Royal Norman interviews me on off-grid living and sustainable systems

This interview was recorded with AZ Family News and Royal Norman as a calm, practical conversation about off-grid living and what it actually takes to build a sustainable life. Rather than focusing on extremes or aesthetics, the discussion centered on systems, stability, and long-term thinking.

Royal Norman asked about my perspective on off-grid living, sustainable living, and why so many people struggle when they try to make the transition. My answer was simple. Most problems come from a lack of structure. When you build more structure into your life, you reduce pressure. When pressure goes down, better decisions become possible.

We talked through the core systems I use to think about off-grid living and long-term sustainability: shelter, water, food, power, and income. Each system supports the others. Shelter buys time. Water supports everything. Food builds resilience. Power increases capability. Income reduces pressure and creates optionality. When these systems are approached in the right order, progress becomes calmer and more affordable.

I also shared my own starting point. I began with very little money and focused on finding overlooked paths to stability rather than chasing ideal conditions. We discussed alternative ways to approach land, housing, and homeownership that fall outside the traditional script, especially for people who feel priced out or overwhelmed by conventional options.

Toward the end of the conversation, we briefly touched on the educational resources I have built over time, including my free guide, roadmap, and longer-form materials that explain this systems-based approach in more detail. I also mentioned the lecture and curriculum materials that are now being used by universities and academic programs as an introduction to practical, systems-driven sustainability.

Full interview

Note: This is the full-length interview. If you are looking for a quick overview, start with the first few minutes where I lay out the five systems and the idea of building more structure to reduce pressure.

If you’re interested in off-grid living and you’re not sure where to start, I’ve put together a simple orientation that explains the overall path and how the systems fit together. You can find that on the Start Here page.