing pregnancy at 18, and how becoming a mother ultimately saved her life.
Together, they talk honestly about breaking generational cycles, redefining parenting, and what it means to give your children a childhood they don’t have to recover from.
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The episode closes with the return of Breaking Point, where Ben spirals over rumors of a possible Hannah Montana 20th anniversary concert and Maria shares her frustration with people lacking basic self-awareness — especially when it comes to body odor.
This episode is funny, emotional, raw, and deeply nostalgic — a reminder that some friendships don’t fade, they evolve.
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