

Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger
Paul Ollinger
Comedian Paul Ollinger wants you to be happy but let’s not go crazy here, okay? In his new show, Reasonably Happy: the Skeptic’s Guide to Achievable Contentment (fka Crazy Money), Paul will help you find authentic fulfillment through candid conversations with comedians, authors, celebrities, and other remarkable guests who share their failures and foibles, anxiety and addiction, and their grand vision of life that keeps them pushing forward.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 9, 2024 • 42min
The Wealth Money Can’t Buy with Robin Sharma
Leadership expert Robin Sharma discusses the dangers of money-focused thinking, finding joy in work, lessons from billionaires, and the 8 forms of wealth beyond financial in his latest book. Insights on mastery, purpose, God, and the importance of wellness, family, community, and service.

Apr 4, 2024 • 1h 7min
America’s Government Teacher, Sharon McMahon
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.

Mar 29, 2024 • 1h 5min
Poor Kid Makes Millions Trading, Fights Inequality with Gary Stevenson
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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Mar 20, 2024 • 1h 4min
The Narcissist Next-door with Dr. Ramani Durvasula
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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Mar 14, 2024 • 54min
TED's Chris Anderson on Infectious Generosity
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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Mar 5, 2024 • 1h 46min
Mike and Paul’s Road Trip
Join Paul and Mike on a road trip as they share memories of commuting, discuss the challenges of admitting what we want in life, ponder new names for the podcast, and delve into life, happiness, and philosophy.

Feb 28, 2024 • 50min
On Fire for Life with John O’Leary
A remarkable story of resilience and gratitude by John O'Leary who survived severe burns as a child. The podcast explores themes of living in the moment, gratitude, family, courage, and finding talents. It emphasizes the transformative power of love and grace, navigating through recovery, and embracing uniqueness for personal growth. The conversation inspires listeners to choose gratitude, love, and self-improvement in facing life's challenges.

Feb 21, 2024 • 39min
Paul Reads Money Essays
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. 🔥
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Feb 6, 2024 • 42min
Race and Money with Coleman Hughes (Encore)
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.

Dec 28, 2023 • 52min
The Joys and Anxieties of Wealth (Encore)
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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