The Next Right Thing
by with Emily P. Freeman
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25,001 - 50,000 - Monthly Reach
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On the show
Recent episodes
390: 3 Benefits of Living a Reflective Life
Apr 28, 2026
Unknown duration
389: What's Saving My Spring Life
Apr 21, 2026
Unknown duration
388: Do What You Can
Apr 14, 2026
Unknown duration
387: Learning to Let Go
Mar 31, 2026
Unknown duration
386: Counter Your Weights
Mar 24, 2026
Unknown duration
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/28/26 | 390: 3 Benefits of Living a Reflective Life | April is my birthday month so every year I like to dedicate one episode to birthdays in general - maybe something you can come back to when your birthday rolls around. Of course birthdays are a time for celebration, for treating ourselves, for toasting to another year of life. They are also a good time for personal reflection. If you are someone for whom reflection does not come naturally, you may wonder why do it at all: We can't change the past so what's the point of looking back? What are the real benefits of reflecting on your life? I'm so glad you asked. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Purchase The Birthday Collection Episode 272: A Soul Minimalist's Guide to Your Birthday Episode 365: A Birthday Reflection for When You're Not Sure How to Celebrate How We Think by John Dewey Journal Club Check-In Get the monthly letter FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" | — | ||||||
| 4/21/26 | 389: What's Saving My Spring Life | Some seasons we're more aware of the ways we need our lives to be saved. For me it's always good to keep a list and pay attention to the small and big things that are saving me. It's been especially good for me this month. Maybe in hearing the things on my list you'll be inspired to make and share your own. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Joyful, Anyway by Kate Bowler FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 4/14/26 | 388: Do What You Can | Inevitably in life, all of us will face unexpected turns and be required to navigate terrain we didn't choose and don't understand. What do we do when life is interrupted, when the story you were happy to tell is no longer true? When the crisis isn't obvious or clear or public? When the help we need feels as desperate as a house fire but it's not fully ours to ask for? I have a few ideas. Listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: Watch this episode on YouTube The Quiet Collection app Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 3/31/26 | 387: Learning to Let Go | Today I want to share a bit more personally about my own journey this last 6 weeks. As always, my only hope in sharing with you my inner processing is that perhaps it will help you begin to make sense of your own. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: The Holy Longing by Ronald Rolheiser FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 3/24/26 | 386: Counter Your Weights | If you continue to struggle with knowing how to carry the hard stuff without becoming cynical, angry, or sad all the time and also how to carry the good stuff without feeling guilty or succumbing to toxic positivity you're in the right place. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Order Counterweights by Shannan Martin Join Emily and Shannan at Main Street Books Davidson on April 9th Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen Greensboro FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 3/17/26 | 385: Our Friend Jesus | I've been hosting The Next Right Thing for nearly nine years and through sharing simple, soulful practices for making life decisions, I've also offered a window into my own walk with God, including my questions, struggles, gratitudes, and growth. Like you, I've experienced a lot of change in nine years – from parenting middle schoolers to now having college aged kids; going to graduate school and becoming a spiritual director; from loving our church to leaving our church, and finding a new one, including becoming curious about the Quaker expression of our Christian faith. In the midst of all these changes, many things have remained the same, one thing in particular and today I wanted to share more about what it has meant to walk with our friend Jesus through this winding path of life. I hope you'll listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Order your Next Right Thing Guided Journal and use code JOURNALCLUB40 for 40% off and free standard US shipping FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 3/10/26 | 384: When to Protect Your Peace | Today I'm sharing another phrase we might hear often – Protect your peace. I like that phrase and I also wonder sometimes if we take it too far. Does our peace need protecting? When and to what extent? How can we know when our next right thing is to protect our peace and when instead we might need to extend it or even step into discomfort on purpose? That's today's episode. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Episode 383: How to Know if a Process is Worth Trusting New Heights with Taylor Swift David Brooks in the New York Times Find Brooke Romney on Instagram FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 3/3/26 | 383: How to Know if a Process is Worth Trusting | What does it mean to "trust the process"? What qualifies as a process worth trusting? How can we discern the difference between when it's time to trust the process and when we need to disrupt it? Let's get into it together. FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Purchase The Lent Collection Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 2/24/26 | 382: A Reset List for Your Soul | Clearing the clutter on the inside will almost always lead to more confident decisions on the outside. If you're in need for a gentle inner-life wellness check, this episode is for you. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: The Gift of Being Yourself by David G. Benner Order a How to Walk into a Room FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 2/17/26 | 381: What's Saving My Winter Life | I'm glad to be back on the mic and to join you on Tuesdays to help create a little space for your soul to breathe as you discern your next right thing in love. The season of Lent begins this week so I welcome you to navigate to The Quiet Collection app as we have our Lent Collection once again available. I'll say more about that in a bit but first, here are 8 things saving my life this winter. I hope you'll listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: The Monks Walk for Peace Journal Club Theo of Golden by Allen Levi Strangers by Belle Burden Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid Counterweights: An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in a Heavy World by Shannan Martin Sign up for the monthly letter Download The Lent Collection FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
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| 12/2/25 | 380: Wait for the Light | It's the last episode of the year and I'm glad to welcome the season of Advent together with you. I hope you'll listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: You can download The Quiet Collection app for iPhone or Android right here. If you get LIGHT (the new 2025 Collection) by December 7 you'll receive an invite to join me for a free Live Guided Advent Reflection. I hope to see you there! FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 10/28/25 | 379: Participate in Hope | What does it look like for us to participate in hope? Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: The Beloved Women's Conference The Pastors, Priests and Guides retreat Follow Jonathan Merritt on Instagram FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 10/21/25 | 378: A Rebellion of Care with David Gate | Today I'm glad to welcome poet, writer and visual artist David Gate. His work centers around care for the individual and the nurture of community including culture, the earth and the environment, the dignity of others, and spiritual communities. He says the most important thing for us is to care for the world, ourselves, and each other and all of his work points in that direction. In his debut collection of poems and essays, A Rebellion of Care, he inspires us to rally for what makes life worth living. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Visit David's website Find David on Instagram Order A Rebellion of Care FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" The transcript for this episode is available on Apple Podcasts. | — | ||||||
| 10/14/25 | 377: What's Saving My Autumn Life | It's time for our seasonal episode of What's Saving My Life Right Now. I'll be sharing the things that are life-giving to me during this current autumn season and I'll encourage you to make your own list. It could be anything from a favorite product to a spiritual practice, a fun new show, or a meaningful relationship. When it comes to naming what we love this fall, everything counts. So what's saving your life right now? Here's what's saving mine. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: My Autumn playlist The Popcast with Knox and Jamie The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 10/7/25 | 376: Calm All the Way Down | If you sense some parts of your life are feeling a bit over bedazzled and if you're looking for ways to quiet the outer chaos or the inner chatter, this episode is for you. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Episode 336: The Quaker Practice of Silence with Carrie Newcomer Get that list of my favorite Quiet Resources right here FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 9/30/25 | 375: Cry in Your Kitchen | An often-unspoken spiritual practice – one that doesn't make it into sermons or how-to guides - is the unconventional practice of crying in your kitchen. More specifically, navigating surprising or unwelcome emotion with kindness rather than control. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski Episode 358: Pray However You're Able FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 9/23/25 | 374: Tell the Whole Truth with Jen Hatmaker | Today I'm glad to welcome author, podcaster, speaker, advocate, educator, mother, Jen Hatmaker. From the power of her written word across 14 books including four New York Times best sellers, to speaking on stages, leading her own courses and book club communities, and interviewing countless visionaries on her award-winning For The Love podcast, Jen has an undeniable gift for reaching the hearts and minds of her community. It's an honor to host her today to have a conversation about her deeply personal memoir, Awake. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Purchase Awake by Jen Hatmaker Visit Jen's website Find Jen on Instagram FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" The transcript for this episode is available on Apple Podcasts. | — | ||||||
| 9/16/25 | 373: Find Someone to Root for | In a world of comparison, competition, and constant performance, it's easy to turn inward, guard our energy, or measure our worth by what we haven't yet done. But what if, instead of striving, we chose to cheer? What if your next right thing wasn't about you at all, but about seeing someone else clearly and naming their goodness out loud? Even if it's not their special day of the year, finding someone to root for can be one counter-intuitive way to combat loneliness and discouragement. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Download The Birthday Collection FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 9/9/25 | 372: Clear Your Space | Today I'm exploring one of the things I crave that has nothing to do with food: a desire for space - body, mind, and soul. Here are some ways clearing space is helping me in my decision-making life. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Start With Hello by Shannan Martin The Ministry of Ordinary Places by Shannan Martin Counterweights: An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in A Heavy World by Shannan Martin "The Value of Looking at Long-Distance Views" in Psychology Today The Lazy Genius episode 371: How to Neutralize the Sunday Scaries Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 9/2/25 | 371: Learn from the Children | If you're feeling far from wonder, or disconnected from your own faith, today's episode is an invitation to listen, notice, and remember. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr Find Hilary McBride on Instagram FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 8/29/25 | 370: On Envy and Contentment with Kate Strickler | I'm so glad to welcome Kate Strickler, the creator behind the extremely popular blog and Instagram account Naptime Kitchen. She's known for her down-to-earth practicality and home and parenting hacks, and when she isn't working or wrangling the kids, you can find her in her happy place: experimenting in the kitchen. Kate lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband, Nate and their four children and I'm so glad to have her join us today. She's written her very first book called I Just Wish I Had A Bigger Kitchen: And Other Lies I Think Will Make Me Happy. In it she shares small habits and mindset shifts to find contentment and joy in life. We'll talk about that and more. I hope you'll listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Order I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen by Kate Strickler Visit Kate's website Follow Kate on Instagram The beloved mesh bags Pretty in the Pines FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" This episode is transcribed on Apple Podcasts. | — | ||||||
| 8/27/25 | 369: Make Like Taylor Swift and Opt Out | The things we read, watch, listen to and generally consume will almost always contribute in some way to a conversation we're already having in our heads. It may not be obvious at first, it may take some time to connect the dots. But eventually, the work and words and lives of others – if we're paying attention – will have some kind of impact. If we're lucky, they will help us to articulate something we've worked to do on our own for quite some time. If we're smart, we'll keep a record of it. That's what I'm attempting to do today here, sharing the words from three different women and how those words are combining in my mind to bring some clarity to something I've thought a lot about. I'll bring you in on it now as a witness to my wonderings. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Taylor Swift's 2022 Songwriter-Artist of the Decade acceptance speech Why the French Don't Obsess Over Purpose by Pamela Clapp on Substack I've Seen What I Needed to See on the 10 Things to Tell You podcast FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
| 8/19/25 | 368: A New Season with John P. Freeman | It's our first episode back after our summer hiatus and I'm so glad to welcome my friend, partner, and husband, John P. Freeman. (Yes, his middle initial really is P!) Aside from being my biggest cheerleader, John is also a pastor who served for 12 years in two different churches as a youth pastor until 12 years ago when he walked out of the room of official church ministry and walked into the room of our actual home where he worked for several years as a stay-at-home dad. For the last decade, he's been running his own nonprofit called Grace Discipleship, where he offers soul care and spiritual direction for couples, pastors, and Gen Z high school and college students. On this first episode of this next season of the podcast, we'll cover some questions you submitted about spiritual direction, family life, and life with God. Plus John will share which episodes of this podcast are his personal favorite. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Episode 294: Standing at the Threshold with Lowland Hum Episode 319 Finding Vocational Clarity with Parker J. Palmer Episode 23: Release Your Agenda The Listening Life by Adam McHugh Learn more about John's work Find a Spiritual Director through Anam Cara FIND EMILY ELSEWHERE: Watch this episode on YouTube Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" This episode is transcribed on YouTube and Apple Podcasts. | — | ||||||
| 8/5/25 | A Conversation with Suzanne Stabile (Best of) | This summer, I'm re-airing some of my favorite decision making episodes. This one originally aired on November 15, 2022. Today I'm glad to welcome our favorite Enneagram teacher, author Suzanne Stabile, to talk about the three centers of intelligence and how our stances inform our decisions. Suzanne is a highly sought-after speaker and teacher, known for her personal vulnerability and creative approach to Enneagram instruction. After 25 years of studying the enneagram, learning from people's stories, cultivating relationships, and learning under Father Richard Rohr, she has become a bestselling author and world-class teacher of the enneagram. Her most recent enneagram book is called The Journey Toward Wholeness: Enneagram Wisdom for Stress, Balance and Transformation and if you ask me, it's her best one yet. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Find Suzanne online and on Instagram The Journey Toward Wholeness by Suzanne Stabile Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Download The Quiet Collection app Join The Soul Minimalist Substack Order a How to Walk into a Room Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide" Download the transcript | — | ||||||
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Chart Positions
7 placements across 5 markets.
Chart Positions
7 placements across 5 markets.