Edit Your Life | Simplify + Declutter Your Home, Time, and Mental Space

Prioritizing connection time is important all year round, but it can be a challenge amidst the busyness of everyday life. Christine chats with author and entrepreneur Thien-Kim Lam about simple ways to be intentional about relationships and find ways to show your partner you care without needing a ridiculous amount of money or time. LINKS + RELATED EPISODES: Thien-Kim Lam: website + books Happy En...

Giving another person the safety to express themselves limitlessly and honestly is a gift. Christine chats with writer and mom of four Rebecca Woolf about her compelling memoir, “All of This: A Memoir of Death and Desire.” Christine and Rebecca talk about the power of honesty, the ability to love and loathe with compassion, the interplay between authenticity and shame, and more. LINKS + RELATED EP...

Friendships are wonderful and necessary, and can be a source of stickiness and conflict. Christine details her historical issues around friendships, how she has grown over the years and what she still wrestles with, and shares 8 simple tactics to find moments of reconnection with friends. LINKS + RELATED EPISODES: Embracing Micro Goals How To Talk About Gender Identity (with Casey Brown) Navigatin...

We all need to heal, and healing can come through many forms of expression. Christine chats with former creative arts therapist and writer Kristen Mei Chase about different ways to work through logistical and emotional barriers, including the many ways in which writing her debut novel “A Thousand Miles to Graceland” helped her heal and find empathy for both herself and others. They talk about narr...

Curiosity can be healing and it is important to disrupt the narrative that you are too busy, old, etc., to consider trying new things that could bring joy or fulfillment to your life, or returning to things that used to help you in different stages of life. In this episode, Christine talks to her mother, Rachel Koh, who has lived a bright life replete with curiosity. RELATED EPISODES: Self-Care Fo...

Setting high bars and aggressive goals can be paralyzing. Enter, micro goals. Christine talks about the power of focusing on the small things that may not be as sexy from a big goal setting perspective, but that are just as crucial to address to improve everyday quality of life. She walks through big picture concepts, some of the micro goals she is planning on tackling, and also shares an exciting...

What were your highs and lows of 2022? Christine reflects on the good, bad, and the ugly of 2022, and shares the top 11 Edit Your Life episodes of 2022 and things she has learned or carried forward from those episodes. Episodes mentioned: Parenting Milestones Self-Care for Stubborn People Lessons From Being A Covid Late Bloomer Time Management + Productivity [with guest Laura Vanderkam] Food Refra...

Whether or not you are part of Team OMG Finally Contracted Covid, we are still in this. Christine shares about her experience contracting Covid over Thanksgiving break, addresses the many questions she has received on social media since sharing about her positive test, and what she has learned from the experience. Resources mentioned in this episode Related episode: Smart & Simple Holiday Food Pla...

Are you meh about your closet? Want to burn it all down? You’re not alone. Christine shares a listener query about her fashion and beauty practices, some back story about what clothing has meant to her—and how it has created anxiety—in the past, and the clothing rental experiment she has been conducting for the past couple of months in an effort to care for herself in a new way. Resources mentione...

Are you feeling overwhelmed by holiday food planning? Christine shares her mixed feelings about how to navigate holidays in a way that is loving and relationships-oriented while also low on run-around and stress. She revisits a conversation with Asha where they share 8 smart and simple holiday food planning tips. Resources mentioned in this episode Minimalist Parenting Christine’s Piesgiving 2021...

How do we find our confidence and voice as we’re also doing things like raising kids, exploring careers, and navigating relationships? Wendi Aarons found bravery in humor. Christine and Wendi talk about Wendi’s new book, “I'm Wearing Tunics Now: On Growing Older, Better, and a Hell of a Lot Louder.” They discuss how Wendi found her voice and confidence, her favorite and least favorite things about...

Women get sh*t done, as the saying goes, and now more than ever we need women to step into the ring; the ring of voting. Christine talks with political strategist, podcaster, family policy advocate, and mom of three Emily Tisch Sussman about why we truly are in red alert mode, why women have enormous power in the election, empathy-based voting, and more. Edit Your Life is an award-winning podcast...

How do you show up to care for yourself? Inspired by her birthday this month, Christine shares lessons learned and her thoughts about living with extraordinary care. Also, an ask! In anticipation of a milestone episode of Edit Your Life, please share something you have heard on this show—an idea, a reframe, a tactic, anything—that has helped you make change and find agency in your life. Send an em...

Are you feeling grumpy about, or overwhelmed by, the clutter around you? Christine shares about how the season of family change in her home has led to a major phase of decluttering and reshuffling. She then revisits an interview with organizing expert Rachel Rosenthal, in which Christine and Rachel talk about tactical yet compassionate decluttering and organization tactics, as well as how to diffu...

Are you rage stroking over the state of women’s reproductive rights and wondering what to do next? Christine talks with Gabrielle Blair, author of the new book, “Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way To Think About Abortion.” Christine and Gabrielle talk about the viral Twitter thread that started it all, where people often get stuck in the abortion debate, Gabrielle’s campaign to get her book in...

Do you feel out of control, overstretched, and perhaps sometimes resentful when it comes to your own time? Christine chats with Laura Vanderkam, author of the new book, “Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters.” Christine and Laura discuss reframing the perception of time, becoming agents of our time, prioritizing what matters to us, and practical time tacti...

Do you love eating food but periodically—or often—feel overwhelmed by the planning, preparation, shopping, and clean up of said food? YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Christine chats with cookbook author and podcaster Stacie Billis about the myths powered by the food media, how to raise kids who have a healthy relationship with food, favorite staples, ways to navigate mealtimes amidst the daily chaos of family...

What’s on tap for your fall? In Episode 277, Christine reflects on some highlights from a too-much-work summer and talks about her fall plans and priorities as related to family (notably, this fall one of Christine’s kids went to college!), work, home, and self-care. It's apparently the season of listening and observation (and maybe lighting a few things on fire). Edit Your Life is an award-winnin...

Are you overwhelmed by—and possibly in despair over—the college application process? In response to a number of requests to talk about supporting kids (and not losing your mind) through college applications, Christine shares eight reality checks to approach and work through the college application process in a way that is true to you and your kid, and will hopefully help avoid unnecessary anxiety....

Are you feeling anxious in the face of continued uncertainty about COVID (and probably a million other things) as your kids head back to school? Christine chats with Dr. Lisa Damour, a psychologist, bestselling author, and podcaster who helps families untangle the inevitable messes of family life. Christine and Lisa talk about navigating pandemic fatigue, the importance of warmth and structure for...

Sometimes when you are stuck you need to make a move that feels uncomfortable. Christine shares about how she has had to face fear of scarcity and disappointing others through an intentional pause. She talks about addressing triggers, the importance of making space, how to set boundaries in order to get unstuck, and more. Edit Your Life is an award-winning podcast that shares practical ideas for d...

Have you ever wondered how to live with intention when life is overwhelming and chaotic? In response to a listener request (and the state of the world), Christine chats with Ali Edwards, a creative committed to words, images, and documenting everyday moments. Christine and Ali talk about living with intention and authenticity, guiding life mantras, how to simplify life amidst chaos, and more. Edit...

How have your work and personal arcs intersected with your parenting journey? Christine reflects on the major milestones her family recently moved through, how her former career as an academic and her career jump to the internet intersected with her parenting journey, and lessons learned in this massive season of change. Edit Your Life is an award-winning podcast that shares practical ideas for de...

Have you been wondering what former Edit Your Life co-host Asha Dornfest has been up to? It has been six months since Asha was last on the microphone with Christine. Christine and Asha chat about Asha’s life since retiring from Edit Your Life, including updates on empty nesting, family, travel, food, gardening, and more. Edit Your Life is an award-winning podcast that shares practical ideas for de...

Are you struggling with the challenge of focusing on work from home amidst the chaos and clutter of everyday life? In response to a listener letter, Christine talks to Amy Nelson, community builder and mom of four, founder of The Riveter, and co-host of the podcast “What's Her Story with Sam & Amy.” Christine and Amy talk about the challenges of compartmentalizing remote work and practical tactics...