Greg Bennick

{{Short description|American public speaker and musician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}} {{Infobox person | name = Greg Bennick | image = Greg Bennick brick wall.jpg | caption = Bennick in 2026 | birthname = | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|33|2004|02|26}}<ref name=seattlepi/> | birth_place = | education = Cornish College of the Arts | height = | yearsactive = | website = {{URL|https://www.gregbennick.com/}} | module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed = yes|| instrument = Vocals | current_member_of = {{flatlist| * Trial * Between Earth & Sky * Bystander }} | years_active = 1995–present | genre = Punk rock }} }}

'''Greg Bennick''' is an American professional speaker, film producer, numismatist, and musician. He is the co-founder of the nonprofit organizations One Hundred for Haiti and the Portland Mutual Aid Network. Bennick is also the vocalist of the bands Trial, Between Earth & Sky, and Bystander.

==Early life and education== Bennick grew up in Connecticut,<ref name=punknews/> having learned to juggle in his youth when he was accidentally placed in the wrong junior high minicourse. He had initially selected coin collecting. Bennick began earning money juggling at 13 years old.<ref name=seattlepi>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Carol |title=Filmmaker examines fear of death |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/filmmaker-examines-fear-of-death-1138067.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=26 February 2004}}</ref>

Bennick was first introduced to punk music by a neighbourhood friend, who shared recorded cassettes of the music with him. Through the introduction, Bennick found punk bands he enjoyed and began going to shows. The first show he attended was headlined by Hüsker Dü in 1987.<ref name=punknews>{{cite news |last=Verducci |first=Richard |title=Greg Bennick (Trial/Between Earth & Sky) |url=https://www.punknews.org/article/49682/interviews-greg-bennick-trial-between-earth-and-sky |work=Punk News |date=2013}}</ref> Bennick attended many shows at The Anthrax, a noteworthy venue in Connecticut at that time.<ref name=spirit>{{cite web|access-date=March 19, 2018|url=http://www.spiritribe.com/Evetribepages/Interview/EnglishVersion/Trial-USA.htm|title= TRIAL Interview|date=August 13, 2005|website=Spiritribe.com|url-status=live|archive-date=October 13, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051013061505/http://www.spiritribe.com/Evetribepages/Interview/EnglishVersion/Trial-USA.htm}}</ref>

In 1991, Bennick moved to Seattle to study theatre at Cornish College of the Arts,<ref name=seattlet/> where he focused on acting, Shakespeare, textual analysis, and physical theatre.<ref name=noecho/>

==Career== ===Professional speaking=== Bennick began professional speaking as an offshoot of performing, following themes of sincerity and connection with the audience rather than traditional motivational speaking. He has previously included juggling as part of his speaking engagements.<ref name=vice/> Bennick has given keynote speeches to various companies, including Microsoft and Boeing.<ref name=noecho/> He is represented by various speakers bureaus, including GDA Speakers,<ref>{{cite web |title=Greg Bennick - GDA Speakers |url=https://www.gdaspeakers.com/speaker/greg-bennick/}}</ref> Midwest Speakers Bureau,<ref>{{cite web |title=Greg Bennick - Midwest Speakers Bureau |url=https://www.speakernow.com/speaker/greg-bennick/}}</ref> and BigSpeak Speakers Bureau.<ref>{{cite web |title=Keynote Speaker Greg Bennick |url=https://www.bigspeak.com/speakers/greg-bennick/}}</ref>

Bennick is the first international speaking coach for a TEDx event, appearing at TEDxPerth.<ref name=idioteq>{{cite news |last=Kamiński |first=Karol |title=From Stage to Strategy: How Hardcore Punk Ethics Revolutionize Business Leadership |url=https://idioteq.com/from-stage-to-strategy-how-hardcore-punk-ethics-revolutionize-business-leadership/ |work=IDIOTEQ |date=25 April 2024}}</ref>

In addition to speaking events, Bennick has performed spoken word on tour in multiple countries, including traveling to Russia and Ukraine.<ref name=idioteq/> He performed a spoken word set at Ieperfest in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kamiński |first=Karol |title=Ieperfest 2018 details: SHELTER, CONVERGE, DOOM, CONFLICT, COMEBACK KID & more announced! [UPDATE]! |url=https://idioteq.com/ieperfest-2018-details-converge-doom-conflict-comeback-kids-announced/ |work=IDIOTEQ |date=23 January 2018}}</ref>

===Films=== Bennick co-wrote and produced his first documentary, ''Flight from Death'', with director Patrick Shen. The film explored the topic of death anxiety, something that initially intrigued Bennick through a talk based on the works and writings of cultural anthropologist and social theorist Ernest Becker, given by Sheldon Solomon, chairman of the psychology department at Skidmore College. Solomon was interviewed for the documentary as well. The film was narrated by Gabriel Byrne, and earned recognition at multiple film festivals, including the audience choice for best documentary at the Beverly Hills Film Festival.<ref name=seattlepi/><ref>{{Citation | last = Campos | first = Eric | title = Flight from Death: The Quest for Immortality | url=http://filmthreat.com/index.php?section=reviews&Id=7427 | access-date = October 6, 2007 | publisher = Film Threat}}</ref>

Bennick co-produced his second documentary, ''The Philosopher Kings'', which sought to display wisdom from custodians who worked at major universities.<ref name=vice>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Ellis |title=The most employable man alive |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-most-employable-man-alive/ |work=Vice |date=3 September 2009}}</ref>

Bennick is also a co-producer of ''La Source'', a documentary that follows Josue Lajeunesse, a janitor at Princeton University, working on developing running water resources for the Haitian village of La Source.<ref>{{cite news |last=Koehler |first=Robert |title=La Source |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/la-source-1117948158/ |work=Variety |date=2 September 2012}}</ref>

====Acting==== Bennick played the role of John Luka in the 2018 film, ''7 Splinters in Time''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schager |first=Nick |title=Film Review: ‘7 Splinters in Time’ |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/7-splinters-in-time-review-1202869430/ |work=Variety |date=10 July 2018}}</ref> He appeared in a short film created by the same director (Gabriel Judet-Weinshel) in 1995.<ref name=noecho>{{cite news |last=Ramirez |first=Carlos |title=Greg Bennick (Trial, Bystander) Talks About His Acting Role in Sci-Fi Flick 7 Splinters In Time |url=https://www.noecho.net/interviews/greg-bennick-actor-interview |work=No Echo |date=6 June 2018}}</ref>

===The Legacy Project=== Bennick and David Whitson co-founded The Legacy Project in 2006, with the purpose to “better understand how humans can transition from violent, bloody conflict to peace, justice, and reconciliation.”<ref name=idio1/> It began with an idea to bring a film Bennick had produced to Poland, specifically, concentration camp cities, to share it with the local people. Whitson suggested bringing high school students along to share in the experience.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kamiński |first=Karol |title=Greg Bennick: pushing ourselves to offer something more! |url=https://idioteq.com/greg-bennick-pushing-ourselves-to-offer-something-more/ |work=IDIOTEQ |date=29 December 2014}}</ref> The organization has gone on multiple trips, including Poland in 2007, South Africa in 2008, Chile and Argentina in 2009, Canada in 2012, and South America in 2014.<ref name=idio1>{{cite news |last=Kamiński |first=Karol |title=Greg Bennick interviews Owen Karimanzira, a refugee in the Youngsfield Refugee Camp outside of Cape Town, South Africa. |url=https://idioteq.com/greg-bennick-interviews-owen-karimanzira-a-refugee-in-the-youngsfield-refugee-camp-outside-of-cape-town-south-africa/ |work=IDIOTEQ |date=27 October 2014}}</ref>

===World Leaders Project=== Prior to the filming of ''Flight From Death'', Bennick approached Sheldon Solomon, seeking to contact world leaders in an effort to have a dialogue about how "death anxiety perpetuated world violence." This effort would become known as the World Leaders Project.<ref name=seattlepi/>

As part of the World Leaders Project, Bennick and Solomon met with the former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo.<ref name=vice/>

===Numismatist=== Bennick is a numismatist and collector of error coins, a practice he began when he was 10 years old. He discovered a mated pair of uncirculated 1867 Shield nickels, which were under-described in auction as a lesser error type.<ref>{{cite news |last=Potter |first=Ken |title=Unique Mated Pair Shield Nickel Discovered |url=https://www.numismaticnews.net/us-coins/unique-mated-pair-shield-nickel-discovered |work=Numismatic News |date=13 April 2023}}</ref> He serves on the board of the Combined Organization of Numismatic Error Collectors of America (CONECA).<ref>{{cite web |title=Officers & Board - CONECA |url=https://conecaonline.org/officers-board/ |publisher=Combined Organization of Numismatic Error Collectors of America |access-date=21 March 2026}}</ref>

==Music career== [[File:trial london.jpg|right|thumb|Bennick performing vocals with his band, Trial, during their 2005 reunion show in London, England.]] Bennick is the vocalist for Trial, a Seattle-based punk band. The band was primarily active from 1995 to 2000, playing shows sporadically in the years following. Trial’s lyrics contain themes of personal empowerment and facing challenges.<ref name=vice/><ref name=spirit/> Following Trial, Bennick performed as a vocalist for the bands Between Earth & Sky and Bystander.<ref name=punknews/><ref name=noecho/>

In 2013, Bennick hosted a workshop at Fluff Fest, focusing on writing meaningful lyrics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://diyconspiracy.net/fluff-fest-2014-highlights/|title=Fluff Fest 2014 Highlights|author=Mittens XVX|publisher=DIY Conspiracy|date=2 August 2014|access-date=7 October 2017}}</ref>

==Philanthropy== ===One Hundred for Haiti=== Bennick is the founder and executive director of One Hundred for Haiti, a nonprofit organization that funds development projects in the country through crowdfunded donations. After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Bennick joined some friends to help distribute aid to those affected by the disaster, further inspiring him to create the nonprofit. Money is sent from the nonprofit to trusted individuals living in the country, and is then used to build cisterns, supplying clean water.<ref name=seattlet>{{cite news |last=Large |first=Jerry |title=Help for Haiti? Seattle man just does it |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/help-for-haiti-seattle-man-just-does-it/ |work=Seattle Times |date=5 October 2016}}</ref>

===Portland Mutual Aid Network=== Bennick is a co-founder of the Portland Mutual Aid Network, a nonprofit organization providing support to unsheltered individuals in the Portland-area.<ref name=idioteq/>

==Bibliography== * ''Reclaim the Moment: Seven Strategies to Build a Better Now'' (2024) {{ISBN|9781394247714}}

==Discography== ===Trial=== * ''Through the Darkest Days'' (1997) * ''Are These Our Lives?'' (1999)

===Bystander=== * ''Where Did We Go Wrong?'' (2019)

==Collaborations== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Song !! Album !! Artist |- | 2006 || "Surgery without Sutures" (spoken word by Greg Bennick)|| ''Mediums and Messages'' || '''Parallax''' |- | 2010 || The Flight of the Locust (featuring Greg Bennick)|| ''Antarctica'' || '''To Kill''' |- | 2010 || "Synesthesia" (featuring Greg Bennick)|| ''Run With the Hunted'' || '''Run With the Hunted''' |- | 2014 || "Владивосток" (featuring Greg Bennick)|| ''Всё, Что Нам Нужно'' || '''Плохая Репутация''' |- | 2019 || "Nothing Man" (featuring Greg Bennick)|| ''Threats of the World'' || '''Rejection Pact''' |- | 2019 || "Masks" (featuring Greg Bennick)|| ''Times of Reason Cast Aside'' || '''Exterminating Angel''' |- | 2019 || "The Loss" (featuring Greg Bennick)|| ''Flag of Mourning'' || '''Earthfall''' |- | 2020 || "Never Again" (featuring Greg Bennick)|| ''No Peace'' || '''No Peace''' |}

==Personal life== Bennick participates in a straight edge lifestyle.<ref name=punknews/> His mother is a part-time motivational speaker.<ref name=vice/>

===Social activism=== Bennick organized against the Teen Dance Ordinance (TDO), a controversial Seattle law which severely curtailed the ability of concert and club promoters to hold events for underaged patrons. He would go on to co-author the law’s replacement, the 2002 All-Ages Dance Ordinance, which saw eased restrictions compared to the former law.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Gemma |title=Seattle used to limit teen dancing; podcast explores that legacy today |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/seattle-used-to-limit-teen-dancing-podcast-explores-that-legacy-today/ |work=Seattle Times |date=1 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Zwickel |first1=Jonathan |last2=Martin |first2=Matt |last3=Gates |first3=Jim |title=Let the Kids Dance! |url=https://www.kuow.org/podcasts/let-the-kids-dance |work=KUOW-FM |publisher=NPR |date=2024}}</ref> Bennick was a member of the Seattle City Council’s Music and Youth Task Force, an advisory body that made suggestions which ultimately led to the council repealing the TDO and passing the All Ages Dance Ordinance.<ref>{{cite news |title=City Hall Rocks! |url=https://www.seattleweekly.com/2006/10/09/city-hall-rocks/ |work=Seattle Weekly |date=9 October 2006}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|0072154}} * [http://www.gregbennick.com Greg Bennick website] * [http://www.onehundredforhaiti.org One Hundred For Haiti official site] * [http://www.thelegacyproject.com The Legacy Project official site] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZKJTAaPBIE TEDx Talk - …And We Want Something More - Passion, Creativity, and the Human Condition, 2009]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennick, Greg}} Category:Film producers from Connecticut Category:American motivational speakers Category:American male comedians Category:21st-century American comedians Category:American activists Category:Business speakers Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Greg Bennick

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