Podcasts about digital minimalism

What does it really take to build a multi-six-figure author business with no advertising? Is running your own warehouse really necessary for direct sales success — or is there a simpler path using print-on-demand that works just as well? In this conversation, Sacha Black and I compare our very different approaches to selling direct, from print on demand to pallets of books, and explore why the right model depends entirely on who you are and what your goals are for your author business. In the intro, Memoir Examples and interviews [Reedsy, The Creative Penn memoir tips]; Written Word Media annual indie author survey results; Successful Self-Publishing Fourth Edition; Business for Authors webinars; Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant; Camino Portuguese Coastal on My Camino Podcast; Creating while Caring Community with Donn King; The Buried and the Drowned by J.F. Penn Today's show is sponsored by Bookfunnel, the essential tool for your author business. Whether it's delivering your reader magnet, sending out advanced copies of your book, handing out ebooks at a conference, or fulfilling your digital sales to readers, BookFunnel does it all. Check it out at bookfunnel.com/thecreativepenn This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Sacha Black is the author of YA and non-fiction for authors and previously hosted The Rebel Author Podcast. As Ruby Roe, she is a multi-six-figure author of sapphic romantasy. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights, and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Two models for selling direct: print on demand vs running your own warehouse. Plus, check out Sacha's solo Rebel Author episode about the details of the warehouse. Cashflow management Kickstarter lessons: pre-launch followers, fulfillment time, and realistic timelines How Sacha built a multi-six-figure business through TikTok with zero ad spend Matching your business model to your personality and skill set Building resilience: staff salaries, SOPs, and planning for when things change You can find Ruby at RubyRoe.co.uk and on TikTok @rubyroeauthor and on Instagram @sachablackauthor Transcript of the interview Joanna: Sacha Black is the author of YA and nonfiction for authors, and previously hosted the Rebel Author podcast. As Ruby Roe, she is a multi-six-figure author of sapphic romance. So welcome back to the show, Sacha. Sacha: Hello. Thank you for having me. It's always a pleasure to be here. Joanna: I'm excited to talk to you today. Now, just for context, for everybody listening, Sacha has a solo episode on her Rebel Author podcast, last week as we record this, which goes into specific lessons around the warehouse in more detail, including financials. So we are going to come at this from a slightly different angle in our discussion today, which is really about two different ways of doing selling direct. I want us to start though, Sacha, in case people don't know your background, in case they've missed out. Can you just give us a quick recap of your indie author journey, because you haven't just come out of nowhere and jumped into this business and done incredibly well? Sacha's Indie Author Journey Sacha: No, I really haven't. Okay. So 2013, I started writing. So 12 years ago I started writing with the intention to publish, because I was writing before, but not with the intention. 2017 I first self-published and then two years after that, in 2019, I quit the day job. But let me be clear, it wasn't because I was rolling in self-published royalties or commissions or whatever you want to call them. I was barely scraping by. And so those are what I like to call my hustle years because I mean, I still hustle, but it was a different kind. It was grind and hustle. So I did a lot of freelance work. I did a lot of VA work for other authors. I did speaking, I was podcasting, teaching courses, and so on and so forth. 2022, in the summer, I made a realisation that I'd created another job for myself rather than a business that I wanted to grow and thrive in and was loving life and all of that stuff. And so I took a huge risk and I slowed down everything, and I do mean everything. I slowed down the speaking, I slowed down the courses, I slowed down the nonfiction, and — I poured everything into writing what became the first Ruby Roe book. I published that in February 2023. In August/September 2023, I stopped all freelance work. And to be clear, at that point, I also wasn't entirely sure if I was going to be able to pay my bills with Ruby, but I could see that she had the potential there and I was making enough to scrape by. And there's nothing if not a little bit of pressure to make you work hard. So that is when I stopped the freelance. And then in November 2023, so two months later, I started TikTok in earnest. And then a month after that, December the eighth, I went viral. And then what's relevant to this is that two days after that, on December the 10th, I had whipped up my minimum viable Shopify, and that went live. Then roll on, I did more of the same, published more Ruby Roe books. I made a big change to my Shopify. So at that point it was still print on demand Shopify, and then February 2025, I took control and took the reins and rented a warehouse and started fulfilling distribution myself. The Ten-Year Overnight Success Joanna: So great. So really good for people to realise that 2013, you started writing with the intention, like, seriously, I want this to be what I do. And it was 2019 when you quit the day job, but really it was 2023 when you actually started making decent money, right? Sacha: Almost like we all need 10 years. Joanna: Yeah. I mean, it definitely takes time. So I wanted just to set that scene there. And also that you did at least a year of print on demand Shopify before getting your own warehouse. Sacha: Yeah, maybe 14 months. Joanna: Yeah, 14 months. Okay. So we are going to revisit some of these, but I also just want as context, what was your day job so people know? Sacha: So I was a project manager in a local government, quite corporate, quite conservative place. And I played the villain. It was great. I would helicopter into departments and fix them up and look at processes that were failing and restructure things and bring in new software and bits and bobs like that. The Importance of Business Skills Joanna: Yeah. So I think that's important too, because your job was fixing things and looking at processes, and I feel like that is a lot of what you've done and we'll revisit that. Sacha: How did I not realise that?! Joanna: I thought you did know that. No. Well, oh my goodness. And let's just put my business background in context. I'm sure most people have heard it before, but I was an IT consultant for about 13 years, but much of my job was going into businesses and doing process mapping and then doing software to fix that. And also I worked, I'm not an accountant, but I worked in financial accounting departments. So I think this is really important context for people to realise that learning the craft is one thing, but learning business is a completely different game, right? Sacha: Oh, it is. I have learnt — it's wild because I always feel like there's no way you can learn more than in your first year of publishing because everything is brand new. But I genuinely feel like this past 18 months I have learnt as much, if not more, because of the business, because of money, because of all of the other legal regulation type changes in the last 18 months. It's just been exhausting in terms of learning. It's great, but also it is a lot to learn. There is just so much to business. Joanna's Attempts to Talk Sacha Out of the Warehouse Joanna: So that's one thing. Now, I also want to say for context, when you decided to start a warehouse, how much effort did I put into trying to persuade you not to do this? Sacha: Oh my goodness, me. I mean a lot. There were probably two dinners, several coffees, a Zoom. It was like, don't do it. Don't do it. You got me halfway there. So for everybody listening, I went big and I was like, oh, I'm going to buy shipping containers and convert them and put them on a plot of land and all of this stuff. And Joanna very sensibly turned around and was like, hmm, why don't you rent somewhere that you can bail out of if it doesn't work? And I was like, oh yeah, that does sound like a good idea. Joanna: Try it, try it before you really commit. Okay. So let's just again take a step back because the whole point of doing this discussion for me is because you are doing really well and it is amazing what you are doing and what some other people are doing with warehouses. But I also sell direct and in the same way as you used to, which is I use Bookfunnel for ebooks and audiobooks and I use BookVault for print on demand books, and people can also use Lulu. That's another option for people. So you don't have to do direct sales in the way that you've done it. And part of the reason to do this episode was to show people that there are gradations of selling direct. Why Sell Direct? Joanna: But I wanted to go back to the basics around this. Why might people consider selling direct, even in a really simple way, for example, just ebooks from their website, or what might be reasons to sell direct rather than just sending everything to Amazon or other stores? Sacha: I think, well, first of all, it depends on what you want as a business model. For me, I have a similar background to you in that I was very vulnerable when I was in corporate because of redundancies, and so that bred a bit of control freakness inside me. And having control of my customers was really important to me. We don't get any data from Amazon or Kobo really, or anywhere, even though all of these distributors are incredible for us in our careers. We don't actually have direct access to readers, and you do with Shopify. You know everything about your reader, and that is priceless. Because once you have that data and you have delivered a product, a book, merchandise, something that that reader values and appreciates, you can then sell to them again and again and again. I have some readers who have been on my website who have spent almost four figures now. I mean, that is just — one person's done that and I have thousands of people who are coming to the website on a regular basis. So definitely that control and access to readers is a huge reason for doing it. Customising the Reader Relationship Sacha: And also I think that you can, depending on how you do this model, there are ways to do some of the things I'm going to talk about digitally as well. But for me, I really like the physical aspect of it. We are able to customise the relationship with our customers. We can give them more because we are in control of delivery. And so by that I mean we could give art prints, which lots of my readers really value. We can do — you could send those digitally if you wanted to, but we can add in extra freebies like our romance pop sockets, that makes them feel like they are part of my reader group. They're part of a community. It creates this belonging. So I think there is just so much more that you can do when you are in control of that relationship and in control of the access to it. Joanna: Yeah. And on that, I mean, one of the reasons we can do really cool print books — and again, we're going to come back to print on demand, but I use print on demand. You don't have to buy pallets of books as Sacha does. You can just do print on demand. Obviously the financials are different, but I can still do foiling and custom end papers and ribbons and all this with print on demand through BookVault custom printing and bespoke printing. The Speed of Money Joanna: But also, I think the other thing with the money — I don't know if you even remember this, because it's very different when you are selling direct — you can set up your system so you get paid like every single day, right? Or every week? Sacha: Yes. Joanna: So the money is faster because with Amazon, with any of these other systems, it can take 30, 60, 90 days for the money to get to you. So faster money, you are in more control of the money. And you can also do a lot more things like bundling and like you mentioned, much higher value that you could offer, but you can also make higher income. Average order value per customer because you have so many things, right? So that speed of money is very different. Sacha: It is, but it's also very dangerous. I know we might talk about cashflow more later, but— Joanna: Let's talk about it now. Managing Cashflow With Multiple Bank Accounts Sacha: Okay, cool. So one of the things that I think is the most valuable thing that I've ever done is, someone who is really clever told me that you're allowed more than one business account. Joanna: Just to be clear, bank accounts? Sacha: Yes, sorry. Yeah. Bank accounts. And one of my banks in particular enables you to have mini banks inside it, mini pots they call it. And what I do with pre-orders is I treat it a bit like Amazon. So that money will come in — you know, I do get paid daily pretty much — but I then siphon it off every week into a pot. So let's just say I've got one book on pre-order. Every week the team tells me how much we've got in pre-orders for that one product and all the shipping money, and I put it into an account and I leave it there. And I do not touch it unless it is to pay for the print run of that book or to pay for the shipping. Because one of the benefits of coming direct to me is that I promise to ship all pre-orders early, so we have to pay the shipping costs before necessarily Amazon might pay for its shipping costs because they only release on the actual release day. But that has enabled me to have a little savings scheme, but also guarantee that I can pay for the print run in advance because I haven't accidentally spent that money on something else or invested it. I've kept it aside and it also helps you track numbers as well, so you know how well that pre-order is doing financially. Understanding Cashflow as an Author Joanna: Yeah. And this cashflow, if people don't really know it, is the difference between when money comes in and when it goes out. So another example, common to many authors, is paying for advertising. So for example, if you run some ads one month, you're going to have to pay, let's say Facebook or BookBub or whoever, that month. You might not get the money from the sale of those books if it's from a store until two months later. In that case, the cash flows the other way. The money is sitting with the store, sitting on Amazon until they pay you later. This idea of cashflow is so important for authors to think about. Another, I guess even more basic example is you are writing your first book and you pay for an editor. Money goes out of your bank account and then hopefully you're going to sell some books, but that might take, let's say six months, and then some money will come back into your bank account. I think this understanding cashflow is so important at a small level because as it gets bigger and bigger — and you are doing these very big print runs now, aren't you? Talk a bit about that. The Risks of Print Runs Sacha: Yeah. So one of the things I was going to say, one of the benefits of your sell direct model is that you don't have to deal with mistakes like this one. So in my recent book, Architecti, that we launched at the end of September, we did a print run of a thousand books, maybe about 3,000 pounds, something like that, 2,000 pounds. And basically we ended up selling all thousand and more. So the pre-orders breached a thousand and we didn't have enough books. But what made that worse is that 20% of the books that arrived were damaged because there had been massive rain. So we then had to do a second print run, which is bad for two reasons. The first reason is that one, that space, two, the time it's going to take to get to you — it's not instant, it's not printed on demand. But also three, I then had to spend the same amount of money again. And actually if we had ordered 2,000 originally, we would've saved a bit more money on it per book. So you don't — if you are doing selling direct with a print on demand model, the number of pre-orders you get is irrelevant because they'll just keep printing, and you just get charged per copy. So there are benefits and disadvantages to doing it each way. Obviously, I'm getting a cheaper price per copy printed, but not if I mess up the order numbers. Is Running a Warehouse Just Another Job? Joanna: So I'm going to come back on something you said earlier, which was in 2022 you said, “I realised I made a job for myself.” Sacha: Yeah. Joanna: And I mean, I've been to your store. You obviously have people to help you. But one of my reservations about this kind of model is that even if you have people to help you, taking on physical book — even though you are not printing them yourself, you're still shipping them all and you're signing them all. And to me it feels like a job. So maybe talk about why you have continued — you have pretty much decided to continue with your warehouse. So why is this not a job? What makes this fun for you? The Joy of Physical Product Creation Sacha: I wish that listeners could see my face because I'm literally glittering. I love it. I literally love it. I love us being able to create cool and wacky things. We can make a decision and we can create that physical product really quickly. We can do all of these quirky things. We can experiment. We can do book boxes. So first of all, it's the creativity in the physical product creation. I had no idea how much I love physical product creation, but there is something extremely satisfying about us coming up with an idea that's so integrated in the book. So for example, one of my characters uses, has a coin, a yes/no coin. She's an assassin and she flips it to decide whether or not she's going to assassinate somebody. We've actually designed and had that coin made, and it's my favourite item in the warehouse. It's such a small little thing, but I love it. And so there is a lot of joy that I derive from us being able to create these items. Sending Book Mail and Building Community Sacha: I think the second thing is I really love book mail. There is no better gift somebody can give me than a book. And so I do get a lot of satisfaction from knowing we're sending out lots and lots of book presents to people and we get to add more to it. So some of the promises that we make are: I sign every book and we give gifts. We have character art and, like I've mentioned before, pop sockets and all these kinds of things. And I get tagged daily in unboxings and stories and things like this where people are like, oh my gosh, I didn't realise I was going to get this, this, and this. And I just — it's like crack to me. I get high off of it. So I can't — this is not for everybody. This is a logistical nightmare. There are so many problems inherent in this business model. I love it. Discovering a Love of Team Building Sacha: And I think the other thing, which is very much not for a lot of authors — I did not realise that I actually really like having a team. And that has been a recent realisation. I really was told that I'm not a team player when I was in corporate, that I work alone, all of this nonsense. And I believed that and taken it on. But finding the right team, the right people who love the jobs that they do inside your business and they're all as passionate as you, is just life changing. And so that also helps me continue because I have a really great team. Joanna: I do have to ask you, what is a pop socket? Sacha: It's a little round disc that has a mechanism that you can pull out and then you — and it has a sticky command strip back and you can pop it on the back of your phone or on the back of a Kindle and it helps you to hold it. I don't know how else to describe it. It just helps you to hold the device easier. Joanna: Okay. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who was confused. I'm like, why are you doing electrical socket products? Know What Kind of Person You Are Joanna: But I think this actually does demonstrate another point, and I hope people listening — I hope you can sort of — why we are doing this partly is to help you figure out what kind of person you are as well. Because I can't think of anything worse than having lots of little boxes! And I've been in Sacha's thing and there's all these little stickers and there's lots of boxes of little things that they put in people's packages, which make people happy. And I'm like, oh, I just don't like packages of things. And I mean, you geek out on packaging, don't you as well? Sacha: Oh my goodness. Yeah. One of the first things I did when we got the warehouse was I actually went to a packaging expo in Birmingham. It was like this giant conference place and I just nerded out there. It was so fun. And one of the things that I'm booked to do is an advent calendar. And that was what drove me there in the first place. I was looking for a manufacturer that could create an advent calendar for us. I have two. I'm not — I have two advent calendars this year because I love them so much. But yeah, the other thing that I was going to say to you is I often think that as adults, we can find what we're supposed to do rooted in our childhood. And I was talking the other day and someone said to me, what toy do you remember from your youth? And I was like, oh yeah. The only one that I can remember is that I had a sticker maker. I like — that makes sense. You do like stickers. And I do. Yeah. Digital Minimalism vs Physical Products Joanna: Yeah, I do. And I think this is so important because I love books. I buy a lot of books. I love books, but I also get rid of a lot of books. I know people hate this, but I will just get rid of bags and bags of books. So I value books more for what's inside them than the physical product as such. I mean, I have some big expensive, beautiful books, but mostly I want what's in them. So it's really interesting to me. And I think there's a big difference between us is just how much you like all that stuff. So if you are listening, if you are like a digital minimalist and you don't want to have stuff around your house, you definitely don't want a warehouse. You don't want all the shipping bits and bobs. You are not interested in all that. Or even if you are, you can still do a lot of this print on demand. Then I think that's just so important, isn't it? I mean, did you look at the print on demand merch? Did you find anything you liked? The Draw of Customisation Sacha: Yeah, we did, but I think for me it was that customisation. We are now moving towards — I've just put an order in this morning for 10,000 customised boxes. We've got our own branding on them. We've got a little naughty, cheeky message when they flip up the flap. And it's little things like that that you can't — you know, we wouldn't have control over what was sent. So much of what I wanted, and some of the reasons for me doing it, is that I wanted to be able to sign the books. I was being asked on a daily basis if people could buy signed books from me, and it was driving me bonkers not being able to say yes. But also being able to send a website mailing list sign-up in the box, or being able to give them a discount in the box. I mean, I know you do that, but yeah, there was just a lot more customisation and things that we could do if we were controlling the shipping. Also, I wanted to pack the boxes, the books better. So we wanted to be able to bubble wrap things or we wanted to be able to waterproof things because we had various different issues with deliveries and so we wanted a bit more control over that. So yeah, there were just so many reasons for us to do it. Print on Demand Is Still Fantastic Sacha: Look, don't get me wrong, if I suddenly wanted to go off travelling for a year, then maybe I would shut down the warehouse and go back to print on demand. I think print on demand is fantastic. I did it for 14 months before I decided to open a warehouse. It is the foundation of most authors' models. So it's fantastic. I just want to do more. Joanna: Yeah. You want to do more of it. Life Stage Matters Joanna: We should also, I also wanted to mention your life stage. Because when we did talk about it, your son is just going to secondary school, so we knew that you would be in the same area, right? Sacha: Yeah. Joanna: Because I said to you, you can't just do this and — well, you can, you could ditch it all. But the better decision is to do this for a certain number of years. If you're going to do it, it needs time, right? So you are at that point in your life. Sacha: Yeah, absolutely. We — I mean, we are going to move house, I think, but not that far away. We'll still be in reachable distance of the warehouse. And yeah, the staying power is so important because it's also about raising awareness. You have to train readers to come to you. You have to show them why it's beneficial for them to order directly from you. Growing the Business Year Over Year Sacha: And then you also have to be able to iterate and add more products. Like you were talking earlier about increasing that average order value. And that does come from having more products, but more products does create other issues like space, which may or may not be suffering issues with now. But yeah, so for example, 2024, which was the first real year, I did about 73 and a half thousand British pounds. And then this year, where — as we record this, it's actually the 1st of December — and I'm on 232,000. So from year one to year two, it's a huge difference. And that I do think is about the number of products and the number of things that we have on there. Joanna: And the number of customers. I guess you've also grown your customer base as well. And one of the rules, I guess, in inverted commas, of publishing is that the money is in the backlist. And every time you add to your backlist and every launch, you are selling a lot more of your backlist as well. So I think as time goes on, yeah, you get more books. Kickstarter as an Alternative Joanna: But let's also talk about Kickstarter because I do signed books for my Kickstarters and to me the Kickstarter is like a short-term ability to do the things you are doing regularly. So for example, if you want to do book boxes, you could just do them for a Kickstarter. You don't have to run a warehouse and do it every single day. For example, your last Kickstarter for Ruby Roe made around 150,000 US dollars, which is amazing. Like really fantastic. So just maybe talk about that, any lessons from the Kickstarter specifically, because I feel like most people, for most people listening, they are far more likely to do a Kickstarter than they are to start a warehouse. Pre-Launch Followers Are Critical Sacha: Yeah, so the first thing is even before you start your Kickstarter, the pre-launch follow accounts are critical. So a lot of people think — well, I guess there's a lot of loud noise about all these big numbers about how much people can make on Kickstarter, but actually a lot of it is driven by you, the author, pushing your audience to Kickstarter. So we actually have a formula now. Somebody more intelligent gave this to me, but essentially, based on my own personal campaign data — so this wouldn't necessarily be the same for other people — but based on my campaign data, each pre-launch follower is worth 75 pounds. And then we add on seven grand, for example. So on campaign three, which was the most recent one, I had 1,501 pre-launch followers. And when you times that by 75 and you add on seven grand, it makes more or less exactly what we made on the campaign. And the same formula can be applied to the others. So you need more pre-launch followers than you think you do. And lots of people don't put enough impetus on the marketing beforehand. Almost all of our Kickstarter marketing is beforehand because we drive so many people to that follow button. Early Bird Pricing and Fulfillment Time Sacha: And then the other thing that we do is that we do early bird pricing. So we get the majority of our income on a campaign on day one. I think it was something wild, like 80% this time was on day one, so that's really important. The second thing is it takes so, so very much longer than you think it does to fulfil a campaign, and you must factor in that cost. Because if it's not you fulfilling, you are paying somebody else to fulfil it. And if it is you fulfilling it, you must account for your own time in the pricing of your campaign. And the other thing is that the amount of time it takes to fulfil is directly proportionate to the size of the campaign. That's one thing I did not even compute — the fact that we went from about 56,000 British pounds up to double that, and the time was exponentially more than double. So you do have to think about that. Overseas Printing and Timelines Sacha: The other lesson that we have learned is that overseas printing will drag your timelines out far longer than you think it does. So whatever you think it's going to take you to fulfil, add several months more onto that and put that information in your campaign. And thankfully, we are now only going to be a month delayed, whereas lots of campaigns get up to a year delayed because they don't consider that. Reinvesting Kickstarter Profits Sacha: And then the last thing I think, which was really key for us, is that if you have some profit in the Kickstarter — because not all Kickstarters are actually massively profitable because they either don't account enough for shipping or they don't account enough in the pricing. Thankfully, ours have been profitable, but we've actually reinvested that profit back into buying more stock and more merchandise, which not everybody would want to do if they don't have a warehouse. However, we are stockpiling merchandise and books so that we can do mystery boxes later on down the line. It's probably a year away, but we are buying extra of everything so that we have that in the warehouse. So yeah, depending on what you want to do with your profit, for us it was all about buying more books, basically. Offering Something Exclusive Sacha: I think the other thing to think about is what is it that you are doing that's exclusive to Kickstarter? Because you will get backers on Kickstarter who want that quirky, unique thing that they're not going to be able to get anywhere else. But what about you? Because you've done more Kickstarters than me. What do you think is the biggest lesson you've learned? Reward Tiers and Bundling Joanna: Oh, well I think all of mine together add up to the one you just did. Although I will comment on — you said something like 75 pounds per pre-launch backer. That is obviously dependent on your tiers for the rewards, so most authors won't have that amount. So my average order value, which I know is slightly different, but I don't offer things like book boxes like you have. So a lot of it will depend on the tiers. Some people will do a Kickstarter just with an ebook, just with one ebook and maybe a bundle of ebooks. So you are never going to make it up to that kind of value. So I think this is important too, is have a look at what people offer on their different levels of Kickstarter. And in fact, here's my AI tip for the day. What you can do — what I did with my Buried and the Drowned campaign recently — is I uploaded my book to ChatGPT and said, tell me, what are some ideas for the different reward tiers that I can do on Kickstarter? And it will give you some ideas for what you can do, what kind of bundles you might want to do. So I think bundling your backlist is another thing you can do as upsells, or you can just, for example, for me, when I did Blood Vintage, I did a horror bundle when it was four standalone horror books in one of the upper tiers. So I think bundling is a good way. Also upselling your backlist is a really good way to up things. And also if you do it digitally, so for ebooks and audiobooks, there's a lot less time in fulfillment. Focus on Digital Products Too Joanna: So again, yours — well, you make things hard, but also more fun according to you, because most of it's physical, right? In fact, this is one of the things you haven't done so well, really, is concentrate on the digital side of things. Is that something you are thinking about now? Sacha: Yeah, it is. I mean, we do have our books digitally on the website. So the last — I only had one series in Kindle Unlimited, and I took those out in January. But so we do have all of the digital products on the website, and the novellas that we do, we have in all formats because I narrate the audio for them. So that is something that we're looking at. And since somebody very smart told me to have upsell apps on my website, we now have a full “get the everything bundle” in physical and digital and we are now selling them as well. Surprising. Definitely not you. So yeah, we are looking at it and that's something that we could look at next year as well for advertising because I haven't really done any advertising. I think I've spent about 200 pounds in ads in the last four months or something. It's very, very low level. So that is a way to make a huge amount of profit because the cost is so low. So your return, if you're doing a 40 or 50 pound bundle of ebooks and you are spending, I don't know, four pounds in advertising to get that sale, your return on that investment is enormous for ads. So that is something that we are looking at for next year, but it just hasn't been something that we've done a huge amount of. A Multi-Six-Figure Author With No Ads Joanna: Yeah. Well, just quoting from your solo episode where you say, “I don't have any advertising costs, customers are from my mailing list, TikTok and Instagram.” Now, being as you are a multi-six-figure author with no ads, this is mostly unthinkable for many authors. And so I wonder if, maybe talk about that. How do you think you have done that and can other people potentially emulate it, or do you think it's luck? It's Not Luck, It's Skill Set Sacha: Do you know, this is okay. So I don't think it's luck. I don't believe in luck. I get quite aggressive about people flinging luck around. I know some people are huge supporters of luck. I'm like, no. Do I think anybody can do it? Do you know, I swing so hard on this. Sometimes I say yes, and sometimes I think no. And I think the brutal truth of it is that I know where my skill set lies and I lean extremely heavily into it. So what do I mean by that? TikTok and Instagram are both very visual mediums. It is video footage. It is static images. I am extremely comfortable on camera. I am an ex-theatre kid. I was on TV as a kid. I did voiceover work when I was younger. This is my wheelhouse. So acting a bit like a tit on TikTok on a video, I am very comfortable at doing that, and I think that is reflected in the results. Consistency Without Burnout Sacha: And the other part of it is because I am comfortable at doing it, I enjoy it. It makes me laugh. And therefore it feels easy. And I think because it feels easy, I can do it over and over and over again without burning out. I started posting on TikTok on November the 19th, 2023, and I have posted three times a day every day since. Every single day without stopping, and I do not feel burnt out. And I definitely feel like that is because it's easy for me because I am good at it. Reading the Algorithm Sacha: The other thing that I think goes in here is that I'm very good at reading what's working. So sorry to talk Clifton Strengths, but my number one Clifton Strength is competition. And one of the skills that has is understanding the market. We're very good at having a wide view. So not only do I read the market on Amazon or in bookstores or wherever I can, it's the same skill set but applied to the algorithm. So I am very good at dissecting viral videos and understanding what made it work, in the same way somebody that spends 20,000 pounds a month on Facebook advertising is very good at doing analytics and looking at those numbers. I am useless at that. I just can't do it. I just get complete shutdown. My brain just says no, and I'm incapable of running ads. That's why I don't do it. Not Everyone Can Do This Sacha: So can anybody do this? Maybe. If you are comfortable on camera, if you enjoy it. It's like we've got a mutual friend, Adam Beswick. We call him the QVC Book Bitch because he is a phenomenon on live videos on TikTok and Instagram and wherever he can sell. Anything on those lives. It is astonishing to watch the sales pop in as he's on these lives. I can't think of anything worse. I will do a live, but I'll be signing books and having a good old chitchat. Not like it's — like that hand selling. Another author, Willow Winters, has done like 18 in-person events this year. I literally die on the inside hearing that. But that's what works for them and that's what's helping grow their business models. So ah, honestly, no. I actually don't think anybody can do what I've done. I think if you have a similar skill set to me, then yes you can. But no, and I know that I don't want to crush anybody listening. Do you like social media? I like social media. Do you like being on camera? Then yeah, you can do it. But if you don't, then I just think it's a waste of your time. Find out what you are good at, find out where your skill set is, and then lean in very, very hard. Writing to Your Strengths and Passion Joanna: I also think, because let's be brutal, you had books before and they didn't sell like this. Sacha: Yep. Joanna: So I also think that you leaned into — yes, of course, sapphic romance is a big sub-genre, but you love it. And also it's your lived experience with the sapphic sub-genre. This is not you chasing a trend, right? I think that's important too because too many people are like, oh, well maybe this is the latest trend. And is TikTok a trend? And then try and force them together, whereas I feel like you haven't done that. Sacha: No, and actually I spoke to lots of people who were very knowledgeable on the market and they all said, don't do it. And the reason for this is that there were no adult lesbian sapphic romance books that were selling when I looked at the market and decided that this was what I wanted to write. And I was like, cool, I'm going to do it then. And rightly so, everyone was like, well, there's no evidence to suggest that this is going to make any money. You are taking a huge risk. And I was like, yeah, but I will. I knew from the outset before I even put a word to the page how I was going to market it. And I think that feeling of coming home is what I — I created a home for myself in my books and that is why it's just felt so easy to market. Lean Into What You're Good At Sacha: It's like you, with your podcasting. Nobody can get anywhere near your podcast because you are so good at it. You've got such a history. You are so natural with your podcasting that you are just unbeatable, you know? So it's a natural way for you to market it. Joanna: Many have tried, but no, you're right. It's because I like this. And what's so funny — I'm sure I've mentioned it on the show — but I did call you one day and say, okay, all right, show me how to do this TikTok thing. And you spent like two hours on the phone with me and then I basically said no. Okay. I almost tried and then I just went, no, this is definitely not for me. And I think that this has to be one of the most important things as an author. Maybe some people listening are just geeking out over packaging like you are, and maybe they're the people who might look at this potential business model. Whereas some people are like me and don't want to go anywhere near it. And then other people like you want to do video and maybe other people like me want to do audio. So yeah, it's so important to find, well, like you said, what does not work for you? What is fun for you and when are you having a good time? Because otherwise you would have a job. Like to me, it looks like a job, you having a warehouse. But to you, it's not the same as when you were grinding it out back in 2022. Packing Videos Are Peak Content Sacha: Completely. And I think if you look at my social media feeds, they are disproportionately full of packing videos, which I think tells you something. Joanna: Oh dear. I just literally — I'm just like, oh my, if I never see any more packaging, I'll be happy. Sacha: Yeah. That's good. The One Time Sacha Nearly Burnt It All Down Sacha: I have to say, there was one moment where I doubted everything. And that was at the end — but basically, in about, of really poor timing. I ended up having to fulfil every single pre-order of my latest release and hand packing about a thousand books in two weeks. And I nearly burnt it all to the ground. Joanna: Because you didn't have enough staffing, right? And your mum was sick or something? Sacha: Yeah, exactly that. And I had to do it all by myself, and I was alone in the warehouse and it was just horrendous. So never again. But hey, I learned the lessons and now I'm like, yay, let's do it again. Things Change: Building Resilience Into Your Business Joanna: Yeah. And make sure there's more staffing. Yes, I've talked a lot on this show — things change, right? Things change. And in fact, the episode that just went out today as we record this with Jennifer Probst, which she talked about hitting massive bestseller lists and doing just incredibly well, and then it just dropped off and she had to pivot and change things. And I'm not like Debbie Downer, but I do say things will change. So what are you putting in place to make sure, for example, TikTok finally does disappear or get banned, or that sapphic romance suddenly drops off a cliff? What are you doing to make sure that you can keep going in the future? Managing Cash Flow and Salaries Sacha: Yeah, so I think there's a few things. The first big one is managing cash flow and ensuring that I have three to six months' worth of staff salaries, for want of a better word, in an account. So if the worst thing happens and sales drop off — because I am responsible for other people's income now — that I'm not about to shaft a load of people. So that really helps give you that risk reassurance. Mailing Lists and Marketing Funnels Sacha: The second thing is making sure that we are cultivating our mailing lists, making sure that we are putting in infrastructure, like things like upsell apps. And, okay, so here's a ridiculous lesson that I learned in 2025: an automation sequence, an onboarding automation sequence, is not what people mean when they say you need a marketing funnel. I learned this in Vegas. A marketing funnel will sell your products to your existing readers. So when a customer signs up to your mailing list because they've purchased something, they will be tagged and then your email flow system will then send them a 5% discount on this, or “did you know you could bundle up and get blah?” So putting that kind of stuff in place will mean that we can take more advantage of the customers that we've already got. Standard Operating Procedures Sacha: It's also things like organisational knowledge. My team is big enough now that there are things in my business I don't know how to do. That's quite daunting for somebody who is a control freak. So I visited Vegas in 2025 and I sat in a session all on — this sounds so sexy — but standard operating procedures. And now I've given my team the job of creating a process instruction manual on how they do each of their tasks so that if anybody's sick, somebody else can pick it up. If somebody leaves, we've got that infrastructure in place. And even things down to things like passwords — who, if I unfortunately got hit by a car, who can access my Amazon account? Stuff like that, unfortunately. Joanna: Yeah, I know. Well, I mean, that would be tragic, wouldn't it? Sacha: But it's stuff like that. Building Longer Timelines Sacha: But then also more day-to-day things is putting in infrastructure that pulls me out. So looking more at staffing responsibilities for staffing so that I don't always have to be there, and creating longer timelines. That is probably the most important thing that we can do because we've got a book box launching next summer. And we both had the realisation — I say we, me and my operations manager — had the realisation that actually we ought to be commissioning the cover and the artwork now because of how long those processes take. So I'm a little bit shortsighted on timelines, I think. So putting a bit more rigour in what we do and when. We now have a team-wide heat map where we know when the warehouse is going to be really, really full, when staff are off, when deliveries are coming, and that's projected out a year in advance. So lots and lots of things that are changing. And then I guess also eventually we will do advertising as well. But that is a few months down the line. Personal Financial Resilience Sacha: And then on the more personal side, it's looking at things like not just how you keep the business running, but how do you keep yourself running? How do you make sure that, let's say you have a bad sales month, but you still have to pay your team? How are you going to get paid? So I, as well as having put staff salaries away, I also have my own salary. I've got a few months of my own salary put away. And then investing as well. I know, I am not a financial advisor, but I do invest money. I serve money that I pay myself. You can also do things like having investment vehicles inside your business if you want to deal with extra cash. And then I am taking advice from my accountant and my financial advisor on do I put more money into my pension — because did I say that I also have a pension? So I invest in my future as well. Or do I set up another company and have a property portfolio? Or how do I essentially make the money that is inside the business make more money rather than reinvesting it, spending it, and reinvesting it on things that don't become assets or don't become money generating? What can I do with the cash that's inside the company in order to then make it make more for the long term? Because then if you do have a down six months or worse, a down year, for example, you've got enough cash and equity inside the business to cover you during those lower months or years or weeks — or hopefully just a day. Different Business Models for Different Authors Joanna: Yes, of course. And we all hope it just carries on up and to the right, but sometimes it doesn't work that way. So it's really great that you are doing all those things. And I think what's lovely and why we started off with you giving us that potted history was it hasn't always been this way. So if you are listening to this and you are like, well, I've only got one ebook for sale on Amazon, well that might be all you ever want to do, which is fine. Or you can come to where my business model is, which is mostly even — I use print on demand, but it's mostly digital. It's mostly online. It's got no packaging that I deal with. Or you can go even further like Sacha and Adam Beswick and Willow Winters. But because that is being talked about a lot in the community, that's why we wanted to do this — to really show you that there's different people doing different things and you need to choose what's best for you. What Are You Excited About for 2026? Joanna: But just as we finish, just tell us what are you excited about for 2026? Sacha: Oh my goodness me. I am excited to iterate my craft. And this is completely not related to the warehouse, but I have gotten myself into a position where I get to play with words again. So I'm really excited for the things that I'm going to write. But also in terms of the warehouse, we've got the new packaging, so getting to see those on social media. We are also looking at things like book boxes. So we are doing a set of three book boxes and these are going to be new and bigger and better than anything that we've done before. And custom tailored. Oh, without giving too much away, but items that go inside and also the artwork. I love working with artists and commissioning different art projects. But yeah, basically more of the same, hopefully world domination. Joanna: World domination. Fantastic. So basically more creativity. Sacha: Yeah. Joanna: And also a bigger business. Because I know you are ambitious and I love that. I think it's really good for people to be ambitious. Joanna: Oh, I do have another question. Do you have more sympathy for traditional publishing at this point? Sacha: How dare you? Unfortunately, yeah. I really have learnt the hard way why traditional publishers need the timelines that they need. This latest release was probably the biggest that — so this latest release, which was called Architecting, is the reason that I did the podcast episode, because I learned so many lessons. And in particular about timelines and how tight things get, and it's just not realistic when you are doing this physical business. So that's another thing if you are listening and you are like, oh no, no, no, I like the immediacy of being able to finish, get it back from the editor and hit publish — this ain't for you, honey. This is not for you. Joanna: Yeah. No, that's fantastic. Where to Find Sacha and Ruby Roe Joanna: So where can people find you and your books online? Sacha: For the Ruby Empire, it's RubyRoe.co.uk and RubyRoeAuthor on TikTok if you'd like to see me dancing like a wally. And then Instagram, I'm back as @SachaBlackAuthor on Instagram. Joanna: Brilliant. Thanks so much for your time, Sacha. That was great. Sacha: Thank you for having me.The post Two Different Approaches To Selling Books Direct With Sacha Black And Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Smartphones have become the default for families, but what if the default is actually harmful? In this episode, Davies Owens talks with Chris Kaspar, founder and CEO of Techless, about why modern devices were never designed with children in mind and how parents can choose a healthier path.Chris shares the moment that opened his eyes as a foster parent and explains why families today feel trapped between two extremes. Either give kids full access to the digital world or reject technology altogether. He argues that both options miss the mark. The real issue is the design, incentives, and addictive features built into mainstream phones that quietly shape identity, attention, and spiritual formation.

Cal Newport, computer science professor and author of Digital Minimalism, argues that the better analogy for social media is not big oil that must be broken up because it's vital to society but big tobacco that must be culturally rejected because it's unhealthy and dispensable—people don't care if you tell them to leave Facebook for six months but petroleum deprivation changes lives. Newport reveals Facebook's PR pivot after 2016 when defectors like Sean Parker exposed addiction engineering: Cambridge Analytica let Facebook redirect media attention to fixable privacy and content moderation issues instead of unfixable business-model problems like bleeding users' attention through steam whistle tweets. Drawing from Mark Harmon quitting Twitter and Neil Stephenson's famous essay Why I Am a Bad Correspondent, Newport explains the novelist's dilemma: each tweet is a steam whistle that bleeds energy needed to fuel the boiler for producing lasting work. He dismantles the myth that creators need social media to grow, arguing that people talking about your work on their channels matters infinitely more than you promoting yourself on yours. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A weekly live show covering all things Freedom Tech with Max, Q and Seth.HELP GET SAMOURAI A PARDONSIGN THE PETITION ----> https://www.change.org/p/stand-up-for-freedom-pardon-the-innocent-coders-jailed-for-building-privacy-tools DONATE TO THE FAMILIES ----> https://www.givesendgo.com/billandkeonneSUPPORT ON SOCIAL MEDIA ---> https://billandkeonne.org/TO DONATE TO ROMAN'S DEFENSE FUND: https://freeromanstorm.com/donateVALUE FOR VALUEThanks for listening you Ungovernable Misfits, we appreciate your continued support and hope you enjoy the shows.You can support this episode using your time, talent or treasure.TIME:- create fountain clips for the show- create a meetup- help boost the signal on social mediaTALENT:- create ungovernable misfit inspired art, animation or music- design or implement some software that can make the podcast better- use whatever talents you have to make a contribution to the show!TREASURE:- BOOST IT OR STREAM SATS on the Podcasting 2.0 apps @ https://podcastapps.com- DONATE via Monero @ https://xmrchat.com/ugmf- BUY SOME STICKERS @ https://www.ungovernablemisfits.com/shop/FOUNDATIONhttps://foundation.xyz/ungovernableFoundation builds Bitcoin-centric tools that empower you to reclaim your digital sovereignty.As a sovereign computing company, Foundation is the antithesis of today's tech conglomerates. Returning to cypherpunk principles, they build open source technology that “can't be evil”.Thank you Foundation Devices for sponsoring the show!Use code: Ungovernable for $10 off of your purchaseCAKE WALLEThttps://cakewallet.comCake Wallet is an open-source, non-custodial wallet available on Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux.Features:- Built-in Exchange: Swap easily between Bitcoin and Monero.- User-Friendly: Simple interface for all users.Monero Users:- Batch Transactions: Send multiple payments at once.- Faster Syncing: Optimized syncing via specified restore heights- Proxy Support: Enhance privacy with proxy node options.Bitcoin Users:- Coin Control: Manage your transactions effectively.- Silent Payments: Static bitcoin addresses- Batch Transactions: Streamline your payment process.Thank you Cake Wallet for sponsoring the show!

Some argue that digital detox is the way to deepening the way we connect with ourselves and our loved ones. They say that being constantly connected can be much less liberating than one might think.Others say that digital minimalism is fashionable but ineffective. If yes, how? In this episode of Arguable, we explore what it means to pay attention instead of demanding it, to look within when distraction is the default mode, and to wander without feeling like you've lost the plot.

Send us a textYou know that fantasy where your kid looks up from their tablet and says, “Sure, Mom, I'd love to play outside!” Yeah… me neither. That's why I called in Katherine Martinko, author of Childhood Unplugged and professional voice of reason, to talk about how to get our kids (and let's be honest, ourselves) off the screens without moving to the woods or starting a commune.Katherine lives what she calls a “digital minimalist” lifestyle. No TV. No tablets. Her three boys don't even have phones yet, and somehow, they're thriving. She's not anti-tech; she just believes it should be a tool, not a toy. And after reading her book and chatting with her, I'm officially rethinking my own Wi-Fi dependency.We dive into what's really going on with kids and screens, why they're so hard to resist, how they're rewiring our kids' brains, and why your kid probably spends less time outside than an inmate (yes, really). Katherine breaks down how parents can build environments that make the analog world more appealing, without guilt, shame, or pretending we're perfect Montessori moms.There's also a fascinating discussion about feminism and screen time, because apparently, trying to raise unplugged kids can feel like one more impossible standard for women to live up to. Katherine brings nuance, compassion, and a ton of practical strategies for reclaiming your kids' attention span (and maybe your own).What's Inside: How to create a home that encourages play and creativity without screens The shocking truth about how little outdoor time kids actually get When to let your teen have a phone (and why social media should wait until adulthood) Why emotional regulation starts offline and how to help kids reconnect with the real worldWhat does “connected” really mean to you? Is it scrolling beside your kid on the couch or actually laughing together over a board game? Swapping the scroll for real-life connection could change your whole family vibe. So tell me, what would your version of a screen-free day look like? Let me know on Instagram!Mentioned in This Episode:Katherine MartinkoKatherine Martinko SubstackKatherine Martinko's book Childhood UnpluggedOonagh Duncan on InstagramFit Feels GoodLeave me a voice note on Speak Pipe!

I learned so much speaking with Kelsey Green about digital minimalism!  I've heard about more and more people removing themselves from social media, and the thought seems overwhelming at times, but at the same time knowing there's some addiction (where's my phone? I need my phone handy! What if someone can't reach me? Have you had any of those thoughts?), and we've probably all heard the phrase "loneliness epidemic," right? I've been very cureious about it--In comes Kelsey L Green - she works at the intersection of community, strategy, and accountability, helping people stop stalling and start building lives that truly light them up. She offers a free 24 hour technology free challenge twice a month - which is a great test of our focus - both of how much we're focused on technology, and how much focus on life we can have without it. When we talked, I hadn't done the challenge yet, but I've since done it - I admit I did probably 98% (I talked to my sister on the phone), but otherwise, I made it!Here's more info on the 24 hour screen free challenge here: https://www.kelseylgreen.com/screen-free-sunday-challengesShe talks a lot about Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism book - she has been studying this to grow her own practice - look for that wherever you buy/find books.Kelsey hosts an accountability mastermind called Summit in Six - here's a link to info on that - Summit in Six is a high-accountability mastermind for women creators and entrepreneurs who are done circling their ideas and are ready to make their move.Find all things Kelsey here: https://www.kelseylgreen.com/Send me a message!Support the showPlease follow Grounded In Maine podcast on Instagram here YouTube channel link is here You can DM me there or email me at amysgardenjam@gmail.com Website for Amy's Garden Jam is https://amysgardenjam.com/ (podcast has its own tab on this site!) Amy's email newsletter: https://amy-fagan.kit.com/499688fe6a How Do I Get There From Here by Jane Bolduc - listen to more at https://www.janebolduc.com/Podcast cover by Becca Kofron- follow here on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/cute_but_loud/ and check out her awesome art projects. Grounded in Maine Podcast is hosted by Buzzsprout, the easiest podcast hosting platform with the best customer service! Learn more at https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1851361 You can support this podcast one time (or many) with the Buy me a coffee/Hot Chocolate link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/groundedinmaine Grounded in Maine Podcast is sponsored by ESG Review. Learn more about the good they're doing at https://esgreview.net/

You're doom-scrolling your life away while real connections and genuine peace exist three feet outside your door. Jeremy spent three hours hiking with strangers and felt more mentally balanced than after months of "researching" social media for the show. In this episode, discover why your phone is sabotaging your mental health and how to reclaim your time, focus, and sanity. Learn the brutal truth about social media addiction, get practical steps for digital detox, and find out how to reconnect with the real world that doesn't require a subscription fee. Episode Highlights: Why three hours in the woods beats three years of productivity porn scrolling The real reason everyone at the theater was staring at screens instead of humans How social media companies exploit your evolutionary need for tribal belonging Why 90% of your feed is designed to make you feel like garbage about yourself The depression/anxiety combo that's actually trying to keep you alive (not miserable) Jason's multi-tool metaphor for embracing your emotional complexity Radical acceptance: Why you don't have to perform for anyone (including yourself) The philosophical immune system you need to survive digital manipulation How to use AI as a tool for self-improvement instead of endless distraction Why Marcus Aurelius would delete Instagram (and so should you) ---- MORE FROM BROBOTS: Connect with us on Threads, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok Subscribe to BROBOTS on Youtube Join our community in the BROBOTS Facebook group ---- LINKS TO OUR PARTNERS: Take control of how you'd like to feel with Apollo Neuro Explore the many benefits of cold therapy for your body with Nurecover Muse's Brain Sensing Headbands Improve Your Meditation Practice. Get started as a Certified Professional Life Coach! Get a Free One Year Supply of AG1 Vitamin D3+K2, 5 Travel Packs Revamp your life with Bulletproof Coffee You Need a Budget helps you quickly get out of debt, and save money faster! Start your own podcast!    

We explore the philosophy behind building personal websites and using intentionally limited computing as creative practice. The conversation examines why modern computers feel "too dangerous"—offering infinite possibilities that paradoxically constrain focus—and how deliberately choosing simpler tools can restore agency over our attention and creative output.Through discussions of building throwback websites, setting up old computers as single-purpose machines, and integrating AI through terminal interfaces, we unpack the psychological difference between technology that serves us versus technology that exploits our behavioral patterns. The episode ultimately centers on a deeper question: how do we design our relationship with technology to support sustained attention, genuine connection, and meaningful creative work? We consider whether the future might look more like the 1960s than the 2010s—not through regression, but through conscious iteration that prioritizes human flourishing over engagement metrics. -Ai If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a rating and/or a review. We read and appreciate all of them. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next episode. Links To Everything: Video Version of The Podcast: https://geni.us/StudioSessionsYT Matt's YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/MatthewOBrienYT Matt's 2nd Channel: https://geni.us/PhotoVideosYT Alex's YouTube Channel: https://geni.us/AlexCarterYT Matt's Instagram: https://geni.us/MatthewIG Alex's Instagram: https://geni.us/AlexIG

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! The bar prep period is a time when you need to have clear thinking, mental focus, and be able to learn quickly and efficiently -- however, more and more our daily life is interfering with all of that. Today we're talking about focus, deep work, and how to make sure your brain is primed to work hard and get stuff done. In this episode, we discuss: The cost of social media distraction Task-switching and multitasking: how good are we at it? What is "Flow" and why is it important? Optimizing your bar exam study time Avoiding anxiety-inducing activities Resources: Private Bar Exam Tutoring (https://barexamtoolbox.com/private-bar-exam-tutoring/) Pomodoro Technique (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique) Need to Get More Done in Law School? Try The Circles. (https://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/08/tips-time-management-awesomeness-with-the-circles/) How Napoleon Would Have Approached Law School. Or, Why It's Good to Be Lazy. (https://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/12/how-napoleon-would-have-approched-law-school-or-why-its-good-to-be-lazy/) Tricks for Staying on Track and Avoiding Distractions When Studying for the Bar (https://barexamtoolbox.com/tricks-for-staying-on-track-and-avoiding-distractions-when-studying-for-the-bar/) That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week, by Ana Homayoun (https://www.amazon.com/That-Crumpled-Paper-Last-Week/dp/0399535594) Digital Minimalism, by Cal Newport (https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Minimalism/dp/0241453577/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0) Download the Transcript (https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-325-is-distracted-bar-exam-prep-productive/) If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on  Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bar-exam-toolbox-podcast-pass-bar-exam-less-stress/id1370651486) or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Bar Exam Toolbox website (https://barexamtoolbox.com/contact-us/). Finally, if you don't want to miss anything, you can sign up for podcast updates (https://barexamtoolbox.com/get-bar-exam-toolbox-podcast-updates/)! Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee

Do you ever feel drained and constantly distracted by your digital devices? In a world of notifications, social media, and endless emails, it's easy to lose focus on what matters most—your relationships, your peace, and your personal purpose. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Brian Bovee, a seasoned tech expert and professor at California Baptist University, to explore how the "attention economy" is designed to hijack our focus. Brian shares his personal journey from a distracted life to a deeply purposeful one, guided by his book, The Focused Faith. He provides powerful, intentional strategies to help you detox your digital life, reclaim your attention, and build habits that lead to greater focus, deeper connection, and joy. Tune in to discover how to move from a state of distraction to one of higher purpose. Topics covered:  digital detox, spiritual life, technology addiction, Christian living, attention economy, social media, faith and technology, prayer, solitude, focused faith, spiritual growth, Christian podcasts, digital minimalism, living with purpose   Find Dr Brian Bovee here: www.thefocusedfaith.com Did you enjoy this episode and would like to share some love?  

What if the digital chaos around us is actually clearing the path for something better? In this episode, I break down five major trends shaping the future of the internet—through a yogic, heart-centered lens. From the collapse of social media as we know it to the rise of trust-based business models, this is your roadmap to staying aligned, ethical, and empowered in an online world that's shifting fast. You'll learn:

Social media platforms are designed to hijack our brain's reward system, keeping us hooked through endless dopamine hits. This constant stimulation fragments our attention, reshapes our behavior, and can lead to burnout, anxiety, and even addiction—especially in developing brains. The more we scroll, the more we crave quick hits of novelty, making it harder to tolerate boredom or engage in deeper, more meaningful tasks. And while adults may struggle, kids are even more vulnerable, facing emotional dysregulation and long-term brain changes. The good news? Awareness is the first step toward reclaiming agency and creating healthier boundaries in a world built for distraction. Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist, bestselling author, and professor at NYU's Stern School of Business. His research focuses on the moral foundations of culture and politics, exploring why good people are divided by religion, ideology, and values. He is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis, The Righteous Mind, and The Coddling of the American Mind (co-authored with Greg Lukianoff), and has given four widely viewed TED talks. Haidt is also a co-founder of Heterodox Academy, the Constructive Dialogue Institute, and Ethical Systems—organizations that promote viewpoint diversity, constructive disagreement, and ethical leadership. Since 2018, he has turned his attention to the mental health crisis among teens and the role of social media in political polarization. His latest book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, was published in 2024. In 2019, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Cal Newport is an associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University. In addition to researching cutting-edge technology, he also writes about the impact of these innovations on our culture. Newport is the author of six books, including Slow Productivity, Digital Minimalism, and Deep Work. His work has been featured in many publications, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Economist, and he has been writing essays for his personal website (CalNewport.com) for over a decade. He has never had a social media account. Tobias Rose-Stockwell is a writer, designer, and media researcher whose work has been featured in major outlets such as The Atlantic, WIRED, NPR, the BBC, CNN, and many others. His research has been cited in the adoption of key interventions to reduce toxicity and polarization within leading tech platforms. He previously led humanitarian projects in Southeast Asia focused on civil war reconstruction efforts, work for which he was honored with an award from the 14th Dalai Lama. He lives in New York with his cat Waffles. This episode is brought to you by BIOptimizers. Head to bioptimizers.com/hyman and use code HYMAN10 to save 10%. Full-length episodes can be found here: How to Protect Your Child's Mental Health from the Dangers of Social Media How Social Media May Be Ruining Your Life How Social Media And AI Impacts Our Mental Health: Reclaiming Our Minds And Hearts And Healing A Divided World

Ever catch yourself doom-scrolling on your phone for “just a minute” and suddenly—boom—an hour's gone? Yup, been there too. And you're not alone. Do you know that the global average screen time is now over 6.5 hours a day, and that constant digital input is frying our focus, joy, and creativity? In this solo episode of The Happy Hustle Podcast, I share the antidote—something that's helped me and so many high-performing entrepreneurs rediscover clarity, purpose, and peace: the Digital Detox Revolution.I just wrapped another Montana Mastermind Epic Camping Adventure, where we take driven, successful entrepreneurs deep into the backcountry and literally take their phones away for five days. Sound intense? It is—and it's also absolutely transformational. In this episode, I talk about what really happens when you ditch the screens, embrace stillness, and reconnect with nature, yourself, and the people around you.From anxiety to alignment, these five days offer a powerful reset. I share stories, science, and strategies to help you bring more digital detox into your everyday life—even if you're not camping in the wild. You'll hear how guys who were twitchy from phone withdrawals on Day 1 ended up experiencing their biggest personal breakthroughs by Day 5—all from the simple act of unplugging.Here are a few key takeaways:Stillness breeds clarity. Your best ideas live in the space between distractions.Digital disconnection is a superpower. Especially for creatives and entrepreneurs, it's crucial to carve out tech-free time.Nature and community amplify transformation. There's magic in unplugged connection.Tech habits shape your life. If your reality isn't fulfilling, check your screen time.Make play and presence a priority. Bookend your day tech-free, or try a Sunday screen sabbatical—you'll be amazed at the results.If you've been feeling overwhelmed, creatively blocked, or just out of sync with what matters most, this episode might just be the gentle slap you need (in the best way possible). Tune in and let's rewire our reality—one digital detox at a time.Connect with Cary!https://www.instagram.com/caryjack/https://www.facebook.com/SirCaryJackhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cary-jack-kendzior/https://twitter.com/thehappyhustlehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDNsD59tLxv2JfEuSsNMOQ/featured Get a free copy of his new book, The Happy Hustle, 10 Alignments to Avoid Burnout & Achieve Blissful Balance https://www.thehappyhustle.com/bookSign up for The Journey: 10 Days To Become a Happy Hustler Online Coursehttps://thehappyhustle.com/thejourney/Apply to the Montana Mastermind Epic Camping Adventurehttps://thehappyhustle.com/mastermind/“It's time to Happy Hustle, a blissfully balanced life you love, full of passion, purpose, and positive impact!”Episode Sponsors:If you're feeling stressed, not sleeping great, or your energy's been kinda meh lately—let me put you on to something that's been a total game-changer for me: Magnesium Breakthrough by BiOptimizers. This ain't your average magnesium—it's got all 7 essential forms that your body actually needs to chill out, sleep deeper, and feel more balanced. I take it every night and legit notice the difference the next day. No more waking up groggy or tossing and turning all nightIf you're ready to sleep like a baby, calm your nervous system, and optimize your recovery, go grab yours now at bioptimizers.com/happy and use code HAPPY10 for 10% OFF.99 Designs- Need a killer logo, stunning website, or next-level brand design?Stop DIY-ing and start delegating like a boss with 99designs by Vista! Neurable- If you're looking to level up your focus, productivity, and mental wellbeing all at once, do yourself a favor and check out Neurable. You get a special hookup—just use the code HAPPY at checkout and get $100 off.

Is everything we know about productivity wrong? Cal Newport thinks so. After years of watching busyness, distraction, and burnout dominate the workplace, he realized the real issue isn't our workload, but how we've been taught to work. In this episode, Cal shares his game-changing philosophy of slow productivity, revealing how entrepreneurs can build deep focus, avoid burnout, and pursue their goals more sustainably. He also explores how AI is shaping the future of work and what it means for productivity. In this episode, Hala and Cal will discuss:  (00:00) Introduction (02:38) His Path to Productivity Thought Leadership (08:42) Deep Work vs. Shallow Work for Life Balance (13:38) The Brain Science Behind Achieving Maximum Focus (25:38) The Evolution from Deep Work to Slow Productivity (33:18) The Three Principles of Slow Productivity (37:16) Push vs. Pull: Smarter Systems for Managing Workload (45:14) Realistic Goal-Setting for Sustainable Productivity (53:37) Multi-Scale Planning: The Key to Time Management (59:35) Building a Mindset of Obsessing Over Quality (01:07:53) How AI Is Shaping the Future of Work and Productivity Cal Newport is an MIT-trained computer science professor at Georgetown University and a New York Times bestselling author who writes about how productivity and technology work together. His books, including Deep Work, Digital Minimalism, A World Without Email, and his latest, Slow Productivity, have sold millions of copies and been translated into over forty languages. Cal also writes for The New Yorker and hosts the Deep Questions podcast. Sponsored By: Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting. Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/PROFITING OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first 6 months at OpenPhone.com/profiting. Airbnb - Find a co-host at airbnb.com/host Boulevard - Get 10% off your first year at joinblvd.com/profiting when you book a demo Resources Mentioned: Cal's Book, Slow Productivity: bit.ly/Slow_Productivity  Cal's Book, Deep Work: bit.ly/_Deep_Work  Cal's Book, Digital Minimalism: bit.ly/Digital_Minimalism  Cal's Book, A World Without Email: bit.ly/AWorldWithoutEmail  Super Intelligence by Nick Bostrom: bit.ly/_Superintelligence Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals  Key YAP Links Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new  Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Work-Life Balance, Work Life Balance, Team Building, Motivation, Manifestation, Resolutions

It's been five years since I first called myself a minimalist. A lot has changed since then: my work, my family, and how I see the world. In this episode, I reflect on why I still choose minimalism, even when life gets messy, why it remains one of the most powerful tools I have to keep things simple, and how one simple question continues to keep me grounded in what matters most.For more go to: www.scottmlynch.comLevel up your life by joining my Patreon where you'll get exclusive content every week and more badass offerings (rips t-shirt in half, Hulk Hogan style, and runs around the room). And/or…Unlock practical and tactical insights on how to master your mindset and optimize your happiness directly to your inbox.If you're a glutton for punishment and want more swift kicks in the mind follow me on social:InstagramYouTubeLeave a review and tell me how I suck so I can stop doing that or you can also tell me about things you like. I'd be okay with that, too.Produced by ya boi.Past guests on The Motivated Mind include Chris Voss, Captain Sandy, Dr. Chris Palmer, Joey Thurman, Jason Harris, Koshin Paley Ellison, Rudy Mawer, Molly Fletcher, Kristen Butler, Hasard Lee, Natasha Graziano, ⁠David Hauser⁠, Cheryl Hunter, Michael Brandt, Heather Moyse, Tim Shriver, and Alan Stein, Jr.

Do you find yourself seeking validation from the number of likes and follows you get online? Do you feel your value diminish when your perfectly crafted caption doesn't get the results you were hoping?  Do you wish you could be less connected to social media? Allie Marie Smith and Kate Merrick talk about the concept of digital minimalism, discussing its importance in vibrant mental wellness and the role it can play in having authentic relationships. They share personal experiences and practical tips for reducing digital distractions, emphasizing the value of living in the moment and prioritizing real-life connections over social media followers. They highlight potential negative impacts of excessive screen time on our mental health and the importance of having boundaries with technology use.  Conversation Topics: Digital minimalism focuses on optimizing technology use for what truly matters. Living a life of digital minimalism can lead to greater joy and fulfillment. Setting boundaries around technology can enhance personal relationships. Digital distractions often overshadow the sacredness of our lives. Comparison on social media can diminish self-worth and joy. Choosing to live in the moment can lead to deeper connections. Limiting screen time can improve mental health and wellness. Real-life experiences are more valuable than online validation. It's important to ask what we gain from our technology use. Living counter-culturally can lead to a more meaningful life.   Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to Wonderfully Made 02:13 Understanding Digital Minimalism 10:33 The Impact of Digital Minimalism on Life 14:53 The Sacredness of Life and Relationships 19:48 Life Before and After Digital Minimalism 25:35 Practical Tips for Digital Minimalism 27:03 Mental Wellness and Digital Minimalism 33:21 The Impact of Social Media on Relationships 40:16 Living Authentically Beyond the Screen 46:25 The Cost of Digital Distraction 51:28 Empowering Choices for a Better Life   Watch this podcast episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZMk70b-iLDk Get our Guide: "15 Social Media Boundaries to Protect Your Joy" Get Allie's book “Social Media Reset” Get Allie's book “Wonderfully Made” Join our Love Her A'Latte campaign — make our podcast possible.  Follow us on Instagram and Facebook   Get the show notes https://wonderfullymade.org/2025/06/23/digital-minimalism/

Smartphones are now ubiquitous, and although they offer many benefits, they can also become a source of anxiety. Worrying about responding to notifications, the feeling of being constantly available, and coming across triggering content on social media are just a few causes. In this episode, I'm sharing the exact ways I set up and use my phone to feel calmer, more focused, and less reactive. You'll learn simple changes to reduce mindless checking, set clear boundaries, and use your phone in a way that actually supports your mental health.   In this episode, you will learn: How compulsive phone use feeds anxiety (especially for high-achievers) The exact setup I use to support calm, clarity, and presence Practical tips and mindset shifts to structure your phone more intentionally   Mentioned in episode: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport How to Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price Newsfeed Eradicator Browser Plugin (Chrome/Firefox) ScreenZen App: https://www.screenzen.co/   My favorite phone apps:

What if your five-year plan wasn't meant to be followed? What if freedom came not from doing more—but from letting go? In this deeply personal episode, I'm sharing the journey of walking away from the timelines, titles, and metrics that once defined my worth. From failing the test that was supposed to launch my dream career… to chasing freedom as an entrepreneur and still finding myself burned out and never enough… to packing one suitcase and nomading around the world for three years in search of something slower, softer, and more real. We'll talk about: Why I stopped chasing influencer success (yes, I filmed workouts on my honeymoon

In this Shortcast edition, Cal Newport, author of Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, shares how we can reclaim our time and attention by taking control of our relationship with digital technology. Rather than rejecting tech entirely, Cal proposes a minimalist approach—using technology with intention and only when it supports what truly matters. In this Shortcast, we explore: Digital Minimalism Defined: Cal explains how minimalism isn't about abandoning tech, but using it selectively and purposefully to maximize benefit and minimize distraction. The 30-Day Digital Declutter: A key process in Cal's philosophy—taking a 30-day break from optional digital tools to reflect, reset habits, and rediscover values. Clearing the Slate and Starting Fresh: Cal encourages removing all non-essential apps and tools, then rebuilding your digital life from the ground up based on what serves your goals. Embracing Analog Life: Real-world activities like solitude, deep conversation, and hands-on tasks are vital for human well-being—and often lost in a screen-saturated culture. Mental Health and Focus: Cal highlights how overuse of screens increases anxiety and fragments focus, while digital minimalism promotes clarity, calm, and purpose. Cal's insights are a powerful reminder that the goal isn't to use less tech, but to use it better—with clarity, intention, and aligned values. Learn more at CalNewport.com and explore more ⁠Shortcasts like this one on ⁠⁠Blinkist⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Shortcast edition, Cal Newport, author of Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, shares how we can reclaim our time and attention by taking control of our relationship with digital technology. Rather than rejecting tech entirely, Cal proposes a minimalist approach—using technology with intention and only when it supports what truly matters. In this Shortcast, we explore: Digital Minimalism Defined: Cal explains how minimalism isn't about abandoning tech, but using it selectively and purposefully to maximize benefit and minimize distraction. The 30-Day Digital Declutter: A key process in Cal's philosophy—taking a 30-day break from optional digital tools to reflect, reset habits, and rediscover values. Clearing the Slate and Starting Fresh: Cal encourages removing all non-essential apps and tools, then rebuilding your digital life from the ground up based on what serves your goals. Embracing Analog Life: Real-world activities like solitude, deep conversation, and hands-on tasks are vital for human well-being—and often lost in a screen-saturated culture. Mental Health and Focus: Cal highlights how overuse of screens increases anxiety and fragments focus, while digital minimalism promotes clarity, calm, and purpose. Cal's insights are a powerful reminder that the goal isn't to use less tech, but to use it better—with clarity, intention, and aligned values. Learn more at CalNewport.com and explore more ⁠Shortcasts like this one on ⁠⁠Blinkist⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I'm opening up about something that's been a personal struggle for years—and I know I'm not alone in it: being constantly plugged in.I've worked in marketing for over a decade, which means screen time has pretty much always been part of my daily life. But even outside of work, I've found myself stuck in endless scroll cycles, picking up my phone for no reason, and wondering why I feel so mentally drained all the time. If you've ever felt the same, this conversation is for you.We'll talk about the real effects screen time has on our brains, our moods, our nervous systems, and even our relationships. I'll share what I've learned, what I'm still working on, and the little red flags I've noticed when I've gone too far down the digital rabbit hole.In this episode, I talk about: • Why our brains are overwhelmed by screen time (it's not just in your head) • How dopamine and constant notifications keep us hooked • The emotional cost of being “always on” • What it means when we can't stop checking our phones—even during downtime • The signs your nervous system is begging for a break & the app I'm using that helped decrease my screen time on my phone by 80%.Mentioned in this episode: • Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport • Be Present App Connect With Christina Guzmánwww.instagram.com/selflovetonicpodwww.selflovetonicpodcast.comchristina@selflovetonic.com

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3006: Courtney Carver reveals a transformative secret to boosting productivity: slowing down. By embracing a deliberate pace, you can minimize distractions, heighten focus, and create space for what truly matters. Carver's insights help listeners shift away from the frantic pursuit of doing more and toward a more mindful, impactful way of working. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://bemorewithless.com/productivitysecret/ Quotes to ponder: "Productivity doesn't have to be about doing more, it can be about doing less,  better." "Slowing down creates the space to notice what really deserves your attention." "When you are busy rushing around, you miss the little things that make life sweeter." Episode references: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport: https://www.calnewport.com/books/digital-minimalism/ Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less: https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3006: Courtney Carver reveals a transformative secret to boosting productivity: slowing down. By embracing a deliberate pace, you can minimize distractions, heighten focus, and create space for what truly matters. Carver's insights help listeners shift away from the frantic pursuit of doing more and toward a more mindful, impactful way of working. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://bemorewithless.com/productivitysecret/ Quotes to ponder: "Productivity doesn't have to be about doing more, it can be about doing less,  better." "Slowing down creates the space to notice what really deserves your attention." "When you are busy rushing around, you miss the little things that make life sweeter." Episode references: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport: https://www.calnewport.com/books/digital-minimalism/ Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less: https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's wisdom comes from Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport.   If you're loving Heroic Wisdom Daily, be sure to subscribe to the emails at heroic.us/wisdom-daily.   And… Imagine unlocking access to the distilled wisdom form 700+ of the greatest books ever written.   That's what Heroic Premium offers: Unlimited access to every Philosopher's Note. Daily inspiration and actionable tools to optimize your energy, work, and love. Personalized coaching features to help you stay consistent and focused   Upgrade to Heroic Premium →   Know someone who'd love this? Share Heroic Wisdom Daily with them, and let's grow together in 2025!   Share Heroic Wisdom Daily →

In this episode, we dive into the critical questions surrounding attention and digital minimalism: Why is attention considered one of the most valuable commodities in today's fast-paced, tech-driven society? How does practicing digital minimalism enable us to regain control over our focus and mental clarity?In this thought-provoking episode, we explore why attention has become a precious commodity in our hyper-connected world and how digital minimalism offers a path to reclaiming it. Discover the consequences of unchecked digital overload, including diminished productivity, mental fatigue, and fractured relationships, as well as the transformative benefits of adopting a minimalist approach to technology.Hope you enjoy and if you like my content, drop me a follow and find me on Instagram @stoicspirituality, Tiktok @stoicspirituality, and Youtube @stoicspiritualityFind my other podcast episodes and platforms here: https://rss.com/podcasts/stoicspirituality/If you would like one-on-one mindset coaching, schedule a sample session with me:https://calendly.com/stoicspiritualitylifecoaching/sample-session?month=2023-04

// GUEST //Nostr: https://primal.net/paulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulinthejungleTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paulinthejungleFilm: https://primal.net/hummingbird // SPONSORS //The Farm at Okefenokee: https://okefarm.com/iCoin: https://icointechnology.com/breedloveHeart and Soil Supplements (use discount code BREEDLOVE): https://heartandsoil.co/In Wolf's Clothing: https://wolfnyc.com/Blockware Solutions: https://mining.blockwaresolutions.com/breedloveOn Ramp: https://onrampbitcoin.com/?grsf=breedloveMindlab Pro: https://www.mindlabpro.com/breedloveCoinbits: https://coinbits.app/breedlove // PRODUCTS I ENDORSE //Protect your mobile phone from SIM swap attacks: https://www.efani.com/breedloveNoble Protein (discount code BREEDLOVE for 15% off): https://nobleorigins.com/Lineage Provisions (use discount code BREEDLOVE): https://lineageprovisions.com/?ref=breedlove_22Colorado Craft Beef (use discount code BREEDLOVE): https://coloradocraftbeef.com/ // SUBSCRIBE TO THE CLIPS CHANNEL //https://www.youtube.com/@robertbreedloveclips2996/videos // OUTLINE //0:00 - WiM Episode Trailer1:37 - The Magic of Surfing8:51 - Nostr: Having the Keys to Your Speech12:55 - Streaming Sats16:55 - Nostr vs X24:36 - The Farm at Okefenokee25:56 - iCoin Bitcoin Wallet27:25 - Nostr: Crossing the Chasm28:47 - Paul's Orange-Pill Journey37:05 - Bitcoin Jungle: Living on a Bitcoin Standard41:54 - Costing of Living Go Down Technology48:50 - Bitcoin and Nostr: Fixing Play53:18 - Heart and Soil Supplements54:18 - Helping Lightning Startups with In Wolf's Clothing55:10 - Living by the Wave: Homebirth, Breathwork, Psychedelics1:06:10 - Fear-Setting and Surfing1:19:46 - Mine Bitcoin with Blockware Solutions1:21:12 - Onramp Bitcoin Custody1:23:08 - The Power of Gratitude1:36:26 - Digital Minimalism and Ethical Maximalism1:41:31 - Ethics and Incentives1:44:12 - Mind Lab Pro Supplements1:45:23 - Buy Bitcoin with Coinbits1:46:50 - Balaji and Shitcoins1:50:09 - Living the Bitcoin Lifestyle2:06:46 - Serving Bitcoin2:10:36 - Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Paul Keating // PODCAST //Podcast Website: https://whatismoneypodcast.com/Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-what-is-money-show/id1541404400Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/25LPvm8EewBGyfQQ1abIsERSS Feed: https://feeds.simplecast.com/MLdpYXYI // SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL //Bitcoin: 3D1gfxKZKMtfWaD1bkwiR6JsDzu6e9bZQ7Sats via Strike: https://strike.me/breedlove22Dollars via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/RBreedloveDollars via Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/Robert-Breedlove-2 // SOCIAL //Breedlove X: https://x.com/Breedlove22WiM? X: https://x.com/WhatisMoneyShowLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breedlove22/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breedlove_22/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breedlove22Substack: https://breedlove22.substack.com/All My Current Work: https://linktr.ee/robertbreedlove

Gen Z is ditching smartphones, digital clutter, and nonstop notifications in favor of a simpler, more nostalgic life—and brands need to pay attention. In this episode of the No Normal Show, Stephanie, Desirée, and Chris unpack the rise of "digital minimalism" (or Digman, if you dare) and what it signals for marketers trying to stay culturally relevant. Plus, they connect the dots between Kendrick Lamar's culture-defining moments, Gatorade's newest campaign win, and Meta's latest monopoly drama. Ready to rethink your marketing strategy for a world that's tired of the scroll? Tune in now.Subscribe to The No Normal Rewind, our newsletter featuring a mashup of the boldest ideas, sharpest takes, and most rewind-worthy moments from our podcast — right here.Our new white paper, The Future of the CMO, is now available! Download our latest report here.

Marcus Aurelius' life teaches us how to live well. And because he lived well, his story also teaches us how to die well: with grace, with strength, with empathy, and with the comfort of knowing that he lived a good life as a good man.

In a world obsessed with upgrades, it's easy to convince yourself that you need the latest phone, laptop, or wireless noise-canceling, soul-soothing, AI-optimized headphones. But let's be honest, you probably don't need that. In this episode, I break down how I think about upgrades, when I actually buy into the hype, and how minimalism isn't about refusing modern tech or living in a cave.For more go to: www.scottmlynch.comLevel up your life by joining my Patreon where you'll get exclusive content every week and more badass offerings (rips t-shirt in half, Hulk Hogan style, and runs around the room). And/or…Unlock practical and tactical insights on how to master your mindset and optimize your happiness directly to your inbox.If you're a glutton for punishment and want more swift kicks in the mind follow me on social:InstagramYouTubeLeave a review and tell me how I suck so I can stop doing that or you can also tell me about things you like. I'd be okay with that, too.Produced by ya boi.Past guests on The Motivated Mind include Chris Voss, Captain Sandy, Dr. Chris Palmer, Joey Thurman, Jason Harris, Koshin Paley Ellison, Rudy Mawer, Molly Fletcher, Kristen Butler, Hasard Lee, Natasha Graziano, ⁠David Hauser⁠, Cheryl Hunter, Michael Brandt, Heather Moyse, Tim Shriver, and Alan Stein, Jr.

Welcome to another enriching episode of Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations! Today, we're diving into the impact of digital overuse on our mental health and relationships. Our guest, Jennie Ketcham Crooks, is a licensed clinical social worker, anxiety specialist, and author of LOOK UP: The 30-Day Path to Digital Minimalism and Real Life Maximalism. As the founder of West Coast Anxiety Clinic and a guest lecturer at Harvard, Jennie brings a wealth of expertise on how our screen time habits affect our well-being.Jennie shares practical insights on:How digital overuse affects our mental health and interpersonal relationshipsThe concept of psychological flexibility and how it shapes our digital habitsThe hidden effects of excessive screen time that often go unnoticedHow digital minimalism sparks creativity and fosters real-world connectionsMyths about technology use and the truths that can set us freeA 30-day challenge to reset digital habits and regain control over our livesSmall, actionable steps to reduce screen time without feeling disconnectedHow parents can model healthy digital habits for childrenChapters00:00 Introduction to Digital Overuse and Mental Health12:02 Personal Reflections on Mistakes and Growth23:57 The Journey from Adult Industry to Therapy36:04 Understanding Digital Overuse and Its Impact48:04 Psychological Flexibility and Digital Habits37:38 The Role of Mindfulness in Mental Health40:51 Creativity and Behavioral Change52:58 Delegating Tasks for Creative Freedom58:00 The 30-Day Digital Minimalism ChallengeJennie's insights will inspire you to create intentional digital boundaries and reclaim joy beyond the screen. If you've ever felt drained, distracted, or disconnected because of your digital habits, this episode is for you!Where to Find Jennie Ketcham Crooks:

Welcome to Episode 173 of the Fully In It Podcast. Hear me share about taking a social media break during my maternity leave with baby 4 and the heart and straetgy behind it. If you've ever wanted to explore a digital detox or re-aligning your home and business with your values, you're going to love this episode. Please take a moment to subscribe to the Fully In it Podcast and leave me a review! It means so much to me to hear how this podcast is impacting and encouraging you.  Stay connected while I am on my maternity break by subscribing to my weekly emails! 

Panmure Liberum Chief Economist Simon French joins host Merryn Somerset Webb and senior reporter John Stepek to discuss why boosting the UK's growth should start with encouraging North Sea oil and gas production. The book Simon recommends at the end of the interview is called Digital Minimalism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode we dive deep into both the psychological and privacy implications of social media apps. I reflect on my observations during recent travels, and explore how social media platforms are distorting human connections while simultaneously collecting vast amounts of personal data.The episode also tackles the technical aspects of email systems to the limitations of encrypted messaging apps, providing practical advice for maintaining privacy.In this week's episode:Listener Questions - Deep dive into pfSense vs OPNsense, mobile VPN usage, and dealing with license plate readersSocial Media Privacy - Analysis of social media's psychological impact and privacy issues with data collection practicesProper Account Deletion - Step-by-step guide for securely deleting social media accountsSock Puppet Accounts - Maintaining anonymous online identitiesEmail Privacy - Historical perspective and current state of email securityWhatsApp Security - A discussion on encryption and device securityShow Links:Support the Show on Patreon - https://patreon.com/TheLockdownGrapheneOS - https://grapheneos.orgThe Neuroscience of Engagement - https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/the-neuroscience-of-engagement-b50531a9313b"The right information at the right time is deadlier than any weapon."- Dolores Abernathy (Westworld)

In this episode of The Soul Renovation Podcast, host Adeline Atlas, six-time published author and master manifestor, dives into the concept of Digital Minimalism and how to create a more meaningful relationship with technology in our tech-saturated lives. Adeline explores key strategies to reduce digital clutter, boost productivity, and reclaim your focus and mental clarity. From scrutinizing digital media to undergoing a thirty-day digital declutter, learn how to align your tech usage with your values and make your digital world more purposeful and fulfilling. Tune in to discover how you can take control of your digital life and create more space for what truly matters. Perfect for anyone looking to simplify their digital environment and enhance their overall well-being! Instagram: @soulrenovation - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soulrenovation/⁠⁠ Soul Renovation - Books Soul Game - ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/vay2xdcp⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Why Play⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/2eh584jf⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Digital Soul ⁠⁠- ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/3hk29s9x⁠⁠ Soul Renovation - Courses Every World - ⁠⁠https://www.soulreno.com/every-word⁠⁠ ⁠⁠How To Play: Life Is A Game⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠https://www.soulreno.com/How-to-play-life-is-a-game⁠⁠ ⁠⁠The Vision Board Course⁠⁠ -  ⁠⁠https://www.soulreno.com/the-vision-board-course⁠⁠ Digital Wealth Academy Digital Wealth Academy: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/cahyeyv6⁠⁠ Viral Hooks: ⁠⁠https://www.soulreno.com/opt-in⁠⁠ Soul Renovation - Podcast Spotify: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/53k4f29b⁠⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/2krzv3x8⁠⁠ Soul Renovation - Freebies Miracle Morning Checklist:  ⁠⁠https://www.soulreno.com/optin-miracle-morning-checklist⁠⁠ Vitamin Reference List:  ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/5chn2mbt⁠⁠ 30 Day Habit Tracker: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/5chn2mbt⁠⁠  Team Standards: ⁠⁠https://www.soulreno.com/optin-workbook⁠⁠ Heart Wall Free:  ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/paamx3fs⁠⁠ Soul Reading List: ⁠⁠https://www.soulreno.com/optin-soul-reading-list⁠⁠ Miracle Morning Checklist: ⁠⁠https://www.soulreno.com/freebies⁠⁠ Annual Review ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/mrx6pfw6

This is it. Today we present you a massive special episode full of wisdom, which answers your final pressing questions. Listeners wrote in from around the world — from Perth to Virginia to Prague — asking about music, cooking, careers, home, fashion and how to live a good life. Lilah invites her colleagues and friends on to explore them. And now, all there is left to say is a big, loud, wholehearted, vigorous thank you.-------Please keep in touch – Lilah loves hearing from you and will still be posting about culture, food, art and more on Instagram @lilahrap. Email her at lilahrap@ft.com.You can read Globetrotter at ft.com/globetrotter and follow along @ftglobetrotter on Instagram.-------Links (all FT links get you past the paywall): – Tim Harford's podcast is called Cautionary Tales, and his column is The Undercover Economist. He references Adam Gopnik and Oliver Burkeman, and if you want to lead a better life by spending less time on the internet, he recommends Cal Newport's book Digital Minimalism.– Here are the cookbooks Harriet Fitch Little and Lilah mentioned: Fuchsia Dunlop's The Food of Sichuan, Fadi Kattan's Bethlehem, Maria Bradford's Sweet Salone, and Pati Jinich's Treasures of the Mexican Table. Harriet is on Instagram at @hufffffle.– Isabel Berwick's Working It newsletter is here, and her book is called The Future-Proof Career.– Eric Platt, at the time of recording, was wearing a heather gray turtleneck and navy corduroys from Officine Générale and black Prada combat boots. If you're interested in corporate finance, he's on X and Bluesky @EricGPlatt.– Ludovic Hunter-Tilney mentions Gang Starr's 1994 song “Mostly tha Voice”, A Tribe Called Quest, Public Enemy's first album Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987), and Migos. One of his most listened to songs of 2024 was “Bande organisée”, by Marseille rap group 13'Organisé. Here's another episode we love with Ludo, on Taylor Swift (Apple, Spotify).– Enuma Okoro is an FT Weekend columnist. Here's her most recent column, on new ways to think about the new year.-------Special FT subscription offers for Life and Art listeners are here: http://ft.com/lifeandart-------Music credits: Jive Records, Chrysalis and EMI Records, Quality Control MusicRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you're ready, here are three ways I can help you build your engineering career:   1. Engineering Career Accelerator™️ Scorecard … foundational development actions and key points you can check, score, and apply immediately to stand out and excel at work.   2. Join us at Happy Hour … a limited-attendance LIVE monthly workshop where we dig deep into career growth strategies and provide 1:1 open coaching for you at the end of the session.   3. Work with me directly … start with a free chat and ensure it's a great fit, then work with me and my team privately in our intensive coaching program, exclusively for engineers.   ============================   In this episode, we tackle one of the biggest issues in engineering and tech: digital addiction.    Digital screen use throttles our creativity and heightens our anxiety - a bad mix for engineering leadership today, and worse for the leaders of tomorrow.   Jennie Ketcham Crooks, an anxiety and OCD specialist from Seattle, explores in her research how pervasive smartphone and device use impacts us on both a career and cultural level.    She has been featured as a guest lecturer at Harvard University, and has recently appeared on a number of popular television shows from Headline News and The View, to Oprah.   As our digital overconsumption continues to be fed with the release of each shiny new gadget, it's become increasingly challenging to put down our screens and interact meaningfully with the world and people around us. This constant barrage of digital engagement negatively affects both the quality of our relationships and our mental health.   Jenny and I discuss her new book, 'Look Up: A 30 Day Path to Digital Minimalism and Real Life Maximalism', which offers practical steps to eliminate the negative effects of digital overload.    So press play and let's chat…!   > Full Show Notes, Resources, & More   ============================   WANT MORE AMAZING GUESTS?   “I love Zach and these amazing guests on The Happy Engineer Podcast.” If that sounds like you, please consider following, rating and reviewing the show!    I know it's a huge favor to ask, but when you follow, leave a 5-star rating, and add an honest review of how these episodes are helping you… it's a massive benefit for getting the attention of powerhouse guests on this show.    On Apple Podcasts, click our show, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with 5-stars, and select “Write a Review.”   Thank you so much.    ============================   Connect with your host, Zach White:   LinkedIn (primary) Instagram YouTube  

On today's episode, I reflect on my second day of stepping away from social media and the parallels between Instagram addiction and my sobriety journey from alcohol. Inspired by Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism and Joseph Goldstein's Mindfulness, I dive into the true costs of social media, how it fuels craving, and ways to let go.Social media, much like any addiction, feeds on craving—whether it's for likes, validation, or endless stimulation. Drawing on Buddhist teachings, the Bhagavad Gita, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, and the 12 Steps, I explore how freedom from craving leads to inner peace and balance.I share my personal story of how social media once helped build my sobriety and business but has now become a vortex of comparison and distraction. Through mindfulness, meditation, and reflection, I'm working to approach my digital life with awareness and equanimity—or perhaps detach from it entirely.I'll leave you with this powerful thought from Newport: “Checking your likes is the new smoking.”Join me as I unpack these ideas and invite you to reflect on your relationship with social media. If you're part of the detox group, I'd love to hear about your experience!https://stan.store/alexmcrobs/p/join-the-30day-social-media-detox-in-january-2025Support the showCheck Out All Our Programs at:https://www.themindfullifepractice.com/

Smartphones and social media are making us more anxious, distracted, and disconnected. In this episode, I revisit my conversation with Cal Newport, author of Deep Work and Digital Minimalism. Cal explores how our increasing reliance on smartphones and social media is eroding our ability to focus, perform deep work, and even be alone with our thoughts. He explains how the iGen generation (born 1995–2012) has been particularly affected, with alarming rates of mental health issues linked to the constant presence of digital distractions. For the first time in human history, we can avoid solitude entirely—yet this avoidance comes at a huge cost. As I reflect on these themes, I also want to share my FREE online course on beating burnout and finding flow. The tools and strategies I teach have transformed my life and are designed to help you reduce overwhelm, improve focus, and find flow, peace and creativity:

Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. This is an episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant. Cal Newport knows a thing or two about productivity: when he's not teaching computer science at Georgetown, he's writing for The New Yorker, hosting a podcast, or authoring New York Times bestsellers like “Deep Work” and “Digital Minimalism.” In his new book, “Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout”, Cal proposes that we trade current standards of rapid output for slower, higher-quality, and sustainable ways of working. Adam and Cal dig into the data on productivity, debate the benefits and drawbacks of doing fewer things (and spending less time on email and social media), and discuss individual habits and organizational practices for preventing burnout and promoting worthwhile work.Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As our digital overconsumption continues to be fed with the release of each shiny new gadget and screaming fast app, it's become increasingly challenging to put down our screens and interact meaningfully with the world and people around us. This constant barrage of digital engagement negatively affects both the quality of our relationships and our mental health. However, all hope is not lost; joining me today founder of the West Coast Anxiety Clinic, Jennie Ketcham Crooks. In this episode, Jennie's expertise gives us actionable ways to adjust our behavioral patterns toward healthier digital habits.About Jennie |Jennie Ketcham Crooks is the founder of the West Coast Anxiety Clinic, a clinical licensed social worker, and an anxiety and OCD specialist. Prior to starting the West Coast Anxiety Clinic, she was the Director of Clinical Education at Seattle Anxiety Specialists and before that, the lead medical social worker at the Polyclinic. Jennie has been involved in research at the University of Washington, a guest lecturer at Harvard University, and appeared on a number of popular television shows from Headline News and The View to Oprah.Links Discussed in This Episode |Order a Copy of Minimalist Moms: Living and Parenting with SimplicityDiane's Resource: 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works | The Science of Self Growth (Jay Shetty and Dan Harris conversation)Book: Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtPrevious Episode: Reset Your Relationship with Your Phone | Joey Odom (EP345)Previous Episode: The Opt-Out Family | How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can't with Erin Loechner (EP339)Jennie's Resource: Dr. Kristin NeffConnect with Jennie:Book: Look Up: A 30-Day Path to Digital Minimalism and Real Life MaximalismWest Coast AnxietyFacebookLinkedinInstagramWork with Me |If you've been struggling with motivation to declutter or work through bad habits that keep you stuck, I'd love to help you achieve your goals! We'll work together (locally or virtually) to discover what areas in your life are high priority to get you feeling less overwhelmed right away. For more info on my processes, fees, and availability please contact!Episode Sponsors |The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!Enjoy the Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.Further Questions |You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Checkout the Minimalist Moms Podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.Checkout a list of my collaborative podcasts here.Our Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code MINIMALIST for a great deal: happymammoth.com* Check out Ritual : https://ritual.com/MINSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/minimalist-moms-podcast2093/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We all tell ourselves the same story: we use our phones to stay connected or pass the time. But what if these apps are doing more harm than good? In this episode, I unpack the addictive design behind social media and how it capitalizes on your attention. More importantly, I dive into the philosophy of digital minimalism—a powerful approach to reclaiming your focus, reducing distractions, and living with intention.For more go to: www.scottmlynch.comLevel up your life with these badass offerings (rips t-shirt in half, Hulk Hogan style, and runs around the room):Maximize your potential and experience life-changing growth by either enrolling in my Private Coaching program or Group Coaching program⁠.Unlock practical and tactical insights on how to master your mindset and optimize your happiness through my weekly ⁠newsletter⁠.Discover your true potential with the support of a passionate Discord community.Access ad-free listening, monthly 15-minute one-on-one virtual coffee meetings, entry to my Members-Only Discord channel, and exclusive discounts on my courses and newsletter.Access my downloadable and printable exercises to equip yourself with the essential tools for success.Explore how HashDash combines technology and cannabis to support your health journey. With over 637,000 strain data points, HashDash personalizes recommendations to help you find the perfect cannabis for your wellness needs.If you're a glutton for punishment and want more swift kicks in the mind follow me on social:InstagramFacebookTikTokTwitterYouTubeLeave a review and tell me how I suck so I can stop doing that or you can also tell me about things you like. I'd be okay with that, too.Music by: Blaize TrulsonProduced by ya boy.Past guests on The Motivated Mind include Chris Voss, Captain Sandy, Dr. Chris Palmer, Joey Thurman, Jason Harris, Koshin Paley Ellison, Rudy Mawer, Molly Fletcher, Kristen Butler, Hasard Lee, Natasha Graziano, ⁠David Hauser⁠, Cheryl Hunter, Michael Brandt, Heather Moyse, Tim Shriver, and Alan Stein, Jr.

Alex San Filippo, founder of PodMatch, reveals his radical approach to digital minimalism, including how he runs a tech company without personal email or social media. This conversation challenges conventional wisdom about productivity and technology use, offering practical insights for regaining control of your digital life. Ready to transform your productivity? Book a free 20-minute strategy session with Mister Productivity®️ and get at least one actionable strategy you can implement immediately. As your productivity coach, I help HR Professionals and executives: Eliminate distractions and gain laser focus Master prioritization for maximum impact Create systems that save hours every week Achieve clarity in your daily workflow Don't let another day go by feeling overwhelmed. Join the professionals who have discovered how to conquer chaos and exceed their goals. Book your complimentary strategy session today. ABOUT MARK STRUCZEWSKI Since 2011, I've helped executives and HR Professionals transform their workday through effective productivity coaching. As the host of The Mister Productivity®️ Podcast (over 1,310 episodes), I provide daily insights to help you live The Productive Life.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2390: Cal Newport shares practical insights on how parents can embrace digital minimalism to create a more intentional, less screen-dominated family life. By adopting selective technology habits and focusing on meaningful offline activities, parents can foster a healthier, more connected environment for their children. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2019/03/01/digital-minimalism-for-parents/ Quotes to ponder: "Digital minimalism is not about abandoning technology altogether, but rather choosing a focused life in a noisy world." "By shifting our habits, we can transform screens from constant companions to occasional tools." "Intentional time offline can help our children see that the most important connections happen face-to-face." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2390: Cal Newport shares practical insights on how parents can embrace digital minimalism to create a more intentional, less screen-dominated family life. By adopting selective technology habits and focusing on meaningful offline activities, parents can foster a healthier, more connected environment for their children. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2019/03/01/digital-minimalism-for-parents/ Quotes to ponder: "Digital minimalism is not about abandoning technology altogether, but rather choosing a focused life in a noisy world." "By shifting our habits, we can transform screens from constant companions to occasional tools." "Intentional time offline can help our children see that the most important connections happen face-to-face." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you ready to break free from the grips of your phone? Learn how to take control of your digital habits and reduce anxiety with Jennie Ketcham's expert insights on digital minimalism and mental clarity. In this episode, Rebecca Greene talks to Jennie Ketcham, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of the West Coast Anxiety Clinic, who shares her journey from former porn star to mental health expert. Jennie discusses the impact of digital overuse on anxiety, how we can develop psychological flexibility, and how her 30-day challenge outlined in her book Look Up: The 30-Day Path to Digital Minimalism and Real Life Maximalism can help individuals reconnect with real life. She also touches on how parents can model healthier digital habits for their children and the profound effects of reducing screen time on mental well-being. Key Takeaways:

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Jennie Ketcham Crooks joins Stacy to discuss digital overconsumption and habits in the age of our “shiny rectangles”. Jennie talks us through coming off of autopilot, parenting in the digital age, and managing emotions and meaningful interactions for healthier relationships with others and ourselves. Find Jennie: WestCoastAnxiety.com Instagram.com/becomingjennie Facebook.com/jennie.ketcham Linkedin.com/in/jennieketchamcrooks Check out Jennie's book Look Up: A 30-Day Path to Digital Minimalism and Real Life Maximalism Don't forget to subscribe to this channel and visit realeverything.com! If you haven't yet unlocked ad-free content, checkout patreon.com/thewholeview. Your subscription goes to support this show and gets you direct access to submit your questions! We also want to give a big thank you to this week's sponsor! Paleovalley.com/wholeview | Get 15% off your first order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices