In this episode, Julia Ubbenga, creator of Rich in What Matters, explores the universal struggle with clutter and why letting go of possessions is a challenge for everyone. She shares her journey to minimalism, including overcoming debt and downsizing her family’s belongings by 75%. We discuss strategies for tackling emotional attachments to items, recognizing biases, and aligning decluttering with personal values. Julia explains how minimalism can bring freedom and peace, especially for busy moms.

With the rising cost of living and food prices, many are struggling to afford nutritious meals. Drawing from her own experience with food insecurity after a health crisis, my guest today, author, Kimberley Gillan provides insights on affordable shopping, meal planning, and ingredient swaps that stretch each dollar. She emphasizes realistic strategies that make nutritious eating accessible without sacrificing flavor or quality. Listeners will leave with actionable tools to improve their diet, save money, and foster better well-being for themselves and their families.

Have you ever considered how the colors you wear might impact your confidence and body image? In this episode, I sit down with Lindsey Myers, founder of Created Colorful, to explore how finding your perfect colors can transform your life. Lindsey’s company helps women feel empowered through a unique color matching process that enhances their natural beauty. Since launching during the pandemic, Created Colorful has grown into a team of 22 women who have worked with over 4,000 clients, teaching them how their skin tones, eye colors, and hair colors influence which shades suit them best. Lindsey shares actionable tips for identifying your most flattering colors and explains how embracing color can help you feel more confident every day!

What if instead of waiting for a long sabbatical, you could experience the healing benefits of rest every single week? In today’s episode, I'm joined by Kathi Lipp, author of Sabbath Soup, to explore the idea of a weekly sabbath—one day set aside for rest, renewal, and connecting with what truly matters. We discuss how simplifying meal planning can reduce decision fatigue, foster family connection, and even get kids excited about trying new foods. Join us as we uncover how a weekly day of rest can transform your busy life into a more peaceful one.

Today, I'm joined by Brandon and Whitney Cawood, whose personal journey led to an astonishing discovery: removing synthetic dyes from their son’s diet transformed his behavior almost overnight. After struggling with impulse control, hitting, and biting, they found that cutting out these dyes stopped the issues within 48 hours. Their experience inspired them to create To Dye For: The Documentary, which uncovers the hidden dangers of synthetic dyes on children’s health. Traveling across the U.S. and Europe, they've gathered insights from experts and affected families, determined to raise awareness and inspire change. Stay tuned to hear how this simple dietary shift could improve millions of lives - including yours!

Join me for a conversation with author, Carlos Whittaker on his transformative journey embarking on a bold experiment: disconnecting from screens for seven weeks. Immersing himself first in the serenity of a remote monastery, then on an Amish farm, and finally at home, Carlos saught to unveil the profound impact of being unplugged in his mind and spirit. Through this exploration, he discovered new dimensions of presence, mindfulness, and inner peace, revealing how stepping away from the constant buzz of technology can lead to deeper connections with both the world and oneself.

How do couples stay connected when life’s stressors threaten to pull them apart? What if the problem isn’t your partner―it’s stress? In today’s episode, Diane Boden talks with Elizabeth Earnshaw, a licensed marriage and family therapist and author of Till Stress Do Us Part, about navigating relationship challenges.

Why do so many marriages hit their breaking point between five and eight years? In this episode, we dive into this critical question with Chelsea Damon, who has coached thousands of couples through their toughest seasons. Drawing from her own decade-long marriage and professional experience, Chelsea reveals the deep-rooted issues like selfishness, pride, and anger that often undermine relationships. Join us as she shares powerful insights and practical advice for finding a better way to live and love, even when the road gets tough.

Struggling to get your child to sleep peacefully through the night? In today’s episode, slept expert, Jessica Berk, spills her secrets to a successful bedtime routine. Learn how to establish a consistent routine with clearly defined steps and involve your child to promote cooperation. She'll also share how certain bedtime books can help ease separation anxiety. This episode is sure to provide practical tips to ensure your child gets the restful sleep they need!

Today's students face unprecedented pressure to succeed, cramming their schedules with AP classes and resume-padding activities, often at the expense of their well-being and relationships. Family incomes and schedules are strained by tutoring fees and athletic commitments, leading to increased anxiety, depression, and self-harm in high-achieving schools. Today's guest, author, Jennifer Wallace explores the root(s) of this toxic culture and is here to offer solutions to develop the resilience and self-confidence to thrive.

Joining me on today's episode is fashion designer, Laurel Wells Thompson. Our conversation focuses on the history of children's fashion, how things changed post-industrial revolution, why we are addicted to cheap clothes, the true cost of fast fashion, what to look for when shopping for kids' outfits (everything from fabrication to construction) and more...

Join me today for a conversation with author, Shauna Niequist. Her new book, I Just Haven't Learned That Yet, is full of stories of how we cope with unexpected change, letting go of previous seasons, and embracing the present. I’ve been a fan of Shauna for many years and this interview is yet another example of her incredible way with words! We talk about letting go of old ways that no longer serve us, learning to let go, being easily delighted and more!

As our children grow older, their responsibilities will naturally grow. There are personal responsibilities and there are household responsibilities but the question is: how do we delegate? Today’s episode is all about how we can implement simple solutions to involve our children in household chores. And joining me for this conversation is creator of the popular blog, Bless This Mess, Melissa Griffiths.

Swedish Death Cleaning, or döstädning, is removing unnecessary items and preparing your home so that your loved ones aren’t burdened by them after you pass away. While the book that made it famous in 2017, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson, focuses mostly on people who are in their sixties or “when the time is coming closer for you to leave the planet”, there is no reason why we can’t start today as younger moms who don’t want to burden our spouse/partners and loved ones. One question: If you were to die tomorrow, what would your loved ones have to do? Here to walk us through the practicals of this question is writer and fellow minimalist, Emily McDermott. Emily will answer questions such as: Who is death cleaning for? How long is this process? Should we tell our families? What are the lessons we can learn from this culture? And more…

Join me for a bonus episode with authors, Abbey Rodriguez & Jennifer Kurdyla. Abbey and Jennifer are the co-authors of “Root and Nourish: An Herbal Cookbook for Women’s Wellness,” where they teach women how to incorporate plant medicine into everyday life through food and self-care, as well as mindfulness and holistic lifestyle practices. Today we’ll discuss various topics from their book: embracing single-tasking to support overall health, befriending single pants in your diet, herbs and spices for balance and more…

If you’re a regular listener, you’ll have heard me talk about decision fatigue or overwhelm. Children can become overwhelmed when given too many choices, including having many toys available at one time. By rotating toys, you keep the selection new and fresh. There aren’t too many choices. And, every time you rotate the toys, it’s like your children have brand new toys to explore. Here today to discuss the topic with me is professional organizer, Melissa Corriveau.

What if you took inventory of everything in your house? Would it make you rethink the things you’re holding onto? If we took inventory and categorized the stuff in our house, we’d have a much better idea what needs to exit our house. Joining me today to discuss the idea of our possessions as inventory is Dawn Madsen (otherwise known as the Minimal Mom!) 

I recently had an episode that discussed decluttering arts and crafts. This is a bit of a follow up to that episode as there were more elements of this area we didn't fully sort through (no pun intended). Join me today with my guests (hosts of the Laughs and Littles podcast), Annie Tarr and Sarah O'Brien. We chat about having the right craft supplies for your kids (especially when you've got multiples), how to store/save/display art and more!

Join me today with author, Christy Wright as we discuss time management, priorities, and balance in motherhood. As a busy mom with three young kids and a career, Christy knows how chaotic life can be - how balance feels like something that can never be achieved, no matter how hard you try. In her latest book, Take Back Your Time: The Guilt-Free Guide to Life Balance, Christy argues that balance doesn't come from getting more done. It’s about doing the right things at the right time. 

According to a survey by Common Sense Media, over half of US children own a cell phone by the age of eleven, and 1 in 5 own a cell phone by the age of eight. Kids are heading back to school, and as cell phones become an increasingly accepted part of our children’s academic and social lives, the concern of child phone safety and surveillance weighs on parents. Here to join me for a quick conversation on smart phone safety is founder and CEO of Troomi Wireless, Bill Brady.