Joshua and Ryan discuss identifying how much is enough so we can subtract the excess to get there, and they answer the following questions:

What is “enoughism”? (00:00)

How is enoughism different from minimalism? (03:04)

Given that the key to transformation is understanding our ‘whys,’ why does anyone truly want more, and, conversely, why does anyone truly want less? (12:20)

When it comes to a small business, how much record-keeping is enough and what is the ideal way to store it? (24:57)

How does renouncing something create an attachment to it? (30:09)

How do we learn to recognize the difference between enough and a false sense of security and comfort from unnecessary consumerism? (39:35)

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 286 | Enoughism

Joshua and Ryan talk about the best options for therapy when you’re feeling sad, grieving, depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed with author, podcaster, and psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb, and they answer the following questions:

When is the appropriate time to talk to a therapist? (00:00)

What is “idiot compassion” compared to “wise compassion”? (02:53)

What is self-sabotage, and how can we identify and address its manifestation in us? (04:03)

What is the most important phase of change? (05:45)

What is the most challenging part of change? (07:09)

Why should someone schedule a session with a therapist? (08:48)

What key power can therapy give us? (09:49)

What do we do when cost is an impediment to mental healthcare? (11:26)

What are the downsides of trying to help others change? (14:42)

What mantras, self-talk, meditations, et cetera, have helped keep you focused, centered, and positive when addressing significant life challenges? (18:15)

In their lives, to whom do most people talk the most? (19:17)

How do we give ourselves self-compassion? (22:06)

How do we get past childhood traumas and disappointments? (23:42)

What is “forced forgiveness”? (25:24)

Must we forgive to move on? (26:15)

How do we handle pride appropriately? (27:13)

Why does there seem to be a stigma against mental health in older generations, and, more specifically, how can we get our parents to talk about their feelings and vulnerabilities? (29:35)

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 298 | Talk To Someone

Joshua and Ryan talk about the folly of the self-help industry’s focus on exhausting positivity—on trying to convince us that we can out-eat, out-learn, and out-perform our humanness—with author, podcaster, and professor Kate Bowler, and they answer the following questions:

What is the “gospel of hustle”? (00:00)

What are the signs that positivity has become toxic for us as individuals, and what are the signs that our well-intentioned positive vibes are becoming toxic to others? (06:58)

Where did the ‘good vibes only’ orthodoxy originate? (07:21)

Why does complaining seem to encourage camaraderie? (10:03)

What is the problem with the language of positivity? (10:43)

What is “horizon work”? (12:23)

What is “choice poor”? (12:38)

How do we address those that weaponize perspectives, such as toxic positivity, to bully us into accepting and adopting their way of thinking as our own; for example, when people that disapprove of minimalism call minimalists “privileged”? (17:11)

How do you define “elitism”? (21:45)

What is “prudential wisdom”? (23:39)

Where did the notion come from that being positive is the cure for everything, the path for everyone, the solution to whatever life throws at you—what is wrong with embracing sadness, contemplation, grief, anxiety? (31:35)

What is “limited agency”? (33:13)

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 304 | Toxic Positivity

Joshua and Ryan discuss the pros and cons of hustle culture, and they answer the following questions:

Do some people claim they’re busy to be envied for being in demand? (01:01)
 
What is the difference between “hurry” and “hustle”? (05:46)
 
How do you define “productive”? (06:45)
 
What is the fatal flaw of hustle culture? (08:51)
 
How can we break free of hustle culture? (13:31)
 
How do you appropriately address burnout with yourself or an employer before it reaches the point of no return? (17:07)
 
How do I set appropriate boundaries in my profession? (19:45)
 
After leaving an extraordinarily stressful career, how do I resist the temptation to take on another one for “success” and wealth? (25:53)

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 319 | Toxic Hustle Culture

The Minimalists talk about different kinds of surprise purchases, impulse purchases, and annoying purchases, and they answer the following questions:

What’s the difference between surprise purchases and impulse purchases? (01:39)

Why do sales seem particularly pernicious now? (04:06)

What are the two kinds of surprise purchases? (07:44)

Do manufacturers bear any burden for creating superfluous products that exist as little more than items to be purchased as surprise gifts for others based on their novelty rather than their practicality? (11:33)

Are we being too dismissive of new technology that seems to promote sedentary lifestyles but could be incredibly helpful to the physically challenged? (19:34)

How do we get our partners to include us in the purchasing processes of significant items? (25:20)

How do you define “compassion”? (29:32)
 
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 328 | Annoying Purchases

The Minimalists talk about sustainable living with environmentalist Claire Potter, and they answer the following questions:

What impact did the pandemic have on our environment with all of the disposable items designed to protect us from infection, and how can we move forward safely with less waste? (01:39)
 
How biodegradable are biodegradable plastics? (06:25)
 
What are the pros and cons of plastic? (07:29)
 
How do we stay motivated and inspire others to live a sustainable, minimalist lifestyle when those around us do not; that is, if we live sustainably but more people live unsustainably, aren’t all of our efforts meaningless? (09:25)
 
What is your perspective regarding sustainability? (11:20)
 
What is the “circular economy”? (12:28)
 
How much does farming crops damage the environment compared to farming meat? (20:22)
 
How do we frame sustainable living to interest non-environmentalists? (28:32)
 
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 331 | Sustainable Living

The Minimalists discuss why far too many of us spend far too much on storage containers, “clutter coffins,” of all sizes, yet the best way to organize our stuff isn’t to store it in a basement mausoleum—the best way to organize is to get rid of the excess stuff—and they answer the following questions:

What has contributed to the rise of the storage business? (01:40)

What do you consider “clutter coffins”? (05:19)

When are storage units useful? (07:22)

What is the average profit margin of the storage industry? (14:26)

What does the phrase “Be present” mean to you? (16:27)

How do I reconcile my love of scrapbooking and its requisite accoutrements with my striving to live a minimalist lifestyle? (17:35)

What is “legalism”? (20:03)

What is your perspective regarding the zero-waste movement? (22:20)

What are the origins of spring cleaning? (26:26)

How do my partner and I determine how much stuff we should actually save for our future child? (26:56)

How do you determine what is worth storing? (32:03)

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 332 | Clutter Coffins

The Minimalists talk about functional movement with Aaron Alexander, author of The Align Method, and they answer the following questions:

What daily exercises will help us move with the most freedom and the least pain? (02:18)
 
How do our postural patterns affect our overall health? (06:33)
 
What is the “55-38-7 Principle”? (07:47)
 
Is sitting for long periods unhealthy? (09:52) 
 
What movements during daily office work are beneficial? (17:03)
 
What is the most ideal sitting position? (20:13)
 
What is the value of stillness? (26:22)
 
What are the most appropriate workspace ergonomics for those that spend long hours at desks? (31:15)
 
How do we best relax? (33:17)
 
How important is appropriate breathing? (37:25)
 
What is “learned helplessness”? (45:07)
 
How do we reevaluate our movements? (46:45)
 
What is “piezoelectricity”? (48:26)
 
What is “parasitic tension”? (51:07)
 
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 333 | Movement

The Minimalists talk about the clutter that invades our counters, cabinets, and refrigerators with Max Lugavere, author of Genius Kitchen, and they answer the following questions:
 
What is essential to prepare healthy meals? (02:39)
 
What is a Thermapen? (04:31)
 
Why are glass containers better for storage than plastic containers? (04:56)
 
What is the value of the cast-iron skillet in the kitchen? (06:17)
 
What are the pros and cons of the microwave? (11:08)
 
What are the benefits of sous vide? (13:11)
 
What are the dangers of using kitchen items with nonstick coatings? (13:51)
 
What kitchen cleaning products and methods have you found safe, effective, and minimal that prevent foodborne illnesses and keep everything spotless when not in use? (20:40)
 
How do we ensure we keep the appropriate amount of food on hand for our household? (27:16)
 
How do we efficiently and effectively cook in tiny kitchens? (33:22)
 
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 334 | Kitchen Clutter

The Minimalists talk about purchases that lead to buyer’s remorse, and they answer the following questions:
 
Does regret serve us in any way? (01:57)
 
How do we overcome the loss and regret we feel after donating items so we don’t end up simply replacing them and repeating the cycle? (06:03)
 
How do we recognize when we’re senselessly justifying a purchase that holds little to no actual benefit for us? (16:08)
 
Do your children have any regrets? (23:45)
 
What do we do when we experience buyer’s remorse with every purchase? (27:52)
 
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 335 | Consumer Regrets

The Minimalists speak with Joshua Becker about Things That Matter, becoming minimalist, and finding purpose, and they answer the following questions:
 
How do I discover what truly matters when I’m already struggling to find meaning in my daily life? (02:11)
 
How do we discover our purposes? (02:34)
 
Would you change your minimalist journeys based on what you know now? (08:07)
 
How do we recoup and regroup from the past purchase of a luxury item, especially when we’re trying to recover from the financial repercussions of the purchase, such as a considerable car loan? (12:47)
 
What does Joshua Becker recommend regarding vehicle purchases? (15:33)
 
How do I reframe minimalism as merely a tool rather than a goal (21:39)
 
How do I ensure my needs are met along with those for which I’m a caregiver? (29:53)
 
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 336 | Things That Matter

The Minimalists discuss what to do with family heirlooms and “generational junk,” and they answer the following questions:
 
How do we tactfully tell our relatives we don’t want their “generational junk”? (09:17)
 
How do I help my parents minimize their hoard to live more simply when they’re resistant to do so? (14:10)
 
How do we support our family members without accepting their donations of their possessions? (26:35)
 
How do I appropriately rehome a family heirloom that is a historical artifact? (31:44)
 
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 337 | Generational Junk

The Minimalists speak with Dr. John Delony, author of Own Your Past, Change Your Future, about loneliness, friendship, love, lust, and jobs that make people miserable, and they answer the following questions:

How do I ensure I don’t fall back into crippling codependency as I explore building relationships again? (01:42)
 
How do we intentionally practice solitude? (05:33)
 
What is the difference between solitude and hiding? (06:43)
 
How do we make friends as adults? (06:51)
 
Is there any issue in striving to associate with like-minded individuals over open-minded individuals? (13:07)
 
Where is the best place to find a long-term partner or spouse? (14:46)
 
What are the differences between love, like, and lust? (19:51)
 
How do I determine whether to keep a job I detest that makes me miserable, yet provides well for myself and my daughter? (24:09)
 
How do we transition from an overabundance of acquaintances to fewer, more meaningful relationships? (30:40)
 
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 338 | The Loneliness Epidemic

The Minimalists talk about the many shapes and sizes of excess, including stuff, debt, screen time, commitments, and emotional clutter, and they answer the following questions:

When is something considered excessive? (03:32)
 
What are the three ways to gain acceptance? (11:52)
 
How do we encourage others to break away from the excessive pursuits that are causing them to feel perpetually overwhelmed? (14:40)
 
What is “POMO”? (15:07)
 
How do I ensure my daily schedule doesn’t become excessive, and how do I best organize my time management tools to achieve that goal? (18:46)
 
How do I stay focused on my obligations and responsibilities when my emotional clutter is constantly distracting me? (25:01)
 
What is your perspective regarding personality? (32:22)
 
How do I cut down on excessive screen time? (47:28)
 
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 339 | Escaping the Excess

The Minimalists are joined by earthing expert Clint Ober to discuss pain reduction, the science behind grounding, and “the most important health discovery ever,” and they answer the following questions:

What is the science behind grounding, and how do I explain it to loved ones who perceive it as metaphysical woo-woo? (03:19)
 
How can grounding relieve much of our discomfort? (09:16)
 
What are the most significant benefits of grounding, and what individuals would realize the most benefit from it? (13:26)
 
What grounding tips do you have for individuals that use wheelchairs? (16:56)
 
How did Clint come to recognize the personal benefits of grounding? (20:40)
 
What are the best methods for grounding? (24:13)
 
What is your perception regarding inflammation? (29:54)
 
If grounding is so healthy, why does the professional medical community largely ignore it? (33:23)
 
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 340 | Grounding

The Minimalists discuss our shared clean-slate fantasy of renting a giant dumpster and tossing everything in it, as well as more prudent and responsible decluttering methods, including selling, donating, and recycling, and they answer the following questions:

How do we tactfully approach a loved one regarding their maximalist lifestyle encroaching on our shared minimalist space? (07:05)
 
What are the three reasons that we cling? (09:11)
 
Why is striving for perfection such a fruitless pursuit? (17:21)
 
How do we appropriately pass on personalized items? (19:11)
 
How do I help loved ones let go of their attachment to things? (29:04)

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 341 | The Dumpster Method

The Minimalists discuss the benefits of near-death experiences with their friend T.K. Coleman a month after his brush with death, and they answer the following questions:

How has having your film nominated for an Emmy affected you? (02:06)
 
How many times has T.K. appeared on the podcast? (03:39)
 
What near-death experience did T.K. experience recently, and what lessons did he take from it? (05:52)
 
What mattered the most to you in your moment of crisis? (11:43)
 
What effect did T.K.’s near-death experience have on his relationships? (18:13)
 
What insights or enlightenment do near-death experiences yield? (24:41)
 
Did T.K.’s near-death experience alter his views regarding minimalism? (35:41)
 
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 342 | Near-Death Experiences

The Minimalists talk about practical, reliable, and durable goods and the social, moral, and environmental responsibilities of the companies that produce them, and they answer the following questions:

Where did you get the idea for the title, “The Good Goods”? (01:50)

Is there a curated list somewhere on the Internet of companies that sell high-quality, durable goods that also take responsibility for their social and environmental impact? (05:23)

What is “impact anxiety”? (16:45)

What is “corporate social responsibility”? (22:55)

Do dollar stores sell any high-quality items? (25:23)

How has planned obsolescence changed our shopping habits? (36:31)

What are the benefits of buying locally? (42:08)

How do we find items that are high-quality and appropriately priced? (48:30)

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 343 | The Good Goods

The Minimalists speak with Vanessa Van Edwards about communication problems and the signals we send to others through our body language, facial expressions, word choices, and vocal inflections, and they answer the following questions:

How do I overcome the feeling of being chronically misunderstood? (02:38)

What are the four channels for cues? (03:18)

What is the importance of congruence in our communication? (04:10)

How are we most commonly misunderstood? (07:09)

What are warm and confident words? (07:50)

How do we organically incorporate mirroring into our communication? (12:45)

How can you tell if someone is actively listening to you? (15:04)

What are the two misconceptions about eye contact? (16:57)

What is “Resting Bothered Face”? (20:15)

What is “phubbing”? (24:14)

What are “invitation cues”? (27:23)

As a teenager living under my parents’ roof how do I tactfully address the conflict arising between their values and beliefs and my own that are continuously evolving at my age? (30:10)

What is “openness”? (32:24)

What is the “Platinum Rule”? (36:25)

Why is nonverbal communication so powerful? (38:00)

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 344 | Communication Problems

The Minimalists discuss the pros and cons of owning versus renting homes from a minimalist perspective, and they answer the following questions:

What are your respective opinions regarding owning versus renting homes? (01:48)
 
Is there an age deadline for homeownership? (10:57)
 
How do we determine which is more financially feasible for us between renting and buying? (14:44)
 
What are “Zoomtowns”? (25:07)
 
Do you consider tiny homes a viable homeownership option, particularly regarding resale value? (32:54)
 
What should we look for in a community when we’re ready to plant roots? (38:08)
 
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 345 | Homeownership vs. Renting

The Minimalists talk about earning a living from creative pursuits with writer Jeff Goins, and they answer the following questions:

Why do even the most talented artists often struggle financially? (02:43)
 
What is the premise of Jeff’s book? (03:35)
 
How does stubbornness help artists? (04:31)
 
How does a hyper focus on details harm artists? (07:43)
 
What is the importance of patrons for artists? (12:55)
 
How do artists best actualize their dreams? (24:22)
 
What is the best use of our creations that no longer hold any meaning for us—save for posterity, recycle, repurpose, trash? (25:30)
 
How do I best manage my PR on social media so I have adequate time to produce my art? (38:18)
 
What is the Sunday Symposium? (45:10)
 
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
 
Join The Minimalists Private Podcast: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 346 | Starving Artists

Joshua & Ryan discuss their personal stories, as well as the format of their new podcast. Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Podcast 000 | Who Are The Minimalists?

Joshua & Ryan discuss best practices for decluttering, and they attempt to answer the following questions: What is one thing you always thought you wanted, but then, once you got it, you no longer wanted it? How do you gradually declutter your home? How do you explain greed in our society? What do you do with old photos after you scan them? How do you deal with the natural pulling away from friends with different values? When is The Minimalists’ documentary coming out? What charities do The Minimalists support? Do The Minimalists gain any money from their website? Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Podcast 001 | Declutter

Joshua & Ryan discuss minimalism approaches to technology, and they attempt to answer the following questions: How do you minimize social media feeds and not miss important info? How do you minimize your online browsing habits? How do you apply minimalism to technology? How do you embrace minimalism when your partner has no interest? What advice do you have for artists overwhelmed by art supplies? What was the most difficult thing for you to get rid of? How do you expand your vocabulary? How do you explain you don’t want things for gifts, but experiences? Is it better to donate items or to sell them? What does value mean to you? The Five Values in your book Minimalism are health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution. If there was a sixth value, what would it be? Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Podcast 002 | Technology

Joshua & Ryan discuss priorities, and they answer the following listener questions: When minimizing possessions, how do you know when to stop? When donating time, how do you minimize duties and schedules? Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Podcast 005 | Priorities

Joshua & Ryan discuss careers, jobs, passion, and the concept of having a “mission” in life, and they answer the following questions: How do you answer "Where do you see yourself in three to five years?" Are there scenarios where more is less? Do you have to make money from a passion? How do you quit your job but still have security? How did you transition from your corporate jobs to what you do today? How do you commit to a career choice? How do you ensure work duties don’t interfere with minimalist values? How do you not lose passion in your work? How do you balance passion and security during a health crisis? What are your views regarding ambition? Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Podcast 013 | Career

The best of The Minimalists! From simple living, decluttering, and finances, to passion, health, and relationships, ESSENTIAL is for anyone who desires a more intentional life. 

Listen to the first hour of this audiobook on SoundCloud for free, or download the entire six-hour audiobook on:

Audible: http://mins.pub/2dSTcT8
iTunes: http://mins.pub/2dSWZ2J
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2eCeEu9

Essential: Essays by The Minimalists (Audiobook)

In their debut book, The Minimalists explore their troubled pasts and descent into depression. After a pair of life-changing events, they discovered minimalism, allowing them to eliminate their excess material things so they could focus on life's most important "things": health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution. 

Listen to the first 45 minutes of this audiobook on SoundCloud for free, or download the entire three-hour audiobook on:

Audible: http://mins.pub/2gi4Ngh
iTunes: http://mins.pub/2fpMhOw
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2grs1SF

Minimalism: Live A Meaningful Life (Audiobook)

Not a how-to book but a why-to book, EVERYTHING THAT REMAINS is the touching, surprising story of what happened when one young man decided to let go of everything and begin living more deliberately. Heartrending, uplifting, and deeply personal, this engrossing memoir is peppered with insightful (and often hilarious) interruptions by Ryan Nicodemus, Millburn's best friend of twenty years.

Listen to the first hour of this audiobook on SoundCloud for free, or download the entire five-hour audiobook on:

Audible: http://mins.pub/2kFsIFf
iTunes: http://mins.pub/2kFkrRI
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2k4fFhv

Everything That Remains (Audiobook)

Joshua and Ryan talk about unsubscribing and unfollowing anything that doesn’t bring tranquility or increase well-being, and they answer the following questions:

How has unsubscribing and unfollowing helped your tranquility? (08:36)

Should we attempt to explain ourselves to others when they question our minimalist lifestyle, or simply invite them to ‘unfollow’ us? (12:37)

Can minimalism help us bring order back to our chaotic lives? (14:44)

How do we determine the appropriate ‘path’? (18:50)

We can’t impose tranquility on the world around us, so how do we adjust our internal settings to maintain inner tranquility? (23:10)

Why do insults irritate us so intensely? (29:09)

How do we adjust relationships that are predicated on conflict? (31:20)

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Podcast 276 | The Unfollowing

Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus discuss living a meaningful life with less.

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