Best Essentialist Podcasts (2025)

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102: Creating Systems to Be Productive Toward What Matters with Chelsi Jo 1:00:28

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3d ago1:00:28

1:00:28

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 weren't trying to squeeze in work and family at the same time? Today's episode with Chelsi Jo from Systemize Your Life is a game-changer. You'll look at your life completely differently and wonder…

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101: What Cozy Season Teaches Us About Decluttering 40:35

9h ago40:35

40:35

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 natural invitation to slow down, reset, and create a home that supports rest and connection. Today, you'll learn how to create space for warmth, peace, and simplicity by taking cues from the c…

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366. Ward Clapham on The Secret Weapon for Solving Crime 1:36:20

12d ago1:36:20

1:36:20

What if policing could move from reacting to crime to building trust before it begins? In this episode, I speak with Ward Clapham, the former Police Chief in Richmond, Canada, who pioneered the “positive ticketing program.” This simple idea—rewarding positive behavior instead of only punishing negative—transformed community trust and dramatically r…

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100: Life-Changing Hacks to Make Tech Your Personal Assistant with Amanda Jefferson 58:13

17d ago58:13

58:13

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 Tech Whisperer, Amanda Jefferson, to talk about simple, life-changing hacks that help you make technology your personal assistant (instead of your enemy).*No apps mentioned in this episode a…

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99: 7 Tips to Conquer Decluttering Burnout 36:34

17d ago36:34

36:34

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 out. I hit some major burnout of my own this week, so hopefully the examples from my own life will give you fresh ideas to move forward. Inside this episode, you’ll hear: Why decluttering burno…

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98: Shaping Your Home to Support Your Wants & Needs with Mia Danielle 52:47

1M ago52:47

52:47

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 guest Mia Danielle realized she needed to create a home that supported her, somewhat like a partner in life. That transition sparked her journey into minimalism and intentional living, where sh…

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97: Harnessing the Scientific Power of Enthusiasm to Declutter 42:27

29d ago42:27

42:27

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 matters more than you think. You’ll discover: How mirror neurons influence everyone in your home to get on board with decluttering Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions and …

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96: How to Make Your Home Feel Warm & Welcoming with Etiquette Coach, Alison Cheperdak 49:05

2M ago49:05

49:05

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 welcoming, which includes motivation to declutter (without going overboard!), as well as emotionally intelligent ways to create personal connection. She lets us know: What to do if someone gives you…

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95: How to Declutter a Storage Unit 1:00:16

2M ago1:00:16

1:00:16

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 the process easier, lighter, and way less overwhelming. We cover how to declutter: A storage unit filled with items from a deceased loved one A storage unit full of your own things that you wa…

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94: Practical Advice for Living Intentionally with 7x NYT Bestselling Author Gretchen Rubin 1:08:45

2M ago1:08:45

1:08:45

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 happiness, which boils down to understanding ourselves better in order to discover areas for personal agency. From there, we can create lives we love. So much of her wisdom lends itself perfe…

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93: Behind the Scenes of Our Road Trip to Alaska & What I Wish We'd Decluttered 50:06

2M ago50:06

50:06

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 it feels like so much more arrives in the moving truck than what came out of your last house? Today's episode is more of a personal update than my usual decluttering lessons, but at this poi…

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92: Parenting in a World with X-Rated Content with Kristen A. Jenson 59:37

2M ago59:37

59:37

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 clutter, we have time to focus on what truly matters - and what could be more important than the healthy and safety of our children and grandchildren? We welcome Kristen A. Jenson, author of the bo…

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91: Things that Feel Illegal to Declutter (But Aren't) 39:37

3M ago39:37

39:37

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 items that feel illegal to declutter, and how to push past the unreasonable fear of letting them go. Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@paring_down⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Paring Down Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…

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90: How Clutter Affects Our Mental Health with Dr. Brittany Pope 56:43

3M ago56:43

56:43

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 licensed therapist, Dr. Brittany Pope, will help you not only feel inspired to pare down on behalf of your mental health, but will leave you feeling seen, validated, and hopeful as you figure out …

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89: The Key to Staying Motivated to Declutter 44:11

3M ago44:11

44:11

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 clutter at bay? There's one key factor to stay motivated on ANY journey - including our mission to live with less - and we're going to cover exactly how to harness this motivation in today's epi…

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88: How the Beauty Industry Fuels Overconsumption with Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri 1:05:52

3M ago1:05:52

1:05:52

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) sheds a light on her personal experience with colorism, which led to a deeper dive into international beauty standards and how companies create new insecurities just to get us to buy more and m…

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365. The Systems Leader with Robert Siegel 1:02:19

3M ago1:02:19

1:02:19

In this conversation, I’m joined by Robert E. Siegel, author of The Systems Leader, to unpack the essential mindset shifts leaders must make in a complex, fast-moving environment. We explore the tensions leaders face—like balancing innovation with execution, and strength with empathy—and how the most effective leaders navigate these paradoxes with …

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87: 10 Ways to Make Your Home Easy to Tidy 39:38

4M ago39:38

39:38

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, exactly, does that entail? Well, today you'll learn specific systems and ideals to implement so that your home doesn't feel overwhelming to keep tidy. Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@paring_down⁠⁠⁠⁠…

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86: Strategies for Getting Your Kids to Declutter 51:17

4M ago51:17

51:17

"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 we're diving into a bunch of practical strategies for decluttering kid stuff, covering things like: - Gamifying - Setting physical boundaries - Specific conversations to initiate Plus, I'll shar…

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85: Become an Essentialist with NYT Bestselling Author, Greg McKeown 1:16:37

4M ago1:16:37

1:16:37

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 dive into his two mega-hits, Essentialism and Effortless. In this episode, you'll grasp a deeper understanding of how to identify what's important in your life and what's unnecessary excess …

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364. The Power of Being Shameless, Selfish, and Nosy with Jenny Wood 1:01:40

4M ago1:01:40

1:01:40

What if the only thing standing between you and the life you truly want is the courage to begin? In this episode, I speak with Jenny Wood—former Google executive and author of Wild Courage—about what it means to pursue the essential with boldness. Jenny shares how she walked away from a high-powered role to write the book she felt called to create.…

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84: Learning to Ride the Waves of Clutter Tolerance 39:56

4M ago39:56

39:56

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 talking through the reasons why your clutter tolerance might ebb and flow, so you'll walk away feeling less pressure to be rigid in your approach to a living a life with less. Paring Down Instagram…

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Vanessa Hill shares 3 rules for better sleep 16:46

4M ago16:46

16:46

Today I'm joined by Vanessa Hill, a behavioral scientist, educator, and creator behind the popular YouTube channel Brain Craft. With a background in sleep research and science communication, Vanessa has helped millions better understand the psychology behind rest habits and decision making.Today she's sharing her three rules for better sleep, and I…

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83: Making the Most of Our Space with Khrystyne Jaspers 56:30

5M ago56:30

56:30

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 ideal home but aren't sure you've maximized the space to meet your needs. Small space designer, Khrystyne Jaspers, has first-hand experience with making the most out of her spaces, including her …

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82: The Sweet Spot Between Beauty & Function with Whitney English 50:14

5M ago50:14

50:14

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 important and essential to each of us, personally, and letting those things shine. Designer Whitney English is releasing a new book (today!) called "Organize First, Decorate Second," and you'll love …

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Nelson Dellis shares 3 rules for life 18:44

4M ago18:44

18:44

Today I'm joined by Nelson Dellis, a 6 time USA memory champion, and one of the most accomplished memory athletes in the world. He's held several memory records, including memorizing the most names in 15 minutes, 235 in total. And memorizing a shuffle deck of cards in just 36 seconds.Which is impressive because I can't remember what I ate for break…

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81: The Art of Making Friends & How it Helps Us Declutter 46:25

5M ago46:25

46:25

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 build a new community for our family every three years. And I've found that not only do friendships help us enjoy life, but they're a big reason it's easier to live a life with less. When we kn…

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80: Be Rich in What Matters with Julia Ubbenga 48:05

5M ago48:05

48:05

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 has led to her influencing thousands of other women to do the same. In today's episode, we talk about how to free ourselves from comparison, impatience/anger, and exhaustion through the pract…

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79: Decluttering Before You Move (or Mock Move) 41:03

5M ago41:03

41:03

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 10 categories to focus on in order to avoid taking clutter with you to your new home. Even if you're not moving, today's episode is a fun one to get ideas for a "mock move," which is to declut…

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James Hoffmann shares 3 rules for life 17:50

5M ago17:50

17:50

Today I am joined by James Hoffmann. World barista champion, author, entrepreneur, and widely considered the "Godfather of Coffee YouTube". Through his videos, businesses, and bestselling book, the World Atlas of Coffee, James has helped millions of people understand coffee on a deeper level and probably spend a little bit more money on coffee gea…

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78: Addressing the Mental Load of Clutter with Dr. Morgan Cutlip 1:10:05

6M ago1:10:05

1:10:05

"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 management?" These are just two of the questions I ask relationship expert and author Dr. Morgan Cutlip on today's episode of Paring Down. "The mental load" is a big term getting a lot of attention…

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77: What If I End Up Needing What I've Decluttered? 42:26

6M ago42:26

42:26

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 helpful ways to combat this battle with "what-if??" so that we can become more discerning about what's worth keeping and what we need to let go. Paring Down Instagram: ⁠⁠@paring_down⁠ Paring …

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363. Maximal Fitness with Minimum Time with Ben Greenfield (Part 2) 42:13

6M ago42:13

42:13

Greg and guest Ben Greenfield continue in this Part 2 conversation about endurance training strategies, focusing on preparing for Ironman triathlons. Ben shares insights on pacing, nutrition, and psychological resilience, offering tips from the trenches for race day success. They explore the challenges of juggling athletic goals with personal life,…

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Andrew Hamilton shares 3 rules for life 19:06

6M ago19:06

19:06

Today, I'm joined by Andrew Hamilton, a stand up comedian who earned a nomination for Best Newcomer at the 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Before comedy, Andrew spent 15 years as a drug dealer, a path that ultimately landed him in prison. Now, on the straight and narrow, his turned his past into some hilarious material, both on stage …

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76: Is Celebrity Self-Help Advice Useful? with Jim Oliver 59:16

6M ago59:16

59:16

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 intention - even though that intentionality looks different between the two of us. Jim also shares about his fascinating career as a booking agent for celebrities and major motivational speak…

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362. Maximal Fitness with Minimum Time with Ben Greenfield (Part 1) 40:55

6M ago40:55

40:55

Greg chats with Ben Greenfield, a trailblazer in health and human optimization, about unlocking potential and redefining personal limits. We put a magnifying glass onto Ben's journey from novice to Ironman, and discover two key breakthroughs: a time-efficient high-intensity training method and a game-changing nutrition strategy for optimal enduranc…

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Jack Conte shares 3 rules for life 19:58

6M ago19:58

19:58

Today, I'm joined by Jack Conte, musician, creator, and CEO of Patreon, the platform that's helped thousands of artists and creators build sustainable businesses. From co founding Patreon to leading a band and creating his own content, Jack has spent his career pushing the boundaries of creativity, entrepreneurship, and what it means to make a livi…

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75: Minimalism Hot Takes 46:31

6M ago46:31

46:31

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 A-okay. In that spirit, there seem to be some generally-accepted viewpoints in the minimalism and decluttering world that I, personally, disagree with. So here are some of my hot takes! From sparki…

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361. The Journal as a Superpower with Derek Sivers 58:26

6M ago58:26

58:26

Greg speaks with Derek Sivers, an entrepreneur and thinker, exploring the power of perspective in shaping life's outcomes. They explore the concept of "useful, not true," emphasizing the flexibility and mindset required to break away from limiting narratives. Sivers shares personal insights on journaling as a tool for processing thoughts and decisi…

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Sam Corcos shares 3 rules for life 15:42

6M ago15:42

15:42

Today, I'm joined by Sam Corcos, CEO and co founder of Levels, a company helping people better understand their metabolic health through real time data. Sam takes a counterintuitive approach to both work and life. Rejecting the always busy CEO stereotype, he schedules his days for deep focus, while also being very intentional about his media diet. …

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74: Removing the Chaos from Our Email Accounts & Desktops with Shawn Lemon 1:03:44

7M ago1:03:44

1:03:44

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 with us practical steps we can take to make our email accounts, desktop, and digital storage less chaotic and far more streamlined. I personally was so motivated after our conversation that I …

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Anaita Sarkar shares 3 rules for life 18:15

6M ago18:15

18:15

Today, I'm joined by Anaita Sarkar, entrepreneur and co founder of Hero Packaging, a sustainable packaging company, helping businesses reduce plastic waste. Beyond building a wildly successful brand, Anaita shares insights on e-commerce marketing and business growth. Empowering others to launch and scale their own ventures. Her latest book is call…

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73: Avoiding Vacation Clutter: Souvenirs & Vacay Wardrobe 40:30

7M ago40:30

40:30

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 avoiding a toddler breakdown in the middle of public.) So let's talk about ways to avoid all that vacation clutter -- both in shopping ahead of time, and while we're there! Paring Down Instagra…

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360. What's Essential: The Disciplined Pursuit of Home with Drew & Linda Scott (Replay) 48:03

7M ago48:03

48:03

Drew and Linda Scott go into detail on their vastly different upbringings, and how their parents and families have molded them into the people they are today. Greg, Drew and Linda discuss how the world can be changed for the better, and the individual steps it takes each person along the way to create an effective and lasting change. Join my weekly…

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Eamon & Bec share 3 rules for life 19:06

7M ago19:06

19:06

I’m joined by Eamon & Bec– entrepreneurs, YouTubers, and van life pioneers who have built a global community by sharing their adventures on the road. From converting campervans to launching a successful tea company, they’ve mastered seamlessly integrating their passions into their life—and bringing their audience along for the ride. Chapters 00:00 …

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72: Reclaiming the Sacred: Does Money Make Us Happier? with Jeff Golden 57:37

7M ago57:37

57:37

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 spent 30 years and won multiple awards for his work regarding the connection (or lack thereof) between money and happiness so that we can better reject the things that are NOT sacred. On the …

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359. Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want with Courtney Carver 44:58

7M ago44:58

44:58

Greg speaks with Courtney Carver, author of the upcoming book "Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want," exploring practices for simplicity and rest in a complex world. They discuss the crucial concept of resting first, creating personal rituals like Little Saturday, and using the metaphor of a circle to prioritize what …

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Eugene Teo shares 3 rules for life 18:16

7M ago18:16

18:16

I’m joined by strength coach, educator, and YouTuber, Eugene Teo. His content has become a go-to destination for those seeking practical advice on fitness and self-improvement. Chapters00:00 Intro00:46 Rule 1: Time everything06:41 Rule 2: Journal every day13:34 Rule 3: Create a simple wardrobe Get 3 rules emails every week: ⁠https://www.mattdavella…

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71: How Growing Up in a Cult Made Me More Intentional 57:38

7M ago57:38

57:38

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 of interest came in after I mentioned it in a reel! I know this is.a bit off the subject of decluttering, but it ties in beautifully with the bigger message of intentional living. I hope this…

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358. Inside the Mind of a CIA Operative with Jeffrey Sanow 1:01:43

7M ago1:01:43

1:01:43

Greg engages with Jeffrey Sanow, a former CIA senior intelligence officer, to explore the nuances of decision-making under pressure and the art of interpersonal communication. Jeffrey shares insights from his career, highlighting strategies for effective manipulation and persuasion, the importance of understanding others, and the balance between pr…