The Cluttered Path

Mangudai Six Productions
  • 5.0 (9)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

A Compass for Midlife: Our podcast helps listeners navigate the complex challenges of midlife through the collective wisdom of expert insights, real-life stories, scientific research, biographies, and historical narratives. Whether you're seeking deeper connection with others, navigating family dynamics, building financial literacy, planning a career transition, decluttering your life, or simply learning to enjoy life more—this is where we cut through the noise and help you craft your own roadmap to a meaningful life. Join us as we explore the human condition in search of personal growth and existential inquiry. 

  1. #39 - Dr. John Austin | Navigating the Unknown and Conquering Uncertainty!

    APR 29

    #39 - Dr. John Austin | Navigating the Unknown and Conquering Uncertainty!

    Send us Fan Mail Smart, accomplished adults freeze when the rules of the game change. Dr. John Austin spent 20 years figuring out why, and he built a framework for navigating the unknown and conquering uncertainty.  In this episode we hear from Dr. Austin, Dean of the Honors College, PD Merrill Endowed Chair of Business at the University of New England, and author of the book "Certain About Uncertainty".  This is a conversation built for anyone navigating midlife, mid-career change, or the kind of season where the ground keeps shifting under your feet. If you've ever looked at your younger self and wondered where all that confidence went, this one's for you. Spoiler: you didn't lose it. You can rebuild it.  WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why uncertainty is NOT the same as risk (and why confusing them costs you) The fog metaphor that reframes how you face the unknown Why 8-year-olds don't fear uncertainty — but most adults do The "expert trap" and why expertise can make you LESS adaptive The Uncertainty Intelligence Framework: See, React, Prepare The Backward-Forward Flip: a simple exercise that reveals your blind spots Two habits you can start this week to build real uncertainty intelligence_____________________________________  Resources from This Episode:  Certain About Uncertainty, by John Austin: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/utxw8 As an Amazon Partner, our podcast earns from qualified purchases at no extra cost to you.  _____________________________________  ⭐ Want to be a guest on The Cluttered Path? Send Todd Carswell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/toddcarswell  _____________________________________ 🎯 About John Austin, PhD John Austin is dean of the Honors College and the P.D. Merrill Endowed Chair of Business at the University of New England. A researcher, educator, and executive development leader, he has spent more than two decades teaching professionals how to lead and make decisions in uncertain environments.   🌍 Learn more: https://certain-about-uncertainty.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnaustinphd/  ________________________________________________________________ 📫  Where to Find Us: Web: https://clutteredpath.com/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/clutteredpath Questions/Comments:  feedback@clutteredpath.com  _________________________________________________________________ 🔥 Follow us on Social Media: YouTubeInstagramFacebookX (Formerly Twitter)TikTok

    47 min
  2. #38 Suzy May | She Rejected the American Dream for This Lifestyle

    APR 15

    #38 Suzy May | She Rejected the American Dream for This Lifestyle

    Send us Fan Mail What if the "safe" path is actually the riskiest choice you'll ever make? In this episode of The Cluttered Path, we sit down with Suzy May, a certified financial educator, Air Force veteran, mom of two, and full-time slow traveler who has visited over 55 countries. She didn't just dream about a different life, she built one intentionally, financially, and with her whole family in tow. Suzy and her family spent a full school year in Spain, now split their time between Colorado and Europe, and they are living proof that worldschooling isn't just a fantasy for the ultra-wealthy or untethered. It's a plan you can actually build. We get into the real questions: How did a nurse and Air Force veteran become a globe-trotting financial educator?What does it actually cost and how do you make the money work?What is worldschooling, and what does education on the road really look like?What breaks (and what gets better) when you leave "normal life" behind?Is this freedom… or just a different set of trade-offs?_____________________________________  Resources from This Episode:  The Simple Path to Wealth, by JL Collins: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/PX6g2B   Die With Zero, by Bill Perkins: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/CAaaxn  As an Amazon Partner, our podcast earns from qualified purchases at no extra cost to you.  _____________________________________  ⭐ Want to be a guest on The Cluttered Path? Send Todd Carswell a message on PodMatch here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/toddcarswell  🎯 About Suzy May Suzy is a slow-traveling mom helping families explore “worldschooling”, a lifestyle that blends travel, education, and intentional living. Suzy is a certified financial educator and host of the Wander Worldschool podcast. She helps families build real financial plans that turn long-term travel and worldschooling from a dream into a roadmap, whether that's a gap year, a slow travel lifestyle, or raising multilingual kids across continents. 🌍 Connect with Suzy: Website: https://suzymaywander.com/Podcast: https://www.wanderworldschool.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@suzymay.wander Work with Suzanne: https://beacons.ai/suzymaywander________________________________________________________________ 📫  Where to Find Us: Web: https://clutteredpath.com/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/clutteredpath Questions/Comments:  feedback@clutteredpath.com  _________________________________________________________________ 🔥 Follow us on Social Media: YouTubeInstagramFacebookX (Formerly Twitter)TikTok

    54 min
  3. #37 Bradley Charbonneau | Stop Dreaming & Start DOING! Build a Life One Habit at a Time

    APR 1

    #37 Bradley Charbonneau | Stop Dreaming & Start DOING! Build a Life One Habit at a Time

    Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like your dream life is permanently “loading”? Bradley Charbonneau did, until one simple daily choice changed everything. He was living a "successful life, but it felt empty. Bradley walked away from comfort to create a life that actually meant something. His experiment to write every day for 30 days evolved into a complete identity shift, and the birth of the “Every Single Day” and Repossible philosophy. In this episode, we dive deep into how consistency reshapes self‑belief, what “doing” truly looks like, and why small, repeatable actions always beat dreams, motivation and planning. ⚡ In this episode: How Bradley turned writing every day into life transformationWhy tiny habits matter more than massive life overhaulsHow to bridge the gap between intention and identityPractical steps to make your dreams actionable today🎙 About Bradley Charbonneau: Author, speaker, and transformation coach, Bradley Charbonneau helps people shed their “someday” mindset and finally do what matters. Through his programs Every Single Day and Repossible, he shows how disciplined creativity leads to radical freedom. 💥 Where to Find Bradley: https://repossible.com  https://bradleycharbonneau.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@repossible  _____________________________________  Some of Bradley’s Books:  Repossible (Series):  https://urlgeni.us/amzn/vJNKPU  Authorpreneur (Series):  https://urlgeni.us/amzn/goR3_w  Other Resources Mentioned in the Episode: The “Year of You” Experiment: https://repossible.com/yoy/ Building a Story Brand, by Donald Miller: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/JzGKTJ  Inside Out Revolution, by Michael Neill: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/3Vi3X  As an Amazon Partner, our podcast earns from qualified purchases at no extra cost to you.  ________________________________________________________________ 📫  Where to Find Us: Web: https://clutteredpath.com/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/clutteredpath Questions/Comments:  feedback@clutteredpath.com  _________________________________________________________________ 🔥 Follow us on Social Media: YouTubeInstagramFacebookX (Formerly Twitter)TikTok

    1h 5m
  4. #36 Todd Carswell | Build a Fulfilling Life: It’s Up to YOU!

    MAR 17

    #36 Todd Carswell | Build a Fulfilling Life: It’s Up to YOU!

    Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to build a fulfilling life after everything falls apart? In this deeply personal episode, Todd Carswell sits with James to share his own story, from a fractured childhood and brutal military experiences to rediscovering faith, leadership, and purpose. If you’ve ever felt powerless, stuck, or too far gone to start again, this conversation will remind you that your life can still be renewed, one honest step at a time. 🎙 In this episode: Breaking the Cycle of Generational TraumaBeing a Leader Reveals Character FlawsThe Power of Influence (Negative & Positive)Finding Purpose Through Your Own Personal AgencyLife Happens Despite Our Plans_____________________________________  Resources from This Episode:  About Face, by Col (Ret) David Hackworth: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/P7Xedo  As an Amazon Partner, our podcast earns from qualified purchases at no extra cost to you.  ________________________________________________________________ 📫  Where to Find Us: Web: https://clutteredpath.com/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/clutteredpath Questions/Comments:  feedback@clutteredpath.com  _________________________________________________________________ 🔥 Follow us on Social Media: YouTubeInstagramFacebookX (Formerly Twitter)TikTok

    50 min
  5. #35 Rand Timmerman | A Combat Marine’s Journey of Faith from Vietnam to the Appalachian Trail

    FEB 25

    #35 Rand Timmerman | A Combat Marine’s Journey of Faith from Vietnam to the Appalachian Trail

    Send us Fan Mail Rand Timmerman survived harrowing combat as an infantry Marine in Vietnam. After the war, he found success as an attorney while battling PTSD, Alcoholism, and Shattered Faith. Later in life, he faced his demons, found grace, and teamed up with his brother to hike the Appalachian trail. In this episode, Todd sits down with Rand to discuss his book A Spiritual Passage: The True Story of Two Brothers in Their 70s Tackling the Appalachian Trail While Facing Personal Demons and Strengthening Their Faith. This raw conversation is about trauma, pain, addiction, and a long road to redemption. No matter what troubles you’re facing in life, Rand’s story will remind you: it’s never too late to take that first step toward healing. Where to find Rand: https://randtimmerman.com _____________________________________  ✅  Resources from This Episode:  A Spiritual Passage: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/0gPLw As an Amazon Partner, our podcast earns from qualified purchases at no extra cost to you.  ________________________________________________________________ 📫  Where to Find Us: Web: https://clutteredpath.com/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/clutteredpath Questions/Comments:  feedback@clutteredpath.com  _________________________________________________________________ 🔥 Follow us on Social Media: YouTubeInstagramFacebookX (Formerly Twitter)TikTok

    1h 17m
  6. #34 Todd Cowles | High School Dropout to Data & AI Architect

    FEB 11

    #34 Todd Cowles | High School Dropout to Data & AI Architect

    Send us Fan Mail Some stories punch through the noise because they’re honest, messy, and hopeful. Todd Cowles grew up with absentee parents, learned hustle the hard way, and nearly derailed himself with bad friends and worse choices. Then a rival reached out, a mentor stepped in, and a new path opened. Service, leadership, and the painstaking work of building his own self worth. A single pivot sent Todd to college, into the Air Force, and eventually into the tech industry where he became a Data and AI Architect, and he now helps major corporate brands generate real outcomes fast. We talk about the inflection points that matter: volunteering under a United Way leader who modeled service, a chance to attend college that unlocked a love of learning, and battlefield nights in Baghdad that left scars and clarity. Todd shares candidly about PTSD, faith, and the practice of reparenting: learning to speak to your younger self with patience and strength. The conversation moves from street‑level survival to practical tools anyone can use to change their arc. On the tech side, Todd breaks down how a help desk job became a springboard to VMware, Splunk, SPSS, and Apache Spark, and why Databricks turned into a platform for impact. He details how AI serves as a force multiplier, compressing end‑to‑end data, ML, and app delivery from months to days. We explore why core skills like public speaking matter more than ever, and how AI has drastically decreased delivery times. This episode is a blueprint for midlife reinvention and professional growth: choose friends wisely, take the next courageous step, consult yourself out of a job, and be ready to reinvent every few years. If you’ve ever felt behind or boxed in, Todd’s story is inspiring. Find Todd Cowles on LinkedIN ________________________________________________________________ 📫  Where to Find Us: Web: https://clutteredpath.com/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/clutteredpath Questions/Comments:  feedback@clutteredpath.com  _________________________________________________________________ 🔥 Follow us on Social Media: YouTubeInstagramFacebookX (Formerly Twitter)TikTok

    1h 25m
  7. #33 Cheryl Drury | How Old Books Reshape Modern Minds

    JAN 29

    #33 Cheryl Drury | How Old Books Reshape Modern Minds

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Todd talks with Cheryl Drury, host of Crack the Book Podcast, about how old words can sharpen modern minds. We dig into why reading classics isn’t simply nostalgia, it’s mental training!  Cheryl explains how reading Plato, Homer, and Shakespeare can push your limits, deepen focus, and crack open real mental growth in midlife. No fluff. Just ancient ideas proving their power in real life.  You’ll learn:  Why your brain actually craves complex writing How reading slowly builds clarity and confidence What’s wrong with our bite-sized information diet How Cheryl’s reading project turned into a purpose Where to Find Cheryl: Look for “Crack the Book Podcast” or… https://cheryldrury.substack.com/ _____________________________________   Classic Books Mentioned in this Episode: The Trial and Death of Socrates: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/s1Ihj7 The Iliad, by Homer: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/kpbBL1 The Odyssey, by Homer: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/uBeYhr Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/adBqMa Discourses, by Epictetus: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/Hy3FtB Nicomachean Ethics, by Aristotle: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/JyHbr1 Hamlet, by Shakespeare: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/qZE74I The Divine Comedy, Dante: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/BPRt7D The Life of Frederick Douglass: https://amzn.to/4qLy8Qo As an Amazon Partner, our podcast earns from qualified purchases at no extra cost to you.  ________________________________________________________________ 📫  Where to Find Us: Web: https://clutteredpath.com/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/clutteredpath Questions/Comments:  feedback@clutteredpath.com  _________________________________________________________________ 🔥 Follow us on Social Media: YouTubeInstagramFacebookX (Formerly Twitter)TikTok

    50 min
  8. #32 Paul Stryer: How to Cut Costs, Drama, and Stress | Minimalist Mindset

    JAN 14

    #32 Paul Stryer: How to Cut Costs, Drama, and Stress | Minimalist Mindset

    Send us Fan Mail What if the problem isn’t that you need more… but that you’re carrying too much? In this episode of The Cluttered Path, Todd sits down with Paul Stryer, author of Living the Zero Life, to explore a radically different approach to minimalism, not about owning fewer things, but about releasing the emotional, financial, and psychological weight that quietly drains your life.  Paul shares his real journey through divorce, overwhelming debt, corporate burnout, and the pressure of performing a life that looked successful but felt heavy. Out of that collapse came a philosophy he calls mental minimalism, the intentional subtraction of drama, unnecessary responsibility, and unsustainable cost of living in order to reclaim peace, clarity, and freedom.  This conversation goes beyond surface-level self-help and into the deeper work of intentional living, simple living, and life design. It’s about understanding why “someday freedom” is a myth, why peace is built through subtraction, and how money, identity, relationships, and self-worth quietly intertwine beneath the noise.  🎧 In this episode, you’ll explore:  Why minimalism starts in the mind, not the closet How emotional and financial clutter keep you stuck in survival mode The hidden cost of performing success instead of living in alignment Why doing less of the wrong things creates more freedom than doing more A practical framework for designing a lighter, calmer, more intentional life If your life looks good on the outside but feels expensive on the inside, this episode offers a grounded reminder: Freedom doesn’t come from adding more habits, goals, or hustle. It comes from letting go of what was never yours to carry in the first place.  The cost of peace is zero. Where to Find Paul:  Website: https://livingthezerolife.com  Email: livingthezerolife@gmail.com   _____________________________________   Resources from This Episode:   Living the Zero Life, by Paul Stryer: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/FLrjFq The Simple Path to Wealth, by JL Collins: https://urlgeni.us/amzn/PX6g2B  As an Amazon Partner, our podcast earns from qualified purchases at no extra cost to you.  ________________________________________________________________ 📫  Where to Find Us: Web: https://clutteredpath.com/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/clutteredpath Questions/Comments:  feedback@clutteredpath.com  _________________________________________________________________ 🔥 Follow us on Social Media: YouTubeInstagramFacebookX (Formerly Twitter)TikTok

    51 min
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

A Compass for Midlife: Our podcast helps listeners navigate the complex challenges of midlife through the collective wisdom of expert insights, real-life stories, scientific research, biographies, and historical narratives. Whether you're seeking deeper connection with others, navigating family dynamics, building financial literacy, planning a career transition, decluttering your life, or simply learning to enjoy life more—this is where we cut through the noise and help you craft your own roadmap to a meaningful life. Join us as we explore the human condition in search of personal growth and existential inquiry. 

Information

  • Creator
    Mangudai Six Productions
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Cluttered Path
  • Show Website
    The Cluttered Path