The Bucket List Journal is a tool created by Ben Nemtin to assist people in achieving their life goals. It is based on his experiences with The Buried Life movement, where he and his friends traveled across North America, accomplishing their own bucket list items while helping strangers achieve theirs. The journal helps users write a well-rounded list by considering all aspects of life, ensuring every dream, big or small, is included. It provides a structured approach with steps such as writing the list, sharing it, and tracking progress to help overcome common obstacles like lack of inspiration, no deadlines, and fear[2][4][5].
In this book, Bronnie Ware shares her experiences from working in palliative care, where she identified the five most common regrets of the dying. These regrets include: 'I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me,' 'I wish I hadn’t worked so hard,' 'I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings,' 'I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends,' and 'I wish that I had let myself be happier.' The book provides a heartfelt and inspiring account of how these regrets can be addressed while there is still time, promoting a life of greater compassion, honesty, and happiness.
Have you ever felt like there’s more to life than the daily grind, like your dreams are buried under all the obligations and expectations life throws at you?
In this episode, we sit down with The Buried Life co-founder and New York Times bestselling author, Ben Nemtin, to explore why so many of us feel disconnected from our true purpose—and how to reclaim it.
For Ben, it all started as a group of friends chasing wild bucket-list dreams and helping strangers achieve their dreams too. In the process, they discovered what it means to give yourself permission to dream and then make those dreams a reality.
We dive deep into the psychology of fear, the power of accountability, and the surprising benefits of doing what you love—not just for yourself, but for everyone around you. We discuss why most people regret not living authentically, how to overcome the social and emotional barriers holding you back, and practical strategies for rediscovering your dreams, even if they’ve been buried for years.
If you’re looking for inspiration to take that first small step toward a life that feels truly yours, this episode will get you there.
Enjoy.
Ben’s Stuff:
The Bucket List Journal by Ben Nemtin: https://www.amazon.com/Bucket-List-Journal-Achieve-Fulfilling/dp/B09VX2LMY2
The Buried Life (TV Show): https://www.bennemtin.com/tv-show/
The Buried Life (Poem): https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43585/the-buried-life
Ben’s Website: https://www.bennemtin.comBen’s TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Y7mfxEaco
Follow Ben:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bennemtin
https://www.instagram.com/bennemtin
https://twitter.com/BenNemtin
https://www.facebook.com/Nemtin/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5l2kfhEEEXLm2HlRXRVzbw
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00:00 What is the buried life?
06:57 Finding your gift and giving it away
11:07 The impact of The Buried Life TV show
18:06 Your goals don't have to be big to be meaningful
21:17 Your authentic self changes over time
26:15 Buried lives and the modern world
34:50 How to uncover your buried life
50:22 Leveraging emotions in your favor
59:41 Ben's Bucket List Journal
Theme music: “Icarus Lives” by Periphery, used with permission from Periphery.