Ben Barnes

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer (CEO of the Austin Technology Council) sits down with Ben Barnes, the former Texas Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, public service, Texas history, resilience, and staying engaged in life at every age. Ben's political career began when he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives at just 22 years old. He went on to become the youngest Speaker of the House and the youngest Lieutenant Governor in Texas history. In the conversation, he shares stories from those early years, including how he had to earn credibility as a young leader and why he felt a responsibility to open doors for others who would come after him. The conversation also explores Ben's role in helping establish the University of Texas at Dallas. He recalls being invited by Texas Instruments leaders to visit Boston and study the relationship between great universities and the technology industry. That experience helped shape the vision for a major new university in North Texas, ultimately backed by a significant contribution from the founders of Texas Instruments. Ben and Thom also discuss how Texas evolved from an agriculture-focused economy into one of the most important technology hubs in the country. Ben reflects on the decisions made in the 1960s that helped set the stage for Austin's later growth, including investments in higher education, research, and business leadership. He also talks about the importance of continuing to support universities and talent development if Texas wants to remain competitive. The episode includes a candid look at Ben's life after politics, including his public bankruptcy during the real estate collapse of the 1980s. He shares how that difficult chapter shaped him, what he learned from failure, and how lessons from his father and from Theodore Roosevelt helped him rebuild his life and career. At 88, Ben continues to stay active, curious, and engaged. He offers advice for people thinking about retirement, emphasizing the importance of preparation, lifelong learning, physical activity, and friendships across generations. His message is clear: staying involved with people, ideas, and new opportunities is part of living a full life. Ben also talks about his new book, Get It Done: Seven Decades of Lessons from a Political Legend , which will be released on July 14. He explains why he wanted to write the book now and shares the deeply personal story of his recent kidney transplant. This episode is a conversation about leadership, history, second chances, and the power of staying connected to people and purpose.

Summary: In this conversation, Ben Barnes, also known as Bencasso, shares his journey of overcoming trauma, mental health challenges, and the role of music in his recovery. He discusses his experiences with substance use, the impact of music therapy, and his efforts to create a nonprofit to help others. Through personal anecdotes and insights, he highlights the therapeutic power of music and the significance of discovering one's purpose in life. *Please review Ben Barnes’s (Bencasso) social media platforms. https://www.benjaminbarnes.com/ https://www.instagram.com/Benjamindavidbarnes https://www.youtube.com/bencasso https://bencasso.org/ https://www.culturescholar.org/ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFtymuyJeNb/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== *To review Robert’s Substack, please visit: https://robertejordan.substack.com/ *For information regarding Robert Jordan's philanthropic work and his complete library of books for sale, please visit: https://fatherbob.co To donate to Robert’s philanthropic work, please use the PayPal link: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WHMS6DJMC9DDN Please visit Robert's GoFundMe site for information regarding his latest effort: https://www.gofundme.com/manage/support-afghan-women-provide-sewing-machines Notably, all proceeds from Robert Jordan's books support the impoverished in Kabul, Afghanistan. If you would like to purchase a signed copy of my book, The Warmth Of The Gospel: An Anthology of Short Stories, please email at jordan.publications.llc@gmail.com If you are a veteran in need, please call me at (757) 770-8652 or find me on WhatsApp, and I can add you to a prayer group. *Support Afghan Women Through Threads Of Hope. Please visit: https://gofund.me/101940d8

Okay, so maybe Grace from The Book Hoes Podcast isn't actually friends from Ben Barnes, but she still stopped by to talk about House of Anubis! Press play to learn about toxic traits, hated female characters, and exactly how we started talking about Ben Barnes in the first place. Show notes: https://heynaya.letterdrop.com/ Transcript: https://bit.ly/34wit2j Music : Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Twitter : @nayapod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may know Ben Barnes from Westworld, Shadow and Bone, Chronicles of Narnia, Dorian Gray and more! But you will soon know him as a singer song writer! You won’t want to miss this amazing conversation between Sammy Jaye and Ben Barnes - they talk about his love of acting, sharing his true self through his music, the journey of his career, dealing with rejection and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor, Singer, Songwriter Ben Barnes releases his first EP “Songs For You” Fans of BEN BARNES all over the globe know him as Prince Caspian from The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Billy Russo from Marvel’s The Punisher, Logan from HBO’s Westworld, and Neil McCormick, Bono’s best friend in Killing Bono. More recently, he stars... The post BEN BARNES interview: Songs For You appeared first on 15 Minutes With Chuck - podcast . Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show