Searching For Heroes With Benjamin Hall

As graduates across the globe receive degrees and celebrate huge accomplishments, they're simultaneously stepping into unchartered waters; a season of life where words of encouragement are never taken for granted. That's why Benjamin was so honored to give a commencement speech for the graduates of The Institute of World Politics in Was -- where they're training the next generation of national security, intelligence, and international affairs employees that will lead in Washington. In this special episode, Benjamin shares that speech with all of you. Follow Benjamin on X: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Without Sarah Verardo, Benjamin wouldn't be alive. Through the relentless and heroic work of Sarah’s organization, Save Our Allies, along with the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Benjamin was successful evacuated from Ukraine in March of 2022. On this Memorial Day, Sarah Verardo joins to discuss how her husband, retired Sgt. Michael Verardo, inspires her every day and the significance of the holiday in the military community and her life. Follow Benjamin on X: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When her daughter Audrey was diagnosed with microcephaly, a rare brain condition, at just three months old, doctors told Tara McCarton and her husband Jimmy that Audrey would never be able to walk. With faith and a commitment to support Audrey unconditionally, Tara knew her daughter would defy the expectations for her life. Now, 12 years later, not only is Audrey walking, but she's also riding horses, catching waves, and full of joy. Tara McCarton joins Benjamin to offer a glimpse into Audrey’s life as illustrated in her children’s book, The Wish, and to raise awareness of research being done to find a cure for CASK gene disorders like Audrey's. Follow Benjamin on X: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you or someone you love was told they only had a 1% chance of survival? In July of 2018, Mike Honeyman was in a severe car accident that left him clinging to life with doctors giving him a 1% chance of coming out alive. His injuries, namely a critical traumatic brain injury, left him in a coma for weeks. Mike woke up to a new reality, he could no longer walk, talk, or even swallow. Although Mike’s medical team was transparent about his injuries and that he may never be able to do everyday tasks again, Mike and his wife Robyn Gust refused to take that as an answer. Mike and Robyn join Benjamin to discuss the journey they've both been on since that day in 2018 and the power that giving just 1% more every day can have when battling through a hardship - mental or physical. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Krista Simpson Anderson still remembers the day she got the call her husband, the loud and proud Green Beret Michael H. Simpson, had been severely injured while deployed in Afghanistan. Five days later, she received the news he wouldn't be coming back home. If it wasn't for the various organizations and families that picked Krista up after this news left her and her two young children absolutely devastated -- she doesn't know how she would have made it through. Now, she's dedicated her life to supporting veterans and military families in the same selfless way she was once supported. Today, Krista joins to share her story of mourning turned to healing, and to discuss how the long journey led her to create 'The Unquiet Professional,' an organization that strives to educate, advocate, and empower our American soldiers and the families who stand alongside them. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After an admirable 30-year career in law enforcement, David Colegrove appeared ready for retirement. Yet, less than three months after turning in his badge, David tragically committed suicide after battling with the emotional toll his job took on his mental health. Determined to understand her husband’s mental state, David’s wife Kim Colegrove began a deep dive into the psychology of first responders and learned just how many of them suffer through years of trauma without receiving any mental health resources or support. Kim made a commitment to create an environment to offer first responders the same support, hope and safety they extend to the public. Kim joins Benjamin to share how experiencing the loss of her husband led her to create Pause First Academy -- an organization dedicated to supporting the first responders, warriors, protectors, and healers in our society. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the last episode, Benjamin shared how an interview with Maya Regev had deeply impacted him and his view of human resilience. This week, we're sharing that intimate interview Benjamin had with Maya -- a young woman attending the Nova Music Festival with her brother Itai on October 7th when unthinkable chaos broke loose. Benjamin sits down with Maya as she retells the story of that day - from being shot by a Hamas terrorist and suffering grave injuries to being forcefully kidnapped, a gun pressed to her face as she was taken from her family, friends, and home. She shares what life looked like for the 50+ days she was held hostage by Hamas -- living in dire need of medical attention and little to no food. And, despite all of this, Maya explains how she never once lost hope she would reunite with her family -- and how that determination played a role in her being freed. For more, head to Fox Nation to watch Benjamin's new special, 'Surviving Hamas: A Benjamin Hall Series,' where he encounters more stories like this one. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Benjamin sits down to reflect on the idea that’s been a guiding force in his search for heroes; is resilience learned or ingrained? He sheds light on how his answer to this question has evolved after hearing the stories of his podcast guests, as well as reflecting on his own journey of resilience. Benjamin also details how his experience filming his new Fox Nation series, 'Surviving Hamas,' informed his view of human resilience, determination, and bravery -- especially after sitting down with Maya Regev, a 21-year-old who was attending the Supernova Music Festival on October 7th when Hamas invaded and took her hostage. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Serving as a U.S. Diplomat from 1993 until 2016, Beth Payne had witnessed a lot. However, it would be a day in October 2003 that would change her life forever. While in Iraq, opening the Office of the U.S. Consul in Baghdad, Beth was awoken by a rocket slamming into her hotel room. Stunned and unable to speak, she launched into action -- leading dozens of injured colleagues to safety. After that day Beth kept pressing on, but the emotional turmoil she experienced translated into debilitating symptoms, both physical and mental. It took years before she reached out for help, but after being diagnosed with PTSD and receiving proper mental health care, Beth now uses her life as a testimony to anyone suffering in silence. Beth joins Benjamin to discuss what she remembers from that day back in 2003, how she continues to manage her PTSD, and why her journey led her to create Payne Resilience Training & Consulting, a company dedicated to teaching people tools to become their most resilient, adaptable selves. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Kevin Briggs began his career as a highway patrol officer over 20 years ago, he never envisioned the life-changing impact his service would have on the Bay Area community and his own life. Today, Kevin is highly regarded as the “Guardian of the Golden Gate,” for convincing people their lives were worth living moments before they attempted suicide at the Golden Gate Bridge. Kevin joins Benjamin to discuss his unexpected career pivot from highway patrol officer to suicide prevention advocate and author of 'Guardian of the Golden Gate: Protecting the Line Between Hope and Despair.' He also explains why showing empathy over sympathy has led him to save lives, shares resources for those struggling with mental health, and shares tips on how people can offer support. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the fall of 2012, Diane Foley’s life was instantaneously altered when she received word that her beloved son Jim Foley had been abducted while on assignment in Syria. Jim was a freelance war correspondent with an immense passion for storytelling and reporting, but he never anticipated that his life would soon make national headlines. Diane Foley, author of American Mother and founder of the James W Foley Legacy Foundation joins Benjamin to share why she felt the United States government abandoned her family and how she worked tirelessly to find answers about her son’s heinous death. She also reveals that the immense loss her family experienced inspired her commitment to protect and advocate for freelance journalists as well as innocent American hostages. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In March of 2022, after hearing that a team of Fox News journalists were attacked while on assignment in Ukraine, Jennifer Griffin immediately sprang into action. Her instincts and relentless commitment played an integral role in Benjamin’s mission to make it home. FOX News National Security Correspondent, Jennifer Griffin joins Benjamin to recount how she worked tirelessly from the Pentagon to ensure he was rescued and given the best care possible in the aftermath of his accident, and the ways that day has permanently impacted her. They also discuss how Jennifer's relationship with resilience has grown after enduring and surviving a brutal battle with stage three breast cancer and how her time working as a journalist on the frontlines has majorly informed her perspective on people and the world. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thursday, March 14th marks two years since Benjamin Hall almost lost his life while on assignment in Ukraine. On that day, Benjamin lost two of his cherished colleagues and endured hours of unthinkable pain — unsure if he would survive. In the time since, he's not only had to grieve those he lost and learn how to walk again, but how to adjust to life after nearly losing it. On this anniversary episode, Benjamin reflects on some of the most valuable lessons he's learned since the attack and the new discoveries he’s made about resilience, life and community. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aron Ralston’s story was told to millions in the hit movie '127 Hours,' but where is he now? After a seemingly harmless hike turned life-threatening when a bolder fell on him, trapping his arm against a rock in a narrow canyon – Aron Ralston was trapped for six days. The only thing that set him free? Amputating his own arm. Now, 21 years later, Aron Ralston is an author and a motivational speaker who dedicates his life to teaching others how some of the worst things that happen to us can become the best things. Aron joins Benjamin to discuss the 127 hours he spent trapped in the canyon where, at one point, he was convinced death was inevitable. He also explains how he found the will to survive and the ways in which this experience shifted permanently shifted his perspective on life for the better. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When grief is so unbearable it leaves us speechless, how are we supposed to process it with others? In 2019, Writer and Director, Colin Campbell was faced with this question after his two children were struck and killed by a drunk driver. In the years following this tragedy, Colin had to find a way to process news no parent should and learn how to handle all-consuming grief while still living his life. This journey led him to write Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose, which aims to teach readers how they too can survive debilitating loss. Colin joins Ben to discuss how he was able to share his grief with those in his life and rediscover the joy he thought was lost, knowing it's what his beloved children, Ruby and Hart would want. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many, resilience grows with age — building as they endure challenges and learn from experience. However, some people, like MacKale McGuire, have had to embrace it since birth. Born with Hemophilia, a rare blood disorder, MacKale was used to frequent doctor appointments and hospital visits throughout his childhood. However, at the age of 11, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma — a bone cancer that, after grueling chemotherapy and surgeries, led to the amputation of his left leg. With these obstacles stacked before him, MacKale could have become discouraged. Instead, he became determined. Now a cancer-free collegiate athlete at Kalamazoo College, MacKale joins Benjamin to discuss how the resilience he gained through handling Hemophilia helped him battle osteosarcoma, why focusing on showing kindness can be a guiding light when in a dark place, and what advice he would give to those facing life-altering challenges. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where does resilience come from? Is it a matter of nurture or nature? On Benjamin's journey to spotlight stories of perseverance, community and redirection, he's determined to discover the root of resilience. Benjamin reflects on how his understanding of this idea has evolved and what he hopes to continue uncovering on his search for heroes. He emphasizes to listeners that often the courage to begin again comes from the decision to keep moving forward. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the face of extreme or unexpected adversity, how would you respond? After years of research and exploration, author and Columbia University clinical psychology professor George Bonanno says your level of inner resilience would likely leave you shocked. Since the beginning of time, humanity has responded to unthinkable disasters -- adapting, learning, and continuing to press on. But what is it about humans that makes us inherently flexible, and does this capacity for resilience truly live in all of us? Benjamin and Professor Bonanno evaluate and answer this timeless question and reflect on the power of human resilience. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2009 Levi Rodgers, a coveted Special Forces Green Beret, was on deployment in Afghanistan when the car he and the four men on his team were in was struck by an IED. The vehicle was shattered and everyone in the car died that day, except for Levi. Levi would go on to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, where he would later meet Benjamin, to undergo an extensive recovery process -- from both severe physical wounds and mental turmoil. Though he faced the darkest of days, Levi clung to resilience, committed to honoring the legacy of his fellow soldiers whose lives were lost that day in Afghanistan. Today, Levi owns a successful real estate business, cherishing the people in his life, and creating a legacy that will last a lifetime. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Amanda, you'll never walk again," was the prognosis the doctors gave to the Founder of Bridging Bionics, Amanda Boxtel after a freak skiing accident in the winter of 1992 shattered four vertebrae and left her paralyzed. Four words rang in her ear as she realized she was entering her new normal, fueling her determination to stand back up again. Amanda joins Benjamin to detail how the journey to acceptance following unexpected setbacks is not linear, but one that leads you to embrace and take dominion of your new normal. Bridging bionics empowers people in the middle of neuro-recovery with the opportunity to stand up again and believe in themselves, despite the weight of life's detours. Follow Benjamin on Twitter: @BenjaminHallFNC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices