Minimal-ish: Minimalism, Intentional Living, Motherhood

This week on Minimalish, I’m joined by author and speaker Palak Dave for an honest and relatable conversation about something so many of us crave in adulthood—true connection and community. Palak shares practical encouragement for building authentic friendships and creating spaces where people feel seen and welcomed. We talk about overcoming the fear of hosting, bringing authenticity into everyday gatherings, and finding joy in the simple, beautiful moments that make up real life. She also shares her insight on how technology impacts our ability to connect, and how we can bring more intention and thoughtfulness into our relationships. If you’ve been longing for deeper connections or want to create community right where you are, this episode will leave you inspired to start small and lead with intention. Links from this episode: Palak’s Website Palak on Instagram (@paldave) Check out Palak’s Book: Beautiful Everydays Desirae on Instagram Minimal-ish Podcast Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Minimalish, I’m joined by KyAnn Molina, a wife, homeschooling mom of three little ones 5 and under, and host of the Simple Rhythms for Busy Moms podcast.  In our conversation, KyAnn and I talk about the importance of intentional routines in motherhood, especially when you’re juggling work, keeping up with your home, and family life. She shares openly about her own journey with postpartum depression and how it shaped her approach to routines and why mental health and self-care matter so much for moms. We also chat about practical home management systems (like tackling the never ending piles of laundry), how to build rhythms that serve your family’s unique and ever-changing seasons, and the freedom that comes from keeping things simple and flexible. If you’ve been craving more balance and less chaos in your days, then be sure to tune in to this week's episode Links from this episode: KyAnn on Instagram (@kyannandmat) KyAnn’s Podcast: Simple Rhythms for Busy Moms KyAnn’s Free Facebook Community KyAnn’s Website Desirae on Instagram Minimal-ish Podcast Website More Episodes on Habits, Routines, & Home Management: Ep. 197:  Layering Routines and "Surthriving" with Tyler Moore (aka the Tidy Dad) Ep. 181: Simple Home Management Routines + Habits (without the Perfectionism) with Kelly Briggs Ep. 145: Creating Daily Rhythms for Your Everyday Life with Katy Lewis Ep. 138: Creating a Laundry System That Works with Amy Eilers Sponsors: Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box and a free item in every box for life at hungryroot.com/minimalish Calm: Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at calm.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Minimalish, I’m joined by Olivia, also known as The Marketplace Mom, for a fun yet practical conversation about one of my favorite topics—decluttering—and how selling on Facebook Marketplace can actually make the process easier (and even rewarding). Olivia shares her own story of starting to sell online, especially kids’ clothes and other family items, and how it’s helped her simplify her home while also connecting with others. She gives us tons of tips for creating effective listings, navigating interactions with buyers, staying safe during porch pickups, and keeping a healthy mindset about the process. We also talk about the joy of secondhand shopping, why it’s worth giving it a try, and how social media has created a supportive community around buying and selling pre-loved items. If you’ve been looking for a little motivation to tackle the clutter and maybe make some extra money in the process, then this episode is definitely for you! Links from this episode: Olivia on Instagram (@themarketplacemom) Olivia’s Website Desirae on Instagram Minimal-ish Podcast Website Previous Minimal-ish Episodes on Secondhand Shopping/Selling Episode 152: Minimalist Moving: Selling Everything & Refurnishing Fully Secondhand with Kat Steck Episode 141: Thrifting Tips + The World of Reselling with Lydia of Love This For You Sponsors: Calm: Get 40% off your Calm Premium Subscription at calm.com/minimalish Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box and a free item in every box for life at hungryroot.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Minimalish, I’m joined by Deanna Yates, the voice behind Wannabe Clutter Free, for a super practical and encouraging conversation about decluttering with your kids. Deanna shares her own journey into minimalism and offers helpful strategies for making decluttering a normal (and even fun!) part of family life. From age-appropriate tips for getting kids involved, to using children’s books to spark conversations, to handling the unique challenges that come as kids get older—this conversation is full of ideas to help you create more space and peace in your home without constant battles. If you’ve been feeling stuck in the clutter (or dreading the idea of tackling it with your kids), this episode will give you the tools and perspective to move forward with more patience, creativity, and confidence (and you’ll hear why we actually think back to school season is the perfect time to get started!). Links from this episode: Deanna on Instagram (@wannabeclutterfree) Deanna’s Website Deanna’s Podcast: Wannabe Clutter Free Deanna’s Children’s Book: Lenora and her Super Messy Room Desirae on Instagram Minimal-ish Podcast Website Sponsors: Hungryroot: Go to hungryroot.com/minimalish and use code minimalish to get 40% off your first box and a free item of your choice in every box for life! Calm: Head to calm.com/minimalish for 40% off your premium subscription. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I’m honored to be speaking with author, podcaster, wife, and mother Tara Sun. In this conversation, Tara shares her journey towards a slower, more intentional life by prioritizing saying no and building habits that support the kind of life you want to live. We are also diving into her new book “Overbooked and Overwhelmed" where she shares practical tips for managing distractions and finding rest amidst a busy lifestyle.  Links from this episode: Tara on Instagram (@misstarasun) Tara’s Website Tara’s Podcast Pre-order her new book: Overbooked and Overwhelmed (Releases Aug. 5th) Desirae on Instagram Minimal-ish Podcast Website Sponsors: Calm.com: Go to calm.com/minimalish to get 40% off a premium subscription. Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box and a free item in every box for life with at hungryroot.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sponsors: Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box and a free item in every box for life with at hungryroot.com/minimalish Born Shoes: Head to bornshoes.com and use code minimalish to get 15% off your full price shoe order and free shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Minimalish, I’m back with my first guest interview in a while – and I couldn’t think of a better way to start the summer! After wrapping up my long-term sub position at the high school, I’m so excited to get back to conversations that help us live a little more intentionally. Today, I’m chatting with Nicole Runyon, a former psychotherapist turned parent coach, all about how we can set our families up for a simpler, more connected summer. This conversation is full of helpful, down-to-earth advice to help you feel more confident and grounded heading into summer with your kids at home. In this episode, we talk about: Why independence and responsibility is so important (and how to encourage it) How to navigate technology and set boundaries for different ages Why boredom is actually good for kids—and how to help them through it Whether you’re craving more rhythm, rest, or just want to avoid constant power struggles this summer, this episode is for you. Links from this episode: Nicole on Instagram (@igenerationmentalhealth) Nicole’s Website Order her new book: “Free to Fly: The Secret to Fostering Independence in the Next Generation" Desirae on Instagram Minimal-ish Podcast Website Sponsors: Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box and a free item in each box for life at hungryroot.com/minimalish Born Shoes: Get 15% off full-price shoes at bornshoes.com with code MINIMALISH Calm: Go to calm.com/minimalish to get 40% off a premium subscription. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'm bringing you a solo episode with 4 simple and quick steps we can all take to start our summer months with intention and (hopefully) have a more intentional season. I hope you'll even be able to use at least one of these steps and take action on it today. Sponsors: Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box and a free item in every box for life at hungryroot.com/minimalish Born Shoes: Get 15% off full price shoes and free shipping when you use code MINIMALISH at bornshoes.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'm sharing 3 lessons I shared in a letter to my senior students before their graduation. In this episode, I expand on these lessons and reflect a bit on my year back to teaching. Sponsors: Born Shoes: Go to BornShoes.com today for a 15% discount plus free ground shipping on all full-price shoes when you use my promo code, MINIMALISH. Function Health: get a $100 credit towards your annual membership at functionhealth.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sponsors: Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box and a free item in every box for life at hungryroot.com/minimalish. Born Shoes: Go to bornshoes.com and use code minimalish to get 15% off your order + free ground shipping. Calm: Get 40% off your Calm premium subscription at calm.com/minimalish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices