Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

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.  • 💪🏼 Rate and Review Crazy Money here. 💪🏼  • 🦸‍♂️ Read Paul’s Substack newsletter here. 🦸‍♂️

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. 

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. 🔥

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. 🚀

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!) ✍️