Benchwarmers Media

Founded in 2022, Benchwarmers Media is a company built around the goal of producing entertainment that supports and strengthens communities. What started as some curiosity over a cup of coffee and a desire to help document stories for a book has grown quickly and organically into two full-fledged podcasts. The Benchwarmers team of John Russett, Tom Connell and Ryan Russett formed in the summer of 2022 to bring to life the stories of some monumental figures in St. Johns University history. Coffee with Father Don started out as exactly that, with visits by John Russett to St. Johns University and the Local Blend in St Joseph, Minn., to have coffee with Father Don Talafous, a monk at St. Johns Abbey who most recently celebrated his 98th birthday, to discuss his popular Daily Reflection newsletter. Published the first and third Saturday each month, CwFD has become a staple of a very loyal listenership. No Place Id Rather Be ... started when fellow Johnnies Connell and John Russett de...