If you had the choice of whom to sit next to on a long train journey, would it be the person who excitedly wants to tell you all about his circumnavigation of the world via pedalo; what he learned about himself, what unexpected hurdles he encountered; and what life-changing adventure he’s considering next? Or, the person who can’t wait to show you his new phone, watch or bag; to fill you in on the minute details of his latest ‘must have’ possession; how much it cost; and how hard he needs to work to be able to acquire such luxuries (yaaaaawn)? Hopefully, you’d opt for travel companion 1! Placing value on experience over vacuous materialism. The subject of our latest Off the Ropes Podcast.

Author & trend-forecaster, James Wallman, believes materialism has had its day and our voracious appetite for wanting ‘more’ to help us define our identity and status is waning. Instead, we’re turning to life-enhancing, soul-enriching experiences. Experiences which fill us up with happiness, love, and fulfilment, and have a long-lasting and profound effect on our life; of those around us and even the planet.

Is it time for you to buy less and do more?

Topics Discussed:

• What circumstances in James’ life prompted the creation of the stuffocation philosophy.
• The problem with having too much stuff – for humankind and the planet.
• Why we pursue stuff in the first place.
• Death of materialism - what’s next?
• Why possessions do not make us happy.
• The connection between materialism and unhappiness & anxiety.
• The consequences of calorific and material abundance.
• Why more of us are finding happiness, identity and status through experiences.
• Why James is not anti stuff.
• The danger of being destination focused.
• The importance and ramifications of status.
• The rise of the experientialist movement.
• The benefits of experientialism.
• How to tell whether you’re stuffocated.
• How to de-stuffocate.
• Why experiences do not need to be costly or expansive.