The Simplified Podcast with Emily Ley

Spring has officially sprung! It's hard not to throw yourself into your local plant nursery and empty your wallet to create the garden of your Instagram dreams. But how do you get the best bang for your gardening buck? And what are the easiest plants to care for without, you know, sending them to the compost pile? Lucky for us, Simplified's creative director Whitney Hawkins happens to create beautiful things not only with her computer, but also with her gorgeous garden! Whit and Emily talk about the easiest plants and flowers to care for inside and outside your home, Whit's go-to tools for any gardening projects, why she built a Free Flower Stand in front of her house, and why gardening has sprouted new relationships in her neighborhood and a new sense of confidence, wonder, and awe in herself.

KARMA | Download Karma for free today at shop.karmanow.com/emily for a chance to win $1,000!

KIWICO | STEAM and science kits for kids! Get 30% off your first month, plus FREE shipping on any crate line with code SIMPLIFIED at https://kiwico.com

AURA FRAMES | The perfect Mother's Day gift! Visit https://auraframes.com/ and use code SIMPLIFIED to get up to $40 off while supplies last. Terms and conditions apply.

NUTRIBULLET | Get 20% off your order with code SIMPLIFIED at https://nutribullet.com

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You're Always Enough: And More Than I Hoped For

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We love our people, but here's the thing: conflict is inevitable. That's because people see and experience the world differently. And that's okay! In fact, it's normal! But have you ever noticed the hard conversations you have with your partner can go from 0 to 60 on the emotional rollercoaster, more than any other relationship can? Why is that? And how can we navigate those conversations while respecting our partner's feelings—and our own? Emily breaks down how to spot when you're about to spiral into a heated moment, different patterns of conflict you may use to fight, and how to know when it's time to agree to disagree, or even take a few minutes to cool off from a hot topic. It's thorny, it's hard, but finding your way through a hard conversation happens through a bit of love, respect, humility—and a whole lot of listening.

Thanks to our episode sponsors!

STORYWORTH | A meaningful gift Mom will cherish for years to come! Save $10 on your first purchase at https://storyworth.com/simplified

GREEN CHEF | The #1 meal kit for eating well! Get $130 off (plus free shipping!) with code simplified130 at https://greenchef.com/simplified130

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PRE-ORDER EMILY'S KIDS BOOK!

You're Always Enough: And More Than I Hoped For

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What do you do when the story you're living suddenly doesn't fit anymore? What happens when your story gets rewritten in real time—and you have no backspace button you can push? We've all been there in one way or another. So has author Shauna Niequist. Like many of us, Shauna has been in a season of unraveling and reweaving. A few years ago she, her husband Aaron, and their two boys left their hometown of Chicago and moved into an 800-square-foot apartment in Manhattan, where they knew exactly eight (!) people. Shauna and Emily talk about how to embrace the changes you asked for and the ones you didn't, why we'll never stop learning things (and why that's a great thing!). Above all, Shauna reminds us that life as we know it is going to change. It's not easy. It's definitely messy. But sometimes, those changes can be beautiful too.

Thanks to our episode sponsors!

KARMA | Download Karma for free today at shop.karmanow.com/emily for a chance to win $1,000!

TRUEBILL | Don't pay for what you don't need. Start canceling subscriptions now at truebill.com/simplified

FIRSTLEAF WINE CLUB | Join today at tryfirstleaf.com/simplified, and get 6 bottles of wine for $29.95 — with free shipping!

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GET AD-FREE LISTENING + EARLY ACCESS TO NEW EPISODES

https://apple.co/3ICMUmk

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SHOW NOTES

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PRE-ORDER EMILY'S KIDS BOOK!

You're Always Enough: And More Than I Hoped For

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LET'S BE FRIENDS!

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Do you start your day with a plan, or just kind of wing it? If you're looking to give your schedule a tactical makeover, may we introduce . . . time blocking! This week, Emily's telling you all about this productivity secret weapon and how it can give a little structure to even the craziest days. Sometimes getting more done (and a little peace of mind along the way!) is as simple as looking at your To-Do list and figuring out when you can make it happen—and if you can't, maybe it's time to give yourself a bit of grace and a little bit of margin. And don't forget: the measure of success isn't what you do. It's being the kind and courageous friend, partner, sister, daughter, and teammate you already are.

PS: Don't forget to check out all the brand-new, beautiful spring Simplified products that just launched over at emilyley.com!

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Thanks to our episode sponsors!

BETTERHELP | Affordable, private online therapy — anytime, anywhere. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/simplified

KARMA | Download Karma for free today at shop.karmanow.com/emily for a chance to win $1,000!

FIRSTLEAF WINE CLUB | Join today at tryfirstleaf.com/simplified, and get 6 bottles of wine for $29.95 — with free shipping!

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GET AD-FREE LISTENING + EARLY ACCESS TO NEW EPISODES

https://apple.co/3ICMUmk

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SHOW NOTES

emilyley.com/podcast

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PRE-ORDER EMILY'S KIDS BOOK!

You're Always Enough: And More Than I Hoped For

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LET'S BE FRIENDS!

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With everything going on in our homes and our world, peace can seem out of grasp even on the best days. But as artist and poet Morgan Harper Nichols says, "You don't have to arrive at your picture-perfect life before you can know peace." Whenever Morgan speaks, we listen—you can see why, right? This week, Emily and Morgan talk about how to quiet your heart and find contentment, no matter where you are (even if it's somewhere you don't want to be). Morgan shares how receiving an autism diagnosis at 31 years old helped her understand and engage with the world—and herself!—in a deeper way. Above all, Morgan reminds us that peace isn't the absence of discomfort; it doesn't happen passively or something you get perfectly right. Peace is something you do, a practice you come back to over and over again.

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Thanks to our episode sponsor!

GREEN CHEF | The #1 meal kit for eating well! Go to greenchef.com/simplified130, and use code simplified130 to get $130 off, plus free shipping!

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GET AD-FREE LISTENING + EARLY ACCESS TO NEW EPISODES

https://apple.co/3ICMUmk

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SHOW NOTES

emilyley.com/podcast

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PRE-ORDER EMILY'S KIDS BOOK!

You're Always Enough: And More Than I Hoped For

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LET'S BE FRIENDS!

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Is it mean to live with boundaries? Do they keep you walled off from other people? Nope! Our guest today Nedra Tawwab says, "Boundaries are expectations and needs that help you feel safe and comfortable in your relationships." Sounds like they're pretty essential, huh? Nedra's a therapist who shares (with her 1.4 million Instagram followers @nedratawwab) how to clearly communicate your needs and expectations so you can create healthy, loving relationships. Today Nedra and Emily talk about ways to communicate your needs more clearly to your partner, how to raise kids with healthy boundaries, and how to honor yourself through it all.

(Need a boundaries refresher? Go back to Episode 49, aka "Calm Your Anxiety with Better Boundaries," and take a listen!)

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Thank you to our episode sponsors!

BETTERHELP | Affordable, private online therapy — anytime, anywhere. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/simplified

KIWICO | STEAM and science kits for kids! Get 30% off your first month, plus FREE shipping on any crate line with code SIMPLIFIED at kiwico.com

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GET NEW EPISODES EARLY + AD-FREE

https://apple.co/3ICMUmk

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SHOW NOTES

emilyley.com/podcast

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PRE-ORDER EMILY'S KIDS BOOK!

You're Always Enough: And More Than I Hoped For

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SUBSCRIBE

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LET'S BE FRIENDS!

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Sometimes the person who's hardest to treat with compassion is . . . you. When you've done something you wish you could take back, or didn't intervene when you should've, carrying guilt can feel like a punishment you're supposed to shoulder. But Emily reminds us if we want to show compassion to others, we *have* to show it to ourselves first. This week, Emily's sharing a few ways you can start to be more gentle and kind with yourself. Because kindness isn't weakness—it one of the strongest things we can do.

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Thank you to our episode sponsors!

TRUEBILL | Don't pay for what you don't need. Start canceling subscriptions now at truebill.com/simplified

FIRSTLEAF WINE CLUB | Join today at tryfirstleaf.com/simplified, and get 6 bottles of wine for $29.95 — with free shipping!

* * *

GET NEW EPISODES EARLY + AD-FREE

https://apple.co/3ICMUmk

* * *

SHOW NOTES

emilyley.com/podcast

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PRE-ORDER EMILY'S KIDS BOOK!

You're Always Enough: And More Than I Hoped For

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LET'S BE FRIENDS!

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Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook

What kind of story are you telling yourself *about* yourself? Does it fit who you are right now, or do you think it's time to find a new one? We're asking ourselves some big questions on the podcast today, and Enneagram coach and podcaster Ian Morgan Cron is here to guide us! Ian is an expert in the Enneagram personality assessment (he's a 4, by the way), and today he and Emily (a Type 2!) share how learning more about themselves through the Enneagram has helped them see why they make the decisions they do. Ian shows us how to find out if we're living a story that's serving who we are right now, and if it's not, how to let go of a past that doesn't define us and embrace a rich new story that reflects who we were made to be.

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Thank you to our episode sponsors!

GREEN CHEF | The #1 meal kit for eating well! Go to greenchef.com/simplified130, and use code simplified130 to get $130 off, plus free shipping!

VEGAMOUR | Discover plant-based formulas that improve hair growth with clean ingredients — go to vegamour.com/simplified and use code SIMPLIFIED to save 20% on your first order.

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GET NEW EPISODES EARLY + AD-FREE

https://apple.co/3ICMUmk

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SHOW NOTES

emilyley.com/podcast

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PRE-ORDER EMILY'S KIDS BOOK!

You're Always Enough: And More Than I Hoped For

* * *

SUBSCRIBE

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LET'S BE FRIENDS!

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Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook

Is it a coincidence that our first podcast birthday (!) falls super close to another favorite day of ours, International Women's Day? We don't think so! And we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate both than inviting two of Team Simplified's leaders on the show: our COO Brittany Werth and Creative Director Whitney Hawkins! Emily, Brittany, and Whit share about the women who inspired them and showed them how to work hard, dream big, and lead families and businesses with creativity and compassion. They talk about some of their proudest moments at Simplified, what they're excited about for the future, and how they're helping their littles—girls and boys—recognize the grit and grace that women of all ages and walks of life bring to the world.

Thanks to this week's sponsors!

LINKEDIN | Join the conversations redefining "professional" at linkedin.com.

BETTERHELP | Affordable, private online therapy — anytime, anywhere. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/simplified

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GET AD-FREE LISTENING + EARLY ACCESS TO NEW EPISODES

https://apple.co/3ICMUmk

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SHOW NOTES

emilyley.com/podcast

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PRE-ORDER EMILY'S KIDS BOOK!

You're Always Enough: And More Than I Hoped For

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LET'S BE FRIENDS!

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Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook

When you're about to hit a big milestone, do you ever get reflective? It's hard not to, right? Emily's turning 39 this week, and she's recapping eight lessons she learned in her 38th year. From discovering she might be a cat lady after all (!) to helping her kids spread their wings in new ways, Emily's showing us that every year has lessons big and small in store for us, if we take the time to look for them.

Thanks to our episode sponsors!

BETTERHELP | Affordable, private online therapy — anytime, anywhere. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/simplified

KIWICO | Get 50% off your first month, plus free shipping on any crate line with code SIMPLIFIED at kiwico.com.

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BRAND-NEW LINEN JOURNALS!

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SHOW NOTES

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PRE-ORDER EMILY'S KIDS BOOK!

You're Always Enough: And More Than I Hoped For

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LET'S BE FRIENDS!

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Emily Ley: Instagram | Facebook