Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

Millionaires v. Billionaires in NYC

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:53:00 GMT

Chris Pavone is the bestselling author of some of the smartest and most stylish thrillers of the past decade. His latest book, The Doorman is set in a glamorous Manhattan apartment building where the lives of the ultra-wealthy residents intersect with the man who quietly watches it all—the doorman. Over the course of one explosive day, secrets, class tensions, and personal betrayals collide in a fast-moving plot that doubles as sharp social satire about modern New York and the divides of race, wealth, politics, and status. This invites an inevitable and much-deserved comparison to Tom Wolfe’s Bonfire of the Vanities, though the Masters of the Universe are now fleece-vest-wearing tech and hedge-fund bros (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Full-disclosure: I loved this book. It's a page-turner! It's eminently-readable! But even more, it's an insightful look at modern society through the lens of New York City. Before becoming a novelist, Chris spent nearly two decades in book publishing, working on—or with—the editorial team for authors like John Grisham and Pat Conroy. Chris' debut novel, The Expats, became an international bestseller, won the Edgar Award and the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, and was translated into more than 30 languages. Since then he’s written a string of critically acclaimed thrillers—including The Accident, The Travelers, and The Paris Diversion—known for their globe-trotting settings, psychological depth, and characters navigating secrets, ambition, money, and power.

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🗽 Order 'The Doorman' book HERE. 🗽

🚩 Follow Chris Pavone on Substack 🚩

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The Beatles, Ted Turner, and Ric Flair with Steve Chamberlain

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:04:00 GMT

This week’s podcast is a conversation with my former Atlanta neighbor, Steve Chamberlain, a former media executive whose career has intersected with some of the biggest brands and celebrities in entertainment history.

I originally wanted to talk to Steve because of his experience leading the go-to-market plan of The Beatles Anthology, one of the most commercially successful recording projects of all-time. It was to be the follow-up episode to last week’s interview with Peter Doggett, author of 'You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Break Up'.

And while Steve and I discussed this at length, I found his experience as an executive vice president at Turner Broadcasting in the 1980s even more interesting. Working directly for Ted Turner, Steve’s responsibilities included everything from home video to cable syndication and World Championship Wrestling. He shares a great story about utilizing 1-900 telephone numbers to monetize wrestlers' smack talk. It’s a fun insight into the early days of a pre-Internet media “start-up.”

Steve oversaw the 50th Anniversary celebrations for both Gone With the Wind and Casablanca, then—after Turner— went on to captain the release of Frank Sinatra’s Duets, which eventually led to his work with the Fab Four.

Check it out here or wherever you get your podcast love.

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#music #movies #film #marketing #beatles #entertainment #TedTurner #wrestling #ricflair

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Money, Fame, and Misery: Meet the Beatles

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:09:00 GMT

Money, Fame, and Misery: Meet the Beatles (w/ Peter Doggett )

In the late ‘60s, The Beatles had it all: worldwide fame, critical admiration, and more money than they ever could have imagined. So why were these four young men so miserable? (And often short of cash!) My guest today is Peter Doggett—one of the great rock music writers of our time, and a man who has spent decades studying what happens when ambition, fame, and enormous piles of cash—and drugs—collide. Peter is the author of You Never Give Me Your Money, a brilliant and deeply human book about the Beatles, not only at their creative peak, but also at their breaking point, when the most successful band in history discovered that unimaginable wealth and universal adoration do not, in fact, lead to contentment and enlightenment…but do lead to lawsuits, divorce, and—sometimes—heroin addiction. Peter has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo, Q, and many others. His work has this rare quality: it makes you love the music more while feeling slightly better about your own messy life. His latest book is Surf's Up: Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. Btw, if you like this episode, you’ll also love the new Amazon documentary about Paul McCartney called Man on the Run. Check it out.

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Order Peter’s book HERE.

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Believe and You Will See! (w/ Nir Eyal )

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

My guest this week is Nir Eyal, whose two books ('Hooked’ and ‘Indistractable’) have sold over 1 million copies in over 30 languages. This week he published his latest - Beyond Belief: The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Extraordinary Results. In our chat, Nir and I discuss:

Why beliefs can help us perform at our top potential (or vice versa)

The difference between facts, faith, and belief

How beliefs can benefit us, even if they’re not “true”

The importance of cognitive flexibility

And, the power of prayer, even for non-believers

Nir also shares a powerful story about the thing he learned by buying his mother birthday flowers from the “wrong” florist. Nir's work has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Psychology Today, and many more. He attended The Stanford Graduate School of Business and Emory University.

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Learn more about Nir on his website.

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Gina Gershon on Fame, Desire, and Boobs

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Guess who I got to meet last week - Gina Gershon. That’s right, the incredibly beautiful and talented actress, author, singer, and long-standing disruptor of polite expectations. You know Gina from unforgettable roles in Bound, Showgirls, Face/Off, Cocktail, and a career that has zig-zagged fearlessly between Hollywood glamor, indie grit, Broadway, and music. We talked about her work and life as recounted in her new memoir, 'Alpha Pussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs’ (a title that caught the attention of my 16 year-old son and, well, me). Gina shares stories about Prince, David Mamet, Paul Thomas Anderson, Robert Altman, Michael Mann, and Lou Reed. And she spills the beans about kissing both Tom Cruise and Jennifer Tilly (I’d go with Jen, personally). Oh, she also tells why it was so much fun to improv with Larry David on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm’. Need I say more? Okay, yes - just a little: What I took away from this interview is that artists like Gina who prioritize freedom above commerce sometimes miss out on millions of dollars and a degree of “stardom,” but they maintain their sense of self and Alpha vibe. Check it out.

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Buy Gina's book HERE.

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The Courage to Be Right w/ Matt Kaplan

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Matt Kaplan is a science correspondent at the Economist and author of the new book I Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right in which he shares the stories of researchers—from Darwin to Pasteur to modern Nobel Prize winners—who had to fight for their revolutionary ideas to be accepted. "But Paul…” you might say. "This sounds very interesting, but how does it fit into the conversations here on Reasonably Happy?” Good question! It’s because I like contrarians and truth-seekers. I worry about prevailing power structures or narratives that restrict innovation, progress, free markets, and personal liberty, whether those obstacles be bureaucracy, fascism, religion, or political correctness. And perhaps by pondering these historical examples, we’ll be less likely to repeat past mistakes. Over the last two decades, Matt has written about everything from paleontology and parasites to virology and viticulture. In addition to the Economist, his writing has appeared in National Geographic, Nature, and the New York Times. He completed a thesis in Paleontology at Berkeley, and one in science journalism at Imperial College, London. In 2014 he was awarded a Knight Fellowship to study at MIT and Harvard. Born in California, he lives in England.

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Buy Matt’s book, I Told You So! here.

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Insider Trading w/Tom Hardin

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

How do you handle it when you screw up badly? (Like really badly.) Former hedge fund trader and Wharton graduate Tom Hardin was convicted of Securities Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud, which are felonies. In 2008, during the beginning of the great finanical crisis, Tom desperately needed to put some points on the board at his fund. And since everybody else in the industry seemed to be doing it, Tom allowed himself to trade equities on material, non-public information—something he knew was illegal. After being stopped by the FBI on the streets of Manhattan, Tom agreed to become an informant and wore a wire over 40 times to aid the agency in its investigation of big fish like Steve Cohen of SAC who paid a $1.8 billion fine and Rajaratnam of of Galleon Group who went to jail for 7.5 years. I spoke to Tom this week about his new book, Wired on Wall Street: The Rise and Fall of Tipper X, One of the FBI’s Most Prolific Informants. A scrappy, middle-class kid from suburban Atlanta (Go Braves!), Tom willed himself into the University of Pennsylvania’s famed Wharton School of Business, which launched him into the finance industry. He eventually earned a seat at a prestigious hedge fund and was on his way until the intense pressure of the gig led him to make a terrible decision that earned him only $46,000 but ended his career. Today, Tom works with Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, law firms, business schools, and leadership teams, delivering keynotes and advisory engagements on behavioral ethics, culture risk, and organizational conduct. NOTE: The actor in 'Traffic’ actor whose name I was trying to remember is Benicio Del Toro, not Guillermo Del Toro. Please forgive me.

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Surviving Middle Age w/ Ben Markovits

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:38:00 GMT

Ben Markovits is the author of several acclaimed novels, including his most recent release The Rest of Our Lives, which explores marriage, infidelity, empty nesting, and mortality. The book, which was short-listed for the Booker Prize, focuses on a 55-year-old law professor’s midlife crisis and transformative road trip after his children leave home. You might say it examines the sources of happiness in our lives as we age. Ben’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Guardian. He spoke with me from his home in England.

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Read Ben's book ⁠NYT essay

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Marriage, Infidelity, and Millennial Disillusionment with Erin Somers

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Erin Somers' new novel, The Ten Year Affair is a story about Millennial disillusionment (and extramarital sex). The New Yorker called it “intoxicating” and W praised the book for its “sometimes mocking examination of young middle age.” I wanted to speak with Erin because her characters reflect a sense of grown-up melancholy arising when goals like home ownership, careers, and parenthood don’t provide the fulfillment that was expected of them. So what do we do, she asks implicitly, when we find ourselves in a life designed to have meaning but does not deliver on that promise? Her characters also embody the impossible and contradictory messages society has imposed on gender roles for her generation. For men: be sensitive, inclusive, do half the housework, but still make a lot of money. For women: go conquer the corporate world while simultaneously being a present, nurturing mother and a sensual, doting wife. To me, this issue—even more than the deliciously provocative infidelity—is what has me continuing to think about the book, weeks after I finished it. Erin's writing and reportage has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Esquire, GQ, The Nation, The New Republic, and elsewhere. Vogue named her first novel, Stay Up With Hugo Best, to their list of the Best Books of the Year for 2019.

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https://www.erinsomers.com/

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A.I. Facts, Fears and Fiction (w/ Bryan Reimer)

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT

AI will have at least as big an effect on society as the invention of electricity. That’s the prediction of MIT’s Bryan Reimer. Bryan is the co-author of the new book ‘How to Make AI Useful’ in which he explores AI’s power and potential to change the world. He and I sat down this week to discuss the facts, fears, and fiction around what might be the most transformational innovation of our lifetimes. Brian offers a grounded, human-centered perspective on how AI is evolving—and why most of the extreme hype and trepidation miss the point. Rather than a doomsday takeover, he frames AI as a long-term productivity tool that works best in collaboration with humans, not instead of them. Along the way, we discuss energy demands, competition between the U.S., China, and Europe, deepfakes, “oh sh*t moments,” and how everyday people can start using tools like ChatGPT right now to improve their work and lives. Bryan is a research scientist at MIT’s Center for Transportation & Logistics and the MIT AgeLab. With over two decades of experience in human-centered technology research, he has become a leading voice in the future of mobility and making AI systems more practical, accessible, and beneficial for everyday use.

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From Apartheid to Atlanta w/ Robyn Curnow

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 19:15:00 GMT

My guest is Robyn Curnow, a native South African who spent over two decades at CNN, where she hosted CNN’s Newsroom, and anchored The International Desk with Robyn Curnow. Prior to that, she served as the network’s Africa correspondent out of Johannesburg and covered Europe out of CNN’s London Bureau.

If you don’t recognize her name, I bet you’ll recognize her distinctive voice because you likely saw her interviews with some of the most prominent people of our lifetimes, including Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Robyn has covered news stories as diverse and dynamic as Africa’s HIV/AIDS epidemic, the rise of Boko Haram, the 2010 World Cup, and the murder of Jammal Khashoggi. This work earned her and her colleagues multiple Emmy nominations, the Royal Television Society Award, and the duPont-Columbia Award.

On her new podcast, Searching for America—which I love—Robyn explores our society and culture through the eyes of a new-comer. Like a modern-day de Tocqueville, she offers a sincerely interested outsider’s perspective on the quirks of American life, including the Halloween Industrial complex, the obsession with high school graduation and college acceptance, turducken, and—most importantly—our collective love of Dolly Parton.

She lives in Atlanta where she and I serve on a school board together.

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Listen to Searching for America here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3j83wBMdUQnOcQTfK2pg9I

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Rewrite Mental Illness w/Laura Delano

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 13:48:00 GMT

Laura Delano is the author of Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance. Laura was fourteen years old when she saw her first psychiatrist, which was not something openly discussed at the time in her wealthy hometown of Greenwich, CT. Over the next 14 years, Laura was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression, social anxiety disorder, eating disorder, poly-substance dependence, and borderline personality disorder. These conditions earned her prescriptions for Seroquel, Abilify, Klonopin, Ativan, Ambien, Prozac, Effexor, Celexa, Cymbalta, Wellbutrin, Lexapro, lithium, and many more. During this time, she engaged in self-harm, spent time in psychiatric hospitals, and attempted to take her own life. In 2010, Laura decided she had had enough with all the diagnoses and the drugs. Her book tells the story of how she weaned herself from this medical regimen and found a stable life free of prescriptions. You’ve gotta listen to this conversation. Laura and I talk about mental health, the pharmaceutical industry, how her behavior affected those around her, how her family dealt with their difficult sister and daughter, and how that love finally helped to see her through.Btw, the ‘80s punk band whose name I couldn’t remember around the 10-minute mark is Suicidal Tendencies. Thanks to my pal, “Nashville Ben” for recommending Laura’s book for me.

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Check out Laura’s website here.

NOTHING IN THIS EPISODE SHOULD BE REGARDED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISTRESS, PLEASE SEEK THE HELP OF A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. ALSO, DO NOT CHANGE YOUR PRESCRIPTION REGIMEN W/O CONSULTING YOUR DOCTOR.

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Find your Essential Intent w/ Greg McKeown

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Welcome back to this holiday conversation with ‘Essentialism' author Greg McKeown (see his very impressive resume below). As you set your goals and intentions for 2026, Greg’s insights will be a great way to think through WHAT REALLY MATTERS to you. To demonstrate how challenging this seemingly obvious exercise can be, I asked Greg how to help me focus my sincere but varied slate of professional ambitions. It gets a little uncomfortable, but that’s the point! And if you get one thing out of this episode, I hope it’s the 7 words Greg shares that will help you be a better spouse, parent, friend and co-worker. Thank you to my friend, the painter and 1985 high school soccer phenom, Brendan O’Connell for bringing Greg’s work to my attention.

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Start your Essentialism journey ⁠here⁠

Okay, here’s Greg’s BIO: Greg McKeown has written two New York Times bestsellers: “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less,” which Goodreads users voted “The #1 Leadership and Success Book to Read in a Lifetime,” and “Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most.” Together, they have been published in 37 languages. Greg is a highly sought-after public speakers globally and has spoken to over 500 companies while traveling to more than 40 countries. His clients include Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Nike. (Perhaps you’ve heard of these companies. Hmm?) Greg hosts the cleverly named "The Greg McKeown Podcast,” which is ranked in the Top 5 of all self-improvement podcasts, and has hosted luminaries like Arthur Brooks, Matthew McConaughey, and Maria Shriver. His work has been covered in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Time, Fast Company, and Harvard Business Review…among others.

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High Net Worth Divorce with Laura Wasser

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 13:03:00 GMT

People magazine called Laura Wasser “the celebrity of celebrity divorce attorneys,” which makes sense considering she has—according to Wikipedia—handled cases for A+listers like Angelina Jolie, Kim Kardashian, Johnny Depp, Ryan Reynolds, Dr. Dre, Kevin Costner, Maria Shriver, and Jimmy Iovine, among many others. And while “celebrity divorce attorney” might conjure up images of a rapacious shark in Prada boots squeezing every dollar out of her clients’ exes, Laura preaches the gospel of divorce with dignity. Her book, It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way: How to Divorce Without Destroying Your Family or Bankrupting Yourself is a jungle guide for ending a marriage while preserving decency, values, and a couple’s wealth. As she writes, “…the more acrimony, argument, and angst, the more money your attorney makes. We profit from your inability to resolve issues.” In other words, don’t pay your lawyer $1,000/hr to determine—as famously captured in When Harry Met Sally—who gets the “stupid, wagon wheel, Roy Rogers, garage sale coffee table.” Her book is a plea to all those going through one of the most stressful human experiences possible to summon your best self and think about who you want to be when the dust settles. Laura and I talk about the fundamental language of divorce, including spousal support, child support, no-fault divorce, community property, and also the more philosophical dimensions of the process, like the concept of “fairness” and how one defines “winning.” Sincere thanks to my former Facebook colleague, Matt Jacobson for making the connection to Laura. I appreciate, Jake!

(encore presentation)

Follow Laura on ⁠on Instagram⁠ and learn more about her practice ⁠here⁠.

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Surviving the College Application Process w/ Jeffrey Selingo

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT

As the father of two prep school students, I was very eager to meet this week’s guest. Jeffrey Selingo has written about college admissions for more than 25 years and is a New York Times bestselling author of four books, including Who Gets in and Why and his latest, Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You. Drawing on two years of research and a survey of 3,000 parents to give families permission to think more broadly about what signals a “good” college for their child, Jeff outlines the excellent choices our kids have outside of the Top 20 schools that get so much of our attention. I found his book a reassuring and therapeutic guide as our family begins the college search process. The basic message is that there are a lot of great schools for our kids out there and, with a little effort, you and I can find a place where our son or daughter will belong and thrive. And isn’t that the point? In this conversation, Jeff and I discuss the pressures surrounding elite college admissions, the evolving landscape of higher education, and the importance of finding the right fit for students. We explore the long-term financial implications of college choices, the impact of student debt, why parents are less willing to stretch financially for kids’ college expenses, and the value of college experiences beyond academics. The discussion also touches on the competitive nature of elite schools, the future of college admissions, and the weird middle ground colleges have adopted around standardized testing. A regular contributor to The Atlantic, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, Jeff is also a special advisor to the president. He lives near Washington, D.C., with his own college-bound children.

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Paul’s Insights into NYC, Email, and Estate Planning

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Hello friends. On this week’s episode, I read to you—like a daddy rocking his baby to sleep—the most recent posts from my Substack newsletter, which you can find here. (You can subscribe for free or pay a few bucks, if you want to support my work, but really I just appreicate you reading / listening and sharing.) These essays cover both life in general and some political stuff also. I put the political ones at the end, so you don’t have to involve yourself in that, if you don’t want to. But please do notice the balanced nature of my analysis, in that I am pointing out the flaws of both Left and Right, though it probably feel as if I’m being more critical of whichever team you’re on! Ain’t that weird?

The Great NYC Rationalization - how living in New York requires constant self-justification

How Email Will Save the World - why linear, 1990’s comms tech is better than text!

The Hilarious World of Estate Planning - (it’s not really hilarious, but that’s the joke)

Cancel Culture is Alive and Well - Trump, Jimmy Kimmel and free speech

Kamala’s Book is Brat AF - how the former VP’s memoir shows us how little we missed

What Bumper Stickers Tell us About America -

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Confronting Mortality with Thad Reichley

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Imagine being told you have a terminal illness. Would it change the way you approach each day? Two years ago, Thad Reichley went to the doctor because he had the flu. When initial attempts to address his symptoms were unsuccessful, additional procedures revealed the presence of three dozen tumors in the lining around his lungs. He was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma. There is no known cure for the disease. A father, husband, educator, and pro-level endurance athlete, Thad’s “job” over the past 24 months has been to fight cancer and stay alive. In addition to his treatments' side effects (fever, vomiting, inflammation of the eyes, and savage bouts of colitis), Thad has learned to navigate the negative “you are not enough" voices in his head. He’s also come to change his expectations about what makes a good day. “Sometimes” he says, that while trying to carpe every diem, “just walking the dog has to be enough.” Thad and I know each other through his wife, Leigh, who was my colleague on the sales team at Facebook in LA. She’s a very funny, very committed person who, as you will hear, is no stranger to cancer. I am grateful to Thad for sharing his story and hope it inspires YOU to go to the doctor if you haven’t been in a while. As importantly, I hope that it reminds you to cherish and protect your health and loved ones for as long as you have them.

Here’s how Thad sums it all up:
1. Go to the doctor
2. Listen to your wife
3. Hug your kids, and
4. Tell the people in your life you love them.

Prior to his diagnosis, Thad spent two decades as an educator, both as a teacher and an administrator at well-known schools like Crossroads in Santa Monica and Mark Day School in Marin County. He earned his BA at the University of Washington, Master's degrees from both UCLA and Brown University, and his doctorate from the University of Southern California.

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Walking Away from Fame and Money with Rachel Heck

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:45:00 GMT

Rachel Heck was a golf prodigy who qualified for the US Women’s Open at age 15 and made the cut. As a freshman in high school, she committed to play at Stanford University, where she went on to win both individual and team national championships and became Nike Golf’s very first NIL sponsored athlete. But when the time came to turn pro, Rachel decided that a life on the road and in the spotlight wasn’t for her. Instead, she earned and accepted her commission as an officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. I was very pleased to speak with Rachel, not just because she is a person of exceptional talent and character, but because she is also the daughter of my Rhodes College friends, Stacy and Robert Heck.

She and I discuss her journey (so far), particular:
-Struggling with perfection
-The true definition of success
-The importance of motherhood
-How her dad “Pavlov’ed” her and her sisters into loving golf
-The importance of role models, including: Condoleezza Rice (her academic advisor), Annika Sörrenstam, and Stanford Coach Anne Walker
-Her favorite (and second favorite) golf course!

✍️Please rate and review Reasonably Happy (⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/paulopod⁠) ✍️

👊Get Paul’s Substack newsletter (⁠http://words.paulollinger.com⁠) 👊

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Family, Politics & The American Dream with Raj Goyle | Reasonably Happy

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:24:00 GMT

Raj Goyle is running for Comptroller of New York state, and he wants your support. He’s got mine because I think Raj is what America is all about. A first-generation Indian-American, Duke undergrad and Harvard Law grad, Raj was the co-founder of Bodhala, a legal spend analytics and management platform which he and team sold to Onit. As the leader of Phone Free New York, Raj led a bi-partisan effort to get phones out of the classroom across New York state. And now he wants to take his immense talent and experience to Albany for the most important position (Comptroller!) you’ve never thought about. As you’ll hear, there’s plenty that Raj and I disagree about. But he’s the kind of person we need more of in government: a smart, driven leader who wants to make government work for citizens. Among lots of other things, Raj and I discuss:
-Zohran Mamdani, the NYC mayoral candidate whom Raj supports and I DO NOT
-What a comptroller does
-Money, happiness, and public service
-What it was like for his parents–both doctors–to emigrate to the U.S.
-How Jimmy Carter helped shaped his belief in ethical capitalism and an accountable government
AI’s impact on the economy and what we can do about it

✍️Please rate my podcast (https://ratethispodcast.com/paulopod) ✍️
🗳️Learn more about Raj (https://rajgoyle.com/) 🗳️
👊Get Paul’s Substack newsletter (http://words.paulollinger.com) 👊

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Stoic Street Smarts w/ Ed Latimore

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Ed Latimore grew up in the projects of Pittsburgh where poverty, drugs, and gun violence were the rule of the streets. But he escaped and went on to become a professional boxer and earn a degree in Physics. I spoke to Ed about his new memoir, Hard Lessons From the Hurt Business: Boxing and the Art of Life in which he shares stories about discipline, sobriety, and self-mastery. Ed and I talk bout how emotional control can outpower ego, how true masculinity is rooted in accountability, and why forgiveness is the ultimate form of strength. He also discloses that he (loves and) likes his wife! Thanks to Rob Henderson for bringing Ed to my attention.

✍️Please leave us a rating here ✍️

🥊Learn more about Ed here 🥊

👊Get Paul’s Substack newsletter here 👊

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Soul on Fire w/ John O’Leary (Encore episode)

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:00:00 GMT

John O’Leary’s life story has just been made into a movie called Soul On Fire, starring William H. Macy and John Corbett. When John was 9 years old, he played with fire and got burned. Like really, really burned, over 100% of his body, 87% of which were third-degree burns. Doctors gave him less than 1% chance of living and told his parents he would not survive. Yet thanks to the amazing support of his family, the community, and medical care providers, he got through it. His journey back took years, required dozens of surgeries, and cost him all of his fingers. Today, John is a world-renowned inspirational speaker who addresses large audiences around the globe. John is also the author of the best-seller On Fire!: 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life and In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder Unleash Inspiration, Meaning, and Joy. He hosts the Live Inspired podcast. John and I have a lot in common. We were both one of six kids in a big, Catholic family and raised by amazing parents who were married for over 50 years and whose humility and grace inspire us to this day. We’re both husbands and dads, and both want our audiences to be radically aware of the value of their lives and the opportunity to make every day count. In this conversation, we discuss the importance of:

Living in the moment

Gratitude

Family

Courage

Friends who will fight for you

Finding your Talents

“Saying Yes to being used for good.”

✍🏾Please leave us a rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/crazymoney. ✍🏾

👊Get Paul’s Substack newsletter: https://substack.com/@paulollinger 👊

Watch the trailer for Soul On Fire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CslVGLETWps

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Why You Will Never Feel Rich w/ Daniel Crosby

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:15:00 GMT

Acclaimed psychologist, behavioral finance expert, and author, Dr. Daniel Crosby, PhD* joins me this week to discuss his new book The Soul of Wealth: 50 Reflections on Money and Meaning. We cover the fun, non-obvious aspects of money and emotions, such as how comparison drives us crazy and why our bias toward action —doing something when things are going wrong — often leads to worse investment results. He offers small tips (like giving your savings account a name) that will help you save more and spend less. Daniel shares lessons from his (Mormon) mission to the Philippines, and we both reflect on how our frugal parents informed who we are today, in almost entirely (but not 100%) good ways. From the dangers of debt and overconfidence to escaping the toxic loop of “I’ll be happy when…,” we cover a lot of ground and have lots of laughs along the way. Listening to these two money-talkers with great hair will improve your life!

Read Paul’s Substack: https://words.paulollinger.com/

Listen to Daniel’s podcast, Standard Deviations: https://www.standarddeviationspod.com/episodes

*don’t forget the “PhD” part or he gets very mad.😁

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Why Two Parents Are Better Than One w/ Melissa Kearney (Encore)

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:03:00 GMT

Melissa Kearney is the author of The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind. Her book confronts the politically controversial fact that children raised in two-parent homes have better personal and professional outcomes (ON AVERAGE) than those raised in single-parent homes. Specifically, two-parent homes produce
children who are more likely to graduate from high school and college, more
likely to stay out of jail, to achieve stable employment, high earnings, and eventually to get married themselves, thus replicating the same advantages they had for their children. For pointing this out, Kearney was excoriated by academic colleagues who accused her of having a right-wing political agenda, which is preposterous considering that she had spent the 20 years prior to writing her book researching social policy, poverty, and inequality. Melissa is the Gilbert F. Schaefer Professor of Economics at the Unversity of NotreDame. She holds a BA in Economics from Princeton and a PhD in Economics from MIT. This is an encore episode from 2023.

Follow Paul and read his work here.

Learn more about Melissa Kearney here.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Giving Away Half-a-Billion Dollars w/ Craigslist founder, Craig Newmark

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 10:00:00 GMT

If you had hundreds of millions of dollars, how would you use it? Craigslist founder Craig Newmark faces this exact “problem”—and he’s working hard to give his fortune away to nonprofits tackling some of society’s most urgent challenges. In this week’s episode, Craig and I discuss the early days of Craigslist, its radical “revenue-minimization” strategy, and how its simple tools changed the classified ads game in the late ’90s. He told me how Sunday school values shaped his approach to business, why he demoted himself to customer service rep, and what he learned by hiring a CEO to run the company he built. Our conversation explores the art of giving money away strategically: from supporting veterans and military families to investing in cybersecurity and protecting democracy. We also get personal - talking favorite TV shows, the pros and cons of AI, and the big question: how much is enough? Listen now.

Read Paul’s Substack here⁠: https://words.paulollinger.com/

Learn more about Craig’s philanthropic endeavors ⁠here⁠: https://craignewmarkphilanthropies.org/

Please rate, review, and share this great episode!

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Laughing at Death w/ John Kenney

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:00:00 GMT

What happens when you mix grief, comedy, and a brutally honest take on life’s hardest moments? You get John Kenney’s new book, I See You’ve Called in Dead. In this episode, I (i.e., me–Paul–the host) sit down with John Kenney—award-winning author and longtime New Yorker contributor—for a candid and sometimes very funny conversation about writing, death, and living imperfectly, a topic we all know something about. I first learned of John 20 years ago when someone gave me a copy of his book Truth in Advertising and said, “this author is smart, wicked funny, and a little dark - you’ll love it.” I did. So I was thrilled to get the chance to talk to him about the new book and to hear a first-hand account of his journey from Ogilvy & Mather copywriter to getting published in the New Yorker and eventually becoming an award-winning novelist. One of six boys in a big Irish family, John dedicates the book to his late brother, a firefighter who died of pancreatic cancer, potentially related to his work at Ground Zero, starting the afternoon of 9/11/01. I just re-listened to this conversation, and I am grateful to John for being so open about his career, his family, and his admiration for the father who became a widower far too soon. I hope you enjoy it as much as i did. . Learn more about John: https://www.instagram.com/johnkenneywriter/?hl=enFollow Paul: https://words.paulollinger.com/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Rise of Populism w/ Brad Todd

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:11:00 GMT

Political strategist, author, and CNN commentator Brad Todd joins Paul Ollinger for a no-BS and eye-opening conversation about what’s really happening in American politics. From growing up in East Tennessee to advising senators, governors, and big-time campaigns, Brad’s been in the trenches for decades — and he’s got the stories to prove it. Paul and Brad dig into the rise of populism, how the Republican Party has changed, and the real challenges facing Democrats in 2025. Brad gives unfiltered takes on Donald Trump’s second term, what a post-Trump GOP might look like, and why primaries and caucuses shape the country’s future. You’ll also hear what Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett was like at Rhodes College (where both Paul and Brad went to school), some high-stakes dog track bets, and why politics is still a young person’s game. It’s part insider scoop, part history lesson, part comedy — the kind of conversation that’ll make you think, laugh, and maybe even yell at your screen. If you want the truth about U.S. politics without the cable news noise, this is it.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

From Prison to Oprah

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:00:00 GMT

What happens when a suburban soccer mom falls into heroin addiction, commits felonies, and ends up in prison—only to climb back out and become a four-time New York Times bestselling author? In this unforgettable episode, Paul sits down with Lara Love Hardin, author of The Many Lives of Mama Love, a mind-blowing memoir of crippling dependence, incarceration, and survival. Oprah, who picked ‘Mama Love’ for her official book club, described it as "a powerful exploration of redemption, joy, and the human capacity for change.” With unflinching honesty and unexpected humor, Lara shares her journey from PTA meetings to jailhouse shot-caller. In just a few years, she went from stealing from her neighbors to support her narcotic habit to ghostwriting best-sellers for global heroes like Bishop Desmond Tutu. Her story isn’t just about addiction or recovery—it’s about resilience, forgiveness, and how second chances can rewrite a life. If you’ve ever wondered whether transformation is truly possible, this conversation will make you believe in the messy, complicated, and inspiring fight to begin again.

Learn more about the work Lara does to help women newly-released from prison get back on their feet: The Gemma Project https://www.thegemmaproject.org/

Subscribe to Paul’s Substack here: https://words.paulollinger.com/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Vote for Jesus! w/ Jonathan Rauch

Paul Ollinger — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:45:00 GMT

What happens when someone who grew up Jewish, gay, and atheist finds deep inspiration in the teachings of Jesus? In this fascinating conversation, Jonathan Rauch returns to the podcast to talk about his new book 'Cross-Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy'. Jonathan explains why the decline of organized religion has left a dangerous void in civic life—one now filled by hyper-partisan politics and fear-driven culture wars—and why he believes America needs a renewal of non-political Christianity rooted in courage, forgiveness, and love. We dive into his evolving relationship with faith, his hope for a less fearful, more compassionate citizenry, and the surprising ways music has shaped his worldview—including the life-changing moment he first heard Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in third grade. Jonathan is a Yale grad, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, award-winning author, and one of the most thoughtful public intellectuals of our time.

📬 Subscribe to Paul’s Substack: here.
📖 Learn more about Jonathan Rauch: here.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Tribalism is Dumb (w/Andrew Heaton)

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 12:56:00 GMT

Andrew Heaton is the author of the new book Tribalism Is Dumb and the host of The Political Orphanage podcast. He sits down with Paul to unpack where tribalism comes from, how it is tearing us apart, and how we might fix it. With wit, warmth, and some surprisingly deep evolutionary psychology, Andrew explains how our ancient brains are wired to seek belonging—even if that means choosing teams over Truth. They cover everything from Dunbar’s number to the loneliness epidemic, from the comedy club to Capitol Hilll, and why political identity has become a poor substitute for real community. Whether you're center-left, center-right, or just tired of the noise, this conversation offers a refreshing dose of nuance, laughs, and insight into how we got here and where we could go. If you've ever felt politically homeless—or curious why shouting on Twitter feels like the new religion, this conversation is for you! Don’t miss the part where Andrew suggests that Paul change the name of his podcast to “Drinking Liberal Tears with Paul.” (It’s not going to happen, but just think of how popular it would be if we did!)

Subscribe to Paul’s Substack: http://words.paulollinger.com

Follow Andrew at https://mightyheaton.com/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Puck CEO, Sarah Personette

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:23:00 GMT

This week, Paul sits down with Sarah Personette, CEO of Puck, the fast-growing news outlet the New York Times described as “Vanity Fair for the Substack era.” From her ambition to become a CEO at age seven to her senior roles at Facebook, Universal-McCann, and Twitter – which ended after Elon Musk bought the company, Sarah unpacks what it takes to lead teams through uncertainty, disruption, and reinvention. She explains Puck’s blend of high-caliber journalism with modern distribution, and how to survive the oncoming AI onslaught. Sarah speaks candidly about navigating career transitions, modeling work-life balance, leading global teams, and raising children with intention while running billion-dollar operations. Whether you're a founder, a parent, or just starting out, her mantra—“Stay calm, stay focused, stay classy”—is a playbook for thriving in today’s chaotic world. It’s a raw, funny, deeply human look at the future of media, work, and purpose-driven leadership. Also, don’t miss Paul gushing with ‘80s nostalgia about the movie About Last Night starring Demi Moore and Rob Lowe. (Don’t worry - it’s relevant)

Learn more about Puck here: https://puck.news/

Subscribe to Paul’s Substack here: http://words.paulollinger.com

Watch About Last Night: https://www.amazon.com/About-Last-Night-Rob-Lowe/dp/B000I8HIM2

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Weapons Grade Gorgeous w/ Mehran Khaghani | Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

Paul Ollinger — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 14:45:00 GMT

Paul sits down with comedian and actor Mehran Khaghani and gets deep into the psyche of a man who was brought to America from Iran as a 3 year old who discovered himself after years of addiction and psychedelics only to emerge on the other side as one of the funniest comedians working today and starring in the hit Off Broadway Steven Soderbergh show "The Fears".

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

How Victimhood and Narcissism Hold Us Back (w/ Scott Barry Kaufman)

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Scott Barry Kaufman is a cognitive scientist and best-selling author of the book Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential. Scott’s writing dives deep into the psychology of the victim mindset, narcissism, and the impact of performative vulnerability on social media. Having overcome childhood misdiagnoses that placed him in special ed classes and bullying peers, Scott went on to earn a PhD from Yale. He shares this deeply personal story of as a teachable moment to discuss mental health, cancel culture, psychological flexibility, and what truly helps us grow as humans. Thought-provoking, funny, and brutally honest—this is a must-watch for anyone navigating identity, trauma, or the modern self-help world. Scott’s other books include Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization and Choose Growth: A Workbook for Transcending Trauma, Fear, and Self-Doubt.

Read Paul’s Substack here: http://words.PaulOllinger.com

Learn more about Scott’s academic on his website and his magic and mind-reading on https://www.theamazingdrscott.show/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Legacy, Loss, and Being Jewish Now | Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

Paul Ollinger — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:38:00 GMT

Zibby Owens is an author, publisher, and bookstore owner. She opens up about her writing journey, legacy, loss, and identity as the daughter of Blackstone founder Stephen A. Schwarzman. Zibby shares how grief, motherhood, October 7th, and why it’s okay–great even–to marry the tennis pro! She shares how resilience shaped her path, from launching a award-winning podcast and starting her own publishing house to writing memoirs and novels. She reflects on growing up in privilege, breaking free from societal expectations, and using her platform to speak out about antisemitism in a world that is increasingly dangerous for Jews. Zibby’s story is a masterclass in reinvention, purpose, and creative freedom.

Read Paul’s Substack: https://words.paulollinger.com/
Learn more about Zibby here - https://www.zibbyowens.com/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Jeffery Toobin on Presidential Power | Reasonably Happy Podcast

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 10:00:00 GMT

CNN legal analyst and bestselling author Jeffrey Toobin breaks down the hidden power of presidential pardons — and how they reveal the true character of American presidents. From Trump’s transactional pardons to the controversial case of Hunter Biden, Toobin offers sharp analysis, historical insight, and headline-worthy commentary. He discusses why Gerald Ford’s Nixon pardon was unnecessary, how the January 6th pardons expose Trump’s political strategy, and why public cynicism is fueled by elite immunity. Plus, Toobin opens up about his career, love for golf, admiration for Jim Gaffigan, and his obsession with Evel Knievel’s wardrobe. This episode delivers sharp wit, surprising revelations, and crucial context for anyone interested in politics, justice, or power.

Follow Paul: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/?hl=en

Check out Jeffery's book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Pardon/Jeffrey-Toobin/9781668084946

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

A Poet’s Wild Past w/ Edward Hirsch

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Acclaimed poet and Guggenheim Foundation president Edward Hirsch joins us in an unforgettable episode to discuss his powerful memoir My Childhood in Pieces: A Stand-Up Comedy and a Skokie Elegy. Hirsch reflects on his chaotic upbringing in 1950s Jewish Chicago, his complicated relationships with his parents, and the wild characters who shaped his life. He opens up about the tragic loss of his son Gabriel, how grief became poetry, and why humor and heartbreak often walk hand in hand. From poetic craft and emotional truth to the role of art in a distracted world, this is a raw, funny, and deeply moving conversation about identity, creativity, and resilience.

Follow Paul on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/?hl=en

Check out "My Childhood" in Pieces: https://edwardhirsch.com/

Audio excerpted with permission of Penguin Random House Audio from MY CHILDHOOD IN PIECES by Edward Hirsch, read by the author. © Edward Hirsch ℗ 2025 Penguin Random House, LLC. All rights reserved.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Has Affirmative Action FAILED? | Richard Kahlenberg & Paul Ollinger

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Has affirmative action failed in America??

In this eye-opening conversation, Richard Kahlenberg—author of Class Matters and a longtime education and housing policy scholar—explains why race-based affirmative action has failed America's working class and what can be done to fix it. A self-described “liberal maverick,” Kahlenberg dives into his controversial role in the Supreme Court case against Harvard, arguing that socioeconomic-based admissions would promote both racial equity and fairness without alienating the working-class voters Democrats are rapidly losing. From Harvard's legacy advantages and billionaire endowments to MLK’s and RFK’s forgotten views on class over race, this episode challenges elite institutions, political orthodoxy, and the future of education in America.

Check out al of Richard's books and appearances: https://www.richardkahlenberg.org/

Get Paul's book: https://www.paulollinger.com/the-book

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Facing Down Trump with Jocelyn Benson

Paul Ollinger — Fri, 30 May 2025 17:00:00 GMT

In December 2020, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson was decorating the family Christmas tree with her 5-year-old son when she heard a crowd outside her home chanting "Stop the Steal!" In the days and weeks that followed, Donald Trump harassed her on social media, calling for her arrest and accusing her of treason, Benson alleges.On this week's Reasonably Happy podcast, Benson--who is now running for governor--joins Paul Ollinger to discuss how she modernized the DMV, what it feels like to be targeted by the President of the United States, and why the Democrats' murky future. Paul pushes her to take a stand against a party that keeps falling on the sword of cultural issues with which most of America disagrees, opening the door for the very President who tried to intimidate her. Unfortunately, Benson waffles on subjects like biological males in girls' sports and the fact that most college campuses have been captured by progressive ideology. Still, it's an interesting conversation with a rising political star who, if she can stand up to her party the way she stood up to Trump, could be a solid mainstream candidate someday.Read Paul's Substack here: Http://words.paulollinger.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Paul Wants $$ From Qatar (and other hilarious Substack posts)

Paul Ollinger — Fri, 23 May 2025 20:55:00 GMT

This week, Paul reads his three most recent Substack posts, including:

A very funny take on Qatar's bribery of pretty much every institution in America,

How his dog's feel about castration, and

Why many of us will have our TikTok handles on our tombstones.

Please join Paul's Substack family by following here: http://words.paulollinger.com .

And, if you're so inclined, follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Substack

02:48 Exploring Qatar's Influence and Ethics

06:02 Proposal for a Qatari Comedy Club

08:57 Corporate Life Lessons from Dogs

12:00 Navigating Career Changes and Authenticity

18:11 The Impact of Social Media on Identity

23:10 A Humorous Obituary for the Future

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

From Chaos to Cambridge

Paul Ollinger and Rob Henderson — Wed, 14 May 2025 13:36:28 GMT

Rob Henderson’s dad walked out when Rob was an infant. Not long after, Rob’s drug-addicted mother placed him into the foster care system and a near-constant cycle of neglect and displacement. According to his 2024 book, 'Troubled', Rob lived in nine different foster homes before his 8th birthday. This takes a toll on a kid, as Rob’s memoir reveals. “By the time I was four or five, my emotions had gone underground,” he writes about the self-preservation defense that kicked in amidst the chaos. So, it probably wouldn’t surprise you that Rob was drinking before he was six years old, doing drugs at twelve, getting into fights, committing vandalism, and harboring little hope for a future beyond high school. What will surprise you is that, despite all the trauma, Rob eventually graduated from Yale and earned a PhD from University of Cambridge. Yes, that Cambridge—the one in England.

Subscribe to Paul's Substack here: http://words.paulollinger.com

Follow Rob Henderson on Substack here: https://substack.com/@robkhenderson/likes

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

From Chaos to Cambridge - Rob Henderson

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 14 May 2025 10:00:00 GMT

He was drinking by age five, shuffled through ten foster homes, and emotionally shut down by the time most kids are starting kindergarten — yet Rob Henderson clawed his way from chaos to Cambridge.

In this powerful episode, Rob, author of Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class, shares his incredible journey from trauma and addiction to earning a PhD from Cambridge University. He opens up about childhood instability, military discipline, elite university culture, and his groundbreaking concept of “luxury beliefs”—status-signaling values held by the privileged that often harm the poor. This conversation is raw, eye-opening, and packed with insights about resilience, class, and what truly shapes success.

Check out Rob's Substack: https://www.robkhenderson.com/

Read Paul's Subtack: http://words.paulollinger.com

Follow Paul on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Mike Reiss: How The Simpsons Changed TV | Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 07 May 2025 10:00:00 GMT

The Simpsons writer and showrunner Mike Reiss shares behind-the-scenes secrets from 36+ years on the iconic animated series. From working with comedy legends like Sam Simon, Al Jean, and Conan O'Brien to writing for Johnny Carson and witnessing the wild beginnings of FOX, Mike recounts hilarious Hollywood stories and life lessons from his travels to 147 countries. He reveals the origin of the Simpsons, why Harvard wasn’t funny, how VCRs and fan feedback helped shape the show, and why the writers’ room was like a "kibbutz but more Jewish." It’s a deep dive into comedy, creativity, and the wild ride of creating a global phenomenon.

Follow Mike's Substack: https://substack.com/@mikereiss

Get Paul's Book: https://www.paulollinger.com/the-book

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Laurie Woolever- Dark Side of Celebrity Chefs

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Former personal assistant to both Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali, Laurie Woolever, opens up about the untold truths behind celebrity kitchens, toxic food culture, addiction, and what ultimately drove Bourdain to suicide. From Mario Batali’s manipulative power plays to Bourdain’s romantic obsessions and lifelong depression, Woolever shares the unfiltered story behind her new memoir Care and Feeding. The conversation also explores alcoholism in fine dining, working through shame, and the ethics of telling personal stories—alongside hot takes on The Bear, Lucky Charms, and how Batali allegedly didn't pay staff. This is a must-watch for anyone fascinated by the dark underbelly of fame, food, and finding your voice after chaos.

Check out Laurie's podcast: https://www.instagram.com/carbfacepod/

Get a copy of Paul's book: https://www.paulollinger.com/the-book

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

E.A. Hanks - Famous Father, Troubled Mother

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 12:37:00 GMT

In this raw and revealing episode of Reasonably Happy, author and screenwriter E.A. Hanks opens up about growing up as the daughter of Tom Hanks, surviving a chaotic childhood with an abusive, mentally ill mother, and forging her own path in Hollywood. From hidden trauma and therapy breakthroughs to the price of fame and writing a memoir about family, identity, and the open road, Hanks shares powerful stories behind her new book The Ten. She discusses how her father’s fame created emotional distance, the collapse of her mother’s mental health, and how writing became both her refuge and rebellion. If you're into celebrity legacies, healing childhood wounds, or the grind of making it as a writer in L.A., this episode hits every note.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Jim Lampley- Boxing, Fame & Fallout | Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Legendary sportscaster Jim Lampley joins Paul Ollinger on "Reasonably Happy" to share unforgettable stories from his 40+ year broadcasting career, covering everything from Olympic Games and Super Bowls to boxing icons like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. Lampley reveals the behind-the-scenes drama of his rise at ABC Sports, recounts his emotional connection to the Miracle on Ice, and reflects on the values learned from greats like Billie Jean King, Arthur Ashe, and Howard Cosell. From interviewing George Mira to being thrust into the spotlight by Roone Arledge, Jim discusses ego, failure, reinvention, and finding happiness through storytelling. His new memoir It Happened: A Uniquely Lucky Life in Sports is a masterclass in perseverance and passion—this conversation is a must-watch for sports fans, storytellers, and anyone chasing purpose.

Get Jim's Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/It-Happened!/Art-Chansky/9781637746431

Get Paul's Book: https://www.paulollinger.com/the-book

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Jane Borden- Cults Like Us | Reasonably Happy

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:30:00 GMT

In this thought-provoking episode of Reasonably Happy, Paul Ollinger sits down with journalist and author Jane Borden to unpack her explosive new book Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America. Together, they explore how apocalyptic beliefs, religious extremism, and cult-like behaviors have shaped American identity—from Puritan roots to modern political movements like MAGA. Jane reveals how tribal psychology, anti-intellectualism, and the prosperity gospel fuel division, and why both the far right and far left are vulnerable to cultish thinking. With dark humor, candid insights, and a deep dive into American history, this episode is a must-watch for anyone curious about religion, politics, and the future of democracy.

Check out Janes book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Cults-Like-Us/Jane-Borden/9781668007808

Get Pauls Book: https://www.paulollinger.com/the-book

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Life at Fox News w/ Jessica Tarlov | Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:40:00 GMT

In this episode of Reasonably Happy, Paul Ollinger sits down with Fox News contributor and Raging Moderates co-host Jessica Tarlov for a wide-ranging conversation on politics, media bias, Israel, parenting, and the chaos of air travel. Jessica opens up about raising two young kids, finding peace in Jamaica, and holding her own as the lone Democrat on The Five. They dive into the latest national security scandal involving leaked attack plans, the challenge of moderate voices in polarized media, anti-Semitism on the left, and what’s really holding back immigration reform. It’s an honest, thoughtful, and funny episode that blends politics with real life.

Get Pauls book: https://www.paulollinger.com/the-book

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Too Woke to Joke w/ Jeff Maurer | Reasonably Happy Podcast

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Reasonably Happy, comedian and writer Paul Ollinger sits down with former Last Week Tonight writer Jeff Maurer for a razor-sharp, no-holds-barred conversation on comedy, politics, and the state of liberal discourse. Maurer, now the voice behind the acclaimed Substack I Might Be Wrong, unpacks his journey from speechwriter to Emmy-winning TV writer, and why he left Hollywood to pursue independent commentary. They dive deep into the culture wars, media bias, the Biden dilemma, and what today's Democratic Party can learn from the Obama era. With sharp wit and refreshing honesty, Maurer discusses the left’s loss of self-awareness, the problem with orthodoxy, and how free speech is under siege from all sides. If you're tired of political echo chambers and crave a blend of humor and intellect, this one's for you.

Get Pauls book! https://www.paulollinger.com/the-book

Check out Jeffs Substack: https://substack.com/@imightbewrong

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

From $0 to $100,000,000: How Anne Mahlum Built a Fitness Empire | Reasonably Happy

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Reasonably Happy, host Paul Ollinger sits down with Anne Mahlum, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of Solidcore, the Pilates chain she sold for $100 million. Anne shares her incredible journey from starting a nonprofit running club for the homeless to building a fitness empire with over 100 locations. She dives into overcoming personal and business challenges, navigating the pandemic, redefining success, and the importance of pushing past comfort zones to embrace growth. They also discuss financial mindset shifts, leadership, and maintaining purpose beyond wealth. If you're looking for motivation, business insights, and a fresh perspective on personal growth, this is a must-watch!

Find Anne online: https://www.annemahlum.com/

Check out Pauls book: https://www.paulollinger.com/the-book

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Bruce Vilanch: Hollywood Stories | Reasonably Happy

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:52:00 GMT

🎭 Hollywood stories, comedy legends, and the pursuit of happiness! 🎭
In this episode of Reasonably Happy, host Paul Ollinger sits down with the legendary Bruce Vilanch—Emmy-winning writer, comedian, and one of the funniest minds behind Hollywood’s biggest events. Bruce spills the tea on outrageous celebrity encounters, wild award show moments, working with Joan Rivers, and the unpredictability of writing for some of the craziest actors in showbiz.
From behind-the-scenes gossip to his personal philosophy on finding joy in a world of chaos, Bruce brings his signature wit, wisdom, and unfiltered Hollywood insider knowledge.

Check out Bruce's new book: https://www.amazon.com/Seemed-Like-Bad-Idea-Time/dp/0914091921

Buy Pauls book: https://www.paulollinger.com/the-book

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Gretchen Rubin: Happiness Hacks | Reasonably Happy

Paul Ollinger — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 02:37:00 GMT

Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin joins Reasonably Happy with host Paul Ollinger for a deep dive into happiness, self-improvement, and personal growth. They explore habit formation, the psychology of motivation, the power of self-awareness, and why enjoying the process matters more than the outcome. Gretchen shares insights from The Happiness Project, her Four Tendencies personality framework, and her experiment with learning to love the New York Knicks. They also discuss money and happiness, goal-setting, and how small daily changes can transform your life. Plus, find out Gretchen’s #1 tip for taking control of your phone addiction! Don’t miss this inspiring and thought-provoking conversation! #happy #happiness #author

Take the quiz: https://gretchenrubin.com/quiz

Buy Paul's book: https://www.paulollinger.com/the-book

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Fire Up Your Marriage with Carolyn Sharp | Reasonably Happy

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

"Love isn't enough." So says marriage expert Carolyn Sharp in her new book 'Fired Up: Four Secrets to Reigniting Intimacy and Joy in Your Relationship.' Paul talked with Carolyn (a college friend) this week and dove deep into the challenges of modern relationships, the importance of emotional connection, communication, and radical acceptance, and why love alone isn’t enough to sustain a lasting partnership. Carolyn shares insights on attachment styles, overcoming relationship roadblocks, and how to create a safe, thriving partnership—whether you’re married, dating, or navigating polyamory. Plus, Paul’s wife Stacey joined for an impromptu session on marriage dynamics! Don't miss this eye-opening conversation packed with relationship advice, practical tips, and humor. 🎙️💡

Buy Paul's Book: https://www.paulollinger.com/the-book
Buy Carolyn's Book: https://www.secureconnectionsretreats.com/thebook

#RelationshipAdvice #LoveAndIntimacy #MarriageTips #Podcast #CouplesTherapy #EmotionalConnection #HealthyRelationships

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Anthony Scaramucci: Success, Failure & the Paradox of Wealth | Reasonably Happy Podcast

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

In this candid and insightful episode of Reasonably Happy, host Paul Ollinger sits down with Anthony Scaramucci—founder of SkyBridge Capital, former White House Communications Director, and author of From Wall Street to the White House and Back. Scaramucci shares unfiltered lessons on entrepreneurship, resilience, wealth, and personal growth, reflecting on his meteoric rise in finance, public failures, and what truly makes a fulfilling life. He dives into the paradox of money and happiness, the lessons he learned from working in the Trump White House, and why failure is essential for success. Plus, hear his thoughts on crypto, navigating controversy, and the surprising place he finds true happiness. Don't miss this raw, thought-provoking conversation packed with insights on business, politics, and personal reinvention!

Buy Pauls Book: https://www.paulollinger.com/the-book

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Comedian Matt Ruby | Reasonably Happy

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:44:00 GMT

Join Paul as he sits with the very funny Matt Ruby and discuss performing on psychedelic mushrooms, being raised by a bohemian mom who ran around New York City with Alan Ginsberg and more!

Links to all things Matt Ruby including his newsletter, specials and more:
https://www.mattrubycomedy.com/

Get Paul Ollinger's book Here: "Reasonably Happy: Essays on Money, Work and Other Things that Piss Me Off" https://www.amazon.com/Reasonably-Hap...

Read Paul's Substack: https://words.paulollinger.com/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Nathan Macintosh | Reasonably Happy

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Join hilarious comedian and hater of all things technology Nathan Macintosh as he sits with host Paul Ollinger and discusses his love hate for tech, the overabundance of screens in socoiety and the fear of what AI will do to the world.

Watch Nathan's latest 2 specials here:
"Money Never Wakes" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQd7kHYiNsQ&t=20s&authuser=1
"Down with Tech" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gApnofHJLoo&authuser=1

Get Paul Ollinger's book Here: "Reasonably Happy: Essays on Money, Work and Other Things that Piss Me Off" https://www.amazon.com/Reasonably-Hap...

Read Paul's Substack: https://words.paulollinger.com/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Paul Shaffer | Reasonably Happy

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:41:00 GMT

Join legendary musician Paul Shaffer, famed as David Letterman’s long-time musical director, as he shares his extraordinary career journey—from his childhood in Thunder Bay to iconic roles on Saturday Night Live and The Blues Brothers. Shaffer sits with host Paul Ollinger and reflects on his early love for music, working alongside comedy greats like Martin Short and Bill Murray, and how rock and roll’s raw simplicity shaped his passion. Packed with nostalgic Hollywood and Broadway stories, this conversation is a must-watch for music and comedy fans alike. 🎵🎭

Get Paul Ollinger's book Here: "Reasonably Happy: Essays on Money, Work and Other Things that Piss Me Off" https://www.amazon.com/Reasonably-Hap...

Read Paul's Substack: https://words.paulollinger.com/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Deepak Chopra & Dr. John Kaag | Reasonably Happy

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Paul sits down to talk happiness with Deepak Chopra who is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation alongside award winning author, professor, writer and speaker Dr, John Kaag.

Visit Rebind at https://s.rebind.ai/0PmPOV and use the promo code reasonablyhappy to get 15% off your first Rebind book experience

Get Paul's book Here: "Reasonably Happy: Essays on Money, Work and Other Things that Piss Me Off" https://www.amazon.com/Reasonably-Happy-Essays-Money-Things/dp/0997270659

Read Paul's Substack: https://words.paulollinger.com/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Rickey Smiley: Living with Loss | Reasonably Happy with Paul OIlinger

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Paul sits down with comedian and syndicated radio legend Rickey Smiley and talk about happiness in the face of grief after losing a son to opioid addiction, surviving being shot at point blank range and continuing a life in comedy in the face of tragedy.

Check out Rickeys book: "Sideshow: Living with Loss and Moving Forward with Faith"
https://www.amazon.com/Sideshow-Livin...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Is music meaningless? | Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:58:00 GMT

Paul is joined by SNL music director Eli Brueggemann to discuss everything from what landing a gig like Saturday Night Live does for a musician to how quickly a masters level university degree can become outdated because of simple technology.

Follow Reasonably Happy host Paul Ollinger: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Comedian Mandal was theWorst Student Council President | Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Paul sits down with the insanely funny comedian Mandal to discuss his rise, fall and rise again that lead him to be a go to opener for John Mulaney and performing at the world famous Hollywood Bowl. Paul and Mandel dive into the world of stand up comedy and how Mandel finds purpose and happiness and why it is the driving force in all of his artistic endeavors.

Follow Reasonably Happy host Paul Ollinger: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

I sleep with a blankie | Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:59:00 GMT

Paul sits down with lawyer turned comedian Liz Glazer to discuss how a successful lawyer and law professor can find happiness by saying goodbye to a tenured career by pursuing a life in the arts.

Follow Reasonably Happy host Paul Ollinger: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Start Thinking Rich | Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 10:00:00 GMT

Join us for an insightful conversation with Adrian Brambila and Brad Klontz, authors of "Start Thinking Rich," as we dive deep into the mindset strategies that lead to success. Discover how your background, no matter the challenges, should never hold you back from achieving your goals. Learn practical tips and valuable lessons on how to develop a wealth-focused mindset, overcome obstacles, and leverage the experiences of others to create the life you've always wanted. Whether you're aiming for personal or financial success, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you think rich and succeed in any area of life.

Pick up a copy of "Start Thinking Rich: 21 Harsh Truths to Take You from Broke to Financial Freedom" by Adrian Brambila and Brad Klontz:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/start-thinking-rich-brad-klontz/1146212034;jsessionid=9ADBFA21F7779A45F34745CE6E50B715.prodny_store01-atgap15?ean=2940191065052

Follow Reasonably Happy host Paul Ollinger: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Claiming Confidence | Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 10:00:00 GMT

We are joined by Lydia Fenet, the founder and CEO of the Lydia Fenet Agency, a boutique agency representing best in class charity auctioneers. Lydia is a best selling author and ground breaking art auctioneer who sits with us to talk about art, confidence and how to decide what success means to you.

Pick up a copy of "Claim Your Confidence" by Lydia Fenet: https://lydiafenet.com/the-book/

Follow Reasonably Happy host Paul Ollinger: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

What Cocaine Taught Me | Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 10:00:00 GMT

We are joined by New York Times best selling author and former Wall Street wild man Turney Duff to discuss Hookers, Blow, Million-dollar bonuses on Wall Street and the journey through recovery and what lies the other side of the Wall Street hustle.

Pick up a copy of "The Buy Side" by Turney Duff: https://www.amazon.com/Buy-Side-Street-Traders-Spectacular/dp/0770437176

Follow Reasonably Happy host Paul Ollinger: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

The People Who Never Quit with Henry Oliver

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 05:26:00 GMT

What did Ray Kroc, Maya Angelou, Margaret Thatcher, and Malcolm X all have in common? (Don’t worry - this isn’t a dirty joke!) They were all opsimaths, i.e. a person who blooms late in life. In his new book SECOND ACT: What Late Bloomers Can Tell You About Success and Reinventing Your Life, author Henry Oliver shares the stories of well-known people whose greatest accomplishments happened in or past middle age. In other words, there’s still hope for you! Maybe you’re 45 and haven’t written the great American Novel yet. There’s still time! You’re 55 and haven’t made your first million or billion? There’s still time! You’re 65 and havne’t gotten elected to political office? Well, let’s not push it, but you never know. If you are indeed an opsimath, you’ll keep working toward your goal for the sake of the thing and not in hope of any extrinsic rewards. In this informative and sometimes humorous conversation, Henry and I—two urbane gentleman that we are—discuss the following:

Fluid intelligence v. concrete intelligence

Why motivation is the closest thing we have to magic.

How and why to stay in the game as you get older

The commonalities among late bloomers include hard work, intrinsic motivation and a willingness to keep trying and learning.

The similarities between Ray Kroc’s relationship with the McDonald brothers and Mark Zuckerberg’s relationship with the Winklevoss twins.

How Katharine Graham’s family’s suffocating wealth both helped and hindered her development

Pre-order Henry's book here. Subscribe to his Substack here.

WAIT - don’t go until you’ve done 2 out of these 3 things:
💰Rate and review Crazy Money here. 💰
🔥 Register for Paul’s incredible newsletter here.🔥
🎤 See Paul LIVE for telling of comedy jokes here. 🎤

About Paul Ollinger and Crazy Money
After working as one of Facebook’s first 250 employees, Paul retired from the corporate world at 42, only to find himself bored, lonely, and driving his wife crazy. Today, he’s a standup comic, captivating audiences with his unique blend of humor and insight, performing alongside a diverse group of comedy powerhouses and iconic musicians, including Norm Macdonald, Dave Attell, Chelsea Handler, Styx, and Collective Soul. In 2019, Paul started this podcast, Crazy Money to explore the connection between money, happiness, work, and meaning. In one-on-one conversations with some of the world's most interesting people, he helps uncover the true sources of happiness in life and what wealth, success, and fame can (and can't) do for us. Previous guests include LL COOL J, Judd Apatow, Moby, and winners of the Nobel Prize, Heisman Trophy, PGA Championship, and Olympic gold medals. Paul is always on tour and coming to a comedy club near you. Check dates here.
This episodes Keywords:
late bloomers, success, age, intelligence, motivation, hard work, meandering path, passion, experience, network, late bloomers, success, reinventing life, Ray Kroc, McDonald's, Katharine Graham, Washington Post, David Duffield, Workday, internal motivation, careers, second careers, reinvention

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

A Poet’s Life (with In-Q)

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 07:23:00 GMT

Nobody gets into poetry for fame and fortune. And yet, there might be a tiny bit of each happening for In-Q, my guest this week who is a renowned poet and spoken word artist. When he started freestyling (aka, “rapping" for you old people) with his friends at age 13, In-Q felt an empowerment that didn’t exist in the rest of his life. The words inside him took on a life of their own and, after he started writing poetry at 19, In-Q found himself in the embrace of L.A.’s slam poetry community. He never really considered poetry taking him to a place where could make a living, "let alone live in abundance.” But through dedication, perseverance, and perhaps, the sheer inability to quit, he’s now selling out theaters, writing hit songs, and publishing books and albums. In-Q has appeared on A&E, ESPN, and HBO’s Def Poetry Jam. His stand-up poetry special, 'Live at the Ace Theatre', is now streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. To top all that, Oprah (you know “Winfrey”) named him to her SuperSoul 100 list of the world’s most influential thought leaders.

On this week’s episode, In-Q and I discuss:

Why he has a tattoo with the Hebrew word he thought meant “forgiveness"

The perilous childhood moment that could have changed his life forever

How his learning disability contributes to his success

Why ‘Hamilton’ is a perfect work of art

The day he decided that Nas was God

His creative process

Watch his special, Live At the Ace Theater and listen to his album The Never Ending Now

WAIT - don’t go until you’ve done 2 out of these 3 things:
💰Rate and review Crazy Money here. 💰
🔥 Register for Paul’s incredible newsletter here.🔥
🎤 See Paul LIVE for telling of comedy jokes here. 🎤

About Paul Ollinger and Crazy Money
After working as one of Facebook’s first 250 employees, Paul retired from the corporate world at 42, only to find himself bored, lonely, and driving his wife crazy. Today, he’s a standup comic, captivating audiences with his unique blend of humor and insight, performing alongside a diverse group of comedy powerhouses and iconic musicians, including Norm Macdonald, Dave Attell, Chelsea Handler, Styx, and Collective Soul. In 2019, Paul started this podcast, Crazy Money to explore the connection between money, happiness, work, and meaning. In one-on-one conversations with some of the world's most interesting people, he helps uncover the true sources of happiness in life and what wealth, success, and fame can (and can't) do for us. Previous guests include LL COOL J, Judd Apatow, Moby, and winners of the Nobel Prize, Heisman Trophy, PGA Championship, and Olympic gold medals. Paul is always on tour and coming to a comedy club near you. Check dates here.
This episodes Keywords:
IN-Q, poet, spoken word, slam poetry, creativity, self-expression, learning disabilities, dyslexia, art, IN-Q, poetry, creativity, writing process, empowerment, tattoos, Amazon special, immersive experience, album, book, events, forgiveness

Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

“Second Class” Americans with Batya Ungar-Sargon

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 03:30:00 GMT

The spirit of the working class is crushed. So argues Batya Ungar-Sargon in her new book 'Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women’. Batya says that working men and women in the United States have been abandoned by both political parties and left to fend for themselves all while unchecked immigration makes an already challenging job market untenable. As her title suggests, she believes “elites” are causing this problem. And though you hear the word used more often and somewhat scornfully on Fox News, “elites” doesn’t just progressives. It’s alll of us who are educated, have stable jobs, and aren’t worried aobut making rent next month. But just because Batya uses the word doesn't mean her main argument—that unchecked immigration is making life untenable for working Americans—is wrong. At the very least, it is inarguable that immigration is putting a strain on our housing, educational and medical infrastructure. And all of us foot the bill for that. What’s really odd about this to me is, despite the fact that Batya defends Donald Trump as a friend of the working people, that the policies she recommends to fix the problem feel like Democratic policies from an earlier time. Unions, tarriffs - that sort of thing. Whichever side they’re from, she is passionate about the importance of a thriving middle class for a stable democracy. Batya is The Opinion Editor at Newsweek. She holds a BA from the University of Chicago and earned her PhD at UC, Berkeley. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Foreign Policy, the New York Times, The Daily Beast, and The Free Press. Buy ’Second Class’ here.

WAIT - don’t go until you’ve done 2 out of these 3 things:
💰Rate and review Crazy Money here. 💰
🔥 Register for Paul’s incredible newsletter here.🔥
🎤 See Paul LIVE for telling of comedy jokes here. 🎤

About Paul Ollinger and Crazy Money
After working as one of Facebook’s first 250 employees, Paul retired from the corporate world at 42, only to find himself bored, lonely, and driving his wife crazy. Today, he’s a standup comic, captivating audiences with his unique blend of humor and insight, performing alongside a diverse group of comedy powerhouses and iconic musicians, including Norm Macdonald, Dave Attell, Chelsea Handler, Styx, and Collective Soul. In 2019, Paul started this podcast, Crazy Money to explore the connection between money, happiness, work, and meaning. In one-on-one conversations with some of the world's most interesting people, he helps uncover the true sources of happiness in life and what wealth, success, and fame can (and can't) do for us. Previous guests include LL COOL J, Judd Apatow, Moby, and winners of the Nobel Prize, Heisman Trophy, PGA Championship, and Olympic gold medals. Paul is always on tour and coming to a comedy club near you. Check dates here.
This episodes Keywords:
elites, working class, income inequality, immigration, Trump, unions, working conditions, middle class, stable democracy, vice president, politics, kamalaharris, election, timwalz, joshshapiro

Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Why the News is Bad with Angus Hervey

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:18:00 GMT

**Hi friends - this is Paul writing to confess to an error in my introduction in this week's episode. The name of Angus Hervey's podcast is "Hope Is a Verb," not—as I called it—"Hope is NOT a Verb," which is kind of the opposite (insert winky emoticon). Unfortunately, I am unable to re-record the intro as we are traveling, but I can change these show notes, so that's what I'm doing. Sincere apologies to my most gracious guest for this ridiculous foul-up.**

The news is always bad, and that’s not an accident. “If it bleeds, it leads” has long been the theme that drives networks and newspapers to accentuate the negative because that’s how you earn ratings and pageviews, baby! This week, Dr. Angus Hervey, founder of 'Fix the News’ and the co-host of the podcast ‘Hope Is A Verb’ joins Paul to discuss the evolutionary and economic reasons behind this phenomenon and how it hurts us as a society. The dreadful headlines disguise the truth that we humans are making terrific progress fighting poverty, eradicating disease, finding alternatives to fossil fuels, and expanding human rights. But you wouldn’t know that reading the New York Times or scrolling your Facebook feed. Of course everything isn’t perfect. But thanks to technology and perhaps to the fact that—as Dr. King said—the arch of the moral universe bends toward justice, things are way better than they have ever been and they continue to improve. We ignore this to our peril and at the cost of our happiness. As Dr. Hervey cautions negative news is an addictive product that divides us as a society, "breeding cynicism, apathy, hopelessness, and even hate.” As if that weren’t bad enough, it also prevents us in believing that progress can be made, saying “If we want more people to devote themselves to making progress, maybe we should tell more people that it’s possible to make progress.” Further, he says that all these predictions of an AI apocalypse are highly-overblown. Angus earned his PhD in Political Econmomy at London School of Economics. His two TED Talks have generated millions of video views,
He lives in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia whence he spoke to Paul before his children woke up. Listen to Hope Is A Verb and read Fix The News today!

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About Paul Ollinger and Crazy Money
After working as one of Facebook’s first 250 employees, Paul retired from the corporate world at 42, only to find himself bored, lonely, and driving his wife crazy. Today, he’s a standup comic, captivating audiences with his unique blend of humor and insight, performing alongside a diverse group of comedy powerhouses and iconic musicians, including Norm Macdonald, Dave Attell, Chelsea Handler, Styx, and Collective Soul. In 2019, Paul started this podcast, Crazy Money to explore the connection between money, happiness, work, and meaning. In one-on-one conversations with some of the world's most interesting people, he helps uncover the true sources of happiness in life and what wealth, success, and fame can (and can't) do for us. Previous guests include LL COOL J, Judd Apatow, Moby, and winners of the Nobel Prize, Heisman Trophy, PGA Championship, and Olympic gold medals. Paul is always on tour and coming to a comedy club near you. Check dates here.

This episodes Keywords:
News, good news, bad news, negative filtering, evolution, negative news, perception, progress, media, incentives, bias, optimism, technology, AI, biotechnology

Paul loves you.

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Fighting for the Family Business with Stephanie Stuckey

Paul Ollinger — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 07:42:00 GMT

Stephanie Stuckey used her life’s savings to buy the company that is her family’s legacy. At it’s height in the1960’s and 70’s, there were hundreds of Stuckey’s stores selling gas, pecan candy, cold drinks, and quick meals near highway exits around the United States. But after her grandfather was bought out by a big corporation, the neglected enterprise and its stores fell into disrepair. Since buying what remained of the company five years ago, Stephanie—an attorney and former Georgia State Representative with no prior business experience—has been on a mission to restore the brand to its former glory. She relishes Stuckey’s history and philosophy of hospitality that welcomed *all* travelers during an era when segregation was the rule. Her inspiring story is that hopeless romantic who puts it all on the line to celebrate what’s good and authentic in the world. Stephanie lives in Atlanta. She loves sweet tea, R.E.M., and the Georgia Bulldogs. Follow Stephanie on Instagram and LinkedIn and getcha some Pecan Log Rolls on the Stuckey’s website. Oh, and buy her book here.

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About Paul Ollinger and Crazy Money
After working as one of Facebook’s first 250 employees, Paul retired from the corporate world at 42, only to find himself bored, lonely, and driving his wife crazy. Today, he’s a standup comic, captivating audiences with his unique blend of humor and insight, performing alongside a diverse group of comedy powerhouses and iconic musicians, including Norm Macdonald, Dave Attell, Chelsea Handler, Styx, and Collective Soul. In 2019, Paul started this podcast, Crazy Money to explore the connection between money, happiness, work, and meaning. In one-on-one conversations with some of the world's most interesting people, he helps uncover the true sources of happiness in life and what wealth, success, and fame can (and can't) do for us. Previous guests include LL COOL J, Judd Apatow, Moby, and winners of the Nobel Prize, Heisman Trophy, PGA Championship, and Olympic gold medals. Paul is always on tour and coming to a comedy club near you. Check dates here.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Persevering Through Grief with Nicole Avant

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 05:24:00 GMT

Nicole Avant is the former U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas and author of a new memoir, 'Think You’ll Be Happy: Moving through Grief with Grit, Grace, and Gratitude’ which tells the story of her extraordinary family and her mother’s tragic death by murder. Her mom, Jacquie was a philanthropist and community activist whose example taught Nicole kindness, respect, and humility. Nicole’s father was Clarence Avant, a highly successful music executive who gathered in their Beverly Hills home a mélange* of the most prominent musicians, producers, actors, and politicians. Indicative of the environment in which she grew up, Nicole’s godfather is legendary producer, Quincy Jones. Speaking of godfathers, Nicole produced a documentary about her dad called 'The Black Godfather,’ which is available on Netflix and is totally amazing. After college, Nicole worked in the music business but got into politics, eventually becoming the Southern California finance co-chair for the 2008 Presidential campaign of Barack Obama who appointed her Ambassador. Nicole’s film about the contributions of Black servicewomen during WWII, 'The Six Triple Eight,’ was directed by Tyler Perry and comes out later this year. Check out The Black Godfather trailer here and learn more about Nicole’s book here. (So you understand the context, the “Ted” to which Nicole refers in this interview is her husband, Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO of Netflix.)

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*I said it - mélange, baby!

About Paul Ollinger and Crazy Money
After working as one of Facebook’s first 250 employees, Paul retired from the corporate world at 42, only to find himself bored, lonely, and driving his wife crazy. Today, he’s a standup comic, captivating audiences with his unique blend of humor and insight, performing alongside a diverse group of comedy powerhouses and iconic musicians, including Norm Macdonald, Dave Attell, Chelsea Handler, Styx, and Collective Soul. In 2019, Paul started this podcast, Crazy Money to explore the connection between money, happiness, work, and meaning. In one-on-one conversations with some of the world's most interesting people, he helps uncover the true sources of happiness in life and what wealth, success, and fame can (and can't) do for us. Previous guests include LL COOL J, Judd Apatow, Moby, and winners of the Nobel Prize, Heisman Trophy, PGA Championship, and Olympic gold medals. Paul is always on tour and coming to a comedy club near you. Check dates here.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

On The Move

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 02:03:00 GMT

On this introspective episode of Crazy Money, Paul sits alone in his empty Atlanta house and talks openly about the thoughts and feelings that drew him back to Atlanta, and the head trauma that may or may not have initiated his desire to sell everything and move to New York City.
Oh, by the way, my name is Mike Carano and I’m writing these surely-to-be-deleted episode notes. Paul is occupied with the chaos of moving, but I suspect he’s more likely trying to get to the bottom of the, “which Ray’s Pizza is the REAL Ray’s Pizza.” In between mumbling, “miles to go before I sleep,” he asked if I could handle this writing task. Inspired by he and Stacey’s decision to embrace a big change and wring every drop out of this thing called life, I said uhh, okay.
In this intimate podcast Paul talks about how this move came about, how he, Stacey, and their two kids, kid #1, and kid #2, ended up in Atlanta, and his plan to put the pedal to the metal and maximize opportunity, expand horizons, and have coffee with the dude from TED.
I found this be be genuinely inspiring, and I’ve decided to do the same thing. Only I’m going to Barstow, because I’m broke.
Please enjoy this thoughtful episode.

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About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. Today’s episode covers: Constitution, originalism, living constitutionalism, individual rights, common good, abortion rights, free speech, society, interpretation, democracy, government, people, age and health of the president, executive orders, Supreme Court, Constitution, First Amendment, Second Amendment. Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

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Who killed Rudolf Diesel? (with Doug Brunt)

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 02:12:00 GMT

Yes, there was actually a guy named Rudolf Diesel who actually invented the diesel engine, which was incredibly revolutionary for its time. It earned Diesel a massive fortune and had huge implications for how war—especially maritime war in the early 1900’s—would be waged. As European countries scrambled for dominance just prior to WWI, Diesel disappeared, leading to speculation that he was murdered by either Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II or by America’s John D. Rockefeller whose young petroleum empire Diesel's motor threatened. Or maybe Diesel leapt to his own death. Or maybe...something else happened. Author Doug Brunt’s new book 'The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I’ tells the story of this incredible innovator and the impact his machine continues to have on the world. Doug Brunt grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Duke University. A former technology executive turned writer, his previous novels include 'Ghosts of Manhattan’ (which is f-in great!), 'The Means’, and 'Trophy Son'. He lives with his wife, journalist Megyn Kelly, in Connecticut. Check out Doug’s website here. 💰Rate and review Crazy Money here. 💰🔥 Register for Paul’s incredible newsletter here.🔥🎤 See Paul LIVE for telling of comedy jokes here. 🎤About Paul Ollinger and Crazy MoneyAfter working as one of Facebook’s first 250 employees, Paul retired from the corporate world at 42, only to find himself bored, lonely, and driving his wife crazy. Today, he’s a standup comic, captivating audiences with his unique blend of humor and insight, performing alongside a diverse group of comedy powerhouses and iconic musicians, including Norm Macdonald, Dave Attell, Chelsea Handler, Styx, and Collective Soul. In 2019, Paul started this podcast, Crazy Money to explore the connection between money, happiness, work, and meaning. In one-on-one conversations with some of the world's most interesting people, he helps uncover the true sources of happiness in life and what wealth, success, and fame can (and can't) do for us. Previous guests include LL COOL J, Judd Apatow, Moby, and winners of the Nobel Prize, Heisman Trophy, PGA Championship, and Olympic gold medals. Paul is always on tour and coming to a comedy club near you. Check dates here.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Restoring Politcal Sanity with Charlie Wheelan (Encore)

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 04:35:00 GMT

Charlie Wheelan is a professor of economics and public policy at Dartmouth College and the author of several books, including Naked Money, Naked Economics, (no nudity in either), and The Centrist Manifesto, all of which we discuss in this episode. The Chicago Sun-Times describes Charlie as someone who “combines a razor-sharp mind with a boatload of charm and impressive expertise in economics and foreign policy,” which might be why his students regularly pick him as one of Dartmouth's 10 best professors. Charlie is also the founder and Co-director of Unite America, a movement of Democrats, Republicans, and independents working together to to put voters first by fostering more representative and functional government. In March, 2009, Charlie ran unsuccessfully for the Congressional seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel who went on to become President Obama’s Chief of Staff. Charlie is a graduate of Dartmouth and holds a Master’s from Princeton and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. In today’s conversation, we talk about:

Why our political process has become so polarized,

Why it’s near impossible to get reasonable candidates elected, and

What each party is either right or wrong about.

Most importantly, Charlie lays out some very practical ideas for how we can restore sanity to our governing bodies.

Check out Charlie’s website here.

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About Paul Ollinger and Crazy Money
After working as one of Facebook’s first 250 employees, Paul retired from the corporate world at 42, only to find himself bored, lonely, and driving his wife crazy. Today, he’s a standup comic, captivating audiences with his unique blend of humor and insight, performing alongside a diverse group of comedy powerhouses and iconic musicians, including Norm Macdonald, Dave Attell, Chelsea Handler, Styx, and Collective Soul.
In 2019, Paul started this podcast, Crazy Money to explore the connection between money, happiness, work, and meaning. In one-on-one conversations with some of the world's most interesting people, he helps uncover the true sources of happiness in life and what wealth, success, and fame can (and can't) do for us. Previous guests include LL COOL J, Judd Apatow, Moby, and winners of the Nobel Prize, Heisman Trophy, PGA Championship, and Olympic gold medals.
Paul is always on tour and coming to a comedy club near you. Check dates here.

This episodes Keywords:
Taxes, tax policy, inequality, infrastructure, Civics government, elections, voting, Dartmouth, federal debt. Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Mike Posner on Life Beyond Fame and Fortune

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 28 May 2024 05:40:00 GMT

Mike Posner is a Grammy-nominated rapper, singer, songwriter, and music producer from Detroit. His Spotify channel has generated over 3 billion plays and his song 'I Took a Pill in Ibiza' reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. Mike "had it all" at a young age and captured his lifestyle in the lyrics of his biggest hit: “A real big baller (who) made a million dollars and...spent it on girls and shoes.” But Mike wanted more—he wanted to live a life of meaning and purpose - to become the person he was supposed to be. As he shares in his recent TED Talk, '5 Lessons on Happiness – from Pop Fame to Poisonous Snakes,’ he began a 3,000 mile on-foot trek across the United States, starting in New Jersey and making it all the way to Colorado where he was waylaid by a rattlesnake bite. After a few weeks of recovery, he set back out on the road, completing his walk with a run into the Pacific Ocean at Venice Beach, CA. In this joyous conversation, Paul and Mike cover:

Mike's journey from pop star to becoming his own person

Mean things people said about him on social media

What he rapped about when he was 8 years old

Mike’s youthful collaboration with Big Sean

The duality of human nature and how we all have good and bad within us

Self-awareness and the importance of compassion

Following one's own path, rather than relying on external validation.

Why we must embrace our mortality, and the reason others want you to forget it

The importance of faith

Check out Mike’s TED Talk: 5 Lessons on Happiness and his Spotify profile.

💰Rate and review Crazy Money here. 💰

🔥 Register for Paul’s incredible newsletter here.🔥

🎤 See Paul LIVE for telling of comedy jokes here. 🎤

About Paul Ollinger and Crazy Money
After working as one of Facebook’s first 250 employees, Paul retired from the corporate world at 42, only to find himself bored, lonely, and driving his wife crazy. Today, he’s a standup comic, captivating audiences with his unique blend of humor and insight, performing alongside a diverse group of comedy powerhouses and iconic musicians, including Daniel Tosh, Dave Attell, Chelsea Handler, Norm Macdonald, Styx, and Collective Soul.
In 2019, Paul started this podcast, Crazy Money to explore the connection between money, happiness, work, and meaning. In one-on-one conversations with some of the world's most interesting people, he helps uncover the true sources of happiness in life and what wealth, success, and fame can (and can't) do for us. Previous guests include LL COOL J, Judd Apatow, Moby, and winners of the Nobel Prize, Heisman Trophy, PGA Championship, and Olympic gold medals.
Paul is always on tour and coming to a comedy club near you. Check dates here.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Andrew Yang on Our Broken Political System (Encore)

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 21 May 2024 04:18:00 GMT

Andrew Yang is a former Presidential and NYC mayoral candidate and the founder of Venture for America. He's also the founder of the Forward Party where he advocates for structural reform to safeguard our democracy. He lays all this out in his new book, ‘Forward,' which we discussed today. We also discuss Andrew's life as a teenager, his obsession with post-punk bands like The Smiths, Depeche Mode, and Nine Inch Nails, why he didn’t do drugs as a teenager, and how his parents felt when he got his ear pierced. More to the point of his political career, we talk about how money is the tail that wags the dog and both the GOP and the Democratic Party. He mentions why we should pay our politicians more, how gerrymandering and primaries forment polarization, and we talk about entitlement reform and universal basic income. Even if you don't agree with all his policy ideas, I think you'll agree that Andrew’s efforts to fix the machine of politics are worthwhile and something we should all think about supporting because the current polarized political system is making everybody freaking miserable. Andrew is the son of immigrants from Taiwan. He attended Philips Exeter, Brown University, and Columbia Law School. This episode oraingally ran in August of 2022.

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Follow Andrew on Twitter.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

The Third Path with Jordan Harbinger

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 14 May 2024 04:32:00 GMT

Jordan Harbinger is one of the most popular podcasters in North America, but it all started by accident. As a young University of Michigan grad, Jordan decided to go to law school because it was something to do after college and eventually ended up at a Wall Street firm. A multi-linguist, Jordan traveled and met new people all over the world. He eventually started teaching networking to other young adults. The tapes—compact discs, actually—of his presentations became so popular that he decided to upload them to a central server. Thus did he unintentionally become a very early podcaster. Today,"The Jordan Harbinger Show” generates over 10 million downloads per month and features conversations with huge guests like Ray Dialo, Simon Sinek, Mark Cuban, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Tony Hawk, and hundreds more. In this converation, Jordan and I discuss:

What job interviewers are really looking for

The thing he asked Kobe Bryant, just months before the basketball star’s death.

The difference between NY and London law firms

Why he won’t accept gambling ads on his show

The scandals other prominent podcasters have faced recently and what Jordan believes he owes his audience in terms of the ethics of his own behavior.

Learn more about Jordan / listen to the Jordan Harbinger Show here.

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About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. Today’s episode covers: podcasting, Zoom, languages, law school, career paths, teaching, integrity.

Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Living The Constitution with AJ Jacobs

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 07 May 2024 07:02:00 GMT

Good morrow, chum! My guest this week is A.J. Jacobs, author of the new / amazing book 'The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution’s Original Meaning’, in which A.J. chronicles his year of living as an 18th Century citizen, including writing letters with quill and ink, carrying a musket around the Upper West Side of Manhattan while wearing colonial garb, and celebrating election days with cake and rum! It’s the latest of his year-long experiments in living for which A.J. is so well known. As his website describes him, "A.J. Jacobs is an author, journalist, lecturer and human guinea pig. He has written four New York Times bestsellers that combine memoir, science, humor and a dash of self-help.” He is also the only 3-time Crazy Money guest in history of the world! Huzzah! I’m such a fan of AJ’s becuase he is a true original. He is smart, funny, and just the right amount of kooky. He’s also on a misison to make the world smarter, more aware, and more grateful. So that’s cool. He lives in New York City, very near where Paul's family will soon be living. In this fabulous conversation, Paul and A.J. discuss:

Originalism v. Living Constitutionalists

The way the Constitution is like a Rorschach test

How elections used to be parties with beer and cake

The balance between individual rights and the common good

What are rights? And who decides which rights to prioritize?

The disproportionate power of the Executive Branch

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About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. Today’s episode covers: Constitution, originalism, living constitutionalism, individual rights, common good, abortion rights, free speech, society, interpretation, democracy, government, people, age and health of the president, executive orders, Supreme Court, Constitution, First Amendment, Second Amendment. Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Being Human at Work with Kim Scott, author of 'Radical Candor’

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 03:06:00 GMT

‘Radical Candor’ author Kim Scott once had to inform a colleague that they smelled bad….like, really bad. She was able to do so becuase she had created on her team a culture or radical candor. No, this doesn’t mean you can just walk up to colleagues and say, “you stink!” or “nice shirt, bozo!” On the contrary, radical candor is a culture where authentic personal caring co-exists with direct challenges. Lacking this combination, workplace communication falls into one of three meaningfully-less desirable buckets: 1. Obnoxious Aggression, 2. Ruinous Empathy, and 3. Manipulative Insincerity. In this conversation, Kim explains how radical candor can generate respect, collaboration, better relationships, and improved performance. Kim also addresses the challenges of perfectionism and the application of radical candor in marriages and parenting. She emphasizes the need for open communication, soliciting feedback, and expressing appreciation. See - that’s what you should be doing with your teenagers - expressing appreciation…before you tell them to put on deodorant! :-)

Kim also discusses:

What Sheryl Sandberg taught her about radical candor

The way culture affects communication styles

Whether you can bring your whole self to work in an increasingly politicized world.

Whether Google’s Gemini AI debacle would be less likely to happen in an environment of radical candor

Listen to the Radical Candor Podcast here and BUY Kim’s new book, 'Radical Respect' here.

💰Rate and review Crazy Money here. 💰

🔥 Register for Paul’s thought-provoking newsletter here.🔥

🎤 See Paul LIVE for telling of comedy jokes here. 🎤

About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. Today’s episode covers: radical candor, radical respect, workplace communication, feedback, culture, collaboration, respect, individuality, radical candor, radical respect, workplace culture, feedback, hierarchy, perfectionism, marriages, parenting. Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Power Couple: Debbi “Mrs.” Fields and Wade Shealy

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 02:25:00 GMT

Debbi Fields founded Mrs. Fields cookies brand when she was in her early 20s and built the company into a well-known global brand. Wade Shealy got his start selling Bibles door-to-door then went on to develop and sell > $3 billion in resort real estate over the next few decades, including Hampton Island, GA whose residents include Ben Affleck / Jennifer Lopez and Robert / Lydia Monday. He is now CEO of Third Home, a vacation home sharing platform that empowers its members to see the world. In this week’s epiosde, these two wildly accomplished humans share lessons about entrepreneurship, friendship, and raising stable kids in an atmosphere of affluence. Debbi tells the story of how she went from Oakland A’s ball girl to cookie kingpin and her commitment to quality over cost control. She also tells us how she kept a positive attitude when circumstances compelled her to give up control of the company. Wade emphasizes the importance of motivation, positive attitude, and controlling one's thoughts in achieving success. Both discuss their commitment to friendship. Learn more about ThirdHome here.

💰Rate and review Crazy Money here. 💰

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🎤 See Paul LIVE for telling of comedy jokes here. 🎤

About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. Today’s episode covers: entrepreneurship, customer experience, real estate, motivation, positive attitude, friendships, family, friendship. Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Death, Dying, and Israel with Rabbi Steve Leder

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 04:43:00 GMT

Rabbi Steve Leder is the Senior Rabbi at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, a very large and influential congregation in Los Angeles. He is a New York Times best-selling author of several books, including 'For You When I Am Gone’ and 'The Beauty of What Remains,’ both of which pertain to death and dying. I had planned on speaking with Steve primarily about death for an hour, but our conversation covered everything from regret to forgiveness to the life of a rabbi. He shares lessons about fund-raising, his thoughts about whether Scripture is based on fact or truth, and the conflict of conscience he experienced when counseling a temple member who had ALS about her assisted suicide. Finally, Rabbi Leder speaks frankly about what Israel means to him and the tragic complexity of the war between Israel and Hamas.

Follow Rabbi Leder on Instagram here.

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About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. Today’s episode covers: regret, joy, sadness, forgiveness, fundraising, preaching, teaching, relationships, advice, conscience, ALS, end-of-life decisions, euthanasia, Jewish law, compassion, Israel, Middle East, Gaza, Hamas. Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

The Wealth Money Can’t Buy with Robin Sharma

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 04:47:00 GMT

Robin Sharma is a leadership expert, coach and author whose books have sold tens of millions of copies around the world. The author of The 5AM Club, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, The Everyday Hero Manifesto, and Who Will Cry When You Die?, Robin has a new book out called The Wealth Money Can’t Buy in which he examines the ways we can all develop happiness with and beyond financial wealth. In this conversation, Robin shares with me insights from the book, specifically:

The danger of focusing solely on money

How to find joy in your craft

What his work with billionaires has taught him about money and life

Why and how he started writing

Whether he believes in God

Where the word “coach” comes from

The benefits of mastery

And, the 8 forms of wealth: wellness, family, craft, money, community, adventure, service.

Learn more about Robin and his new book on his website.

• 💰If you enjoy Crazy Money, please leave us a rating here. 💰
• 🔥Register for Paul’s thought-provoking newsletter here.🔥

About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

=====

Takeaways

Find joy and fulfillment in your craft, no matter what you do

Don't focus solely on financial wealth; pursue all eight forms of wealth: growth, wellness, family, craft, money, community, adventure, and service

In difficult times, practice meditation, visualization, and prayer (MVP) to build resilience

Stay in the pain and learn from it; it can lead to personal growth and wisdom

Lead with kindness and generosity, and give gifts to others without expecting anything in return

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

America’s Government Teacher, Sharon McMahon

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 04:29:00 GMT

Sharon McMahon is living her purpose. Via her wildly popular Instagram account @SharonSaysSo, she is fighting political misinformation and guiding her audience through “the fascinating world of democracy, politics, and history.” In the process, she is proving that Americans—and other good people around the globe—are hungry for unbiased political context and analysis. "With a heart for education and a mission to clear up political confusion,” Sharon has become known as America’s Government Teacher. And she’s such a clear and compelling teacher that over a million people subscribe to see her reels and stories that offer in-depth and unbiased background to the most important politics issues of the day. Sharon leverages her passion for history and government to promote knowledge, understanding, and TRUTH. Her work is strengthening democracy during a time when it is most urgently need. For that, Crazy Money salutes her! In today’s episode, Paul and Sharon discuss:

The increasing politicization of the American classroom and the importance of critical thinking

The broken two-party system and electoral college

A purely hypothetical 2024 election between butter and olive oil, and the pros and cons of voting for a 3rd Party Candidate, I Can’t Believe It’s Not President

What it was like to interview the VPOTUS, Kamala Harris

Sharons' book, 'The Small and the Mighty,' which explores the stories of unsung Americans who changed the course of history.

Learn more about Sharon’s book and podcast here.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Poor Kid Makes Millions Trading, Fights Inequality with Gary Stevenson

Paul Ollinger — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 02:48:00 GMT

Gary Stevenson grew up in tough, working class East London. Despite setbacks in high school (having to do with the distribution of illicit substances), his gift for mathematics landed him a spot at London School of Economics (alma mater of Mick Jagger, Margaret Thatcher, and George Soros) where he attended with the sons and daughters of the global elite. His skill at a card game won him a job on Citibank’s trading desk and he went on to earn multi-million dollar—er, pound sterling—bonuses in his early 20s. Gary eventually become Citi’s top trader but the game started to take a physical toll on him. The stress, pressure, and moral conflict of betting against poor people—at least that’s how he saw it—led him to leave trading and begin to address growing income inequality around the globe. In this fast-paced and insight-rich conversation, Gary and Paul discuss:

Gary's new memoir, The Trading Game: A Confession.

The risks of trading currency

How he felt when he got his first bonus of $750,000

Bias against working-class people

Why he knew it was time to quit the industry

The positive role of short-sellers in a market

His YouTube challenge, Gary’s Economics

Hot to tax billionaires more

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

The Narcissist Next-door with Dr. Ramani Durvasula

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 06:37:00 GMT

Dr. Ramani Durvasula is a clinical psychologist and author of the New York Times best-seller It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People. In this insight-rich conversation, Dr. Ramani explains the traits and behaviors of narcissistic individuals, how they hijack our well-being, and the motivations behind their attention-seeking behavior. She also relieves Paul of the sneaking suspicion that he might be a narcissist. Other topics include:

Gender and narcissism (ladies is narcissists too!)

The continuum and different types of narcissism, including: grandiose, malignant, neglectful and also self-righteous narcissism (Paul’s favorite!)

How social media has amplified narcissistic behaviors and their impact on society.

Gaslighting and other tools narcissists use to sow self-doubt.

Which cities has more narcissists, Los Angeles or Washington D.C.?

The Different roles that evolve in narcissistic family systems (the golden child, scapegoat, fixer, peacekeeper, invisible child, and truth seer)

The correlation between ADHD and narcissism

The process of healing from narcissistic abuse and moving towards a thriving life.

Learn More About Dr. Ramani Here:
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

TED's Chris Anderson on Infectious Generosity

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 12:29:00 GMT

Chris Anderson is the Head Curator of TED and author of the new book, 'Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading' in which he argues that YOU and I can improve the world by embracing our natural inclination toward generosity. He speaks not just of financial generosity, though that’s certainly a huge part of it, but also of creative generosity and generosity of spirit. In this conversation, Chris and I discuss:

The formula to determine if you are a net giver or a net taker in life

MrBeast and the phenomenon of performative philanthropy

How gratitude can foster a sense of generosity and empathy

The contribution TED has made to the world by providing a platform to share valuable ideas.

How one, small act of kindness can spark generosity in others

Chris was born in Pakistan where his father was "an eye surgeon and evangelical Christian who ran a mobile hospital. He attended school in the Himalayan mountains of India before transferring to a boarding school near Bath, England. He went on to study philosophy, politics, and economics at Oxford, then found himself captivated by the personal computer revolution in the mid-1980s. He launched computer magazines via Future Publishing and eventually published 150 titles and employed 2,000 people. Using the proceeds of his success, Chris established a foundation to tackle tough global issues through media, technology, entrepreneurship, and ideas. In 2001, that foundation acquired the TED Conference, then an annual meeting of luminaries in the fields of technology, entertainment, and design, held in Monterey, California. Chris left the publishing world to work on TED full-time. In the next two decades, TED expanded to include the TED Prize, Ted-Ed, and the licensing of its name via TEDx, local, independently-produced conferences around the globe. Learn more about Chris and the book on InfectiousGenerosity.org.
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Mike and Paul’s Road Trip

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 08:26:00 GMT

This episode is highlights of a conversation between Paul and Mike Carano, long-time friend and Crazy Money editor. It was recorded on a road trip between San Francisco where Paul had just performed at Cobb’s Comedy Club and San Luis Obispo where he was heading to perform in the SLO Fest Comedy Festival. Among other things, Paul and Mike discuss:

Memories of commuting from SF to Yahoo! in Sunnyvale

Why it’s hard to admit what we want in life

The history of Crazy Money

The possible new names for Crazy Money

Life in general

✍🏾Please leave us a rating here. ✍🏾
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Subscribe to us on YouTube here.

Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, wealth, wealth management.
If you haven’t found what you’re looking for in the words above, you’re probably not going to find them down here. Seriously, all the important stuff is up yonder.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

On Fire for Life with John O’Leary

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 19:25:00 GMT

When John O’Leary was 9 years old, he played with fire and got burned. Like really, really burned, over 99% of his body. Doctors gave him less than 1% chance to live and told his parents he would not survive. Yet thanks to the amazing support of his family, the community, and medical care providers, survive he did. His journey back took years, required dozens of surgeries, and cost him all of his fingers. Today, John is a world-renowned inspirational speaker who has addressed audiences around the globe. John is also the author of the best-seller On Fire!: 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life and In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder Unleash Inspiration, Meaning, and Joy. He hosts the Live Inspired podcast. John and I have a lot in common. We were both one of six kids in a big, Catholic family and raised by amazing parents who were married for over 50 years and whose humility and grace inspire us to this day. We’re both husbands and dads and both want our audiences to be radically aware of the value of their lives and the opportunity to make every day count. In this conversation, we discuss the importance of:

Living in the moment

Gratitude

Family

Courage

Friends who will fight for you

Finding your Talents

Learn more about John on his website.

✍🏾Please leave us a rating here. ✍🏾
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Subscribe to us on YouTube here.

Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, wealth, wealth management.
If you haven’t found what you’re looking for in the words above, you’re probably not going to find them down here. Seriously, all the important stuff is up yonder.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Paul Reads Money Essays

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 04:53:00 GMT

In this special “where has Paul been?” episode, Paul reads three of his latest pieces from his Substack, Money and the Meaning of Life, so that you can drive or workout without reading. Latest posts include:

Adventures in Affluence: Dry Cleaning - why Paul got freaked out when he starting thinking about how much he spends on dry cleaning every year.

Gary v. Jerry: Why Gary Gulman Resents Rich People -Gary Gulman is an amazing comedian, but he harbors some very negative attitudes toward people who have more than he does.

The Dreaded H-Word: Should Labors of Love be Tax-Deductible? - Why Paul got so upset when the IRS got judgy about this podcast.

🔥Paul publishes these essays (about) every other Tuesday. You should subscribe HERE. 🔥
🚀 Follow Paul on Instagram HERE. 🚀

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Race and Money with Coleman Hughes (Encore)

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 07:05:00 GMT

Today’s guest is Coleman Hughes, a writer, podcaster, opinion columnist and self-described "Black man who does’t think everything is about race.” Coleman has a new book out this week called 'The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America,’ in which he confronts the "failed corporate diversity and inclusion efforts and poisonous race-based policies that hurt the very people they intend to help."

Coleman has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The National Review, Quillette, The City Journal and The Spectator. He's appeared on many TV shows and podcasts including Real Time with Bill Maher, Making Sense with Sam Harris and the Jordan B. Peterson podcast.

In this conversation from summer of 2022, Coleman and I talk about:

The Racial Wealth Gap and its origins,

Why government action including reparations is not a solution

Whether 100% equality among all races is possible or even desirable,

How progressive policies that supposedly help African-Americans are actually holding them back and…

What issues we should focus on if we actually want to empower Black Economic Autonomy.

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Follow Coleman on Twitter and hear his music here.

Topics include DEI, race, racial wealth gap, reparations, Ibram Kendi, Robin DiAngelo, economics, inequality.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

The Joys and Anxieties of Wealth (Encore)

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 07:05:00 GMT

Paul Schervish studies very wealthy people: what worries them, what delights them, and what motivates them to give to charity. The Director of Boston College’s Center on Wealth and Philanthropy, Paul is the co-author of 'The Joys and Dilemmas of Wealth,' a 2010 report that is one of the most insightful studies of the ultra-affluent ever. We discuss how the fears and joys that come with being rich are often two sides of the same coin. And how Paul, a former Jesuit priest strongly influenced by Karl Marx, has come to appreciate more fully the humanity of the affluent. Learn more about Paul Schervish here. This episode was posted originally in April, 2022.

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Dr. Drew Pinsky on Careers, Money, and Fame (Encore)

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 06:53:00 GMT

This is a special holiday encore of the 2nd episode of Crazy Money with Dr. Drew, which ran Jan 30, 2019. Dr. Drew offers candid insight into the ups and downs of a career in broadcasting and medicine. From Loveline to Celebrity Rehab, Dr. Drew has been a staple on radio and cable television for over 30 years, but that doesn’t mean he’s rich — he’s got triplets to get through graduate school, after all. But he is definitely conversant on almost any topic you throw at him, including opera, coffee and Ulysses S. Grant. Oh, and doctor stuff. He knows about that too. Find out more about Dr. Drew on his website.
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

How to Live a Stress-free Financial Life with Jared Dillian

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 07:15:00 GMT

Financial gurus like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman tell their audience that the key to achieving wealth—or just financial stability—is to cut back on the little things like that daily Starbucks latte. Jared Dillian thinks they’re wrong. Focusing on the little things, Jared argues, is pointless and unsustainable. But focusing on the big things, like your house, your car, and how much you pay for college, makes all the difference. A renowned investment strategist and author, Jared is widely recognized for his keen insights into market psychology and his ability to explain complex financial concepts in an accessible manner. He is also the author of the acclaimed book 'Street Freak: Money and Madness at Lehman Brothers' and the editor of the popular financial newsletter 'The Daily Dirtnap', where he shares his valuable perspective on the markets. Pre-order his new book, ’No Worries: How to Live a Stress-Free Financial Life’ here. On this week’s episode, we discuss:

Striking the balance between being a cheap f*ck and a high roller.

Why renting is often a much better idea than buying a home.

How much student debt is okay.

The five asset classes you should own in “The Awesome Portfolio"

Jared also graciously shares insights into his bipolar disorder and the side effects of the meds he takes. In so doing, he continues to help de-stigmatize mental illness. And for that, I thank him.

See Paul live in comedy mode:

Austin, Jan 11 - Buy Tickets Here

San Francisco, Feb 22 - Buy Tickets Here

Nashville, Feb 28 - Buy Tickets Here

🔥Learn and laugh by reading Paul’s Substack here. 🔥
🚀 Follow Paul on Instagram here. 🚀

DISCLAIMER: This episode contains a discussion of investment strategies and theories but in no way should be considered personal financial advice. Investing in any of the asset classes mentioned can result in material losses.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Judd Apatow on Money, Fame, and Adam Sandler (Encore)

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 04:44:00 GMT

Judd Apatow is one of the most important figures in comedy and film today. But he just doesn’t care that much about money. This non-attachment to material goods leaves him more time to focus on what matters: writing, directing, developing talent, and getting his family together for dinner. Judd has accomplished so much in his career that, in retrospect, his success appears to have been pre-ordained. But despite his massive success in the past 20 years, he never forgets his early struggles. In this week’s encore episode from Feb ’22, I speak with the writer / director / producer behind iconic comedy films such as Anchorman, Trainwreick, This is 40, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin about:

Why Adam Sandler paid $50 more in rent than Judd when they were roommates

Why he didn’t worry too much about finances as a young comedian

How failure prepared him to handle success

Being creative during a pandemic

Buddhism and stuff

Catch Paul Ollinger live (or tell your friends to go):

Austin, Jan 11 - Buy Tickets HERE

San Francisco, Feb 22 - Buy Tickets HERE

Nashville, Feb 28 - Buy Tickets HERE

🔥Learn and laugh by reading Paul’s Substack here. 🔥

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Author Gary Sernovitz

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 09:23:00 GMT

Gary Sernovitz is one of the funniest financial writers working today. His hilarious new novel The Counting House tells the story of a university’s Chief Investment Officer who is suffering a mid-life crisis. If you possess either an interest in finance or a robust / dark sense of humor, The Counting House will make you laugh and, at times, cry in empathy with the protagonist. Gary has spent the last 25 years observing how money works from inside Goldman Sachs and the private equity business, bringing a keen writer’s eye to the money business through two previous novels, a non-fiction account of the oil and gas industrial, and a bunch of essays in The New York Times, The New Yorker and The Wall Street Journal. A Milwaukee native and longtime resident of New York, Gary now lives in New Orleans with his wife and daughter. See more about Gary and The Counting House here.

In this conversation, Gary and I discuss:

Investing with the constraints of a modern university stakeholders

Whether your performance is your identity

The state and cost of college

Writing as a side hustle while working full-time in finance

See Paul live in comedy mode:

Austin, Jan 11 - Buy Tickets Here

San Francisco, Feb 22 - Buy Tickets Here

Nashville, Feb 28 - Buy Tickets Here

🔥Learn and laugh by reading Paul’s Substack here. 🔥
🚀 Follow Paul on Instagram here. 🚀

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

How to Get Un-stuck with Merrick Furst, Ph.D.

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 01:50:00 GMT

Do you ever feel stuck in life? As if you are in the wrong place or you’re in the right place but doing the wrong thing? What do you do when you find yourself at a crossroad? Today, I speak to innovation expert Merrick Furst about how seeing ourselves and the world more clearly can tell us how to move forward when the way isn’t clear. Merrick is a Distinguished Professor at Georgia Tech. His list of academic and commercial accomplishments are longer than your arm (see below) but today we’re putting his immense analytical skills to work to determine the questions we should ask ourselves when we’re not sure about which way to go. Merrick is the co-author of a new book, The Heart of Innovation, which guides start-ups and the humans that lead them how they can go about being themselves.
In today’s conversation we discuss:

What should you do when you feel stuck?

How blind spots keep us stuck and how to find out what your blind spots are

The importance of both radical candor and unconditional positive regard

…and, most importantly, how Merrick helped to inspire the Crazy Money podcast!

👝Shop SIDECAR’s stylish, hands-free travel accessories here. Use code CRAZY20 to get 20% off order over $75.👝
🔥Learn and laugh by reading Paul’s Substack here. 🔥
🚀 Follow Paul on Instagram here. 🚀

Merrick’s BIO:
Merrick L. Furst, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, runs commercialization and new venture creation and directs undergraduate programs and faculty development in the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. Prior to GT he was a professor at UC Berkeley, president of the International Computer Science Institute at Berkeley and CEO of Essential Surfing Gear, Inc., which grew to 53 employees before being sold in 2000. Earlier he was professor and associate dean in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon. Dr. Furst is known for seminal research in algorithms, complexity theory and AI. Merrick co-invented probabilistic circuit analysis and planning graphs, which are considered among the most influential breakthroughs in the field of AI planning. He is the founder of Flashpoint, one of the key developmental communities in Atlanta’s tech start-up scene.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Paul Reads His Thanksgiving Essays

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 07:40:00 GMT

In this special “over the river and through the woods” episode, Paul reads four of his latest pieces from his Substack, Money and the Meaning of Life, so that you can drive or workout without reading. Latest posts include:

Every Day Is Thanksgiving
This One Question Will Help You Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
Why the Jews? The holy roots of anti-semitism might surprise you
This is Us: Inconclusive Thoughts on Why We Kill Each Other

During this Thanksgiving week, Paul commands you to be grateful and to savor your good fortune and your loved ones. That is all.

🔥Paul publishes these essays (about) every other Tuesday. You should subscribe here. 🔥
🚀 Follow Paul on Instagram here. 🚀

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Ed Begley Jr. on Finding Serenity in Hollywood

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 02:47:00 GMT

✍️ Subscribe to Paul’s Substack ‘Money & the Meaning of Life’ here. ✍️
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming comedy dates here and random thoughts on Instagram here. 🎤

Ed Begley Jr. has been acting professionally since 1967 when he appeared in an episode of My Three Sons. 56 years later, Ed has acted in hundreds of movies and TV shows, including An Officer and a Gentleman, Batman Forever, The Larry Sanders Show, Better Call Saul, This is Spinal Tap, Best in Show, and—of course—St. Elsewhere for which he earned six consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations and a Golden Globe Award nomination. His new memoir, To the Temple of Tranquility...and Step on It! is a joyous collection of anecdotes cataloging his career, addiction, recovery, commitment to the environment and—most importantly—his family. In this week’s interview, Ed and discuss:

Him drinking 32 oz of vodka every day for seven years

What Jack Nicholson taught him about acting

Why he once considered moving to Atlanta

The blessing of not getting the part he wanted on St. Elsewhere

Where, on a random night in 1972 you might see Elton John, the Eagles, Jackson Brown, Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, and Albert Brooks

Why being present in the moment is so important

👂Learn more about Ed on his website here. Buy the book here or at your favorite bookstore.👂

--
Read my newsletter Money and the Meaning of Life here.

Paul Ollinger
http://PaulOllinger.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Pushing Our Kids Too Hard: On Toxic Achievement Culture with Jennifer Wallace

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 03:54:00 GMT

✍️ Subscribe to Paul’s Substack ‘Money & the Meaning of Life’ here. ✍️

Jennifer Wallace is a journalist and author specializing in psychology, parenting, and health. Her new book 'Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—And What We Can Do About It' delves into our modern dilemma of busyness, achievement, credentialing, and status-seeking. Katie Couric calls the New York Times best-seller 'Never Enough; “a wake up call for all of us.” A frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, Jennifer’s work explores the intersection of societal trends and individual well-being. In this conversation, Jennifer and I discuss:

What Harvard can and can’t do for you (or your child)

The 6 factors that contribute to a great college experience

Why it matters that our kids know they matter

Stress, grind culture, and mental health\

The importance of chores for children and teens

The family chore that young Jennifer put off until Sunday night

What Alanis Morissette was telling us in her song ‘Perfect'

"Sometimes is never quite enough
If you're flawless, then you'll win my love"
-Alanis Morissette, Perfect
👂Check out the book on Jennie's website here and follow her on Instagram here.👂
🎤 See Paul’s stand-up and random thoughts on Instagram here. 🎤

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Lessons from an '80s Guitar god with Rik Emmett of Triumph

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 06:58:00 GMT

Rik Emmett is a vocalist, guitarist and former member of the rock band Triumph, which earned 18 gold and nine platinum records in Canada and the United States in the late 1970s and early’80s. Triumph was known for its BIG live shows featuring lights, pyrotechnics, and lots of spandex (as was appropriate for the era!). Along with Rik's bandmates Gil Moore and Mike Levine, the power trio played loud, guitar-forward tunes with uplifting lyrics. 1981’s Allied Forces sold over a million copies in the US and included the songs “Fight the Good Fight” and “Magic Power,” which—if you haven’t heard it recently—merits a listen on your favorite music app. Eventually, disputes with the record label, the financial stress of touring / recouping advances, and intra-band competition lead to Triumph’s break-up. In his new memoir, Lay It on the Line: A Backstage Pass to Rock Star Adventure, Conflict and Triumph, Rik shares insights into the trials and tribulations of the rock n roll life and how he has found peace as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. The band and has been inducted into both the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

In this episode, ’Rik and I discuss:

How the pressure to churn out hits affects the songwriting process

Why he started sharing his songwriting royalties with his bandmates

Triumph’s performance at the 1983 US Festival, which was founded by Steve Wozniak

How a start-up network called MTV used a Triumph promo video to help fill its schedule

The cruel arc of celebrity and how an artist deals with "the whimpering disappointment of general disinterest."

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👂Check out the book here and Rik's website here.👂

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The NHL, Brain Injury, and Psilocybin with Daniel Carcillo

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 06:12:00 GMT

When Daniel Carcillo played in the NHL, he was known as an enforcer so tough and volatile that he earned the nickname “Car Bomb.” In his 12 seasons in the NHL, Daniel was a member of two Stanley Cup-winning teams (2013 and 2015 Chicago Blackhawks), led the league in penalty minutes, and was fined or suspended by the NHL 12 times. He also suffered about a dozen concussions and was diagnosed with early-onset dementia at 30 years old. As he told me, “I know I have CTE,” a progressive and fatal brain disease that he believes drove him to the brink of suicide until—as he describes it—mushroom therapy saved his life. Today, Daniel is a brain health advocate and the Founder/ CEO of Wesana Health, a life sciences company that leverages psilocybin-based medicine to treat traumatic brain injuries. In this episode, Daniel and I discuss:

Whether winning the Stanley Cup made him happy

The culture of violence in the NHL.

The epidemic of brain injury among athletes.

How psilocybin, mushrooms, MDMA, Ketamine, and other non-traditional medicines are being used to treat depression, PTSD, and brain disease

Please note I neither endorse nor disapprove of Daniel’s POV here. I think there’s a lot to learn in this space that could potentially benefit a lot of people who are suffering.

Thank you to my friend Peter Fish for connecting me with Daniel.

👂Check out Daniel’s Instagram here and Twitter here👂
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Paul and Cal Fussman Talk Israel, Hamas

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 17:44:55 GMT

Over the past 30 years, Cal Fussman has interviewed a breathtaking array of the world’s most fascinating people, including Nelson Mandela, Clint Eastwood, Barbara Walters, Richard Branson, Muhammed Ali, Mikhail Gorbachev, Neil Young, Serena Williams, Tim Ferriss, Kobe Bryant, Al Pacino, Pelé, and hundreds more. He co-authored Larry King’s memoir and won a James Beard Award for a story about his journey to become a sommelier. Today he hosts the Big Questions podcast and speaks on big stages, all over the world. Cal was in Atlanta last week for one such event so we scheduled time for him to swing by my house (this is Paul typing 👋) for a dual interview to run on our respective shows. In between the scheduling and his arrival, Hamas terrorists killed over 1,000 people (and counting) in Israel in one day. As such, it didn’t feel appropriate to do our typical episodes. So we just talked and tried to make sense of this kind of human behavior. We do our best to avoid political analysis but some inevitably slips in. I want to emphasize that though this episode focuses on Israeli dead at the hands of these Hamas lunatics, the lives of innocent Arabs are equally valuable in the eyes of God…speaking of whom, I hope He’s enjoying His vacation.

👂Listen to Cal’s Big Questions podcast.👂
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On Losing Billions with Victor Haghani

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 05:40:00 GMT

Victor Haghani is the author of a new book called The Missing Billionaires: A Guide to Making Better Financial Decisions, which explores why family fortunes like the Vanderbilts' get destroyed in the hands of the heirs. Victor knows a lot about wild swings in wealth. As co-founding partner of the Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM), Victor saw the hedge fund's value soar over the first years of its existence then plummet spectacularly, losing 90% of its value in the first nine months of 1998. It was bailed out by a consortium of banks that injected $3.6 billion under the supervision of the Federal Reserve. In this conversation and his new book, Victor graciously shares candid insights from this harrowing experience, discusses the emotional roller coaster of his fund’s very public implosion, and reminds us of some facts many have forgotten: that the banks got their money back as did most of the original investors. Unfortunately, a few investors got washed out, as did the founders. Victor tells Paul how he balanced regret with the need to move forward. Victor graduated from London School of Economics then started his career in 1984 at Salomon Brothers where he eventually became a managing director in the bond arbitrage group made famous by Michael Lewis in Liars Poker. His participation in the failure of LTCM was a life-changing experience that led him to question and revise much of the way he thought about the economy, markets, and investing. Through a careful study of the academic literature on investing and many thought-provoking discussions with friends, colleagues, and investors of all backgrounds,Victor concluded that savers can and should do much better. He founded Elm Wealth in 2011 to help investors, including his own family, manage their savings in a disciplined, research-based, cost-effective manner and to capture the long-term returns they ought to earn.
See more about The Missing Billionaires and Elm Wealth here and connect with Victor here.
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How Fear Can be Your Friend with Farnoosh Torabi

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 07:37:47 GMT

Farnoosh Torabi is an Iranian American journalist and one of the country’s most trusted personal finance experts. In her new book, A Healthy State of Panic she examines the role fear can have in leading us toward the relationships, careers, and financial situations we are meant to have. For over two decades, Farnoosh has a strived to help people become financially empowered and lead richer lives. She’s written multiple books, hosted a CNBC program, and worked alongside Oprah’s editorial team. She hosts the Webby-honored podcast So Money, which has been downloaded over 30 million times. In today’s conversation, we discuss how her family came to the U.S. from Iran and what it was like grow up in America after the Iranian Revolution and Hostage Crisis. Always being the new girl, Farnoosh learned how to navigate new schools, her mom's embarrassing clothing choices, her teenage unibrow, achievement anxiety, and the fact that she wasn’t allowed to watch Punky Brewster. We discuss the strength and courage of her young mother, the resilience of her old dad, and what she learned from her biggest professional mistakes. Farnoosh holds a degree in finance from Penn State and a master’s in journalism from Columbia University. Buy the book here. Learn more about Farnoosh on her website.
You - yes you- stand still, laddy! And do this:
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How Much Should You Pay for College? with Ron Lieber (Encore)

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 04:21:31 GMT

After 15 years of financial reporting, Ron Lieber reports that “No consumer decision inspires more confusion and emotion than the question of what to pay for college,” which is understandable since four years at many state schools now costs over $100k in tuition and four years of private school can run over $300k! The "Your Money" columnist for the New York Times, Ron is the author ofThe Price You Pay for College, in which he lays out critical, in-depth information about one of the most important financial decisions your family will ever make. He explains that not only is college ludicrously expensive, but the admissions process is purposefully opaque, so it’s hard to know if you/your kid will get in and whether or not you/your kid will be able to afford to go. By throwing himself head-first into this stormy, complicated sea, Ron helps the reader find the best college or university for them, understand financial aid, and not destroy their family's savings in the process. His new online course about merit aid will help parents like you find grants and scholarships for which your child is eligible. Ron Lieber is a proud alumnus of Amherst College. Among his previous books is the bestseller, The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money, which he discussed with me on episode #4 of Crazy Money. It’s a great book about parenting and teaching your kids values through the lens of money. This episode originally aired in January 2021.

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Why 2 Parents Are Better Than One with Melissa Kearney

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 04:24:44 GMT

Kids who grow up in stable, two-parent homes are less likely to live in poverty, have behavioral problems, and get in trouble at school. They’re more likely to go to college, attain stable employment, achieve higher earnings, and to get married themselves. So reports Melissa Kearney in her new book The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind. A professor of Economics at University of Maryland, Melissa argues that single-parenthood makes economic autonomy more difficult to attain for parent and child alike. So if we want to address inequality, we must acknowledge that family structure contributes to it, even if the conclusions run counter to the prevailing societal notion that any family structure is as good as another. Put simply, if you want a more equal society, it’s time to recognize that equality starts at home. In addition to her faculty position, Melissa is also Director of the Aspen Economic Strategy Group and a non-resident Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution. She holds a BA in Economics from Princeton University and a PhD in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Find the book here. Learn more about Melissa on her website here.

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The Funniest Financial Speaker on Earth (besides Paul) with Garrett Gunderson

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 03:18:55 GMT

Garrett Gunderson is a NYT best selling author and the funniest financial speaker you may or may not have heard of. The son of a Utah coal-miners, Garrett wants to teach others how to become financially independent and have a laugh along the way. He has written several money books, including Disrupting Sacred Cows, Killing Sacred Cows, and What Would Billionaires Do? among others. His new book Money Unmasked comes out next month.

We talk hair, comedy, good parenting, growing up half-Mormon, half-Catholic, frugal v. cheap, “financial dick pics,"
pre-2008 Arrogance, driving a Bentley, the power of laughter, the dirty word his grandmother loved, and what he learned from the death of his business partners. As you’ll hear, Garrett andI have a lot in common, so this is a bit of a sprawling and sometimes “inside baseball” conversation about money and comedy. Speaking of which, his comedy special The American Ream will be out soon.

Learn more about Garrett on his website and Pre-order the new book on Amazon here.

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Break Free from Automated Spending Habits with Julio Vincent Gambuto

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 07:25:04 GMT

In an automated world without constraints or time to think, our spending has been super-charged. Markets, apps, and e-commerce are all designed to separate us from our money as quickly and consistently as possible. So argues Julio Vincent Gambuto in his new book, Please Unsubscribe, Thanks!: How to Take Back Our Time, Attention, and Purpose in a World Designed to Bury Us in Bullshit. Paul and Julio discuss the book and their differences of opinion on how we have arrived to this subscription economy. Yes, Paul agrees, companies are intentionally removing friction from the transaction process to reduce the amount of thinking that goes into purchasing and subscribing to services. But he does not agree that this turns all of us into stooges who lack agency. Yes, Paul also agrees with Julio’s eventual conclusion that we all need to “redefine our relationship with money and how/where/when/why we spend and our needs, wants, and relationship with desire. Maybe it’s okay to not get everything we want right now.” Learn more about Julio on his website. Thanks to our mutual friend Ethan Herschenfeld for connecting metro Julio.

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Sorority Rush Consultant Trisha Addicks (as seen on Bama Rush)

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 05:46:07 GMT

“Parents Hire $4,000 Sorority Consultants to Help Daughters Dress and Impress During Rush” read the Wall Street Journal headline that nearly made my neck snap. As a middle-aged man whose kids aren’t quite college age, I was unaware of the #RushTok phenomenon on TikTok or the Bama Rush documentary that sparked a massive fascination with the sorority rush process at the University of Alabama. Trisha Addicks is the very rush consultant referenced in that WSJ article and featured in Bama Rush. She also happens to be my neighbor, so I invited her to come over and talk about how the whole process works. I had so many questions: Who are these families shelling out $4k for rush help? Why do they do it? How does one become a rush consultant? What’s the reason so many young women want to join sororities anyway? And how do you teach them the secret language including terms like PNMs, OOTD, the 5 B’s, and The Machine? The conversation really put the whole thing into perspective. In a world of private trainers, coaches, and tutors, a sorority consultant is just one more third party a family can hire to help their kid navigate life. And after you hear all she does for her clients, $4k might sound like a bargain. Trisha’s work and her company, It's All Greek to Me have been featured in the New York Times, the NY Post, CNN.com, NewsNation, UK Daily Mail, and many more. Follow her on Instagram here.

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#BamaRush #rushtok #sorority #sororityconsultant

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Opioids: Greed, Death, and $$$$ with Barry Meier (Encore)

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 05:26:47 GMT

The new Netflix series Painkiller is based on a book my guest, Barry Meier wrote over 20 years ago. In Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America's Opioid Epidemic, Meier explores how Purdue Pharma’s drug OxyContin catalyzed a plague of addiction and death that has destroyed families and whole communities across the country.

Between 1999 and 2020, 564,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose. In 2020, the most recent year for which statistics are available, opioids killed 68,000. That's 188 per day and each one of these deaths represents a son or daughter, a brother or sister or a mother or father, who is not coming back. Yes, people died of opioid overdoses before the 1996 launch of OxyContin, but it’s clear that Oxy and Purdue Pharma’s aggressive and deceptive marketing practices threw gasoline on a spark that has turned into a raging wildfire.

In our conversation today, Barry and I discuss the Sackler family's legacy of ethically dubious marketing of pharmaceuticals and how they made tens of billions of dollars selling OxyContin using the same techniques, like pushing free samples, while knowing that the drug was quite addictive. We discuss how and why the FDA approved claims that OxyContin was less prone to addiction in the complete absence of evidence proving that it actually was. And lastly, we discuss the extent to which OxyContin kicked off this opioid epidemic for which there is no clear way out.

The Netflix series stars Matthew Broderick, Taylor Kitsch, and Uzo Aduba and is very well done.

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🔥Follow Paul on Instagram. 🔥

Visit Barry’s website
Buy the book here.

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The Secret to Being Very, Very Rich (and more)

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 07:50:00 GMT

Paul reads three of his latest pieces from his Substack, Money and the Meaning of Life, including:

Dare to Suck: What you can learn about improvement from acting coach Lesly Kahn and author Mark Manson

The Secret to Being Very, Very Rich

Nobody Needs a House with 8 Toilets

🔥Paul publishes these essays (about) every other Tuesday. You should subscribe here. 🔥
🚀 Follow Paul on Instagram here. 🚀

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Self Help for Mediocre People with Laura Belgray

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 06:20:00 GMT

If your new college grad son or daughter is unemployed, sleeping in their childhood bedroom, and watching All My Children every day, fear not - Laura Belgray has been there and she turned out okay. As Laura explains in her new, laugh-out-loud (LOL) funny memoir, Tough Titties: On Living Your Best Life When You’re the F-ing Worst, sometimes it’s good to be unoccupied so that, when opportunity finally calls, you are there to answer the phone. The book, which her husband refers to as “Loser Sex in the City,” is a collection of hilarious, unfiltered stories about her life. Equal parts Nora Ephron, Tina Fey, Chuck Klosterman, and David Sedaris, Tough Titties is a celebration of failure, late bloomers, messy career paths, and lessons learned from indiscriminately blowing bartenders in the early 90s. So it’s no wonder that Kelly Ripa said of the book, “I didn’t want it to end!” Though slow out of the gates, Laura eventually found her thing and now celebrates the wonder of being paid for authentic self-expression. In this delightful chat, Laura and I discuss the primal fear of being disliked, how being a loser in 6th grade is related to her later success in adulthood.

pre-Giuliani Times Square

B.S. social media wellness gurus

Mean Girls, Leg warmers

Why Deb Fishbone is a shallow, basic bitch

Getting paid to watch TV

Learn more about Laura on her website.

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And yes, I said “Titties.” Here, I’m going to say it again: titties. Also, I know that All My Children is no longer on the air. Feel free to substitute: TikTok, Roblox, or PornHub

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High Net Worth Divorce with Laura Wasser

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 04:36:00 GMT

People magazine called Laura Wasser “the celebrity of celebrity divorce attorneys,” which makes sense considering she has—according to Wikipedia—handled cases for A+listers like Angelina Jolie, Kim Kardashian, Johnny Depp, Ryan Reynolds, Dr. Dre, Kevin Costner, Maria Shriver, and Jimmy Iovine, among many others. And while “celebrity divorce attorney” might conjure up images of a rapacious shark in Prada boots squeezing every dollar out of her clients’ exes, Laura preaches the gospel of divorce with dignity. Her book, It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way: How to Divorce Without Destroying Your Family or Bankrupting Yourself is a jungle guide for ending a marriage while preserving decency, values, and a couple’s wealth. As she writes, “…the more acrimony, argument, and angst, the more money your attorney makes. We profit from your inability to resolve issues.” In other words, don’t pay your lawyer $1,000/hr to determine—as famously captured in When Harry Met Sally—who gets the “stupid, wagon wheel, Roy Rogers, garage sale coffee table.” Her book is a plea to all those going through one of the most stressful human experiences possible to summon your best self and think about who you want to be when the dust settles. Laura and I talk about the fundamental language of divorce, including spousal support, child support, no-fault divorce, community property, and also the more philosophical dimensions of the process, like the concept of “fairness” and how one defines “winning.” Sincere thanks to my former Facebook colleague, Matt Jacobson for making the connection to Laura. I appreciate, Jake!

Follow Laura on on Instagram and learn more about her practice here.

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Finding Hidden Assets in Divorce Discovery with Nick Himonidis

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 06:50:00 GMT

If you’re trying to hide assets from your spouse or soon to be ex-spouse, beware! Whether it’s Cayman Islands bank accounts, bearer bonds stashed in a safe deposit box, “hidden" real estate, or hundreds-of-thousands in Bitcoin, Nick Himonidis and his team at NGH Group will probably discover your secret stash. Nick is an attorney, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified Crypto Currency Forensic Investigator, which is a fancy way of saying that he is a high-end, sophisticated, and technologically-proficient private investigator. He and his team have have uncovered many millions of dollars in undisclosed assets in single cases. In this conversation, Nick offers insights into how he and his colleagues go about their work, why you’ll probably get caught, and why—if you’re going to hire a private investigator—it’s vitally important TO YOU to hire one with a high degree of professional ethics. Learn more about Nick and NGH Group on their website.

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About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance or investing shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, and status. Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano. Are you really still reading?

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Divorce For Wealthy Women with Olivia Summerhill

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 05:30:50 GMT

Having experienced divorce as the child of a wealthy family, Olivia Summerhill understands the massive impact parents fighting about money can have on their children’s lives. Today, Olivia provides financial consulting for ultra-high-net worth women going through divorce. Her typical client has a household net worth of $100mm or more, so she provides advice on everything from stocks, bonds, art, planes, country club memberships and cosmetic surgery! As importantly, she helps her clients clarify their values, financial priorities, and to visualize their lives post-divorce. The host of the Divorce for Wealthy Women podcast, Olivia is both a Certified Financial Planner and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. In this super-fun and sometimes-scary conversation, we discuss pre-nuptial agreements, shame around money, the concept of “fairness” in a divorce, and a book that she loved and I absolutely did not! She spoke to me from Seattle where it was 5:00 a.m.! (that’s three exclamation points in one episode description! I mean four! No, wait five…). Learn more about Olivia and her services on her company’s website.

✍️Read Paul’s Substack here ✍️
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here 🎤

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance or investing shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, and status. Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano. Are you really still reading?

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I See Rich People (with Will Vogt)

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 06:46:00 GMT

Will Vogt is a photographer with a front row seat to the American upper class. Raised on Philadelphia’s Main Line, Will attended boarding school, and spent lots of time in the tony enclave of Watch Hill, Rhode Island where his family summered. His new collection of photography, These Americans, showcases decades of intimate snapshots of his social circle. Entertainment news site Vulture says the work "depicts the wealthy at leisure with their guard down.” Indeed, Will has captured a very rare, candid and un-self-conscious picture of the American upper class doing their thing, which—in a few cases—is cocaine. In some others it’s weed and/or alcohol. Since the majority of these shots were taken in the 1980s, it is highly appropriate that Jay McInerney (Bright Lights, Big City) composed the introduction. He wrote that Vogt is “documenting the world of the descendants of those whom (F. Scott) Fitzgerald wrote about. And he is clearly a member of this tribe, albeit a self-aware and observant one.”

See Will’s photos / order the book on his website.

🧘Watch Paul’s hilarious meditation videos here🧘
✍️Read Paul’s brilliant writing here ✍️

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Student Loan Debacle with Oren Cass

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 03:55:00 GMT

Our higher education system is broken. But instead of trying to fix the underlying issues, the Biden administration is attempting to treat the symptoms with a massive giveaway to student loan debtors. In this encore episode (from August, 2022), I speak with Oren Cass. Executive Director of American Compass, whose article The Banality of Student Loans outlines the contradictions and self-defeating policies that have led us to this educational morass.
Ask yourself:
• Why is student debt treated differently than all other kinds of debt?
• Why are taxpayers on the hook for payments to colleges and universities instead of the institutions themselves?
• Why would you forgive hundreds of billions in loans without addressing any of the reasons we got into this mess in the first place?
Oren and I discuss the “college for all” approach and why it is the wrong way to prepare the vast majority of young Americans for a career–especially those who need an economic boost the most. We talk about why the federal government should not underwrite student loans and who should. And Paul vents about “these damn young kids - don’t they know what ‘obligation’ means?” Speaking of expensive colleges, Oren graduated Williams College and Harvard Law School, magna cum laude. (Paul graduated from Rhodes College, sine honoribus.)
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Follow Oren-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/oren_cass
Website - https://orencass.com/

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The All-or-Nothing Marriage with Eli Finkel

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 18:48:10 GMT

If you find marriage to be hard, you are not alone. If you feel as if your spouse should fulfill every single physical, emotional, sexual, and financial need in your life, you probably should be alone. This week, I talk to Eli Finkel, author of the book, The All-or-Nothing Marriage in which he presents data and anecdote about how the best marriages work and what we can learn from them. We discuss the evolution of marriage over the centuries, when and why love became part of the equation, how helping your spouse grow benefits you, the role of money in marriage, and why consensual non-monogamy will 99.999999999% for sure never happen in the Ollinger household. A survey of Eli's peers identified him as the most influential relationship scientist in the 21st century and the Economist declared him “one of the leading lights in the realm of relationship psychology.” On the other hand, his wife thinks it’s hilarious that he is a “marriage expert.” Learn more about Eli and his book here.

✍️Read Paul’s Substack here ✍️
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here 🎤

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance or investing shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, and status. Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano. Are you really still reading?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Wall Street, Cocaine, and Recovery with Turney Duff

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 05:48:06 GMT

Turney Duff was making millions on Wall Street until cocaine addiction brought him to his knees. His book The Buy Side: A Wall Street Trader’s Tale of Spectacular Excess is a funny, horrifying, then hopeful read and a New York Times best-seller (you should buy it here). Paul and the esteemed author share a lot of laughs as they discuss what money meant to Turney as he got rich, got lost, got sober, then got published. This darn funny conversation covers everything Turney's middle school science fair fiasco to insider trading. Also, prostitutes. Find out more about Turney and hear the Galleon rap here.

🔥 Follow Turney on Twitter 🔥
✍️Read Paul’s Substack here ✍️
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here 🎤

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance or investing shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, and status. Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano. Are you really still reading?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Staying Hungry in Your 50’s

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 15:52:43 GMT

For your summer listening while driving, walking, gardening, pleasure, Paul reads three of his latest pieces from Substack (Money and the Meaning of Life), including:

How to Stay Hungry When Your Life is Full

Money, Pain, and New Cars

You Deserve It, i.e. reflections on what it means to “deserve” something

Paul publishes these essays (about) every other Tuesday.You should subscribe here. 🔥 Please feel no pressure to pay for a subscription, but do feel pressure to share his writing and this podcast with ALL of your friends. Also, you can also see where Paul (i.e. me) will be performing comedy here. 🎤 Shows coming up in Chattanooga, Charlotte, and Atlanta.

About Paul:
Paul Ollinger spent 15 years in sales leadership positions for Yahoo! and Facebook before bailing on the world of digital advertising to chase his comedy dream. He has headlined Carolines on Broadway, performed at legendary clubs such as the Hollywood Improv and the Comedy Cellar, and opened for everyone from Bill Burr to classic rock bands, Styx and Collective Soul. He plays comedy clubs, country clubs, and dirty bars all over the country. A graduate of Rhodes College, Paul earned his MBA at Dartmouth’s Tuck School. He lives in Atlanta with his wife, two tween kids, and French bulldog, Colonel Tom Parker. Follow him on Facebook.

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance or investing shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, and status. Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano. Are you really still reading?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Searching for Meaning at Work with Bruce Feiler

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 31 May 2023 05:12:00 GMT

Bruce Feiler is a seven-time New York Times best-selling author of books such as Life is in the Transitions, Walking the Bible, and The Council of Dads, Bruce's 2008 account of his battle with bone cancer and the contemplation that his then three-year-old twin daughters would grow up without a father. The book birthed a documentary hosted by Sanjay Gupta, a drama series on NBC, and a wildly popular TED Talk. In his new book, The Search: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post Career World, Bruce argues that the truths about work with which so many of us Boomers / GenX’ers were raised no longer apply and that today’s economy is “meaning based” as opposed to “means based.” We discuss what implications this has for employers, workers, and those of us trying to understand just what is going on out there. We talk about why Bruce dedicated the book to Pat Conroy, why that means something to Paul, how our expectations of a linear world and career stress us out and why it is critically important to “stop chasing someone else’s dream (or, in Paul’s case the approval of Sheryl Sandberg). Special thanks to 2x Crazy Money guest and occasional listener, A.J. Jacobs for connecting me with Bruce.

🔥 Visit Bruce’s website here. 🔥
👀 Read Bruce’s Substack, The Nonlinear Life here. 👀
🔥 Read Paul’s Substack here. 🔥
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here. 🎤

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance or investing shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, and status. Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano. Are you really still reading?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Family Fortune and Misfortune with Janny Scott (Encore)

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 23 May 2023 05:23:47 GMT

Janny Scott is the descendant of railroad barons and financial tycoons. She grew up on an 800-acre estate on the Philadelphia Main Line. In her book The Beneficiary: Fortune, Misfortune, and the Story of My Father, she shares the details of both the opulence and the tragic complications of her family’s vast fortune. While things appeared perfect from the outside, alcoholism, suicide, divorce, and idleness derailed many of her relations. In this conversation, we discuss what it was like to grow up on property the size of Central Park and how the presence of so much wealth affects her attitudes about money today. We also cover the tragedies that befell many of her ancestors as they struggled to find purpose amidst massive affluence. Janny worked for 14 years as a reporter for the New York Times where she was a member of the team that won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. Prior to the NYT, she reported for the LA Times and The Record of Bergen County (NJ). Her first book, A Singular Woman: The Untold Story of Barack Obama’s Mother earned her a nomination for the PEN/Jacqueline Bogard Weld Award for Biography and was named to Time magazine’s top ten nonfiction books of 2011. A graduate of Harvard College, Janny spoke with me from her home in New York City. This episode was released in October, 2020.

👀 Follow Paul on Instagram here. 👀
🔥 Read Paul’s Substack here. 🔥
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here. 🎤

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance or investing shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, and status. Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano. Are you really still reading?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Kevn Kinney is Done Auditioning

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 16 May 2023 07:01:00 GMT

Kevn Kinney is the lead singer of Drivin N Cryin, a rock band that achieved legendary status in the Southeast during the late 80s and 90s but never quite broke into the national big time. DNC’s popularity peaked when their album Fly Me Courageous was certified gold. During that time, the band toured with Neil Young and Soul Asylum, but even after selling over 500,000 copies, they never recouped the expenses that went into the recording and production of music videos they weren’t really all that into in the first place. Despite the ups-and-downs, Kevn told me he has never been happier than he is now because he does what he does for himself and doesn’t worry too much whether other people like it. Kevn remains a prolific and respected songwriter and tours constantly. Over 38 years playing together, the band has “survived the pressures of fame, a shifting musical landscape, multiple lineup changes, and miles of backroads and highways” to arrive where they are “comfortable with their past and confident in their future.” I had a great time talking to Kevn in my basement where we discussed:

Why we both don’t love jam bands

How the song Straight to Hell went from being a “dumb song at the end of the record” to one he now has to play at every show

Why, unlike a lot of musicians, he loves actually appreciates Spotify and iTunes

The good part about touring at 62

How artistic envy keeps artists down

Some of the bands he has loved working with over the years, including: the Black Crowes, Collective Soul, Indigo Girls, REM, Edwin McCain, Blues Traveler, and many more

The difference between Atlanta and Athens, GA

Big thanks to Michaeline and Ed Roland for connecting me with Kevn.

🎸See Kevin and the band’s live dates here.🎸
🔥 Buy Kevn's new album, Think About It here. 🔥
👂Listen to Paul’s Drvin N Cryin / KK playlist on Spotify.👂
👀 Follow Paul on Instagram here. 👀
🔥 Read Paul’s Substack here. 🔥
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here. 🎤

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance or investing shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, and status. Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano. Are you really still reading?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Starting from the Bottom with Justin Richmond

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 09 May 2023 05:34:00 GMT

Justin Richmond is the producer and co-host of Pushkin's music podcast Broken Record with writer Malcolm Gladwell and Def Jam co-founder Rick Rubin. He is also the host of a new podcast called Started from the Bottom on which he interviews mega-successful people who came from disadvantaged economic backgrounds and neighborhoods from which few residents go to college and the professional world. Before hooking up with Gladwell and Pushkin, Justin was a producer for NPR’s flagship news program Morning Edition then became an arts reporter for the network. He began his career as an intern for The Tavis Smiley Show and Smiley & West. Despite not graduating from high school, Justin earned a B.A. in philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree from the Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.

👀 Follow Paul on Instagram here 👀
🔥 Read Paul’s Substack here 🔥
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here 🎤

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance or investing shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, and status. Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano. Are you really still reading?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Is Private School Worth it?

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 02 May 2023 07:44:30 GMT

Annual private school tuition can run over $60,000 in big cities like New York or Los Angeles. But even in smaller markets like Atlanta, 14 years of private school (pre-k through 12th grade) will easily exceed half a million dollars. (And that doesn’t include the expected contributions to annual fund and capital campaigns!) This massive commitment begs the question, “just what are you buying for your private school dollar?” On this week’s episode, Paul talks to three good friends and fellow parents to discuss how they think about the private v. public school decision. Each of them has experience parenting in both public and independent schools in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Atlanta respectively. Thank you to P.J. Brady, Charlene Fitzgibbon, and Abigail Land for their time, candor and good humor.

🔥 Read Paul’s Substack here 🔥
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here 🎤

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance or investing shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, and status. Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano. Are you really still reading?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Using Your 4,000 Weeks with Oliver Burkeman (Encore)

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Oliver Burkeman is the author of 4,000 Weeks: Time Managment for Mortals, which Adam Grant calls “The most important book ever written about time management.” In it, Oliver argues that using your life (4,000 weeks = about 80 years) most meaningfully requires abandoning the illusion that we can—or should try to—get everything done. And that the attempt to do so just leaves us miserable and isolated. Soone of the keys to productivity is deciding what to ignore. Further, Oliver reckons, when you put your existence into the context of the enormity of the universe, you realize that many of our “plans” are just distractions from the knowledge that we will all eventually be dead and won’t be remembered for terribly long. So why shouldn’t we just spend our days taking hikes and cooking for our children? Hey, that’s not a bad question. Sign up for Oliver’s newsletter here. Listen to Monty Python’s The Galaxy Song here.

🔥 Read Paul’s Substack here 🔥
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here 🎤

This episode was originally posted in August, 2021

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance or investing shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, and status. Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano Are you really still reading?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Cooking with Money w/ Frankie Celenza

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Chef Frankie Celenza started his culinary career with an illicit George Foreman grill in his prep school dorm room. Today, Frankie is the Emmy award-winning host of the Tastemade's hit show Struggle Meals. Frankie believes you don’t have to spend a lot of money to cook (and eat) well. He wants more people preparing their own food because he believe it is a fundamental way to take control of their health, well-being, and finances. Not only that, but cooking is a social and enjoyable act of service and love, and one of the things that make humans unique. In this conversation, Frankie and I discuss:

The benefits of attending boarding school

What it was like to work with Mario Batali

His thoughts on Netflix’s The Menu and Hulu’s The Bear

His favorite books on food and cooking

The essential basics to outfit a kitchen

Whether organic food is worth it

Check out the new season of Struggle Meals here ! 🍲

🔥 Read Paul’s Substack here 🔥
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here 🎤

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance or investing shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.

Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano

Are you really still reading?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Wealthy Woman Flies Southwest with Leah Rudick

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 08:05:00 GMT

Leah Rudick is an actor, writer, and comedian whose Wealthy Woman character videos have earned her almost one million followers on Instagram and TikTok. Thanks to her breakout social media success, Leah is now selling out comedy shows all over the country. In these videos, a clueless woman of wealth shares her point-of-view on everyday experiences like going to Cracker Barrel, flying Southwest Airlines, renting a car, or taking the bus. I (Paul Ollinger, hoster of show / writer of episode notes) find her videos hilarious. Leah was in Atlanta last week for a sold-out show at City Winer. She was kind enough to come by the house to chat money, success, and the very odd jobs that helped her pay the bills as a struggling actress. A native of Cincinnati, Leah began performing improv in New York City after graduating from Sarah Lawrence College. Her work has taken her to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. New York Sketchfest, and the Los Angeles Comedy Festival. She has appeared on HBO’s hit High Maintenance and IFC’s Commuters.

👩‍🦰Follow Leah on Instagram👩‍🦰
🔥 Read Paul’s Substack here 🔥
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here 🎤

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.

Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano

Are you really still reading?

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Morgan Housel on The Psychology of Money (Encore)

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 03:22:47 GMT

Morgan Housel is the author of the book, The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness. As the back cover of his new best-seller reads, “Doing well with money isn’t necessarily about what you know. It’s about how you behave. And behavior is hard to teach, even to really smart people." While the book is partially about investing, it’s really about how knowing what you want from life will help you make better decisions about money. I really enjoy Morgan’s writing and found the book to be an elegant summation of many of the things I want to discuss on this show. This episode was originally posted in October, 2020.

🔥 Read Paul’s Substack here 🔥
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here 🎤

About Crazy Money:

Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.

Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano.

Are you still reading? Go do something.

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Cars, Sex, and Money with Robert Searle

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 05:20:38 GMT

Do women find men in expensive cars more attractive than men in less expensive cars? Some people believe that the answer to this question is so patently self-evident as to not require any thought. But my guest today conducted actual scientific research into this age-old stereotype. Rob Searle is a Welsh psychologist who co-authored a paper evaluating the status-enhancing effects of luxury vehicles on the attractiveness of both men and women to heterosexual members of the opposite sex. He asked participants to rate the attractiveness of an average looking man, first in a Bentley Continental GT, then in a much more modest Ford Fiesta. The findings were published in the British Journal of Psychology. And he discusses them in this episode of Crazy Money. The results build on the work of David Buss and others who found that perceived affluence does influence mating patterns.

🔥 Read Paul’s Substack here 🔥
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here 🎤
🔗Connect with Rob Searle on LinkedIn 🔗
🚗 Summary of the study can be found here 🚗

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.

Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano

Are you really still reading?

--
Read my newsletter Money and the Meaning of Life here.

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Why it’s Called “F-You Money” and other Thoughts on Wealth and Happiness

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:10:42 GMT

This week, Paul reads some of the recent essays from his Substack. In "Why Talking About Money and Happiness Matters” he reflects on the reasons Bono, Jonah Hill, and Brian Cox have all, in the past few months, engaged in public discussion on the nature of success and what it can and can’t do for us. In "Lessons from a Freshman Pimple,” Paul recalls the devastating experience of an early high school face blemish and why seeking others’ approval can lead us to bad decisions. In "The Real Reason They Call it F-You Money,” he describes the mind games new money plays on its owner and why we must understand how money can help us get what we want from life (and not the other way around).

✍🏻 Subscribe free to Paul’s Substack here. ✍🏻

📷 Follow Paul on Facebook here. 📷

🤣 See Paul’s world-changing comedy on Instagram here. 🤣

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Cancer, Careers, Finances, and Family with Julie Saxon (Encore episode)

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 02:31:22 GMT

Julie Saxon is the mother of two and a senior media executive. In 2013, her life was upended when her husband, Joel, was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer. Thus began journey during which she had to keep the train on the tracks at work and at home while helping Joel fight for his life. But after 6 valiant years, 87 rounds of chemo, ten rounds of radiation, seven surgeries, and two clinical trials, he lost that battle. Joel lived longer than 99% of patients with his diagnosis, and—as I was listening to Julie tell the story— I couldn’t help but think how much her strength, support, and raw will had to do with his relative longevity. Julie and I met when we both worked in advertising sales at Yahoo! in the early 2000’s. Her story reminded me of how lucky we both were to work at a company staffed by so many incredible human beings. To this day, her Atlanta co-workers remain some of her closest friends. Not only did one of those colleagues introduce her to Joel, but he and the others were there to support her throughout marriage and its sad conclusion. Julie is now Chief Revenue Officer for a large digital media company. She and her two beautiful daughters live in Atlanta. I want to thank Julie for trusting me with this conversation.

This episode was originally released in June, 2020.

✍🏽 Read Paul’s Substack here. ✍🏽
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming comedy shows in Charlotte, Chattanooga and more here. 🎤
🩺 Get screened for colorectal cancer. 🩺

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Mass Hole Donuts co-founder Peter Gladstone

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 08:00:00 GMT

This episode is about working for fun, love, and legacy. Peter Gladstone is the Co-founder of Mass Hole Donuts, bakers of gourmet donut holes that celebrate the people, traditions, and spirit of Boston and Massachusetts. After 20 years in consumer marketing with companies like Gillette, P&G, and the Boston Beer Company (aka, Sam Adams), Peter retired and is now building Mass Holes because, he says, it’s fun, and he wants to contribute to the culture of his hometown. When he’s not establishing his Boston institutions, he is a Senior Advisor at the Harvard Innovation Labs where he advises consumer-facing ventures. Peter and I (Paul, host of show and writer of notes) were classmates at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. That is where I developed my appreciation for his creative mind and wacky and wicked good sense of humor. We talk about the difference between working to pay your bills and working on a passion project, the role of humor in the corporate world, how he and his team survived pandemic, and how he defines success now that he has “enough.”

✍🏽 Read Paul’s Substack here. ✍🏽

🎤 See Paul’s upcoming comedy shows here. 🎤

🍩Visit Mass Hole Donuts website here. 🍩
🍪 See Mass Hole’s Instagram here. 🍪

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Rich B*tch Nicole Lapin: More than Meets the Eye

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 07:36:00 GMT

Nicole Lapin is the New York Times best-selling author of Rich B***h, Boss B***h, Miss Independent, and Becoming Super Woman. A summa cum laude graduate of Northwestern University’s journalism school, she became one of the youngest anchors in CNN’s history at age 21. In this episode, we discuss her parents’ rancorous divorce, her dad’s death by overdose, and the resulting financial turmoil that set her on a mission to help women have more financial literacy and empowerment in their lives and relationships.

LINKS
💰Listen to Money Rehab with Nicole here💰
🐶 Follow Penny Lapin here 🐶
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A Hollywood Dream Career with Larry Thompson

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 08:00:00 GMT

Larry Thompson is an entertainment manger in Beverly Hills, CA. In his 50+ years in Hollywood, Larry has guided the careers of over 200 stars, including Drew Barrymore, William Shatner, Cicely Tyson, Joan Rivers, Sonny & Cher, David Hasselhoff, Barry White, and Cindy Crawford. Larry grew up in Clarksdale, MS, graduated from Ole Miss law school then drove across country to chase his dream in Hollywood. As a young lawyer at Capitol Records, he helped negotiate the break-up of the Beatles then proceeded to sign each of the Fab 4 to their own solo contracts. This is just one of many incredible stories Larry shares about the talent he’s worked with, including George Harrison, Barry White, Elton John, Farrah Fawcett, and Lee Majors. We also discuss how Larry helps talent see their own potential, avoid pitfalls, and how Larry got his own act together when success and ego distracted him from what was important in life. Larry is the recipient of the Heller Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Talent Managers Association and the author of the book, SHINE: A Powerful 4-step plan to becoming a star in anything you do.

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New Fame, New Money with Katherine Blanford

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 08:00:00 GMT

A year ago, Katherine Blanford was working as a nanny by day and doing comedy at night. Last summer, she made her network television debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and is now headlining around the country and opening for David Spade. She and I discuss the experience of having "heat" and cash in her pocket for the first time. We talk about artistic envy, the work ethic needed to succeed in comedy, what she learned about wealth and careers while working as a nanny, and of course, how much she loves the Ollinger family basement.
🔥 Follow Katherine on Instagram here. 🔥
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Crazy Money's direction in 2023

Paul Ollinger — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 19:51:00 GMT

Hey everybody. Happy 2023! This is a short, lightly edited greeting from Paul /me about where the podcast has been in 2022 and where we're going to take it in the year to come. I am grateful for your continued support and interest. I wish you and your family a safe, prosperous, and fulfilled year.
Carpe Diem!
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📧 E-mail Paul at Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com 📧

Crazy Money is produced and edited by Mike Carano. Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Money, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, philosophy, dreams, purpose, Success, mental health, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
If you haven’t found what you’re looking for in the words above, you’re probably not going to find them down here. Seriously, all the important stuff is up yonder.

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How Your Mindset Can Change Your World with David Robson

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 21:00:00 GMT

The philosophical martial artist and actor, Bruce Lee is supposed to have said, “So you think, so shall you become.” On this week’s episode, we explore the power of positive expectations with David Robson, an award-winning science writer and author of the new book The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Change Your World. As you’ll hear, David makes a strong argument supporting Bruce Lee’s message: that positive expectations can meaningfully improve our lives. To be clear, this is not about the Law of Attraction. Robson bases the book on data gleaned from the scientific method. These studies provide ample evidence that our expectations can make us healthier, smarter, and significantly improve our aging prospects. (For better or worse–well, worse–the opposite is also true.)
It’s important to note, as Robson and I discuss, that your expectations don’t just change your world. They also change the lives of others because our expectations of them–and theirs of us–have an impact on our respective lives. So we kind of owe it to each other to expect the best. In this chat we talk about how routine or process can help get us out of our heads before an important event. We explore the damage caused by guilt and shame, and why worrying about worrying (‘Meta Worrying’) or stressing about stress, might be the most dangerous thing we can do. Most importantly, he provides methods by which to break ourselves out of these bad habits when we find ourselves slipping into them. And that’s important because our expectations can change the world.

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Follow David Robson:
Twitter - https://bit.ly/3PEkgps (@d_a_robson)
Instagram - https://bit.ly/3G7VuL8 (@davidarobson)
Website - https://davidrobson.me
Amazon - https://amzn.to/3PvliUC

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Growing Up Rich with Kristin Keffeler

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 21:00:00 GMT

Kristin Keffeler is the author of a new book called The Myth of the Silver Spoon: navigating family wealth and creating an impactful life. Kristin is also the founder of Illumination360 where she works with ultra high net worth families, including many worth billions of dollars. Her specialty is helping the rising generations create their own identities having grown up with extreme family wealth.
In this conversation, Kristin and I talked about how her own family's affluence led her into this field; the specific doubts and fears that teen and adult inheritors of generational wealth have to deal with. We talked about the negative messages that society sends to wealthy children, about the balance rising generation members must strike owning their family name, but creating their own. We talked about how all parents—especially wealthier ones—can model financial behavior for their kids. And lastly, we discuss what the NFL Hall of Fame can teach us about the likelihood of measuring up to our wildly successful parents or grandparents.

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Follow Kristin Keffeler:
Website - https://illumination360.com/myth
The Myth of the Silver Spoon: The Book - https://amzn.to/3i6qFwN

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Why Boys and Men are Struggling with Richard Reeves

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 21:00:00 GMT

Richard Reeves is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and the author of a new book called Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It. You might ask, “Why is this topic relevant to Crazy Money, a podcast about money and happiness, work and meaning?” Because the connection between education, gainful employment and life satisfaction is massive. And on these metrics, the modern male is not doing well. Consider some of these data points: Boys are 50% more likely to fail classes in math, reading and science than girls. By High School, 2/3 of the students in the top 10% of the class ranked by GPA are girls, while about 2/3 of the students in the lowest 1/5 of the class are boys. And education matters. One in three American men with only a high school diploma (10 million men!) are now out of the labor force. They're not unemployed–they're out of the labor force. They're not even counted in the unemployment numbers. And this matters because men without education and jobs do less well as husbands and fathers and thus perpetuate the cycle for their children. Yes, especially for their sons. Perhaps worst of all, men make up 75% of those who die by deaths of despair, i.e. by suicide, or acute substance abuse. The net of it is when you lose hope in the future, you will become increasingly volatile in the present. You've probably read Richard's writing in the New York Times, The Guardian, The Atlantic or the Wall Street Journal, his previous book Dream Hoarders, which The Economist named a Book of the Year.. I'm delighted to have him back on the show.

🎧Listen on Apple Podcasts here 🎧
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Follow Richard Reeves:
Twitter - https://bit.ly/3EBSXIo (@RichardvReeves)
Of Boys and Men: The Book - https://a.co/d/3SnjEhQ
Website - https://richardvreeves.com

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The Need to Belong with Geoffrey L. Cohen

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 21:00:00 GMT

We don't think about it all the time, but BELONGINGNESS is the third most fundamental desire on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Just above safety and physiological requirements, is our need to feel safe as part of a tribe. My guest this week is Geoffrey L. Cohen, the author of Belonging: the Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides. Geoff is a professor of Psychology and Organizational studies at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. In this conversation, he and I talk about what it means to belong to a place, an organization, a family or a movement; We explore how belongingness and identity are intermixed, and what implications that has for discussing politics and other beliefs with people who have differing points of view. We talk about how to design diversity training so it doesn't alienate half the room (maybe we should call it “Belongingness Training”). We also talk about what groups you'd rather not belong to, because while belongingness is important, some tribes are better than others!

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Follow Geoff Cohen:
Twitter - bit.ly/3UVv5F4
Website - www.geoffreylcohen.com

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The Hedge Fund Legend Hugh Hendry

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 21:00:00 GMT

Former hedge fund manager Hugh Hendry grew up working class in Glasgow, Scotland. His anxiety, detachment from money, and passionate observations of life led him to hypotheses and market positions others couldn’t see. In 2008, when the rest of the world was melting down, Hugh’s Eclectica Asset Management returned over 30%. As great as the money was, he says what drives him is a profound need to be loved. Today, Hugh develops property in St. Barths where he lives full time.

In this conversation, Hugh shares anecdotes of Scottish thrift that will make you laugh, an honest description of how it feels to lose millions of other people's dollars, why closing his hedge fund felt “as if you've died in Mortal Kombat,” and why we should all be mindful of “the profound wrongness of today.” We spoke at the Stansberry Research conference in Boston in October.

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Follow Hugh Hendry:
The Acid Capitalist podcast - https://apple.co/3FX3D5v
Twitter - https://bit.ly/3UKgfBg
Instagram - https://bit.ly/3UDczkA
Website - acidcap.com

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Money and Opioids with Barry Meier

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Barry Meier is a former investigative reporter at The New York Times and the author of the book, Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America's Opioid Epidemic, which explores how the Sackler family's greed catalyzed a plague of addiction and death that has destroyed families and whole communities across the country.

Between 1999 and 2000, 564,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose. In 2020, the most recent year for which statistics are available, there were over 68,000 opioid overdoses in the U.S. That's 188 per day and each one of these deaths represents a son or daughter, a brother or sister or a mother or father, who is not coming back. People died of opioid overdoses before the 1996 launch of OxyContin, but it’s clear that Oxy and Purdue Pharma’s (owned by the Sacklers) aggressive and deceptive marketing practices threw gasoline on a spark that has turned into a raging wildfire. In 2023, Netflix will launch a miniseries based on Pain Killer.

In our conversation today, Barry and I discuss the Sacklers’ family legacy of ethically dubious marketing of pharmaceuticals and how they made tens of billions of dollars selling OxyContin using the same techniques, like pushing free samples, knowing that the drug was quite addictive. We discuss how and why the FDA approved claims that OxyContin was less prone to addiction in the complete absence of evidence proving that it actually was. And lastly, we discuss the extent to which OxyContin kicked off this opioid epidemic for which there is no clear way out.

🎧Listen on Apple Podcasts here 🎧
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Follow Barry Meier:
barrymeier.com
nytimes.com/by/barry-meier
Pain Killer: The Book - https://a.co/d/b9cEPHS

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Why Status Matters with Will Storr

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Where do you sit on the social hierarchy?

You might not think about it daily, but if I asked you to compare your status to that of one of your friends, you'd probably know the answer: above some, below others, and probably on about the same level as most. Perhaps you'd follow up with questions like “Do you mean who has more money? Or who has more recognition in the community or who's more attractive or physically fit?” This request for clarification demonstrates the nature of status, and how we go about gaining it and retaining it, whether or not we are conscious of our efforts to do so.

My guest this week is Will Storr. He's the author of a fascinating book called The Status Game. The author of six critically acclaimed books, including The Status Game, Selfie, and The Science of Storytelling, Will’s writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The New Yorker and the New York Times. And his journalism has been recognized with awards from the National Press Club, the One World Press and Amnesty International. If I haven't yet convinced you of his status, I’ll also share that he's a great looking guy who grows giant yams. (You'll understand that reference about 20 minutes into the episode.)

In this conversation, Will and I discuss why status matters; Whether the pursuit of status is a fool's game for small minded people with totally fragile egos; We talk about a totally bizarre source of status in Polynesia that demonstrates the arbitrariness and locally relative nature of status. We talk about whether it's better to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond. We talk about how the quest for status shows up in politics and religion and boy does it ever and lastly, we discuss how the thirst for status among even the most rich and famous among us, like Sir Paul McCartney, demonstrate the insatiable need for this elusive and addictive drug that is STATUS.

🎧Listen on Apple Podcasts here 🎧
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Follow Will Storr:
Twitter - https://bit.ly/3D84YVg (@wstorr)
The Status Game: The Book - https://amzn.to/3TnazNi

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Money in College Sports, Part 2 (with AJ Vaynerchuk and Laine Higgins)

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 20:00:00 GMT

This episode is Part Two of our Money in College Sports: NIL series. Until last year, college athletes were prohibited from collecting any compensation. But today, thanks to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, the stakes are high and getting higher. To make sense of this issue, I speak with A J Vaynerchuck from Vayner Sports and Laine Higgins from the Wall Street Journal.
A J Vaynerchuk is the co-founder of sports management agency, Vayner Sports where he has been a part of several NIL deals for some of the top athletes in the country. We talked about what brands are looking for when they partner with college athletes, how big the deals have gotten, the specifics of the deals he's done with Dr. Pepper and Kool-Aid, and we go down the road and think about just what college sports are going to look like in the next five to ten years.
Laine Higgins is a former college athlete and is now a sports reporter for The Wall Street Journal where she covers, among other things, college sports. She and I discuss Title IX and its implications for the NIL deals, and what responsibility schools have for ensuring equal access for both men and women to these kinds of deals. We talk about how and why brands are structuring deals with athletes from non-revenue sports like volleyball, swimming, and track and field, and to what degree attractiveness and sex appeal drives followership on social media and thus, the potential value of an NIL deal. (Be sure to listen to that part because–even though I ask the question sincerely–I still manage to come across like a complete creep!)

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Follow AJ Vaynerchuk:
Twitter - https://bit.ly/3SZtPjt (@ajv)
Instagram - https://bit.ly/3Vq0Rec (@ajv)
Website - https://vaynersports.com

Follow Laine Higgins:
Twitter - https://bit.ly/3EJJWxh (@lainehiggins17)
WSJ Articles - https://on.wsj.com/3VwSRrW

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Emotions and Money Stress with Ken Honda

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 20:00:00 GMT

The news from the economic world is pretty bad right now. Inflation up and the stock market’s down, which means we're all experiencing some degree of financial stress. Here to help us put it all in perspective is Ken Honda. Known as Japan’s Zen millionaire, Ken’s book Happy Money has sold over 8 million copies worldwide.
In this, his second visit to Crazy Money, we talk about: What economic fear, uncertainty and doubt can do to our health and our relationships; How we can maintain peace of mind when those around us are losing their minds; How to be a good spouse during times of financial trouble; The games that shame and guilt play with our minds; How inflation can actually help us get clarity around our priorities, and lastly, we talk about a few of the lessons from Japan's lost decades of economic stagnation.
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Follow Ken:
Instagram - https://bit.ly/3el1xAQ
Facebook - https://bit.ly/3T8vhzH
Website - https://kenhonda.com/
Read Ken's book:
Happy Money - https://amzn.to/3T86LPo

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Robinhood, Wall Street Bets, and the GameStop Stock Frenzy with Spencer Jakab

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Spencer Jakab is the editor of The Wall Street Journal's Heard on the Street column and the author of a fascinating new book called The Revolution That Wasn't: Gamestop, Reddit, and the Fleecing of the Retail Investor. In January of 2021, a large group of small investors from the WallStreetBets subreddit rallied around the stock of video game retailer GameStop, which they believe had been unfairly attacked by short-selling hedge fund Melvin Capital. The subsequent and totally unexpected rally in the stock made millions for several WallStreetBets members and crippled Melvin Capital which was lost up to a billion dollars *per day* during the worst of the short squeeze.
On this week's episode, Spencer and I talk about the perfect storm of market, societal, and technological factors that catalyzed the Gamestop phenomenon, why the Robinhood stock trading app (which played a major role in this whole scenario) was designed to function exactly like a sports gambling app. We talk about how WallStreetBets and Robin Hood “investors” are different from boring old etrade or Schwab customers like me, the difference between investing and gambling and lastly, what Melvin Capital’s profound losses mean for hedge fund managers in the future. That is, in addition to market, political, and climate-based factors, these hedge fund managers also have to take into consideration the potential madness of crowds.

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Follow Spencer Jakab:
Twitter - https://bit.ly/3SqtqpI
Facebook - https://bit.ly/3fnalq0

Read Spencer's Book:
The Revolution That Wasn't - https://amzn.to/3xUUC8g

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Money in College Sports, Part 1 with Darren Rovell and John Staton

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Up until last year, no college athlete could legally, officially accept compensation for playing a sport at his or her college. That changed last year with a Supreme Court ruling that now allows college athletes to be compensated for the use of their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL).
On today's show, I talk to Darren Rovell, a sports reporter who spent 18 years on the air with CNBC and ESPN and now a senior executive producer at the Action Network. I also talk to John Staton, who is the Director of Operations at Classic City Collective, an organization of donors and alumni dedicated to helping the athletes at the University of Georgia, which John used to be. We discuss how the transfer portal effectively makes every college player a free agent. We talk about how many NIL deals are happening, who they're happening for and how big they're getting. We discuss how collectives interface with athletic departments. We talk about whether money might poison relationships in the locker room within teams, and just what this world might look like five years down the road. It has already changed college sports so much in just like a year and a half. Who knows what the future holds.

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Follow Darren Rovell:
Twitter - https://bit.ly/3f50WUd
Instagram - https://bit.ly/2yflj86

Follow John Staton:
Twitter - https://bit.ly/3xzBLzw
Instagram - https://bit.ly/3Bs1zyy

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Money and Pro Golf: How LIV Golf’s Billions Threaten the PGA with Rich Beem

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Saudi-backed LIV Golf is throwing hundreds of millions of dollars at top pro golfers in an attempt to lure them away from the PGA Tour. The Tour is responding with massively-increased prize money and more player-friendly tournaments. Here to discuss these unprecedented changes and their unsavory ramifications is Rich Beem, winner of the 2002 PGA Championship and analyst for SKY Sports Golf. Rich shares his candid and often funny insights into where this crazy mess is headed, which league is in a stronger position, whether LIV golfers will be able to play major tournaments like the Masters or The Open Championship, whether PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is sleeping well at night, and why his dog is named after a town in Minnesota. We also discuss the history of money in golf and how Tiger Woods changed the game forever.

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Follow Rich Beem:
Twitter - https://bit.ly/3xggZoq
Instagram - https://bit.ly/3xg9gXm

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Porn, Money, and Women in Hollywood with Maitland Ward

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Maitland Ward is an adult film star and author of a new book called Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood. Best known for her role as Rachel Maguire on Boy Meets World, Maitland enjoyed a successful career as a Hollywood actress before making the transition into the adult film industry. Her videos and photos on OnlyFans now earn her over $1 million per year. And that's in addition to the money she makes making adult films. Rated X is her first book, and I gotta tell you, I found it to be surprisingly well written. She's a good writer. You're also going to find her both smart, articulate and disarmingly normal. She's like a regular person who just happens to have a very, very unique job.
In today's interview, we discuss how she got into acting in the first place, Maitland's experience on Boy Meets World, the cold indifference of Hollywood, which she experienced as she approached her 30th birthday, how and why she got started on OnlyFans, how her husband (that's right, her husband) and her parents (that's right, her parents) feel about her burgeoning career in pornography. How having sex on camera is an expression of her true identity and what she gets out of her work besides an enormous amount of money.

Hey friend (this means you), please rate and review this episode of Crazy Money here. 💰
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Follow Maitland Ward:
Twitter - https://bit.ly/2HaiNFg
Instagram - https://bit.ly/3BnokVH
Read Maitland's Book: Rated X - https://amz.run/5unt

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Drug Cartels, Money Laundering, and HSBC with Chris Blackhurst and Everett Stern

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 20:00:00 GMT

I've got a great conversation to share with you today about international banking, massive drug cartels and billions and laundered money. My first guest is Chris Blackhurst. He's the author of a book called Too Big to Jail: Inside HSBC, the Mexican drug cartels and the biggest banking scandal of the century. And if you think about that, we've already had a couple of big banking scandals, so this is a big one. The book tells the story of how HSBC ignored money laundering laws and processed BILLIONS in dirty cash for notorious drug lord and murderer El Chapo in the early 2000s and into the 2010s.
One of the characters we meet in the book is a guy named Everett Stern, who was an anti money laundering compliance officer at HSBC. Everett saw how intentionally lax HSBC's methods were for identifying and reporting to the government suspicious activity going on within its banks. He turned whistleblower and started sharing his story with the CIA, Everett has appeared in the Netflix documentary Dirty Money, and he's written a book about his experience called Dark Money and Private Spies.

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Follow Everett & Chris on Twitter -
Everett Stern - https://twitter.com/EverettStern1
Chris Blackhurst - https://twitter.com/c_blackhurst
Too Big to Jail: The Book - https://amz.run/5tl4
Dark Money and Private Spies: The Book - https://amz.run/5tl6

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

The Prison Break of a Global CEO - The story of Carlos Ghosn

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Carlos Ghosn is the former CEO of both Renault and Nissan. Japanese authorities arrested him for (allegedly) paying himself tens-of-millions in unreported income (and some other shady stuff). Carlos escaped the brutal Japanese judicial system by having himself smuggled out of the country in a box! My guests Nick Kostov and Sean McLain are Wall Street Journal reporters whose new book, BOUNDLESS: The Rise, Fall, and Escape of Carlos Ghosn chronicles the former globe-trotting executive’s meteoric rise up the corporate ladder, fall from grace, and stunning escape that has left him an international fugitive. This story is *bonkers* and you have to hear it to believe it.

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Follow Nick & Sean-
Twitter - Nick Kostov https://twitter.com/Nick_Kostov |
Sean McLain https://twitter.com/McLainSean
'Boundless': The Book - https://amzn.to/3pEMEM0

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Student Loan Debt with Oren Cass

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Why in the world is student debt treated differently than all other kinds of debt? Why does the cost of college keep sky-rocketing? Why do colleges and universities have so little skin in the game when it comes to the debt students incur to attend these institutions?
On this week’s Crazy Money, Oren Cass helps answer these important questions about higher education in the U.S. The author of ‘The Once and Future Worker: a Vision for the Renewal of Work in America,’ Oren’s recent article ‘The Banality of Student Loans’ (link below) outlines the contradictions and self-defeating policies that have led us to this educational morass.
Oren and I discuss why we have a “college for all” approach and why it is the wrong way to prepare the vast majority of young Americans for a career–especially those who need an economic boost the most. We talk about why the federal government should not underwrite student loans and who should. He argues that colleges and universities should take more accountability for the price and product they provide to their students. And I (Paul, yes it’s me writing these show notes) vent about “these damn young kids - don’t they know what ‘obligation’ means?” I know you're gonna find this conversation interesting and enlightening and you should share it with all your friends.
Oren is the Executive Director of American Compass. He graduated Williams College and Harvard Law School, magna cum laude.

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Follow Oren-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/oren_cass
Website - https://orencass.com/
The Banality of Student Loans (Article) - https://bit.ly/3duXiBU
The Once and Future worker - https://amzn.to/3p9dg7n
American Compass Org -https://americancompass.org/

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Surviving the Market Meltdown with Ben Carlson

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Ben Carlson is the Director of Institutional Asset Management at Ritholtz Wealth Management and the author of several books about investing. He is the founder of the blog ‘A Wealth of Common Sense’. He is, also, a co-founder and co-host of the podcast, Animal Spirits with Michael and Ben, which is an informative and fun podcast about the markets and the economy, et cetera.
On this week's episode, Ben and I discuss inflation and how it relates to the stock market. This market we find ourselves in, is still very bearish this year and still quite confusing, which is something else we discuss why everything is so confusing. How can we have a recession and very low unemployment?
We also discussed 90s Hip Hop. Ben lists the three books he would assign to a 25 year old who wants to learn about money. We talk about what we should and shouldn't do in the stock market is battered and bloody. And we talked about where there is hope for the future of our economy.
All this and more with Ben Carlson
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Follow Ben-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/awealthofcs
Website - https://awealthofcommonsense.com/
The Compound - https://bit.ly/3vQVFVI
Animal Spirits Podcast - https://bit.ly/3P8X68Q

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Universal Basic Income with Andrew Yang

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Andrew Yang is a former Presidential candidate and the founder of Venture for America. He's also the founder of the Forward Party where he advocates for structural reform to safeguard our democracy. He lays all this out in his new book, Forward, which we discussed today. We also discuss Andrew's life as a teenager, his obsession with post-punk bands like The Smiths, Depeche Mode, and Nine Inch Nails, why he didn’t do drugs as a teenager, and how his parents felt when he got his ear pierced. More to the point of his political career, we talk about how money is the tail that wags the dog and both the GOP and the Democratic Party. He mentions why we should pay our politicians more and we talk about entitlement reform and universal basic income. Even if you don't agree with all his policy ideas, I think you'll agree that Andrew’s efforts to fix the machine of politics are worthwhile and something we should all think about supporting because the current polarized political system is making everybody freaking miserable. All this and more with Andrew Yang.

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Follow Andrew-

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AndrewYang
Website - https://www.andrewyang.com/
YouTube- https://bit.ly/3z8pGB5

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Racial Wealth Gap with Coleman Hughes

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Today’s guest is Coleman Hughes, he's a writer, podcaster and opinion columnist who specializes in issues related to Race, Public Policy and Applied Ethics. He has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The National Review, Quillette, The City Journal and The Spectator. He's appeared on many TV shows and podcasts including Real Time with Bill Maher, Making Sense with Sam Harris and the Jordan B. Peterson podcast.
He's also a rapper who goes by the name Coldxman and his latest tracks can be found on Spotify and YouTube. In today's episode Coleman and I talk about the Racial Wealth Gap and its origins, why government action including reparations is not a solution whether a hundred percent of equality among all races is possible or even desirable, how progressive policies that supposedly help African-Americans are actually holding them back and what issues we should focus on if we actually want to empower Black Economic Autonomy. All this and more with Coleman Hughes.

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Follow Coleman-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/coldxman
Website - https://colemanhughes.org/
YouTube- http://bit.ly/38kzium
Coldxman Music-http://bit.ly/3jXTwAr

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Buy this, not that! with Author Sam Dogen

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Sam Dogen left his job in investment banking at age 34 to start his financial newsletter, Financial Samurai. He's got a new book out this week called “Buy This, Not That!” How to spend your way to Wealth and Freedom. Today Sam and I discuss his one word definition of 'Happiness', how wearing the right tie helped him get a job at Goldman Sachs, how he transitioned out of investment banking to become an independent financial writer, how the right plan is the key to surviving inflation and the ups & downs of the stock market, and why he advises young adults to forecast their professional misery. We also discuss his best and worst financial investments and among other things, the return on investment of private vs public school.
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Follow Sam-
Twitter - https://twitter.com/financialsamurai
Website - https://www.financialsamurai.com/
Link to book - Buy This, Not That! https://www.financialsamurai.com/btnt/

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Soul in the Game with Vitaliy Katsenelson

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Today’s guest is Vitaliy Katsenelson. He's an investor, writer and author of the new book ‘Soul in the Game : The Art of a Meaningful Life’. Nassim Nicholas Taleb, the author of The Black Swan calls the book deep, insightful, inquisitive and civilized, which is a pretty good description of Vitaliy himself.
In this episode we discuss what it was like growing up in Russia, north of the Arctic Circle, how America did and did not fit with his expectations, which were set by all the American movies he had seen before he arrived at age 18. Whether rich people are actually happier, what we can learn about careers in comparison from Franz Schubert and Beethoven, what it means to be a student of life, and what may or may not happen in Ukraine. We recorded this conversation in June (2022). This is coming out in July, so I can't say what has or hasn't happened in the meantime. Just so you know.

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Follow Vitaliy
Twitter - https://twitter.com/vitaliyk
Website - https://contrarianedge.com/
Link to book - ‘Soul in the Game : The Art of a Meaningful Life’

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Life after the PGA Championship with Rich Beem - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 17 May 2022 14:16:00 GMT

This is an encore episode with Rich Beem, winner of the 2002 PGA Championship, one of professional golf’s four major tournaments. Despite having won twice on tour prior to the PGA, Rich's win at Hazeltine was as unlikely as the groovy dance moves he busted out after sinking his final putt of the tournament. Describing himself as “the luckiest guy in the world,” Rich played the game loose and wide open, but the rising expectations of being a major champion became a distraction, and he never won again on tour. In this chat, Rich speaks candidly about:

Selling car stereos and grinding his way up the golf ladder,

Finding purpose and meaning in life as his PGA prospects began to dim.

The reason he tells his son that “what you shoot is not you”

Why he loves working as an analyst at Sky Sports

Rich was born in Phoenix, AZ, grew up in El Paso, TX and played college golf at New Mexico State University. Today Rich plays on the PGA Champions Tour and works as a TV golf analyst on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.(Originally posted November, 2020. Follow Rich on Twitter.

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The Problem with Choice with Barry Schwartz - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 10 May 2022 05:00:00 GMT

This is an encore epsiode with Professor Barry Schwartz, author of several books, including Why We Work and The Paradox of Choice. I spoke to Barry in August, 2020 about his findings in these two important books. Prevailing social wisdom is that more is better, and that more choices should yield much greater satisfaction. So why is it that the harder we work and the more affluent we become, the more depressed we get? More choice, Barry argues, not only overwhelms us, but raises our expectations and makes us doubt our decision-making. Too much choice increases our anxiety and makes us less happy. Could it be, even in our freedom loving country, that we have gotten too much of a good thing and that we would benefit from some guardrails in our lives? I’m sure there are those who would argue against it, but Barry’s research and conclusions here are quite persuasive. Barry Schwartz taught psychology at Swarthmore College for 45 years and is now Visiting Professor of Management at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. He holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. from University of Pennsylvania, and a B.S. from New York University. His TED Talks on the topics of work, choice, and wisdom have been viewed over 20 million times.

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Produced and edited by Mike Carano Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, Success, Buddhism, Stoicism, The hedonic treadmill, Mid-Life Crisis, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Anxiety, mental health, wealth, money, careers, values, and The Container Store.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Hedge Fund Novelist with Jay Newman - Ep 145

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 03 May 2022 06:19:00 GMT

Jay Newman makes BIG bets. In his 40 year hedge fund career, Jay was the guy who fought to recover deca-billion dollar debt defaults by countries like the Congo, Panama, and Argentina. Recouping from these deadbeat governments required long term thinking, stealthy patience, and giant cojones, the same attributes required to publish a debut novel, which Jay did earlier this year. The New Yorker called his new book, Undermoney a combination of “espionage, financial intrigue, and geopolitics with a cynicism developed through years of observing politicians and Wall Street titans up close.” And because the plot lines include Russian oligarchs, private militias, and Vladimir Putin, Undermoney is also “unexpectedly timely.” I’ve read it: it’s juicy and enticing. Learn more about Jay here.

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The Puzzle of Life (with A.J. Jacobs) - Ep 144

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 04:28:00 GMT

A.J. Jacobs believes that puzzles can save the world. The famously obscure 4-time New York Times best-selling author of books like The Know-It-All, Thanks a Thousand, and The Year of Living Biblically tells us what we can learn from them in his new book The Puzzler: One Man’s Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, from Crosswords to Jigsaws to the Meaning of Life. We talked about some great life lessons A.J. gleaned from puzzles, including:

Start with the end in mind

Embrace the eraser (i.e. your first impression might not be accurate!), and most importantly,

PAY ATTENTION, KNUCKLEHEAD!

Join other readers in the quest to win A.J.’s $10,000 by clicking here.

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Money and Comedy with Christian Finnegan - Ep 143

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 06:10:00 GMT

Description: Christian Finnegan is a comedian and actor, well known for his work on Chappelle’s Show and the popular sitcom, Are We There Yet? He has performed on Comedy Central Presents, Conan, The Late, Late Show with James Corden, and his five comedy specials are in regular rotation on all major streaming services. An avid music fan, Christian wants to connect formerly-cool middle aged people to the best in new music. Check out his Substack, New Music for Olds here.

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The Joys and Anxieties of Wealth with Paul Schervish - Ep 142

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 06:10:00 GMT

Description: Paul Schervish studies very wealthy people: what worries them, what delights them, and what motivates them to give to charity. The Director of Boston College’s Center on Wealth and Philanthropy, Paul is the co-author of The Joys and Dilemmas of Wealth, a 2010 report that is one of the most insightful studies of the ultra-affluent ever. We discuss how the fears and joys that come with being rich are often two sides of the same coin. And how Paul, a former Jesuit priest strongly influenced by Karl Marx, has come to appreciate more fully the humanity of the upper class. Learn more about Paul Schervish here.

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Mid-Life Career Re-invention with Chip Conley - Ep 141

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 05:56:00 GMT

Something happens to many of us in our 40’s or 50’s: having achieved a certain level of success, we yearn to find work that is an expression of who we are. Chip Conley can help with that. He founded and runs Modern Elder Academy, a school and retreat center dedicated to helping people navigate midlife and beyond. To do so, he draws on insights and wisdom earned over his own incredible career journey. For over two decades, Chip ran Joie de Vivre, the boutique hotel owner/operator that he founded in his 20s. In the depths of the Great Recession, the combination of medical crisis and market turmoil compelled Chip to sell out at the bottom of the market. While many might have given up, Chip forged ahead, reinvented and redefined who he was, all the while staying open to where that journey would take him. It eventually took him to Air BnB where become the in-house consigliere (among other things) for Air BnB CEO/co-founder Brian Chesky. Today, Chip writes, speaks, surfs, and provides the space and resources to help other “successful” people examine their lives and commit to positive paths forward. Learn more about Modern Elder Academy hereand Chip’s newsletter here. • 💪🏼 Rate and Review Crazy Money by clicking HERE.💪🏼 • 🦸‍♀️ Follow Paul on Instagram HERE🦸‍♂️ Topics covered in this episode: #purpose #wellness #community #travel #hotels #Airbnb

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Fixing Financial Chaos with Joe Saul-Sehy - Ep 140

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 05:47:00 GMT

41% of people who make over $200k per year still cry about money. That’s the finding of a recent study that Paul discusses this week with Joe Saul-Sehy, Creator and co-host of the Stacking Benjamins podcast AND author of Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management. These two handsome bald fellas also chat about:

The double life Joe was living as a young financial planner

How he hit bottom when his car ran out of gas

What you want in—and how much you should pay for—wealth management

Whether or not you should manage your own money

If you want to give Paul a birthday present, Rate and Review Crazy Money! And/or Follow Paul on Instagram. Order Joe’s book here. You’re the best. Really. I swear. (I mean, Paul swears.)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

What’s Your Problem? with Jacob Goldstein - Ep 139

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 03:44:00 GMT

Jacob Goldstein is the author of Money: The True Story of a Made Up Thing and former co-host of Planet Moneywhere he worked for over a decade. His new podcast, What’s Your Problem? from Pushkin Industries explores how company founders solve consumers’ problems and what problems they themselves run into along the way. On today’s show, we tackle the following:

The question that Ira Glass described as “the most stoner question ever”

How cash transactions worked in these United States before we had dollar dollar billz, y'all

Why you making more money doesn’t mean someone else will make less

How working at Pushkin is different than working at NPR and the Wall Street Journal

The name of the very first compact disc he ever bought.

Jacob is a former staff writer at the Wall Street Journal, the Miami Herald, and Bozeman Daily Chronicle. His work has appeared on This American Life, Morning Edition, and in the New York Times Magazine. He is a husband and father of two. He spoke with me from his soundproof closet in Brooklyn, USA. Check out What’s Your Problem?here.

⭐ Get 15% off your SideCar carrier with promo code CRAZYMONEY by clicking HERE.⭐

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Comparison and the Ultimate Money Delusion - Ep 138

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 05:08:00 GMT

If you think Paul Ollinger can’t draw poignant and funny lessons about money from the 1996 box office smash, Jerry Maguire, you are sadly mistaken. On this week’s very special spring break episode of Crazy Money, Paul reads a couple of his recent reflections on comparison and the delusions we all cling to about the power of wealth. Spoiler alert: money—past a certain point—will not complete you. And comparing yourself to your friends (or enemies) will make you miserable. Full stop. Here’s what we’ll be talking bout today:

Stop Keeping Score: How to Quit Measuring Success by Net Worth, Fancy Titles, or TikTok Views

Money Isn’t What You’re Missing: What I’ve learned after years of studying money and happiness

You should share this episode with all your friends. And then do 2 out of the following 3 things...

Subscribe to Paul’s Medium Posts

Follow Paul on Instagram

Rate and Review Crazy Money

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Why Things Are Better than You Think with Grant J. Ryan - Ep 137

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 07:24:00 GMT

Many people want you to believe that the world is in worse shape than ever. They assert that wages are stagnant, inequality is growing and the earth is heating up. But for the vast majority of humanity, things have never been better.

Racism, sexism, and homophobia are at their lowest rates in history.

We have more and better food than kings and queens could have dreamt of in the 18th century.

We have access to clean water, indoor plumbing, effective healthcare, and technology that even billionaires couldn’t have gotten just 20 years ago (the technology, not the plumbing).

So why the hell is everyone so freaked out all the time about the decline of civilization? In his new book Comparonomics, Grant Ryan shares a very simple tool to evaluate how the most important aspects of our lives have changed over the past 50 and 250 years, respectively. He also explores our innate biases that lead us to both respond to bad news and spread it around like the virus it is. Grant spoke to me from his home in New Zealand. Learn more about Comparonomicshere. YOU really should rate and review Crazy Money here. YOU should also follow Paul on Instagram. He’s funny.

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Founder of Russian Hedge Fund on Defying Putin with Bill Browder - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 06:42:00 GMT

Bill Browder is the author of Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and one Man’s Fight for Justice, which is the best book I’ve read in a decade (and I read a lot of books). Red Notice is the story of how Browder turned a $25 million investment into a $4 billion hedge fund (Hermitage Capital) by exposing corruption in the newly opened Russian economy of the late 90’s and early 00’s. Eventually, Browder’s efforts to shine light on the newly privatized industries, cut too close to strongman, Vladimir Putin who kicked Browder out of the country and declared him a “threat to national security.” And that was just the beginning! Russian police officials took over his companies, used them to steal $230 million from the Russian treasury, framed Bill, and eventually arrested and killed his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky. Today Bill lives under threat of retaliation and spends his time fighting to honor Sergei’s memory. This episode originally ran in May, 2019. Read more about Sergei Magnitsky here. Please RATE and REVIEW Crazy Money here. Follow Paul on Instagram here.

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LL COOL J - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 03:55:00 GMT

Nobody works harder than LL COOL J. The musician, producer, actor, and entrepreneur has been playing at the highest levels of art, business, and culture since he burst on the scene at the age of 17, in 1985.

For over 35 years, LL has pushed himself to achieve in all that he does while leading with spirit and character. And achieve he has. The two-time GRAMMY-winner and first ever Hip Hop Kennedy Center Honoree has recorded 14 studio albums, landing massive hits including Going Back to Cali, Mama Said Knock You Out, Rock The Bells, and many, many more. As an actor, he has played “Sam Hanna” on NCIS: Los Angeles for the last 12 years, appeared in hit films like In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday, and Wildcats, and starred in the NBC sitcom, In the House. In this special encore edition of Crazy Money, LL shares:

What he really wanted when he released his first record,

How he approaches potential business deals, and

Why he pours his soul into Rock The Bells, his company that elevates timeless and classic Hip-Hop culture by celebrating MC’s, DJ’s, Break Dancers and Graffiti artists on its website, found here.

**Please rate and review Crazy Money HERE.**
Follow Paul on Instagram here.
Topics covered in this episode include: hip hop, music, rap, culture, money, wealth, motivation, inspiration, persistence, work ethic, black money, racial wealth divide.
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Judd Apatow on Fame, Money, and the Creative Process - Ep 136

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 07:17:00 GMT

Judd Apatow doesn’t care that much about money. This non-attachment to material goods leaves him more time to focus on what matters: writing, developing talent, and getting his family together for dinner. In this week’s episode, the writer / director / producer behind iconic comedy films such as Anchorman, This is 40, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin and I talk about:

Why Adam Sandler paid $50 more in rent than Judd when they were roommates

How failure prepared him to handle success

Being creative during a pandemic

Judd has accomplished so much in his career that, in retrospect, his success appears to have been pre-ordained. Despite his massive success in the past 20 years, he never forgets his early struggles and approaches every new project not knowing how it will be received. Having used Quarantine to crank out a George Carlin documentary, a new feature film (The Bubble), and a book, all his fans have lots new material to enjoy over the next few months. I am 364 pages into his new book (Sicker in the Head), and it’s fantastic. You should pre-order it here. RATE AND REVIEW Crazy Money here. Follow Paul on Instagram here. Have a wonderful day wherever you are. That is all.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Olympic Economics with Apolo Ohno - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 04:23:00 GMT

In this episode, Apolo Ohno and I go deep into the economic realities of becoming an Olympian. Due to the steep cost of coaching, training, equipment, and travel, many (perhaps most) athletes and their families go deep into debt in pursuit of a spot on the national team. And even for the few who make it, there is little preparation for post-Games remuneration and little preparation for a job “in the real world.” With eight Olympic medals (two of them gold), Apolo Ohno is America’s most decorated winter Olympian. He won his first major speed skating title at the tender age of 14, after only six months of training. He continued on to a career that played a major role in establishing short-track speed-skating in the 2002, 2006, and 2010 Winter Games. In his post-skating career, Apolo has worked as a sports analyst for NBC, a global ambassador for the Olympics, and a winner of ABC’s hit show, Dancing with the Stars. He finished the 2014 Ironman World Championship Triathlon in less than ten hours. Apolo now spends much of his time speaking to business and nonprofit leaders around the globe. His New York Times best-selling memoir, Zero Regrets, tells the story of success, setbacks and what it takes to become one of the top athletes in the world. His next book Hard Pivot, which tells the story of reinvention and tackling new challenges while maintaining his iconic positive attitude comes out later this month. Check out Apolo’s website here. Please take a second to rate (and review!) Crazy Money here. Follow Paul on Instagram here. This episode originally posted Sept, 2020. Produced and edited by Mike Carano Topics addressed in this episode include: performance, motivation, achievement, retirement, reinvention, regrets, Olympics, Olympians, athletes, reinvention, second careers.Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Retirement, Reinvention, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

House of Gucci author, Sara Gay Forden - Ep 135

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 20:30:00 GMT

Sara Gay Forden is the author ofHouse of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed,on which director Ridley Scott based his star-studded film.The Economist named House of Guccione of its best books of the year, adding that it reads “like a novel,” which it totally does. The book is much more comprehensive story about the Gucci legacy than the movie, but both culminate in the murder of Maurizio Gucci, former Gucci CEO and grandson of Guccio Gucci, founder of the iconic fashion house. On March 27, 1995, a hit man gunned Maurizio down in the foyer of his 4-story Renaissance-style office and apartment building. His ex-wife, Patrizia, had hired the gunman because Maurizio’s impending marriage meant Patrizia’s alimony would be cut in half.As the sub-title suggests, the Gucci saga is a morality play about the sad by-products of wealth, fame, and status. Not only does being rich and famous not make you happy, but sometimes, it can get you killed. A business journalist with a knack for digging out compelling stories, Sara covered Milan's fashion industry, landing stories about family-owned designer labels like Armani, Versace, and Prada in the Wall Street Journal, Women’s Wear Daily, W, and Bloomberg News. She spent years researching and writing HoG, which came out 20 years ago and finally made its way to celluloid (okay, digital) in November, 2021. Today, Sara leads Bloomberg's reporting efforts on corporate influence and the scrutiny of major tech brands like Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. Learn more about Sara on her website.

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Raising Successful Kids with Julie Lythcott-Haims - Ep 134

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 04:29:00 GMT

Julie Lythcott-Haims is passionate about raising self-sufficient kids and helping them find their unique path into adulthood. The former Dean of Freshman at Stanford University, Julie is the author of several books including How To Raise An Adult and Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, both of which we discuss today. In this amazing, smart, and no B.S. conversation, Julie and I discuss:

What success means and how we can model it for our children

Why affluent parents are more likely to over-parent.

Why parents freak out about our kids’ college decisions

What Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer can teach us about career plans

Julie holds degrees from Stanford, Harvard Law School, and holds and California College for the Arts. She serves on several boards, including LeanIn.org, Common Sense Media, and Parents magazine. She has appeared on NPR, Good Morning America, Today, and mega podcasts like the Rich Roll show. Her TED Talk has been viewed over 6 million times. In other words, she’s, like, super-smart and totally interesting. You should totally listen to our discussion.

Learn more about Julie on her website: https://www.julielythcotthaims.com/

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Zen Money with Ken Honda - Ep 133

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 06:05:00 GMT

When it comes to money, there are two approaches: love or fear.” That’s what Ken Honda writes in his latest work, Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with your Money. Ken’s books on money have sold over 8 million copies worldwide. On today’s show, we talk about how we can:

Feel worthy of money

Say Arigato (thank you) to money

How to make money work in your marriage

Make peace with our childhood money experiences

Ken was 29 when he first “retired” to welcome his newborn daughter in the world. He had owned a consultant and accounting business, so successful it had allowed him to close up shop and spend his days with the apple of his eye. Little did he realize his “second” career, impacting millions by helping them heal their relationship with money, was about to begin. That essay was the start of what would become Happy Money, the book we discuss today.

Learn more about Ken on his website: https://kenhonda.com/

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Over-thinking and What to do About It with Jon Acuff - Ep 132

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 05:20:00 GMT

Overthinking is so deeply ingrained in humanity that it shows up as a theme in Buddhism, Stoicism, Shakespeare, and the songs of Barenaked Ladies. Jon Acuff joins us today to discuss his book, Soundtracks, The Surprising Solution To Overthinking. Jon is a New York Times bestselling author of seven books whom Inc. included on their list of Top 100 Leadership Speakers. His writing has been translated into more than a dozen languages and has appeared in Reader’s Digest, Fast Company, The Harvard Business Review andTime Magazine. In this lively conversation, Jon and I discuss:

90’s power pop (the music of Counting Crows, Fastball, Marcy Playground )

Parenting teens and how to help our kids with their negative soundtracks

How to (or not to) start a new career

Performing as the opening act for Dolly Parton

Listen to Jon’s podcast All It Takes is a Goal and learn more about him on his website. **Rate and review Crazy Money HERE.** Email Paul by clicking here.

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From the Trailer Park to the Comedy Big Time with Rocky Dale Davis - Ep 131

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 07:22:00 GMT

Comedian Rocky Dale Davis grew in a trailer park in Brookwood, Alabama. His single mom worked hard to keep him fed and on the straight-and-narrow. After eight years doing comedy, Rocky is headlining all over the country and experiencing his first taste of financial success. So it’s that much more fun to watch me cringe as Rocky tells me that he tries to get rid of money as soon as it comes in and that he doesn’t have health insurance. Rocky has appeared on This week at the Comedy Cellar and Kevin Hart Presents on Comedy Central, NBC In addition to all this, Rocky and I discuss:

His "abusive, White trash dad"

Why he went to Mexico to get his teeth fixed.

Getting into fights at church

Get you some more Rock here and here.

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About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status. Iranian immigrant, Persian immigrant. Iran. Immigration Edited by Mike Carano Did you already rate and review Crazy Money? Yes? Okay, you can go now...

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Life After Public Failure with Warwick Fairfax - Ep 130

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 06:41:00 GMT

Today we are going to talk about public mistakes: big, flagrant, public mistakes that might best be described as “failure” and earn the derision of the press and cost your family hundreds of millions of dollars. Warwick Fairfax was the heir apparent to run John Fairfax, Ltd, an Australian newspaper and media conglomerate that ownedThe Sidney Morning Herald,The Agein Melbourne, and The Australian Financial Reviewand other valuable properties. In 1987, with corporate raiders lurking, Warwick took on massive leverage and launched a $2.25Billion bid to take control of the 150-year old company that had been founded by his great-great grandfather. Three years later, under Warwick’s leadership and due largely to the weight of the debt he sanctioned, the company went into receivership, bringing to an end his family’s media dynasty. In Warwick’s new book,Crucible Leadershiphe shares insights into the opulence of his youth, the pressure he felt to work in the family business, the lessons he learned when he botched things up, and — most importantly— how he survived and forgave himself. Read more about Warwick and Crucible Leadership here.

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About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status. Iranian immigrant, Persian immigrant. Iran. Immigration Edited by Mike Carano Did you already rate and review Crazy Money? Yes? Okay, you can go now...

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$50 Million Mistakes with Ali Partovi - Ep 129

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 05:35:00 GMT

Ali Partovi is an Iranian-Americanentrepreneur and angel investor. He is best known as a co-founder of Code .org, iLike, and LinkExchange. He was an early investor in Airbnb, Dropbox, Facebook, and Uber. Ali grew up in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq war, attended Harvard, and sold his first startup, LinkExchange, in 1998. On this episode, Ali and I discuss:

The GIANT MISTAKE he made in a meeting with Steve Jobs

The not-quite as terrible mistake he made when meeting with Jerry Yang of Yahoo!

The challenges of building a business on the Facebook platform

How being an immigrant shaped his career and worldview.

Ali is currently the CEO of Neo, a mentorship community and venture fund he established in 2017. Learn more about Ali and Neo here.

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About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status. Iranian immigrant, Persian immigrant. Iran. Immigration Edited by Mike Carano Did you already rate and review Crazy Money? Yes? Okay, you can go now...

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What HBO's Succession Tells us about Wealth with James A. Miller, Meredith Blake and David Lenok - Ep 128

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 06:34:00 GMT

Today we will be discussing the enthralling HBO series, Succession and all it tells us about wealth, dysfunctional family dynasties, ambition, and greed with three great panelists, including Meredith Blake from the Los Angeles Times, Dave Lenok from WealthManagement .com, and James Andrew Miller, author of the new book Tinderbox: HBO’s Relentless Pursuit of New Frontiers. (**Please rate and review Crazy Money here.**) In case you’ve been asleep for the past three years, here’s a brief synopsis of the show from Jim’s book:"Succession revolves around the Roy family, a thinly veiled amalgam of the Murdochs, and, well, the Murdochs. An aging patriarch named Logan—portrayed in juicily Lear-like fashion by Scottish actor Brian Cox—plays his overeager children off each other as they jockey to take over his evil media empire, Waystar Royco." If you have watched the show, you’ll love the behind the scenes insights and commentary regarding the intricacies of family business. If you haven't watched the show, today’s discussion might help you decide if it’s for you. Spoiler alert: it is. Also, there are spoilers in this conversation, so consider yourself notified. Succession raises innumerable questions about the complexities of wealth:

Is it possible to be a billionaire and a great parent?

Does the prospect of a huge inheritance make loving your siblings more difficult?

Would you be happier if you flew sailed on yachts, flew on helicopters or rode blade on curb?

Today’s show is brought to you by Masterworks. Cut the line to invest in blue chip art today at Masterworks.io/CRAZYMONEY Please follow our panelists... Follow Jim Miller on Twitter here. Follow Meredith Blake on Twitter here. Follow David Lenok on Twitter here. (**Please rate and review Crazy Money here.**) About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
Crazy Money is produced and edited by Mike Carano
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Thanksgiving Essays - Ep 127

Paul Ollinger — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 06:45:00 GMT

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Investing for Good with Judith Rodin, Joan Salwen, and Pieter van der Gaag - Ep 126

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 06:39:00 GMT

This week I speak to three distinguished guests about how money can be used to make the world a better place and how investors large and small can influence corporations to be more responsible global and local citizens. Up first is Dr. Judith Rodin, former President of both The Rockefeller Foundation and the University of Pennsylvania where she was the first woman to permanently lead an Ivy League Institution. Judith is the author ofThe Power of Impact Investingand Making Money Moral: How a new Wave of Visionarires Is Linking Purpose and Profit, which we discuss today. Judith earned a BA from University of Pennsylvania, her PhD from Columbia and did a post-doctoral fellowship at UC-Irvine. She has also received honorary degrees from Johns Hopkins, Dartmouth and 16 other institutions. She has served on the boards of Citigroup, Comcast/NBC Universal, Young & Rubicam, the NYSE, and many other major corporations and non-profit organizations. In addition to Dr. Rodin, I speak with Joan King Salwen, CEO of Blue Ocean Barns, producers of a cattle feed supplement that reduces cows' methane emissions by 50-80%. With over 1.5 billion cattle on earth, their product has a huge addressable market. Also joining this week is Pieter van der Gaag who is Chair of the Dutch Pension Fund Agreement on International Responsible Investment. In this role he implements improved due diligence processes at Pension Funds in line with UN Human Rights standards and OECD Guidelines. Pieter is also Executive Director/Chair at Ecosystems Restoration Camps, a global movement of people restoring ecosystems to create an abundant earth. He and I were classmates at Rhodes College back when I had a devastatingly good head of hair. Click here to learn more about investing in shares of blue-chip artwork with Masterworks.io **Please rate and review Crazy Money here. E-mail Paul here.
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
Crazy Money is produced and edited by Mike Carano
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That Voice in Your Head with Ethan Kross - Ep 125

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 04:10:00 GMT

That voice in your head isn’t all bad. Sure, it sometimes tells you you’re not good enough or that Bob from Accounting is plotting to get you fired, but your inner dialog can be your friend if you take the time to get to know it. Dr. Ethan Kross is the author of Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It. A Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan and one of the world’s leading experts on controlling the conscious mind, Ethan studies our internal chatter and methods we can implement to get the good stuff out of it and leave the negative stuff behind. In this most excellent conversation, Ethan and I discuss why it’s so hard to live in the present (and if that’s actually a problem), how to distinguish between rumination and obsession (Bob’s out to get me!), and how social media turns up the volume on some of the more negative aspects of chatter (damn you, Instagram!). He also shares pointers on how I can use my inner voice to improve my golf game. (Full disclosure: these actually work!) Ethan founded the Emotion and Self-Control Laboratory at the University of Michigan where he teaches Psychology and Management at the Ross School of Business. His work has been featured in Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and he has appeared on CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, and NPR’s Morning Edition. A native of Brooklyn, NY, he earned his BA at the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD from Columbia. (Note: Dr. Kross is not affiliated with ‘90s hip-hop duo Kriss Kross.) Check out how you can invest in contemporary art on Masterworks.io! Please support our sponsor. Learn more about Ethan and Chatter - https://www.ethankross.com/ **Please rate and review Crazy Money here. E-mail Paul here.
Join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
Crazy Money is produced and edited by Mike Carano
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Preppy Handbook Author, Lisa Birnbach - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 04:32:00 GMT

Lisa Birnbach is the author of over 20 books, includingThe Official Preppy Handbook, which became a cultural phenomenon in the early 1980’s. The book sold more than a million copies, has been cited as an inspiration to the founder of J. Crew and is thought to have boosted the growth of LL Bean. InT.O.P.H., Birnbach celebrated, skewered, and democratized the concept of preppiness with writing the The New York Times described as “affectionate but acerbic.” Upon re-visiting the book, I found her reflections on money, fashion, status, and the social hierarchy as insightful and hilarious today as they were forty years ago. In this thoroughly enjoyable interview, we talk about the preppy aesthetic, Connecticut, and how the world has (and hasn’t) changed since she launched this juggernaut into being. Celebrated for her keen eye and sharp wit, Lisa Birnbach is an award-winning journalist, cultural commentator, and best-selling author. She has written for The New York Times, The New Yorker, Parade, Rolling Stone, and New Yorkmagazine. Lisa spoke to me from her home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. **Please rate and review Crazy Money here. E-mail Paul here.
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About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
Crazy Money is produced and edited by Mike Carano
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Buckhead v. Atlanta - Ep 124

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 03:45:00 GMT

What would happen if the richest neighborhood in your town declared itself its own municipality, taking with it the tax dollars of the richest 20% of citizens? That is what might happen here in Atlanta where a well-funded group is petitioning to carve the wealthy neighborhood of Buckhead (coincidentally, where I live) away from Atlanta, into its own city. This initiative has gained traction and has a very real chance of making it to the ballot in November of 2022. Not that Buckhead residents don’t have good reason to be frustrated with local government. Our police force is diminished and demoralized, and crime is simply out-of-control. Aggravated assaults in Buckhead are up 52% this year over an already violent 2020. And at Lenox Square, a mall that is 2 miles away from my home, there have been a half-dozen shootings and many more armed robberies over the past year or so. It’s a total freaking mess. On today’s episode, I talk to Bill White, the CEO of the Buckhead City Committee, the group behind the initiative, and to Felicia Moore who is both the President of the Atlanta City Council and a candidate on the ballot for next month’s mayoral election. This might sound like a local news story but I think it’s relevant to all of us and relevant to the mission of this show because it’s emblematic of where we are as a society and whether or not the wealthy are better off trying to isolate themselves from our relatively less-affluent neighbors and fellow citizens. I look forward to hearing your feedback. Please email me your thoughts. To learn about Felicia Moore go here. To learn more about the Buckhead City Committee, go here. RATE and Review Crazy Money here.

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Your Brain on Money with Daniel Crosby - Ep 123

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 06:11:00 GMT

Educated at Brigham Young and Emory Universities, Dr. Daniel Crosby is a psychologist and behavioral finance expert who studies and writes about the intersection of financial markets and the human brain. A New York Times best-selling author, Daniel has published several books, including The Laws of Wealth and The Behavioral Investor, which we discuss in this episode.  His ideas have appeared in the Huffington Post and Risk Management Magazine, as well as his monthly columns for WealthManagement.com and Investment News. Daniel was named one of the “12 Thinkers to Watch” by Monster.com and a “Financial Blogger You Should Be Reading” by AARP.  In this substantive yet light-hearted conversation, Paul and Daniel examine: • Evolution and how we are the descendants of paranoid, twitchy, and skeptical ancestors • The role of self-esteem in achieving positive financial outcomes • How financial advisors (don’t call them “brokers!”) can keep yo from your own • And, of course…gazelles. He also shares insights into his guitar and sneaker fetish. (Well, maybe not “fetish,” but “obsession.”) Listen to Daniel's Standard Deviations podcast here and find his books here.  ❤️ Rate and review Crazy Money by clicking here.

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About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism.

Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

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From Iraq to Dancing with the Stars with J.R. Martinez - Ep 122

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 05:08:00 GMT

J.R. Martinez joined the Army to give back to the country that accepted his immigrant, single mother and to earn money for college. As a 19-year-old, handsome Infantryman, he quickly deployed to Iraq. One bad day, his Humvee hit a roadside bomb, trapping J.R. inside where burning fuel literally melted the skin from his face and consumed one of his ears. J.R.’s buddies pulled him clear but not before he suffered third-degree burns over almost half body, broken ribs, damaged lungs and physical scarring that remains to this day. Putting J.R. back together required 34 surgeries over the next few years and lots of emotional work to help him come to terms with his new reality.

Yet after all of that, J.R. calls this devastating event “a blessing.” Early in his long recovery, doctors invited him to visit newly-injured soldiers. By serving these young men and women, J.R. realized his life still had a purpose and that he could contribute to the well-being of others even with his limited physical capacity. The positive mental attitude that got him noticed by senior officers also earned the attention of Hollywood when he won a role on the soap opera All My Children. That led to a stint on season 13 of Dancing with the Stars, which he and his dance partner (Karina Smirnoff) won!

In this unstructured conversation, J.R. and I talk about fatherhood, fertility testing (gotta fill that cup, fellas!), career ups-and-downs, marriage, and J.R.’s journey. He’s an incredible guy and I know you’ll feel better after learning how he made it through all life could throw at him.

Check out everything J.R., including his memoir (Full of Heart) and The Rebirth Podcast on his website.

❤️ Please rate and review Crazy Money by clicking here. ❤️
Join Paul on Harvard Business School Encore Career Panel - click here. About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism.

On this episode we talk about: Iraq, wounded warriors, soldiers, military, veterans, fatherhood, fertility, marriage.

Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

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Stevie Van Zandt takes it all in - Ep 121

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 05:40:00 GMT

Stevie Van Zandt is best-known as guitarist and founding member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, and for playing Silvio Dante on HBO's The Sopranos and Frank Tagliano on Netflix's Lilyhammer. But as he shares in his new memoir, Unrequited Infatuations, Stevie has done so much more with his time on this earth, even if it all didn’t go exactly as he might have hoped.
As a producer, songwriter, and arranger, Stevie has helped countless artists make beautiful music. His songs have been performed by Jackson Browne, Pearl Jam, Nancy Sinatra, and many more. He co-produced Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s The River and Born in the USA, acted in the role of Jerry Vale in Martin Scorcese’s The Irishman, programs and hosts two radio channels on Sirius/XM and—somewhere along the way—found time to fight for causes he believed in, most notably Artists Against Apartheid for which he was honored by the United Nations.

In today’s conversation, Stevie shares the frustrations and occasional disappointments of putting your whole heart (and, sometimes, all your money) into your artistic vision. Yet he abides in his passionate pursuit of musical beauty. In the words of his friend, Bruce Springsteen Stevie remains "the planet’s most charismatic, dedicated and visible crusader scrapping to preserve the dirty purity of rock n’ roll.” Buy several copies of Stevie's book at https://www.littlesteven.com/

Tell the world that you ❤️ Crazy Money: https://ratethispodcast.com/crazymoney About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism.

On this episode we talk about: Art, music, music business, commerce, New Jersey, HBO, Netflix, Sopranos, Lilyhammer, concerts, Little Steven, BadaBing, authors, books

Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

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Net fulfillment v. Net worth with Bill Perkins - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 03:08:00 GMT

(originally posted Sept, 2020) Would you consider yourself a success if you died with $1 million? How about $10 million? Well, what if you died with $0.00? In his new book, Die With Zero: Getting All you Can from Your Money and Your Life, Bill Perkins challenges you to flout conventional wisdom and spend your money not just before you’re dead, but while you’re still young enough to enjoy it. That’s right, instead of maximizing your net worth at death, he wants you to die having lived a life rich in experiences that your hard-earned money made possible. And he’s not saying you should blow it all on parties or ignore the needs of your kids or charities. He’s just saying that the time to decide how to best invest, spend, gift, or bequeath your fortune--big or small--is while you are still on this side of the dirt and still mobile enough to enjoy it. After all, travel is no fun when you’re too infirm to explore and savor the local culture. So dither not! There will be plenty of time to watch Family Feud and The Price is Right when you’re 87 and stuck in your recliner. Called “the last cowboy” by The Wall Street Journal, Bill Perkins is one of the world’s most successful hedge fund managers and entrepreneurs. After studying electrical engineering at the University of Iowa, Bill worked on Wall Street then moved to Houston where he made a fortune as an energy trader. He is currently CEO of BrisaMax Holdings, a consulting services firm based in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Now 51 years-old, Bill views his career as an engine for personal growth and spends his time exploring the world, savoring his relationships, and taking in all that life has to offer. Read more about Bill and the book here. Please take a second to rate and review Crazy Money here. (Click on whichever app you use to listen!)
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Produced and edited by Mike Carano.
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, Success, Rat Race, Buddhism, Stoicism, The hedonic treadmill, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values.
Okay, you’ve reached the end of this episode description. And yet you’re still reading. Why? You must not have much going on today. Hey, have you rated and reviewed this fine podcast yet? You should. So either go back to the podcast page (the page about the whole show, not just this episode) and scroll down, way down to where you see “Rate and Review,” then do your thing. Or, as I say above, click here.

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Gianni Le Nguyen: mom, entrepreneur, Vietnamese refugee. ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 06:11:00 GMT

(Originally posted June, 2019) Gianni Le Nguyen fled Vietnam at the age of 5. Late one night in the early 1980s, her father wrapped his two young daughters in a fishing net, then rowed a basket boat out to meet a more seaworthy vessel a quarter mile offshore. They spent five days battling storms, illness and pirates who took everything Gianni’s dad possessed, including his official papers. Thus began a beauracratic mess that left her family in refugee camps for over two years before they finally made their way to Beaverton, Oregon. Almost 40 years later, Gianni is a successful entrepreneur, mother of four, and wife to an American dude named Brian. Her journey fits a pattern of Asian immigration that has strengthen the USA. According to Pew Research, "Asian Americans are the highest-income, best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the United States. They are more satisfied than the general public with their lives, finances and the direction of the country, and they place more value than other Americans do on marriage, parenthood, hard work and career success.” Gianni and I talk about her journey and how it affected her relationship to money, financial security and her thoughts on a proper work ethic. Originally published June, 2019. See pictures of Gianni and family and of Paul, Gianni, and her sister in Vietnam in 2005 on Crazy Money Facebook Page. Email Paul: Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com

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Luck v. Hard Work with Robert H. Frank- Ep 120

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 07:29:00 GMT

Robert H. “Bob” Frank teaches economics at Cornell and is the author of a dozen books, including the one that caught my eye for this week’s topic: Luck and Success: Good Fortune and the Myth of Meritocracy. Bob cares a great deal about recognizing luck’s role in our success because doing so, he argues, would make us all more grateful, happy, and generous. He also cares because without the “lucky” proximity of an ambulance one cold November morning, he wouldn’t have survived the heart attack that laid him out on the tennis court in Ithaca, NY a few years back. But survive he did and he forged on to continue teaching and writing about status, ambition, spending, social signaling, and the evolutionary traits that lead to such behavior. The Henrietta Johnson Louis Professor of Management Emeritus at Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business, Bob’s other books include Luxury Fever: Money and Happiness in an Era of Excess, Under the Influence: Putting Peer Pressure to Work, and Principles of Macroeconomics, the textbook he co-authoredwith former Federal Reserve Chair, Ben Bernanke. Bob’s writing has appeared in top publications and academic journals, including The Atlantic, Journal of Economics, Journal of Public Economics, American Economic Review, The American Prospect, and Chronicle of Higher Education. He is a regular contributor to the Economic View column in the New York Times. Bob received his undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech and his MA and Ph.D from UC Berkeley. He has taught economics at Cornell since 1972. Follow Bob on Twitter @econnaturalist Click HERE to ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money 🎤 >> See Paul’s upcoming live comedy show dates. ✉️ >> E-mail Paul 📸 >> Follow on Instagram 🌍 >> Join the Facebook Crazy Money Listeners Group About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. This week’s episode includes thoughts on Taxes conspicous consumption spending luxury luxuries luck Peace corps adaptation habituation status well-being rationality behavioral economics luck gratitude Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

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Are Smart People Less Happy? with Raj Raghunathan- Ep 119

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 05:56:00 GMT

Is there something about being successful that makes you less happy? Do smart people’s over-active brains fill their heads with negative thoughts? If so, how can you calm these voices? These are topics we address today with Raj Raghunathan, the author of the book If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Happy? and the creator of the wildly successful Coursera course called A Life of Happiness and Fulfillment. Raj is also a professor of Marketing at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. In today’s conversation we talk about how being smart and successful might actually work against you when it comes to being happy, day-in and day-out, why relationships are more important than money, the three main categories of your negative thoughts, and whether happiness is a choice. Learn more about Raj, the book, and take the Happiness Questionnaire on HappySmarts.com. Click HERE to ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money! CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ >> E-mail Paul 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

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How to Restore Sanity to our Political System with Charlie Wheelan - Ep 118

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 06:42:00 GMT

Charlie Wheelan is a professor of economics and public policy at Dartmouth College and the author of several books, including Naked Money, Naked Economics, (no nudity in either), and The Centrist Manifesto, all of which we discuss in this episode. The Chicago Sun-Times describes Charlie as someone who “combines a razor-sharp mind with a boatload of charm and impressive expertise in economics and foreign policy,” which might be why his students regularly pick him as one of Dartmouth's 10 best professors. Charlie is also the founder and Co-director of Unite America, a movement of Democrats, Republicans, and independents working together to to put voters first by fostering more representative and functional government. In March, 2009, Charlie ran unsuccessfully for the Congressional seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel who went on to become President Obama’s Chief of Staff. Charlie is a graduate of Dartmouth and holds a Master’s from Princeton and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. In today’s conversation, we talk about why our political process has become so polarized, why it’s near impossible to get reasonable candidates elected, and what each party is either right or wrong about. (Yes, there are actually merits to be considered on both sides of the spectrum!) Most importantly, Charlie lays out some very practical ideas for how we can restore sanity to our governing bodies. How does this conversation fit in with the overall discussion of money and happiness? Well, I have found that the increasingly harsh political rancor in recent years to be a huge downer. It has affected the quality and tenor of many of my personal relationships and seems to have pulled us apart as a society. Few conversations can just occur without having to consider the other person’s political persuasion. Maybe this is something that happens as you get older or perhaps this is actually unique to our day and age. Either way, it sucks, and we’d all be better off if we prioritized country over party, the way Charlie implores us to do. Visit Charlie’s website and/or check out Unite America. Click HERE to ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money! CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ >> E-mail Paul 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. On this episode we talk about: Taxes tax policy inequality infrastructure Civics government elections voting Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Andrew Sullivan Holds Nothing Back - Ep 117

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 06:26:00 GMT

Andrew Sullivan’s new book, Out on a Limb: Selected Writing 1989-2021 captures the best of his three decade quest to identify and share The Truth with his readers. Because his philosophy does not adhere to the predominant narrative of either the Left or the Right, Andrew has made many enemies over the years. He has been called a flaming liberal, a nazi, a misgoynist, a white supremacist, a homophobe, and the Anti-Christ, which is pretty ironic given that he is both gay and a devout Catholic. Yet he forged—and still forges—on, enduring the inevitable slings and arrows that come at anyone who says what few others have the courage or wisdom to articulate. As he shares in this discussion, Andrew writes from a visceral need to make sense of issues that trouble him on a gut level. His work spans social issues from domestic and international politics, to AIDS, religion, cancel culture, and Monica Lewinsky. Andrew was editor of The New Republic for five years and was a vocal voice in support of gay marriage going back to 1989 when the concept was a pipe dream. His work has appeared in dozens of outlets, including the Time, Salon, New York Times, The Sunday Times, andThe Atlantic. In addition to the new release, his previous books include The Conservative Soul, Virtually Normal, Love Undetectable. Subscribe to The Dish here. Follow Andrew on Twitter. Click HERE to ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money! CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ >> E-mail Paul 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. On this episode we talk about AIDS Marriage equality Homosexuality journalism writing media Cancel cutlture Identity Race Religion Catholicism Faith Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

How to Use Your 4,000 Weeks with Oliver Burkeman - Ep 116

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 06:33:00 GMT

Oliver Burkeman is the author of the new book, 4,000 Weeks: Time Managment for Mortals, which Adam Grant calls “The most important book ever written about time management.” In it, Oliver argues that using your life (4,000 weeks = about 80 years) most meaningfully requires abandoning the illusion that we can—or should try to—get everything done. And that the attempt to do so just leaves us miserable and isolated. So indeed, one of the keys to productivity is deciding what to ignore. Further, Oliver reckons, when you put your existence into the context of the enormity of the universe, you realize that many of our “plans” are just distractions from the knowledge that we will all eventually be dead and won’t be remembered for terribly long. So why shouldn’t we just spend our days taking hikes and cooking for our children? Hey, that’s not a bad question. I am a big fan of Oliver’s deeply-informed, highly-thoughtful, and quite funny writing. On his first Crazy Money appearance, we discussed his book, The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking in which he lays out an equally counter-intuitive (well, counter-narrative anyway) that being happy starts with lowering your expectations. And that he argues leaves us with a reasonable expectation of where we actually derive meaning in our lives. In addition to his books, Oliver wrote the "This Column Will Change Your Life" column for The Guardianfor about 14 years. Sign up for Oliver’s newsletter here. Listen to Monty Python’s The Galaxy Songhere. Listen to Oliver’s first Crazy Money appearance here. Click HERE to ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money! CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ >> E-mail Paul 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

A conversation with my producer Mike Carano- Ep 115

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 04:06:00 GMT

Hello! My name is Mike Carano, I edit Crazy Money. At my suggestion I interviewed Paul for this weeks episode, and unexpectedly didn't get to a single question that I painstakingly crafted. In this episode we talk about stand-up (I worked at The Improv comedy club for 30 years), the origin and mission of this podcast, and I attempt to imply his wife is a serial killer. If you're reading this, congratulations, you got to it before Paul could make changes. I sincerely hope you enjoy this conversation, and more importantly, that I'm not boring.
If you have an idea for a potential guest or just want to say hi, please email Paul at Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com.
HEY YOU! - Click HERE to ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money! CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ >> E-mail Paul 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

God Wants You to be Rich with Rabbi Daniel Lapin - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 05:19:00 GMT

(Originally posted May, 2020...but so worth another listen)
Rabbi Daniel Lapin believes that money is the reward we get when we serve another one of God’s children. Therefore, doing business is doing God’s work. In his videos, courses, and books, Thou Shall Prosper and Business Secrets from the Bible, Rabbi Lapin leverages scripture to weave a passionate and refreshing defense of capitalism.
In short: God wants man and woman to be together, to serve one another, and to prosper as a result.  In addition to capitalism, Rabbi Lapin and I discuss Evangelicalism, the Prosperity Gospel (which he completely disavows), the respective financial attitudes of Protestants v. Catholics, and—yes—why Jews are disproportionately good with money.
Full-disclosure: I may be a biased participant in this conversation because the two best financial days of my life were the days I met the late Dave Goldberg and the day I met Mark Zuckerberg. Suffice to say that I have benefited tremendously from my association with The Tribe, even if I once made a tragic sartorial decisions at a Bat Mitzvah (listen for the details. It mortifies me to this day.)
Also, just because I host someone and engage them in spirited, good natured conversation does not mean that I agree with 100% of their opinions. It’s an old fashioned concept but it’s possible to disagree with someone you love.
If you have an idea for a potential guest or just want to say hi, please email me at Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com.
Learn more about Rabbi Lapin on https://YouNeedaRabbi.com.
=== HEY YOU! - Click HERE to ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money! CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ >> E-mail Paul 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. In this episode we cover religion judaism faith  Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Overcoming Injury and Life After the NFL with Mohamed Massaquoi - Ep 114

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 05:41:00 GMT

Life has thrown a lot more than passes at former NFL wide receiver, Mohamed Massaquoi. Born in the United States to parents from Liberia, Mohamed grew up in Charlotte, NC, became a star receiver at the University of Georgia, and was a second round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, serious concussions cut his NFL career short, and a couple of years later, an ATV accident resulted in the amputation of his left hand. As The Dude abides, so Mohamed perseveres. After football and after the accident, Mohamed is pushing himself to new heights and new accomplishments in the field of business. He studied at Harvard Business School and is earning his Masters in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at the University of Georgia. The company he founded, Vessol, helps organizations navigate through change, improve their diversity and inclusion, and build stronger teams. Mohamed and I spoke recently in my basement about his incredible journey. Connect with him on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. === HEY YOU! - Click HERE to ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money! CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ >> E-mail Paul 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. In this episode we cover athletics athlete football SEC NCAA southeasternconference injury recovery NFL UGA Cleveland Browns football immigration immigrants Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Why Commitment Matters with Pete Davis - Ep 113

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 06:39:00 GMT

Pete Davis is the author of Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age Of Infinite Browsing. His Harvard Law School graduation speech, which served as the cornerstone of the book, has been viewed over 30 million times. Pete wants you to commit to some thing, some place, and some one outside of yourself. He believes deeply that doing so will not only be good for your community but it will be GOOD FOR YOU. Because in our modern, connect world, it is just too darn easy spend our lives in Infinite Browsing mode, the state of constantly looking for but never quite committing to a place, person, religion, or way of being in the world. Pete argues persuasively that picking a path and staying on it yields deeply meaningful rewards, including purpose, depth, and community. Pete lives and writes in Falls Church, Virginia where he works on civic projects aimed at deepening American democracy and solidarity. His opinion pieces have appeared in The New York Daily News, The Guardian, Fast Company and more. Learn more about Pete on his website: https://petedavis.org/ Listen to Paul’s conversation with Barry Schwartz here === ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money: http://ratethispodcast.com/crazyMoney 📸 CONNECT WITH PAUL... >> TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paul_ollinger >> Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ >> Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment. Perfectionism

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Does More $ = More Happy? with Sir Angus Deaton - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 06:09:00 GMT

(Originally posted September, 2019...but so worth another listen) Princeton economist and Nobel laureate, Sir Angus Deaton co-authored a famous study concluding that well-being peaks at $75k/year in income. But the results of this research are widely misconstrued and go much deeper than that headline. The first question we wrestle with is "what does it mean to be happy?” We also get into health, opioids, and trout-fishing. A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, Angus Deaton earned his BA, MA, and PhD at Cambridge. Since 1983, he has been a member of the Economics faculty at Princeton University. He has won many awards, most notably the 2015 Nobel Memorial prize in Economic Sciences for his analysis of consumption, poverty, and welfare. In 2016, Deaton joined the Order of the British Empire, named Knight Bachelor "for his services to research in economics and international affairs.” Check out his latest book on Amazon: Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism Write a Review of Crazy Money (for real - do this!) HERE Follow Paul on Instagram Email Paul at Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

How to Change with Katy Milkman - Ep 112

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 04:57:00 GMT

Katy Milkman is the James G. Dinan Professor at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, host of Charles Schwab’s popular behavioral economics podcast Choiceology, and the author of the best-seller, How to Change: The Science of Getting From Where You are to Where You Want to Be Over the course of her career, she has worked with or advised dozens of organizations on how to spur positive change, including Google, the U.S. Department of Defense, the American Red Cross, 24 Hour Fitness, Walmart and Morningstar. An award-winning scholar and teacher, Katy writes frequently about behavioral science for major media outlets such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, and Scientific American. She earned her undergraduate degree from Princeton University (summa cum laude) and her PhD from Harvard University where, she studied Computer Science and Business. === SUPPORT THE SHOW: ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money: >> http://ratethispodcast.com/crazyMoney CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment. Perfectionism

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Living Rich v. Dying Rich with Joe Duran of Goldman Sachs - Ep 111

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 05:49:00 GMT

Joe Duran grew up poor, in a one-room house in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) during violent and tumultuous times. Today, Joe is Head of Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management, which serves clients across 100 locations throughout the United States. A proven entrepreneur, investor, best-selling author, and sought-after industry speaker, Joe previously built Centurion Capital, which he sold to General Electric Financial (GE) in 2001 and United Capital, which Goldman acquired in 2019. Having came to the United States with $200 in his pocket, Joe is the ultimate American success story. Through his entrepreneurship, he has not only achieved personal affluence but has created "hundreds of millionaires” and countless jobs for others along the way. He is also a unique business leader who starts with purpose and works outward, guided by philosophy and the belief that truly knowing his client will help them set better goals unique to their history and values. In this conversation, we discuss philosophy, wealth, immigration, entrepreneurship, wealth management, parenthood, and the intersection of all of the above. === SUPPORT THE SHOW: ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money: >> http://ratethispodcast.com/crazyMoney CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment. Perfectionism

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Aging Well with Dr. Laura Carstensen - Ep 110

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 05:39:00 GMT

Human life expectancy increased more in the 20th Century than it did in all prior years of human existence combined! This has meaningful impact on how we should think about our health, careers, families, and government programs. Laura Carstensen is the founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity and the author ofA Long, Bright Future: Happiness, Health, and Financial Security in an Age of Increased Longevity. She is also a Professor of Psychology and the Fairleigh S. Dickinson Jr. Professor of Public Policy. Laura is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and has served on the MacArthur Foundation’s Research Network on an Aging Society and the National Advisory Council. In addition to many other honors, Laura has earned a Guggenheim Fellowship. She received her B.S. From the university of Rochester rand her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from West Virginia University. Learn more about her work at the Stanford Center on Longevity here === SUPPORT THE SHOW: ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money: >> http://ratethispodcast.com/crazyMoney CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment. Perfectionism Listen to my new Crazy Moneyinterviews with Mobyand LL COOL J

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Hey everyone, this is just a quick update from Paul to talk about how summer travel will affect the production schedule for Crazy Money.

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 18:34:00 GMT

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Wealth and Existential Despair with Melissa Bernstein - Ep 109

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 25 May 2021 05:15:00 GMT

Melissa Bernstein has great wealth, a wonderful husband, and six healthy children. She has also endured a lifetime of “existential anxiety and depression,” suicidal thoughts, and a feeling that she does not belong on earth. The Co-founder of Melissa & Doug’s toys describes her brain as a “prison of despair” but that same brain also provides her the “boundless expanse of imagination” that has helped her design over 5,000 toys in the 32 years since she and her husband co-founded the massively successful company. Despite her success, all the money in the world can’t change the way her brain works, nor would she trade it for anyone else’s brain. For decades, Melissa kept her condition to herself and tried to fit in by pursuing conventional indicators of success: good grades, the right college, an investment banking career. Earlier this year, Melissa and Doug launched LifeLines, an app, book and online resource center for anyone dealing with severe mental health issues of their own or in their family.
Check it out here: https://www.lifelines.com/ === SUPPORT THE SHOW: ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money: >> http://ratethispodcast.com/crazyMoney CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment. Perfectionism

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Moby on Fame, Fortune, Addiction, Animals - Ep 108

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 18 May 2021 05:39:00 GMT

Moby’s first job as a DJ was spinning records at a dive bar next to a methadone clinic. A few years later, he was rich and famous, but "never felt more depressed.” Having grown up as "poor white trash” in the wealthy town of Darien, CT, Moby's financial status made him feel like a “third-class citizen.” Decades after selling over 20 million albums, winning all kinds of awards, and experiencing "baffling success," he still feels disenfranchised. The massive, unpredictable success of his 1999 album, Play set an incredibly high bar against which the press and he himself measured his subsequent work. His consumption of alcohol, cocaine, and related chemical goodies drove him to a dark place from which he finally rebounded in 2008. He has been sober ever since. Moby addresses all these issues in the upcoming documentary, MobyDoc. In this episode of Crazy Money, we also discuss his relationship to finances, debt, why he’s never had a mortgage, and can’t even bring himself to borrow 50 cents to buy a pack of gum. He also shares the origins of his full-time commitment to animal rights and veganism. See the film trailer for Moby Doc here and learn more about his orchestral greatest hits record, Reprisehere. Both come out on May 28. ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money: >> http://ratethispodcast.com/crazyMoney CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 Topics that come up in this episode include: depression, addiction, alcoholism, cocaine, David Bowie, animal cruelty, veganism, vegetarianism About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment.

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Life After Paralysis with Maura McVann Coley - Ep 107

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 11 May 2021 03:51:00 GMT

In 1988, Maura McVann Coley sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury that deprived her of the ability to walk. Just 17 at the time of the accident, the then high school athlete had to adjust her expectations for senior year, college, and life beyond. On today’s episode, Maura shares with great candor how she adapted logistically and emotionally to her new and very different circumstances. She offers insight into how she navigated college at the University of Illinois, traveled through Europe, and figured out young adult life. Things get very real when Maura tells me why she was scared to date. Today, Maura and her husband, Kevin Coley raise two children and a dog in Daphne, AL where they own and operate a small business called We Rock the Spectrum Daphne. Maura also runs a pediatric speech therapy practice called Speech Time Therapy Services where kids of all abilities learn and develop critical communication skills in a fun and playful environment. She loves traveling to new places with her family, helping others, and promoting disability awareness and acceptance through her work and life example. She has used a wheelchair for almost 33 years. Learn more about #spinalcordinjury and the place Maura started her rehab, Shepherd Spinal Center. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money: >> http://ratethispodcast.com/crazyMoney CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment.

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Rebounding from Mid-life Melancholy with Jonathan Rauch - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 04 May 2021 03:25:00 GMT

(Originally posted Jan, 2020...but so worth another listen) In The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50, Jonathan Rauch explores the decline in happiness that most people experience in middle age and what there is to do about it. Even after achieving all we had ever dreamed of and more, many of us experience a disappointment or melancholy, and question if “this” is all there is to life. The first thing to understand that this is normal. Your doubts are okay and part of the aging process of the mind. The second thing to embrace is that you will be okay! Listen now to find out how and why. Jonathan Rauch is a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and contributing editor of The Atlantic. His writing spans the full spectrum of society, including politics, marijuana legalization, health care, gay marriage, adultery, agriculture, economics, height discrimination, and animal rights. This work has earned him many honors, including the National Magazine Award and the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association prize for excellence in opinion writing. You have probably read some of it in The Economist, Reason, Harper’s, Fortune, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Slate, The Advocate, or many other leading publications. He does not like shrimp. See Thomas Cole's "The Voyage of Life" here. Learn more about Jonathan: https://www.jonathanrauch.com/ SUPPORT THE SHOW: ✍️ RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money: >> http://ratethispodcast.com/crazyMoney CONNECT WITH PAUL: 📸 Instagram: >> https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ 🌍 Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596 ---------------------- About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment.

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How business education builds character with Matt Slaughter - Ep 106

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 03:38:00 GMT

Matthew J. Slaughter is the Dean of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth where Paul (the host of this show) earned his MBA. In today’s conversation, Matt and Paul discuss the role of business education in creating not just savvy business leaders but curious, ethical human beings. Matt shares insights into the challenges the pandemic inflicted on universities, how Covid-19 caused the worst day of his career, and how to behave in the Oval Office. An expert on globalization, Matt is also the Earl C. Daum 1924 Professor of International Business. From 2005-07, he served on President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers.He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research; a member of the academic advisory board of the International Tax Policy Forum; and an academic advisor to the McKinsey Global Institute. Matt received his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Notre Dame in 1990, and his doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. You can read more about Matt here. SUPPORT THE SHOW: RATE / REVIEW Crazy Money: http://ratethispodcast.com/crazyMoney BUY A SIDECAR FOR THE FASHIONABLE MOM IN YOUR LIFE: http://sidecarlove.com CONNECT WITH PAUL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazymoneypodcast/ Facebook (Crazy Money Listeners Group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/446049973036596

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The Science of Well-being with Dr. Laurie Santos - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 06:48:00 GMT

(Originally posted Sept, 2019...but so worth another listen) Our brains are not good at predicting what will actually make us happy. You think you want more money, more fame, and to be alone, but what will actually make you happy are more social connections and more gratitude. Dr. Santos’ course Psychology and the Good Life—the most popular class in Yale’s history—teaches students to live happier, more fulfilling lives, which is good because student rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts are at an all-time high. Laurie Santos, PhD is a cognitive scientist, Professor of Psychology and Director of Yale’s Comparative Cognition Laboratory. She is the host of The Happiness Lab podcast. Laurie earned her AB, AM and PhD’s from Harvard University.
**Please rate and review Crazy Money.**
Follow Crazy Money on Instagram here and join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here.
Email Paul guest suggestions, Bitcoin, and gift certificates at: Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.comAbout Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status.

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Our possessions, ourselves with Michael Heller & James Salzman - Ep 105

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:17:00 GMT

What does it mean to “own” something? Do you “own”your body? Do you own the dirt in your backyard? If someone flies a drone over your deck, do you have the right to blast it out of the sky? (Seems fair to me, but the law says otherwise.) In their new book,Mine!, law professors Michael Heller and James Salzman explore the the concept of ownership and property in ways you have almost certainly not considered. I love books that make me re-think a concept that I take for granted. InMine!, Heller and Salzman do just that. Most of us assume we know what it means to own something or who has the right to certain things or spaces. But the law isn’t always self-evident, is wildly inconsistent, and varies from country-to-country and state-to-state.
Manyof the examples they cite will piss you off! For example, who owns the space just behind the airplane seat in front of you? Does that sweaty dude in that chair have the right to recline? Or does that space belong to you and your sensitive knees? Also, why can you copyright a song but not a comedy routine? (Huh, HUH??!!!??!!) I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation on this non-obvious topic with these two brilliant gentlemen. Michael Heller is the Lawrence A. Wien Professor of Real Estate Law at Columbia Law School. He has taught at the NYU, UCLA, University of Michigan and Yale Law Schools. He is an honors graduate of Harvard College and Stanford Law School. James Salzman is the Donald Bren Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law with joint appointments at UCLA School of Law and the UC Santa Barbara School of Environment. Among many other accolades, Jim is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a McMaster Fellow and a Fulbright Senior Scholar. He is a graduate of Yale and holds graduate degrees in both Law and Engineering from Harvard University. Get tickets to Paul’s 4/22 show at MadLife studios HERE. Learn more aboutMine!here. **Please rate and review Crazy Money here.**
Follow Crazy Money on Instagramand join the Crazy Money Listeners Grouphere.
Produced and edited by Mike Carano
About Crazy Money:
If you don’t like to think, you’re going to hate Crazy Money. Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, rat race, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society.
Are you really still reading?

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Wall Street, the movie: a panel discussion - Ep 104

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 05:20:00 GMT

This week we tried out a new format—a panel discussion about the 1987 classic Oliver Stone film, Wall Street. It starred Charlie Sheen, Michael Douglas, Darryl Hannah and a whole bunch of other amazing actors. The movie, which was a morality tale about financial excess, both celebrated and condemned the era's obsession with money and over-the-top luxury (clearly that’s over!). In addition to cocaine, caviar, and steak tartare, it asked us to consider:

How much is enough?

How do you define success?

Is greed, for lack of a better word, good?

My friend A.M. Bhatt and I moderated this discussion on the Clubhouse app including previous Crazy Moneyguests:

Turney Duff, author of The Buy Side

Lisa Birnbach, author of The Official Preppy Handbook

Brad Klontz, financial psychologist and author of Money Mammoth and other books

Get tickets to Paul’s show in Woodstock on April 22 here. Rate and review Crazy Money here.

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Wall Street Trader Turns Big Time Writer with Jared Dillian - Ep 103

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 04:27:00 GMT

A working class kid from the poor part of Connecticut, Jared Dillian somehow managed in 2001 to land a job as a trader at Lehman Brothers, the then-prestigious investment bank. Wearing cheap suits from the Mens Wearhouse, he found himself out-of-place among the Armani-clad Ivy League set on Wall Street. But he loved trading and made a lot of money in the process. In this candid conversation, Jared shares frank insights into the incredible stress of trading and the mental health that became apparent as his career progressed. Those persistent mood swings turned out to be a symptom of undiagnosed Bipolar disorder, which resulted in him spending three weeks in the psychiatric ward, a place he described as “a very healing environment." After Lehman went bankrupt, Jared pivoted to a successful writing career. Today, he is the Editor of The Daily Dirt Nap, an investment newsletter providing daily market commentary and insight to traders and very serious investors. He has also written two books: Street Freak: A Memoir of Money and Madness, a gripping read which chronicles his time as a trader with Lehman Brothers from 2001-2008, and the novel, All The Evil of this World, which Paul is looking forward to reading. Jared graduated from the US Coast Guard Academy and earned his MBA From University of San Francisco. When he’s not writing or taking care of his 5 cats, he is making music under the name, DJ Stochastic. He lives in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.

Learn more about The Daily Dirtnap

Check out Jared’s music here.

Jared’s radio show here

Please take a second to rate and review Crazy Money here. (Click on “your" app)
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Topics covered in this episode include investments, trading, Wall Street, Lehman Brothers, writing, mental health, bipolar disorder, OCD, Bloomberg, Matt Levine

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Money and the Maasai people with Josphat Mako - Ep 102

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 04:56:00 GMT

My guest today paid a dowry of eight cows for his first wife and six cows and three sheep for his second wife. Josphat Mako, or just “Mako," grew up in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, a massive plain just north of the Serengeti. He taught himself English, learned how to drive, and has since become become a well-known safari guide for the legendary Cottars camps. In today’s episode, we talk about his childhood, daily life in the Maasai Village, who goes to school in their culture (it will surprise you!), and what it was like when he attended a football game at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Special thanks to Ann Short travel here in Atlanta, Bush & Beyond in Nairobi and the good people at Cottars Conservation camp in the Mara. See photos from our trip are in the Crazy Money Listeners group in Facebook.

See the Sidecar hat carrier here.

Get tickets to see Paul at MadLife Studios here.

Rate and review Crazy Money here.

Topics covered in this episode include: #alabamafootball #maasai #maasaimara #travel #safari #africa
Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, status.

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Ryan Holiday on Stillness - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 06:56:00 GMT

(Originally posted October, 2019) Ryan Holiday is the author of ten books, which have sold sold more than 2 million copies worldwide and been translated into 30 languages. World-class athletes, celebrities and political leaders use his lessons to achieve peak performance. His 2014 book, The Obstacle Is The Way, was read by the New England Patriots during their 2014 Super Bowl-winning season and by four-time major champion golfer Rory McIlroy as preparation for the 2019 Masters Tournament. In this conversation, recorded in September, 2019, we discuss his then-upcoming release, Stillness is the Key, the author explores how each of us can find wisdom in our lives by slowing down and quieting the barking dogs in our head. Ryan is also the founder of Daily Stoic, a community of 200,000 people dedicated to leading better lives by contemplating the ancient philosophy. Find Ryan on http://dailystoic.com Find Paul on http://PaulOllinger.com Email Paul at Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com TICKETS to Paul’s upcoming comedy shows: https://laughingskulllounge.com/ Subjects covered this week include: Stoicism, Buddhism, Money, ambition, pride, stillness, meditation, Marcus Aurelius, memento mori, Daily Stoic, books, authors

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Andy Stanley on Jesus and Money - Ep 101

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 07:11:00 GMT

Communicator, author, and pastor Andy Stanley founded Atlanta-based North Point Ministries (NPM) in 1995. Today, NPM consists of seven churches in the Atlanta area and a network of nearly 100 churches around the globe that collectively serve nearly 185,000 people weekly. A survey of U.S. pastors in Outreach magazine identified Andy as one of the ten most influential living pastors in America. Andy holds an undergraduate degree in journalism from Georgia State University and a master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. He is the author of more than 20 books, including Irresistible; The New Rules for Love, Sex & Dating; How to Be Rich; Deep & Wide; Enemies of the Heart; When Work & Family Collide; Visioneering; and Next Generation Leader.
His success reaches well beyond the Atlanta area. Over 10.5 million of his messages, leadership videos, YouTube videos, and podcasts are accessed each month. He is the host of the TV show, Your Move with Andy Stanley, which airs in major markets after Saturday Night Live.
In this episode, Andy and I discuss what Jesus taught regarding money, wealth, and charity. And why it’s a great idea to always GIVE FIRST. Learn more about Andy’s ministry here and watch Your Movehere.
**Please rate and review Crazy Money.**
Follow Crazy Money on Instagram here and join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here.
Read Paul’s latest thoughts on life on Medium. Topics covered in this episode include: money, church, rich, pastor, Jesus, christians, christianity, churches, tithe, charity, philanthropy, gospel, living
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, status.
Are you really still reading? Go listen to another episode, silly.

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Crazy Money Trailer

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 15:51:21 GMT

Comedian Paul Ollinger started Crazy Money to explore the connection between money, happiness, work, and meaning through the lens of his guests' expertise and/or money journeys. Preveious interviewees include prominent authors, academics, CEOs, celebrities, and winners of the Nobel Prize, Heisman Trophy, PGA Championship, and Olympic Gold medals, including:

Academics: Princeton's Sir Angus Deaton (Nobel laureate) and Peter Singer (“the world’s most influential living philosopher”), Yale’s Laurie Santos, Brookings' Richard Reeves, Jonathan Rauch, and Carol Graham, Oxford’s Will MacAskill, UC Berkeley’s Barry Schwartz on The Paradox of Choice, Yale Law School’s Daniel Markovits.

Journalists: Ron Lieber (NYT), Paul Sullivan (NYT), Paul Tough (NYT), Adam Minter, Oliver Burkeman (The Guardian).

Best-selling authors: Ryan Holiday, Bill Browder, Lori Gottlieb, Michael Arceneaux, Christopher Ryan, AJ Jacobs, James Altucher, Jesse Itzler, Lisa Birnbach.

Broadcasters: Guy Raz, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Adam Carolla, Bobbi Rebell.

Others of interest: LL COOL J, Lord John Browne (CEO of BP, 1995-2007), Danny Wuerffel (Heisman Trophy winner now working with the urban poor), Apolo Ohno (8-time Olympic medalist), Rich Beem (PGA championship winner); comedians Rory Scovel and Kyle Kinane.

Everyday folks: My dad (discussing raising six kids on a modest salary), My wife (talking about how we talk about money), AJ Jain (on losing everything and starting over), Julie Saxon on maintaining a career and sanity during her husband’s 6-year battle with cancer.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

LL COOL J on Hip Hop, money and business - Ep 100

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 07:24:00 GMT

Nobody works harder than LL COOL J. The musician, producer, actor, and entrepreneur has been playing at the highest levels of art, business, and culture since he burst on the scene at the age of 17, in 1985.

For over 35 years, LL has pushed himself to achieve in all that he does while leading with spirit and character. And achieve he has. The two-time Grammy-winner and first ever Hip Hop Kennedy Center Honoree has recorded 14 studio albums, landing massive hits including Going Back to Cali, Mama Said Knock You Out, Rock The Bells, and many, many more. As an actor, he has played “Sam Hanna” on NCIS: Los Angeles for the last 12 years, appeared in hit films like In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday, and Wildcats, and starred in the NBC sitcom, In the House.

In this, the 100th original interview of Crazy Money, LL shares what he really wanted when he released his first record, how he approaches potential business deals, and why he pours his soul into Rock The Bells, his company that elevates timeless and classic Hip-Hop culture by celebrating MC’s, DJ’s, Break Dancers and Graffiti artists on its website, found here. LL also created and curates programming for the radio channel of the same name on SiriusXM Channel 43. **Please rate and review Crazy Money.**
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Read Paul’s latest thoughts on life on Medium. Topics covered in this episode include: hip hop, music, rap, culture, money, wealth, motivation, inspiration, persistence, work ethic, black money, racial wealth divide.
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status.

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The Glass Closet: Why Coming Out is Good Business with Lord John Browne - Ep 99

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 06:28:00 GMT

“Never tell anyone a secret because they will surely use it against you.” That’s what Lord John Browne’s mother, an Auschwitz survivor, always told her son. The former CEO of BP followed her advice until he was 59 years old when his secret—the fact that he was a closeted gay man—was exposed by an ex-boyfriend in the British tabloids. The revelation resulted in a media storm and Lord Browne’s immediate resignation. Just like that, after almost 40 years of service to his employer, he was out of a job and out of the closet. Keep in mind that in the few years before he was outed, Lord Browne had been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, named to the house of Lords, won the UK’s “Most Admired Leader” Award 4 times in a row. John Browne, Baron Browne of Maddingley served as BP's CEO from 1995 until 2007. When he took the helm, the company was called British Petroleum. The re-branding to BP was only one of several major accomplishments during his tenure. He also engineered mergers with Amoco, Arco, and oversaw major exploration projects around the globe. Lord Browne is the former President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and has served on the boards of Intel, Daimler-Benz and Goldman Sachs. He is the author of five books, including The Glass Closet: Why Coming Out is Good for Business, which is what we disussed in most detail today. He holds a BA in Physics from St. John’s College, Cambridge and earned a Masters at Stanford. See a list of countries that still have the death penalty for homosexuality here. Learn more about Lord Browne on his Twitter feed and his foundation’s website.
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Read Paul’s latest thoughts on life on Medium. Topics covered in this episode include: business, leadership, executives, oil, fossil fuels, LGBT, homosexuality, inclusivity, diversity, inclusion, homophobia, gay employees
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, Rat Race, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, status.
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James Altucher Skips the Line - Ep 98

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 08:12:00 GMT

James Altucher is an author, chess master, podcaster, former hedge fund manager, angel investor, and — just to top it off —comedian. Oh, he’s also an entrepreneur who has started 20 companies, 17 of which failed. Over the course of his career, James has made and lost multi-million dollar fortunes “three or four times.” The Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Choose Yourself, Choose Yourself Guide to Wealth, and The Power of No has a new book, Skip the Line that is all about how thinking linearly and doing things the way they have always been done will get you exactly nowhere. Oh, he also owns a comedy club. You’ll hear all about this. Learn more about James’ podcast and books on his website. Here’s his NY Post essay, New York City is Dead Forever (you probably read this). **Please rate and review Crazy Money.**
Follow Crazy Money on Instagram here and join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here.
Read Paul’s latest thoughts on life on Medium. Here’s the link to my 2019 interview with my wife, Stacey, talking about how we talk about money.
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows,Crazy Moneyis not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, Rat Race, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, status.
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Love and Money with Rachel Greenwald - Ep 97

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 08:00:00 GMT

Rachel Greenwald is a professional match-maker whose business serves wealthy men looking for love. A graduate of Harvard Business School where she is an Executive Fellow, Rachel is also the New York Times bestselling author of Have Him at Hello and Find a Husband After 35. In today’s episode we discuss the mistakes both men and women make when talking or inquiring about money during courtship. She also divulges the #1 mistake successful women make on first dates, as reported in interviews with over 1,000 men. (Some of you won’t like this, so it’s that much more important that you listen!) An expert on building successful relationships in both love and work, Rachel also helps corporate executives improve their professional relationships, deepen connections among their teams, and elevate their EQ skills by using tactics honed through her two decades of match-making. Learn more about Rachel and her books on her website. **Please rate and review Crazy Money.**
Follow Crazy Moneyon Instagram hereand join theCrazy MoneyListeners Group here.
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows,Crazy Moneyis not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, Rat Race, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, status.
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Divorce, Anxiety, and $8B in real estate with Holly Parker- Ep 96

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 08:33:00 GMT

Holly Parker is one of the most dynamic people I have ever met. A top NYC realtor who has sold over $8 billion in property, she is also a self-made millionaire, consummate connector of people, world traveler, twin mom, and author. In her new book, Back on the Market: A Realtor’s Guide to Love and Life Holly tells the story of her divorce, re-entry into the dating world as an ultra-successful woman, and how she earns the trust of billionaires who purchase $50mm+ apartments. On this week’s episode Paul and Holly talk about the source of her (and to an extent, his) motivation: an anxiety born of wanting to be seen, liked, and respected. And about how she channels that energy to destroy her sales goals and give back to the world. Learn more about Holly on her website. Buy the book here. **Please rate and review Crazy Money.**
Follow Crazy Money on Instagram here and join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here.
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows,Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, Rat Race, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, status.
Are you really still reading? Go listen to another episode, silly.
==== Outro: Check out the book. Link is in the show notes. Back on the Market. Takeaways: 1. You never know what’s going on with someone else. When you compare, you have to take the 2. Some of the most successful people I know are dealing with anxiety. Money is something we look at the same way we looked at our report cards in high school. I must be doing okay if I am making all A’s. 3. A big part of your wealth and your health are the people you are lucky enough to meet on the way. When you

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The Price of College with Ron Lieber - Ep 95

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 08:15:00 GMT

If you have kids in or nearing college age, you HAVE to listen to this episode. Ron Lieber’s new book, The Price You Pay for College contains critical, in-depth information about one of the most important financial decisions your family will ever make. After 15 years of financial reporting, Lieber reports that “No consumer decision inspires more confusion and emotion than the question of what to pay for college,” which is understandable since 4 years at many state schools now costs over $100k in tuition and 4 years of private school can run over $300k!

Ron explains that not only is college ludicrously expensive, but the admissions process is purposefully opaque, so it’s hard to know if you/your kid will get in and whether or not you/your kid will be able to afford to go. By throwing himself head-first into this stormy, complicated sea, Ron helps the reader find the best college for them, pay the fairest price, and not destroy their family and finances in the process.

Ron Lieber is a proud alumnus of Amherst College and the "Your Money" columnist for the New York Times. Among his previous books is the bestseller, The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money, which he discussed with me on episode #4 of Crazy Money. Listen to that here.

Buy Ron's books on his website.
**Please rate and review Crazy Money here.**

Follow Paul on Instagram here and join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here.

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, status, Facebook.

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Working Ourselves to Death with Daniel Markovits - Ep 94

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 08:06:00 GMT

Daniel Markovits is the Guido Calabresi Professor of Law at Yale Law School and the author of The Meritocracy Trap in which he outlines the price meritocracy imposes on society. In addition to severely limiting opportunities for the middle and lower classes, our knowledge-based economy “devours the elite” who work brutally long hours at top law firms, investment banks, and consulting companies. And Daniel would know. After all, he acknowledges that he is part of the system that he is criticizing. Not only does he train the attorneys that will go on to work themselves silly, but he holds an academic resume like none you have ever seen. Check this out: After earning a B.A. in Mathematics, summa cum laude (which is Latin for “way smarter than you”) from Yale University, Markovits received a British Marshall Scholarship to study in England, where he was awarded an M.Sc. in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics from London School of Economics and a doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Oxford. Markovits then returned to New Haven to study law at Yale. Follow him on Twitter here. Get his book here.
**Please rate and review Crazy Money here.**
Follow Crazy Moneyon Instagram hereand join theCrazy MoneyListeners Group here.
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows,Crazy Moneyis not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
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Managing Our Desires with William Irvine - Ep 93

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 05:41:00 GMT

William “Bill” Irvine is an author, philosophy professor, and an active investor who describes his intended audience as "intellectually-upscale readers who have a minimal background in philosophy but who are interested in carefully rethinking the assumptions of everyday life.” (Hey, that’s YOU!) Bill wants to make philosophy accessible and applicable to our everyday struggles. His research can best be described as hybrid, reflecting topics that lie on the border between philosophy and something else. For example, many of his articles address the ethical issues involved in finance. His first two books were on the ethical and political aspects of parenting. And his book, On Desire (one of the two we’ll discuss today), has a philosophical component, but also a scientific and religious component. In our conversation, Bill explains our biological incentive systems, how our brains are like a Thanksgiving poultry trifecta, and why it’s imperative for each of us to develop a Philosophy of Life or a Grand Goal in Living. Bill earned a BA in Mathematics and Philosophy at the University of Michigan and an MA and PhD in Philosophy at UCLA. He has been teachingat Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, since 1983. Find out more about Bill on his website. **Please rate and review Crazy Money here.
FollowCrazy Moneyon Instagram hereand join theCrazy MoneyListeners Grouphere.
Get your officialCrazy Moneyt-shirts here.
AboutCrazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
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Getting the Most from Life with Jesse Itzler - Ep 92

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 09:00:00 GMT

Jesse Itzler only eats fruit 'til noon, loves Run-D.M.C., and enjoys living life "out of the box." The author of the New York Times bestseller, Living with a Seal, cofounded Marquis Jet, the world's largest private jet card company which he and his partner sold to Berkshire Hathaway/NetJets. Jesse then partnered with Zico coconut water, which he and his partner sold to The Coca-Cola Company. He’s a former rapper on MTV and wrote and performed the NBA's Emmy Award-winning "I Love This Game" music campaign and the popular New York Knicks anthem "Go NY Go." When he's not running ultra-marathons, eating vegan food or being a dad to his four kids, Jesse can be found at the NBA's Atlanta Hawks games, where he's an owner of the team. He is married to Spanx founder Sara Blakely Get the BYLR Radio app here. Get the most out of 2021 with Jesse’s Big Ass Calendar Club and follow him on Instagram.
Join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here.
Rate and review Crazy Money here.
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
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Peter Singer on the Moral Obligations of Money (from 2019) - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 06:33:00 GMT

The New Yorker called Princeton and University of Melbourne bio-ethicist, Peter Singer “the world’s most influential living philosopher." Time included him on its annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people. Peter has a question for you: Did you know that for the cost of a new television ($600), you can save a life? Here’s another: would it be worth foregoing a nice bottle of wine ($50) to cure someone’s blindness, thus allowing them to return to work and provide for themselves and their family? Could you come up with $700 to fix a new mother’s fistula, a debilitating condition that otherwise sentences her to incontinence and ostracism? Peter asks these questions because he wants to remind us that sums that are relatively trivial to us in the West can literally save or radically improve the life of someone in the developing world. He argues persuasively that we have the not just the opportunity but the obligation to help these people and doing so is in our own “enlightened self-interest." Peter is the author of The Life You Can Save, which Bill and Melinda Gates called, “an inspiring work that will change the way you think about philanthropy.” The 10th anniversary edition of the book is available for free in both audio and e-book formats on the website TheLifeYouCanSave.org. Go to the site and find ways you can save a life for $600 or cure someone’s cataract-induced blindness for as little as $50. Seriously, go do it. Now. Here’s the link again: TheLifeYouCanSave.org. You’ll feel better about yourself and life after you do it. Follow Crazy Money on Facebook here and join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here.
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
Produced and edited by Mike Carano

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The Death of Tony Hsieh with Angel Au-Yeung, David Jeans and Dr. Drew Pinsky - Ep 91

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 05:06:00 GMT

Tony Hsieh was the former CEO of Zappos, which Amazon bought for $1.2 billion. With a net worth reported at over $700 million, Tony appeared to have everything anyone could want. However, Tony suffered from severe addiction that pulled him down into a spiral of substance abuse, bizarre behavior, and his eventual death. During the Covid lockdown, Tony bought over $50 million worth of houses in Park City, UT and actually paid his friends to come live near him and “be happy.” He died from injuries sustained in a house fire where he was locked in a shed.
Angel Au-Yeung and David Jeans wrote the Forbes feature article, Tony Hsieh’s American Tragedy which details both Tony’s extraordinary accomplishments and his tragic demise. Dr. Drew Pinsky joins after Angel and David to discuss the correlation between wealth and addiction.
Angel Au-Yeung writes about billionaires at Forbes. David Jeans, also a Forbes staff reporter, covers the technology industry. His work appears regularly in the New York Times. Dr. Drew Pinsky is an internist, addiction specialist, and popular broadcaster.
**Please rate and review Crazy Money here.
Follow Crazy Money on Facebook here and join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here.
Get your official Crazy Money t-shirts here.
Produced and edited by Mike Carano
About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.

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Happiness Around the Globe with John Helliwell - Ep 90

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 08:14:00 GMT

John Helliwell is Professor emeritus of Economics at University of British Columbia and editor of The World Happiness Report, a landmark survey of the state of global happiness that ranks 156 countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be. The report has been published since 2012 when the United Nations General Assembly invited countries to measure their citizen’s happiness. And why not? We measure and report GNP, the GDP, the unemployment rate, average income, home sales, but not happiness. Aren’t all these things surrogates for what we should be evaluating, i.e. happiness? On today’s show, John shares the themes he and his colleagues have identified over years of study but also the more recent effects of Covid pandemic and quarantine on our overall happiness. John studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford where he received his PhD. In 1967, John joined the economics faculty at University of British Columbia where he is now Professor Emeritus. In addition to many other distinctions, he was a visiting research fellow at Merton College, Oxford, and a Fullbright Fellow and MacKenzie King Visiting Professor of Canadian Studies at Harvard University (it’s near Boston, in case you’ve never heard of it) Take a few minutes to read his work: World Happiness Report. **Please rate and review Crazy Money here. Follow Crazy Money on Facebook here and join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here.
Get your official Crazy Money t-shirts here.
Produced and edited by Mike Carano
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
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Real Life Diff'rent Strokes with Kay Madati - Ep 89

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 06:32:00 GMT

Kay Madati was born to a single, Tanzanian mother who died when he was 12. Kay and his brother were then adopted by a very affluent caucasian couple who lived on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. His new family situation was an uncanny mirror to the plot of Diff’rent Strokes, one of the most popular American TV shows of the early 1980s. In a very short period of time, Kay went from a world where “black kids were never supposed to be anything but working class” to attending Riverdale Country School, an elite and nurturing private school in which teachers opened his eyes to his own massive potential. His experience, while rooted in tragedy, is a testimony to the transformative power of adoption and how parenting, education, and access are undeniable sources of privilege. Kay eventually graduated from Georgetown University and went on to a career in media, working for some of the world’s most prestigious corporations, including BMW, CNN, Facebook, and BET Networks where he was Chief Digital Officer. Most recently, Kay was the Global Vice President and Head of Content Partnerships at Twitter, overseeing the company’s worldwide efforts to engage with media and content publishers across TV, Sports, News, Film, Music, among other categories.
Kay is a citizen of both the United States and Tanzania. In 2014, President Obama appointed him to the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans. Today he serves on the Advisory Board of Harvard Univeristy’s Hutchins Center for African and African-American Research, and is a member of the board of directors of Wingstop, a quickly-growing restaurant and franchise concept. Outside of work, Kay is a passionate advocate for youth in underserved communities. He is a founding Board Member & Chairman Emeritus of both Brooklyn Excelsior and Atlanta Heights Charters Schools. For more information about these schools, click:

Atlanta Heights Charter School

Brooklyn Excelsior Charter School

Email me your receipt to paul@crazymoneypodcast.com.

**Please rate and review Crazy Money here.**
Follow Crazy Money on Facebook here and join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here.
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Produced and edited by Mike Carano
About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
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Giving thanks, literally with A.J. Jacobs - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 05:24:00 GMT

In this special Thanksgiving encore episode, I talk to A.J. Jacobs about his latest book, Thanks a Thousand: A Gratitude Journey, in which he expresses gratitude to a thousand people who are involved with getting him his morning coffee.
A.J. Jacobs is an author, journalist, lecturer and human guinea pig. He has written four New York Times bestsellers that combine memoir, science, humor, and a dash of self-help. He is also editor at large at Esquire magazine, a commentator on NPR and a columnist for Mental Floss magazine.
Despite his references to the hygienic benefits of not shaking hands, this interview was recorded in pre-COVID 2019 at his office in New York City.
Learn more about A.J. on his website.
**Please rate and review Crazy Money here.
Follow Crazy Money on Facebook here and join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here.
Get your official Crazy Money t-shirts here.
Produced and edited by Mike Carano
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status. Paul Ollinger
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Life after the PGA Championship with Rich Beem - Ep 88

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 09:03:00 GMT

Rich Beem won the 2002 PGA Championship, one of professional golf’s four major tournaments. Despite having won twice on tour prior to the PGA, Rich's win at Hazeltine was as unlikely as the groovy dance moves he busted out after sinking his final putt of the tournament. Describing himself as “the luckiest guy in the world,” Rich loves golf and hanging out with people who give him energy. He played the game loose and wide open, but the rising expectations he felt after becoming a major champion became a distraction, and he never won again on tour. On today’s Crazy Money, Rich speaks candidly about grinding his way up the golf ladder, and how he found purpose and meaning in life as his PGA prospects began to dim. Rich was born in Phoenix, AZ, grew up in El Paso, TX and played college golf at New Mexico State University. Today Rich plays on the PGA Champions Tour and works as a TV golf analyst on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland. Follow Rich on Instagram and/or Twitter. **Please rate and review Crazy Money here. Follow Crazy Money on Facebook here and join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here.
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Produced and edited by Mike Carano
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status. Paul Ollinger
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In defense of the Preppy with Lisa Birnbach - Ep 87

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 07:24:00 GMT

Lisa Birnbach is the author of over 20 books, includingThe Official Preppy Handbook, a cultural phenomenon from the early 1980’s. The book sold more than a million copies and has been cited as an inspiration to the founder of J. Crew and is thought to have boosted the growth of LL Bean. InT.O.P.H., Birnbach celebrated, skewered, and democratized the concept of preppiness, with writing the The New York Times described as “affectionate but acerbic.” Upon re-visiting the book, I found her reflections on money, fashion, status, and the social hierarchy as insightful and hilarious today as they were forty years ago. In this thoroughly enjoyable interview, we talk about the preppy aesthetic, Connecticut, and how the world has (and hasn’t) changed since she launched this juggernaut into being. Celebrated for her keen eye and sharp wit, Lisa Birnbach is an award-winning journalist, cultural commentator, and bestselling author. She has written for The New York Times, The New Yorker, Parade, Rolling Stone, and New York magazine. You should check out her podcast, 5 Things with Lisa Birnbach. Lisa spoke to me from her home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. — See more about Lisa here - https://lisabirnbach.com/ **Please rate and review Crazy Money here. Follow Crazy Money on Facebook here and join the Crazy Money Listeners Group here. Get your official Crazy Money t-shirts here. Pre-order Joshua Brown and Brian Portnoy's How I Invest My Moneyhere.
Produced and edited by Mike Carano
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
Are you really still reading?

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Brad Klontz, Financial Psychologist to Billionaires (from Aug, 2019) - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Dr. Brad Klontz is a psychologist and certified financial planner. He helps his clients (many of whom are ultra-high net worth individuals or even billionaires) understand how what they learned about money as kids affects their attitudes and dysfunctions today. This week, both Paul and his editor/producer extraordinaire Mike Carano take Brad's Money Disorder Assessment and discuss their results in the hope he can cure them of their money ills. Brad’s work has been featured inThe Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Time, Kiplinger’s, Money, NPR and many other media outlets and professional magazines and journals. He is the author of several books, includingMind Over Money. Take his Money Disorder Assessment here. Check out his YouTube Channel. Please take a moment to rate Crazy Money here. Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/
Produced and edited by Mike Carano
Topics addressed in this episode include:
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
Now listen, I’m happy you’re here, but if you haven’t found what you’re looking for in the words above, you’re probably not going to find them down here. Seriously, all the important stuff is up yonder.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Netflix’s Bad Boy Billionaires with Dylan Mohan Gray - Ep 86

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 17:43:00 GMT

Dylan Mohan Gray is the director of The King of Good Times, the pilot film of the new Netflix series, Bad Boy Billionaires: India, which has been the most viewed show in India for much of October. The film chronicles the rise and fall of Vijay Mallya, heir to a brewing fortune and founder of Kingfisher Airlines. Vijay was known for his excessive lifestyle, over-the-top personality, and lavish investments in sexy, high-profile ventures like cricket and Formula One racing teams. Despite his massive affluence, Vijay is accused of money laundering and fraud, which is said to have arisen from financial recklessness and over-reaching at his growing airline. In this episode, Dylan and I discuss not only Vijay’s story, but how his excessive ambition, over-confidence, and lack of a sense of enough got him— and others who already have way more than they need — into big, big trouble. An award-winning documentarian, Dylan also directed Fire in the Blood, which explored the high price of AIDS drugs in the developing world. The film was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival and The Wall Street Journal called it “powerfully cinematic and vitally important.” Dylan holds an AB in History and Film from Dartmouth College and an MA in Contemporary History from Central European University. Read Paul Ollinger’s latest essays on Medium.
Please take a second to rate and review Crazy Money here. (Click on whichever app you use to listen!)
Join the discussion on the Crazy Money Podcast Listeners’ group on Facebook here.
Produced and edited by Mike Carano
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
Are you really still reading? Dude, you need a hobby.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Family Fortune & Misfortune with Janny Scott - Ep 85

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 06:35:00 GMT

Janny Scott grew up on an 800-acre estate near Philadelphia. The descendant of railroad barons and financial magnates, Janny tracks the effects of her family’s multi-generational wealth in her book, The Beneficiary: Fortune, Misfortune, and the Story of My Father. In the book, she lays the details of both the opulence and the tragic complications of her family’s vast resources. While things appeared perfect from the outside, alcoholism, suicide, divorce, and idleness derailed many of her relations. In this conversation, we discuss what it was like to grow up on property the size of Central Park and how the presence of so much wealth affects her attitudes about money today. We also cover the tragedies that befell many of her ancestors as they struggled to find purpose amidst massive affluence. Janny worked for fourteen years as a reporter for the New York Times where she was a member of the team that won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. Prior to the NYT, she reported for the LA Times and The Record of Bergen County (NJ). Her first book, A Singular Woman: The Untold Story of Barack Obama’s Mother earned her a nomination for the PEN/Jacqueline Bogard Weld Award for Biography and was named to Time magazine’s top ten nonfiction books of 2011. Her recent book was one of the NYT 100 Notable Books of 2019 and NPR’s Favorite Books of 2019. Janny has made appearances on The Colbert Report, Today, C-Span, Fresh Air and many other national TV and radio shows. She is a graduate of Harvard College and spoke with me from her home in New York City. Learn more about Janny’s work on her website. Download Peter Singer’s book,The Life You Can Savefor free hereor listen to the audiobook on Spotifyor Apple Podcasts. You can also listen to my interview with Peter here. Join the new Crazy Money Listeners Group on Facebook here.
Read Paul's latest essays on Medium.
Please take a second to rate and review Crazy Money here.
Crazy Money is produced and edited by Mike Carano. Topics addressed on Crazy Money include:Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status.
If you haven’t found what you’re looking for in the words above, you’re probably not going to find them down here. Seriously, all the important stuff is up yonder.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Asian-American Attitudes About Money and Success with Kathy Wang - Ep 84

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 06:21:00 GMT

Kathy Wang grew up in Northern California and graduated from UC Berkeley and Harvard Business School. After working in the technology field for four years, she quit her job and wrote her first novel, Family Trust, which is the story of the Huangs, a first-generation Chinese-American family. With their father dying and his second wife waiting, the adult kids are wondering what will become of their father’s estate. The book and this conversation explore differences in cultural attitudes toward careers, success, and money among Asian-American families. Said Kathy, “In Asian culture, you’ll always feel inadequate. I don’t think I’ve ever met an Asian person, no matter where they are in life, (who) feel that they’re doing a great job.” Kathy lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two young children. She is working on her second book, which will be out soon. Find out more about Kathy here: http://www.bykathywang.com/ Read Paul’s latest essay on Medium. Please take a second to rate and review Crazy Money here. Join the Crazy Money Facebook Group. Follow Crazy Money on Instagram.
Produced and edited by Mike Carano
Topics addressed in this episode include: writing, fiction, novels, business school, MBA, working mom, venture capital, Silicon Valley, technology, careers, anxiety, respect, immigration, immigrants.
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, Paul Ollinger

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

The Psychology of Money with Morgan Housel - Ep 83

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 05:33:00 GMT

Morgan Housel is the author of the new book, The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness. Success with investing and maintaining wealth is less about quantitative skill than it is about consistency and self-awareness. As the back cover of his new best-seller reads, “Doing well with money isn’t necessarily about what you know. It’s about how you behave. And behavior is hard to teach, even to really smart people." Morgan’s book is an elegant summation of many of the things I want to discuss on this show. While it is partially about investing, it’s really about how knowing what you want from life will help you make better decisions about money.
A partner at the Collaborative Fund and a former columnist at The Motley Fool and The Wall Street Journal, Morgan is a two-time winner of the Best in Business Award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, winner of the New York Times Sidney Award, and a two-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism. His work was featured in The Best Business Writing published by the Columbia Journalism Review.
Learn more about Morgan on his website. Read Paul's latest essays on Medium. Please take a second to rate and review Crazy Money here. (Click on whichever app you use to listen!)
Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
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• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/
Produced and edited by Mike Carano
Topics addressed in this episode include: investing, stocks, bonds, equities, financial planning, portfolios, allocation, behavioral economics.
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management.
Now listen, I’m happy you’re here, but if you haven’t found what you’re looking for in the words above, you’re probably not going to find them down here. Seriously, all the important stuff is up yonder.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Olympic Economics with Apolo Ohno - Ep 82

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 03:09:00 GMT

With eight Olympic medals (two of them gold), Apolo Ohno is America’s most decorated winter Olympian. He won his first major speed skating title (the US Championships) at the tender age of 14, after only six months of training. He continued on to a career that played a major role in establishing short-track speed-skating in the 2002, 2006, and 2010 Winter Games. His New York Times best-selling memoir, Zero Regrets, tells the story of success, setbacks and what it takes to become one of the top athletes in the world. In this episode, Apolo and I go deep into the economic realities of becoming an Olympian. Due to the steep cost of coaching, training, equipment, and travel, many (perhaps most) athletes and their families go deep into debt in pursuit of a spot on the national team. And even for the few who make it, there is little preparation for post-Games remuneration and little preparation for a job “in the real world." In his post-skating career, Apolo has worked as a sports analyst for NBC, a global ambassador for the Olympics, and a winner of ABC’s hit show, Dancing with the Stars. He finished the 2014 Ironman World Championship Triathlon in less than ten hours. Apolo now spends much of his time speaking to business and nonprofit leaders around the globe. He helps leaders develop high-performance mindset to break through and do their best work. His next book Hard Pivot tells the story of reinvention and tackling new challenges while maintaining his iconic positive attitude and unmatched energy. Thank you to Apolo’s assistant, Lucy Chen for making this happen! To learn more or book Apolo to speak, visit https://www.apoloohno.com/ Here’s how you pronounce “infinitesimal.” Please take a second to rate and review Crazy Money here. (Click on whichever app you use to listen!) Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
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• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/
Produced and edited by Mike Carano
Topics addressed in this episode include: performance, motivation, achievement, retirement, reinvention, regrets.
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Retirement, Reinvention, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management.
Now listen, I’m happy you’re here, but if you haven’t found what you’re looking for in the words above, you’re probably not going to find them down here. Seriously, all the important stuff is up yonder.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Talking About Wealth with Jennifer Risher - Ep 81

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 05:31:00 GMT

As early Microsoft employees, Jennifer and her future-husband, David Risher, made millions of dollars from their stock options in the quickly growing company. When David joined an online book-seller called Amazon, those “millions” became “tens of millions,” and Jen found herself nervously navigating the world of affluence. In her new book, We Need to Talk: A Memoir About Wealth, she explores the mind-bending experience of earning way more than she needed or ever imagined. While acknowledging their very good fortune, she nevertheless found herself dealing with guilt, awkward social situations, imposter syndrome, and the loss of identity that comes when you stop working. There are over 18 million millionaires in the United States. Most of them did not grow up with a lot of money, so they had to learn how to handle it. Yet, talking about having money is considered extremely rude. A recent Money Matters study found that 68% of people would rather talk about their weight than money. And more people are more comfortable talking about sex than talking about money. So how the hell are you supposed to figure it out? In her new book, Jen shares her thought-provoking, personal story, including the voices of others in her demographic to help us explore the hidden impact of wealth on our brains, relationships, and sense of place in the world. Jennifer Risher was born in Seattle, Washington, grew up in Oregon, and graduated from Connecticut College. She joined Microsoft in 1991 where she worked as a recruiter and then as a product manager. She and her husband, David, have two daughters and live in San Francisco, where David is CEO of Worldreader, a nonprofit he cofounded with a mission to create a world where everyone is a reader. Learn more about Jennifer and the book on her website. Please take a second to rate and review Crazy Money here. (Click on whichever app you use to listen!)
Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/
Produced and edited by Mike Carano
Topics addressed in this episode include: wealth, affluence, wants v. needs, careers, working mother, millionaires.
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence wealth, wealth management.
Now listen, I’m happy you’re here, but if you haven’t found what you’re looking for in the words above, you’re probably not going to find them down here. Seriously, all the important stuff is up yonder.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

How I Built This with Guy Raz - Ep 80

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 15:23:00 GMT

Guy Raz is the host and co-creator of the smash NPR program, How I Built This and author of a new book by the same name. On the show, Guy provides entrepreneurs a platform to share their company’s origin stories and the trials and tribulations involved in getting their companies off the ground. In the new book, Guy goes deeper, reflecting on all he’s learned about what makes founders click.

In addition to How I Built This, Guy is the co-creator of TED Radio Hour and Wow in the World, the first NPR podcast for kids. His programs reach over 14 million people every month.

Before becoming one of the best-known podcasters in history, Guy was a war reporter and foreign correspondent. In 2000 NPR named Guy the bureau chief in Berlin where he covered Eastern Europe and the Balkans. He was just 25 years old. During his six years abroad, he reported from more than 40 countries including the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Macedonia. For his reporting from Iraq, Guy won both the Edward R. Murrow Award and the Daniel Schorr Journalism prize. His reporting has contributed to two duPont awards and one Peabody awarded to NPR.

Guy worked as CNN’s Jerusalem correspondent from 2004-2006, after which he returned to NPR and served as defense correspondent, covering the Pentagon and the US military.

Learn more about Guy on his website.
Please take a second to rate and review Crazy Money here. (Click on whichever app you use to listen!)
Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
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Produced and edited by Mike Carano
Topics addressed in this episode include: Entrepreneurship, venture capital, Entrepreneurs, Founders, start-ups, startups, leadership, radio, NPR, innovation, Sara Blakely, Spanx, Jim Koch, Boston Beer.
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, wealth, wealth management.
Now listen, I’m happy you’re here, but if you haven’t found what you’re looking for in the words above, you’re probably not going to find them down here. Seriously, all the important stuff is up yonder.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Net fulfillment v. Net worth with Bill Perkins - Ep 79

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 06:43:00 GMT

Would you consider yourself a success if you died with $1 million? How about $10 million? Well, what if you died with $0.00? In his new book, Die With Zero: Getting All you Can from Your Money and Your Life, Bill Perkins challenges you to flout conventional wisdom and spend your money not just before you’re dead, but while you’re still young enough to enjoy it. That’s right, instead of maximizing your net worth at death, he wants you to die having lived a life rich in experiences that your hard-earned money made possible. And he’s not saying you should blow it all on parties or ignore the needs of your kids or charities. He’s just saying that the time to decide how to best invest, spend, gift, or bequeath your fortune--big or small--is while you are still on this side of the dirt and still mobile enough to enjoy it. After all, travel is no fun when you’re too infirm to explore and savor the local culture. So dither not! There will be plenty of time to watch Family Feud and The Price is Right when you’re 87 and stuck in your recliner. Called “the last cowboy” by The Wall Street Journal, Bill Perkins is one of the world’s most successful hedge fund managers and entrepreneurs. After studying electrical engineering at the University of Iowa, Bill worked on Wall Street then moved to Houston where he made a fortune as an energy trader. He is currently CEO of BrisaMax Holdings, a consulting services firm based in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Now 51 years-old, Bill views his career as an engine for personal growth and spends his time exploring the world, savoring his relationships, and taking in all that life has to offer. Read more about Bill and the book here. Please take a second to rate and review Crazy Money here. (Click on whichever app you use to listen!) Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
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• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/
Produced and edited by Mike Carano.
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, Success, Rat Race, Buddhism, Stoicism, The hedonic treadmill, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values.
Okay, you’ve reached the end of this episode description. And yet you’re still reading. Why? You must not have much going on today. Hey, have you rated and reviewed this fine podcast yet? You should. So either go back to the podcast page (the page about the whole show, not just this episode) and scroll down, way down to where you see “Rate and Review,” then do your thing. Or, as I say above, click here.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Affluence, Insolvency, and Alcohol with Kirkland Hamill - Ep 78

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 06:08:00 GMT

Kirkland Hamill’s grandfather was very rich. His mother and father raised him and his brothers in grand fashion until Grandpa's death exposed major cracks in the family fortune. When his dad left his mom, she took Kirkland and his brothers to Bermuda where they attended a prestigious school, but never knew how they were going to pay for groceries. In his first book, Filthy Beasts, Kirkland tells the story of a youth spent in flux between affluence and the alcoholism that came with the country clubs and yachts of his early childhood, and the deprivation and calamity of the years beyond that. The book is sad but immensely engaging and full of stories that will leave you gobsmacked. For example, because life in his mother’s home was chaotic, he decided he’d attend boarding school at Andover (as one does when they can’t afford milk) and then attend college at Tulane. The whole story makes you wonder what the point of money or status or social standing is if when one can’t — or chooses not to — provide a stable, loving home for their children. It also makes you think, “maybe I should be a bit more empathetic to others" because I have no idea what someone is dealing or has dealt with in their lives. The good news is that, through Al-Anon and self-determination, Kirkland found himself, his calling, and a stable-adulthood. He currently resides in Baltimore with his husband, Dave, and a dog named Blue. His writing has appeared in Salon,The Advocate, and will likely be appearing in a whole bunch of other places based on the quality and success of this inaugural effort. Find out more about Kirkland and order the book on his https://kirklandhamill.com/ Take a moment to rate and review Crazy Money here. Read Paul’s latest on Medium. Find out more about Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/
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Credit...
Crazy Money is produced and edited by Mike Carano.
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, Success, Rat Race, Buddhism, Stoicism, The hedonic treadmill, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values.
Now listen, I’m happy you’re here, but if you haven’ve found what you’re looking for in the words above, you’re probably not going to find them down here. Seriously, all the important stuff is up yonder.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Happiness is Making a Living with Your Hands with Ken Rusk - Ep 77

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 05:30:00 GMT

Ken Rusk has made a very good living by working with his hands. A true-life, self-described “ditch-digger,” Ken is an entrepreneur who has over 200 people working on his team. In his new book, Blue Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness for Life, Ken advocates an alternative career path to anyone who doesn’t believe “college + white collar job” is the route for them. Ken doesn't believe that university life is wrong for everyone, but he argues that society over-emphasizes the necessity of getting that degree regardless of the massive tuition and debt millions take on in pursuit thereof. Happiness, he argues is in finding work that suits your skills and personality. That’s the situation in which one will find comfort, peace and freedom (not to mention financial security) in one’s career. In this week’s episode of Crazy Money Paul and Ken discuss work ethic, the true sources of happiness, and career satisfaction. Special guest-host: Steve Sidles (Paul’s father-in-law who, unlike his dumb son-in-law, knows how to work with his hands) Learn more about Ken and his book here . If you have a second, please rate Crazy money by clicking here. Select the app you use to listen to the show, scroll down to where you can rate it, and say something nice (or nothing at all). And, if you can, share this with three friends who are smart, good-looking, and intellectually curious.
Find out more about Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
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Produced and edited by Mike Carano
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, Success, Rat Race, Buddhism, Stoicism, The hedonic treadmill, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values.
Now listen, I’m happy you’re here, but if you haven’ve found what you’re looking for in the words above, you’re probably not going to find them down here. Seriously, all the important stuff is up yonder.

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More Choice Makes Us More Miserable with Barry Schwartz - Ep 76

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 06:23:00 GMT

Barry Schwartz is the author of several books, including Why We Work and The Paradox of Choice. I spoke to Barry about his findings in these two important books. Why is it that the harder we work and the more affluent we become, the more depressed we get? Prevailing social wisdom is that more is better, and that more choices should yield more satisfaction, but that is not the case at all. More choice not only overwhelms us, it raises our expectations and makes us doubt our decision-making. Too much choice doesn’t just not make us happier, it increases our anxiety and makes us less happy. Could it be, even in our freedom loving country, that we have gotten too much of a good thing? That we would actually benefit from some guardrails in our lives? I’m sure there are those who would argue against it, but Barry’s research and conclusions here are quite persuasive. Barry Schwartz taught psychology at Swarthmore College for 45 years and is now Visiting Professor of Management at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. He holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Univeristy of Pennsylvania, and a B.S. from New York University. His TED Talks on the topics of work, choice, and wisdom have been viewed over 20 million times. Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
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• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/
Produced and edited by Mike Carano
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, Success, Rat Race, Buddhism, Stoicism, The hedonic treadmill, Mid-Life Crisis, Authors, Books, Consumerism, and Values.

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In memory of Paul’s dad William Ollinger - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 06:58:00 GMT

My dad died peacefully at his home last Friday. He left this world with a clear conscience while napping in his favorite recliner and surrounded by loved ones. He was 93 years old. If you’re looking for guidance on how to lead a good life, Dad was a pretty good example. In this interview from 2019, we discuss work, money, saving, and family, but all these are really just a coded way to answer the question, “what is most important in your life?” For Dad, it was faith, family, and security, which meant always putting himself second while providing everything his family needed and forgoing most discretional material acquisitions. Dad eschewed luxury, living simply and well within his means. Eminently frugal and practical, he had few wants other than to be faithful, useful and kind. While a devout Catholic, he also demonstrated traits of the most practiced Stoics and Buddhists. He wanted little, maintained self-control and practiced moderation in both consumption and emotion. He enjoyed whatever beer was on sale, and kept it Arctic cold. Most importantly, with my dad, it was never “about him.” He had a strong sense of self, but didn’t take himself too seriously. He was genuinely interested in others, listening way more than he talked, and then only to say something nice or to make a corny joke at his own expense. And he always, without fail, conducted himself as the consummate gentleman. As a kid growing up in his relatively austere home, I longed for more stuff. More toys. Nicer furniture, and air conditioning. (Dear Lord, Dad, it’s July in the south - please, more air conditioning!) But as an adult with plenty of A/C, I want to be more like him. While I am still plenty ambitious and motivated, I want to be more detached from the results. I want to do things for the right reasons. I want to listen to others instead of the chorus of voices in the back of my head telling me all the things I should be doing instead (Now! Today!). And I want the kind of serenity that comes from knowing who you are and what matters in life. With all the talk about privilege these days, I hear almost no one talking about the privilege of great parenting. Well I had it and it’s one I’m going to do my best to pass onto my kids. Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
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Produced and edited by Mike Carano
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, Success, Rat Race, Buddhism, Stoicism, The hedonic treadmill, Mid-Life Crisis, authors, books, consumerism, materialism, values.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Bill Collector turned Money Coach to Millions with Chris Hogan - Ep 75

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 06:57:00 GMT

Chris Hogan is a retirement planning expert and popular financial media personality. A former college football player who once worked as a bill collector, Chris has seen the pain economic mismanagement can wreak on a family. Since 2005, he has worked with personal finance legend, Dave Ramsey at Ramsey Solutions to fulfill his goal of helping as many people as possible achieve financial autonomy. Via The Chris Hogan Show and his two books (Retire Inspired and Everyday Millionaires) Chris has helped millions not just understand retirement, investing and building wealth, but to put in place plans to achieve their goals. In our brief but rich discussion, Chris and I discuss the importance of creating a vision for a post-work life, how to control our spending, and what can be done to help close the racial wealth divide. Btw, one way Stacey and I are helping to address this important problem is by supporting Year Up, a national job training program that helps ambitious, hard-working young adults acquire the skills for careers that provide a living wage. Give now. Find out more about Chris on http://ChrisHogan360.com. Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/
Produced and edited by Mike Carano
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, Success, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, Mid-Life Crisis, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values. That’s all for this week. Go do something fun.

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The Economics of Comedy with Kyle Kinane - Ep 74

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 04:41:00 GMT

Making a living in the arts is brutal. One of the things artists have to learn to do is manage their money and to structure their lives so that they’re doing the kind of work they WANT to do instead of doing work they HAVE to do just to pay the bills. On this week’s episode, Kyle Kinane shares insights into his comedy career and spending habits that have kept him solvent and relatively stress-free during the quarantine. While many artists are scrambling to earn while clubs are closed, Kyle maintains his creative freedom and sense of calm, partially because he never bought a Porsche. Kyle Kinane is a nationally-headlining comedian whose TV appearances include Comedy Central’s Drunk History, This is Not Happening, and Comedy Central Presents half-hour comedy special. He has also performed live on the TV on Conan and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, among many others. As an actor, he plays a coke-head ex-boyfriend in Judd Apatow’s Netflix series, Love and also appears on TruTV's Those Who Can’t. His new album Trampoline in a Ditch is very funny and is available here.
Read Paul Ollinger’s latest essays on Medium.
Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
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Produced and edited by Mike Carano
Are you really still reading?
Well, don’t just read this exciting text, go listen to another episode of Crazy Money and tell all your friends about it!

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Are our markets really free? with Denise Hearn - Ep 73

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 05:54:00 GMT

Are you an airline that dominates all the flights at a particular airport (e.g. Delta in Atlanta)? Are you a global beer conglomerate that controls half the beer brands on the planet? Or, are you a gloomy corporate type that owns half the funeral parlors in America? If so, then YOU might be an oligopolist. No, this isn’t a new Jeff Foxworthy routine with a decidedly Econ 101 vibe—it’s a conversation with Denise Hearn (co-author of The Myth of Capitalism: Monopolies and the Death of Competition) about the limits of competition in our market economy. How does this relate to money and happiness? Well, it’s yet another gut-check for us to examine the world in which we live and to question the narratives that drive our lives. Is America really a meritocracy? Are our markets really free? Is Paul's success a product of his hard work or the result of having truly fabulous hair? If nothing else, asking these questions will make us more aware of the forces that shape our lives, for better or worse. Also, you’ll get to hear Paul make healthcare jokes so insanely dumb that his guest doesn’t know whether to laugh with him or at him. You will not need a PhD in economics to follow the conversation. All you need to remember is that feeling you feel when you realize a roundtrip ticket to Cincinnati (a market dominated by Delta) is $700, but a ticket to market also served by Southwest Airlines is $114. Denise Hearn's writing has been featured in publications like the The Washington Post, Quartz, and The Globe and Mail. She has presented to over 50,000 people around the world at venues including the Oxford Union, Bloomberg, and the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents’ Club. She holds an MBA from the Oxford's Saïd Business School where she co-chaired the Social Impact Oxford Business network, and has a BA in International Studies from Baylor University. She resides in Seattle with her husband, and enjoyed hiking, singing and breaking conversational norms at parties. (Ha!) Learn more about Denise on her website. Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
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Produced and edited by Mike Carano
If I were you, I would have stopped reading way up above the links to my social accounts, but you're still here. Why? Don’t you have anything more interesting to do?
Well, while you’re here, email me on paul@crazymoneypodcast.com to suggest future guests or to tell me the best thing that’s happened to you since March 15 and I’ll mention it on next week’s show. (Just putting that here means I’m going to get spammed by a bunch of hackers from former Soviet republics.) Okay, really. Go do something. Listen to another one of my interviews. Or write a kind review of the show taking care to mention my rare combination of intellect, wit, and humility. Have a good day.

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The Wisdom of Frugality with Emrys Westacott- Ep 72

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 22:37:00 GMT

A fun (and sometimes funny) conversation about frugality? Heck yes, friends, because this is Crazy Money!
Emrys Westacott is the author of The Wisdom of Frugality and professor of Philosophy at Alfred University. In addition to courses on ethics, happiness and logic, Emrys teaches an Honors seminar called Tightwaddery, or The Good Life on a Dollar a Day in which students hunt for bargains at yard sales, cut each other’s hair, and cook a banquet composed of meals that cost about a dollar to prepare. One student’s recipe was called “Apple Crisp and how to pilfer your ingredients from the dining hall (which suggests she might not have gotten an “A+” in Emrys’ Ethics class). The Daily Beast named Tightwaddery one of America’s “Hottest College Courses” and CNN called it one of “22 Fascinating and Bizarre College Classes.”
Emrys' work on the topic of frugality centers around a few important questions:
What does it mean to live the good life?
Can frugality actually make you happier?
And--while we’re at it--what does frugality even mean?
In today’s episode, Emrys and I discuss what Stoicism, Buddhism, the Epicureans, and Christianity can teach us about getting the most out of life by knowing what we want from our money. We touch on Puritanism, Transcendentalism, Neo-liberalism, Quarantine, the FIRE movement, and some other books you might want to check out (The Sum of Small Things: A Theory of the Aspirational Class by Elizabeth Currid-Halkett and The Happiness Curve by Jonathan Rauch). Yes, this is a rollicking intellectual soirée, and you are invited!
I know you’ll enjoy Emrys' vast knowledge of the philosophical schools and refined sense of humor (by which I mean he laughed at most of my jokes). Find out more about Emrys and his work on his website and on 3 Quarks Daily.
Read Paul's latest essays on Medium.
Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
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• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/
Produced and edited by Mike Carano.
Are you really still reading?
Don’t you have anything better to do? All the important information is above this….
I’m totally serious.
Did you know a lot of podcast episode descriptions are purposefully over-written just to cram in a bunch of keywords to make them discoverable inside the podcast apps? But since you're still here, I’ll let you know that upcoming episodes will address coronavirus, inequality, the wealth gap, my new Peloton, Covid-19, whether Cialis Trump (s) Viagra, the asbestos -like qualities of certain insurance products, wellness, mindfulness, black lives matter, social media, Oprah, Wall Street, refinancing, Taylor Swift ’s net worth, pandemic, quarantine, weight loss, diets, get rich, make money while you sleep.

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Happiness for Realists with Oliver Burkeman - Ep 71

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 04:16:00 GMT

Oliver Burkeman is the author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking. He also writes a column for The Guardian called This Column Will Change Your Life in which he explores psychology and wellbeing.

When I first learned of the title of his book, I wasn’t yet familiar with Oliver’s work and I didn’t really know what it was about. But I knew it was for me, and I wasn’t disappointed.
In The Antidote, Oliver explores the true sources of human happiness as laid out in Buddhism, Stoicism, and modern psychology. He not only debunks the notion that relentless positivity makes the practitioner happier, but argues persuasively that the accompanying expectations make the happy, go-lucky visioneers much worse off. He offers a second path toward contentment that has to do with recognizing and accepting the scarier parts of life. (I am tempted here to write something here like "Up with Realism!!! Up with Uncertainty!!! Up with embracing our mortality!!!! … but as a realist myself, I don’t like over-using exclamation points.)
His insights are important, thoroughly-researched, and presented with humor that is both copious and dryer than a dryer sheet in a very dry place.

Oliver is the recipient of the Foreign Press Associations’s Young Journalist of the Year award and was on the shortlist for the Orwell Prize. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Us, Esquire and Slate. He holds a degree from Christ's College, Cambridge. He spoke to me from Brooklyn, NY where he is keeping his distance. Read Oliver’s column here. Buy the book here. Follow him on Twitter here.

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Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul Ollinger on his website and follow him on the socials:

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Freedom, Aliveness, and Financial well-being with Tripp Lanier - Ep 70

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 07:10:00 GMT

What if you get everything you’ve ever wanted and it’s still unfulfilling? What then? Men’s coach Tripp Lanier is the author of the newly released, This Book Will Make you Dangerous: The Irreverent Guide for Men who Refuse to Settle. Since 2005, Tripp has spent thousands of hours coaching people on how to get out of the rat race and align their work with their personal values. Over the years, he’s designed several businesses to support a simple lifestyle focused on freedom, aliveness, fun and love. Do you think that’s really possible? To live and work on your own terms? Even if you thought it was possible, would you even know where to start? Tripp started with himself — he designed his personal and professional life to get the most out of every day. He has engaged in everything from 10 day silent meditation retreats to “plant medicine” journeys to men’s groups in the Coast Rican Jungle. He was an early podcast pioneer in 2008, launching The new Man Podcast: Beyond the Macho Jerk and the New Age Wimp, which has been downloaded millions of times. Prominent guests on Tripp’s show include Tim Ferriss, Stephen Pressfield, Laird Hamilton, Ryan Holiday, Mark Manson, Phil Stutz, Robert Greene, Alan Alda, and many, many more (including Paul Ollinger). Tripp lives in a small beach town in North Carolina where he surfs, plays music, and enjoys a simple life with his wife and daughter. Learn more about / get in touch with Tripp / buy his book on his website. Read Paul Ollinger’s latest essays on Medium. Find out more about Crazy Money and Paul on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
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Addiction, work, and living “mask-free" with Mike Brody-Waite - Ep 69

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 06:31:00 GMT

At 23 years-old, Michael Brody-Waite drank a fifth of vodka and a 12-pack of beer everyday. He smoked tons of weed and cigarettes, and would “do any drug he could get his hands on.” When he wasn’t throwing up blood, he was mooching off--or just stealing from--his friends. After finally getting clean, Michael achieved tremendous success in technology sales and eventually became the CEO of a health-tech start-up that sold for many millions of dollars. In his new book, Great Leaders Live Like Drug Addicts: How to Lead like Your Life Depends on It, Michael discusses the importance of living "mask-free" (he acknowledges the irony of advocating not wearing a mask during the pandemic), i.e. to live and lead with honesty and vulnerability. While this podcast isn’t really about leadership or entrepreneurship, I wanted to talk to Michael because the lessons he shares in his book are worth implementing in all of our daily lives. Speaking of the book, when I started reading it, I had my antennae out for self-help or motivational B.S., but I really didn’t find any. What I found was Michael being very matter-of-fact about his life had going off the rails, and how living a life of openness had not only gotten him back on track, but taken him to new heights of accomplishment. In this week’s episode of Crazy Money, we talk addiction, recovery, accountability, authenticity, money, careers, and gratitude. And we get into a real discussion over whether or not it's realistic for people to “bring their true selves” to work. If you like this conversation, check out Micheal's TED talk, which has been viewed over 1.6 mm times by people in over 25 countries. Also, on Michael’s website, you can learn more about him, buy his book, or check out the Mask-Free Program. Thanks to my podcast Uncle, Joe Saul-Sehy of Stacking Benjamins podcast for introducing me to Michael.
Connect with Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
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Cancer, Careers, and Family with Julie Saxon- Ep 68

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 05:51:00 GMT

In 2013, Julie Saxon’s career was rocking along. The mother of two young girls had just gotten a big promotion, and was managing the work-life balance quite nicely. Later that year, everything changed when her husband, Joel, was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer cancer. Thus began a six-year journey trek through chemo, surgeries, hospital bills, insurance hell, and trying to keep the train on the tracks at work and at home. After 6 years, 87 rounds of chemo, ten rounds of radiation, seven surgeries, and two clinical trials, Joel’s valiant fight against cancer ended in his death. He lived longer than 99% of patients with his diagnosis. While I was listening to her tell the story, I couldn’t help but think how much Julie’s strength, support, and raw will had to do with his relative longevity. Julie and I met when we both worked in ad sales at Yahoo! in the early 2000’s. She was in the Atlanta office where I would visit from the West Coast when I was home seeing my parents. Her story reminded me of how lucky we both were to work at a company staffed by so many incredible human beings. To this day, her Atlanta co-workers remain some of her closest friends. Not only did one introduce her to Joel, but he and the others were there to support her throughout marriage and its sad conclusion. Many of their names come up in our chat. While I wanted to explain the relevance of each one, I didn’t want to stop the flow of conversation. Trust me, they’re all great. Julie is now VP/Group director of sales for a large digital media company. She and her two beautiful daughters live in Atlanta. I want to thank Julie for trusting me with this conversation. Connect with Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials:
• Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

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Does money make you happy? with Carol Graham - Ep 67

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 15:25:00 GMT

Why are some millionaires miserable while many in poverty are happy?

Does a rapidly-improving economy always lead to more well-being?

How does optimism affect our economic futures?

These are some of the big questions Carol Graham has tackled in decades of extensive research into the economics of happiness. A Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and Professor at the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy, Carol’s books include Happiness around the World: The Paradox of Happy Peasants and Miserable Millionaires and The Pursuit of Happiness: An Economy of Well-Being, both of which have been published in several languages.
The economic factors that lead to happiness are often not what we humans believe them to be. Carol has spent her career challenging assumptions about how hope, uncertainty, optimism, inequality, and rapidly developing economies contribute to well-being. Her results, which are often counter-intuitive, are a great reminder of what we should keep in mind when trying to optimize both our personal happiness and that of the societies in which we live (hint: the two are connected).
Carol earned her A.B. at Princeton, an M.A. at Johns Hopkins and a Ph.D. at Oxford. (In other words, she’s real smart.)
Learn more about Carol on the Brookings Institution website.
Give to YEAR UP.
For books by Dr. Graham and other authors who have appeared on the show, shop the Crazy Money list on Bookshop.org. (CM gets a small commission.)
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Please rate and review Crazy Money.
Stay gold.

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Rich v. Wealthy with Paul Sullivan - Ep 66

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 07:12:00 GMT

Paul Sullivan writes the Wealth Matters column for The New York Times and is the author of The Thin Green Line: The Money Secrets of The Super Wealthy. In his book, he discusses the important difference between being rich and being wealthy. Hint: One means that you have a lot of money, the other means that you have control over your financial life. Paul grew up in a working-class family but won a scholarship to attend an elite boarding school, an experience that changed his life. After earning degrees at Trinity College and University of Chicago, he began a journalism career, reporting for Bloomberg, The Financial Times, and other top publications. In this conversation, Paul shares how his experience growing up in a cash-strapped home both drove his fascination with people of means and molded his personal financial values. Through his reporting on and interaction with the wealthy, Paul has garnered insights into their hopes, dreams, and anxieties. He understands their spending, saving, and investing habits. He knows how they work, play, and parent in the hopes that their children will grow up to be motivated and hard-working. His latest book was called “...welcome antidote to the idea that wealth is a number on a bank statement” and it is far more interesting and readable than the other 99% of personal finance books out there. Most importantly, it will help you identify what kind of a earner and spender you are, and help you find a path to the good side of The Thin Green Line. Oh I almost forgot, Paul also writes the Money Game column for Golf Magazine. So you should check that out too.
Paul lives in Fairfield County, Connecticut, with his family. Learn more about him on https://pauljsullivan.com/.
For books by authors who have appeared on the show, shop the Crazy Money list on Bookshop.org. (CM gets a small commission.) Read Paul O’s latest essay, Your Only Goal is to Arrive: To Survive the Quarantine, Change Your Metrics on Medium:Forge. Sign up for Paul Ollinger ’s newsletter on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

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Money and College Admissions with Paul Tough - Ep 65

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 26 May 2020 15:27:00 GMT

Wealthy families have huge advantages when it comes to playing the college admissions game, and it’s not just more AP classes and $400/hour SAT/ACT tutors. That’s the conclusion of Paul Tough in his most recent book, The Years That Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us, which Ira Glass describes the book as, “Gorgeously reported. Vividly written. Utterly lucid.” (such an "Ira Glass" way to say it.) Tough reveals that Cash-strapped universities actively seek out prospective students whose parents can pay full tuition. Thus, despite the ongoing discussion about preferential treatment for minorities and underprivileged families, schools’ thirst for cash flow results in far more lenient criteria for the children of affluent parents. In other words, it’s better to be a dumb, rich kid than a smart, poor kid, even though less well-off students at good schools have very similar outcomes than their more affluent classmates. Said one admissions counselor of the struggle to meet her school’s tuition (i.e. revenue) goals, “It’s not a matter of turning down kids we’d like to admit. It’s a matter of admitting students we’d like to turn down.” OUCH. Paul Tough is a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine; his writing has also appeared in the New Yorker, the Atlantic, GQ, and Esquire, and on the op-ed page of the New York Times. He is a speaker on topics including education, parenting, equity, and student success. Among Paul’s previous books is How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, which was translated into 27 languages and spent more than a year on the New York Times hardcover and paperback best-seller lists. For books by authors who have appeared on the show, shop the Crazy Money list on Bookshop.org. (CM gets a small commission.) Read Paul O’s latest essay, Your Only Goal is to Arrive: To Survive the Quarantine, Change Your Metrics on Medium:Forge. Sign up for Paul Ollinger ’s newsletter on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

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God Wants You to be Rich with Rabbi Daniel Lapin - Ep 64

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 19 May 2020 03:42:00 GMT

Rabbi Daniel Lapin believes that money is the reward we get when we serve another one of God’s children. Therefore, doing business is doing God’s work. In his videos, courses, and books, Thou Shall Prosper and Business Secrets from the Bible, Rabbi Lapin leverages scripture to weave a passionate and refreshing defense of capitalism. In short: God wants man and woman to be together, to serve one other, and to prosper as a result. In addition to capitalism, Rabbi Lapin and I discuss Evangelicalism, the Prosperity Gospel (which he completely disavows), the respective financial attitudes of Protestants v. Catholics, and—yes—why Jews are disproportionately good with money. Full-disclosure: I may be a biased participant in this conversation because the two best financial days of my life were the days I met the late Dave Goldberg and the day I met Mark Zuckerberg. Suffice to say that I have benefitted tremendously from my association with The Tribe, even if I once made a tragic sartorial decisions at a Bat Mitzvah (listen for the details. It mortifies me to this day.) So if you have an idea for a potential guest or just want to say hi, please email me at Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com. I read every email. Learn more about Rabbi Lapin on https://YouNeedaRabbi.com. To find books by Rabbi Lapin and other authors who have been on Crazy Money, shop our store on BOOKSHOP. (CM earns a small commission.) Find out more about Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

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Finding joy in the everyday with Laura Delizonna - Ep 63

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 12 May 2020 03:55:00 GMT

Laura Delizonna, PhD is a Stanford University instructor, international speaker, author, and expert on the science of happiness. Her mission is to help others thrive in life and work. She delivers practical, interactive, science-based trainings and inspiring keynotes. She consults with top corporations like Google and Facebook to help optimize team performance. On today’s episode, we talk about happiness, being yourself at work, the relative importance of income, and how to find joy in the everyday. If you don’t know about the human negativity bias (you have one), you owe it to yourself to listen...lest you succumb to your fear, anxiety and disappointment. You don’t want to do that, do you? No, of course not. So listen, and share with all your friends. Learn more about Laura on https://delizonna.com/. To find books by Laura and other authors who have been on Crazy Money, shop our store on BOOKSHOP. (CM earns a small commission.) Find out more about Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

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James Lowry, Minority business pioneer- Ep 62

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 05 May 2020 05:46:00 GMT

James H. Lowry grew up in Jim Crow era Chicago. After graduating from Grinnell College and spending time in the Peace Corps, Jim became McKinsey & Company's first African-American consultant in 1968 and, years later, the first black senior partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Jim worked with mayors, the federal government and leading corporations to implement ground-breaking and historic workforce and supplier diversity programs. Lowry continues to serve as a senior advisor to BCG, while heading his own private consulting firm, James H. Lowry & Associates. His new memoir, Change Agent, chronicles Jim's amazing life. As impressive as his professional resume is, the stories he has about his youth, college years and his work in the Peace Corps will blow your mind. Jim’s not only smart, incredibly accomplished, and networked out the wazoo, but he is just one cool guy. Special thanks to my friend and former Facebook colleague, Kay Madati for the introduction to Jim. Buy Jim’s book, Change Agent,here. To find books by other authors who have been on Crazy Money, shop our store on BOOKSHOP. (CM earns a small commission.) Paul has lost 8 lbs in 12 days using the NOOM app (No kidding!). Get started eating right with a free NOOM two-week trial by clicking here. Find out more about Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

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The bondage of student debt (with Michael Arceneaux) - Ep 61

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 05:15:00 GMT

Michael Arceneaux is the New York Times best-selling author of I Can’t Date Jesus and his new collection of essays, I Don’t Want to Die Poor, in which he chronicles the debilitating nature of his student debt. A graduate of Howard University who is known for his biting wit and cultural insights, Michael’s writing appears regularly in top publications, including NYT, Washington Post, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Wired, The Atlantic, and many more. We spoke over Zoom from his apartment in Harlem where he is sheltering in-place. Buy his new book here. Read Paul Ollinger’s latest essay, Your Only Goal is to Arrive: To Survive the Quarantine, Change Your Metrics on Medium:Forge. Find out more about Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

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Lori Gottlieb, author, Maybe You Should Speak with Someone -Ep 60

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 05:28:00 GMT

Lori Gottlieb is a psychotherapist and author of the best-selling (and excellent) book, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, which is being developed into a series for ABC by Eva Longoria. Lori pens the weekly "Dear Therapist" column for The Atlantic, and has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Time, People, Slate, Salon, and many other top periodicals. Lori and I discuss resilience and the need for self-care during quarantine. We’ll also talk about what it’s like to be a therapist in therapy, and—of course—money and how she sees it showing up with some of her most successful clients. Buy Maybe You Should Talk to Someone here. Read Paul’s latest article, Your Only Goal is to Arrive: To Survive the Quarantine, Change Your Metrics on Medium:Forge Find out more about Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

How Londoners survived the Blitz with Dr. Amy Bell - Ep 59

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 04:59:00 GMT

Dr. Amy Bell is the author of London Was Ours, an examination of memoirs and diaries kept by ordinary Londoners during the Blitz. From Sept 1940-May 1941, Hitler’s Luftwaffe bombed London almost every day or night. The city experienced massive death and destruction, yet citizens went on with their lives, albeit under modified routines. Amy and I discuss how the lessons of the Blitz might be relevant to the Coronavirus shelter-in-place quarantine. Amy Bell is a professor of History and Department Chair at Huron University College in London, Ontario Canada. Her research focuses on the social and cultural history of 20th century Britain, particularly London. She is fascinated by the histories of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstance, like bombing raids, violent crimes and— you guessed it—quarantines! Learn more about Amy’s work on http://www.amyhelenbell.com/ and/or Follow her on Twitter. Find out more about Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Marshall Chiles: Owner, Laughing Skull Lounge - Ep 58

Paul Ollinger — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 22:18:00 GMT

Marshall Chiles is the owner of the Laughing Skull Lounge in midtown Atlanta. The 80 seat-club sells out almost every show, but has been closed for 3 weeks. Marshall discusses the financial and emotional toll of closing the doors and how he’s taking care of his team during this crisis. Visit https://laughingskulllounge.com/ to pre-purchase tickets good for 12 months after the club re-opens. Download the GoodPods app here. Tell Paul he’s a good person on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Bernie Madoff victim talks loss, PTSD and suicidal thoughts with Steve Heimoff - Ep 57

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 03:05:00 GMT

Steve Heimoff is a wine writer, author, and former West Coast editor at Wine Enthusiast. He has published three books about winemaking with the University of California Press. In 2008, Steve learned that his entire savings—almost $2mm—had vanished in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. The loss, Steve shares, drove him to despair, leaving him with suicidal thoughts and PTSD.
Learn more about Steve here.
Find out more about Paul on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/ You can also email him at Paul@CrazyMoneypodcast.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Rory Scovel, world-famous / down-to-earth comedian -Ep 56

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 05:22:00 GMT

Rory Scovel is a writer, actor, and comedian who plays to sold-out crowds all over the country. He was the male lead in Amy Schumer’s hit movie, I Feel Pretty, and was a principal character in Demetri Martin’s 2016 film, Dean. He has appeared on many TV shows, including TBS’ Ground Floor, TruTV's Those Who Can’t, NBC’s Undateable, ABC’s Modern Family, and has performed on Conan nine times. His most recent comedy special, Rory Scovel Tries Stand-up for the First time is available on Netflix. Rory and I talk about how growing up in Greenville, SC in a big ol’ family affects his attitudes toward money, the entertainment industry, and his career. Here are his recommendations for books, movies, and comedy specials to help you enjoy your Quarantine:

Books: 11/22/63 by Stephen King, and Sapiens by Yuval Noah Haraji

Comedy specials: anything by Maria Bamford or Nate Bargatze

Movies: Willow, Back to the Future

When the world returns to normal, find Rory’s touring schedule here: http://roryscovel.com In the mean time, visit Paul’s website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

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From $100mm+ to broke in six months with AJ Jain - ENCORE EPISODE

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 04:37:00 GMT

AJ Jain is a retired C-level insurance executive, former strategy consultant, and professor of marketing at Southern Methodist University. He holds a Ph.D. and MBA from SUNY Buffalo and two other degrees from prestigious universities in India. In other words, he’s a very accomplished guy. Yet, for a few years in his early 40’s, AJ faced existential economic catastrophe and marital collapse. On the brink of financial ruin, AJ rediscovered himself and committed to living a purposeful, family-centric life.
AJ is the founder of Feed A Billion, a nutritional non-profit program that helps prevent human trafficking caused by food insecurity. Since it’s inception in 2016, it has provided 5.5 million meals to those in need. Learn more here: http://FeedABillion.org
Tell Paul hello at Paul@crazymoneypodcast.com

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Danny Wuerffel, Heisman Trophy-winner - Ep 55

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 03:58:00 GMT

Danny Wuerffel won the Heisman Trophy and led University of Florida Gators to a national championship and four SEC titles. Today Danny is the Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries, an organization that helps reshape disadvantaged urban communities in the Southeastern U.S. Desire Street provides coaching, training, retreats and many other resources to the heroes leading change in the neighborhoods that need the most support. Learn more about Danny and his work here: https://dannywuerffel.com/bio/and https://desirestreet.org/ Visit Paul’s website: http://PaulOllinger.comand/or follow Paul: -on Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger -on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ -on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ -on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

Devin Singh, author Divine Currency: The Theological Power of Money in the West - Ep 54

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 04:38:00 GMT

Devin Singh is an Associate Professor of Religion at Dartmouth. His first book, Divine Currency: The Theological Power of Money in the West examines the ways early Christian thinkers made use of monetary and economic concepts as they created Christian doctrine. We talk about how financial language and metaphor of the early Church affects how we talk about money and God today. Learn more about Devin and his work here: http://www.devinsingh.com/ Visit Paul’s website: http://PaulOllinger.com Follow Paul: -on Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger -on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ -on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ -on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

What happens to all the stuff we buy? with Adam Minter - Ep 53

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 06:50:00 GMT

Adam Minter is a columnist at Bloomberg Opinion where he writes about China, technology, and the environment. He is the author of Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion-Dollar Trash Trade, a critically-acclaimed, bestselling account of the hidden world of globalized recycling, and the forthcoming Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale. Adam has covered the global recycling industry for almost two decades. He has been cited, quoted, and interviewed on recycling and waste by The New York Times, Vice, NPR, BBC, The Huffington Post, and CBC. He regularly speaks to groups about the global waste and recycling trade including colleges, universities, and trade groups. We spoke via web conferencing with me in Atlanta and him in Malaysia. Share your feedback with Paul via http://PaulOllinger.com or Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit words.paulollinger.com/subscribe ]]> Click the icon below to listen.

John Soforic, author, The Wealthy Gardener - Ep 52

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 06:30:00 GMT

John Soforic is a chiropractor who earned financial freedom. He shares his life lessons for his son in his self-published The Wealth Gardener: Life Lessons on Prosperity Between Father and Son, which sold 30,000 copies (this is a lot!) in the first year, and is now being re-issued by PenguinRandomHouse.
John achieved his financial dreams by thinking long-term, and working really, really hard for decades while raising a family in rural Pennsylvania. He is an authority on financial freedom not because he studied wealth or learned about finance in school. He is an authority because he actually did it- he mastered his subject and achieved the desired end in the real world.
Learn more about John on http://wealthygardener.com/ Get in touch with Paul on paul@crazymoneypodcast.com or at http://paulollinger.com

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Bruce Daisley, author, Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat - Ep 51

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 06:22:00 GMT

Bruce Daisley has spent his career working in media and technology companies, like YouTube, Google and Emap. His last venture in corporate leadership was as VP EMEA (translated: King of Europe). Along the way he became obsessed with making our jobs better, and how often we get it wrong. Eat Sleep Work Repeat (called The Joy of Work in the UK) is his attempt to escape the bad opinions that leaders bring to work culture – and to replace them with evidence and facts thus creating a more humane workplace. Get Bruce’s new book here. Tell Paul he has a strong nose here: http://PaulOllinger.com Hear the song Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeathere

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Year 1 in Review of Crazy Money - Ep 50

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 06:17:00 GMT

We are one year and 50 episodes into Crazy Money!!! This week, Paul and producer/editor extraordinaire, Mike Carano, discuss their favorite episodes, themes and guests they’ve had on the show. Those guests include rockstars, Nobel laureates, famous authors/broadcasters, and Paul’s wife and father. (Two different people.) As our one year birthday gift, please rate / review the show on your Podcast app. Also, see Paul’s upcoming shows and videos on http://paulollinger.com or send him an email at Paul@crazymoneypodcast.com.

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Giving away half of your house with Kevin Salwen - Ep 49

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 08:05:00 GMT

Kevin Salwen is a former reporter and editor at The Wall Street Journal and co-author of two very different, yet equally compelling books.
The Power of Half: One Family’s Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back, is the story of how — at the urging of their then 14 year-old daughter—the Salwen family sold their big house and contributed half the proceeds to help a village in Ghana.
The new book is called The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, the FBI, the Media, and Richard Jewell, the Man Caught in the Middle. It’s a gripping read about the bombing in Atlanta’s Centennial Park during the 1996 Olympics, the heroism of Richard Jewell and the calamity that took place after the FBI named Jewell as a suspect.
Kevin is a graduate of Northwestern University. He served as board chair of Year Up Atlanta, and served as a board member of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity for 12 years.
Buy The Suspect here.
Buy The Power of Half here.
Send Paul an Email at paul@crazymoneypodcast.com
Visit his website at http://paulollinger.com

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Buddhism and money with Dominic Houlder - Ep 48

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 06:31:00 GMT

Dominic Houlder is the co-author of Mindfulness and Money and What Philosophy Can Teach You About Being a Better Leader. An Adjunct Professor at London Business School and former manager at Boston Consulting Group, Dominic has been a committed Buddhist practitioner for more than 30 years.
Dominic has an MA in History from Cambridge University and an MBA from Stanford Business School. His home is in Scotland, where — alongside his academic and client commitments — he is a crofter on the Isle of Skye. To find more on Buddhism and the Buddha, see the following books: Siddhartha, Dhammapada, Gautama Buddha To find more about another bald, round-bellied fella, go here: http://paulollinger.com

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Why Happiness plummets in middle age with Jonathan Rauch - Ep 47

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 05:40:00 GMT

Jonathan Rauch is a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and contributing editor of The Atlantic. In The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50, he discusses the decline in happiness that most people experience in middle age and what there is to do about it. Jonathan's writing spans the full spectrum of society, including politics, marijuana legalization, health care, gay marriage, adultery, agriculture, economics, height discrimination, and animal rights. This work has earned him many honors, including the National Magazine Award and the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association prize for excellence in opinion writing. You have probably read some of it in The Economist, Reason, Harper’s, Fortune, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Slate, The Advocate, or many other leading publications. He does not like shrimp. See and learn more about Thomas Cole's "The Voyage of Life" here. Learn more about Jonathan here: https://www.jonathanrauch.com/ See more about Paul's life and comedy here: http://paulollinger.com

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Mike Norton, Harvard Business School - Ep 46

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 07:25:00 GMT

The way you spend your money can actually make you happier! So prove Mike Norton and co-author, Elizabeth Dunn, in the book, Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending.
Michael I. Norton is the Harold M. Brierley Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, and a member of Harvard’s Behavioral Insights Group. He holds a B.A. in Psychology and English from Williams College and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Princeton University. In other words, he’s crazy smart.
Find out more about Mike here: https://michaelnorton.com/ Tell Paul he’s funny here: http://paulollinger.com

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Culture, marriage and money with first generation Americans with Dr. Diana and Mr. Yoshee Sodiq - Ep 45

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 06:21:00 GMT

Yoshee and Diana have been married 13 years and have three children. They recently down-sized their lifestyle to prioritize family and their respective passions and side hustles. Dr. Diana Sodiq is the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, an osteopathic physician, certified yoga teacher and founder of Rehab Medicine and Wellness. Yoshee, a first-generation Nigerian-American, is a touring comedian, producer and technology marketing executive. Please rate and review Crazy Money! Find out more / give Paul more feedback at http://paulollinger.com

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Creator of Stacking Benjamins podcast Joe Saul-Sehy - Ep 44

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 05:57:00 GMT

Joe Saul-Sehy is the host of the Stacking Benjamins podcast, which uses humor to inspire people to think more seriously about money and financial well-being. Kiplinger named Stacking Benjamins"Best Finance Podcast” of the year and the Academy of Podcasters called it Best Business Podcast. You’ll also find SB on the “best of” lists in Forbes, US News & World Report, and TheStreet.com. Joe and his co-host, OG, know their stuff, are 100% real and make learning about money fun. Like, for real. Joe also co-hosts the Money with Friends podcast with fellow friend of Crazy Money, Bobbi Rebell. Visit Paul on http://paulollinger.com or send him a note on Paul@crazymoneypodcast.com For great last minute Christmas / Hanukkah gift ideas on Electric D Creations

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Leap: Leaving a Job with No Plan B with Tess Vigeland - Ep 43

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 17:30:00 GMT

Tess Vigeland is the author of Leap: Leaving a Job with No Plan B to Find the Career and Life You Really Want. Tess spent twenty years in public radio, several of which she spent as an anchor of the national business show, Marketplace and as host of Marketplace Money. She is the recipient of both a Gracie Award for Best Host/Anchor, and a national Edward R. Murrow award. In addition to being a contributing writer at the New York Times, the Guardian, and Forbes, Tess is also a photographer, a volunteer, and a thrower-of-dinner parties. See her gorgeous photos here. See Paul’s new hairdo on http://paulollinger.com or email him on Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com

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"The Moral Obligations of Money" with Princeton's Peter Singer - Ep 42

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 06:47:00 GMT

Peter Singer is the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University whom The New Yorker called “the world’s most influential living philosopher.” The founder of The Life You Can Save, an organization named after his book of the same name, Peter believes it is our moral duty to give generously—way beyond what we are currently doing--to improve the lives of people living in extreme poverty. Bill and Melinda Gates said the book, “will change the way you think about philanthropy.” The 10th anniversary edition of The Life You Can Save is available for free (starting TODAY!) in both audio and e-book formats on the website TheLifeYouCanSave.org. Tell Paul hello at http://paulollinger.com or on Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com Produced and edited by Mike Carano Topics addressed in this episode include: Giving, philanthropy, charity, Princeton, altruism.
Topics addressed on Crazy Money include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, morality, Buddhism, Stoicism, The hedonic treadmill, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, the good life.

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The Anxious Achiever Podcast with host Morra Aarons-Mele - Ep 41

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 05:51:00 GMT

Morra Aarons-Mele is the founder of award-winning social impact agency Women Online and its database of women influencers, The Mission List.
An extremely anxious introvert herself, Morra hosts The Anxious Achiever podcast for HBRPresents from Harvard Business Review. Her bestselling book Hiding in the Bathroom: How to Get Out There (When You'd Rather Stay Home) was published by HarperCollins and is available in many languages.
She has written for The Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, and many other prestigious media outlets. Morra has degrees from Harvard's Kennedy School and Brown University, and holds a certificate in Government from the London School of Economics. She and Nicco Mele live in Boston with their three children.
*Please* take a moment to Rate and Review this podcast.
See where Paul will be telling jokes in front of human crowds: https://paulollinger.com/events/
Email guest suggestions, accolades, and non-constructive criticism to Paul at paul@crazymoneypodcast.com

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"Willful" with Author Richard Robb - Ep 40

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 07:21:00 GMT

Richard Robb is an economics professor at Columbia University. And the CEO of Christofferson, Robb and Company, a New York and London based investment management firm. Robb holds a BA from Duke University (1981) and a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago (1985).
His new book, Willful: How we Choose What We Do explores frameworks for decision making that run counter to traditional economic frameworks. I also talked to Eric Porres, another Duke alum and founder of MeetingScience, on how to make meetings less awful and restore sanity in the workplace.
Tell Paul who you want to hear on the show at paul@crazymoneypodcast.com
See where he’ll be performing next here: http://PaulOllinger.com/events

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Stacey Ollinger, Paul’s wife - Ep 39

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 04:03:00 GMT

My wife, Stacey, and I talk about how we talk about money, budgeting, and household expenditures. And how we manage our careers and identities in a post-corporate job reality. I hereby acknowledge that the tradeoffs discussed herein are high-class, First World problems.
See Paul’s upcoming show dates here: http://paulollinger.com

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The Happiness Research Institute with its CEO, Meik Wiking - Ep 38

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 06:30:00 GMT

Meik Wiking is the CEO of The Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is a New York Times best-selling author of The Little Book of Hygge,The Little Book of Lykke, and The Art of Making Memories. His books explore happiness, subjective well-being and quality of life. They offer simple tips to help the reader improve day-to-day happiness, and have sold over 1 million copies worldwide.
See more about Meik’s work here: https://www.happinessresearchinstitute.com/
Visit virtual Paul: http://PaulOllinger.com/events

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Failure’s lessons with AJ Jain - Ep 37

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 03:17:00 GMT

"Civilized to Death" with Author Christopher Ryan - Ep 36

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 05:15:00 GMT

In his new book, Civilized to Death: The Price of Progress, Chris Ryan, PhD. questions whether civilization has actually been a net benefit to our species. Ask yourself: would you rather spend your life fighting traffic and working every day in a cubicle, or foraging among the trees, falling asleep under the stars, warmed by a literal and communal fire? Chris’ first book, Sex at Dawn spent several weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. His TED Talk has been viewed over 2.5 million times. https://chrisryanphd.com/ Email Paul at Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com

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"How to Be a Financial Grownup" with author and financial journalist Bobbi Rebell - Ep 35

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 05:33:00 GMT

Bobbi Rebell is an award-winning TV anchor and personal finance columnist most recently at Thomson Reuters, the largest news organization in the world. She is also the host of the Financial Grownup podcast and the co-host of the Money with Friends podcast. Her Reuters column was syndicated to newspapers and websites worldwide. Before that, she was a reporter at PBS’ Nightly Business Report and held various producer positions at CNN and CNBC. Bobbi is the author of the best-selling self-help/personal finance book “How to Be a Financial Grownup: Proven Advice from High Achievers on How to Live Your Dreams and Have Financial Freedom. The book combines unique personal financial stories from inspirational leaders, including Tony Robbins, Jim Cramer, Drew Barrymore, and many more. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Bobbi holds a Certificate in Financial Planning from New York University. I spoke to Bobbi in her NYC office about raising financial grown-ups, the life cycle of a financial journalist, and working for her dad’s approval.
See all things Bobbi here: http://www.bobbirebell.com/
See some things Paul here: http://paulollinger.com

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Comedy Entrepreneur, Rick Bronson - Ep 34

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 04:33:00 GMT

Rick Bronson is an award-winning comedian, magician, TV Host, and entrepreneur. He has worked with President Bill Clinton, Spinal Tap, Martin Short, The Smothers Brothers, and many other fascinating people. Rick is the recipient of 8 COCA Comedian of the Year awards, an AMPIA award for Best TV Host on his travel series, The Tourist, and many other comedy accolades.
Today, Rick owns and operates some of North Americas top comedy clubs – The House of Comedy in Minneapolis and Phoenix; and The Comic Strip in Edmonton and (coming soon) East Rutherford, NJ.
We talked live at the Big Pine Comedy Festival in Flagstaff, AZ about transitioning from life as a performer, running a successful business, smoked meats, and finding happiness amidst life’s ups-and-downs….which has mostly to do with smoked meats…and golf. Email Paul at Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com

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"Stillness is the Key" with Author Ryan Holiday - Ep 33

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 06:30:00 GMT

Ryan Holiday is the author of ten books, which have sold sold more than 2 million copies worldwide and been translated into 30 languages. World-class athletes, celebrities and political leaders use his lessons to achieve peak performance. His 2014 book, The Obstacle Is The Way, was read by the New England Patriots during their 2014 Super Bowl-winning season and by four-time major champion golfer Rory McIlroy as preparation for the 2019 Masters Tournament. In his new book, Stillness is the Key, the author explores how each of us can find wisdom in our lives by slowing down and quieting the barking dogs in our head. Ryan is also the founder of Daily Stoic, a community of 200,000 people dedicated to leading better lives by contemplating the ancient philosophy.
Find Ryan on http://dailystoic.com
Find Paul on http://PaulOllinger.com Email Paul at Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com

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"Happiness" with Professor in Psychology, Yale University, Dr. Laurie Santos - Ep 31

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 03:07:00 GMT

Our brains are not good at predicting what will actually make us happy. You think you want more money, more fame, and to be alone, but what will actually make you happy are more social connections and more gratitude. Dr. Santos’ course Psychology and the Good Life teaches students to live happier, more fulfilling lives, which is good because student rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts are at an all-time high. Check out her great new podcast, The Happiness Labhere. Make a social connection with Paul at his website, http://paulollinger.com Email him guest suggestions and gift certificates at: Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com

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"Does happiness peak?" with Nobel Laureate and Economist Sir Angus Deaton - Ep 31

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 03:35:00 GMT

Princeton economist and Nobel Prize-winner, Sir Angus Deaton co-authored a famous study concluding that well-being peaks at $75k/year in income. But the results of this research go much deeper and are widely misconstrued. The first question we wrestle with is "what does it mean to be happy?” We also get into health, opioids, and trout-fishing. A native of Edinburgh, Scotland, Angus Deaton earned his BA, MA, and PhD at Cambridge. Since 1983, he has been a member of the Economics faculty at Princeton University. He has won many awards, most notably the 2015 Nobel Memorial prize in Economic Sciences for his analysis of consumption, poverty, and welfare. In 2016, Deaton joined the Order of the British Empire, named Knight Bachelor "for his services to research in economics and international affairs.” Check out his latest book on Amazon: The Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality Find all things Paul Ollinger on his website: http://paulollinger.com Email Paul at Paul@CrazyMoneyPodcast.com

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"Quit Like a Millionaire" with Authors Kristy Shen & Bryce Leung - Ep 30

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 04:20:00 GMT

Kristy Shen grew up in abject poverty in rural China where her family lived on $.44 per day. Chronic hunger and worm-infested drinking water were regular parts of her youth. Her husband, Bryce Leung, is also a first generation Canadian, but from a more middle class background. Early in their computer-programming careers, they committed themselves to frugality. In their early-30’s, with millions in the bank, they retired, and now travel the world full-time. Kristy and Bryce are the co-founders of the financial independence blog, Millennial-Revolution.com and co-authors of the book, Quit Like a Millionaire: No Gimmicks, Luck or Trust Fund Required. See their blog here: https://www.millennial-revolution.com/ Give Paul hair and make-up tips here: http://PaulOllinger.com

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"Chutzpah" with Author Inbal Arieli Ep - 29

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 05:28:00 GMT

Israeli kids grow up in a world of uncertainty, with war and terrorism never far away. They are independent yet group-minded. They know that when they turn 18, they will serve in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). Their parents don’t hover over them, obsess over every mistake, or give them trophies for losing.
In her new book, Chutzpah, Inbal Arieli argues that these traits uniquely prepare them for life as entrepreneurs.
Inbal garnered her entrepreneurial skills during her mandatory IDF service where she was a Lieutenant in the elite intelligence 8200 unit. In her post-military career, she has served as General Counsel to several start-ups, and is currently Co-CEO of Synthesis, a Leadership Assessment & Development company.
She holds an LL.B. in Law, B.A in Economics and MBA in Entrepreneurship and Strategy, from Tel Aviv University.
Learn more about Inbal here: http://inbalarieli.com/
Compliment Paul on his hair: http://paulollinger.com

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"Rich People Have Problems Too" with Financial Therapist Brad Klontz - Ep 28

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 05:06:00 GMT

Short-seller who goes after “bad guys" with Marc Cohodes - Ep 27

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 04:43:00 GMT

Marc Cohodes has made a career betting against companies he suspects of fraud. So when two FBI agents showed up on his farm to tell him to stop Tweeting about MiMedx CEO Pete Petit, Marc says he knew something was rotten in the Marietta, GA biotech’s company’s operations. Marc contends that MiMedx has been engaged in several dishonest practices and that Petit called in political favors from Georgia senator, Johnny Isakson who interceded on MiMedx’s behalf with the VA, FDA, and FBI while Isakson was chair of both Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Senate Ethics Committee. In his 30+ year career, Marc claims to have put a lot of people in jail, and exposed 50-70 frauds, mostly in biotech and sub-prime mortgages. He has been called, “the scourge of Wall Street,” and “Warren Buffett’s mosquito.” Harvard Business School has written two case studies about Marc’s methods. Marc is especially tenacious when target companies push back or trash his reputation. Says he, "There’s no greater motivator than disrespect."
Follow Marc on Twitter: https://twitter.com/alderlaneeggs Complement Paul on his supple skin: http://PaulOllinger.com

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Closing the Opportunity Divide with Year Up Founder and CEO Gerald Chertavian - Ep 26

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 18:09:00 GMT

Gerald Chertavian is the Founder / CEO of “Year Up.” According to the US Dept of Labor, there are 7.3 million unfilled jobs in the United States. At the same time, there are millions of young adults who are working way below their potential or not working at all. Year Up takes those who want to work, arms them with both technical and social skills, then connects them to employers who need motivated, qualified employees. No matter where you sit on the political spectrum, you can find a lot to love in Year Up.

Think the economically disadvantaged need a break? YEAR UP!

Think the poor should pull themselves up by their bootstraps? YEAR UP!

Year up is there to benefit the most at-risk in our society, but helps them with a hand, not a handout.

Gerald earned a B.A. in Economics, Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude, from Bowdoin College. He received his M.B.A., with honors, from Harvard Business School and in 2016 received the Distinguished Alumni Award. Full disclosure: Year Up is my family’s #1 philanthropic priority, and my wife, Stacey, serves on the board of Year Up Greater Atlanta.
Read more good news from Year Up here: https://www.yearup.org
Visit Paul here: http://paulollinger.com

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America's Got Talent finalist and two-time David Letterman guest ; Comedian Joe Matarese - Ep 25

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 06:11:00 GMT

You’ve likely seen Joe Matarese on one of his many television appearances, including two sets on Late Show with David Letterman, five on the Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, or on his Comedy Central Presents half hour special, among many others. As a finalist on America’s Got Talent, Joe received a standing ovation from the 2,000-person crowd and all four celebrity judges. With all these amazing credits, you’d think this native of Cherry Hill, NJ would be at the top of the comedy world. But like so many other very talented comedians who are not quite household names, Joe is out there grinding it out, making hay when and where he can. Comedy is Joe’s passion, but it’ also his job—a job he’s been doing for 30 years and one that gets harder as he gets older and continues to balance his work with his commitment to his family. Joe and his wife—who has a PhD in psychology—juggle their schedules to raise two kids in the suburbs of New York City. I have spent many weekends on the road as Joe’s opening act, and I consider him to be a good friend.
See all things Joe here: https://joematarese.com/
Tell Paul he’s a good person here:http://paulollinger.com

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Minimalism and Design with CEO of LifeEdited ; Graham Hill - Ep 24

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 05:32:00 GMT

Graham Hill has a message for you: that big ol’ house of yours—and all the stuff in it—isn’t making you (or the environment) happy. His words are resonating. Graham’s two TED Talks on low-impact living and #minimalism have been viewed over 7 million times. A successful entrepreneur, Graham co-founded, ran and sold both SiteWerks and TreeHugger.com. Today he runs LifeEdited, which is dedicated to helping people design their lives for more happiness with less stuff. At LifeEdited, Graham marries his passion for environmentalism with his experience in architecture and design to create low-footprint, high-fulfillment homes. These spaces are not just smaller, but incredibly functional and visually pleasing. LifeEdited demonstrates that you can live quite well and in a elegantly-designed environment while freeing up space, time and energy to live a better life. Because less is not just more. It’s also beautiful. See his 1,000 sq ft house in Maui: http://lifeedited.com/lifeedited-maui-in-the-new-york-times/ and his 350 sq ft apartment in NYC: http://lifeedited.com/lifeedited-2/ More about Paul aqui: http://paulollinger.com

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"Effective Altruism" with Oxford professor Dr. Will MacAskill - Ep 23

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 06:33:00 GMT

Will MacAskill—whom Bill Gates describes as, “a data nerd after my own heart"—is Associate Professor in Philosophy and Research Fellow at the Global Priorities Institute, University of Oxford. Will’s academic research focuses on the fundamentals of effective altruism—the use of evidence and reason to help others by as much as possible with our time and money, with a particular concentration on how to act given moral uncertainty. He is the author of Doing Good Better - Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference.His TED Talk on the subject has earned almost two million views.Will is also the Director of the Forethought Foundation for Global Priorities Research, a co-founder and the President of the Centre for Effective Altruism (CEA) and helped to create the effective altruism movement. Through Giving What We Can, CEA encourages people to commit to donate at least 10% of their income to the most effective charities. (You can take the pledge here.)
Will and I discuss global disease, factory farming, nuclear annihilation (smily emoticon) and whether or not those rich folks who donated to re-build Notre Dame Cathedral should have used their money in another way.
See my upcoming shows and links to my comedy EP, Alive on the Upper West Side on: http://paulollinger.com

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Glamour Magazine Editor-in-Chief ; Samantha Barry - Ep 22

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 06:00:00 GMT

Samantha Barry is Editor in Chief of Glamour where she is responsible for setting the voice and mission of the publication. As a young woman in Ireland, Sam once dreamed of being a war correspondent. Her early work in journalism took her all over the world, including stints in Nigeria, Burma, Pakistan, Iraq, Papua New Guinea, Burma, and many other turbulent locations where she worked for the BBC, Intermedia and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Lucky for us here in the States, she came to America in 2014 to head up social media for CNN. Last year she began her stint at Glamour after being recruited by the legendary Anna Wintour, longtime Editor in Chief of Vogue. Ms. Wintour calls Sam, “fearless … the perfect editor for a new, more ambitious era of Glamour’s future. I met Sam in Conde Nast's New York offices where we talked about her career, how fashion magazines co-exist with consumerism, how Irish and Americans attitudes toward money differ, and — of course— where one can get the best pint of Guinness in New York City.
See more about Glamour Women of the Year: https://glamourwoty.com/
Send Paul guest suggestions and diet tips on http://paulollinger.com

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"Power of the Upper Middle Class" with Richard Reeves of Brookings Institution - Ep 21

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 04:20:00 GMT

If you’re in the upper middle class or above, today’s conversation might make you uncomfortable. In fact, my guest says that discussing his research ruins dinner parties with his affluent friends. Why? Because his studies conclude that the upper middle class keep all the societal goodies to themselves, and worst of all, he may just be right.
Named by Politico magazine as one of the top 50 thinkers in the U.S., Richard V. Reeves is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, where he directs the Future of the Middle Class Initiative and co-directs the Center on Children and Families.
His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, National Affairs, The Atlantic, and Wall Street Journal, among other fine publications. He is the author of Dream Hoarders, which was named a Book of the Year by The Economist, and a Political Book of the Year by The Observer. It is both eye-opening and scary.
A British-American, Richard was director of strategy to the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2012. Other previous roles include director of Demos, the London-based political think-tank; social affairs editor of the Observer; and principal policy advisor to the Minister for Welfare Reform. Richard is also a former European Business Speaker of the Year and has a BA from Oxford University and a PhD from Warwick University.
I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and I must say that, even though Dream Hoarders made me squirm a touch, it really made me think. And that’s a good thing. Richard's ideas are worthy of your time and full consideration.
Get your copy of Dream Hoarders: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/081572912X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=081572912X&linkCode=as2&tag=crazymoney0a-20&linkId=122c973ad791155e54210dbd56be950a More about Richard here: https://richardvreeves.com/ Give Paul grooming tips here: http://paulollinger.com

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"Making Money after Growing up Poor" with Comedian and Radio Legend Adam Carolla - Ep 20

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 05:03:00 GMT

When it comes to delivering hilarious, non-obvious wisdom through a microphone, Adam Carolla is the very best. Yes, Stern is amazing and Terry Gross is the patron saint of the modern interview, but for the improvisational spoken-word, Adam Carolla is the unique genius of our time. In addition to a decades-long radio career, he is also a comedian, actor, film director, auto racing enthusiast and one of the pioneers of the podcasting industry. Adam entered the national consciousness as co-host of Loveline in 1995, then went on to co-create and co-host The Man Show with Jimmy Kimmel. Since then, he has produced, created or guest-starred in a plethora of other TV projects, including Crank Yankers, To Catch a Contractor,Celebrity Apprentice, The Car Show, and Dancing with the Stars. As if that’s not enough, he also has written multiple NYT best-selling books, two of which I recently read recently, both causing me to laugh until snot came out of my nose.

To see Adam’s comedy special, Not Taco Bell Material, click here or find it on Amazon here. You can learn more about Adam’s myriad pursuits on https://adamcarolla.com/
Tell Paul you love him (or are completely indifferent to him) go to http://PaulOllinger.com

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"The Vietnamese Refugee" with Mom and Entrepreneur Gianni Le Nguyen - Ep 19

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 05:45:00 GMT

Gianni Le Nguyen fled Vietnam at the age of 5. Late one night in the early 1980s, her father wrapped his two young daughters in a fishing net, then rowed a basket boat out to meet a more seaworthy vessel a quarter mile offshore. They spent five days battling storms, illness and pirates who took everything Gianni’s dad possessed, including his official papers. Thus began a beauracratic mess that left her family in refugee camps for over two years before they finally made their way to Beaverton, Oregon. Almost 40 years later, Gianni is a successful entrepreneur, mother of four, and wife to an American dude named Brian. Her journey fits a pattern of Asian immigration that has strengthen the USA. According to Pew Research, "Asian Americans are the highest-income, best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the United States. They are more satisfied than the general public with their lives, finances and the direction of the country, and they place more value than other Americans do on marriage, parenthood, hard work and career success.” Gianni and I talk about her journey and how it affected her relationship to money, financial security and her thoughts on a paper work ethic. See pictures of Gianni and family on the official podcast page.
Send Paul a message via his website, http://paulollinger.com
Listen to Paul’s new comedy EP, “Alive on the Upper West Side" on iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/album/alive-on-the-upper-west-side/1466845993 or wherever you consume your humor through your ears.

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"An Economist Walks Into a Brothel" with Author Allison Schrager - Ep 18

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 07:17:00 GMT

Allison Schrager is the author of the new book, An Economist Walks into a Brothel in which she explores risk through the lens of prostitution, big-wave surfing and war. If you liked Freakanomics, you’ll dig this book too.
Allison is an economist, journalist at Quartz, and co-founder of LifeCycle Finance Partners, LLC, a risk advisory firm. She has been a regular contributor to the Economist, Reuters, and Bloomberg Businessweek. Her writing has also appeared in Playboy, Wired, National Review and Foreign Affairs. She earned her PhD in Economics from Columbia University and has consulted to international organizations, including the OECD and IMF.
Paul and Allison met in the offices of her publisher, Portfolio, in New York City. Among many topics, they discussed how being purposeful about our goals is the first step in determining how much risk we should take in life, careers and investing strategies.
Learn more about Allison here: https://www.allisonschrager.com. Acknowledge Paul's existence here: http://paulollinger.com

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Millennial Extraordinaire with Darrah Brustein - Ep 17

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 07:31:00 GMT

In my mind, Darrah Brustein is the ultimate Millennial. Not because she writes, travels the world and has a weekly video series with Deepak Chopra called weekly "Diving Deep with Deepak & Darrah." While she does all of the above, she’s the ultimate millennial because she uses money as a tool to live a good life then uses that life to make more money! She is living the life she designed. And damnit, she’s succeeding at it. In addition to her work with Deepak, Darrah writes a Forbes Women column for which she has interviewed Bill Belichick, Guy Kawasaki, Shaquille On’Neal, Bobbi Brown, and many more. She has produced a 20+ hour digital summit on how to live a curated life. Her paper, "55 Questions to Break the Ice” has been downloaded over a million times. Find your copy here: https://darrah.co/55-questions-ebook-download
Find out where you can see Paul live here: https://paulollinger.com/events/

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"Red Notice" with Author and Hedge fund Legend Bill Browder - Ep 16

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 28 May 2019 08:07:00 GMT

Bill Browder is the founder and CEO of Hermitage Capital Management, the largest foreign investment fund in Russia until 2005. He grew an initial investment of $25mm to over $4 billion while challenging violent oligarchs. Bill eventually ran afoul of Vladimir Putin, kicked out of the country, and declared a “threat to national security." That was just the beginning. Russian police officials took over his companies, used them to steal $230 million from the Russian treasury, framed Bill, and eventually arrested and killed his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky. Today Bill lives under threat of retaliation and spends his time fighting to honor Sergei’s memory. He tells the story in his book, Red Notice, which was an New York Times best-seller and a MUST READ. Buy Red Notice here: https://amzn.to/2JTb2FS Read more about Sergei Magnitsky: http://www.billbrowder.com/sergei-magnitsky
Find Paul at http://paulollinger.com

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Brian Portnoy, author "The Geometry of Wealth" - Ep 15

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 21 May 2019 05:35:00 GMT

Brian Portnoy, Ph.D., CFA, is an expert at simplifying the complex world of money. In his two books, The Investor's Paradox and The Geometry of Wealth, he tackles the challenges of not only making better investment decisions but also how money figures in to a joyful life. He is currently the Head of Education at Magnetar Capital and has spent the last 25 years as educator, investor, and strategist. He holds a doctorate from the University of Chicago and currently lives on the north side of Chicago with his wife and three children. finEDge financial literacy: https://finedge.uchicago.edu/
Paul isn't as smart as Brian, but his website is super-interesting: http://PaulOllinger.com

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The Importance of Gratitude with A. J Jacobs - Ep 14

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 14 May 2019 05:34:00 GMT

A.J. Jacobs is an author, journalist, lecturer and human guinea pig. He has written four New York Times bestsellers that combine memoir, science, humor and a dash of self-help. He is also editor at large at Esquire magazine, a commentator on NPR and a columnist for Mental Floss magazine.
Learn more about A.J. on his website.
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Produced and edited by Mike Carano
About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance shows like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: Philosophy, Happiness, Contentment, Meaning, dreams, purpose, Success, Rat Race, Society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, Mid-Life Crisis, Business, Work, Careers, Authors, Books, Consumerism, Values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society. Status. Paul Ollinger
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Growing up poor: Yancey Spruill and Susan Nicholas - Ep 13

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 07 May 2019 06:40:00 GMT

This week we continue to discuss “straddlers,” i.e. individuals who grew up working class but worked their way into white collar careers. Yancey Spruill grew up in a rough neighborhood in west Buffalo, NY where food stamps and eviction were part of his reality. He attended Georgia Tech and earned his MBA at Dartmouth’s Tuck School. Yancey worked on Wall Street for seven years then took two separate private companies public as their Chief Financial Officer.
Susan Nicholas was raised in an unstable, single-parent home in Morgantown, WV. She earned her MD from University of Iowa Medical School, completed a general surgery residency at University of San Francisco and a cardiothoracic fellowship at Stanford. Not to mention and MBA from Emory University. Yet none of these degrees brought her the validation she was looking for. Listen for the whole story.
For more about Paul, go to http://paulollinger.com

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Alfred Lubrano, journalist and author, Limbo - Ep 12

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 07:14:00 GMT

Alfred Lubrano is the Philadelphia Inquirer’s poverty reporter and the author of Limbo: Blue-Collar Roots, White-Collar Dreams. The book explores the conflicts within individuals who grow up working class but graduate into a white collar career. These “straddlers” are often torn between the culture that raised them and the professional world to which they aspired. Limbo has been quoted in Harvard Business Review, the American Bar Association Journal, The Atlantic, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
To see where Paul will be telling jokes next, go to http://paulollinger.com

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Jean Chatzky, NBC Today Show Financial Editor - Ep 11

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 07:42:00 GMT

Jean Chatzky, financial editor of NBC’s TODAY show, award-winning personal finance journalist, and host of the HerMoney podcast. She has written several personal finance books. Her latest, Women With Money has just hit shelves in bookstores, real and virtual.
Go see Paul tell jokes this week at the North Carolina Comedy Festival. Show details and more dates available on http://paulollinger.com/events.

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Death and Money with "What Matters Most" author Chanel Reynolds - Ep 10

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 07:24:00 GMT

Chanel Reynolds' journey to helping others began with a brutal accident that killed her husband, leaving her to not only grieve and raise their son alone, but to negotiate the bureaucratic thicket of living wills, life insurance, computer passwords and much more. She is the author of the What Matters Most: The Get You Sh*t Together Guide to Wills, Money, Insurance, and Life’s ‘What Ifs’. Listen and learn how you might not have your sh*t together, and check out http://GYST.com for in-depth resources to help you shape the hell up. Visit http://paulollinger.com or email PaulOllinger@gmail.com with comments, questions, and grammar pointers.

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William Ollinger: Paul's 92 yr-old dad - Ep 9

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 06:23:00 GMT

William Ollinger is a retired nuclear engineer, a genius of frugality, and my father. (Today, April 9, is his 92nd birthday!) Along with my late mother, Dad raised six children on a reliable but modest salary from the local utility. In an attempt to understand better where my attitudes toward money come from, I ask him to tell me about the financial goals and stresses when he was a younger father. His secrets for wealth accumulation are simple but rarely followed today: spend less than you make, when you do spend, don’t buy a bunch of crap.
Bored out of your mind? Check out my website on http://paulollinger.com

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Brendan O'Connell, painter, aka The Warhol of Walmart - Ep 8

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 03:46:00 GMT

Brendan O’Connell is an American painter who chronicles our contemporary way of living. Called the “Warhol of Walmart” for his series capturing scenes within the retail giant’s stores, Brendan's work hangs in the homes of A-list celebrities, and has been reviewed in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Cosmopolitan, Time and almost everywhere else art is discussed. Today we cover how he got his start on the streets of Paris, the hustle required to make it as a painter, and why he has a beef against the Dutch. Go to Brendan’s website to find links to his interview with Alec Baldwin and his appearance on the Colbert Report. My website is http://paulollinger.com

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Broke at 52 with Mike Carano - Ep 7

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 05:52:00 GMT

Mike Carano is a 52 year-old photographer, filmmaker, and podcaster. He has worked in comedy for 30 years and knows everyone in the business. He is also dead broke, thanks to years of compulsive spending, IRS debt and underlying mental health issues. He is working hard to get his financial act together, and is making a documentary about death and money, which I’m executive producing. He is my friend and the producer/editor of this podcast. See more about Mike on his website and find his podcast here. My website: http://paulollinger.com. Email me with your thoughts about this podcast or the weather on paulollinger@gmail.com

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Ed Roland, lead singer of Collective Soul - Ep 6

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 05:59:00 GMT

Ed Roland, lead singer and founder of deca-platinum+ rock band Collective Soul, joins us today to discuss how he got started in a music career and what has kept the band together for over 25 years. With seven #1 rock hits, over ten million albums sold, and a busy touring schedule, Collective Soul is not just a band, but a business that requires drive, grit, and a lot of work to maintain. Ed talks about some very wise early choices that have sustained the band and some of the financial pitfalls that almost took them off course. Listen to learn what you shouldn’t do when you finally get a studio to yourself, why you should own your master recordings, and why the clarinet is cool.
Collective Soul's new album comes out in June. To find out more, go to http://www.collectivesoul.com/. To share feedback with me on how to make Crazy Money the best podcast in history, visit my website or e-mail me at paulollinger@gmail.com.

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Anna David, NYT Best-Selling Author of Party Girl - Ep 5

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 07:22:00 GMT

New York Times best-selling author, Anna David always wanted to be a writer and never worried about how she’d make a living. This may have been because her family had a lot of money… until they didn’t. But she survived… through the ups and downs of family fortunes. Through addiction and recovery. Through horrific publishing nightmares. And, most remarkably, through Jeff Bezos’ wedding. Today — a handful of books and a prolific stint in journalism — Anna has found her way to a lucrative career as an entrepreneur in the arts.
For more on this week’s hilarious guest, visit Anna’s website, get the newly-released audio version of her novel, Party Girl here, or check out the Light Hustler podcast. To share feedback with me on how to make Crazy Money the best podcast ever, visit my website or E-mail me at paulollinger@gmail.com.

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Raising Rich Kids Who Aren't Spoiled with Ron Lieber - Ep 4

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 05:44:00 GMT

Ron Lieber is the "Your Money" columnist for The New York Times and the author of The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous and Smart About Money.
Find out more about Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials: • Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

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Wall Street, Cocaine, and Money with Turney Duff - Ep 3

Paul Ollinger — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 15:48:00 GMT

From 'Loveline to Celebrity Rehab' with Dr. Drew Pinsky - Ep 2

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 15:52:00 GMT

Dr. Drew offers candid insight into the ups and downs of a career in broadcasting and medicine. From Loveline to Celebrity Rehab, Dr. Drew has been a staple on radio and cable television for over 30 years, but that doesn’t mean he’s rich — he’s got triplets to get through graduate school, after all. But he is definitely conversant on almost any topic you throw at him, including opera, coffee and Ulysses S. Grant. Oh, and doctor stuff. He knows about that too.
Find out more about Dr. Drew on his website. Find Ron Chernow’s biography of Ulysses S. Grant here. One more thing - here’s a link to the espresso machine Dr. Drew will buy himself when he gets the ball into the end zone.
Find out more about Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials: •
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

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Dating While Rich with Jessica Mah: (28 year-old CEO of Indinero) - Ep 1

Paul Ollinger — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 15:47:00 GMT

Jessica Mah is a 28 year-old entrepreneur, hecto-millionaire, and CEO/Co-founder of Indinero (https://www.indinero.com/), a tax software tool for businesses. In the very first episode of Crazy Money, Jessica tells Paul about life inside the rocket ship of a start-up and inside the jet she flies for fun on the weekends. Find out why this commercial-rated pilot and mega-successful internet executive crashes on her friends' couches, how she used frequents flyer miles to pay for groceries, why she went to marriage counseling with her co-founder, and how Burning Man changed her life. Follow Jess here.
Learn more about Paul Ollinger on his website and/or follow him on the socials: •
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/Paul_Ollinger • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul_ollinger/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulOllinger/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulollinger/

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