Being Happily Replaceable, Spreadsheet Poets, and Fertility Challenges with Emily McDermott – SASM 096
Who's got more rhymes than the Bible's got Psalms?
House of Pain claimed they did in their 1992 hit, Jump Around. But I'm betting that my guest for this episode – Emily McDermott – has more rhymes than they ever did (and better dance moves, too).
Emily's a fellow happy dancer and she started her simple-living journey in January 2015 with Leo Babauta’s Sea Change program. That led to The Minimalists’ book, Everything That Remains, which led her to searching for podcast episodes with Colin Wright (since he's prominently featured in the book), and then to a Google search for interviews with Colin.
My past Smart and Simple Matters episodes with Colin popped up and I'm a better person for having awesome listeners like Emily. More importantly, you're about to be a better person after listening to my chat with her.
She's the first of (hopefully) many regular listeners I'll feature because I know you have just as much to give as someone like Colin Wright.
For example, Emily shows her courage as we openly discuss her literal seeds of life alongside her figurative seeds of awesomeness. I know you're ready for some great stories, deep vulnerability, and a whole lot of quirkiness.
So press play, prepare to boogie, and enjoy this wonderful conversation!
You're about to Learn ...
- Why asking for help early prevents getting overwhelmed later.
- How having an accountability partner can change your life (even if you've never met).
- If happiness can come from making yourself replaceable at work.
- Why poets can benefit from spreadsheets as much as accountants.
- How Emily's “Rapper's Debate” became her professor's “Rapper's Delight.”
- Why the cliché – “if you don't do it then nobody will” – is often misguided.
- The wrong things to say to someone who just had their first miscarriage.
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Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode
Websites
- Simply Emmy
- Live Your Legend
- Families in Global Transition
Resources
- Sea Change Course
- The Continuous Creation Challenge
- Insight Timer App (for Meditation)
- Oprah and Deepak 21-Day Meditation Experience
- Getting Things Done
Books
- The Happiness Project
- Better Than Before
- Everything That Remains
- The More of Less (affiliate link)
Podcasts
Where to Find Emily Online
Direct Download for This Episode
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Timestamps and Topics
- [07:16] Emily's seeds of awesomeness
- [12:58] The origins of Emily's simple-living journey
- [17:19] The nature of accountability and not letting others down
- [19:57] How to say no to the non-essential
- [24:59] How Emily turned a poem into her first children's book, Little One
- [28:57] Emily's story of infertility and her decision to let go of expectations
- [38:27] The differences between a meditation and prayer practice
- [42:21] Generosity, generosity, and more generosity
- [43:59] How crazy is Joel?
- [48:34] How to connect with Emily
Extra Gratitude and Special Mentions
Here's an extra dose of love to Benni in Germany who recently left me a wonderful iTunes review. He said:
“Joel's episodes are always interesting, inspiring, and very entertaining. The conversations are diverse and he facilitates them in fun ways. If you want to lead a minimalist life, I highly recommend Smart and Simple Matters!”
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Whoop, dance party! Totally seeing you in my head with glow sticks rocking it out. 🙂
It will definitely take some getting used to, but my vote for your new intro music is door number one. Now, back to the interview. The write up sounds fabulous and I’m really looking forward to this one Joel. Thank you!
I prefer my dance parties without glow sticks, but I’m not that that picky. Thanks for the vote Rox and for being open to me changing things up around here!
I prefer #2! Thanks again for the great chat.