Living The Constitution with AJ Jacobs

Living The Constitution with AJ Jacobs

Author: Paul Ollinger May 7, 2024 Duration: 50:32
Good morrow, chum! My guest this week is A.J. Jacobs, author of the new / amazing book 'The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution’s Original Meaning’, in which A.J. chronicles his year of living as an 18th Century citizen, including writing letters with quill and ink, carrying a musket around the Upper West Side of Manhattan while wearing colonial garb, and celebrating election days with cake and rum! It’s the latest of his year-long experiments in living for which A.J. is so well known. As his website describes him, "A.J. Jacobs is an author, journalist, lecturer and human guinea pig. He has written four New York Times bestsellers that combine memoir, science, humor and a dash of self-help.” He is also the only 3-time Crazy Money guest in history of the world! Huzzah! I’m such a fan of AJ’s becuase he is a true original. He is smart, funny, and just the right amount of kooky. He’s also on a misison to make the world smarter, more aware, and more grateful. So that’s cool. He lives in New York City, very near where Paul's family will soon be living. In this fabulous conversation, Paul and A.J. discuss:


Originalism v. Living Constitutionalists

The way the Constitution is like a Rorschach test

How elections used to be parties with beer and cake

The balance between individual rights and the common good

What are rights? And who decides which rights to prioritize?

The disproportionate power of the Executive Branch


HEY - want to help Paul grow this great podcast? DO THESE THINGS:

💰Rate and review Crazy Money here. 💰

🔥 Register for Paul’s thought-provoking newsletter here.🔥

🎤 See Paul LIVE for telling of comedy jokes here. 🎤


About Crazy Money: Unlike traditional personal finance shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching credit cards. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to be our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, society, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth management, culture, society, status, ambition, accomplishment, perfectionism. Today’s episode covers:  Constitution, originalism, living constitutionalism, individual rights, common good, abortion rights, free speech, society, interpretation, democracy, government, people, age and health of the president, executive orders, Supreme Court, Constitution, First Amendment, Second Amendment. Please stop reading and have a great day. Paul loves you.

Get full access to Reasonably Happy at words.paulollinger.com/subscribe

Paul Ollinger has worn a few different hats-stand-up comedian, tech executive, and now, the curious host of Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger. This isn't a lecture series or a dry self-help guide. Instead, it feels more like pulling up a chair for a series of genuinely engaging talks that wander into the places where our daily lives, careers, and inner worlds collide. The conversations, which feature authors, thinkers, and various creatives, are refreshingly candid. They dig into the practical and philosophical questions about what it actually means to build a life that feels both successful and satisfying. You'll find that each episode of this podcast approaches big themes-money, purpose, and the pursuit of contentment-with a blend of wit and thoughtful depth. The underlying idea isn't about finding a perfect, Instagram-ready version of happiness, but something more grounded and attainable. It's for anyone who's ever wondered if there's a smarter, more meaningful way to navigate the pressures of business and culture without losing sight of what matters. Tuning in, you get the sense that Paul is figuring it out alongside his guests, making the insights feel earned and relatable. The result is a consistently interesting exploration of how we can all aim for a life that feels reasonably, and authentically, well-lived.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger
Podcast Episodes
Gretchen Rubin: Happiness Hacks | Reasonably Happy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:34
Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin joins Reasonably Happy with host Paul Ollinger for a deep dive into happiness, self-improvement, and personal growth. They explore habit formation, the psychology of motivation, the powe…
Fire Up Your Marriage with Carolyn Sharp | Reasonably Happy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:17
"Love isn't enough." So says marriage expert Carolyn Sharp in her new book 'Fired Up: Four Secrets to Reigniting Intimacy and Joy in Your Relationship.' Paul talked with Carolyn (a college friend) this week and dove deep…
Comedian Matt Ruby | Reasonably Happy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:53
Join Paul as he sits with the very funny Matt Ruby and discuss performing on psychedelic mushrooms, being raised by a bohemian mom who ran around New York City with Alan Ginsberg and more!Links to all things Matt Ruby in…
Nathan Macintosh | Reasonably Happy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:09
Join hilarious comedian and hater of all things technology Nathan Macintosh as he sits with host Paul Ollinger and discusses his love hate for tech, the overabundance of screens in socoiety and the fear of what AI will d…
Paul Shaffer | Reasonably Happy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:44
Join legendary musician Paul Shaffer, famed as David Letterman’s long-time musical director, as he shares his extraordinary career journey—from his childhood in Thunder Bay to iconic roles on Saturday Night Live and The…
Deepak Chopra & Dr. John Kaag | Reasonably Happy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:46
Paul sits down to talk happiness with Deepak Chopra who is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation alongside award winning author, professor, writer and speaker Dr, John Kaag.Visit Re…
Rickey Smiley: Living with Loss | Reasonably Happy with Paul OIlinger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:59
Paul sits down with comedian and syndicated radio legend Rickey Smiley and talk about happiness in the face of grief after losing a son to opioid addiction, surviving being shot at point blank range and continuing a life…
Is music meaningless? | Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:18
Paul is joined by SNL music director Eli Brueggemann to discuss everything from what landing a gig like Saturday Night Live does for a musician to how quickly a masters level university degree can become outdated because…