All Episodes

What Could Be Bad: Episode 207 Catchin Up with Noelle Scaggs

In this Season Two Finale, the incredibly talented Noelle Scaggs (Fitz and The Tantrums) joins Benj in Nashville, TN to catch up on things from the O.A.R. 2024 Summer Tour. Having gone through personal challenges during the run, a lot was left unspoken in the new friendship and speaking openly about it in this way proved to be a meaningful connection. Noelle shares candidly about how she managed her wellbeing before, during and after tour.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 206 Resilience with Dr. Judith Landau

During the Mountains and Minds Mental Health Summit in Beaver Creek Colorado, Dr. Judith Landau sits down with Benj to share her story living through Apartheid in South Africa, creating her Community Resilience model, and working around the globe to be of service to others.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 205 Feel It All with Drew Petersen

Skiier, ultra-runner, filmmaker, and mental health advocate Drew Petersen joins Benj onstage at the Vilar PAC in Beaver Creek Colorado, as part of Mountains and Minds - A Mental Health Summit to Strengthen Community. The two discuss Drew's new film, Feel It All, while explaining a longtime battle with his own well-being, injuries and challenges growing up in Colorado being immersed in its seasonal outdoor culture. The two have a solid rapport deepening their new friendship and passion to elevate mental health conversations.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 204 Empathetic Leadership with Chef Robert Irvine

Chef Robert Irvine and Benj meet up in Beaver Creek Colorado at the incredible Vilar Performing Arts Center as part of Mountains and Minds: A Mental Health Summit to Strengthen Community. Also as part of the summit, Robert Irvine Foundation's brought their Breaking Bread with Heroes program to Eagle County so that they could connect with first responders who are daily doing incredible work for the people of the county. Robert shares many personal stories highlighting how his mindset helped him to arrive where he is today, as well as how he chooses to lead his companies and teams.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 203 Open Hearts with Pat Milbery

Filmed within Vilar PAC in Beaver Creek Colorado, during the Mountains and Minds Mental Health Summit to Strengthen Community, the extremely talented Pat Milbery reconnects with new friend Benj Gershman. Discussing their personal connection, life mentors, experiences and trauma with suicide the conversation ebbs and flows through meaningful topics usually left unspoken.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 202 Bassists and Bars with Brady Watt

Filmed at the Nailspring Ranch in Bonanza Oregon, the Becklin Family hosted the band O.A.R. while on tour during their Summer Tour '24. Brady Watt, bass playing phenom, writer and producer talks candidly about how his career unfolded in the music industry, while sharing his regimented approach to battling testicular cancer. Likening his fight to how he approaches his everyday work in music, Brady's steady and focused mind shares all through friendship in an amazing place during an amazing time.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 201 Just Scratch Your Nose with Victoria Arlen

Kicking off Season Two of What Could Be Bad, Benj is joined by Victoria Arlen (ESPN Host, Author and Olympic Champion) in his happy place, the home his grandparents built decades ago in Connecticut. Chatting on the deck behind the house above a beautiful New England cove, the two share a conversation about unique personal health challenges, the landscape of recovering both physically and mentally, and then moving forward and thriving - all through the lens of longstanding friendship and mutual respect.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 111 Different Is Dope with Abby Wren

In the What Could Be Bad Season One finale, Artist and Advocate Abby Wren, joins Benj Gershman for a conversation in Vail, Colorado. Wrenegade Media dynamic duo, Abby and her husband Wade Holland, are the Creative Directors and Hosts of GoPro Mountain Games CoLab Stage, which stands as a creative and collaborative space that brings many diverse performance elements together. Abby shares about her history and advocacy with Alopecia while Benj divulges his own experience with it. They touch on art, community, music and other topics, learning and listening to one another in a beautiful setting. Special thanks to Dave Dressman, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and the Vail Valley Foundation for creating this opportunity.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 110 Creative Community with Steph Johnson

Filming at Studio West in San Diego California, CEO and Creative Director of Voices of Our City Choir, Steph Johnson connects with Benj Gershman for a meaningful discussion. Steph's artistic path collided with her calling to be of service to others when she brought the creative initiative to life. San Diego's unsheltered homeless choir receives resources, support, purpose and dignity from the community effort - all while Steph put her own personal career on pause for this higher purpose. The demands of this endeavor touched all sides in all ways while she learned the hard way about how to balance what her community needed, and needs, with what she can provide in maintaining form and function. The learning goes both ways as Benj sees himself in her efforts with how this current podcast project has pulled at him in various capacities. Enjoy these two new friends connecting with one another and taking a moment out of their lives to help one another understand and tell their unique stories.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 109 Keep It Movin’ with Flavor Flav

Artist and Global Icon, Flavor Flav, joins Benj Gershman for an honest and heartfelt conversation about lessons that Flav has learned in his life and career in the entertainment industry. Having listened to a Public Enemy cassette tape during his middle school years, Benj inquires about the early days forming the band and being included in the game-changing record deal with Def Jam at a time when the executives there tried to get bandmate Chuck D. to sign without the hypeman, now legend. Sharing his beliefs and feelings on a range of other topics, Flav provides tangible and candid advice that Benj takes to heart in this very special episode.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 108 Tangenting with Alicia Mathews June

Recorded in Nashville, TN, host Benj Gershman of rock band O.A.R. is joined by Make Wake Artists, Inc. Label Relations and Artist Management Executive, Alicia Mathews. The two share an honest conversation from both the perspective of artist and management, including personal stories from their careers within the music industry. Facing challenges early in her career and during the pandemic, Mathews reflects on the emotional toll that her work environment fostered through a lack of compassion for circumstances within and outside the scope of her employment. The toll affected her personal relationships and spilled over into the view of her immediate family, bringing up anxiety due to loss within her family. Tangents ensue as the two vivacious personalities enjoy one another's company, holding a cathartic and relatable exchange showcasing unique experiences from both music business professionals.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 107 Leading from the Front with Pete Griffin

During this special episode while connecting in Music City, Nashville Tennessee, Benj Gershman talks with Pete Griffin, President and CEO of Musicians On Call (MOC). Through stories and life lessons, the two friends volley a dynamic heartfelt exchange back and forth. Having been involved with the entertainment industry during the course of his entire professional life, Pete shares that his initial interest to work in the music business stemmed from a deep desire to feel worthy of praise due to being bullied in his formative years. As his career progressed, a pervading sense of emptiness caused him to reevaluate the way he focused his time and energy, which brought him to a wonderful place leading from the front with Musicians On Call. This incredible organization embodies the power of music, and the subsequent healing it offers through personal interaction. MOC has directly impacted over one million lives during its twenty five years, and has development plans to expand their reach further around the world.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 106 Harder to Breathe with Ryan Dusick

In this episode, Ryan Dusick provides an introspective look at creating the multi-platinum rock pop band, Maroon5, with bandmates Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael and Mickey Madden, who were later joined by James Valentine. Releasing Songs About Jane in the same timeframe that Ryan and host Benj Gershman met on the road (Summer 2002), Benj recalls the undeniable power of this new music as the two bands initiated a new friendship during two separate tours (Jeep World Outside Festival and an O.A.R. headlining run). Dusick soon had to bow out of his role as drummer for the globally successful band, due to a challenging injury, which later led to alcoholism and fallout in his private life. Ryan shares stories from his memoir, Harder to Breathe, and discusses his favorite memories of being in the band. Now recovered, Ryan spends his time being of service to others as a mental health therapist in Los Angeles California, and shares some key insights to how he incorporates compassion and curiosity into his daily life.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 105 An Ocean of Connection with Stephen Kellogg

Longtime friends, Stephen Kellogg and Benj Gershman talk through the landscape of touring, recording, intra-band relationships, the role family takes while balancing a career, shared emotional challenges, and an appreciation for the art of performance. SK, a veteran artist, writer and most recently a comedian, divulges his personal thoughts on what it takes to give everything to your craft amidst the tradeoffs between this and the sacrifices involved. A loving husband and father, Stephen shares his perspective of having made it through the gauntlet of a lengthy career in the entertainment industry, with more ahead, while acknowledging gratitude for still getting to play the game. The episode is a personal look at both the rational and emotional aspects involved in sustaining a career within the entertainment industry, from the artist's point of view.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 104 Time to Step Up with Paul Rieckhoff

American Hero, Paul Rieckhoff (National Security, Veterans Affairs and Political Analyst, Host of the Independent Americans podcast, Founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Former US Army Infantry Officer, Author and Veterans advocate, Founder and President of Righteous Media, 9/11 First Responder, Iraq Veteran, Author: Chasing Ghosts, Frequent contributor on MSNBC, CNN and NewsNation, Visiting Lecturer of Political Science at Amherst College.) sits down with Benj Gershman (O.A.R. and What Could Be Bad) to discuss why everyone needs to step up in this global climate of instability. He shares about his own family health challenges, addresses veteran issues, speaks to global political health and socioeconomic circumstance, remarks on his soulful belief in the power of music, and most importantly recognizes that mental health and wellness is a connective tissue that we all share. This inspiring episode is a look inside a true leader's mind.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 103 Learn and Love with Matt Wallace

In Benj's first filming of What Could Be Bad, he connects with veteran Music Producer and Atmos Mixer, Matt Wallace, at Studio Delux in Van Nuys CA. The conversation stems from a deep yearning to balance one's professional career with one's personal life, and the two candidly discuss the realities they face in doing so. Matt shares about his challenges as a father raising a child with special needs, divorce, surviving prostate cancer and learning to love again. All while, maintaining significant new health practices to benefit himself, his partner, and profession.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 102 Focusing the Lens with Chris Calderon

Chris Calderon joins What Could Be Bad as our first guest and house cinematographer, sharing a conversation with host, Benj Gershman. Weaving through Chris' long history in the entertainment business, he sheds light on the balance needed to continue through a myriad of challenges. His career encompasses early Motocross events, filming in Hollywood at music clubs and within the celebrity scene, Jackass and leading all the way to expanding his abilities into real estate photography in order to survive through the pandemic.

What Could Be Bad: Episode 101 The Origin Story of What Could Be Bad

Benj discusses when Covid-19 shook up our world he contracted the virus in February 2020. First solely dealing with initial effects of the virus while traveling with O.A.R., he seemed to recover. However, then over time Long Covid symptoms emerged, followed by the onset of Hashimoto's Disease (an auto-immune disorder that affects the thyroid gland which controls hormone production for the entire human body). Following a two year recovery, Benj then battled the resulting camouflaged mental health trauma until he had a true crisis. This episode discusses the chronology and how that led him to create this podcast.

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What Could Be Bad is a podcast designed to elevate and de-stigmatize mental health conversations. Talks and storytelling between host Benj Gershman and guest will highlight unique life experiences, resilience and positivity. We support preventative mental health strategies by providing educational and informational resources through storytelling.

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