Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger

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.

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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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“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 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.**
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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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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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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.
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==== 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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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.**

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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, Facebook.

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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.**
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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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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.
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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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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.
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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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