FIRE University
Practicing together how to use money to design a freer life
FIRE University is a podcast about money, personal growth and a freer life. There are no investing myths here — only real stories and actions you can actually take.
I went from a million in debt to turning my finances around, and then to exploring what “freedom” really means. Through each episode, I hope to think it through with you: how to use money, how to live, and how to design a life.
This isn't a show that teaches you to get rich quick. It's a long conversation about how to live a more meaningful life.
81 episodes so far
The show is in Mandarin Chinese. Every episode has an English title and show notes, translated from my own notes. To listen in English, open an episode on YouTube: YouTube is gradually adding AI-dubbed English audio to my videos — when it's available, choose Settings → Audio track → English.
New here? Start with these
Financial freedom, financial literacy and how we think about money — the three best places to begin
Lying flat might be where financial freedom starts
Without freedom of mind, no amount of money buys freedom. Breaking down the comparison game that never ends, plus three "small-scale lying flat" exercises to start defining your own happiness.
About this episode ›Financial education is a basic right: from NT$30 million in debt to a fortune (with Will Huang)
Will Huang, who went from NT$30 million in debt to a fortune, on the "dream warehouse" and planning your money from a whole-life view: how much is enough?
About this episode ›The Psychology of Financial Freedom, with Hao Hsu-Lieh
Part 1: "freedom = ability − desire," redefining retirement. Part 2: telling needs from wants, and breaking the money anxiety that no amount of savings fixes.
- Not sacrificing today for an imagined tomorrow — that is retirement (with Hao Hsu-Lieh, part 1)
- Needs vs. wants: the psychology of money anxiety (with Hao Hsu-Lieh, part 2)
Start with part 1
Meet Doug: my life story in three parts
From childhood and a million in debt to financial freedom (about the series ›)
Childhood: finding light in the dark (Doug's life story #1)
A single-parent home, moving to escape debt, a childhood on instant noodles — how I learned to rely on myself in scarcity, and grew strength in the dark.
About this episode ›Waking up to money: from a million in debt to eight figures (Doug's life story #2)
Once so broke I borrowed NT$200 from a coworker to eat; selling my car was the turning point. Debt-free at 32, eight figures (NT$) by 41.
About this episode ›What happiness really is: relationships are the answer (Doug's life story #3)
After financial freedom I found that the joy of things is short-lived. From Harvard's 80-year happiness study: why relationships are the answer.
About this episode ›Book series
One book read slowly over several episodes — best heard in order from episode 1
The Psychology of Money
Investing isn't math, it's psychology: luck, risk, knowing when enough is enough, and compounding that lasts long enough.
About all 8 episodes ›Start with episode 1
Your Money or Your Life
Where the FIRE movement began: work out your life energy and your real hourly wage, and practice mindful spending.
About all 7 episodes ›Start with episode 1
Four Thousand Weeks
Time is limited; what you can really manage is your attention. Do what truly matters first.
About all 4 episodes ›Start with episode 1
The Millionaire in You
LeBoeuf's Law and mini-retirements: more important than investing is selling your time to yourself.
About all 4 episodes ›Start with episode 1
Buy and Hold
Getting rich slowly: the mindset of long-term investing, the power of compounding, and the truth about short-term trading.
About all 3 episodes ›Start with episode 1
Think Like a Monk
From the ashram to the office: training a calm, purposeful mind.
About all 3 episodes ›Start with episode 1
Browse by topic
All 81 episodes, newest first. Click a title to read the show notes
- Does going public and getting rich make you happier? (with Yu, on The Happy Sexy Millionaire)MindMoney
- A free way to change your life: take 100% responsibility (The Compound Effect)Mind
- Financial freedom is choice, not a number (with Sandy Rabbit, part 2)Money
- Not enough, and afraid to spend: from financial low point to peace of mind (with Sandy Rabbit, part 1)MoneyMind
- More freedom, more loneliness? Joy is real when it is shared (Four Thousand Weeks #4, finale)RelationshipsTime
- Attention > time > money: your life is the sum of your attention (Four Thousand Weeks #3)TimeMind
- Not doing more, but doing what matters first (Four Thousand Weeks #2)Time
- Is time management a scam? What you can manage is your attention (Four Thousand Weeks #1)Time
- Needs vs. wants: the psychology of money anxiety (with Hao Hsu-Lieh, part 2)MindRelationships
- Not sacrificing today for an imagined tomorrow — that is retirement (with Hao Hsu-Lieh, part 1)MoneyTime
- Financial freedom is about choice, not money: the real meaning of FIRE (Infinite Possibilities Sofa #3)MoneyTime
- How to save your first million: it starts with tracking expenses (Infinite Possibilities Sofa #2)Money
- From debt to recovery: getting out of life's low point (guest on Infinite Possibilities Sofa #1)Mind
- Investing is psychology, not math: The Psychology of Money #8 (finale)Money
- The price of admission for long-term investing: volatility and fear (The Psychology of Money #7)Money
- Why are the truly rich so low-key? The Psychology of Money #6MoneyTime
- You don't need the holy grail, just to stay in long enough: The Psychology of Money #5Money
- Why can't we stop when we have enough? The Psychology of Money #4MoneyMind
- Can't lose weight? Obesity, metabolism and insulin resistance (with Dr. Sisi)Body
- Success isn't only effort — luck and risk matter: The Psychology of Money #3Money
- Why people make irrational money decisions: The Psychology of Money #2MoneyMind
- Why a high income doesn't guarantee financial freedom: The Psychology of Money #1Money
- Three real digital nomads I met in Kanazawa, and the three abilities they shareTimeWork & creativity
- Digital nomadism is more than working while traveling: co-living in Kanazawa, JapanTimeWork & creativity
- Why does eating make you more tired? Fasting, ketones and energy (with Dr. Sisi, part 2)Body
- Why does eating make you more tired? Fasting, ketones and energy (with Dr. Sisi, part 1)Body
- Earning NT$30,000 a month? Don't rush to invest — do these three things firstMoney
- Turning a side hustle into a business without quitting your job (with Nicolle, part 2)Work & creativity
- Turning a side hustle into a business without quitting your job (with Nicolle, part 1)Work & creativity
- Find your ikigai: build a meaningful life from intrinsic motivationWork & creativityMind
- Creating your ideal life without a day job (with Lanuo, part 2)Work & creativity
- Creating your ideal life without a day job (with Lanuo, part 1)Work & creativity
- Why young people shouldn't buy high-dividend ETFsMoney
- Writing every day for 30 days: 30,000 words and how writing changed my lifeWork & creativity
- From corporate executive to freelancer: reinventing yourself in midlife (with Bu-Jie, part 2)Work & creativity
- From corporate executive to freelancer: reinventing yourself in midlife (with Bu-Jie, part 1)Work & creativity
- My first time as a coach — and how impostor syndrome nearly beat meMindWork & creativity
- Lying flat might be where financial freedom startsMindMoney
- Teaching kids about money (with Chang Chien-Hua, part 2)Money
- Teaching kids about money (with Chang Chien-Hua, part 1)MoneyRelationships
- Is retirement bad for your health? Climb your second mountain with mini-retirements (The Millionaire in You #4)Time
- Smarter investors, worse returns? (The Millionaire in You #3)Money
- More important than investing: sell your time to yourself (The Millionaire in You #2)Work & creativityMoney
- The 'once I have money, I'll…' trap: The Millionaire in You #1MoneyTime
- There is no precedent for your life: The Pathless Path by Paul MillerdTimeWork & creativity
- Getting your mortgage approved — and why a longer term is betterMoney
- First principles of real estate: rent should cover the mortgageMoney
- What happiness really is: relationships are the answer (Doug's life story #3)Relationships
- Waking up to money: from a million in debt to eight figures (Doug's life story #2)Money
- Childhood: finding light in the dark (Doug's life story #1)RelationshipsMind
- A practical guide to a 10-day Vipassana retreatMindBody
- What is a 10-day Vipassana retreat?Mind
- Everything about running a podcast (with producer Billy)Work & creativity
- Financial education is a basic right: from NT$30 million in debt to a fortune (with Will Huang)Money
- Building a steady wealth plan with bonds (with Shania)Money
- Your problem is not the problem: Satir iceberg conversations (with Lee Chung-Yi, part 2)MindRelationships
- Your problem is not the problem: Satir iceberg conversations (with Lee Chung-Yi, part 1)MindRelationships
- What every marketer should know about starting a business (with CatchBiz, part 2)Work & creativity
- Leaving a high salary to start a marketing agency together (with CatchBiz, part 1)Work & creativity
- Survive first, then grow: build a dream warehouse and become first-generation wealthy (How Much Is Enough for This Life? by Will Huang)Money
- Building a natural bread brand: from shop to markets to social media (with Lucas & Winnie of LuCaTang Bakery Lab)Work & creativity
- A self-made investor's philosophy of wealth and life: The Almanack of Naval RavikantMoneyTime
- Interviewed: why I started FIRE University and where it is going (on Write Write Words)Work & creativity
- Knowing how to spend is the best investment: Die with ZeroTimeMoney
- From the ashram to the office: a calm, purposeful day: Think Like a Monk #3Mind
- Gratitude, sharing others' joy, and accepting the good and bad: Think Like a Monk #2MindRelationships
- Live your own life imperfectly rather than imitate someone else's perfectly: Think Like a Monk #1Mind
- Success depends on delaying gratification, not talent: Don't Eat the Marshmallow… Yet!MindMoney
- Getting to know yourself again: The Headspace Guide to Meditation and MindfulnessMind
- Lottery dreams, a NT$300-a-day challenge, and rent vs. buy (with listener A-Zi-Zi)Money
- The truth about short-term tradingMoney
- Compounding plus time: how anyone can invest like BuffettMoney
- Getting rich slowly: the mindset and tools of long-term investingMoney
- The power of mindful spending: life is an infinite gameMoneyMind
- Easy expense tracking: mindful spending instead of budgetingMoney
- Multiple income streams on the way to financial freedomMoneyWork & creativity
- Your life energy and your real hourly wageMoneyTime
- Build your balance sheet and make peace with your financial pastMoney
- Why more money doesn't make us more satisfied: hedonic adaptationMoneyMind
- Unlocking financial freedom: where the FIRE movement beganMoneyTime
- Introduction: Why I started FIRE UniversityMoneyMind
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Let's design the life you want, together
Helping ordinary people build a life with real choices, starting with the right mindset.