Sorting Through Life

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…

Colleen Waterston chats with architect Ashley Mitlyng about why a “surgical” approach to home renovation is often better than just building more square footage. They dig into the real-world process of rethinking your space to fit your lifestyle, whether you’re navigating a growing family or planning to age in place comfortably. Between the architecture talk,…

Colleen Waterston sits down with Natalie from Truckload Transformations to talk about the real sweat equity that goes into turning dated furniture into high-end statement pieces. You’ll hear about Natalie’s journey from a college side hustle in her mom’s garage to running a professional refinishing business in a bustling warehouse where the community is just…

Ready to conquer your inbox once and for all? Colleen Waterston sits down with productivity coach Ellen Faye to flip the script on how we handle the daily deluge of emails. They dive into Ellen’s “productivity for how you are wired” philosophy, offering practical, judgment-free strategies to move from inbox overwhelm to total control. Whether…

Colleen Waterston and Alicia Aragon break down the surprisingly charming book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. They dive into how starting this process early—like in your sixties—isn’t just about clearing out clutter; it’s a beautiful way to gift your loved ones a legacy instead of a burden. Whether it’s selling off jewelry to…

Colleen Waterston dives into the “behind the scenes” of home organization with her client, Jen, to talk about what actually happens when Colleen and her crew visit your home. From tackling a 1950s garage nightmare to figuring out a more intuitive flow for morning coffee, they chat about how small systems—like labeling and zoning—can totally…

Colleen is joined by Alicia and Tiffany from Space by Space Organizing to talk about different methods of organization, plus their own personal touches and how they make every client feel valued as if the person they were organizing for were they themselves.

Dive into the “filing cabinet of life” to tackle the paperwork, legal documents, and behind-the-scenes admin that keep a life running. Estate attorney and death doula Rachel Schromen joins the conversation to demystify why so many people avoid estate planning and how to overcome the emotional barriers associated with mortality. This series offers practical, candid…

Host Colleen Waterston features her monthly segment, Dying to Get Organized. She is joined by her father, Kevin Waterston, a lifelong funeral director, as Colleen and her dad dive into the practice of cremation and the choices you have to fulfill your final wishes. #SortingThroughLife #HomeOrganization #MindfulLiving #MinnesotaLife #SwedishDeathCleaning #EndofLifePlanning #ProfessionalOrganizer #S...

In our Behind Closed Drawers series, Colleen sits down with two of her clients, Jen and Natalie, to discuss how professional organizing is about so much more than just tidy shelves. Jen shares her experience of parting with decades of belongings after a divorce, while Natalie opens up about the daunting task of merging her…

Colleen sits down with Feng Shui expert Carol Hyder to explore how the placement of your furniture and the flow of your home can actually change your life. Carol breaks down her “9 minutes for 9 days” rule for clearing clutter and explains why your bedroom should be a mirror-free sanctuary for rest. You’ll learn…