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Mile High FI Podcast

Doug Cunnington, Mr. Money Mustache, & Carl Jensen

Real talk about Financial Independence and life after corporate jobs. Doug Cunnington and Carl Jensen talk about FI, lifestyle, side hustles, health, and anything on their minds. Plus, they interview experts and non-experts interested in the FI lifestyle. It's raw, candid, pretty much like you get to sit in on a private conversation.

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28 episodes
weekly
Avg 58 min
English

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Episodes 28

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Tuesday · 1 hr 2 min
Un-Retiring After Two Years | MHFI 337
Doug and Rox Duckels (FinanceRox) chat with Dusti Young about her two-and-a-half-year journey in retirement. They dive into what happens when life throws unexpected financial & personal curveballs after leaving the traditional workforce – from rental property disasters and un-retiring to the fear of pressing the “sell” button on investments. Dusti & Rox also share their perspectives on navigating the FI journey as single individuals, covering everything from dating challenges and awkward Hinge
September 8 · 1 hr 6 min
Our Financial Mistakes on the Path to FIRE | MHFI 336
Doug chats with Bill Yount (Catching Up to FI) about the reality of pursuing FIRE: nobody does it perfectly. They discuss mistakes each of them made before and after their “financial wake-up calls,” including lack of money education, lifestyle inflation, bad insurance policies, debt, real estate blunders, predatory advisors, and the struggle to shift from aggressive saving to spending in retirement. Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https:/
September 1 · 53 min
Mr. Money Mustache Goes to Camp (Live CampFI) | MHFI 335
Doug, Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache), and Rox Duckels (FinanceRox) answer audience questions live at CampFI Rocky Mountain. The trio tackles topics such as financial strategies for younger generations, attracting younger audiences to FIRE, the most valuable self-investments, the real value of factoring Social Security into a FIRE plan, smooth transition strategies out of the workplace, and how to embrace idleness & art after reaching Financial Independence. Do you like the podcast and want to
August 28 · 19 min
Mr. Money Mustache: Preparing for WifeFI | MHFI 334.5
Mr. Money Mustache & I answer a listener question about how a family can best transition to Wife FI! You can get your question on the show by recording a voice memo and emailing me. Get priority by supporting the show via Buy Me a Coffee. It’s listener supported with no ads. Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/ I put together the MMM episode guide: Mr. Money Mustache Episode Guide & Index Links Pete Adeney/Mr. Money Mustache MHFI episode 305, “Mr. Money Mustache Exp
August 25 · 1 hr 7 min
Identifying & Overcoming Cognitive Biases in the FIRE Community (Live CampFI) | MHFI 334
Doug reunites with Carl at CampFI to chat about cognitive biases in the FIRE community – psychological shortcuts and blind spots that influence financial decisions, spending habits, and mindsets. The pair are joined by Kristen Knapp (FI Friends Travel) & Amberly Grant (FinTalks) to explore how our brains can get in the way of building a fulfilling life. Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/ Curious to know exactly
August 22 · 28 min
Asset Driven Lifestyle Creep
Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Referenced Mad Fientist: Decade of Freedom **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.** doug@milehighfi.com 00:00 asset driven lifestyle creep 03:57 decumulation 07:35 overoptimizing and simplici
August 18 · 58 min
Second Thoughts About FIRE - Things We Changed Our Minds About | MHFI 333
Doug chats with Amberly Grant (FinTalks) about how their views have evolved after years in the FI community. They challenge classic FIRE movement dogmas, revisit old thoughts about savings rates & retirement planning, discuss shifting FI numbers & goals due to changing life circumstances, and reframe lifestyle creep as a positive when it funds a desired life. Amberly also asserts her opinion that money is often the easiest/most boring FI topic compared with personal growth. Do you like the pod
August 11 · 1 hr 15 min
We Failed at Early Retirement, But We're Trying it Again | MHFI 332
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. Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/ Curious to know exactly what products Do
August 4 · 1 hr 22 min
Buy Back Your Time & Pay for Convenience | MHFI 331
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. Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/ Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses? Check out his Amazon lists b
July 28 · 1 hr 19 min
How to Stop Working and Start Living - Rusty | MHFI 330
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. Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/ Curi
July 26 · 26 min
Mr. Money Mustache on Too Much Freedom in Early Retirement [Q&A Bonus] | MHFI 329.5
Mr. Money Mustache & I answer your questions! You can get your question on the show by recording a voice memo and emailing me. Get priority by supporting the show via Buy Me a Coffee. It’s listener supported with no ads. Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/ Mr. Money Mustache Episode Guide & Index Email the show: doug@milehighfi.com 00:00 Welcome and Setup 01:03 Too Much Freedom 04:19 Childhood Independence 08:13 Routines and Productivity 10:17 Long Term Care Fears 11
July 21 · 1 hr 19 min
Exercising Optionality With FIRE: Quitting Work... Then Going Back - JT | MHFI 329
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 opportunity at a startup while emphasizing optionality, boundaries, and success criteria to avoid repeati
July 14 · 48 min
Pursuing Passion Projects In Early Retirement - David Gillis | MHFI 328
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, coaching, & involvement with TEDx Omaha) to launching his own conference called “The 1% Better Conference”
July 7 · 1 hr 5 min
Reaching Coast FI, then FULL Financial Independence | MHFI 327
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 outside the numbers in areas like stand-up comedy and daily art journaling. Do you l
June 30 · 54 min
Community & Connections - Happy #4 - Kristen Knapp | MHFI 326
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, long, happy life. Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the link t
June 23 · 1 hr 30 min
Living the RV Life While Financially Independent - Kristen & Pete | MHFI 325
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. Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/ Curio
June 18 · 10 min
Ask Questions & Asparagus Origin Story... [bonus]
We need your questions. So ask questions, plus you get the first mention of asparagus on MHFI. It was episode 9. It’s ridiculous. Record a voice memo. Send to doug@milehighfi.com. You can send your text based question as well. Please let me know if you’re a Buy Me a Coffee Supporter.
June 16 · 1 hr 18 min
Finance & Food: Iceland Adventures & Pizza Passion - Sam | MHFI 324
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. Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/su
June 9 · 46 min
Mr. Money Mustache: FIRE Planning & Investing | MHFI 323
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. Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/ Curious to know exactl
June 2 · 49 min
Fast-Track to Freedom: Discovering FIRE Late, But Retired in 2 Years - Jennifer (Part 2) | MHFI 322
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 specific FI-related resources that helped with her journey. Do you like the p

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