1247: The Hidden Cost of Clutter on Your Focus, Energy, and Peace With Katy Wells
Release Date: 01/14/2026
1250: The Decisions You Avoid Are Costing You and Shaping Your Identity
Emotionally Uncomfortable
“Who you are when you have to make an emotionally uncomfortable decision says everything about how quickly you will get results.” In this episode, Heather shares a grounded, no-bypass conversation about decision-making when your nervous system is activated, clarity feels unavailable, and quitting would be easier than staying in it. She unpacks why decision fatigue isn’t about doing too much, but about avoiding the decisions that actually matter, how unmade choices quietly turn into identity-level habits, and why real momentum is built by staying in motion even when outcomes, other...
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1249: The One Thing That Changes Everything (If You Let It) With Jay Papasan
Emotionally Uncomfortable
“Almost everybody will overestimate how much they can grow in one year. At the same time, they underestimate how much they can grow in five.” In this episode, Heather talks with Jay Papasan about why doing more isn’t the answer, how relentless productivity can actually work against you, and what happens when you commit to the one thing that truly matters. This is a conversation about focus as a skill, boredom as a feature of mastery, and the quiet, intentional choices that make everything else easier (or unnecessary). If you’re tired of spinning your wheels and ready to aim...
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1248: Designing a Life That Travels: The Real Logistics Behind Our Family’s 3-Month Relocation
Emotionally Uncomfortable
“What happens when you talk about the things that you want to do is people start to make connections for you. And this is exactly what happened and what has enhanced this year's experience.” In this episode, Heather explores what happens when we stop waiting for the perfect moment and start choosing courage instead. This isn’t a travel highlight reel; it’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Heather and her family prepared, decided, and executed the big life shift of snowbirding—without burning out their family or their bank account. She opens up about navigating her own (and her...
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1247: The Hidden Cost of Clutter on Your Focus, Energy, and Peace With Katy Wells
Emotionally Uncomfortable
“At the end of the day, our brains are wired to crave peace and order, and our outer environments can mirror our inner environment, or vice versa.” In this episode, Heather sits down with Katy Wells to explore overconsumption and overcommitment, as well as the many forms of clutter that quietly erode our patience, focus, and presence. Many women find themselves struggling to concentrate or feeling constantly overwhelmed, which leads them to wonder, “What’s wrong with me?” This conversation reveals that it’s decision fatigue and unexamined accumulation pulling attention in too many...
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1246: The More Responsibility You Have, the Lighter You Should Feel
Emotionally Uncomfortable
“I put myself in situations where I didn't have a back door and couldn’t run away from myself. The natural consequence was that I felt lighter, and I’m finishing the year more proud of myself than I've ever been, with more confidence.” In this episode, Heather guides you through her unique process for creating a personalized, focused plan for 2026 that brings real lightness into your life. But that doesn’t mean bypassing internal struggles or heavy emotions, because you can’t reclaim your time or create more peace without addressing your biggest energy leaks. If your goal is to...
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1245: The Truth About College and Teaching Teens Success Skills With Hannah Maruyama
Emotionally Uncomfortable
“Success is your child getting what they want out of life, including who they want to be and how they want to be.” College is rarely the right next step for our kids, yet parents are so bought into this outdated view of education and success. In this episode, Heather sits down with Degree Free founder, Hannah Maruyama, to unpack the best ways to support our teens in building skills that help them uncover their passion at the right time, rather than shoving them back onto the “education” conveyor belt that saddles them with freedom-stealing debt. This isn’t about being anti-education;...
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1244: 6 Books You’re Going to Want to Buy, Read, and Take Seriously in 2026
Emotionally Uncomfortable
“I'm a fan of quality versus quantity and reading one book all year, but mastering everything that you have learned in that book.” In this episode, Heather shares her top six books for growing as a parent, business owner, and person in 2026. But these aren’t just any old books to add to your stack; they’re the books she keeps on hand to read and reread because they’re a wealth of knowledge and insight that can change your life, if you integrate their wisdom. The big takeaway from this episode that will transform your life if you follow it? That you don’t need to read more. You need...
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1243: How to Navigate Money, Marriage, and Shared Ambition With Douglas and Heather Boneparth
Emotionally Uncomfortable
“Money is one of those things that people just consider as an afterthought. The older you get and the more responsibilities you have, you start to realize money is a tool, and it's required for health and happiness.” In this episode, Heather sits down with Douglas and Heather Boneparth to dig into the often uncomfortable but wholly necessary work of talking about finances with your partner. Together, they unpack what really happens beneath the surface when couples avoid money conversations, and how bringing these truths forward can transform the intimacy, teamwork, and emotional safety in...
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1242: 3 Ways We Make Life Shorter Than It Needs to Be (And How to Change It)
Emotionally Uncomfortable
“I understand that if I'm too comfortable, it's time to grow. Because if I'm not growing, I'm dying. And if I'm dying, I'm going to live a miserable life.” In this episode, Heather reflects on three big lessons she’s learned over the last 12 years since her cancer diagnosis, exploring the significance of facing fears, recognizing triggers as opportunities for growth, and the importance of self-reflection in embracing a fulfilling life. This conversation isn’t about recounting the many challenges she faced during healing; it’s about celebrating and learning to live more fully. Because...
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1241: The Unexpected Ways Resistance and Shame Help Us Grow With Tracy Matthews
Emotionally Uncomfortable
“When resistance is coming up, it's just trying to show you something, and it's an area in your life that can be healed, that can stretch you, that can put you in a position and in an opportunity for you to step into what's next for you.” In this episode, Heather sits down with Tracy Matthews to dig into how we master resistance, find the courage to move toward our big visions, and cultivate a more profound sense of trust in ourselves and the universe. Whether it’s navigating health issues, parenting children, or building a business, we all bump into those uncomfortable...
info_outline“At the end of the day, our brains are wired to crave peace and order, and our outer environments can mirror our inner environment, or vice versa.”
In this episode, Heather sits down with Katy Wells to explore overconsumption and overcommitment, as well as the many forms of clutter that quietly erode our patience, focus, and presence. Many women find themselves struggling to concentrate or feeling constantly overwhelmed, which leads them to wonder, “What’s wrong with me?” This conversation reveals that it’s decision fatigue and unexamined accumulation pulling attention in too many directions at once, not a personal failing. Together, Heather and Katy unpack the deeper layers of clutter rooted in identity, loss aversion, and the guilt that keeps us holding on long past usefulness.
What to listen for:
✨ The three different types of clutter that lead to continued overwhelm
✨ One question to break free from identity clutter and the guilt that comes with it
✨ Why the endowment effect keeps us from releasing what no longer aligns
“Loss aversion is a real thing. I don't want to feel like I failed at getting healthier or that I’m using my money the wrong way. It's helpful to reframe that loss and say, ‘You know what, I did what I could’, or ‘Here's five other ways I'm working on my health that are simpler and better for me that don't involve a Peloton’, so I feel confident in letting go.”
✨ Navigating the emotional discomfort that comes with releasing things
✨ The science behind the sudden urge to declutter when we’ve decided to change
✨ Why women struggle to change their behavior and opt out of consumerism
✨ How to create micro counterculture moments that support the life you want to live
“Cultural pressure, societal pressure, or ‘this is just the way it is’, can make us feel like, ‘Well, I guess this is just what we're gonna do’, because they play to the part of our brains that wants the best for our kids. It's so nuanced, and the guilt is real as a parent.”
✨ How to make decisions as a family unit around commitment clutter
✨ Ways you can give gifts without adding more clutter to other people’s lives
✨ How to talk to your kids about shifting from material gifts to experiences
About Katy Wells:
Katy Wells, author of Making Home Your Happy Place, helps families break the cycle of clutter that keeps coming back—no matter how many times they've tried to get it under control. As the creator of Holistic Decluttering and host of The Maximized Minimalist podcast (5 million listens), Katy's been featured on NBC, Martha Stewart, and Real Simple for her approach that gets to the root of why we hold onto things we don't need. She teaches families how to let go of what's weighing them down so they can create an easy-to-manage home and finally stop feeling overwhelmed every time they walk through the door.
Connect with Katy:
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Read Making Home Your Happy Place—A step-by-step guide to breaking the clutter cycle for good: (link available soon)
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Listen to The Maximized Minimalist—Real talk and practical strategies for simplifying your home, mind, and life: https://plinkhq.com/i/1460805372
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Get once-a-week encouragement with behind-the-scenes strategies, actionable tips, and honest insights you won't find anywhere else: https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify
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For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what’s draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life.
We’ll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy.
Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate?
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