Wannabe Clutter Free | Declutter, Simplify, Find Freedom

Happiness starts at home and Gretchen Rubin’s here to prove it. The 7x best-selling author joins Deanna Yates to explore the connection between clutter and happiness, building habits that stick, and how knowing your personality can help you create a home that supports your well-being. It’s a practical and uplifting conversation for anyone ready to live lighter and happier.

****************

Resources Mentioned

(some may be affiliate links - thanks for supporting the show at no extra cost to you):

Connect with Gretchen Rubin

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

****************

Your home holds the key to your happiness and 7x best-selling author, Gretchen Rubin, is here to show us why.

In this episode, host Deanna Yates talks with happiness expert Gretchen Rubin for a down-to-earth conversation about how the things in our homes affect how we feel, think, and live.

They dive into the deeper connection between outer order and inner calm, why it’s not about having a perfect home but a supportive one, and how to create better habits using your own personality type, not someone else’s system.

You’ll also hear about Gretchen’s Secrets of Adulthood, her fresh take on small wins, sensory delight, emotional clutter, and her favorite tip for dealing with all the little things kids bring home.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your stuff or unsure where to start, this episode will help you rethink how to create a home that truly supports your happiness.

🎧 This episode will help you discover:

Time Stamps:

00:00 Welcome + Guest Overview

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clutter can do more than stress you out, it can damage your physical health.

In this eye-opening episode of Wannabe Clutter Free, Deanna continues her Clutter F.R.E.E.D.O.M. series by focusing on Resilience, or how clutter impacts your physical health.

You’ll learn how clutter increases your stress hormones, disrupts healthy habits, and even leads to hidden dangers like mold, pests, and poor air quality. Deanna shares a personal story of returning from a month-long trip to find mold in her closet—and how minimalism saved her time, energy, and sanity.

Plus, she walks you through five practical ways to declutter your home so it actively supports your physical health and wellbeing. Whether it’s making your kitchen easier to cook in or clearing airflow zones to help with allergies, this episode delivers quick wins and long-term relief.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Challenge of the Week:

Take 10 minutes to declutter one space that physically stresses you out. Notice how your body feels afterward.

Resources Mentioned:

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or leave a review.

Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s exciting guest: Gretchen Rubin!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Upcoming Episode Teaser

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps me create more content to inspire and motivate you to live with less.

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tired of donation piles taking over your home? Are you guilty of stuff shifting? For years I would declutter, but then as the things would sit in a pile in the corner of the room or in our garage, they would often migrate back into our home.

This created a vicious cycle of decluttering, second guessing, and re-cluttering.

The problem was that sometimes getting the clutter out and to the donation center was more work than the act of decluttering.

Then, I stumbled upon a simple low-effort, but high-impact way to get the clutter out without having to make multiple trips to the donation center or post each item for sale (or gift) online.

I recently used this advice in my life again and not only was ie easy and successful, it brought our neighborhood together.

If you’ve ever had donation piles that just move from one room to another, this one’s for you.

You’ll learn:

****************

Links in this episode (some may be affiliate links - thanks for supporting the show at no extra cost to you):

Follow me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wannabeclutterfree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Full show notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wannabeclutterfree.com/267⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Check out my favorite resources⁠

****************

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:33 Personal Updates and Summer Routine

02:50 The Struggle of Decluttering

09:00 Introducing the Free Sale Concept

10:45 How to Host a Successful Free Sale

17:02 Expert Tips for a Smooth Free Sale

28:09 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

Music:

Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps me create more content to inspire and motivate you to live with less.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feeling stuck between what feels right and what others expect? In this episode, Deanna and Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) expert Todd Smith explore how clutter fuels overthinking and how to build clutter-free confidence by trusting your intuition. Learn how to simplify decisions and let go of guilt for good.

****************

Resources Mentioned

(some may be affiliate links - thanks for supporting the show at no extra cost to you):

Connect with Todd Smith

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

****************

In this episode of the Wannabe Clutter Free podcast, host Deanna Yates is joined by Todd Smith, creator of the top-ranked podcast Stress Management for Highly Sensitive People. Together, they dive into what it means to live as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) in a world that often feels too loud, too fast, and too demanding.

Todd shares how learning to trust his intuition helped him break free from emotional clutter and chronic stress, and how HSPs (and sensitive moms especially) can do the same.

They explore how physical clutter mirrors mental overload, how guilt and external pressure can cloud your judgment, and why tuning into your inner voice is the real key to clarity. Whether you’re deeply sensitive or simply stuck in a cycle of overthinking and overwhelm, this conversation will help you clear space for confident, clutter-free decision-making.

🎧 This episode will help you discover:

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Introduction and Episode Overview

00:24 – Meet Todd Smith: Helping Highly Sensitive People

02:56 – Understanding Highly Sensitive People (HSPs)

06:32 – The Work of Byron Katie: Managing Stress

12:55 – Decluttering and Emotional Attachment

19:15 – Dealing with Family and Social Pressure

24:31 – Trusting Your Intuition

25:25 – Intuition vs. Overthinking

26:42 – How Environment Shapes Sensitivity

28:45 – Cultural Perceptions of HSPs

30:54 – Sensitivity as an Evolutionary Advantage

31:36 – How to Hear Your Inner Voice

35:24 – Letting Go of the Need for “Perfect” Decisions

37:39 – The 3 Secrets for Highly Sensitive People

42:22 – Rapid Fire Questions + Final Thoughts

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your bedroom feels more chaotic than cozy, clutter might be sabotaging your relationship.

Links in this episode (some may be affiliate links - thanks for supporting the show at no extra cost to you):

Follow me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@wannabeclutterfree⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Full show notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wannabeclutterfree.com/265

⁠Check out my favorite resources

****************

In this episode of the Wannabe Clutter Free podcast, host Deanna Yates shares how the physical clutter in your home can quietly build resentment, reduce intimacy, and increase arguments with your partner. Backed by research (including a stat that 40% of couples argue over clutter!), this episode explores the emotional and mental load clutter creates—and how to fix it.

You’ll learn:

✅ Why clutter causes stress in romantic relationships

✅ How to declutter your bedroom to rekindle connection

✅ The power of a “Couples Corner” and how to create one

✅ A simple weekly ritual to improve communication and teamwork

Whether you’re married, partnered, or in a long-term relationship, these practical tips will help you clear the physical and emotional mess that’s standing between you and the connection you crave.

If you’ve been feeling scattered, foggy, or stretched too thin, this episode will help you clear the noise (both around you and within you).

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

01:27 Clutter’s Impact on Romantic Relationships

01:57 The Clutter F.R.E.E.D.O.M. Method Explained

03:14 Why Clutter Causes Relationship Stress

04:32 Shocking Stats & Psychological Insights

08:19 Gender Differences & the Mental Load

14:51 Creating a Peaceful Bedroom Retreat

18:15 Establishing a Couple’s Corner

21:19 Clutter-Free Communication Ritual

24:01 Final Thoughts and Action Steps

Music:

Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps me create more content to inspire and motivate you to live with less.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Struggling under the weight of doing it all? In this episode, Deanna is joined by Paige Connell—a working mom of four—to talk about decluttering the mental load. They dive into invisible labor, the pressure modern moms face, and how to create more balance at home through honest conversations and shared responsibility.

****************

Resources Mentioned

(some may be affiliate links - thanks for supporting the show at no extra cost to you):

Connect with Paige Connell

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

****************

In this episode of the Wannabe Clutter Free podcast, Deanna Yates is joined by Paige Connell—a working mom of four and a powerful voice for moms navigating the mental load of motherhood. Together, they unpack the invisible labor so many women carry: remembering appointments, managing the household, keeping the family running… and somehow staying sane through it all.

Paige brings honesty, humor, and a big dose of validation as she shares her own experiences and the collective wisdom of the community she’s built on Instagram and TikTok. This isn’t about doing more—it’s about letting go of the idea that you have to do it all.

If you’re feeling burned out from being the default parent, struggling to find balance at home, or wondering how to have more equitable conversations with your partner—this episode is for you.

We talk about real-life strategies to simplify your mental load, how to advocate for change inside and outside the home, and why asking for help is a radical (and necessary) act of self-care.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Deanna discusses the importance clearing clutter in order to fully embrace creativity during the messy, beautiful seasons of motherhood. She’s joined by Ashlee Gadd, author of Create Anyway, to explore how moms can embrace their creative passions without guilt, set healthy boundaries with social media, and find fulfillment in the margins of daily life.

****************

Resources Mentioned

(some may be affiliate links - thanks for supporting the show at no extra cost to you):

Connect with Ashlee Gadd

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

****************

In this inspiring episode of the Wannabe Clutter Free podcast, Deanna Yates is joined by Ashlee Gadd, a writer, photographer, founder of Coffee + Crumbs, and author of Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood.

If you’ve ever felt like motherhood and creativity were at odds, or if your creative spark has been buried under laundry piles and mental to-do lists, this conversation is for you.

Ashlee and Deanna dive into what it really means to be a creative mom, why making space for your own passions isn’t selfish, and how to clear the mental clutter that holds so many of us back from pursuing the things we love. We talk about mom guilt, social media pressure, carving out time in small pockets, and showing up imperfectly, but consistently, for yourself.

If you’ve been craving a little more beauty, expression, or joy in your everyday life, this episode will feel like a deep exhale and a warm reminder: you don’t have to wait for the perfect time to create…you get to start now.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Time Stamps:

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Links in this episode (some may be affiliate links - thanks for supporting the show at no extra cost to you):

⁠⁠Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room – Get the book on Amazon⁠⁠

Follow me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@wannabeclutterfree⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the ⁠⁠⁠Wannabe Minimalist Family Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠

Full show notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠wannabeclutterfree.com/262⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

****************

Does your home feel chaotic and overwhelming? Does your brain feel the same? You’re not imagining it. 

In this episode, Deanna Yates explores how physical clutter contributes to mental overload, stress, and burnout, especially for high-achieving, modern moms who feel like they “should” be able to handle it all.

This episode is part of the Find Your Number series within the Clutter F.R.E.E.D.O.M. Method, and today’s focus is your Inner World (Mental Health). You’ll discover how clutter impacts your cortisol levels, creates guilt and shame cycles, and weighs down your emotional bandwidth.

But most importantly, Deanna offers actionable, compassionate strategies to help you:

If you’ve been feeling scattered, foggy, or stretched too thin, this episode will help you clear the noise (both around you and within you).

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:23 The Impact of Clutter on Mental Health

01:02 Mental Health and High Achieving Moms

02:35 The Science Behind Clutter and Stress

05:25 Personal Story and Reframing Tools

07:24 Identifying and Addressing Mental Clutter

11:03 Practical Steps to Declutter Your Space

15:12 Mind Sweep and Parking Lot Techniques

19:42 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Music:

Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Subscribe & Review:

If you loved this episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps me create more content to inspire and motivate you to live with less.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deanna chats with Colette Roy about the emotional and practical challenges of organizing with your partner. They dive into how clutter affects relationships, why communication is key, and how to tackle big home projects together (like the garage) without the arguments.

****************

Resources Mentioned

(some may be affiliate links - thanks for supporting the show at no extra cost to you):

Connect with Colette Roy

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

****************

Tired of fighting every time you try to tackle a home project with your partner?

In this episode of the Wannabe Clutter Free podcast, host Deanna Yates sits down with professional organizer Colette Roy to talk about how to declutter shared spaces without losing your cool—or your relationship.

Whether you’re tackling the garage, the basement, or just trying to agree on what to toss, Colette brings real talk and practical strategies for making home organization a team effort (without the tension). Drawing from her course How to Organize Your Garage Without Killing Your Partner, Colette shares why organizing together is so tricky, how emotional clutter plays into the chaos, and how better communication can lead to smoother projects and stronger connections.

You’ll walk away with smart, relationship-friendly tips to finally get that garage in shape—without turning it into a battleground.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Intro + what to expect in this episode

02:53 – Meet Colette Roy & her clutter-with-compassion approach

03:55 – Smart strategies for getting started on home projects

07:11 – Why clutter causes friction in relationships

13:12 – What makes organizing with your partner so hard

17:03 – How to design a garage that actually works

22:01 – Key communication tips for couples

27:00 – Why home projects spark arguments

28:36 – Behind the scenes of Colette’s course

32:46 – Practical communication tools you can use today

40:40 – Understanding needs: yours and your partner’s

43:11 – Why having personal space matters

47:11 – Rapid fire wrap-up + final thoughts

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Deanna discusses how to make budgeting feel less overwhelming with the help of financial coach and mom of five, Brittany Flammer. Together, they break down a simple, stress-free system using five essential bank accounts to create clarity and control over family finances. You'll walk away with practical steps to organize your money, reduce financial tension, and make confident spending decisions.

****************

Resources Mentioned

(some may be affiliate links - thanks for supporting the show at no extra cost to you):

Connect with

Brittany Flammer

Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on:

****************

In this episode of the Wannabe Clutter Free podcast, the host, Deanna Yates, interviews Brittany Flammer, a financial coach and mom of five who has mastered the art of budgeting without the stress. Brittany shares her family’s journey of raising five children on an average income of $40,000 per year while building a net worth of over $800,000. Through real-life examples and heartfelt insights, she breaks down her step-by-step system for managing money with intention, clarity, and calm—even when finances feel tight.

Brittany introduces a powerful strategy using five key bank accounts to simplify money management, minimize financial tension, and make everyday spending decisions easier. From emergency savings to individual fun accounts, she outlines how automating and separating funds can transform financial overwhelm into empowerment. Whether you're new to budgeting or ready to refine your system, this episode offers practical tools and a fresh mindset to help your family thrive financially.

This episode of the Wannabe Clutter Free podcast will help you discover:

Time Stamps:

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:20 Meet Brittany Flammer: Financial Coach and Mom of Five

01:41 The Power of Multiple Bank Accounts

05:44 Essential Bank Accounts for Every Family

12:52 Bonus Accounts and Additional Tips

24:13 Managing Finances: Moving Money Between Accounts

25:12 Structuring Finances for a $60,000 Income

28:34 Choosing the Right Bank Features

31:41 Setting Up Accounts for Kids

35:44 Reducing Financial Tension in Relationships

38:56 Actionable Steps for Financial Clarity

44:01 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

****************

Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - ⁠⁠https://www.silvermansound.com⁠⁠

****************

We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices