The Simplified Podcast with Emily Ley

Traveling is the best—especially when we get to bring the whole family! And it never hurts to keep a few tips in your back pocket to make travel with kids a bit more stress free. 😉 Laura's quite the adventurer, and this week she's sharing her best tips to keep the fun times rolling while you're on the road! Whether you're road tripping or flying, visiting the big city or the great outdoors—or eve...

Who were you 15 years ago? What did your life look like? What kinds of dreams did you have for yourself? This month, Simplified turns 15, and Emily and Bryan are going down memory lane to think about all the wins, fails, and lessons they've learned over the past decade and a half. And Emily realizes one important truth: on every path, it's going to get dark. You may not know which way to go. But i...

Shorts, dresses, swimsuits, footwear, hats: Liz and Laura give the scoop on their must-have pieces in their summer wardrobe that are perfect for days by the water, on a hike, by the pool, or just lazing around in the AC at home.   Get allll the links on the show notes page! http://emilyley.com/podcast   Thanks to our episode sponsors! BETTERHELP | Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp...

Need something to do with your kids at home this summer? Want to use the time together in a low-key constructive way that's actually kind of fun? Teach them some basic life skills at How to Be a Person Camp! Whether it's tying their shoes, or learning to make scrambled eggs, or even how to pay with a card, you can find easy, age-appropriate ways to help kids become a bit more independent. If you'v...

Thinking about moving? Or, maybe you're still enjoying your home and want to spruce it up in ways that future buyers will enjoy too! Zillow's Home Trends expert Amanda Pendleton has some insight into what today's buyers want, along with tips for easy DIYs inside and out that are worth your time and money. Paint colors, outdoor fixes, kitchens and bathrooms and more—if you love Zillow surfing as mu...

A few weeks ago, Emily led a discussion on her  Substack that got . . . well, a little attention. It was about alcohol—the expectations we have around it,  the "wine mommy" marketing, what we use it for (to celebrate, to cope) and how that might change (or not!) moving forward. There were so many thoughtful conversations in the comments, Emily thought, Why not ask my own Simplified women about thi...

Do you want ✨vibes✨ as soon as you walk into your home? Do you need a new top or a piece of furniture, but your budget doesn't have room for another big purchase this month? Do you miss the avocado green Tupperware your grandma collected in the '70s, or want to let your kid have the rite of passage of owning a hamburger phone? Then sis, it's time to go thrifting! Jessa's a thrifty maven who's go...

Looking for easy ways to create fun this summer? From fresh salads and no-churn ice cream, to tips for road tripping and hosting a backyard Super Soakers tournament, a Summer Bucket List doesn't have to have *huge* things on it—and you don't have to check everything off, either. This is all about ✨vibes.✨ Emily, Liz, Jessa and Laura share easy ways you can create the kind of summer you want: one...

"I cannot show up to be the mom I want to be for Bennett if I don't show up for myself," says co-host Liz. But when you have so many things pulling at your attention—your kids, your work, your partner, your family and friends—how *do* you find time to show up for yourself? Ashlee Gadd, found of Coffee + Crumbs, knows this struggle all too well. Ashlee talks with new mama Liz about how she learned...

🇬🇧 What we choose to wear communicates a message: What do we value? And how do we want to present ourselves to the world? This is *especially* true for the British Royal Family, says journalist Elizabeth Holmes. Elizabeth is the brilliant mind behind "So Many Thoughts," a Substack and Instagram series where she breaks down the messages (and history!) behind what the Royals choose to wear. Ahead of...

When women come together with open books and open hearts, the best thing happens: connection. When co-host Laura moved to a new town in 2019, she had no idea how she was going to make friends. But a chance encounter with a fellow mom at the neighborhood pool changed Laura's life—because it led her to her life-giving group, The Book Club Babes! Laura shares easy tips you can use to create your own...

✨ Secrets Revealed! ✨ The brand-new Spring Collection is HERE! And to celebrate, we're asking: ever wonder how Team Simplified chooses new planner patterns? And how do they figure out new products to make?? Creative Director Whitney Hawkins joins co-host Laura (and Graphic Designer extraordinaire!) to reveal some *fascinating* Simplified secrets behind all things design. Don't miss this one—and...

Ahh, spring is here! 🌷 Time to open the windows, break out the cleaning caddy, and give our rooms a fresh start. 🧹🫧 Laura's at the mic this week, and after her BIG move, she's revealing her top tips for giving your home a thorough declutter quickly so you can get back to the sunshine. She also shares the *best* tools and potions to keep your home sparkling clean (spoiler alert: there are two ki...

"If you want to make one decision to ensure your own health and happiness," said a recent study from Harvard University, "it should be to cultivate warm relationships of all kinds." And that includes friendships! But what kinds of friends do we need? And what kind of friend should *we* be? Author and podcaster Laura Tremaine (of 10 Things to Tell You fame!) is here, and she's written a fantastic n...

What an interesting time to be alive—isn't that right, Millennials? That's especially true when it comes to being partnered or married to someone, because the world looks a liiiiiittle different than when our parents were our age and trying to navigate their own relationships (i.e. The economy! A pandemic! Social media!). Laura and Jessa get vulnerable and peel back the curtain on their marriages,...

Sometimes you just *need a minute,* right? Jessa and Laura definitely do, and they're talking about alllll the shows that bring them a quick dose of good feels: shows to put on in the background (look at you, The Office and Park & Rec), who's Team Friends and who's Team Seinfeld, which reality TV shows and documentaries are worth your time (have you seen The Jinx!?), and—most importantly—why Schit...

Have you ever felt yourself coming to a new chapter—but you weren't quite sure how to navigate it? Maybe you finally reached the milestone you've worked so hard for, or you can't figure out exactly how to get there. Weirdly, in both scenarios, we find ourselves asking, "What's next?" Which can often be translated to: "What's the next right decision for me here?"   Emily shares about reaching her o...

Let go of "perfect" and say hello to "Halfway Homemade" – the mantra that's going to change your life in the kitchen! Jessa and Laura share the easiest 30-minute meals to make on a busy weeknight (that their kids actually eat!), plus the freezer and pantry must-haves that cut their cooking time in half, and why most kitchen fails can be fixed with a sauce. Because sauce. ✨   Thanks to our episode...

What do you do when something so heartbreaking happens that it takes you years to process exactly what you went through? If you're NYT author J.T. Ellison, you put it in a thriller novel. This week, Emily joins J.T. (who's one of Emily's favorite authors!) for a conversation around a topic that links them both: infertility. J.T. vulnerably shares about her own miscarriages, about transmitting pain...

What's it *really* like to build your own home? After selling her house via text (yep, really) and beginning to build her forever home with her family on the lake they love, co-host Laura knows. And she's here, along with Jessa, to share her best tips for creating the home of your dreams (while avoiding the same "fun" surprises she encountered along the way).   Thanks to our episode sponsors! GREE...

It can be lonely to feel like you're the only one who struggles with something. For the longest time, that's how co-host Liz felt, too, as she struggled with anxiety that turned her days upside down. Liz opens up with producer Amy as they talk about Liz's journey with anxiety and how it's affected her life. They talk about the concrete steps that have helped Liz move through hard moments, how she'...

"How did you know your partner was 'the one'? What advice would you give yourself before your wedding day? How do you move through parenting situations where you don't see eye to eye? What do we *really* get the partner who says they don't want a gift?"    We asked for your relationship questions, and you delivered. And in honor of Valentine's Day, Emily and her husband Bryan draw from their 15 ye...

Need a 30-minute weeknight dinner without burning a hole in your credit card? Jessa would like to introduce you to the magical world of ALDI. #IYKYK (PS: ALDI has no idea who we are. We're just doing this episode because we really like ALDI!)   Thanks to our episode sponsors! (+ codes to help you save ) VEGAMOUR | Get 20% off your first order at https://vegamour.com/simplified   ROCKET MONEY | Can...

Join Emily as she walks down memory lane—and shares some exciting news we think you're going to love! 🎉   Thanks to our episode sponsors! (+ codes to help you save) GREEN CHEF | Get 60% off (plus free shipping!) with code simplified60 at https://greenchef.com/simplified60     GLADSKIN | Get 15% off (plus free shipping!) on your first order at https://gladskin.com/simplified     FABRIC | Protect y...

We all want to make real, lasting connections with people. So why not start with your very own neighbors? It can feel a little intimidating to reach out to someone you don't know, maybe even a little awkward. It did for writer Shannan Martin too. But despite her status as a card-carrying introvert, Shannan has found that connecting with the community around her in small, low-stakes ways has given...