Minimalist Moms

What would life look like without the constant, crushing weight of guilt?

Women today are living with so much guilt. Guilt for working too much. Guilt for not working enough. Guilt for saying no, for saying yes, for taking a break, for asking for help. This emotion infiltrates every role we occupy and robs us of our capacity for joy and self-worth.

Psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Reid, author of Guilt Free, joins me to unpack why so many women carry a constant sense that they should be doing more, giving more, or handling everything better. We talk about the difference between healthy guilt that prompts us to repair a mistake and chronic guilt that keeps us feeling perpetually behind.

Links Discussed in This Episode |

• Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
• Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
• Previous Episode: [How To] Declutter Without Losing Your Style | Myquillyn Smith (EP462)
• Connect with Dr. Jennifer Reid
• Website
• Instagram
• Substack
• Podcast
• Book: Guilt Free: Reclaiming Your Life From Unreasonable Expectations

About Jennifer |

Dr. Jennifer Reid is a Columbia and UCLA-trained psychiatrist and award-winning educator on the clinical faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, with a private practice focused on women's mental health. She is the author of Guilt Free: Reclaiming Your Life from Unreasonable Expectations, featured in the New York Times and selected as a ‘must-read’ by the Next Big Idea Book Club. She is also the host of A Mind of Her Own, a podcast bringing together clinicians, researchers, and writers for honest, science-informed conversations about the minds and lives of women. She grew up in rural North Dakota in a family of physicians, nurses and teachers, and now lives in New Jersey with her husband and two sons.

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.

When we think about the arts for our kids, we often think about piano lessons, dance classes, or learning how to paint. But the benefits of creative expression go so much deeper than developing a particular skill or talent. The arts can help children build confidence, process emotions, develop problem-solving skills, and discover more about who they are. Today I'm joined by Sheila Fortson, founder and executive director of the FAME Center (Fortson Arts and Music Education), to explore why the arts are such an important part of childhood development and how we can make more room for them in our children's lives.

Links Discussed in This Episode |

• Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
• Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
• Book: Wanting: Mimetic Desire: How to Avoid Chasing Things You Don't Truly Want
• Book: The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
• Connect with Shelia
• Website

About Shelia |

Sheila Fortson is an Arts Education Advocate, Child Development Expert, and Social Impact Entrepreneur. As the Founder & Executive Director of the FAME Center (Fortson Arts and Music Education Center), a Chicago-based nonprofit, Sheila is on a mission to expand access to creative education for youth and families. In 2018, after identifying a lack of accessible creative programming in Chicago’s South Loop, Sheila applied her artistic background and entrepreneurial mindset to build a solution. What began as a grassroots initiative has grown into a high-impact community organization, supporting more than 950 individuals in 2025 ib everything from art therapy to creative writing for children. An advocate for arts education, Sheila is a strong voice on the role of creativity in childhood development and long-term outcomes, emphasizing that creativity is a critical tool for academic success, workforce readiness, social mobility, and CVI (community violence intervention).

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.

Joining me for her third appearance on the show is professional organizer, Tracy McCubbin. On this episode, we talk about Black Friday pressures, sticking to a holiday budget, buying secondhand presents, pressure to decorate our homes, what to do when we receive gifts we didn't ask for and so much more!

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Links Discussed in This Episode

• Order a Copy of Minimalist Moms: Living and Parenting with Simplicity
• Substack: Minimalist Moms Podcast
• Tracey's Resource: Otto Skin Goods
• Previous Episode: …But First, We Need to Address the Acquisition Cycle with Tracy McCubbin
• Previous Episode: EP241: Stop Attracting Clutter with Tracy McCubbin
• Book: Fast Like a Girl by Mindy Pelz
• Tracy's Resource: Save the Food
• Tracy Can't Stop Talking About: I Am Stripes | Dr. Mary Galveston
• Connect with Tracey:
• Website: dClutterfly
• Instagram
• Book: Make Space for Happiness by Tracy McCubbin

About Tracy |

Tracy is a professional organizer, bestselling author, and founder of dClutterfly, with nearly two decades of experience helping people simplify their homes and lives. Inspired by her motto, “Don’t put it down, put it away,” she has helped thousands of clients tackle clutter and develop lasting organizational habits.

As the daughter of a hoarder, Tracy understands the emotional connection we have to our possessions and brings a unique perspective to decluttering. She is the author of Making Space, Clutter-Free and Make Space for Happiness and has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, The Washington Post, and more.

Beyond organizing, Tracy is the co-founder of GalCare, a women-led social enterprise in Kenya. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband—and always knows where her keys are.

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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What if one of the most important things we could give our children isn't having all the answers, but creating a relationship where they feel safe asking the questions?

In today's episode, I'm joined by Dr. Kathryn Saunders, a mom, grandmother, and spiritual formation doctor, to explore how vulnerability, humility, and honest conversations can strengthen our relationships with our children while helping them develop a faith of their own.

We discuss why admitting our mistakes can actually build trust, how to make room for difficult questions and doubts, and the importance of creating margin for meaningful connection. Kathryn also introduces the idea of a family "rule of life," challenges the comparison traps that shape our expectations of family life, and reminds us that hospitality begins with simply being present.

Links Discussed in This Episode |

• Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
• Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
• Connect with Dr. Katheryn Saunders
• Book: Having Spiritual Conversations with Your Kids: Simple Practices for Deepening Your Faith Together

About Katheryn |

Dr. Katheryn Saunders has a DMin in leadership and spiritual formation from Portland Seminary, focusing on next-generation faith and giving. She also has a master’s degree in teaching and is a licensed chaplain. Dr. Saunders has more than twentyfive years of experience working in the Christian nonprofit world, including more than a decade working for World Vision, where she is currently regional director for philanthropy for the northwest region.

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 reason you're feeling exhausted isn't how much you're doing, but the pace at which you're doing it? In this episode, I'm joined by Elizabeth Svoboda, author of The Art of Pacing, to explore why so many of us are caught in a cycle of pushing harder, doing more, and struggling to slow down. Drawing on research, psychology, and lessons from elite athletes, Elizabeth explains how to recognize when you're running on empty, work with your natural energy rhythms, and make room for rest without putting your goals on hold. It's a refreshing perspective for anyone who's tired of feeling like they're always racing to keep up.

Links Discussed in This Episode |

• Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
• Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
• Elizabeth's Resource: Hero's Journey Exercise
• Connect with Elizabeth
• Website
• Instagram
• Book: The Art of Pacing: A Guide to Balancing Short-Term Demands with Long-Term Thriving

About Elizabeth |

Elizabeth Svoboda is an award-winning science writer and contributor to Scientific American, Discover, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and other publications. Elizabeth is a winner of the Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for Young Science Writers, and her work has been anthologized in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series. She lives in San Jose, California, with her husband and young sons. 

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.