Optimal Living Daily - Archive 1 - Episodes 1-300 Only

Courtney Carver was stopped in her tracks with a scary MS diagnosis after decades of debt, discontent, and trying to do it all. She had to slow down, prioritize her health, and figure out what was really important in her life. She discovered what mattered most by getting rid of everything that didn’t matter at all. In the end it all came down to love and health. She went from a busy, overwhelmed advertising director to spending 2-3 hours every morning taking care of herself, loving her work, and being present and engaged with the people she loves. Her family changed, too. They moved from wanting bigger closets, nicer furniture, and more stuff to downsizing into a 750 sq. ft apartment with no storage. Courtney has written books, courses, and hundreds of articles to help you simplify your life and work so you can focus on what really matters. Episode 220: The Secret to Happiness by Courtney Carver of Be More With Less (Simple Living & Mindfulness). The original post is located here:  and !

Derek Sivers, originally a professional musician and circus clown, created CD Baby in 1998. It became the largest seller of independent music online, with $100M in sales for 150,000 musicians. In 2008, Derek sold CD Baby for $22M, giving the proceeds to a charitable trust for music education. He is a frequent speaker at the TED Conference, with over 5 million views of his talks. Since 2011 he has published 34 books, including “Anything You Want” which shot to #1 on all of its Amazon categories. Episode 219: Saying No to Everything Else And The Mirror: It's About You, Not Them by Derek Sivers (Inspirational Living & Motivation). The original posts can be found here: and !

Mark Manson was a full-time professional dating coach for men from 2008 until 2011. In 2011, sick of the industry, he wrote his first book, Models: Attract Women Through Honesty, and changed the name and focus of his business to address broader self-development topics for men. The book took off, selling tens of thousands of copies. As he branched out into deeper issues of masculinity, self-worth, and the changing cultural landscape, the site grew. By 2013, he had begun writing about larger cultural issues — gender relations, happiness, ambition, life purpose, and cultural perspectives he had gathered while living in various countries around the world. Despite the fact that the business was still directed at men, thousands of women began reading and asking for advice as well. That same year, he made the leap to his own site and domain, broadening the demographics of his audience. The site exploded, garnering millions of views each month. Episode 218: The Confidence Conundrum by Mark Manson (Self Esteem, Relati

Ramit Sethi of IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com uses money to say yes instead of saying “no” to spending on everything. He knew there was a better way to live a rich life—if we could use psychology to focus on what actually works. Not just for personal finance, but all aspects of life: money, careers, relationships, business, fitness and more. Since then, he's been testing and sharing his findings with the world via I Will Teach You To Be Rich. He's also written a New York Times bestselling book, been profiled in a 6-page Fortune article and pictured next to Warren Buffett Forbes Magazine, and have been featured by a long list of media, including the Wall Street Journal, ABC News, NPR, Fox Business, PBS, CNBC and more. He also has tons of documented success stories—more than 20,000. Episode 217: Why You Should Give More Than You Get by Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich (Gratitude & Giving). The original post is located here:  and !

Kalen Bruce is the founder of MoneyMiniBlog. His story is simple… he and his wife were $24,000 in debt and became a student of finances to get out. They are now debt-free and building wealth. Kalen shares everything he has learned on his blog, writing informative, entertaining, mini blogs to help you with your finances. Finances can be intimidating, so he keeps his posts short, sweet, and simple. Episode 216: If You Want Freedom, Limit Yourself by Kalen Bruce of Money Mini Blog (Developing Habits & Happiness). The original post is located here:  and !

JC Deen is the owner and creator of JCD Fitness. He whips people into shape and helps them learn how to make fitness complement their lives, as opposed to ruling it. While he talks quite the talk, he also walks the walk. The tagline of JCD Fitness is A No-BS Approach To Looking Great Naked. Episode 215: Fitness Meal Plans - Why I Don't Make Them by JC Deen of JCD Fitness (Are Diet Plans a Shortcut to Slim or Wasting Time). The original post is located here:  and !

Kristin Wong of TheWildWong.com was laid off in 2013. She took on some freelancing gigs to earn extra cash while she searched for a new, full-time job and over time, her freelancing gigs increased. She started writing for sites that she loved reading and produced videos for new clients. Her side gigs began to bring in more income than any potential full-time jobs. She launched a blog all about frugal living and created The Wild Wong to share more about her career, her finances, and all the adventures in between. Episode 214: Shower Thoughts: The Creative Power of Autopilot by Kristin Wong of TheWildWong.com (Mindfulness of Daydreaming). The original post is located here:  and !

Leo Babauta created Zen Habits, which is about finding simplicity and mindfulness in the daily chaos of our lives. It’s about clearing the clutter so we can focus on what’s important, create something amazing, find happiness. Episode 213: Fear is Why We Have Too Much Stuff by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits (Be Happier Through Power and Purpose & Minimalism). The original post is located here:  and !

Nikcole Wiles defines herself as a believer, wife, mother, writer, advocate, academic, and minimalist. She's been a passionate lover and student of English and writing for almost 20 years. She supports organizations including TWLOHA, The Reformation Project, and the Lee Conlee House. She's deeply invested in supporting the LGBT Christian community, the massive numbers of individuals struggling with anxiety and/or depression, and various projects she comes across that adds value to the world (minimalism, the OLD Podcast, the UNF food bank, etc.). Episode 212: Everyone is Not a Minimalist: Here's Why I Am by Nikcole Wiles of EnglishWallflower.com (The Benefits of Minimalism). The original post is located here:  and !

J. Money of BudgetsAreSexy.com is a 6’1, hyperactive, rock a ‘hawk who loves drinking beer, blaring hip-hop, talking about money, and now playing with his two adorable baby boys. He also has a podcast: M.O.N.E.Y. He tracked his expenses for 3 months, made a budget, read some books, and stumbled into personal finance blogging and idea sharing, randomly turning BudgetsAreSexy.com into his full time “real job” a few short years later--14 million views later! Episode 211: It Can Happen to Any of Us by J. Money of Budgets Are Sexy (Happiness & Intentional Living). The original post is located here:  and !

Mary Jaksch is an authorized Zen master (Diamond Sangha lineage), psychotherapist, and author. She has two nationalities,--English and German--and lives in New Zealand. She's the mother of a grown-up son and lives happily ever after with her partner David. She's been awarded an MA in Religious Studies, holds a 4th Dan Blackbelt in karate, started professional life as a flautist and loves dancing Argentine tango in skimpy dresses. Episode 210: What is the One Thing in Your Life by Mary Jaksch of Good Life Zen (Passion & Happiness). The original post is located here:  and !

David Cain is a writer and entrepreneur living in Winnipeg, Canada. On a particular boring day at his office job in 2009, he started Raptitude. His interest has always been human society and the internal human experience, and Raptitude became his megaphone for his thoughts about those things. It found an audience rather quickly and it’s been central to his life ever since. In 2013, he left his day job to write full time. Episode 209: Two Ways of Viewing the World by David Cain of Raptitude.com (Meditation, Inspiration, Motivation, & Life Optimization). The original post is located here:  and !

Yogi Aaron, author of “The Autobiography Of A Naked Yogi,” currently serves as the co-owner of Blue Osa Yoga Retreat + Spa on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. Aaron has led, and continues to lead international yoga retreats and journeys around the world, as well as leading yoga teacher training and immersion programs at Blue Osa. He is an expert in the yoga community with proven marketing methods and is a leader to yoga teachers who are looking to grow their yoga businesses. Episode 208: I Don't Care What I Look LIke! I Care What I Feel Like by Yogi Aaron (Healthy Living & Happiness). The original post is located here:  and !

Steve Pavlina is widely recognized as one of the most successful personal development bloggers on the Internet, with his work attracting more than 100 million visits to his website, StevePavlina.com. He has written more than 1300 articles and recorded many audio programs on a broad range of self-help topics, including productivity, relationships, and spirituality. Steve has been quoted as an expert by the New York Times, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, the Los Angeles Daily News, Self Magazine, The Guardian, and countless other publications. He's also a frequent guest on popular podcasts and radio shows. Episode 207: Overclock Your Audio Learning by Steve Pavlina (Productivity: Listen to Audiobooks, Podcasts, & Content with Efficiency). The original post is located here:  and !

Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus of The Minimalists write about living a meaningful life with less stuff for 4 million readers. As featured on: ABC, CBS, NBC, BBC, TODAY, NPR, TIME, Forbes, The Atlantic, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and National Post. They live in Missoula, Montana. Episode 206: The Invention of our Discontent by Chase Night with The Minimalists (Simple Living & Happiness). The original post is located here:  and !

Sue Peters, a member of the Baby Boomer generation, has stories to tell and experiences to share. She spent most of her working life as an overachiever, always striving to accomplish more and more, sacrificing tremendous amounts of her time for her career, yet feeling that what she received in return never equaled her efforts. It took the loss of a parent in 2013 to realize that happiness could be achieved through a simpler, more grateful life focused on meaningful experiences and fulfilling relationships. She blogs at TheBoomingMinimalist.com. Episode 205: Creating a Life of Attention by Sue Peters with OLDPodcast.com (Take Steps for a More Meaningful Life & Lifestyle Design). The original post is located here:  and !

Joshua Becker and his family decided to live with fewer possessions after a conversation with his neighbor in 2008. As a result, they found a better way to live, centered on more important pursuits. Their story has been seen on the CBS Evening News, NPR, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal and countless media interviews around the world. Their books have sold in the tens of thousands. BecomingMinimalist.com is about their journey towards a rational approach to minimalism. It is about the joys and the struggles. It is about the lessons they have learned. It has inspired millions around the world. It is written to inspire you to intentionally live with less, and find more life because of it. Episode 204: The 10 Most Important Things to Simplify in Your Life by Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist (Minimize Your Lifestyle). The original post is located here:  and !

Marc and Angel Chernoff are professional coaches, full-time students of life, admirers of the human spirit, and have been recognized by Forbes as having “one of the most popular personal development blogs.” Through their blog, book, course and coaching, they’ve spent the past decade writing about and teaching proven strategies for finding lasting happiness, success, love and peace. The site has attracted over 100 million page views and 100 thousand subscribers since its inception in 2006. Their first book, “1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently“ is a focused collection of short, concise tips and reflections on the little things that make a huge difference in our daily lives. It’s available online at: marcandangel.com/book and on Amazon. Episode 203: 7 Quotes to Stop You from Worrying About Things You Can't Control by Marc Chernoff of Marc And Angel Hack Life (Worry). The original post is located here:  and !

Mark Manson was a full-time professional dating coach for men from 2008 until 2011. In 2011, sick of the industry, he wrote his first book, Models: Attract Women Through Honesty, and changed the name and focus of his business to address broader self-development topics for men. The book took off, selling tens of thousands of copies. As he branched out into deeper issues of masculinity, self-worth, and the changing cultural landscape, the site grew. By 2013, he had begun writing about larger cultural issues — gender relations, happiness, ambition, life purpose, and cultural perspectives he had gathered while living in various countries around the world. Despite the fact that the business was still directed at men, thousands of women began reading and asking for advice as well. That same year, he made the leap to his own site and domain, broadening the demographics of his audience. The site exploded, garnering millions of views each month. Episode 202: You're Okay by Mark Manson (Dealing with Social Anxiety, Dep

Optimal Living Daily: Reading you the best content on personal development, productivity, and minimalism. 201: Try Not by Neghar Fonooni (Motivation for Exercise & Health: Help Change How You Think About Your Workout Routine). Neghar Fonooni s a coach, speaker, and writer, giving women all over the world tools to create a lifestyle that thrills them, free of shame and unworthiness. She helps them give themselves permission to be vulnerable, authentic, and fully alive. She has worked as a personal trainer and fitness coach for over 15 years, served as an Arabic linguist in the United States Air Force, has been writing since she was eight years old, and birthed a witty and hilarious baby boy ten years ago. Her central focus is to help empower women through strength and bring wild and warm energy wherever she goes. The original post can be found here:  and !