The Back 9 - Midlife, Best Life.

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 life. As we make the turn into another season, we also look at how far The Back 9 has come, the progress of our book, and our recent work with a former guest whose story continues to remind us what can happen when we turn difficult experiences into something meaningful. Nearly 150 episodes in, we're still right there with you -- still asking questions, still learning and still figuring out what we want to do with the years ahead. Welcome to Season 14 of The Back 9.

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, protecting yourself legally and financially, avoiding the costly mistakes that can make splitting up even harder, building a successful second marriage, and doing the work that can sometimes save the first one. We also talk about anxiety showing up unexpectedly in midlife, watching our kids become adults, finishing the manuscript of our book and one of the ideas that kept surfacing throughout the season: that the end of a relationship doesn't have to define what comes next. Sometimes it's where the real work begins.

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, Simplify the Split. We talk about the mistakes that cost time, money and emotional energy: treating your attorney like a therapist, responding to every angry text, fighting battles that don't need to be won, and giving up on mediation too soon. Eric also explains how he used AI to take the emotion out of difficult communication and why sometimes the smartest response is no response at all.

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 families will ever make. As tuition continues to climb and artificial intelligence reshapes the job market, Ron explains why parents and students should look beyond rankings and prestige to evaluate value, financial aid, career opportunities, alumni networks and long-term return on investment. The conversation also explores the reality behind published tuition, why the "sticker price" often isn't the real price, and how today's students should think differently about higher education than previous generations. Whether your child is applying to college this year or you're just beginning the journey, this episode explores how to make one of life's biggest investments…on the Back 9.

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 process. We cover prenups, protecting assets, financial transparency, mediation, documentation, and how to avoid costly mistakes when emotions are running high. Whether you're happily married, considering a second marriage, or facing divorce, this conversation offers practical legal insights that can protect your future and give you greater peace of mind.  If you should ever need to divorce...this episode will help you do so like a boss...on the Back 9.

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 itself as overthinking, overworking, sleeplessness, the need to control everything, or the nagging feeling that something is wrong—even when life looks pretty good from the outside. We talk about why midlife is the perfect storm for anxiety, and how injuries,  parenting adult children, and shifting identities can sneak up and overwhelm us, and why former athletes and high achievers often struggle the most.  If you've ever found yourself thinking, "Why am I suddenly feeling this way?" We've got the conversation for you…on the Back 9.

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 behind his new book, UNLEARN—and, for the first time, why he's bringing his 6½-year podcast, The Great Unlearn, to a close. This is the only podcast appearance he's making to talk about the book. Together, we explore what happens when we stop trying to become more and start letting go of the stories, expectations, and identities that no longer fit. Along the way, Cal opens up about the moment his wife saw something in him he couldn't yet see in himself—and why that changed everything. If you've ever reached a point where success still left you searching, this conversation may help you discover what you've really been looking for...on the Back 9.

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 relationships—need to have long before retirement arrives. Yes, we discuss trusts, beneficiaries, taxes, and planning. But the real focus is more fundamental: aligning your values, your priorities, your family responsibilities, and your vision for the life you're building together. Henry discusses why retirement is less about money than making sure you are heading toward the same future. His counsel on how to handle the conversation is the focus this week...on the Back 9.

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 his first marriage, and how remarriage opened the door to a new chapter he never expected. He and his wife had kids, then fostered kids, and the eventually they adopted 2 kids, twins, expanding their family in ways neither of them could have imagined. It's a conversation about second chances in romance, showing up for the people you love, and discovering that some of life's greatest gifts arrive the second time around, on this episode of the Back 9.

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 now he's rewriting his future. And at one point, Geoff turns the tables and starts asking us questions. Questions we've both had to answer ourselves. How do you know you're doing the right thing? What gets easier? What do you wish you had known? There are no villains in this story.  It's ust an honest conversation about marriage, divorce, co-parenting, uncertainty, and what comes next. For any man trying to navigate one of the hardest seasons of his life, this is a conversation worth hearing.  Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast Our sponsor Hammer and Nails, is currently offering a $120 gift card for $100.  They also have a Spoil Him Right curated gift Box.  Great father's day gifts.  Get one at Hammer and Nails, with 4 locations in Central Florida.

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 kids grown and living on their own, and looking back at the fathers we tried to be. We talk about raising daughters and the ways they challenged us, changed us, and taught us things we never expected to learn. We revisit divorce, long-distance parenting, the moments we got right, and the moments we'd give anything to do over. There are stories in this episode we've never shared before. Some are funny. Some are raw.  Several still make us emotional all these years later. If you've ever wondered whether you did enough as a parent, if you've carried regret, or if you're trying to build a stronger relationship with your kids today than you had yesterday, this one's for you. Happy Father's Day from The Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast Our sponsor Hammer and Nails, is currently offering a $120 gift card for $100.  They also have a Spoil Him Right curated gift Box. Great father's day gifts.  Get one at Hammer and Nails, with 4 locations in Central Florida.

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 believed from the beginning: Men need hope. This season will continue that conversation through stories about relationships, fatherhood, purpose, health, and second chances.We also talk summer plans, Bills vs. Bears, engagement parties, the strange ways sports loyalty gets passed through families, and our partnership with Hammer & Nails. A new season. A lot in motion.  Time to make the turn. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 wrong relationships after divorce. Knowing yourself before saying "I do." The discipline of co-parenting without letting ego take over. And we led off with Misty. A story still being written, and one we're grateful to have witnessed up close. Somewhere along the way there was Guinness, Sting, law school milestones and a trip to St. John, but Season 12 is in the books.  So here's to everybody who spent part of their season with us. Time to split the G….on the Back 9 Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 named his daughter Peyton after Walter Payton.  And years later, he's standing at a Super Bowl party telling that story to Walter's son…trying not to cry. This episode is about the people who shape us, the mentors who push us, and the things we carry into fatherhood, teaching, work and legacy. (And there's some behind-the-scenes tales behind the Dan Patrick Show along the way) It's a lean back and listen episode of The Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 it" stopped being a good enough answer. So he and his strength coach started pulling best-in-practice ideas from practitioners in all the different countries he playeid in, just to keep him on the ice. That mindset eventually became Matterhorn Fit and his post-playing passion. This episode isn't about hockey. It's about refusing to accept that broken is permanent on a new episode of The Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 business after losing his father at 19, the influence of his uncle Tony, and what he's learned about leading a thousand-person operation. We get into what it really takes to change a culture, keep it intact, and measure success in ways that go beyond sales. The conversation turns when he talks about hitting the same age his father was when he passed. That's where things started to shift—health, time, and how he looks at the work. If you're leading people, building something, or starting to think about what all of it adds up to, this one will resonate… on The Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 kids, how communication breaks down, and why a more structured approach can help steady things.  But more than anything, this is how you show up for your kids in the middle of it.  We also make it personal.  With big milestones ahead, we're both dedicated to handling these moments in the right way, and we explore how to do just that.  Your kids are paying attention.(paragraph). If you're in it now, or just trying to do it better, this one will resonate...on the Back 9.   Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 coaching and raising kids, including what it means to lead with humility, set the standard through your actions, and guide young men into strong, grounded masculinity.  From players who exceeded every expectation to his own sons who chose the hardest possible path in service, Mark's perspective is steady, honest, and earned. If you're a father, coach, or anyone trying to lead better, this one finds the fairway...on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 it's too late. Kevin dives into attachment styles, love patterns, communication breakdowns, and why the problems couples fight about years into marriage are usually there long before the wedding. He explains the predictable stages of marriage stress and why most couples wait until they're near the end to get help. If last week was about toxic relationships and missed red flags, this one is about awareness, growth, and building a relationship that can make it to the finish line. So if you're dating, married, divorced, or just willing to try again, this is one you need… on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 seductive as it is destructive. His attraction was instant. The warning signs were obvious. The chaos kept increasing.  Yet he still stayed. Because when you're the fly in the trap, it doesn't feel like a trap. It feels like connection. Like passion. Like something you don't want to lose. We've been there.  We get why so many men stay in toxic relationships.  And in this episode we hear the details of this story when intensity masks dysfunction, and how even self-aware, successful people ignore what they know deep down. It's about recognizing the pattern, owning your role in it, and finding the strength to finally break free…on The Back 9. Connect with Stephen Website: https://vft23.com/ Link to Free Chapters: https://vft23.com/bonus/ Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 still working for him.   That became the mantra of his practice.  Our conversation explores life after cancer, remission, and what it really means to heal the body, mind, spirit, and soul. Achim shares how his experience reshaped the way he practices medicine and how patients can move from surviving to truly thriving. This is a conversation about perspective, resilience, and learning how to live fully again…on The Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 trauma, adversity, and early instability can become the foundation for resilience, perspective, and purpose. Misty defines the moment when one decides whether your past will define you or drive you.  We go through the steps of how it takes intention, accountability, and sometimes creating distance from the patterns and people that shaped you, even if they love you.  Even if they mean well. This is an inspirational conversation about how we turn pain into purpose when we realize that the difficulties we go through can be the very things that moves us forward…on The Back 9. Pre-order your copy of Misty's book, The Unbreakable Advantage, here. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 is that divorce can shake a man's identity to the core. It's also the question shaping the book we're currently writing—about how men heal, rebuild, and eventually find love again. We talk about the real work behind that process: learning to be alone, facing disappointment, and doing the personal work before stepping into a healthy second relationship. Because love after divorce is less about the comeback story, than it is about becoming the man who's ready for it…on The Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 fatherhood, friendship, identity, reinvention, and building the next chapter. In this 19th Hole, we turn the conversation inward. We talk about mortality, letting go of roles that no longer fit, and the clarity that comes when we realize time matters more than ever. Because while none of us knows how many holes are left—but we can choose how we play them…on The Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 about the identity crisis that can follow when athletes lose the one thing they were built to do. We explore life after sports, rebuilding purpose after career loss, and how reinvention often begins in the hardest moments. From the spotlight of professional boxing to marriage, fatherhood, and a new career, Joe shares what it really takes to move forward when the first dream disappears. It's a conversation about valuing fulfillment over fame…on The Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 into capable men, balancing career ambition with presence at home, and staying consistent when work never really turns off. Vince shares how his blue-collar roots shaped his leadership as a husband and father and what changes when your children become adults. It's a grounded discussion about how consistency becomes our most important stat…on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast  

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 country searching for Shama — the Sanskrit word for inner peace. On this episode of The Back 9, we talk with Kee Kee about identity loss, career pivots, spiritual awakening, and the courage to leave a life that looks successful but doesn't feel aligned. From spiritual communities to long stretches of silence on the open road, Kee Kee shares what it really takes to reset your life in mid-chapter. This is a conversation about burnout, red flags in relationships, reinvention, and why inner peace isn't a destination — it's a daily practice, and it's one that's never too late to undertake...on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 of life. What makes a friendship survive decades? What allows two men to be instantly available for each other no matter the circumstances. How can you pick up the phone after years and feel like no time has passed? Jim shares what it was like coming out as a gay man later in life, navigating sexual identity in a polarized political culture, and how real friendship holds steady even when beliefs and identities shift. We talk about emotional trust, loyalty, and adult male connection, and why those bonds become more meaningful as life moves forward. It's an episode that explores true masculinity through the kind of friendship that lasts a lifetime...on the Back 9 Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 during its peak, Gus was forced to recalibrate. Instead of chasing relevance, he focused on usefulness — launching a coaching practice, leading the prestigious Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting, and mentoring the next generation of broadcasters. Now, at 59½ — emphasis on the half -- he's made another intentional pivot: retiring, relocating, and redesigning life on purpose. This episode is about reading the signals, protecting your integrity, and making bold midlife career moves without losing yourself…on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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, disconnection, and divorce. The three of us dig into how "keeping the peace" turns into resentment, how intimacy fades when hard conversations don't happen, and why this pattern shows up so often in midlife relationships and second marriages. If you've ever stayed quiet to avoid a fight — and wondered later how things slipped so far — this conversation will hit home.  It's a topic worth shouting about, on The Back 9. Contact Colette Preorder The Cost of Quiet: How to Have the Hard Conversations That Create Secure, Lasting Love https://www.colettejanefehr.com/new-book Website https://www.colettejanefehr.com Instagram and TikTok @colettejanefehr Substack https://colettejanefehr.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips TEDx Talk, "Secrets from a Couples Therapist" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tSUOB2yEd0 Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 is a perfect model of what it looks like to build with intention. Linda shares how a 17-year career in law, a difficult ex-husband, and the work of self-reflection all shaped her understanding of who she really was and what she wanted next.  Linda brings both lived experience and professional insight as a mediator and coach, offering perspective on how people break patterns and move forward with integrity. Then we shift into the bold choice she made to live abroad. Linda walks us through life in Portugal, touching on both the process (residency options, language, bureaucracy) and how joyful daily life can be when you choose to start over in another country. It's an episode about earning clarity, choosing courage, and deciding to design your life instead of living by default….on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 why the coming wealth transfer makes family planning more important than ever. We also dig into how to bring kids and young adults into the conversation, why they often tune out their parents but will listen to a trusted third party, and how to use simple tools to keep the transfer of wealth simple and clear. And we wrap by exploring the emotional side of money, market noise, investing trends, and that big Back 9 question: what kind of life do you actually want, and how do you build a plan that can grow and adapt as life changes on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast Disclosure: Cetera Investors is a marketing name of Cetera Investment Services. Securities and Insurance Products are offered through Cetera Investment Services LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. REITs are subject to various risks such as illiquidity and property devaluations based on adverse economic and real estate market conditions and may not be suitable for all investors. A prospectus that discloses all risks, fees and expenses may be obtained from the REIT company. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. This is not a solicitation or offering which can only be made in conjunction with a copy of the prospectus.

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 more than quick fixes.  Joyce is also a long-time health and fitness expert, and she leans into that expertise to share tips on how we can keep our fitness resolutions heading into the new year.  It's a conversation about showing up, building habits that last, and how physical health, mental wellness, and purpose all connect on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 beloved listeners ask for most: parenting, modern masculinity, health and wellness, friendship, purpose, and legacy. Along the way, we look back at holiday travel chaos, laugh about over-cologned Uber drivers, and share what's changed behind the scenes.  So let's make turn into 2026 with gratitude, clarity, momentum, and a great list of upcoming guests…on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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, honesty, and perspective at every turn. We share the insights from guests including Sean Springman, Ross Deutsch, and Sheryl Campbell, and take a personal look at our recurring themes of setting boundaries, healing, and building healthier relationships.  Some of this comes from our own lives as we dive into the next chapter with greater clarity and intention. So join us in toasting the Old Year past, the New Year Present, and our commitment to creating our best future, on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 — a journey that ultimately led her to help build StrataMed at Garden of the Gods. She explains how integrative approaches help uncover illness, and why trauma, behavior, and mindset often matter just as much as labs and scans.  Judy also shares the beautiful moments when skeptical patients finally find answers and real transformation. If you're resolved to look at wellness in a new way in the New Year, come sit by the fire with the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 pounds, Chase rethought his relationship with alcohol — and set out to create an alcohol brand  that actually fit a healthy lifestyle. He breaks down how keto changed his life, why ingredients matter, and how Chay delivers smooth flavor without the burn. The conversation also dives into entrepreneurship in your 20s, learning a tough industry the hard way, and what it takes to build something people didn't know they needed. Its the perfect cocktail of health, weight loss, and drinking smarter, so belly up to this episode of the Back 9.   Follow Chay at chayspirits.com and @drinkchay Contact Dennis & Josh: Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 the story behind her viral clip, sharing what EXACTLY was in her bath, and the rest of her journey through chronic illness. And Suzette Bravo joins us to break down what aspects of masculinity women genuinely find attractive, and why self-awareness matter more than performance. It's a warm, honest look at two years of what it means to grow on the Back Nine. Contact Dennis & Josh: Instagram: @Back9_Podcast    

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, helping her quiet the noise, reclaim her identity, and finally let go of the past. Her story — including how losing a treasured object helped her find something far more meaningful — is an inspiring reminder that healing, purpose, and strength often begin with one unexpected step forward on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 baseline, spot persistent changes, and communicate clearly with your doctor. Together, they break down why half of all cancers are diagnosed late, how small symptoms get dismissed, and why self-advocacy is one of the most important tools you have. You'll hear real stories where early action saved lives — and where waiting had devastating consequences.  It's a conversation will change the way you think about early detection, and a way to avoid all the hazards, on The Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh: Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

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 his first major contract in an industry he barely understood, the lessons he learned while making money, losing money, and rebuilding again, and the surprising truth he discovered along the way: success isn't defined by dollars — it's defined by finding joy in what you do.  Today, as the founder of SecureIt Tactical and the creator of the CradleGrid system, Tom uses the skills he earned the hard way to solve the very injury that changed his life in the first place. It's a conversation is for anyone navigating reinvention, rebuilding their identity, or starting over in the second half of life, and a reminder that the most important thing on the Back 9 isn't having all the answers — it's trusting that you can figure it out. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

This week on The Back 9, we sit down with Kerri Ballinger.  She's a practitioner of NAET, a holistic approach that uses energy balancing and muscle testing to reduce allergic reactions and restore wellness. Kerri shares her jaw-dropping story of overcoming a near-death chronic illness and helping her son heal from severe allergies through integrative methods. Together, we explore how Western medicine and holistic healing can work in harmony and the courage it takes to look beyond conventional answers.  It's an eye-opening conversation about what happens when we stop masking symptoms and start listening to the wisdom of our bodies. So if you've ever wanted to go beyond modern medicine to find additional pathways to health, we prescribe the next episode of the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh: Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

This week on The Back 9, Dennis and Josh welcome high school basketball coach Ross Deutsch for a powerful and inspiring conversation about healing, resilience, and purpose after loss. Ross opens up about the unimaginable loss of his son Rory, and how that tragedy inspired the creation of the Rory David Deutsch Foundation, a beacon of hope for families facing pediatric cancer. He shares how his family — wife Mindy, sons Robbie and Rickey, and daughters Reggie and Rosie — showed him why giving your time more life matters more than giving your life more time. Ross's story is a moving exploration of grief, family, fatherhood, faith, and finding strength through community — and a reminder that even after unimaginable tragedy, we can rediscover purpose, live with gratitude, and thrive on the Back Nine. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

Dennis and Josh welcome entrepreneur Sean Springman into the studio to talk about how one can step around the corporate ceiling to find personal success.  Sean talks about the mindset and self-belief it takes to strike out on your own, start a business, and then scale a company from early scrappy deals to meaningful growth. Sean also opens up about how his personal life shapes that professional journey;  he's a guy parenting two college athletes, navigating profound family loss, and discovering how living with self-focused intention is actually not selfish at all.  We're pulling out all the clubs in our bag, as we start season 10 of the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

Ninety-nine episodes ago, the Back 9 started with two men in midlife, a couple of microphones, and a resolve to ask better, more pointed questions about the second half of life, with the belief that people out there needed the same kind of conversation. Turns out, a lot of you did. To mark the milestone of our 100th episode, our producer, Janine Stella, puts us in the hot seat. No prep. No polish. Just an honest, unscripted look at what The Back 9 has become, and where it's headed next. We revisit the moments that changed us — the laughter that disarmed the pain, the confessions that came out of nowhere, the stories that reminded us we're all capable of healing and hope. It's now way more than a podcast. It's a community. This episode is really about you — middle aged men and the women who love them — people who've shown up, leaned in, and proven that real strength lives in vulnerability, curiosity, and connection. And we talk about the next hundred: deeper stories, live gatherings, a book for men finding their way to relationships, and a growing community built on friendship, purpose, because our best chapters aren't behind us — they're here for us right now. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast  

It's toastin' time on The Back 9 with this season's 19th hole. We revisit the conversations that stuck with us most — the very best thoughts from the season about professional reinvention, leadership and how to gracefully come to grips with the end of things.  But the biggest takeaway from Season 9 is about the importance going straight to the source — and that leads to one of the spicier conversations ever on the Podcast, with a very satisfying ending.  So grab a glass and pull up a chair for the 99th episode…of The Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

We kick off fall with a little friendly South Florida smack talk, as we welcome the hilarious Rachel Sobel and Dale McLean from the Friends Without Benefits Podcast. Dale, the in-arena host for the Miami Heat, humorously shares his challenges finding steady relationships in his demographic, while Rachel, a much-published writer, offers all kinds of dating advice, and ranks her favorite husbands.  In short, we dig deep into this 3-decade platonic relationship to discuss the nature of inter-gender friendships, how to keep them respectful of their separate romances, and the importance of investing in friendship.  It's an episode that will keep you in stitches…on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

On this episode of The Back 9, Dennis and Josh catch up with three time All Star reliever and longtime MLB analyst Dan Plesac for a masterclass on how to fulfill your role — as a professional, a father and a man.  Dan discusses his evolution from ninth inning hammer to matchup specialist, and the difficulty he had accepting his new role in the bullpen pecking order.  He also shares his struggle with reintegrating into domestic life both after each season and after his career, and how that struggle ultimately led to his divorce.  But you'll be uplifted by the attitude that helped him rebuild his relationship with his daughters and grandchildren. And there's some other fun along the way — Dan relays the unforgettable story of his lone big league hit and previews baseball's playoffs, while we all bond over our woes around the green.  Get your pencils and scorecards ready…for another fantastic episode of The Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

In this episode of The Back 9 we catch up with Ray Collins, who spent his first career as a broadcaster before trading in the bright lights of morning TV for a second act in real estate and a richer personal life. Ray walks us through a career shaped by early mentors like Van Miller, the moment he realized it was time for him to leave the newsroom had changed, and how he successfully translated his name recognition and people skills into becoming a top performer in his second career.  We also dig into the emotional side of reinvention. Ray was a longtime bachelor before settling down on the Back 9.  He reflects on why he waited, his own shortcomings in previous relationships, how meeting his wife reset his priorities, and what it feels like to finally find joy off the air.  It's an episode about patience, persistence, and the success we can earn in our second acts, on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

On this episode of the Back 9, baseball lifer Jeff Manto joins Dennis and Josh.  Jeff was a prodigious home run hitter who spent the front 9 of his career bouncing between the major leagues and the high minors, including championship runs in the Yankees and Indians organizations.  He shares what he learned about team culture, and how good winning culture creates winning outcomes.   Jeff also presents a unique perspective on how he knew when it was time to move on to the rest of his life, and how we can all make that decision easier on ourselves.  Along the way he pays tribute to his mentors, reflects on how to be free of regret, and leaves us with timeless lessons on leadership, transition and purpose.  So step into the batters' box with us, on the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast