Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living

72: Reclaiming the Sacred: Does Money Make Us Happier? with Jeff Golden Feb 18, 2025

Defining what is "sacred" is to determine what truly matters and to recognize the beautiful intersection of every living thing. In this realm, Jeff Golden has spent 30 years and won multiple awards for his work regarding the connection (or lack thereof) between money and happiness so that we can better reject the things that are NOT sacred.

On the podcast, Jeff shares fascinating studies and statistics that paint a picture of the lies that money and overconsumption tell us, and offers ways we can make the concerted effort to reclaim the things that truly matter -- including our own worth.

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

JEFF GOLDEN INFORMATION

https://reclaimingthesacred.net/

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/hellofreshpodcast

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

15% off all Lume products like aluminum-free deodorant at lumedeodorant.com- use code PARING

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

71: How Growing Up in a Cult Made Me More Intentional Feb 11, 2025

Whew, I kind of can't believe I'm pressing publish on this one. I grew up in a high control religious organization, and today I'm sharing my story after a lot of interest came in after I mentioned it in a reel!

I know this is.a bit off the subject of decluttering, but it ties in beautifully with the bigger message of intentional living. I hope this episode is not only interesting, but helps shed some light on the importance of being intentional about our beliefs by making them our own.

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

15% off all Lume products like aluminum-free deodorant at lumedeodorant.com- use code PARING

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/hellofreshpodcast

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

70: Is Decluttering Just for the Financially Secure? with Aubrey High Feb 04, 2025

Avoiding difficult subjects isn't something I want to do on Paring Down. Yet I want to make sure I approach them with humility, positivity, and an open mind - and I hope that tone comes through on today's episode.

I'm so grateful to have Aubrey High from The Reclaimed Home alongside me as we talk through insights she's gained while working with people who are financially insecure - and often recovering from trauma - to responsibly declutter and organize their homes. (Stories shared on this episode are done so with permission and anonymity.)

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Aubrey High's Instagram: @the.reclaimed.home.co

Aubrey High's email: thereclaimedhomeco@gmail.com

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Aubrey's first appearance on Paring Down: Making Space for Things and People We Love

Episode 67: 5 Psychological Phenomena that Affect Decluttering & Consumption

Katy Joy Wells Instagram

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

69: The Best Principles to Guide Your Decluttering Jan 28, 2025

Finding a decluttering method that works for you is great, but identifying principles that can apply to any decluttering decision is even more powerful.

In this episode, I share 10 principles -- or established truths about life -- that can help guide our processes and decisions as we decide what should stay and what should go in our homes, schedules, and beyond.

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Mentioned in this episode:

Shannon's Instagram post about decluttering clothing that doesn't fit

Effortless by Greg McKeown

Shannon's book, You're Completely Normal

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

68: Decluttering for Senior Adults & Their Families with Jeannine Bryant Jan 21, 2025

This episode has been a long time coming, and I'm so happy it's finally here!!! I know so many of you struggle to help your parents declutter in their senior years of life, or perhaps you're a senior adult yourself and struggling to manage the possessions you've accumulated in life.

I'm honored that Jeannine Bryant of Easy Rightsizing joined me to share her 15 years of wisdom on this topic, having helped hundreds of seniors and their families downsize (or "rightsize") their belongings. Jeannine's approach is one of practicality, respect, and - above all - connection. You will feel seen. You will feel empowered. You will feel prepared. And you will LOVE this episode.

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Jeannine Bryant Instagram: @easyrightsizing

Easy Rightsizing Facebook

Easy Rightsizing YouTube

www.easyrightsizing.com

Moving Day Planning Timeline & other resources

Jeannine's book: Keep the Memories Not the Stuff

Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson

The Regrets of the Dying blog post by Bronnie Ware

Leaning into the Season of Giving (Paring Down episode about where to donate)

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

67: 5 Psychological Phenomena that Affect Decluttering & Consumption Jan 14, 2025

It's always SO exciting when I record something that immediately becomes one of my favorite episodes. This is one of those!! My degree is in psychology because I've always been fascinated with understanding human behavior, motivations, and emotions. So today, I explore 5 psychological theories and cognitive biases that affect WHY it's hard to declutter, and what we can do to move forward.

I hope you feel seen and empowered.

Remember: I am not a doctor of psychology, rather just sharing concepts I've found to be highly interesting!

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Books related to this episode:

Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter

Subtract by Leidy Klotz

The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

66: How to Develop a Minimalish Mindset with Diane Boden Jan 07, 2025

Diane Boden of the Minimalist Moms podcast joins us on Paring Down today to talk about how to adopt a more minimalish mindset in 2025 and beyond. It's not just about goal-setting - it's about viewing our possessions and our life with clarity, which will propel us into action.

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Diane Boden Instagram: @diane_boden

Minimalist Moms Instagram: @minimalistmomspodcast

Minimalist Moms podcast

Minimalist Moms book

Books mentioned:

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

65: Reflection Questions to Live More Intentionally Dec 31, 2024

We can't live intentionally while never taking time to pause and reflect on our lives. Through this purposeful evaluation, we are able to consciously decide our next steps, what to keep, and what to let go.

Even if resolutions aren't your thing, this is a great time of year to do this practice of reflection -- so let's walk through 8 questions together and see what adjustments it's time to make (or not)!

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Episodes mentioned:

How Living with Less Inspires Generosity with Ultralight Backpacker Glen Van Peski

Tidy Up Your Life with Tyler Moore aka Tidy Dad

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/paring10fm

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

64: Tweaks to Simplify Your Life with Erin Port Dec 24, 2024

Today we welcome Erin Port of Simple Purposeful Living to the podcast! I LOVE Erin's "big sister energy" (her words) that so gently remind us that we don't have to be extreme with our choices in order to simplify our lives.

In a season of overwhelm (Merry Christmas Eve, btw!), I think you'll absolutely love this episode that helps you find ways to make your life easier through the littlest tweaks.

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Erin Port Instagram: @simpllepurposefulliving

Simple Purposeful Living website

Simple Purposeful Living podcast

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Webiste & Blog

Paring Down YouTube

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/freeparing

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

63: A Balanced Approach to Birthday Parties Dec 17, 2024

Birthday parties are a great example of how the true power of a “minimalish” life isn’t in less for the sake of less, rather it’s about intentionality.

In this episode, I share how our family personally approaches birthday parties - from why we do them at all, to how many kids are invited, to gifts and goody bags and themes!

Biggest takeaway: Minimalism isn’t the lens through which I view life. It’s a symptom of living intentionally…because inevitably, only the essential will shine. But I don’t look at life as a challenge to do or have the least possible. There’s a difference there, and the former is much more freeing!

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Blog

Paring Down YouTube

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/freeparing

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

62: Tidy Up Your Life with Tyler Moore (aka Tidy Dad) Dec 10, 2024

THE ONE THE ONLY Tyler Moore aka Tidy Dad is on today's episode! Tyler is so engaging, positive, and honest-- three attributes that have led him to features on Good Morning America and in The New York Times, Apartment Therapy, and more. You'll love listening to his insights that inspire us all to tidy up our homes and lives!

Plus you MUST get your hands on his book, Tidy Up Your Life, which releases January 7th. I got an advanced reader copy and you can read my review in my "Nonfiction" highlight HERE in my profile!

Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Blog

Paring Down YouTube

Tyler Moore's Instagram: @tidydad

Order Tyler's book, Tidy Up Your Life

thetidydad.com

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/freeparing

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

61: Simplifying Holiday Traditions Dec 03, 2024

In this episode, we talk through 5 ways to keep traditions from becoming overwhelming -- from focusing on the big picture instead of the details, to creating a fair divide of responsibilities with your partner.

Here's to a less stressful, more magical holiday season!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Other Paring Down episodes:

Avoiding the Christmas Clutter

Making Holiday Decor Meaningful

What the Bible Says About Our Stuff

Leaning Into the Season of Giving

Why We Celebrate the Birth of Jesus

Paring Down resources:

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

MORE OF PARING DOWN:

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

CODES:

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/freeparing

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

60: Decluttering Out of Gratitude with Deanna Yates Nov 26, 2024

We often declutter from a place of frustration with all of the stuff in our homes, but the process is not only more enjoyable - but more sustainable, too - if we approach decluttering out of gratitude.

In this episode, Deanna Yates from the Wannabe Clutter Free podcast shares some of the ways she takes a gratitude-led approach to decluttering. We also talk about how living with less sparks more thankfulness in our hearts.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Paring Down Blog

The L.E.S.S. Express Newsletter

Wannabe Clutter Free podcast

Deanna Yates Instagram @wannabeclutterfree

MORE OF PARING DOWN:

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

CODES:

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/freeparing

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

59: Busting Myths About Decluttering Nov 19, 2024

If I’ve learned one thing since creating a public platform about decluttering, it’s that a LOT of people have misconceptions about what it means to declutter.

So today, we’re getting into 10 decluttering myths and why they’re not true - from “decluttering is wasteful” to “decluttering means you can’t be sentimental.”

OTHER EPISODES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE:

Getting Past the "Wasted Money" When Decluttering

Sentimental Items

Finding the Time to Declutter

Home Organization Tips with Kenika Williams

Know Your Why Worksheet HERE under "freebies"

MORE OF PARING DOWN

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Newsletter The L.E.S.S. Express

CODES:

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/freeparing

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

PARING DOWN RESOURCES:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Free Gift Request Email Template

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

58: Spending Money on What We Value with Jen Smith Nov 12, 2024

You lucky ducks get to hear from Jen Smith of the highly popular Frugal Friends podcast! In this episode of Paring Down, she teaches us all about values-based spending so that you can Buy What You Love Without Going Broke - which also happens to be the name of her book coming out in January (alongside cohost and coauthor Jill Sirianni).

How we spend our money is often directly related to the clutter in our homes and schedules, so you don't want to miss this motivating conversation that underscores my favorite theme that threads together every episode: Intentional living.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Newsletter The L.E.S.S. Express

Jen Smith Instagram: @moderfrugality

Frugal Friends Podcast: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/

Buy What You Love Without Going Broke book preorder HERE

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/freeparing

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Paring Down Resources:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

57: Should We Never Buy Anything Ever Again? Nov 05, 2024

Learn 5 ways to be a conscious consumer, along with some of the dangers of taking minimalism to the extreme in this episode of Paring Down!

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Newsletter The L.E.S.S. Express

Episode: How to Make Sustainability Less Complicated with Shila Wattamwar

40% off luxurious bedsheets & loungewear from Cozy Earth: https://cozyearth.com - use code PARING

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/freeparing

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

15% off your first order at PACT (sustainable, ethical clothing): https://wearpact.com/ - Use code PARINGDOWN

Paring Down Resources:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

56: What If You Lost Everything? with Lala Hairston Oct 29, 2024

Lala Hairston lives in the Tampa Bay area, which was ravaged by both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. She shares her powerful story of coming to terms with the possibility of losing everything she owns, and how that gave her new perspective on living a more decluttered life. She also shares valuable and vulnerable outlooks on the meaning of "stuff" from lessons in her childhood, starting at age 6 when she and her mom arrived in the United States with only 4 suitcases.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com

Paring Down Newsletter The L.E.S.S. Express

Lala Hairston Instagram: @bestofthebaycleaning

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/freeparing

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING

Paring Down Resources:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

55: The Ripple Effect of Clutter with Laura Carlin Oct 22, 2024

Have you ever considered how your home either helps you or hinders you when it comes to your goals?

Is it helping you be the kind of parent you want to be, or making it harder?

Is it helping you have a stronger marriage, or distracting you from your partner?

Clutter can affect us in ways we may not even realize. So can our routines and boundaries.

In this episode, author Laura Forbes Carlin shares her insight on this ripple effect of clutter, and offers different concepts that can help us figure out how to choose what stays and what goes (like “everything is alive”). She also shares a framework for deciding when and how to include your kids in the decluttering process.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

$300 off AirDoctor air purifier + free 3 year warranty ($84 value) :

https://airdoctorpro.com/ & use code PARING

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/freeparing

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

Laura Forbes Carlin Instagram: @inspired.everyday.living

Inspired Everyday Living Website: https://www.inspiredeverydayliving.com

Buy Laura’s books, Decluttering for Parents or Declutter & Manifest: https://www.inspiredeverydayliving.com/books

Paring Down Resources:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

54: How to Keep the Clutter from Coming Back Oct 15, 2024

Somehow, inanimate objects seem to grow legs and find their way back into our homes and onto our counters. Decluttering can feel like fighting a losing battle-- barely scooping the water out of the boat before it comes rushing back in.

This episode covers 5 reasons clutter might keep coming back in your home, and ways to make sure you can finally keep it out for good.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com

Paring Down Newsletter The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down YouTube Talk, Tidy, Tune

10 Free Meals from Hello Fresh: www.hellofresh.com/freeparing

This show is brought to you by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month of Better Help therapy: www.betterhelp.com/paring

Paring Down Resources:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

53: Home Organization Tips with Kenika Williams Oct 08, 2024

Decluttering is the first step to an organized home, but today we're diving into the organization piece of home management head first.

What product should we use? Where should we start? How do we make it look pretty?

Professional home organizer, Kenika Williams of Tidied by K answers all of those questions and more to set you up for success as you create a home that is functional and beautiful.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com

Paring Down Newsletter The L.E.S.S. Express

Join the Photo Declutter Community on Facebook (by Picta)

Kenika Williams Website: https://tidiedbyk.com/

Kenika Williams Instagram: @tidiedbyk

Kenika Williams Tik Tok: @tidiedbyk

Pretty Good Box song by The Holderness Family

Paring Down Resources:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

52: Getting Past the "Wasted Money" When Decluttering Oct 01, 2024

If you struggle with decluttering because it feels like watching bags of money go out the door, then this episode is for you!

In it, I share not only helpful mindset shifts, but practical ways that decluttering actually helps us financially in the long run.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com

Join the Photo Declutter Community on Facebook (by Picta)

Paring Down Resources:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

51: Getting to the Root of Our Clutter with Jenny Albertini Sep 24, 2024

Who better to help us understand how clutter affects us from a holistic perspective than public health expert, Jenny Albertini?

Jenny uses easy to recognize categories (health, home and work/beyond), but pulls in the underpinning issues (structural inequities, brain based conditions, consumer culture) to help anyone looking to live a healthier, less overwhelmed life.

Her experience being trained under Marie Kondo herself and spending thousands of hours helping clients organize their homes gives her a tremendous amount of insight and perspective to complement her background in public health.

How does clutter affect our relationships? Our culture? Our health? And what about the other way around...how do all of those things affect our clutter?

This conversation will make you feel validated in your struggle with clutter and consumerism, but inspired and challenged at the same time.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com

Join the Photo Declutter Community on Facebook (by Picta)

Jenny Albertini book: Decluttered: Mindful Organizing for Health, Home, and Beyond

Jenny Albertini website: https://www.jennyalbertini.com/

Jenny Albertini Instagram: @declutteredbyjenny

Paring Down Resources:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

50: The Guilt & Fear of Decluttering Gifts Sep 17, 2024

"What if they ask me where it is??" "I feel ungrateful." "They expect to see it displayed."

These are just a few of the hard issues we dive into on today's episode, because we're talking about parting with items that were gifted to us.

Decluttering gifts can be really tricky, primarily because of two emotions:

Guilt - an internal experience as we wrestle with our core values (gratitude, kindness, etc.).

Fear - which is formed from the external pressure we feel from another person to keep the gift...and our discomfort around their potential reaction if we don't.

Today's episode is NOT an easy or straightforward topic, but I hope you find the strategies and mindsets I share useful as you declutter your home to experience a less stressful, more functional environment...all while navigating the tricky waters of relationships and personal dissonance.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com

Join the Photo Declutter Community on Facebook (by Picta)

Paring Down Resources:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠

$5 ⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

49: The Link Between Money Management & Clutter with Brad Nelson Sep 10, 2024

There are two major pieces to living a decluttered life:

1) What we get OUT

2) What we let IN

On today's episode with Brad Nelson from Debt Free Dad, we talk about how to make smart choices with our money that not only decrease financial stress, but help us stay mindful about what we let IN during our decluttering journey.

Brad also shares ways we can make money while decluttering as a tool for getting out of debt or creating a rainy day savings account.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com

Debt Free Dad website: debtfreedad.com

Debt Free Dad Podcast

Brad Nelson Instagram: @debtfreedad

Paring Down Resources:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠

⁠Instagram Growth Basics

⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠

Free 15 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas

⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

48: Decluttering Books as a Book Lover Sep 03, 2024

STOP, book lovers! Don't scoff and say "No way am I listening to this episode because books are something I'll never declutter!"

I mean, you can absolutely say that and we can still be friends and it's all good.

However, I think this episode will surprise you! I'm a huge book lover myself, so I want to 100% validate readers by recognizing exactly why it's so hard to declutter our precious books.

I offer 5 top reasons we want to hold onto them, then ONLY once those reasons are fully understood and accepted do we dive into mindset shifts or new perspectives that may help you lighten your load in a way that heightens your love for books rather than diminishes it in any way.

My book: ⁠You're Completely Normal⁠

My newsletter: ⁠The L.E.S.S. Express⁠

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠

Instagram Growth Basics

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

47: Motivation to Unplug & Enjoy Life with Eric Moeller Aug 27, 2024

No one wants to end up on their death bed and say, "I wish I hadn't spent so much time on my phone."

Founder of FreeWyld vacation cabins, Eric Moeller helps shed light on the importance of unplugging in a practical (not unrealistic) way.

His 6 steps for entering into what he calls "Wyld Mode" help us break out of our screens and embrace experiences with our loved ones that truly feed our souls and help us live the life we know we want to live.

In this episode, we also talk about finding purpose in what we do with our time, alongside the benefits of spending unplugged time building healthy relationships.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@paring_down⁠⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠⁠theexpertbeginner.com⁠⁠

FreeWyld Website: ⁠www.freewyld.com⁠

FreeWyld Instagram: ⁠@stayfreewyld⁠

Eric Moeller Instagram: ⁠@ericdmoeller⁠

Paring Down Resources:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram Growth Basics

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

46: How We Decluttered Our Garage Aug 20, 2024

Ask and you shall receive!

When I polled the audience a few weeks ago about areas you'd like to declutter, lots of you said that your garage or your basement were hanging over your heads.

Sometimes these huge projects can feel impossible, so we never start them out of a state of overwhelmed paralyzation.

I hope today's episode gives you the encouragement to start on your own garage, basement, or doom room - to hear how my husband and I tackled ours, and to know that it CAN be done! You CAN do it!

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠

Instagram Growth Basics

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

45: Determining Your Priorities with Ashli Pollard Aug 13, 2024

Paring down what's important in our life sounds nice and all, but HOW?

So often, pretty much everything feels important. We'd love to say that not everything is a priority, but most of the time it can feel anxiety-provoking to not *do it all.*

Business owner (x5) Ashli Pollard is at the top of her field - her agency working with celebs from Brooke Shields to Bethenny Frankel - and reaching thousands of entrepreneurs with her podcast, The Unfiltered Entrepreneur, and her online membership, The Doers.

If anyone knows about determining priorities, it's Ashli. She offers practical approaches we can take to figuring out what needs our attention NOW, and what can wait - both in our work and in our personal life.

Plus she's been one of my favorite humans and friends for 12 years. It's a fun episode - we both love to laugh, and hope you do too!

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Ashli Pollard Instagram: @ashli_p

Ashli's podcast, The Unfiltered Entrepreneur

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

44: Brainstorming Solutions to Clutter Problem Areas Aug 06, 2024

Do you have an area of your house that can't seem to stay decluttered or organized no matter what you do?

Same.

Today I walk you through the four biggest clutter problem areas in my own home, and hope that you find inspiration as I brainstorm how to keep the clutter at bay!

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

43: Creating Household Rhythms to Foster Peace with Ben & Brianna Folkman Jul 30, 2024

One of the most efficient ways to simplify your life so your life becomes exponentially easier is to implement household rhythms.

Each new rhythm (i.e. routine, habit, etc,) takes away the mental load of problem-solving and decision fatigue. When you don't have to think through what to do, you're left with way more brain space and a lot less stress.

Ben and Brianna Folkman of Folklife Rhythms have spent years learning best practices for implementing their "flexible frameworks" in order to create a more peaceful home - even during the chaotic years of little kids.

They walk us through their understanding of how rhythms create security in our relationships (for our kids, too!), as well as their Parenting and Teamwork Series that sets couples up for success as they navigate life as a unit.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com⁠

Ben & Brianna Instagram: ⁠@bribenfolklife⁠

Ben & Brianna Website: ⁠folkliferhythms.com⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

42: 15 Ways to Spend Less Money Jul 23, 2024

This episode doesn't list things to avoid temptation, like unfollow influencers or take the Amazon Prime app off your phone - though those are great ways to save money!

Instead, we're talking about actionable steps that will save you money - from small choices to big life decisions.

Why should we bother paring down our spending? Does spending less and saving more truly matter? Don't worry, we'll cover that, too!

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠

Paring Down Website: ⁠theexpertbeginner.com⁠

Print photos: printique.com

Gen Z vs. Millennial Blog Post

⁠⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠⁠

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

41: Timeless Truths About Simplicity with Suzanne Johnson Jul 16, 2024

How do you know an idea is true?

That's a pretty big question, but I've found that the best way to know if an idea is worth exploring is to find out how long it's been around.

Because, as Mark Twain famously said, "There's no such thing as a new idea."

Sage wisdom usually comes in the form of a repetitive idea that respected spiritual and thought leaders have landed on independently over hundreds - even thousands - of years.

Today on the podcast, we welcome Suzanne Johnson, whose book Vital Simplicity pulls on the work of Charles Wagner - who authored The Simple Life in 1895.

Living simply as a means to internal fulfillment is a timeless truth - a conclusion that dates back as far as 600 BCE.

If that's not motivation to at least explore the principle of living with less...I don't know what is!

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠@paring_down

Paring Down Website: theexpertbeginner.com

⁠⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠⁠

⁠⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠⁠

⁠⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠⁠

Suzanne Johnson Website: suzannesjohnson.com

Suzanne Johnson Blog: avitalsimplicity.com

Blocks

by Suzanne Johnson

Child plays

Hour after hour

Stacking blocks

Knocking down

Holding wooden

Cubes in his

Tender hands

He is

Entertained

Leave the

Floor bare

Except for

These sturdy

Pieces

He finds his

Way

His interest is

Held

Add Legos

To the mix

And coloring

Books

Trains and trucks

And why not

Screens?

He soon becomes

Bored

Let his

Amusement

Be in the

Simple things

Let his

Vision sharpen on

One thing at a

Time

Cut through the

Clutter

And find

Joy

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

40: Managing Your Busy Schedule Using Time Blocking Jul 09, 2024

What do you do when there just aren't enough hours in the day?

I've got you!

Time blocking might sound intimidating, but in this episode I break down exactly how to block out your schedule in order to

- avoid burnout

- accomplish your goals

- avoid time-sucking distractions

This episode also covers brain-dumping and checklists, which are tools you can use no matter how structured or flexible you prefer your days.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠@paring_down

Planner: So Typical Me

⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠

⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠

⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

39: How Living with Less Inspires Generosity with Ultralight Backpacker Glen Van Peski Jul 02, 2024

The benefits of living with less can be discovered through as many avenues as there are people - and today, we hear how ultralight backpacking was the catalyst for Glen Van Peski to embrace a lighter load in his every day life.

Glen's wilderness stories are inspiring (I can't help but laugh at his hiking story with Matthew McConaughey), but his lessons about generosity as a result of minimalism are even more profound.

We often think "But I need MORE in order to give to others," but Glen's hard-won wisdom and experience proves otherwise. When we live with only the essentials, we make space for showing up for others in ways that we'd be blind to otherwise.

This is an episode that I think will stick with you for a very long time. Glen's book Take Less, Do More: Surprising Life Lessons in Generosity, Gratitude, and Curiosity from an Ultralight Backpacker is available wherever you buy books!

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠@paring_down

Buy Take Less, Do More: ⁠glenvanpeski.com⁠

Email ⁠glen@glenvanpeski.com⁠ to request signed book for $25

⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠

⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠

⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

38: A Shame-Free & Intentional Approach to Screen Time for Kids Jun 25, 2024

Screen time is a really sensitive subject.

I cover why these sensitivities are important to respect and address in the beginning of this episode - there are very real dynamics that have NOTHING to do with how much parents love their kids as to why some families use more screen time than others.

With that in mind, decluttering and minimalism are rooted in intentionality - and that intentionality piece is the focus of today's episode as we talk through screen use as parents.

I share exactly where we've landed with screens in our home at this stage in life and how we can all approach our decisions about screen time with flexibility, foresight, and deliberate consciousness.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠@paringdownpodcast⁠

Episode of Minimalism Podcast: "A Life More Engaging Than the Algorithm"

⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠

⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠

⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

37: Curating Simple & Ethical Closets with Lacey Woodroof Jun 18, 2024

I don't know about you, but I want getting dressed to feel easy.

I want to feel good in my clothes, no matter how casual or dressy the occasion.

I don't want to feel overwhelmed by choices or frustrated that I have "nothing to wear."

I also want to know that my closet isn't a result of someone else in this world barely scraping by. Cheap clothes that fall apart are not only annoying, they're usually a representation of mistreatment.

The older I get, the more I know it's up to me to put in slightly more effort into how I acquire clothing, because while I can't fix every problem in this world, I CAN look at my own choices and evaluate if they're something I'm proud of.

As always, this podcast is a no-judgment zone, so if you consistently partake in fast fashion - don't be alarmed. This episode is to help ALL of us be less stressed when we get dressed in the morning, and may provide a few new ideas to chew on!

Our guest, Lacey Woodroof of Basic (abasicshop.com), speaks to the heart of why women's fashion can be such a pain, and offers creative and practical ways to start dressing in a less overwhelming, more sustainable manner.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Basic Instagram: @abasicshop

Lacey Woodroof Instagram: @laceymwoodroof

Basic Website: www.abasicshop.com

Color Remover: ritdye.com

Machine Dye: dylon.co.uk

Brands with ranged sizing:

Alabama Chanin

NLT

Ni Thomas

Harly Jae

Corinne Collection

Proclaim

Pact

Jamie & the Jones

MIAKODA

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

36: 20 Habits of the Home to Prevent Overwhelm Jun 11, 2024

Want to avoid that terrible feeling when your house just feels like this giant weight on your shoulder?

There's laundry to fold, the counters have stuff all over them, your closet looks like a tornado ran through it, and the inside of your microwave looks like a murder scene.

On today's episode, I walk you through 20 general habits you can begin to implement in order to keep your home from being a source of stress and overwhelm!

*picture of my daughter's hair organization will be in my Instagram stories today 6/11/24, and I'll save it in the my highlight on Instagram titled "Organize"

Frugal Friends Podcast Episode: Grocery Store vs. Warehouse Club Savings Analysis

Book: The Year of Less by Cait Flanders

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠@paringdownpodcast⁠

⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠

⁠Free Baby Essentials List⁠

⁠Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

35: Making Unconventional Choices to Live More Intentionally with Sona Avetisyan Jun 04, 2024

Ready to get personal?

Living with less goes a LOT deeper than having a less stressful, decluttered home. This week's guest, Sona Avetisyan, is a professional organizer whose focus on intentional living is deeply reflected in her own life.

Sona shares about her own journey of discovering what she actually cares about - even though it's counter cultural - and what that looked like in the wake of a divorce. She speaks vulnerably and passionately about creating a life that represents our personal core values, no matter how unconventional it may be.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: ⁠@paringdownpodcast⁠

Sona Avetisyan Instagram: @theminimalist.me

Sona Avetisyan Website: theminimalist.me

Sona Avetisyan Facebook

Sona's book recommendations:Simplicity Parenting The Artist's Way

Paring Down ⁠Free Know Your Why Worksheet ⁠

⁠Paring Down Free Baby Essentials List⁠

⁠Paring Down Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff⁠

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

34: The Pitfall of Too Much Backstock May 28, 2024

For the sake of savings and convenience, so many of us fall into the trap of keeping too much backstock in our homes.

It's become all too common to treat our homes as a store, instead of letting stores be the store and our homes be our home - with just enough that we need for daily living inside it.

So what IS the right amount of backstock?

We'll explore that question on today's podcast through different lenses in regards to waste, finances, and the stress caused by clutter...because backstock is a BIG culprit of the clutter in our homes.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Free Know Your Why Worksheet

Free Baby Essentials List

Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

33: Slowing Down Our Lives with Stephanie Seferian May 21, 2024

The question we often forget to ask ourselves even though it is central to our wellbeing:

Is this working for me?

Does this pace of life feel good? Am I spending my time how I’d like? Are my routines helping me or cycles I’d like to break out of?

If our basic needs like food and shelter are met, then where we spend our time is up to us!

Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, does it?

In this episode, Stephanie Seferian of the Sustainable Minimalists walks us through what it means to slow down and truly live a life that’s aligns with each of our unique wishes, needs, and temperaments.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Sustainable Minimalists Podcast Sustainable Minimalists on Instagram: @sustainableminimalists Stephanie’s book: Sustainable Minimalism: Embrace Zero Waste, Build Sustainability Habits that Last, and Become a Minimalist Without Sacrificing the Planet Stephanie’s website: https://mamaminimalist.com

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

32: Finding the Time to Declutter May 14, 2024

"How do you find the time to declutter?"

I hear this question on repeat - and I get it! Between kids and jobs and just...life...it's hard to find time to eat a meal sometimes, much less tackle decluttering the house.

So I hope this episode gives you some ideas of how to find the time as I share what has worked for me during 3 different stages in my life: As a full time "working" mom, as a SAHM, and as a hybrid of both. Because I've been all 3, and each comes with its own challenges for finding the time!

My FREE Know Your Why Worksheet

My Complete Guide to Decluttering Kid Stuff

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Episode that talk about decluttering with kids around:

Mistakes We Make While Decluttering

Permission to Declutter

Does Minimalism Deprive Our Kids

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

31: Taking Messy Action with Sarah Horgan May 07, 2024

Well, folks. It happened.

My first tears on the podcast.

Sarah Horgan of the Simple & Intentional Podcast is one of those people who makes you feel completely seen and heard, and I am so grateful we had such a personal and honest conversation.

Sarah's story of being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer 10 years ago and how that led her to live a more intentional, minimal life is powerful.

We also went in deep about these deeply ingrained notions of perfectionism and people-pleasing that often paralyze use from taking the action we need to in order to see change in our lives.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Sarah Horgan Instagram: @simpleintentional

Join Sarah's Intentional Living Membership: https://this-intentional-life-community.mn.co/share/86EqypwUCWG1QRlU?utm_source=manual

Simple + Intentional website: simpleintentional.com

Simple + Intentional Podcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

30: Minimalish Lessons Learned from Van Life [Paring Down Travel Miniseries] Apr 30, 2024

FIFTY-EIGHT SQUARE FEET, people.

It's nuts and we love it!

This week I share with you a bit more behind-the-scenes of van life in our camper van that is 58 square feet of "living" space, and how spending time in such close quarters with 5 humans and 2 dogs really highlights the beauty of living with less.

I also offer some tips and ideas for your next road trip - especially if you have kids in tow!

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

29: Paring Down Flight Anxiety with J.D. Oliver [Paring Down Travel Miniseries] Apr 23, 2024

You do NOT want to miss this one, you guys.

While this podcast primarily focuses on paring down our belongings to declutter our homes, I like to branch out a bit every now and then to pare down different beliefs, anxieties, and ideas we have on a variety of subjects in order to help us move through the world with less stress and more peace.

Well, flight anxiety is one of those things I simply can't ignore during a miniseries called Paring Down Travel. And who better to help us feel a bit better than my old man??

He's a former fighter pilot for the U.S. Navy, and went on to fly for FedEx. A Top Gun grad and all-around brilliant human and aviator, my dad not only shares his FASCINATING stories of flying, but gives us helpful information that can keep us a bit calmer in the air.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28: Ask a Flight Attendant + Flying with Kids with Caroline Bright [Paring Down Travel Miniseries] Apr 16, 2024

What if my kid needs to pee when the fasten seatbelt sign is on?

What should I bring to entertain my kids on a flight?

Also, what exactly is the role of a flight attendant? From their perspective, what are basic dos and don'ts of air travel?

You will LOVE this enlightening and fun conversation with former Miss Vermont, year-9 flight attendant for a major US airline, Unitarian Universalist Ministerial Intern, and mom of 2 (almost 3!) - Caroline Bright.

This Paring Down Travel Miniseries is aiming to help us figure out what's important when it comes to traveling, and I have no doubt you'll learn a ton from this true professional in the airline industry.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Caroline Bright Instagram: @carolinebright

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27: Traveling Light with Kira K. Dixon [Paring Down Travel Miniseries] Apr 09, 2024

Paring Down Travel is a miniseries I’ve wanted to bring you since the moment The Paring Down Podcast was conceptualized. Particularly air travel. And I KNEW I had to bring on Miss America 2015 and sports broadcaster, Kira K. Dixon.

Kira is one of my personal fashion icons and manages to always look amazing and unique while traveling 30 weeks a year. How does she keep her sense of style and self while packing just a carry on? You’re about to find out, and I hope this episode encourages you to be a savvy, light traveler on your future adventures.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Kira's Instagram: @kirakdixon

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26: What to Do With Gifts That Are Clutter Apr 02, 2024

"What do I do with all the stuff other people give me and the kids?" Whew, this is a BIG one.

It's a nuanced topic, but I hope you find nuggets of help-- both practical and mindset-driven-- as we walk through 5 different types of gifts we receive from other people.

From holidays to hand-me-downs, I share with you best practices that have helped me navigate personal relationships with care while also respecting my own need for a less cluttered and stressful home.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25: Releasing Shame When Decluttering with ADHD with Elena Willitts Mar 26, 2024

Our brains don't all work the same way, so we won't have the same experience decluttering and managing our homes!

Elena Willits, host of the Kind Organizing Podcast, shares her own experience with ADHD and how it has shown up in her journey to create a peaceful living space.

With vulnerability and practicality, Elena talks us through feelings of shame many of us experience when we can't seem to stay on top of our homes, along with how she's developed practices and routines that allow her to enjoy a home that is well lived-in, but not overwhelming.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Elena Willits' Instagram: @kindorganizing

Elena's Website: kindorganizing.com

Elena's Podcast: The Kind Organizing Podcast

Goal Digger Podcast episode with Jenna Kutcher & Tracy Otsuka: A Deep-Dive into ADHD for Women Entrepreneurs

Pen Holderness Book, ADHD is Awesome

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24: Decluttering Photos On Our Phones and In Our Homes Mar 19, 2024

You only get to find out how many photos are on my phone if you listen to the podcast! Haha...but seriously, it's embarrassing. I'm learning right along with you in this episode, offering strategies for how to go through an overwhelming number of photos, and best ways to organize them once we declutter.We also dive a bit deeper into the importance of photos. How can we be intentional about preserving memories instead of picking up the phone simply because that's what we're used to doing? What are we so afraid of in terms of not documenting every moment and experience? We also talk a bit about hard copy photos and what to do with all those 4x6s from high school or summer camp 2002.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Shannon's family yearbook: Chatbooks app

Ordering 4x6 prints: Snapfish (100 free prints/month with the app!)

4x6 Album for Family Yearbook - large capacity ($20.39 - I lied-- the 600 pocket one doesn't have margins for captions but you can write pertinent info on the back of a photo! I like that this has a display in the front where you could put a notecard with the year for a family yearbook)

4x6 Album for Family Yearbook - 240 slots ($12.99)

4x6 photo album - I have 2 for all my miscellaneous loose photos (turns out these hold 300...I said they held more on the podcast!)

5x7 photo album

8x10 photo album

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23: Making Space for Things and People We Love with Aubrey High Mar 12, 2024

Can you imagine your family living with your in-laws AND your parents?

Certified Organizer Aubrey High knows and chose this experience, and once you hear her speak, you'll know why it works. It's such a PLEASURE to talk with someone who has such a deep sense of self-awareness, empathy, and intention.

Aubrey shares with us her family's unique decision to combine homes, what that meant in terms of paring down all of their belongings, and how she's learned to make space not only for people and things, but for her truest Self.

Aubrey High Instagram: @thereclaimedhomeco

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

22: Doom Piles & Mail Mar 05, 2024

Piles are the enemy's favorite weapon. (Is that too dramatic? It is. But let's go with it.)

The enemy: Stress caused by a cluttered, messy home.

Piles are a sneaky weapon because they're the bad guy *undercover.*

Most piles start out with good intention. We think the piles are on our side.

Like items are set aside together: Organization!

We're keeping some of the chaos contained: Control!

...but the next thing we know, the piles reveal their true selves and emerge as the biggest battle yet.

(Okay wow this still feels really dark. I'm reading Iron Flame right now, so my mind is 100% dragon wars. STAY WITH ME.)

Listen, piles happen. We're human.

Whether they're random doom piles of items we didn't feel like dealing with, or mail piles in need of sorting or filing, you CAN ditch the habit.

Today's episode walks you through practical tips, mindset shifts, and routines that will help you DEFEAT THE ENEMY.

(Lolzz but for real, anyone else reading Fourth Wing or Iron Flame? Isn't Tairn hilarious? NO SPOILERS)

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21: Influencer Culture & Finding Contentment with Yeli Heidecker Feb 27, 2024

With raw honesty, Yeli Heidecker shares her personal story that led to her decision to fully declutter her home today on the podcast.

This is one of those episodes that will feel deeply relatable. It's so easy to start striving for what our culture calls successful-- the new car, the bigger home-- only to find out that those things don't bring more happiness to our lives.

We also dive into influencer culture, and how Yeli originally felt an internal pressure to keep up with the homes and lifestyles of people she saw on social media. She challenged herself to find contentment in her own life, and everything changed.

This conversation really gets to the root of why we prioritize what we do in life, how we can take responsibility for our perspectives, and what truly matters for the wellbeing of our souls.

Yeli Heidecker Instagram: @yeli.heidecker

Yeli's Ultimate Stress to Simplified Guide

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

20: Kid Stuff: Sentimental, Educational, Practical, & Private Feb 20, 2024

This is your sign to DM me and let me know if there's ever a topic you want me to cover on the podcast! I love it!

Today's episode is a compilation of requests that all revolved around kid stuff in some form or fashion.

From "What do I do about children's books when they mean so much to me??" to "How do I help declutter my older kids' stuff when I also need to respect their privacy?", I do my best to cover questions that have come directly from YOU!

There's so much to say on kid stuff that I can't possibly cover it in one episode-- so there will be more iterations of Kid Stuff episodes in the future.

Even if you don't have kids, so many of the ideas within this episode can translate to managing our own stuff or working with our partner on their stuff, so don't shy away!

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

ArtKive

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

19: Decluttering as a Couple with Aaron Leyko [Paring Down Relationships Miniseries] Feb 13, 2024

It's about to get REAL, y'all!! My husband, Aaron, is on the show with me today.

Coming at you from my side of the closet, we share things we've done well and things we've learned the hard way when it comes to decluttering as a couple.

Aaron is a natural maximalist when it comes to stuff...he wants to keep ALL of it. (And can tell you exactly why!)

I live on the other side of the spectrum and would honestly be happy to burn it all to the ground.

So we're here to save you some headaches and hopefully a few arguments as you aim to live in a home that doesn't overwhelm you...while still operating as different types of human beings under the same roof.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Thrifty Old Time Ice Cream Scooper

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

18: Seven Things I've Learned About Love [Paring Down Relationships Miniseries] Feb 06, 2024

Am I the only one who loves a good love story?

Well, I hope not, because that's what I'm dishing up on the podcast today...sort of.

More like, I'm sharing some love stories gone wrong while I was dating in my 20s. Specifically, my seven most influential relationships before meeting my husband.

SEVEN, SHANNON?! (Clutches pearls.)

That wasn't even all of them. I cast a wide net, okay??

Each of these 7 dudes came with a significant lesson that led me to a deeper understanding of what love is...and what it isn't.

Ultimately, I've pared down what I know to be true about romantic love.

While I think (and hope!) I'll continue learning about love as my life unfolds, I wanted to share these 7 lessons with you as we enjoy the little miniseries on the podcast called Paring Down Relationships.

Paring Down Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

17: When Our Partner Doesn't Want to Declutter with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish [Paring Down Relationships Miniseries] Feb 03, 2024

This episode is a BIG one!!

It will be answering the #1 question I get in DMs: What do I do if my partner won't declutter?

Not only will it answer this question, it features the one and only Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, world renowned psychologist and couples therapist.

Using her 20 years of clinical experience, Tracy walks us through

- how to approach our partner about their stuff

- asking the right questions

- what to do when they get defensive

...and so much more.

Today's episode kicks off our 3-week mini series, Paring Down Relationships, so Dr. Tracy also sheds light on the *most* important things to focus on in our relationship for longevity and satisfaction. The goal is to pare down what really matters when it comes to the person we love.

Dr. Tracy Instagram: @drtracyd

More-Than-Roommates Challenge (kicking off Feb. 1)

Dr. Tracy Blog: 5 Characteristics of a Healthy Relationship

Dr. Tracy Podcast, I'm Not Your Shrink: The Weekly Meeting

Dr. Tracy Website & Online Resources

Dr. Tracy's book I Didn't Sign Up for This

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16: Permission to Declutter with Jane Conroy Jan 23, 2024

Have you ever felt stuck, then heard someone say "It's okay to do what you need to do"... and you feel this big weight lifted from your chest?

Sometimes, all we need is for someone to gently offer us permission to take the step we know we want to take, but our anxiety and guilt paralyze us.

Whether it's wanting to please our kids, worrying that our loved ones will personalize our choice, or fear of failure, we don't take the first step in our decluttering journey.

Professional organizer, Jane Conroy of Dwell & Bloom Interiors (formerly The Simplified Home) graciously walks us through practical steps of decluttering, as well as reminds us that *it's okay* to let go of items no longer serving us.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Jane's simplifying Instagram: @thesimplified.home

Dwell & Bloom Interiors Website

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

15: Does Minimalism Deprive Our Kids? with Elisabeth Beam Jan 16, 2024

As parents, we're often concerned that our choices will negatively affect our kids, and decluttering feels like such an "adult" choice. So what does this mean for the kiddos?

Elisabeth from @balancingbeams and I dive into the intersection of decluttering and parenthood, discuss the balanced approaches we take, and work through the misconceptions about what it means to live with less.

If you don't already follow Elisabeth, you're going to want to after this episode! Her decluttering story is so relatable, and she's just a beacon of inspiration and warmth.

Elisabeth Instagram: @balancingbeams

Paring Down Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14: Emotions We Feel When Decluttering Jan 09, 2024

I was SO inspired after listening to Brene Brown's book, Atlas of the Heart, that I had to do a podcast episode that draws inspiration from the different emotions she defines through her qualitative research. Because paring down and decluttering is EMOTIONAL! We're proud, we're guilty, we're relieved, we're overwhelmed...we're all the things. Today, I walk you through some of the top emotions people feel when decluttering or managing their possessions. I hope that by identifying these internal experiences, it offers you the ability to move through them more easily.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Atlas of the Heart

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

13: Making Sustainable Living Less Complicated with Shila Wattamwar Jan 02, 2024

Do you ever feel like "What's the point of going green? What difference is my one little choice going to make?"

Or maybe you think "It's too complicated. I just don't have the bandwidth to add sustainability to my list of things to do."

This episode with Shila Wattamwar is such a breath of fresh air! Shila is a true industry insider when it comes to sustainable living, and offers motivating yet gentle perspective about why living with less supports a more sustainable future not only for the world around us, but for our personal selves, as well.

If you're looking for additional reasons to declutter your home and adopt a more minimal lifestyle, this episode is for YOU!

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Shila Wattamwar Instagram: @sustainableme.today

Sustainable Me Website

Sustainability With Soren Podcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

12: Ideas for Simplifying in the New Year Dec 26, 2023

It's the last episode of 2023! What is this life??

This week, I walk you through the areas of my life I simplified this year in hopes of giving you a few ideas for what to pare down in the coming year! From books to the social media to paper flyers, I've really become intentional about what's allowed in my physical and mental space.

Maybe next year I'll actually finish decluttering the garage.

Happy New Year, everyone!!

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11: BONUS: Where Do Popular Christmas Traditions Come From? with Molly Stillman [Paring Down the Holidays Miniseries] Dec 21, 2023

For the very last episode in our Paring Down the Holidays miniseries, I'm back on the pod with author, fellow podcast host, and all around dynamite human being, Molly Stillman.

We continue our conversation from Tuesday (go back and listen to Episode 10 if you haven't yet!!) as we dive into different Christmas traditions and where they come from.

What's the history of the Christmas tree? Why do we celebrate on December 25? Who came up with Santa's reindeer?

Molly gives her *controversial* opinion on a major tradition as gently as possible but it's still scary because parents are a sensitive bunch, so have mercy on her, please.

It's been SO fun to pare down all things Christmas, from decor to Jesus. Thanks for coming along for the ride. Next week we'll be picking back up with more straightforward decluttering content!

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Molly Stillman Instagram: @stillbeingmolly

PREORDER Molly's Book IF I DON'T LAUGH, I'll CRY HERE

Molly Stillman's website: www.stillbeingmolly.com

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10: Why We Celebrate the Birth of Jesus with Molly Stillman [Paring Down the Holidays Miniseries] Dec 19, 2023

Who was Jesus? Does he matter even if you're not a Christian? Why do we celebrate his birth?

I'm so excited to pare down the meaning of Christmas in this episode with the HILARIOUS, wise, and brilliant Molly Stillman. Molly is an author, podcast host, church planter, farmer, mother, comedian...she's truly dynamic.

This podcast is not just for followers of Jesus, however as we move through this miniseries, Paring Down the Holidays, I can't help but bring forth my own faith as we get intentional about focusing on the true meaning of Christmas.

This episode is mind blowing, faith-building, and loaded with the GOOD stuff.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Molly Stillman Instagram: @stillbeingmolly

PREORDER Molly's Book IF I DON'T LAUGH, I'll CRY HERE

Molly Stillman Website: www.stillbeingmolly.com

BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) Studies: www.bsfinternational.org

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9: SOLO - Leaning Into the Season of Giving [Paring Down the Holidays Miniseries] Dec 12, 2023

Sometimes I find myself of falling into this trap:

I want to be generous...I THINK I'm pretty generous...I definitely care about generosity.

But then my days get filled with soccer practices and career work and hobbies and time with family and school events, and suddenly I realize that while nothing I'm doing is bad-- in fact a lot of it is great (family time!)-- my heart to care for others has become a nice thought instead of an actual part of my life.

We're smack in the middle of the miniseries on the podcast called Paring Down the Holidays. I hope today's episode is anything but pressure-filled, rather instead, it can offer practical and motivating ways we can combine our decluttering journey with the value of giving back. 'Tis the season!

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

WHERE TO DONATE:

domesticshelters.org - ZIP CODE

pickupplease.org - ZIP CODE

Place of worship

School (call and ask if they have a donation program for kids in needs of coats, shoes, etc.)

Children in Foster Care: Google donate to foster children near me

Refugees

Goodwill or Salvation Army

Buy Nothing Groups on Facebook

Freecycle.org

Findhelp.org

Word of mouth!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8: What the Bible Says About Our Stuff with Hanna Seymour [Paring Down the Holidays Miniseries] Dec 05, 2023

We are smack in the middle of the holiday season, which for me, means Christmas! The Paring Down Podcast isn't a podcast only for Christians, however Jesus is a big part of my life, so I wanted to really pare down my beliefs surrounding decluttering and minimalism through the lens of what the Bible has to say about it. What better time of year to dive into this than when we're about to celebrate Jesus' birth?

I'm HONORED to welcome Hanna Seymour as our guest on this topic, because her love for the Word is so evident. She uses her wisdom and knowledge gleaned in seminary to discuss what the scriptures say about living with less and what this can look like for modern believers (no we don't all need to sell everything we own and become monks!).

Is money all bad? Is stuff inherently evil? Why does it have anything to do with faith? How does the modern church look in comparison to early churches in the Bible?

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Hanna Seymour's website

Hanna Seymour Instagram: @hannaeseymour

Hanna Seymour's podcast: No Matter What

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7: SOLO - Making Holiday Decor Meaningful [Paring Down the Holidays Miniseries] Nov 28, 2023

Thanksgiving is behind us, so it's officially time to decorate for Christmas! (Let's be honest, most of us already have.) This is a podcast about decluttering, but it's not a podcast about stringent rules or opinions. All of us will land somewhere a little different when it comes to how much holiday decor we'd like to display. The key is intentionality-- what holds meaning to us? What do we want to put the effort into taking down in January? What do we want to store the other 10-11 months out of the year?

From trees and ornaments to garland and knick knacks, I dive into my own evolution of decorating for the holidays and offer helpful approaches to pare down the clutter with the goal of making room for the *true* magic of the season.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Paring Down Podcast YouTube: YouTube channel

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6: Creating Community in Small Spaces with Britt Meyer Nov 21, 2023

Today on the show, I'm throwing it back to my days in NYC. Ah, to be 23 and frolicking around the city while sharing a tiny 6-floor walk up! My old NYC roommate, Britt Meyer later moved from NYC to Hong Kong, where she was a princess at Hong Kong Disneyland, then landed in London with her husband and three young daughters.

Spending her adulthood in different major cities around the world means that Britt has learned the art of living in small spaces-- in every stage of life-- and has developed a passion for creating community that grows from close quarters, second-hand sharing, and a heart of contentment.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Britt Meyer Instagrams: @brittanyymeyer, @m_e_s_s_y_, @youbettasingmama

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5: SOLO - Sentimental Items Nov 14, 2023

Ep. 5: Do you struggle to let go of sentimental items? In this episode, I share my experience with decluttering sentimental items after my mother passed away when I was 24 years old. You'll hear some perspective shifts that helped me not hold onto every little thing that reminded me of her. I dive into letting go of baby items for our kids, deciding what *is* special to keep, and a big question that I've learned to ask myself because of what happened one afternoon flipping through old yearbooks.

Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4: Forming Our Identity Outside of What We Own with Madison Embrey Nov 07, 2023

It's one thing to live in a small house-- it's another to live out of two suitcases. Madison Embrey joins the show today, telling us about her life as a stunt performer and dancer on tour for the last 10 straight years. She sheds light on how to step outside of excessive fashion or home decor to create a sense of self that isn't grounded in what we own-- and proves that what we *want* is fundamentally different than what we actually *need*.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Madison Embrey Instagram: @madisonembrey

Madison Embrey Website: www.madisonembrey.com

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2: SOLO - My Decluttering Story Oct 31, 2023

I have NOT always been a minimalist...and many purists probably wouldn't consider me one, even now! The point is that I've been on a journey to owning less for *years*. My decluttering story is a bit different than most in that I never had a big "aha" turning point toward living with less. It's been a slow burn that gained traction over a series of life events that revealed to me how clutter was getting in the way of my peace. When it's hard to get to the washer/dryer because the garage is so full of stuff...HOUSTON, we have a problem! Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1: Mistakes We Make When Decluttering with Matlin Pessarra Oct 31, 2023

Decluttering our homes to avoid the mess and overwhelm sounds great *in theory* to most of us...but where in the world do we start?? In the debut episode of Paring Down, Shannon chats with professional organizer Matlin Pessarra, who sheds some light on mistakes people make when trying to organize their homes, as well as insider tips for approaches that actually work.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Matlin Pessarra Instagram: @getminimized

Minimized Website: www.getminimized.com

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3: Avoiding the Christmas Clutter with Karla Graves Oct 31, 2023

The holidays are upon us! And that means an influx of stuff, traditions, and events. Oftentimes, we end up just wanting to "get through the holidays" because it's all so overwhelming.

In this episode, Shannon brings on small-space interior designer Karla Graves to talk about living intentionally with less, and how to prepare our homes, our kids, and our hearts for a less daunting holiday season.

From what to put in stockings and boundaries surrounding gifts, to resisting the urge to follow every little tradition we see other families doing, this conversation is for anyone who wants the holiday magic without the holiday fuss.

Paring Down Podcast Instagram: @paringdownpodcast

Karla Graves Instagram: @raka_home

Raka Home Design Website & Blog: www.rakahomedesign.com

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SNEAK PEEK - Episodes Coming 10/31/23 Oct 23, 2023

Coming October 31, 2023! The Paring Down Podcast will bring you conversations about the physical and mental clutter that drowns out what truly matters to each of us. If you're looking for motivation to declutter your home-- or to simply live with more intention-- join Shannon Leyko each Tuesday for interesting, practical conversations about paring down what you own, want, and believe.

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paringdown/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected