Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

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.

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. 🚀

✍️ 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

✍️ 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. 🎤

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." ⭐ Rate and Review Crazy Money here. (Seriously, do it!)⭐  ✍️ Get Paul’s writing to your Inbox here. (Seriously, do this also!) ✍️ 👂Check out the book here and Rik's website here.👂

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👂 ⭐ Rate and Review Crazy Money here. (Seriously, do it!)⭐  ✍️ Get Paul’s writing to your Inbox here. (Seriously, do this also!) ✍️

Renowned interviewer and writer Cal Fussman joins Paul to discuss recent terrorist activities by Hamas in Israel. They delve into the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the impact on innocent lives. They also explore the connection between technological advancements and political divisions, reflect on missing posters and reconnecting with family, discuss the addiction crisis and its connection to Islam, and talk about the challenges of assimilation and understanding perspectives.

Victor Haghani, author of The Missing Billionaires, shares insights on why family fortunes get destroyed. He discusses his experience with the collapse and recovery of Long-Term Capital Management. Victor also talks about his journey from Tehran to London, his interest in mathematics, and navigating financial crises like the dot-com bubble.

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: ⭐ Rate and Review Crazy Money here. (Seriously, do it!)⭐  ✍️ Get Paul’s Substack writing to your Inbox here. (Seriously, do this also!) ✍️

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. ⭐ Rate and Review Crazy Money here. (Seriously, do it!)⭐  ✍️ Get Paul’s writing to your Inbox here. (Seriously, do this also!) ✍️