Name Ben Kissel
Age / How old / Birthday / Date of Birth / DOB July 21, 1981. As of 2025, he is around 44 years old.
Wedding & Marriage / Wife / Spouse / Partner / Engaged Currently not married. Check the bio for relationship details.
Wikipedia Biography / Profile Background
Introduction :
- Ben Kissel is an American podcaster, comedian, writer, actor, political speaker and aspiring politician.
- He was the co-creator and co-host of The Last Podcast on the Left, which won a Webby and was one of the top 10 downloaded podcasts on iTunes in 2017.
- In October 2023, Kissel was publicly removed from The Last Podcast on the Left after multiple allegations of domestic and emotional abuse; he entered therapy for mental and physical health but denied wrongdoing.
- In January 2025, Kissel launched a new podcast titled OK Bud! with Jerii Aquino and Kyle Ploof, after using “The Ben Kissel Channel” as a transitional project.
- A political expert who makes appearances on news networks such as CNN and Fox News Network, Ben is also a radio host who has worked on multiple radio stations.
Personal Life : Parents, Family and Education
- Ben Kissel was born on July 21, 1981, in Steven’s Point, Wisconsin, where his father had settled after emigrating from Germany.
- During his childhood, Kissel lived in a religious household that also hosted many foster children. He often took up the role as the diffuser in situations at home and grew up being known as the ‘class clown.’
- He has two brothers, both of whom are gay.
- Ben started to become interested in politics in the lead-up to the Iraq war in 2001 and 2002.
- He attended the University of Wisconsin, from where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
- As a child, Kissel navigated severe ADHD and depression, skipping fifth grade and being homeschooled before returning to Catholic school, where he built lasting friendships. He is openly atheist, and his political awareness and early activism were shaped during the Iraq War era.
Career, Income, Salary and Net Worth :
- Kissel began his career as a stand-up comedian in Wisconsin in 2005 at the age of 19, a craft he continues to practice. After moving to Brooklyn in 2006, he pursued comedy and podcasting full time, balancing odd jobs like dogsitting while collaborating with Kevin Barnett on KBBK Comedy Deathmatch.
- In 2011, he co-created The Last Podcast on the Left with Marcus Parks and Henry Zebrowski, who joined after the third episode. The show blends real-life horrors and fictional elements, covering serial killers, conspiracy theories, UFO sightings, and ghosts. It became a global success, winning a Webby Award, touring internationally, releasing multiple specials, and even performing as the first live podcast at Denver’s Red Rocks. The team also authored the New York Times bestselling book The Last Book on the Left.
- Alongside this, Kissel co-created The Roundtable of Gentlemen and launched the political podcast Abe Lincoln’s Top Hat, where he continues to discuss politics and social issues. He also speaks on sports and politics through Cave Comedy Radio and has written and co-authored books and comic series, including DC’s Soul Plumber (2021–22).
- In 2014, he was pivotal in the repeal of a New Jersey anti-cross-dressing law, an effort later chronicled in his documentary Lawbreaker.
- In 2017, Kissel ran for Brooklyn Borough President with the Reform Party, finishing third while campaigning on criminal justice reform and improved city transit.
- Since 2013, Ben has also appeared in several short films and TV series and contributed writing for the comedy show Red Eye.
- Following his 2023 ouster amid allegations, Kissel launched a new podcast, OK Bud!, in 2025 and announced additional writing and comedy projects.
Fun Facts, Height and Trivia :
- In 2015, Kissel’s work as a political activist helped to overturn an anti-cross dressing law in New Jersey. He achieved this through his short documentary Lawbreaker,, which takes its premise from a book called 3 Felonies a Day in which it describes how there are so many laws in America that everyone is breaking them constantly, unconsciously. The documentary puts the theory into practice by cross-dressing in New Jersey, which was illegal at the time.
- Kissel identifies as an atheist, which he sometimes mentions during his podcast.
- In high school, Ben was spanked by the principal of his school for singing “All Along the Watchtower” on the stage where the school priest normally preached. It was at this moment that he realized he might have the potential in building a career in comedy.
- How tall / Ben Kissel Height : 6′7″. Ben has admitted that as a stand-up comedian, he had difficulty dealing with how tall he was, that is the reason he loves doing podcasts.