Shows / Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
If staunch minimalism feels too extreme, but you want to declutter your house to alleviate some stress, this is the podcast for you. Shannon Leyko's style is like having your best friend in your ear, helping you get past those tough mental roadblocks that are keeping you from decluttering the things you don't need. From New York Times bestselling authors to everyday people in the trenches of life, Shannon's guests give practical tips and mindset advice for intentional living and…
Episodes
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
114: Navigating Grandparent Over-Gifting from Both Perspectives with DeeDee Moore
In this episode, I sit down with Deedee Moore of More Than Grand to talk about something so many families quietly wrestle with: over-gifting from grandparents…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
113: Reducing Holiday Overwhelm by Setting Personal Boundaries
This week, we’re exploring what it actually looks like to simplify your holidays—not just by cutting back on decor or gift clutter, but by setting personal…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
112: The Trap of Upgrading Our Lives with Laura Fenton
Happy Thanksgiving week to those of you in the U.S.! In this thought-provoking conversation with Laura Fenton—writer and creator of the beloved Substack Living…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
111: The "But I Love Everything!" Decluttering Dilemma
If you love your belongings but feel overwhelmed by the piles, the mess, or the jam-packed closets, this episode is for you. Today, we’re breaking down 6…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
110: Is Overconsumption That Big of a Deal?
This week's "guest" episode is slightly different...because I'm the guest! My good friends at the Pretty Furious podcast are graciously letting me air an…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
109: What to Do with Clothes that Don't Currently Fit
One of the hardest categories to declutter? Clothes that no longer fit. But just because it's complicated doesn't mean we can't tackle it and make progress…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
108: Avoid Clutter by Developing Personal Preferences with Courtney Florey
Do we even realize that we're creating a life based on what other people like, instead of our own preferences? I loved this casual, relatable conversation with…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
107: 7 Ways to Stop Kids’ Clothes from Overflowing
Kids' clothes get out of hand FAST. Which is why in this episode, I share seven practical strategies to help you stay ahead of the kid clothing chaos. It's so…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
106: How Comparison Fuels Clutter & Financial Constraint with Amy Slenker-Smith
We are being influenced by way of comparison more than we even realize, and this episode is a really inspiring and uplifting conversation about learning to…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
105: Strategies for Living Minimally in a Big House (And Research on Buying in Bulk)
Can you live a minimalist lifestyle in a big house? In this episode of Paring Down, I explore what it really means to live minimally in a large home—and…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
104: Finding Adventure in Everyday Life (Thanks to Less Clutter) with Shannon & Gerry Arner
Whether you're an adventure junkie or totally risk-averse, this episode is a fun and motivating listen because it highlights how living with fewer possessions…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
103: Struggling Through PMDD to Declutter & Tidy
Getting a little personal this week. Living with PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)—or ANY chemical imbalance, hormonal sensitivity, or particularly…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
102: Creating Systems to Be Productive Toward What Matters with Chelsi Jo
What would life look like if you didn't have to decide what's for dinner? If you had a communication system that actually worked with your spouse? If you…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
101: What Cozy Season Teaches Us About Decluttering
I hope this episode feels like a warm hug—the embodiment of sweatshirt weather—inviting you to shed clutter from a place of romanticism, not panic. Fall is a…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
100: Life-Changing Hacks to Make Tech Your Personal Assistant with Amanda Jefferson
We made it to 100 episodes of Paring Down! For this milestone, I wanted a super practical episode that will change your life. So I sat down with the incredible…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
99: 7 Tips to Conquer Decluttering Burnout
Has decluttering become more overwhelming than freeing? You’re not alone. In this episode of Paring Down, I share how to reset when your'e completely burned…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
98: Shaping Your Home to Support Your Wants & Needs with Mia Danielle
If your house feels like it's working against you—or you can't seem to keep the clutter from coming back—this episode is for you. After her divorce, today's…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
97: Harnessing the Scientific Power of Enthusiasm to Declutter
In this episode of the Paring Down podcast, we uncover the surprising science of how enthusiasm can fuel your decluttering journey—and why your excitement…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
96: How to Make Your Home Feel Warm & Welcoming with Etiquette Coach, Alison Cheperdak
In this episode of Paring Down, I’m joined by etiquette coach Alison Cheperdak to talk about how to create a home that feels warm, inviting, and deeply…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
95: How to Declutter a Storage Unit
In this jam-packed episode of Paring Down, I walk you through how to declutter three common types of storage units—with actionable, step-by-step tips to make…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
94: Practical Advice for Living Intentionally with 7x NYT Bestselling Author Gretchen Rubin
Can you believe THE Gretchen Rubin is on the show?? She's a 7x NYT bestselling author, and one of my professional heroes. Her work dives into human nature and…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
93: Behind the Scenes of Our Road Trip to Alaska & What I Wish We'd Decluttered
Here's what went down on our 3-week road trip to Alaska, insight into our new life in Kodiak, and what we've decluttered since we arrived! Isn't it amazing how…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
92: Parenting in a World with X-Rated Content with Kristen A. Jenson
Today's episode is a little different from our typical conversation, leaning heavily into intentional living. After all, when we drown out the noise and…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
91: Things that Feel Illegal to Declutter (But Aren't)
Sometimes we fail to declutter because of a silent pressure that tells us we're breaking an unwritten rule. Today's episode explores different categories of…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
90: How Clutter Affects Our Mental Health with Dr. Brittany Pope
What does a licensed therapist have to say about how clutter affects our mental health? You're about to find out! Today's episode with my dear friend and…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
89: The Key to Staying Motivated to Declutter
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a pile while decluttering, having lost all motivation? Or have you ever felt like it's impossible to keep the…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
88: How the Beauty Industry Fuels Overconsumption with Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri
If anyone knows about the underbelly of the beauty industry, it's Miss America 2014, Nina Davuluri. Nina's documentary COMPLEXion (available on Prime Video)…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
87: 10 Ways to Make Your Home Easy to Tidy
You've heard it said that we shouldn't focus on having a perfectly tidy home 24/7...rather, we should focus on having a home that's EASY to tidy. What…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
86: Strategies for Getting Your Kids to Declutter
"How do I get my kids to declutter if they're super attached to all their stuff?" "Should I include my kids or do it myself?" "Where should I start?" Today…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
85: Become an Essentialist with NYT Bestselling Author, Greg McKeown
NYT Bestselling author Greg McKeown is on the show!! (WHAT?!) Buckle up for one of the most special, exciting, and insightful episodes of Paring Down yet as we…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
84: Learning to Ride the Waves of Clutter Tolerance
Sometimes the clutter drives us nuts...and sometimes, we don't have the energy to get worked up about it. Guess what? That's totally normal! Today we're…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
83: Making the Most of Our Space with Khrystyne Jaspers
If your home is small, quirky, or simply not your "dream home" - then this episode is for you! In fact, this episode is for you even if you're inside your…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
82: The Sweet Spot Between Beauty & Function with Whitney English
We often think that minimalism looks one way: white, neutral, & bare as possible. The truth is that minimalism simply means choosing only what's truly…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
81: The Art of Making Friends & How it Helps Us Declutter
Does it sometimes feel impossible to make real friends in adulthood? And what does that have to do with paring down our lives? As a military wife, I have to…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
80: Be Rich in What Matters with Julia Ubbenga
When you slow down and consider your life, do you feel rich in what matters? Today's guest, Julia Ubbenga, found herself asking that question years ago, which…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
79: Decluttering Before You Move (or Mock Move)
There's no motivation to declutter quite like relocating! But where should we start? In this episode I break down why we should declutter before we move, and…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
78: Addressing the Mental Load of Clutter with Dr. Morgan Cutlip
"What if our partner says they'll do something, but they don't follow through?" "How do we get our partners to care about all the details of home/family…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
77: What If I End Up Needing What I've Decluttered?
What-if items tend to be the biggest culprits of clutter! We are worried we'll need it some day, so we hold on just in case. In this episode, I walk through 5…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
76: Is Celebrity Self-Help Advice Useful? with Jim Oliver
Introducing my brother, Jim Oliver!! We talk about losing our mom 12 years ago, and what that has meant for both of us in terms of living our lives with clear…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
75: Minimalism Hot Takes
The beautiful part about intentional living is that we get to decide what resonates with us and what doesn't. Not all advice is for everyone, and that's…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
74: Removing the Chaos from Our Email Accounts & Desktops with Shawn Lemon
Ready for some truly practical help that will change your daily life? Shawn Lemon of The Digital Organizer delivers just that in today's episode as he shares…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
73: Avoiding Vacation Clutter: Souvenirs & Vacay Wardrobe
Spring Break is right around the corner, and it's very tempting to buy new wardrobes for vacation or bring home plenty of souvenirs. (Especially if it means…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
72: Does Money Make Us Happier? with Jeff Golden
Defining what is "sacred" is to determine what truly matters and to recognize the beautiful intersection of every living thing. In this realm, Jeff Golden has…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
71: How Growing Up in a Cult Made Me More Intentional
Whew, I kind of can't believe I'm pressing publish on this one. I grew up in a high control religious organization, and today I'm sharing my story after a lot…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
70: Is Decluttering Just for the Financially Secure? with Aubrey High
Avoiding difficult subjects isn't something I want to do on Paring Down. Yet I want to make sure I approach them with humility, positivity, and an open mind -…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
69: The 10 Best Principles to Guide Your Decluttering
Finding a decluttering method that works for you is great, but identifying principles that can apply to any decluttering decision is even more powerful. In…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
68: Decluttering for Senior Adults & Their Families with Jeannine Bryant
This episode has been a long time coming, and I'm so happy it's finally here!!! I know so many of you struggle to help your parents declutter in their senior…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
67: 5 Psychological Phenomena that Affect Decluttering & Consumption
It's always SO exciting when I record something that immediately becomes one of my favorite episodes. This is one of those!! My degree is in psychology because…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
66: How to Develop a Minimalish Mindset with Diane Boden
Diane Boden of the Minimalist Moms podcast joins us on Paring Down today to talk about how to adopt a more minimalish mindset in 2025 and beyond. It's not just…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
65: Reflection Questions to Live More Intentionally
We can't live intentionally while never taking time to pause and reflect on our lives. Through this purposeful evaluation, we are able to consciously decide…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
64: Tweaks to Simplify Your Life with Erin Port
Today we welcome Erin Port of Simple Purposeful Living to the podcast! I LOVE Erin's "big sister energy" (her words) that so gently remind us that we don't…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
63: A Balanced Approach to Birthday Parties
Birthday parties are a great example of how the true power of a “minimalish” life isn’t in less for the sake of less, rather it’s about intentionality. In this…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
62: Tidy Up Your Life with Tyler Moore (aka Tidy Dad)
THE ONE THE ONLY Tyler Moore aka Tidy Dad is on today's episode! Tyler is so engaging, positive, and honest-- three attributes that have led him to features on…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
61: Simplifying Holiday Traditions
In this episode, we talk through 5 ways to keep traditions from becoming overwhelming -- from focusing on the big picture instead of the details, to creating a…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
60: Decluttering Out of Gratitude with Deanna Yates
We often declutter from a place of frustration with all of the stuff in our homes, but the process is not only more enjoyable - but more sustainable, too - if…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
59: Busting Myths About Decluttering
If I’ve learned one thing since creating a public platform about decluttering, it’s that a LOT of people have misconceptions about what it means to declutter…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
58: Spending Money on What We Value with Jen Smith
You lucky ducks get to hear from Jen Smith of the highly popular Frugal Friends podcast! In this episode of Paring Down, she teaches us all about values-based…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
57: Should We Never Buy Anything Ever Again?
Learn 5 ways to be a conscious consumer, along with some of the dangers of taking minimalism to the extreme in this episode of Paring Down! PARING DOWN…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
56: What If You Lost Everything? with Lala Hairston
Lala Hairston lives in the Tampa Bay area, which was ravaged by both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. She shares her powerful story of coming to terms…
- Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
55: The Ripple Effect of Clutter with Laura Carlin
Have you ever considered how your home either helps you or hinders you when it comes to your goals? Is it helping you be the kind of parent you want to be, or…