Money, Fame, and Misery: Meet the Beatles

Money, Fame, and Misery: Meet the Beatles

Author: Paul Ollinger March 19, 2026 Duration: 58:00

Money, Fame, and Misery: Meet the Beatles (w/ Peter Doggett )

In the late ‘60s, The Beatles had it all: worldwide fame, critical admiration, and more money than they ever could have imagined. So why were these four young men so miserable? (And often short of cash!) My guest today is Peter Doggett—one of the great rock music writers of our time, and a man who has spent decades studying what happens when ambition, fame, and enormous piles of cash—and drugs—collide. Peter is the author of You Never Give Me Your Money, a brilliant and deeply human book about the Beatles, not only at their creative peak, but also at their breaking point, when the most successful band in history discovered that unimaginable wealth and universal adoration do not, in fact, lead to contentment and enlightenment…but do lead to lawsuits, divorce, and—sometimes—heroin addiction. Peter has written for Rolling StoneMojoQ, and many others. His work has this rare quality: it makes you love the music more while feeling slightly better about your own messy life. His latest book is Surf's Up: Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. Btw, if you like this episode, you’ll also love the new Amazon documentary about Paul McCartney called Man on the Run. Check it out.

  Please ⁠rate and review⁠ ⁠⁠Reasonably Happy⁠ HERE⁠  (DO IT!)   

 Read ⁠Paul’s ⁠⁠Substack newsletter⁠⁠⁠ HERE 

 Order Peter’s book HERE



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
How to Live a Stress-free Financial Life with Jared Dillian [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:00
Financial gurus like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman tell their audience that the key to achieving wealth—or just financial stability—is to cut back on the little things like that daily Starbucks latte. Jared Dillian thinks th…
Judd Apatow on Money, Fame, and Adam Sandler (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:26
Judd Apatow is one of the most important figures in comedy and film today. But he just doesn’t care that much about money. This non-attachment to material goods leaves him more time to focus on what matters: writing, dir…
Author Gary Sernovitz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:08
Gary Sernovitz is one of the funniest financial writers working today. His hilarious new novel The Counting House tells the story of a university’s Chief Investment Officer who is suffering a mid-life crisis. If you poss…
How to Get Un-stuck with Merrick Furst, Ph.D. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:24
Do you ever feel stuck in life? As if you are in the wrong place or you’re in the right place but doing the wrong thing? What do you do when you find yourself at a crossroad? Today, I speak to innovation expert Merrick F…
Paul Reads His Thanksgiving Essays [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:41
In this special “over the river and through the woods” episode, Paul reads four of his latest pieces from his Substack, Money and the Meaning of Life, so that you can drive or workout without reading. Latest posts includ…
Ed Begley Jr. on Finding Serenity in Hollywood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:45
✍️ Subscribe to Paul’s Substack ‘Money & the Meaning of Life’ here. ✍️🎤 See Paul’s upcoming comedy dates here and random thoughts on Instagram here. 🎤Ed Begley Jr. has been acting professionally since 1967 when he appear…
Lessons from an '80s Guitar god with Rik Emmett of Triumph [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:15
Rik Emmett is a vocalist, guitarist and former member of the rock band Triumph, which earned 18 gold and nine platinum records in Canada and the United States in the late 1970s and early’80s. Triumph was known for its BI…
The NHL, Brain Injury, and Psilocybin with Daniel Carcillo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:17
When Daniel Carcillo played in the NHL, he was known as an enforcer so tough and volatile that he earned the nickname “Car Bomb.” In his 12 seasons in the NHL, Daniel was a member of two Stanley Cup-winning teams (2013 a…

«1...678910