Making his Next on the Tee debut is comedian, author, and former Facebook executive Paul Ollinger. Paul is the host of The Reasonably Happy Podcast and the author of Reasonably Happy: Essays on Money, Work, and Other Things That Piss Me Off. Before turning to stand-up comedy and writing, Paul served as VP of Sales at Facebook, leading one of the most successful teams in the tech world.

In our conversation, Paul shares the story behind his unlikely journey—from corporate boardrooms with Mark Zuckerberg to comedy clubs where the only bottom line is laughter. He talks about the moment he decided to leave the corporate grind for the stage, the lessons he’s learned from both worlds, and what “reasonable happiness” really means. We discuss how much financial stability you need before chasing a dream, why fear and money often hold people back, and how to take that first step toward a more fulfilling life.

Paul also shares insights from his book, including why Denmark consistently ranks as one of the world’s happiest countries, what our pandemic obsession with toilet paper says about us, and the humor behind a chapter titled Nightmare on the Back Nine. And yes—he even confesses how his golf index jumped after buying a Jailbird putter.

It’s a fun, thoughtful, and inspiring conversation with a man who’s lived life on both sides of success—and learned that happiness isn’t about what you earn, but what you love doing.

On this episode of Next on the Tee, I’m joined by two outstanding guests who bring incredible insight from different corners of the golf world.

First, LPGA Class A Professional and Top 50 Instructor Debbie O’Connell returns to share her passion for helping players strengthen both their game and their mindset. Debbie is the founder of Golf Positive and the author of Golf Positive…Live Positive: Lessons in Golf and Life. She’s been recognized with multiple LPGA honors, including the inaugural Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award, and continues to inspire golfers everywhere through her teaching, writing, and her “Conquer Your Golf Mind” program. Debbie joins me to talk about her latest projects, the importance of mental preparation, and practical tips for getting your mind prepared to play your best, plus some stretches to get your body ready to play, and how to keep from embedding negative thoughts into your brain.

Then, I welcome award-winning journalist and author Hank Gola for his Next on the Tee debut. Over his career, Hank has covered golf, football, and soccer for the New York Post and the Daily News, earning multiple awards from the Golf Writers Association of America, as well as the prestigious Lincoln Werden Award for golf journalism. He’s also authored several acclaimed books, including Ryder Cup Rivals: The Fiercest Battles for Golf’s Holy Grail. Hank and I dive deep into Ryder Cup history starting in 1927, the money Walter Hagan brought into the game, the 1991 War By The Shore, and the incredible US comeback at The Country Club in 1999.

It’s a fantastic mix of instruction, inspiration, and history with two people whose impact on the game runs deep. Be sure to come back for Part 2 featuring my conversation with Comedian and the Host of the Reasonably Happy Podcast, Paul Ollinger.

On this episode of Next on the Tee, I welcome back one of my all-time favorite guests, 1978 PGA Champion John Mahaffey, making his 10th appearance on the show. John and I revisit his special connection to Oakmont, the site of his major championship win, and he shares how the course has evolved since his 1978 PGA Championship victory there. I also get his perspective on JJ Spaun’s U.S. Open victory before shifting gears to the Ryder Cup. John takes us inside his experience on the victorious 1979 team, recalling what it was like being paired with Lee Elder and Hale Irwin, facing Brian Barnes in singles, and handling the pressure of that opening tee shot on Friday. We finish up with a couple of wonderful Ben Hogan stories that you won’t want to miss, plus how he was able to successfully transition careers from play to broadcasting.

I round out the episode with another very special friend of the show, Dr. Russell Levenson. Russ radiates positivity and spirituality, something that shines through every time he speaks. Last time, we talked about his book Witness to Dignity and his friendship with President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush. Now, Russ shares insights from his upcoming book, Witness to Belief: Conversations on Faith & Meaning, which features powerful conversations with 12 extraordinary individuals, including Condoleezza Rice, Denzel Washington, Amy Grant, Jane Goodall, and Dr. Francis Collins. His warmth, wisdom, and storytelling will leave you feeling uplifted and filled with positive vibes.