The Voluntary Life

One of the most radical ideas I've come across is this: People are not free ultimately because they voluntarily consent to their servitude. Etienne de La Boetie wrote "A Discourse on Voluntary Servitude" during the Renaissance period. His book had a huge influence on many philosophers and inspired the civil disobedience movement. But, is it relevant to your personal life as well? Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! "Discourse on Voluntary Servitude" by Etienne de La Boetie

I've had some interesting listener feedback from the recent episodes about questioning education. In this episode I respond to some of the points raised by listeners. Show Notes: 339 Questioning Education 340 Review of The Case Against Education  

The Paradox of Choice, by psychologist Barry Schwarz, is a book that has influenced many people interested in minimalism. Schwarz argues that the extensive freedom of choice in affluent societies has become detrimental to psychological and emotional well-being. This episode provides a critical review of Barry Schwarz's arguments. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz The Paradox of Choice TED Talk 227 Review of The Better Angels of Our Nature by Stephen Pinker

A interview with James and Taylor Davis from the One Free Family podcast. James and Taylor explain their approach to peaceful parenting and unschooling. We had a great discussion about questioning the concept of self-directed learning, and many other interesting topics. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! One Free Family Podcast 338: Leadership and Parenting 17 Unschooling Part 1: Instead of Education

Most of what you learn in school and college is practically useless, yet education is (often) a very good investment. How can this be? This episode is a review of Bryan Caplan's book, The Case Against Education. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! The Case Against Education by Bryan Caplan 339 Questioning Education 261 Thinking Rationally Part 7: The Irrationality Of Politics  

This episode is the first in a series questioning key life choices around the topic of education. How valuable is education? How much education does it make a sense to get? Does education lead to greater freedom and fulfillment in life? I introduce different views on education that I will be exploring: the traditional view, the rebel view, and the realist view. I talk about why I think it is valuable to question education, even though getting a good education worked very well for me. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! The Case Against Education by Bryan Caplan 40 Alternatives to College by James Altucher

What kind of leadership role do you have as a parent? What are the most important responsibilities of parents? This episode explores different answers to these questions. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! One Free Family Podcast - A new take on peaceful parenting Unruffled Podcast by Janet Lansbury 336: A Review of Jordan Peterson's Parenting Principles 312: The Unjobbing Way

This episode is about managing and tracking investments, as part of your journey towards financial independence. I explain the calculations that I find useful to track my portfolio. I'm not a financial advisor and I've had to teach myself about money, so I'm explaining what I've learned as food for thought for other independent investors working towards FI. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! Episode 181 Financial Independence Part 1: What You Need To Know About Your Money Episode 219 How To Do A Monthly Financial Review Episode 223 A Guide To Passive Investment Portfolios: Interview With Tyler From Portfolio Charts PortfolieCharts.com Becoming an Entrepreneur: How to Find Freedom and Fulfillment as a Business Owner by Jake Desyllas Job Free: Four Ways to Quit the Rat Race and Achieve Financial Freedom on Your Terms by Jake Desyllas

This episode is a review of Jordan Peterson's suggested principles for parenting, which he put forward in a chapter of his book "12 Rules For Life". In the episode, I explain why I disagree with Peterson's ideas and recommendations regarding parenting. Listen to the episode to find out more. Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! 12 Rules For Life: An Antidote for Chaos by Jordan Peterson TVL 328: Punished By Rewards Part 1 Parent Effectiveness Training By Thomas Gordon Unruffled Podcast  

Harry Browne's book, "How I Found Freedom in an Unfree world" had a huge influence on me. This episode examines the subject of one chapter in that book: freedom from pretence. I explore Harry's suggestions about finding freedom from pretence, and then provide my own thoughts on the topic.  Show Notes: Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards! How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World by Harry Browne Self-Deception - Episode 202 of The Voluntary Life Getting Real: 10 Truths Skills You Need to Live an Authentic Life by Susan Campbell - Episode of the Psychology Book Club Podcast