About this episode
How might your life be better with less? Not so many years ago, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus were mired in the corporate grind, banking six-figure salaries in pursuit of the American Dream. Expiating for the satisfaction their careers failed to provide, they did what most humans would: They bought stuff. Lots of stuff. When that didn’t work, they bought more. And when that didn’t work, they hit bottom. What came next was a search for meaning that would forever alter the trajectory of their lives—and ignite the spread of minimalism across the world. Known today as The Minimalists, Joshua and Ryan advocate for the pursuit of living less materially and more deliberately. Through their website, books, podcasts and films, they share practical, experience-based insights on how minimalism can lead to freedom—providing the foundation for a life built not on consumption, but instead on conscious purpose and mindful intention. With a devoted readership in the millions, they’ve written several books, given TED Talks and spoken at places like SXSW and Harvard Business School. They’ve been featured on every major television network and profiled in major publications like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and TIME. In 2016, Ryan and Joshua made an unexpected splash when their Netflix documentary Minimalism enervated audiences around the world. Now they’re back with a brand new, must-see follow up, Less Is Now. Given what these fine young gentlemen represent, I will restrain inclinations verbose to simply say that this is a conversation about how to live with greater intention and purpose. It’s about creating more by consuming less. It’s about prioritizing experience over accumulation. It’s about growth, contentment and love. And it’s about the deep personal satisfaction that comes with contributing beyond ourselves. In other words, minimalism isn’t martyrdom—it’s freedom. FULL BLOG & SHOW NOTES: bit.ly/richroll577 YouTube: bit.ly/theminimalists577 Joshua, Ryan and their message is a gift. Receive it graciously. Then put it to work. Peace + Plants, Rich
Listen to this episode in English to learn English
Podcast episodes are one of the highest-density ways to absorb English at native pace. The Minimalists: Less Is Now from The Rich Roll Podcast gives you natural dialogue, unscripted speech, and vocabulary that actually appears in real conversations.
In the Clue app, every word in the transcript is tappable. Tap an unknown word, see the translation in your language instantly, and keep listening without breaking flow.
Episodes to Learn English
- Rachel Entrekin Runs On Joy: How She Won The Cocodona 250 Outright By Letting Go Of The Outcome Jun 15, 2026
- Touch Grass: Andrew Yang Returns To Talk Phone Addiction, AI's Cognitive Toll, & The Fight For Your Attention Jun 8, 2026
- ROLL ON: Enhanced Games Jun 4, 2026
- Paul Rosolie Met An Uncontacted Tribe & Is Trying To Protect Them: On Preserving The Amazon To Save All Life On Earth Jun 1, 2026
- How to Stop Sabotaging Your Own Life With Joe Hudson May 25, 2026
- Inside My 72-Hour Psychedelic Iboga Therapy With Julie Piatt May 21, 2026
- Smile, Or You're Doing It Wrong: Andy Glaze On Relentless Positivity, PTSD, & The Healing Power Of Movement May 18, 2026
- What's Going Right: Dr. Paul Conti On Self-Sabotage, Trauma & Why Being Hard On Yourself Is Slowing You Down May 11, 2026
- Pay Now, Love It Later: Why I Work Out at 4 AM & The Mindset That Wins The Long Game May 7, 2026
- David Epstein On Why Constraints Drive Creativity, The Myth Of Productive Freedom, & How Limits Make Us Better May 4, 2026
- What We're Still Getting Wrong About Women's Health & Fitness: Dr. Stacy Sims Live Apr 27, 2026
- ROLL ON: Stop Optimizing Your Life & Start Living It, Seeking Depth Over Algorithms, The Future of Podcasting, Artemis II, Media Diet & More Apr 23, 2026
- In Waves & War: Marcus & Amber Capone On Psychedelic Treatment For Veteran PTSD, Rebuilding Life After War & The Mission To Heal A Generation Apr 20, 2026
- Everything Is A Story: Journalist Nick Bilton Thinks AI Might End Humanity & How Stories Could Save Us Apr 13, 2026
- Rebuilding My Body & Starting Over After Spinal Fusion Surgery Apr 9, 2026
- The King of Moab: Ultrarunner Max Jolliffe On Winning Moab 240, Recovery From Heroin Addiction & Why Suffering Is His Greatest Teacher Apr 6, 2026
- Rich Speaks On Tiger Woods, Addiction & The Wounds That Fame Can't Heal Apr 2, 2026
- Arthur Brooks On The Crisis Of Meaning & How To Actually Find It Mar 30, 2026
- Decoding the New U.S. Dietary Guidelines with Simon Hill: What They Got Right, Wrong & Why It Matters Mar 26, 2026
- Future-Proof Your Brain from Dementia & The Lifestyle Levers That Keep You Sharp with Neuroscientist Dr. Tommy Wood Mar 23, 2026
- Stanford Professors Bill Burnett & Dave Evans On How To Design A Meaningful Life Mar 16, 2026
- Sobriety, Relapse & Redemption: Rich Speaks On Shia Labeouf & What True Accountability Looks Like Mar 12, 2026
- Ken Rideout On Why Everything You Want Is On The Other Side Of Hard Mar 9, 2026
- The Handyman of High Art: Tom Sachs On Why Creativity Is The Enemy, Why Talent Is Overrated, & The Disciplines That Define A Life Mar 2, 2026
- Decoding Looksmaxxing: The Crisis Consuming Young Men & The Real Path To Self-Worth Feb 26, 2026
- Walk With Weight: Michael Easter On The Evolutionary Case For Rucking, Building Real Resilience & How To Stay Adventure-Ready For Life Feb 23, 2026
- From Death To Life: Dr. Dawn Mussallem On Surviving Cancer Twice, Running A Marathon Post Heart Transplant, & Why Mindset Matters More Than Medicine Feb 16, 2026
- AMA: Alex Pretti, Alex Honnold, Peter Attia, & Finding Hope In Dark Times Feb 12, 2026
- RRP LIVE: Alex Honnold On Climbing the Taipei 101 Skyscraper Feb 9, 2026
- The New Science Of Breath: James Nestor On Why Most People Are Breathing Wrong Feb 2, 2026