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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Archive (Newest First)

Facilitation in Small Groups: How to Have More Influence and Action with Less Stress and Conflict – SASM 130

Apr 17, 2019

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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How to Be Human and Our 9 Core Needs with Ry Edwards – SASM 129

Sep 27, 2018

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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My 12 Favorite Podcast Episodes Ever – SASM 128

Jun 20, 2018

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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How to Ask Better Community Questions: It’s as Easy as ABCD with Cormac Russell – SASM 127

May 31, 2018

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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Dear Isolated, Detached, and Helpless Individual – SASM 126

Mar 22, 2018

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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How the Modern Simplicity Movement Thrives with Dan Hayes – SASM 125

Feb 27, 2018

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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Full Life Integration, Non-Negotiables, and Your Powerful Lens with Kristoffer “KC” Carter – SASM 123

Dec 6, 2017

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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How to Give a Great Hug – SASM 122

Nov 6, 2017

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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4 “C”s That Make Sustainability Possible with Ma’ikwe Ludwig – SASM 121

Oct 23, 2017

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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Delight is Right in Your Hands with Annie Raser-Rowland – SASM 120

Oct 9, 2017

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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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, share our gifts, build authentic relationships, and have tons of gratitude. No prior experience is required.

The Smart and Simple Matters Podcast

Hear for Yourself

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Archive (Newest First)

Facilitation in Small Groups: How to Have More Influence and Action with Less Stress and Conflict – SASM 130

How to Be Human and Our 9 Core Needs with Ry Edwards – SASM 129

My 12 Favorite Podcast Episodes Ever – SASM 128

How to Ask Better Community Questions: It’s as Easy as ABCD with Cormac Russell – SASM 127

Dear Isolated, Detached, and Helpless Individual – SASM 126

How the Modern Simplicity Movement Thrives with Dan Hayes – SASM 125

Full Life Integration, Non-Negotiables, and Your Powerful Lens with Kristoffer “KC” Carter – SASM 123

How to Give a Great Hug – SASM 122

Delight is Right in Your Hands with Annie Raser-Rowland – SASM 120