Joshua Fields Millburn

Joshua Fields Millburn, along with his life-long friend, Ryan Nicodemus, is one-half of the simple-living duo, The Minimalists. The two help their 20 million readers live more intentional lives with less through their website, books, podcast, and documentary film. Millburn grew up in Lebanon, Ohio. He was raised in poverty by a single, alcoholic mother. Millburn recalls, however, "When she was sober, she was a fantastic mom." Upon graduation from high school, Millburn accepted a position with a local telecommunications company and began climbing the corporate ladder. In 2009, driven by dissatisfaction with a life centered on compulsory consumption and professional achievement solely for the sake of wealth, and further disillusioned by the deaths of his mother and his marriage, Millburn began seeking answers to leading a more fulfilling life. As he searched online, he discovered other disillusioned folks who had discovered the philosophy of minimalism and were now living much more fulfilling, satisfying lives. He began integrating the practices of minimalism into his own life, and he discovered those practices were helping him live more happily and intentionally, too. Recognizing his friend was also drowning in discontent, Millburn shared the best practices of minimalism with Nicodemus so he could realize the same benefits. In December 2010, Millburn and Nicodemus decided to share their stories of how the practices of minimalism had transformed their lives. It was then that the friends launched their website, The Minimalists. Between 2010 and 2015, Millburn and Nicodemus released three books about living more intentionally with less: Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life, Everything That Remains, and Essential: Essays by The Minimalists. In January 2016, Millburn and Nicodemus launched their top-rated podcast, The Minimalists Podcast. In May 2016, Millburn and Nicodemus, along with director Matt D'Avella and design firm SPYR, released the documentary film, Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2015). The film explores the benefits of minimalism with professionals and folks practicing the principles of minimalism every day. In April 2017, Millburn and Nicodemus will embark on a speaking tour, Less Is Now.