The Minimalists Podcast

Joshua and Ryan discuss how to determine what tranquility is by determining what it is not. Listen to the full episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Joshua and Ryan talk about unsubscribing and unfollowing anything that doesn’t bring tranquility or increase well-being, and they answer the following questions: How has unsubscribing and unfollowing helped your tranquility? (08:36) Should we attempt to explain ourselves to others when they question our minimalist lifestyle, or simply invite them to ‘unfollow’ us? (12:37) Can minimalism help us bring order back to our chaotic lives? (14:44) How do we determine the appropriate ‘path’? (18:50) We can’t impose tranquility on the world around us, so how do we adjust our internal settings to maintain inner tranquility? (23:10) Why do insults irritate us so intensely? (29:09) How do we adjust relationships that are predicated on conflict? (31:20) Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Joshua and Ryan discuss the search for durable items. Listen to the full episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Joshua and Ryan talk about letting go—letting go of sentimental items, letting go of junk, letting go of anxiety and stress—letting go of anything that harms our well-being or interrupts our peace, and they answer the following questions: How do our things own us? (02:53) Given that I’m under a deadline to move, how can I increase my decluttering pace without becoming overwhelmed and stressed? (08:44) Are there circumstances where a storage unit makes sense? (11:04) When the amount of your belongings is completely overwhelming, how—and where—do you even start? (18:06) Why are we so obsessed with prescriptiveness? (18:54) Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Joshua, Ryan, and their guest, behavioral and developmental pediatrician Dr. Damon Korb, discuss how to help children develop habits to become tidy and organized. Listen to the full episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Joshua and Ryan talk about raising organized children with behavioral and developmental pediatrician Dr. Damon Korb, and they answer the following questions: What are executive functions? (01:34) What is behavioral pediatrics? (02:18) What do you mean by “organized children”? (02:47) How has the pandemic affected children’s health? (03:24) How do we set appropriate boundaries with our children? (04:58) How do we help our children adopt minimalist practices that stick at an early age so they don’t lose them and suffer the consequences in adulthood? (05:38) How can we be minimalist parents? (06:50) How can we teach our children to be problem-solvers? (09:51) How can we help our children deal with boredom? (10:35) What advice do you have for first-time parents? (14:43) How do you balance setting boundaries with a child while still allowing them room to explore and learn about who they are? (19:16) How do we appropriately handle our expectations regarding our children? (21:54) What are the “5 H’s” regarding kids? (27:30) Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Joshua and Ryan discuss the folly of searching for work-life balance. Listen to the full episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Joshua and Ryan talk about success, failure, fulfillment, and satisfaction—and how incessantly chasing those things can lead to foolness rather than fullness—and they answer the following questions: What does success mean to you? (03:06) What are your beliefs regarding spirituality? (07:38) How do value judgments affect success? (13:08) What is nihilism? (14:39) How do I overcome my addiction to procrastination so I can focus on doing meaningful work? (17:00) What are the two kinds of ‘haves’? (19:53) What is the “thing you can’t not do”? (20:21)  What is the best way to address distractions? (29:25) What do you mean by “the costs we must pay”? (32:08) How do you rebuild yourself and restructure your idea of success after a failure? (36:09)  Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Joshua and Ryan discuss identifying and eliminating items that are truly ‘junk’ that necessitate the existence of junk drawers. Listen to the full episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Joshua and Ryan talk about the mental, emotional, digital, and other clutter that reveals itself after we minimize our stuff, and they answer the following questions: When are how-to’s helpful? (02:23) How do we appropriately curate scanned photos so we’re not trading physical clutter for digital clutter? (13:57) What advice do you have for young people who are embarking on their minimalist journeys so they have solid practices in place to prevent clutter? (25:43) What one piece of advice would you give your younger self? (26:28) How do we appropriately curate our many digital subscriptions and still satisfy ourselves since each service has programs exclusive to its platform? (31:56) Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Joshua and Ryan discuss monogamy with blogger, podcaster, and Registered Dietitian Becca Shern. Listen to the full episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Joshua and Ryan talk about love, relationships, sex, and parenting with blogger, podcaster, and Registered Dietitian Becca Shern, and they answer the following questions: What is our language problem? (02:11) What is the difference between loving someone and being in love with someone? (03:45) What does commitment mean to you? (05:30) What is your definition of “love”? (09:55) How do you view unconditional love? (13:25) How do you recognize when it’s time to end a relationship? (16:11) What are the three components of a relationship? (24:16) Why is compatibility the most difficult component of most relationships? (26:38) Do you ever passionately disagree about important decisions that affect the entire family, and, if so, how do you handle compromise and conflict resolution? (31:44) Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Joshua and Ryan discuss how to tactfully decline work obligations. Listen to the full episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Joshua and Ryan talk about reducing—or maybe even eliminating—obligations, and they answer the following questions: What is your ‘context’? (02:23) When is an obligation an actual obligation and not a perceived obligation? (04:31) Is there a difference between commitment and obligation? (05:28) What is the difference between want and desire? (07:04) Do we truly want to be happy? (12:27) What do you mean by ‘commitment’? (13:46) How do I appropriately address societal obligations, such as charitable giving, when I don’t have the means to meet those obligations? (17:36) What does ‘virtue’ mean? (25:47) What is the difference between a community and a tribe? (26:38) How do I prioritize financial obligations, such as debt? (29:24) How do I step back from obligations I’ve accepted in the past? (41:47) Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Joshua and Ryan discuss the relationship between decluttering and minimalism. Watch the full episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists  

Joshua and Ryan talk about starting over and kicking off the New Year with some friendly decluttering, and they answer the following questions: How do I start decluttering? (04:02) What is the difference between decluttering and organizing? (07:05) How do I conduct an effective Packing Party? (07:38) How do I get my kids involved in decluttering? (13:01) How do I determine whether or not to keep a car that’s functional, but not ideal? (14:49) Once you declutter, how do you keep the clutter from coming back? (21:52) Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Joshua and Ryan discuss why they chose Netflix for their newest documentary, Less Is Now, with filmmaker Matt D'Avella. Listen to the full episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Joshua and Ryan talk about habit change, letting go of stuff, and the creative process that went into making their new film, Less Is Now, with filmmaker Matt D’Avella, and they answer the following questions: How long have you been working on Less Is Now? (01:50) How did the Less Is Now project start? (05:51) How did the Less Is Now project evolve? (07:49) How did you settle on a budget for Less Is Now? (10:16) How do you curate the absolute essential tools for your work when it seems to require an overwhelming amount of items? (12:29) How can constraints help creativity? (22:09) Will a college degree provide a significant advantage for me in the entertainment industry? (23:36) Is it dangerous to try too many things? (33:27) How is there creation in destruction? (35:30) What advice do you have for someone that’s just starting out that wants to have a successful film career like you? (38:05) What is the Slow Growth Academy? (53:36) Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support

Joshua and Ryan discuss how they address all the modern-day distractions to stay focused with writer Leo Babauta. Listen to the full episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Joshua and Ryan discuss finding peace within and without with writer Leo Babauta, and they answer the following questions: How can you be a minimalist with a large family? (03:34) How did you start on your minimalist journey? (05:39) Who inspired you to adopt minimalism? (09:06) How do you convert other family members to minimalism to ensure peace when you’re living in close quarters? (11:32) How important is it to recognize what you’ve accomplished? (12:46) Is leading by example the best approach to helping others adopt minimalist practices? (15:50) How do you recognize when you’re taking decluttering too far? (20:00) Is there a danger in living to minimize? (22:05) What does it mean to “question the ‘must’”? (28:52) What is spartanism? (29:40) What is Metta meditation? (32:00) How do we shift between decluttering and simplifying to live a life of purpose? (35:04) Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast Support The Minimalists: minimalists.com/support