What Could Be Bad Podcast

Benj Gershman

What Could Be Bad™ is a movement designed to elevate mental health and wellness conversation. Talks between host Benj Gershman and guest will highlight unique life experiences as our first collection of interviews focus on personal stories from within the entertainment industry. read less
Health & FitnessHealth & Fitness
Start Here
What Could Be Bad: Episode 106 - Harder to Breathe with Ryan Dusick
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.

Episodes

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