The Back 9 - Midlife, Best Life.

As we tee off on our second season, we embrace the sheer joy of anticipation. Our opening round delivered wonderful guests that resonated with each of you, and now we're ready to push our game just a little further. We've listened to your feedback.  We've made some minor alterations.  So we are eager to provide introspective, often hilarious guests, and to dissect life's complexities in a way that resonates with the soul of our audience.  It's a heartfelt invitation to be part of our rapidly expanding family and to share in the conversations that reassure us we're not alone in navigating the twists and turns of our life narratives. Your engagement is our standing ovation—so continue to download, listen, share, follow, and review as we keep the dialogue thriving in Round 2, of the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh: Instagram: @Back9_Podcast

Are you ready to tee up for a second shot at life? That's what we're here for. Welcome to The Back 9, your compass to navigate the complexities of midlife and beyond. We're your Hosts,  Dennis Williams, and Josh Mora, we're excited to guide you toward more enriching experiences and deeper connections. Whether you're stepping onto a new career path, or braving the dating scene once more, we've got you covered. We're joined by celebrities, therapists, life and relationship coaches, and everyday individuals who have faced life's challenges - just like you. From healing after a divorce to building self-confidence, we're exploring topics that are real, relatable, and meaningful. Much like the second half of a golf round, we're all about making the turn and starting fresh. Leave the past behind, and join us on this journey toward a better, healthier, and happier life. Follow The Back 9 now on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to your podcasts. 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