Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living

Today my older brother Jim and I get brutally honest about what it really takes to stay close as adult siblings—especially as siblings who used to fight nonstop. We look back on the tension of our teen years, the New York City chapter of our lives that bonded us through 2 for 1 martinis, and how losing our mom brought us closer instead of pulling us apart. There's a lot of forgiveness, letting go...

The Money Saving Mom herself, Crystal Paine, joins us to share how to build a healthier relationship with money, whether you're an overspender or an underspender (like me). Crystal dove straight to the heart of things, and I walked out of our conversation feeling way more peaceful about how I spend money. I know you will, too! CRYSTAL PAINE: New book: ⁠The 7 Habits of Financially Healthy Women⁠ Va...

Here's what you'll find in this week's mini episode, a.k.a. Chai Chat! I answer: 1. What are some tips for storing “extras”? It’s a struggle to have a home for everything but then almost need a second home for what doesn’t quite fit in the home location (toilet paper, soap refills, etc.) 2. How did you get started, choose a niche, learn how to grow on IG, design a website? How does an ordinary per...

What does emotional maturity really look like, and how can we help our kids develop it? For this Good Stuff episode in our series all about strengthening family ties, I sat down with New York Times bestselling author Dr. Lindsay Gibson to better understand why emotional maturity matters in our families. What does emotional maturity look like at different ages? How do kids develop emotional maturit...

Another New York Times bestselling author is in the house!! Dana K. White is one of the biggest names in decluttering, and her brand new book, Procrastinators Get Stuff Done, is the ultimate guide for people who *know* why they should do something, but struggle to get themselves to do the thing! Dana is also known for her no-mess decluttering method, along with her mega-hit book Decluttering at th...

Here's what you'll find in this week's mini episode, a.k.a. Chai Chat! I answer: 1. How do I get my spouse to declutter? 2. How are you coping with all your kids being school age? Listener recommendation of the week: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Happy Color app MENTIONED THIS EPISODE: Ep 19: Decluttering as a Couple with My Husband, Aaron Leyko PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO): PREORDER MY BOOK, Don't S...

Making sure your family isn't stressed about logistics in the face of an emergency or once you're gone is an act of love. Today I’m joined by Lori Selsberg, co-founder and CEO of DocuGuardian, who is an expert in exactly that. We cover: The essential documents and details families often overlook How to organize legal, financial, medical, and personal information Simple ways to start difficult conv...

Why do we overcomplicate our decluttering and organizing systems when the whole point is to feel less stressed at home? Today, I’m sharing the red flags that a system is too complex, plus the simple systems that work for my family to keep the clutter and housework under control. MENTIONED THIS EPISODE: Ep 102: Creating Systems to Be Productive Toward What Matters with Chelsi Jo Ep 171: How to Orga...

Here's what you'll find in this week's mini episode, a.k.a. Chai Chat! I answer: 1. What do you do with clothes that your MIL hands down to you that your husband wore? 2. Do you feel famous? And I tell the story of when I went backstage at Dancing with the Stars! Listener recommendation of the week: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sterling Point on Amazon Prime MENTIONED THIS EPISODE: Ep 216: The Full Story Behin...

Jennifer Anderson of Kids Eat in Color, registered dietitian and author of Feed Them Well, joins me to talk about picky eating, food struggles, and how to help kids develop a healthy, positive relationship with food. If you have a picky eater or just kids who say they're hungry 20 minutes after you fed them dinner, this episode will make you feel seen and also hopeful that there is a way forw...

Brittinie Tran, founder of the nonprofit, Hot Mess Express, joins me to talk about messy homes, clutter, cleaning overwhelm, and why there’s no shame in asking for help. I was blown away by the work she's doing, and once again convinced that nothing in the world is more spectacular than women coming together! Hot Mess Express brings women together through practical, non-judgmental help and communi...

Here's what you'll find in this week's mini episode, a.k.a. Chai Chat! I answer: 1. Do you have a capsule wardrobe? 2. What is your silliest memory from pageant life? Listener recommendation of the week: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy by Mo Gawdat MENTIONED THIS EPISODE: Ep 162: Stop Overshopping for Good and Finally Declutter Your Clothes with Lauren Morley Ep 129: How to Dec...

Why didn't we choose international adoption? Do we have an open adoption? What about children waiting to be adopted in foster care? How long did the process take? What does adoption cost? How do you know if you're doing it ethically? How do you talk about adoption with your kids? Today, I'm answering these questions and more as we kick off our 10-week Good Stuff series all about why family matters...

Today's a more personal episode. When I shared on social media that I'm feeling a little burned out, I got a huge reaction from people. So I wanted to share what's going on behind the scenes in my life in hopes that it helps you feel less alone during seasons of burnout in your own life. MENTIONED THIS EPISODE: Ep 117: Renewed Excitement for the Benefits of Minimalism PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO):...

Here's what you'll find in this week's mini episode, a.k.a. Chai Chat! I answer: 1. What do you think of the quote “If you don’t have the time to do it right the first time, when will you have time to do it over” as it relates to decluttering? 2. Were or are you in a choir? Listener recommendation of the week: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Earth Rangers Podcast for kids MENTIONED THIS EPISODE: Ep 121: What to Do with Every...

There's so much noise out there about what we should eat, so I had the HONOR of going directly to the leading global expert of nutrition science, Dr. Christopher Gardner. Dr. Gardner is Stanford's Director of Nutrition Studies, former chair of the American Heart Association's Nutrition Committee, and has led more than twenty large-scale randomized clinical trials related to what we eat. You might...

Who here throws in an extra purchase to get free shipping? Today, we're covering 5 major clutter traps that feel smart at the time, but end up bogging down our house (and clearing out our wallets). Decluttering doesn't have to feel never-ending, so listen in to figure out which trap has been working on you, and how to stop it for good. MENTIONED THIS EPISODE: Ep 141: Where to Start Decluttering (o...

Here's what you'll find in this week's mini episode, a.k.a. Chai Chat! I answer: 1. Sentimental stuff is so hard. When it is gone the memory is gone. What do I do? 2. What is the update about your son after he swallowed a quarter recently? Listener recommendation of the week: ⁠Flik Flak kids watches by Swatch MENTIONED THIS EPISODE: Ep 5: Decluttering Sentimental Items PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO):...

I wanted someone who isn't just pointing out that movement is good for our mental health, but who's actually doing something to help us bridge that gap. So today we have the pleasure of hearing from Rio Wilson, licensed counselor and founder of the Brain-Body Therapy app. She joins me to unpack the connection between our brains and our bodies. I share about a wild time when moving my body helped m...

New York Times editor and author Eric Athas joins me today to explore why we’re so drawn to new things, and the way our modern world has amplified our desire for more. We cover... The present bias The "new thing gap" The good kind of novelty vs. the detrimental kind And more! If you ever get carried away in excitement about new things you probably don't actually need...do not miss this one! ERIC A...

Here's what you'll find in this week's mini episode, a.k.a. Chai Chat! I answer: 1. Are there any valid reasons for keeping something just in case? 2. What are some of the most random things you’ve seen/done on your travels? Listener recommendation of the week: The Lazy Genius Podcast by Kendra Adachi ⁠ MENTIONED THIS EPISODE: Ep 52: Getting Past the "Wasted Money" When Decluttering Ep 70: Is Decl...

What happens when you stop letting your phone dictate your attention? Andrew Dugan joins me to share his journey from smartphone dependency to creating a minimalist smartwatch—and we explore how technology can affect our mental health, focus, sleep, and relationships. If you’ve ever felt like your devices take more than they give, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on using technology mo...

Finally—I'm recording from our brand new home in Rauma, Finland! And I'm spilling all the details about our first month living with (almost) none of our stuff while it makes its slow journey across the ocean! So come hang out with me while I figure out life in a new country, one borrowed towel at a time! MENTIONED THIS EPISODE: MY BOOK: Don't Save the Good Stuff Get your ⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE ticket ⁠⁠⁠⁠to Get...

Here's what you'll find in this week's mini episode, a.k.a. Chai Chat! I answer: 1. Any tips on asking for help? I feel like I want/need someone for support to get momentum. 2. What is the biggest surprise about Finland so far? Listener recommendation of the week: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Derry Girls on Netflix MENTIONED THIS EPISODE: Get your ⁠⁠⁠FREE ticket ⁠⁠⁠to Get Organized HQ Virtual Summit E...

For those of us who aren't fitness junkies, it can be hard to figure out good fitness routines that don't feel overwhelming, inconsequential, or like one more thing on our to-do list. This week I'm joined by Olivia Young, a registered dietitian and personal trainer who's built her career around helping people find a healthier relationship with movement and food. She breaks down the mental blocks t...