The Smart and Simple Matters Podcast
My Smart and Simple Matters podcast explores the slower, simpler side of life: think mindfulness, real connections, and meaningful conversations.
No new episodes since 2019, but it’s still going strong with chats on meditation (hi, Andy Puddicombe), belonging (hey, Cormac Russell), and even death (yep, with Humaira Hamid) … among many other topics.
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Joel Zaslofsky – your community-animating, convention-challenging show host – wanders through time-tested and quirky strategies on a variety of topics. In general, we’ll explore the slower side of life: think mindfulness, real connections, and meaningful conversations. No new episodes since 2019, but it’s still going strong with chats on meditation (hi, Andy Puddicombe), belonging (hey, Cormac Russell), and even death (yep, with Humaira Hamid) … among many other things.
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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.”
Minimalism
“Joel's generous, selfless, and has a bold desire to see everyone around him thrive.”
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)
How 55 People Got Simple, Became Friends, and Owned Huggr (SimpleREV 2014 Part 1) – SASM 059
This episode takes you behind-the-scenes of SimpleREV 2014 from an event organizer's unique perspective. Discover how 264 Post It Notes, three specific questions, a two-day bootstrapped event, and Huggr can help you be more simple and build community.
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How to Be a Giving Tree – SASM 058
This episode features Joel channeling raw emotion into ways that you can be your own giving tree. Abundance is everywhere … regardless of whether or not you've been inspired by Shel Silverstein's book, The Giving Tree. Here's how you can spread it.
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How to Get the Big Tiny House Life with Dee Williams – SASM 057
This episode features Dee Williams discussing the “bigness” of tiny house life, the profound freedom she's found by downsizing, what a “perfect storm of awakening” looks like, and how she reshaped her life by confronting death (over and over).
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3 Simple Tools to Unstuff Your Life with Andrew Mellen – SASM 056
This episode features Andrew Mellen discussing the three simple rules of Unstuff Your Life, removing your physical obstacles to sustainable joy, using organizing to connect with what matters most to you, and the “stuff behind the stuff.”
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4 “C”s of Gross National Happiness and Study Circles with Cecile Andrews – SASM 055
This episode features Cecile Andrews as we discuss a move toward Gross National Happiness, the crossroads of simplicity and study circles, how you can have a joyful community, plus how to live a slow and examined life.
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Why World Domination Summit Has More Magic than 100 Unicorns (#WDS2014 Recap) – SASM054
This episode features Joel Zaslofsky's curated recap of World Domination Summit 2014 (#WDS2014). Are you ready for surprising stories about “The Strider,” why you need to learn the value of Ho'oponopono, and how imperfect action leads to amazing opportunity? Just press play.
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The Collision of Tech and (Human) Nature with Robert Scoble – SASM053
This episode features Robert Scoble as we discuss the culture around self-driving cars, how he actively follows 40,000 people on Twitter, if tech can help us slow down, and Facebook's attempt to addict us.
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SASM 052 – Why Simple is So Complex with Duane Elgin, Vicki Robin, John de Graaf, Cecile Andrews, and Jerome Segal
This episode features Vicki Robin, Duane Elgin, John de Graaf, Cecile Andrews, and Jerome Segal discussing the nature of simple living and whether we should embrace simplicity … or complexity. It's five former or current simple living all-stars at once, all lined up just for you.
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SASM 051 – Collaborative Consumption: How to Tap Idle Time and Resources with Lauren Anderson
This episode features Lauren Anderson as we discuss Collaborative Consumption, what an economy is for, how to tap into your idle time and skills (even if they're crazy), and why you want to live in a “sharable city.”
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SASM 050 – A Curated Recap of Episodes 1-49
This episode features Joel Zaslofsky giving a curated recap of the first 49 Smart and Simple Matters episodes. Hold on to your hats (and headphones)!
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Me, Briefly
I bring diverse communities together and (maybe) 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 necessary.