For the first episode in their five-part Household Clutter series, The Minimalists are joined by Joshua Becker to talk about decluttering the things that make a mess of our living spaces. Discussed in this episode: Where is the best place to start decluttering? (4:44) How is our cluttered home harming our family? (8:49) What purpose does your livin…

In this bonus episode, The Minimalists talk about the clutter that is often caused by smart devices. Discussed in this episode: Should I let go of my Apple Watch, Peloton, WHOOP, and other fitness trackers and smart devices? (1:09) How are The Minimalists using social media after their 2024 break? (18:47) New York Times article mentioned: https://m…

The Minimalists talk about the benefits and downsides of wasting time. Discussed in this episode: When is it selfish to say no to the people I love? (1:54) What are you most likely to waste your time on right now? (20:10) Listener tip: When you’re done clearing out your home, you have to do the same to the rest of your life. (36:51) Listen to the f…

The Minimalists talk about going without the things that get in the way. Discussed in this episode: How do I let go of my phone distractions to be more productive? (1:46) What’s one thing you’d like to go without this year? (21:21) What happened when The Minimalists were recently hacked? (30:50) Will The Minimalists return to social media after goi…

The Minimalists talk with Eli Harwood about secure attachments and attachment theory. Discussed in this episode: How is collecting related to emotional insecurity? (2:19) What is attachment theory? (16:52) What are the four attachment styles? (17:46) When is attachment useful and when is it clinging? (22:44) Listener insight: the gift of listening!…

The Minimalists talk about the opposite of hoarding. Discussed in this episode: What happens when you take downsizing too far? (2:05) How do you stop yourself from minimizing excessively? (24:05) The Minimalists’ birthday + we were featured on Jeopardy! (36:17) Listener tip: One of the most helpful minimalist tools. (41:35) Listen to the full Maxim…

The Minimalists talk about that overwhelming feeling that most of us experience when our homes are full of clutter. Discussed in this episode: Is a junk removal service the best way to deal with a house full of clutter? (2:38) At what point does your home feel cluttered? (22:23) When is The Minimalists’ next live event? (39:11) Listener tip: T.K. C…

The Minimalists dive deep into the anxiety that often accompanies the holiday shopping season. Discussed in this episode: How can I stop people from buying unnecessary Christmas gifts that clutter our home? (2:37) What fills your holiday season with anxiety and what do you do to minimize holiday clutter? (20:15) Listener tip: A helpful script for o…

The Minimalists are joined by Judah Smith to talk about building a community, finding wellbeing through connection, how to listen to people you love but disagree with, and more. Discussed in this episode: What should an introvert do if they feel like they don’t need to belong to a so-called community? (2:25) How do you listen to people you love but…

The Minimalists discuss the things that give people a sense of purpose. Discussed in this episode: Can minimalism help people find their reason for being? (2:20) What makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning? (16:55) Listener tip: How to use technology without letting it use you. (39:33) Listen to the full Maximal episode on Patreon: patr…

Ryan Nicodemus returns to The Minimalists Podcast to discuss minimalist tools. Discussed in this episode: What are the upsides and downsides of artificial intelligence as a minimalist tool? (2:26) What’s your favorite minimalist tool, and how have you used it to live more with less? (22:56) Listener tip: Letting go of the status quo. (42:48) Listen…

The Minimalists talk about minimizing the division caused by partisan politics. Discussed in this episode: How can we minimize political division when we don't agree with other people? (2:42) What does it mean to let go of partisan politics? (13:23) Does it ever make sense not to vote? (31:28) Listener tip: Minimize stress by reviewing important le…

The Minimalists speak with Dr. Jamil Zaki from Stanford University about understanding and overcoming hopelessness and cynicism. Discussed in this episode: In what ways does cynicism mimic false hope? (2:24) How do you find hope when you’ve felt hopeless for a long time? (10:08) What are the surprising downsides of hope? (22:00) Listener tip: Overt…

The Minimalists talk about why letting go of control is so difficult. Discussed in this episode: What fears are hiding underneath my need to obsessively control everything? (2:18) What's one area in which you have a hard time letting go of control? (22:21) What is the next film that The Minimalists are working on? (40:33) Listener tip: Clutter Coun…

The Minimalists speak with Jordan Harbinger about when it makes sense to optimize certain things and when it’s best to throw optimization out the window. Discussed in this episode: What are some fun and creative ways to optimize your life? (2:04) What is one thing in your life that is beautifully inefficient? (20:50) Where can I find the top 30 dec…

The Minimalists share three things that help minimize chronic pain, disease, and inflammation. Discussed in this episode: How do I let go of the anger I feel toward my doctors for not helping me with my chronic pain? (1:21) What three things does JFM do to minimize his autoimmune diseases, pain, and inflammation? (9:32) How can I accept my pain wit…

The Minimalists speak with Sally K. Norton, author of Toxic Superfoods, about the supposed health foods that are making us sick and inflamed. As mentioned in the episode, you can read JFM's story about Minimizing Autoimmune Disease, Chronic Pain, and Inflammation here: https://minimalists.com/earthing Discussed in this episode: What is a “toxic sup…

The Minimalists talk about what it means to preserve the past in a meaningful and dignified way. Discussed in this episode: After I’ve lost someone, how do I let go of their stuff with dignity and honor? (2:09) How do you preserve the memories of lost loved ones? (23:15) How can you simplify everything to get to the end of clutter? (31:26) Listener…

The Minimalists are joined by Amanda Montell, author of The Age of Magical Overthinking, to discuss information overload, thought clutter, and much more. Discussed in this episode: What habits will help me avoid being overwhelmed by information clutter? (2:03) How does overplanning prevent us from executing our plans? (30:42) When does research get…

The Minimalists talk about making a workplace less cluttered and more enjoyable through the concept of “simplework.” Discussed in this episode: How can I use minimalism to simplify my home office? (1:54) How do I get my coworkers to be less messy? (23:42) What is the productivity fallacy? (26:32) Why do the pressures of my job make it less enjoyabl…

The Minimalists speak with clinical psychologist Orion Taraban about minimizing dating clutter to form more meaningful intimate relationships. Discussed in this episode: Any advice for dating again after the end of a long relationship? (2:08) How do I avoid carrying past baggage into future relationships? (15:32) Why does Dr. Taraban encourage his …

The Minimalists speak with Harvard professor Arthur Brooks, author of Build the Life You Want, about the art and science of happiness. Discussed in this episode: How do I deal with the intense dissatisfaction I feel when I struggle to let go? (1:50) What role does worry play in our unhappiness? (17:12) What are the three main ingredients in happine…

The Minimalists discuss the new “Underconsumption Core” trend that set the Internet ablaze. Discussed in this episode: Why do I feel compelled to buy new clothes even though I already have enough? (2:18) What’s the last thing you didn’t buy? (22:58) Listener tip: What to do with old awards, trophies, and sentimental items. (38:50) Listen to the ful…

The Minimalists talk about leaving behind a legacy without leaving behind material possessions. Discussed in this episode: What are The Minimalists’ thoughts on leaving behind a legacy? (1:51) If you were to die today, what would you leave behind? (14:36) When is The Minimalists’ next live event? (27:25) Listener tip: Seasonal decluttering of digit…

The Minimalists talk about the clutter that appears every time we are unnecessarily reactive or defensive in our interactions with others. Discussed in this episode: How can I be less defensive when interacting with others? (2:10) Of all the things that push your buttons, what’s one thing you have a hard time not reacting to? (37:57) From whom did …