The Back 9 - Midlife, Best Life.

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 Che 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 Che 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

Dennis and Josh sit down with author and Adirondack 46er Cheryl Campbell, whose back nine story includes surviving breast cancer, navigating divorce, and closing a yoga studio at the height of COVID. Cheryl shares how a single winter hike in the Adirondacks turned into a quest to climb all 46 high peaks, why nature helped her quiet the noise, and how losing a diamond earring on the trail became a turning point in letting go of her past. She talks about learning to ask for help, rebuilding confidence one summit at a time, and inspiring others to take the first step toward their own big challenge, whether it is a mountain, a health journey, or a fresh start in midlife. 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

Chris “The Bulldog” Parker has been a colleague and friend of ours for over 30 years, and he joins the Back 9 for a conversation about how our perspective changes as we age. Chris reflects on three decades behind the mic and how, when we become husbands and fathers, our attitude can change towards our jobs and how we approach what matters in life. In particular, Chris’ son Owen was an elite hockey player, and Chris shares both the pain of watching Owen have to step away from the game and the pride he feels in watching him follow in his footsteps into media. It’s an emotional journey worth taking. We also spend some time talking about learning to appreciate all the little things in life, like golf, the start of the NFL season, and taking care of our health. Chris proves that old friends are the best friends — and the best guests! — on this episode of the Back 9. Contact Dennis & Josh Instagram: @Back9_Podcast