Paul’s Insights into NYC, Email, and Estate Planning

Paul’s Insights into NYC, Email, and Estate Planning

Author: Paul Ollinger November 12, 2025 Duration: 43:19
Hello friends. On this week’s episode, I read to you—like a daddy rocking his baby to sleep—the most recent posts from my Substack newsletter, which you can find here. (You can subscribe for free or pay a few bucks, if you want to support my work, but really I just appreicate you reading / listening and sharing.) These essays cover both life in general and some political stuff also. I put the political ones at the end, so you don’t have to involve yourself in that, if you don’t want to. But please do notice the balanced nature of my analysis, in that I am pointing out the flaws of both Left and Right, though it probably feel as if I’m being more critical of whichever team you’re on! Ain’t that weird?


The Great NYC Rationalization - how living in New York requires constant self-justification

How Email Will Save the World - why linear, 1990’s comms tech is better than text!

The Hilarious World of Estate Planning - (it’s not really hilarious, but that’s the joke)



Cancel Culture is Alive and Well - Trump, Jimmy Kimmel and free speech 

Kamala’s Book is Brat AF - how the former VP’s memoir shows us how little we missed 

What Bumper Stickers Tell us About America - 


Please rate and review Reasonably Happy here.

Get Paul’s Substack newsletter 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
Laurie Woolever- Dark Side of Celebrity Chefs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:08
Former personal assistant to both Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali, Laurie Woolever, opens up about the untold truths behind celebrity kitchens, toxic food culture, addiction, and what ultimately drove Bourdain to suici…
E.A. Hanks - Famous Father, Troubled Mother [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:49
In this raw and revealing episode of Reasonably Happy, author and screenwriter E.A. Hanks opens up about growing up as the daughter of Tom Hanks, surviving a chaotic childhood with an abusive, mentally ill mother, and fo…
Jane Borden- Cults Like Us | Reasonably Happy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:59
In this thought-provoking episode of Reasonably Happy, Paul Ollinger sits down with journalist and author Jane Borden to unpack her explosive new book Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America. Together, they e…
Too Woke to Joke w/ Jeff Maurer | Reasonably Happy Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:04
In this episode of Reasonably Happy, comedian and writer Paul Ollinger sits down with former Last Week Tonight writer Jeff Maurer for a razor-sharp, no-holds-barred conversation on comedy, politics, and the state of libe…
Bruce Vilanch: Hollywood Stories | Reasonably Happy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:23
🎭 Hollywood stories, comedy legends, and the pursuit of happiness! 🎭In this episode of Reasonably Happy, host Paul Ollinger sits down with the legendary Bruce Vilanch—Emmy-winning writer, comedian, and one of the funnies…
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…