Why Two Parents Are Better Than One w/ Melissa Kearney (Encore)

Why Two Parents Are Better Than One w/ Melissa Kearney (Encore)

Author: Paul Ollinger September 24, 2025 Duration: 40:55
Melissa Kearney is the author of The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind. Her book confronts the politically controversial fact that children raised in two-parent homes have better personal and professional outcomes (ON AVERAGE) than those raised in single-parent homes. Specifically, two-parent homes produce
children who are more likely to graduate from high school and college, more
likely to stay out of jail, to achieve stable employment, high earnings, and eventually to get married themselves, thus replicating the same advantages they had for their children. For pointing this out, Kearney was excoriated by academic colleagues who accused her of having a right-wing political agenda, which is preposterous considering that she had spent the 20 years prior to writing her book researching social policy, poverty, and inequality. Melissa is the Gilbert F. Schaefer Professor of Economics at the Unversity of NotreDame. She holds a BA in Economics from Princeton and a PhD in Economics from MIT. This is an encore episode from 2023.

Follow Paul and read his work here.

Learn more about Melissa Kearney here.

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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

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