Mile High FI Podcast

Doug chats with Natalie & Bill about reaching Financial Independence, attempting early retirement, and how a lack of post-work identity & structured hobbies led them both back to the workforce.  They discuss what they learned along the way and how returning to work confirmed that they’re now financially & mentally ready to stop for good.

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Doug chats with Carl & Rusty about a classic debate in the FI community – DIY vs. outsourcing.  They discuss situations when outsourcing makes sense, emphasizing intentionality, buying back time, overcoming psychological hurdles of hiring help, and avoiding letting outside forces rewrite core values.

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Doug chats with Rusty about the concept of “quiet quitting”, spurred by an email from listener “Brian”.  They discuss the psychological shifts needed to step back from overachieving, provide strategies for reclaiming personal time & prioritizing health, and share tips on leadership, strategic delegation, prioritizing high-value problem solving, and setting firm boundaries.

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Mr. Money Mustache & I answer your questions! You can get your question on the show by recording a voice memo and emailing me.

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Mr. Money Mustache Episode Guide & Index

Email the show: doug@milehighfi.com

00:00 Welcome and Setup

01:03 Too Much Freedom

04:19 Child...

Doug chats with JT about quitting his tech job due to burnout, taking time off to spend with family & decompress, but ultimately deciding to return to work.  JT discusses his sudden decision to give an eight-day notice, the psychological transition of being “unemployed” vs. “retired”, why the FI community can sometimes be too prescriptive about never working again, and how he evaluated a new opportu...

Doug chats with David Gillis about finding meaningful projects after retiring and how identity can be tied to corporate roles.  David shares his financial journey from paying off consumer debt to finding FI and eventually testing “semi-retirement”.  He also discusses his beginnings as “the quiet kid on the bus”, improving his communication skills over time (via Toastmasters, improv classes, coachin...

Doug and Dusti chat with Rox (from FinanceRox) about celebrating a massive milestone – officially hitting her full-FI number!  Rox shares her story as a former financial analyst who first achieved Coast FI in 2020, navigated life changes such as a divorce and a period of digital nomading, then recently moved to Longmont & ultimately crossed the finish line to FI.  Rox also shares her passion for creative outlets...

Doug continues the happiness series with part 4 featuring special guest Kristen Knapp (FI Friends Travel).  Doug & Kristen dive into the groundbreaking science of longevity, memory, and community – from an 80-year Harvard study to Chicago commuter trains, the data proves that relationships act as emotional shock absorbers.   They also discuss how good relationships are the strongest predictor of a healthy, ...

Doug chats with Kristen & Pete about their FI journey, full-time RV living, and both of their work situations.  They dive into the realities of balancing a mixed-retirement relationship, overcoming decision fatigue while minimizing, navigating cross-country travel costs, balancing different risk tolerances & spending styles, and building true confidence through community.

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Doug chats with his brother-in-law Sam about a variety of topics focusing on travel, food, and money.  Sam discusses travel hacking using credit card rewards, budgeting for trips using a family “fun/frivolous” fund, and an upcoming trip to Iceland.  The pair also deep-dive into food & cooking to explore the meticulous art of dialing-in the perfect backyard pizza and morning espresso.

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Doug and Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache) answer questions from the listener mailbag.  They discuss costs of raising a large family on the path to FIRE, contrast the real-world math & culture of living in Canada vs the United States, map out high net worth investing strategies for seven-figure portfolios, and dive deep into the psychology of holding cash.

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Doug continues his conversation with Jennifer about reaching Financial Independence and subsequently retiring in about two years while living in a high cost-of-living area.  Jennifer shares the details of a car accident that served as a life-changing catalyst, her transition into early retirement, and specific technical strategies like utilizing a 72(t) that allowed her to accelerate her timeline.  Jennifer also shares sp...

Doug chats with Jennifer about reaching Financial Independence and subsequently retiring in about two years while living in a high cost-of-living area.  She shares how she discovered FI while dealing with burnout from a big-tech/creative career.  Jennifer also discusses accelerating her FI journey by overcoming lifestyle creep, tackling the “Big 3 expenses” (housing, transportation, food), paying off a car agg...

Doug and Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache) answer questions from the listener mailbag.  They discuss the benefits & timing of claiming Social Security and address criticism of prior comments about video games.  Pete also provides an update on recent lifestyle changes, including insight into his personal spending & annual expenses.

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Doug chats with Carla & Robert about life after their 2019 sabbatical – including observations, lessons learned, and how they currently handle a “working when it’s optional” lifestyle.  They discuss how to deal with boredom vs. the need to be productive, the importance of community, health/fitness motivation, the joys of discovering new hobbies, opportunity costs of continued work, and how to use sa...

Doug chats with Amberly Grant (FinTalks) about how their views & mindsets around frugality have evolved and share recent spending decisions, especially around travel and “quality of life” purchases.  They discuss the changing psychology of spending as income grows and the practical value of “removing negatives” from life.

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Doug continues his conversation with Rusty about how to optimize the final year before (early) retirement.  They discuss using debt responsibly, leveraging home equity & securities-backed lines of credit to maintain cash flow, navigating the complexities of post-retirement healthcare, and managing emotional & practical withdrawal strategies.

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Doug chats with Rusty about how to optimize the final year before (early) retirement, emphasizing the critical distinction between “one more year syndrome” vs. a calculated final year and how working a little longer can lower withdrawal rates & reduce sequence-of-returns worry.  They compare quitting to being fired or laid off and highlight some potential benefits such as severance, possible unemployment, and e...