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Small Ways To Live Well from The Simple Things — Home & Garden
Small Ways To Live Well from The Simple Things

Small Ways to Live Well is a podcast from The Simple Things, a monthly magazine about slowing down, remembering what’s important and making the most of where you live.

Hosted by the Editor, Lisa Sykes, in this season, May days & summer afternoons, she’ll be sampling honesty boxes, seeking our magical creatures, taking sensory walks and generally revelling in the promise of summer, alongside co-hosts wellbeing editor Rebecca Frank and regular contributor and slow traveller Jo Tinsley.

To subscribe or order a copy of The Simple Things visit thesimplethings.com

A definite contender for ‘favourite time of the year’ these light-filled days of late spring and early summer are easy to love. The novelty of sustained sunshine and warmer days gladden the hearts. The countryside is at its best and cities start to go all Mediterranean, living life outside. Even the most humdrum garden looks pretty in May.

And we’re as busy as the birds feeding chicks and bees gathering nectar – planting flowers, tending our veg patch and exploring our neighbourhood. It’s the end of the hungry gap with the first harvests so we enjoy eating outdoors and go on our first picnic of the year. We’re learning more about folklore and festivals, listening to birdsong and making the most of long weekends. Join us to dabble in something new and take a spontaneous day trip. Our motto for the season: ‘Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time’.

There are six episodes in Season 9, released weekly from May Day and supported by Titanic Belfast

Copyright: © 2024 Iceberg Press Ltd

Latest Episodes:

Return of the Light Episode 1 - TENDER Feb 09, 2025

Show notes

If you’re not yet ready to come out of hibernation then this episode is for you.

Editor, Lisa Sykes, and wellbeing editor, Rebecca Frank are being kind to themselves, enjoying animal love stories, hugs and other tender gestures, learning how to seek out glimmers, make amends and discovering the importance of saying sorry.

Editing and music by Arthur Cosslett. Season 5: Return of the light is supported by Blackdown Shepherd Huts

Small Ways to Live Well is a podcast from The Simple Things, a monthly magazine about slowing down, remembering what’s important and making the most of where you live.
You can try an immediate start subscription at www.thesimplethings.com/subscribe and receive the current issue straight away, or buy current and back issues at https://picsandink.com/collections/the-simple-things. If you can’t find the issue you’re looking for send us an email hello@picsandink.com
Editing & music by Arthur Cosslett

To read:

Self-Care For Winter: Seven Steps To Thriving In The Colder Months by Suzy Reading (Aster)

Talk: The Science of Conversation and The Art of Being Ourselves by Alison Wood Brooks (Penguin Life)

How To Have Extraordinary Relationships by Lucy Cavendish (Hardie Grant)

Why Buy Roses in February? Campaign from SSAW Collective about ethical ways of working with seasonal produce.

To listen:

Vardrypp – from a Norwegian reader, it's about the moment when the snow starts to melt / drip and you know winter is ending and spring is coming (March in Norway)

Sunshine and Moonbeams by reader Louise Ashcroft

Team TST’s mixtape playlist – all about the songs we remembered from mix tapes past

To buy:

Valentine’s Day alternative ideas:

Scented narcissi www.scillyflowers.co.uk

Devil’s ivy (Golden Pothos)

String of hearts (Ceropegia Woodii)

From The Simple Things:

In the February GLIMMER issue:

Kitchen therapy: feeding your senses

Glimmers: small moments of joy

Animal love matches

Coming up in the March MEND issue (order via picsandink.com from 20 February)

Making amends: how to say sorry

Clementine Curd recipe

Flourish – volume 3 of our wellbeing bookazine

You can try an immediate start subscription at www.thesimplethings.com/subscribe and receive the current issue straight away, or buy current and back issues at https://picsandink.com/collections/the-simple-things. If you can’t find the issue you’re looking for send us an email hello@picsandink.

Fruitfulness Episode 5 - STIR UP SUNDAY SPECIAL Nov 24, 2024

Show notes

Join in our special cook along episode as the team make Christmas cakes, large and small and a gluten-free pudding. In between stirring and mixing, The Simple Things’ Editor Lisa Sykes, Wellbeing Editor Becs Frank and regular contributor Jo Tinsley, will talk festive tipples, homemade gifts and advent calendars. As the cakes cook they’ll be reading seasonal microfiction.

SPOILER ALERT!

One of our stories in the second half of this podcast involves Santa Claus and if you have little listeners in earshot, it might not be something you want them around to hear if you want to keep the magic of Christmas going that little bit longer!
To do:

Listen to our festive playlists – search ‘Christmas Playlist’ on our blog for the Spotify links

To buy:

Gift subscriptions to The Simple Things

Manifesto tea towel

Christmas manifesto cards

Subscribe to The Simple Things

On the blog:

From The Simple Things:

Craft-a peel gathering – November 2023, Issue 137 – Stollen recipe, How to Dry Orange Slices and Painted Candles

Mulling Spices for Wine gift idea – November 2022, Issue 125

Christmas microfiction winners – December 2023, Issue 138

Back issues are available to buy. If you can’t find the issue you’re looking for, send us an email hello@picsandink.com

In the new December Christmas Cheer issue

Hamper swap gathering

Christmas food tidbits trivia

Kitschmas retro drinks & nibbles

To subscribe or order a copy of the magazine visit thesimplethings.com

Editing & music by Arthur Cosslett

Fruitfulness Episode 4 - NOURISH Nov 17, 2024

Show notes

In our Nourish episode Lisa Sykes, editor of The Simple Things magazine, chats to Wellbeing editor Becs Frank about hearty and healthy comfort food, domestic goddesses, why we all have a favourite mug and how to feed your skin in the winter months.
Small Ways to Live Well is a podcast from The Simple Things, a monthly magazine about slowing down, remembering what’s important and making the most of where you live.
To subscribe or order a copy of the magazine visit thesimplethings.com
Editing & music by Arthur Cosslett
To read:

Genius Gut by Dr Emily Leeming (Penguin)

Regrown: How to Grow Fruit, Herbs and Vegetables from Kitchen Scraps by Paul Anderton and Robin Daly (Hardie Grant)

On the blog:

Hasselback Squash with chestnuts, pancetta & mushrooms

https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/hasselback-squash

Bedtime cake
https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/bedtime-cake

Bonfire treats

Cinder toffee https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/2015/11/4/recipe-cinder-toffee

Rye & apple parkin https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/rye-apple-parkin?rq=parkin

Smoked toffee apple bourbon https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/2015/10/5/recipe-smoked-toffee-apple-bourbon?rq=bonfire

From The Simple Things

In the November JEWEL issue

Carrot and Horlicks Tres Leches Cake

Rye spiced pumpkin loaf

Lemony parsnip houmous with sage

An ode to our favourite mugs

In the October WEAVE issue

How domestic goddesses changed the way we cook

Flourish – volume 3 of our wellbeing bookazine

Back issues are available to buy at https://picsandink.com/collections/the-simple-things. If you can’t find the issue you’re looking for send us an email hello@picsandink.com

Fruitfulness Episode 3 - SEED Nov 10, 2024

Show notes

This week, Editor of The Simple Things magazine, Lisa Sykes and regular contributor, Jo Tinsley seek out treasures of the season such as berries, hips, haws, pine cones and conkers; making magical land art; guerrilla gardening and seed bombs; growing unusual berries straight out of The Gruffalo; and the subtle art of letting go.

Small Ways to Live Well is a podcast from The Simple Things, a monthly magazine about slowing down, remembering what’s important and making the most of where you live.
To subscribe or order a copy of the magazine visit thesimplethings.com
Editing & music by Arthur Cosslett
To read:

The Seed Detective: Uncovering the Secret Histories of Remarkable Vegetables by Adam Alexander (Chelsea Green Publishing)

Finding Quiet Strength by Judith Kleinman (Quickthorn)

Tiny Traumas by Dr Meg Arroll (Thorsons)
The National Trust Book of Crumbles by Laura Mason (Harper Collins)
To make:

Damson cheese, hawthorn berry ketchup and salted sloes

https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/2014/09/10/fruits-hedgerow?rq=sloe

Seed bombs

https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/make-seed-bombs?rq=Seed%20bombs

Pine cone bird feeder

https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/2016/12/14/how-to-make-a-pine-cone-bird-feeder?rq=Goldfinches

From The Simple Things Magazine:

October WEAVE issue

https://picsandink.com/products/the-simple-things-issue-148-october?_pos=1&_psq=The+Simple+Things&_ss=e&_v=1.0

November JEWEL issue

https://picsandink.com/products/the-simple-things-issue-149-november?_pos=2&_psq=The+Simple+Things&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Flourish – volume 3 of our wellbeing bookazine

https://picsandink.com/products/flourish-volume-3?_pos=1&_sid=45c0aa519&_ss=r

On the blog:

Wellbeing | How to let go of being busy

https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/wellbeing-let-go-busyness?rq=Letting%20go

Recipe | Sticky sloe and nut clusters

https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/sloe-nut-clusters?rq=sloe%20treacle%20tart

Our remedy of the week | Rosehip syrup

https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/2015/10/7/recipe-rosehip-syrup-and-sloe-gin?rq=sloe
Feature references

Seeds of memories, Berried treasure and Let it sloe (with a recipe for Sloe treacle tart) published in November 2022 (issue 125)

Letting go feature published in October 2023 (issue 136)

Fall into place (land art by artist James Brunt) published in November 2023 (issue 137)

Back issues are available to buy at https://picsandink.com/collections/the-simple-things If you can’t find the issue you’re looking for send us an email

Fruitfulness Episode 2 - SPARK Nov 03, 2024

Show notes

Wellbeing Editor of The Simple Things magazine, Becs Frank and regular contributor, Jo Tinsley discuss our fascination with fire, spicy foods for eating and healing, mending winter woollens and ways to make an autumn walk more ‘awe’ inspiring. Plus a short short on creative autumn pastimes.
Small Ways to Live Well is a podcast from The Simple Things, a monthly magazine about slowing down, remembering what’s important and making the most of where you live.
To subscribe or order a copy of the magazine visit thesimplethings.com
Music and editing by Arthur Cosslett
To go:
Somerset carnivals
https://www.somersetcountycarnivals.com
To read:
Enchantment Reawakening wonder in an exhausted age by Katherine May (Faber & Faber)
Awe: The Transformative Power of Everyday Wonder by Dacher Keltner (Penguin)
To make:
Pumpkin projects
https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/pumpkin-beer-keg?rq=beer%20keg https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/pumpkin-bird-feeder?rq=beer%20kegDip dye candles:
https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/make-dip-dye-candles
From The Simple Things
October WEAVE issue -
https://picsandink.com/products/the-simple-things-issue-148-october?_pos=1&_psq=The+Simple+Things&_ss=e&_v=1.0November JEWEL issue –
https://picsandink.com/products/the-simple-things-issue-149-november?_pos=2&_psq=The+Simple+Things&_ss=e&_v=1.0
Flourish – volume 3 of our wellbeing bookazine
https://picsandink.com/products/flourish-volume-3?_pos=1&_sid=45c0aa519&_ss=rOn the blog:
Turmeric balls
https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/turmeric-balls?rq=turmeric
Hot cranberry toddy
https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/cranberrytoddy?rq=cranberry%20toddy
Revamp your woollens
https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/revamp-woollies
Feature references
The Christmas Craft Gathering and Know a Thing or Two Spices features appeared in November 2023 (issue 137)
Looking up feature appeared in October 2023 (issue 136)
Know a Thing or Two Wool appeared in November 2021 (issue 113)
Know a Thing or Two Fungi appeared in November 2020 (issue 101)
Back issues are available to buy at https://picsandink.com/collections/the-simple-things
If you can’t find the issue you’re looking for send us an email hello@picsandink.com

Fruitfulness Episode 1 - GLOW Oct 27, 2024

Show notes

Editor of The Simple Things magazine, Lisa Sykes and Wellbeing Editor Becs Frank light candles, discuss ways to save daylight and keep melancholy at bay, marvel at autumn colours and the science behind them. The kettle’s on, there is a selection of good cake and time to pause for a seasonal short story.
Editing by Arthur Cosslett.
To go:
Westonbirt arboretum – https://www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt-the-national-arboretumTo read:
Japanese Art of Living Seasonally: An invitation to celebrate every day by Natalie Leon (Watkins Media)
Damn Good Dumplings by Stratis Morfogen (Page Street Publishing)On our blog:
Apple Cinnamon Rose Cake – https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/recipe-apple-amp-cinnamon-rose-cake?rq=apple%20cake
Bobbing Apples Cake – https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/bobbing-apples-cake?rq=apple%20cake
Nightwalking playlist – https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/nightwalkplaylist?rq=NightFrom The Simple Things:
October WEAVE issue – https://picsandink.com/collections/the-simple-things/products/the-simple-things-issue-148-october
November JEWEL issue – https://picsandink.com/collections/the-simple-things/products/the-simple-things-issue-149-november
The Greenhouse gathering featured in our October 2022 issue - 124 (edited)

Everyday Holidays Episode 6 - PAUSE Aug 25, 2024

Show notes

This episode we take a moment to enjoy the final throes of summer before the return to routine and the start of another season. The Simple Things Editor, Lisa Sykes, and Wellbeing Editor, Becs Frank are taking stock and setting intentions but also working out how to make summer stretch a little bit longer.
Expect a tipple or two and could-do lists for the year ahead. Plus a final original short story to wrap up our Everyday Holidays season.
Small Ways to Live Well is a podcast from The Simple Things, a monthly magazine about slowing down, remembering what’s important and making the most of where you live.
To subscribe or order a copy of the magazine visit thesimplethings.com
Editing by Arthur Cosslett.

Everyday Holidays Episode 5 - PLAY Aug 18, 2024

Show notes

They don't call August silly season for nothing.
The Simple Things’ Wellbeing Editor, Becs Frank, is back with Editor, Lisa Sykes eating ice cream and lollies and playing big kid games in the park. They’re going barefoot and trying some messy projects in a bid to find the fun and adventure. A spot of laughter yoga, anyone?
Small Ways to Live Well is a podcast from The Simple Things, a monthly magazine about slowing down, remembering what’s important and making the most of where you live.
To subscribe or order a copy of the magazine visit thesimplethings.com
Editing by Arthur Cosslett.

Everyday Holidays Episode 4 - DREAM Aug 11, 2024

Show notes

If you fancy an afternoon to drift and make plans from your deckchair, think of this episode as your permission slip. Join the Simple Things’ Editor, Lisa Sykes and regular contributor, Jo Tinsley to find the right headspace, dream of a different way of life, explore the appeal of islands and indulge in a spot of nostalgia. Enjoy the read-aloud short story with a recommended summer tipple and test your knowledge of Agatha Christie characters.
Small Ways to Live Well is a podcast from The Simple Things, a monthly magazine about slowing down, remembering what’s important and making the most of where you live.
To subscribe or order a copy of the magazine visit thesimplethings.com
Editing by Arthur Cosslett.

Everyday Holidays Episode 3 - POTTER Aug 04, 2024

Show notes

Slow adventurer Jo Tinsley is back with The Simple Things’ Editor Lisa Sykes appreciating some of the best ways to waste time when you can this summer. First stop is at the beach where they collect sea glass and hagstones, make a sundial and explore rockpools. Then it’s back home to not get busy in the garden and linger outdoors into the night. Have a go at our collective nouns quiz, just because…
Small Ways to Live Well is a podcast from The Simple Things, a monthly magazine about slowing down, remembering what’s important and making the most of where you live.
To subscribe or order a copy of the magazine visit thesimplethings.com
Editing by Arthur Cosslett.

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