The Minimalists: episodes
60 recent episodes from the show's feed. Back to the show
562 | Fantasy Self
Nov 9, 2026 · 44 min
The Minimalists talk about "sparkler moments," letting go of fantasy selves, the best minimalist cleaning brands, the "Organized Enough" rule that can make organizing your home much easier, and much more. Discussed in this episode: After letting go of several fantasy selves, Julia asks how to keep the version of herself who celebrates small moments. (0:52) What's a "fantasy self" you've had to
561 | Good at Life
Oct 26, 2026 · 34 min
Joshua and T.K. speak with author Ben Meer about choosing a slower life in a fast world, why many work promotions turn into downgrades at home, creating distance from your current routine, five decluttering hot takes from apartment therapy, and more. Discussed in this episode: How can I choose a slower life in a culture that expects me to keep climbing? (2:08) Right Here, Right Now: Patreon Z
560 | The Responsibility
Oct 19, 2026 · 57 min
Joshua and T.K. talk about responsibilities that aren't ours to carry, the problem with ethical purity tests, 50 things one writer has stopped buying since becoming a minimalist, and much more. Discussed in this episode: When does helping someone you love become taking responsibility for something that isn't yours to carry? (1:45) Right Here, Right Now: Can you separate the product from the p
559 | Social Contagion
Oct 12, 2026 · 41 min
Joshua and T.K. speak with Luke Burgis about the identities hidden in our desires, the psychological problem with keeping things "just in case," why sentimental items can be so emotionally heavy, and much more. Discussed in this episode: How has being a father made Luke better? (1:58) Do the lightest objects carry the most weight? (3:51) How much of what we keep is tied to who we believe we ar
558 | The Collection
Oct 5, 2026 · 41 min
Joshua and T.K. talk about how minimalists might curate an intentional collection, what to do with antique clutter, their favorite black t-shirts, seven items minimalists avoid to keep their living rooms calm and clutter free, and more! Discussed in this episode: What's the difference between collecting and curating? (1:11) Why are we so good at finding loopholes that let us keep the same behav
557 | The Context
Sep 21, 2026 · 1h 3m
T.K. Coleman speaks with Zach Bush, MD, about why context matters more than content, why relationships are more important than possessions, how we learn to be dissatisfied, what disconnection from nature has to do with addiction and disease, how social media distorts our sense of enough, and much more. Discussed in this episode: What is antibiosis? (3:09) How did boxed apple juice compromise
556 | The Undoing
Sep 14, 2026 · 52 min
Joshua and T.K. talk about irreversible decisions, how to simplify everything in your life in five weeks, downgrading your smartphone to a dumbphone, and much more. Discussed in this episode: What did Lao Tzu mean by "It is easier to carry an empty cup than one that is filled to the brim"?(0:44) How much weight should we give a decision based on how difficult it is to undo? (4:20) Give It Five
555 | Born to Walk
Sep 7, 2026 · 53 min
Joshua and T.K. speak with Mark Sisson about the health benefits of walking, ultra-high-networth minimalism, the most minimalist exercises, and much more! Discussed in this episode: What does the fitness industry get wrong about exercise? (2:48) How does Mark rate these 12 fitness activities? (11:01) If you woke up tomorrow ultra-wealthy, in what ways would you still be a minimalist? (32:30)
554 | The Floor
Aug 31, 2026 · 49 min
Joshua and T.K. speak with Natasha Theresa about how subtraction can help us see what matters most, the pros and cons of Japanese floor sleeping, the power of a single question, and much more. Discussed in this episode: Is comfort a wonderful servant but a terrible master? (1:31) Can Japanese floor sleeping improve sleep and lower-back pain, and what should a beginner know about transitioning f
553 | Organize by Room
Aug 24, 2026 · 36 min
Joshua and T.K. speak with Julia Raz about struggling to keep common areas clutter free, organizing your home by room, the difference between decluttering and eliminating, three signs you're emotionally drained from cleaning your home, and much more! Discussed in this episode: How have unrealistic expectations contributed to the clutter and stress in people's homes? (1:01) When one person in
552 | Stories We Tell Ourselves
Aug 17, 2026 · 40 min
Joshua and T.K. speak with writer Conner Habib about how the stories we consume shape our lives, esotericism, letting go of heirlooms, what to do with the junk you don't want to inherit from your parents, and more! Discussed in this episode: Whatever tracks you leave in the mud or the sand, the wind smooths them over. (1:17) Why does storytelling matter, and how do the stories we consume and
551 | Children of Hoarders
Aug 10, 2026 · 38 min
Joshua and T.K. talk about inheriting clutter from hoarder parents, possessions we wish would disappear from our homes, how the spending habits of rich people are raising prices on everyday goods, and much more. Discussed in this episode: Does compassion without boundaries become captivity? (0:45) How can I escape my inherited clutter? (3:38) What's one item in your home you wish would disappe
550 | Surgical Decluttering
Aug 3, 2026 · 50 min
Joshua and T.K. talk about surgical decluttering, when more is better than minimalism, our favorite minimalist furniture brands, a new 14-minute decluttering rule, and much more. Discussed in this episode: Is expectation premeditated disappointment? (6:07) When does minimalism stop solving the problem and start becoming the problem? (9:51) When is more better than minimalism? (21:01) Right He
549 | Humble Things
Jul 27, 2026 · 60 min
Joshua and T.K. talk about some simple rules for a humble home, small tasks with large rewards, surprising things a minimalist might own, why clutter spreads throughout your home, and much more. Discussed in this episode: What is the cost of convenience? (0:41) Is there hidden value in doing the "menial" work we've been taught to pay someone else to do? (11:17) Right Here, Right Now: The How t
548 | Past Lives
Jul 20, 2026 · 48 min
Joshua, T.K., and Ryan talk about embracing minimalism after escaping from an abusive family, some of their favorite non-minimalist books, Joshua's new How to Let Go Tour, and much more. Discussed in this episode: If intelligence is getting what you want, is wisdom wanting what's worth getting in the first place? (2:16) How can I tell the difference between wisdom and fear, especially after esc
547 | Procrastination
Jul 13, 2026 · 47 min
The Minimalist speak with author Jon Acuff about whether procrastination is a type of hoarding, the difference between rest and hesitation, small actions that break the procrastination cycle, a popular decluttering rule that backfired on one of our listeners, and more! Discussed in this episode: What is "strategic apathy?" (2:06) Is procrastination just another form of hoarding? (6:23) Why do
546 | Ask for Help
Jul 6, 2026 · 53 min
The Minimalists talk about setting down burdens that exhaust us, why it's so difficult to ask for help, the scientific benefits of infrared saunas, and much more. Discussed in this episode: What happens when the person everyone depends on is the one who falls apart? (4:48) Where do you struggle to ask for help? (26:20) Right Here, Right Now: Very, Very Simple in print, and Clutter Counseling w
545 | Unoptimized Life
Jun 29, 2026 · 43 min
The Minimalists talk about the trap of productivity, the point at which optimization makes your life worse, when purchasing quality goods becomes an extravagance, seven minimalist rules that will help you eliminate your email clutter, and much more. Discussed in this episode: Don't you hate when people waste your time? (0:48) How can I escape my addiction to optimization? (6:08) At what point
544 | What a Mess!
Jun 22, 2026 · 59 min
The Minimalists talk about everyday things that turn into clutter, areas in your home that become messy quickly, one question to ask before buying new clothes, 15 useful tips for using your phone less, and more. Discussed in this episode: Is every item you own something you eventually have to organize? (7:22) Where do minimalists actually store all the everyday stuff that usually ends up coveri
543 | Nothing's Missing
Jun 15, 2026 · 49 min
The Minimalists speak with behavior expert Dr. John Demartini about loved ones who criticize your minimalist lifestyle, ways to reconcile the tension between simplicity and luxury goods, how our consumption patterns shape our identities, whether good and evil exist, and much more. Discussed in this episode: What is meant by Charles Bukowski's assertion that we are reduced to ashes by our purpose