G. Brian Benson of Ashland on Life, Lessons & Legacy

G. Brian Benson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning G. Brian , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think most people are secretly struggling with self-love and self-acceptance. It’s something I know that I have been aware of and worked on for all of my life. I think it is the single most important thing that we can do for ourselves and others. Once we can truly love ourselves everything else seems to fall into place because we stop looking for validation outside of ourselves which is either a temporary fix or ends up wasting a lot of our time, energy, and resources that we could be putting toward truly connecting with others as well as our authentic goals and dreams.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I like to say that I am a multi-creative, and self-realization advocate whose passion is helping others find joy, meaning, and their own unique voice. My brand is all about creating conscious, thought-provoking media that inspires. I do this through books, podcasts, a YouTube channel, short films, mentoring others, uplifting spoken word poetry and imaginative, rhyming children’s books and cartoons. I love wordplay!

I understand the value of creative expression, self-discovery, and connection and love to encourage others to step out of their comfort zone and never give up on their dreams.

I have had many experiences and lessons to help view life through a unique lens and am called to share what I have learned to help others. I have bicycled across America, finished four Ironman triathlons, traveled extensively (been to all 50 states), presented a TEDx talk and been able to express myself creatively through book writing and acting in Los Angeles for 10 years. I have also beaten prostate cancer, endured open-heart surgery, experienced divorce, the loss of a younger sibling, witnessed familial drug abuse and my own failed expectations. Life is a journey and I have definitely received my money’s worth!

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I remember as a young kid, how I used to love to retreat to my bedroom and get lost in my hobbies and interests. I would meticulously decorate my room with posters of my favorite sports and music stars. I could get lost for hours looking at my baseball card collection while listening to records and dreaming. I felt safe there. I felt like I could truly be myself and release mindless chatter and thought patterns that filled my mind with doubt and fear. I felt powerful there.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I learned a very important lesson while enduring a health challenge. It was when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020. Obviously it was disconcerting and I was at the height of really trying to grow my business and share my creative projects. After I was diagnosed, Covid shut everything down in Los Angeles including the entertainment industry so I was left with just healing from surgery and going for walks with a buddy. Getting off the hamster wheel during that time period felt like a huge relief because I had been pushing so hard for about 7 years. I actually gave myself permission to just relax and be. It was wonderful. I also realized that while I am very proud of what I created, I was using much of my work as a validation tool for my own lack of self-acceptance at that time in my life. It was a big realization for me.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say what matters most to me is my need to create and share in big ways. Ever since I left my family business about 15 years ago into the unknown and began the journey of self-discovery and exploring my creative gifts, I have been incredibly self-motivated to keep moving them further. Being creative has given me a new lease on life and makes me feel alive. When I was 3 years old, I told my mother that I was here to “inspire’ people. She reminded me of this after my first book. I was blown away, yet it made me feel like I was on the right path and in alignment.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I was someone who took the road less traveled and lived as authentically and true to himself as could be. That I was someone who tried to be the best version of himself and kept working toward becoming as self-aware and loving as he could be. That I was someone who wasn’t afraid to look into the dark spaces and share what he learned and discovered. And finally that he was a talented creative! 😉

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