Mile High FI Podcast

Carl Jensen & Doug Cunnington

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.

  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    Is Retirement Overrated? [rebroadcast] | MHFI 307

    Doug chats with Carl about finding purpose in life.  They discuss the benefits of preparing for retirement by building a rich life outside of work, taking sabbaticals, and conducting small experiments to explore new hobbies and interests.  They also talk about the importance of community, the idea of redefining success, achieving flow state, and finding meaningful ways to spend one’s time while maintaining good mental and physical health.

    Note: This is a rebroadcast of MHFI episode 268

    Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

    Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

    Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

    Links

    —

    Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

    Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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

    Email the show: [email protected]

    0:00 Introduction

    5:34 What FIRE life looks like

    13:35 Is retirement overrated?

    22:09 Relationship with work

    28:24 Seeking validation

    34:58 Challenging the corporate ladder

    40:31 Setting up for a successful retirement

    46:57 Redefining success & finding flow

    54:41 Leveraging community & taking action

    17 February 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 55 minutes 44 seconds
    Is The FIRE Community Completely Wrong About Financial Advisors? | MHFI 306

    Doug and Producer Chris chat about a very controversial topic in the FIRE community – working with a financial advisor.  They explore the reasons someone might or might not want to work with an advisor, discussing common pitfalls like high fees & hidden motivations, while emphasizing the benefits of getting an outside perspective & professional guidance, especially in areas like decumulation and complex financial situations.

    Did this episode motivate you to seek professional financial help?  If so, check out our friends at Nectarine, where you ONLY pay for investing & planning advice.  Advisors don’t manage your money, sell products, or earn commissions.  *Affiliate link below, so if you do work with Nectarine, we might earn a commission. https://milehighfi.com/nectarine

    Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

    Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

    Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

    Links

    —

    Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

    Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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

    Email the show: [email protected]

    0:00 Introduction

    4:35 Insurance agents

    9:24 The problem with fees

    15:21 The downsides of DIY

    19:57 Identifying blindspots

    27:58 Dealing with complex situations

    33:20 Actually working with an advisor

    38:23 The importance of professional help

    43:20 Mindset & spending in retirement

    50:03 Soundcheck – Kitchen gadgets

    10 February 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 57 minutes 22 seconds
    Mr. Money Mustache Explores Pop Culture Through the Lens of FIRE | MHFI 305

    Doug chats with Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache) and Rusty about prominent themes related to Financial Independence found in popular movies & TV shows.  They delve into iconic films such as “The Matrix”, “Office Space”, and “Fight Club”, extracting key FIRE principles such as anti-consumerism, the quest for personal freedom, and breaking away from traditional corporate paths.

    Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

    Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

    Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

    Links

    —

    Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

    Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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

    Email the show: [email protected]

    0:00 Introduction

    3:24 The Matrix

    10:44 Office Space

    17:50 Parenting & keeping busy in retirement

    26:58 Corporate

    31:32 Fight Club

    36:52 Reacher

    42:21 Local Hero

    48:33 FIRE backlash (teaser)

    54:39 Soundcheck – Early retirement

    3 February 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 1 hour 15 minutes
    Food & Cooking!! | MHFI 304

    Doug chats with Rusty about one of their mutual passions: food and cooking.  They each explore their food “origin stories”, discussing childhood memories and the evolution of their culinary interests.  They touch on how food plays a significant role in their lives and walk through various food-related topics including favorite recipes, cooking styles, and essential kitchen equipment.  They also discuss how cooking can be a meditative process, how food can help build community, and how it all relates to FI.

    Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

    Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

    Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

    Links

    —

    Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

    Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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

    Email the show: [email protected]

    0:00 Introduction

    1:31 Gourmet sandwiches & chili

    9:13 Food origin stories

    18:59 Cost of food vs. FI

    25:07 Leftovers & meal-planning

    31:03 Community & mindfulness in cooking

    41:24 Recipes & exploring YouTube for inspiration

    50:28 Essential kitchen equipment

    57:36 Experimenting with eating out

    1:06:12 Soundcheck – DIY guitar projects

    27 January 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    Renovation vs. Rebuild - Carl is Building a New House | MHFI 303

    Doug chats with Carl & Rusty about each of their adventures with housing projects and renovations.  Carl details his current project of tearing down a “Frank Lloyd Wrong house” and building one from scratch while sharing insights into his motivations, costs, and specific financing strategies.  Rusty shares his experience renovating two homes and the strategic use of a line of credit.  Additionally, they delve into considerations of downsizing and the potential of owning second homes.

    Does “MHFI After Dark” sound intriguing?  Yeah, we thought so.  Come check out exclusive new content here: https://milehighfi.com/onlyfans

    Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

    Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

    Links

    —

    Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

    Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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

    Email the show: [email protected]

    0:00 Introduction

    1:31 Carl’s home building journey

    8:10 Unique systems & building challenges

    15:41 Financing with the Buy, Borrow, Die Strategy

    24:09 Rusty’s renovation stories

    30:25 Balancing joy & investment

    38:58 Downsizing dilemmas

    44:03 Different places in different stages of life

    51:46 Second homes

    59:24 Soundcheck – Taco Bell

    20 January 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 1 hour 21 minutes
    A Slacker’s Guide to 12 Years of Early Retirement - Kevin Sebesta | MHFI 302

    Doug chats with Kevin Sebesta, a self-proclaimed “high-achieving slacker”, about lessons learned from 12 years of early retirement.  Kevin discusses the importance of building a supportive community, how living child-free influences lifestyle choices, the concept of a “Fun Bucket” for guilt-free spending, the balance between optimizing finances & enjoying life, and how curiosity drives his fulfilling retirement.

    Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

    Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

    Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

    Links

    —

    Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

    Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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

    Email the show: [email protected]

    0:00 Introduction

    1:05 Journey to FI & travel adventures

    7:28 Building community in retirement

    12:30 Finding a FI family

    18:02 Child-free lifestyle & estate planning

    29:44 The Fun Bucket

    36:41 Die With Zero & time bucketing

    42:20 You are who you are

    50:05 Adjustments in retirement

    59:16 Ability of time & curiosity

    1:06:40 Optimizing finances in retirement

    1:14:06 Soundcheck – Marshall amps

    13 January 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 1 hour 17 minutes
    The Search for Community & Identity in Early Retirement - Rebecca Herbst | MHFI 301

    Doug chats with Rebecca Herbst about her post-FI life including challenges of finding community & the right place to live, experimenting with increased spending, the mental shift from a scarcity to an abundance mindset, and the complexities of personal identity after leaving a career.  Rebecca also discusses her work with Yield and Spread, a nonprofit promoting generosity in the personal finance community including a call to action and The FI-lanthropy Pledge.

    Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

    Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

    Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

    Links

    —

    Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

    Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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

    0:00 Introduction

    3:10 Search for a post-FI home

    11:23 Experimenting with increased spending

    21:04 The role of financial advisors

    29:21 Rebecca’s path to FI & bold career moves

    37:43 Longmont vs. Salt Lake City showdown

    46:12 Finding chemistry & community in Utah

    52:52 Housing & lifestyle choices

    1:00:59 Transitioning from career to early retirement

    1:09:30 Laziness, productivity, & digital minimalism

    6 January 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Unwinding Frugality and a Shift to Spending More - Kristen Knapp | MHFI 300

    Doug chats with Kristen Knapp (FI Friends Travel) about the challenges of unwinding deep-seated frugal habits and learning to spend at the “right level” after achieving FI.  Inspired by a recent blog post from the Mad Fientist, Doug & Kristen explore the nuances of maintaining a balance between saving & spending and discuss why many people struggle to actually spend money once they hit their financial goals.  They also emphasize the importance of spending on what brings joy and the necessary shift in mindset that’s required to enjoy financial freedom without guilt.

    Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

    Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

    Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

    Links

    —

    Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

    Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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

    Email the show: [email protected]

    0:00 Introduction

    2:19 Frugality

    9:02 Spending after FI

    16:43 Reframing expenses

    24:41 FI Friends Travel

    31:44 Award travel using points

    37:05 The Fun Fund

    44:18 Balancing present & future spending

    51:25 Shared experiences

    55:39 Soundcheck – Winter weather

    30 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 58 minutes 3 seconds
    From $150K Failure to Financial Independence - Nik Johnson | MHFI 299

    Doug chats with Nik Johnson (Everyday Money Heroes) about his journey to Financial Independence and retiring early.  He discusses an early passion for personal finance, how he discovered FI during the pandemic, the value of being part of a community, and the importance of a supportive spouse.  Nik describes his post-retirement life emphasizing a commitment to community service & financial literacy.  And excitingly he also describes what it’s like to be featured on national television (CBS Sunday Morning).

    Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

    Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

    Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

    Links

    —

    Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

    Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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

    Email the show: [email protected]

    0:00 Introduction

    0:57 CBS Sunday Morning experience

    7:48 Discovering FI & building community

    15:15 Career & financial journey

    23:52 CENT & achieving FI

    29:58 Quitting work & emotional impact

    38:53 Changes in expenses & spending in retirement

    45:26 Everyday Money Heroes

    52:33 Soundcheck – CampFI

    23 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 1 hour 17 minutes
    Living Better Through Philosophy & Ethics - Rusty | MHFI 298

    Doug chats with Rusty about an intense neighborhood dispute involving prairie dog conservation, highlighting how ethical frameworks and philosophical approaches can guide community decisions.  Doug shares his experience working through this issue while emphasizing the importance of patience, humor, and effective communication in resolving disputes.  Rusty provides additional philosophical and ethical considerations while touching upon related communication strategies & improved community engagement.

    Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

    Interested in a pair of Xero shoes so that you can be just like Doug & Rusty?  Check them out here: https://milehighfi.com/shoe

    Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

    Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

    Links

    —

    Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

    Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & 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

    Email the show: [email protected]

    0:00 Introduction

    1:53 Philosophy & ethics background

    7:27 The prairie dog situation

    14:27 Exploring people’s intentions

    23:17 Levelheadedness

    29:17 3 main schools of ethics

    36:20 Contractualism

    41:45 The Trolley Problem

    46:12 Aristotle’s 12 virtues

    54:18 Stoicism & communication

    58:28 Philosophy & ethics resources

    1:04:19 Prairie dog outcome

    1:09:01 Soundcheck – Shoes

    16 December 2025, 2:00 pm
  • 20 minutes 35 seconds
    Perfect Day + Support the Pod [bonus]

    Please support the show if you like it! I play a couple of highlights from Mad Fientist and Mr. Money Mustache after my pitch.

    Mile High FI stats and a correction:

    Spotify is 28% of the audience, so that’s grown in 2025 and higher than I said in this episode.

    If you extrapolate the Spotify year end review data to the total downloads, here is what you get…

    Mile High FI is a:

    • Top 5 podcast for about 5,000 people!
    • #1 podcast for about 740 people!

    I don’t have ads anymore so I want to cover production costs. Most of the costs are related to software and tools and hosting. Many other podcasts have sucky ads every 15 minutes. I don’t want to do that.

    Producer Chris volunteers to edit and produce the show. We’re not trying to get rich doing the show, but it takes a lot of time, effort, and planning.

    You can donate via Buy Me a Coffee. You get extra content and know that you’re making the show possible

    You can also check out the affiliate offers here, which are products that I recommend. Mile High FI usually gets a small percentage, say 1% to 15%, depending on the arrangement. It helps, but direct donations are the best.

     

    11 December 2025, 7:19 pm
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