Episode 444: What a Slow Summer Taught Me About Money & Life

Hey Journeyers! I’m back on the mic after taking the summer off. In this solo episode, I’m reflecting on what it means to truly live financial freedom, not just chase it. Over the last few months, I’ve stepped back from hustle mode to embrace rest, family time, and the flexible lifestyle I’ve worked so hard to create. I’m sharing candid updates about my summer sabbatical, how I balance business with family life, and the lessons I’ve learned about honoring the season you’re in. From budgeting less rigidly to leaning into the “commander stage” of financial independence, I talk about the power of preparation, setting boundaries, and redefining productivity. This isn’t an episode packed with hard financial tips, but it’s full of observations, encouragement, and reminders to honor where you are on your own journey. In this episode I share: ✨ Why I intentionally take summers off and how I plan for it ✨ The freedom (and challenges) of embracing slower, less productive seasons ✨ How I budget and set up my finances to allow for sabbaticals ✨ The importance of knowing your current “Journeyer Stage” ✨ Lessons on comparison, privilege, and building financial flexibility ✨ My reflections on what’s next for Journey to Launch Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!  Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide  

This week on the Journey to Launch podcast, I’m welcoming back Jillian Johnsrud, author of Retire Often, to share how you can intentionally step away from work every few years, giving yourself the space to recharge, explore new possibilities, and create meaningful memories. Jillian has taken more than a dozen “mini retirements,” allowing her to live abroad, travel to 27 countries, adopt and raise six kids, invest in real estate, and pursue personal passions all without waiting until traditional retirement age. In this conversation, we dive into how you can design your own cycle of work and rest, why taking extended breaks doesn’t derail your finances (and may even accelerate your career), and how to navigate the emotional and practical challenges of stepping away from work. In this episode you’ll learn: What “retiring often” means and how mini retirements differ from vacations How to financially plan and budget for sabbaticals—even with debt Strategies for negotiating time off, re-entering the workforce, and handling family or personal expectations Tools and frameworks to help both employees and entrepreneurs rest, recharge, and avoid burnout Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out Retire Often, by Jillian Johnsrud Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!  Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Jillian: JillianJohnsrud.com Instagram:@JillianJohnsrud Facebook.com:@jillian.johnsrud Twitter.com:@JillianJohnsrud Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Vanessa Van Edwards, a best-selling author and behavioral researcher on professional communication and leadership, joins the Journey To Launch podcast to discuss science-based communication insights and give actionable social skills tips to advance your career, relationships, and overall life. We also chat about navigating stereotyping and biases , the importance of making definitive decisions about personal connections, leveraging cues to shape perception, and more. More than 50 million people have seen Vanessa on YouTube and in her viral TED Talk. She has been featured in Entrepreneur, CNN, CBS, and more. Her book, “Captivate: The Science of Succeeding With People,” has been translated into 17+ languages and her latest book, “Cues: Master The Secret Language of Charismatic Communication," was an instant best seller.  In this episode you’ll also learn more about: Actionable posture tips and desk setups to optimize how others perceive you How to recognize if you have weaker people skills and what you can do to improve them  Why we should go into interactions wondering how we can like the other person more The Halo Effect, the definition of a “sticky person,” why charisma is just as important as a lucrative idea + more Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic How to Win Friends & Influence People A Model of (Often Mixed) Stereotype Content: Competence Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!  Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Vanessa: ScienceOfPeople.com Instagram:@VVanEdwards Facebook.com:@VVanEdwards Twitter.com:@ScienceOfPeople Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Christine Platt, author of ‘'The Afrominimalist Guide To Living With Less,’ and pioneer behind The Afrominimalist, joins the podcast to talk about how she’s carving out space for BIPOC within the minimalist movement. We discuss her journey towards living with less and how she outlines the differences for historically marginalized communities, which radically change the movement and minimalist community. Inclusion and representation matter, and this episode demonstrates the importance of recognizing this fact and celebrating these leaps forward within the minimalist movement. In This Episode You’ll Learn: How minimalism is different for BIPOC Where Christine started on her minimalist journey Why minimalism isn’t living with less, it’s living with intention How you can have luxury and also live with less + more  Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Grab Christine Platt's book here.  Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!  Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Christine Platt: Facebook:@Christine.P.Patrick.1  Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Author, podcaster and entrepreneur, Charlie Gilkey, joins the podcast to shed light on what it really means to make the most out of your time and hone in on what you should focus your attention on. Charlie is founder of Productive Flourishing, a website that helps creatives, leaders, and entrepreneurs start finishing the stuff that matters. He's written several books, including an award-winning book, “Start Finishing: How to Go From Idea to Done,” and has been featured in Time, the Washington Post, the New York Times and more. We talk about the four different blocks of time, the reality and advantages of not doing “it all,” how to manage time as a neurodivergent identifying person, getting back control over our priorities and rebelling against rigid schedules.  In this episode, we discuss: Why attention is actually more valuable than time The difference between freedom from and freedom to How to implement the rule “No more than five active projects per time perspective.” Acceptable loss, honoring your priorities, headtrash + centering yourself  Avoiding the slippery slope of putting too much time, energy and attention on the economic and career projects in our lives + more Other Links Mentioned in episode: Read Charlie's Book: Start Finishing: How to Go From Idea to Done Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!  Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Charlie: Website Twitter: @CharlieGilkey  Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

George Kinder is an author, international thought leader, and founder of Kinder Institute of Life Planning with more than 35 years of experience as a financial planner and tax advisor. George is dedicated to guiding individuals in uncovering their deepest values and leading more fulfilling lives. His ultimate aim is to promote greater freedom in every aspect of existence. In this conversation we discuss:  The importance of living in the present moment and mastering one's life. George’s three questions to help identify goals and priorities and how the answer to the "having 24 hrs left" question helps you realize what you’ve missed in life.  The balance between short-term pleasure and long-term financial planning.  How to find a trust-worthy financial planner who will help with your life plan George’s approach to parenting is being a good listener & showing empathy, rather than being overly restrictive or reactive + more! Watch this episode on YouTube below or by clicking here. Other Links Mentioned in episode: Get George's book, The Three Domains of Freedom Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!  Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with George: Website: https://KinderInstitute.com Website: https://www.GeorgeKinder.com Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide  

Nedra Glover Tawwab, licensed therapist, New York Times bestselling author, and relationship expert, joins the podcast to discuss what boundaries are and how to cultivate healthy ones in our own lives. We chat about her social media stardom, with her over 1M followers, her entrepreneur path, and how boundaries give you the freedom you’re looking for in your personal, professional, and financial life.  In this episode we discuss: Navigating codependency + toxic cultural expectations What boundaries are and why you need to practice setting them The power of saying no + when it’s appropriate to give an explanation How Nedra’s 1M+ social media following allowed her to pivot to authorship The importance of identifying your values so you can more easily identify what your boundaries need to be + more Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Nedratawwab.com/set-boundaries-find-peace Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!  Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here. Connect with Nedra: Website Instagram:@NedraTawwab Twitter:@NedraTawwab Facebook: @NedraTawwab Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

This week on the Journey to Launch Podcast, I’m joined by Karen Salmansohn, bestselling author, behavioral change expert, and creator of “Your To-Die-For Life: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret Before Your Time Runs Out.” With over 2 million books sold, Karen brings a bold mix of research-based psychology and humor to help us snap out of autopilot and live with more intention. We dive into the powerful idea that mortality awareness isn't morbid, it's motivating. Karen introduces the concept of a "near-life experience" and how many of us are living life adjacent, not fully present. We also explore the connection between core values, money, happiness, and how to design your life with fewer regrets. In this episode we discuss: Core values that prevent future regret and help guide daily decisions How identity shapes habits and long-term financial wellness The difference between fleeting pleasure and deep fulfillment Why growth, curiosity, and authenticity matter more than productivity Strategies to discover your high-level purpose—even if you don’t know it yet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out Karen's book: Your To-Die-For Life Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!  Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Karen: Website Instagram:@NotSalmon Twitter:@NotSalmon Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Nick Maggiulli, bestselling author of Just Keep Buying and The Wealth Ladder, returns to the Journey to Launch podcast to share practical, data-driven insights for building wealth at any stage of life. In this conversation, Nick breaks down the six stages of financial progress using his new "Wealth Ladder" framework, explaining how to make smarter decisions with your money based on where you are on the ladder. From tackling low net worth to scaling into the millionaire range, Nick offers real talk on income, spending, and the mindset needed to grow wealth over time without sacrificing your life in the process. We also touch on work-life balance, the myth of overnight success, and why increasing your income is often more important than extreme frugality. In this episode, you’ll learn: The six levels of the Wealth Ladder and how to figure out where you are The “0.01% rule” and how to spend guilt-free based on your liquid net worth Why income is the biggest driver of wealth and how to grow it What most wealthy people do differently  How Nick balances full-time work, writing, and life and what he plans to change after marriage and starting a family Why it's more impactful to "give now, not later" when supporting your loved ones Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out Nick's book: The Wealth Ladder: Proven Strategies For Every Step of Your Financial Life Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!  Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Nick: Website Instagram: @NickMaggiulli Twitter: @DollarsAndData Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Jason Vitug, award-winning, best-selling author, speaker and entrepreneur joins the Journey to Launch podcast to discuss why money is a path to happiness, but it doesn’t embody it. Jason, once a corporate ladder climber, found himself stressed out, burnt-out and living a life he was no longer aligned with. Through trial and error… and rest, Jason discovered the intrinsic connection between mental health and money and how people can move forward to a healthier, happier path on their financial freedom journeys.  In this episode, we also discuss: Quiet Quitting: what it is, why you need an exit plan and taking advantage of ALL your work perks What happiness dimensions are, why you need to implement them in your day-to-day life + actionable steps to make that happen TODAY The reality of knowing yourself and what makes you happy outside of a financial number or achievement  Why we need mental breaks, buying happiness by spending on wellness, stepping off the hamster wheel + more Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out Jason's book: Happy Money Happy Life: A Multidimensional Approach to Health, Wealth, and Financial Freedom Small Steps To Reach Big Dreams + Going From An Observer To Main Player In Your Life Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!  Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Jason: Website Instagram:@Phroogal Twitter:@JasonVitug Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide