ChooseFI – “This Year Everything Changes” | Episode 580
Released: January 5, 2026

Episode Overview

In the first episode of 2026, hosts Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa reunite to kick off a new era for the ChooseFI podcast and community. Embracing the theme “This Year Everything Changes,” they explore the renewed vision of a genuinely crowdsourced personal finance platform. The focus: leverage collective FI knowledge, amplify community voices, and equip listeners with actionable tools to reach financial independence (FI) faster. This episode dives into community-driven experimentation, powerful life optimization tactics, new digital infrastructure, and fresh calls to action for seasoned and new listeners alike.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

A New Chapter and Renewed Community Focus

• The Return of Jonathan: After time away building behind the scenes, Jonathan returns as co-host. Brad highlights that working together brings back the original energy and mission of ChooseFI.
• Crowdsourced Personal Finance: Emphasis on leveraging the diverse experiences and knowledge of the FI community. The community is regarded as the “lifeblood” of the movement ([08:27]).
• Everyone’s Journey Matters: The podcast aims to serve individuals at all stages of the FI journey, stressing inclusion, accountability, and shared victories.

“This is your call to action to become part of the community and, more critically, for you to take action to make your life better in every way.”
— Brad ([00:26])

Experimentation and Non-Dogmatic Approach

• History and Growth of FI: The hosts reflect on their journey from early community events like Camp Mustache to now, emphasizing that bold ideas and experimentation are core FI values ([04:44]).
• Room for All Flavors: Brad and Jonathan reinforce their belief in “strong beliefs, loosely held”—perpetually open to learning and evolving as new information and ideas emerge.

“We’re not dogmatic about anything...we want to hear the ideas. We want to hear your ideas.”
— Jonathan ([07:18])

The Technology Leap – Building a Platform for FI

• Why a Crowdsourced Ecosystem?: The hosts describe the challenges of scaling a movement using “duct tape and glue”—relying on manual processes and ineffective tools ([12:46]).
• Jonathan’s Tech Transformation: Jonathan took time off podcasting to personally develop a robust tech platform and community app, designed to support local groups, foster sharing, and provide practical tools like calculators and dashboards ([16:01], [19:51]).
• Community App Features:
  • Find and connect with local groups
  • FI planning tools (calculators, track your plan, etc.)
  • Event invites, resource sharing, and discussion forums
  • Built-in mechanisms for contribution (voicemails, questions, blog posts)

“You being able to connect with each other, and then with the content that you need at the place that you need it…that is the beauty of it.”
— Jonathan ([13:53])

The Phases of FI and Awareness

• Discovery is Step One: FI doesn’t start with your bank account; it starts with awareness that FI is possible, learning the basic rules, and joining a like-minded community ([17:51]).
• Know Your Number: The most basic and vital calculation for FI:
  • Annual expenses × 25 = FI number (the 4% rule)
  • Income is not the determining factor; expenses drive the calculation

“The beauty is that this is your North Star, okay? …When you reach that number…work is completely optional.”
— Brad ([25:38])

• Planning and Effective Need: Beyond “the number,” thoughtful projections (accounting for debt payoff, Social Security, etc.) create a more accurate plan—coming soon in the FI app ([28:13]).

Local Groups and Real-Life Community

• The Engine of the Movement: Local FI groups are the heart of progress—host meetups, run case studies, and build genuine friendships ([33:59]).
• Better Together: Real-world connections speed up learning and accountability, making the FI journey less lonely and more fun. The new platform integrates local event invites and digest emails for better participation.

“This is what we’ve envisioned for years and years and years…we can answer questions…we can talk through our little frugal wins of the week.”
— Brad ([21:07])

Actionable Tactics & Life Optimization

Frugal Win of the Week: DIY Electrolytes—[21:14]

• Story: Brad shares a “frugal win”—making homemade electrolyte drinks at a fraction of the cost of store-bought packets. Saved ~$1,000 per year.
• Broader Lesson: Small hacks compound into massive FI impact over decades.

The Power of Expense Audits—[41:31]

• Annual or periodic audits help align spending with values. Even for FI veterans, recurring cost scrutiny is essential.

“Every $100 we cut out of our budget is a full $30,000 less you need in your FI pot…”
— Brad ([41:31])

• Cutting $100/month = $30K less needed to reach FI & potentially $60K in added investments over 20 years ([43:21]) – a $90,000 swing.

Aggregation of Marginal Gains & Optionality

• Theme: Accumulate small wins, create autonomy and luck, avoid locking into limiting paths ([45:01]).

The Road Ahead—Growth, Feedback, and Co-Creation

• Invitation to Take Part: Listeners are asked to join the community app, participate in feedback via voicemails, and help guide the show’s content ([49:18]).
• Calls to Action for January:
  • Calculate your net worth and FI number
  • Set and submit your goals for 2026
  • Join a local group, attend events, and participate in case studies
  • Share your own frugal wins, life hacks, and questions via the app

“This is the FI community in real life. Let’s build it together. Get involved. Starting today.”
— Brad ([57:06])

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Experimentation:
  “You're allowed to manifest things and give it a shot…test things, right? You're not all in on one hand, but lots of ideas have merit…”
  — Jonathan ([04:02])

• On Community’s Importance:
  “Our local groups are the lifeblood of the worldwide financial independence movement…the people that are important to me in my life now, almost exclusively, are people from the FI community.”
  — Brad ([08:27])

• On Knowing Your Number:
  “Income wasn’t a factor…every single other non-financial independence calculator…is all going to ask you for your income. It makes it sound…like unless you have a specific income, you’re not going to be able to retire.”
  — Jonathan ([28:13])

• On Freedom and Time:
  “We are saving for our freedom.”
  — Brad ([46:56])

• Community Invitation:
  “We're not trying to figure out how to be any other show, because that show has never existed. We're creating something that has never existed…pleading with you to join us to build that.”
  — Jonathan ([48:09])

Important Segments and Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|-------------| | Welcome & 2026 Vision | 00:00–02:11 | | On Experimentation & Early FI Community | 04:02–05:52 | | Community-driven, Non-Dogmatic Approach | 06:05–08:27 | | The Technology Leap—Community App | 12:46–21:07 | | DIY Frugal Win (Electrolytes) | 21:07–23:26 | | Calculating Your FI Number | 23:26–28:13 | | Effective Need and Planning (App Preview) | 28:13–33:59 | | Local Groups, Meetups, & Case Studies | 33:59–38:45 | | Segments Preview: Frugal Wins, Life Hacks | 38:45–41:25 | | Expense Audit & the Power of Small Wins | 41:25–46:56 | | Collective Creation; Invitation to Listeners| 46:56–54:01 | | Calls to Action for Community Engagement | 54:01–57:19 |

Closing Thoughts

Brad and Jonathan close with gratitude for founding community members and optimism for 2026. The episode is a clear, energizing call to action: This year, everything changes—because you help build it. The ChooseFI podcast (and new online ecosystem) is ready to empower you, the listener, to directly shape both your own FI path and the movement at large.

“The fire is spreading, my friends. We’ll see you next time—as we continue to go down the road less traveled.”
— Jonathan ([57:51])

Next Up:

• Jan 12: Brad hosts Sean Mullaney and Cody Garrett for a deep dive on Roth accounts.
• Jan 19: The new format launches—listener-driven content, segments, and community participation.

Get involved at:
choosefi.com/local
Join, submit your wins, questions, and goals—and help shape the ChooseFI movement in 2026.