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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• X: @p_millerd
• Instagram: @pathlesspaul
• Paul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (26k+ People)
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• 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
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Click here to watch a video of this episode.

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
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• 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

In this episode, I talk with Dennis Owen about his journey from a long career in the airline industry to building a purposeful and active retirement in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Dennis shares how he intentionally “retired to” a new life filled with volunteering, consulting, and community involvement, rather than just leaving work behind. We discuss the challenges of adapting to a new culture, the importance of routine, staying curious, and the mental shift from saving to spending in retirement. Dennis emphasizes the value of purpose, continuous learning, and building a diverse community, while also sharing practical tips and book recommendations for anyone to continue to reinvent their path after work.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Topics Covered:

• Transitioning from a long career to retirement
• Moving abroad and adapting to a new culture
• The importance of “retiring to” something, not just leaving work
• Building routine and community in retirement
• Volunteering and giving back
• Consulting, ghostwriting, and staying mentally active
• The mental shift from saving to spending
• Staying current with technology and learning new things
• Health, wellness, and daily habits
• Navigating practical challenges of living abroad
• Book and resource recommendations for retirement and reinvention
• Advice for finding purpose and meaning after work

LINKS:

• Dennis Owen on LinkedIn
• The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd
• The New Retirementality by Mitch Anthony
• Outlive by Peter Attia
• Die With Zero by Bill Perkins
• Just Keep Buying by Nick Maggiulli

Chapters

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Background
• (01:56) - Early Career in the Airline Industry
• (05:31) - Transition to Asia and Cultural Experiences
• (08:07) - Volunteer Work and Personal Life
• (15:51) - Retirement Philosophy and Activities
• (22:15) - Creating Opportunities and Continuous Learning
• (32:52) - The Reality of Retirement
• (33:09) - Finding Meaning Beyond Money
• (35:25) - Adapting to Technological Changes
• (38:19) - Retiring in Chiang Mai
• (42:34) - Balancing Health and Wellness
• (44:17) - Embracing Lifelong Learning
• (50:44) - Navigating Financial Decisions in Retirement
• (59:02) - The Importance of Purpose and Learning

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

In this video, I talk with Rekha about Boundless Life and the idea of location-independent education. We cover her background, what led her to start Boundless Life, and how the program works for families who want a different approach to learning and community.

For more:

• Boundless Life
• Boundless Education
• Rekha on LinkedIn
• Rekha on Instagram

• (00:00) - Introduction to the topic of location-independent education
• (02:34) - Rekha's background and early influences
• (04:53) - Career beginnings and feeling unfulfilled
• (09:21) - Transformative experience during pregnancy
• (18:27) - Origins of Boundless Life
• (25:55) - Breaking traditional education assumptions
• (41:58) - Building community and relationships in Boundless
• (49:28) - Funding model and future growth
• (01:01:13) - Future plans and expansion

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

In this episode, I interview my friend Pranab Saachi, and we get specific about the ideas and influences that have shaped his thinking. We talk about codependent origination from Buddhist philosophy, the concept of “quake books” that have shifted his worldview, and his own approach to “attentional co-piloting” as a practical alternative to traditional coaching (which he then has me try out live on the call).

Pranab references teachers like Michael Taft and Robert Burbea, and explains how Internal Family Systems and Joe Hudson’s Art of Accomplishment have factored into his work. We also discuss his abandoned “Non-Success Podcast” idea and why he’s more interested in experiments than achievements.

Connect with Pranab here: https://www.pranabsachi.com/
Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Some topics we talked about include:

• Codependent Origination (Buddhist philosophy)
• Quake Books (life-changing reads)
• Attentional Co-Piloting (Pranab’s coaching approach)
• Michael Taft (meditation teacher)
• Rob Burbea (Buddhist teacher)
• Joe Hudson & Art of Accomplishment
• Internal Family Systems (IFS)
• The Non-Success Podcast (Pranab’s project idea)
• Tim Ferriss, Wait But Why, Siddhartha, and more

• (00:00) - Introduction and background
• (10:33) - Career journey and exploration
• (16:43) - Building authentic connections
• (22:58) - Spiritual influences and meditation practice
• (50:23) - Attentional co-piloting coaching session
• (01:18:07) - Closing thoughts and contact information

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

In this episode, I'm pumped to welcome back Nick Maggiulli to the podcast (https://youtu.be/deMXbaI-Ir4). We dive into various topics about money and financial independence, with a focus on Nick's endorsement of the 'COAST Fire' strategy, something I accidentally embraced after quitting my job.

Nick shares his personal stories of financial challenges growing up and how these experiences shaped his approach to saving and spending. We debate the right time to take financial leaps and discuss how data-driven trends are making more Americans wealthier today. Nick introduces his wealth ladder concept and explains how it can help you live life on your terms.

His new book is here: https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Ladder-Proven-Strategies-Financial/dp/0593854039
I loved his first book too: https://youtu.be/WWXPNK06r-k

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Reintroduction
• (02:31) - Diving into Personal Financial Stories
• (05:49) - Spending Rules and Financial Philosophies
• (12:14) - The Wealth Ladder Explained
• (20:08) - Navigating Career and Financial Growth
• (30:43) - The Impact of Wealth on Lifestyle
• (41:34) - Inflation Adjusted Wealth Levels
• (42:46) - Fears of Going Broke
• (43:24) - The 4% Rule and Retirement
• (46:34) - Coast Fire Explained
• (50:59) - The Emotions of Money
• (54:53) - Creative Paths and Financial Decisions
• (01:00:49) - The Future of Writing and Publishing
• (01:05:55) - The Impact of LLMs on Content Creation
• (01:09:09) - Reflections on Financial Advice
• (01:17:16) - Concluding Thoughts and Farewells

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

Lawrence is one of my favorite creators. He shares with passion, vulnerability and care.

I chatted with Lawrence Yeo about his new book, 'The Inner Compass,' exploring themes of self-reflection, creativity, and the journey of writing and self-publishing. We discuss the importance of engaging with the world to gain a deeper understanding of oneself, the role of ambition in creative work, and the dynamics of traditional versus self-publishing.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

To find his book and support his work:
BOOK: https://compass.moretothat.com
SITE: https://moretothat.com

CHAPTERS
00:38 The Journey of Self-Reflection

01:12 Creativity and Connection

06:38 The Nature of Creativity

08:55 Success and Inner Fulfillment

16:51 The Risk of Authenticity

18:51 Self-Publishing Insights

36:51 The Power of Short Books

38:06 Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing

39:58 Creative Intentions in Writing

42:07 Overcoming Fear in Publishing Choices

44:17 The Pathless Path: Choosing Your Journey

47:48 The Next Book: Exploring Money and Identity

52:05 Innovative Approaches to Book Launches

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