The Minimalists Tour 2024: San Francisco Celebrates Everything That Remains

Have you ever thought about living your life with less? Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, the dynamic duo behind The Minimalists, recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of their groundbreaking book, Everything That Remains, with an exciting visit to San Francisco for their Everything Tour 2024.

From January to July, The Minimalists delivered their message of intentional living, creating a meaningful life with less, and decluttering to six California cities through live appearances that included inspiring talks, and intriguing discussions.

I had the fortune of seeing them live in San Francisco in July and the event was fantastic. Are you ready to learn about The Minimalists’ Everything Tour in the Golden State? Let’s Go!

The Minimalists 2024 Tour: Everything that Remains in California

From January to July 2024, Josh, Ryan, their co-host T. K. Coleman, and members of their impressive team brought a transformative introspective during their 10th tour since starting The Minimalists back in 2008.

From city to city, the 2024 tour commemorated the 10th anniversary of their book Everything That Remains, motivating audiences to let go of what no longer serves them to find real meaning and to connect with others.

With stops in six California cities, the tour highlighted the importance of living a meaningful life with less, which is one of the many “Minimalist Maxims” shared with listeners of their podcast.

A Quick History of The Minimalists

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus are New York Times–bestselling authors and celebrated proponents of the minimalist movement. Josh and Ryan, with their friend and podcast co-host, T.K. Coleman, and a small, brilliant team, regularly share information and deliver practical advice on living a more intentional life.

The Minimalists’ journey began with a desire to escape the trappings of consumerism, which led them to become advocates to thousands of listeners and subscribers worldwide.

Their books, website, and podcasts recount early childhood struggles, keeping up in the corporate rat race, clearing out their gigantic homes, freeing themselves of useless possessions, and finding a way to live more with less.

Today, The Minimalists manage a podcast, website, and Patreon subscriber community of like-minded people who support and encourage each other on life’s journey toward blissful simplicity.

The Minimalist Podcast and Me

I discovered The Minimalists’ podcast in 2018 after living for five years abroad, where all my worldly possessions fit in three large suitcases. I moved from Barranquilla, Colombia, to Sacramento, California, where I landed a day job vastly different from those in Mexico and Colombia.

The purpose-paced philosophies and simplistic ideas of the Minimalists resonated deeply with me and kept me going during a difficult time of transition.

I listened devotedly to their weekly podcast, which featured questions from their listeners, and regular practices like the “Lightning Round,” which gives each podcast host 60 seconds to reply to a question using a “short, sharable answer.”

Over time, The Minimalists podcast has evolved to include a paid subscription through Patreon for extended versions of their Q and A, along with the continued mantra of “advertisements suck,” meaning they don’t use advertising to support their broadcast but instead rely on listeners for support of their content.

My favorite part of the podcast continues to be a disclaimer at the beginning of some shows featuring Josh’s daughter Ella stating, “This podcast has bad words,” followed by a mischevious giggle.

In 2024, I was thrilled when The Minimalists announced their six-city tour to celebrate Everything that Remains and to promote their message in California. I had the fortune of seeing them speak live in San Francisco and began counting the days!

California Tour Stops

Happening in bookstores, churches, and other venues, all stops on the six-city, California tour sold out in advance. The free tickets, promoted on the Minimalists’ website and podcast months before the tour began, were quickly reserved by fans and listeners.

• January 27 – Orange County
• February 28 – Palm Springs
• March 14 – Ventura
• April 13 – Los Angeles
• June 8 – San Diego
• July 19 – San Francisco

Did someone say “Selfie”?

Jump to the epic selfie taken with The Minimalists on the Everything Tour 2024 in San Francisco, CA

San Francisco: The Final Stop in a Historic Venue

I reserved a ticket to the San Francisco event in January 2024 as soon as the dates were announced for the tour. The SF stop was originally scheduled for Book Passage, The Bay Area’s Liveliest Bookstore, in the historic Ferry Building downtown.

The crowd quickly outgrew Book Passage, so the event was moved to Calvary Presbyterian Church on Fillmore Street, with support from Book Passage.

The Minimalists couldn’t have asked for a better venue. Calvary Presbyterian Church, a place of worship for more than 160 years, was moved, brick-by-brick, from its former location of the current St. Francis Hotel near Union Square, to where it stands on the corner of Fillmore & Jackson Streets.

The sanctuary – where the Minimalists posted up before a massive pipe organ for over two hours – was breathtaking, with its second-level balcony and gorgeous, stained glass windows. The acoustics were on point and there was space for attendees to spread out while still getting a good view of the speakers.

Several attendees used the backs of the heavy, wooden pews and took notes in the complimentary notebooks – offered along with stickers and bookmarks – at a table welcoming guests.

The atmosphere of Calvary Presbyterian Church was friendly, tranquil, positive, and inviting – just like you might imagine a follower of Minimalism to be.

The Evening’s Event

The evening began with the lovely Mallory “Malabama” French introducing The Minimalists co-host, T.K. Coleman, who immediately captivated the audience with a humorous tale of consumerism centered around the infamous Nike Pump shoe.

After illuminating the space with his charisma, bright smile, and easygoing aura, T.K. introduced Joshua Fields Millburn, one-half of the original Minimalists, who performed a heartfelt reading of Chapter 4 from the book “Everything That Remains.”

Following the reading, Josh and T.K. engaged in an illuminating conversation about minimalism before opening the floor to audience questions, fostering a dynamic and interactive discussion.

Attendees lined up in the center aisle separating the church pews. One by one, they presented poignant, profound questions to The Minimalists, eager for their observations and feedback.

An older parent painfully asked, “How do I release the tangible memoirs of my estranged children, whom I haven’t seen in over a decade?” Another young person asked, “How do I respond to the Buddhist Zen conundrum of a question, ‘If there is no self, then who am I?'” 

The Minimalists’ Philosophical Responses

The Minimalists offered thoughtful, kind, affirmative responses to the audience’s questions, reminding them to consider the source, you, and how much control you have over the topic for which you seek clarity.

They pointed out that the real answers to some of life’s more difficult questions often appear as lessons or hardships designed to open our eyes to learning opportunities.

After each question was asked and answered, the audience clapped and celebrated in delight, as a common vibe of clarity and community appeared to uplift the entire space.

In Line for the Booksigning

An hour after the speaking part was done, the line for book signings and photos was long but moved quickly. I debated staying any longer but then recalled I’d waited since January to attend this July tour stop. I enthusiastically jumped in at the end and made the most of it.

A woman approached the line, asking if anyone like to purchase autographed copies of the Minimalists’ first book, Everything That Remains, and their second book, Love People. Use Things.

It was hard to resist such convincing temptation and several patrons purchased copies of the latter title, which discusses, among other topics, the seven essential relationships in our lives – stuff, truth, self, values, money, creativity, and people.

Embracing Community: Connections and New Friends

While waiting to meet The Minimalists, attendees enjoyed an atmosphere filled with upbeat conversation and friendly connections. Two wonderful people, Kevin and Hannah, shared with me that they believed it was turning out to be an incredible evening.

Hannah, a naturally beautiful, 22-year-old from Colorado Springs now living in Portland, had asked the profound question during the Q and A about the Buddhist concept, “Who am I?”

The Minimalists’ thought-provoking response to Hannah’s inquiry highlighted how we often define ourselves by our jobs or age instead of focusing on what we love and love to do.

The line was soon joined by the church pastor, Marci Glass, who moved to San Francisco from Boise, Idaho. An attractive pastor with kindness about her, Marci shared her path to Calvary Presbyterian and her appreciation for the Bay Area’s quirkiness and diversity, further enriching everyone’s experience in this iconic California setting.

Meeting “Malabama”

Sadly, due to a massive computer update glitch earlier that day, Ryan Nicodemus, co-founder of The Minimalists, couldn’t fly to the San Francisco event. Happily, Josh made light-humored references to the colorful stained glass featuring Jesus, who shares the same dark features as Nicodemus.

One team member who infused attendees with her grace was Mallory “Malabama” French. As on the recorded podcast, Malabama’s genuine warmth and insightful contributions inspired the audience. Her engaging presence and dedication to the minimalist movement were evident, and it was a pleasure to interact with her.

Hugs and Selfies with The Minimalists

Being the last in line allowed me to take an epic selfie with T.K., Marci, Kevin, Hannah, Mallory, and Josh – who generously agreed to snap the photo using my iPhone.

Excited to be living in this moment, I felt heart-pounding, butterflies-in-the-stomach nervous and excited, especially when meeting Malabama, who I’d only known by voice until that night!

Fortunately, the welcoming nature and enthusiasm for minimalism added to the special moment, creating a cherished memory of the event.

Opportunities For Minimalism in California

The Minimalists, currently based in Los Angeles and Ojai, perfectly embody California’s thriving minimalist culture. Their presence in the state highlights opportunities to learn about and practice minimalism.

From historic, quiet campgrounds in Monterey to bike riding in the mountains near Santa Cruz, there are plenty of places throughout the State to experience the ‘less is more’ lifestyle. Even with its global economy and high cost of living, California is still a veritable gateway to a fulfilling, simplified life.

Wrap Up

The Minimalists’ The Everything Tour 2024 was an enlightening experience that brought clarity and inspiration to audiences across California.

While the Everything Tour 2024 has ended, you can still simplify your life, focus on what matters, and find greater happiness and fulfillment.

Are you ready to explore the possibilities of minimalism and discover the transformative power of living with less? Do you feel compelled to visit California? Check out my favorite travel resources below!