<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Reasonably Happy ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Skeptic's Guide to Achievable Contentment]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u5rf!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93edd947-3172-4f36-ab10-1c880d8afeb1_600x600.png</url><title>Reasonably Happy </title><link>https://words.paulollinger.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:51:34 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://words.paulollinger.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[paulollinger@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[paulollinger@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[paulollinger@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[paulollinger@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[W. Kamau Bell on Cosby, Comedy, and Father's Day]]></title><description><![CDATA[5 Questions with Paul Ollinger]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-w-kamau-bell</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-w-kamau-bell</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:31:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/203149782/7e80686510a23b52a9177d1508590679.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I was most pleased to speak this afternoon with W. Kamau Bell, a Peabody Award and 4-time Emmy-winning comedian, filmmaker, and television host who is also a <em>Celebrity Jeopardy</em> champion!</p><p>He is b<span>est known as the creator and host of CNN&#8217;s </span><em>United Shades of America </em><span>on which he spent seven seasons traveling the country exploring communities, subcultures, and perspectives that often go overlooked.</span><em> </em><span>The show demonstrated his unique skill of helping people conduct difficult conversations without losing their sense of humor.</span></p><p><span>Not that he&#8217;s afraid to mix things up. Kamau&#8217;s 2022 HBO docu-series, </span><em>We Need to Talk About Cosby</em><span> dove deep into numerous allegations of sexual assault against legendary comedian and television icon, Bill Cosby, a comedian whose work Kamau deeply admired. </span></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hwll!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3baa3a2a-9666-46b0-9086-14dde952eef5_1402x1122.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hwll!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3baa3a2a-9666-46b0-9086-14dde952eef5_1402x1122.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hwll!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3baa3a2a-9666-46b0-9086-14dde952eef5_1402x1122.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hwll!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3baa3a2a-9666-46b0-9086-14dde952eef5_1402x1122.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hwll!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3baa3a2a-9666-46b0-9086-14dde952eef5_1402x1122.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hwll!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3baa3a2a-9666-46b0-9086-14dde952eef5_1402x1122.png" width="418" height="334.51925820256776" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hwll!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3baa3a2a-9666-46b0-9086-14dde952eef5_1402x1122.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hwll!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3baa3a2a-9666-46b0-9086-14dde952eef5_1402x1122.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hwll!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3baa3a2a-9666-46b0-9086-14dde952eef5_1402x1122.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hwll!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3baa3a2a-9666-46b0-9086-14dde952eef5_1402x1122.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">This will make more sense after you listen to our conversation.</figcaption></figure></div><p><span>Kamau </span> has a new podcast called <em>Who&#8217;s With Me? </em>on which he has already talked to Ted Danson, Delroy Lindo, Daveed Diggs, and Kristen Kish.</p><p>He <span>spoke to me from his home in Oakland, CA where he lives with his wife and their three daughters. </span>In this occasionally-serious, but most enjoyable conversation, we discuss:</p><ul><li><p>The difference between craft and character</p></li><li><p>His love of podcasting</p></li><li><p>Comedy nerd-ship</p></li><li><p>The best part about Father&#8217;s Day</p></li><li><p>And&#8212;most importantly&#8212; <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Dave Barry&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:309960081,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F448276cf-788f-4fb7-aed4-783bb66b8dd1_800x800.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;4dbc9e9b-a356-400a-93cd-d42e51ab5b36&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span> </p></li></ul><p><span>See clips and leave comments below. In the mean time, subscribe to Kamau&#8217;s &#8216;Who&#8217;s With Me?&#8217; Substack </span><a href="https://wkamaubell.substack.com/s/whos-with-me-with-w-kamau-bell-the"><span>here</span></a> and to Paul&#8217;s &#8216;Reasonably Happy&#8217; Substack <a href="https://words.paulollinger.com/">here</a>.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-w-kamau-bell?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-w-kamau-bell?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><h2><strong>Some of my favorite clips</strong></h2><h5>On podcasting (00:02:31)</h5><blockquote><p><em>Paul:</em> Let&#8217;s talk about that podcast. I listened to Ted Danson and Delroy Lindo&#8212;great conversations with two very interesting guys. What do you enjoy most about podcasting?</p><p><em>Kamau:</em> It&#8217;s a way to have conversations with people I want to have that I probably wouldn&#8217;t have if I didn&#8217;t have a work-related reason to reach out. </p><p><em>Paul:</em> Would you do it for free? </p><p><em>Kamau:</em> I would. In fact, I&#8217;m currently losing money on it, so the answer is clearly yes. The podcast gives you a dedicated reason to have those conversations, and it makes it less weird that I&#8217;m asking very focused questions. Because if I went out to dinner with you and said, &#8220;Tell me about that time you did blackface, Ted Danson,&#8221; that&#8217;s going to be a pretty strange way to start a conversation.</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;fd38ec70-759e-4323-b00b-c94b61b5e05c&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><h5><strong>On being an &#8220;only&#8221; child (00:07:23)</strong></h5><blockquote><p><em>Kamau:</em> Only children don&#8217;t just <em>want</em> to be alone sometimes&#8212;they <em>need</em> to be alone. It&#8217;s a requirement. It&#8217;s no different from needing to eat or sleep. Only children need to be left the hell alone once in a while, and it&#8217;s not weird; it&#8217;s simply how we grew up. If we don&#8217;t get that time to ourselves, we get depleted.</p><p>I think this ties into the idea of a &#8220;social battery.&#8221; Everyone has a different-sized social battery, meaning a different capacity for being around other people. Some people actually get energized by social interaction&#8212;their battery charges up when they&#8217;re with others. Only children, on the other hand, tend to get drained pretty quickly by being around too many people for too long. Our social battery runs down.</p><p>Mine is definitely like that, although I&#8217;ve trained myself to function with a low social battery because I&#8217;m in show business. My middle child is the same way, and it&#8217;s helpful to give kids language for it. Sometimes she&#8217;ll be out and say, &#8220;My social battery is low.&#8221; What she means is, &#8220;I&#8217;ve been around a lot of people today. I need to relax. I need to be home.&#8221;</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;86e0da9d-1bde-4c05-a34e-13ed9669492f&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><h5>On Bill Cosby (00:16:56)</h5><blockquote><p><em>Paul:</em> When you called out Cosby&#8212;on <em>We Need to Talk About Cosby</em>&#8230;</p><p><em>Kamau:</em> Man&#8212;I didn&#8217;t expect this conversation to go from Scooby-Doo to Bill Cosby, but here we are. </p><p><em>Paul:</em> Did you ever feel like the guy at the end of a Scooby-Doo episode exposing the crook who&#8217;d been hiding in plain sight? Like, &#8220;It&#8217;s Dr. Huxtable!&#8221;</p><p><em>Kamau:</em> I definitely felt that way to some extent. So much of the Cosby story was known behind closed doors. People talked about it privately, but it hadn&#8217;t really been discussed publicly. When he went to jail, I thought, &#8220;Okay, now we can finally talk about this openly.&#8221; I had no idea he would get out of jail in the middle of our production. At that point, I thought, &#8220;Huh, I may never be able to leave my house again,&#8221; because I knew this wasn&#8217;t going to be popular with a lot of people.</p><p>There was definitely a period afterward where I took a lot of heat. It&#8217;s probably the best work I&#8217;ve ever done, but it also caused me the most personal stress. Every time I started feeling overwhelmed by that, though, I thought about the women who had spoken out. If they could come forward and endure what they endured, I could certainly take a few hits.</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;3028fb64-ca3b-415f-925b-79a33dcf747a&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><div><hr></div><p>Thank you <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Laura &#128087;&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:84475978,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://substack.com/@notacatccl&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5e66a468-5aa6-4945-9f96-26c6ccd2b0d8_826x827.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;8e01776a-7d65-4a4e-8a33-4566c12dc257&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Kit&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:31033737,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://substack.com/@dkit63&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/da376292-1c53-46f9-a332-fd5f03a1fd39_1165x705.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;05e6f490-2f55-4076-a299-0a0dac50cb26&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Jinx Corle&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:312826616,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://substack.com/@jinxdaviscorle&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c9b11242-1350-4d65-904e-cdb6aa70f084_1077x839.png&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;505c20f3-71de-4a99-a0e1-c62799bfc671&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Heather A Murphy&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:200342652,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://substack.com/@heatheramurphy&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:null,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;0ab554ac-ed05-4cc0-ab98-c9f75d1e0104&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Dan Stone&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:17372229,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://substack.com/@dan&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/992eb132-2891-43c3-838d-651ed21d59a0_264x264.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;b5d11f4a-4451-4611-b7f9-f8584812bcd0&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, and many others for tuning into the live video w/Kamau! </p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Reasonably Happy explores the ways we can better understand the world and ourselves. Join the team. &#8595;&#8595;&#8595;</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[5 Questions with Bruce Feiler]]></title><description><![CDATA[The NYT best-selling author of 'A Time to Gather' chats ritual, tooth-filing, Taylor Swift cupcakes, and SEC football]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-bruce-feiler</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-bruce-feiler</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:52:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/202294425/72feaaa93bfd7bb7c23ca6e697ff7757.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thanks very much to Bruce Feiler for joining me on the <em>5 Questions</em> livestream to discuss his new book <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Time-Gather-Ritual-Created-World/dp/0593656431/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;dib_tag=AUTHOR&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lzlWtiwc3RYWkE7G0pcLpisPwSi43qa1fSTMhv-NiTuDZ2kIFUjrQtZgsqYYBz4gWDs-ygTzUhEdee-DeYGLcMUN5DWMsOjO8dmepVyQ4sVHfvDXHwojYPPdOCGwUKZhAoksQ-5bNknRwXgGhzfj0X5aDRoov_0apgSGMPkK5Uvz-nFJHXcjOFjL9cuBXrkDkRT7XsbeYLdw2un4RgKZCsuiFRtBVpy76Lx9jK7Hxnc.zJk7yC_fPPlHaR9Gldng3XFrKazzGSpPw3owmMgqNFU">A Time to Gather: How Ritual Created the World&#8212;and How it Can Save Us</a></em>.</p><p>In this upbeat and friendly conversation, Bruce and I discuss:</p><ul><li><p>What came first, ritual or religion?</p></li><li><p>Why SEC football tailgating fits the definition of ritual</p></li><li><p>How Balinese tooth-filing ritual has much in common with modern Western dental customs</p></li><li><p>Why so many New Yorkers are jumping on the Knicks bandwagon (including someone&#8217;s wife who shall remain nameless) </p></li></ul><p>See clips and leave comments below. In the mean time, subscribe to Bruce&#8217;s &#8216;The Nonlinear Life&#8217; Substack <a href="https://brucefeiler.substack.com/">here</a> and to Paul&#8217;s &#8216;Reasonably Happy&#8217; Substack <a href="https://words.paulollinger.com/">here</a>.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-bruce-feiler?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-bruce-feiler?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h2><strong>Some of my favorite clips</strong></h2><h5><strong>Paul asks Bruce about the sacred nature of college football tailgating  </strong><em><strong> </strong></em><strong>(00:12:33)</strong></h5><blockquote><p>&#8220;A ritual is a shared, unnecessary act, that makes us feel at home.&#8221;</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;a75625d8-76d0-43fe-adde-d82bfbab6637&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><h5><strong>Bruce on why New York has gone crazy for the Knicks </strong><em><strong> </strong></em><strong>(00:17:09)</strong></h5><blockquote><p>&#8220;Ritual is essential and it can save us. Because, whatever the problem is&#8212;if it&#8217;s loneliness, ritual is the answer. If it&#8217;s polarization, ritual is the answer. If it&#8217;s de-civilization, ritual is the answer.&#8221;</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;2adcf9ef-836d-4c25-8dcb-5d0d5deb331c&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><h5><strong>The performative nature of life&#8212;both online and IRL </strong><em><strong> </strong></em><strong>(00:22:01)</strong></h5><blockquote><p>&#8220;There is going to be a human response to the tech&#8230;but also, the internet can be a source of connection.&#8221;</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;90767a1a-7b4a-400a-a594-d981f952fbfa&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK IN THE COMMENTS BELOW&#8595;&#8595;&#8595;</strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-bruce-feiler/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-bruce-feiler/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[5 Questions with Andy Borowitz ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Political satirist and comedian with an amazing television pedigree]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-andy-borowitz</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-andy-borowitz</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:08:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/201491767/45c01016d3f61142e687d3b12449e218.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On this third episode of <em>5 Questions, </em>I speak with <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Andy Borowitz&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:42484457,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PDN5!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf3f9eb8-9c7a-464e-8c39-2d988e5159cd_2732x2732.png&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;d9c07b7c-5660-4d89-b66e-b183de395a25&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, whose massively popular newsletter <em>The</em> <em>Borowitz Report</em> tops out around 200 words per post. So this intro is going to be brief!</p><p>Even if you belong to Andy&#8217;s army of loyal readers, you might not know that he is also the co-creator of <em>The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air</em> and wrote on classic 80&#8217;s TV shows, <em>The</em> <em>Facts of Life</em> and <em>Square Pegs</em>, which helped to launch Sarah Jessica Parker&#8217;s career. </p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Don&#8217;t miss upcoming interviews with W. Kamau Bell, Dave Winfield, and Jane Wiedlin. Subscribe here &#8595;&#8595;&#8595;&#8595;</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>In this fast-paced conversation, Andy and I discuss:</p><ul><li><p>His career in and out of Hollywood</p></li><li><p>How to write succinctly</p></li><li><p>His grammatical pet peeve(s)</p></li><li><p>Whether AI will ever be able to write comedy</p></li><li><p>The best advice he got from Susie Essman (aka, the secret to a happy life)</p></li></ul><p>Subscribe to <em>The Borowitz Report</em> here &#8595;&#8595;&#8595;&#8595;</p><div class="embedded-publication-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;id&quot;:2337656,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;The Borowitz Report&quot;,&quot;logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!j0uq!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9c412677-09d3-4751-89d6-5028a70c20db_1280x1280.png&quot;,&quot;base_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.borowitzreport.com&quot;,&quot;hero_text&quot;:&quot;Home of Truth&quot;,&quot;author_name&quot;:&quot;Andy Borowitz&quot;,&quot;show_subscribe&quot;:true,&quot;logo_bg_color&quot;:&quot;#ffffff&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="EmbeddedPublicationToDOMWithSubscribe"><div class="embedded-publication show-subscribe"><a class="embedded-publication-link-part" native="true" href="https://www.borowitzreport.com?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_campaign=publication_embed&amp;utm_medium=web"><img class="embedded-publication-logo" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!j0uq!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9c412677-09d3-4751-89d6-5028a70c20db_1280x1280.png" width="56" height="56" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="embedded-publication-name">The Borowitz Report</span><div class="embedded-publication-hero-text">Home of Truth</div><div class="embedded-publication-author-name">By Andy Borowitz</div></a><form class="embedded-publication-subscribe" method="GET" action="https://www.borowitzreport.com/subscribe?"><input type="hidden" name="source" value="publication-embed"><input type="hidden" name="autoSubmit" value="true"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email..."><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"></form></div></div><h2><strong>Some of my favorite quotes</strong></h2><h5><strong>Will Smith and </strong><em><strong>The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air </strong></em><strong>(00:05:12)</strong></h5><blockquote><p><em>Andy:</em> I realized pretty soon after <em>Fresh Prince</em> went on the air that it was really lightning in a bottle. It was a very fluky success. It was this kid, Will Smith, who had never acted before. Although now it&#8217;s very much in the mainstream of TV and it&#8217;s like the most wholesome, all-American show in the world, at the time it was really going against the grain because the networks and the media&#8212;the corporate media in general&#8212;were terrified by hip-hop. Hip-hop was, to them, gangster rap. It was, I would say, the inherent racism of corporate media really showing its true colors&#8212;no pun intended. They were very terrified by what they knew that Will Smith had. At NBC, they knew that he had a lot of charisma, but they were terrified by what he might have. So they were always trying to get me to take the edges off&#8212;not that I could ever find any discernible edges in Will Smith. </p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;48614212-1bc6-49a4-9cc0-b00070a98459&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><h5><strong>Chat GPT Knock-knock joke (00:16:47):</strong></h5><blockquote><p><em>Paul:</em> I went to ChatGPT and said, write a knock knock joke about Andy Borowitz. And here&#8217;s what ChatGPT came back with. Knock knock.</p><p><em>Andy:</em> Who&#8217;s there?</p><p><em>Paul:</em> Andy.</p><p><em>Andy:</em> Andy who?</p><p><em>Paul:</em> Andy Borowitz,I just published a story saying 83% of Americans think this joke is funnier than the Constitution.</p><p><em>Andy:</em> That is absolutely horrible.</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;74ebc414-0ef5-42ea-8695-a2c1b23b02d1&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><h5><strong>Andy on Life Choices (00:29:13):</strong></h5><blockquote><p><em>Andy:</em> I say this to my kids&#8212;I have three kids and this is maybe my only advice&#8212;I say &#8220;I do not have a big strong opinion about the choices you make other than I hope that when you make choices they will contribute to your being happy and healthy.&#8221; And when you make a choice if it&#8217;s going to make you happy for the moment like oh that drug looks kind of fun but it&#8217;s going to make you unhealthy, you should probably cross that off your list and just try to think about the choices you make are you going to be happy and healthy as a result of this choice. And even at my age I sort of feel like that&#8217;s kind of a good exercise.</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;b0e27b7c-c192-4019-a586-0464e4e528d1&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><div><hr></div><p><strong>See Paul tell jokes near you:</strong></p><p>&#8226; June 19 and 20 - <a href="https://www.thecomedycatch.com/events/133790">The Comedy Catch</a>, Chattanooga</p><p>&#8226; June 25 - &#10084;&#65039; <a href="https://punchup.live/show/454b032e-4a51-4f86-a93b-ba81829aaca8">Happy Couples Show</a>, West Side Comedy Club, NYC &#10084;&#65039;</p><p>&#8226; July 21 - <a href="https://www.tixr.com/groups/thevenicewest/events/paul-ollinger-194388">The Venice West</a>, Los Angeles </p><p>&#8226; July 23 - <a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/2-pauls-1-show-paul-ollinger-san-francisco-california-07-23-2026/event/1C00647FB330F46A">Cobbs Comedy Club</a>, San Francisco</p><p>&#8226; Aug 1 - <a href="https://www.sticksandstonescomedyclub.com/shows/357527">Sticks and Stones Comedy Club</a>, Southampton, NY</p><p>&#8226; Aug 8 - Atlanta Country Club (private show)</p><p>&#8226; Aug 13-16 - <a href="https://www.mccurdyscomedy.com/shows/show.cfm?shoID=499">McCurdy&#8217;s Comedy Theatre</a>, Sarasota, FL</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vI20!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f01d72a-7019-4858-abcd-66c6507228a7_696x1244.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vI20!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f01d72a-7019-4858-abcd-66c6507228a7_696x1244.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vI20!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f01d72a-7019-4858-abcd-66c6507228a7_696x1244.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vI20!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f01d72a-7019-4858-abcd-66c6507228a7_696x1244.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vI20!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f01d72a-7019-4858-abcd-66c6507228a7_696x1244.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vI20!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f01d72a-7019-4858-abcd-66c6507228a7_696x1244.png" width="446" height="797.1609195402299" 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class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>That is all - have a wonderful day!</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Political Family Black Sheep Tells All (with Rosebud Baker)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Rosebud Baker on comedy, addiction, motherhood and her famous grandfather]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/a-political-familys-prodigal-daughter</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/a-political-familys-prodigal-daughter</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:07:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/201227374/497b3d17aa1e1e2bbf822ab2e376fcf3.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My guest today is Rosebud Baker. Rosebud is one of the sharpest and most honest voices in comedy today. She&#8217;s an Emmy-nominated and Writers Guild Award-winning writer whose credits include <em>Saturday Night Live</em>, <em>Inside Amy Schumer</em>, and <em>That Damn Michael Che</em>. </p><p>In her new autobiography,<em> Fully Baked: A Messy Memoir,</em> Rosebud shares the story of being the grand-daughter of James Baker, the former Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury who also served as White House Chief of Staff for Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5EYW!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3cd3c589-f2b3-4783-bf34-f83cfcfb4207_1680x1156.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5EYW!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3cd3c589-f2b3-4783-bf34-f83cfcfb4207_1680x1156.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5EYW!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3cd3c589-f2b3-4783-bf34-f83cfcfb4207_1680x1156.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5EYW!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3cd3c589-f2b3-4783-bf34-f83cfcfb4207_1680x1156.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5EYW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3cd3c589-f2b3-4783-bf34-f83cfcfb4207_1680x1156.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5EYW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3cd3c589-f2b3-4783-bf34-f83cfcfb4207_1680x1156.png" width="505" height="347.53434065934067" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3cd3c589-f2b3-4783-bf34-f83cfcfb4207_1680x1156.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1002,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:505,&quot;bytes&quot;:4474778,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/201227374?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3cd3c589-f2b3-4783-bf34-f83cfcfb4207_1680x1156.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5EYW!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3cd3c589-f2b3-4783-bf34-f83cfcfb4207_1680x1156.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5EYW!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3cd3c589-f2b3-4783-bf34-f83cfcfb4207_1680x1156.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5EYW!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3cd3c589-f2b3-4783-bf34-f83cfcfb4207_1680x1156.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5EYW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3cd3c589-f2b3-4783-bf34-f83cfcfb4207_1680x1156.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">L to R, James Baker (Rosebud&#8217;s grandfather), President Ronald Reagan who is announcing Baker&#8217;s nomination for Secretary of the Treasury, and Don Regan, White House Chief of Staff in 1985. </figcaption></figure></div><p>She also relates unfiltered observations on her parents&#8217; divorce, her addiction to drugs and alcohol, her multiple miscarriages, and the death of her younger sister, Graeme.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe to get more great conversations with some of the most interesting people on the planet &#8595;&#8595;&#8595;</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Her latest Netflix special is called <em>The Mother Lode</em>. She filmed half of it while eight months pregnant and the other half after giving birth. It was named one of the best comedy specials of 2025.</p><p>See Rosebud&#8217;s upcoming dates and get the book <a href="https://rosebudbaker.com/">here</a>.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!YQbl!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7eac41c-1186-4684-909c-8ea8cb6f0429_1628x854.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!YQbl!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7eac41c-1186-4684-909c-8ea8cb6f0429_1628x854.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!YQbl!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7eac41c-1186-4684-909c-8ea8cb6f0429_1628x854.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!YQbl!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7eac41c-1186-4684-909c-8ea8cb6f0429_1628x854.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!YQbl!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7eac41c-1186-4684-909c-8ea8cb6f0429_1628x854.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!YQbl!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7eac41c-1186-4684-909c-8ea8cb6f0429_1628x854.png" width="502" height="263.4120879120879" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e7eac41c-1186-4684-909c-8ea8cb6f0429_1628x854.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:764,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:502,&quot;bytes&quot;:2253617,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/201227374?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7eac41c-1186-4684-909c-8ea8cb6f0429_1628x854.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!YQbl!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7eac41c-1186-4684-909c-8ea8cb6f0429_1628x854.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!YQbl!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7eac41c-1186-4684-909c-8ea8cb6f0429_1628x854.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!YQbl!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7eac41c-1186-4684-909c-8ea8cb6f0429_1628x854.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!YQbl!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7eac41c-1186-4684-909c-8ea8cb6f0429_1628x854.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Rosebud&#8217;s 2025 Netflix special was named one of the best of the year.</figcaption></figure></div><h2><strong>Some of my favorite quotes</strong></h2><p><strong>On her tenacious grandfather (</strong></p><blockquote><p><strong>Rosebud:</strong> My granddad was just a powerful guy -</p><p><strong>Paul:</strong> He&#8217;s still alive right?</p><p><strong>Rosebud:</strong> Yeah, he is. He will never die. He won&#8217;t die. This man has fallen down the stairs twice in the last year. He&#8217;s like 96 or 98 and he&#8217;s fallen down the stairs and he won&#8217;t take the elevator in his home &#8212; like honestly believes it could turn him gay.</p><p><strong>Paul:</strong> Like Luna bars!</p><p><strong>Rosebud:</strong> Yeah. He&#8217;s like, I will take the stairs every god damn day rather than getting in that gay machine. And I&#8217;m like they installed it for you cause you fell down the stairs and broke your spine. But he won&#8217;t do it. He&#8217;s just that kind of guy. And so there&#8217;s a stubbornness and a just a refusal to listen to anyone that sort of is in my blood.</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;3aa8f4a7-8da9-41e8-aaa2-9196958e8f22&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><p><strong>On growing up in an affluent home (00:23:34)</strong></p><blockquote><p><strong>Paul: </strong>Do you have guilt for being raised in an affluent environment?</p><p><strong>Rosebud: </strong>No. Not at all. It was awesome. I look at my life growing up and I&#8217;m like holy shit, she didn&#8217;t have any idea how good she had it. But I don&#8217;t have guilt about it because I wouldn&#8217;t have known. That was part of being raised like that&#8212; you don&#8217;t know anything about anything. So you just get to imagine yourself as whoever you want.</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;8af29eb7-3ed5-48b1-9880-c842e9f55e33&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><p><strong>See Paul tell jokes near you:</strong></p><p>&#8226; June 19 and 20 - <a href="https://www.thecomedycatch.com/events/133790">The Comedy Catch</a>, Chattanooga</p><p>&#8226; June 25 - <a href="https://punchup.live/show/454b032e-4a51-4f86-a93b-ba81829aaca8">Happy Couples Show</a>, West Side Comedy Club, NYC</p><p>&#8226; July 21 - <a href="https://www.tixr.com/groups/thevenicewest/events/paul-ollinger-194388">The Venice West</a>, Los Angeles (on sale soon)</p><p>&#8226; July 23 - <a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/2-pauls-1-show-paul-ollinger-san-francisco-california-07-23-2026/event/1C00647FB330F46A">Cobbs Comedy Club</a>, San Francisco</p><p>&#8226; Aug 1 - <a href="https://www.sticksandstonescomedyclub.com/shows/357527">Sticks and Stones Comedy Club</a>, Southampton, NY</p><p>&#8226; Aug 8 - Atlanta Country Club</p><p>&#8226; Aug 13-16 - <a href="https://www.mccurdyscomedy.com/shows/show.cfm?shoID=499">McCurdy&#8217;s Comedy Theatre</a>, Sarasota, FL</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[5 Questions with A.J. Jacobs]]></title><description><![CDATA[I talk summer movies and USA at 250 with the multi-NYT best-selling author]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-aj-jacobs</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-aj-jacobs</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:08:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/200795689/9576106ed3899457c7961b0016b4ab86.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;A.J. Jacobs&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:280467,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ef192e8e-62ee-4463-b0b4-166e9a4beb40_364x336.png&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;108087fa-7bd5-4f96-b682-bdc86e0060da&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span> is a journalist, bestselling author, self-described &#8220;human guinea pig,&#8221; and one of the most interesting people I know. I was excited to host him as the second guest on my <em>5 Questions</em> series of Substck livestreams. </p><p>Over the past two decades, A.J. has built a remarkable career by asking questions most of us would never think to ask&#8212;and then answering them by turning himself into the experiment. </p><p>He&#8217;s read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica, lived according to the Bible as literally as possible, pursued bodily perfection, traced his family tree to millions of relatives, thanked every person involved in making his morning cup of coffee, explored the world of puzzles, and most recently spent a year trying to live according to the original meaning of the U.S. Constitution.</p><div><hr></div><h4 style="text-align: center;"><em><mark data-color="#cfe2f3" style="background-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">See Paul&#8217;s comedy shows live in </mark><a href="https://punchup.live/show/454b032e-4a51-4f86-a93b-ba81829aaca8"><mark data-color="#cfe2f3" style="background-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">NYC</mark></a><mark data-color="#cfe2f3" style="background-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, </mark><a href="https://www.thecomedycatch.com/events/133790"><mark data-color="#cfe2f3" style="background-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Chattanooga</mark></a><mark data-color="#cfe2f3" style="background-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, LA (on sale soon) or </mark><a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/2-pauls-1-show-paul-ollinger-san-francisco-california-07-23-2026/event/1C00647FB330F46A?_gl=1*rb9uwb*_ga*MTM1Mjk3NTAyMS4xNzc4NjcyMTg5*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3ODEwOTMyMDMkbzQkZzAkdDE3ODEwOTMyMDMkajYwJGwwJGgw"><mark data-color="#cfe2f3" style="background-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">San Francisco</mark></a><mark data-color="#cfe2f3" style="background-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</mark></em></h4><div><hr></div><p>The result has been a string of New York Times bestsellers, including <em>The Know-It-All</em>, <em>The Year of Living Biblically</em>, <em>Drop Dead Healthy</em>, <em>Thanks a Thousand</em>, <em>The Puzzler</em>, and <em>The Year of Living Constitutionally</em>. Along the way, he&#8217;s become one of America&#8217;s most entertaining guides to the intersection of happiness, curiosity, gratitude, self-improvement, and human connection.</p><p>What I love about A.J.&#8217;s work is that beneath all the humor and outrageous experiments is a serious question: How should we live? And instead of lecturing, he goes out and tests ideas on himself&#8212;often with hilarious consequences.</p><p>Today we talk about:</p><ul><li><p>The USA&#8217;s 250th Birthday</p></li><li><p> Geeking out on compound anniversary words like &#8220;semiquincentennial&#8221;</p></li><li><p>Summer blockbuster movies</p></li><li><p>What I should keep in mind while I help my kids search for colleges</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe to get my upcoming interviews with Dave Winfield, Bruce Feiler, and Rosebud Baker right to your Inbox. &#8595;&#8595;&#8595;</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><h2><strong>Some of my favorite quotes</strong></h2><h5><strong>What Darwin taught A.J about romance (09:14):</strong></h5><blockquote><p>A.J.: One of my romantic heroes is Charles Darwin who, before he got married, made a pros/cons list of whether he should get married to his wife. And so, that&#8217;s some good thinking.</p><p>PAUL: Do you ever break that out and discuss it with Julie (A.J.&#8217;s wife)?</p><p>A.J.: She does not like that&#8230;because on Valentine&#8217;s Day I write a card that says &#8220;the benefits of being married to you outweigh the costs.&#8221; And she does not appreciate that humor So then I&#8217;ve stopped doing that joke So yeah, people don&#8217;t like pro-con thinking when it comes to love.</p></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>What do you think about A.J.&#8217;s romantic moves?</strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-aj-jacobs/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-aj-jacobs/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;03129111-4a76-4e9c-ae68-93d702be0c5b&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><h5><strong>Reminder to be grateful (11:03):</strong></h5><blockquote><p>PAUL: What about America are you grateful for?</p><p>A.J.: I am grateful for quite a bit, I have to say. Well, I talked about this in my book. I&#8217;m grateful for, first of all, for democracy, for balance of powers. But I&#8217;m also grateful for progress &#8212; things like elastic in my socks. Because during this constitutional year, I tried to dress the part, because I was trying to get into the mindset of the founders and I wore these socks, and they didn&#8217;t have elastic in them. They had these woolen, knitted socks and they would just fall down and puddle around the ankles. All those little things that we take for granted&#8212;there&#8217;s a lot of horrible stuff going in the world, but let&#8217;s be grateful for elastic socks and elastic underwear!</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;399849d8-21c4-4314-b67f-d79fc0393538&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><p>Subscribe to A.J.&#8217;s Substack, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;A.J. Jacobs&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:280467,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ef192e8e-62ee-4463-b0b4-166e9a4beb40_364x336.png&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;5708ff7c-9b15-4c21-ac9a-82f4c42b644a&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span> &#8595;&#8595;&#8595;&#8595;</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[I Read My Essays to You]]></title><description><![CDATA[Listen now | Hey - you&#8217;re busy and on the move.]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/i-read-my-essays-to-you</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/i-read-my-essays-to-you</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:31:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/200352640/847d8c4e13c00ebdeb21de50df7c8c31.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hi friend!</p><p>I understand that sometimes you don&#8217;t have time to read everything I send you. You&#8217;re busy and on the move&#8212;working out, running through an airport, or re-arranging your sock drawer. And that&#8217;s okay.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!B1wx!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F95c9609a-03ad-410a-a24a-61fde6d88ef8_2244x1300.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!B1wx!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F95c9609a-03ad-410a-a24a-61fde6d88ef8_2244x1300.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!B1wx!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F95c9609a-03ad-410a-a24a-61fde6d88ef8_2244x1300.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!B1wx!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F95c9609a-03ad-410a-a24a-61fde6d88ef8_2244x1300.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!B1wx!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F95c9609a-03ad-410a-a24a-61fde6d88ef8_2244x1300.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!B1wx!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F95c9609a-03ad-410a-a24a-61fde6d88ef8_2244x1300.png" width="486" height="281.385989010989" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/95c9609a-03ad-410a-a24a-61fde6d88ef8_2244x1300.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:843,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:486,&quot;bytes&quot;:4425757,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/200352640?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F95c9609a-03ad-410a-a24a-61fde6d88ef8_2244x1300.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!B1wx!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F95c9609a-03ad-410a-a24a-61fde6d88ef8_2244x1300.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!B1wx!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F95c9609a-03ad-410a-a24a-61fde6d88ef8_2244x1300.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!B1wx!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F95c9609a-03ad-410a-a24a-61fde6d88ef8_2244x1300.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!B1wx!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F95c9609a-03ad-410a-a24a-61fde6d88ef8_2244x1300.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>So for this week&#8217;s podcast&#8212;as I do occasionally&#8212;I&#8217;m sharing an audio recording of me reading a few recent Substack essays right into your ears. And now you don&#8217;t have any excuses to not enjoy my wonderful writing.</p><p>You&#8217;re right - it&#8217;s quite generous of me, but you&#8217;re worth it! See links to the articles below. </p><p>Have a great day.</p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Join the team and get cool stuff. Subscribe now &#8595;&#8595;</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Which one is your favorite?</strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/i-read-my-essays-to-you/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/i-read-my-essays-to-you/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;b38a4f33-c003-4943-8003-e2929e86e86c&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;A packed airplane is many things&#8212;a metal tube of recycled flatulence, a bad restaurant in the sky, and a fragile ecosystem of humans fighting over armrests at 30,000 feet.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;showDescription&quot;:true,&quot;showImage&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;The Screaming Toddler Airplane Rule &quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:16422363,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Paul Ollinger&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Comedian Host of the Reasonably Happy Podcast Speaker on work and meaning&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/515ddc31-9df6-49e0-9296-78d76c77de7a_2383x2744.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2025-12-01T10:49:29.724Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aygG!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbe871f65-9aa8-498e-94d3-b90121af093a_2366x1578.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-screaming-toddler-airplane-rule&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:180353653,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:35,&quot;comment_count&quot;:18,&quot;publication_id&quot;:892156,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Reasonably Happy &quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u5rf!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93edd947-3172-4f36-ab10-1c880d8afeb1_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;bfbbf399-a8ae-4c80-abe0-5cf1a3454cd6&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;I have a theory - while everyone&#8217;s algorithm differs, there are three kinds of social media content that reliably make people happy:&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;showDescription&quot;:true,&quot;showImage&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;The Four Kinds of Schadenfreude &quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:16422363,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Paul Ollinger&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Comedian Host of the Reasonably Happy Podcast Speaker on work and meaning&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/515ddc31-9df6-49e0-9296-78d76c77de7a_2383x2744.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-03-24T09:40:45.081Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b5ecfc0a-1cee-4e40-82f5-0136932fd9ce_838x650.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-four-kinds-of-schadenfreude&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:191368000,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:6,&quot;comment_count&quot;:0,&quot;publication_id&quot;:892156,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Reasonably Happy &quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u5rf!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93edd947-3172-4f36-ab10-1c880d8afeb1_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;034a223c-1c20-444a-897c-59ec354175d8&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;I recently met up with two business school pals for dinner. As we waited for our table and enjoyed a cocktail in the bar, we started talking to a couple of younger guys.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;showDescription&quot;:true,&quot;showImage&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Where were you at 30?&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:16422363,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Paul Ollinger&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Comedian Host of the Reasonably Happy Podcast Speaker on work and meaning&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/515ddc31-9df6-49e0-9296-78d76c77de7a_2383x2744.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-05-06T18:46:02.072Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xM6g!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F256136c7-a7a5-4b0d-a8d9-72c159d94473_1370x988.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/where-were-you-at-30&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:196686438,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:110,&quot;comment_count&quot;:23,&quot;publication_id&quot;:892156,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Reasonably Happy &quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u5rf!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93edd947-3172-4f36-ab10-1c880d8afeb1_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;3c4f524d-ee0b-4109-95fb-ec8e3933d95e&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;This week on the podcast, I interviewed Tom Hardin, a former hedge fund trader who committed securities fraud at age 29.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;showDescription&quot;:true,&quot;showImage&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Avoiding Middle Aged Trouble &quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:16422363,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Paul Ollinger&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Comedian Host of the Reasonably Happy Podcast Speaker on work and meaning&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/515ddc31-9df6-49e0-9296-78d76c77de7a_2383x2744.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-02-24T11:03:08.503Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/570579ae-fa80-4be3-a893-99f0cb90cf5a_1414x1020.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/middle-aged-success&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:188934407,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:7,&quot;comment_count&quot;:7,&quot;publication_id&quot;:892156,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Reasonably Happy &quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u5rf!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93edd947-3172-4f36-ab10-1c880d8afeb1_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;1e552485-d5f7-48c4-a054-8df7b651d3d0&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;After a month of procrastination, I finally watched Inside the Manosphere, Netflix&#8217;s documentary on the rise of ultra-male influencers whose homophobic, misogynistic, and anti-Semitic content is attracting millions of young male followers.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;showDescription&quot;:true,&quot;showImage&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;What Does It Mean to be a Man?&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:16422363,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Paul Ollinger&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Comedian Host of the Reasonably Happy Podcast Speaker on work and meaning&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/515ddc31-9df6-49e0-9296-78d76c77de7a_2383x2744.png&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-10T10:15:58.195Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rEK5!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-man&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:193725278,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:15,&quot;comment_count&quot;:8,&quot;publication_id&quot;:892156,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Reasonably Happy &quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u5rf!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93edd947-3172-4f36-ab10-1c880d8afeb1_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/i-read-my-essays-to-you?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/i-read-my-essays-to-you?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Talk to Famous People]]></title><description><![CDATA[The normal person's guide to approaching celebrities in public on the way to becoming their lifelong BFF.]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/how-to-talk-to-famous-people</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/how-to-talk-to-famous-people</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:45:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NErK!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc5e1ac37-ae6c-49ca-848b-dd8fbbae1528_1136x682.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Living in New York City means accidentally sharing public spaces with famous people. Whether you&#8217;re riding the subway, shopping at Warby Parker, or standing on line* at Pop-up Bagels, you bump into them everywhere.</p><p>You should never be intimidated by an actress or rock star just because he or she is way richer and more beautiful than you. But in case you are, here are a few pointers.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Don&#8217;t miss out on this valuable advice. Subscribe now! &#8595;&#8595;&#8595;</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p><strong>Take a selfie. </strong>By definition, celebrities crave attention. They might pretend to be perusing fresh produce at the farmers market with their toddlers, but they&#8217;re desperately hoping for a photo with a stranger. Since they have no &#8220;reasonable expectation of privacy,&#8221; go ahead and start snapping. Be sure to get the children in the shot.</p><p><strong>Tell them a very long story.</strong> When you meet someone from your favorite TV show, you must demonstrate that your lives are connected. They&#8217;ll be fascinated to learn that your cousin&#8217;s high school boyfriend went to college with their Uncle Bob (the one who was in that combine accident). A passive-aggressive nod to their humble beginnings will remind them that their success is a random coincidence, having little to do with innate talent or work ethic.</p><p><strong>Share Overly Personal Information.</strong> Do you have money problems, a prescription pill habit, or a fungal infection? By all means, describe each of these in minute detail to Mariska Hargitay at the meat counter. After all, if she didn&#8217;t want to hear about your most embarrassing ailments, why did she come to Zabar&#8217;s?</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lb7r!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5104768f-ce92-4f69-97ad-a221d6253319_1232x928.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lb7r!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5104768f-ce92-4f69-97ad-a221d6253319_1232x928.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lb7r!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5104768f-ce92-4f69-97ad-a221d6253319_1232x928.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lb7r!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5104768f-ce92-4f69-97ad-a221d6253319_1232x928.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lb7r!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5104768f-ce92-4f69-97ad-a221d6253319_1232x928.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lb7r!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5104768f-ce92-4f69-97ad-a221d6253319_1232x928.png" width="499" height="375.87012987012986" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5104768f-ce92-4f69-97ad-a221d6253319_1232x928.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:928,&quot;width&quot;:1232,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:499,&quot;bytes&quot;:1742709,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/199980207?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5104768f-ce92-4f69-97ad-a221d6253319_1232x928.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lb7r!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5104768f-ce92-4f69-97ad-a221d6253319_1232x928.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lb7r!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5104768f-ce92-4f69-97ad-a221d6253319_1232x928.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lb7r!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5104768f-ce92-4f69-97ad-a221d6253319_1232x928.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lb7r!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5104768f-ce92-4f69-97ad-a221d6253319_1232x928.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Detective Benson wants to hear your confession. (MidJourney)</figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>Critique their work. </strong>Similarly, when you find yourself standing next to Sarah Jessica Parker on the C train, let her know how you feel about the <em>Sex and the City</em> reboot, e.g., &#8220;Too many lesbians!&#8221; And if you ever see a famous comedian at the Harlem DMV, tell them a joke starting with &#8220;a guy goes to the doctor,&#8221; then give the comic permission to use it in his or her act. They will thank you for it.</p><p><strong>Offer your opinions about their life choices.</strong> Celebrities want to know how their most personal&#8212;and often quite painful&#8212;experiences resonate with the general public. Whether it&#8217;s a dissolved marriage, a terminated pregnancy from their college years, or a public scandal involving their children (the ones who lived), definitely chime in with your thoughts. If a network news anchor&#8217;s husband cheated on her, suggest that it was her fault. If an actor&#8217;s child has well-publicized mental health challenges, tell him his &#8220;spoiled kid needs Jesus in her life.&#8221; Never mind that you&#8217;ve punted on two ex-spouses, can&#8217;t balance your checkbook, and serve yourself Xanax from a Pez dispenser, celebrity life choices are everyone&#8217;s business.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/how-to-talk-to-famous-people?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/how-to-talk-to-famous-people?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p><strong>Give them financial advice. </strong>Because celebs are busy being famous, they don&#8217;t have time to seek out innovative investment vehicles. I bet Debra Messing has never even heard of Bitcoin! So it&#8217;s up to you to break crypto down for her on the M86 bus. And if you ever bump into Kevin Bacon while waiting for your chai latte, tell him you never would have fallen for &#8220;the Bernie Madoff thing.&#8221; He&#8217;ll appreciate the sentiment.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NErK!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc5e1ac37-ae6c-49ca-848b-dd8fbbae1528_1136x682.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NErK!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc5e1ac37-ae6c-49ca-848b-dd8fbbae1528_1136x682.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NErK!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc5e1ac37-ae6c-49ca-848b-dd8fbbae1528_1136x682.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NErK!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc5e1ac37-ae6c-49ca-848b-dd8fbbae1528_1136x682.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NErK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc5e1ac37-ae6c-49ca-848b-dd8fbbae1528_1136x682.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NErK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc5e1ac37-ae6c-49ca-848b-dd8fbbae1528_1136x682.png" width="659" height="395.63204225352115" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NErK!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc5e1ac37-ae6c-49ca-848b-dd8fbbae1528_1136x682.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NErK!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc5e1ac37-ae6c-49ca-848b-dd8fbbae1528_1136x682.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NErK!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc5e1ac37-ae6c-49ca-848b-dd8fbbae1528_1136x682.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NErK!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc5e1ac37-ae6c-49ca-848b-dd8fbbae1528_1136x682.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">&#8220;See Debs&#8212;can I call you Debs?&#8212; it&#8217;s like a giant, digital ledger, Debs&#8230;.&#8221; (OpenAI)</figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>Get their contact information. </strong>Even though you share a great moment with Hugh Jackman at the restaurant urinal, he might be too shy to ask you for your digits. So while he&#8217;s washing his hands, grab his phone and start punching in your number. He&#8217;ll definitely call.</p><p><strong>Pretend You Don&#8217;t Know Who They Are. </strong><em>**Pro level move**</em><strong> </strong>I once snuck into a party of very important people. After serving myself generously from the buffet and open bar, I chose a seat on the banquette next to a beautiful woman. I said, &#8220;Hi, I&#8217;m Paul.&#8221; She replied with a polite smile, &#8220;Hello, I&#8217;m Beyonce.&#8221; I shook my head, chuckled, and said &#8220;Sure you are.&#8221; Then we laughed and laughed. Now I&#8217;m on the Carters&#8217; Christmas card list.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!z2Rw!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fecfd2da7-051b-47bc-a8e1-d13ad53a29cf_1698x952.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!z2Rw!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fecfd2da7-051b-47bc-a8e1-d13ad53a29cf_1698x952.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!z2Rw!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fecfd2da7-051b-47bc-a8e1-d13ad53a29cf_1698x952.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!z2Rw!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fecfd2da7-051b-47bc-a8e1-d13ad53a29cf_1698x952.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!z2Rw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fecfd2da7-051b-47bc-a8e1-d13ad53a29cf_1698x952.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!z2Rw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fecfd2da7-051b-47bc-a8e1-d13ad53a29cf_1698x952.png" width="708" height="396.7912087912088" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!z2Rw!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fecfd2da7-051b-47bc-a8e1-d13ad53a29cf_1698x952.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!z2Rw!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fecfd2da7-051b-47bc-a8e1-d13ad53a29cf_1698x952.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!z2Rw!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fecfd2da7-051b-47bc-a8e1-d13ad53a29cf_1698x952.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!z2Rw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fecfd2da7-051b-47bc-a8e1-d13ad53a29cf_1698x952.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">(Not Jay and B&#8217;s real holiday card.)</figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>Invite them to be on your Podcast.</strong> Most importantly, because well-known people you meet randomly want to help legitimize your tiny vanity project, you should beseech them to appear on your podcast. If they don&#8217;t agree immediately, follow them down the sidewalk, loudly shaming them for selfishness: </p><p>&#8220;As if you&#8217;re soooo busy, Mo Rocca! It&#8217;s not like you&#8217;re Mariska Hargitay!&#8221;</p><p>So there&#8217;s your play book. Let me know how it goes.</p><p>THE END</p><p>*it&#8217;s &#8220;on line&#8221; not &#8220;in line,&#8221; you bucktoothed hayseed.</p><p style="text-align: center;">PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/how-to-talk-to-famous-people/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/how-to-talk-to-famous-people/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><p>COME SEE ME TELL JOKES! &#8595;&#8595;&#8595;&#8595;&#8595;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png" width="1456" height="971" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:971,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[5 Questions with Dave Barry]]></title><description><![CDATA[The legendary humor columnist indulges my curiosity]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-dave-barry</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/5-questions-with-dave-barry</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 09:39:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/199233954/55e25438d0f9503c24af07b75156265a.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Oh my goodness what a fun time I had chatting with <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Dave Barry&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:309960081,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F448276cf-788f-4fb7-aed4-783bb66b8dd1_800x800.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;d556d4d4-be58-4d56-906a-a174184e00ac&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span> on the first episode of <em>5 Questions</em>, my bite-sized, live-streamed Substack interview show that I&#8217;ll be producing in addition to longer-form episodes of <em>Reasonably Happy</em>. </p><p>Dave&#8217;s column was syndicated to hundreds of newspapers around the globe for several decades. He has published dozens of books on myriad topics that sold millions of copies&#8212;of books, not topics&#8212;in 22 languages. <em>The New York Times</em> called him &#8220;the funniest man in America.&#8221; (And when has the NYT ever been wrong?)</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SSLj!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3626c488-86df-44a4-bb04-d57d9dea0412_984x766.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SSLj!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3626c488-86df-44a4-bb04-d57d9dea0412_984x766.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SSLj!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3626c488-86df-44a4-bb04-d57d9dea0412_984x766.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SSLj!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3626c488-86df-44a4-bb04-d57d9dea0412_984x766.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SSLj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3626c488-86df-44a4-bb04-d57d9dea0412_984x766.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SSLj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3626c488-86df-44a4-bb04-d57d9dea0412_984x766.png" width="355" height="276.3516260162602" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3626c488-86df-44a4-bb04-d57d9dea0412_984x766.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:766,&quot;width&quot;:984,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:355,&quot;bytes&quot;:517304,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/199233954?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3626c488-86df-44a4-bb04-d57d9dea0412_984x766.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SSLj!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3626c488-86df-44a4-bb04-d57d9dea0412_984x766.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SSLj!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3626c488-86df-44a4-bb04-d57d9dea0412_984x766.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SSLj!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3626c488-86df-44a4-bb04-d57d9dea0412_984x766.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SSLj!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3626c488-86df-44a4-bb04-d57d9dea0412_984x766.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Hey Floridians - I&#8217;ll be at McCurdy&#8217;s in Sarasota 8/13-16. See my other dates (Atlanta, Chattanooga, SF, LA, NYC) <a href="https://punchup.live/paulollinger">here</a>.</figcaption></figure></div><p>In other words, he&#8217;s accomplished an incredible amount in the funny game, and I was thrilled to talk to him. In this fast-moving 30-min chat, we talk about:</p><ul><li><p>What he&#8217;s looking for in a nursing home.</p></li><li><p>Advice for shepherding my kids through the college search process (even though it doesn&#8217;t matter where they end up)</p></li><li><p>The rock band he plays in with Stephen King, Amy Tan, Roy Blount, Jr., Scott Turow, and many other best-selling authors</p></li><li><p>Which other writers make him laugh</p></li><li><p>What Baby Boomers could learn from Gen Z (and vice versa)</p></li></ul><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Sign up for more great interviews and funny essays &#8595;&#8595;&#8595;</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Thank you all, including <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Doug Berg&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:334195673,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://substack.com/@bergsbrain&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/de4a2e0a-1810-42c0-9b75-9da96418a32a_12500x12500.png&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;97c0222f-29f0-4278-a4e3-5b3e55bebda8&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Erased Replaced&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:18756891,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://substack.com/@erasedreplaced&quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8cdc8c73-7812-44cd-9af6-8ab8c61704fe_1932x1932.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;65c59696-435e-41ca-bf20-10784159fcc2&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, and many others for tuning into the live stream! See my favorite clips below.</p><p>Oh, and here&#8217;s the photo I shared at the top of the show&#8230;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tjX_!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a61c792-9620-4194-b9b1-08708ade3c91_3023x2760.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tjX_!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a61c792-9620-4194-b9b1-08708ade3c91_3023x2760.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tjX_!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a61c792-9620-4194-b9b1-08708ade3c91_3023x2760.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tjX_!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a61c792-9620-4194-b9b1-08708ade3c91_3023x2760.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tjX_!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a61c792-9620-4194-b9b1-08708ade3c91_3023x2760.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tjX_!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a61c792-9620-4194-b9b1-08708ade3c91_3023x2760.jpeg" width="319" height="291.2471055243136" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8a61c792-9620-4194-b9b1-08708ade3c91_3023x2760.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:2760,&quot;width&quot;:3023,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:319,&quot;bytes&quot;:1194793,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/199233954?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe33ea37d-7ce3-4947-ab53-179937b097c8_3024x4032.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tjX_!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a61c792-9620-4194-b9b1-08708ade3c91_3023x2760.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tjX_!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a61c792-9620-4194-b9b1-08708ade3c91_3023x2760.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tjX_!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a61c792-9620-4194-b9b1-08708ade3c91_3023x2760.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tjX_!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a61c792-9620-4194-b9b1-08708ade3c91_3023x2760.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Florida-like Man at the Tampa Airport, 2024 (photo by Paul Ollinger)</figcaption></figure></div><div><hr></div><h2><strong>Some of my favorite quotes </strong></h2><h5><strong>What Dave wants in a nursing home (00:14:49):</strong></h5><blockquote><p><em>Paul:</em> What are the top three amenities you are looking for in a nursing home?</p><p><em>Dave:</em> Okay, number one would be there can be no other residents of this nursing home&#8230;I&#8217;m basing this on the last time I went to a class reunion, Westonville High School class of 1965. And the last thing you want to see when you&#8217;re my age is people who are your age. They&#8217;re all the walking dead and it&#8217;s very depressing to think, oh my god, that&#8217;s her. She was hot in high school.</p><p><em>Paul:</em> And now she&#8217;s pulling an oxygen tank.</p><p><em>Dave:</em> Yeah. So I don&#8217;t want to have any other residents in my nursing home. And there should be somebody who can make a decent vodka gimlet there. Really important to me Not the kind where they just pour a mix I mean the kind they shake it with a shaker I want to see the shaker when I go to the nursing home That&#8217;s the first thing I want to see Where&#8217;s the shaker? So no residents, and good vodka gimlet.</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;bc091442-1a77-4b61-bd5c-b316a028f353&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><h5><strong>Advice on parenting college kids (00:24:19):</strong></h5><blockquote><p>While your child is in college, move to a different house and do not tell your child where that house is. And that way, when it&#8217;s time for them to make their way into the world, they will have to.</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;ee1fa4a2-4263-4570-b93b-e0226b04dadc&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><h5><strong>What Boomers could learn from Gen Z (00:12:07):</strong></h5><blockquote><p><em>Dave:</em> What am I going to learn from Gen Z? Well, I think one thing, I will say this, and it&#8217;s often used as a criticism of them, but there&#8217;s some truth to it, I think. They&#8217;re not, like, killing themselves. You know what I mean?</p><p><em>Paul:</em> From a work perspective?</p><p><em>Dave:</em> Yes, From a work perspective. And I don&#8217;t mean to generalize all of them or anything like that. But I mean, when I was in my mid-20s, I think most of us were kind of intense about whatever career we were pursuing. I was at newspapers and I had friends who were like various other things. But they seem a little more chill about that. And it could be because the boomers have so screwed up the world that they realize there&#8217;s absolutely no point in trying to succeed so maybe it&#8217;s just they&#8217;re reacting to us but they do seem to have a little bit more like you know what we&#8217;re gonna enjoy ourselves.</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;0cee7c75-0e2c-439c-b2ab-b33cb0f665da&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><div><hr></div><p>Come see me tell jokes (or give a talk), in person:</p><ul><li><p>June 4 - Atlanta Athletic Club</p></li><li><p>June 5 and 6 - <a href="https://laughingskulllounge.com/events/">Laughing Skull Lounge</a>, Atlanta</p></li><li><p>June 12 - Wade Hampton Country Club, Cashiers, NC (Talk)</p></li><li><p>June 19 and 20 - <a href="https://www.thecomedycatch.com/events/133790">The Comedy Catch</a>, Chattanooga</p></li><li><p>June 25 - <a href="https://punchup.live/show/454b032e-4a51-4f86-a93b-ba81829aaca8">Happy Couples Show</a>, West Side Comedy Club, NYC</p></li><li><p>July 21 - The Venice West, Los Angeles (on sale soon)</p></li><li><p>July 23 - <a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/2-pauls-1-show-paul-ollinger-san-francisco-california-07-23-2026/event/1C00647FB330F46A">Cobbs Comedy Club</a>, San Francisco</p></li><li><p>Aug 1 - <a href="https://www.sticksandstonescomedyclub.com/shows/357527">Sticks and Stones Comedy Club</a>, Southampton, NY</p></li><li><p>Aug 8 - Atlanta Country Club</p></li><li><p>Aug 13-16 - <a href="https://www.mccurdyscomedy.com/shows/show.cfm?shoID=499">McCurdy&#8217;s Comedy Theatre</a>, Sarasota, FL</p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Outdoor Furniture Conundrum]]></title><description><![CDATA[There are no good choices]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-outdoor-furniture-conundrum</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-outdoor-furniture-conundrum</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 09:45:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KJ2d!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8760382-3026-4d62-a06e-7cbc764970b2_1832x958.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In anticipation of summer, my wife and I are shopping for outdoor furniture. We should have started the process sooner, but no one here thinks about socializing alfresco during winter, and New York&#8217;s version of  &#8220;spring&#8221; has been teasing us since March.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KJ2d!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8760382-3026-4d62-a06e-7cbc764970b2_1832x958.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KJ2d!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8760382-3026-4d62-a06e-7cbc764970b2_1832x958.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KJ2d!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8760382-3026-4d62-a06e-7cbc764970b2_1832x958.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KJ2d!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8760382-3026-4d62-a06e-7cbc764970b2_1832x958.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KJ2d!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8760382-3026-4d62-a06e-7cbc764970b2_1832x958.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KJ2d!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8760382-3026-4d62-a06e-7cbc764970b2_1832x958.png" width="1456" height="761" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c8760382-3026-4d62-a06e-7cbc764970b2_1832x958.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:761,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:3325523,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/199392883?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8760382-3026-4d62-a06e-7cbc764970b2_1832x958.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KJ2d!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8760382-3026-4d62-a06e-7cbc764970b2_1832x958.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KJ2d!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8760382-3026-4d62-a06e-7cbc764970b2_1832x958.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KJ2d!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8760382-3026-4d62-a06e-7cbc764970b2_1832x958.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KJ2d!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8760382-3026-4d62-a06e-7cbc764970b2_1832x958.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">What Midjourney thinks our patio should look like.</figcaption></figure></div><p>We are slightly ahead of the oppressive heat that will arrive in June when we will chide ourselves once again for not renting that house in the Hamptons where the breeze mitigates the heat and the beautiful people avoid the less beautiful people.</p><div class="captioned-button-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-outdoor-furniture-conundrum?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="CaptionedButtonToDOM"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Share with some of your beautiful friends&#8230;</p></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-outdoor-furniture-conundrum?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-outdoor-furniture-conundrum?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p></div><p>Resigned to another sweltering summer in the city, we&#8217;ll make the most of our stingy air conditioning and the outdoor space we are fortunate to possess. But without something to sit on, it&#8217;s not terribly useful.</p><p>Our current outdoor furniture, which belonged to our apartment&#8217;s previous owners, is falling apart&#8212;and not surprisingly. NYC weather inflicts destruction on anything left outside for more than an hour.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D1Tf!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2b0f667-b2b9-49ca-a241-f88444e1e77a_330x346.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D1Tf!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2b0f667-b2b9-49ca-a241-f88444e1e77a_330x346.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D1Tf!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2b0f667-b2b9-49ca-a241-f88444e1e77a_330x346.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D1Tf!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2b0f667-b2b9-49ca-a241-f88444e1e77a_330x346.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D1Tf!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2b0f667-b2b9-49ca-a241-f88444e1e77a_330x346.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D1Tf!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2b0f667-b2b9-49ca-a241-f88444e1e77a_330x346.png" width="368" height="385.8424242424242" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b2b0f667-b2b9-49ca-a241-f88444e1e77a_330x346.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:346,&quot;width&quot;:330,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:368,&quot;bytes&quot;:262260,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/199392883?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F373da491-642f-464d-8c6a-fdb2f1092523_330x382.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D1Tf!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2b0f667-b2b9-49ca-a241-f88444e1e77a_330x346.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D1Tf!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2b0f667-b2b9-49ca-a241-f88444e1e77a_330x346.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D1Tf!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2b0f667-b2b9-49ca-a241-f88444e1e77a_330x346.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D1Tf!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2b0f667-b2b9-49ca-a241-f88444e1e77a_330x346.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">How NYC patio furniture spends the winter.</figcaption></figure></div><p>Love seats and swivel chairs contract in the snowy winter and expand in the sticky, rainy summer while also repelling sloshed margaritas, over-priced Citarella salsa, dog claws, and stray cigarettes (though not at our house, because we&#8217;re good people who have heart problems). The result is corroded, splintery arm rests and cushions baked to a dangerous, crispy edge. </p><p>So, we got to Googling replacement options, and were reminded quickly that outdoor furniture comes in only two varieties:</p><p><em>1.</em> <strong>Absurdly Expensive.</strong> You can purchase high quality product from a place like Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel, but paying for it will require either liquidating your children&#8217;s 529 Plans, selling your plasma, or both. <em>(Note: if you consider Pottery Barn a cost-effective option, please upgrade to a paid subscription.)</em></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>2. <strong>El Cheapo.</strong> However, if you shop on Amazon or Wayfair, you can get an 18-piece outdoor set for $449. Granted, these more economical options are manufactured in Myanmar by a one-armed 6-year-old, contain highly flammable carcinogens, and&#8212;worst of all&#8212;will require me to assemble them. But the savings are massive, especially when you calculate the &#8220;all-in&#8221; cost.</p><p>When you first go to the Pottery Barn website, you&#8217;ll see something that looks somewhat reasonably priced, until you realize that the cushions are sold separately, like the creamed spinach at Smith &amp; Wollensky. Speaking of extras, since you&#8217;re paying top dollar, you&#8217;ll want to protect your purchase with the fitted furniture covers for an extra&#8212;I&#8217;m not kidding&#8212;$900, i.e., twice the cost of the whole shebang in Option #2. You could <em>easily</em> drop fifteen grand on something the local pigeons will soon be using as a toilet.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sRaf!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe1023418-8892-4713-8199-8387a0e24790_298x353.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sRaf!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe1023418-8892-4713-8199-8387a0e24790_298x353.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sRaf!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe1023418-8892-4713-8199-8387a0e24790_298x353.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sRaf!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe1023418-8892-4713-8199-8387a0e24790_298x353.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sRaf!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe1023418-8892-4713-8199-8387a0e24790_298x353.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sRaf!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe1023418-8892-4713-8199-8387a0e24790_298x353.png" width="332" height="393.2751677852349" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e1023418-8892-4713-8199-8387a0e24790_298x353.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:353,&quot;width&quot;:298,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:332,&quot;bytes&quot;:283058,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/199392883?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F93720e15-72dd-48a3-90fc-03040ee2adcc_298x382.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sRaf!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe1023418-8892-4713-8199-8387a0e24790_298x353.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sRaf!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe1023418-8892-4713-8199-8387a0e24790_298x353.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sRaf!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe1023418-8892-4713-8199-8387a0e24790_298x353.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sRaf!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe1023418-8892-4713-8199-8387a0e24790_298x353.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Dogs (and pigeons) take their toll on your outdoor settee.</figcaption></figure></div><p>In many cases, furniture that appears quite similar to their pricier alternatives will cost 80% less on Wayfair, which is basically the H&amp;M of patio seating.</p><p>The internet cautions that &#8220;fast furniture&#8221; means low quality pieces that will last only 5-7 years. But, &#8220;only&#8221; five years? That feels like an eternity to me. Never mind that I could be dead tomorrow, but at 20% of the price, I could replace it four times for the same cost as Option 1, providing a seat for my butt well into my 90s.</p><p>Yes, we&#8217;d be contributing to the environmental disaster that is our planet, inviting side-eye from Greta Thunberg, and displacing some 5<sup>th</sup> generation Tuscan wicker artisan. But that&#8217;s a small price to pay to be able to afford whatever over-priced college my teenagers will inevitably choose.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>You could <em>easily</em> drop fifteen grand on something the local pigeons will soon be using as a toilet.</p></div><p>Of course, to go this route, we&#8217;d have to factor in the expense of furniture disposal. It would cost nothing for me to chuck the old stuff over our balcony wall, six floors down to the street below. This would be the easiest&#8212;and most enjoyable&#8212;method, though I would risk injuring my neighbor and her cute bulldog mix, Chicken.</p><p>You know what, I&#8217;m overwhelmed by the all the choices of furniture available, and the idea of hiring someone to remove our old stuff is too much for me to handle right now. I think I&#8217;ll risk splinters in my keister this summer and deal with it next year.</p><p>Besides, there are only 209 more days until winter.</p><p>THE END</p><p style="text-align: center;">What should I do?</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-outdoor-furniture-conundrum/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-outdoor-furniture-conundrum/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><p>Hey - you like to laugh, right? Come to one of my comedy shows near you&#8230;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png" width="682" height="454.8228021978022" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:971,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:682,&quot;bytes&quot;:3260647,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/199392883?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!7Xv1!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff6a8bdbd-b21b-4de7-a5dc-d41c50c2c182_1536x1024.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gretchen Rubin Will Teach You to be Happy ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Watch now | Happiness expert Gretchen Rubin has helped millions of readers find a path toward contentment.]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/gretchen-rubin-will-teach-you-to</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/gretchen-rubin-will-teach-you-to</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 10:05:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/198965823/66e8131c1b908815f1be74a12d550d80.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pullquote"><p>&#8220;Happiness is a choice <strong>that requires effort </strong>at times.&#8221; -Aeschylus </p></div><p>Whenever I go back and re-listen to one of my podcast interviews, I always discover elements of the conversation I didn&#8217;t recall.  <br><br>Upon revisiting this 2025 conversation with best-selling author <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Gretchen Rubin&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:6355903,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ai3j!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F26e7d78f-f05f-4930-884f-f09b24c25c3d_951x951.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;36642f4c-ee00-47af-bfff-69ad6dd16efc&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, I of course remembered that she is a warrior for happiness and the practices that help her huge readership attain it.</p><p>But listening again, I was struck by how cool Gretchen is. Not &#8220;cool&#8221; in a biker-jacket / beat poetry / clove cigarette way, but in the &#8220;I know who I am, what I&#8217;m committed to, and how I can add value to the world&#8221; way.  </p><p>I don&#8217;t claim to know Gretchen, but it seems logical to me that this self-awareness is a by-product of the kind of work she evangelizes. </p><p>And it is work. As Aeschylus advised in the quote above, happiness is always there if we choose it, but only if&#8212;in the hard times&#8212;we are willing to get off the couch or smile through the pain. </p><p>In times like these, Gretchen&#8217;s writing can help us find a path through the noise and, as she describes it, &#8220;identify ways we can take happiness from the transcendent to the concrete.&#8221;</p><p>A great way to start that process is to listen (or re-listen) to this episode and take her happiness quiz <a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/quiz/">here</a>. You can also find many more applicable insights on Gretchen&#8217;s Substack, <a href="https://secretsofadulthood.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips">Secrets of Adulthood</a>.</p><p>Remember, happiness is growth&#8212;keep growing! </p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h2>Some of my favorite quotes (and a couple of clips)</h2><p></p><h4><em><strong>On Process v. Outcomes (07:50)</strong></em></h4><blockquote><p>One of my 12 my personal commandments of happiness is to <strong>enjoy the process.</strong> Because, the fact is, if you enjoy the process, you don&#8217;t care as much about the outcome. Still you might really <strong>want to have a positive outcome</strong>, but if you enjoy the process, if it doesn&#8217;t work out the way you want, it&#8217;s not as bitter.</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;2f8ecd2b-1c3a-4334-adb4-2f109458d63f&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><h4><em><strong>Do actions follow feelings or vice versa? (37:20)</strong></em></h4><blockquote><p>We think that actions follow feelings, but to a great degree <strong>feelings follow actions</strong>. And so  if you want to change your emotional state, it&#8217;s often by changing your conscious thoughts and actions&#8212;that&#8217;s often a good way to get into your emotional state. So if you&#8217;re feeling tired, if you act with energy you&#8217;re gonna start to feel more energetic. Or if you&#8217;re feeling shy, if you act you push yourself to act friendly, you&#8217;ll feel more friendly. Yeah, that&#8217;s fake until you feel it. That&#8217;s not &#8220;be inauthentic and present a totally imposter false sense to the world and then that somehow will become your truth.&#8221; That&#8217;s more about when people want to change their own emotional state, when they&#8217;re like, &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to feel this way.&#8221; It&#8217;s &#8220;okay, I have to stand up in front of an audience and I don&#8217;t feel like doing it.&#8221; It&#8217;s like, okay, well, stand up straighter, act with more energy. Command the room.</p></blockquote><div class="captioned-button-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/gretchen-rubin-will-teach-you-to?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="CaptionedButtonToDOM"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Share this conversation with someone who will benefit from its </p></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/gretchen-rubin-will-teach-you-to?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/gretchen-rubin-will-teach-you-to?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p></div><h4><em><strong>On money and happiness (41:20)</strong></em></h4><blockquote><p><strong>Money may not buy happiness</strong>, but it buys many things that contribute mightily to happiness. <strong>It&#8217;s like health</strong> where if you have it, you never think about it. But if you don&#8217;t have it, it&#8217;s really going to pull you down. So the lack of it will pull you down very much. But having it is very easy to take it for granted.</p><p>&#8212; Gretchen Rubin</p></blockquote><div class="native-video-embed" data-component-name="VideoPlaceholder" data-attrs="{&quot;mediaUploadId&quot;:&quot;2be6f8b8-4e82-4cb2-8d23-83c18e5c048d&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:null}"></div><h4><em><strong>How to think about happiness (45:30)</strong></em></h4><blockquote><p>If you&#8217;re thinking about how to make your life happier, you should think about feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right in <strong>an atmosphere of growth</strong>.</p></blockquote><h4><em><strong>The importance of growth (47:25)</strong></em></h4><blockquote><p>You want to feel like you&#8217;re growing. We want to feel like <strong>we&#8217;re making progress</strong>, like we&#8217;re fixing things, we&#8217;re learning things, we&#8217;re gaining skills, we&#8217;re putting something into the world.</p></blockquote><h4><em><strong>Is happiness a choice? (52:03)</strong></em></h4><blockquote><p><strong>It always confuses me</strong> when people say that happiness is a choice. I just don&#8217;t understand what they mean by that. Clearly for people, it&#8217;s very meaningful because people say that to me, <strong>it just sort of doesn&#8217;t make sense</strong>, but this idea that it requires effort&#8212;that you would do things deliberately, thinking this is gonna make me &#8230; I&#8217;m gonna tackle &#8216;Feeling Good / Feeling Bad / Feeling Right in An Atmosphere of Growth by doing things with my conscious thoughts and actions &#8212; I completely agree. It does take effort. </p></blockquote><div><hr></div><p><em>Reasonably Happy <a href="https://read.substack.com/p/https://words.paulollinger.com/">is a podcast</a> hosted by me, comedian Paul Ollinger, featuring conversations that explore the connection between success and happiness. From academics to athletes and from pastors to porn stars, I talk to some pretty amazing people.</em></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS&#8230; </p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/gretchen-rubin-will-teach-you-to/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/gretchen-rubin-will-teach-you-to/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><p>Come see me tell jokes (or give a talk), in person:</p><ul><li><p>June 4 - Atlanta Athletic Club</p></li><li><p>June 5 and 6 - <a href="https://laughingskulllounge.com/events/">Laughing Skull Lounge</a>, Atlanta</p></li><li><p>June 12 - Wade Hampton Country Club, Cashiers, NC (Talk)</p></li><li><p>June 19 and 20 - <a href="https://www.thecomedycatch.com/events/133790">The Comedy Catch</a>, Chattanooga</p></li><li><p>June 25 - <a href="https://punchup.live/show/454b032e-4a51-4f86-a93b-ba81829aaca8">Happy Couples Show</a>, West Side Comedy Club, NYC</p></li><li><p>July 21 - The Venice West, Los Angeles (on sale soon)</p></li><li><p>July 23 - <a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/2-pauls-1-show-paul-ollinger-san-francisco-california-07-23-2026/event/1C00647FB330F46A">Cobbs Comedy Club</a>, San Francisco</p></li><li><p>Aug 1 - <a href="https://www.sticksandstonescomedyclub.com/shows/357527">Sticks and Stones Comedy Club</a>, Southampton, NY</p></li><li><p>Aug 8 - Atlanta Country Club</p></li><li><p>Aug 13-16 - <a href="https://www.mccurdyscomedy.com/shows/show.cfm?shoID=499">McCurdy&#8217;s Comedy Theatre</a>, Sarasota, FL</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Money, Family & Comedy w/Roy Wood Jr.]]></title><description><![CDATA[My guest today is Roy Wood, Jr.]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/money-family-and-comedy-wroy-wood</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/money-family-and-comedy-wroy-wood</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 09:36:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/197519660/62fa141d6a5cc44790c0baa9aabd50e5.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My guest today is Roy Wood, Jr. </p><p>You know him from <em>The Daily Show</em> and from his acclaimed stand-up specials, where he proves that smart comedy can still hit hard. </p><p>A native of Birmingham, AL, Roy has that rare ability to make you laugh while also making you think&#8212;whether he&#8217;s talking about race, class, media, relationships, or the strange little hypocrisies we all live with.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vMNM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52c9049f-89c5-49fd-84ea-2ceb9a707166_1326x956.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vMNM!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52c9049f-89c5-49fd-84ea-2ceb9a707166_1326x956.png 424w, 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vMNM!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52c9049f-89c5-49fd-84ea-2ceb9a707166_1326x956.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vMNM!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52c9049f-89c5-49fd-84ea-2ceb9a707166_1326x956.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vMNM!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52c9049f-89c5-49fd-84ea-2ceb9a707166_1326x956.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vMNM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52c9049f-89c5-49fd-84ea-2ceb9a707166_1326x956.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>In addition to <em>The Daily Show</em>, Roy has performed on <em>The Tonight Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, BET&#8217;s Comic View, Conan,</em> and many other top TV programs. He is now the host of the CNN current events-comedy show, <em>Have I Got News for You. </em></p><p>His 2025 memoir, <em>The Man of Many Fathers</em> explores&#8212;among other things&#8212;Roy&#8217;s complicated relationship with his father, Roy Wood, Sr., a civil rights journalist and African American radio pioneer.</p><p>Today, Roy and I talk about money, family, fatherhood, and we go deep on the craft of comedy.</p><p>Speaking of comedy, see my upcoming shows below. Save the date / buy your tickets!</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/money-family-and-comedy-wroy-wood?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;button-wrapper&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary button-wrapper" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/money-family-and-comedy-wroy-wood?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p><strong>COMEDY NEAR YOU - GET YOUR TICKETS!</strong></p><ul><li><p>May 16: QED, Astoria Queens, 9:30</p></li><li><p>May 20: Dunwoody Country Club (members only)</p></li><li><p>May 21: <a href="https://www.punchline.com/comic/?id=6803&amp;comic=2%20Pauls%2C%201%20Show">Atlanta Punchline</a> - ON SALE</p></li><li><p>May 22-23: <a href="https://www.dccomedyloft.com/events/135737">DC Comedy Loft</a> ON SALE</p></li><li><p>June 4: Atlanta Athletic Club (members only)</p></li><li><p>June 19-20: <a href="https://www.thecomedycatch.com/events/133790">Comedy Catch, Chattanooga</a> ON SALE</p></li><li><p>June 25: Couples Therapy Comedy <a href="https://www.westsidecomedyclub.com/calendar">at West Side Comedy Club</a>, NYC </p></li><li><p>July 21: The Venice West, Los Angeles - On Sale soon</p></li><li><p>July 23: <a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/2-pauls-1-show-paul-ollinger-san-francisco-california-07-23-2026/event/1C00647FB330F46A?_gl=1*87wtm5*_ga*MTM1Mjk3NTAyMS4xNzc4NjcyMTg5*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3Nzg2NzIxODkkbzEkZzAkdDE3Nzg2NzIxODkkajYwJGwwJGgw">Cobbs Comedy Club</a>, San Francisco - ON SALE</p></li><li><p>Aug 1: <a href="https://www.sticksandstonescomedyclub.com/shows/357527">Sticks and Stones Comedy Club</a>, Southampton, NY - </p></li><li><p>Aug 8: Atlanta Country Club (members only)</p></li><li><p>Aug 13-16: Headlining <a href="https://www.mccurdyscomedy.com/shows/show.cfm?shoID=499">McCurdy&#8217;s in Sarasota</a>, FL - ON SALE</p></li><li><p>October 15: Capital City Country Club (members only)</p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Get Rich in America]]></title><description><![CDATA[With Joseph Moore]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/how-to-get-rich-in-america</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/how-to-get-rich-in-america</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 09:45:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/196469827/89abba38269cb6d391d0a2b32dde8802.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;Capitalism is rigged!&#8221; cry the masses. </p><p>&#8220;Nobody gets ahead anymore,&#8221; says the mainstream press. </p><p>And 60% of young people believe that the American Dream is dead! </p><p>But my guest today calls this hogwash, baloney, and complete malarkey. <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Joseph Moore&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:35010501,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c135f60e-580c-47bd-8921-dcc9c4a8da87_4000x4000.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;24572784-3097-405d-8c03-f75fa913d2e8&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span> is a historian, entrepreneur, investor, and the author of a new book called <em>How to Get Rich In American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice that Worked (And didn&#8217;t) </em>in which he explores how ambition, risk, and reinvention have shaped America from the very beginning.</p><p>He also reveals the money myths, sacred cows, side hustles, and NAYsayers that have always been a part of our society. </p><p>What if so-called timeless beliefs about money like &#8220;invest for the long run,&#8221; &#8220;compound interest builds wealth,&#8221; and &#8220;real estate always goes up&#8221; weren&#8217;t always true&#8230;and play out less often than you think they do? </p><p>Joseph&#8217;s book is part history, part playbook, and part reality check. He brings lessons to life with rigor that is deeper than an oil well and a wit that is dryer than the Texas plains. And in so doing he demystifies the past in order to clarify the present for anyone thinking about money, success, and what it really means to &#8220;make it&#8221; in America.</p><p>Follow Joseph <a href="https://www.josephmoorebooks.com/">here</a>. </p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Where were you at 30?]]></title><description><![CDATA[I was in the Moat of Low Status]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/where-were-you-at-30</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/where-were-you-at-30</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 18:46:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xM6g!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F256136c7-a7a5-4b0d-a8d9-72c159d94473_1370x988.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I recently met up with two business school pals for dinner. As we waited for our table and enjoyed a cocktail in the bar, we started talking to a couple of younger guys.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xM6g!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F256136c7-a7a5-4b0d-a8d9-72c159d94473_1370x988.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xM6g!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F256136c7-a7a5-4b0d-a8d9-72c159d94473_1370x988.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xM6g!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F256136c7-a7a5-4b0d-a8d9-72c159d94473_1370x988.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xM6g!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F256136c7-a7a5-4b0d-a8d9-72c159d94473_1370x988.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xM6g!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F256136c7-a7a5-4b0d-a8d9-72c159d94473_1370x988.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xM6g!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F256136c7-a7a5-4b0d-a8d9-72c159d94473_1370x988.png" width="526" height="379.3343065693431" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xM6g!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F256136c7-a7a5-4b0d-a8d9-72c159d94473_1370x988.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xM6g!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F256136c7-a7a5-4b0d-a8d9-72c159d94473_1370x988.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xM6g!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F256136c7-a7a5-4b0d-a8d9-72c159d94473_1370x988.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xM6g!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F256136c7-a7a5-4b0d-a8d9-72c159d94473_1370x988.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Oh to have more hair than money&#8230;</figcaption></figure></div><p>They were recent Kellogg MBA grads who worked for a very large online retailer. (I won&#8217;t say which one, but it&#8217;s as big as a South American river.) </p><p>Friendly and respectfully curious, they asked us about our career paths. They were duly impressed with my accomplished classmates&#8212;a hedge fund manager and former start-up executive who has rung the bell a few times. I&#8217;ve done all right myself.</p><p>Then one of the guys asked an excellent question: &#8220;Where were you at 30?&#8221;</p><p>I laughed, pointed to the software leader, and said, &#8220;When I was 30, I was deep in debt, sharing a two-bedroom, one-bathroom walk-up with this guy, and working in an industry that was unravelling violently.&#8221;</p><p>The young men smiled at my unimpressive answer. I elaborated.</p><p>On my 31st birthday in March 2000, the stock market was in free fall. The Nasdaq Composite index lost 1/3 of its value in four weeks, on its way to shedding 80% over 18 months.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">I write about money, careers, and life. I try to keep it funny.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>LAUNCH.com, the digital music company where I worked was vaporizing alongside the rest of the Internet 1.0 economy. Three rounds of layoffs eliminated four out of five of my colleagues, and I barely survived the cuts.</p><p>I had sold exactly none of my stock because, foolishly, I believed holding onto it was a sign of loyalty. And when Yahoo! finally bought us for loose change that Jerry Yang found in his couch cushions, my payout bought me a desktop PC running Windows Millennium Edition.</p><p>Around this time, I confessed my financial situation to a new girlfriend&#8212;a dotcom multimillionaire who was smart enough to cash out. Despite my full head of hair and low-carb-lean body, she was not impressed.</p><p>The new grads laughed at my pain. When I divulged that liquidating my equity would have paid off my $80,000 in loans&#8212;$150,000 in today&#8217;s dollars, they traded fist-bumps hearing a balance similar to their own.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BMSH!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7025b7a2-c94b-4b7c-8086-643b9c322dfd_1536x1024.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BMSH!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7025b7a2-c94b-4b7c-8086-643b9c322dfd_1536x1024.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BMSH!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7025b7a2-c94b-4b7c-8086-643b9c322dfd_1536x1024.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BMSH!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7025b7a2-c94b-4b7c-8086-643b9c322dfd_1536x1024.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BMSH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7025b7a2-c94b-4b7c-8086-643b9c322dfd_1536x1024.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BMSH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7025b7a2-c94b-4b7c-8086-643b9c322dfd_1536x1024.png" width="527" height="351.4539835164835" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BMSH!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7025b7a2-c94b-4b7c-8086-643b9c322dfd_1536x1024.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BMSH!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7025b7a2-c94b-4b7c-8086-643b9c322dfd_1536x1024.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BMSH!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7025b7a2-c94b-4b7c-8086-643b9c322dfd_1536x1024.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BMSH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7025b7a2-c94b-4b7c-8086-643b9c322dfd_1536x1024.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">I often tell jokes in public. Come see me. (This silly theme goes back to me playing with divinity-themed AI image creations for <a href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/trump-and-the-profane">my last post</a>)</figcaption></figure></div><p>Then my hedge fund buddy shared his story. Right out of business school, he had taken the strategic consulting route. The lucrative pay package funded a nice apartment and the ability to chip away at his tuition debt.</p><p>But he found the work unsatisfying and decided he wanted to be an equities trader, a position for which he was positioned poorly. So, he quit the consulting gig and gave up his flat. He lived like a monk for almost two years while taking trading courses and networking with a seemingly irrational persistence, until he finally cracked the industry.</p><div class="poll-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;id&quot;:510686}" data-component-name="PollToDOM"></div><p>The bold bet on himself worked. Today, he&#8217;s reaping meaningful rewards in the form of both career satisfaction and financial compensation.</p><p>My other friend at 30 years-old was on a more consistent progression up the success ladder, propelled by a brilliant financial mind and a .1% work ethic that has barely diminished almost three decades later.</p><div class="captioned-button-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/where-were-you-at-30?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="CaptionedButtonToDOM"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Share this with a young professional who&#8217;s working hard to figure it out.</p></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/where-were-you-at-30?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/where-were-you-at-30?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p></div><p>One of the benefits of having an ally like him is his ability to see the bigger picture. On a drive to the airport back from an early 2002 ski trip&#8212;as single, childless dudes, we could still find a few bucks for the important things&#8212;I was lamenting my situation. He put it into perspective.</p><p>&#8220;Okay, this girl&#8217;s not into you. Whatever,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You&#8217;ve got a good job at Yahoo! and stock options that could be a game-changer. Just keep your head down and keep moving forward.&#8221;</p><p>That&#8217;s what I did, and that&#8217;s exactly what happened.</p><p>Three years later, I was a millionaire.</p><p></p><h4><em>How am I doing?</em></h4><p>I took the young Amazonian&#8217;s question as a rhetorical check in&#8212;was he doing okay? Up to this point in life, he has done all the right things. Yet, despite having an impressive degree and a great job, he feels as if he&#8217;s not where he should be.</p><p>This is natural. Young people think careers are linear. Older folks know they can be jagged and often chaotic. And that&#8217;s okay.</p><p>In her forthcoming book <em>You Can Just Do Things</em>, author <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Cate Hall&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:29458493,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e7cf5ecc-aba6-4863-a6fe-f7265863ec01_3072x3072.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;8f4c9195-48d2-4d67-a61d-63a270a761b1&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>&#8212;a former drug addict, poker champion, and tech CEO&#8212;discusses the importance of embracing the &#8220;Moat of Low Status.&#8221;</p><p>Hall argues that many people spend part of their twenties and thirties in a bit of a ditch&#8212;an uncomfortable stretch where your peers seem to be pulling ahead while your own life feels uncertain, underfunded, and unimpressive.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BXfH!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F167e5e9d-ee01-43fe-9a4d-5484c7cb495c_1500x1500.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BXfH!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F167e5e9d-ee01-43fe-9a4d-5484c7cb495c_1500x1500.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BXfH!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F167e5e9d-ee01-43fe-9a4d-5484c7cb495c_1500x1500.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BXfH!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F167e5e9d-ee01-43fe-9a4d-5484c7cb495c_1500x1500.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BXfH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F167e5e9d-ee01-43fe-9a4d-5484c7cb495c_1500x1500.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BXfH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F167e5e9d-ee01-43fe-9a4d-5484c7cb495c_1500x1500.jpeg" width="269" height="269" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/167e5e9d-ee01-43fe-9a4d-5484c7cb495c_1500x1500.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1456,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:269,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BXfH!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F167e5e9d-ee01-43fe-9a4d-5484c7cb495c_1500x1500.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BXfH!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F167e5e9d-ee01-43fe-9a4d-5484c7cb495c_1500x1500.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BXfH!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F167e5e9d-ee01-43fe-9a4d-5484c7cb495c_1500x1500.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BXfH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F167e5e9d-ee01-43fe-9a4d-5484c7cb495c_1500x1500.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Pre-order Cate&#8217;s book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Just-Things-High-Agency/dp/B0FPRP44PQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=27Q7J8EU3UZSW&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KTiF_qgCmIR9ZFik0cEzD2lPyROP4kM-o22gRQTGqSbGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.2IRlCdCB58l60f_WC9nOI96Nc-3Tem5UiLvswShM4Xg&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=you+can+just+do+things+cate+hall&amp;qid=1778090253&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=you+cna+just+do+things+cate+hall%2Cstripbooks%2C104&amp;sr=1-1">here</a>. </figcaption></figure></div><p>But the moat has advantages. It shrinks your ego. It forces you to adapt. And you persevere because you have no choice.</p><p>Over time, however, good things happen. Opportunities arise that were not visible from the other side of the moat, and the path makes itself known. It happened to me, to Mister Hedge Fund, and it happened to Cate.</p><p>I&#8217;ll bet you a desktop PC that it will happen to these two young guys as well. </p><p>On their way out the door, my new friends swung by our table to say goodbye. I did my best to return their Gen Y daps, and gave them the best advice I could.</p><p>&#8220;Keep your heads down, boys. And keep moving forward.&#8221;</p><p>THE END</p><p>(hey &#8212; please share your thoughts in the Comments section &#8595;&#8595;&#8595;&#8595;)</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Fragile Power of Wealth]]></title><description><![CDATA[with Dr. Paul Hokemeyer]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-fragile-power-of-wealth</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-fragile-power-of-wealth</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:34:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/195681582/93c1c7b752511e25832dcd40b8cc870d.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you&#8217;ve ever wondered if having everything you&#8217;ve ever wanted would make you feel like a complete human being, this episode is for you.</p><p>My guest today is Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, a psychotherapist who works almost exclusively with ultra-high-net-worth individuals&#8212;the kind of people most of us assume have life completely figured out.</p><p>Spoiler alert: they don&#8217;t.</p><p>Dr. Hokemeyer is the author of <em>Fragile Power</em>, a fascinating look at the emotional and psychological challenges that come with extreme wealth, fame, status, and success. In his work, he&#8217;s seen firsthand how money can insulate people from consequences, distort relationships, and quietly fuel addiction, anxiety, and isolation.</p><p>In other words, he has a front-row seat to the uncomfortable truth behind the fantasy.</p><p>Today, we talk about why power is more fragile than it looks, how wealth can complicate identity and purpose, and what it actually takes&#8212;whether you&#8217;re worth $10,000 or $10 billion&#8212;to build a life that feels meaningful.</p><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">For more great conversations about money, </p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trump and the Profane]]></title><description><![CDATA[No, there isn't anything he won't do or say]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/trump-and-the-profane</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/trump-and-the-profane</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:45:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0DLc!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00f6e78b-67cb-4194-a4d9-9a3444ba1b2a_1388x996.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Trigger Warning: this article contains significant potty language that is necessary to prove the absurdity of my point. Read at your own risk.</em></p><p>For 250 years, profanity has been conspicuously absent from official White House communications. Sure, there were a few hot mic moments where George W. Bush said &#8220;shit&#8221; or called a reporter an asshole. Biden told a different reporter he was a son-of-a-bitch, and Nixon&#8217;s home recordings were full of coarse grumbling and anti-gay slurs.</p><p>At its worst, however, anything a President offered for public consumption never exceeded PG-13 material.</p><p>But leave it to Donald J. Trump to buck a &#188; millennial trend of expletive-free diplomacy. Last week, on Truth Social, he blasted the Iranian regime with this subtle gem: &#8220;Open the Fuckin&#8217; Strait, you crazy bastards.&#8221;  </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SMXC!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa405b7ee-c35c-4407-abb9-87a283fd9010_811x327.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SMXC!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa405b7ee-c35c-4407-abb9-87a283fd9010_811x327.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SMXC!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa405b7ee-c35c-4407-abb9-87a283fd9010_811x327.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SMXC!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa405b7ee-c35c-4407-abb9-87a283fd9010_811x327.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SMXC!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa405b7ee-c35c-4407-abb9-87a283fd9010_811x327.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SMXC!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa405b7ee-c35c-4407-abb9-87a283fd9010_811x327.png" width="507" height="204.42540073982738" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a405b7ee-c35c-4407-abb9-87a283fd9010_811x327.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:327,&quot;width&quot;:811,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:507,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;A screenshot of a social media post\n\nAI-generated content may be incorrect.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="A screenshot of a social media post

AI-generated content may be incorrect." title="A screenshot of a social media post

AI-generated content may be incorrect." srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SMXC!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa405b7ee-c35c-4407-abb9-87a283fd9010_811x327.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SMXC!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa405b7ee-c35c-4407-abb9-87a283fd9010_811x327.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SMXC!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa405b7ee-c35c-4407-abb9-87a283fd9010_811x327.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SMXC!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa405b7ee-c35c-4407-abb9-87a283fd9010_811x327.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>While this might be a reasonable thing for a President to <em>think</em>, it is&#8212;for lots of good reasons&#8212; something that 44 other POTI would have left unsaid. As much as it scares me, I must confess that I find it fascinating to read a President&#8217;s unedited thoughts. Trump&#8217;s rant made me imagine how awesome it could have been if others had been equally self-indulgent.</p><p>Think of how the Declaration of Independence might read if Thomas Jefferson listed among our unalienable rights &#8220;life, liberty and the pursuit of mother-fucking happiness&#8221; and then called King George an &#8220;English prick!&#8221; </p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for unvarnished commentary on money, success, politics, and life.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>This wouldn&#8217;t have been diplomatic, but it would have felt so good!</p><p>Maybe JFK&#8217;s inaugural address would resonate better with Gen Z if he had implored, &#8220;Ask not, what the country can do for you. Ask what your lazy ass can do for the goddamn country.&#8221;</p><p>And surely there was some impulse inside of Abraham Lincoln to use his address at Gettysburg to call the Confederates &#8220;a lousy bunch of cross-eyed, cousin-rapers.&#8221; </p><p>Ronald Reagan chose his words carefully, but if the Great Communicator lacked an internal filter, he might have cautioned Mikhail Gorbachev to &#8220;Tear down this fucking wall, you forehead-birthmark-having little bitch.&#8221;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lI2M!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48f4882f-34a2-490d-8054-4891cb54a3c1_330x203.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lI2M!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48f4882f-34a2-490d-8054-4891cb54a3c1_330x203.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lI2M!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48f4882f-34a2-490d-8054-4891cb54a3c1_330x203.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lI2M!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48f4882f-34a2-490d-8054-4891cb54a3c1_330x203.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lI2M!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48f4882f-34a2-490d-8054-4891cb54a3c1_330x203.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lI2M!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48f4882f-34a2-490d-8054-4891cb54a3c1_330x203.jpeg" width="488" height="300.1939393939394" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/48f4882f-34a2-490d-8054-4891cb54a3c1_330x203.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:203,&quot;width&quot;:330,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:488,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;File:Reagan and Gorbachev signing.jpg&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="File:Reagan and Gorbachev signing.jpg" title="File:Reagan and Gorbachev signing.jpg" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lI2M!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48f4882f-34a2-490d-8054-4891cb54a3c1_330x203.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lI2M!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48f4882f-34a2-490d-8054-4891cb54a3c1_330x203.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lI2M!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48f4882f-34a2-490d-8054-4891cb54a3c1_330x203.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lI2M!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F48f4882f-34a2-490d-8054-4891cb54a3c1_330x203.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p style="text-align: center;"><code>&#8220;Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this fucking wall, you forehead-birthmark-having little bitch.&#8221;</code></p><p style="text-align: center;"><code>&#8211;Ronald Reagan</code></p><p>And you know that the words Bill Clinton was actually thinking were &#8220;I did not have sexual relations with that lying ho-bag, Ms. Lewinsky.&#8221; (His thoughts, not mine &#8212;I&#8217;m on your side, Monica!)</p><p>I think the biggest missed opportunity&#8212;one might even say it was egregiously neglectful&#8212;was President Obama&#8217;s refusal to drop the N-word during one of his States of the Union. If there was any President who had the cultural green light, it was him. </p><p>But since we&#8217;ve still got three years of Trump, and we&#8217;ve already heard him say &#8220;pussy,&#8221; &#8220;shithole,&#8221; and &#8220;fuck,&#8221; I wouldn&#8217;t put the N-word past him.</p><p>Surely there&#8217;s a bet to be made on Polymarket.</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>&#127482;&#127480; BONUS MATERIAL &#129395;</strong></p><p>I had already written the draft about profanity above when, earlier this week, the President broke the internet, the news cycle, and every Christian&#8217;s heart when he posted this AI image of himself as <s>a doctor</s> Jesus:</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVfU!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F97151d28-8a7e-4d7f-84db-6d7ba9f6a8d3_745x1053.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVfU!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F97151d28-8a7e-4d7f-84db-6d7ba9f6a8d3_745x1053.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVfU!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F97151d28-8a7e-4d7f-84db-6d7ba9f6a8d3_745x1053.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVfU!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F97151d28-8a7e-4d7f-84db-6d7ba9f6a8d3_745x1053.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVfU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F97151d28-8a7e-4d7f-84db-6d7ba9f6a8d3_745x1053.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVfU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F97151d28-8a7e-4d7f-84db-6d7ba9f6a8d3_745x1053.jpeg" width="278" height="392.93154362416107" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/97151d28-8a7e-4d7f-84db-6d7ba9f6a8d3_745x1053.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1053,&quot;width&quot;:745,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:278,&quot;bytes&quot;:206199,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Trump discussed \&quot;Jesus\&quot; meme with Bill Pulte before posting it, sources say&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="Trump discussed &quot;Jesus&quot; meme with Bill Pulte before posting it, sources say" title="Trump discussed &quot;Jesus&quot; meme with Bill Pulte before posting it, sources say" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVfU!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F97151d28-8a7e-4d7f-84db-6d7ba9f6a8d3_745x1053.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVfU!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F97151d28-8a7e-4d7f-84db-6d7ba9f6a8d3_745x1053.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVfU!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F97151d28-8a7e-4d7f-84db-6d7ba9f6a8d3_745x1053.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!CVfU!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F97151d28-8a7e-4d7f-84db-6d7ba9f6a8d3_745x1053.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I used this opportunity to goof around on Midjourney and produce what I think are some pretty outstanding images of Trump in the mode of god / God / religious symbol.</p><p>Here he is as Greek god Zeus, the king of Mt. Olympus:</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vAiE!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88947c0e-845c-4c56-9cdf-261e0f519104_1356x892.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vAiE!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88947c0e-845c-4c56-9cdf-261e0f519104_1356x892.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vAiE!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88947c0e-845c-4c56-9cdf-261e0f519104_1356x892.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vAiE!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88947c0e-845c-4c56-9cdf-261e0f519104_1356x892.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vAiE!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88947c0e-845c-4c56-9cdf-261e0f519104_1356x892.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vAiE!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88947c0e-845c-4c56-9cdf-261e0f519104_1356x892.png" width="548" height="360.48377581120945" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/88947c0e-845c-4c56-9cdf-261e0f519104_1356x892.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:892,&quot;width&quot;:1356,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:548,&quot;bytes&quot;:1851257,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/194285654?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88947c0e-845c-4c56-9cdf-261e0f519104_1356x892.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vAiE!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88947c0e-845c-4c56-9cdf-261e0f519104_1356x892.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vAiE!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88947c0e-845c-4c56-9cdf-261e0f519104_1356x892.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vAiE!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88947c0e-845c-4c56-9cdf-261e0f519104_1356x892.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vAiE!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F88947c0e-845c-4c56-9cdf-261e0f519104_1356x892.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>And of course, the Buddha&#8230;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tbMt!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d5af346-af77-415c-8f27-97489d94f645_1338x890.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tbMt!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d5af346-af77-415c-8f27-97489d94f645_1338x890.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tbMt!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d5af346-af77-415c-8f27-97489d94f645_1338x890.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tbMt!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d5af346-af77-415c-8f27-97489d94f645_1338x890.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tbMt!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d5af346-af77-415c-8f27-97489d94f645_1338x890.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tbMt!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d5af346-af77-415c-8f27-97489d94f645_1338x890.png" width="562" height="373.8266068759342" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tbMt!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d5af346-af77-415c-8f27-97489d94f645_1338x890.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tbMt!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d5af346-af77-415c-8f27-97489d94f645_1338x890.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tbMt!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d5af346-af77-415c-8f27-97489d94f645_1338x890.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tbMt!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d5af346-af77-415c-8f27-97489d94f645_1338x890.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption"></figcaption></figure></div><p>While the Laughing fella is adorable, the realistic one makes me think how great it would be if Trump started meditating. Maybe the people who make the Calm app should offer him some equity.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nWQT!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa2223cc2-148c-492e-992e-3410170e5451_1366x912.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nWQT!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa2223cc2-148c-492e-992e-3410170e5451_1366x912.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nWQT!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa2223cc2-148c-492e-992e-3410170e5451_1366x912.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nWQT!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa2223cc2-148c-492e-992e-3410170e5451_1366x912.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nWQT!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa2223cc2-148c-492e-992e-3410170e5451_1366x912.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nWQT!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa2223cc2-148c-492e-992e-3410170e5451_1366x912.png" width="569" height="379.8887262079063" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nWQT!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa2223cc2-148c-492e-992e-3410170e5451_1366x912.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nWQT!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa2223cc2-148c-492e-992e-3410170e5451_1366x912.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nWQT!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa2223cc2-148c-492e-992e-3410170e5451_1366x912.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!nWQT!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa2223cc2-148c-492e-992e-3410170e5451_1366x912.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">2 Flavors of Hindu god Ganesh</figcaption></figure></div><p>The Indian gods are fun because they have multiple appendages and animal attributes and stuff. I thought the two of him as Ganesh were particularly wonderful.</p><p>And these, as a modern Prometheus (left) and the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl (right) are super fun.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D2VH!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e940f79-901a-4d66-b02f-42f30b50aedd_1286x872.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D2VH!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e940f79-901a-4d66-b02f-42f30b50aedd_1286x872.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D2VH!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e940f79-901a-4d66-b02f-42f30b50aedd_1286x872.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D2VH!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e940f79-901a-4d66-b02f-42f30b50aedd_1286x872.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D2VH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e940f79-901a-4d66-b02f-42f30b50aedd_1286x872.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D2VH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e940f79-901a-4d66-b02f-42f30b50aedd_1286x872.png" width="550" height="372.9393468118196" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D2VH!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e940f79-901a-4d66-b02f-42f30b50aedd_1286x872.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D2VH!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e940f79-901a-4d66-b02f-42f30b50aedd_1286x872.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D2VH!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e940f79-901a-4d66-b02f-42f30b50aedd_1286x872.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!D2VH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4e940f79-901a-4d66-b02f-42f30b50aedd_1286x872.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Prometheus (left) and Aztec god Quetzalcoatl (right).</figcaption></figure></div><p>But my favorite of all is this one of DJT as the Egyptian god, Osiris.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0DLc!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00f6e78b-67cb-4194-a4d9-9a3444ba1b2a_1388x996.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" 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src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0DLc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00f6e78b-67cb-4194-a4d9-9a3444ba1b2a_1388x996.png" width="547" height="392.5158501440922" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0DLc!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00f6e78b-67cb-4194-a4d9-9a3444ba1b2a_1388x996.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0DLc!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00f6e78b-67cb-4194-a4d9-9a3444ba1b2a_1388x996.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0DLc!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00f6e78b-67cb-4194-a4d9-9a3444ba1b2a_1388x996.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0DLc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00f6e78b-67cb-4194-a4d9-9a3444ba1b2a_1388x996.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">He&#8217;s the Osiris up this shit.</figcaption></figure></div><p>Have a great day!</p><div class="captioned-button-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/trump-and-the-profane?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="CaptionedButtonToDOM"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Share with your friends and young children!</p></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/trump-and-the-profane?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/trump-and-the-profane?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Surviving the Loss of a Child ]]></title><description><![CDATA[With comedian Michael Cruz Kayne]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/surviving-the-loss-of-a-child</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/surviving-the-loss-of-a-child</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:17:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/194300379/1ac7ed102300457fa536e2c593ff1fd0.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;How am I ever going to be happy again?&#8221; </p><p>That was the question Michael Cruz Kayne&#8217;s wife asked him after the death of their one-month-old son, Fisher. </p><p>Michael is a comedian, actor and a staff-writer on <em>The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, </em>where his work has earned a Peabody Award, a WGA Award, and two Emmy nominations<em>. </em>He made his off-Broadway debut in <em>Sorry For Your Loss</em>, a raw, comedic, and deeply vulnerable one-man show about coping with a parent&#8217;s worst fear, the loss of a child.</p><p>This is a sad but inspiring conversation. I found Michael&#8217;s attempt to make sense out of his grief and to honor Fisher&#8217;s brief life to be an uplifting act of service. </p><p><a href="https://watch.dropout.tv/videos/michael-cruz-kayne-sorry-for-your-loss">You can watch the special today on the Dropout network</a>.</p><div class="captioned-button-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/surviving-the-loss-of-a-child?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="CaptionedButtonToDOM"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Please share this episode and the &#8216;Reasonably Happy&#8217; podcast with a friend who loves thoughtful conversations.</p></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/surviving-the-loss-of-a-child?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/surviving-the-loss-of-a-child?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Does It Mean to be a Man?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Influencers cosplaying masculinity do not know the answer]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-man</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-man</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:15:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rEK5!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ueh3!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b47dc99-8f32-4632-8227-45d017876146_1070x460.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ueh3!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b47dc99-8f32-4632-8227-45d017876146_1070x460.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ueh3!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b47dc99-8f32-4632-8227-45d017876146_1070x460.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ueh3!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b47dc99-8f32-4632-8227-45d017876146_1070x460.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ueh3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b47dc99-8f32-4632-8227-45d017876146_1070x460.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ueh3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b47dc99-8f32-4632-8227-45d017876146_1070x460.png" width="1070" height="460" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5b47dc99-8f32-4632-8227-45d017876146_1070x460.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:460,&quot;width&quot;:1070,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:629345,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/193725278?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b47dc99-8f32-4632-8227-45d017876146_1070x460.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ueh3!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b47dc99-8f32-4632-8227-45d017876146_1070x460.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ueh3!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b47dc99-8f32-4632-8227-45d017876146_1070x460.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ueh3!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b47dc99-8f32-4632-8227-45d017876146_1070x460.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ueh3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b47dc99-8f32-4632-8227-45d017876146_1070x460.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Louis Theroux introduces us to the inhabitants of The Manosphere.</figcaption></figure></div><p>After a month of procrastination, I finally watched <em>Inside the Manosphere</em>, Netflix&#8217;s documentary on the rise of ultra-male influencers whose homophobic, misogynistic, and anti-Semitic content is attracting millions of young male followers.</p><p>I wasn&#8217;t familiar with any of these creators going in. Unfortunately, I now know about dudes like Sneako, Myron Gaines, and Justin Waller, who drives a Lamborghini, wears bespoke suits, and brags about cheating on the mother of his children, all while presenting himself as an enviable model of modern masculinity.</p><p>Midway through the film, I got a group text from my sister, reminding my siblings and me that today would have been our late father&#8217;s 99<sup>th</sup> birthday. Thinking about him while watching these cringey creators made the contrast impossible to ignore. My dad wasn&#8217;t macho, but he was all man. The residents of the &#8220;Manosphere,&#8221; on the other hand, are sniveling little boys.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Substack is the anti-Manosphere: a place for thoughtful consideration of important ideas. Join the forum&#8230;</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>In his 2025 book, <em>Notes on Being a Man,</em> <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Scott Galloway&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:451231761,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/de3bcbbb-ac49-498d-ba5f-72d576a22d4b_2048x2048.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;cbdd5f8e-65e6-473a-a376-2763d93bb49f&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span> argues that men have three core duties: to protect, to provide, and to procreate. These are not exclusively male roles, but they are essential if a man wants to be a dependable partner and father.</p><p>By comparison, these influencers mostly preen, pose, and pretend<strong>.</strong> It&#8217;s all style and no substance&#8212;a child&#8217;s fantasy of alpha masculinity, optimized for clicks and monetized through crypto, gambling, and porn. Sadly, it&#8217;s working.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KMtF!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa1e2b13f-ce7e-415c-b585-e2f89a339cd3_1516x944.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KMtF!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa1e2b13f-ce7e-415c-b585-e2f89a339cd3_1516x944.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KMtF!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa1e2b13f-ce7e-415c-b585-e2f89a339cd3_1516x944.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KMtF!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa1e2b13f-ce7e-415c-b585-e2f89a339cd3_1516x944.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KMtF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa1e2b13f-ce7e-415c-b585-e2f89a339cd3_1516x944.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KMtF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa1e2b13f-ce7e-415c-b585-e2f89a339cd3_1516x944.png" width="577" height="359.4361263736264" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a1e2b13f-ce7e-415c-b585-e2f89a339cd3_1516x944.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:907,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:577,&quot;bytes&quot;:3003852,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/193725278?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa1e2b13f-ce7e-415c-b585-e2f89a339cd3_1516x944.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KMtF!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa1e2b13f-ce7e-415c-b585-e2f89a339cd3_1516x944.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KMtF!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa1e2b13f-ce7e-415c-b585-e2f89a339cd3_1516x944.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KMtF!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa1e2b13f-ce7e-415c-b585-e2f89a339cd3_1516x944.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!KMtF!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa1e2b13f-ce7e-415c-b585-e2f89a339cd3_1516x944.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The guy on the right was a man.</figcaption></figure></div><p>My father was the opposite. He was a <em>provider</em> who worked 40 years at a job he probably didn&#8217;t love to pay for Catholic school tuition, football cleats, groceries, and the mortgage. He spent very little on himself, and the idea of signaling status through cars, clothes, or watches would have struck him as absurd.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rEK5!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rEK5!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rEK5!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rEK5!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rEK5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rEK5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic" width="500" height="314.56043956043953" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:916,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:500,&quot;bytes&quot;:1475912,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/heic&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/i/193725278?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rEK5!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rEK5!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rEK5!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rEK5!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa9d6e7e8-9e08-4a77-924e-aada710bc3c8.heic 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The guy in the Lambo is a clown.</figcaption></figure></div><p>He was a <em>protector</em>&#8212;not physically imposing, but reliably present. Married 55 years, he remained by my mother&#8217;s side through thick, thin, and her terminal illness.</p><p>And yes, he <em>procreated</em>, siring six kids, but more importantly, raising them. Dad paid the bills, did the yard work, washed a few dishes, and showed up at youth sports games, plays, and graduations. Along with my gifted mother, he made sure we did chores and did not talk back, but also engaged us in conversation almost every night at the dinner table.</p><p>He never asked for credit, and he never complained. In so doing, he raised good sons and showed his daughters what they should expect in a husband.</p><p>Unfortunately, reliability and fidelity don&#8217;t trend on Snapchat. You&#8217;re never going to see an influencer bragging, &#8220;Let&#8217;s hear it for 13,000 days of not abandoning my family! Smash that LIKE button, y&#8217;all!&#8221;</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-man?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-man?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p>But algorithms love the braggadocious douchebaggery we see in <em>Inside the Manosphere</em>. To his credit, Host Louis Theroux plays the perfect straight man.</p><p>At one point, Justin Waller explains the &#8220;one-sided monogamy&#8221; in his relationship&#8212;his partner remains faithful; he does not. &#8220;The woman I&#8217;m with,&#8221; he says, &#8220;doesn&#8217;t talk to other men.&#8221;</p><p>Theroux just looks at him. Justin, assuming the reporter is jealous, fills the silence with, &#8220;It stings, huh?&#8221;</p><p>Theroux reacts with the perfect, incredulous laugh. As if Waller&#8217;s situation was anything to admire.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>You&#8217;re never going to see an influencer bragging, &#8220;Let&#8217;s hear it for 13,000 days of not abandoning my family! Smash that LIKE button, y&#8217;all!&#8221;</p></div><p>I would have liked the film to delve deeper into the societal &#8220;whys&#8221; behind the rise of performative masculinity. But Theroux makes one important, if predictable, observation: most of these influencers grew up in homes without strong male role models. Their dads were either absent or barely present.</p><p>You can see the damage. The guys are wounded, and&#8212;as bullies do&#8212;mask their insecurity by tearing down others, especially women, gays, and Jews.</p><p>I cannot imagine my father belittling the mother of his children or anyone else. Respecting other people&#8217;s dignity&#8212;regardless of their religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation&#8212;was fundamental to maintaining his own.</p><p>Ultimately,<em> Inside the Manosphere</em> is less shocking than it is depressing. Social media has given bad ideas a platform and a business model. And the popularity of these broken boys will provide anecdotal evidence to those eager to prove that males are fundamentally broken.</p><p>But we shouldn&#8217;t mistake pubescent charlatans for grown men who, like my father and billions more worldwide, are reliable, kind, and loyal. They&#8217;re not flashy, but maybe their stories are the ones Netflix should be telling.</p><p>Happy birthday, Dad.</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>COMEDY NEAR YOU - GET YOUR TICKETS!</strong></p><ul><li><p>May 3: <a href="https://www.thecomedyclubatduckworths.com/shows/2-pauls-1-show-03-may">Charlotte - Duckworth&#8217;s</a> - ON SALE</p></li><li><p>May 7: Private School Comedy, West Side Comedy Club, NYC</p></li><li><p>May 20: Dunwoody Country Club (members only)</p></li><li><p>May 21: <a href="https://www.punchline.com/comic/?id=6803&amp;comic=2%20Pauls%2C%201%20Show">Atlanta Punchline</a> - ON SALE</p></li><li><p>May 22-23: DC Comedy Loft (tickets available soon)</p></li><li><p>June 4: Atlanta Athletic Club (members only)</p></li><li><p>June 19-20: <a href="https://www.thecomedycatch.com/events/133790">Comedy Catch, Chattanooga</a> ON SALE</p></li><li><p>June 25: Couples Therapy Comedy at West Side Comedy Club, NYC (tickets available soon)</p></li></ul><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-man?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-man?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Millionaires v. Billionaires in NYC ]]></title><description><![CDATA['The Doorman' Author, Chris Pavone]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/millionaires-v-billionaires-in-nyc</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/millionaires-v-billionaires-in-nyc</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:53:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/192492703/214f096da2ea88383798acca88699dcb.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Every December, I write a &#8220;Best Books I Read This Year&#8221; column for two reasons: </p><ol><li><p>It provides a service to those looking for their next great book, and</p></li><li><p>I lack imagination.</p></li></ol><p>But you, lucky reader, get to find out about one of my favorite books of the past several years <em>right now</em> because <em>The Doorman</em> is not just an exhilarating read, but its author <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Chris Pavone&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:51893683,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/50673acc-7136-435b-88eb-7b0faab1e45e_1435x1435.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;a026ce0e-4192-42e0-af12-92a774119eeb&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span> is my guest on this week&#8217;s podcast.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jE4E!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F38a553c6-fd41-41f1-9fb1-4706906c6af2_1652x876.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" 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src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jE4E!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F38a553c6-fd41-41f1-9fb1-4706906c6af2_1652x876.png" width="1456" height="772" 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class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><em>The Doorman</em> is a thriller set in a semi-fictitious Upper West Side apartment building called The Bohemia. It&#8217;s really The Dakota&#8212;where John Lennon was shot in 1980&#8212; and where Pavone lives with his family today.</p><p>The building provides an aquarium-like lens through which to observe the creatures swimming in its tony waters&#8212;a microcosm of New York City and how it has changed. Fifty years ago, The Bohemia housed mostly artists, celebrated academics, and diplomats. Today, Pavone writes, &#8220;as with everything else in New York, the cultural class (has been) replaced with financiers.&#8221;</p><div class="captioned-button-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/millionaires-v-billionaires-in-nyc?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="CaptionedButtonToDOM"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Share with a book-loving friend!</p></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/millionaires-v-billionaires-in-nyc?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/millionaires-v-billionaires-in-nyc?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p></div><p>The intra-1% tension is one of many insightful threads woven into a pitch-perfect dissection of money, race, status, and politics in modern New York City. The comparisons to Tom Wolfe&#8217;s <em>Bonfire of the Vanities</em> are inevitable and intentional.</p><p>In the podcast that you are going to listen to and love, Pavone told me he set out to write a modern version of <em>Bonfire</em>, a New York crime novel that is &#8220;about racism, but also about class&#8230;which is often what we&#8217;re talking about when we talk about race.&#8221; </p><p>He brings it to life through his characters. There&#8217;s Chicky Diaz, the eponymous doorman who carries crushing medical debt while serving the building&#8217;s elite. Among them are the ethereal Emily Longworth and her husband, Whit, a sketchy billionaire with more money than taste. </p><p>But the most interesting conflict isn&#8217;t between rich and poor, it&#8217;s within the rich. Julian Sonnenberg, the Longworth&#8217;s art dealer, has cultural capital but fading finances. While he and Whit are neighbors, they definitely are not equals. And each of them is acutely aware of this.  </p><p>Julian sums it up,  &#8220;The corrosive thing about New York is that there&#8217;s always someone with more &#8212; more money, more fame, more power, more respect.&#8221;</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">You don&#8217;t want to miss my year-end book review, do you? Then subscribe!</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Nobody needs to feel sorry for Julian, who is part of what Pavone calls the &#8220;normal rich,&#8221; like lawyers who take nice vacations and belong to a country club or two. They don&#8217;t worry about having cash for a taxi, but in NYC they do worry. About the billionaires above them. About being fired for saying something insensitive at work. About the $70,000 tuition at private schools, where teachers wear &#8220;Tax the Rich&#8221; t-shirts on parents&#8217; day. About where their kids will go to college. Sure, Chicky&#8217;s girls got into Ivy League schools, but will Julian&#8217;s white children be given the same consideration?</p><p>Pavone asks many questions, but answers few. For all his diagnosing the ills of virtue-signaling, inequality, and racism, his politics remain opaque, much to the reader&#8217;s benefit. If we were to ascribe motives to the author, we would stop observing the characters and start judging them.</p><p>Instead, he just presents us with the aquarium and lets us watch the fish, to notice which ones are circling. And which ones are getting eaten. </p><p>THE END (but see comedy dates below &#8595;&#8595;&#8595;)</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>New Comedy Dates: Added San Francisco and L.A.!</strong></p><ul><li><p>May 3: <a href="https://www.thecomedyclubatduckworths.com/shows/2-pauls-1-show-03-may">Charlotte - Duckworth&#8217;s</a> - ON SALE</p></li><li><p>May 7: Private School Comedy, West Side Comedy Club, NYC</p></li><li><p>May 20: Dunwoody Country Club (members and guests only)</p></li><li><p>May 21: <a href="https://www.punchline.com/comic/?id=6803&amp;comic=2%20Pauls%2C%201%20Show">Atlanta Punchline</a> - ON SALE</p></li><li><p>May 22-23: DC Comedy Loft (tickets available soon)</p></li><li><p>June 4: Atlanta Athletic Club (members and guests only)</p></li><li><p>June 19-20: <a href="https://www.thecomedycatch.com/events/133790">Comedy Catch, Chattanooga</a> ON SALE</p></li><li><p>June 25: Couples Therapy Comedy at West Side Comedy Club, NYC</p></li><li><p>July 21: The Venice West, Los Angeles</p></li><li><p>July 23: <a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/2-pauls-1-show-paul-ollinger-san-francisco-california-07-23-2026/event/1C00647FB330F46A?_gl=1*124rcmo*_ga*MTg0NjUxNzg3LjE3NzUwNjE4MzM.*_ga_C1T806G4DF*czE3NzUwNjE4MzUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzUwNjE4NDEkajU0JGwwJGgw*_ga_H1KKSGW33X*czE3NzUwNjE4MzUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzUwNjE4NDEkajU0JGwwJGgw">Cobbs Comedy Club</a>, San Francisco ON SALE</p></li><li><p>August 8: Atlanta Country Club (members and guests only)</p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Beatles, Ted Turner, and Ric Flair with Steve Chamberlain ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This week&#8217;s podcast is a conversation with my former Atlanta neighbor, Steve Chamberlain, a former media executive whose career has intersected with some of the biggest brands and celebrities in entertainment history.]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-beatles-ted-turner-and-ric-flair</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-beatles-ted-turner-and-ric-flair</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:04:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/192004469/fcb53716964c1da80a1bbee77fe9c560.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This week&#8217;s podcast is a conversation with my former Atlanta neighbor, Steve Chamberlain, a former media executive whose career has intersected with some of the biggest brands and celebrities in entertainment history. </p><p>I originally wanted to talk to Steve because of his experience leading the go-to-market plan of <em>The Beatles Anthology</em>, one of the most commercially successful recording projects of all-time. It was to be the follow-up episode to <a href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/money-fame-and-misery-meet-the-beatles">last week&#8217;s interview</a> with Peter Doggett, author of <em>You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Break Up</em>. </p><p>And while Steve and I discussed this at length, I found his experience as an executive vice president at Turner Broadcasting in the 1980s even more interesting. Working directly for Ted Turner, Steve&#8217;s responsibilities included everything from home video to cable syndication and World Championship Wrestling. He shares a great story about utilizing 1-900 telephone numbers to monetize wrestlers' smack talk. It&#8217;s a fun insight into the early days of a pre-Internet media &#8220;start-up.&#8221;</p><p>Steve oversaw the 50th Anniversary celebrations for both <em>Gone With the Wind</em> and <em>Casablanca</em>, then&#8212;after Turner&#8212; went on to captain the release of Frank Sinatra&#8217;s <em>Duets</em>, which eventually led to his work with the Fab Four. </p><p>Check it out here or wherever you get your podcast love. </p><p>Bye!</p><p></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Four Kinds of Schadenfreude ]]></title><description><![CDATA[While watching a video about a celebrity who has let herself go, I realized I was engaging in some pretty serious schadenfreude. So I decided to learn more...]]></description><link>https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-four-kinds-of-schadenfreude</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-four-kinds-of-schadenfreude</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Ollinger]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:40:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/b5ecfc0a-1cee-4e40-82f5-0136932fd9ce_838x650.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have a theory - while everyone&#8217;s algorithm differs, there are three kinds of social media content that reliably make people happy:</p><ol><li><p>Cute puppy videos,</p></li><li><p>Soldiers returning home / surprising their kids at school,</p></li></ol><p>And&#8230;</p><ol start="3"><li><p>Celebrities who have gotten fat</p></li></ol><p><em>(Worry not&#8212;there will be no obesity-shaming here.)</em></p><p>The first two categories make sense. Puppy reels flood our amygdalae with oxytocin, and military reunions show humans at our most joyful. But the third category yields a darker version of &#8220;happiness.&#8221; It&#8217;s not delight&#8212;it&#8217;s <em>schadenfreude</em>.</p><p>Don&#8217;t pretend you didn&#8217;t snicker when, a few years back, Axl Rose reappeared looking as if he had eaten Bret Michaels. Or that, on some level, it didn&#8217;t make you feel better about yourself when you saw photos of the now frumpy &#8216;90s actress who looks like she spends all day cooking soup.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">I&#8217;m nice. I&#8217;m funny. Be my friend &#8595;&#8595;&#8595;</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>These images grab our attention because we&#8217;re tribal animals, constantly checking our place in the hierarchy. Someone else&#8217;s downfall means we&#8217;re doing better&#8212;if only by 1/8 billionth &#8212;or at least that&#8217;s what our petty-ass brains tell us.</p><p>While watching one of these delicious reels recently, I caught myself and wanted to understand what was going on in my head. So, I Googled <em>schadenfreude</em>, the German word for pleasure at someone else&#8217;s misfortune.</p><p>In addition to the worthwhile reminder that <em>schadenfreude</em> is most evident in people with low self-esteem, I learned that it manifests in four distinct ways, each of which sheds light on ourselves and the algo&#8217;.</p><ol><li><p><strong>Justice Schadenfreude: &#8220;They had it coming.&#8221;</strong></p></li></ol><p>If there&#8217;s a &#8220;good <em>schadenfreude</em>,&#8221; this is it. When jet-setting billionaires and princes who abuse underage girls get exposed, it restores balance to the universe.</p><p>This is why we devour stories connected to Jeffrey Epstein or Bernie Madoff&#8212;not just for the scandal, but for the possibility that powerful people might face consequences and for reassurance that life is fair. (Spoiler alert: it&#8217;s not.)</p><ol start="2"><li><p><strong>Rivalry Schadenfreude: &#8220;My team &gt; your team.&#8221;</strong></p></li></ol><p>This one is tribal, and we all do it.</p><p>It makes me chuckle when my progressive friends point out all the Republicans in the Epstein files, while conveniently forgetting the numerous mentions of left-leaning folks like Bill Clinton, Noam Chomsky, Larry Summers, and Reid Hoffman.</p><p>Similarly, when my MAGA friends&#8212;and I have a great number of them&#8212;point to the credible allegations of Nancy Pelosi&#8217;s insider trading, they ignore the fact that the Trump family treats the White House like its personal piggy bank.</p><p>Consciously or not, we are all hoping to prove our rivals to be less smart, talented, or virtuous than we are. The algorithm feeds this bias and serves us endless proof that we&#8217;re on the right side of history&#8212;or March Madness.</p><div class="captioned-button-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-four-kinds-of-schadenfreude?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="CaptionedButtonToDOM"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Share this with your pettiest friend!</p></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-four-kinds-of-schadenfreude?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://words.paulollinger.com/p/the-four-kinds-of-schadenfreude?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p></div><ol start="3"><li><p><strong>Envy Schadenfreude: &#8220;Oh thank God, they&#8217;re not perfect.&#8221;</strong></p></li></ol><p>Here&#8217;s where the chubby celebs come in. The former supermodel loses her thigh gap. Axl Rose can no longer pull off his leather pants (like, literally &#8211; they&#8217;re stuck around his thighs). It shows that these &#8220;special&#8221; people are just as vulnerable to gravity, UV rays, and trans fats as we are. And that soothes our insecurities.</p><ol start="4"><li><p><strong>Aversion Schadenfreude: &#8220;I just don&#8217;t like this person.&#8221;</strong></p></li></ol><p><em>Schadenfreude</em> correlates with low empathy, which is why Instagram serves me videos of Britney Spears melting down and juggling knives.</p><p>When we enjoy seeing someone whom we thought never deserved their success lose their money or marbles, it might feel like karmic justice, but we&#8217;re just being a-holes. And social media has figured out that if it can identify whom you dislike or disdain, it can keep you watching forever.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hxwd!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe8ccaae4-b2a0-4e4d-b170-7a95c4a78900_1080x800.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hxwd!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe8ccaae4-b2a0-4e4d-b170-7a95c4a78900_1080x800.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hxwd!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe8ccaae4-b2a0-4e4d-b170-7a95c4a78900_1080x800.png 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class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">I wish the former Mrs. Federline the best.</figcaption></figure></div><p><strong>So what&#8217;s your point, Paul?</strong></p><p>Here&#8217;s the part I think I was missing before: <em>Schadenfreude</em> isn&#8217;t a bug in the system. It&#8217;s one of those core instincts (like fear, anger, and arousal) that the algorithm exploits. When my feed is full of perky boobs, I know I&#8217;m being manipulated. I don&#8217;t do anything about it, but I know.</p><p><em>Schadenfreude</em>, on the other hand, can be harder to recognize, perhaps because the instinct is so deeply ingrained in our thinking. The uncomfortable truth here is that something that feels totally natural can be wildly counterproductive.</p><p>Relishing someone else&#8217;s weight gain doesn&#8217;t make <em>me</em> any healthier. Comparing my mental state to Britney&#8217;s or Gary Busey&#8217;s might pass the time, but won&#8217;t stop my own eventual cognitive decline.</p><div class="instagram-embed-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;instagram_id&quot;:&quot;DSWH1UMjzKh&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Gary Busey on Instagram: \&quot;My Holiday &#127873; to you &#128526;&#127877;\n\n#fy #fyp #&#8230;&quot;,&quot;author_name&quot;:&quot;@thegarybusey&quot;,&quot;thumbnail_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/__ss-rehost__IG-meta-DSWH1UMjzKh.jpg&quot;,&quot;like_count&quot;:null,&quot;comment_count&quot;:null,&quot;profile_pic_url&quot;:null,&quot;follower_count&quot;:null,&quot;timestamp&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true}" data-component-name="InstagramToDOM"></div><p>So it&#8217;s probably best to focus our thoughts elsewhere. We won&#8217;t eliminate <em>schadenfreude </em>from our operating systems, but it&#8217;s possible to turn down the volume. When you recognize it, hit &#8220;Not Interested&#8221; and go watch some puppy videos.</p><p>At the very least, leave Britney&#8212;and for that matter, Axl&#8212;alone.</p><p>THE END (but see comedy dates below &#8595;&#8595;&#8595;</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>COMEDY NEAR YOU - GET YOUR TICKETS!</strong></p><ul><li><p>May 3: <a href="https://www.thecomedyclubatduckworths.com/shows/2-pauls-1-show-03-may">Charlotte - Duckworth&#8217;s</a> - ON SALE</p></li><li><p>May 7: Private School Comedy, West Side Comedy Club, NYC</p></li><li><p>May 20: Dunwoody Country Club (members only)</p></li><li><p>May 21: <a href="https://www.punchline.com/comic/?id=6803&amp;comic=2%20Pauls%2C%201%20Show">Atlanta Punchline</a> - ON SALE</p></li><li><p>May 22-23: DC Comedy Loft (tickets available soon)</p></li><li><p>June 4: Atlanta Athletic Club (members only)</p></li><li><p>June 19-20: <a href="https://www.thecomedycatch.com/events/133790">Comedy Catch, Chattanooga</a> ON SALE</p></li><li><p>June 25: Couples Therapy Comedy at West Side Comedy Club, NYC (tickets available soon)</p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>