Slow Living | Creating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle Driven World

By Stephanie O'DeaEducation Self-Improvement Parenting Kids & Family How To

Slow Living | Creating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle Driven World episodes

October 03, 2022The Power of Consistency: How Small Steps Lead to Big Results
The Power of Consistency: How Small Steps Lead to Big Results
Consistency means doing the thing you said you were going to do—even when you're tired, cranky, or would rather be watching Southern Charm on the couch.
In this episode of the Slow Living Podcast, Stephanie O'Dea talks about the power of consistency and why showing up matters more than doing your absolute best every single time.
Consistency is a lot like parenting when you're tired: sometimes you simply do the thing you said you were going to do. You do it when you're tired. You do it when you don't feel like it. And you do it even when you know it isn't your best work.
Stephanie shares her own experience with staying consistent, admitting that she'd sometimes much rather curl up on the couch and binge-watch Southern Charm than get to work. But she made commitments to herself, her podcast listeners, and her coaching clients—and she kept showing up.
The goal isn't perfection. It's taking those teeny tiny baby steps forward, trusting that small, consistent actions can move you toward where you want to go.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why consistency can matter more than doing your best every single time
How to keep going when you're tired, cranky, or unmotivated
Why small steps can add up to meaningful progress
How keeping promises to yourself can strengthen consistency
Why you don't have to be perfect to keep moving forward
How to make consistency your own superpower

You don't have to do everything perfectly. You just have to keep showing up and taking the next tiny step.
Read Stephanie's Book
📖 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World
Get the book on Amazon
Learn More About Stephanie O'Dea
Website: stephanieodea.com
Podcast: stephanieodea.com/podcast
Blog: stephanieodea.com/blog
Speaking: stephanieodea.com/speaking/
Podcast Notes
Find all podcast notes at stephanieodea.com/podcastnotes
Have a question you'd like Stephanie to cover, or a Slow Living Story of your own you'd like to share? Leave a voicemail.
23 min
September 26, 2022Adult Friendships: How to Make and Keep Friends as an Adult
Adult Friendships: How to Make and Keep Friends as an Adult
Making friends as an adult is a lot harder than it was when we were kids—but your friendships don't have to look like a television sitcom.
In this episode of the Slow Living Podcast, Stephanie O'Dea talks about making and keeping adult friendships and why friendship can feel so much more complicated as we get older.
When you're a kid, making a friend can be as simple as playing together in the same sandbox. As adults, friendships can involve shared interests, emotional connection, different lifestyles, schedules, beliefs, and expectations.
Stephanie discusses the five types of relationships adults need to nurture and maintain, along with ways to find casual friends and acquaintances.
She also offers an important reminder: you don't need to have a constant group of friends around you to have a rich and meaningful life. Your friendships can change with different seasons of life, and they don't have to look like the friendships you see on television.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why making friends as an adult can feel so much harder than it did as a kid
The five types of relationships worth nurturing as an adult
How to find casual friends and acquaintances
Why friendships don't have to be based on having everything in common
How to let go of unrealistic expectations about what adult friendship should look like
Why you don't need a constant social calendar to have meaningful relationships

Your friendships don't have to look like anyone else's. There is plenty of room for casual friendships, deep friendships, changing friendships—and seasons when you simply have less time for all of them.
Read Stephanie's Book
📖 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World
Get the book on Amazon
Learn More About Stephanie O'Dea
Website: stephanieodea.com
Podcast: stephanieodea.com/podcast
Blog: stephanieodea.com/blog
Speaking: stephanieodea.com/speaking/
Podcast Notes
Find all podcast notes at stephanieodea.com/podcastnotes
Have a question you'd like Stephanie to cover, or a Slow Living Story of your own you'd like to share? Leave a voicemail.
32 min
September 19, 2022How to Deal With Toxic People When You Can't Avoid Them
How to Deal With Toxic People When You Can't Avoid Them
Sometimes you can't simply cut a difficult person out of your life. What do you do when you still have to interact with them?
In this episode of the Slow Living Podcast, Stephanie O'Dea answers a listener question about how to deal with people who aren't good for your well-being—especially when avoiding them completely isn't an option.
Whether the difficult person is part of your family, extended family, workplace, or another part of your everyday life, real life sometimes requires us to interact with people we'd rather avoid.
Stephanie explains the grey rock approach and her idea of putting yourself into a “hamster ball” when dealing with difficult people. She also talks about separating someone's behavior from the person themselves, which can become especially important when dementia or another debilitating life event changes someone's behavior.
The goal isn't to change another person. It's to find ways to protect your own peace while navigating relationships and circumstances you can't simply walk away from.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to deal with toxic or difficult people you can't completely avoid
What the grey rock approach is and when it can be useful
How putting yourself in a “hamster ball” can help protect your peace
Why it can be helpful to separate a person's behavior from the person themselves
How dementia or a major life event can change someone's behavior
How to respond when you can't control another person's actions

You don't have to change another person to create more peace in your own life. Sometimes Slow Living means learning how to interact differently with the people you can't avoid.
Read Stephanie's Book
📖 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World
Get the book on Amazon
Learn More About Stephanie O'Dea
Website: stephanieodea.com
Podcast: stephanieodea.com/podcast
Blog: stephanieodea.com/blog
Speaking: stephanieodea.com/speaking/
Podcast Notes
Find all podcast notes at stephanieodea.com/podcastnotes
Have a question you'd like Stephanie to cover, or a Slow Living Story of your own you'd like to share? Leave a voicemail.
34 min
September 12, 2022Quiet Quitting: Why Doing Less at Work Isn't a Bad Thing
Quiet Quitting: Why Doing Less at Work Isn't a Bad Thing
Quiet quitting isn't about being lazy. It's about deciding what you're willing to give—and what you're no longer willing to sacrifice.
In this episode of the Slow Living Podcast, Stephanie O'Dea takes a closer look at quiet quitting and why the idea isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Slow Living doesn't mean doing nothing. It's about taking the time to decide what you actually want and then moving toward it slowly, thoughtfully, and intentionally—one baby step at a time.
In a culture that constantly tells us to hustle, achieve more, work harder, and keep pushing, quiet quitting can look radical. But setting boundaries around your work doesn't mean you've stopped caring. It may simply mean you're choosing to stop giving everything you have to a job at the expense of the rest of your life.
Stephanie explores the idea of quiet quitting through the lens of anti-hustle living and asks what happens when we stop automatically saying yes to doing more.
In this episode, you'll learn:
What “quiet quitting” actually means
Why doing less at work doesn't necessarily mean being lazy or unmotivated
How quiet quitting connects with the Slow Living philosophy
Why setting boundaries around work can be a healthy choice
The difference between doing what you have to do and intentionally choosing what you want to do
How taking small, thoughtful steps can help you create a life that works for you

You don't have to hustle your way through life. You can decide what matters, set your boundaries, and move toward the life you want—slowly and intentionally.
Read Stephanie's Book
📖 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World
Get the book on Amazon
Learn More About Stephanie O'Dea
Website: stephanieodea.com
Podcast: stephanieodea.com/podcast
Blog: stephanieodea.com/blog
Speaking: stephanieodea.com/speaking/
Podcast Notes
Find all podcast notes at stephanieodea.com/podcastnotes
Have a question you'd like Stephanie to cover, or a Slow Living Story of your own you'd like to share? Leave a voicemail.
27 min
September 05, 2022How to Be More Productive Without Doing More: A Slow Living Approach
How to Be More Productive Without Doing More: A Slow Living Approach
Slow Living doesn't mean doing nothing. It means being intentional about what you spend your time and energy doing.
In this episode of the Slow Living Podcast, Stephanie O'Dea tackles a question that might seem completely backward for a Slow Living podcast: How can you be more productive?
Living slowly doesn't mean sitting around eating bon-bons while life passes you by. It means taking the time to remove the things that no longer serve you and making a plan for the things you actually want to do—not simply doing everything you think you should be doing.
But sometimes, being an adult means getting to work. Bills need to be paid, groceries need to be bought, and there are plenty of everyday responsibilities that aren't necessarily exciting.
The goal isn't to cram more into your already-full schedule. It's to find realistic ways to get the things you have to do done efficiently, so you have more time and energy for the things you want to do.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why Slow Living doesn't mean being lazy or unproductive
The difference between things you have to do, things you should do, and things you actually want to do
Why getting clear about your priorities can make you more productive
How simplifying your responsibilities can create more time for what matters
Why productivity should support the life you want—not become the goal itself
How doing less of the wrong things can help you do more of the right things

You don't need to do everything. You need to get clear about what matters—and find a simpler way to get the rest done.
Read Stephanie's Book
📖 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World
Get the book on Amazon
Learn More About Stephanie O'Dea
Website: stephanieodea.com
Podcast: stephanieodea.com/podcast
Blog: stephanieodea.com/blog
Speaking: stephanieodea.com/speaking/
Podcast Notes
Find all podcast notes at stephanieodea.com/podcastnotes
Have a question you'd like Stephanie to cover, or a Slow Living Story of your own you'd like to share? Leave a voicemail.
27 min
August 29, 2022How to Overcome Overwhelm: Boundaries, Saying No, and Slowing Down
How to Overcome Overwhelm: Boundaries, Saying No, and Slowing Down
When there’s too much to do and not enough time to do it, slowing down can feel impossible—but it’s often exactly what you need.
In this episode of the Slow Living Podcast, Stephanie O'Dea answers a listener question from Michelle about feeling overwhelmed, setting boundaries, and learning how to prioritize her own needs.
Stephanie talks about the reality of having too many responsibilities and the feeling of constantly trying to catch up. While you may not be able to change everything on your plate, you can change how you respond to it.
The conversation covers practical coping strategies, knowing when to say no to social invitations and obligations, and what to do when you feel yourself heading toward a panic attack or emotional freak-out.
Stephanie also shares why learning to talk to yourself with the same kindness and patience you'd offer a little kid can be a valuable skill—and how accepting reality as it is can help you create a calmer, more peaceful, and slower life.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to recognize and work through feelings of overwhelm
Why setting boundaries and saying no can protect your time and energy
How to decide which social invitations and obligations you actually want to accept
Coping strategies for those moments when you feel yourself starting to freak out
Why talking to yourself with kindness can help you slow down
How accepting reality can create more peace and less resistance

You don't have to do everything. Sometimes the path out of overwhelm begins with accepting what is, deciding what matters, and giving yourself permission to say no.
Read Stephanie's Book
📖 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World
Get the book on Amazon
Learn More About Stephanie O'Dea
Website: stephanieodea.com
Podcast: stephanieodea.com/podcast
Blog: stephanieodea.com/blog
Speaking: stephanieodea.com/speaking/
Podcast Notes
Find all podcast notes at stephanieodea.com/podcastnotes
Have a question you'd like Stephanie to cover, or a Slow Living Story of your own you'd like to share? Leave a voicemail.
32 min
August 22, 2022Why You Should Cultivate Your Creativity — Even If You Never Share It
Why You Should Cultivate Your Creativity — Even If You Never Share It
Creativity isn't a side hustle, a competition, or something you have to prove to anyone else. It's something you get to do simply because it's yours.
A note about this episode: This conversation with Kim Demmon was recorded several years ago, when Kim was actively running her online businesses. Kim has since retired from living her life online, but her thoughts about creativity and making space for yourself still resonate.
This is Part 2 of Stephanie O'Dea's conversation with her longtime friend Kim Demmon about cultivating creativity in an online world.
Why is creativity important?
Because we're human beings, and we need ways to keep our minds engaged, explore ideas, and make things simply because we enjoy making them.
Stephanie and Kim talk about how easy it is to give all of your “good stuff” away to other people—to your family, your work, your responsibilities—and then wonder why you feel like something is missing.
Creativity can be something that is just for you.
It doesn't have to become a business. It doesn't have to become a side hustle. You don't have to post it online, monetize it, turn it into a brand, or prove to anyone that you're good at it.
You can simply create.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why creativity is important even when it doesn't produce anything tangible
How giving all of your energy to other people can leave you feeling like something is missing
Why your creative life doesn't need to become a business or side hustle
How to make creativity something that is simply for you
Why you don't need to prove your creativity to friends, family, or people online
How slowing down can create space for the things you genuinely enjoy

Your creativity does not have to earn money, impress anyone, or become anything. You are allowed to create simply because you want to.
About Kim Demmon
Kim Demmon was the creator of Today's Creative Life and Jack Pine Jones, and a longtime friend and fellow online creator of Stephanie's.
Kim has since retired from her online businesses and from living her life publicly on the internet. These episodes are preserved as a snapshot of a conversation between two longtime online friends during that chapter of their lives.
Read Stephanie's Book
📖 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World
Get the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gPRu37
Learn More About Stephanie O'Dea
Website: stephanieodea.com
Podcast: stephanieodea.com/podcast
Blog: stephanieodea.com/blog
Speaking: stephanieodea.com/speaking/
Podcast Notes
Find all podcast notes at stephanieodea.com/podcastnotes
Have a question you'd like Stephanie to cover, or a Slow Living Story of your own you'd like to share? Leave a voicemail.
43 min
August 15, 2022Cultivating Creativity: How the Internet Can Steal Your Creative Spark — Part 1
Cultivating Creativity: How the Internet Can Steal Your Creative Spark — Part 1
You are creative. But spending too much time looking at what everyone else is doing can make you forget that.
A note about this episode: This conversation with Kim Demmon was recorded several years ago, when Kim was actively running her online businesses. Kim has since retired from living her life online, but this conversation about creativity, comparison, and the internet is still worth a listen.
In this episode of the Slow Living Podcast, Stephanie O'Dea sits down with her longtime friend Kim Demmon for a conversation about cultivating creativity in an online world.
Stephanie and Kim met online years ago, and after mentioning Kim in the previous episode about influencers, Stephanie reached out and asked her to join the podcast. They talked for so long that the conversation became a two-part episode.
Kim and Stephanie get personal about how the internet can slowly chip away at creativity. When you're constantly looking at what everyone else is making, writing, decorating, gardening, crafting, or accomplishing, it's easy to decide that your own ideas aren't creative enough.
But creativity doesn't have to look a certain way.
Whether you love writing, gardening, scrapbooking, decorating, crafting, homesteading, or something else entirely, you are allowed to create simply because you enjoy it.
The conversation also wanders—because of course it does—into hormones, MLMs, online influencers, making money from blogs, aging, and the realities of being longtime women on the internet.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why comparing your creativity to other people's work can make you feel less creative
How the internet can chip away at your creative energy
Why creativity doesn't have to fit a particular definition
How to put your blinders on and “do you”
Why starting small and slow can help you get back to creating
What it's like to make a living online without losing sight of your own values

You don't have to create what everyone else is creating. Start small, start slow, and make something that feels like yours.
About Kim Demmon
Kim Demmon was the creator of Today's Creative Life and Jack Pine Jones, and a longtime friend and fellow online creator of Stephanie's.
Kim has since retired from her online businesses and from living her life publicly on the internet. This episode is preserved as a snapshot of a conversation between two longtime online friends during that chapter of their lives.
Read Stephanie's Book
📖 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World
Get the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gPRu37
Learn More About Stephanie O'Dea
Website: stephanieodea.com
Podcast: stephanieodea.com/podcast
Blog: stephanieodea.com/blog
Speaking: stephanieodea.com/speaking/
Podcast Notes
Find all podcast notes at stephanieodea.com/podcastnotes
Have a question you'd like Stephanie to cover, or a Slow Living Story of your own you'd like to share? Leave a voicemail.
46 min
August 08, 2022How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Influencers and Play Your Own Game
How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Influencers and Play Your Own Game
Not everything you see online is real—and learning to trust your own judgment can be one of the most powerful forms of Slow Living.
In this episode of the Slow Living Podcast, Stephanie O'Dea talks about how difficult it can be to put on the blinders, step away from outside influence, and play your own game.
Stephanie shares personal stories from her early years of blogging, including her experiences during A Year of Slow Cooking and the pressure she encountered from brands that wanted to influence what she said about their products.
Sometimes, the money is tempting. Sometimes the opportunity looks too good to pass up.
But what happens when the opportunity conflicts with your values?
Stephanie talks about choosing her own ideals and ethics over money, and why it's important to remember that what you see online isn't always accurate, authentic, or representative of real life.
In a world full of influencers, sponsored content, and carefully curated online lives, slowing down can give you the space to decide what you actually believe.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why it's so difficult to ignore outside influences online
How social media and influencer culture can blur the line between authentic and promotional content
What Stephanie learned from her own early blogging experiences
Why she chose her values and ethics over certain opportunities and money
How to recognize when someone else's version of success is pulling you away from your own path
Why playing your own game can be an important part of living intentionally

You don't have to follow someone else's path just because it looks successful from the outside.
Read Stephanie's Book
📖 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World
Get the book on Amazon
Learn More About Stephanie O'Dea
Website: stephanieodea.com
Podcast: stephanieodea.com/podcast
Blog: stephanieodea.com/blog
Speaking: stephanieodea.com/speaking/
Podcast Notes
Find all podcast notes at stephanieodea.com/podcastnotes
Have a question you'd like Stephanie to cover, or a Slow Living Story of your own you'd like to share? Leave a voicemail.
40 min
August 01, 2022Imperfect Action: How to Stop Waiting for Perfect and Start Moving Forward
Imperfect Action: How to Stop Waiting for Perfect and Start Moving Forward
You don't have to feel motivated, energetic, or perfectly ready to take the next step. You just have to do something.
In this episode of the Slow Living Podcast, Stephanie O'Dea talks about taking action—even when you don't feel like it.
If you want to move from where you are to where you want to be, eventually you have to do something about it. Wishing, hoping, and planning aren't enough on their own.
And sometimes that's really hard.
Stephanie openly shares her own tendency to want to stay on the couch, even when she knows she'll feel better and more accomplished if she simply gets up and does something.
She also talks about perfectionism and the trap of thinking, “Why bother if it isn't going to be all that good anyway?”
The answer is: do it anyway. Imperfect action is still action, and taking a small step forward is often better than waiting until you feel ready to do everything perfectly.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why taking action matters when you want to create change
How to take action even when you're tired, discouraged, or unmotivated
Why perfectionism can keep you stuck
How “Why bother?” thinking can prevent you from moving forward
Why imperfect action is better than waiting for perfect conditions
How small actions can help you feel more accomplished and move toward your goals

You don't have to do it perfectly. You just have to begin.
Read Stephanie's Book
📖 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World
Get the book on Amazon
Learn More About Stephanie O'Dea
Website: stephanieodea.com
Podcast: stephanieodea.com/podcast
Blog: stephanieodea.com/blog
Speaking: stephanieodea.com/speaking/
Podcast Notes
Find all podcast notes at stephanieodea.com/podcastnotes
Have a question you'd like Stephanie to cover, or a Slow Living Story of your own you'd like to share? Leave a voicemail.
30 min