Mile High FI Podcast
by Doug Cunnington & 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.
Episodes
-
Balancing Life with Climbing the Corporate Ladder | MHFI 340
Rusty and I talk about whether listener, April, should consider a higher paying role as a manager or stay as an individual contributor. This topic was inspired by our episode on quiet quitting. Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi **Disclaimer:...
-
Mr. Money Mustache & The Simple Path to Wealth Foreword | MHFI 339
Mr. Money Mustache and I worked on something cool! Do you like the podcast and want to support the show? Follow the links to find out how: https://buymeacoffee.com/milehighfi Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more **Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes....
-
Life Beyond 9-5 | MHFI 338
Doug chats with Blue (From Paychecks to Purpose podcast). They discuss early money memories & childhood influences, transitioning out of corporate roles, entrepreneurship, avoiding the trap of tying self-worth to a job title, embracing leisure & anti-productivity. Do you like the podcast and want...
-
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...
-
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...
-
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...
-
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…
more -
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…
more -
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...
-
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...
-
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...
-
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...
-
How to Stop Working & Start Living | 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...
-
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/ I put...
-
Work Optional FIRE: Quitting, Then Going Back | 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...
-
Pursuing Passion Projects In Early Retirement | 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…
more -
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...
-
Community & Connections – Happiness #4 | 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...
-
Living the RV Life While Financially Independent | 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...
-
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 [email protected]. You can send your text based question as well. Please let me know if you’re a Buy Me a Coffee Supporter.
-
Finance & Food: Iceland Adventures & Pizza Passion | 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...
-
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...
-
Fast-Track to Freedom: Discovering FIRE Late, But Retired in 2 Years (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,...
-
Fast-Track to Freedom: Discovering FIRE Late, But Retired in 2 Years (Part 1) | MHFI 321
Doug chats with Jennifer about reaching Financial Independence and subsequently retiring in about two years while living in a high cost-of-living area. She shares how she discovered FI while dealing with burnout from a big-tech/creative career. Jennifer also discusses accelerating her FI journey…
more -
Mr. Money Mustache on Social Security & Video Games | MHFI 320
Doug and Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache) answer questions from the listener mailbag. They discuss the benefits & timing of claiming Social Security and address criticism of prior comments about video games. Pete also provides an update on recent lifestyle changes, including insight into his...
-
Working When It’s Optional | MHFI 319
Doug chats with Carla & Robert about life after their 2019 sabbatical – including observations, lessons learned, and how they currently handle a “working when it’s optional” lifestyle. They discuss how to deal with boredom vs. the need to be productive, the importance of community, health/fitness...
-
Permission to Spend: From Frugality to Value-Based Purchases | MHFI 318
Doug chats with Amberly Grant (FinTalks) about how their views & mindsets around frugality have evolved and share recent spending decisions, especially around travel and “quality of life” purchases. They discuss the changing psychology of spending as income grows and the practical value of...
-
Optimizing the Last Year of Work Before Retirement (Part 2) | MHFI 317
Doug continues his conversation with Rusty about how to optimize the final year before (early) retirement. They discuss using debt responsibly, leveraging home equity & securities-backed lines of credit to maintain cash flow, navigating the complexities of post-retirement healthcare, and managing...
-
Optimizing the Last Year of Work Before Retirement (Part 1) | MHFI 316
Doug chats with Rusty about how to optimize the final year before (early) retirement, emphasizing the critical distinction between “one more year syndrome” vs. a calculated final year and how working a little longer can lower withdrawal rates & reduce sequence-of-returns worry. They compare...
-
Drawdown Strategies & Spending in Early Retirement – Fritz Gilbert | MHFI 315
Doug and co-host Kristen Knapp chat with Fritz Gilbert (The Retirement Manifesto) at the EconoMe Conference about various drawdown strategies and spending in early retirement. Fritz describes how he personally implements a “bucket strategy” approach to withdrawing money by setting up a monthly...
-
Is the 4% Rule Bad Advice? | MHFI 314
Doug chats with Mark Trautman (Mark’s Money Mind) about the relevance of The 4% Rule in modern retirement planning. They explore whether it remains a solid “north star” for those in the accumulation phase or if it has become an outdated guideline that potentially hinders retirees from living…
more -
A Story About My Mom
Support the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, PanCan, for the PurpleStride. Donate here PurpleStride is an inspiring event for anyone who has been affected by pancreatic cancer. We are raising funds to ensure vital research continues and free resources are made available to all who need them.…
more -
Retirement Readiness & Car Ownership [Mailbag] | MHFI 313
Doug and Mark Trautman (Mark’s Money Mind) answer questions from the listener mailbag. They discuss how to prepare for retirement, building social connections beyond work, psychological shifts of leaving a career, strategies for “manufacturing” a retirement paycheck, how to navigate the changing...
-
Retired at 46! An Update on 2 Years of Early Retirement – Elizabeth | MHFI 312
Doug chats with his wife Elizabeth about her 2-year anniversary in early retirement. Elizabeth describes why she loves not working, challenges with balancing routine vs. flexibility, and how reduced stress has improved relationships and communication. Doug & Elizabeth also discuss budgeting with…
more -
Oversaving Debate & Retiring to Something… Or Not | MHFI 311
Doug and Kristen Knapp (FI Friends Travel) dive into a listener-submitted topic from Dell regarding the potential benefits of oversaving. Doug & Kristen discuss the pros & cons of oversaving, the necessity of having a plan for “retiring to something” after work, and explore the psychological…
more -
Best Part of Die with Zero + Support the Pod [bonus]
Please support the show if you like it! I play highlights about Die With Zero, specifically about Time Bucketing. You can donate via Buy Me a Coffee. You get extra content and know that you’re making the show possible. Mile High FI is listed as one of the TOP Podcast on Careers in Apple Podcasts!...
-
Mr. Money Mustache Addresses Fears of Retiring Early | MHFI 310
Doug chats with Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache) about various fears that some people have about early retirement. They explore why some people may be reluctant to retire, despite being financially ready, and specifically how fear of boredom can hold people back. They discuss “One More Year...
-
Mr. Money Mustache’s Issues With The FIRE Movement | MHFI 309
Doug chats with Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache) about evolving perspectives within the FIRE movement. Moving beyond external critiques, they dive into a confessional-style discussion about genuine problems within the community – from the pitfalls of ultra-frugality, over-saving, over-optimizing,...
-
Mr. Money Mustache Wonders… “Is the FIRE Movement Dead?” | MHFI 308
Doug chats with Pete Adeney, Mr. Money Mustache, about whether the FIRE Movement is dead, in response to a variety of online commentary claiming this statement as fact. Doug & Pete review and critique multiple perspectives, including notable names like Dave Ramsey and Morgan Housel while also...
-
Is Retirement Overrated? [rebroadcast] | MHFI 307
Doug chats with Carl about finding purpose in life. They discuss the benefits of preparing for retirement by building a rich life outside of work, taking sabbaticals, and conducting small experiments to explore new hobbies and interests. They also talk about the importance of community, the idea…
more -
Is The FIRE Community Completely Wrong About Financial Advisors? | MHFI 306
Doug and Producer Chris chat about a very controversial topic in the FIRE community – working with a financial advisor. They explore the reasons someone might or might not want to work with an advisor, discussing common pitfalls like high fees & hidden motivations, while emphasizing the benefits…
more -
Mr. Money Mustache Explores Pop Culture Through the Lens of FIRE | MHFI 305
Doug chats with Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache) and Rusty about prominent themes related to Financial Independence found in popular movies & TV shows. They delve into iconic films such as “The Matrix”, “Office Space”, and “Fight Club”, extracting key FIRE principles such as anti-consumerism, the...
-
Food & Cooking!! | MHFI 304
Doug chats with Rusty about one of their mutual passions: food and cooking. They each explore their food “origin stories”, discussing childhood memories and the evolution of their culinary interests. They touch on how food plays a significant role in their lives and walk through various...
-
Renovation vs. Rebuild – Carl is Building a New House | MHFI 303
Doug chats with Carl & Rusty about each of their adventures with housing projects and renovations. Carl details his current project of tearing down a “Frank Lloyd Wrong house” and building one from scratch while sharing insights into his motivations, costs, and specific financing strategies.…
more -
A Slacker’s Guide to 12 Years of Early Retirement – Kevin Sebesta | MHFI 302
Doug chats with Kevin Sebesta, a self-proclaimed “high-achieving slacker”, about lessons learned from 12 years of early retirement. Kevin discusses the importance of building a supportive community, how living child-free influences lifestyle choices, the concept of a “Fun Bucket” for guilt-free...
-
The Search for Community & Identity in Early Retirement – Rebecca Herbst | MHFI 301
Doug chats with Rebecca Herbst about her post-FI life including challenges of finding community & the right place to live, experimenting with increased spending, the mental shift from a scarcity to an abundance mindset, and the complexities of personal identity after leaving a career. Rebecca…
more -
Unwinding Frugality and a Shift to Spending More – Kristen Knapp | MHFI 300
Doug chats with Kristen Knapp (FI Friends Travel) about the challenges of unwinding deep-seated frugal habits and learning to spend at the “right level” after achieving FI. Inspired by a recent blog post from the Mad Fientist, Doug & Kristen explore the nuances of maintaining a balance between...
-
From $150K Failure to Financial Independence – Nik Johnson | MHFI 299
Doug chats with Nik Johnson (Everyday Money Heroes) about his journey to Financial Independence and retiring early. He discusses an early passion for personal finance, how he discovered FI during the pandemic, the value of being part of a community, and the importance of a supportive spouse. Nik...
-
Living Better Through Philosophy & Ethics – Rusty | MHFI 298
Doug chats with Rusty about an intense neighborhood dispute involving prairie dog conservation, highlighting how ethical frameworks and philosophical approaches can guide community decisions. Doug shares his experience working through this issue while emphasizing the importance of patience…
more -
Perfect Day + Support the Pod [bonus]
Please support the show if you like it! I play a couple of highlights from Mad Fientist and Mr. Money Mustache after my pitch. Mile High FI stats and a correction: Spotify is 28% of the audience, so that’s grown in 2025 and higher than I said in this episode. If you extrapolate the Spotify year…
more
About this show
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.
Hosted by
Doug Cunnington & Carl Jensen