
Mile High FI Podcast
Real talk about Financial Independence and life after corporate jobs. Carl Jensen and Doug Cunnington talk about FI, lifestyle, side hustles, health, and anything on their minds. Plus, they interview experts and non-experts interested in the FI lifestyle. It's raw, candid, pretty much like you get to sit in on a private conversation.
Latest episodes

Feb 21, 2023 • 1h 4min
Kids Are Really Expensive, Aren't They? | MHFI 149
Having kids is a lifestyle change that has a big impact on our finances. But how much does parenthood really cost?
In this episode, Doug and Amberly explore the expected and unexpected costs that come with having children. They talk about the importance of budgeting and share some tips on how to shop wisely for new parents.
The (unexpected) costs of having kids
Health insurance and dental costs
Schooling and tuition
Are human parents and dog parents alike?
The do's and don'ts of choosing a gift for new parents
Tips for navigating friendships as a parent
Amberly hosts FinTalks
Do you love Mile High FI? Support us over at Buy Me A Coffee.
Do you hate Mile High FI? Send us a large sum of money and we’ll quit! You win either way!
EconoMe: Doug and Carl are going to EconoMe again and are planning a meetup. Get your ticket here and enter MILEHIGHFI at checkout for a discount.
Connect with Amberly Grant!
AmberlyGrant.com
FinTalks
Instagram
Amberly on Facebook
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Check out the Econome Conference - Save money using our coupon code MILEHIGHFI. Carl and Doug will be there, so come and hang out.
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Intro
2:41 Budgeting and planning for kids
7:57 Is having children similar to dogs?
10:31 The cost of having kids
25:05 Children and health insurance
32:29 Why kids' clothing is a terrible gift idea
36:33 As kids grow, so do their expenses
39:40 How to get free babysitting benefits
41:04 Why do parents count their baby's age in months?!
42:34 Schooling and tuition expenses
46:47 Navigating friendships as a parent
52:10 Amberly is on FinTalks
53:22 Fin Talk's retreat and Camp FI

Feb 14, 2023 • 1h 3min
The Band is BACK Together! Random Show | MHFI 148
After taking a break, Carl comes back to catch up with Doug. Here is what they talk about:
Carl loses $2,000,000 (and is happy about it)
Doug’s health issues
Camp FI Southeast
Carl’s 3-day fast
No alcohol
Meet Doug and Carl: EconoMe and NYC
Do you love Mile High FI? Support us over at Buy Me A Coffee.
Do you hate Mile High FI? Send us a large sum of money and we’ll quit! You win either way!
EconoMe: Doug and Carl are going to EconoMe again and are planning a meetup. Get your ticket here and enter MILEHIGHFI at checkout for a discount.
Links
Downshift Financial
Mile High FI Interview with Chris Rusin, the Indiana Jones of FIRE
Mile High FI Interview with David Baughier
Mile High FI interview with Jake Simon
Logan Leckie
Doug's website - Check out the NEW Sleep Post.
Carl's blog: 1500 Days
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Check out the Econome Conference - Save money using our coupon code MILEHIGHFI. Carl and Doug will be there, so come and hang out.
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Intro
1:12 How you can support us
2:40 What has Carl been up to
9:00 Doug's health issues
16:07 Carl's been fasting
25:48 - What has Doug been up to/Dry January
43:19 - Carl's house updates
45:16 - Doug has a new tattoo
47:54 - Doug tested ChatGPT
55:40 Doug and Carl are at Econome!

Feb 7, 2023 • 55min
Setting Up Wills and Trusts | MHFI 147
Doug and Amberly are back to discuss the pros and cons of different types of financial security, such as wills, trusts, and life insurance.
They also talk about why whole life insurance isn't for everyone and explore some unusual scenarios.
Wills vs. trusts
Benefits of wills and trusts
Choosing a trustee
Potential scenarios in case of a divorce
Life insurance
Doug's story on whole life insurance
Who can make medical decisions on your behalf
Accelerated death benefits
Connect with Amberly Grant!
AmberlyGrant.com
FinTalks
Instagram
Amberly on Facebook
-
Check out the Econome Conference - Save money using our coupon code MILEHIGHFI. Carl and Doug will be there, so come and hang out.
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 - Intro
6:20 - Amberly's trust fund story
8:32 - Wills vs. Trusts - which is better?
10:24 - How to choose a trustee
14:04 - Benefits of a Trust
15:25 - Doug's situation
16:13 - What could happen to your money when you die
21:09 - Funding your Trust
22:28 - Life Insurance
24:50 - Is Whole Life Insurance worth it?
39:38 - Accelerated death benefits
41:21 - Trusting someone with your life
46:16 - Financial coaching and mentorship with Amberly

Jan 31, 2023 • 1h 5min
Prepare To Die (but in a fun way! wait, what?) | MHFI 146
Doug and his co-host Amberly talk about something taboo but very important - death. They each share their own experiences with the death of loved ones and how to deal with grief.
They also explore the connection between death and finances and how to put together an In Case Of Death binder.
Oh, and Doug envisions his ideal memorial - and we're here for it.
Dealing with the death of loved ones
How witnessing death in childhood can shape us in adulthood
Can we ever prepare for a person's death?
Dealing with grief
Advice from a hospice chaplain
Death and finances
Death binder
CEO plan
And, What we're thankful for...
Connect with Amberly Grant!
AmberlyGrant.com
FinTalks
Instagram
Amberly on Facebook
-
Check out the Econome Conference - Save money using our coupon code MILEHIGHFI. Carl and Doug will be there, so come and hang out.
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 - Intro
3:51 - Amberly's experiences with death
7:08 - Doug's experience
11:50 - Can we ever prepare for a person's death?
17:54 - What it means to live a high-quality life
23:46 - Dealing with a friend's passing
35:04 - Things we would be thankful for in case we died tomorrow
37:38 - How we would wrap up our lives before we go
41:53 - Finances and death
42:54 - In-case-of-death binder
47:12 - Putting together a CEO plan
52:22 - Closing words from a hospice chaplain
53:19 - ''How you live is how you die'' - is it true?
58:06 - Helping others deal with grief
58:59 - Why attending your own memorial is a great idea

Jan 24, 2023 • 1h 4min
Why Do People Do Dumb Things? | MHFI 145
Doug chats with his friend, Dusti, about cognitive biases and behavioral economics.
They discuss how our financial habits are heavily influenced by emotions, and why we oftentimes spend money on unnecessary things.
Behavioral Economics
Why money is emotional
Buying more than we can afford
How group mentality affects our decision-making
Cognitive Biases
Availability bias
Confirmation bias
The struggle of having too many choices
The ostrich effect
Connect with Dusti on Instagram.
-
Check out the Econome Conference - Save money using our coupon code MILEHIGHFI. Carl and Doug will be there, so come and hang out.
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 - Intro
1:20 - Who is Dusti?
12:12 - Behavioral economics and the emotional side to money
18:11 - How you can support us
21:02 - Availability bias
23:10 - Confirmation bias and how society affects our buying decisions
29:39 - Is having fewer options better?
34:28 - People overvalue what they own
43:06 - Going along with everyone else
50:04 - Loss aversion
53:20 - The ostrich effect

Jan 17, 2023 • 1h 6min
The Personal Finance Podcast, Early Retirement, And Fat FIRE | MHFI 144
Doug and Carl interview Andrew Giancola, host of the wildly successful Personal Finance Podcast.
Quick note!:* If you think that Doug and Carl are awesome, show them some love by supporting the show. If you think they suck, give them some money to motivate them to suck less*: https://milehighfi.com/donate
Early Retirement
How to start on an early retirement journey
How much you should have saved by certain ages
How to create a bigger gap in income and expenses
The 3 Horsemen of the FI-pocalypse: housing, cars, and food
Making $100,000 A Year
How to get promoted
Doug and Carl's best tips for success on the job
Personal Finance Podcast
Goals of the show
Imposter syndrome
The meaning of wealth
Links
The personal finance podcast
Master Money
Mr. Money Mustache: The schockingly simple math behind early retirement
How you can support us
-
Check out the Econome Conference - Save money using our coupon code MILEHIGHFI. Carl and Doug will be there, so come and hang out.
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Support the show and get exclusive content. We use Buy Me a Coffee which is like Patreon. You can donate each month which helps a ton, or make a one-time donation.
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Who is Andrew Giancola
5:10 - Time management
8:14 Andrew's corporate job
10:19 - Tips for approaching early retirement
15:06 - Andrew's beginnings
16:15 -Why retiring early is not for everyone
19:06 - Lifestyle inflation
23:18 - Splurging
24:14 - Andrew's take on frugality
26:16 - How much do you save in certain ages of life
32:15 - Income vs. expenses gap
38:54 - FI framework and how to get promoted
49:05 - Protecting assets
54:19 - Goals
55:39 - Imposter syndrome
59:00 - The meaning of wealth
1:00:19 - The perfect day

Jan 10, 2023 • 1h 49min
Mr. Money Mustache on The Shockingly Simple Secret to Happiness (and maybe it’s not so simple) | MHFI 143
Doug and Carl interview friend, fellow Longmonster, and FIRE legend Mr. Money Mustache (aka Pete Adeney).
When Tim Ferriss interviewed Pete, they ended by talking about Pete’s desire to own a local community gathering space. This is the jumping off point for the Mile High FI conversation.
But, they go a lot deeper too. No talk about index funds or the 4% Rule. That stuff has been covered.
Instead, this conversation is about happiness, journeys, and meaning.
Quick note: Do you enjoy Mile High FI? Do you hate it? Either way, supporting the show is a great idea! You will feel better about yourself. Also, Doug and Carl will be thankful to you forever. Maybe even longer.
MMM HQ Coworking
How Pete and Carl came to own a coworking space
What happens at HQ
Is HQ a coworking space or social club?
Happiness
The real goal of Mr. Money Mustache (it’s not moneymap)
What is happiness?
The factors that lead to happiness
Journey versus goals
Pete’s perfect day
Links
Support Carl and Doug: Buy Me A Coffee
Pete on other Mile High FI episodes
Mr. Money Mustache, Alan Donegan, Carl Jensen LIVE Q&A Panel | MHFi023
Mr. Money Mustache Loves Hot Sauces and Waffles on Wednesday | MHFi 042
Mr. Money Mustache on Get Smart With Money Netflix Documentary w/ John & Kim | MHFi 115
Pete on The Tim Ferris Show
MMMHQ: The Mr. Money Mustache Coworking Space
Pete speaking at World Domination Summit
Andrew Huberman
Get Smart With Money
NoCo Mustachians Meetup Group
Some of our favorite interviews from notable folks in the community:
JL Collins: The Simple Path To Wealth
Paula Pant on Inflation
JD Roth: Get Rich Slowly
Money Honey Rachel Richards
Mad FIentist: Post FI Life
How To Money
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Check out the Econome Conference - Save money using our coupon code MILEHIGHFI. Carl and Doug will be there, so come and hang out.
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Support the show and get exclusive content. We use Buy Me a Coffee which is like Patreon. You can donate each month which helps a ton, or make a one-time donation.
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 - Intro
1:53 - How Carl met Mr Mustache
11:12 - Who is Mr Mustache?
17:30 - Carl's real estate story
21:20 - The coworking space and its unexpected benefits
27:38 - Happiness
31:40 - Can success sometimes make you miserable?
36:20 - The Mr Mustache blog
38:49 - Self-improvement, gratitude and self-control
46:12 - Factors that lead to happiness
54:56 - Pete's Netflix documentary
57:33 - The Tim Ferriss show
1:0:22 -Removing negativity from your life
1:6:33 - Happiness and FIRE
1:15:51 - Struggles
1:20:16 - Making plans
1:22:20 - Why doing the hard stuff makes your life better
1:26:41 - Public speaking and anxiety
1:28:56 - Taking the easier route
1:33:25 - Cheese, FI and more
1:36:15 - Goals
1:39:40 - Reflecting on the journey
1:42:22 - Pete's perfect day

Jan 3, 2023 • 1h 13min
Goals and Resolutions with J.D. Roth | MHFI 142
J.D. Roth is guest hosting this tangent filled episode. Doug and J.D. start talking about reflecting on the past year, goals, and New Year Resolutions. Then, they quickly digress. They end up talking about
NOT setting goals
Goals versus systems
Doug doesn't do resolutions
J.D. wants to get into better shape
Check out the other episodes with J.D.:
Having Enough and Lack of Ambition - MHFi 134
J.D. Roth on Mile High FI - MHFi 127
Follow J.D. here:
J.D.'s work about personal finance, Get Rich Slowly
J.D.'s Personal Blog
-
Check out the Econome Conference - Save money using our coupon code MILEHIGHFI. Carl and Doug will be there, so come and hang out.
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Support the show and get exclusive content. We use Buy Me a Coffee which is like Patreon. You can donate each month which helps a ton, or make a one-time donation.
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com

Dec 31, 2022 • 8min
Mile High FI Year End Announcements - Bonus Episode
There are a few changes coming for the Mile High FI Podcast in 2023. Doug shares the details in this bonus, year end episode.
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Check out the Econome Conference - Save money using our coupon code MILEHIGHFI. Carl and Doug will be there, so come and hang out.
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Support the show and get exclusive content. We use Buy Me a Coffee which is like Patreon. You can donate each month which helps a ton, or make a one-time donation.
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com

Dec 30, 2022 • 21min
End Of Year Fitness Update | MHFI 141
Carl and Doug talk about fitness and health, two of their favorite topics. They talked fitness a few times this year already, so they wanted to wrap it up and make some declarations for next year.
Other Fitness episodes:
MHFI 091 Summer Fitness Update
MHFI 078 with Jake Simon
MHFI 064 with Brittany Dunn
MHFI 063 Losing 10LBS of Ugly Weight
MHFI 045 Fitness Plan for 2022
-
Check out the Econome Conference - Save money using our coupon code MILEHIGHFI. Carl and Doug will be there, so come and hang out.
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Support the show and get exclusive content. We use Buy Me a Coffee which is like Patreon. You can donate each month which helps a ton, or make a one-time donation.
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
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