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. 

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.

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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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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

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. 

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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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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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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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

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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. 

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.

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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. 

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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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.