The Minimalists speak with Steve Patterson about being frustrated when people don't understand us, the benefits and downsides of being abnormal, minimizing chaos at a cultural level, and more!

Discussed in this episode:

Why do people frustrate me when they don't understand my lifestyle? (4:03)

In what ways are you abnormal? What are the benefits? What are the downsides? (19:19)

Right Here, Right Now: The Minimalists' Simplify Everything decluttering course. (1:04:07)

Listener Tip: How might simplifying be an answer to the chaos? (1:05:29)

Have a question for the show? Call 406-219-7839 or email a voice memo to podcast@themins.com.

Listen to the full Maximal episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Recorded at Earthing Studios.

The Minimalists speak with divorce lawyer James J. Sexton about all the nuances of divorce, including the courage it takes to walk away from a marriage, housing and financial advice for recently single mothers, lessons from spousal cheating, how to know when a relationship is over, and much more!

Discussed in this episode:

What does it take for someone to find the courage to file for divorce? (10:14)

What housing and financial advice do you have for a recently divorced single mother? (21:59)

How do you know whether a relationship is worth staying in and fighting for? (32:39)

Right Here, Right Now: A new free audiobook and ebook from The Minimalists (1:05:13)

Listener Tip: Often, we aren't clinging to the thing; we're clinging to the story we've written in our minds. (1:07:45)

Have a question for the show? Call 406-219-7839 or email a voice memo to podcast@themins.com.

Listen to the full Maximal episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Recorded at Earthing Studios.

The Minimalists talk about why you have trouble getting the clutter out of the house after you've organized, how to know when it's time to let go, the Wouldn't Replace It Rule, how to deal with all that boomer junk you've inherited, and more.

Discussed in this episode:

Why do I have trouble letting go of the things I've already decluttered? (3:08)

How do you know when it's time to let go of a thing? (14:03)

Right Here, Right Now: The Simplify Everything decluttering course. (36:40)

Listener Tip: When you let go of the need for certainty, you often pick up some peace of mind. (46:07)

Have a question for the show? Call 406-219-7839 or email a voice memo to podcast@themins.com.

Listen to the full Maximal episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Recorded at Earthing Studios.

The Minimalists speak with Dr. Maya Shankar about letting go of insecurities, the consequences of jealousy, why you've wasted so much money on things you don't need (and what to do about it going forward), how clinging to just-in-case items negatively affects well-being, and more.

Discussed in this episode:

How do you let go of insecurities that create mental clutter? (2:42)

When's the last time you felt jealous, and how did that change your behavior? (22:53)

Right Here, Right Now: The Simple Newsletter and Simplify Everything (46:31)

Listener Tip: When we finally let go, we discover the blockage those things had on our well-being. (47:49)

Have a question for the show? Call 406-219-7839 or email a voice memo to podcast@themins.com.

Listen to the full Maximal episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Recorded at Earthing Studios.

The Minimalists talk about consumerism's role in workplace overload, what it takes to work fewer hours, the hidden reason grocery prices have increased, why certain 'Buy One, Get One Free' deals have been outlawed, and much more.

Discussed in this episode:

How does consumerism force us to work more hours each week, and what can we do about it? (6:43)

What would it take for you to work one less day per week? (26:03)

Right Here, Right Now: How to Write Better and the end of our Earthing grant. (42:53)

Listener Tip: Book a Clutter Counseling session with T.K. Coleman. (47:10)

Have a question for the show? Call 406-219-7839 or email a voice memo to podcast@themins.com.

Listen to the full Maximal episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Recorded at Earthing Studios.

The Minimalists speak with Professor Thomas Seager about using ice baths to help minimize pain and chronic illness, uncomfortable activities that get easier over time, a slew of questions JFM has about cold plunge therapy, and much more.

Discussed in this episode:

How does a struggling person live a relatively productive life with chronic illness? (3:34)

What's a previously uncomfortable activity that you now regularly do with ease? (32:56)

Right Here, Right Now: Joshua's Top 10 Albums of 2025, Friday Afternoon Minimalist Zooms, and How to Write Better (51:35)

Listener Tip: Does Kapil Gupta need a hug? (53:54)

Have a question for the show? Call 406-219-7839 or email a voice memo to podcast@themins.com.

Listen to the full Maximal episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Recorded at Earthing Studios.

In this bonus episode, The Minimalists host Sunday Symposium in Orange County.

Discussed in this episode:

Overplanning produces chaos. (08:00)

No one on their deathbed says they regret not accumulating more stuff. (17:57)

Hold on if it confers more benefits than letting go. (26:18)

Anything can be clutter if it gets in the way. (29:54)

Acceptance is nice, but needing acceptance is a prison. (32:39)

How do you define success for yourself? (39:00)

Have a question for the show? Call 406-219-7839 or email a voice memo to podcast@themins.com.

Listen to the full Maximal episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Recorded at Earthing Studios.

The Minimalists speak with philosopher Peter Rollins about why minimalists often wear black clothes, a few examples of emotional decluttering, the concept of "dopamine dressing," some tips for reducing social media scrolling, eight things Joshua's favorite writer tried to warn us about, and more.

Discussed in this episode:

What is an example of emotional decluttering? (5:28)

What's wrong with wearing all black? (26:03)

Right Here, Right Now: The Minimalists' 15th birthday and the final Sunday Symposium–for now. (48:57)

Listener Tip: A unique way to reduce scrolling. (1:08:07)

Have a question for the show? Call 406-219-7839 or email a voice memo to podcast@themins.com.

Listen to the full Maximal episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists

Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Recorded at Earthing Studios.