Inspired by Foster Gamble’s documentary THRIVE II, a practical guide to creating a healthier, more affordable, more independent life—without waiting for governments, corporations, or breakthrough technologies to change the world.
What if the most important question we could ask about our lives isn’t how to earn more money, work harder, or keep up with rising prices?
What if it’s something more fundamental?
How can we design our lives so that we need less, own more, depend on fewer fragile systems, and enjoy greater health, freedom, and peace of mind?
It’s a question worth considering in an America where housing costs have soared, groceries consume a growing share of household budgets, healthcare can be extraordinarily expensive, and many people feel increasingly disconnected from their communities.
Despite remarkable technological progress, modern life doesn’t always feel easier.
We possess more computing power than previous generations could have imagined. We can communicate instantly across continents. We have access to extraordinary medical knowledge and increasingly sophisticated technologies.
Yet millions of Americans continue to struggle with the fundamental necessities of life.
This contradiction lies at the heart of THRIVE II: This Is What It Takes, the 2020 documentary created by Foster Gamble and Kimberly Carter Gamble.
The film explores unconventional approaches to energy, health, consciousness, economics, and human freedom. It envisions a world in which technological innovation and individual empowerment make the essentials of life more accessible.
Some of its most dramatic scientific and medical claims remain unproven. Its portrayal of centralized institutional control also goes beyond what the available evidence establishes.
But beneath those controversies is an idea worth exploring:
Perhaps genuine prosperity isn’t about accumulating more possessions. Perhaps it’s about creating a life with fewer vulnerabilities, stronger relationships, greater personal capability, and more freedom to choose how we spend our time.
And unlike the film’s speculative technologies, many steps toward that future are already available.
Here are seven ways to begin.
1. Make Your Home More Efficient Before Spending More on Energy
One of THRIVE II‘s central themes is energy independence.
The film features inventors who claim to have developed revolutionary technologies capable of producing enormous amounts of electricity from unconventional sources.
Those claims have not been independently demonstrated to the standards necessary for widespread commercial adoption.
Fortunately, you don’t need a revolutionary generator to become less dependent on rising energy costs.
The most practical starting point is a surprisingly ordinary one: Stop wasting the energy you’re already purchasing.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a substantial portion of residential energy spending can be lost through air leaks, inefficient heating and cooling systems, and inadequate insulation.
Imagine a household spending $250 per month on electricity.
If practical efficiency improvements reduce that bill by 15%, the household saves $37.50 every month—or $450 annually.
Over ten years, that amounts to $4,500 in avoided spending, assuming unchanged utility prices and no additional maintenance or upgrade costs.
The actual financial benefit depends on the home’s condition and the cost of the improvements. Some upgrades may not produce enough savings to justify their price.
But the principle is powerful.
The cheapest energy is often the energy you no longer need to buy.
Start by examining your last 12 months of utility bills. Look for unusually high seasonal usage and investigate the likely causes.
Check the condition of weatherstripping, insulation, windows, doors, and HVAC equipment. Have an energy professional evaluate more expensive improvements before making purchases.
For North Carolina residents, Duke Energy offers home energy assessments to eligible customers through its energy-efficiency programs.
The state also operates Energy Saver North Carolina, which provides qualifying households access to rebates for energy-efficiency and electrification improvements. Eligibility, funding availability, and program requirements should be checked before committing to an upgrade.
Solar panels, batteries, and backup power can eventually offer additional resilience for some households, but they should be evaluated using actual installation costs, financing terms, local utility rates, and expected production.
The objective isn’t to purchase the most sophisticated equipment.
It’s to create a comfortable, reliable home that costs less to operate.
2. Treat Your Home as a Foundation for Health
We tend to think of health as something managed at a doctor’s office, pharmacy, or gym.
But our homes influence our well-being every day.
Indoor air, moisture, drinking water, ventilation, lighting, noise, and sleep conditions all affect the environment in which our bodies spend much of their time.
A beautiful kitchen or fashionable living room means little if the building has chronic leaks, inadequate ventilation, or persistent indoor pollution.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, improving indoor air quality begins with three priorities: controlling pollutant sources, providing appropriate ventilation, and using filtration when needed.
One of the simplest tools is a humidity monitor.
The EPA recommends maintaining indoor relative humidity below 60%, ideally between approximately 30% and 50%, to help discourage mold growth.
For a homeowner in Charlotte—or anyone living in the humid Southeast—that small measurement can help identify conditions worth investigating.
Moisture problems should be corrected at their source. An expensive air purifier will not fix a leaking roof, damp crawlspace, or water-damaged wall.
Other sensible precautions include checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, testing for radon, maintaining HVAC filters, and properly ventilating kitchens and bathrooms.
Portable HEPA air cleaners can help reduce airborne particles in appropriately sized rooms. They are not substitutes for repairing moisture problems or eliminating hazardous sources.
Homeowners can make improvements gradually. Renters can document leaks or ventilation problems and request appropriate repairs from property managers.
The point is not to become obsessed with making a home perfectly sterile.
It’s to create an indoor environment that supports the people living there.
A healthy home is not a luxury feature. It is essential infrastructure for a good life.
3. Invest in the Health Habits That Actually Compound
THRIVE II explores frequency-based treatments, stem-cell therapies, meditation, and alternative approaches to healing.
The desire behind those investigations is understandable.
People want to feel better. They want treatments that address their problems. And many are frustrated by expensive healthcare that doesn’t always deliver the answers they seek.
But promising testimonials are not the same as reliable medical evidence.
Some treatments highlighted in the documentary have not been shown to produce the extraordinary results claimed. Unproven therapies can also become expensive distractions or cause harm when they replace effective medical care.
The better approach is to combine openness to innovation with careful evaluation of evidence.
Meanwhile, the most accessible health investments are already well established.
Regular physical activity improves cardiovascular health, supports mental well-being, and reduces the risk of numerous chronic diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week for most adults, along with muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days.
That could mean walking for 30 minutes five days a week, with strength training incorporated into the routine.
It doesn’t necessarily require an expensive gym membership.
Meditation and mindfulness may also help some people manage stress, anxiety, and sleep difficulties, according to the National Institutes of Health. They should complement rather than replace appropriate medical treatment, and the benefits vary by person.
A sustainable daily routine can begin with a consistent sleep schedule, regular movement, nutritious meals, time outdoors, meaningful social interaction, and appropriate preventive healthcare.
These habits are not glamorous.
They won’t generate the excitement of a breakthrough medical device.
But their effects accumulate.
A 20-minute walk today may seem insignificant. Repeated across months and years, regular movement can materially improve health.
The same principle applies to sleep, nutrition, strength, and stress management.
The goal isn’t to discover one miraculous intervention. It’s to build an ordinary life that reliably supports extraordinary well-being.
4. Reduce Your Dependence on Expensive Food Systems
Food is another area where Americans often feel they have little control.
Grocery prices have climbed substantially since the pandemic, leaving families spending more money for many of the same necessities.
But food independence doesn’t have to mean owning a farm or growing everything you eat.
It can begin with understanding where your food comes from, learning to prepare simple nutritious meals, and making more intentional purchasing decisions.
Consider the difference between a household that purchases most meals prepared by restaurants and another that regularly cooks at home.
Both can enjoy good food.
But the second household has more control over ingredients, portions, preparation, and the price per serving.
Buying inexpensive staples, comparing unit prices, choosing seasonal produce, reducing waste, and planning meals around what is already available can help contain grocery expenses.
For example, a household that avoids wasting just $15 of food each week retains approximately $780 per year.
That isn’t a prediction of everyone’s savings. It’s an illustration of how small recurring decisions add up.
North Carolina residents also have opportunities to connect directly with regional food producers through farmers markets and local agricultural programs.
Locally produced food is not automatically cheaper, so comparing prices remains important. But direct relationships with producers can improve knowledge of seasonality, sourcing, and available options.
Those with a yard, balcony, or access to a community garden can begin with something modest: herbs, leafy greens, or a few vegetables suitable for the season.
NC State Cooperative Extension provides gardening guidance tailored to North Carolina’s growing conditions.
The objective isn’t total self-sufficiency.
It’s greater competence.
Knowing how to prepare food, shop effectively, and grow something edible gives people more choices. And choices are a form of freedom.
5. Build Financial Independence by Reducing Recurring Obligations
Money is another major theme in THRIVE II.
The film criticizes centralized monetary systems and argues that individuals should have greater control over their economic lives.
Whether or not one agrees with its political philosophy, the practical question is straightforward:
How can an ordinary household become more financially resilient?
The answer starts by recognizing that high income and financial independence are not the same thing.
Someone earning $200,000 annually but spending nearly all of it may have surprisingly little room to maneuver.
Another household earning substantially less, with manageable housing costs, an emergency fund, and minimal expensive debt, may enjoy greater stability.
The difference is not simply income.
It’s the relationship between income, expenses, assets, and obligations.
A useful starting point is a recurring-expense audit.
Examine housing, transportation, insurance, utilities, subscriptions, debt payments, and routine purchases.
Identify costs that no longer provide meaningful value.
A household that permanently eliminates $150 per month of unnecessary spending frees up $1,800 annually.
If those savings are redirected toward paying down high-interest debt or building an emergency fund, the benefits can extend beyond the immediate reduction in expenses.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends making emergency savings consistent and automatic when possible.
Money kept in appropriate, insured savings accounts can also earn interest, although interest rates change and returns may not always outpace inflation.
For longer-term savings and retirement goals, diversified investments may offer opportunities for growth, but they carry risks and should be matched to the individual’s circumstances.
The central lesson is that wealth is not merely a bank balance.
Wealth also includes flexibility.
It is the ability to handle an unexpected repair without financial panic, leave an unsuitable job, support a family member, or take advantage of an opportunity without immediately borrowing money.
Every unnecessary fixed expense eliminated creates a little more room to live on your own terms.
6. Learn to Distinguish Real Innovation From Expensive Promises
Perhaps the most important skill viewers can take away from THRIVE II is not unquestioning belief in its inventions.
It’s the ability to investigate big ideas carefully.
The film features technologies that could be revolutionary if their claims were independently verified.
But scientific progress requires more than compelling demonstrations.
A genuine breakthrough should produce repeatable results under conditions that independent experts can examine.
This is especially important when money or health is at stake.
Before purchasing an extraordinary energy device, expensive alternative treatment, or investment promising unusually high returns, ask for independent evidence.
Who conducted the testing?
Were the results replicated?
What were the limitations?
What happens when the technology fails?
What financial interest does the person making the claim have in persuading you?
A useful warning sign appears when promoters insist that a product works but cannot be independently tested because powerful institutions are suppressing it.
Institutional misconduct can occur. That possibility does not remove the need for evidence.
The filmmakers themselves provide a cautionary example.
Following the release of THRIVE II, the official film website posted a warning about delivery failures involving Saith Group, a company associated with one of the documentary’s most ambitious energy inventions.
The filmmakers advised prospective customers to withhold financial commitments until outstanding orders were fulfilled.
That’s an important reminder that even enthusiastic advocates of new technologies can encounter serious commercial problems.
In healthcare, the stakes can be even higher.
The Federal Trade Commission warns consumers against products promising miraculous cures, especially when claims lack credible clinical evidence.
The most useful form of independence isn’t believing that every established institution is correct—or that every outsider is a visionary.
It’s developing the judgment to examine both.
Real freedom includes the ability to say, “Show me the evidence,” before surrendering your money, health, or trust.
7. Build a Life Around People, Skills, and Community
There’s one dimension of independence that technological documentaries sometimes overlook.
Human beings do not flourish in complete isolation.
We need friendships, families, trustworthy professionals, shared knowledge, and communities where people help one another.
A person who knows how to repair things, cook nutritious meals, manage money, communicate effectively, and work with others possesses valuable capabilities.
But those capabilities become even more powerful when shared.
Think about the resources already available within a typical neighborhood.
One resident understands gardening.
Another knows home maintenance.
Someone else has experience with financial planning, technology, childcare, or running a small business.
When neighbors develop genuine relationships, knowledge circulates. Problems become easier to solve. People gain access to help that doesn’t always require a commercial transaction.
Charlotte and the surrounding Piedmont have extensive networks of civic organizations, volunteer groups, libraries, educational institutions, local entrepreneurs, and neighborhood communities.
These institutions offer opportunities to learn practical skills, build relationships, and participate in solutions larger than any individual household.
Technology can strengthen that process.
Artificial intelligence, for example, can help people organize information, learn unfamiliar subjects, create business plans, or automate routine tasks.
But human judgment remains essential, especially for legal, financial, medical, and safety-critical decisions.
The objective isn’t to replace every institution or eliminate every dependency.
It is to develop the personal capabilities and relationships that make us less vulnerable when systems fail.
True independence is not needing nobody. It’s having the skills, judgment, resources, and relationships to navigate life with confidence.
Your 30-Day Plan for a More Independent Life
Changing everything at once is rarely sustainable.
A better approach is to make a handful of meaningful improvements and build from there.
Week One: Understand your money.
Review three months of spending. Identify your largest recurring obligations, cancel unused services, and establish one realistic savings goal. If you have no emergency fund, begin with whatever amount you can consistently set aside.
Week Two: Improve your home.
Check indoor humidity, inspect for leaks, review your HVAC maintenance schedule, and examine your electricity usage. Request a home energy assessment if your utility offers one.
Week Three: Strengthen your health.
Choose a realistic walking or movement routine. Establish more consistent sleep and meal habits. Try a brief mindfulness practice if it suits you, and address unresolved medical concerns with qualified healthcare professionals.
Week Four: Build capability and connection.
Learn one practical skill that makes everyday life easier. Cook several meals at home, attend a community event, connect with a neighbor, or explore a local class.
Then review what changed.
Did your expenses decrease?
Does your home feel more comfortable?
Are you moving more consistently?
Do you feel more confident managing an area of your life that previously seemed outside your control?
The goal isn’t a perfect transformation in 30 days.
It’s a measurable improvement.
And if those improvements continue for a year, the cumulative results can become significant.
What Does It Really Mean to Thrive?
Perhaps the most important message to take from THRIVE II is that human progress should ultimately improve ordinary life.
Scientific breakthroughs matter.
Economic growth matters.
Technological innovation matters.
But their value should be measured, at least in part, by what they make possible for people.
Can families afford safe, healthy homes?
Can individuals maintain good health without unnecessary financial hardship?
Can people access affordable energy and nutritious food?
Can entrepreneurs build valuable businesses without insurmountable barriers?
Can workers save enough money to enjoy genuine security?
Can communities cultivate stronger relationships and greater resilience?
These are the outcomes that should define progress.
The future may bring extraordinary inventions that transform energy, medicine, and the economy.
Some ideas featured in THRIVE II may never withstand scientific scrutiny. Others may inspire legitimate investigation or innovation.
But we don’t have to wait for any of them.
We can already improve our homes.
We can develop healthier habits.
We can strengthen our finances.
We can learn useful skills, support local businesses, and build meaningful relationships.
We can become better informed, more capable, and less dependent on arrangements that leave us financially or personally vulnerable.
And perhaps most importantly, we can stop equating prosperity with endless consumption.
A truly prosperous life may be much simpler than we’ve been led to believe.
A healthy body.
A comfortable home.
Food we trust.
Money managed wisely.
People we love.
Meaningful work.
And enough freedom to enjoy the extraordinary experience of being alive.
That is a future worth building. And unlike the revolutionary technologies still waiting for proof, it is a future we can begin creating today.
Resources for North Carolina Readers
Energy and housing
- Duke Energy — Home Energy Assessments
- Energy Saver North Carolina — Rebates and Eligibility
- NC Weatherization Assistance Program
- EPA — Improving Indoor Air Quality
Health and personal finance
- CDC — Physical Activity Guidelines
- NIH — Meditation and Mindfulness
- CFPB — Building an Emergency Fund
- FTC — Recognizing Health Scams
The documentary
Editor’s note: This article draws practical inspiration from THRIVE II but does not endorse the film’s unverified technological, medical, or conspiracy claims. Financial examples are illustrative; individual results will vary.