Allie and I discuss our shared experiences of leaving traditional career paths to explore more authentic lives. Allie, a former lawyer, talks about navigating parenthood, part-time work, and her numerous interests while stepping off the default path. We chat about how Allie was inspired by 'The Pathless Path,' the ship, quit, and learn framework, and our upcoming experiments with nomadic living. Allie also talks about burnout, and alternative ways to live meaningfully.

Follow Allie's writing and podcast on Substack: Practically On Purpose

• (00:00) - Introduction and Guest Overview
• (01:41) - Ali's Journey and Paul's Influence
• (02:48) - Defining the Pathless Path
• (04:41) - Living the Pathless Path
• (07:19) - Daily Life and Nomadic Living
• (20:38) - Traveling Village and Family Life
• (24:05) - Education and Raising Kids
• (28:03) - Ship, Quit, and Learn Framework
• (32:19) - Balancing Priorities and Curiosity
• (33:03) - Living a Minimalist Lifestyle
• (33:50) - Creative Paths and Family Support
• (36:24) - Cultural Differences in Marriage
• (39:52) - Economic Growth and Middle-Class Ideals
• (43:04) - Questioning the Traditional Career Path
• (45:32) - The Inspiration Deficit and Meaningful Work
• (49:36) - Challenges of the Creator Journey
• (56:54) - The Pathless Path Community

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• X: @p_millerd
• Instagram: @pathlesspaul
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In this episode, I have a deep conversation with Steven Foster, who opens up about his career journey from Silicon Valley to embracing a pathless life. We dive into his essay 'Commit a Career Ending Move,' reflecting on how modernity has turned careers into a form of religion. Steven shares his personal challenges, including severe health issues and family crises, and how embracing a more communal and nature-focused lifestyle has helped him navigate these obstacles. This episode is an exploration of redefining work, faith, and finding a deeper purpose beyond traditional career paths.

• (00:00) - Introduction to Steven Foster and His Career Journey
• (01:41) - The Religion of Work
• (03:42) - Steven's Early Career and Family Background
• (07:18) - Navigating the Tech Industry
• (20:11) - Leaving Silicon Valley
• (24:33) - Life After the Career-Ending Move
• (33:25) - Financial Shifts and Creative Solutions
• (34:37) - Navigating Personal Crises
• (43:58) - The Role of Community and Religion
• (56:00) - The Power of Permissionless Income

NEW: The Pathless Path Hardcover Premium Edition

📘 My 2nd Book Good Work: Learn More
📕 Buy My First Book, The Pathless Path (65k+ Sold): The Pathless Path
😁 Join 500+ In My Cozy Community: Pathless Path Community

📲Connect + Follow Paul

• X: @p_millerd
• Instagram: @pathlesspaul
• Paul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (26k+ People)
• Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe

🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:

• Accounting, Taxes, and Payroll for Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): Collective
• Looking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out Crowdhealth
• I use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours Here
• I record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here
• I use and love the Readwise reader for notes and highlights: Join Here for a 2 month trial

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Mentioned in the episode

• Andrew Taggart’s website
• Pathways to the Dao (Andrew’s Substack)
• Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper
• Secular Monks (article by Andrew Taggart)
• Why Buddhism is True by Robert Wright
• Pierre Hadot (Philosophy as a Way of Life)
• The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (04:02) - The Evolution of Work Philosophy
• (08:05) - The Role of Telos in Modern Life
• (14:59) - Personal Journeys and Realizations
• (37:34) - Writing as a practice and medium for understanding
• (48:54) - Rethinking Karma Yoga in Modernity
• (51:32) - The Mundane Nature of Daily Tasks
• (57:56) - The Spiritual Journey of Work
• (59:38) - Introspection and the Reality of Work
• (01:11:26) - Balancing Objective Conditions and Inner Peace
• (01:28:27) - The Concept of Inner Purification
• (01:35:49) - Final Thoughts and Future Projects

NEW: The Pathless Path Hardcover Premium Edition

📘 My 2nd Book Good Work: Learn More
📕 Buy My First Book, The Pathless Path (65k+ Sold): The Pathless Path
😁 Join 500+ In My Cozy Community: Pathless Path Community

📲Connect + Follow Paul

• X: @p_millerd
• Instagram: @pathlesspaul
• Paul’s Newsletter: Subscribe to Pathless (26k+ People)
• Paul’s YouTube: Subscribe

🙏Further Ways To Support The Podcast:

• Accounting, Taxes, and Payroll for Your S-Corp (Ideal for $60k+ income): Collective
• Looking for alternatives to traditional health insurance in the US? Check out Crowdhealth
• I use Transistor to host this podcast. It rocks. Launch Yours Here
• I record high-quality videos using Riverside: Sign Up Here
• I use and love the Readwise reader for notes and highlights: Join Here for a 2 month trial