A Tidy Take with Chris Marcum, from Chris Loves Julia & Hey Old Sport - In this episode, Tidy Dad talks with Chris Marcum from the lifestyle duo Chris Loves Julia. Chris is also a home chef and recently founded the brand Hey Old Sport to launch Overachiever, his versatile seasoning blend. Chris shares insights on the spice blend, and how it can enhance meals while accommodating various dietary restrictions. He shares about the importance of flavor in cooking, how to make meal prep more joyful and less stressful, and the significance of prioritizing fresh ingredients and flavors.

Takeaways

* Tidy up your cooking by prioritizing what you want to get out of your food

* Focus on fresh food, real ingredients, and getting flavor out of your food

* The Overachiever seasoning blend enhances flavor and simplifies cooking

Overachiever Spice Blend

Grab the Overachiever seasoning blend HERE: it’s become a staple in our kitchen, and I’m sure it’ll be one in yours too. Bonus: it makes a great hostess or holiday gift.

Recipes

Here’s what’s on Chris’ holiday menu: Get all the recipes HERE!

And here’s my own recipe: Tidy Dad’s Overachiever Chicken Tenders

Crunchy, flavorful, kid-approved, and ready in under 15 minutes

Ingredients

* 1 lb chicken tenderloins (or sliced chicken breast)

* 1 egg + 1 tbsp water (for egg wash)

* ½ cup breadcrumbs

* 2 tbsp Overachiever seasoning blend

* 1 tbsp grated Parmesan (optional, but delicious)

* Cooking spray

Instructions

* Prep your coating:In a shallow bowl, mix breadcrumbs + Overachiever (and Parmesan, if using).

* Make the egg wash: Whisk the egg and water in a separate bowl.

* Dip + coat:

* Dip each chicken tender into the egg wash.

* Press into the breadcrumb mixture until fully coated on all sides.

* Air fry:

* Preheat air fryer to 400°F.

* Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray.

* Add chicken in a single layer (work in batches if needed).

* Air fry 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy and cooked through (165°F internal temp).

* Serve:Let cool for 2 minutes, then serve with your favorite dips—honey mustard, ranch, BBQ, or ketchup.

Tidy Tip - Make a double batch of the chicken tenders, slice them up, and store in your snackle box in the refrigerator for quick protein packed snacks or salad toppers!

In this episode: Chris Loves Julia, Hey Old Sport, Overachiever spice blend, cooking, lifestyle, meal prep, holiday cooking, spices, flavor, stress-free cooking, cooking tips

👀 Follow Chris and Julia on IG: @chrislovesjulia and @heyoldsportofficial

🌟 Try the Overachiever seasoning blend: Order it HERE

📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com

📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad

A Tidy Take with Margaret Josephs, star of Real Housewives of New Jersey - In this episode Tidy Dad talks with Margaret Josephs. Margaret shares the lessons that keep her from feeling like a total mess, even when the cameras are rolling. The conversation dives into setting boundaries, surviving complicated social dynamics during the holidays, and knowing when to let go of relationships that no longer serve you. This episode is part humor, part therapy, and 100% Real Housewives energy, with a tidy twist.

Takeaways

* A little tidiness goes a long way. We all have a threshold for how much mess (literal or emotional) we can handle.

* Sarcasm can be an messy social situation survival skill. Margaret discusses how humor and sharp wit help her navigate tough moments, both on and off camera.

* A little drama keeps life interesting, but it’s just as important to recognize when it’s crossed the line.

* Not every relationship is meant to last. Margaret talks about knowing when a friendship or dynamic no longer serves you, and how to gracefully let it go.

👀 Follow Margaret Josephs on IG @therealmargaretjosephs🌟 Check out Margaret’s book: Caviar Dreams, Tuna Fish Budget📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad

A Tidy Take with Ashlee Piper, Author of No New Things - In this episode, Tidy Dad chats with Ashlee Piper about rethinking the way we give gifts. Together, they explore how to bring more meaning and mindfulness into the season, shifting the focus from stuff to sentiment.

They talk about why so many of us feel caught in the chaos of consumerism, how to make gift-giving feel personal again, and why teaching kids the joy of thoughtful giving might be the best gift of all.

Takeaways

* Somewhere between wishlists and wrapping paper, some people have lost the true meaning of giving, and replaced it with stress and stuff.

* The best gifts can come from considering a person’s needs, not from spending more. Sometimes an act of service means more than anything you could buy.

* Gifting doesn’t have to be impressive or expensive, it’s about being thoughtful, making the recipient feel understood and seen, and adding utility and joy.

If this episode has you rethinking your holiday habits, you’re not alone. Maybe it’s less about buying more, and more about finding meaning.

That’s why I put these resources together for you this season:

✨ The Holiday Surthrival Download: your guide for thriving while surviving! Inside you’ll find five signature surthrival strategies, a reflective year-end wrap-up, and a cozy Holiday Bingo game that turns tidying and self-care into something worth celebrating.

🎁 The Tidy Dad Gift Guide for Kids: 10 of our family favorites from recent toy events, that inspire connection, not clutter. This holiday season, try to choose gifts for kids that make creativity part of everyday life, and inspire play that lasts all year!

🧦 And Stocking Stuffers for Kids, Under $10: Fun, thoughtful, and also practical finds for kids. Because sometimes the littlest gifts can bring the most joy!

If NYC is on your holiday list, don’t miss the new NYC Experiences Worth Gifting PDF, filled with festive, family-friendly experiences!

Because this year, it’s not about having more things—it’s about making more memories.

👀 Follow Ashlee on IG: Ashlee Piper

🌟 Check out Ashlee’s book: No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity

📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com

📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad

In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, Tyler Moore (Tidy Dad) dives into the fascinating world of color analysis, a practice that blends history, psychology, and personal style. From its early 20th-century origins to today’s viral resurgence, Tyler explores how understanding your seasonal palette might simplify your wardrobe, boost your confidence, and even help you see yourself in a new light.

Through his own experience getting professionally “draped”, Tyler reflects on what it means to find your season (spoiler: he’s a Bright Winter) and how color can become a tool for both tidying and self-discovery.

In this episode you’ll learn:

* Color analysis dates back to the 1920s–1930s and categorizes individuals into Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter palettes.

* Most people wear 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time, but maybe color analysis could help change that, by choosing colors you’ll actually wear!

* Understanding your best colors can help you to simplify your wardrobe.

🎨 Who analyzed my color palette? @lilyscolorlab

📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com

📸 Follow along on IG: @tidydad

This is episode 31 of Tidy Tidbits, and it’s on the topic of Halloween, which always falls on October 31st. Spooky! Today we’re talking about the scary topic of what to do with all the candy after Trick or Treating. Let’s tackle this sweet dilemma!

In this episode, Tidy Dad and Megan McNamee discuss the challenges parents face with Halloween candy. They explore the excitement children have for collecting candy, the importance of ownership, and how to manage candy consumption in a healthy way. The conversation includes practical tips for integrating candy into creative snack ideas that use the Halloween treats while maintaining a balanced diet.

Tidy Takeaways:

* Consider letting your kids choose how much candy to eat on Halloween.

* Parents choose WHEN to serve candy - with lunch, after school, after dinner, etc.

* When candy doesn’t feel “off limits”, it often loses it’s luster after a few days.

👀 Follow Megan on IG: @feedinglittles

🌟 Check out Megan’s books: Feeding Littles and Beyond and Feeding Littles Lunches

🍬Check out this Feeding Little’s article: How to Stress Less About Sugar

📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com

📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad

It’s easy to ignore small cleaning tasks, until something breaks or starts to smell! My weekday cleaning routine may have gone viral (it’s in the Tidy Toolkit), but these quick monthly tasks also keep our home and appliances running smoothly. In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, I’m sharing five cleaning tasks I tackle every month.

We’ll cover seeming simple routines that are easy to neglect, like descaling your coffee machine, deep-cleaning the dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer, and cleaning your toilet tank. These tasks take just minutes to complete but can make a lasting impact. I’ve learned that a few minutes of care now saves hours (and headaches) later.

In this episode you’ll learn:

* Regular maintenance of machines and appliances is crucial.

* Maintaining appliances leads to better efficiency and longevity.

* Simple routines can make a significant difference in home care.

If you’re ready to simplify your cleaning routine, here are the products I mention in the episode!

* Coffee Machine: Descaler Solution and Descaler Tablets

* Dishwasher: Cleaning Tablets (drop in the detergent tray!)

* Washing Machine: Mold Stain Remover and Cleaning Tablets

* Dryer Vent: Cleaning Kit (attaches to your vacuum!)

* Toilet Bowl: Cleaner Tablets (drop in the tank!)

If you want to check out the Tidy Dad “Good Morning America” moments, here they are for your viewing pleasure:

* InstaParents Segment

* Family Surprise Segment

📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com📸 Follow along on IG: @tidydad

A Tidy Take with Beth Rosenbleeth from Days with Grey - I personally have a tenuous relationship with the New York Post (I can thank them for my “Speedo Dad” moniker). But this week, a headline shared by one of my favorite authors, Jo Piazza, stopped me mid-sip of coffee:

“Stay-at-home “hub-sons” are the tradwives of 2025 - and their moms couldn’t be more thrilled”

Apparently, guys like Luke, a former door-to-door solar salesman who quit his $170K job to move back home, aren’t just loafing around. They’re doing laundry, cooking, and running errands… basically earning their keep as modern-day homemakers.

The article sparked a bigger questions about masculinity, gender norms, and the role that men play in household tasks. What does it really mean to teach life skills, and how do we prepare the next generation to contribute at home?

In this episode of Tidy Tidbits, I chat with Beth Rosenbleeth, the creator of Days with Grey and mom of three boys. I’m a dad of three girls, so we come at this from both sides of the parenting coin. We talk about why life skills matter, how to gamify responsibility (check out her amazing “Life Skill cards”), and what it looks like to give kids the confidence to manage real-world tasks - without the nagging.

Together, we explore:

* How chores teach independence and teamwork

* Why regression is normal (and how to help kids reset)

* Simple ways to make household routines fun and consistent

Whether you’re raising hub-sons or tidy daughters, this episode is all about raising capable, confident kids - one life skill at a time.

👀 Follow Beth on IG: @dayswithgrey - and check out her website!

📦 Grab her Life Skill cards: Soft Skills (ages 4+) or Life Skills for Big Kids (ages 7-12)

📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com

📸 Follow along on IG: @tidydad

A Tidy Take with Megan McNamee, Author of Feeding Littles Lunches

I’m a little obsessed with my snackle box. Every morning, I fill it so it’s ready for that post-school, everyone-is-HUUNNNGGRRRYYYY moment. Think of it like a snack survival kit: eight compartments, a lid, tucked neatly in the fridge. It’s our secret weapon against afternoon chaos. The only problem? I kept filling it with the same things… again, and again, and again.

In this conversation, I chat with Megan McNamee about how to take this routine beyond the basics of fruits and veggies. We explore practical tips for creating balanced, appealing snacks that keep kids fueled through the afternoon slump, from adding proteins to pairing foods in smart ways. Megan shares insights from her book Feeding Littles Lunches, reminding parents that snack and lunch prep doesn’t have to be complicated, just simple, fun, and sustainable.

Tidy Takeaways:

* Pair fruits and veggies with filling proteins and carbohydrates

* Use leftovers to creatively enhance snack options

* Focus on practicality rather than Pinterest perfection

👀 Follow Megan on IG: @feedinglittles

📦 Check out Megan’s books: Feeding Littles and Beyond and Feeding Littles Lunches

📚 Want more routine ideas? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com

📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad

A Tidy Take with Tiffany Jenkins, Author of A Clean Mess and High Achiever -

When life is “lifing”, it can be really difficult to tidy up your emotions and find a way through. This week my beloved grandma, Noreen Moore, passed away at the age of 94. She was fiesty, independent, and deeply loved. I flew to Kentucky to be with my dad and family, and we began the process of “death cleaning” her home. Sorting through over 60 years in one house, one drawer, one memory at a time. It’s been an emotionally difficult but beautiful process. Grief doesn’t tidy up neatly. But even in the mess, beauty shows up, and along the way, I kept intentionally trying to find the funny.

In this episode, I sit down with NYT bestselling author Tiffany Jenkins to explore the role of humor in navigating life's difficult times such as divorce, parenting, the death of a loved one, or other challenging situations. Tiffany shares her journey of finding humor as a coping mechanism, emphasizing the importance of self-deprecation and lightheartedness in her life.

In this episode we talk about:

* Humor can be a defense mechanism during tough times.

* Finding humor in small moments can help cope with challenges.

* Acknowledging the irony in difficult situations can provide relief.

And as referenced in the opening of the podcast, as we cleaned my grandma’s home of over 60 years, I discovered photographs that proved I’ve been rocking the speedo since the 80s. It brought some laughs. If you look for it, the funny can in fact be found.

👀 Follow Tiffany on IG: @jugglingthejenkins

📦 Order Tiffany’s books: A Clean Mess: A Memoir of Sobriety After a Lifetime of Being Numb & High Achiever: The Incredible True Story of One Addict’s Double Life

📚 Want more tips like these? Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com

📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad

Even in moments of grief, there’s room for laughter. This episode is dedicated to my grandma, Noreen Moore.

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In this conversation, I chat with Meredith Mann to explore the importance of incorporating protein into daily meals to manage blood sugar levels and enhance overall health. Meredith also shares her personal journey with blood sugar issues and how prioritizing protein has changed her relationship with food.

Tidy Takeaways:

* Why protein is so important to incorporate into a balanced meal

* Practical hacks for sneaking protein into various dishes

* The transformative effects of protein on cravings and energy levels

Meredith is the author of The Blood Sugar Balance Cookbook: 100 Delicious Recipes That Let You Ditch the Crave, Crash, Fat-Storing Cycle and Heal Your Metabolism.

She also sells delicious protein powder in vanilla, chocolate, and cookies and cream flavors. You can use code TIDYDAD for a discount at checkout!

And here’s the recipe for her Reese’s Smoothie - it’s so good!

👀 Follow Meredith on IG: @thepeachiespoon

📦 Check out Meredith’s website: https://thepeachiespoon.com/

📚 Want more tips like these?

Check out my book: Tidy Up Your Life

🗞️ Subscribe to The Tidy Times: tidydad.substack.com

📸 Follow along on IG: Tidy Dad