The Minimalists Podcast

“Sincere prophets of anti-consumerism” (The New Yorker) Joshua Fields Millburn, T.K. Coleman, and Ryan Nicodemus, known collectively as The Minimalists, “show their followers how to streamline their lives to find more happiness” (Good Morning America). With more than 140 million downloads, The Minimalists is one of the most popular podcasts in the world. Recorded at Earthing Studios.

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Episodes

462 | Toxic Superfoods

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Sally K. Norton, author of Toxic Superfoods, about the supposed health foods that are making us sick and inflamed. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What is a “toxic superfood” and how are these foods making us sick?
What are some symptoms that point toward oxalate overload?
How can we apply minimalism to our diets?
What processed foods and preservatives do we want to eliminate from our diets?
What other foods are toxic or problematic?
When are blood tests a waste of time and money?
Will an Animal-Based Diet help with chronic pain and brain fog?
When is a vegan diet helpful and when is it harmful?
How has Earthing helped Lisa?
What role does our food play in skin conditions like acne, dandruff, flaky skin, rashes, psoriasis, and eczema?
What is the gut microbiome’s role in our overall health?
What causes my cravings for sweet foods, and how do I get rid of those cravings?
What role does our food intake play in arthritis, inflammation, depression, and anxiety?
Why does gluten make many people feel awful?
What does chronic inflammation do to the brain?
What are the pros and cons of dairy consumption?
Does Sally recommend supplements like vitamins B, C, and magnesium?
How does a person’s diet affect their libido and sex drive?
In summary, is there an ideal diet for most human beings?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

The human diet is a simple diet.
Our bodies and brains are not standing in separate corners of the room.
Food cravings are often a byproduct of a nutritional deficiency.

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461 | Preserving the Past

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about what it means to preserve the past in a meaningful and dignified way. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Article: “All the tips and hacks that make decluttering much less overwhelming”
How do you preserve the memories of lost loved ones?
How can you simplify everything to get to the end of clutter?
Listener tip: How to preserve only the best childhood memories.
How can minimalism benefit people with neurotypical disorders like ADHD, OCD, and dyslexia?
How can I be kind to someone who doesn’t like me?
How do you achieve a heightened state of awareness and clarity in every aspect of life?
How do you reconnect with your partner after your kids leave home?
Do you know that Martin Luther King Jr. had a speech about sucky ads?
What are 14 simple tips that will make decluttering much less overwhelming?
What’s the saddest song JFM has ever heard?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Letting go is hard, but clinging is harder.
Clinging to things is not the most dignified way to honor the deceased.
It is possible to let go of things without letting go of the memories.
You can throw away a possession without throwing away the person.
Once you realize the memories are not inside the things, you are free to let go.
Everyone is disordered in their own way.
Awareness is found right here, right now; not over there, another time.
Noticing is the precipice of awareness.
Every reconnection requires a disconnection, but not every disconnection requires a reconnection.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “In the Middle”
Article: “All the tips and hacks that make decluttering much less overwhelming”
Article: “What Does It Mean to Be Neurotypical?”
Book: Essential
Book: Everything That Remains
Course: Simplify Everything
Documentary: LaToya Ruby Frazier Takes on Levi’s
Essay: “Live Like Stan”
Resource: 30 Minimalism Game
Resource: Clutter Counseling
Resource: Minimalist Rulebook
Song: “Stray Age”

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460 | Overthinking

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists are joined by Amanda Montell, author of The Age of Magical Overthinking, to discuss information overload, thought clutter, and much more. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What habits will help me avoid being overwhelmed by information clutter?
How does overplanning prevent us from executing our plans?
When does research get in the way of creativity?
Does too much imagination suppress our intuition?
In our current age of unlimited information, how has overthinking affected you?
When is The Minimalists’ next live event?
Listener tip: How one listener deals with book clutter.
How does overthinking create unrealistic expectations that make us miserable?
What are some examples of the Halo Effect?
When does minimalism turn into a selfish pursuit?
What is the bigger purpose of simplifying?
Who is exploited the most by the different flavors of consumerism?
What can you tell us about overconfidence bias?
Where do we find confirmation bias in our everyday lives?
What is the problem with manifestation?
Is “conspiracy theorist” the most effective thought-terminating cliche?
More About Less: A Toxic Relationship Is a Cult of One

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Overthinking is the wellspring of suffering.
Consumerism is the ideology that more will make you better.
Overthinking dulls the wisdom found in action: if your thoughts stop your feet, you’re not really thinking.
An excess of information creates a shortage of insight.
Overthinking is carbon monoxide for the soul.
Freedom is not found in a well-decorated prison cell.
To worry is to pray for something bad to happen.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Article: “Shine Theory: Why Powerful Women Make the Greatest Friends”
Book: The Age of Magical Overthinking
Book: Cultish
Book: Metaphors We Live By
Book: Mistakes Were Made (but Not by Me)
Book: Uncle Ramsey’s Little Book of Demons
Event: Sunday Symposium
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Podcast: Clinging to Books
Podcast: The Cult of Consumerism
Podcast: Dating Clutter
Podcast: Magical Overthinkers
Podcast: Sounds Like a Cult
Resource: Clutter Counseling
Website: Shawn Mihalik

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459 | Simplework

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about making a workplace less cluttered and more enjoyable through the concept of “simplework.” Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I use minimalism to simplify my home office?
How do I get my coworkers to be less messy?
What is the productivity fallacy?
Why do the pressures of my job make it less enjoyable?
Could delegation help me enjoy my job more?
How simple would the world be if everyone followed The Minimalists?
What would make your work life simpler and more enjoyable?
Listener tip: Scrolling is the new smoking!
What does a minimalist business plan look like?
What can I do to find balance if my job is burning me out?
What’s the best way to convince my poor friends that minimalism isn’t only for rich people?
How can you tell whether you’re decluttering or just organizing?
How does discomfort shape your growth?
Which scammy advertisement frustrated JFM this week?
What is the “Diorama of Love”?

Listen to the Minimal Episode

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things so we can make room for life’s most important things—which aren’t things at all.
Less clutter equals more clarity.
Joy is a birthday gift from the present moment.
Keep simplifying, keep simplifying, keep simplifying…
Good businesses make money; great businesses make a difference.
Anxiety is your body pleading for change.
To convince someone is to unlove them.
A rich life has little to do with money.
“Just in case” are the three most dangerous words in the English language.

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458 | Dating Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with clinical psychologist Orion Taraban about minimizing dating clutter to form more meaningful intimate relationships. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Any advice for dating again after the end of a long relationship?
How do I avoid carrying past baggage into future relationships?
Why does Dr. Taraban encourage his clients not to date?
Does hookup culture make it harder to meet people who want a genuine connection?
Do dating apps make it harder to commit to a relationship?
How do I decide whether it’s time to move on from a difficult relationship?
Are great relationships effortless, or do they take work to maintain?
How can you tell whether a date will be worthwhile or a waste of time?
Listener tip: How to minimize while unpacking after a trip.
How do I generate the courage to be my authentic self without oversharing on the first date?
How does the fear of being alone hurt my chances of finding a meaningful relationship?
How do I know whether I’m best suited for monogamy or an open relationship?
How can couples avoid relationship insecurity while using social media?
How do I know whether I’m compatible with a new partner?
Who are captains and who are passengers in a relationship?
What are the most common relationship red flags and green lights?
How does one play the Game of Please/No?
What does the so-called Red Pill community get right/wrong?
How does one avoid being put in the Friend Zone?
Do opposites really attract?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Your resources will be squandered if you don’t understand your values.
You don’t need to predict the future to prepare for the future.
Clutter is anything that gets in the way.
Love is not transactional, but relationships are.
Keeping it real is not the same thing as oversharing.
Alone in an empty room, you are complete.
If you show up feeling incomplete, another person will never complete you.
Needing a relationship is the best way to ruin a relationship.
You care what other people think only because there’s an underlying dissatisfaction in your own life.

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457 | The Science of Happiness

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Harvard professor Arthur Brooks, author of Build the Life You Want, about the art and science of happiness. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do I deal with the intense dissatisfaction I feel when I struggle to let go?
What role does worry play in our unhappiness?
What are the three main ingredients in happiness?
How do our reactions shape our happiness?
How does the weather affect our happiness?
What’s preventing you from being happy right now?
Listener tip: Would I repurchase this thing?
Is my anxiety caused by having too much or not enough?
Is my obsession with being right making me unhappy?
Why is it harder to be intentional in America’s culture of overconsumption?
When does learning too much turn into information clutter?
What is the Pinocchio Protocol?

Listen to the Minimal Episode

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Letting go is not something you do—it happens when you stop clinging.
Your life is too big to hold on to everything.
To worry is to pray for something bad to happen.
Other people can’t make you sad unless you hand them the keys to your heart.
Your happiness will melt away if it depends on the weather.
Measure less, live more.
Analyzing joy chases it away.
Every disappointment is a byproduct of an expectation.
Anxiety is not the problem—it is a warning sign.
You can either be righteous or you can be happy.
Consumption turns into overconsumption once you’ve consumed enough.
If you have the answer to everything, you’ll be wrong most of the time.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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456 | Underconsumption Core

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists discuss the new “Underconsumption Core” trend that set the Internet ablaze. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Why do I feel compelled to buy new clothes even though I already have enough?
What’s the last thing you didn’t buy?
Listener tip: What to do with old awards, trophies, and sentimental items.
Is it best to have a minimalist wedding, or is it okay to have a maximalist ceremony?
Why do I feel annoyed when my friends purchase clothes that are similar to mine?
Can poor people afford to embrace minimalism?
Why do advertisements ruin my viewing experience?
How can I tell my mom that I don’t want her junk?
What is “Underconsumption Core”?
What was JFM and AB’s recent unexpected delightful experience?

Listen to the Minimal Episode

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Trendy” is corporate jargon for “soon to go out of style.”
Every addiction is attached to a story about not having enough.
Skip the sale; keep the peace.
Knowledge is a byproduct of consumption; wisdom is the result of letting go.
What you don’t need costs too much.
Leave it on the shelf today if you don’t want to declutter it tomorrow.
The best way to clutter your future is to live unintentionally today.
Your personality is paper-thin if it is tied to a brand name.
Letting go of expectations is the shortcut to letting go of things.
Advertisements exist because people are unwilling to pay for the creations they consume.
Minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things so we can make room for life’s most important things, which aren’t things at all.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Stop Making Sense
Article: Tired of Influencers, TikTok Users Try ‘Underconsumption Core’ to Cut Costs
Band: Parlor Hawk
Book: Essential
Book: Everything That Remains
Event: San Diego
Event: Sunday Symposium
Follow: Beulah
Join: Friday Afternoon Minimalist Zoom
Podcast: Beauty is Essential
Podcast: Building a Non-Anxious Life
Podcast: Everything’s Spiritual
Podcast: Maximalism
Podcast: Minimalist Weddings
Podcast: Money Clutter
Podcast: Rental Culture
Podcast: Savage Lovecast
Resource: Minimalist Rulebook
Watch: Fragments

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455 | Legacy of Stuff

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about leaving behind a legacy without leaving behind material possessions. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What are The Minimalists’ thoughts on leaving behind a legacy?
If you were to die today, what would you leave behind?
When is The Minimalists’ next live event?
Listener tip: Seasonal decluttering of digital photos.
How do I determine whether or not I want to have kids?
What’s the best way to identify and understand my values?
How can I connect with my partner’s family if they don’t accept me?
Will working from home clutter the space in which I rest?
How can we enjoy letting go of anger?
Can you love others if you don’t love yourself?
Were things ever good if they’re not good now?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

On a long enough timeline, everything is dust.
I don’t want to be remembered when I die as much as I want to be real while I’m alive.
To worry about your legacy is to obsess over how the past will look in the future, both of which destroy the beauty of the present moment.
Virtue: purity of intention not required.
Satisfaction exists at the intersection of your short-term actions and your long-term values.
Acceptance is the most addictive drug.
Owning Stephen King’s pen will not help you write like Stephen King.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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454 | Reaction Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about the clutter that appears every time we are unnecessarily reactive or defensive in our interactions with others. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I be less defensive when interacting with others?
Of all the things that push your buttons, what’s one thing you have a hard time not reacting to?
From whom did The Minimalists receive a grant?
Listener tip: Buy nothing for a month!
Is it possible to let go of the past decisions that I wish I would have made?
Why do I have trouble enjoying the present moment?
How do I help my mother declutter her need for family approval?
What did you enjoy most about the end of the Everything Tour?
How is Malabama celebrating her 30th birthday?
Why does this celebrity hold on to his anger?
Why does JFM own so many timers?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Curiosity is the best defense.
Awareness provides the space to act without overreacting.
The true test of self-control is tolerance for those who lack it.
Other people upset you only if you hand them the power.
Hoarders cling to everything that doesn’t exist.
Thoughts are not facts.
Emotional prisons are built with bricks of approval.
You can’t change the people around you, but you can change the people around you.

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453 | Infidelity

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Carl Lentz about the deep breach of trust that accompanies cheating in a romantic relationship. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How did Carl Lentz’s life come crashing down at the height of his fame?
How did “lifestyle clutter” contribute to Lentz’s infidelity?
What unexpected areas of Lentz’s life were affected by his extramarital affair?
What steps are required to make amends after you’ve hurt someone you love?
How do I avoid blaming others for the mistakes I’ve made?
What role did apologizing and forgiveness play in Lentz’s healing?
What self-defeating stories lead to adultery?
What are the commonalities between most cases of unfaithfulness?
What’s your definition of infidelity?
Listener tip: Just say no to free things!
What’s the difference between emotional cheating and physical cheating?
What did you remove—and what did you keep—as you simplified your life?
What did you learn from your time away from social media?
Is there a difference between a one-time slip-up and a long-term affair?
Did Lentz think his wife was going to move on without him?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Infidelity is when you take a break from an agreement without agreeing to break the agreement.
Bad decisions are different from mistakes. Selecting the wrong answer on a test is a mistake; not studying for that test is a bad decision.
Clinging to a relationship is the first step toward infidelity.
Emotional cheating and physical cheating are two sides of the same coin.
Moving on requires letting go.
A minimalist owns nothing that gets in the way.
Even the best excuse is still an excuse.

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452 | Rest

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about the need for rest in a restless world. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do I get my kids to adhere to a more reasonable bedtime so I can go to bed earlier?
What’s one thing that’s stopping you from getting the rest you need?
Listener tip: Realize what you want by getting rid of what you don’t need.
When it comes to buying products that improve my health, how much is enough?
How will I know when I’m done simplifying?
How do I declutter my restless email inbox?
What do The Minimalists’ home screens on their phones look like?
Amass It or Trash It: How do I get rid of my grandma’s bulky bedroom set?
More About Less: Unbusy, some thoughts about doing less.

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

If you’re devoted to the destination, the path appears naturally.
Rest isn’t the goal; it’s the playing field.
Going to bed early is the same as sleeping in.
The music is shaped by the rest between the notes.
Doing less is the only thing worth doing.
Simplicity is a tool, not a destination.
Attention is earned, not granted.
Less content, more contentment.

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451 | Other People’s Possessions

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about counting material possessions, decluttering other people’s possessions, and more. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What’s the best way to count my material possessions?
What’s one thing you’d like to declutter from someone else’s life?
Right Here, Right Now: Who is The Minimalists’ newest team member?
Listener tip: What’s the best way to declutter the contacts on your phone?
How can I determine whether my opinions are useful or clutter?
How would you go about explaining minimalism from scratch to kids?
Why do I get so happy when my friends cancel plans?
Talkaboutable: How has social media ruined our concept of “fame”?
Have you heard of this new trend of men “raw dogging“ flights?
Obsolete Object: Getting rid of everything that causes pain?
More About Less: What is the “Out-in-the-Open” Rule for decluttering?

Listen to the Minimal Episode

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Fewer is greater than zero.
Clutter is the child of an unsure mind.
Why do you look at the clutter in your brother’s home and pay no attention to the clutter in your own home?
Every opinion is an argument with yourself.
A single drop of self-righteousness is enough to poison the present moment.
Anxiety clutters our ability to care about the important things.
A mental prison is built with bricks of “should.”
Relationships are earned, not granted.
A demonstration is the best explanation.
Every relationship comes prepackaged with challenges, frustrations, and expectations.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Article: I Tried the “Out-in-the-Open Rule” and Decluttered My Clothes in Under an Hour
Book: The 100 Thing Challenge
Book: Minimalism
Essay: Everything I Own: My 288 Things
Essay: Unbusy
Film: In Time
Film: Less is Now
Film: Requiem for a Dream
Podcast: Enoughism
Podcast: The Presence of Absence
Resource: 30 Day Minimalism Game
Tour: The Everything Tour
Watch: Fragments
Watch: NYU Masterclass with Pharrell Williams
Website: Colin Wright

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450 | Can’t Let Go

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about what to do when you can’t let go. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What can I do if my family won’t allow me to let go of certain sentimental things?
What’s one thing that other people won’t allow you to let go of?
Listener tip: A response to Gratitude Clutter.
How do I help my parents get rid of trinkets that are decades old?
Am I betraying my deceased family members if I let go of their ashes?
Why is it so difficult for me to let go of my children’s old artwork?
How do I encourage my significant other to declutter now that we’re living together?
Talkaboutable: Celebrating T.K. Coleman’s 100th episode as cohost!
Amass It or Trash It: Should I get rid of my 2,000 DVDs that I love but don’t watch?
More About Less: Why is the “path of less” always the path less traveled?
Added Value: Which TV show will make you question the false stories you tell yourself?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Letting go of acceptance is the most difficult part of letting go.
Your attachment to a character doesn’t require me to play the role.
You can’t be free if you can’t let go.
Forcing someone to let go robs them of their dignity.
Letting go does not betray the past—it honors it.
It’s not wrong to hold on if you’re not ready to let go.
Where there is pure joy there is no fear.
Decluttering is compelling once the benefits outweigh the possessions.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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449 | Searching for Chaos

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about why people avoid peace and go searching for chaos instead. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do I handle the chaos in my life that is caused by other people?
In what ways do you make your own life more chaotic?
When is the next 30-Day Minimalism Game?
Listener tip: How do you throw a decluttering dinner party?
Should I end my chaotic marriage or try to save it?
How can I save my mother from my chaotic and narcissistic father?
Why has my girlfriend changed after our pregnancy scare?
Why does my over-planning lead to chaos instead of peace?
Obsolete Objects: What is the latest “genius” decluttering hack?
Talkaboutable: Is T.K. Coleman’s keychain filled with chaos?
More About Less: What is the antidote to chaos?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

If you want to save a fish from drowning, do nothing.
Every unchecked commitment eventually becomes an obligation; every unchecked obligation eventually becomes a burden.
To let go is to love.
A bigger shovel will not dig you out of the hole you’ve created.
When you resist, your power ceases to exist.
A crash is inevitable when money is in the driver’s seat.
A relationship has already failed if it needs to be saved.
Love is not conditional, but relationships are.
Forgiveness is the path out of the suffering that’s caused by clinging.
The stories we invent are more disruptive than the actual events.
Planning creates calm; over-planning produces chaos.
Peace cannot be planned; it can only be uncovered.
“Enough” is the key to order and the antidote to chaos.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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448 | Minimal Aging

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists sit down with Colin Wright, author of How to Turn 39: Thoughts About Aging for People of All Ages, to talk about youth, aging, redefining accomplishments, and more. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What does it mean for young people to embrace the natural aging process?
Would your 15-year-old self be impressed by you today?
What does JFM want for his 43rd birthday?
Listener tip: How can you downsize 100 items in one hour?
How do I identify and let go of toxic relationships as I grow older?
What can I do if I want to live elsewhere but my family keeps me tied to my city?
How can I form meaningful relationships if I am an extreme introvert and other people exhaust me?
What can I do, as a 22-year-old, if I feel like I’m “behind” compared to my peers?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

You care what other people think only because you have an underlying dissatisfaction in your own life.
My current idea of the good life is my childhood idea of the bad life.
The present moment is brighter when it is not dimmed by the past.
The best way to love a toxic person is from a distance.
Some people enjoy the Christmas Party, but I’m not one of them.
Needing a relationship is the easiest way to ruin a relationship.
The more you awaken, the less you desire to fit in.
I’d rather be alone than miserable.

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447 | Trade-Offs

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists discuss minimalist trade-offs, non-objects, pleasures that can’t be purchased, and more. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do you decide between two things when you have the money for only one?
What is your favorite pleasure that money can’t buy?
Listener tip: The Imagination Library.
Does it call more attention to your clothes if you’re a minimalist who refuses to wear logos?
How can I turn my smartphone into a simple distraction-free device?
How do you decide whether you should get rid of a sentimental item or keep it?
Do you keep track of a “to be read” list for books?
What should I do if my partner thinks my newfound minimalism is just a phase?
How do JFM and T.K. remember so many quotes, passages, and lyrics?
Obsolete Object: Sarah’s food dehydrator.

Listen to the Minimal Episode

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

A thirsty person is more susceptible to contaminated water.
Money saves time, but it can’t buy the courage to be present.
Buying a Rolex will not buy you more time.
Money buys presents, not presence.
There’s no refund for misspent time.
The absence of tattoos is the new tattoo.
Logos are not bad, but corporations are not a proxy for self-expression.
Every distraction is a straightjacket that obstructs your freedom.
There are no sentimental items, only sentimental people.
If it gets in the way, it’s clutter.
“Have to” can strangle the joy out of “get to.”
Benefits are more persuasive than doctrine.

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446 | Spiritual Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists discuss the clutter that is often caused by spirituality, religion, and different ideologies. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Should I declutter some of my accessories that might be cluttering my spiritual practice?
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the term “spirituality”?
What are the 10 free minimalist resources from The Minimalists?
Listener tip: an app a day!
How do I let go of the pain from the past and still hold on to the lessons I learned from that pain?
Should I leave my corporate job if it no longer aligns with my values?
How can I have a relationship with my parents if I’m repulsed by their religion?
What can we do when our religious beliefs conflict with our values?
More About Less: The 5 most popular daily quotes from Waking Up.

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

If an accessory does not markedly enhance an activity, it is clutter.
Consumerism is the ideology that buying more things will make you better.
Spirituality is who we are, not what we do.
Every ideology comes prepackaged with clutter.
Nonsense is always nonsensical, even if it looks good on a bumper sticker.
Pain is helpful until we cling to it.
The location of the pain is not the root of the pain.
Our values are not expressed by the words we write down, but by the way we spend our lives.
Loving someone involves allowing them to suffer.
Often the best way to love someone is from a distance.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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445 | Gratitude Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists sit down with the founder of Patreon, Jack Conte, to discuss the death of the follower, earning a living from creative work, why the joy of creating is often ruined by the demands of revenue, and more. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Is it possible to be too grateful?
What’s one thing that was once a burden that you are now grateful for?
What new position are The Minimalists now hiring for?
Listener tip: insights from a massive decluttering session.
What should I do if I’m a natural planner, but my over-planning makes me anxious?
How do I balance preparing for future needs while staying present?
When is the cost of clinging more expensive than the cost of letting go?
Should I let go of my storage container before opening it so I don’t risk holding on to its sentimental contents?
Is this love song actually about fear?
Obsolete object: letting go in the blink of an eye.
What’s the difference between a problem and a situation?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

The pursuit of happiness is not the solution—it is the problem.
Minimalism is not the destination; it’s how you get there.
Forced gratitude limits one’s ability to appreciate the present moment.
Good things become bad things when they get in the way.
Every blessing is a reframed burden.
Gratitude is found in the palm of your hand once you loosen your grip.
Pain is a byproduct of clinging.
A cluttered home creates a cluttered mind, and a cluttered mind clutters the heart.
The future clutters the present moment whenever it blocks being.
The cost of letting go is less expensive than the cost of clinging.
Our memories are not in our things; our memories are inside us.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Good Thing Going On”
Article: Inverting the Vex
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: Stumbling on Happiness
Hiring: Studio & Events Intern
Podcast: Minimize Fat
Podcast: The Presence of Absence
Podcast: Useless Things
Film: Less is Now
Tour: The Everything Tour
Song: “Beautiful Things”
Watch: The Science of Happiness: What Your Mother Didn’t Tell You
Watch: The Selling Deadline
Website: Colin Wright

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444 | The Algorithm

Discussed in This Episode

What’s the minimalist-approved way to ethically promote my creative work?
If you could earn a living doing anything in the world, what would it be?
What new two new segments are coming to The Minimalists Private Podcast?
Listener insight: a poem about decluttering.
What is the future of Patreon?
How is social media negatively affecting artists and their audiences?
How do I make the shift from an “ordinary job” to a more fulfilling “creative job”?
What new improvements have Patreon been working on?
What is Jack Conte’s favorite Pomplamoose song?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Good businesses make money; great businesses make a difference.
Income is not the only important outcome.
I dream of a world where there is no distinction between pay and play.
The joy of creating is often extinguished by the demands of income.
Don’t follow your passion—cultivate it.

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443 | The Presence of Absence

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists discuss space hoarding, reification, the key to freedom, generosity, and more. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Is my landlord a space hoarder if they won’t let me use their empty garage for storage?
What’s one thing you’re unwilling to share?
What are Thursday Konversations with T.K. Coleman?
Listener insight: Using OCD as a superpower.
How do I let go of a family member who is making my life unbearably difficult?
Where do I start if I hate my life and, even though I’m married, I feel alone?
Does the title of your podcast fully reflect what it’s about?
Should I minimize my sick pet if I’m unable to take care of them?
Is there anything you could buy at a mall that you’ll care about 10 years from now?
Does this laundry advertisement suck?
Will The Minimalists’ 30-Day Rule make your life easier?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Simplicity is not the absence of stuff; it is the presence of absence.
Never share the things that compromise your capacity to share.
The key to freedom is a willingness to walk away.
If you are dissatisfied with the effect, let go of the cause.
Every hellscape contains an emergency exit.
Do unto others without asking them to do unto you.
Generosity is the great despair extinguisher.
To love someone is to see them for who they are without trying to change them.
Love is not an emotion, nor is it an action—it is a state of being.
Organizing is well-planned hoarding.
Sadness is the ego’s favorite food.
Do not confuse the label for the product.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Ending Credits”
Article: Spring Cleaning: The Minimalist 30 Day Rule That’s Making My Life Easier
Book: Emotional Clutter
Book: How to Turn 39
Book: The Four Agreements
Book: Why We Sleep
Film: Less is Now
Podcast: George Kamel
Podcast: The Dr. John Delony Show
Podcast: Restraint
Podcast: Savage Lovecast
Resource: The 30-Day Minimalism Game
Song: “So Sick of Love Songs”
Tour: The Everything Tour
Website: Shawn Mihalik

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442 | Rental Culture

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Lisa Ann about the benefits of renting clothes, homes, cars, books, tools, and more. They also talk about when it’s best to own a thing instead of renting it. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What should I do with my wardrobe if my style preferences constantly change?
What’s one thing you’d rather rent than own? And what’s one thing you’d rather own than rent?
How does letting go of things help people let go of resentment?
How did Lisa Ann rent her dog?
What are The Minimalists’ favorite brands of T-shirts?
Is it considered cheating if my husband watches pornography? Should I leave him if he keeps watching?
What am I doing wrong if I keep being ghosted?
Would I experience more peace if I sold my house and just rented a home going forward?
What’s JFM’s funniest Lisa Ann story?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Trendy” is an adjective that means “soon to go out of style.”
Ownership is an illusion. Everything is a rental.
Ownership is a burden whenever it gets in the way of a blessing.
A brand name is not a substitute for confidence or personal style.
Complimentary differences ignite relationship passion; irreconcilable differences extinguish that passion.
The present does not need to be constructed with bricks from the past.
If someone dislikes you, it says something about them; if everyone dislikes you, it says something about you.
Taboos exist only if you allow other people to hand them to you.

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441 | Simplify Simplify Simplify

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about life after simplifying, decluttering slowly over time, processing loss after letting go, and more. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Should I get rid of everything while simplifying?
What’s the most difficult thing you’ve ever let go of?
When is the next Zoom call with The Minimalists?
Listener tip about quitting social media.
How do I improve my self-esteem as an introvert?
Can I enjoy shopping and still be a minimalist?
Is it possible to let go of the guilt I feel after getting rid of my child’s possessions?
How can I take steps toward a more meaningful career?
If an event requires me to purchase clothes I can’t afford, should I avoid the event?
What is the “Scribble Monster” that causes identity clutter?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

When simplifying doesn’t work, simplify, simplify, simplify.
Letting go is not difficult—processing loss is.
The hardest boxes to unpack are the ones other people put you in.
The peace of letting go eclipses the pain of clinging.
Simplifying divides your inputs and multiplies your focus.
Every identity is a false identity.
Joy is never acquired—it is uncovered.
Guilt is a story about differing expectations.
Success is a mental illness.

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440 | Memory Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists discuss letting go of memories, creating an uncluttered home, three new series from The Minimalists, and more. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do I let go of memories?
How can I curate a beautiful, uncluttered home?
What are the three new series coming soon from The Minimalists?
What’s the best way to create a functional wardrobe with items that last?
What are some effective ways to let go of possessions if I don’t want to throw them away?
How do I replace some of the things I’ve let go of with more minimalist options?
What’s the best way to stop reorganizing my clutter and simply get rid of it?
How do we cultivate feelings of acceptance and impermanence?
Is it possible to let go of my impulse to constantly please other people?
What is JFM’s all-time favorite sucky advertisement?
Can I apply the Seasonality Rule to non-things?
What is Rolfing and is it painful?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Our memories are not in our things; our memories are inside us.
Memories become clutter when they get in the way of the present moment.
Moderation is the enemy of procrastination.
If you want to start tomorrow, do it all. If you want to start today, start small.
Don’t let your crastination turn pro.
“Someday” does not exist—it is merely a trick the mind plays to avoid the present moment.
Minimalism is not a radical lifestyle—it is a practical lifestyle.
Letting go makes room for more silence, more space, more calm.
The easiest way to organize your stuff is to get rid of most of it.
To love is to see the world as it is without attempting to change it.
Letting go of people-pleasing involves letting go of the need to be liked.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Rolfing Therapy
Article: A Font For Chattanooga. But Not For You.
Article: I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered
Blog: How to Let Go of Possessions
Book: Emotional Clutter
Book: Everything That Remains
Film: Less is Now
Film: Minimalism
Podcast: Invisible Clutter
Resource: The Minimalism Game Calendar
Speaking: The Minimalists
Tour: The Everything Tour
Website: Minima Online

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439 | Restraint

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about the benefits of restraint, the struggles of consumerism for new minimalists, the difficulties of letting go of social media, and more. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do I declutter my online-shopping addiction?
What factors contributed to The Minimalists leaving social media?
Why was I still clinging to my living daughter’s suicide note?
Is it possible to let go of my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder if it’s causing great suffering in my life?
What should I do if my business conflicts with my minimalist principles?
What’s the best way to express my opinion when it conflicts with the opinions of my friends and family?
What do our patrons think about letting go of their own social media?
What is Malabama’s new analog experiment?
Does the new iPhone 15 advertisement suck, or is it a good ad?
Is this the best possible use of my resources?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

The borders of simplicity are shaped by restraint.
Distance can create a stronger connection than proximity.
Social media is an option, not an overlord.
Letting go is the cost of freedom.
Our identities form the bars to our prison cell.
Consumerism is fueled by insecurities manufactured by corporations.
There is not an opinion on the entire earth that must be expressed.
If a thing ceases to add value, let it go.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “When We Die (Can We Still Get High?)”
Blog: 5 Questions to Ask Before Buying
Blog: The Best Possible Use
Book: Everything That Remains
Resource: Wallpapers
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Tour: The Everything Tour

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438 | Streamlined

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists discuss the art of streamlining one’s life, letting go of difficult things, how the need for approval keeps people tethered to a lifestyle they don’t want, and more. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I get my husband to let go of just-in-case items?
Does my need for approval influence my consumption decisions?
What are “Thursday Konversations with T.K. Coleman”?
Listener insight: “Sometimes I disagree with The Minimalists, but I still appreciate your perspective.”
Is it possible to let go of my obsession with food waste?
Do you have any advice for my failed relationship?
Can I apply minimalist principles to my terminal illness?
How do I let go of the need to fix other people’s problems?
Do I have a problem if I’m obsessed with my wardrobe?
How can I wean myself off of my clothing addiction?
What is Malabama’s upcoming analog experiment?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

A streamlined life is a life that is improved through subtraction rather than addition.
Streamlining requires letting go of difficult things.
Every negative thought is a fantasy about a reality that does not exist.
Self-awareness is the ability to distinguish personal desires from societal echoes.
The only thing that keeps you tethered to a lifestyle you don’t want is your need for approval from others.
It’s difficult to understand the importance of oxygen until you’re deprived of it.
Unsolicited advice is the ego’s most dangerous weapon.
Not every relationship that ends is a “failed” relationship; not every long-term relationship is a “successful” relationship.
We try to fix other people’s problems because we’re afraid to clean up our own mess.
To fix someone is to rob them of the dignity of fixing themselves.

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437 | Graduation Day

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about the three different kinds of letting go (graduation, divorce, death), several ways to detach from a former spouse, and how to move on when you feel like you can’t let go. Plus, we celebrate two employees who are graduating from The Minimalists. Watch the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I detach from my former spouse while actively coparenting and sharing familial responsibilities?
How do I move on if I can’t let go of a thing, career, or relationship that used to add value to my life?
What graduations are The Minimalists celebrating?
How much financial support is okay to give my child post college to keep them safe?
How do you know where to start and stop when rebuilding after losing everything?
What does it mean to be “average”?
What have Danny Unknwn and Professor Shawn enjoyed the most about working with The Minimalists?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Every relationship ends by way of graduation, divorce, or death.
Our identities are shaped by that which we cling to.
It’s easier to move on if you let go of the need to move on.
If you can’t let go, you can’t move on.
Letting go begins when you loosen your grip.
Graduation is a celebration of moving on—from a pleasant or unpleasant experience.
If you cling for long enough, it will eventually result in divorce or death.
If you are willing to let go of anything, you are free from its influence.
Sometimes you have to remove something from your life to see whether or not it adds value.
There are no shoulds; there are only infinite coulds.
Every loss is a kind of death; every loss is a chance at rebirth.
Everyone wants to know where to start, but people rarely ask where to stop.

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436 | Simplifying for Newbies

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about the process of simplifying for newbies and staying motivated when decluttering gets difficult. Watch all 2 hours of episode 436 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I maintain traction as a new minimalist?
How can I keep going on my decluttering journey when I get overwhelmed?
How can I let go of my long-held conceptions of my life and relationships?
What is “cultural clutter”?
What kinds of gifts do The Minimalists give for birthdays and holidays?
What insights has Griffin House gained from his 20-year music career?
What does Griffin House think of social media?
Should I minimize my music gear?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Simplification is a process, not a destination.
Starting small is the opposite of not starting at all.
Simplicity is a matter of rhythm, not results.
Do things that don’t require you to be done.
Whenever you reach the horizon, a new horizon appears.
It is not love if you are not willing to walk away.
Cultural clutter appears when one’s culture gets in the way of one’s peace.
An obligatory gift is more of an obligation than it is a gift.

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435 | Do Fewer Things

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with Cal Newport about the three principles of slow productivity and letting go of social media. Watch all 2 hours of episode 435 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What are the three principles of slow productivity?
Should The Minimalists quit social media?
How can my company determine our foundational values?
How can I minimize idea clutter?
When does the need to control become unhealthy?
Seriously, should The Minimalists quit social media?
Should Cal Newport quit running ads on his podcast?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Because problem solving is foundational to the human experience, we often search for problems that don’t exist.
We become what we value.
Our values are shaped by how we spend our time.
Information becomes clutter as soon as it creates thoughts that trample meaningful experiences.
Simplicity is beautiful; beauty is essential.
Organizing is the mind’s way of quieting the chaos.
The best way to organize your stuff is to get rid of most of it.
The Disease of More is fed by seemingly noble aspirations.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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434 | Breaking Cycles

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Dr. Nicole LePera about breaking cycles and healing relationships. Watch all 2 hours of episode 434 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I let go of the idea of what I thought a relationship should be?
How can I cease self-loathing?
How can I help improve my parents’ relationship?
How can I navigate conflict in my relationships?
Why do I treat my girlfriend the way I saw my dad treat my mom?
Why don’t I feel like enough?
How is anger self-protection?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Unpleasant emotions are an indicator of the incongruity between reality and your wishes.
Peace arises when your wishes map on to reality.
Tears are a byproduct of letting go after an extended period of clinging.
When we notice the imperfections in others, we are merely seeing a mirror that reflects our own flaws.
The residue of the past discolors the present moment.
You can’t show someone heaven if they enjoy their self-constructed hell.
Conflict is the manifestation of the ego and its insecurities.
Similarities increase comfort in a relationship; differences add variety.
Unresolved trauma will continue to echo throughout the rest of your life.
“Worthiness” isn’t the finish line—it’s the starting point.
You were born complete, you will die complete, and the only thing that will incomplete you in between are the stories you adopt about your inadequacies.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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433 | Shoes

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about what to do when success feels like failure, how to let go of shoes, and taking breaks from technology. Watch all 2 hours of episode 433 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can we stop caring what society wants us to do?
How can I declutter the files on my phone and computer?
How can I choose between two fantastic job opportunities?
What are some ways to fundraise without buying and selling things?
Why can’t I let go of shoes I never wear?
What’s the balance between listening to experts and doing our own research?
How can we take breaks from technology when everything is digital these days?
How many coffee mugs are too many?
Why is a paid-off car the best car?
Is minimalism racist?
What is “junk journaling?”
Why did this Patron downsize her home?
What does Seth Godin mean by “jump in the lake”?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

When success feels like failure, you’re playing the wrong game.
Success is a multiplayer game; satisfaction is a single-player game.
If you do everything you’re “supposed” to do and you’re still unhappy, question the prescriptions, not the unhappiness.
If your decluttering principles get in your way, then declutter those principles.
The uncomfortable path is the most fulfilling path.
A thing becomes clutter the moment it ceases to add value.
Meditation is a technology.
Fire will either warm you or burn you depending on how deliberately you use it.

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432 | Throw Everything Away

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about throwing everything away after an infestation and the hypocrisy of minimalism. Watch all 2 hours of episode 432 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Should I throw away everything after my bed bug infestation?
Should I go back to school to get my master’s degree?
Is digital piracy ever okay?
What are The Minimalists thoughts on euthanasia?
How is it minimalist to encourage people to download seven different wallpapers?
How does rest affect us?
How can I learn to let go of clutter when I grew up poor?
How do I know whether I should let go of a relationship?
What should you do if you’re struggling in a relationship?
Why do people love throw pillows so much?
What do we think of bug-out bags?
Why does this Patron have a “drop-off zone”?
Is the past real?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Letting go is the cost we pay for peace of mind.
Debt is a tether that restricts a person’s freedom.
Forcing someone to hold on to something is a great way to increase their misery.
As soon as you call yourself a minimalist, everything you do is blanketed by irony.
Minimalism isn’t scarcity; it’s abundance healthfully expressed.
The music is beautiful only if there is space between the notes.
Clutter is an opportunity for generosity.
Rich people and poor people alike have trouble letting go of things because they both struggle with letting go of the story associated with their stuff.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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431 | Minimizing Narcissism

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Dr. Ramani Durvasula about recognizing narcissists; whether the term “narcissist” is overused; the roles of self-righteousness, complaining, and comparison in narcissism; and how to walk away. Watch all 2 hours of episode 431 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do you know someone is a narcissist, and is the term overused?
How can I tell a narcissist that they’re the problem?
How can I accept that a narcissistic co-parent has turned my child against me?
Do narcissistic parents become narcissistic grandparents?
What is the narcissism of small differences?
When does self-care become narcissistic?
How can I stop a pattern of being attracted to narcissists?
How do you let go of your feelings if your emotions are tied to your ego?
How can you mentally let go of an item you’re keeping just for when?
How has minimalism helped this Patron manage her bipolar disorder?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Walking away can be the greatest act of kindness.
Acceptance materializes as we let go of the need to control the uncontrollables.
While the past can be a mirror of the future, the past does not have to equal the future.
Self-care turns into self-harm when one is self-absorbed in self-pity and suffering.
Forced change trips over itself at the starting line.
If your feelings are tied to your ego, untie them.
Letting go starts where the clinging ends.
A clean slate is a terrible thing to clutter.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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430 | No Junk Rule

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about our minimalist kitchen essentials, the No Junk Rule, and letting go of embarrassment. Watch all 2 hours of episode 430 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What are The Minimalist’s kitchen essentials?
How can I prevent my toddler from turning into a hoarder?
Why do I keep failing to build a journaling habit?
How can we get better at asking for help?
Why did I spend more money when I tried minimalism?
How can I connect with others when I feel like they’re judging me?
Would we still record a podcast if the world was ending?
Why doesn’t Joshua wear deodorant?
How does one become an accidental hoarder?
What are five small ways to declutter your life?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

One person’s essentials are another person’s junk.
Hoarding is childish; letting go is a sign of maturity.
A habit becomes a habit only if the benefits are clear and compelling.
Ideas become clutter when they are uncoupled from the desire to take action.
Embarrassment is a sign that something is wrong with either your actions or the story you’ve been told about those actions.
Minimalism is a mindset, not a product.
Life-living is more rewarding than life-style.
Letting go isn’t only free—it’s freedom.

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429 | Filling Empty Rooms

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about the human desire to fill empty rooms, how they spend their downtime, the value of a quiet life, and why people desire fancy things. Watch all 2 hours of episode 429 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do minimalists spend their downtime?
How can a creative person also be a minimalist?
Why do people criticize me for decluttering?
How can I come back from chapter 13 bankruptcy?
Why do I struggle with wanting nice things as a minimalists?
How do we let go of bad memories?
Was it a mistake for my friend to get his six-year-old a Playstation 5?
How can we let go of the emotions tied to things?
Can owning things deprive us of the joy of sharing them?
Have we been wrong about just-in-case items?
Are 80% of your thoughts negative?
What do we like about this Patron’s tiny home?
Why did this poem make us tear up?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Not every empty room needs to be filled.
Doing hinders being.
Peace arises the moment you realize there is nothing that must be done in this moment.
Stillness pasteurizes the chaos of the mind.
“What can I let go of?” is a more powerful question than “what can I do?”
Minimalism isn’t scarcity; it’s abundance healthfully expressed.
Judgment is a mirror that reflects the insecurities of the judge.
Shame is a tether that restricts our freedom.
Your desires are not your desires if they were handed to you by someone else.
The suffering of the past points toward the obstacles to avoid in the future.
If you want to be miserable, turn their mistakes into your problems.
Our feelings are teachers to be engaged, not demons to be exorcized.
Letting go is not something you do—it’s something you stop doing.
Every negative emotion points toward your biggest fear—that you are not enough—which is the greatest lie ever told.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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428 | Invisible Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Ryan Blaser, founder of TestMyHome.com, about the best tests to uncover in-home toxins, including mold, EMFs, WiFi, Bluetooth, blue light, chemicals in water, and other invisible clutter in our homes. Watch all 3 hours of episode 428 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What are the most surprising sources of indoor toxins?
Are cell phones toxic?
What’s the best way to filter my water?
How can I protect my skin from hidden toxins?
What are VOCs and off-gassing?
Are claims about indoor toxins backed by science?
What hidden toxins did Ryan Blaser find in Joshua’s home?
How does Dr. Jack Kruse keep his home free of blue light?
What benefits has Joshua received from grounding?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Every pleasure has a poisonous dose.
If it is harmful, it is not essential.
Hidden clutter is the most dangerous clutter.
Skepticism can be useful, but cynicism is a solution that always makes the problem worse.

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427 | Declutter Your Emotions

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about emotional clutter, the dangers of being a “helper,” and whether hoarding is a form of procrastination. Watch all 2 hours of episode 427 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Did I accidentally steal a bicycle?
How I can replace items I no longer like the aesthetic of?
How can I move on from a pleasant memory and leave it in the past?
How can a college student declutter her stationery collection?
Is hoarding just another form of procrastination?
How can I teach my boyfriend to minimize?
Where are The Minimalists touring in 2024?
How can you maintain control of your space while moving an elderly parent or in-law into your home?
How can we live an uncomplicated life?
What are some things that have added value to Joshua’s life recently?
Why is silence the rarest gift?
What do we think about Amazon Prime Video showing ads?
Why do we love this Patron’s spacious living room?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Other people’s problems become your problem only if you pick them up.
There is no bigger ego than that of the Helper.
Emotional clutter sits beneath the physical clutter.
You are complete, even in an empty room.
If an object does not enhance your life, it is clutter.
To cling is to batter the present moment with the past.
Possessions will never complete you, but they can incomplete you.
Procrastination is a byproduct of emotional clutter.
Minimalism isn’t scarcity; it’s abundance healthfully expressed.
You can’t teach someone if you’re not willing to become their student.
Your boundaries form the contours of your peace.
Every benefit has a cost, but not every cost has a benefit.
True freedom stands beyond the need to convince others.

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426 | Breaking Free from Broke

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with author George Kamel about letting go of past financial mistakes, frugality vs. minimalism, and how much money The Minimalists have. Watch all 2 hours of episode 426 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I let go of my past financial mistakes?
What’s the relationship between frugality and minimalism?
When, and how much, is it appropriate to tip?
What are George Kamal’s thoughts on rainy-day funds, 529 education plans, investing in precious metals, and cryptocurrency?
Why are credit scores really debt scores?
Are The Minimalists millionaires?
Why did T.K. write his new book, Emotional Clutter?
How can I let go of my LEGO collection?
Why shouldn’t you sacrifice your well-being for money?
Why is eating out a luxury, not a necessity?
Is this ad a freakin’ parody?
How did patron Manny discover a cure for overstimulation?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Letting go of the past is a prerequisite for living in the present.
Regret is a signpost that informs you about the paths to avoid.
Frugality is a benefit until it is a burden.
An obligatory reward punishes the person who deserves a premium.
A college degree tastes better when it’s debt-free.
A credit score is not a credit score—it is a debt score.
It’s easy to let go when you never latch on.
Minimalists allow money to be a passenger in the car, but we don’t let it drive.
The doorway to decluttering is adorned with the benefits of living with less.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

App: EveryDollar
Book: 16 Rules for Living with Less
Book: Breaking Free From Broke
Book: Emotional Clutter
Book: What’s the Big Deal About Bitcoin?
Tour: The Everything Tour
Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter

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425 | Behind What We Buy

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Marcus Collins, author of For the Culture, about the pernicious forces of corporate marketing. Watch all 2 hours of episode 425 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I reconcile being a minimalist with my corporate marketing job?
How is social media influencing teens?
What makes a thing worthy of our time and attention?
What is advertising’s role in cancel culture?
Have we become superficial because everyone is trying to sell us something?
What do The Minimalists think about “buy nothing” challenges?
What are Seth Godin’s 8 Marketing Maxims?
How do marketers make unhealthy food sound healthy?
What do we like about this patron’s new apartment?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

If your job does not align with your values, you can change your values, change your job, or be miserable.
Parents who understand their children’s desires have a better chance to influence their behavior.
“Trendy” is a clever marketing term that actually means “nonessential.”
Consumerism is the portal to low self-esteem.
Cancel culture is driven by corporate censorship, not ethics.
Once you realize you are already complete, consumerism loses its power.
We’ve conquered boredom, but at the expense of connection.
The price of progress is expensive.

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424 | One Day or Day One

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about how to start decluttering and letting go of stories about things. Watch all 2 hours of episode 424 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What’s the best method to start decluttering?
How do you get rid of things that are brand new?
How can I find happiness in my job and make it last?
Are things beautiful if you love them?
Where can I start when I’m overwhelmed?
How can I minimize my guilt?
How can I live my life without constantly feeling disappointed by the world around me?
How can I stop feeling defeated by my clutter?
What have Ryan’s first six months in Montana been like?
Is the only way out of the rat race through the gift shop?
Which celebrities are embracing minimalism?
What do we like about this Patron’s multifunctional living room?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

One day or day one. You decide.
Organizing is the problem, not the solution.
Letting go of a thing involves letting go of our false stories about the thing.
If it makes you uncomfortable, it’s worth doing; if it makes you miserable, it’s worth letting go.
The world is the way you see it.
You don’t have to change the WORLD to CHANGE the world.
Letting go is the antidote to hopelessness.
The fear of letting go is the fuel for clinging.
Positive emotions create attachments; attachments create negative emotions.
Grace is measured by one’s ability to surrender to their imperfect past.

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423 | Letting Go of Seasonal Decorations

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about decluttering seasonal decorations, opting out of the consumer culture of Los Angeles, and whether hoarding is a choice. Watch all 2 hours of episode 423 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Should I declutter my seasonal decorations?
Is it difficult to be a minimalist in Los Angeles?
Do I have too many houseplants for a minimalist?
How can I make my digital spaces more minimalist?
How can I reclaim my need for control?
Can we teach moderation without deprivation?
Is hoarding a choice?
How are Joshua and T.K. so good at having conversations with differing opinions?
Why are we so good at talking ourselves out of being happy?
What do we think of IRL podcasts?
Why do we like this Patron’s minimalist Christmas tree?
Why isn’t the Internet fun anymore?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Seasonality is nature’s way of letting go.
You transform what you steep yourself in.
“Too much” and “too few” exist only in the eye of the beholder.
Clutter is clutter only if it gets in the way.
Letting go of control is the best way to regain total control.
Withdrawal often feels like deprivation.
Beware of the man who has the answers.
No one can help you without your assistance.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Mat Kearney, “Christmas Miracle”
Article: Why The Internet Isn’t Fun Anymore
Book: Everything That Remains
Course: Simplify Everything
Podcast: Digital Clutter
Podcast: Hidden Clutter
Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter

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422 | The Comfort Crisis

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Michael Easter, author of The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain, about embracing boredom and starting from scratch after losing everything. Watch all 2 hours of episode 422 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we start from scratch after losing everything?
How can I stop going into debt?
How can I change my mindset regarding my ADHD?
Why can’t humans embrace boredom?
How can I get comfortable with conflict?
How can I be a good leader?
How can we achieve work-life balance with a constantly changing schedule?
What are we really afraid of?
What do we like about this Patron’s home office?
What are nine questions to ask if you’re feeling unfulfilled?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

When you let go of everything, everything remains.
The best way to get out of debt is to stay out of debt.
Discomfort is often a byproduct of other people’s expectations.
Boredom is a prize, not a punishment.
The lie of comfort is that it’s the solution when it’s actually the problem.
To hold someone accountable against their will is to imprison them.
Structure isn’t a rule—it’s a rhythm.
“Work-life balance” presumes that one’s work is separate from one’s life.
Work-life balance is worthless when you’re balancing the wrong things.

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421 | Eco-Friendly Products

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Dr. Zach Bush and Alex Woodard about environmentally friendly products, issues caused by food companies, and more. Watch all 2 hours of episode 421 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I find affordable environmentally friendly products?
What’s the real cost of holiday traditions?
Why is everyone afraid of the sun?
How can we opt out of the madness of manufactured foods?
What do you do about clutter caused by a hobby or passion?
Are we addicted to water?
How can we develop an alternative to retail therapy that isn’t just another form of consumption?
How can I maintain my home while in a season of healing?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

The most environmentally friendly product is the product that’s left on the shelf.
“It’s what we’ve always done” is a terrible reason to hold on.
The land of Too Much is inhospitable.
The solution is the problem.
If minimalism gets in the way of your artistry, declutter the minimalism, not the creativity.
You can’t consume your way out of misery, but you can create your way into joy.
The opposite of retail therapy is fearless generosity.
Consumption is not the problem; consumerism is the problem.

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420 | Possession Reduction

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Leo Babauta from Zen Habits about bringing meaning to our everyday lives and getting back on track with minimalism. Watch all 2 hours of episode 420 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I bring meaning to my everyday life?
How do I get back on track after falling off the minimalism wagon?
Should I hold on to baby items for when I have another child?
Does it make sense to use multipurpose items?
How can we use minimalism to embrace new beginnings?
What should I get my five kids for Christmas?
Are smartphones a minimalist tool or a maximalist device?
Is being a minimalist just another form of identity clutter?
Who knew that frozen water was so controversial?
Why do we love this Patron’s weekend home?
Does land ownership make sense?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things so we can make room for life’s most important things, which aren’t things at all.
Reducing possessions is the starting point, not the finish line.
“Just in case” are the three most dangerous words in the English language.
Most crises are the byproduct of excess.
The “holiday shopping season” is merely the “holiday season” cluttered with shopping.
Minimalism is the antidote to excess, not the enemy of access.
Is a hammer a tool or a weapon? Depends on how you use it.
The smartphone is a minimal tool that leads to maximal distraction.

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419 | Unhappy Billionaires

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Rey Flemings, “concierge to the 1%,” about the problem with luxury goods, finding happiness in what we already have, and why people care too much about the size of their homes. Watch all 2 hours of episode 419 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do I find happiness in what I already have?
Why do we obsess over the square footage of our homes?
How can my partner and I resist the pressure to spend extravagantly on our wedding?
Who are luxury brands actually targeting?
Is showing off luxury goods a form of people-pleasing?
Can luxury goods and high fashion be a form of artistic expression?
Why is it appropriate for the Kardashians to talk about minimalism?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Better things won’t make you a better person.
It is possible to appreciate a thing without owning it.
Square footage is not a measurement of well-being.
Opulence inversely correlates with satisfaction.
Disappointment is a mirror that doesn’t reflect reality.
A simple life is the richest life.
People-pleasing is not the path to abiding acceptance.
Great art does not explain itself—it expresses truth.
You can buy art with money, but you have to purchase creativity with your soul.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Article: The Man Who Knows What the World’s Richest People Want
Book: The Once and Future King
Documentary: Minimalism
Instagram: @reyflemings
Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter
Website: Myria.us
Website: SundaySymposium.com

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418 | Mind Shift

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Erwin Raphael McManus about the upsides and downsides of changing your mind, finding the motivation to pursue your dreams, and more. Watch all 2 hours of episode 418 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Why is it difficult for us to change our minds?
How can I rekindle the motivation to pursue my dreams?
How can I get over my fear of failure?
How does minimalism apply to the immigrant experience?
Why do we spend so much time trying to be accepted by others?
Why do The Minimalists occasionally talk about religion on our podcast?
How can I enjoy downtime without needing to be productive?
How does this experiment demonstrate why The Minimalists don’t run ads on our podcast?
What are The Minimalists thoughts on the Light Phone?
How do you know whether you’re using your phone too much?
How does this Patron keep their home clean, even with a 10-month-old?
What does David Foster Wallace have to say about consumerism?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

A willingness to change one’s mind in the face of new evidence reflects one’s ability to let go.
If you have a dream in which people are simply tools to be used to accomplish your outcome, that’s not a dream—it’s a nightmare.
Our failures compose the best parts of who we are.
How miserable are you willing to be to impress the people around you?
While it feels good to be accepted, it feels freeing to accept that you won’t be accepted by everyone.
As soon as you renounce something you are forever tethered to it.
Regret is not only the result of failing; it is also the byproduct of succeeding in ways that don’t matter to you.
There are no refunds on misspent time.
It is only when we do nothing that we can be everything.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Book: Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Mind Shift
Book: Oblivion
Book: Who Do You Want Your Customers to Become?
Podcast: Mind Shift
Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter

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417 | Useless Things

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about what makes a possession useless and why it’s not your responsibility to manage the material expectations of others. Watch all 2 hours of episode 417 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What can I do with my old school lesson plans?
How can I manage my father’s expectations without causing conflict?
Should I sell my home so that I don’t have to worry about the mortgage as I approach retirement?
How can I fulfill my spouse’s expectations around household chores?
Why do people pay to keep things in storage lockers?
What do The Minimalists’ think about Feng Shui?
Why don’t the mathematics of consumerism add up?
Should I amass or trash my old yearbooks?
Why is Taylor Swift pathetic?
Why does this Patron’s home look like it’s been staged for sale?
What is mobility, and why is it important for longevity?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

When evaluating excess material possessions, “useless” is the honest way to say “just in case.”
It is not your responsibility to manage their expectations.
A free future is a simplified future.
You can set down every expectation you’ve picked up.
Every storage locker is filled with stories about the difficulties of letting go.
If you want a recipe for misery, worry about what other people do with their stuff.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: 1DollarScan.com
Added Value: Drake, “Virginia Beach”
Added Value: Andy Davis, “Good Life”
Article: The Top 10 Items You Should Be Putting in Self-Storage
Book: Breaking Free from Broke
Book: Built to Move
Book: Everything That Remains
Essay: Photo-Scanning Party
Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter
Website: Minimalist.org
Website: TheReadyState.com
Website: SundaySymposium.com

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416 | Frustrating Downsides of Minimizing

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about the frustrating effects of decluttering, and then we interview Adrienne Jezick from Morozko Forge about the benefits of ice baths. Watch all 2 hours of episode 416 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How does minimalism affect one’s daily routine?
How do you avoid letting the behavior of those you live with influence you?
What items did Ryan unpack first after his packing party?
How do I tell my mom I don’t want her knick knacks after she passes away?
How do we address the emotional loneliness that comes after indulging in retail therapy?
How do we deal with the chaos of too much stuff when we’re our home’s primary caretaker?
What can Morozko Forge founder Adrienne Jezick tell us about the benefits of cold exposure?
What items should I purchase from Amazon?
What was the studio team’s experience like playing the 30-Day Minimalism Game?
What did Josh get Danny Unknwn for his wedding present?
Who was saying “advertisements suck” before it was cool?
What does Danny’s living room look like?
What is Josh’s favorite article about autumn?
How does giving away items create peace?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Growth happens in the discomfort zone.
Boundaries are for you, not for them: you can’t build a fence on someone’s property.
It is not the security blanket that keeps the child secure.
No is a complete sentence.
Consumption is not the problem; consumerism is the problem.
True joy enables us to appreciate mundane moments as much as exciting moments.
A thing can’t betray you: it was never your friend in the first place.
Progress in the wrong direction is worse than doing nothing.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Zach Bryan, “Tourniquet”
Book: 16 Rules for Living with Less
Book: The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Commercials
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: Love People, Use Things
Essay: It’s Decorative Gourd Season, Motherf*ckers
Essay: Play the 30-Day Minimalism Game
Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter
Watch: Less Is Now
Website: Minimalist.org
Website: MorozkoForge.com

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415 | Freebies

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about saying no to free stuff. Watch all 3 hours of episode 415 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I say no to all the freebies my employer keeps trying to give me?
How can I overcome my all-or-nothing mentality?
What do I do if I feel deep despair about my life situation?
When is it appropriate to hold on to clothes?
How can parents decide how much of their children’s stuff to hold on to?
How do we teach the next generation contentment, worth, and moderation?
What can I do to stay out of the stuff rat race?
How can I stop holding on to just-in-case items?
What do we do when we have two “hell yeses” at the same time?
Is Halloween quietly the most consumerist holiday of all?
Are you using your phone, or is your phone using you?
Are you filling your time with your value or with meaningful pursuits?
What’s the connection between tire pressure and productivity?
Why do we love the view from this Patron’s bedroom window?
Why did a cowardly podcaster decide to “deplatform” us?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Consumerism loses its leverage the moment you realize you already have everything you need.
Freebies are never free: you pay for free stuff with your energy, time, and attention.
Doing everything all the time leaves no room for doing nothing.
To be or to do? That is the question.
Suffering fogs the mirror of reality.
Hold on if it confers more benefits than letting go.
Your possessions do not create who you are, but they can get in the way of your essence.
You cannot teach a bird how to be content; its default state is contentment.
The best way to escape the rat race is to cease being a rat.
The person who wins the rat race, slowly mutates into a rabies-infected rodent during the competition.

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414 | Emotional Baggage

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Dr. Bradley Nelson about identifying and letting go of emotional baggage. Watch all 2 hours of episode 414 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I let go of the idealized mother figure I conceptualized to cope with my childhood trauma?
How does The Body Code apply to physical pain?
How can I feel valuable when chronic pain keeps me from completing day-to-day tasks?
How can we hold on and keep going when we feel like letting go and giving up?
How can I let others help me take care of things?
How can we let go of the things that evoke painful emotions for us?
How do I escape the pattern of thinking about others who have hurt me?
How can I eliminate the emotional clutter that stops me from minimizing?
Why does our culture seem to discourage stillness as a valid state of being?
What kind of ad does Joshua think is maybe not so bad after all?
How can I avoid impulse purchases?
Why does Joshua homeschool his daughter?
What do we like about this Patron’s simple dining room?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

We cannot love if we are not willing to let go.
Your problems don’t make you worthless; your problems point toward that which is worthwhile.
Organizing is the problem, not the solution: hiding clutter in boxes and bins only makes the problem worse.
Doing less better is better than doing more.
The moth is intrigued by the light of the flame, not the pain of the fire.
Decluttering things while clinging to emotions gives birth to emotional clutter.
You needn’t be flawless to be finished.
External clutter is our mirror for emotional clutter.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Brian Eno, “Afraid of Things”
Added Value: The Paris Review
Book: The Body Code
Book: The Emotion Code
Podcast: Necessary Endings
Website: DiscoverHealing.com
Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter

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413 | Harm Caused by Decluttering

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about the balance between holding on and letting go. Watch all 2 hours of episode 413 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I let go of possessions my daughter doesn’t want me to let go of?
Can digital music become clutter?
Should I pay off my car loan or invest that money instead?
How can I prepare RV living with three small children?
What do The Minimalists think about the mobs that recently stormed high-end luxury stores in California?
Why does Joshua still use Ziploc Bags?
Why do The Minimalists use social media?
Is each successive generation getting better at decluttering?
How can we let go of the belief that we need to be perfect to do something?
How can I let people know that we prefer to be gifted experiences rather than stuff for our daughter’s birthday?
How was Ryan’s experience at Burning Man?
Are podcasters who run ads scamming their audience?
Is decluttering making us ashamed of our homes?
What do we love about this Patron’s home in Bangalow, Australia?

Listen

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Holding on too long leads to clinging, but letting go too soon leads to falling.
Clutter is contextual: if my treasures get in your way, they are clutter.
Silence is more valuable than noise.
If you have to finance it, you can’t afford it.
It’s easier to enjoy the summer if you aren’t fretting about winter.
A wrong thing done to an adversary is still wrong.
Everything is negotiable if you’re willing to walk away.
Simplicity is an experience, not a prescription.
A liberated mindset is the greatest legacy.
Letting go is contagious.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Andy Grammer, “Expensive”
Added Value: Messiah
Article: Against Decluttering
Book: 16 Rules for Living with Less
Book: Everything That Remains
Essay: Can We Have an Honest Conversation About Advertisements?
Podcast: Hidden Clutter
Podcast: Cluttercore
Watch: How Was Burning Man?
Website: RyanNicodemus.com
Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter

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412 | Building a Non-Anxious Life

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with psychologist Dr. John Delony about finding peace in difficult times. Watch all 2 hours of episode 412 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I learn to be at peace with myself?
How can I get back custody of my children?
How do I let go of heartbreak?
How can we consume intentionally within our values?
How can we vet the people with whom we chose to be vulnerable?
How do I muster enough energy to start letting go?
Should we let go of people who no longer serve us?
Why do The Minimalists post to social media?
What if peace isn’t our natural state?
How do you maintain a minimalist lifestyle when you have a lot to prioritize?
Why does Dr. Delony let his wife call all the shots?
What are the six daily choices we can make to eliminate anxiety?
When grounding, is it normal to feel worse before you feel better?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Peace exists only in the NOW, never in the past or future
The difficult times shape the contours of a meaningful life.
Our preferences shape the stories we tell ourselves; the stories we tell ourselves shape our preferences going forward.
If you agree with someone totally, you lack your own point of view.
Many nice people are not kind people.
Success is not measured by your achievements; it is measured by your freedom.
It is possible to let go of someone and still love them from a distance.
Letting go is loving; clinging is unloving.
You don’t have to demonize to declutter.
Scrolling is the new smoking.
Clinging requires more energy than letting go.

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411 | House Full of Junk

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about getting rid of things even if you think they won’t add value to others. Watch all 2 hours of episode 411 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What can I do with my items that I think won’t add value to others?
How can I opt-out of my workplace’s themed dress-up days?
Do we become lonely if we lose material things?
How can I cultivate a sense of freedom from stuff?
Is it fair to compare doing recreational drugs to wearing green pants?
Would The Minimalists ever consider living off-grid?
Why do The Minimalists put out so much content?
Where can I learn more about minimalist meetup groups?
What can we do about people who make us feel inadequate?
Have you ever seen a $250,000 handbag?
What should I do with my old power cords and cables?
What does it look like when kids insist their parents hang on to their childhood possessions?
Why do we love this Patron’s minimalist dorm room?
Why do humans spend so much time on “stuff”?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

When a house is full of junk, it is no longer a home—it is a landfill with four walls.
Hold your preferences loosely, because every preference comes prepacked with a cost.
If you don’t like it, you don’t have to do it.
There are better ways to signal your worth than soon-to-be-worthless material possessions.
Anyone who says you can’t compare apples and oranges doesn’t understand comparisons (or fruit).
Where you live isn’t as important as why you live there.
It is possible to value a thing without depending on it.
Everything you own can fit in three piles: essential, nonessential, and junk.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Halftribe, “Are We There Yet”
Article: Like Henry David Thoreau, but with Wi-Fi
Play: 30-Day Minimalism Game
Resource: Values Worksheet
Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter
Website: Minimalist.org

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410 | Declutter Slowly

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about clutter as an anxiety crutch and letting go of coupons. Watch all 2 hours of episode 410 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Can clutter be an anxiety crutch?
How can I let go of all the coupons I’m clinging to?
How can I plan a minimalist wedding?
How can I prepare my foster child for the trauma he might face when he leaves my home?
Have you ever regretted letting go?
Do we need to make mistakes to become the best version of ourselves?
Do lower-income folks tend to spend more frivolously than higher-income folks on luxury goods?
How can I keep my space minimal but still warm and inviting?
How do I know whether a community is still worth exploring before I need to graduate to a new town?
How do The Minimalists feel about their debate with Destiny in episode 409?
Why do we insist on passing down family heirlooms?
What is the root of unhappiness?
What should this listener do with her excess writing utensils?
How did one listener create room for living in her living room?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Clutter is debris in the road, not the destination.
If it feels like a no, let it go!
Consumption is not the problem—consumerism is.
I’ve never regretted letting go, but if I did, I’d let go of the regret.
Even your best self will make mistakes.
Rich people are not immune to the poverty mindset.
The wastefulness of the rich is a luxury the poor cannot afford.

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409 | A Controversial Episode

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with YouTuber Destiny about a host of controversial topics, including extreme hoarding, opinions, objective morality, taxation, God, dating, and whether we should discuss controversial topics in the first place. Watch all 2 hours of episode 409 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can we set boundaries with the hoarders in our lives?
What’s the point of having controversial debates?
Is morality objective or relative?
Is taxation theft?
Does Destiny have any controversial dating advice?
Is it wrong to have a TikTok account?
What do you tell someone whose mind has been influenced by red-pill ideology? And why do people believe in conspiracy theories?
What’s the ideal minimum wage for Americans?
What are the positive and negative effects of playing video games?
Is transgender ideology ripping families apart?
Why are we as a society still debating when life begins and ends?
Why does congress ban books but not guns?
Why is medicine so outrageously expensive?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Sometimes the best way to love someone is from a distance.
It is possible to love someone without liking everything about them.
An ounce of conflict poisons an ocean of peace.
The brutal truth is often offensive, but a kind lie is more offensive.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter
Watch: Destiny
Website: Destiny.gg

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408 | Minimize Fat

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Dr. Sean O’Mara about the connection between minimalism and weight loss. Watch all 2 hours of episode 408 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What is the connection between minimalism and weight loss? And how does clinging affect the body?
How can I minimize the excess fat around my face and belly?
How can I lose my last bit of fat? And how unhealthy would it be to not lose it?
How can we apply minimalism to our daily eating habits, especially with regard to social situations?
What are the similarities between unhealthy eating and unwise spending?
Have we found the perfect visual metaphor for what we put in our bodies?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

To simplify is to let go of the habits, rituals, commitments, people, and things that no longer serve you.
In a sick society, the average person is sick.
The simple answer is rarely the easy answer.
What you don’t do is more important than what you do.
It is easier to let go than it is to hold on.
Impulse is a precursor of regret.

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407 | The Scarcity Problem

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about cultivating an abundance mindset and letting go of the residue of the past. Watch all 2 hours of episode 407 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do I let go of my scarcity mindset so I can enjoy the fruits of my years of hard work and saving?
What should I do with my parents’ ashes?
How can I vet charitable organizations before making a donation?
How do you account for pieces of items when playing the 30-Day Minimalism Game?
What’s the best way to dispose of old chargers and cables?
Is it possible for positivity to be toxic?
If luxury goods are a scam, what’s the point of making money?
Where does the mean voice in my head come from?
How can I find community without using social media?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

An abundance mindset is a cure for the disease of scarcity.
The residue of the past has a way of staining the present moment.
People often fret about being too stingy, but they rarely regret being more generous.
One plus one does not always equal two: one drop of water plus one more drop still equals one.
If it doesn’t serve a purpose, you can give yourself permission to let it go.
Everything has a toxic dose—materialism, minimalism, and even positivity.
Ryan: Expecting happiness from luxury goods is like anticipating a swimming pool from a basement flood.
Business requires a product and a purchaser. A scam is when someone tricks you into being both.
Money is not the finish line; it is the vehicle that can get us to our desired destination.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Barista Parlor
Added Value: Ankle-Mobility Routine
Added Value: If I Was the Devil
Article: Here’s What to do With Your Old Chargers and Cables
Article: Women Share Travel Safety Tips
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: Pain Free
Course: How to Write Better
Play: 30-Day Minimalism Game
Podcast: Food Clutter
Podcast: Giving
Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter
Website: Charity: Water
Website: Earthing.com
Website: GiveWell.org
Website: Hire the Minimalists to Speak
Website: Meetup.com
Website: Minimalist.org

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406 | Travel Light

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with author and traveler Light Watkins about traveling with less and letting go of distractions while traveling. Watch all 2 hours of episode 406 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I let go of my assumptions, prejudices, and expectations while traveling?
How can I pack lightly with two young children?
How can I balance packing for comfort and practicality when traveling?
How do people enjoy traveling alone?
What’s the best way to pack for unpredictable weather?
Why does Joshua travel with a grounding mat?
Should I give my kids the choice about what they do with their stuff?
How do you manage anxiety that you have despite knowing worrying isn’t necessary?
Why does the thought of decluttering make me feel afraid of being alone?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Clutter is anything that distracts us from living fully.
The things you think you need clutter the life you want.
Excess possessions weigh us down, not just physically, but mentally and spiritually.
Aloneness and loneliness don’t have to hold hands in the same room.
“Just in case” are the three most dangerous words you can utter when packing for a vacation.
A good checklist tells you what to avoid as much as it instructs you on what to include.
What is essential for one person in one context might be junk for another person in a different context.
Other people’s possessions are only your responsibility if you accept them as your responsibility.
You can’t teach someone how to let go unless you’re willing to let them learn what it really means to hang on.
Letting go is not something you do—it is something you stop doing.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Earthing.com
Added Value: Post Malone, “Laugh It Off”
Added Value: Sleep Mask
Article: Yankees to Add Corporate Sponsorship Patch to Game-Day Uniforms
Book: Travel Light
Course: How to Write Better
Podcast: The Light Watkins Show
Podcast: Patterson in Pursuit
Podcast: Sam Harris
Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter

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405 | Buy Nothing

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about the buy nothing movement and the dangers of binary thinking. Watch all 2 hours of episode 405 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What are The Minimalists’ thoughts on the “buy nothing” movement?
How can I let go of the items my husband left behind after his death?
Should I have a second child?
Will I regret getting rid of my music gear, which I haven’t touched in years?
Why don’t people listen to their intuition much anymore?
How can we control where the stuff we let go of goes?
How can I curate my curiosity?
Why do we feel resistant to making end-of-life plans?
How can I help my adult daughter become independent?
What details can Joshua share about his daily cold plunge?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Warning: binary thinking leads to inharmonious outcomes.
If everything is important, nothing is important.
Clutter is contagious.
Happiness is always here and now, never there and then.
Chaos is the starting line at the simplicity marathon.
Intuition is a powerful compass, but compasses often break.
Appreciation loses its magic whenever it is controlled.
You can’t make a plan without facing the pain.
Humiliation is the death of one’s own self image.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Clear Light Sauna
Added Value: Earthing.com
Added Value: Ice Barrel
Added Value: Morozko Cold Plunge
Added Value: John Mayer, “Shouldn’t Matter but It Does”
Added Value: True Detective
Book: 16 Rules for Living with Less
Book: The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan
Book: Les Misérables
Book: Love People, Use Things
Course: How to Write Better
Documentary: Minimalism
Essay: Wisdom Begets Stoicism
Essay: Scared to Death of Death
Podcast: Food Clutter
Podcast: Jennette McCurdy
Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter
Website: Buy Nothing Project
Website: Minimalist.org

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404 | Souvenir Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about avoiding souvenirs, resisting impulse, and minimizing tattoos. Watch all 2 hours of episode 404 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I control the fear of missing out when on vacation?
How can I address the fear of the unknown as I contemplate removing my tattoos?
How can I confront the fear of violence that comes with living authentically as a trans person?
What can we do when our jobs require us to have a lot of stuff?
I’m uncomfortable with my partner’s drug use. Would staying with him mean sacrificing my values? Or would leaving mean holding on to too many expectations?
As long as I stick to my budget and am intentional with my spending, is it so wrong to use credit cards?
How can we resist impulse purchases when presented with the attitude that “life is short, so why not just buy it?”
How can I find a new “calling” that allows me to help people?
What are the knock-on effects of letting go?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Clutter is less tempting when you are grounded in your values.
On a long enough timeline, nothing is permanent.
The fear of change exposes our insecurities.
Admittance is expensive whenever clutter is the cost of admission.
A coercive relationship extinguishes the potentiality of love.
Freedom is the byproduct of letting go.
The truth does not require consensus to remain true.
Life is too short to sell yourself short.
Silence is the best explanation.
Today’s impulse purchases are tomorrow’s regrets.

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403 | Selling Unwanted Clothes

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about whether to sell, consign, or donate unwanted clothes, furniture, and art. Watch all 2 hours of episode 403 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What are my options for getting rid of unwanted clothes?
How can my partner and I reconcile our differing views on having children?
Should I get rid of my smartphone?
Was Henry David Thoreau the ideal minimalist?
How can minimalism help us restructure our environment so we can focus on our priority?
How can we be sure our beliefs are our own?
Is the economy forcing people to be more minimal?
Is minimalism “all or nothing,” or are there areas in my life where I can allow space for more?
What is the 30-Day Minimalism Game?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

There are no refunds for misspent time.
Discontent arises when our values are misaligned with our actions.
Our devices become distractions when they aren’t used deliberately.
What if your weakness is actually your superpower?
Unlearning is just as important as learning.
Just as forced commitment is not an indication of devotion, and forced restraint is not a marker of self-discipline, forced simplicity is not a demonstration of minimalism.
When you make minimalism all or nothing, it’s all for nothing.
Living simply involves intention, not deprivation.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: The Idol
Added Value: The Weekend, “The Lure”
Article: The Best Places to Sell Unwanted Clothes, Art, Furniture, and More
Article: H ow to Sell Your Used Clothes Online to Make Money
Essay: Dashing Dog, Searching for Purpose
Essay: How to Understand Your Values
Essay: Reprogramming the Twitch
Play: 30-Day Minimalism Game
Podcast: Savage Love
Subscribe: The Minimalists’ Newsletter
Website: Angel Gown Program
Website: Side Husl

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402 | Social Media Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about social media overwhelm. Watch all 2 hours of episode 402 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do The Minimalists maintain a healthy relationship with social media?
As I furnish my new home, how can I balance self-expression with minimalism and practicality?
How can I let go of my home?
Where can I donate my old military gear?
Does simple living make us more susceptible to crime?
How can I rebuild trust after having my hard broken?
How can I thrive as the sole minimalists in a maximalist family?
How can I avoid the burden of inherited family heirlooms?
How can I get more meaningful connections out of social media?
How can I manage my relationship with social media when I need to engage with it for work?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Like anything useful, social media becomes clutter whenever it is a distraction.
An empty room is filled with opportunity for intentionality.
Your memories reside in you, not inside your things.
A useless item becomes useful in the right hands.
Every life change carries with it the potential for ridicule, but judgment alone is a terrible reason to avoid change.
The cost of love is vulnerability, but the cost of not loving is a hollow existence.
Your favorite color is not a judgment about the value of other colors.
Arguments about stuff are really arguments about stories.

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401 | Bulk Purchases

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about buying in bulk, avoiding clickbait, and letting go of family heirlooms. Watch all 2 hours of episode 401 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What are The Minimalists’ thoughts on buying items in bulk?
Should we ignore click-bait headlines and hit pieces about Minimalism and other topics we enjoy?
How can we minimize the amount of accreditations we might need for our work?
What’s the best method for paying off credit card debt?
Why do The Minimalists discuss psychology on the podcast so much?
How can I get people to stop giving me unwanted gifts?
Can the simple life also be thrilling and exciting?
How do I tell my mom I don’t want her family heirlooms?
Why isn’t The Minimalists’ second documentary, Less Is Now, on YouTube?
What’s the difference between “just in case” and “just for when”?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Anything can be clutter if it gets in the way.
If you deeply desire to misunderstand someone, you will find a thousand ways to misinterpret them.
The size of the certificate does not correlate with the size of the skillset.
The willingness to walk away from possessions develops the muscle that helps people let go of relationship clutter, calendar clutter, and career clutter.
A gift becomes a curse when it is attached to an obligation.
The simple life is an untangled life.
Facts don’t care about your feelings, but friends do.
A light foot cracks the same number of eggshells.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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400 | Necessary Endings

In this very special public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about Ryan Nicodemus’s new chapter. Watch all 4 hours of episode 400 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How has Joshua and Ryan’s friendship evolved over the last 32 years? And how will it evolve going forward?
What is Ryan most excited about with respect to his new chapter?
What is Ryan going to miss most about the old chapter?
What was the hardest thing Ryan has had to do in the last 13 years?
What is Ryan’s favorite thing The Minimalists have done in the last 13 years?
What material possessions is Ryan letting go of during his move?
What’s one thing Ryan has changed his mind about over the last 13 years?
As The Minimalist’s work takes them in different directions, what upcoming projects is Ryan most excited for?
What are The Minimalists’ thoughts on identity and transitioning through life’s phases?
If Ryan had to start a new podcast today, what would the topic be?
Is there anything on Ryan’s bucket list that he hasn’t done yet?
How did Ryan develop his non-defensive attitude toward criticism?
What’s Ryan’s relationship with stand-up comedy?
What are The Minimalists five favorite minimalism rules?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

You don’t have to believe or not believe; you just have to listen.
Everyone has an expensive past.
If you have no boundaries in your life, you have no love.
Absolute compulsivity results in absolute misery.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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399 | Hobby Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about hobby clutter and the diminishing returns of owning too much. Watch all 2 hours of episode 399 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Should we make checklists of items we need to support our hobbies?
How can I manage anxiety caused by my partner’s paper clutter?
What observations do you have for someone who wants their partner to be happy, even as they transition out of the relationship? And how do you let go of an identity that no longer serves you?
Is an unwillingness to go all-in on something a sign that it isn’t important to you?
How can we apply minimalism to the workplace?
How do I avoid obligations around gift-giving?
How do we redirect negative thoughts that come up when we look at possessions that are holding us back?
How can I get over my fear that my digital files might get lost in the cloud so that I can reduce paper clutter?
How do I let go of the fear that someday I may no longer be able to afford the lifestyle I currently enjoy?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

There are no shoulds, but there are infinite coulds.
If it gets in the way, it’s clutter.
If your home is being invaded, you cease to worry about doing the dishes.
To simplify is to create room for what matters.
A gift turns into a curse when it becomes an obligation.
Negative reactions to negative thoughts produce negative results.
Positive thoughts are the source of—not the antidote to—negative thoughts.

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398 | Decluttering the Gut

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with Dr. Zach Bush about his minimalist approach to gut health. Watch all 3 hours of episode 398 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What steps can I take to optimize my gut microbiome?
What is Joshua’s personal gut-health protocol?
What’s behind the global increase in allergies?
Are there any foods I should avoid or prioritize for optimal hormone balance?
Does conflicting messaging around food create eating disorders?
What big news does Dr. Bush have to share with the podcast?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

When in doubt, avoid the synthetic route.
You become whatever you immerse yourself in.
Subtraction is greater than addition.
The status quo is rotting with disorder.
Our bodies and brains are not standing in separate corners of the room.
You don’t need to be like them to be liked by them.
The immune system is not a battle ground—it’s a relationship.
The antidote is in the wound.

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397 | Renewed Minimalism

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about healing from shopping addiction, being used by family, getting bothered by others, and more. Watch all 2 hours of episode 397 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I heal from shopping addiction and emotional abuse?
What are The Minimalists’ views on the ethics of using sharing-economy services like Uber and AirBnB?
How can I discern between items I’ll need for the future and items I can let go now?
Is listening to podcasts at 2x speed an example of information consumerism?
How can we avoid shame from others while downsizing?
Is Joshua really a minimalist if he lives in a separate annex from his main home?
Can we live minimally and still store items?
Why is hidden clutter the most toxic form of clutter?
What makes a supportive partner?
Now that Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things is available for free on YouTube, will the bonus content still be available for purchase?
How does the death of a parent affect one’s identity?
Was today a good day or a bad day?
What do you do when you have second thoughts about letting an item go?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Love people and use things, because the opposite never works.
Elastic boundaries work better than steel boundaries.
If you look for reasons to be bothered, you will find them—guaranteed.
Access is greater than ownership.
Judgment is a mirror that reflects the desires of the judge.
Minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things so we can make room for life’s most important things.
The easiest way to organize your stuff is to get rid of most of it.
The stuff that is out of sight is not out of mind—it takes up space in the back of your psyche.
Beware the friend who can never say “you’re not okay.”
It’s offensive to get offended on behalf of people who are not offended.
If you think love is risky, just wait until you find out how risky it is to avoid love.

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396 | The False Self

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about identity clutter and what to do when your family won’t try minimalism. Watch all 2 hours of episode 396 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can I decouple my identity from my career?(05:21)
How can I recover from losing a key part of my identity? (21:20)
How can a college student live minimally? (31:25)
How do you declutter emotional resentment? (42:40)
How can one apply minimalism to hobbies that require a lot of equipment? (48:58)
How do you keep multipurpose spaces organized? (53:50)
How can I get my family to try minimalism? (01:01:19)
How can we balance authenticity with “faking it until we make it”? (01:11:50)
Does Joshua feel his identity dissolve when he’s writing? (01:20:07)
How can one live joyfully in a place that doesn’t fit their aesthetic preferences? (01:48:15)
What are The Minimalists’ thoughts on “teamwork culture”? (01:49:58)

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Our identities are shaped by the stories we tell ourselves.
Every identity is false because the ego is the false self.
Everyone wants to be special just like everyone else.
There are infinite paths to your destination.
A simple life is the default human state.
Resentment is a consequence of clinging to the way you wish things were.
Limiting beliefs are the most dangerous form of identity clutter.
The process is only as compelling as its benefits.
Expectations are the bedrock for disappointment.

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395 | The Pain of Clinging

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about leaving a home that’s weighing you down and why no one can make you happy. Watch all 2 hours of episode 395 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do you let go of a home that’s weighing you down?
What are Joshua’s, Ryan’s, and T.K.’s different perspectives on religious traditions and rituals?
How can one apply minimalism when shopping for food?
How do you minimize impulse purchases? Do you just stop?
Does one have tolerate the behavior of an angry boss?
Do we have to avoid everything in order to be “healthy”?
Why do people get so easily offended by differing ideas?
Can we use minimalism to keep our mood from being swayed by other people’s opinions?
Why don’t you consider the plugging of your own private podcast advertising?
How does the Maxim “No one can make you happy” help people who are already lonely?
Why am I anxious despite having everything I need?
What is stress?
What do The Minimalists think of Black Friday in Spring?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

If it’s weighing you down, let it go.
Clinging to identity is the root of societal clutter.
To identify the clutter, first determine the essentials.
An impulse turns into an impulse purchase only if you act on the impulse.
You encourage whatever you tolerate.
Subtraction is the cure to the disease of excess.
Freedom is a consequence of doing what you enjoy and then allowing others to be offended by your liberation.
Happiness is not a currency.
No one can make you content without your consent.
It is not wise to lend your happiness to others and then beg them to give it back to you.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Author: Brant James Pitre
Book: Chronic City
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: John Bergsma
Book: Nonviolent Communication
Essay: Can We Have an Honest Conversation About Advertisements?
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Podcast: Paul Saladino
Podcast: Podcast Shawn
Resources: The Minimalists’s Free Resource Page
Subscribe: The Minimalists Newsletter
Website: Podcast Shawn

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394 | Simplify Everything

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about reducing digital clutter and whether “the cloud” is damaging the planet. Watch all 2 hours of episode 394 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How detrimental to the planet is our use of “cloud” storage?
What do you consider “adding value”?
How do we create environmental awareness without “doom and gloom”?
What are your opinions regarding first-class service options?
What is your definition of “consumerism”?
How do we deal with loved ones who don’t keep our shared spaces as neat and orderly as we’d like?
What does the acronym “TARA” represent?
How can spirituality help with addiction recovery?
Why do we get so attached to things, and how can we stop?
How do we relax and enjoy life without worrying about the next possible crisis?
What do you consider the differences between satisfaction and pleasure?
What is Jed McKenna’s thought experiment?
How do we donate books without guilt?
What can we do with old clothes that aren’t suitable for donation?
Why do we participate in so many pursuits that don’t truly matter to us, and why do we feel compelled to do so?
How do we help loved ones who are resistant to assistance?
What book would each of you recommend that you’ve found most impactful?
How do we deal with the urge to purchase new items based on aesthetics alone?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Digital clutter accumulates whenever technology gets in the way of living.
Running on the hedonic treadmill does not take you as far as a simple walk.
Peace is located at the intersection of obsession and acceptance.
The path to misery is cobbled with addition; the path to peace is uncovered with subtraction.
To let go, you needn’t do anything, except stop clinging.
Good and bad emotions exist only in the cluttered head of the beholder.
To live with less, one must understand the difference between essential details and clutter
There is no honor in clinging to things that no longer add value to your life.
The most sustainable item is the one that is left on the shelf.
Perhaps your clutter is the solution to someone else’s problem.

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393 | Psychological Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with psychologist Dr. John Delony about psychological clutter, the anatomy of hope, and more. Watch all 2 hours of episode 393 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What are your views regarding hope?
What are the two kinds of hope?
What do you consider the differences between wishing and hoping?
How do you define “faith”?
How do we best manage chronic pain and suffering?
What do you think of unsolicited help?
How do you address loved ones who don’t invite you to family gatherings?
What are the two types of desires?
How do we compassionately discuss contentious topics with loved ones when it involves them?
Why are secrets so problematic?
How do we unclutter our minds?
How do we keep our personal and professional lives separated?
Isn’t compromise an integral part of a romantic relationship?
What are the three C’s of compromise?
What is the “test-taking mindset”?
What is “E-Prime”?
What is the “burden of self-righteousness”?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Hope is expectation dressed in a tuxedo.
Psychological clutter exists at the intersection of mental and emotional clutter.
Suffering is the inability to let go of pain.
Every new desire adds another bar to your prison cell.
An uncluttered mind is untethered from the past and the future.
How might your life be more with less?
Good and bad emotions exist only in the cluttered head of the beholder.
Love inspires the desire to support, not to sacrifice.
Compromise doesn’t require condescension.
Love does not require compromise, commitment, or covenant—it requires awareness.

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392 | The Flinch

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with author Julien Smith about perpetual dissatisfaction and the flinch that prevents us from freeing ourselves from the weight of possessions. Watch all 2 hours of episode 392 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we appropriately reuse, repurpose, or recycle items to ensure they don’t simply become a problem for someone else?
What are your perspectives regarding pride?
How do I cultivate a passion for my current job so I’m not constantly searching for a new one?
What are the distinctions between excitement and passion?
What are your views on boredom?
How do we balance our pursuit of a minimalist lifestyle with our existing responsibilities and obligations?
What is “The Forge”?
What value is there in discomfort?
How do we discover and appreciate our true selves?
What are your opinions regarding desires?
How do we appropriately manage fear with our loved ones?
Why does our society seem to have such an intense addiction to fear?
What can I do to address my fear of failure?
What are your thoughts regarding motivation?
How do we deal with our daily fears?
What are the two types of fears?
How do we ensure our focus on personal development doesn’t become an obsession?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Consumerism does not fill the void—it widens it.
Intentional living is sustainable; deprivation is untenable.
The fear of clinging is scarier than the fear of letting go.
Our identities are shaped by the costumes we wear.
People who are addicted to fear are addicted to the certainty it brings them.
Falling and flying are the same thing 99% of the time.
Courage doesn’t exist without fear.
You don’t have to be fearless to fear less.
Every fear is a byproduct of expectations.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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391 | Wanting to Let Go

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about abandoning impulse to get what you want. Watch all 2 hours of episode 391 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do I let go of my pet accouterments?
How do we teach our children personal responsibility?
How do we respectfully set boundaries with others?
What are your opinions regarding journaling?
What do you think of our current coffee culture?
What do you consider the differences between justification and introspection?
What are the benefits of consuming coffee?
How do you convince someone that “antique” is not a synonym for “junk”?
How do you transition from being a night owl to an early bird?
How can we improve our sleep?
How do you distinguish just-in-case items from just-for-when items when it comes to packing go-bags?
Are there negative consequences to dark therapy?
When should I let go of sentimental items from a failed relationship that had a significant impact on me?
How do I determine whether to hold a garage sale or hire an estate-sale company when I have so much stuff of high monetary value?
What are the dangers in delving into memories and fantasies?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

People often give up what they want to get what they want right now.
A thing can neither fulfill nor upset you, but the story you tell yourself about your things can do both.
A person who enjoys the now needn’t cling to memories for happiness.
Self-righteousness is a dangerous disease that moralizes everything from atrocities to benign preferences.
To convince someone is to unlove them.
Changing your habits won’t change your life.
“Just in case” are the three most dangerous words in the English language.
Short-term deprivation is a spotlight for value.
Isolation is not deprivation.
Nothing is more dangerous than a confrontation with your true self.

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390 | Organized Home

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with professional organizer Kristen Ziegler about adding style to one’s home without adding clutter. Watch all 2 hours of episode 390 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we decorate our homes without adding more?
What do you consider “authentic style”?
How do we appropriately enhance empty rooms?
What can we do with cherished items that don’t fit our current design aesthetic?
How do you determine a space’s design potential?
What questions do you ask clients to discover their design needs and wants?
Where is the best place to start on the path to organization?
How do we discover our ‘why’ for organizing?
How do I tactfully display pieces in my home that others might find offensive?
How do we decide how much space is enough?
How do we ascertain the most suitable use for a space?
How do I create a workspace within our home that’s mindful of my family’s space?
What is “legato time”?
Where should we store cooking accouterments aside from the kitchen counters?
Where should I store my art supplies when I have limited space in my studio?
What do you use to filter contaminants from your water?
How do you decide on the best containers for your storage needs?
What can we do to appropriately manage book collections?
What are some of your preferred brands?
What’s next after decluttering?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

When in doubt, subtract.
A messy home is a sign of dysfunction.
Clutter is a weapon we use to harm ourselves.
“Just in case” are the three most dangerous words in the English language.
You needn’t erect a fence to create a boundary.
What would happen if the things you love spontaneously combusted?
Limitations breed creativity.
No one wins with storage bins.
Hidden clutter is the most toxic form of clutter.
Make what is necessary beautiful.
The best option is the one that sets you free.
The best way to organize your stuff is to get rid of it.

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389 | Attached to Clothing

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about feeling overwhelmed by clothing. Watch all 2 hours of episode 389 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we ensure we have only the clothing we actually need?
What are your takes on clothing styles?
How do we address the regret we feel regarding things we’ve let go?
How do we use the Packing Party concept during a new move to maximize our minimization?
How do I reconcile my role as a minimalist with my roles as a creator and consumer of physical goods?
How does hedonic adaptation trap us into trying to “fill the void”?
What are your views regarding perfection?
What are the two kinds of happiness?
How do I let go of military-service items while being respectful of their service?
You recently said, “Healing is the gateway to letting go,” but isn’t it the other way around?
How can minimalism help me create a balance between life and work, especially with regard to working from home?
What are your opinions regarding efficiency?
How do I appropriately appreciate the red dress my boyfriend bought me when I prefer all black clothing?
When will I finally feel I’ve minimized all I can?
How do you deal with unwanted thoughts, like constantly worrying about bills, inflation, and unpredictable living conditions?
How do I combat the loneliness I experience as the sole minimalist in my social circle?
How did you come to wholly appreciate your experiences in the corporate world?
What is “identity clutter”?
What do you think of corporatism?
How can we keep our sex lives exciting?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

If it’s overwhelming, it’s clutter.
Loss is a story, not a reality, and regret is a byproduct of the stories we tell ourselves.
Moving day is an opportunity to start over.
The joy of being human is found in creativity, not consumption.
Consumerism is a smokescreen for discontent.
You are rarely as happy or unhappy as you predicted.
The more you get, the more you want.
To cling is to disrespect.
Letting go is the gateway to healing.
Work/life balance conforms to work/life boundaries.
Balance is not created—it is the natural state.
The house of your life cannot stand on a foundation of compromised values.
If you must be in conflict with others, at least be in harmony with yourself.
Clinging to preferences is a great way to get dragged away from peace.

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388 | Money Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with financial expert Ramit Sethi about wealth, money clutter, and investing with a minimalist mindset. Watch all 3 hours of episode 388 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Why do minimalists invest if they already have what they need?
How do we determine our rich life?
How much money does anyone actually need?
How does confidence contribute to personal finance?
What two things should we focus on regarding money management?
What are “invisible scripts”?
What unbiased resources do you recommend for financial education?
How helpful is automation for personal investing?
What financial scams should we be aware of?
Why is “timing the market” pointless?
What are your perspectives regarding whole life insurance?
What is the difference between the cost of living now and when I Will Teach You to Be Rich was released?
What is a viable alternative to budgets?
What is “TCO”?
How can “cutting back” be counterproductive?
How crucial is generosity when considering our expenditures?
What is the difference between an adult and a child mindset regarding money?
How do we save adequately for retirement in a volatile economy?
What are some false phrases regarding money?
Are “digital advisors” as good as financial advisors for managing investment accounts?
How do we find the ideal tax professional?
What are the differences between a fiduciary and an advisor?
What qualities make a good financial advisor?
What are some common financial myths?
What do you think of commodities?
Why are portfolios preferable to individual stocks?
How does bitcoin stack up in your investments?
If the opposite of love and hate is indifference, but I’m still mad, does that mean I’m still in love?
Do we need whole life insurance as an investment because of our high net worth?
What issues do you have with Instagram ads?
How could bitcoin destroy online advertising?
What is “audience capture”?
How often should I adjust my investment portfolio?
What are the differences between a day trader and an investor?
Is there an unbiased resource on Jesus Christ?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

A plan without a purpose is like a recipe without hunger.
One person’s enough might be too much for their neighbor.
The future is birthed from a series of nows.
Tactics often expire, but principles are timeless.
Everything that is easy today was once a struggle.
The desire for things is the problem, not the things themselves.
Anger is a symptom of broken expectations.
Hatred is merely love in disgust.
You are not in love—love is in you.

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387 | Desirelessness

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about messy living, desirelessness, and attachments at our final Sunday Symposium. Watch the Maximal edition of episode 387 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What are the different kinds of desires?
How do consumption and creativity differ?
Why are we so confused regarding what we actually want?
How does social media incentivize discontent?
What are the differences between stated preference and revealed preference?
How do we appropriately manage expectations in relationships?
How do we tactfully address opposing goals in relationships?
What media platforms have The Minimalists been on?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Our life is a reflection of our priorities, not our preferences.
There is no such thing as a piece of advice that is so good that it can’t be abused or misapplied in a way that actually makes your life worse.
The easiest way to organize your stuff is to get rid of it.
Aim to connect, not correct.
Judgment is a mirror that reflects the insecurities of the judge.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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386 | Not Minimalism

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about what minimalism has to do with normal, everyday subjects like friendship, pets, history, meteorology, and entertainment. Watch all 2 hours of episode 386 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How can minimalism apply to most everyday topics?
Why do most people believe minimalism only applies to physical items?
What is epistemology?
How do we help loved ones move on from fruitless pursuits?
What is the difference between helping and supporting?
What are your views regarding antiracism?
How do we have more constructive conversations?
What are the differences between people-pleasers and caregivers?
What are the two types of desires?
Is organ donation a minimalist practice?
Does the decision to not have children align with minimalism?
How can minimalism help highly sensitive people?
Why do you have an issue with those that can afford expensive things?
What does tire rubber have to do with minimalism?
How is brainstorming related to minimalism?
How do we get comfortable with bad ideas?
Will there be any more Sunday Symposiums?
What do we do with things we were once proud to display?
How do you define success?
Can people be accommodating to others to a fault?
What are your opinions regarding ads embedded in navigation apps?
How can minimalism help us exercise?
What are your perspectives regarding censorship?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Focusing on less creates room for more.
You can’t change the people around you, but you can change the people around you.
Once you’re free from pleasing all the people, you’re free from needing all the things.
On a long enough timeline, you will let go of everything.
Consumerism amplifies the fear of missing out, while minimalism exposes the joy of missing out.
A simple life is sensitive to the simple joys of living.
Minimalism is a creative path for the bloated, not a consolation prize for the broke.
The costs of a thing extends well beyond its price tag.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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385 | Monogamy and Nonmonogamy

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with Aubrey Marcus about relationship structures, commitment, marriage, open relationships, and more! Watch all 3 hours of episode 385 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How is nonmonogamy related to minimalism?
What challenges have people experienced in nonmonogamous relationships?
How do people thrive in nonmonogamous relationships?
How do we create a healthy balance between giving and receiving love?
What is “compersion”?
What is “kitchen-table polyamory”?
How is suffering contagious?
What is “tantric technology”?
How do I appropriately communicate with potential partners that I’m only interested in nonmonogamous relationships?
What challenges would a nonmonogamous relationship present to other relationships in someone’s life?
What are the nonmonogamous relationship types?
What is “relationship anarchy”?
Is it always necessary to compromise in relationships?
How honest and transparent should we be in our dating profiles?
How do we tactfully set relationship boundaries?
What are the differences between generosity and martyrdom?
How crucial is compatibility in relationships?
What are the three stages of relationships?
How can deprivation help us?
How do we open ourselves up more for love?
Do definitions obscure more than they clarify?
How do you broach the possibility of nonmonogamy with a long-term monogamous partner?
What is “monogamish”?
Is monogamy a result of evolution or conditioning?
How do we respectfully discuss difficult topics with our loved ones?
What are your perspectives regarding “love languages”?
How do I explain to a co-parent that nonmonogamy is nonnegotiable for me when they’re not interested?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Judgment is the fastest way to shut down a conversation.
Empathy is a bell curve with suffering on both ends.
Boundaries add clarity to our communications.
You needn’t desire the same things to be on the same page.
Hoarding is holding on to anything that gets in the way.
That which is natural is not always that which is best.
There is no measuring stick for love; to love someone is to see them, appreciate them, and accept them for who they are, warts and all.
Love does not create limits—it creates through the limits.
Clinging to love is like clinging to water: the harder you clinch, the faster it disappears.

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384 | Food Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with Dr. Paul Saladino about foods to subtract from one’s diet—and foods to add—to live more healthfully. Watch all 3 hours of episode 384 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What should we remove from our diet to improve our health?
What are your perspectives regarding dairy and dairy alternatives?
Are nuts and seeds healthy snacks?
What should we add to our diet to improve our health?
Should we limit our consumption of carbohydrates?
Why did Dr. Saladino switch from a carnivore to an omnivore diet?
Is stress ever beneficial?
What are your opinions regarding the ketogenic diet?
Why is autoimmune disease so prevalent?
What roles do stress, trauma, and the gut microbiome play in disease?
Why isn’t the vegan diet sufficient for most humans?
What one meal could you eat for the rest of your life?
What’s wrong with tap water, and what kind of water do you drink?
What ancestral practices should we adopt to improve our lives?
What are the most common environmental toxins?
Can a healthy diet include coffee, olive oil, and vinegar?
What are your concerns regarding sunscreens?
What do you consider the most addictive unhealthy food?
What issues have you experienced with synthetic fabrics and scents?
Can we undo any of the damage we’ve done to our health?
How important is portion control and calorie counting?
How effective is intermittent fasting?
Are multivitamins and supplements beneficial?
What healthy options are available at convenience stores?
What can we do to adequately consume electrolytes naturally?
Will fermented foods improve our gut health?
What seasonings are the healthiest to use?
Is white rice good for us?
Are fish and fish oil ideal for us to consume?
Is there any danger of hypervitaminosis with the regular consumption of organ meats?
What advice do you have regarding children’s diets?
Is decaf coffee a healthy option?
What foods positively and negatively affect belly fat and fatty liver?
How do you create the most healthy diet for yourself?
What concerns do you have regarding LDL cholesterol and statins?
Are there healthy quantities of alcohol consumption?
What minimalist exercises do you use?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

To optimize for health and happiness, one must be willing to pay the cost.
What you do occasionally is less important than what you do consistently. —Dr. Paul Saladino
The way to lose weight is not to think about calories but to think about food quality. —Dr. Paul Saladino

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383 | Heartbreak

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk with Dr. Cortney Warren about heartbreak and letting go of your ex. Watch all 2 hours of episode 383 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we break our emotional and physical attachments to our exes?
What faulty beliefs do we harbor regarding our exes?
Why do we undervalue what we bring to relationships?
How do I appropriately address the expectations of my children regarding my ex?
How do we let go of our resentment for our exes?
What can we do to foster cooperation through questions instead of demands?
How do we avoid engaging in blame with exes?
What is problematic with us finding “power in our wounds”?
What can I do to manage my feelings of pity for my ex?
What are the different kinds of pity?
Are there circumstances that warrant giving an ex a second chance?
What is the danger in having faith in fate?
Is there a difference between clinging to someone versus having a sentimental attachment to someone?
Is love actually a human need?
Is there any value in matching the emotions of our loved ones in tense situations?
How do we let go of idealistic memories of exes?
How do we let go of expectations when starting a new relationship?
How do we ensure we amicably break up before we succumb to cheating?
How do we meet our needs without heaping expectations onto others?
How do we ensure our own happiness instead of expecting it from our significant others?
What are the three essentials of all relationships?
What are the differences between standards and expectations?
Is there an appropriate time to move on from a partner who is struggling with seemingly insurmountable challenges?
What are the attributes of an ideal government?
What is the significance of unfollowing your ex on social media?
How do we appropriately address cheating with a significant other?
How do we tactfully end a relationship built on false pretenses?
What is the advantage of being curious over being competitive?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Healing is the gateway to letting go.
Acceptance is a tool to declutter expectations.
Their success is not your responsibility.
Clinging is what happens when we cannot let go.
Empathy is not the same thing as love.
You picked it up, so you can set it down.
Communication is not a substitute for chemistry.
Love is not tethered to expectations.
No one can make you happy; they can only enhance the joy that exists inside you.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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382 | Three Kinds of Fear

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk with Lewis Howes, author of The Greatness Mindset, about the fear of success, self-doubt, and how to let go of one’s fantasy self. Watch all 3 hours of episode 382 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do I encourage my loved ones to be more supportive?
What does the TARA acronym represent?
How do we effectively address our fears of failure, judgment, and success?
How do we endure the daily grind of a pedestrian job until we can fully pursue our true passion?
What can we do to permanently shift our mindset from powerless to powerful?
How do we become more self-sufficient and more confident in our financial security?
What does Lewis think of his portrayal in WeCrashed?
How do we break free from procrastination and behaviors that don’t move us toward our goals?
What do you consider the differences between success and greatness?
How do we create a meaningful mission for our lives?
What does it mean to be “lazily ambitious”?
How do we overcome debilitating self-judgment?
What is a “fears list”?
Does ambition also create worry similar to the need for things?
How do I overcome the nagging fear of failure in my business pursuits?
Who is the “millionaire minimalist”?
What is “de-influencing”?
How do we wholly heal our inner child?
Can love be “wanting more for someone than they want for themselves”?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Fear is the byproduct of invented consequences.
The cost of debt is infinitely more than the interest rate.
Fear is a spotlight on something that hasn’t even happened.
Don’t let your amateur crastination turn pro.
Success that makes you miserable is failure.
Judgment is a mirror that reflects the insecurities of the judge.
It is not ambition that sets a man apart—it is the distance he is prepared to go.
To need a thing is to pretend you are incomplete without it.
Ambition does not require attachment.

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381 | Perfectionism

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk with psychotherapist Katherine Morgan Schafler about perfectionism, self-sabotage, and cohabiting with someone who isn’t a minimalist. Watch all 2 hours of episode 381 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do I overcome my perfectionist tendencies so I can get my work done?
What are your perspectives regarding power?
How do we address an unhealthy obsession with perfectionism?
How do I live peacefully with a non-minimalist?
What are the five types of perfectionists?
How do I let go of others’ expectations of me?
How do we make time for our passions and still fulfill our obligations and responsibilities?
What can students do to better balance a full course load and personal time?
How do you define “perfectionism”?
How do The Minimalists make money without ad revenue?
What is the difference between procrastination and resistance?
What are your views regarding toxic masculinity?
What is our society’s obsession with being offended?
How do you appropriately manage guilt?
What can I do to let go of trying to control the future and live more fully in the present?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Perfection cannot be attained; it is the default state of the universe.
Decluttering does not bring peace—it creates the environment in which peace is not disturbed.
Perfectionism is the path away from peace.
Life has no crystalline endpoint other than death; until then, the river of self continues to flow, change, reform.
Balance is the default state. Life is out of balance only when too many obligations are heaped onto your plate.
Resistance is a beacon that illuminates meaningful pursuits.
For most of history, people earned money without a single advertisement.
Money is the byproduct of adding value.

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380 | Career Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about reducing career clutter. Watch all 2 hours of episode 380 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do I determine the most ideal career path to pursue of my many passions?
How do identity clutter and career clutter derail us?
How do we assert ourselves with loved ones that insist on giving us things?
What is “trauma bonding”?
How do we regain control of our lives?
What are your perspectives regarding the processing of health data by wearable devices?
What are the important distinctions between comparisons, measurements, and patterns?
Is worrying about something truly detrimental for us?
Why do we try to emulate those that surround themselves with expensive luxuries that clearly don’t bring them joy?
How do our needs control us?
What are “surface values”?
How do we best declutter our devices?
Is an obsession with letting go considered a mental illness?
Why are we so preoccupied with mental illnesses?
Is it cheating to play the Minimalism Game in February?
How do I recognize when to give up or push on with a side hustle?
Are there instances when we should justify our ‘no’s’ to others?
What is the value of “chunking”?
What is “setting the stage”?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

The man who needs nothing cannot be controlled.
Don’t let aspiration get in the way of motivation.
“No” is a complete sentence.
You can’t get the right answer by measuring the wrong things.
Whether something bad happens or something good happens, your worry was a waste of life.
Consumerism is a wallpaper: we think it covers our discontent, but it actually papers over our contentment.
How might your life be better with less digital clutter?
Labels are helpful when they clarify, harmful when they shape our identity.
Letting go happens when the clinging ceases.

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379 | Unhealthy Family Relationships

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with therapist relationship expert Nedra Tewwab about letting go of expectations for family members. Watch all 2 hours of episode 379 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we appropriately manage our expectations of loved ones, especially regarding help with parenting our children?
How do we respectfully ask others to treat us as we want to be treated?
How do we have open, honest, difficult conversations with loved ones?
Can we still love someone while actively encouraging them to become a better person?
How do we shift our focus from changing others to changing ourselves?
What does love mean to you?
What are the differences between helping, supporting, and enabling?
How do we create boundaries others actually recognize and respect?
How do we better exercise diplomacy in our daily interactions?
Why do we place so much importance on validation from others?
Why do we so strongly feel the need to be right?
When is it appropriate to create distance to improve a relationship?
How do we appropriately distribute and manage family obligations and responsibilities related to caregiving?
What is the importance in learning to listen more?
What is the “I Shouldn’t Have to Fallacy”?
How do we move from disempowerment to empowerment in our relationships?
When is it appropriate to simply end a dysfunctional relationship?
What is “chronic gaslighting”?
How do we respectfully and tactfully discuss inheritance with family members?
What is problematic regarding an obsession with political correctness?
How do I appropriately support loved ones who don’t recognize their hypocrisy in their treatment of others?
When are labels useful?
What is the difference between boundaries and bluffs?
How do we encourage our parents to be more active grandparents with our children?
How are we unwittingly enslaving other people?
What are the two ways we hide from the truth?
How do we effectively practice self-improvement?
What are the benefits of having a daily uniform?
How do you address and manage criticism?
What is the “No New Books Rule”?
How do I help an acquaintance acknowledge and address their antisocial behaviors?
What does minimalism mean to you?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Expectations are a yardstick of future disappointments.
Your friends and family are not responsible for your upset.
It’s no one else’s responsibility to un-offend or understand you.
To convince someone is to unlove them because persuasion is a refusal to accept a person for who they are.
We get dragged by the relationships we cling to.
One’s love is not defined by their availability.
Clinging to a toxic relationship is the root cause of dysfunction.
The truth hurts, but it also heals.
Truth, lovingly conveyed, can never be disrespectful.
The truth may be disappointing, but it doesn’t need to be disrespectful.
You can tell a disappointing truth without talking in a disrespectful tone.
The truth isn’t always nice, but neither is being politically correct.
Don’t confuse loving someone with reading their mind. —Nedra Tawwad

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378 | Difficulty Letting Go

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about why it’s so difficult to let go. Watch all 2.5 hours of episode 378 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What are your perspectives regarding schooling?
What do you consider the “joy in searching”?
How do we shift the teaching paradigm from transactional to relational?
How do we transition from coercion to creativity in education?
How do I push myself out of my long-term comfort zones?
How do we learn to better trust our intuition?
How do I maintain focus and motivation in my pursuits past the thrill of novelty?
Why do so many of us fail to recognize and cultivate aptitude?
Why do we often confuse excitement for passion?
How do I determine whether to purchase durable furnishings I must pay to move or inexpensive furnishings I can leave behind when I live a peripatetic life?
How do we appropriately manage the ‘burden of ownership’?
How do I determine my ideal career path?
What can I do with personalized birthday cards from deceased loved ones?
Should I hold on to reference books related to my profession?
What is the difference between a “just in case” and “no matter what” mindset?
What is most concerning about the desire for nice things?
How do we ensure we purchase items with weighted consideration for utility, durability, environmental cost, and fair trade manufacturing?
How do you deal with the ‘paradox of choice’?
What is the danger in reframing hoarding?
Are labels more harmful than helpful?
Why are we obsessed with self-improvement?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Letting go is difficult, but clinging creates more difficulties.
Every fear is a fear of the unknown.
Passion is not discovered—it’s cultivated.
On a long enough timeline, everything is ephemeral.
Our memories are not in our things; our memories are inside us.
JUST IN CASE are the three most dangerous words in the English language.
The question isn’t whether or not you should hold on; the question is: does letting go increase your freedom, peace, and joy?
A life is enhanced—not defined—by possessions.
Minimalism isn’t about right versus wrong—it’s about right for me versus wrong for me.
Enjoying a thing creates wonder; needing a thing creates worry.

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377 | Disrespectful Family

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with therapist and author Lori Gottlieb about family members who don’t respect boundaries. Watch all 2 hours of episode 377 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we create a detente with loved ones who are completely intractable?
How do we bring meaningful change to our relationships?
What is “the parentified child”?
What do you consider the ‘cost of admission’ for relationships?
What are your views regarding nonnegotiables?
Why is it so difficult for many to discover alternative solutions for problems in their lives?
Why are boundaries rarely respected?
How do we effectively manage the overwhelming feelings involved in the death of a loved one?
What is “forced forgiveness”?
What are your perspectives regarding grief?
How do we eliminate generational trauma?
How do I let go of the shame associated with my persistent anxiety?
How do we consistently recognize and manage our feelings?
Why do you consider hope pointless?
How are desire and envy helpful?
How can we use regret to our benefit?
How do I get out of my own way when pursuing my goals in life?
What do you mean by “be who you are”?
What is the value of resistance?
How do I tactfully tell others to mind their own business when they intrude on my personal affairs?
How do I better manage my OCD so I can be more present as a parent?
What is the difference between balance and contentment?
What is “The Duplicates Rule”?
How do I value apologies and forgiveness more appropriately?
How do I comfortably meet new people as an introvert?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Every relationship has a cost of admission.
Grief is a byproduct of love.
Your feelings are not real: they are an internalized response to trauma, expectations, and beliefs that don’t serve you.
Hope is the measure of future regrets.
Once you understand the why, the how takes care of itself.
Resistance is a finger pointing toward meaningful experiences.
Fulfilling other people’s expectations is not fulfilling.
You can’t change the people around you, but you can change the people around you.
Life has a 100% mortality rate. —Lori Gottlieb

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376 | Cluttercore

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we discuss the new “cluttercore” design trend. Watch all 2 hours of episode 376 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we stay focused and motivated when we’re going through a lengthy process of decluttering?
What is “cluttercore”?
Is there any value in simply embracing clutter?
What is “costly signaling”?
How do we determine what to actually hold on to?
How do I address the stress and frustration of managing a household of non-minimalists?
What are your perspectives regarding appropriate boundaries?
How do we appropriately help loved ones declutter shared spaces?
How do we determine mutually beneficial solutions?
Is there such a thing as “valuable clutter”?
What is the difference between projection and introjection?
How are actual value and hypothetical value different?
What is the “Let It Go Anyway Rule”?
Why are the salaries of professional entertainers and athletes so grossly inflated compared to those of educators?
How do you differentiate between intrinsic value and economic value?
How do we get past our preservation mindset regarding our new things?
What is the antidote to fear?
What are your views regarding worry?
Which of the objects mentioned in past “Added Value” segments have since become clutter?
Where can I find a list of other podcasts you’ve been on?
How can I refresh a space without adding more stuff?
What are your views regarding trends?
How do we help others get started with minimalism?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Removing your physical clutter also reduces your mental clutter.
You don’t want to manage the clutter, you want to eliminate it!
A deadline is a boundary that creates the urgency necessary for letting go.
One man’s clutter is another man’s fortune.
The price tag is not the sole measure of a thing’s value.
To worry is to pray for something bad to happen.
Fear is a byproduct of the ego.
After taking an inventory of all the things you’ve minimized, you can minimize that list, too.
If it gets in the way, it’s clutter.
Question everything because the things that add value today might become clutter tomorrow.

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375 | Clinging to Books

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about why people cling to books they’ll never read, advice for aspiring writers, and more. Watch all 2.5 hours of episode 375 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What are your views regarding the different popular writing practices?
What does it mean to “sit in the chair”?
What is the “identity trap”?
What do you consider a flow state?
What do you look for in a beta reader?
How do we “lead with personality”?
Why do some people hold on to books they’ll likely never read again?
What is the most effective process for getting a book published?
What are your perspectives regarding self-promotion?
What books about minimalism do you recommend?
What does the “SLOW” acronym represent?
What do you consider ideal writing habits?
How do we intentionally let go of our books?
What is “narrative urgency”?
What are your five overrated things?
What are the three kinds of ratings?
How do you define “free”?
What are your opinions regarding supplements?
What are “societal games”?
What do you think of the Kindle and its subscription services?
How do we maintain our focus and motivation when writing a novel?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

There is only one writing method that works: sit in the chair.
A shift in perspective strengthens the prospectus.
A storage locker is purgatory for stuff.
There are no musts, shoulds, or oughts.
A pleasant life is composed of unpleasant habits.
Bad writing is the initiation ritual for good writing.
A habit is a byproduct of doing something compelling.

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374 | Boxes of Stuff

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about holding on to boxes of sentimental items. Watch all 2 hours of episode 374 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we find the strength to let go of significantly sentimental items or find the peace to keep them?
How do we explain the value of our minimalist design aesthetic to those that consider it bland and boring?
How do we address our obsession with toys into adulthood?
What is T.K.’s “How Does That Thought Feel” game?
How do we ensure we don’t become attached to interesting items we inherit?
How do we live peacefully with loved ones who don’t practice minimalism?
By what criteria do you consider someone a minimalist?
Are there other methods for preserving the memories of items aside from photographing the items?
What are “obligatory sentimental items”?
Isn’t our reliance on the ‘rules’ of others simply a lack of our own discipline?
What is your perspective regarding discipline?
How do you record podcasts when much of your staff works and lives remotely?
What does Joshua consider his latest failure?
What is your take on the recent controversy regarding the Liver King?
Why should anyone have compassion for Kanye West given his current hot takes?
How do we convince loved ones that we truly don’t want physical gifts?
How do we create effective boundaries that others actually recognize and respect?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Clinging prevents you from moving on.
Minimalism exposes the beauty within the bones.
Wisdom is found in the child, not their toys.
Some things are cool, but it’s even cooler to let go.
Peace is not acquired; peace is uncovered.
The best way to dissatisfy yourself is to satisfy everyone else.
A sentimental item that gets in the way is still clutter.
Discipline is found within the boundaries.
What’s best for me might be terrible for “we.”
The solution is the problem; the problem is the solution.

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373 | No Prescriptions

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with Kapil Gupta, MD, about prescriptions, discontent, fear, suffering, misery, lies, truth, and more. Watch all 2 hours of episode 373 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What are your perspectives regarding conflict?
Why are we so concerned with the opinions of others?
Why is trying to convince others so problematic?
What do you mean by “the ultimate possibility of a human being”?
What is pointless about hope?
How are beliefs often tainted by self-righteousness?
What are your views regarding the ego?
What does “truth” mean to you?
What is the value of meditation?
What are the “how” and the “why”?
What prescriptions are useful?
What are the problems with attachments?
Do you consider self-help books actually helpful?
Are gratitude journals valuable?
What do you consider “permission slips”?
How important is it for each of us to discover our sense of purpose?
How do we appropriately address trauma?
What is the difference between a helper and a supporter?
How do you define “trauma”?
What are your opinions regarding hope?
Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Excitement is an addiction.
Betterment is a cultural disease.
Dogmas poison the truth.
Attachments block contentment.
Freedom is the only worthwhile thing.
The pursuit of happiness is a path away from peace.
Self-righteousness is the main ingredient in suffering.
Expectations are the bars to your prison cell.
Hope is the measure of future regrets.
All conflict is self-conflict. —Kapil Gupta, MD
Fear exists only in the presence of consequences. —Kapil Gupta, MD

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372 | How to Let Go

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about letting go, dealing with regrets, New Year’s resolutions, broken family relationships, and the dangers of hope. Watch all 2 hours of episode 372 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do you define “consumerism”?
What are your views regarding wealth?
What is the difference between non-attachment and indifference?
What is the relationship between contribution and value creation?
What are your perspectives regarding ‘cancel culture’?
Why did you move to Los Angeles as minimalists?
How do you live as a minimalist in non-minimalist areas?
How do we become more mindful regarding disposable items?
How do you let go of cherished possessions?
How do we let go of our shame regarding our shortcomings?
How do we continuously refine our minimalist practices without becoming compulsive?
What is the “No-Stories Policy”?
What are your views regarding New Year’s resolutions?
What vehicles do you own and why?
What are the connections between minimalism and spirituality?
How does T.K.’s Catholic faith affect his minimalist practices?
How do we mend a broken relationship when the other person isn’t interested in fixing it?
How do you determine where you most need improvement in your life?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Letting go is not something you do; it is something you stop doing.
When you let go of attachments, you pick up freedom, peace, equanimity.
If you hold on too tightly, you’ll get dragged.
Fortifying the ego is a surefire way to decrease the peace.
The Truth does not require persuasion, coaxing, or coercion.
We cannot consume our way out of discontent.
No matter the fixation—be it possessions, people, or prosperity—attachment is always suffering.
Some objects may enhance our lives—but only after we subtract the attachment that gets in the way.
Peace cannot be packaged and placed on a conveyor belt; peace is buried beneath the hoard we’ve added to our lives.
The path to misery is cobbled with addition; the path to peace is uncovered with subtraction.

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371 | The Best Gift

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about the gift of a clean slate. Watch all 3 hours of episode 371 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

When did you start The Minimalists?
What benefits did you experience by letting go?
How did you address your battle with addictions?
How do you manage the debilitating anxiety associated with a potentially terminal illness?
How is a clean slate the best gift?
How do you decide what to keep from former homes when you’re moving in together into a new home?
What rule do you use to prevent fights in your relationship?
How do you define “minimalism”?
How do you decorate for the holidays?
Why did you choose to move to Los Angeles?
What do you recommend others declutter first to start their minimalism journey?
How do we determine what things are actually clutter?
How do you maintain focus and motivation regarding your minimalist practices?
How do you measure your progress with minimalism?
What is “belief clutter”?
What helps you be proactive instead of reactive?
How do we still love family and friends that don’t support us?
How do we let go of excess when circumstances put us in a survival mentality?
What is “The Ikeafication of America”?
What was controversial about your “Chronic Illness” episode?
Are there instances where ‘thought-terminating cliches’ are acceptable?
Do people with influential platforms have a responsibility to the public regarding their content?
What are your perspectives regarding grief?
What is the difference between consumerism and consumption?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

A clean slate is the best gift.
You don’t have to be a minimalist to live intentionally.
Never cling, hold on loosely, let go enthusiastically.
When we try to focus on everything, everything becomes out of focus.
How might your life be better with less?
The void cannot be filled, because it is not a void—it is open space.
Minimalism is a tool, not a destination.
Compassion is the gateway to understanding.
People can’t love you unless you give them the real you.
Judgment is a mirror that reflects the preferences of the judge.

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370 | Guilt

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with Dr. Nicole LePera about letting go of guilt. Watch all 3 hours of episode 370 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we manage the guilt we feel when we’re dependent on loved ones?
Why did Dr. LePera write How to Meet Your Self?
How can minimalism help us stay focused and motivated?
How do you define “consumerism”?
How do we appropriately manage our fear of our mortality?
What is “dread data”?
How do we ensure our altruism doesn’t interfere with our own well-being?
How do you define “self-actualization”?
How do you define anxiety, and how do you address it?
Are plant medicines helpful for healing?
How do we resist the temptation to compare our life journey to that of others?
How do we determine when it’s appropriate to help others?
How do we explain to our loved ones when the negatives far outweigh the positives at our job?
What does happiness mean to you?
How do we establish effective boundaries with one another?
What are “grievance entrepreneurs”?
Where is the line between influence and manipulation?
How do we separate good products from their bad advertising?
What are the health benefits of cold plunges?
How necessary are intimate, romantic relationships?
Can the existence of backup plans be problematic?
How do we deal with the anxiety that arises from traumatic events?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Freedom is found in the acceptance of limitations.
Feeling good is pleasant, but it is not a virtue.
Your authentic self is not found in the expectations of others.
Emotional well-being is measured by our ability to let go.
There are no shortcuts—there are only direct routes.
To support someone is to accept them for who they are without trying to change, manipulate, or persuade them.
You can’t help someone who doesn’t desire help.
If you insist on being a hero for someone who doesn’t want to be saved, then you’re just a villain in disguise.
Your identity is not informed by the role you play for others. —Dr. Nicole LePera

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369 | Intentional Travel

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about traveling with less. Watch all 2.5 hours of episode 369 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do you travel intentionally as a minimalist?
What is the “Go-Without-It Rule”?
How do I maximize my travel experiences on a minimal budget?
How do you travel harmoniously with companions?
How can you be a tourist in your own town?
How do you document your travels?
What are your guidelines regarding travel photography?
How do you manage duplicate photos?
How do we overcome the fear that we can’t afford the time or expense of a vacation?
Can minimalism hinder a wholly immersive travel experience?
How do we budget appropriately for storage when we’re forced to frequently relocate?
What is problematic about searching for stability through permanence?
How do I overcome the fear of possibly wasting time and effort on new experiences I might not enjoy?
How do we budget appropriately for vacations?
How do you travel congruously with others whose trip budgets are significantly different from your own?
What is the “layer cake of consumerism”?
How do we travel when we’re under strict financial constraints?
How do I tactfully explain to loved ones I’m prioritizing a vacation over visits to them?
How do I ensure I’m consuming intentionally when traveling?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Traveling with fewer things creates room for more experiences.
Expansive travel does not require expensive travel.
If joy is a destination, then you have already arrived.
Minimalists maximize their appreciation with things that enhance their experiences.
On a long enough timeline, everything is impermanent.
Every destination is desirable when decision-making is a process of discovery.
A worrier is a person who concerns himself with outcomes outside his control.
Living in the moment is the antidote to the fear of missing out.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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368 | Chronic Illness

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with Dr. Jerry Tennant about preventing and treating chronic illness. Watch all 2 hours of episode 368 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

When will medicine shift its focus to prevention instead of just treating symptoms?
Why did Dr. Tennant write Healing Is Voltage?
How does low voltage contribute to illness?
What paths of relief are available for those suffering from chronic illness?
What did Dr. Tennant do to start his road to healing?
How can nutrition help with chronic illness?
How does our environment contribute to chronic illnesses?
Are there actually any safe chemicals?
What is PEMF therapy?
What contributes most significantly to chronic illnesses and addictions?
What is the relationship between purpose and addiction?
How do we appropriately and healthfully manage all the obligations and responsibilities of everyday life while dealing with a chronic illness?
How do we become more disciplined and focused regarding our health practices when our chronic illness is zapping us of all of our willpower?
What is the difference between knowledge of truth and remembrance of truth?
How do we best address chronic inflammation?
How can minimalism help with the prevention and management of chronic illness?
Why do some people suffer more from migraines than others?
What are your perspectives regarding beauty?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

A thimble of prevention is more effective than a truckload of treatment.
Excess is toxic.
The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety—it’s purpose.
Self-care is the path toward healing.
Pain is a compass that points us toward healing.
More consumption, more problems.
Minimalism maximizes the value of everything.
If addition is the cause, subtraction is the cure.

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367 | Storage

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about the problems with in-home storage. Watch all 2 hours of episode 367 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we reason with loved ones regarding their clutter intruding our shared spaces?
How do we keep cleaning supplies minimal?
What do we do when the career we want requires an expensive college degree?
How do we tactfully and guiltlessly opt out of gift exchanges at work?
What are the two types of pain?
How do we appropriately address family members who clutter as we declutter?
How do we manage stress during moves?
How much clothing should we keep on hand for weight fluctuations?
What are positive and negative freedoms?
What is the “Paradox of Justificatory Usage”?
What are your laundry routines with a minimal wardrobe?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Clutter is anything that gets in the way of your well-being.
When in doubt, go without.
Look inside the question for the answer.
An obligatory gift is a curse.
Conflicting desires are not a sign of moral failure.
Stress is a weapon people use to abuse themselves.
When you resent your feelings, you resist their wisdom.
Organizing is well-planned hoarding.

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366 | News Media Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about news addiction and the anxiety it produces. Watch all 2.5 hours of episode 366 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we stay informed without becoming overwhelmed?
What is the primary purpose of news outlets?
Why are most ideas worthless?
How do we determine what mementos are appropriate to keep or let go when a family splits up?
What are your views regarding acceptance?
What is the four-step process to letting go according to The Sedona Method?
How do we best address worry regarding an ill loved one so we can be more present for them?
What is wu-wei?
How do we ensure our minimalism doesn’t turn into asceticism?
How do we let go of the need for approval?
What are your perspectives regarding inclusiveness?
How do we become more psychologically flexible?
How do I avoid becoming inundated with media clutter when my family members relentlessly consume it?
What are finite and infinite games?
What is the “Hate That Thing Rule”?
Is there any value in replacing the star players on a team?
What do you consider “bootlicking”?
What is “bootkicking”?
What is problematic with making certain topics strictly taboo?
What is an important distinction to consider regarding disagreements?
How do we say “no” more effectively?
What is the “Entryway Rule”?
How do we stay informed and keep others informed without stress and anxiety?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

The news is not designed to inform; the news is designed to attract attention.
Letting go is not a one-time event: we are always letting go.
To worry is to punish yourself today for something that has not happened.
Mediocrity results from accumulation of compromises.
Approval from loved ones is nice, but needing approval is a prison.
Rigidity forms a container for discontent.
The goal isn’t happiness—it’s emotional versatility.
Happiness is a byproduct of living a meaningful life.

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365 | Minimalist Budgeting Tips

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about avoiding lifestyle inflation. Watch all three hours of episode 365 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do I better manage my impulses and my budget as my income increases?
What is “lifestyle inflation”?
What is the “casino technique”?
How do we find the motivation and energy to declutter after working all day?
What is “setting the stage”?
How do we adopt minimalist practices when we’re struggling with significant mental challenges?
How do you define minimalism?
How do we let go of the fear of future scarcity and affordability when we’re letting go of stuff?
What are your perspectives regarding inflation?
Are there plans for Sunday Symposium events online?
How will refunding dissatisfied customers and allowing them to keep items affect consumerism?
How do we determine what luxuries to let go of when we can comfortably afford them?
What is the “scorched earth approach”?
Do we ever truly own our homes?
What is “weaponized morality”?
What is “dichotomous feedback”?
What is the difference between feedback and criticism?
What is the “Out in the Open Rule”?
How do you structure your budgets?
How do we appropriately budget for unexpected expenses?
Is it problematic to hold on to mementos from past relationships?
How do we let go of the fear of getting rid of our credit score?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

A rich person with poor spending habits is broke.
Trivialities are compelling only when one’s life is void of meaningful experiences.
Clutter is a car crash for our psychological well-being.
You won’t miss the missing things you don’t like.
Not buying a thing is letting go in advance.
The true cost of an item extends well beyond the price tag.
Great businesses value people over profits.
Peace is the thing; disturbance is the non-thing.

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364 | Inner Conflict

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with Wendy Smith, author of Both/And Thinking, about shortening cycles of inner conflict. Watch all two hours of episode 364 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Why did Wendy Smith write Both/And Thinking?
How do we better analyze and accept our shortcomings and failures?
What is “emotional ambivalence”?
How do we determine what jobs are the best fit for us?
How do we best manage our anxiety regarding current crises?
What are “rabbit holes, wrecking balls, and trench warfare”?
What is the false trade-off between big changes and small actions?
What is the difference between help and support?
What is “ecobricking”?
How do I make commitments and let go of my FOMO?
What is the “possibility of opportunity”?
What is problematic regarding absolute certainty?
How do I choose between a fulfilling job and a lucrative job?
How do we shift from “either-or thinking” to “both-and thinking”?
What is a “statement of vision”?
How do we avoid sacrificing passion for profit?
How do we tactfully manage rocky relationships with family and friends?
How do we commit to leaving an unfulfilling job?
What are “competence traps”?
What is the danger in participating in “retail therapy” as self-care?
What is the “Once a Month Rule”?
Why do we relentlessly search for contentment?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Every ounce of inner conflict is self-inflicted.
Accepting discomfort is comforting.
There’s nothing to hold on to.
Wonder is a fire extinguisher for anxiety.
Dreams don’t come true—decisions do.
The closer you are to someone, the greater the chaos.
Compassion conceives connection.
You can let something go without throwing it away.

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363 | Stuffitis

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about how to decide what to get rid of. Watch all two hours of episode 363 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What is a sensory deprivation tank?
How do we determine what to let go of when we’re attached to everything we have?
What is “stuffitis”?
What is “one-day-itis”?
What is the “Didn’t Know Rule”?
How can we become less dependent on technology?
How do we reframe the ‘language of necessity’?
How do we determine the appropriate amount of friction?
How do you view freedom?
At what degree of failure is it appropriate to replace an item?
What costs should we consider when repairing or replacing something?
What do you consider one of the greatest myths of education?
How do I minimize my beloved stationary supplies?
What is the distinction between promoting and advertising?
How do I best manage my anxiety regarding decluttering?
What does Ryan want for his birthday?
What is your perspective regarding discomfort?
What are your views on walk-in closets?
What are your opinions regarding public and private schools?
How do we let get of sentimentality when we let go of stuff?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

You strangle everything you cling to.
Our society is suffering from an illness called stuffitis.
You lose traction when you remove all friction.
When in doubt, don’t upgrade!
The only way to let go is to stop clinging.
It’s hard to find a needle in a haystack—even harder to find it in a needlestack.
If it’s not worth sorting through, it’s not worth keeping.
Internal clutter is a side effect of external clutter.

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362 | Simplifying Death

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with hospice physician Zach Bush, MD, about accepting death. Watch all three hours of episode 362 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How does it seem that we effortlessly let go of everything when we die?
How do we detox the memory bank of the human body?
How can we recognize the moment a loved one passes on?
What is your perspective regarding the relationship between religion and death?
What is the distinction between moments and seasons?
How do we move on from the guilt of lost time with a loved one that has passed?
What four things should we say to a loved one that is dying?
What is your viewpoint regarding authentic connection with others?
How do we ensure we don’t burden our loved ones with any of our physical or emotional baggage when we pass?
How are our memories within our biological essence?
How do we live with reality as it is and release the stress of constantly trying to force our expectations upon it?
How do we balance appropriately between our health and our empowerment?
Since palliative care is generally only available to those who are terminally ill, is there another legal and ethical option for me when I’m ready to pass on?
Do people who believe in life after death grieve differently for their loved ones?
How do I emotionally prepare for my father’s death when we finally have a mutually enriching relationship again?
What is your understanding regarding the soul?
What are your views regarding appropriate attire for formal and informal events?
What value have you found in immersing yourselves in beliefs contrary to your own?
What are the three levels of happiness?
What gives you the experience of eudaemonia?
What is the “Didn’t Know Rule”?
What do you own that you wouldn’t consider minimalist?
What do you view as the difference between reality and the reality that words describe?
What is the difference between feedback and criticism?
How effective do you consider the act of voting?
How do ethics and policies often clash?
What do advertisers get right?
How do we find peace with the loss of a loved one when we missed sharing their final moment?
How do you differentiate between ads and promos?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

One cannot cling to the now.
Moving on requires letting go.
Your coffin does not come equipped with a hitch for a U-Haul.
Life and death are best taken one day at a time.
The experience of life cannot exist without the looming promise of death.
Death is the ultimate upgrade. —Zach Bush, MD
For the soul, death is just another moment. —Ram Dass
The more you try to rule things by force, the more you will stir up violence against you. —Alan Watts

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361 | Stop Saying Yes

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about managing guilt and disappointment when saying “no.” Watch all two hours of episode 361 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do I manage the guilt I feel when I must refuse the requests of others for my assistance?
Why is it so difficult to say “no” in the moment?
Is it selfish to expect adequate compensation for my time and expertise?
What practices have you found helpful for maintaining peace of mind despite the intermittent chaotic onslaught of OCD?
How do we remain fiercely intentional even when it’s not pleasurable?
How do we determine our ‘enough’?
How does misery exist in all relationships?
How do we become more diplomatic in our interpersonal communication?
How important is it to clarify our outcomes?
How do I appropriately manage the anger I feel toward the transgressions of others?
How can anger be productive?
How do we have a healthy dose of obsession and devotion in our lives?
How is capitalism misrepresented?
What are the three attributes of positive capitalism/voluntaryism?
Why do you consider “consult your doctor” cowardly advice?
Who have you found that supports not using sunscreen?
What is your perspective regarding introversion?
What has been your experience with unschooling?
How do we tactfully decline the requests of loved ones?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

To be happy, stop saying “yes” to the things that make you miserable.
What if your weakness was actually your superpower?
Letting go of desire also involves letting go of the desire to let go.
Misery and joy are preexisting conditions.
Feelings are better witnessed than displayed.
Mo’ expectations, mo’ emotions.
Radical inclusion requires complete acceptance.
Feelings are not to be conquered but engaged with imagination.

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360 | Sleep Problems

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we speak with sleep expert Jack Dell’Accio about best practices for sleep. Watch all two hours of episode 360 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

When did Jack Dell’Accio begin studying sleep?
How do couples tactfully address their sleep issues that affect one another?
Is it more beneficial for couples to sleep together or to sleep apart?
What approaches have you found effective as a couple in improving your sleep?
How do I effectively communicate my sleep wants and needs with my partner?
How important is it to use your bed solely for sleep?
What options are available for those with sleep apnea?
How do mattresses affect sleep?
What are some alternatives to the CPAP machine?
How do I make my sleep more adaptable to different conditions?
How do we become more flexible?
What nontoxic mattresses are available in the US?
What are the effects of light and circadian rhythms on sleep?
What are the three most important things to consider in a mattress?
What treatments are available for my struggle with anxiety-related insomnia?
How are anxiety and sleep related?
How are sleep medications detrimental to sleep?
What pre-sleep routines will ensure better sleep?
How much deep sleep is ideal?
What supplements do you recommend to improve sleep?
What is your perspective regarding pardoning student debt?
What is the difference between schooling and education?
What is your viewpoint regarding risk as it pertains to education?
Why are you proponents of educational alternatives?
How do you view money through the lens of minimalism?
Why is sentimentality problematic?
What is your opinion regarding incandescent bulbs compared to LEDs?
What is no longer useful to you as a minimalist?
How can a consistently restless sleeper attain more restorative sleep?
How do we get our toddler to sleep in his bed all night so he doesn’t disturb our sleep?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

One man’s ‘enough’ is too much for the next man.
Living well will help you sleep well.
Every choice you make cuts off other possibilities.
Subtraction is greater than addition.
Psychological flexibility stretches one’s capacity for happiness.
Each day is an opportunity to begin again.
Every solution is found within the problem.
The only thing you’re “supposed” to do is discover whatever works for you—and dive in!

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359 | Decluttering Facebook Friends

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we talk about getting rid of excess “friends” on social media. Watch all two hours of episode 359 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we appropriately curate our ‘friends’ lists in our social media accounts?
Why do we act on social media in ways we would never act in real life?
How do we appropriately manage misery arising from the memories of past mistakes?
How does minimalism influence your budget, your diet, and your transportation?
Can one be a minimalist and a prepper?
How do we balance between contentment and ambition as minimalists?
What is “purpose-driven passivity”?
What is the difference between impulse and improv?
How do we tactfully encourage our partners to embrace minimalist practices?
What are some viable alternatives of Facebook Messenger for group chats?
What does T.K. discuss in his talks at high schools?
What was Ryan’s experience at Burning Man?
What is the “No Piles Rule”?
How do you effectively address procrastination?
Why do you consider sunglasses and sunscreen obsolete?
What does Josh enjoy about his new home, and what is still taking some adjustment?
What are the best resources regarding intermittent fasting?
How do I create a reading habit that defies distractions?
What is the “Entryway Rule”?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Just-in-case friends aren’t friends at all.
A mistake ceases to be a mistake when it becomes a lesson.
Minimalism is a concise way of saying “living-within-your-means-ism.”
Letting go is the ultimate form of prepping.
Opting-out is an active choice, not a one-time decision.
The why-to is infinitely more powerful than the how-to.
Support bound by expectations isn’t supportive.
The best testimony is a well-lived life.

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358 | Relationship Clutter

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we are joined by licensed therapists Vanessa Bennett and John Kim to discuss relationship clutter. Watch all two hours of episode 358 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Why did Vanessa Bennett and John Kim write It’s Not Me, It’s You?
How do I search intentionally for a life partner without becoming consumed by that pursuit?
Does a need for relationships inevitably cause relationship clutter?
What is the danger in prioritizing my partner’s needs?
What is your perspective regarding codependency?
How do you maintain your joy without making others that are suffering feel that you’re not compassionate?
Is it a matter of personal responsibility to always accept blame?
What is your perspective regarding the Law of Attraction with respect to relationships?
Why is it important to recognize the distinction between the ‘what’ and the ‘how’?
What is the difference between ‘chasing’ and ‘attracting’ states?
When is it appropriate in a relationship to discuss intimate details?
What are some appropriate resources for sexual concerns?
How do I reclaim my identity in a relationship that came with cultural expectations?
How do we determine and set an appropriate pace in the development of a relationship?
Why is it important to separate attachment from expectation?
What are the two primary needs of humans?
What are the four different attachment types?
What are the three essential components of relationships?
Is a relationship doomed to fail if you don’t love yourself more than your partner?
What are the pros and cons of legal marriage?
Why is racism such a contentious topic of discussion?
What is your perspective regarding alternatives to public education?
What are horizontal and vertical networks?
What is the danger in accepting conventions in education?
What is your view regarding minimalism being a lifestyle of privilege?
What did you learn from your first Sunday Symposium event?

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Minimal Maxims

The Minimalists’ pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Needing a relationship is the source of relationship clutter.
Attraction is a mirror of our aspirations.
Fear is a consequence of future consequences.
Chemistry, compatibility, and love constitute the holy trinity of every relationship.
It is impossible to love someone without self-love.
Contracts inform us about the past; handshakes inform us about the future.
Learn to fight without fighting. —John Kim

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357 | Angry

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Ryan Nicodemus returns and the trio talks about what makes them angry. Watch all three hours of episode 357 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How did Ryan enjoy his time off?
Can there truly be too much of a good thing?
How do Joshua and Bex manage time apart while living together?
Why was Joshua angry with T.K. last week?
What happened to Podcast Shawn when he tried his first IV drip with you?
How do we keep anger from turning into rage?
What is box breathing?
What is the ‘I Will Tell You’ policy?
What is the difference between honesty and transparency?
Is it possible to be too nice?
How can trying times prove the viability of relationships?
How do you forgive yourself for investing time and effort in fruitless pursuits?
What is the ‘Problem of the Hypothetical Demon’?
How do I support loved ones’ events without overloading my calendar?
Do the blind have an advantage in not seeing what tempts so many others?
How do you define “integrity”?
Is anger most commonly triggered by fear and sadness?
What is your perspective regarding acceptance?
How do I tactfully address a significant difference in our decor preferences with my partner?
How do we appropriately address our disappointment with a loved one’s failure to meet our expectations?
What is the “frequency illusion”?
What is “E-prime”?
What is the importance of observation and awareness?
What is your perspective regarding inflation?
How can we approach spending more effectively?
How does inflation inordinately affect the impoverished?
What feeds the urge to purchase impulsively?
How do you manage the tension with others created by your OCD?

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Minimal Maxims

The Minimalists’ pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

To forgive is to let go of future trauma caused by clinging.
Every relationship is a doorway to misery and joy.
Every unwanted gift is an opportunity to be generous.
Every ‘yes’ adds a little clutter to your calendar.
Big decisions with little discussion create big disappointments.
Anger is when your heart says, “I feel passionate but powerless.”
Our impulses blind us to the truth.
To change the world, give up your expectations about which parts of the world you will change.

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356 | Judgment

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we are joined by musician and YouTuber Ruslan to talk about judgment as emotional clutter. Watch all three hours of episode 356 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

How do we help our children control their emotions?
Will I unduly risk advancing in my career if I delay taking advantage of continuing education and new opportunities for a few years?
What obligations do entertainers have regarding their audience?
How do we tactfully address unwanted gifts, especially those gifted with questionable intent?
How do we stop letting go?
How do we temper our judgment of others?
Why did Ruslan pivot from musician to YouTube creator?
Why did Ruslan choose to focus on doing commentary on others’ videos?
What gave rise to new creators during the pandemic?
What is problematic about an inordinate focus on high production values?
What lessons has Ruslan learned in his new pursuit?
Should art be judged not only on its own merit, but equally on that of its creator?
How do you mitigate the risk of admitting fault?
How have people weaponized the labeling of others?
How do we best manage the judgment of loved ones?
Where do Ruslan and The Minimalists disagree on judgment?
What is the difference between description and prescription?
Why is it important to draw a distinction between judging a person and judging a process?
What prompted Joshua to comment on Ruslan’s Kendrick Lamar video?
Why should we be concerned with calling bad “good” and good “bad”?
What is concerning about New Age ethos?
How do I ask my partner to accept me more as my true self after a significant time has passed in our relationship?
How do I address coworkers that use inappropriate language or discuss inappropriate topics at work?
Aren’t we obligated to stay informed about world affairs in the news despite the insidious presence of ads?
Is any press truly good press?
What is the difference between an obsolete item and a vintage item?
What is “object a”?

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Minimal Maxims

The Minimalists’ pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Emotions are great airplane passengers—but horrible pilots.
Debt doesn’t drain only your bank account; debt drains your freedom.
Acceptance is nice, but needing acceptance is a prison.
Gift-giving is no more a love language than pig Latin is a Romance language.
Letting go is not something you do; letting go is something you stop doing.
Simplify to be free, not to be a “good minimalist.”
Judgment is a mirror that reflects the insecurities of the judge.

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355 | Kids’ Stuff

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we are joined by Joshua’s wife, Becca Shern, host of How to Love, to talk about unconventional relationships and parenting. Watch all three hours of episode 355 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

Why did you create the podcast How to Love?
How can we improve our interpersonal communication?
How do I discuss creating appropriate boundaries with our children with my spouse and grandparents?
How do we incorporate specificity to better manage difficult conversations?
How do we treat children equitably within a family?
What is the best method for creating solutions?
What are the essentials we’ll need for our first baby?
How do we curb our impulsiveness?
How do we best convey to loved ones our wishes regarding celebrations?
What is the danger in having someone fulfill all of our expectations of them?
What are two methods for leading a happy, healthy life?
How do you address content that some find offensive?
Can I still consider myself a minimalist when I own more than my partner?
How do we keep from imposing our views on others?
How do we help children realize the benefits of minimalism?
What are the arguments in favor of alternatives to public education?
How do we build a bridge between two households for our children?

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Minimal Maxims

The Minimalists’ pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Sincerity and candor are the bricks and mortar that build boundaries.
Wanting what you have trumps getting what you want.
The thing isn’t about the thing.
You needn’t get rid of all your stuff to see the problem it creates.
It is not my responsibility to un-offend you.
When you’re free from pleasing all the people, you’re free from needing all the things.
The thing you want is never the thing you want.

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354 | Misery

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, we are joined by philosopher Peter Rollins to talk about misery, trauma, and letting go of souvenirs. Watch all three hours of episode 354 on The Minimalists Private Podcast.

Discussed in This Episode

What drives The Minimalists to help others?
What inspires Peter Rollins to create?
Why is work meaningful to us?
How do we continue to practice minimalism after experiencing a traumatic event?
What do you consider “normal”?
What is your perspective regarding happiness?
What was philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer’s view of misery?
How did Schopenhauer define “drive”?
What is Schopenhauer’s cure for misery?
How do we let go of the guilt of a poorly chosen present?
What is your viewpoint regarding gifts?
How do I embrace who I am rather than what I do?
What is your perspective regarding desire?
Do you have any concerns regarding the alleged death of detail in minimalist design?
How did Schopenhauer believe suffering was positive and not negative?
Why is Schopenhauer’s philosophy important?
What is the difference between a “finite game” and an “infinite game”?
What are the two types of God?
Why did T.K. convert to Catholicism?
What does it mean to Peter to be a Christian?
How do you define “belief”?
How is Christianity a matter of lack and not excess?
What is the importance of labels?
What is “pyrotheology”?
How are the well-intentioned tenets of many religions corrupted by their practitioners?
What are your views regarding the atrocities committed in the name of religion?
What would Peter Rollins do if he won the lottery?
What is the lure of transgressive behaviors?
How do you address childhood traumas as an adult?
How do you define “trauma”?
What do you consider magical about live events?
What is a temporary autonomous zone?

Listen

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Happiness is a byproduct of wanting less.
Minimalism is a tool, not a prescription.
One man’s junk is usually another man’s junk, too.
A good story is the best gift.
Healing resides at the terminus of suffering.
A “human doing” is a downgrade from a human being.
Misery shows us how to let go.

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353 | Quitting Minimalism

In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists are joined by comedian Jamie Kilstein to talk about quitting minimalism, saying “no” to birthday gifts, and more. Listen to all three hours of episode 353 on The Minimalists Private Podcast: patreon.com/theminimalists

Discussed in this episode:

What is your perspective regarding people quitting minimalism?
Why do we often blame our problems on everything but ourselves?
What is “new-convert syndrome”?
What has helped you remain calm amid chaos?
How effective is therapy in recovering from toxic relationships?
How do we stop dwelling on former relationships?
How do we best manage our time so we can focus on what’s truly important?
What is “busyness”?
How do we most effectively minimize and organize our photo collections?
How do we tactfully refuse gifts?
What are T.K.’s three options regarding gifts?
What is the difference between natural desires and unnatural desires?
Can we buy back our freedoms?
What is “f-u minimalism”?
Is stand-up comedy dying?
What led Jamie to buy and return a Roomba?

Listen

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

You don’t need to let go if there’s nothing to hold on to.
You’ll find meaning when you stop looking for it.
Extinguish the fire before rebuilding your house.
Your priorities directly correspond with how you spend your time.
Not buying a thing is letting go in advance.
A relationship is not loving if it’s not honest.
A gift is not a gift if you are not allowed to let it go.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

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352 | The Expectations

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists are joined by musician Matt Nathanson to talk about the problem with expectations and assumptions. Listen to all three hours of episode 352 on The Minimalists Private Podcast: patreon.com/theminimalists

Discussed in this episode:

Why did T.K. Coleman join The Minimalists Podcast as the new cohost?
How can disagreement contribute positively to relationships?
Are we obligated to always attend the funerals of loved ones?
How do we let go of the fear we’ll forget memories in order to let go of sentimental items?
How does having duplicate items in multiple residences fit in the minimalist lifestyle?
How do we overcome passion burnouts?
How do you define “passion”?
What are the four pillars of passion?
What is the difference between minimalism and essentialism?
What is the distinction between biologically essential and psychologically optimal?
How do I accept my mother dating after the death of my father?
What is “chronological snobbery”?
How do novel ideas become cliches?
What is your perspective regarding hatred?
How can anger contribute positively to our lives?
What is the value in producers of goods charging subscriptions to use embedded features of their products?
How is greed not wholly negative?
Why will you not purchase brand-new office chairs again?
What reseller platforms do you find valuable?
How do you maintain a tidy kitchen?
What makes advertising bad?
Should I let go of my goal of an idealized life?
How do I build my business without inundating the public with promotions?
What should we consider when creating a business?
What is the Sunday Symposium?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Distractions are the weeds that grow out of boredom.
Every expectation is a roadblock on the highway to happiness.
It’s not the dream if it’s not your dream.
Minimalism is the natural state for human beings.
Competition confounds contentment.
I cut my worries in half by getting rid of half of my possessions.
The more things you have, the more things you have to worry about.

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “River”
Added Value: “Soundtrack”
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: The Courage to Be Disliked
Book: The Path of Least Resistance
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Event: Sunday Symposium
Listen: Boston Accent
Listen: Live Session
Patreon: Matt Nathanson
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Less Is Now
Website: How to Write Better
Website: Matt Nathanson

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351 | Funeral for Things

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists are joined by their new cohost, T.K. Coleman, to talk about dead things, dead relationships, and much more. Listen to all three hours of episode 351 on The Minimalists Private Podcast: patreon.com/theminimalists

Discussed in this episode:

Why did T.K. Coleman join The Minimalists Podcast as the new cohost?
How can disagreement contribute positively to relationships?
Are we obligated to always attend the funerals of loved ones?
How do we let go of the fear we’ll forget memories in order to let go of sentimental items?
How does having duplicate items in multiple residences fit in the minimalist lifestyle?
How do we overcome passion burnouts?
How do you define “passion”?
What are the four pillars of passion?
What is the difference between minimalism and essentialism?
What is the distinction between biologically essential and psychologically optimal?
How do I accept my mother dating after the death of my father?
What is “chronological snobbery”?
How do novel ideas become cliches?
What is your perspective regarding hatred?
How can anger contribute positively to our lives?
What is the value in producers of goods charging subscriptions to use embedded features of their products?
How is greed not wholly negative?
Why will you not purchase brand-new office chairs again?
What reseller platforms do you find valuable?
How do you maintain a tidy kitchen?
What makes advertising bad?
Should I let go of my goal of an idealized life?
How do I build my business without inundating the public with promotions?
What should we consider when creating a business?
What is the Sunday Symposium?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Letting go is the ultimate love language. —Joshua Fields Millburn
A possession is clutter when it ceases to add value. —Ryan Nicodemus
Passion does not exist without suffering. —T.K. Coleman
Nobody has the power to upset you, unless you hand them that power. —Joshua Fields Millburn
Minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things. —Ryan Nicodemus
Your heart can’t afford the damage caused by clinging. —T.K. Coleman
A funeral is a celebration of letting go. —The Minimalists

Mentioned in This Episode

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350 | Professional Organizers

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists discuss organizing, hoarding, and decluttering with professional organizer Dr. Julia Raz, and they answer the following questions:

When should you hire a professional organizer, and what should you look for in one?
What is a professional organizer?
How do I create a new space with a minimalist aesthetic when I move?
What is the crux of most couples’ disagreements?
How do I find the system of organization that works for me?
What questions help us get to the ‘why’ of decluttering?

Listen

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Organizing is not the solution—it is the problem.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Systems don’t create habits—actions do.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

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349 | Outgrowing Things

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists discuss outgrowing possessions, careers, cities, routines, habits, traditions, and relationships, they release a major announcement, and they answer the following questions:

How can you tell you’ve outgrown something?
What is the common denominator of outgrown things?
How do I move on from my past traumas so they have the least negative impact on my present self?
What is your perspective regarding trauma?
How do I move on from something without feeling I’m losing part of my identity?
Who is the new cohost of The Minimalists Podcast?

Listen

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Your identity is contaminated by the residue of the past.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“If we cling to the past, we get dragged from the present.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“We are defined by our character, not by our things.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Country Anywhere”
Added Value: Think on These Things
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Shawn Mihalik
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: How to Love
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists

348 | Decluttering Emotions

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists discuss emotional clutter with psychologist Dr. Susan David, and they answer the following questions:

What is optimum emotional health, and how do we achieve it?
How does acceptance help us manage our emotional state?
Can anger be productive?
How are emotions actually data?
How do emotions and values work together?
What is the ideal relationship between stimulus and response?
What is “fusion”?
What is the “readiness potential”?
How do we address overidentification with an emotion?
How do I silence the naysayers in my head?
What is the “amplification effect”?
What is the importance of self-compassion?
What is the difference between a “have-to” goal and a “want-to” goal?

Listen

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Emotions are like children: you can love them without letting them run the show.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Worry is punishment for something that hasn’t happened.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“The calm is waiting beneath the chaos.” —Ryan Nicodemus
“There’s no way out but from within.” —Oziris Shai

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Bunny Is a Rider”
Book: Emotional Agility
Book: Love People, Use Things
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Shawn Mihalik
Instagram: Minimalism Life
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
TikTok: Minimalism Life
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Dr. Susan David
Website: Minimalism Life

347 | The Minimalist Checklist

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists discuss ten ideal ways to simplify our lives, and they answer the following questions:

Where do we best start our decluttering odyssey?
What is “setting the stage”?
What is the “true cost” of an item?
What two ways do you recommend to save money on every purchase?
What platforms have you found reliable for selling unwanted items?
How do we effect positive change in our city’s policies regarding architectural aesthetics?
What is “wabi-sabi”?

Listen

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

Complexity is ugly; simplicity is beautiful.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“A madhouse is built with bricks of expectation.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Body”
Article: The Minimalism Checklist
Book: 15 Ways to Write Better
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Book: Permission Granted
Book: The 100 Thing Challenge
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Course: How to Write Better
Essay: 5 Questions to Ask Before Buying
Essay: Hell Yeah! or No
Essay: Packing Party
Essay: Play the 30-Day Minimalism Game
Essay: Screenless Saturdays
Event: Sunday Symposium
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Shawn Mihalik
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Listen: “Good Life”
Meetup: Minimalist.org
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: How to Love
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Wallpaper: The Minimalists
Watch: Less Is Now
Watch: Minimalism
Website: Melissa Camara Wilkins

346 | Starving Artists

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
What is the premise of Jeff’s book?
How does stubbornness help artists?
How does a hyper focus on details harm artists?
What is the importance of patrons for artists?
How do artists best actualize their dreams?
What is the best use of our creations that no longer hold any meaning for us—save for posterity, recycle, repurpose, trash?
How do I best manage my PR on social media so I have adequate time to produce my art?
What is the Sunday Symposium?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Needing a thing reduces one’s ability to enjoy that thing.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“The artist’s priority is art.” —Ryan Nicodemus
“Before you can create great art, you must first create yourself.” —Jeff Goins

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Lumina
Added Value: “Summertime”
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Real Artists Don’t Starve
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Course: How to Write Better
Essay: 40 Lessons from 40 Years
Essay: 1,000 True Fans
Event: Sunday Symposium
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Shawn Mihalik
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Political Clutter
Resources: The Minimalists
Review: The Minimalists Podcast
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: T.K. Coleman
Website: Jeff Goins

345 | Homeownership vs. Renting

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
Is there an age deadline for homeownership?
How do we determine which is more financially feasible for us between renting and buying?
What are “Zoomtowns”?
Do you consider tiny homes a viable homeownership option, particularly regarding resale value?
What should we look for in a community when we’re ready to plant roots?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“The quality of your neighborhood is determined not by home prices, but by the quality of your neighbors.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Ask not what your neighbor can do for you, but what you can do for your neighbor.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “It Would Be You”
Article: Price-to-Rent Ratio
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: Love People, Use Things
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Essay: For Your Consideration
Essay: Retirement Planning
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Shawn Mihalik
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Meetup: Minimalist.org
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Less Is Now
Watch: Minimalism
Website: Tammy Strobel

344 | Communication Problems

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
What are the four channels for cues?
What is the importance of congruence in our communication?
How are we most commonly misunderstood?
What are warm and confident words?
How do we organically incorporate mirroring into our communication?
How can you tell if someone is actively listening to you?
What are the two misconceptions about eye contact?
What is “Resting Bothered Face”?
What is “phubbing”?
What are “invitation cues”?
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?
What is “openness”?
What is the “Platinum Rule”?
Why is nonverbal communication so powerful?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Simple actions speak louder than bland natterings.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Actions talk—words balk.” —Ryan Nicodemus
“The body speaks the truth even when the mouth can’t.” —Ryan Nicodemus
“Everything we say involves everything we don’t say.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Girl America”
Book: Cues
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Course: How to Write Better
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Qonversation: Mat Kearney
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Vanessa Van Edwards
YouTube: Vanessa Van Edwards

343 | The Good Goods

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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”?
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?
What is “impact anxiety”?
What is “corporate social responsibility”?
Do dollar stores sell any high-quality items?
How has planned obsolescence changed our shopping habits?
What are the benefits of buying locally?
How do we find items that are high-quality and appropriately priced?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Everything is 100% off if you don’t buy it.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“The most sustainable item is the item that’s left on the shelf.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“When in doubt, go without.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Best of the Broken Things”
App: EWG Healthy Living
Article: 10 Socially Responsible Companies
Article: 12 Socially Responsible Companies
Article: 14 Socially Responsible Companies
Article: B Corporation
Article: Built Not to Last
Article: Costs of Shopping at Dollar Stores
Attend: The Ramsey Show
Book: 15 Ways to Write Better
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Book: The Every
Books: The Minimalists
Clothing: Suavs
Coffee: Press
Coffee: Woodburl
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Course: How to Write Better
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Minimalist Diets
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Less Is Now

342 | Near-Death Experiences

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
How many times has T.K. appeared on the podcast?
What near-death experience did T.K. experience recently, and what lessons did he take from it?
What mattered the most to you in your moment of crisis?
What effect did T.K.’s near-death experience have on his relationships?
What insights or enlightenment do near-death experiences yield?
Did T.K.’s near-death experience alter his views regarding minimalism?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“The world’s richest dead man is still dead.” —Ryan Nicodemus
“We waste our lives when we’re scared to death of death.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Near-death experiences help us avoid near-life experiences.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: The Every
Attend: The Ramsey Show
Book: Love People, Use Things
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Essay: A Glimpse of Death
Facebook: T.K. Coleman
Instagram: T.K. Coleman
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Revolution of 1
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Twitter: T.K. Coleman
Watch: Less Is Now
Website: T.K. Coleman

341 | The Dumpster Method

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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:

Why did you renovate The Minimalists podcast studio after its first year?
How do we tactfully approach a loved one regarding their maximalist lifestyle encroaching on our shared minimalist space?
What are the three reasons that we cling?
Why is striving for perfection such a fruitless pursuit?
How do we appropriately pass on personalized items?
How do I help loved ones let go of their attachment to things?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“We stop clinging when we start recognizing the abundance of our daily lives.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“The harder you try, the harder you fail.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: 25 °C
Art: Beulah
Article: What Can I Do with Old Trophies and Medals?
Book: Love People, Use Things
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Pinterest: Repurposing Trophies
Podcast: Consumer Regrets
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
YouTube: The Minimalists
YouTube: The Minimalists Podcast

340 | Grounding

Learning more about Earthing products: earthing.com/simple

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
How can grounding relieve much of our discomfort?
What are the most significant benefits of grounding, and what individuals would realize the most benefit from it?
What grounding tips do you have for individuals that use wheelchairs?
How did Clint come to recognize the personal benefits of grounding?
What are the best methods for grounding?
What is your perception regarding inflammation?
If grounding is so healthy, why does the professional medical community largely ignore it?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“The truth is the truth regardless of our beliefs.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Mainstream media prioritizes your attention over your well-being.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Earthing Products
Book: Earthing
Book: Love People, Use Things
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Down to Earth
Watch: The Earthing Movie
Watch: The Minimalists’ Studio Tours
Website: Clint Ober
Website: The Earthing Institute
Website: Ultimate Longevity

339 | Escaping the Excess

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
What are the three ways to gain acceptance?
How do we encourage others to break away from the excessive pursuits that are causing them to feel perpetually overwhelmed?
What is “POMO”?
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?
How do I stay focused on my obligations and responsibilities when my emotional clutter is constantly distracting me?
What is your perspective regarding personality?
How do I cut down on excessive screen time?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“If poisoned by excess, more poison will not save you.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“An app can’t take action—only you can take action.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “New Shoes”
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Book: The Every
Clothing: Suavs
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Explore: Enneagram
Instagram: T.K. Coleman
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Organize: Asana
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Twitter: T.K. Coleman
Watch: The Nothing App
Website: T.K. Coleman
Workshop: How to Write Better

338 | The Loneliness Epidemic

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
How do we intentionally practice solitude?
What is the difference between solitude and hiding?
How do we make friends as adults?
Is there any issue in striving to associate with like-minded individuals over open-minded individuals?
Where is the best place to find a long-term partner or spouse?
What are the differences between love, like, and lust?
How do I determine whether to keep a job I detest that makes me miserable, yet provides well for myself and my daughter?
How do we transition from an overabundance of acquaintances to fewer, more meaningful relationships?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Less isn’t always better, but too much is too much every time.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“It’s hard to be a friend when you are your own worst enemy.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Rothaniel
Attend: The Ramsey Show
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Own Your Past, Change Your Future
Community: Meetup.com
Community: Minimalist.org
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Instagram: Dr. John Delony
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: How to Write Better
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Meetup: Minimalist.org
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: How to Love
Podcast: Love People Use Things—Houston
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Twitter: Dr. John Delony
Website: The Dr. John Delony Show

337 | Generational Junk

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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”?
How do I help my parents minimize their hoard to live more simply when they’re resistant to do so?
How do we support our family members without accepting their donations of their possessions?
How do I appropriately rehome a family heirloom that is a historical artifact?

Listen

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Letting go of excess helps us hold on to what’s important.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“You needn’t own an object to experience it.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Novella”
Attend: The Ramsey Show
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: Love People, Use Things
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Course: How to Write Better
Essay: Play the 30-Day Minimalism Game
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: How to Write Better
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Meetup: Minimalist.org
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Calendar Clutter
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists

336 | Things That Matter

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
How do we discover our purposes?
Would you change your minimalist journeys based on what you know now?
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?
What does Joshua Becker recommend regarding vehicle purchases?
How do I reframe minimalism as merely a tool rather than a goal?
How do I ensure my needs are met along with those for which I’m a caregiver?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Our priorities are showcased not by what we say but by how we spend our days.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Personal boundaries protect boundless love.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Best Days”
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Things That Matter
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Contribute: The Hope Effect
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Consumer Regrets
Podcast: Erwin Raphael McManus
Podcast: Spartanism
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Joshua Becker
YouTube: Joshua Becker

335 | Consumer Regrets

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about purchases that lead to buyer’s remorse, and they answer the following questions:

Does regret serve us in any way?
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?
How do we recognize when we’re senselessly justifying a purchase that holds little to no actual benefit for us?
Do your children have any regrets?
What do we do when we experience buyer’s remorse with every purchase?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“If everything is valuable, then nothing is valuable.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Shame is tamed when guilt is jilted.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Starting to Get to You”
Article: Praise for Regret
Book: As a Decade Fades
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Contribute: Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap
Essay: 5 Questions to Ask Before Buying
Essay: This Much Debt Is Gross!
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Meetup: Minimalist.org
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Love People Use Things | NYC
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Wallpapers: The Minimalists
Watch: Maggie Rogers and Pharrell Williams
Wikipedia: Buyer’s Remorse

334 | Kitchen Clutter

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
What is a Thermapen?
Why are glass containers better for storage than plastic containers?
What is the value of the cast-iron skillet in the kitchen?
What are the pros and cons of the microwave?
What are the benefits of sous vide?
What are the dangers of using kitchen items with nonstick coatings?
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?
How do we ensure we keep the appropriate amount of food on hand for our household?
How do we efficiently and effectively cook in tiny kitchens?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Countertop clutter constrains creativity in the kitchen.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“It’s not the size of the space that matters, it’s how you use it.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Rollercoaster”
Book: Genius Foods
Book: Genius Kitchen
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Max Lugavere
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Expired Things
Podcast: Love People Use Things | NYC
Podcast: Max Lugavere
Podcast: The Genius Life
Recipe: Chicken Wings
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Max Lugavere
YouTube: Max Lugavere

333 | Movement

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
How do our postural patterns affect our overall health?
What is the “55-38-7 Principle”?
Is sitting for long periods unhealthy?
What movements during daily office work are beneficial?
What is the most ideal sitting position?
What is the value of stillness?
What are the most appropriate workspace ergonomics for those that spend long hours at desks?
How do we best relax?
How important is appropriate breathing?
What is “learned helplessness”?
How do we reevaluate our movements?
What is “piezoelectricity”?
What is “parasitic tension”?

Listen

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Your body is not the problem—what you are doing to your body is the problem.” —Aaron Alexander
“A sedentary body produces a restless mind.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Movement is medicine.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Dancing with the Devil”
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: The Align Method
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Brian Mackenzie
Podcast: The Align Podcast
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Wim Hof
Website: Aaron Alexander

332 | Clutter Coffins

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
What do you consider “clutter coffins”?
When are storage units useful?
What is the average profit margin of the storage industry?
What does the phrase “Be present” mean to you?
How do I reconcile my love of scrapbooking and its requisite accoutrements with my striving to live a minimalist lifestyle?
What is “legalism”?
What is your perspective regarding the zero-waste movement?
What are the origins of spring cleaning?
How do my partner and I determine how much stuff we should actually save for our future child?
How do you determine what is worth storing?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Organizing is well-planned hoarding.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Understanding the why helps you realize the how.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Die Alone”
Article: Self-Storage Industry Stats and Trends
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Essay: Play the 30-Day Minimalism Game
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Just in Case
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists

331 | Sustainable Living

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
How biodegradable are biodegradable plastics?
What are the pros and cons of plastic?
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?
What is your perspective regarding sustainability?
What is the “circular economy”?
How much does farming crops damage the environment compared to farming meat?
How do we frame sustainable living to interest non-environmentalists?

Listen

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Living with less is the best way to live with more.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Convincing is not consent.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

330 | Too Much Stuff

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about how much stuff is enough stuff, and how much stuff is too much stuff, and they answer the following questions:

How do we avoid apathy when we’re sorting generations of stuff?
What does “letting go” mean to you?
When you have too much stuff, how do you determine what to let go and where to send it—yard sale, online consignment, donation center, or, very worst-case scenario, landfill?
What is The Minimalists’ process for letting go?
How do we appropriately address a loved one’s consumerism that causes us discomfort?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“The stuff doesn’t make us miserable—clinging to stuff does.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Judgment is a mirror that reflects our own insecurities.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Rich”
Book: Essential
Book: Love People, Use Things
Essay: My 288 Things
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists’ Current
Tour: The Minimalists’ Previous

329 | Simple Pets

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about simple pets with Dr. Karen Shaw Becker and Rodney Habib, authors of The Forever Dog, and they answer the following questions:

Do humans actually need pets?
What does the acronym “DOGS” represent?
How many pets are too many?
What is a puppy scam?
What is genetic deletion?
What is a healthy diet for pets?
How do we ensure a superlative longevity for our pets’ lives?
How do I address my spouse’s frustrations with a pet when I get value from the companionship and care of the pet but they do not?
How much exercise does my pet need?
How do we ensure we don’t become totally consumed by our pet guardian identities?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Our identities are shaped by the stories we tell ourselves.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Our identities cannot hide us from ourselves.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

328 | Annoying Purchases

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
Why do sales seem particularly pernicious now?
What are the two kinds of surprise purchases?
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?
Are we being too dismissive of new technology that seems to promote sedentary lifestyles but could be incredibly helpful to the physically challenged?
How do we get our partners to include us in the purchasing processes of significant items?
How do you define “compassion”?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“To be on the same page, you must first read from the same book.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Compassion is the key to understanding others.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

327 | THIS

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists question the beliefs, opinions, and worldviews that have shaped all of us with Michael Gungor, author of THIS, and they answer the following questions:

Why did Michael write THIS?
Why does getting everything we want often bring misery instead of joy?
How do we determine if a belief no longer serves us?
What does “belief” mean to you?
How do our beliefs form?
How do you break the constant collective mindset of depression and anxiety when you grew up in a family that believed it was simply an ever-present state of being?
How do you define “anxiety”?
Did Michael discover a deeper truth through his experience with different religions?
What is your perspective regarding truth?
What does it mean to “add value”?
If I’ve given everything I can to please those I must please in my profession, what more can I do to show my commitment to the cause?
What does “need” mean to you?
How do we determine when a struggle has become futile and move on?
What are your thoughts regarding the ego?
What does “heaven” and “hell” mean to you?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“To move on, drop whatever is weighing you down.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“To let go is to be free.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “I Am Mountain”
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: The Smell of Rain on Dust
Book: THIS
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Links: Michael Gungor
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Peter Rollins
Podcast: JP Sears
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists

326 | Panic Buying

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about the psychology behind panic buying, and they answer the following questions:

What causes panic buying?
What are the causes of supply-chain shortages?
What have you seen purchased in recent panic-buying frenzies?
When might it be appropriate to panic?
Is it ever advisable to simply save money for medical emergencies rather than spending that money monthly on health insurance?
Can everything be negotiated?
Do other countries respond to crises with panic buying similar to the United States?
Where is the line between preparation and hoarding?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“You won’t have enough until you know what enough is.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“The simple things aren’t the easy things.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: A Man Named Scott
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Listen: “Day ‘N’ Nite”
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Emergency Items
Podcast: T.K. Coleman
Podcast: Jay Nash
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists

325 | The Cluttered Mind

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists discuss the physical clutter that is created by mental clutter with Dr. Amishi Jha, and they answer the following questions:

What are the ideal steps to reduce mental clutter?
How do we refine our attention?
What is the “Find Your Flashlight Practice”?
How do we let go of sentimental stuff that has continuously piled up for decades and is physically and mentally holding us back?
How do we wind up emotionally attached to stuff?
How do we appropriately develop new habits?
What is “contingent reality”?
How do you maintain mindfulness in the corporate world amid the constant bombardment of demands from obligations and responsibilities?
What is “task switching”?
How do we enjoy wholly disconnecting in our free time without feeling like we’ve wasted time?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“A mind is a terrible thing to clutter.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“A quiet mind is a clutter-free mind.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Stay Alive”
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Peak Mind
Essay: Packing Party
Essay: Play the 30-Day Minimalism Game
Essay: The Sound of Life
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Dr. Amishi Jha

324 | Just in Case

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists discuss the three most dangerous words in the world—Just. In. Case.—and they answer the following questions:

Should I hold on to collectibles so I can pass them on to my children if they become valuable?
How do I address a hoard of just-in-case items I’ve stashed for use at work?
How can boundaries help with just-in-case items?
How do you address the ‘I-told-you-so’ crowd regarding just-in-case items you purged that you must purchase again?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“If you ever regret letting go, you can simply let go of the regret.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“I would deeply regret if I died with no regrets.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

323 | Nihilism

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists are joined by philosopher Peter Rollins to discuss nihilism, despair, anger, and depression, and they answer the following questions:

How are nihilism and minimalism related?
Is Fight Club’s Tyler Durden an example of nihilism?
What did Nietzsche mean by the “death of God”?
What started the recent rise in nihilism?
Is anger merely unrealized expectations?
What is the “belief through the other”?
How do you define “fundamentalism”?
Are nihilism and pessimism the same perspective?
How do we overcome pessimism?
What would cause someone to become a nihilist?
Why did Nietzsche believe we must all experience the death of God?
What is “dialectics”?
How do I help myself and my children adequately recover and move on after the death of their father ‬and the disintegration of my second marriage?
What are “beta-elements”?
What is an “alpha function”?
What is your perspective regarding “symptoms”?
What is the value of a psychotherapist for those of us struggling with issues?
How do you find new meaning in life when the meaning you wanted is no longer an option?
How do you define “depression”?
What is the “object cause of desire”?
How do you define “love”?
How do you address a void?
Why do you consider Los Angeles the most religious place in the world?
What is “leveling”?
What is the difference between a problem and a mystery?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“A meaningful life resides at the intersection of devotion and love.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“If there’s no meaning of life, there’s still meaning in life.” —Peter Rollins

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: The Tree of Life
Book: Fight Club
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Man’s Search for Meaning
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: The Fundamentalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Peter Rollins

322 | Paper Clutter

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and The Minimalists’ team talk about dealing with paper clutter, including bills, mail, receipts, taxes, photos, books, pamphlets, files, contracts, letters, and other random paperwork, and they answer the following questions:

What documents are essential to keep?
What companies do you recommend for scanning physical photos and storing them in the cloud?
What are the most effective methods for organizing important paper documents in the office?
What resources do you use to keep paper clutter from ever entering your homes?
Where do I begin tackling a monster of paper clutter that threatens to eat up an inordinate amount of time?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“How would your life be better with less clutter?” —Joshua Fields Millburn

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Alone at Prom
Added Value: Popular Mechanics
App: PaperKarma
Book: Love People, Use Things
Cloud: Box
Cloud: Dropbox
Cloud: Google Drive
Cloud: iCloud
Essay: Day 15 | Finances
Essay: Photo-Scanning Party
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Photos: 1DollarScan
Photos: DigitalMemories
Photos: EverPresent
Photos: GoPhoto
Photos: ScanCafe
Photos: ScanDigital
Photos: ScanMyPhotos
Podcast: Book Clutter
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists

321 | An Evening of Less

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists are joined by T.K. Coleman in Atlanta to discuss minimalism with purpose, resolving conflict, and creating a “social budget,” and they answer the following questions:

When have you found telling the truth problematic?
Is minimalism a Western solution for overconsumption?
Why are so many so consumed with consumption?
What is the “American Dream”?
What makes us singularly human?
What is minimalism to you?
How do you appropriately resolve conflict with loved ones in a family business?
How do you define “love”?
What is your perspective regarding power?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Be willing to stand alone for the sake of taking a stand.” —T.K. Coleman
“All conflict is self-conflict.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Trying to change someone means you hate who they are.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

Mentioned in This Episode

Book: Love People, Use Things
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Revolution of 1
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: T.K. Coleman

320 | Identity Clutter

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan are joined by counselor, podcaster, and author Ian Morgan Cron to discuss identity clutter and the outdated stories people tell themselves, and they answer the following questions:

How do you start rewriting your story when you feel overwhelmed and insecure about who you are and who you want to be?
What does the acronym “SOAR” represent?
What is “act as-if”?
How do you discover your true identity after traumatically losing your societal identities?
What is the difference between a role and an identity?
How can the Enneagram help us discover ourselves?
How do you define “personality”?
What is the role of self-awareness in personality and in identity?
How do beliefs become problematic?
How do I find peace with who I am?
How do you define “shame”?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Enough is enough when you decide it’s enough.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“We accept ourselves as soon as our actions align with our values.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Book: Love People, Use Things
Books: The Road Back to You
Book: The Story of You
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Typology
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Ian Morgan Cron

319 | Toxic Hustle Culture

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
What is the difference between “hurry” and “hustle”?
How do you define “productive”?
What is the fatal flaw of hustle culture?
How can we break free of hustle culture?
How do you appropriately address burnout with yourself or an employer before it reaches the point of no return?
How do I set appropriate boundaries in my profession?
After leaving an extraordinarily stressful career, how do I resist the temptation to take on another one for “success” and wealth?

Listen

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“What others think, what others believe, what others expect—these are bars to a prison cell; to break free, you must realize that those bars are lining their cage, not yours—you can walk away at any point.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“When you sacrifice your contentment, all that remains is discontentment.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: How to Mew in 5 Steps
Article: The Toxicity of Hustle Culture
Book: Love People, Use Things
Books: The Road Back to You
Book: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Book: The Story of You
Essay: Nobody Has the Power to Upset You
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Erwin Raphael McManus

318 | Eleven Simple Years

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about what they’ve learned, how they’ve grown, and in what ways they’ve subtracted since they started The Minimalists eleven years ago, and they answer the following questions:

How has your understanding of, and approach toward, minimalism developed over the last eleven years?
Why does minimalism seem radical?
How do we address our issue with clinging?
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about consumerism?
What is the “god-shaped hole”?
Based on your eleven years of experience in minimalism, what advice do you have for those of us starting on our minimalism journey at an older age?
Is deprivation helpful?
If you had the power to make everyone a minimalist, would you do it?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“To persuade someone is to unlove them.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“I’d rather empower someone than exert power over someone.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Book: Love People, Use Things
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Compulsive Decluttering
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Minimalism
Website: Beulah
Website: Joshua Becker

317 | The Consumer Cult

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan speak with Amanda Montell, author of Cultish, about what makes a cult a cult, and they answer the following questions:

Who decides whether a cult is a cult?
Are cults strictly negative?
Is CrossFit a cult?
How do otherwise reasonable people fall susceptible to cults?
What are the characteristics of a cult?
What is the “thought-terminating cliche”?
What are the “exit costs” of cults?
What are some red flags to look for regarding cults?
Why does it seem the US is replete with cults?
How do cults start?
What is the “cult of consumerism”?
How do cult members not see how it’s hurting them when it’s so obvious to everyone else?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Every dogma comes prepackaged with a blindfold.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“A self-righteous person is unable to see the truth.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Book: Cultish
Book: Love People, Use Things
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Sounds Like a Cult
Podcast: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Amanda Montell

316 | Christmas Gifts

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about giving gifts, getting gifts, and sometimes refusing gifts as a minimalist during Christmastime, and they answer the following questions:

How do I address the guilt I feel when I don’t get a Christmas gift for someone that expected one?
Can gift-giving be a love language?
What are some clutter-free gift ideas?
What are the three types of fun?
What is the minimalist approach to Christmas stockings?
What are some good charities for children?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Dispossession drives discontentment.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Don’t let your Christmas be consumed by peer-pressured purchasing.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Article: Top 6 Children’s Charities
Blog: This Is the Year
Book: Cultish
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Book: Things That Matter
Gifts: 52 Clutter-free Gifts
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: No Chill
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: The Bergamot
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Less Is Now
Watch: Minimalism

315 | Expired Things

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about expired food, expired medications, expired possessions, and expired daily habits, and they answer the following questions:

How can we appropriately manage the expiration dates of everything in our lives?
Is the expiration date listed on food the last day it can be used?
How do I appropriately let go of perishable items that no longer serve me, especially when there was a degree of expense involved?
What do you consider clutter?
What can we do about expired sources of content, such as a blog with dated viewpoints, narratives, and opinions?
How do we determine when we’ve entered a new season in life and it’s time to let go of hobbies, friendships, and dreams of past seasons?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Less content, more contentment.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Clinging corrupts contentment.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Follow Me Around”
Article: Food Expiration Dates
Article: Food Expiration Dates: What to Know
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Instagram: Mallory French
Instagram: Emma Krebs
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Fit Soul
Podcast: Spontaneous Combustion
Podcast: The Curious One Podcast
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists

314 | Luxury Items

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about so-called luxury items—desiring them, purchasing them, clinging to them, understanding them, and letting go of them—and they answer the following questions:

How do you define “luxury item”?
How do we differentiate between luxury, elegance, and trendy?
As my fiance and I are creating our wedding registry, how do we ensure we don’t fall into the trap of exploiting the kindness of others for luxury items that will just fill the areas we just decluttered?
What is “expensive pain”?
What is an “alternative registry”?
Is crowdsourcing a reasonable way to fund a honeymoon?
Why do some pursue luxury instead of living within their means?
What is “low-grade misery”?
What is the ultimate luxury?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“The thing you want is never the thing you want.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“The less we own, the less we’re owned.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: RenewLifeRx
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Essay: The Boundaries of Discontent
Instagram: Emma Krebs
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Adam Lamb
Podcast: Minimalist Weddings
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
YouTube: The Minimalists

313 | Paycheck to Purpose

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about earning a living doing work that matters with career expert, author, and Ramsey personality Ken Coleman, and they answer the following questions:

Do I have to have a “purpose” at work?
What three elements make up one’s purpose?
Must a purpose be a lofty pursuit?
What do you recommend as the best options for making money on the road for those of us that want to travel and see the world?
How do I balance pursuing a purpose with the responsibilities and obligations of being a parent and a spouse?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Human worth is not determined by net worth.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“A paycheck will help you survive, but a purpose will help you thrive.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

312 | Spontaneous Combustion

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan discuss The Minimalists’ Spontaneous Combustion Rule as it applies to material possessions, relationships, and homes, and they answer the following questions:

What is the Spontaneous Combustion Rule?
How do we determine when it’s appropriate to let go of friendships, and how do we address the aftermath of loneliness when there are no new friendships to fill the void?
What are the three types of relationships?
How do we address the overwhelm we feel from others’ stuff when we’re living in an environment that’s not our own?
How do we know if the desire to move to a new place that may “fit us better” is a genuine feeling and not just escapism?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Running toward is the opposite of running away.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“You can run from anyone—except yourself.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Earthing
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Instagram: Emma Krebs
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jessica Williams
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Meetup: Meetup.com
Meetup: Minimalist.org
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Ultimate Longevity

311 | Wisdom

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan are joined by Ryan’s wife, Mariah, on the occasion of his 40th birthday, and they talk about the wisdom that accompanies midlife maturity, as well as answer the following questions:

When do maturity, wisdom, and knowledge best align?
What is Ryan’s favorite dinner?
How have your needs in a romantic partnership changed as you move toward your 40s?
What is “whataboutism”?
How has responding instead of reacting helped your relationship?
Are Ryan and Mariah always in agreement regarding their minimalist practices; and, if not, how do they find compromise with one another?
How do you find equilibrium in your relationship when an individual is on their minimalist journey but their partner is not?
What is the “hedonic treadmill”?
What guests have you had at your tour stops?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“It takes two to tangle.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Compliance is not a prerequisite for love.” —Ryan Nicodemus
“Their journey is not your journey.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

310 | Self-Doubt

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about inner conflict, self-doubt, and self-hatred with author, speaker, and attorney Mel Robbins, and they answer the following questions:

How do I rebuild my relationship with myself?
What is the most important relationship in our life?
What moment led to the High Five Habit?
Why do most mantras not work?
How did you keep from blaming yourselves and beating yourselves up for the failure of your marriages, and how did you restore your confidence in starting new relationships afterward?
What does a high five represent?
Can thinking about yourself negatively actually benefit you positively?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“You would break up with anyone who treats you as poorly as you treat yourself.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Be careful what you think because thoughts turn into opinions, opinions turn into beliefs, beliefs turn into ideologies, and ideologies turn into dogma.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Self-love extinguishes the flame of self-hate.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Sleepless in Seattle”
App: The High 5 Challenge
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: The High Five Habit
Instagram: Emma Krebs
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: How to Love
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Mel Robbins

309 | Something More

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about finding something more compelling than material possessions, and they answer the following questions:

Why is Salt Lake City one of Joshua’s favorite cities?
How do I explain to my children the importance of curating their toys in terms they’ll understand?
How do I let go of a relationship I didn’t end?
Why am I relentlessly searching for the next thing that will improve my life, and how do I better channel that energy?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Letting go doesn’t make you happy; it makes room for what’s important.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“To let go is to love.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Doing less isn’t about the doing; it’s about the less.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Happiness doesn’t come from addition; it is uncovered with subtraction.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Dear preppers: you can’t trade canned corn for the love of a community.” —Ryan Nicodemus
“The only person’s love you need is your own.” —Ryan Nicodemus
“How you spend your time is more important than how you spend your money.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

308 | Clinging to Things

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about trading in our materialistic clinging for transcendent freedom with author, podcaster, and comedian Lisa Lampanelli, and they answer the following questions:

How do you define “humor”?
What is the “United States of Avoidance”?
When life changes your path, how do you stop clinging to the hope you once had?
How do we accept the death of a dream?
What do you mean by “daring to suck”?
Is it helpful to simply treat our passions as hobbies until they pay the bills?
How did Lisa get her start in comedy?
When a loved one has passed, how do I honor their final wishes as executor and appropriately distribute the possessions they clung to when they did not leave specific instructions for doing so?
How do you stop clinging to the security of a job simply because it pays well?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Love begins at the place where clinging ends.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“‘Security’ is a misnomer. So is ‘good.’” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Sincere actions arise from sincere desires.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Ok Ok”
Book: Grieving Is Loving
Book: Love People, Use Things
Essay: Play the 30-Day Minimalism Game
Instagram: Emma Krebs
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: The Minimalists
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Joanne Cacciatore
Podcast: Losers with a Dream
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Less Is Now
Watch: Minimalism
Website: Lisa Lampanelli

307 | Sound of Simplicity

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about calm, serenity, and the sound of simplicity with musician Andrew Belle, and they answer the following questions:

How do we find serenity in the echoes of our decluttered spaces?
If you’re living a life that aligns with your values, why would it be necessary to take a vacation from it to find solace and silence?
Is there any evidence that overconsumption of podcasts or other informative audio is linked to anxiety?
How do we move closer to access and further from excess?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Peace cannot be created—it is already there beneath the chaos.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Too much is always too much.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Inside Voices”
Book: Love People, Use Things
Essay: Play the 30-Day Minimalism Game
Instagram: Emma Krebs
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Listen: Black Bear
Listen: Dive Deep
Listen: Nightshade
Listen: “Shorthand”
Listen: “Swimmers”
Pandora: Andrew Belle
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Stemma
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Andrew Belle

306 | Shopping Addiction

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about resisting the incessant tug of consumerism while striving to simplify, and they answer the following questions:

How do we overcome our shopping addiction?
What are the three prime indicators of compulsive buying?
What is consumerism?
When does something become an addiction?
Why do people have shopping addictions?
When creating a capsule wardrobe and running up against challenges regarding durability, should we buy more clothes at once or purchase clothes more often?
What is Project 333?
How do I adjust my shopping habits so they better align with my minimalist practices?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Clutter doesn’t make you discontented—chasing contentment through consumerism does.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“The ‘how’ is most useful after you understand the ‘why.’” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Personal Shopper”
Article: What Is Compulsive Buying Disorder?
Book: Love People, Use Things
Essay: Changing Your Life Won’t Change Your Life
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
TikTok: The Minimalists
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Project 333

305 | Beauty Is Essential

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about removing the excess to expose the everyday beauty that’s all around us with author, podcaster, and pastor Erwin Raphael McManus, and they answer the following questions:

What exactly is “beauty”?
Can beauty help us find peace?
How do we discover and incorporate singular beautiful accents and items throughout our homes while maintaining a simple, minimalist style?
What is the value of negative space?
How do we find the beauty inside ourselves, and then be content with it?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Are you wearing that shirt, makeup, and jacket for you, or are you wearing it to meet someone’s else’s expectation?” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“The path to misery is paved with comparison.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Scars”
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: The Genius of Jesus
Coffee: Bandit Coffee Co.
Coffee: Trade
Explore: Stahl House
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Listen: Less Is Now
Listen: Minimalism
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Battle Ready
Podcast: The Genius Of
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Less Is Now
Website: Erwin Raphael McManus
Website: Mosaic

304 | Toxic Positivity

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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”?
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?
Where did the ‘good vibes only’ orthodoxy originate?
Why does complaining seem to encourage camaraderie?
What is the problem with the language of positivity?
What is “horizon work”?
What is “choice poor”?
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”?
How do you define “elitism”?
What is “prudential wisdom”?
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?
What is “limited agency”?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Self-pity is the bedrock of toxic certainty.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Our emotions are mountains: the peaks create the valleys.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Highway Anxiety”
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: No Cure for Being Human
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Everything Happens
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Tour Trailer
Website: Kate Bowler

303 | Recluttering

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about how to avoid recluttering our lives with new possessions, burdens, and obligations once we’ve excised our excess, and they answer the following questions:

What is “recluttering”?
How do we address recluttering with loved ones and roommates who seem to see our clean spaces as places to dump their stuff that doesn’t have a home?
How do we ensure the items we bring back into our homes after decluttering don’t become recluttering?
How do I figure out my ‘why’ for recluttering?
What’s problematic about having options?
How do you define “consumerism”?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“The stuff doesn’t fill the emotional void—it widens it.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Mo’ possessions, mo’ problems.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “ISEFY”
Book: 11 Ways to Write Better
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Book: Rediscovering Life
Clubhouse: The Minimalists
Course: How to Write Better
Instagram: Beaulah
Instagram: Shawn Mihalik
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Hoarders
Podcast: Nourish Balance Thrive
Podcast: The Void
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Less Is Now
Watch: Minimalism
Website: Evan Cox
Website: Goldmorning
Website: L.A. Sound Panels

302 | The Advice Epidemic

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan discuss our escalating advice epidemic as our society swells with scores of well-meaning people advising other people on what they are supposed to do, and they answer the following questions:

What are ‘shoulds’?
What possesses some people to insist on giving others unsolicited advice?
How can we provide appropriate advice and/or guidance to loved ones to alter behaviors that are impacting us negatively?
How do our expectations complicate things?
How do we critically evaluate all the ‘shoulds’ out there and take what works for each of us?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“The Truth does not require persuasion, coaxing, or coercion—it is the Truth whether you are convinced or not.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“There are no ‘shoulds’—only ‘coulds.’ —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Pressure Machine”
Book: Love People, Use Things
Clubhouse: The Minimalists
Essay: Packing Party
Essay: Play the 30-Day Minimalism Game
Essay: The Advice Epidemic
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists

301 | Computer Clutter

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about all the digital clutter on our computers, phones, tablets, and other devices taking up space on our hard drives and in our minds, and they answer the following questions:

What are the benefits of not having digital clutter taking up space in your mind?
What is the Diderot effect?
What do you define as ‘digital clutter’?
Where do we start in addressing digital clutter to ensure we stay focused and motivated and not get overwhelmed with all of it?
As an avid gamer, how do I ensure I don’t let my enthusiasm and passion for gaming turn into clutter with all of the games and consoles available, and how do I ensure it doesn’t consume me to the detriment of my relationships?
How about a basic overview of how to manage it all: emails, documents, photos?
How can overwhelm actually help us?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Doing less is not about the doing—it’s about the less.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Every upgrade is, in some way, a downgrade.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Life Got Crazy”
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Essay: Questions to Ask Before Purchasing
Essay: Your Five Most Precious Resources
Explore: Love People Use Things Challenge
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists

300 | Compulsive Decluttering

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about the perniciousness of compulsive decluttering (aka obsessive-compulsive spartanism) on the occasion of their 300th episode, and they answer the following questions:

What is spartanism?
Hoarding, spartanism, ad nauseum—must we diagnose everything?
How do we recognize and respect the challenges of others?
How could letting go of everything be a bad thing?
How do we ensure our decluttering doesn’t trigger other compulsive behaviors; for instance, the compulsion to constantly check our phones for notifications when we’re trying to sell what we decluttered?
What is the “art of noticing”?
When does minimalism turn into compulsive decluttering or obsessive-compulsive spartanism—what signs do we look for?

Listen

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“The inability to let go is a problem; so is the inability to hold on.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“A life without values is an undervalued life.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Knight of Cups
Book: Love People, Use Things
Essay: How to Understand Your Values
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Danny Unknwn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Collecting Is Well-Planned Hoarding
Podcast: Hoarders
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Twitter: The Minimalists

299 | Minimizers

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about “summer simplifying,” and they answer the following questions:

Which moniker won in your audience poll—“simpletons” or “minimizers”?
Where do you start when your entire home needs decluttering?
What is the most important thing to do to get started?
How do we get our children to participate in decluttering?
How do I break my emotional and sentimental attachment to my collection of books, and how do I appropriately curate my collection and recycle the books I don’t keep?
What is the Enneagram?
What do we do with items that have a sentimental attachment?

Listen

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“If everything is sentimental, then everything loses its sentiment.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“It’s not worth it when the cost of your sentiment is your sanity.” —Ryan Nicodemus
“They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.” —Confucious

Mentioned in This Episode

298 | Talk to Someone

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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?
What is “idiot compassion” compared to “wise compassion”?
What is self-sabotage, and how can we identify and address its manifestation in us?
What is the most important phase of change?
What is the most challenging part of change?
Why should someone schedule a session with a therapist?
What key power can therapy give us?
What do we do when cost is an impediment to mental healthcare?
What are the downsides of trying to help others change?
What mantras, self-talk, meditations, et cetera, have helped keep you focused, centered, and positive when addressing significant life challenges?
In their lives, to whom do most people talk the most?
How do we give ourselves self-compassion?
How do we get past childhood traumas and disappointments?
What is “forced forgiveness”?
Must we forgive to move on?
How do we handle pride appropriately?
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?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“To love someone is to see them for who they are without trying to change them.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“To accept is more loving than to expect.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

App: iBreathe
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Book: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone Workbook
Column: Dear Therapist
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Talk with Zach
Instagram: Jess Williams
Listen: “Earthquake Weather”
Listen: “Vax That Thang Up”
Meetup: Minimalist.org
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Dear Therapists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Change Your Story, Change Your Life
Website: Lori Gottlieb

297 | Minimalism Rules

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about the minimalism rules that have helped simplify their lives, and they answer the following questions:

How valuable are rules?
How important are boundaries?
Once I only have my essential items, how do I keep them from wearing out quickly?
How is minimalism not a destination?
What is our language problem?
How effective is it to reverse clothes hangers to minimize a wardrobe?
Is it helpful to restrict the amount of clothes hangers to create an appropriate wardrobe?
How do you develop and maintain the discipline needed to stick to your minimalism rules or other habits you’re trying to establish?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Habit changes don’t work as well as lifestyle changes.” —Ryan Nicodemus
“Once you understand the ‘why,’ the ‘how’ takes care of itself.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Shot in the Dark”
Bonus: Love People, Use Things
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Instagram: Beaulah
Instagram: Danny Martinez
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Fake Famous
Podcast: Fashion Obsession
Podcast: The Symbiosis of Love
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Twitter: JFM
Watch: Less Is Now

296 | Use Things

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about healing our relationships with stuff, truth, self, values, money, creativity, and people with podcaster and Director of Entrepreneurial Education for FEE, T.K. Coleman, and they answer the following questions:

What gave you the inspiration for Love People, Use Things?
Do we learn more from those that have been redeemed, or from those that have led “perfect” lives?
How did the line blur so much between private lives and public lives?
How do I reconcile with my minimalist values when I must trash items I no longer use that can’t be donated, recycled, or upcycled?
What is the true cost of things?
How do I justify to my minimalist self that it’s okay to have numerous accoutrements for several hobbies that bring me joy?
What separates minimalism from dogmatism?
How do I rejuvenate my creativity when I’m overwhelmed by burnout?
How do we avoid falling into maintenance mode as creatives?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“We do not create because we know that our ideas will live on; we create because creativity is part and parcel of what it means to be fully alive.” —T.K. Coleman
“Creativity is essential, consumerism is not.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Show me your calendar and I’ll show you your priorities.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Love Is Christmas”
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Essay: How to Let Go of Possessions
Facebook: T.K. Coleman
Instagram: T.K. Coleman
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Meetup: Minimalist.org
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Revolution of 1
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Twitter: T.K. Coleman
Twitter: Joshua Fields Millburn
Watch: Less Is Now
Website: T.K. Coleman
Website: FEE

295 | Fake Famous

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan discuss the perils of pursuing fame, clout, and attention in today’s insta-world with director Nick Bilton and artist Chris Bailey of HBO’s Fake Famous, and they answer the following questions:

Why did Nick make a film about fake fame?
What constitutes actual fame?
What impact is social media having on our children?
How has Chris’s life changed since the film?
Why do the people who just post photos of themselves in skimpy outfits and pouts get five million followers, yet the people who actually have something meaningful to say get only a handful of followers?
What is the number one photo opportunity in L.A. for influencers?
What is an “Instagram vacation”?
If maintaining social media accounts is part of our daily work, how do we incorporate minimalism to ensure our use is intentional, appropriate, and valuable?
What value have you gotten from social media?
Has the experience of the global pandemic actually helped us get away from our glowing screens?
What is the prime purpose of social media?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“To discover what matters, we must understand what doesn’t.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Our children are influenced by what we do, not what we say.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: 1OffProject
Article: Being a Billionaire Is a Lot Harder Than It Looks
Book: Hatching Twitter
Book: Love People, Use Things
Explore: Light Phone
Instagram: 1OffProject
Instagram: Chris Bailey
Instagram: Nick Bilton
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: Virtual Event
Twitter: Nick Bilton
Watch: Fake Famous

294 | Birthday Gifts

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about gift-getting, gift-giving, and birthday celebrations for adults and kids alike with podcaster and Registered Dietitian Rebecca Shern, and they answer the following questions:

What does Joshua want for his birthday?
Why do we never seem to know what we truly want?
Instead of spending lots of money and giving expensive gifts, what are some meaningful ways to celebrate birthdays?
How do you celebrate your child’s birthday?
What if gift-giving is one of my love languages?
How do you celebrate your birthday?
Is gift-giving just a matter of simply asking others what they want?
How do we appropriately address a loved one who insists on giving us gifts when we’ve asked them countless times not to, and do we tell them that we’ve actually given away most of the gifts they’ve given us?
How do my spouse and I address the societal expectations of others regarding our choice of participation in traditional gift-giving events, such as birthdays and Christmas?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Instead of saying ‘no’ to gifts, say ‘yes’ to experiences.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Going with the flow will lead you to the falls.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “To Love Forever”
Book: Essential
Book: Love People, Use Things
Charity: GiveWell
Essay: Off-the-Rack Self-Righteousness
Essay: Love Is More
Instagram: Minimal Wellness
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: How to Love
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: How to Love
Resources: The Minimalists
Review: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Website: Minimal Wellness

293 | Starting Over

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about how minimalism, in more ways than one, is about starting over with less, and they answer the following questions:

How do we start over?
As I’m letting everything go and starting over, how do I explain it to my friends and family who think I am crazy or terminally ill?
What advice do you have for those of us dealing with the stress and anxiety of being forced to start over professionally after being let go from our jobs?
What is absolutely essential?
What two questions should we ask ourselves when we’re considering a fresh start?
How important is an emergency fund when you’re starting over?
Is starting over simply a matter of considering a new direction?
When you’re starting over from scratch and you realize you can’t do it alone, how do you get over your pride and ask others for help?
What is the difference between enhancement and dependency?
Why should we give money rather than loan money?
When you’re starting over with nothing, how do you live without sentimental stuff in your life?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Minimalists don’t focus on owning nothing—they focus on owning only that which adds value to their lives.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Thriving with less is better than surviving with more.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “My Poor Heart”
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: Love People, Use Things
Essay: Getting Laid Off
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Erwin McManus
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Studio Tour #1
Watch: Studio Tour #2
Watch: Studio Tour #3

292 | Fit Soul

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about what we must refine to ensure our spiritual and material lives align with author, podcaster, and fitness expert Ben Greenfield and podcaster and Registered Dietitian Rebecca Shern, and they answer the following questions:

What is a “fit soul”?
What are the dangers of transactional relationships?
What are the four pillars of the spiritual journey?
What is the practice of self-examination?
How do we determine our purpose?
Is there a link between sex and spirituality?
How do you explain sex to your children?
What is “eye gazing”?
How do you punish and reward your children?
What is the “God-shaped hole”?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Most ‘food’ isn’t food.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Avoid processed foods for a prolonged life.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Using Things and Loving People”
Article: Create Life-Changing Relationships with Anyone
Book: Boundless Cookbook
Book: Eternity in Their Hearts
Book: Finding God Through Sex
Book: Fit Soul
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Spiritual Disciplines Journal
Book: The Way of the Superior Man
Facebook: Ben Greenfield
Instagram: Beulah
Instagram: Ben Greenfield
Instagram: Minimal Wellness
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: How to Love
Podcast: The Ben Greenfield Fitness Podcast
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Twitter: Ben Greenfield
Watch: Less Is Now
Watch: Minimalism
Website: Ben Greenfield
Website: Minimal Wellness
YouTube: Matt D’Avella
YouTube: Ben Greenfield

291 | How to Barter

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about how we all seem to find ourselves having the things we don’t need, and needing the things we don’t have—and how we’re so disconnected from our communities that bartering for those things is nearly impossible—with the founder of HaveNeed, Josh Kline, and they answer the following questions:

What is HaveNeed?
How has the pandemic affected bartering?
What is your distinction between items that are essential, nonessential, and junk?
What would the world look like if there was no such thing as money, which has a vice-like grip on the material world; that is, what would the world look like if it ran strictly on barter?
What is the history of bartering?
What is the “mutual coincidence of wants”?
What is “Object A”?
Bartering has been around forever, but seems to have fallen out of favor in recent times—why?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Society has encouraged us to disconnect from our humanity, but humans would be better served if we disconnected from societal norms.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“The right thing to do is rarely the easy thing to do.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Maybe You Got All You Need”
App: HaveNeed
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Facebook: HaveNeed
Instagram: HaveNeed
Instagram: Beulah
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Rating: Apple Podcasts
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Twitter: HaveNeed
Watch: Barter Your Way to Multidimensional Impact
Website: HaveNeed

290 | Wanting

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about our want for things, why we want what we want, and how we can free ourselves from chasing unfulfilling desires with author and professor Luke Burgis, and they answer the following questions:

What is mimetic desire?
Does it help to identify the origins of our desires?
Should we strive to be immune from desires?
What is negative imitation?
How do we find fulfilling desires?
Can a relentless desire to be debt-free actually cause adverse unintended consequences?
What are “borrowed desires”?
What costs should we consider in the pursuit of our desires?
What is a “misery tax”?
How do we recognize and address the influences, especially those online, that promote mindless consumption?
How is social media addictive?
What is “hate watching”?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Our desires often lead to our misery.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“The thing you want is never the thing you want.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“What you want usually isn’t what you desire.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“More media, more misery.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Anywhere with You”
Added Value: Calls
Article: Gem City Market Welcomes First Customers
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life
Book: Wanting
Facebook: Luke Burgis
Instagram: Luke Burgis
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Qonversation: Mat Kearney
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Twitter: Luke Burgis
Watch: Minimalist Studio Tour (Part One)
Watch: Minimalist Studio Tour (Part Two)
Website: Luke Burgis

289 | Working for Self

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about how to take back control of our income and our creative outcomes by making a living on our own as an aspiring creator, small business owner, artist, or entrepreneur with the CEO of Patreon, Jack Conte, and they answer the following questions:

Why did Jack start Patreon?
Where do you find the most practical feedback from your audience?
How do I best prepare myself to make the jump from working full-time for others to working full-time as a small business owner with as much tranquility as possible?
What should be my primary focus as a budding entrepreneur?
How did Jack benefit from his “not being prudent” approach to his professional pursuits?
When do you know it’s time to turn your side hustle into your full-time business?
What is the first step I should take to become an online creator?
What do you mean by “add value”?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Change occurs when the status quo becomes unbearable.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Playing it safe will keep you alive; embracing change will help you thrive.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Dreams”
Added Value: Visualize Value
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life
Facebook: Jack Conte
Instagram: Jack Conte
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: How to Love
Podcast: Minimalism Today
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Twitter: Jack Conte
Watch: Less Is Now
Watch: Minimalism
Watch: Why Do People Watch Rhett & Link?
Website: Jack Conte
YouTube: Matt D’Avella

288 | Decluttering Friendships

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about our desire for friendship that leads us to accumulate scores of friends, acquaintances, coworkers, partners, lovers, companions, contacts, colleagues, and associates; our realization that relationship clutter is getting in the way of loving, meaningful connections; and they answer the following questions:

Is it loving to let go?
How can I stop feeling pressured to keep up with so many connections?
I’ve never struggled to declutter my “friends” on social media when they no longer have a meaningful place in my life, but how do I explain their removal when they ask me about it without hurting their feelings?
What does a truly healthy friendship look like?
How do we ensure mutual respect in a relationship?
How do we appropriately apply attention in a relationship?
How do you define “toxic relationship”?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“A healthy relationship is one that enhances your life without trying to change the other person.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“There are three main ingredients in a healthy relationship: love, respect, and understanding.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Some Kind of Heaven
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Instagram: The Curious One
Meetup: Minimalist.org
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: How to Love
Podcast: The Curious One
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists

287 | Empty Inside

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about that empty feeling we all experience from time to time—and the things we do when we attempt to fill the void—with podcaster, writer, and director Jennette McCurdy, and they answer the following questions:

What is the disconnect between our higher quality of life in this modern age and our happiness?
How does society and culture influence disorders?
Why do others often insist we not give up our “successful” careers?
What are the three different types of relationships?
How do we appropriately manage expectations in relationships?
I think minimalism can help many of my loved ones find meaning in their lives and avoid the void, but I find it difficult to communicate it to them effectively so they see and understand the benefits and find it more attractive than the rat race they’re in—any tips?
What is the elevator pitch for minimalism?
How do you address the shame that sometimes accompanies minimalism?
How is power the opposite of freedom?
Was Jennette shamed for walking away from her acting career?
Does confidence come from consistency?
Filling our voids with stuff isn’t good, but what is good—what should we replace that consumption urge with that is meaningful?
What is the “suckhole”?
Why is Jennette’s podcast titled Empty Inside?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Chasing the ‘good’ binds us to the ‘bad.’” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Fill the void with acceptance, not stuff.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Lonely”
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Some Thoughts About Relationships
Essay: Tour The Minimalists’ Montana Cabin
Facebook: Jennette McCurdy
Instagram: Jennette McCurdy
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Empty Inside
Podcast: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Twitter: Jennette McCurdy
Watch: Let’s Talk About Less
Website: Jennette McCurdy
YouTube: Jennette McCurdy

286 | Enoughism

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, 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”?
How is enoughism different from minimalism?
Given that the key to transformation is understanding our ‘whys,’ why does anyone truly want more, and, conversely, why does anyone truly want less?
When it comes to a small business, how much record-keeping is enough and what is the ideal way to store it?
How does renouncing something create an attachment to it?
How do we learn to recognize the difference between enough and a false sense of security and comfort from unnecessary consumerism?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Enough is enough when you decide it’s enough.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Don’t confuse enough for perfection.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Perfume”
App: Any.do
App: Apple Notes
App: Dropbox
App: Evernote
App: Google Keep
Article: Five Apps You Need to Go Paperless
Article: Gear for a Paperless Home Office
Book: Love People, Use Things
Comment: Kathleen
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Meetup: Minimalist.org
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Less Is Now

285 | Finding Meaning

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about our constant search for meaning, purpose, and significance; they discuss ways we can rethink spirituality, sex, and death with author Jamie Wheal; and they answer the following questions:

What is “meaning”?
Why do we always seem to look for shortcuts?
What are heuristics?
What constitutes a true nihilist?
Is awareness a curse?
Once we find meaning in life, do we have a duty to help others find meaning as well?
What is the difference between being selfish and being self-centered?
What is the Hedonic treadmill?
What is the difference between narcissism and nihilism?
What is rapture ideology?
How does one find meaning after a close loved one has passed and they are struggling to deal with the passing?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Suffering is not the way, but it illuminates the path toward a more meaningful life.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Compassion is the antidote to suffering.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Nothing New under the Sun”
Book: Angels and Demons
Book: Blessed
Book: Everything Happens for a Reason
Book: Fight Club
Book: How Emotions Are Made
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Recapture the Rapture
Book: The Attention Merchants
Book: The Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss
Book: The Master Switch
Book: The Myth of Sisyphus
Book: The Second Mountain
Facebook: Jamie Wheal
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jamie Wheal
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Twitter: Jamie Wheal
Website: Jamie Wheal
Website: Flow Genome Project
Website: Recapture the Rapture
Website: Jamie Wheal
YouTube: Flow Genome Project

284 | Think the Opposite

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan discuss how we’re too often led astray by the status quo and how we can benefit from doing the opposite, and they answer the following questions:

What does it mean to be authentic?
What is so problematic about trends?
Can we find meaning in suffering?
Why are opinions so inconsequential?
When have you benefited from thinking the opposite?
I’m being advised by my ethics class in college that retirement is detrimental to our growth and development as human beings—do you think that is true?
What is the best kind of growth?
Some of the worst advice I’ve received is, “Fake it until you make it”—what is wrong with being a work in progress?
How is all advice flawed advice?
Do we improve our lives more by addition or subtraction?

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Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“All advice is flawed advice.” —Ryan Nicodemus
“Progress is achieved not through addition but through subtraction.” —Joshua Fields Millburn

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Slippin’”
Book: 11 Ways to Write Better
Book: Civilized to Death
Book: Financial Freedom
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life
Book: Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite
Class: How to Write Better
Comment: Morgonn
Essay: Changing Your Life Won’t Change Your Life
Essay: Retirement Planning
Essay: The Minimalists’ Favorite Coffee
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Meetup: Minimalist.org
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Hoarders
Podcast: How to Love
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: DMX and the Butterfly
Watch: DMX on Life
Watch: Get At Me Dog
Watch: Less Is Now
Watch: Minimalism

283 | Sentimental Stuff

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan discuss minimizing and letting go of sentimental stuff, and they answer the following questions:

How do we tactfully and appropriately address loved ones regarding stuff they’ve given us that we’re giving away—especially those things they consider of significant sentimental value?
How do we avoid arguments with loved ones regarding possessions?
Why does our brain try so hard to hold us back from releasing sentimental possessions?
What do we do with all of the things associated with a loved one when we’ve lost them in a particularly tragic, traumatic way?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“There are no shoulds—only coulds.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Our memories are not in our things; our memories are inside us.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Letting go is part of the grieving process.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Letting go is not something you do; letting go is something you stop doing.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“If we let go too soon, we fall; if we hold on to long, we stall.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Letting go is an act of self-compassion.” —Ryan Nicodemus
“Sometimes letting go of shoulds is more freeing than letting go of stuff.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “A Change Is Gonna Come”
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: Love People, Use Things
Essay: Letting Go Is Not Something You Do
Explore: 42
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: How to Love
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Less Is Now
Watch: The Minimalists Help Followers Streamline Their Lives

282 | Healing

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan discuss trauma, the ego, and setting boundaries with holistic psychologist Dr. Nicole LePera, and they answer the following questions:

Why did Dr. LePera write her latest book?
How do you start on a path to healing and commit to it when your motivation is almost nil?
Why is it so difficult to break our patterns?
How do we reframe failure?
How important is the caloric intake of the brain?
How do we recognize if a goal is empowering or disempowering?
How do I work with loved ones to adjust our lifestyle preferences so I can attain and maintain mental peace?
How do you forgive others and yourself and move forward when a loved one passes suddenly and you feel you haven’t had a chance to tell them everything you needed to, and how do you forgive others that you feel treated that person terribly in life and let go of the anger toward them?
How are forgiveness and acceptance associated?
How do we let go of anger?
Are there types of bodywork that address the mind-body connection together, or are there types of psychotherapy that address the mind-body connection in tandem?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Understanding is the only road that leads to lasting change.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“The mind and body are separate, but both are standing in the same room.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Chewing Cotton Wool”
Book: Bird by Bird
Book: How to Do the Work
Book: Love People, Use Things
Course: How to Write Better
Facebook: Dr. Nicole LePera
Instagram: Dr. Nicole LePera
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Rating: Apple Podcasts
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Wim Hof
Website: Dr. Nicole LePera
YouTube: Dr. Nicole LePera

281 | Emergency Items

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan discuss emergency items, preparing for emergencies, and when it’s appropriate to hold on to certain just-in-case items, and they answer the following questions:

How do we prepare for chaos?
What are the three types of emergencies?
What do you keep in your car?
How do we reconcile what we actually need with what we want?
What is the most important thing in an emergency?
What essentials should we keep in a first aid kit for both home and travel?
What is the difference between an emergency item and a just-in-case item?
How do you differentiate between just-in-case items and just-for-when items?
What are “b.s. emergency items”?
What books, websites, podcasts would you recommend as resources for information regarding emergency preparedness?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Their emergency isn’t your emergency.” — Joshua Fields Millburn
“When in doubt, go without.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“During a disaster your community is more important than your hoard.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Mile High”
Book: Dead I Well May Be
Book: Love People, Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Book: The Chain
Book: Total Money Makeover
Essay: Play the 30-Day Minimalism Game
Explore: Build a Kit
Explore: Make a Plan
Explore: Noah’s Ark Preparedness
Explore: Ready
Instagram: Minimal Wellness
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Qonversation: Adrian McKinty
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Jack Reacher
Watch: Less Is Now
Watch: Vic Berger Presents Jim Bakker’s Buckets

280 | Environmental Minimalism

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan discuss the relationship between minimalism and environmentalism with author and environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and they answer the following questions:

What is our biggest environmental problem, and is it too late to fix it?
Since environmentalism is an idea that I cannot back down from, compromise on, or see from both sides, at what point is it dangerous to keep saying there are no ‘shoulds’?
Why are landfills more prominent in the United States compared to Europe?
How can we make individuals and companies more environmentally conscious?
What is your opinion regarding the policy of the United States to ‘leap-first, look-later’ regarding environmental chemicals?
What is the Toxic Substance Control Act?
What are PFAs?
Why have we seen such an increase in chronic diseases among children?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Corporations supply only what we demand; thus, if we change our desires, we change the world.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Blaming social media for society’s problems is like blaming booze for an alcoholic’s problems.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: “Heart and Soul”
Book: 11 Ways to Write Better
Book: Silent Spring
Course: How to Write Better
Facebook: Waterkeeper Alliance
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Waterkeeper Alliance
Instagram: Jess Williams
Newsletter: The Defender
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: The Defender
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Twitter: Waterkeeper Alliance
Website: Waterkeeper Alliance

279 | Too Busy

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about the problem of busyness and how we can better manage our time, and they answer the following questions:

Why can’t we ever seem to get ahead of our to-do lists?
What lists do you find helpful?
What is “busyness”?
How do we gain more discretionary time despite the onslaught of modern obligations and responsibilities?
Is striving for work-life balance a fruitless endeavor?
Are there any tools that can help with our overwhelm?
What is the fear related to busyness?
What can someone do if they feel they’re too busy to figure out how to become less busy?
Would you be doing what you’re doing today if you only had six months left to live?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“We are too busy only because we don’t understand why we are busy.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“We are too busy because we have too much time.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Busy is an excuse, not a lifestyle.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Fake Famous
App: Clubhouse
Book: A World without Email
Book: Essential
Essay: Hell, Yeah! or No
Essay: The Success Template
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Minimalism Today
Podcast: Obligations
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Let’s Talk About Being Busy

278 | Hoarders

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about hoarding—the clinical definition, the statistics, the causes, the symptoms, the common types, the risks, the recovery—and they answer the following questions:

What is the clinical definition of “hoarding”?
What is “spartanism”?
What are the common types of hoarding?
What is the difference between hoarding and collecting?
What is the “sunk-cost fallacy”?
What are the symptoms of hoarding?
What are the causes of hoarding?
How is hoarding diagnosed?
Do children hoard?
When do obsessions become unhealthy?
What are the five levels of hoarding?
Are there affluent hoarders?
How does one become a hoarder?

Listen

Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Google Podcasts · YouTube

Minimal Maxims

Joshua & Ryan’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.

“Letting go is not something you do—it’s something you stop doing.” —Joshua Fields Millburn
“Clutter is the physical manifestation of what’s going on inside of us.” —Ryan Nicodemus

Mentioned in This Episode

Added Value: Elixinol CBD
Added Value: LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix
Added Value: Tile Tracker
Article: Hoarding Disorder
Article: The Five Levels of Hoarding
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: Love People Use Things
Book: Minimalist Rulebook
Instagram: Jordan Moore
Instagram: Podcast Shawn
Instagram: Jess Williams
Listen: Mat Kearney
Meetup: Minimalist.org
Patreon: The Minimalists
Podcast: Maximalism
Podcast: Vancouver
Resources: The Minimalists
Subscribe: The Minimalists
Text: 937-202-4654
Tour: The Minimalists
Watch: Better Call Saul
Watch: Hoarders
Watch: Less Is Now
Watch: Let’s Talk About Less
Watch: Minimalism
YouTube: The Minimalists

277 | Unusual Living Arrangements

In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about alternative living options—communal living, throuples, combined families, long-term singlehood, nomadic living—with CEO and cofounder of Nourish Balance Thrive, Christopher Kelly, and they answer the following questions:

What is ancestral health?
What has likely caused our overall decline in health?
Is our current status quo of living arrangements in detrimental conflict with the natural order?
How

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