David Smart 
My obsession with podcasts began years ago. April 2014 to be exact. Sunlight poured over the windowsill as the sizzling smells of spinach eggs filled the kitchen. I was a devout follower of Tim Ferriss’ blog, a start-up and self-help guru, and mid-cooking had just been given the news of his newest endeavor—Tim was starting a podcast. What’s a … Read more
I was once afraid to own material things. I feared that accumulating possessions would clutter and distract me from what’s truly important in my life. So I got rid of nearly everything I owned until it fit inside a backpack. This worked great for a nomadic lifestyle, but as I find myself transitioning into a … Read more
The whistle’s blow pierces the cool spring air as we return to the field for the second half of play. Darkness shrouds everything beyond the bright tower lights surrounding the field’s perimeter. Everything is hushed because there is no good reason for any audience to attend a co-ed soccer team’s rec league game. Tired but … Read more
My Minimalism Story After college, I lived in an office room. My bed filled nearly the entire space and since there wasn’t any left for a closet, my clothes hung from a rack at the foot of my bed. This we called my external closet. Despite my cramped living quarters, my tiny room gave me … Read more
Here’s a list of the best books I’ve read. These books have played a large part in my personal development, inner journey, and path to self-actualization. I’ve curated this running list of the most influential books I’ve read on this journey. Each of these books gave me answers to life without me even knowing I … Read more
When I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2015, I learned first-hand the importance of signs and maps. I relied on these references to guide me toward my goal and to stay informed on whether or not I was on the right track. Unfortunately, when the hike ended, so too did the maps. Such is … Read more
When I set out to write my first book, I started reading a lot—more so than ever before. As I read, I began to resonate deeply with authors like Hesse, McCarthy and Murakami. They knew how to pull at my heartstrings, and I felt that their words held so much wisdom, even I knew if … Read more
In ancient times, having power meant having access to information. Today, having power means knowing what to ignore. —Yuval Noah Harari THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTENTION My experience with attention is that it’s my most valuable resource. It’s even more valuable than my time because the quality of my time depends on the quality of my … Read more
Part I: Started From the Bottom When I first landed in Austin, TX, I pursued my passion for writing, but it didn’t pay anything. I earned my living thanks to random gigs and freelance jobs, but the search for each individual project was time-consuming and draining me of all emotional energy to even think about … Read more
Like many kids in the West, my parents placed me into Sunday School at a young age where the Church taught me Bible stories. I never resonated with the Church’s teachings on the text and my disinterest grew into skepticism as I aged. I understood the importance and value of messages like “treat others as … Read more