

The Reframe
The Reframe Podcast
Welcome to The Reframe, where we delve into how we can design life on our own terms.
I’m Kathleen, a lawyer and soon-to-be early retiree, here to explore how minimalism, stoicism, and financial independence can help us build lives we love.
Let’s hop off the hedonic treadmill, investigate all those scripts we’ve inherited, and finally discover what brings us joy.
I’m Kathleen, a lawyer and soon-to-be early retiree, here to explore how minimalism, stoicism, and financial independence can help us build lives we love.
Let’s hop off the hedonic treadmill, investigate all those scripts we’ve inherited, and finally discover what brings us joy.
Episodes
Mentioned books

40 snips
Dec 22, 2025 • 1h 1min
Ep. 82 - 2025 Goals Recap: The Good, the Bad, and the Surprising
Kathleen reviews her 2025 goals, reflecting on successes and flops. She shares insights from walking every street in her city and riding the DC Metro, discovering hidden gems along the way. A quirky attempt to try vegan ice cream didn’t pan out as expected. She celebrates planting a Kwanzan cherry tree while discussing family goals and the importance of presence. There’s fun musings on thrift store finds and her journey into DIY skills, all punctuated by a year marked by unexpected events and a focus on meaningful progress.

Dec 15, 2025 • 41min
Ep. 81 - 13 Things I Learned From A Year of Thrifting Fashion
Tune in to hear 13 lessons -- from practical to philosophical -- that I learned from a year of thrifting fashion!No new clothing purchases made their way into my closet this year, but plenty of new-to-me gems did, along with a new appreciation for living la vida secondhand.Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast.

11 snips
Dec 8, 2025 • 52min
Ep. 80 - Joyful Planning with Sarah Hart Unger, author of Best Laid Plans
Join Dr. Sarah Hart Unger, a pediatric endocrinologist and productivity guru, as she dives into the importance of joyfully planning our lives. She shares her journey from medicine to planning, and explains how effective systems can enhance both calm and chaos. Discover her three essential pillars for task management, and learn about nested goals to connect daily tasks to bigger dreams. Sarah also offers insights on coping with disappointment, creating meaningful planning rituals, and the value of community in achieving your goals.

11 snips
Dec 1, 2025 • 39min
Ep. 79 - The Unexpected Benefits of Going Part Time Between Achieving Financial Independence (FI) and Retiring Early (RE)
Exploring the journey from financial independence to early retirement, the hosts discuss the surprising perks of going part-time. They highlight how this approach can ease mental transitions and reshape identity beyond just work. Listeners learn about the value of structuring daily life to avoid existential drift and the financial benefits of gradually reducing hours. By staggering retirement plans, couples can manage emotional adjustments more smoothly. The conversation emphasizes that part-time work can reveal internal anxieties and test living within a FIRE budget.

Nov 24, 2025 • 42min
Ep. 78 - Travel Hacking 101 - Burning, Part 5: Suggests for Tracking Redemptions
We've spent nine in-depth episodes talking about earning and burning points. Let's round this out with one final piece: how to track your points and the awesome trips that result!Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast.

Nov 17, 2025 • 33min
Ep. 77 - Travel Hacking 101 - Burning, Part 4: The Pros and Cons of Travel Portals
Travel portals: a simple booking dream, or a potential nightmare? Tune in this week to learn the pros and cons of booking your points-based travel through bank travel portals.Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast.

Nov 10, 2025 • 58min
Ep. 76 - Travel Hacking 101 - Burning, Part 3: Hotel Redemptions
Let's chat about redeeming points for hotel stays! From private plunge pool luxury to road trip spots to lay your head, we cover it all. This week, we walk through the Big Four programs (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG), including tools to help you find, book, and rebook hotel travel. We also discuss a solid points-bookable alternative for family travelers who find the drawbacks of hotels to exceed their desirability.Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast.

Nov 3, 2025 • 1h 7min
Ep. 75 - Travel Hacking 101 - Burning, Part 2: Flight Redemptions
This is a monster episode, packed with 10 principles and tools to help you find and book the best flight redemptions with your hard-earned points. Tune in to learn the mindset, strategies, and specific websites and apps that will help you take your redemptions from "meh" to "wowza!"Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast.

Oct 27, 2025 • 39min
Ep. 74 - Travel Hacking 101: Burning, Part 1: Transfer Partners and Points Pooling
It's back, baby -- another series on travel hacking basics, this time focused on burning all those hard-earned transferrable points we've stashed. This week, we start with six foundational principles to frame up the booking process. Tune in, my friends -- understanding these core points is the first step to getting out there and seeing the world for nearly free.Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast.

Oct 20, 2025 • 20min
Ep. 73 - Reality Check - Are We Already Living Our Dream Lives? (Or At Least Something Pretty Darn Close)
It's easy to focus on the gaps. Let's focus on the gains. In this week's episode, we discuss four practical ways to see how we're much closer to living our dream lives than we might realize at first blush.Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast.


