136. Mini Retirements: Redefining How You Work, Rest, and Live with Jillian Johnsrud

Point Me To First Class

Devon Gimbel MD

Finances, Education, How To, Travel, Credit, Expenses, Card, Cards, Society & Culture, Professionals, Tips, Personal, Places & Travel, Business, Points, Rewards

5 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 6 October 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Do you think you have to wait until your sixties before you can retire? Maybe not. At least not the way we’ve been taught.

In this episode, I’m joined by Jillian Johnsrud — author, podcast host, and coach — who challenges the idea of a traditional retirement in favor of taking mini retirements throughout your life and career.

Jillian never expected to retire early, so she hatched a plan to retire often. Inspired by the idea of sabbatical years, she began sprinkling mini retirements throughout her life — and by 40 had taken more than a dozen of them.

In our conversation, Jillian explains how mini retirements can help you recover from burnout, pursue long-term travel, test major life assumptions, and strengthen relationships. We talk about what makes a mini retirement different from vacation, how to talk to your employer about taking extended time off, and how to financially prepare.

You’ll also hear Jillian’s personal stories, including therapy, tango, and national park adventures with her kids — and why mini retirements are one of the best investments you can make in yourself.

Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/mini-retirement-guide/

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Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Point Me to First Class, the only show for employed professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners who are looking to optimize their higher than average expenses to travel the world.
0:10.7	I'm your host, Devin Gimble, and I believe that your expenses are your greatest untapped asset, if you know how to leverage them.
0:17.8	Ready to dive into the world of credit card points and miles so you can travel more, travel better, and travel often. Let's get started. Hello, everyone, and welcome
0:31.3	back to the podcast. Do you think you have to wait until your 60s before you can retire? Maybe not,
0:39.3	at least not the way we've been taught. Joining me today is Jillian Johnsred, an author, podcast host, and coach who challenges
0:45.0	the idea of a traditional retirement in favor of taking many retirements throughout your life and
0:49.9	career. Jillian never expected to be able to retire early, so she hatched a plan to retire often
0:55.8	instead. Inspired by the idea of sabbatical years, she set out to sprinkle retirements through
1:00.9	her life. Jillian has taught, coached, and written about many retirements for almost a decade,
1:06.2	and is here today to discuss everything you need to know about this alternative view of the
1:10.5	role retirement
1:11.0	can play in your life. Share practical advice about how to plan your own mini retirement and tackle
1:16.7	the tough questions like how do you actually talk about taking a mini retirement to your employer
1:21.4	and how do you financially prepare to take time away from work? By age 40, she had taken over a dozen
1:27.3	mini retirements that allowed
1:28.9	her to pursue dreams like living abroad, traveling to 27 countries, investing in real estate,
1:34.4	and touring the U.S. in a camper. Jillian has coached thousands of people through creating
1:38.5	their own mini retirements and recently released her book, Retire Often.
1:43.0	Jillian, welcome to the show.
1:44.4	I'm so excited to have you here today.
1:46.3	Oh, thanks so much for having me.
1:48.4	I cannot wait to dive into this topic because I think it's going to be one that not
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