The Back 9

Talent matters.  Grit may matter more.  On this Surprise Guest episode of The Back 9, we sit down with former NFL wide receiver Drew Haddad — a guy who needed to get every ounce out of his talent to make it in the NFL — for an unforgettable conversation about persistence, growth and the real meaning of success.

Drew opens up about how he turned a tiny sliver of opportunity into a breakout performance that helped him stick ...

Scott Hanson is an iconic host at the helm of a one-of-a-kind job, and in this unique Surprise Guest episode, he bares all — sharing his story of how chasing his dream nearly cost him everything and how he walked away from his dream life in order to save it.  From calling touchdowns to discovering a deeper calling, Scott reveals how his lowest moment became the turning point that reshaped his spirituality, and in turn his care...

While we battle the vagaries of middle age, some of our grown and nearly-grown children may struggle launching their own adult lives.  When these struggles descend into addiction, every member of the family can be affected.  In this intimate and riveting episode of The Back Nine, we are joined by  Mark Astor, an attorney specializing in addiction and mental health.  Together, we dive headfirst into the messy wor...

On this episode of The Back 9, Dennis and Josh sail back into the world of modern romance with professional matchmaker Shira Weitz for a deep dive on how dating has evolved—especially for those re-entering the scene in middle age after divorce. Shira walks us through the entire process of the when and why one should consider a matchmaker, as well as eye-opening advice — and several funny stories — about profile photo errors, style ...

Things happen to us on the Back 9.  Our health might throw us a curve balls.  Our dream career can vanish overnight.  Our sense of purpose can become elusive.  But in this deeply personal and unexpectedly uplifting episode, Rich “The Bull” Gaenzler opens up about his career loss, his health scares, his resulting identity crisis and how he’s since rebuilt his life by embracing humor, seeking joy and l...

Hockey Coach Blaise MacDonald set his sights high.   He won a National Championship as a player.  As a coach, he built a Division I program from the bottom up, took that program to the NCAA tournament, and then got hired to lead a team in one of the powerhouse conferences in college hockey.  But somewhere along the way, his aspirations mellowed, and he found a true calling in coaching at a smaller school....

Ladies and Gentlemen, now taking the stage is Comedian Greg Schwem, a guy who is taking the tough lessons of life and spinning them into comedy gold.  Greg shares how he has found humor in the unexpected, survived the bewilderment of dating and mid-life, and proved that starting over isn’t just possible, but can also be amusing, hysterical and humbling. 

We'll also get Greg's riffs on Chicago’s leg...

Did you know that you can now buy coffee at a cafe with crypto currency?  Do you have a virtual wallet, and is it ready for the digital revolution?  In this eye-opening, and season-opening episode of The Back 9, Dave Grimaldi, former EVP of the Blockchain Association, teaches us about Crypto from a 50-thousand foot level.  He dissects terms, breaks down the future of crypto, and explains why digital curre...

On this episode of The Back 9, we weigh all the big questions of the future.  How can we model for men to become more open and honest?  How do we best parent our adult children?  Should The Back 9 get a mascot?    We know you are interested in all of these — especially the last one. But it’s not just about mascots—this episode takes a heartfelt turn as we reflect on life’s unpredictability, cherishing every...

As we wrap up Season 6 on The Back 9, we take you behind the scenes of the journey that made this season special.  While we were landing new partners at Podfest, and performing live at Pod-a-pa-looza, we released a season full of memorable episodes that are worth revisiting.  We went deep into love, dating and relationships with Brian Howie and Sweet and Spicy.   We learned from young adventurers like Matt Atkinson a...

One minute, Julie Miles thought she had normal stomach pains. The next, she was fighting for her life. Julie is the unstoppable Australian jewelry stylist and fashionista who kicked a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis in the ass, transforming her life into one of passion, purpose, and high-end achievement.  Julie shares the story of the pivotal advice that saved her and now has her leading her dream life, running a highly successful lu...

In the second half of our secret guest episodes, Josh taps ESPN’s Jay Harris to surprise Dennis, and to share an insightful conversation about the evolution of the power of storytelling, both professional and personal.  From his early days in news to becoming a staple behind the desk at ESPN, Jay shares the lessons he’s learned, the impact of his mentors, like the late Stuart Scott, and why authenticity is more imp...

It’s the second season of surprise guests on the Back 9, and Dennis has dialed up a winner.  A 2-time winner in fact.  The guest is former PGA tour pro Dudley Hart, a guy who was sneaky good and steady for a long time before devastating injuries derailed his career.  But Dudley has found joy in his second act as a coach – teaching the next generation of golf stars at the University of Florida as much about how to be ...

It’s a long-awaited resource episode of the Back 9, as we bring in Matthew Nadeau, wealth management expert and calculated risk-taker to help guide us through the financial decisions we may confront at this stage of life.  Matthew will share his story of how he left corporate America to build his own firm, then offer practical advice on topics such as how to juice our retirement saving strategy and how to generate reliable inc...