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Why are we so addicted to stuff? How come our hunger for possessions is causing us to be sick and unhappy, yet we still want more? And how might our lives be better with less?

To help answer these soul-striking questions, I’m bringing out the big guns — yep, I’m chatting with none other than The Minimalists themselves — a.k.a Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus.

Like the rest of the world, I fell in love with these two and their message of ‘less is more’ when I first saw their hugely popular self-titled Netflix documentary.

But despite being devoured by audiences around the world — and even breaking box office records — it seems that many people are still struggling to actually EMBODY the minimalist mindset that they espouse. One only has to look at how rates of online shopping are skyrocketing, how more things than ever are ending up in landfill, how more storage units are popping up than at any other time in history, how comments sections are flooded with people overwhelmed by their clutter, and how our collective mental health is suffering, to wonder: Where are we going wrong? How can we right this ship? And how can we move away from the material and get back to what’s meaningful?

In this episode, you’ll hear their answers to these questions and more — and they may just change your mind and your life.

Netflix stars and New York Times–bestselling authors Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known to their audience as The Minimalists, help millions of people live meaningful lives with less through their website, books, podcast, and films. They have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Time magazine, and GQ, and they have spoken at Harvard, Apple, and Google. With more than 100 million downloads, The Minimalists Podcast is one of the most popular shows on Apple Podcasts. Both raised in Dayton, Ohio, they currently live in Los Angeles.

So if you want to learn why we need to move BEYOND simple decluttering, discover why the only true road to happiness is to appreciate what we already have, and hear their game-changing tips for creating a life with less of the stuff you DON’T want and more of the stuff you DO want, then pop in those earbuds… this one’s for you.

In this episode we chat about:

• The wild ride that led Joshua and Ryan to become The Minimalists (02:39)
• How might your life be better with less? Why it’s crucial to disconnect from things and reconnect with your true essence (10:23)
• Why their message took the world by storm — and how it’s led to bestselling books, a podcast and two Netflix documentaries (13:10)
• How being a minimalist can help you have more of all the good stuff (time, space, love, health and more) (15:10) 
• Essential steps to move away from the material and towards what’s meaningful (21:36)
• The 16 rules of living with less — including my personal favourites, the Spontaneous Combustion Rule and the Gift-Getting Rule! (27:52)
• The real price of things (and it’s sooooo much more than you think) (39:34)
• Genius tips to lovingly get your partner and children on board with a life of minimalism (53:56)
• The last thing Joshua and Ryan bought, and how to have a minimalist holiday season by giving more than just things (I love their take on this so much!) (1:04:45)

Episode resources: 

• Comparisonitis (book)
• The Minimalists (website)
• The Minimalists | Podcast (website)
• The Minimalists | YouTube (YouTube)
• Love People, Use Things by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus (book)
• Essential Essays by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus (book) 
• Minimalism by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus (book)
• Everything That Remains by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus (book)
• From Paycheck to Purpose by Ken Coleman (book)
• The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (book)
• The Way to Love by Anthony De Mello (book)

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honored that you’re here and would be SO grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple podcasts, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

P.S. Please seek advice from a qualified holistic practitioner before starting any new health practice.

P.P.S. If you’re looking for a high-impact marketing opportunity for your business and are interested in becoming a sponsor for The Melissa Ambrosini Show podcast, please email pr@melissaambrosini.com for more information.