Every now and then, I get to sit down with someone whose story makes you rethink what freedom really looks like. That’s exactly what happened when I had the chance to talk with Jeff Burkinshaw, the voice behind the Gridlessness YouTube channel and author of Gridlessness: Finding Freedom Off Grid.
A lot of people hear the phrase “off-grid” and immediately think about solar panels, generators, and hauling water. But what struck me most about Jeff’s story is that his version of off-grid living goes much deeper than that. For him and his family, gridlessness is really about stepping away from systems that quietly make our decisions for us. Things like debt, rigid career paths, and even cultural expectations about what a “successful” life is supposed to look like.
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Watch The Interview Here
Freedom Isn’t Just About Power Lines
One of the things Jeff shared that really stuck with me was his perspective on being off the “financial grid.”
Becoming debt-free, especially breaking free from a mortgage, gave his family a level of flexibility and freedom they never had before. Suddenly, they weren’t forced into certain jobs, schedules, or lifestyles just to keep up with payments.
That kind of freedom opens up possibilities most people never even get to consider. It reminded me that off-grid living isn’t just about where your electricity comes from. It’s about asking bigger questions.
Who are you dependent on? What systems shape your choices? And which ones actually serve your family?
Raising Kids with Intention
Jeff and his wife raised five kids while living off-grid in the Canadian wilderness, and their approach to parenting really resonated with me. Instead of insulating their kids from life’s challenges, they chose to involve them in real responsibility, real work, and real decision-making.
Their kids didn’t grow up isolated from the world. They grew up grounded in it.
Through homeschooling, travel, community involvement, and hands-on living, they developed confidence, resilience, and a wide perspective on how different people live.
That’s something Carolyn and I talk about often. Raising capable, kind humans matters more than following any preset system.
The Realities of Living Independently
Jeff didn’t paint an unrealistic picture of off-grid life. He talked honestly about exhaustion, about storms knocking things down, about animals getting sick, and about the weight of knowing that when something breaks, you’re the one who has to fix it.
That kind of responsibility can feel heavy, but it also builds something deep in you. You stop outsourcing every problem. You grow stronger, more capable, and more confident in your ability to handle hard things. And for Jeff’s family, that was one of the greatest gifts they could give their kids.
A Different Kind of Wealth
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was when Jeff talked about “living like a millionaire off-grid.” Not because of money, but because of time, experiences, and freedom.
His family has traveled, served, adventured, and built memories together that most people only dream about doing someday.
It made me think about how often we chase financial success while sacrificing the very things that make life rich.
Time together. Shared work. Meaningful experiences.
Jeff’s story is a reminder that wealth looks very different when you define it for yourself.
Why This Conversation Matters
You don’t have to move into the wilderness to take something away from this conversation. Jeff’s story isn’t really about cabins and composting toilets. It’s about living with intention. About questioning the systems we inherit. About choosing freedom even when it comes with more responsibility.
If you’ve ever felt that quiet pull toward a simpler, more meaningful way of living, I think you’ll find a lot of encouragement here.
Jeff’s life shows that it really is possible to step off the path you were handed and build something that fits your values instead.
I hope this conversation challenges you the way it challenged me, and maybe even nudges you to ask a few new questions about what freedom looks like for your own family.
Where to Find Jeff
If you want to read more about Jeff's journey to off-grid living, be sure to check out his book, Gridlessness: Finding Freedom Off Grid. It's got some great stories and behind-the-scenes info that you won't find on his YouTube channel.
To follow along with Jeff, check out his YouTube channel, Gridlessness.
