The Lazy Genius Podcast

Life is full of projects. Some are fun, like my album project of 2026, and some are less fun, like cleaning out a garage. But we all have them, will continue to have them, and you can probably think of one that needs doing right now. It’s nice to have some tools to lean on that help you get better at projects, to start projects you’ll finish, and finish projects that matter to you. So today I’ll s...

Well, friends, my voice has officially left the building. She’s been gone for a week now, and despite my best efforts (and an unreasonable amount of tea), she has not returned. So today, we’re doing something a little different. A very special guest is introducing the show, and because she so generously stepped in, I let her choose her favorite episode for us to revisit! So break out your ladles a...

We do these episodes once a quarter where I share the things - big, small, and varied - that are saving my life right now. It’s a beloved practice, one we’ve been doing for a long time together. Barbara Brown Taylor was the person originally credited for this phrase, and many of us on the Internet really love the simplicity and breadth it offers. So today I’m going to share my list. Helpful Compan...

Today we’re running an old episode that I think you’ll appreciate hearing now. It’s Episode 238: How to Get Stuff Done When You Don’t Feel Like It. This happens every day, and I hope these tools help you get your stuff done a little more easily.  At the end of the episode, I’ll share a short list of personal reminders that help me get stuff done when I don’t feel like it, too. Helpful Companion Li...

I’m always so excited when this episode comes around. Either through voice memo, email, or Instagram, you guys share the challenges of your everyday lives, and we try and Lazy Genius them together, finding compassionate solutions that match the season of life. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. In the month of February, 10% of our revenu...

When it comes to normals like us, people are just trying to live our lives with kindness and contentment, we don’t need to get all up in a twist about housecleaning. Let’s be wise about our homes, what matters in them, and find a way to make twenty minutes enough. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Podcast Playlists on my Spotify profile...

Life has many problems and learning to navigate them with kindness while practically solving them is such a valuable skill to learn. It’s kind of the whole vibe of what we do here. We’re learning to be better problem solvers in all kinds of situations, and these 12 tools are essential to solving problems like a Lazy Genius. Last week, we covered the first five ways, so if you didn’t catch that epi...

Problems are everywhere. Shoes never get put away, you’re always out of spoons, your brakes are squeaking but you don’t know if it’s bad enough to matter, you miss your friend who lives four states away and feel like you don’t know how to connect anymore. This episode and next week’s are about those kinds of problems and how to solve them. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your...

January often arrives with a mix of motivation and overwhelm—fresh starts, lofty goals, and the pressure to do things differently. To explore this complicated season, I’m joined by Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author and leading voice on habits, happiness, and human nature. Our conversation is a thoughtful look at how to approach the new year with intention, from embracing clean slates to making sp...

I’m all for setting goals, trying new things, and tracking what matters. Those are all good and worthy pursuits. But today, I want to offer you a little practical permission to not be great. I’ll even go first and share a few things I’m intentionally choosing to not be great at in this next season of life. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a co...

I can feel it. This is the week. Or at least the week is coming where you look at the holiday decorations and extra presents and general detritus from the busy fall and get an organizational fire in your eyes. Big black trash bags are coming out. That energy is totally fine, but today, let’s talk about what to do before all that happens. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your l...

This is a roundup of all my favorite things I’ve discovered and loved this year only. It’s a really fun list. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Find our digital products here (which are going into the sunset at the end of the year!) The Diplomat (streaming on Netflix) Albanese Gummi Bears B-word Sauce Merit Beauty Mane Ready or Knot Hai...

We are releasing an extra episode for you as you enjoy your winter holidays. This is an episode from a while back that I think will be a great addition to your podcast listening queue in this quieter week. It's episode 345: How to Approach Holiday Downtime. This is the time when we move from the scurry of holiday preparations and schedules to just like suddenly being home with little to no agenda,...

It’s easy to stay in prep mode after being in it for so long. But today, I want us to remember that the wonder of any season, Christmas or otherwise, often shows up when we slow down. We’ll talk about what it looks like to have eyes of wonder, and then I’ll share some practices to help you notice the sparkle and wonder of the next couple of weeks and then some other practices to help you cultivate...

If you start to go wide-eyed when you look at your to-do list and have a low-key sense of dread that it’ll all get done in time, this episode is for you.  Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Episode #395: How to Finish Last-Minute Lists The Best Holiday Music Library Ever Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest...

Regular life doesn’t stop just because it’s December. When life is busy, the ordinary things tend to get the shaft because we’re trying to tend to all the unusual, urgent things instead. But those ordinary tasks are in many ways the backbone of staying a little calmer in a busy season. Let’s talk about what that looks like and what not to do with your chores and routines in a busy season. Helpful...

It’s that time of year again, when we’re all feeling a bit like, “When it rains, it pours.” Most of the rain is really quite lovely, but this season, at least at our house, sometimes feels like so much. I have not been this close to full on maxed out in a long time, and I am feeling it. Today, I want to share a simple Lazy Genius path to naming what’s maxing you out and tending to it well so that...

I think we could all use some help when it comes to holiday gatherings or just larger family gatherings in general. Uncommon situations often produce the unexpected, so let’s talk through some tools that simplify what might already be complicated enough. I have ten super simple ideas to simplify your gathering, and even if you try one, I think it’ll make your life a little bit easier.  Helpful Com...

It’s time to welcome back our old friend who we get to hang out with every season. These episodes where I share what’s saving my life have become such a gift to me personally. The practice of naming and sharing what is making life full and good and connected is surprisingly integral, and I’m glad this is part of our rhythm here on the podcast. So today I’ve got ten things I’ll share that have been...

We are entering the season where we’re beginning to think about holiday gifts, especially on a limited budget which many of us are right now. I’m going to share my five rules of thoughtful gift-giving, six budget-friendly categories of potential gift ideas, and seven themes you can use as a family or friend group that put everybody on the same gift-giving playing field. Helpful Companion Links Ord...

Sometimes I feel like it’ll take just one sassy comment or one missed homework assignment or one line at the store that’s longer than I expected before I just lose it. Sometimes life is like that, and it’s normal and okay. But most of us don’t want to stay there for very long. Today, I’m going to share with you five things to remember and five things to do when everything is a little annoying. Hel...

It’s around this point, towards the end of October, that we all start feeling the pressure. The rest of the year is coming like a snowball rolling down a hill. Today, we’re going to tend to that energy and create some ways to make the rest of 2025 easier and also more joyful, grounded, and rooted in whatever matters to you. Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to cons...

Chores I Do Every Day, Part 1 is one of our most popular episodes we’ve ever done, but it was three and a half years ago. A lot has changed in our home and family in that amount of time, so I’m excited to share an updated version Helpful Companion Links Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy. Episode #254: Chores I Do Every Day Episode #91: The Lazy Genius Organizes...

We have an Office Hours episode once a quarter where you send in your questions and I answer them here on the podcast. This is the first time we’ve had a themed Office Hours episode, so that is very exciting. Before we get into a whole episode answering your questions about routines, remember that a Lazy Genius routine isn’t about the steps. It’s about where you’re wanting to go. Helpful Companion...

This is a community that values people and relationships and connection, and having people into our homes is so integral to us building homes, neighborhoods, and entire cultures that tend to each other, that enjoy being together, and that let each other in. I’m sharing what personally matters to me about hospitality and the ten things I always do to support it. Helpful Companion Links The PLAN is...