Podcast Summary: The Ben Shapiro Show

Episode: 9 Celebrities That Don’t Suck
Host: Ben Shapiro (The Daily Wire)
Date: March 7, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Ben Shapiro takes a break from his standard criticism of Hollywood to spotlight nine celebrities he believes exemplify positive values, religious conviction, and personal responsibility. Shapiro argues these figures are worthy of emulation, highlighting their moral clarity, faith, and courage in going against the grain in an industry he sees as dominated by superficiality and relativism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Role Models in Hollywood (01:06)

• Shapiro opens by acknowledging prevalent negativity in Hollywood but notes there are exceptions—celebrities “worthy of emulation.”
• The focus is: celebrities whose public faith and moral choices make them positive role models.

2. James Van Der Beek: Finding Worth in Faith (01:20–03:21)

• Background: Star of “Dawson’s Creek,” married with 6 kids, documented personal struggles publicly.
• Notable Quote:
  • James Van Der Beek (02:16):

    “I am worthy of God’s love simply because I exist. And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own? And the same is true for you.”

• Shapiro’s Take: Deeply moved, Ben reflects on the fragility of identity tied to roles like ‘father’ or ‘husband,’ highlighting the enduring nature of one’s relationship with God.
  • “But in the end, it’s you and God. What an amazing message there from James Vanderby.” (03:21)

3. Kevin James: The Spiritual Power of Fasting (04:00–05:19)

• Background: Prominent Catholic actor, discussed fasting for his sick daughter.
• Notable Dialogue:
  • Kevin James (04:07):

    “You don’t want to know how many days? 41 and a half…”
    "...I felt so bad for my daughter. I said, I’m gonna do this for you."

• Shapiro on Fasting: Connects religious fasting across traditions as a demonstration of devotion and self-sacrifice.

4. Chris Pratt: Faith and Integrity in the Spotlight (06:10–07:30)

• Background: Openly religious, known for balancing humor and sincerity.
• Quotes from Pratt’s ‘Nine Rules’ Speech:
  • “You have a soul. Be careful with it.” (06:20)
  • “Don’t be a turd. If you’re strong, be a protector…”
  • “God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you. Believe that? I do.” (07:00)
• Shapiro admires Pratt’s willingness to be upfront about his faith in secular settings (e.g., MTV Movie Awards).

5. Mark Wahlberg: Balancing Faith and Fame (08:57–09:35)

• Background: Open Catholic, navigates Hollywood with humility.
• Quote:
  • "I don’t want to jam it down anybody's throat, but I do not deny my faith. That’s an even bigger sin. ...God didn’t come to save the saints. He came to save the sinners." (08:57)

6. Zachary Levi: Humility and Ecumenism (09:59–11:46)

• Background: Actor (“Chuck,” “Shazam”), openly conservative, spiritual journey.
• Quote:
  • “Anyone who’s selling you that, I think really needs to take a hard look at their own hubris, right? ...If there’s a God, you know nothing. God is everything and everywhere. We can’t possibly know all that. ...You have actual energy, glucose and all that shit flying through your body. ...This is a miracle place.” (09:59–11:46)
• Shapiro Comments: Praises Levi's humility and open-mindedness toward different faith traditions.

7. David Henrie: Catholic Answers to Life’s Questions (12:13–13:00)

• Background: Known for “Wizards of Waverly Place,” vocal about Catholic faith.
• Quote:
  • “What I loved about the Catholic thought on life is, is it gives you an end goal... it’s the best answering on suffering I’ve ever heard, or the difficulties of life. ...My experience with reality really reflected the teachings of the church.” (12:13–12:59)
• Shapiro: Applauds Henrie for standing firm in faith amidst relativistic Hollywood culture.

8. Carrie Underwood: Courage in Public Faith (13:26–13:44)

• Background: Famously religious, publicly supported Trump’s inauguration.
• Quote:
  • “It is a brave thing to do, because there are a lot of outside forces that are going to tell you not to do that. I want to tell you that I’m proud of you guys.” (13:26)
• Shapiro: Praises her for encouraging younger people to hold onto their beliefs.

9. Denzel Washington: Living Out Values (14:13–14:49)

• Background: Spiritual but largely apolitical in public.
• Quote:
  • “I wasn’t put on this earth to act. I was put on this earth to share and to be an example of the power and wisdom and grace and mercy of God. ...I appreciate every day that I wake up and I will give thanks to the Lord every day for the rest of my days.” (14:15)
• Shapiro: Notes the impact of someone with Denzel’s stature speaking openly about faith.

10. Tim Allen: Wisdom from the Bible (14:59–15:52)

• Background: Studied multiple translations of the Bible “as a scientist.”
• Quote:
  • "I put it down if I drift and I got all the way through the Old Testament... It’s been life changing. ...The Bible is not what I thought it was. It’s very little preachy stuff. It’s stories you’ll derive... The book of Job is the one that affected me most." (14:59–15:52)
• Shapiro: Affirms Bible study as transformative, noting his own lifelong Torah study.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• James Van Der Beek:

  "I am worthy of God's love simply because I exist... And the same is true for you." (02:16)

• Kevin James:

  "I did like four or five days... Then I talked to my daughter. She goes, have you been fasting for me? And I go, yeah. And she goes, thank you so much. ...So I just kept going, day, a day at a time." (04:26)

• Chris Pratt:

  "You have a soul. Be careful with it. ...God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you." (06:20–07:00)

• Mark Wahlberg:

  "I do not deny my faith. That’s an even bigger sin. ...God didn’t come to save the saints. He came to save the sinners." (08:57)

• Denzel Washington:

  "I will give thanks to the Lord every day for the rest of my days." (14:49)

• Tim Allen:

  "It’s been life changing. ...The book of Job is the one that affected me most." (15:52)

Takeaways

• Faith in the Spotlight: These celebrities counter Hollywood’s stereotype, remaining vocal about spirituality and traditional values.
• Standing Firm: Shapiro admires their courage, especially under pressure to conform.
• Diverse Faith Expressions: While most are Christian, perspectives range from traditional Catholicism to ecumenical spirituality.
• Personal Responsibility: Emphasis on how faith fuels perseverance, humility, and kindness.
• Role Models for All: “These are all people who... are demonstrating what is best about their faith on the public stage, which is an amazing thing.” (13:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro to Theme: 01:06
• James Van Der Beek: 01:20–03:21
• Kevin James: 04:07–05:19
• Chris Pratt: 06:20–07:30
• Mark Wahlberg: 08:57–09:35
• Zachary Levi: 09:59–11:46
• David Henrie: 12:13–13:00
• Carrie Underwood: 13:26–13:44
• Denzel Washington: 14:13–14:49
• Tim Allen: 14:59–15:52
• Conclusion of List: 16:32

Conclusion

Ben Shapiro’s episode challenges the notion that Hollywood is entirely devoid of virtue, presenting a curated list of “celebrities that don’t suck”—those whose example, he argues, is worth celebrating and emulating for their courage, faith, humility, and positive influence.