The Simplified Podcast with Emily Ley

Latest Episodes:

36: Involving Kids in Political & Gov't Discussions (with Sharon McMahon) Oct 21, 2021

Show notes

If you're a parent, you probably think every single day about how to raise kids who are kind and hopeful, who know how to ask good questions and think critically, and who know how to disagree with someone else respectfully. Sooner than we realize, kids will be adults who make decisions about to run the world, using the tools and stories and lessons they learned first at home. That's why, little by little, as nerve-wracking as it is, Emily and Bryan are introducing discussions about government and politics at the dinner table. For tips about how to do it gracefully, Emily's consulting a very special guest: Sharon McMahon! You may know her better as @SharonSaysSo, America's Government Teacher, who shares non-partisan government facts and political news on Instagram. Sharon and Emily talk about how Sharon talks about these topics with her teens and nine-year-old and how to teach kids what is and what isn't a reliable source of information, how to ask questions and let kids come to their own conclusions, and why it's important to debate a politician's actions in office without demeaning their personhood.

Thank you to our episode sponsor!

"JESUS LISTENS" BY SARAH YOUNG | Get your copy at Barnes & Noble (https://bit.ly/3CbdRd8) or at your favorite book retailer today!

* * *

GET EMILY'S LATEST BOOK!

Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life You Love is available now!

* * *

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube

* * *

LET'S BE FRIENDS!

Simplified: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook

35: Making Debt-Free Decisions for Your Home & Business (with Bryan Ley) Oct 14, 2021

Show notes

Making decisions about money is enough to put anyone on a feelings rollercoaster—especially if you're trying to make decisions with a partner at home or a colleague at work. But as uncomfortable as it is, how you handle your finances plays a role in building the life you want. This week, Emily's kicking off a brand-new series called Simplified Finances, where she'll help you grow more confident around money so you can find the freedom to use your time and resources in ways that matter to you. And here to help is a very special guest: her husband Bryan Ley! An entrepreneur himself, Bryan has a rich background in finance and banking, and today he and Emily hash through how their parents raised them to think about money, what their conversations around money were like when they were first married (spoiler alert: there were a few sparks) and how their financial decisions have evolved as a married couple and as business owners. They share some of their biggest money mistakes, some no-shame tips for getting out of debt quickly, and why talking about money, as hard as it is, is key to using it wisely and trusting each other.

Thanks to our episode sponsors!

"JESUS LISTENS" BY SARAH YOUNG | Get your copy at Barnes & Noble (https://bit.ly/3CbdRd8) or at your favorite book retailer today!

GREEN CHEF | Go to https://greenchef.com/simplified125 and use code SIMPLIFIED125 to get $125 off—including free shipping!

* * *

GET EMILY'S LATEST BOOK!

Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life You Love is available now!

* * *

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube

* * *

LET'S BE FRIENDS!

Simplified: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook

34: Three Ways to Get Ahead on the Holidays Oct 07, 2021

Show notes

You may have just put mums and pumpkins on your front porch, but here's a poorly-kept secret: it's *never* too early to start planning for the holidays. Emily's got three easy, doable things you can do to start prepping for special meals, gifts, and schedules so you can get some time (and sanity!) back when your calendar starts to fill up soon. Here's the thing: joy isn't found just in the spontaneous moments. It's also found in moments we planned for, because we made space in our lives for them. And when you've got time to enjoy a cup of cocoa with your family instead of frantically wrapping presents in your bedroom, you'll hive-five yourself for getting a holiday head start.

Thanks to our episode sponsors!

"JESUS LISTENS" BY SARAH YOUNG | Get your copy at Barnes & Noble (https://bit.ly/3CbdRd8) or at your favorite book retailer today!

GEMMIST | Visit gemmist.com and enter code SIMPLIFIED at checkout for 20% off your personalized hair care subscription and free 2-day shipping.

* * *

GET EMILY'S LATEST BOOK!

Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life You Love is available now!

* * *

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube

* * *

LET'S BE FRIENDS!

Simplified: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook

33: Overcoming Overwhelm (Simplified Soul Care #2) Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

In a world that prizes what we do far more than who we are, feeling overwhelmed can feel like the status quo and even validating—while feeling relaxed means you're not working hard enough. But that kind of thinking is wreaking havoc on our bodies and our minds. When our bodies whisper, "I can't do this anymore" and we actually listen, when we set boundaries around what we need instead of piling more on our plates, we begin to beat back the feelings of overwhelm we were never made to carry. If you're finding yourself weary and burned out, this episode's for you—Emily will take you by the hand, help you slow down and find tangible ways you can carve out some space to care for yourself. Because when you believe the world actually benefits when you care for yourself, that feeling of overwhelm will become far less all-consuming.

Thanks to our affiliate partner!

GROVE COLLABORATIVE | Fall scents are here, y'all. Spend $20 on your first order, and get a FREE Mrs. Meyers Gift Set! https://emilyley.com/grove

* * *

GET EMILY'S LATEST BOOK!

Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life You Love is available now!

* * *

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube

* * *

LET'S BE FRIENDS!

Simplified: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook

32: How to Clean Any Room (The Keeping of Home #2) Sep 23, 2021

Show notes

"Home" is more than just a place. It's the soft place to land after a hard day, where you can care for yourself and refill your well. Like anything, it takes effort to maintain a home where you can relax—and that includes cleaning it. But who has the time to give *cleaning* a ton of energy when you've got so many other things on your plate? There's a million ways to clean a room, but automating how you clean will take some of the work out of that chore so you can direct your energy into things that matter more. Emily shares three simple steps to clean any room, along with her favorite tools to get the job done faster, so you can get your time back and start relaxing again a bit sooner.

Thanks to our affiliate partner!

GROVE COLLABORATIVE | Fall scents are here, y'all. Spend $20 on your first order, and get a FREE Mrs. Meyers Gift Set! https://emilyley.com/grove

* * *

GET EMILY'S LATEST BOOK!

Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life You Love is available now!

* * *

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube

* * *

LET'S BE FRIENDS!

Simplified: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook

31: Unraveling the Social Highlight Reel (with Natalie Franke) Sep 16, 2021

Show notes

We all know spending a few mindless minutes scrolling through social media can make you feel like you're not enough—not beautiful enough, not thin enough, not successful enough, not a good enough mom or partner or friend. But what if we completely changed the way we used our socials? Instead of just consuming, what if we used them to *actually* connect with people? And instead of competing, what if we cheered each other on instead? Natalie Franke knows how life-giving that shift can be. Natalie is an entrepreneur and founded an organization called the Rising Tide Society, and their highest value is "community over competition." (Hooray!) Natalie shares about her new book Built to Belong, along with some practical tips to take back your socials, use them to intentionally connect with other people, and bring some life back into your online—and offline—world.

* * *

Thanks to our episode sponsor and affiliate partner!

POLICYGENIUS | When it comes to insurance, it's nice to get it right. Head to https://policygenius.com right now to get started.

GROVE COLLABORATIVE | Fall scents are here, y'all. Spend $20 on your first order, and get a FREE Mrs. Meyers Gift Set! https://emilyley.com/grove

* * *

GET EMILY'S LATEST BOOK!

Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life You Love is available now!

* * *

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube

* * *

LET'S BE FRIENDS!

Simplified: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook

30: Managing Kids' Anxiety in Stressful Times (with Sissy Goff) Sep 09, 2021

Show notes

It can feel challenging—and even overwhelming—to navigate our anxiety. We watch the headlines, we see the hardships our loved ones face, we try to be as helpful as we can while caring for ourselves. It's a lot, and it can feel overwhelming at times. But if we feel this way as adults who can process complicated emotions, imagine how stressful and scary these times can feel for kids. Children need our help to navigate their big feelings more than ever—which is why we're delighted to have therapist Sissy Goff on the podcast this week! Sissy is the director of child and adolescent counseling at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville. Emily and Sissy talk about how to recognize anxiety in your kids (even when it's lurking beneath the surface), how to strike the balance between protecting kids while raising them to be resilient and knowledgeable, and why a "calm kit" will be one of the best new tools in your toolbox. Sissy reminds us that the end of the day, kids need to feel safe. And right now, cultivating a home that's a safe place for them to land, for them to take off their masks and ask questions over lemon chicken and mashed potatoes, to climb into a soft bed with a story or two—that's really impactful.

* * *

Thanks to our episode sponsor!

GREEN CHEF | The #1 meal kit for eating well! Go to greenchef.com/simplified100, and use code simplified100 to get $100 off and free shipping.

* * *

NEW 2022 SIMPLIFIED PLANNERS ARE HERE!

https://emilyley.com

* * *

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube

* * *

LET'S BE FRIENDS!

Simplified: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook

29: Using a Digital & Paper Calendar Together Sep 02, 2021

Show notes

At Simplified, it's the most wonderful time of the year: it's Launch Week! We've been releasing 2022 Simplified Planners (and a whole lot more!) into the world, and we're hearing one question from y'all over and over: "How can I use a digital calendar and my Simplified Planner together? Is it even possible?" We're glad you asked—because it is! Emily's an expert at using a hybrid planning system to keep track of everything at home and work, and she'll take you through her easy planning routine step by step. From organizing your work projects to making sure appointments are kept and important dates are celebrated, Emily's tactical tips will help you cut down on the brain fog and nail down what's important to tackle this week.

2022 Simplified Planners are HERE!

https://www.emilyley.com

* * *

Thanks to our affiliate partner!

GROVE COLLABORATIVE | Spend $20 on your first order, and get a FREE Mrs. Meyers Gift Set! https://emilyley.com/grove

* * *

GET EMILY'S LATEST BOOK!

Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life You Love is available now!

* * *

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube

* * *

LET'S BE FRIENDS!

Simplified: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook

28: Listener Q&A – Finding Morning Routines, Strong Team Members, & Cultivating Lasting Relationships Aug 26, 2021

Show notes

We get a lot of questions over here at Simplified, like how do you find a new team member who's as excited about your workplace mission as you? Is it possible to find the perfect morning routine—or at least one where you're not hitting the snooze button five times? How do you keep a relationship with a partner strong for the long haul? This week, Emily's trying out a brand-new feature on the show: answering some of your most frequently asked questions! From work worries to cultivating strong relationships with our partners and friends, and even with ourselves, today's episode is like having a good coffee date with a great friend. Have a question for Emily? Leave it in a podcast review, and Emily might answer it in the next Q&A episode!

Thanks to our episode sponsor!

BETTERHELP | Affordable, private online counseling — anytime, anywhere. Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/simplified

* * *

NEW SIMPLIFIED PLANNERS ARE ALMOST HERE!

Follow along to get the latest news

Simplified: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook

* * *

GET EMILY'S LATEST BOOK!

Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life You Love is available now!

* * *

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube

27: Weekly Meal Planning Will Change Your Life Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

Do you need more time and less stress during the back-to-school rush? Would you like more structure in your week as you roll into fall? Then say hello to a practice that'll instantly change your life: meal planning! Because when you sit down one time and map out what your people will eat for the week, the stress of the "What's for dinner?" question after a long day instantly evaporates (along with your hangriness). This week, Emily shares 6 life-changing tips to make meal prep an easy part of your week. From writing down your family's favorite meals in your phone, to stocking up on emergency pantry meals (mac 'n cheese, anyone?), meal planning doesn't have to be time-consuming. It's a simple way to get more time back into your week, so you can get back to the good stuff a little more quickly.

Thanks to our episode sponsors!

GREEN CHEF | The #1 meal kit for eating well! Go to greenchef.com/simplified100, and use code simplified100 to get $100 off and free shipping.

POLICYGENIUS | When it comes to insurance, it's nice to get it right. Head to policygenius.com right now to get started.

* * *

GET EMILY'S LATEST BOOK!

Growing Boldly: Dare to Build a Life You Love is available now!

* * *

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube

* * *

LET'S BE FRIENDS!

Simplified: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook