
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

Sep 5, 2023 • 1h 4min
CampFI LIVE Week 2 | MHFI 179
Doug and Carl answer a potpourri of audience questions at CampFI Rocky Mountain with help from meteorologist Kristen Knapp and frequent guest co-host/friend of the show Dusti Young.
What is the biggest lifestyle or other changes that happen between $2.5 million, $5 million, $10 million invested, if any, assuming that you’re relatively frugal but love to travel?
How do you move from a low-cost of living area to a high-cost of living area while pursuing FI?
Are you more afraid of dying young or running out of money?
Could you expound on the state of meteorology and more specifically why weather forecasts are wrong 97% of the time?
What would you change about your finances right now?
Is CampFI a cult?
What are the most efficient tools to plan your FI path and to keep track of the development?
What is your advice to fast-track pursuit of FI if real estate is not an option and index accumulation takes too long?
If you were to start a podcast today, where would you start?
What advice do you have to go from planning to taking action?
How do you know you have enough money?
Carl, do you feel you’ve changed after Ramit Sethi’s interview?
If you could experience being any other person for 24 hours, who would you pick and why?
How has your outlook on life changed in the past two years?
Please address the meaning of life and whether humans have free will over the smell of their pee after eating asparagus?
What is something you value but struggle or have hesitations spending on?
What do you and your partner argue about?
What kind of year has this been for you and what are you the proudest of?
Do you have a question that you want answered? If so, you can email us or head over to Buy Me A Coffee where you can also support the show.
Carl will be attending CampFI Southwest in Julian, CA on October 6-9, 2023. For those interested in attending, use the coupon code JENSEN at checkout to save 10%. https://campfi.org/event/campfi-southwest-2023/
Links
CampFI
Jordan Grumet, Taking Stock
Econome
Wait But Why, The Tail End
ChooseFI
Tim Ferriss, Mr. Money Mustache episode
Mark’s Money Mind
New Retirement
Empower (formerly Personal Capital)
Chris Hutchins
Carl & Mindy on Ramit Sethi’s podcast
Carl & Mindy behind the scenes on MHFI
FinTalks
Connect with Kristen
Connect with Dusti:
Instagram
Facebook
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
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 Introduction
2:54 Lifestyle changes
8:16 Dying young vs. running out of money
16:56 Finance changes
22:18 Cult of FI
27:29 Fast-tracking FI
38:53 Enough money
46:38 Outlook on life
57:29 Proud moments

Aug 29, 2023 • 1h 5min
Credit Card Points, Doug's Cognitive Meltdown, Saying NO! | MHFI 178
Doug and Dusti chat about a potpourri of topics.
Credit card points - which cards Doug & Dusti each have, hoarding points
Reflections on Carl & Mindy’s experience on Ramit Sethi’s podcast
Cognitive biases - loss aversion, sunk cost, maximization (optimizing) vs. satisficing
Having a hard time saying NO
Come support the show at Buy Me A Coffee. If you're like Doug & Dusti, we bet you'll have a hard time saying NO!
Carl will be attending CampFI Southwest in Julian, CA on October 6-9, 2023. For those interested in attending, use the coupon code JENSEN at checkout to save 10%. https://campfi.org/event/campfi-southwest-2023/
Links
ChooseFI Travel Rewards
Steven Keys (Trip of a Lifestyle) on The Doug Show
Carl & Mindy on Ramit Sethi’s podcast
Carl & Mindy behind the scenes on MHFI
Barry Schwartz, Paradox of Choice
Logan Ury, How to Not Die Alone
Derek Sivers, Hell Yeah or No
SideDish podcast
Connect with Dusti:
Instagram
Facebook
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
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 Introduction
7:23 Credit card points
19:24 Carl & Mindy & Ramit
26:27 Loss aversion
36:56 Sunk cost
38:55 Maximization
45:25 Just say NO
59:11 Soundcheck - Go-karting

Aug 22, 2023 • 1h 5min
Mailbag in Leadville | MHFI 177
Doug and Carl answer mailbag questions in this Taylor Swift-infused episode from Leadville, CO. Carl also announces the new Mile High FI Facebook group.
Does it ever get any easier to ride the market swings mentally?
How would you reallocate your investments if there were no tax implications?
What did Doug’s (and Carl’s) parents do right?
Do you wish you had taken a gap year or had a little more fun when you were young?
Experiences at CampFI?
Thoughts on imposter syndrome?
Do you love us as much as we love Taylor Swift? If so, head on over to Buy Me A Coffee to join other Swifties in supporting the show.
Carl will be attending CampFI Southwest in Julian, CA on October 6-9, 2023. For those interested in attending, use the coupon code JENSEN at checkout to save 10%. https://campfi.org/event/campfi-southwest-2023/
Links
Brian Feroldi
Mile High FI Facebook group
CampFI
NoCo Mustachians
FinTalks
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
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 Introduction
3:18 Taylor Swift
9:41 Market swings
17:34 Investment reallocation
23:50 Parental influence
27:42 Gap years
35:06 CampFI
44:45 Imposter syndrome
54:42 Calls to action
1:02:29 Soundcheck - Leadville

Aug 15, 2023 • 1h 11min
Mad Fientist on Evolution of FIRE: A Founder's Reflections | MHFI 176
Brandon, the Mad Fientist, has changed his view on FIRE and spending over the years. This is a rebroadcast of the interview from early 2022, and there is a new introduction in the first few minutes. Bradon has been on a bunch of podcasts in the last few months, and he's embracing spending.
So you might have heard Brandon on Choose FI, Bigger Pockets Money, or his own podcast talking to Ramit Sethi about spending more and trying to be less frugal. So it's cool to hear how he has changed his views over time.
- Carl and Brandon reminisce about their first meeting almost 10 years ago!
- Discovering JD Roth and FIRE
- Mad Fientist: new features coming soon to the FI Laboratory
- How to spend money or not (The Switzerland Incident)
- Michelin 3 star restaurants versus Taco Bell
- Where is the FIRE movement going?
- Why the Mad Fientist loves routines
- For the love of coding
Links
Mad Fientist - Financial Independence and Early Retirement
Mad Fientist's Music
Travel Credit Cards
Get Rich Slowly - Personal finance that makes sense
The Escape Artist
Mr. Money Mustache
--
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

Aug 15, 2023 • 48min
CampFI LIVE Week 1 | MHFI 175
Doug and Carl answer a potpourri of audience questions at CampFI Rocky Mountain with help from Becky Heptig (Catching up to FI) and Mark Trautman (Mark’s Money Mind).
Best place to invest money in today’s environment?
Best budget travel places?
How to find your niche in the podcast world?
What is a failure you experienced?
What caused dinosaurs to become extinct?
At what point in a relationship do you start having financial conversations?
What’s better - increasing income or decreasing expenses?
Who should pay for the first date?
How to date while FI?
What sets your podcast apart?
What do you wish for your podcast audience to do better?
How do you keep your podcast from becoming an echo chamber?
Best first credit card?
Who has experience with whole life insurance/infinite banking?
Where can I find a financially independent man/partner?
Withdrawal frequency with 4% rule?
What would you improve about the FI community?
What’s the craziest financial mistake you’ve seen someone make?
Best type of property to invest in?
What was the pivotal moment in your FI journey?
Is FI a fad or does it have staying power?
What is the best way to increase your rental income?
Adding children to parents’ insurance policy?
Do you have a question that you want answered? If so, you can email us or head over to Buy Me A Coffee where you can also support the show.
Links
CampFI
Catching up to FI
Mark’s Money Mind
Mr. Money Mustache
ChooseFI
Jacob Lund Fisker
Ramit Sethi
Econome
FI Freedom Retreat
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
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 Introduction
2:05 Budget travel
9:36 Finances in relationships & dating
16:00 Podcast questions
23:33 FI community improvements
30:53 Is FI a fad?
38:30 Mark’s fun bucket

Aug 8, 2023 • 1h 24min
"Revoke My FI Membership Card!" - Amberly Grant | MHFI 174
Doug and Amberly chat about key tenants of Financial Independence, shifts in the community over the years, and how each of them have “failed” in different FI-related areas (along with some successes). Amberly also shares details of an upcoming FI cruise!
Change in FI philosophy from a focus on saving to spending & living a fulfilling life.
Doug & Amberly’s FI failures: credit card points/travel rewards, budgeting & tracking expenses, 4% rule, optimizing contributions to retirement accounts, savings rate, frugality, whole life insurance, house hacking, college degrees, travel, buying a new home,
Success with mindful consumption
Amberly’s experience with CNBC & dealing with early retirement critics
Trying to maintain your FI Membership Card? One way to do this is by supporting us at Buy Me A Coffee. (Disclaimer: No actual membership card will be provided)
Links
Mad Fientist
ChooseFI Travel Rewards
The Fioneers
Mark’s Money Mind
Fincon
Amberly on CNBC
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
Connect with Amberly Grant!
AmberlyGrant.com
FinTalks
Instagram
Facebook
--
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 Introduction
1:56 FinTalks cruise
7:57 Shifts in the FIRE community
14:52 Failure #1: Travel rewards
22:42 Failure #2: Budgeting & expense tracking
35:38 Failure #3: 4% rule
38:37 Failure #4: Optimizing retirement contributions
46:15 Failure #5: Savings rate
48:25 Failure #6: Frugality
1:00:40 Misc failures & mindful consumption
1:09:35 Criticism of early retirement
1:18:20 Soundcheck - Hot sauce

Aug 1, 2023 • 58min
All the Hacks - Chris Hutchins | MHFI 173
Doug and Carl talk to Chris Hutchins about life hacks, optimization, and key takeaways/changes driven by the book “Die with Zero”. Chris also discusses his podcast “All the Hacks” and his plans to further evolve the brand.
Chris’s passion for digging deep into content that interests him
Taking “All the Hacks” from not only a podcast, but to a platform that builds community through a membership program (dubbed the “AAA for our generation")
Misconceptions about life hacks - looking for shortcuts vs. putting in the work for better outcomes
“Die with Zero” takeaways - maximizing life vs. net worth, time bucketing, providing inheritances before death
One of the best hacks is supporting Mile High FI. Come on over to Buy Me A Coffee to start optimizing your life today!
Links
Chris Hutchins:
All the Hacks
All the Hacks Membership
Bill Perkins episode
Arthur Brooks episode
Ramit Sethi
Tim Ferriss
Playing with Fire movie
Rich Roll, Why You Shouldn’t Hack Your Life
Bill Perkins, Die With Zero
Trust & Will
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
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 Introduction
1:49 Ramit Sethi
7:18 Building the podcast
14:34 Chris’s origin story
24:22 Optimization failures
33:24 “Die With Zero” takeaways
44:48 Estate planning
50:09 Chris’s favorite episode & hack

Jul 25, 2023 • 1h 14min
Time Bucketing vs Bucket Lists | MHFI 172
Inspired by the book Die With Zero, Doug and Dusti discuss buckets lists & time buckets and provide personal examples/goals from their own lives.
Definition of bucket lists and time buckets
Doug & Dusti’s backgrounds, life expectations, goals, and personal time buckets by decade.
Bucket planning - with a partner vs. alone, need for flexibility
Is supporting Mile High FI on your bucket list? If so, head on over to Buy Me A Coffee.
Links
Bill Perkins, Die With Zero
Stanford Definition of Bucket List
Business Insider Definition of Time Buckets
Peter Attia, Outlive
Leckerlee Cookies
Oliver Burkeman, Four Thousand Weeks
Thom Lafond
Connect with Dusti:
Instagram
Facebook
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
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 Introduction
7:01 Bucket lists
15:38 Time buckets
21:17 Doug & Dusti’s background/life expectations
34:14 Impact of activity & fitness
45:00 What’s in Doug & Dusti’s time buckets
55:43 Planning
1:06:35 Soundcheck - Dancing Doug

Jul 18, 2023 • 54min
Pursuing FI & Professional Identity Struggle | MHFI 171
Doug and Carl talk about a case study submitted by New Jersey Steve! It turns out that Steve is doing really well, but could still use some gentle nudges.
Steve’s money situation (he’s doing really well!)
Should Steve take the new job?
Identity and purpose after leaving work
Leaving money on the table
Do you love Mile High FI? Support us over at Buy Me A Coffee. It’s the right thing to do. Don’t wait, act now!
Links
Doc G’s book: Taking Stock
Nate Bargatze - Worst time traveler
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
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 Introduction
1:23 TV show recommendations
8:49 Steve’s questions & initial analysis
14:02 Identity crisis
24:54 Squandering opportunities
33:32 How to make a decision
38:05 Value of time vs. money
43:17 Final thoughts
48:56 Soundcheck - Egyptologist

Jul 11, 2023 • 58min
Doug the Stoic | MHFI 170
Carl was harassed by a YouTube troll. Now, he wants to know how to deal with insults. Doug is immune from criticism, so Carl asked him about his stoic ways.
Carl tells the story of the troll
Does Doug consider himself to be stoic?
You don’t matter
The traffic situation that makes Doug mad
Do you love Mile High FI? I hope so because we love you. We really do. Show us your love by supporting us: Buy Me A Coffee.
Links
Jocko podcast: Are the insults about you true?
Mr. Money Mustache on BiggerPockets Money
Derek Sivers
Doug’s site
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
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 Introduction
1:10 Whiskey
8:34 Doug’s Stoicism journey
15:16 Handling criticism
24:33 Letting go of stress & anxiety
32:46 External validation
39:27 Carl’s Stoic aspirations
44:33 Lowering stress by doing less
52:45 Soundcheck - Writer’s retreat
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