Minimalist Moms

If the question, "What's for dinner?" feels like the most exhausting part of your day, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Diane sits down with cookbook author and recipe developer Caroline Chambers to discuss how we can dramatically reduce the mental load of feeding our families - without sacrificing delicious meals. Rather than chasing elaborate recipes or constantly searching for new dinner ideas, Caroline introduces the concept of recipe minimalism: simplifying your approach to meal planning so dinner becomes one less decision you have to make.

Links Discussed in This Episode |

• Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
• What Rachel Can't Stop Talking About: Cropped Pants
• Connect with Rachel:
• Website
• Instagram

Episode Sponsors |

The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!

Enjoy the Podcast?

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. 

Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity. You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.

On today's bonus episode, hosts of the Peaceful Homeschool podcast (Emma and Beth) are here to encourage and empower you by sharing how you can simplify your homeschool day and achieve a peaceful relationship with your children. We are here to tell you that homeschooling is not as daunting as it may seem, and with the right mindset and tools, you can give your children an excellent education while fostering a close relationship with them. We discuss tips to simplify your homeschool day and encourage other moms who may be struggling with this fulfilling yet challenging journey. I hope that this episode will inspire you and show you that peaceful homeschooling is possible and can change your family's life.

Links Discussed in This Episode |

• Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
• Book: Find Your Homeschool Vibe by Beth Lee
• Rainbow Resource
• Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Connect with Beth and Emma:
• Website
• Instagram
• Podcast: Peaceful Homeschool Podcast

Episode Sponsors |

The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!

Enjoy the Podcast?

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. 

Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity. You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.

For those who are new here, I occasionally release bonus episodes designed for a specific part of my audience. I have listeners from all kinds of faith backgrounds, and this episode is shared from a Christian perspective. If that’s not quite what you’re looking for today, feel free to explore the other episodes released this week - or join me back here next Tuesday for a conversation you won’t want to miss!

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Motherhood rarely goes according to plan - but what if the interruptions are where God meets us most? In this episode, Diane sits down with longtime friend, Christian writer, and mom of two, Chelsey DeMatteis, to discuss her new devotional, Mercy in the Margin. Together, they explore how the "margin" isn't necessarily extra time we create, but the space God has already given us within our ordinary days. Rather than striving for perfect routines or uninterrupted quiet time, Chelsey encourages moms to encounter Jesus in the unexpected moments, daily disruptions, and beautiful mess of motherhood.

Links Discussed in This Episode |

• Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
• Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
• Chelsey Resource: Makeup Cloth
• Chelsey Can't Stop Talking: Mr. Pen | Book: Know Him: A Year of Daily Bible Readings on the Character of God
• Connect with Chelsey
• Website
• Instagram
• Podcast
• Book: Mercy in the Margin: 52 Devotions to Encounter Jesus in the Mix-Ups, Mess-ups, and Marvelous Moments of Motherhood

About Chelsey |

Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and author of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women's Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio with her husband and two children.

Episode Sponsors |

The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!

Enjoy the Podcast?

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. 

Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.

You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.

If the question, "What's for dinner?" feels like the most exhausting part of your day, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Diane sits down with cookbook author and recipe developer Caroline Chambers to discuss how we can dramatically reduce the mental load of feeding our families - without sacrificing delicious meals. Rather than chasing elaborate recipes or constantly searching for new dinner ideas, Caroline introduces the concept of recipe minimalism: simplifying your approach to meal planning so dinner becomes one less decision you have to make.

From creating a repeatable meal rotation and maintaining a master grocery list to stocking a pantry that works for you, Caroline shares practical systems that make cooking feel easier - even on your busiest days. She also offers refreshing permission to embrace shortcuts, feed picky eaters without making multiple dinners, and let "good enough" be exactly that.

Links Discussed in This Episode |

• Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
• Connect with Caroline:
• Website
• Instagram
• Book: What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking: Make It Fast

About Caroline |

Caroline Chambers grew up in the kitchen on her mom’s hip, learning how to cook in their Winston-Salem, North Carolina, home. Her professional food career began in her early twenties when she worked as a chef and caterer. After a stint in a professional test kitchen, Caro struck out on her own as a freelancer, developing recipes for a host of publications as well as brands such as Boursin Cheese and Kim Crawford Wine, and in 2018, she published her first cookbook, Just Married. In 2020 - at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic - Caro began sharing her recipes and connecting with home cooks on Instagram, and launched her newsletter, What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking, which flew to the top of the Substack charts; her podcast, So Into That, followed in 2023. Caro's latest cookbook, What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking, was released in August 2024. Caro lives in Carmel Valley, California, with her husband, George, and their three young sons, Mattis, Calum, and Cashel—one of whom can almost always be found in the kitchen on her hip. 

Episode Sponsors |

The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!

Enjoy the Podcast?

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. 

Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity. You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.

What if the life you're chasing isn't actually the one you want?

In this episode, Diane sits down with speaker and author Justin Jones-Fosu to explore the subtle difference between chasing success and creating a life of meaning. Inspired by the timeless fable of the tortoise and the hare, Justin's newest book, Stop Chasing, Start Creating, challenges the cultural narrative that fulfillment comes from achievement, recognition, or constantly proving ourselves.

Together, they unpack why so many of us spend our lives pursuing someone else's definition of success - and how that pursuit often leaves us exhausted, disconnected, and wondering why "more" never feels like enough. Justin shares practical ways to move from external validation to internal alignment, embrace purposeful work, and intentionally create a life rooted in contribution rather than comparison.

Links Discussed in This Episode |

• Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
• Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
• Diane's Resource: Mercy in the Margin by Chelsey Dematteis
• Previous Episode: [REPLAY] I Respectfully Disagree: The Lost Art of Disagreeing Well | Justin Jones-Fosu
• Book: The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success
• National Study on Meaningful Work in America
• The Meaningful 67 Challenge
• Justin's Resource: Man's Search for Meaning by Vicktor Frankel
• Justin Can't Stop Talking:
• Connect with Justin
• Website
• LinkedIn
• Book: Stop Chasing, Start Creating: A Timeless Fable on Mindset, Resilience, and Meaningful Work

About Justin |

Justin is a meaningful work researcher and the author of Stop Chasing, Start Creating, and has written for Oprah Daily, Fast Company, HuffPost, and Business Insider. You can take a look at his latest TEDx talk here.

Episode Sponsors |

The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!

Enjoy the Podcast?

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. 

Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.

You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.