

The Voluntary Life
Jake Desyllas
A podcast about living a life of your choosing. Topics covered include financial independence, productivity, entrepreneurship, peaceful parenting, minimalism, and rational thinking.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 13, 2018 • 21min
354 The True Believer
This episode is a review of Eric Hoffer's book The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements. Hoffer argued that all political and religious activists share the same motivations: Those who dedicate their lives to a cause are running from themselves. There are some interesting ideas in the book about the dark consequences that follow when you evade the responsibility for improving yourself and choose to act out your frustration on the world instead. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus epodes and rewards! The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements by Eric Hoffer

Oct 5, 2018 • 19min
353 Something People Want
What do you need in order to start a business? This episode is a chapter from the audiobook Becoming An Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus epodes and rewards! Becoming An Entrepreneur Audiobook on Audible Becoming an Entrepreneur on Amazon TVL 184 Becoming An Entrepreneur: Introduction

Sep 27, 2018 • 41min
352 Value Investing
I've talked a lot about my strategy for investing in previous episodes, but in this interview you will hear from an investor who takes a different approach. Rob Marstrand is the founder of the investment newsletter and blog Ofwealth. He uses an approach called value investing, in contrast to the passive investing approach that I use. In this episode, Rob explains value investing from his perspective. He also provides an outsider's take on the permanent portfolio strategy that I follow. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon! OfWealth

Sep 20, 2018 • 57min
351 Travel, Parenting, And The Challenges Of Choosing A Different Lifestyle
In this Touring Families podcast interview, Jake Desyllas talks about pursuing the travel lifestyle with kids, finding principles in parenting, and the challenges of choosing your own lifestyle. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL for bonus episodes and many other rewards! Touring Families Podcast

Sep 12, 2018 • 13min
350 Why Predicting Doom Always Sounds Clever
This episode presents some interesting research demonstrating that following the news and current events can make you more stupid. Understanding the psychology behind this effect helps improve your rational thinking. It also explains why predicting doom is so popular and always sounds clever. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus epodes and rewards! The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley Good News is Gradual, Bad New Sudden by Matt Ridley

Sep 4, 2018 • 28min
349 Free-Range Kids Reviewed By a Former Free-Range Kid
This episode provides my perspective, as a former free-range kid, on the concept of free-range childhood. It is a review of the book Free-Range Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children by Lenore Skenazy. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus epodes and rewards! Free-Range Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children by Lenore Skenazy Episode 341: Peaceful Parenting, Unschooling, and Self-Directed Education

Aug 23, 2018 • 19min
348 Breaking Free
Chapter One from the audiobook of Becoming an Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus epodes and rewards! Becoming An Entrepreneur Audiobook on Audible Becoming an Entrepreneur on Amazon TVL 184 Becoming An Entrepreneur: Introduction

Aug 9, 2018 • 17min
347 Why I Am Passionate About Productivity
Ten reasons why I am passionate about productivity systems and getting things done. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! Previous TVL episodes on productivity Bonus episodes and resources on productivity Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen

Jul 29, 2018 • 16min
346 Nomadic Travel Vs Having A Base
If you enjoy a travel lifestyle, is it better to go fully nomadic or have a base to come back to between trips? Here's an update about our experience of both nomadic travel and having a base, and how our approach has changed since starting a family. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and reward 241 Selling Our Home To Travel The World 252 Adapting To Big Changes 255 The Path to Permanent Travel And Minimalism

Jul 20, 2018 • 17min
345 Emotional Challenges in Investing
Investing brings emotional and psychological challenges. These challenges can lead to poor investment decisions, but they can also make you unhappy even if you do end up making a good return. This episode is about strategies for dealing with the emotional challenges of investing. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! Job Free by Jake Desyllas Portfoliocharts.com Fail-Safe Investing by Harry Browne TVL 167 The Permanent Portfolio