The cabin is quiet, the fire has burned down, and the day starts the way it often does for me: barefoot on the ground, a quick reset outside, then water, greens, and tea before I sit down to edit. That morning rhythm is small, but it’s the foundation for everything that follows when you’re trying to live a less stressful, more self-reliant life. I share what my routine looks like right now, why it works for me, and how I think about “healthy products” in a practical, non-hype way, from chaga mushroom coffee to tallow-based gear wax and skincare that avoids unnecessary toxins.

From there, the homestead reality kicks in. I’ve got a massive beech tree leaning toward the workshop and sugar shack, and with beech bark disease taking out trees across the forest, it’s become a real safety issue. I walk through the plan for taking it down responsibly, why I’m bringing in help, and what it takes to do a dangerous job with the right amount of caution. We also get into seasonal progress updates: a vintage cement double sink headed for the maple sugar shack, meat processing after butchering pigs, and the ongoing goal of filling the freezer for winter.

I also share what’s next on the build list, including a new smoker with a stone base above typical snow depth and an older wood stove as the smoke source, plus log work for the guest cabin before snow shows up. To wrap up, I talk about getting back to regular Monday uploads and how I want to use this podcast to pass along more lessons from my book, including updates on the new physical copy. If you enjoy cabin life, homesteading, off-grid skills, and simple routines that actually hold up in real weather, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Support the show

My Self Reliance YouTube Channel-
https://youtube.com/@MySelfReliance?si=d4js0zGc5ogYvDtO

Shawn James Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5L_M7BF5iait4FzEbwKCAg

Merchandise - https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-reliance

A couple hours of splitting kindling turns into a surprisingly sharp money lesson: the fastest way to lower your cost of living might be to get better at everyday skills. We walk through why doing things yourself isn’t just a hobby or a personality trait, it’s an economic strategy that can replace bills the way a second income would. The core idea is simple but overlooked: when you learn a skill you used to outsource, you don’t only save once. You save every time that skill shows up again for the rest of your life.

We get practical about the DIY economics, including how to calculate what your time is really worth using net pay, not gross pay. Commutes, work expenses, unpaid time, and the true cost of “earning” money change the math fast. With trades getting more expensive and harder to book, competence also becomes a form of security, especially when something breaks and you can’t wait weeks for help.

Then we zoom into the real-world skills that move the needle: cutting firewood to slash heating costs, cooking with wood to offset rising propane and electricity, growing and hunting food to reduce grocery spending, and repairing vehicles, buildings, and tools so emergency calls stop hijacking your budget. We also talk about skill stacking and tool amortization: early lessons can be slow, but once you can run a chainsaw safely or handle basic construction, the returns accelerate.

If you want a simpler, tougher, more self-reliant life, this is a roadmap for turning competence into freedom. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who loves DIY, and leave a review with the skill you’re learning next.

Support the show

My Self Reliance YouTube Channel-
https://youtube.com/@MySelfReliance?si=d4js0zGc5ogYvDtO

Shawn James Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5L_M7BF5iait4FzEbwKCAg

Merchandise - https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-reliance

Most people love the idea of an off-grid cabin life right up until the question lands: “Okay, but how do you make money out there?” We’re sitting on the porch with coffee, watching the world wake up, and telling the truth that gets skipped in so many homesteading conversations. Money doesn’t disappear past the tree line, and pretending it does can sabotage the very freedom you’re trying to build.

We walk through how remote living really gets funded, from earning online to the older, proven ways money moves in rural places. We talk about the internet as a tool, not a religion: how you can document work, sell products, or teach skills at a distance without letting screens swallow your life. We’re honest about the low odds of “making it on YouTube,” why online income is still a small business, and why it often takes years before it pays.

Then we get concrete about what does work: trades and practical competence, seasonal income, and the idea of weaving multiple income streams so one slow season doesn’t break you. Finally, we hit the lever most people underestimate: lowering your overhead. Cutting expenses is a dollar-for-dollar raise, and when your heat, food, and housing costs drop, the number you must earn each month gets surprisingly manageable. If you’re serious about off-grid living, homesteading, rural finances, and self-reliance, this is the grounded roadmap that turns the dream into math.

Subscribe for more, share this with someone planning a leap, and leave a review if it helps. What’s the one expense you’d cut first to buy back your freedom?

Support the show

My Self Reliance YouTube Channel-
https://youtube.com/@MySelfReliance?si=d4js0zGc5ogYvDtO

Shawn James Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5L_M7BF5iait4FzEbwKCAg

Merchandise - https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-reliance