Sorting Through Life

On this episode of Sorting Through Life, Colleen talks with Katie, a Space by Space Organizing client, about storage units, life transitions, and how our belongings help us move, or often hold us back, through the chapters of our lives. After a difficult move left Katie’s storage unit packed and disorganized, Colleen helped her sort,…

In this episode of Sorting Through Life, Colleen talks with Jens Narveson of Ridwell about what happens to our stuff when we’re done with it. Ridwell gives hard-to-recycle household items a next chapter by collecting them and connecting them with recycling and reuse partners that can turn them into something new. From plastic film and textiles…

In this heartfelt episode of Sorting Through Life, Colleen sits down with her dear friend Mary, an 88-year-old community builder and lifelong source of wisdom. Together, they explore the realities of aging—from retirement, medical challenges, and physical limitations to falls, loneliness, and the difficult process of letting go of a longtime home. Mary speaks candidly…

On this episode of Sorting Through Life with Colleen Waterston, Colleen and Space by Space Organizing team member Tiffany talk about what it means to leave a legacy, not a burden. As we age, planning ahead can make difficult transitions easier for everyone. We discuss how to start the conversations around aging, belongings, downsizing, and…

Colleen and Alicia sit down for an intimate chat with their client-turned-friend, Natalie. They dive deep into Natalie’s tough emotional journey of clearing out her childhood home after the sudden passing of her dad and her own recovery from a traumatic brain injury. It’s a beautifully conversation about navigating heavy grief, letting go of guilt,…

In this episode of Sorting Through Life with Colleen Waterston, we go beyond organizing your home and explore the full journey of your belongings. From understanding why we accumulate so much clutter in the first place to making thoughtful decisions about what leaves our homes, this conversation offers practical advice for anyone trying to simplify…

In this special episode of Sorting Through Life with Colleen Waterston, Colleen is joined by the people helping bring Space by Space Organizing to life every day: organizer Alicia, marketing and communications specialist Tiffany, and Colleen’s new assistant, Cortney. Together, they take a look at the past, present, and future of Space by Space. Colleen shares…

In Episode 30 of Sorting Through Life, Colleen Waterston is joined by fellow Space by Space Organizing team member Alicia and client Maddii to share the story behind a remarkable home transformation. During a difficult pregnancy, Maddii found herself overwhelmed by clutter and struggling to keep her home functioning. The experience became a turning point,…

What happens to your belongings after you’re gone? In this episode of Sorting Through Life, Colleen Waterston sits down with estate attorney, Rachel Schromen, to discuss how planning ahead can protect your legacy and make life easier for the people you love. The conversation explores why it’s important to talk with your family about which…

Colleen sits down with resilience strategist Julie Martella from Navigating Widowhood to tackle the overwhelming process of sorting through a loved one’s belongings after a loss. We explore the profound connection between physical clutter and the grieving brain, offering gentle ways to build a personal support team that can actually help lighten the load. Whether…

Colleen sits down with her “NAPO buddy” Hadiyah Alexander as they recount the influence of The Container Store on both of their personal journeys along with how they want to support retail through an organizational lens.

Colleen Waterston welcomes father-son duo John and Pen to discuss their transformative, ongoing home organization journey. Pivoting to the studio after a rained-out Pride festival broadcast, the three unpack the emotional and practical hurdles of clearing out a cluttered basement dumping ground to create a welcoming new living space for Pen and their partner. Through…

Colleen Waterston welcomes Carrie Lane to Sorting Through Life for an eye-opening chat about the professional organizing industry. We dive deep into Carrie’s new book, More Than Pretty Boxes, to explore the emotional weight of clutter and why our modern, busy lives leave us feeling so completely overwhelmed. You will walk away with a fresh…

Host Colleen Waterston is joined by Krystell Theisen Escobar. Krystell is the founder of Eco Chico and Soul aWear in West St. Paul. Colleen and Krystell discuss Krystell’s story of growing up in Mexico and her quest to create a more sustainable clothing model through reuse and resale.

This week we’re switching things up as Alicia turns the tables to interview Colleen about the real-life journey of building Space by Space Organizing. We dive deep into the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, from those early days of solo hustle to learning how to trust a growing team. It is a raw, behind-the-scenes look…

Colleen Waterston and estate attorney Rachel Schromen navigate the tricky waters of choosing who will manage your affairs when you no longer can. It turns out that your oldest child or even your spouse might not actually be the best fit for the job, and it is perfectly okay to look outside your immediate family…

Colleen is joined by productivity expert Ellen Faye for a refreshing conversation on conquering that chaotic, never-ending to-do list. Together, they unpack a simple priority-based system that acts like a conveyor belt, smoothly moving your daily goals from critical to complete without the usual stress. Discover how to ditch those guilt-inducing sticky notes and finally…

Colleen Waterston sits down with her right-hand Alicia and neighbor Warren to dive into the emotional and messy journey of clearing out an estate filled with years of “excessive collecting.” They share the heartwarming story of how a massive garage sale turned into a beautiful way to honor memories while finally letting go of the…

Colleen Waterston sits down with Remento co-founder Charlie Greene to dive into the magic of capturing life’s best stories before they slip away. They talk about how a simple weekly prompt can turn into a beautiful legacy book, complete with audio clips that let you hear a loved one’s voice whenever you want. It’s an…

Colleen Waterston and her right-hand pro, Alicia, chat with ICU nurse Danielle about finding order in the middle of a beautiful, busy chaos. Between moving overseas and raising a family, Danielle shares how her ADHD brain actually thrives with a little professional help to lift that heavy mental load of clutter. It’s an honest look…

Colleen Waterston sits down with Emily Barker from Reuse Minnesota to chat about why giving our stuff a second life is way more impactful than just tossing it in the recycling bin. They dive into the environmental magic of the reuse sector, like how it saves billions of bottles of water and keeps thousands of…

Colleen Waterston sits down with Rachel Schromen of Schromen Law to break down why estate planning isn’t just for the elderly and how we can normalize the conversation around our legacies. They dive into the essential documents everyone over 18 needs to have in place to protect themselves and their loved ones from the unexpected.…

Colleen Waterston, founder of Space by Space Organizing, joins host Ken Haglind on Living Healthy and Aging Well radio show to share her belief that a clear space helps free the mind. Colleen and her team of compassionate organizers get creative to help people “get out of their own way” and live their best lives.…

Host Colleen Waterston is joined by Greg DeMarco of Choice Connections MN, who is here to talk all things senior living. Greg discusses how to prepare for moving as well as your besr-case scenarios for decluttering and finding the right place for you or your loved one to make the transition to senior living as…

Host Colleen Waterston is joined by her dear friends Anne and Mary for a wonderful conversation about what is a very difficult subject a lot of people will come to face, the time when your mother or elderly parent will have to move from their longtime home. Colleen, Mary, and Anne talk about how to…