The Minimal Mom

Are you burdened and overwhelmed by stuff? T.K. Coleman joins Dawn and encourages us to start with the story! When we unpack the story we find that is where the emotional declutter lives. IN THIS EPISODE: 0:00 Intro :52 - Why do we sometimes feel bad after decluttering? 6:10 - You have permission to get rid of things as slowly as you need! 8:57 - Decluttering is not one size fits all 9:34 - The story of the cork 13:50 - The correlation between our internal and emotional clutter 21:00 - T.K.’s entrance into minimalism 24:02(GEM) - The t-shirt example 28:30 How telling the story helps ABOUT THE T.K. Coleman T.K. Coleman has been an educator and entrepreneur for the past twenty years. He is a co-founder of the Praxis apprenticeship program, a former head coach for Seth Godin's altMBA, and the former Education Director for the Foundation for Economic Education. Combining his experience in entrepreneurship, finance, philosophy, and theater, he delivers compelling workshops on entrepreneurship, creativity, and economic thinking to HS and College students around the country. In July 2022 T.K. joined The Minimalists Podcast as their new Co-host and is excited to help people declutter the habits and ideas that hold them back from the life they truly want. LINKS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialtkcoleman/T.K.’s book, Emotional Clutter: https://www.theminimalists.com/emotionalclutter/the minimalists: https://www.theminimalists.com/ Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn

In a world of endless distractions and consumerism, can minimalism and mindfulness offer a pathway to deeper fulfillment? Join us as Dawn of The Minimal Mom and Dr. Pedram Shojai of The Urban Monk reveal how simplifying our surroundings and connecting with our inner selves can lead to a life of purpose, clarity, and peace."IN THIS EPISODE: 0:00 About Dr. Pedram Shojai 4:26 - Where do we begin? 9:03 - What is it like to become a monk? 12:30 - What work comes from? 17:20 - How can we regain focus? 24:04 - How did you look at things differently after returning from the monastery 28:37 - But what about the guilt of decluttering good things? 33:06 - How do you navigate technology with kids? ABOUT Dr. PEDRAM SHOJAI Pedram Shojai is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, and New York Times Bestselling Author of The Urban Monk and The Art of Stopping Time. As an acclaimed Qigong Master, Taoist Abbot, husband and dad, he uses Eastern thinking and practices to help himself and others overcome the Westernized challenges of everyday life LINKS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpedramshojai/ Website: https://theurbanmonk.com/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-urban-monk-podcast-with-dr-pedram-shojai/id1031707838?ign-mpt=uo%3D4&mt=2 Has written several books including Focus, The Urban Monk, and The Art Of Stopping Time. My jewelry is from Trades of Hope (Shop to help women out of poverty!): https://tradesofhope.com/minimalmom Mother's Necklace on Etsy: https://cli.re/mom-necklace (I have the gold in 18") Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn

The cleaning gurus make it look so easy! Why can’t I keep up? Is your house the problem, or is it your cleaning method? Listen in is as Dawn talks with Sarah McGlory about her adaptive cleaning method that really works! IN THIS EPISODE: 0:00 About Sarah 5:05 the correlation between the amount of support and cleanliness 6:28 how adaptive cleaning came about 9:40 (GEM) The basics of low capacity lists 13:25 - how hot mess mom culture failed us 20:00 the inventory connection 26:05 - about perfectionism 29:45 - the power of small steps ABOUT SARAH MCGLORY: Sarah is an advocate for adaptive cleaning, offering practical solutions for those who struggle with traditional cleaning methods. She focuses on flexible routines and strategies that adapt to individual needs, making home care more manageable and less overwhelming for people with busy lives or unique challenges. LINKS: https://www.sarahmcglory.com/ https://www.sarahmcglory.com/product-page/adaptivecleaningsystem https://www.youtube.com/c/SarahMcGloryHome https://www.facebook.com/SarahMcGloryHome Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn

350,000 churches. 400,000 kids in the foster system. Listen in as Dawn talks with Trisha and Eric Porter of Backyard Orphans on their vision of how the church can solve this problem! IN THIS EPISODE: 0:00 - Intro 1:06 - How Eric and Trisha started Backyard Orphans 8:07 - How Backyard Orphans provides support for families wanting to foster 10:40 - How to take the stigma out of foster care 13:34 - Success stories 19:16 - Four ways to get involved in foster care 24:00 - Getting churches connected to agencies 33:50 - The best way to get involved in foster care ABOUT TRISHA AND ERIC: Eric Porter is the founder and CEO of Backyard Orphans. This 501c3 interdenominational ministry is focused on engaging and equipping the church to care for hurting children in their own backyard. Since 2012, Eric and his wife Trisha have been in full-time orphan care ministry with the vision to train Church leaders to develop a foster care, adoption, and support ministry. LINKS: Check out Backyard Orphans: https://backyardorphans.org/ Backyard Orphans IG: https://www.instagram.com/backyardorphans/ Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn

Diana's Friendship Workshop: https://www.biblestudy.co/friend-workshop This is for you: - If you're tired of surface-level interactions, or friends who are always too busy to get together. - You crave a support system of friends who understand your unique challenges, limitations, or stage of life. - Your nest is empty, and you're ready to build friendships based on your own interests and faith. - You've moved homes or changed churches and you're eager to connect, but aren't sure how to break the ice. You don't have to live lonely. Please join us! COST: $10.00 In this episode: 00:00 25 Questions for Twins 00:48 Surprise! Twins! 01:28 Who is the oldest? 03:00 Can you read each other's mind? 03:15 Feel each other's pain? 03:34 Did you trick people? 04:05 How do we tell you apart? 04:48 Which twin is smarter? Funnier? Prettier? 06:57 Own secret language? 07:50 What's it like to be a twin? 09:18 Do you like the same foods? 09:46 Dress alike when kids? 10:36 Do you get tired of getting mixed up? 12:24 Have you dated the same person? 12:47 Do you finish each other's sentences? 13:30 Do you have identical handwriting? 14:51 Do you ever get tired of twin questions? 14:57 Did you have bunk beds? 15:00 Can strangers tell you apart? 15:08 Do you like the same hobbies? 15:35 Any funny mix up stories? 15:54 Did you want a double wedding? 16:37 How to get Dawn some new friends Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast channel. If you'd like to hear previous episodes, you can find them on all podcasting apps including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iTunes. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind subscribing? It helps YouTube recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn ABOUT THE MINIMAL MOM: Hi, I'm Dawn, if we haven't met before, I'm married to Tom and we have four kids ages 8-13. We live outside of the Twin Cities in MN and have called ourselves minimalists for 8 years now. We got rid of 85% of our stuff and don't miss ANY OF IT! If you'd like to see more instructional videos about minimalism and decluttering, be sure to check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMinimalMom

Do you find it difficult to trust your own judgment? Are you uncertain about what you truly believe? How do you make the tough decisions about whether to stay or move on? Is the idea of closure just a myth? Join Dawn as she talks with Emily P. Freeman, a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of five books, including her latest, “HOW TO WALK INTO A ROOM: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away,” about spiritual decluttering, and the connection between simple living and spirituality. IN THIS EPISODE 3:01 How do you build trust with yourself? 5:35 Decluttering your inner life 6:50 How to find safe relationships 8:09 Just pick what you like and see how it grows. 10:37 How to walk into a room 11:42 Our lives are a house, and every room is a story. 15:40 How do you decide what you and your family REALLY believe (without outside pressure)? 17:32 Spiritual decluttering 19:50 It’s OK to investigate 21:15 When it's better to leave, than to stay. 24:58 Is closure a myth? 29:13 Breathe prayers 30:02 “For now…” 32:19 Decluttering is to our home, as silence,stillness, and solitude is to our souls. Resources Mentioned: “Start with Hello,” by Shannon Martin Natalie Hoffman -FlyFree Podcast on YouTube Emily P. Freeman is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of five books, including The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions. As a spiritual director, workshop leader, and host of The Next Right Thing podcast (more than 25 million downloads), her most important work is to help create soul space and offer spiritual companionship and discernment for anyone struggling with decision fatigue. Emily holds a master’s degree in spiritual formation and leadership from Friends University. She lives in North Carolina with her family. https://emilypfreeman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/emilypfreeman/

Get your Early Bird Brave Conference Ticket Here (just $37 until Monday at midnight!): https://www.made2homeschool.com/bravetickets Whether this is your first year or your 10th year of homeschooling, the Brave Conference is designed just for you! Join in to find encouragement, gain fresh inspiration and new ideas, build a supportive network, and prepare for the future with purpose. The sessions are tailored to meet you where you are in your homeschooling journey. Don't miss out on our early bird sign-up for only $37! Secure your spot today and take the next step toward a fulfilling and successful homeschooling experience. Find the speaker line-up and more details here: https://www.made2homeschool.com/bravetickets ...................................... ABOUT THE MINIMAL MOM: Hi, I'm Dawn, if we haven't met before, I'm married to Tom and we have four kids ages 8-13. We live outside of the Twin Cities in MN and have called ourselves minimalists for 9 years now. We got rid of 85% of our stuff and don't miss ANY OF IT! If you'd like to see more instructional videos about minimalism and decluttering, be sure to check out my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@TheMinimalMom

Are you experiencing more anxiety than relaxation this summer? Are your expectations realistic? Do you feel stuck or broken? What is anxiety doing to you? How can we maintain momentum when we don’t feel like it? Join Dawn and Britt Frank- a licensed neuropsychotherapist and author of The Science of Stuck and her newest release The Getting Unstuck Workbook- as they talk about seasonal summer anxiety, setting expectations, and getting “unstuck.” IN THIS EPISODE: 2:36 Seasonal summer anxiety 3:51 Reset expectations 4:06 #Chuckthebucket 4:29 Don’t worry about the why. 5:14 My brain is on my side. 8:10 How do we help our kids? 10:17 It’s ok to need time. 11:32 Stimulation requires down regulation. 12:40 Boredom is NOT a problem to solve. 16:00 Microdose relaxation 18:42 Name it and own it. 22:25 Better done than good 23:01 How do we keep momentum going when the “pink cloud” goes away? 27:10 There is no such thing as a broken person. 27:35 Getting unstuck 32:20 Brains CAN change. Resources Mentioned: The Science of Stuck The Getting Unstuck Workbook The interruption of stuff (Podcast Ep. 24) Bio/Her links: Britt Frank, LSCSW, SEP is a licensed neuropsychotherapist and author of The Science of Stuck (Penguin Random House), named by SHRM, Esquire, New York Magazine, and The Next Big Idea Club as a must-read as well as her new release, The Getting Unstuck Workbook. Britt received her undergraduate degree from Duke University and her master’s degree from the University of Kansas, where she later became an award-winning adjunct instructor. Britt is a contributing writer to Psychology Today and her work has been featured in Forbes, NPR, The New York Times, Fast Company, Psych Central, SELF, and Thrive Global. www.scienceofstuck.com IG: @brittfrank

What are some of the biggest design mistakes? What is the #1 design tip? How can you avoid making this $10,000 design mistake? Today Dawn visits with Melanie Zaelich, an interior designer and owner of Home Stylist - a company that uses the power of design to bring more happiness to people. Melanie shares insights on how to avoid the biggest design mistakes and how she got started in design after being on HGTV. IN THIS EPISODE: 1:18 Melanie's start on HGTV 3:37 Conventional vs. unconventional design 4:48 Biggest designs mistakes 5:00 #1 Design tip (get rid of your stuff!) 5:43 Save $10,000 with this one tip 12:21 Bring life into your space 14:58 Architectural Design vs. Minimalism 18:24 How do I discover my own style? 23:35 Get an outside perspective 24:05 Newest design trends Resources Plant watering globes ABOUT MELANIE: Melanie is the owner of Happy Place Interiors. She loves seeing people light up when they enter a space that has been transformed. Melanie believes that your environment impacts your well-being and it can bring joy to your life and allow you to spend your time and energy on the things that are important to you — like, life. Happy Place Interiors puts a fresh spin on what you’d expect from an interior design company. Rooted in the belief that everyone deserves a happy home, our flexible and collaborative consultation-based, à la carte business model keeps high-quality interior design accessible. Learn more here: https://www.homeismyhappyplace.com/

Our Summer Declutter Challenge kicks off on Monday! Find full details here: https://www.theminimalmom.com/mentorship-group Today I'll answer YOUR questions! If you'd like to leave a voicemail with your own question, you can do so here: https://www.speakpipe.com/MinimalMom In this episode: 00:50 How do I solve my “Monica” closet? 06:27 My husband and I can't agree on this, help? 11:25 How do I push further without feeling guilty? 15:90 How do I get out of the comparison trap? 17:50 Decluttering with ADHD and no motivation, how do I get going? 23:30 How do I let go of perfectly good things? Resources mentioned: Podcast with Sarah McDonald: 5 Tips on Surviving, Thriving & Decluttering with Chronic Illness The Science of Stuff by Britt Frank The Minimal Mom Mentorship Group

What do two polar opposite, yet identical twins unanimously praise as the most impactful elements of their upbringing by their incredible mom (and dad, too!)? Listen in as Dawn and Dianna share about the benefits of growing up with little and the wonderful way it has shaped them. 0:00 Catching Up 8:50 Dawns new mothers necklace and wanting more kids? 11:05 Parenting tips that we learned from our mom 11:58 Tip #1 - Be realistic about what the family can handle and afford 22:33 Tip #2 Celebrate well 23:22 Tip #3 Don’t draw attention to the difference in families 27:28 - Tip #4 Love unconditionally LINKS: Pink Sweater I'm wearing on repeat: https://amzn.to/3UVdW15 Color block shirt I love: https://amzn.to/4drUYWW My jewelry is from Trades of Hope (Shop to help women out of poverty!): https://tradesofhope.com/minimalmom Mother's Necklace on Etsy: https://cli.re/mom-necklace (I have the gold in 18")Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn

Are your kids suffering from digital overload? Do you wonder if it’s too late for your already addicted kids? Listen as Dawn speaks with Melanie Hempe on screen addiction and how to help our kids thrive in a digital age. ABOUT MELANIE: Melanie Hempe helps parents prevent screen addiction, rescue their kids, and enjoy family life again. After her oldest son dropped out of college due to his video game addiction, Melanie Hempe, BSN, utilized her nursing degree from Emory University to warn families about the dangers of screen overuse and founded ScreenStrong. Melanie simplifies medical science for parents, empowering them with the reasons to skip not all screen use but the most harmful screen use—social media, violent video games, and pornography—through adolescence. IN THIS EPISODE: 2:39 - How Melanie became interested in screen safety 15:45 - Kids 0-5 23:02- How long will it take to detox? 29:40 - The science behind screens 33:07 - Kids 6-12 year olds 42:40 - “I want to reduce screen-time, where do I begin?” 44:44 - “What if it’s my spouse who is addicted?” 48:40 - Kids Brains and Screens book LINKS MENTIONED: Kids Brains and Screens book - https://amzn.to/3U4p1uX The Screen Strong Solution book - https://amzn.to/3xFckPD Be Screen Strong IG - https://www.instagram.com/bescreenstrong/ Canopy - https://canopy.us/ Melanie’s son’s perspective on growing up without screens - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-teen-q-a-on-growing-up-without-addictive-screens-179/id1474681355?i=1000641960104 How to teach young kids to play on their own - https://youtu.be/6BlKIluXMcE?feature=shared Welcome to The Official Minimal Mom Podcast. Thank you so much for listening and could I ask a favor? Would you mind following? It helps podcast apps recommend this podcast to more friends. Thank you! Dawn

Are you completely overwhelmed by the amount of digital photos saved in multiple places, on multiple devices? Do you dream of quickly and easily creating yearly photo books for your family, or simply being able to enjoy the memories? Today, Dawn and Casey von Stein (known online as Miss Freddy) share organizational strategies for digital photos so that you and your family can stop being stressed and start enjoying the memories. ABOUT CASEY: Casey is a professional photo organizer who took the organizational skills she fine-tuned during her 10 years as a professional photographer and created simple workflows that allow her clients and students to conquer their photo overwhelm and enjoy their photos again. IN THIS EPISODE: -If you can only do one thing… -The positive emotional affect digital organization can have -GEM Where to even begin making yearly yearbooks (minute 12:40) -How to handle working through family photos -What trends are coming in the photo world LINKS MENTIONED Ollie photo organizing app - https://get.goodones.app/yVeZ/pmmissfreddy Miss Freddy Courses - https://shop.missfreddy.com/products Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/miss.freddy/