About Ben Kissel
Benjamin Grant Kissel (born July 21, 1981) is an American podcaster, and the host of the OK Bud! podcast. Prior to OK Bud!, he co-hosted The Last Podcast on the Left which discussed serial killers, dark history, and true crime stories. He also appeared on the podcasts Roundtable of Gentlemen and hosted Abe Lincoln's Top Hat. In September of 2023, following allegations of domestic violence and emotional abuse, Kissel was dismissed from his role as co-host of The Last Podcast on the Left, and Last Podcast Network announced that he would no longer be involved with the network on October 13, 2023.
Benjamin Grant Kissel was born in Fargo, North Dakota on July 21, 1981. He is the son of a German immigrant father, Bengt Kissel, who along with his mother, Laura, raised him in a deeply religious home. Following high school, Ben attended UW-Stout where he began doing stand-up comedy at nineteen. He transferred to UW-Milwaukee, eventually graduating with a degree in Political science. In 2006 Kissel moved to Brooklyn, New York to continue his career in comedy.
In 2011, Kissel co-created horror-comedy podcast The Last Podcast on the Left with Marcus Parks. Henry Zebrowski joined the pair in the third episode. Ben Kissel is a Webby Award recipient and collaborated on the New York Times best-selling true crime book The Last Book on the Left. In 2024, Kissel announced that he is working on a new show called The Ben Kissel Channel. This evolved to become the OK! Bud podcast with Jerii Aquino and Kyle Ploof, which premiered in January 2025. In 2017, he ran for Brooklyn Borough president against former NYC Mayor Eric Adams, receiving 1.8% of the vote.
Videos (614)
Videos 601 to 614 of 614.
44:14Episode 5: Anatomy Monday and Cheesecake Chaos
29 views
48:33Episode 8: Choppers, Coppers, and a Wicked Widow
29 views
51:29Episode 7: From KKK Flyers to Weight Bias in Rideshares
28 views
46:05Episode 17: Bathtub Cheese Dreams and a Chocolate Loving Critter
26 views
44:34Episode 11: Philly Mysteries and the Reign of Lethal Robo-DJs
25 views
46:41Episode 14: Crocs Chaos, Mafia Mishaps and Fishy Pranks
25 views
45:29Episode 15: Bullies, Crime and Catastrophe
25 views
44:20Episode 16: Hairy Lawsuits and Subway Miracles
24 views
43:29Episode 3: From Jazz-Loving Rats to Tattoo Trends
23 views
48:52Episode 12: Shoe Lickers and Build-A-Bear Scandals
23 views
46:25Episode 10: Thrilling Protests and the Quirks of Modern Aesthetics
20 views
45:11Episode 21: Salmon Facials and Murder Monday
18 views
45:11Episode 21: Salmon Facials and Murder Monday
13 views
Ben Kissel Live Stream
0 viewsFrequently asked questions
Who is Ben Kissel?
Benjamin Grant Kissel (born July 21, 1981) is an American podcaster, and the host of the OK Bud! podcast. Prior to OK Bud!, he co-hosted The Last Podcast on the Left which discussed serial killers, dark history, and true crime stories.
When did Ben Kissel start doing stand-up comedy?
Following high school, Ben attended UW-Stout where he began doing stand-up comedy at nineteen. He transferred to UW-Milwaukee, eventually graduating with a degree in Political science.
What is The Last Podcast on the Left?
In 2011, Kissel co-created horror-comedy podcast The Last Podcast on the Left with Marcus Parks. Henry Zebrowski joined the pair in the third episode.
Why was Ben Kissel dismissed from The Last Podcast on the Left?
In September of 2023, following allegations of domestic violence and emotional abuse, Kissel was dismissed from his role as co-host of The Last Podcast on the Left, and Last Podcast Network announced that he would no longer be involved with the network on October 13, 2023.
Did Ben Kissel run for political office?
In 2017, he ran for Brooklyn Borough president against former NYC Mayor Eric Adams, receiving 1.8% of the vote. His platform included advocating for criminal justice reform, transportation issues in Brooklyn regarding the L Train, and rent control.
