The Smart and Simple Matters Podcast
Welcome to the Smart and Simple Matters podcast – a consistently popular show with 100,000s of downloads.
I (Joel) use SASM to explore the slower side of life, creating fun and meaning via bringing people together, and intentional living (among other things).
For example, I feature interviews about meditation with TED Talk hot-shots like Andy Puddicombe, community and belonging with experts like Cormac Russell, or death and dying with dynamos like Humaira Hamid.
But I'm just as passionate about chatting with normal folks like you and me or going solo on community-building and relationships.
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Most Popular or Influential Episodes by Category
Mindfulness
Simple-Living
“I love that Joel leads with his heart. He cares about people first, which makes everything he does so meaningful in his work and for his community.”
Courtney CarverMinimalism
“Joel's generous, selfless, and has a bold desire to see everyone around him thrive.”
Joshua Becker
Finances
Just Joel
Miscellaneous
Positive Addictions and UNdefining Yourself with Sarah Peck – SASM 033
How to Erase Global Poverty with Tiny Teaspoons of Change (via d’Arcy Lunn) – SASM 064
Rewilding, Sovereignty, and the Heart of Domestication with Daniel Vitalis – SASM 109
Death Literacy, Enoughness, and Why Life Is Long with Humaira Hamid (#CCODD) – SASM 114
Archive (Newest First)
Facilitation in Small Groups: How to Have More Influence and Action with Less Stress and Conflict – SASM 130
This special solo episode features how to kick start any conversation, keep it humming, and leave people buzzing. Plus, how to have influence without the need for power or control and the key qualities of great facilitators.
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read moreHow to Be Human and Our 9 Core Needs with Ry Edwards – SASM 129
This episode features Ry Edwards to explore the nine core human needs that govern everything in life, simple questions that will help you understand why you do what you do, and why love is helping others meet their core human needs.
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read moreMy 12 Favorite Podcast Episodes Ever – SASM 128
This special solo episode features what wins the water wars: distilled, reverse osmosis, tap, or spring water. Plus why your light environment is more important than food, exercise, and sleep. AND how grief is culturally learned and when empathy isn’t serving anyone.
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read moreHow to Ask Better Community Questions: It’s as Easy as ABCD with Cormac Russell – SASM 127
This episode features Cormac Russell to explore why our unexpressed gifts can do tremendous harm, how an institutionalized five-year-old changed his life direction, and why community makes a better verb than a noun.
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read moreDear Isolated, Detached, and Helpless Individual – SASM 126
This special solo episode features what the loneliness industry is rubbing your nose in (often successfully), some eye-opening stats about how much our isolation costs us, and what the President of the Rugged Individualists Society needs you to know.
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read moreHow the Modern Simplicity Movement Thrives with Dan Hayes – SASM 125
This episode features Dan Hayes on how to be a strong believer without an organized belief system, why a walk can be better for your head than your body, how the origins of our modern simplicity movement started with the Industrial Revolution, and how Dan and his wife lived in 40 square feet for seven months.
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read moreFull Life Integration, Non-Negotiables, and Your Powerful Lens with Kristoffer “KC” Carter – SASM 123
This episode features Kristoffer “KC” Carter on which sacred life ingredients are needed for full life integration, why self-care is about consistency – not duration, and why the numbers 1:5:10 are so meaningful.
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read moreHow to Give a Great Hug – SASM 122
This special solo episode features the subtle similarities and wild differences in how cultures greet each other, how to telegraph your hugging intentions to help your fellow huggers, how long your hug should last (and how to relax into it), plus much more.
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read more4 “C”s That Make Sustainability Possible with Ma’ikwe Ludwig – SASM 121
This episode features Ma’ikwe Ludwig on how Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage happily uses 90% less resources than the average American, how competing cultures and classes can mix in beautiful ways, and why the economics, equality, or sustainability of resource-sharing works so well in intentional communities.
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read moreDelight is Right in Your Hands with Annie Raser-Rowland – SASM 120
This episode features Annie Raser-Rowland on how a frugal lifestyle can be the highest form of luxury, how to own your pleasure-seeking urges without paying for it, and what lesser known pollution may be doing to you.
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read moreLooking for Something Specific?
Me, Briefly
I bring together diverse communities, podcast about smart and simple matters, and get you excited about spreadsheets. Let's explore how to live intentionally, embrace our multipotentiality, build authentic relationships, and have tons of gratitude. No prior experience is required.