In this episode, I have a deep conversation with Steven Foster, who opens up about his career journey from Silicon Valley to embracing a pathless life. We dive into his essay 'Commit a Career Ending Move,' reflecting on how modernity has turned careers into a form of religion. Steven shares his personal challenges, including severe health issues and family crises, and how embracing a more communal and nature-focused lifestyle has helped him navigate these obstacles. This episode is an exploration of redefining work, faith, and finding a deeper purpose beyond traditional career paths.

• (00:00) - Introduction to Steven Foster and His Career Journey
• (01:41) - The Religion of Work
• (03:42) - Steven's Early Career and Family Background
• (07:18) - Navigating the Tech Industry
• (20:11) - Leaving Silicon Valley
• (24:33) - Life After the Career-Ending Move
• (33:25) - Financial Shifts and Creative Solutions
• (34:37) - Navigating Personal Crises
• (43:58) - The Role of Community and Religion
• (56:00) - The Power of Permissionless Income

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Mentioned in the episode

• Andrew Taggart’s website
• Pathways to the Dao (Andrew’s Substack)
• Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper
• Secular Monks (article by Andrew Taggart)
• Why Buddhism is True by Robert Wright
• Pierre Hadot (Philosophy as a Way of Life)
• The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (04:02) - The Evolution of Work Philosophy
• (08:05) - The Role of Telos in Modern Life
• (14:59) - Personal Journeys and Realizations
• (37:34) - Writing as a practice and medium for understanding
• (48:54) - Rethinking Karma Yoga in Modernity
• (51:32) - The Mundane Nature of Daily Tasks
• (57:56) - The Spiritual Journey of Work
• (59:38) - Introspection and the Reality of Work
• (01:11:26) - Balancing Objective Conditions and Inner Peace
• (01:28:27) - The Concept of Inner Purification
• (01:35:49) - Final Thoughts and Future Projects

NEW: The Pathless Path Hardcover Premium Edition

📘 My 2nd Book Good Work: Learn More
📕 Buy My First Book, The Pathless Path (65k+ Sold): The Pathless Path
😁 Join 500+ In My Cozy Community: Pathless Path Community

📲Connect + Follow Paul

• X: @p_millerd
• Instagram: @pathlesspaul
• Paul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (26k+ People)
• Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe

🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:

• Accounting, Taxes, and Payroll for Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): Collective
• Looking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out Crowdhealth
• I use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours Here
• I record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here
• I use and love the Readwise reader for notes and highlights: Join Here for a 2 month trial

I took questions from people for episode 200. Enjoy!

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

• (00:00) - Introduction and Podcast Background
• (03:28) - Future of Education and Teaching
• (05:49) - Thoughts on Being a Prophet
• (06:29) - Current Pulling Forces and Changes
• (08:50) - Special Hardcover Edition Plans
• (10:25) - Managing Financial Anxiety
• (12:11) - Business Lessons from Corporate Life
• (15:04) - Evolving Perspectives on Parenting
• (17:35) - Self-Love versus Self-Improvement
• (21:10) - Building Community and Future Plans
• (23:13) - Courage and Sustainability on the Pathless Path
• (27:20) - Practical Advice for Going Off the Beaten Path

NEW: The Pathless Path Hardcover Premium Edition

📘 My 2nd Book Good Work: Learn More
📕 Buy My First Book, The Pathless Path (65k+ Sold): The Pathless Path
😁 Join 500+ In My Cozy Community: Pathless Path Community

📲Connect + Follow Paul

• X: @p_millerd
• Instagram: @pathlesspaul
• Paul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (26k+ People)
• Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe

🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:

• Accounting, Taxes, and Payroll for Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): Collective
• Looking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out Crowdhealth
• I use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours Here
• I record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here
• I use and love the Readwise reader for notes and highlights: Join Here for a 2 month trial