Sole Searching

Sole Searching

From The Declutter Queen by Avery Cundill

February 26, 2026 · 22 min · Episode 5

About this episode

Avery Cundill discusses decluttering emotional clutter through shoes and textbooks with her Aunt Vicky, offering practical methods and mindset shifts.

Avery focuses on simplifying our lives by confronting emotional clutter—starting with shoes and then textbooks with her Aunt Vicky. Avery explains that shoes often symbolize versions of ourselves (professional, vacation, fitness) and that guilt over what we paid for them keeps us stuck. She shares a four-step shoe declutter method: gather all shoes, sort into keep/let go/unsure piles, reality-check against your current lifestyle, then clean, donate, repurpose, or discard. Shoes are reframed as tools, not identity. Avery then issues a simple challenge: declutter just five pairs. In the second half, (Tea With the Queen) Avery's Auntie Vicky Shemie seeks help decluttering sentimental textbooks. Avery guides her through mindset questions (use vs. symbolism, realistic future use, inspired vs. weighed down) and the same three-pile approach. She suggests donating, recycling, or keeping only a few meaningful books and even using photos as memory keepers, emphasizing emotional relief and lighter living. Do you need a more personalized decluttering touch? Avery offers a one on one consultation where you can go over your specific decluttering needs and start…

People in this episode

Guest: Aunt Vicky Shemie

Topics covered

  • emotional clutter
  • shoe decluttering
  • sentimental textbooks
  • mindset questions
  • minimalism

Keywords

  • declutter
  • shoes
  • textbooks
  • emotional relief
  • lifestyle

Mentioned in this episode

Products: shoes, textbooks

Books & works: Tea With the Queen

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