In this episode I sit down with writer, educator, and author Blake Boles to explore an unconventional question. What if wealth had less to do with money, and more to do with freedom, purpose, and plenty of stoke-filled play time in nature?
Drawing from his book Dirtbag Rich: High Freedom, Low Income, Deep Purpose, Blake shares the ethos and practical realities behind designing a life centered around nature, flexibility, doing meaningful work, and knowing what it means to have “enough.” We dive into the often hidden economic enterprise of alternative lifestyles, the social pressures that keep people trapped in the rat race, the tradeoffs required to prioritize freedom, and the role nature plays in the lives of the Dirtbag Rich.
We traverse a bunch of fun topics from trail running, backpacking in the Sierra, van-life mythology, retirement culture, community living, stoke, purpose, and the emotional tension between security and aliveness. Rather than romanticizing the dirtbag lifestyle, Blake offers a sober, nuanced, and deeply human examination of what it actually takes to build a life around freedom and connection.
This episode is for anyone who has ever taken a pause from the grind and quietly pondered Blake’s juicy, and often catalytic, question: How am I spending the time of my life?
Episode Links
Dirtbag Rich: High Freedom, Low Income, Deep Purpose
Blake’s Instagram @blaketotheboles
Unschool Adventures Instagram @unschooladventures
Blake’s Website
Blake’s Podcast -Dirtbag Rich
Blake’s Substack The Adventures of Blake
Unschool Adventures Website
Brendan Leonard’s Instagram@semi_rad
Connect with Nature Junkie
Substack: https://naturejunkie.substack.com/
Instagram: @naturejunkieradio
Website: www.naturejunkielife.com
Production Credits
Hosted by Jeff Johnson
Podcast cover art by Ahab Nimry
Outro music by Tyler Johnson
Editing by Aashish M.
