Joshua & Ryan reminisce about their favorite memories of 2018, and they answer the following questions:
When should I stop pursuing a relationship? (13:09)
Is it still a hobby if I make money from it? (33:42)
What are a minimalist’s views on religion? (46:30)
Did your absence from social media make you realize it made your life more meaningful, or did it make you realize it’s just a modern platform to advertise? (1:17:13)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan are joined by Jordan Harbinger to talk about what it takes to start a successful small business, and they answer the following questions:
When is it acceptable to take on debt to expand my business? (12:19)
How do I run a minimalist business and still earn a living wage? (39:32)
How do I establish a work-life balance when starting a business? (58:37)
How do I overcome the fear of failure to migrate from corporate cog to owner-operator? (1:04:50)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan discuss upgrading your phone, clothes, technology, housing, appliances, and anything else you might consider upgrading, and they answer the following questions:
Under what circumstances can I justify an upgrade? (15:12)
How do I resist the urge to upgrade to the 'latest and greatest'? (27:37)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan discuss our culture's addiction to stuff, shopping, drugs, alcohol, outrage, drama, success, and achievement, and they answer the following questions:
When should I stop trying to save those individuals that refuse to save themselves? (13:27)
How do I break my addiction to the status quo? (30:14)
How do I break my addiction to success? (35:14)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan discuss re-evaluating our lives so we can make the changes we need to make, and they answer the following questions:
How do I effect positive change in a friendship? (1:15)
How do I ensure there’s adequate support in place to make a significant personal or professional change sustainable? (22:02)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan discuss the holiday shopping season, and they answer the following questions:
How do I explain to my young child the importance of gifting things of value? (10:44)
What should minimalists gift their loved ones? (29:47)
How do I convince family members to gift my children valuable experiences instead of material items? (46:08)
How do I resolve the conflicts between my duties as a marketer and my values as a minimalist? (54:06)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan chat with Randi Kay about self-care, and they answer the following questions:
How do I move on from the darkness of my past to become the person I want to become? (16:18)
How important is foot care to overall health? (46:06)
How do I practice self-care without feeling selfish? (1:03:03)
How do I balance caring for myself with caring for others? (1:08:01)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan talk about reducing excess stuff, including some of the things that might add value to your life, and they answer the following questions:
How do I appropriately address the frustration I experience when I lose any of the few things I truly value? (15:09)
How do I determine if any family items are heirlooms to be saved for future generations? (23:40)
Should I minimize gradually or quickly? (33:14)
How do I minimize dispassionately? (36:37)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan talk about fear, depression, success, judgment, and gift-giving, and they answer the following questions:
How do I explain my mental health issues to my new partner? (25:06)
How do I address gift-giving with loved ones that insist on giving gifts and question my judgment for not wanting them? (44:42)
How do I conquer the fear of criticism that is holding me back from sharing my creative work with the world? (1:00:01)
How do I overcome decision fatigue and choose a career? (1:09:41)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan sit down with Peter Rollins, producer of Making Love, to discuss why people struggle with love, and they answer the following questions:
How do I appropriately enrich a relationship? (52:40)
When should I stop pursuing a relationship? (1:20:20)
How do I best love myself? (1:43:36)
How do I determine if a love is good or bad? (1:51:06)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan answer a bunch of questions about minimalism, including:
Which revenue stream should I focus my energy on to ensure my company is profitable? (1:51)
What project are you focused on to complete within the next year? (7:52)
Should I spend more money for an apartment with an extra room for a home office? (11:58)
How does having a child change one’s minimalist practices? (19:28)
How do I find happiness when I’m stressed? (26:11)
What can I do to minimize more quickly? (35:21)
How do you consistently deliver practical and valuable advice? (41:26)
How do I learn to push through discomfort? (46:14)
Why do you do what you do? (53:08)
How do I create a company while remaining true to my minimalist values? (1:02:08)
How do I stay true to my minimalist values through a significant financial windfall? (1:08:22)
Do minimalist practices remain consistent throughout the world? (1:11:28)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan talk about spouses, significant others, partners, boyfriends, girlfriends, and lovers, and they answer the following questions:
How do my partner and I create a mutually agreeable budget? (19:45)
How do I live as a minimalist without my spouse’s support? (38:07)
How do I purge my spouse’s excess stuff without upsetting them? (56:07)
How do I determine between an ideal relationship and a simply comfortable relationship? (1:02:04)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan sit down with Rachel Cruze, author of Love Your Life, Not Theirs, to discuss managing finances, eliminating debt, and avoiding the comparison trap, and they answer the following questions:
How do I determine the appropriate amount of money to save when my income fluctuates throughout the year? (26:40)
How do I explain minimalism to non-minimalists? (33:08)
How do my partner and I decide who is responsible for each financial obligation in our household? (43:27)
How do I maintain a balance between taking care of debt too much and not enough? (47:30)
How do I keep myself motivated to keep paying off my debt when it feels overwhelming? (55:41)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan talk about donating, selling, recycling, reusing, and trashing their excess stuff, and they answer the following questions:
How do I determine what items I should donate and what items I should sell? (00:53)
Will friends appreciate me gifting them my unwanted belongings, or will they be offended? (17:36)
What should I do with items that are missing pieces, e.g., board games, rather than just throwing them away? (26:40)
How do I determine what is the best use of my time and energy between recycling, selling, and trashing? (31:56)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan talk about how the city in which you live affects the rest of your life, and they answer the following questions:
How do I decide where it’s best for me to reside? (3:34)
How will I know when I’ve simplified enough? (4:05)
How do I choose a more affordable location for my family without sacrificing neighborhood amenities? (39:17)
Why are some areas of the world happier than others? (1:00:46)
How important are transportation options when considering places to live? (1:06:39)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan sit down with Dr. Christopher Ryan, author of Sex at Dawn, to discuss sex, couples, and nontraditional relationships, and they answer the following questions:
If I consider the physical characteristics I find attractive when choosing a partner, am I being intentional or shallow? (12:12)
Should I save my sexual accoutrements for the possibility of a future relationship? (31:12)
Is building a strong emotional base crucial for a healthy sex life? (41:46)
How should I respond to criticisms regarding the traditional life choices of my partner and me, e.g., waiting until marriage to live together and have sex? (49:20)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan sit down with Nate Green to discuss how he's moving forward after exiting a ten-year relationship, and they answer the following questions:
How do I move on from a relationship but still remain friends with my former partner? (17:16)
How do I rid myself of the remnants of a relationship that ended badly? (54:42)
How do I forgive myself for a breakup that was my fault? (1:14:22)
How do minimalists best divide up their collective items during a breakup? (1:18:34)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan sit down with Chris Hogan, author of Retire Inspired, to discuss financial freedom, getting out of debt, and retirement planning, and they answer the following questions:
How do I retire and still ensure I can leave a legacy? (28:00)
How do I take on midlife responsibilities and obligations—marriage, children, mortgage—while still appropriately saving for retirement? (36:14)
Which is the better retirement investment between a 401K and a Roth IRA? (44:32)
How do I ignore the judgement of loved ones and fully pursue my passions? (50:17)
Is a house an asset or a liability? (55:48)
Is it possible to overdo Dave Ramsey’s baby steps related to investing and paying off a mortgage? (59:20)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan talk about the difference between curating and collecting, and they answer the following questions:
Are museum collections considered intentional curations? (34:08)
Shouldn’t I save items I acquired on vacation that are exclusive to the areas I visited? (55:13)
Shouldn’t I save items that improve with age? (1:24:04)
How can I best curate a collection of items that are meaningful to me? (1:30:04)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan talk about their personal challenges, and they answer the following questions:
What aspects of minimalism have you found particularly challenging, and how have you overcome those challenges? (36:16)
How do I return to challenging myself in my discomfort zone after an extended period of time spent in my comfort zone? (1:08:56)
Is procrastination always bad? (1:26:23)
How do I best manage a relationship with a loved one that collects stuff? (1:29:54)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan answer an assortment of difficult questions about simple living, including:
How do you define simple living? (2:07)
How do I incorporate simple eating practices into my simple living practices? (5:19)
How do I maintain my minimalist lifestyle with a non-minimalist roommate? (23:20)
What one thing can I do immediately that will have the most significant impact on my adoption of a minimalist lifestyle? (35:40)
How do I find a balance between “living my present” and “worrying about my future”? (42:03)
How do I break my strong attachment to my stuff? (52:10)
How do I maintain my minimalist lifestyle among those in my social circle obsessed with material goods and money? (1:03:43)
How do I reduce my family’s entertainment expenses while still keeping my children happy? (1:10:38)
How do I make my home cozy without “unnecessary” things? (1:13:30)
How do I craft a simple life with the little personal time I have as a constantly hustling freelance entrepreneur? (1:20:47)
What are your thoughts on the tiny house movement? (1:29:39)
How do I make simple living fun for my family? (1:34:41)
How do I become a minimalist as a teenager? (1:39:53)
What cultures offer exemplary examples of simple living? (1:46:40)
How do I maintain simple living practices without the fear of missing out? (1:53:13)
Will living a simple life lead to living a bland life? (1:56:28)
How do I slow down to enjoy life when everyone around me is so busy? (1:59:27)
How do I live a simple life while balancing my responsibilities related to work, school, and family? (2:05:53)
How can I make housecleaning a simpler process? (2:09:20)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan sit down with Anthony ONeal, author of 5 Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make in College, to discuss school debt, consumer debt, scholarships, credit scores, and credit cards, and they answer the following questions:
How do I strike a balance between paying off my student loan debt and building my dreams? (25:17)
How can I attend college with no money? (32:57)
How do I justify buying things of value when I’m in debt? (41:48)
How do I pay off my significant student loan debt with my modest income? (46:47)
Detailed show notes: theminimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: theminimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan discuss anxiety, worry, and stress, and how they personally deal with these negative emotions, and they answer the following questions:
How do I reduce my priorities to reduce my anxiety? (20:02)
How do I minimize my worry and indecisiveness to minimize my anxiety? (33:55)
Will simply letting go of stuff help me shed my anxiety? (57:10)
How do I rid myself of the physical feelings of anxiety? (1:02:12)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan discuss the best ways to explain minimalism to your parents and other relatives, and they answer the following questions:
How do I address my parents’ toxic, wholly unsupportive relationship with me, and how do I forgive them for it? (3:41)
How do I help my loved ones better understand my lifestyle choices so they simply accept me? (36:29)
What do I do when my parents ask me to clear their clutter for them, but they won’t let go of anything? (56:36)
How do I help my aging parents understand that many of the possessions they want to pass along to loved ones have little intrinsic or extrinsic value? (1:00:42)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support
Joshua & Ryan discuss tips for buying things intentionally, and they answer the following questions:
How do I stop myself from compulsively consuming? (19:50)
When you must consume, what brands do you trust? (39:56)
How do I manage my professional responsibilities and obligations to make more time for my personal pursuits? (40:18)
Should I spend more money on better products, or should I save money purchasing less inexpensive products that might be less durable? (1:08:03)
What criteria do you ensure a product meets before you purchase it? (1:16:41)
Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast
Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support