Mile High FI Podcast Carl Jensen & Doug Cunnington

Carl chats with Doug and his wife Elizabeth who recently left her career and retired early.  Elizabeth discusses her introduction to Financial Independence and some of the skepticism she initially had while also walking through some of the specifics about actually leaving her job (making the decision, having a solid financial plan in place, and describing her last day at work).  She goes on to share insights on adjusting to retirement, staying mentally active, societal perceptions of retiring early, the importance of finding joy outside work, and the importance of having a purpose post-retirement.
Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILEHIGHFI)
Are you an early retiree looking for something to fill your time or to provide purpose?  If so, come over to Buy Me A Coffee and hang out with us.
Links

Mr. Money Mustache
Bogleheads forum
Tim Ferriss podcast, “Mr. Money Mustache — Living Beautifully on $25-27K Per Year (#221)”
BiggerPockets Money podcast, Episode 153 with Bill Bengen
CampFI
EconoMe Conference
Mile High FI Facebook Group
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days

—
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl’s Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Introduction
1:58 Discovering FIRE
7:48 Good financial habits, tools, & practices
13:19 FIRE skepticism
18:49 Overcoming uncertainty & leaving work
23:34 Debate on the 4% rule
29:41 Working again after retirement
36:23 Pulling the trigger to actually quit
43:51 Single point of success
49:44 Last day of work & what happens next
54:48 Retirement worries
1:00:38 Telling friends & family about retirement
1:08:48 FI events & the perfect day
1:16:27 Soundcheck – Envelopes

Recorded in the hotel lobby on the last day of the EconoMe conference, Doug and Carl reflect on some of the presentations and conversations they had over the weekend while also providing their own insights & observations.  They discuss various topics including: the evolution of the FIRE movement from its initial focus on accumulating wealth to its current emphasis on mental health and personal development, happiness, post-FI life challenges, and strategies for dealing with anxiety and negative thoughts.
Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILEHIGHFI)
Couldn’t make it to EconoMe this year, but still want to hang out with others in the FI community?  If so, come over to Buy Me A Coffee and hang out with us.
Links

“Mindy On Money” podcast
Doug’s Podcast Accelerator
Doug’s SEO & Marketing Podcast, “Ranking Revolution”
EconoMe Conference
JL Collins
Katie & Alan Donegan
JD Roth/foldedspace
Meteorologist Kristen
Amberly Grant
Mark Trautman
Mile High FI Facebook Group
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days

—
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl’s Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Introduction
1:52 Stress & anxiety
8:53 Removing the mask in retirement
12:11 Thoughts on post-retirement life
17:41 One-more-year syndrome
25:27 Happiness & confronting personal issues
29:09 Evolution of FI
34:47 Carl’s 3 tips (plus a bonus)
39:46 Podcast projects beyond MHFI
47:11 Soundcheck – Feeling tired

Doug and Carl chat with Bob Haines who is a well-known figure in the FI community due to his frequent attendance of various FI-related events such as FinCon, EconoMe, Chautauqua, and CampFI.  Bob recounts his financial journey from initially finding FI through the Tim Ferriss podcast, to discovering that he was accidentally FI already, to transitioning fully into the world of early retirement almost five years ago.  Bob also discusses the changes he’s seen in the FI community over the years and the power of FI events.
Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILEHIGHFI)
Haven’t been able to attend any FI events, but still want to hang out with others in the community?  If so, come over to Buy Me A Coffee and hang out with us.
Links

Connect with Bob:

Instagram
Facebook


EconoMe Conference
CampFI
FI Chautauqua
Tim Ferriss podcast, “Mr. Money Mustache — Living Beautifully on $25-27K Per Year (#221)”
Pete Adeney/Mr. Money Mustache
Mr. Money Mustache, “The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement”
JL Collins, “Simple Path to Wealth”

Kindle
Hardcover
Paperback
Audiobook


JL Collins
Chad Carson
Gwen Merz/Fiery Millennials
FinCon
Amberly Grant/FinTalks Cruise
Amy Minkley/FI Freedom Retreats
Fioneers/Slow FI Retreat
Kevin Ha, “How an Ebike Can Be the Best Investment You Ever Make”
Kevin Ha/Financial Panther
ChooseFI Local Groups
Joel & Matt/How To Money
Early Retirement Extreme
Bill Perkins, “Die With Zero”

Kindle
Hardcover
Paperback
Audiobook


Coastal Volunteers in Medicine

Recorded in the hotel lobby from the EconoMe conference in Cincinnati, Doug and Carl catch-up on various topics including: a recap of their recent visit to the Culdesac community in Arizona, thoughts on e-bikes & electric vehicles, Doug’s battle with pink eye, updates to their fitness routines, and Carl’s unfortunate Facebook incident.  Doug also shares an exciting announcement about his wife’s upcoming retirement, providing insights into her journey from skepticism to embracing financial independence.
Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILEHIGHFI)
Couldn’t make it to EconoMe this year, but still want to hang out with others in the FI community?  If so, come over to Buy Me A Coffee and hang out with us.
Links

EconoMe Conference
Pete Adeney/Mr. Money Mustache
Mr. Money Mustache & Culdesac on MHFI episode 207
Culdesac
Brad Barrett/ChooseFI
ChooseFI podcast, “Update: Healthiest Year Ever | Dean Turner | Ep 480”
UC San Diego Health, “Advent of Electric Cars Is Already Improving Health”
Lex Fridman, “417 – Kimbal Musk: The Art of Cooking, Tesla, SpaceX, Zip2, and Family”
Diania Merriam on MHFI Episode 199
Mile High FI Facebook Group
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days

—
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl’s Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Introduction
4:41 Impressions of Culdesac
10:29 Thoughts on e-bikes & robot cars
17:29 Doug’s courageous battle with pink eye
22:51 Carl’s new fitness routine
31:20 The Facebook incident
38:59 Elizabeth’s retirement: From Skepticism to FIRE
45:49 Carl’s haircut
49:41 Soundcheck – EconoMe opening party

Doug and Carl (along with special guest co-host Georgie the dog) explore the concept of stealth wealth.  Each provides their personal money story & how much work it took to arrive at their current position, the pros & cons of sharing one’s financial status with others, and how this knowledge impacts social interactions & relationships.  They also discuss giving and helping others responsibly, using wealth to support people in meaningful ways rather than in response to direct requests for money.
Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILEHIGHFI)
Are you retired or wealthy and need someone to share this information with, free from any awkwardness or judgement?  If so, head over to Buy Me A Coffee where you’ll find a safe place to share.
Links

CampFI
Mr. Money Mustache
FinCon
EconoMe Conference
“Mindy On Money” podcast
Dan Sheeks/Sheeks Freaks
Mile High FI Facebook Group
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days

—
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl’s Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Introduction
3:29 Carl’s money story: From anonymity to viral fame
7:28 Doug’s money story: Staying modest & hustling hard
13:27 Sharing your financial status
19:51 FI evangelism
29:42 Impact of wealth on social interactions & relationships
34:04 Navigating the corporate world
43:24 Generosity & giving back
50:07 Soundcheck – Apple hat

Doug and Carl visit Culdesac, a unique car-free rental apartment community in Tempe, AZ that redefines the typical American neighborhood by focusing on sustainability, communal living spaces, and alternative transportation options.  The guys are joined by members of the FI community (including Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache), Paula Pant, Brad Barrett, and Chad Carson) to discuss Culdesac with co-founder and CEO Ryan Johnson.  The group explores Culdesac’s aims, design, how it represents a potential model for future urban planning, and concludes with a discussion on the importance & challenges of creating walkable, car-free communities.  Pete also shares his personal experience living in this community to include the impact of car-free living on personal finance, happiness, and building community. 
Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILEHIGHFI)
Not planning to move to Tempe, but still looking for community?  If so, head over to Buy Me A Coffee to hang out with us.
Links

Culdesac
Connect with Culdesac:

Twitter/X
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
TikTok


Pete Adeney/Mr. Money Mustache
Chad Carson
Chad Carson, “The Small and Mighty Real Estate Investor”

Kindle
Paperback
Audiobook


Brad Barrett/ChooseFI
Paula Pant/Afford Anything
JD Roth/foldedspace
“The Strong Towns” Podcast
Mile High FI Facebook Group
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days

—
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days