The Back 9 - Midlife, Best Life.
by Dennis Williams, Josh Mora
The Back 9 is a podcast hosted by Dennis Williams and Josh Mora, targeting individuals in or approaching mid-life who seek more fulfillment in various aspects of their lives. The hosts discuss topics such as starting over in careers or dating, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness, openness to change, and learning from experiences. The podcast aims to create a safe space for introspection, covering challenges like living alone, dating fears, and making mistakes. They invite guests, including celebrities, therapists, and coaches, to share personal stories and insights on healing from divorce, finding partners, and gaining confidence in relationships. The metaphor of the "back 9" in golf is used to convey the idea of a second chance in life, with fresh opportunities to achieve something remarkable. The hosts encourage leaving the past behind, embracing new possibilities, and moving forward with confidence. The podcast is available on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
Episodes
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TB9, S14, E18: Writer/Editor Evan Rothman — On Ambition and Perspective
Have you ever taken the time to think about who introduced you to something you love, and to appreciate what that person gave you? Fresh off a golf trip to England, Dennis shares a toast he made to the people who first put golf clubs in our hands. It's a fitting introduction to this week's guest…
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TB9, S14, E17: Influencer Ariel Feldman — Learning from the Front 9.
Are young people really less motivated than previous generations, or are they set on building a future in a world that looks nothing like the one their parents grew up in? This week, we welcome Ariel Feldman, the 25-year-old creative force behind much of The Back 9's social media. Ariel shares…
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TB9, S14, E16 | Actor Paul Adelstein: Growing Up and Growing Older in Hollywood
After decades in Hollywood, Paul Adelstein still isn't sure he's made it. And maybe that's part of what's kept him going. This week on **The Back 9**, the star of *Private Practice*, *Prison Break*, *Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce* and *The Audacity* joins us to talk about his unlikely start in...
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TB9, S14, E15 | Attorneys Amy Shield & Roger Levine — Divorce Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make
Divorce has a nasty habit of turning bad decisions into permanent ones. This week on The Back 9, mother-and-son appellate attorneys Amy Shield and Roger Levine, authors of Divorce SOS, share the legal mistakes people often don't recognize until it's too late — from financial records and…
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TB9, S14, E14 -- Dennis and Josh on How to Engage with the World
Being engaged with the world doesn't mean we have to let all of it into our heads. This week on The Back 9, it's just Dennis and Josh, talking about everything from the crime against humanity that is mixing 12-year Scotch with Coke to movies, anxiety, meditation, social media and the things we...
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TB9. S14, E13 Entrepreneur Philip Crutchfield — Don't Miss Your Life
Sometimes we get to a point in life and realize that we are spending so much time focused on the future for our family, that we've lost sight of the life we're living right now. This week on The Back 9, entrepreneur Philip Crutchfield talks about becoming a father young, building successful...
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TB9, S14, E12 -- Divorce Professional Kurt Heide -- Divorce Is Emotional. Your Decisions Can't Be.
Divorce can feel like the worst thing that's ever happened to you. For Kurt Heide, it once did. When his first marriage ended, Kurt suddenly found himself raising three young children as a single father while trying to hold together his career and his life. This week on The Back 9, he shares what...
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TB9, S14, E11 | Chicago Sports Radio Legend Marc Silverman — Reasons to Believe
This week on **The Back 9**, ESPN 1000 Chicago's **Marc Silverman** joins us to talk football, fatherhood and the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis that changed the way he thinks about his time. Now six years in remission, Silvy shares how therapy, mentorship and even acupuncture helped him…
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TB9, S14, E10: Investor/Wiener's Circle Owner Ari Levy -- Two Divorces and a Hot Dog Stand.
Three years ago, The Back 9 was born over late-night hot dogs and cheese fries at Chicago's legendary Wiener's Circle. This week, we sit down with one of the guys who owns it. Investor and restaurant owner Ari Levy talks about preserving—and reinventing—a Chicago institution famous for its...
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TB9, S14, Making The Turn: HOW MUCH IS YOUR TIME WORTH?
Everybody says time is more valuable than money. We decided to put that idea to the test. So we kick off Season 14 of The Back 9 with a hypothetical that quickly becomes a lot less hypothetical. Our answers lead to a bigger conversation about time, money, family and what we value at this stage of...
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TB9, S13, E19 -- 19th Hole: What Comes Next
We went into Season 13 wanting to take a deeper look at divorce, particularly about what comes next when relationships end. Nine episodes later, we've heard some very different answers. On the 19th Hole for this season, we look back at conversations about going through divorce in real time,...
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TB9, S13, E18 | Author/Educator Eric Saperstein — Divorce Is Expensive. Here's How Not to Make It Worse
Divorce is already expensive, exhausting and painful. You don't have to make it worse. On this episode of The Back 9, author and educator Eric Saperstein shares the lessons from his own three-and-a-half-year high-conflict divorce—and the practical steps that became the foundation of his new book,...
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TB9, S13, E17: NY Times Money Columnist Ron Lieber -- The Price You Pay for College
A four-year college education can cost a family as much as $400,000. But how do you know what you are really buying? This week on The Back 9, we sit down with New York Times personal finance columnist and bestselling author Ron Lieber to discuss one of the biggest financial decisions most…
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TB9, S13, E16 -- ATTORNEY/AUTHOR Diana Romanov -- Divorce Like A Boss
The smartest legal decisions you'll ever make about divorce happen long before anyone files the paperwork. On this episode of The Back 9, family law attorney and author Diana Romanov shares the legal advice every man should know before marriage, during separation, and throughout the divorce...
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TB9, S13, E15: Mental Performance Coach Rachel Blogg -- Anxiety You Never Saw Coming
You spend most of your life thinking anxiety is something other people struggle with. Then one day, in midlife, suddenly…it's you. On this episode of The Back 9, licensed psychotherapist and mental performance coach Rachel Blogg explains why so many of us are caught off guard. Anxiety disguises...
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TB9, S13, E14: Author Cal Callahan — When Success Isn't Enough
Cal Callahan had everything he'd spent years chasing: a successful career, a beautiful family, and all the outward signs that he'd made it. The problem was...he still wasn't himself. In one of the most vulnerable conversations we've ever had on The Back 9, Cal shares the deeply personal journey...
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TB9, S13, E13: Entrepreneur/Financial Guru Henry Yoshida -- The Money Conversation Every Second Couple Needs
Some of the most important conversations in a relationship don't happen because of conflict. They happen because life keeps moving. This week on The Back 9, the briilliant entrepreneur and financial advisor Henry Yoshida joins us to talk about the conversations couples—especially those in second...
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TB9, S13, E12: CBS Sportscaster Dave Ryan — "The Second Time Around"
After a divorce, many people wonder whether they'll ever build the kind of family life they imagined. Dave Ryan got a second chance. On this episode of The Back 9, the longtime broadcaster joins us to talk about balancing a career that kept him on the road with fatherhood, what he learned from…
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TB9, S13, E11: Geoff Fountain — Divorce in Real Time
If you're in the middle of a divorce, or thinking about divorce right now, you need to listen to this episode. Not after it's over. Not when you've figured everything out. Right. Now. Geoff Fountain is in the middle of an 18-year relationship that is coming to an end. Two kids. A shared life. And...
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TB9, S13, E10: Father's Day: The Dads We Tried to Be
This Father's Day week, we're doing something we've never done before. For the first time in Back 9 history, we have a full episode with just the two of us. No guest. No expert. No one else to play off of… It's just two guys sitting across from each other talking about what it feels like with our...
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TB9, S13: Making the Turn — Season 13
Season 13 starts with an announcement: Over the past year, we've been building something bigger than a podcast — a book about how men heal, rebuild, and find healthy relationships after midlife divorce. It's now in front of major publishers, and the response has reinforced something we've…
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TB9, S12: The 19th Hole — Splitting the G
This season started with a daughter getting engaged, included 3 graduations, and ended with a toast by the campfire. That's what the 19th Hole is for. Every season, we take a breath and look back at the conversations that stayed with us. And this season had plenty. We talked about the pull of the...
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TB9, S12, E18: Paul Pabst — The Stories That Stick With Us
Paul Pabst has spent nearly 20 years producing The Dan Patrick Show, so yes…this episode has stories. Chris Rock refusing to leave the studio. Clint Eastwood at Pebble Beach. Dale Jr. admitting he got into racing because he wanted his dad to talk to him. But the story that stays with you? Paul...
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TB9, S12, E17: Ryan Vesce — Beyond Broken
Ryan Vesce played professional hockey in six countries. He also went through back surgery, hip surgery, chronic pain and the kind of physical wear that ends a lot of careers early. What changed everything? Frustration. And then desperation. We talk with Ryan about hitting a point where "manage…
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TB9, S12, E16: Herbie Lopez — Culture Doesn't Build Itself
Most people think culture just happens. But it doesn't. This week on The Back 9, we sit down with Herbie Lopez, GM of Toyota of Hollywood, to talk about how he's built one of the top-performing dealerships in the country—and why the numbers aren't the point. Herbie shares how he got into the...
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TB9, S12, E15 — Family Therapist Dr. Barbara Kelly: Your Kids Are Watching How You Handle This
The hardest part after a divorce isn't always the divorce. This week on the Back 9, we sit down with Dr. Barbark Kelly to talk about co-parenting, and why it's often the part of divorce that lingers the longest. We get into what happens when youand your ex don't agree on what's best for your…
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TB9, S12, E14: Coach Mark Soto — How Great Leaders Show Up
Great leaders don't rely on talk. They just show up. This week on The Back 9, we sit down with Coach Mark Soto — longtime football coach, mentor, and leader — to talk about what leadership actually looks like in real life, at home and on the field. Coach Soto shares lessons from decades of…
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TB9, S12, E13: Pastor Kevin Thompson — What No One Tells You Before You Say "I Do" (Marriage, Red Flags, Attachment Styles)
Most marriages don't fail because of surprises. They fail because we ignore the early signs. This week on The Back 9, we sit down with Kevin Thompson, marriage and life pastor at California's Bayside Church, to break down the real reasons relationships struggle, and how we can fix them before…
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TB9, S12, E12 — Author/Life Coach Stephen Paul Edwards: The Venus Flytrap (And You're the Fly)
Four marriages led to four divorces. You'd think a successful, well-known international life coach would know the signs. But when he met a former supermodel, he walked straight into a relationship he couldn't control, couldn't fix, and couldn't leave. Stephen Paul Edwards tells a story that's as...
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TB9, S12, E11 — Dr. Achim Zinggrebe: When the Doctor Becomes the Patient
Dr. Achim Zinggrebe spent his life treating cancer—until he became the cancer patient. After being diagnosed with lymphoma, everything changed. Not just his own situation, but also how he saw medicine and how he viewed life. He realized that even in the middle of cancer, most of his body was…
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TB9, S12, E10 — Advocate/Author Misty Carson: Trauma Isn't Something to Overcome. It's a Gift.
What if the hardest things you've been through weren't holding you back, but are instead shaping your strength? Author and Advocate Misty Carson joins us to kick off season 12, by challenging one of the most common beliefs around trauma: that it's something to "get over." Instead, she shares how...
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TB9, S12 — Making the Turn: Love After Divorce
We have spent years learning what it really takes to rebuild our lives —and find love again—after divorce. As Season 12 of The Back 9 begins, we reflect on why these conversations matter. After more than 100 episodes exploring all aspects of midlife transitions, one theme that keeps resurfacing…
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TB9, S11 — 19th Hole: When The Back 9 Starts To Feel Real
Have you noticed the moment when the Back 9 of life stops being a metaphor and starts feeling real? As Season 11 of The Back 9 wraps, we reflect on the shifts that come with midlife. Our daughters are grown. Our health and longevity feel personal. Time carries more weight. This season we explored...
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TB9, S11, E18: Baby Joe Mesi — Life After the Fight
What happens when the dream ends before you're ready? Heavyweight contender Joe Mesi once carried the pride of his hometown on his back. They packed arenas, he had the Olympics within reach, and the path seemed clear—until a brain injury ended his boxing career overnight. Joe joins us to talk…
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TB9, S11, E17: Vince Cellini — Fatherhood & Playing the Long Game
40 years of marriage. Three sons raised into men. This is the long game of fatherhood. Veteran sportscaster Vince Cellini joins The Back 9 for a steady, practical conversation about healthy masculinity in fatherhood, long-term marriage and evolving identity in midlife. We talk about raising sons...
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TB9, S11, E16: Kee Kee Buckley — The Road to Shama (Inner Peace)
What happens when you achieve the life you planned… and realize you're still not happy? Kee Kee Buckley had the Hollywood executive title, the resume, the access, but she felt she had lost her identity. When she got laid off she packed her Prius, grabbed her rescue dog Yoda, and drove across the...
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TB9, S11, E15: Jim Brock, Jr. — The Rarity and Power of Adult Male Friendship
Men need strong friendships. Few of us are lucky enough to keep them for decades. On this episode of The Back 9, we sit down with Jim Brock Jr. — a 30+ year friend — to talk about the rare power of long-term adult male friendship and what it takes to stay connected through the peaks and valleys…
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TB9, S11, E14: Gus Ramsey — The Art of the Career Pivot
What do you do when your industry shifts — and your 21-year run suddenly ends? This week, we sit down with longtime ESPN producer Gus Ramsey to talk about career pivots, layoffs, reinvention, mentorship, and retirement planning on the Back 9. After producing SportsCenter's most important shows...
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TB9, S11, E13: Author and Therapist Colette Fehr — Why Staying Quiet Leads to Divorce
Most relationships don't end because of one big blowup. They end because too much goes unsaid. This week on The Back 9, therapist and author Colette Fehr returns to the show to talk about her new book, The Cost of Quiet, and why avoiding conflict can quietly push couples toward distance,...
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TB9, S11, E12: Expat Business Coach Linda Perry: Designing a Life You Actually Want
What does it actually take to design a life you want? And do you earn your way to that clarity by going through the harder chapters first? We're joined by someone who can answer those questions. Expat business coach and former federal criminal defense attorney Linda Perry has created a life that…
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TB9, S11, E11: Financial Advisor Mike Gyzl – Getting Your Kids in the Money Conversation
On this episode we give you some bang for your buck, as we sit down with financial advisor Mike Gyzl of Cetera Investors to talk about a topic most families avoid until it becomes urgent: money. Mike explains the "retirement red zone," how to think about replacing a paycheck after work ends, and...
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TB9, S11, E10: Joyce Feldman: Fitness That Sticks and Why Showing Up Changes Foster Teens' Lives
We kick off the new season with our Wellness episode. Joyce Feldman, the leader of South Florida's Big Children's Foundation, which focuses on teens in foster care. Our discussion focuses on the importance of mentorship from men, and how early support, consistency, and real relationships matter...
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New Year, New Elements — Making the Turn TB9, S11
Kick off the new year with The Back 9 as we take you inside what's ahead in Season 11 to preview all our new elements of the show — including an updated format designed to help you quickly find the conversations that matter most to your life during midlife. We are emphasizing the topics our…
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TB9 — 19th Hole: A Year-end Reflection on Relationships (TB9, S10)
In this season and year-end wrap-up of The Back 9, we reflect on the conversations, moments, and themes that defined Season 10. From a viral clip with Kerri Ballinger to powerful discussions on wellness, early detection, loss, and personal reinvention, this season delivered big moments of depth,...
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Integrative Wellness Founder Judy Mackey: How to Be Healthy in the New Year (TB9, S10, E18)
On this episode of The Back 9, we sit down with integrative wellness leader Judy Mackey to explore a smarter, whole-person approach to healing and cap a season devoted in large part to wellness. In facing her own health crisis, Judy discovered the power of Eastern medicine and integrative care —…
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Entrepreneur Chase Glick: How to Drink Healthy (TB9, S10, E17)
Okay, maybe not how to drink healthy, but how to drink healthiER! On this episode of The Back 9, we sit down with Chase Glick, founder of Chay Spirits, to talk about personal reinvention, massive weight loss, and building a better-for-you alcohol brand from scratch. After losing more than 150...
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OUR LIVE SECOND ANNIVERSARY SHOW (Recorded from 12/3/25) — TB9, S10, E16
We're celebrating two years of The Back 9 with our Second Anniversary Show, recorded live. We revisit the conversations that shaped our biggest episodes of the past year — from modern masculinity and leadership to healing, reinvention, and emotional resilience. Kerri Ballinger returns to complete...
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Author Sheryl Campbell: Literally Rebuilding Life One Mountain at a Time (TB9, S10, E15)
We sit down with author and Adirondack 46er Sheryl Campbell, whose powerful back-nine journey includes surviving breast cancer, navigating divorce, and losing her business during COVID. Sheryl shares how a single winter hike in the Adirondacks sparked her mission to climb all 46 high peaks…
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Health Executives Jim Coghlin & Tricia Laursen: Don't Ignore the Signs — What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You (TB9, S10, E14)
On this week's Back 9, we sit down with Jim Coghlin and Tricia Laursen, the leaders of Detect Together, a nonprofit teaching people how to recognize subtle health changes and act early. Jim shares the personal loss that inspired the mission, and Tricia explains t a simple way to know your…
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Entrepreneur Tom Kubiniec: How to Figure It Out When Life Blows Up Your Plan TB9, S10, E13
This week on The Back 9, we sit down with entrepreneur Tom Kubiniec, a former touring guitarist whose life took a hard left turn after an injury ended his music career. What followed was a masterclass in learning how to figure it out when life blows up your plan. Tom shares the story of landing…
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About this show
The Back 9 is a podcast hosted by Dennis Williams and Josh Mora, targeting individuals in or approaching mid-life who seek more fulfillment in various aspects of their lives. The hosts discuss topics such as starting over in careers or dating, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness, openness to change, and learning from experiences. The podcast aims to create a safe space for introspection, covering challenges like living alone, dating fears, and making mistakes. They invite guests, including celebrities, therapists, and coaches, to share personal stories and insights on healing from divorce, finding partners, and gaining confidence in relationships. The metaphor of the "back 9" in golf is used to convey the idea of a second chance in life, with fresh opportunities to achieve something remarkable. The hosts encourage leaving the past behind, embracing new possibilities, and moving forward with confidence. The podcast is available on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
Hosted by
Dennis Williams, Josh Mora
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