“When we lift up a woman, we lift up humanity,” says Melinda French Gates. And she’s 100% right—because when women are supported, when they’re given opportunities to run their lives and their careers and their families, it makes the entire world flourish . We can definitely see that in the work of our guest this week, Holly Christine Hayes. Holly is the founder and CEO of Sanctuary Project, a nonprofit social enterprise employing and empowering women who’ve survived lives of trafficking, violenc...
Nov 24, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 92
Between the food and decorations, the laughter and love, the holidays can feel magical. But let’s be real: the holidays don’t always look like a Hallmark movie, even if you try. Because beneath the tinsel and elaborate centerpieces, real life is still here. If you’re feeling stressed from too much holiday pressure, or miffed by a kid who keeps messing up the holiday photo, or even if you’re not sure grief will let you celebrate in the first place, it’s okay—no holiday is perfect. If you’re looki...
Nov 17, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 91
The holidays are *a lot.* But what if they didn’t have to be? Emily’s bringing back one of your favorite guests ever: Nana, AKA her mom, Stephanie! In this episode, Nana gives you permission to make the holidays as simple as you need them to be. Emily and Nana talk through stress-free tips for Thanksgiving, how to ask for help if you’re hosting during the holidays, how to take the pressure off yourself during the big days, and even how much food to buy (because let’s be real: that’s super hard t...
Nov 10, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 90
There’s no doubt about it: life will never be quite the same as it is right now. It’s filled with, as writer Zora Neale Hurston said, years that ask questions and years that answer them. But in the midst of all that change and uncertainty, do you know what remains true? Love. This is a special week on the podcast, because Emily’s just released a super special, brand-new book called Sure as the Sunrise: 100 Morning Meditations on God’s Mercy and Delight ! 🎉 And to help us celebrate, Emily’s talk...
Nov 03, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 89
We know it’s a tad early, but we’ve got to ask: have you started your holiday list yet? 📝 Don’t worry, we’ve done a little bit of the legwork for you! At Simplified, we like to say that behind every small business, there’s a heartbeat. Because when you purchase goods or services from a small boutique, or an Etsy shop, or a Shopify site, that owner can get groceries to feed her kids that night. She can use that money to get hearing aids for her mom, or save up for a business degree, or a new hom...
Oct 27, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 88
Let’s face it: sometimes we’re just *over it,* and that’s especially true when it comes to dinner. When it’s Wednesday night and all you want to is lay on the couch and eat a bag of microwave popcorn, just remember the wisdom from our guest today—podcaster and now-cookbook author Jen Hatmaker! Jen’s latest book is called Feed These People , and this week, Jen and Emily talked about how to muster the energy and creativity to cook for your people when you have zero left in the tank, Jen’s favorite...
Oct 20, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 87
Ever feel like you’re drowning in a sea of emails or Slack notifications at work? Yep, we have too. But how do you get the info you need without sacrificing a good rapport with your team, or feeling like you’re missing out on essential things you need to know? And how do you go on vacation without coming back to a quadruple-digit inbox that makes your good vibes instantly vanish? Emily’s bringing back our Decluttering Digital Life series to help you tackle how to communicate effectively with you...
Oct 13, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 86
Time to break out the softest throw blankets, the *good* candles, and all the decorative gourds—because today we’re getting our homes cozy and comfy for cooler months ahead with Cozy White Cottage’s Liz Marie Galvan! Liz Marie’s just written a fabulous book called Cozy White Cottage Seasons: 100 Tips to Make Your Home Cozy All Year Long, and this week, she’s sharing some of her best (and easiest!) tips with Emily. Spoiler alert: you don’t have to raid the home décor aisles every time cozy season...
Oct 06, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 85
When you hear the word “ritual,” what do you think of? It can sound like a stuffy word, but it doesn’t have to be. A ritual is something you often do that helps you step toward the person you want to be. A ritual can look like a lot of different things: practices like prayer, meditation, and yoga. Taking a few minutes after work to put on some music, get on the floor, and play with your kids. Sitting down at the same time every day to write, or soaking in the tub at the beginning and the end of ...
Sep 29, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 84
On a chilly fall evening, is there anything cozier than a warm, creamy bowl of soup? (Nope!) To welcome the coziest season of the year, we’re delighted to talk with foodie content creator and the Queen of Soup, Bri McKoy! 👩🍳 Today Bri dishes on the Instant Pot Lemon Chicken & Potato Soup that’s become one of Emily’s go-to’s, her pumpkin chili that’s perfect for Game Day or a Tuesday night, her pizza soup (!?), and so many more. Bri also shares her genius tip for shredding chicken in a sna...
Sep 22, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 83
It’s one of our favorite weeks of the year: Launch Week! 🎉 As beautiful as our Simplified Planners and products are, we get that you may be wondering: Why use a paper planner in a digital world? We’re glad you asked! Emily put on her research cap to find out—and what she discovered will absolutely floor you. Today Emily’s sharing four ways that paper planners can help you streamline your life at work and at home. Because it turns out, working on paper is kind of like a superpower for your brain...
Sep 15, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 82
Getting a phone is a huge step for a kid (and their parent!), and there’s a lot to figure out: what’s the right age to get one? How can we help them use it in a healthy way? Social media, or no? Emily’s been asking these questions herself since her sixth-grader Brady got his first phone a few weeks ago. And to get some advice, she’s turned to child and adolescent counselor Sissy Goff! Sissy’s a favorite around here (her episode on helping kids manage anxiety in Episode 30 is one of our most down...
Sep 08, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 81
YAY, it’s almost fall! 🍂 As the weather turns cooler, it’s time to put away the flip-flops and floaties and break out all the pumpkins, all the cozy sweaters, and get your home ready for colder temps ahead. Consider this your “get your life ready for fall” checklist! Emily’s dishing out quick and easy tips to get your closets, kitchen, decor, outdoors and more prepped before your schedule gets packed with all the fun fall things (or, for you brave people who live where it snows, before the firs...
Sep 01, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 80
Between work and life and making sure we have enough avocados for the week, there are a lot of logistics we have to keep track of. But you know what’s pretty easy to automate? Your grocery list. No, really, it’s true! Today Emily’s sharing her secrets on her favorite tools for automating life in the Ley house. Whether you love to grab a cart and shop in person, or if you prefer clicking Add to Cart, Emily’s going to show you how to slash time and money from your grocery budget, so you can actual...
Aug 25, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 79
Any shakeup to your routine—whether it’s a new school year, a new job, a big promotion, a birth, a death, a surgery, a divorce, whatever—requires you to pour a lot from your well. And you know what that means? To care for yourself, you need to restore your well with some rest and a heaping dose of grace. Today Emily’s talking about how to navigate seasons of change, whether you’re starting middle school or a brand-new phase of your life. And she reminds us that no matter where we are, we can fin...
Aug 18, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 78
It feels like we’re ramping up for the busy season again, doesn’t it? When life doesn’t leave a lot of margin, do you ever feel like your friendships move to the back burner? We get it. We bet you do, too. Cultivating rich friendships has been one of Emily’s priorities this year—even when life gets crazy, as it always does. And today, she’s talking with one of the most wise and practical people she knows to talk about how she makes time for friendship: Simplified’s art director, Jessa Bray! Emil...
Aug 11, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 77
Welcome to August—or, as we call it at Simplified, Fresh Start 2.0! So much of our community is in the throes of Back-to-School prep, whether you’re getting littles ready for a new school year or or just getting yourself ready to get back to a routine that doesn’t include ice cream for dinner three nights of the week. It takes a bit of a brain shift to get back into the swing of things, so Emily’s here to take you by the hand and gently guide you into five things you might want to put on your Ba...
Aug 04, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 76
There’s no other way to say it: teachers are heroes. They’re courageous and kind, selfless and brave and wise. Can you think of a teacher who spent time with you after school so you could understand how to multiply fractions? Or listened when you had a problem with a friend and didn’t know how to respond to it? Or wrote letters of recommendation when you applied for colleges? It seems like teachers can make magic out of thin air. But as we’ll hear today, it’s not magic—it’s years of training, ha...
Jul 28, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 75
Is there anything better than a good book? Nope! How about one you can pop into your ears while you drive, or go for a walk, or get stuff done around the house? Hmm, that’s pretty good too! Emily’s our resident Audiobook Queen, and today she’s got five recommendations you’ve *got* to check out this summer. From royal rom-coms to killer fiction (literally!), to some instructive and poignant nonfiction, there’s something here for just about everyone—even some reads the littles will love! Thanks to...
Jul 21, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 74
Do you remember when your parents talked to you about your changing body? What did that feel like for you? Was a big conversation where it happened all at once, or did it happen in small pieces scattered over your childhood? Did you feel scared and overwhelmed, or did you feel curious and . . . okay? It’s a big topic to tackle, both for parents *and* kids. That’s exactly why Emily invited two of our favorite guests back onto the show this week: Megan and Mary Flo of Birds & Bees! All the way...
Jul 14, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 73
When it’s the hottest day of the summer and you have to feed your family, do you *really* want to stand in front of a hot stove? Um, hard pass. Time to pull some easy, no-cook recipes out of your back pocket! Emily’s sharing a few dinner ideas that are super fresh and quick to assemble. From watermelon feta salad to a perfectly constructed sandwich, these no-cook recipes will help you get food on the table in minutes, so you can get back to back to hanging by the pool, binge-watching your favori...
Jul 07, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 72
In ten years, what do you want your life to look like? From jobs to family, to community and hobbies and so much more, we all have different dreams we’re nurturing in our hearts. Sometimes it’s hard to know how to start reaching for them, especially when our lives are so full already. But taking the first step toward turning your dreams into reality is something that’s changed Emily’s life—and also for her guest today, Jenna Kutcher! Jenna is a Minnesota wife, mom, and entrepreneur who puts hear...
Jun 30, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 71
It doesn’t matter how old we are: we each want to be “enough.” We want to be enough for our parents, our friends and team members, our partners and kids. Whether you’re age 4 or 104, Emily has a message for you: you’ll always be enough, because God made you. And when you recognize the gifts God’s placed inside you, then you can turn around and recognize those gifts in other people, and celebrate them in their enoughness, too. Emily’s put that beautiful message into her very first children’s book...
Jun 23, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 70
On June 19, 1865, US soldiers walked the streets of Galveston, Texas, proclaiming freedom for enslaved people living in the state. Our country now recognizes this important day as our newest federal holiday, Juneteenth. And this week, we are honored to learn more about Juneteenth from author and librarian Alice Faye Duncan! Alice Faye shares about her brand-new children’s book, "Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free," which tells the inspiring story of teacher and activist Opal Lee. Known far an...
Jun 16, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 69
Summer’s magic, isn’t it? The long, sunshiny days, the last-minute trips to the ice cream shop, the trips to faraway places, sharing laughs and deep conversations under the stars. Summer brings experiences like nothing else, and it’s fun to hear how our friends are planning to spend them too, right?! Emily’s BFF Jane is joining the show this week for a chat on all things summer: where they’re going, what they’re packing, what they’re eating, the best pro-tips for different destinations (even wit...
Jun 09, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 68
It’s the night before your vacation, and you are *pumped.* You’re stuffing your suitcases with everything you need—maybe a little more than what you need, because how are you going to know what you’ll want to wear to dinner on Tuesday? Then, twenty minutes after you lock the front door, you feel a familiar trickle of doubt. “Oh my gosh—did I forget charger again?!” It feels inevitable, right? But . . . what if it didn’t have to be? In this week’s super tactical episode, Emily’s breaking down her...
Jun 02, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 67
It’s (basically) summertime, and the living is . . . well, it’s a bit easier! Summer’s one of the most magical times of year, isn’t it? Because summer invites us to slow down and take in the good stuff. This week, Emily’s sharing how to shift gears and get yourself into summer mode at work and home. Are you trying to find margin in your schedule to check off your summer bucket list? Are you a leader who wants to help your team find work/life balance this season? Are you a mama wondering how to r...
May 26, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 66
May is the Christmas of spring: it’s a beautiful time of year, filled with flowers and fun and new life, but if you’re a parent, you also know May is . . . *a lot.* All the recitals. All the field days. All the ball games and practices, all the projects before school’s out. And while you try to navigate all the end-of-school-year fun/chaos, let Emily and her guest, author and podcaster Sally Clarkson, remind you: You’re doing great, Mama—you really are. Sally is someone Emily turns to time and a...
May 19, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 65
A lot of things go into caring for yourself well: the mental, the emotional, the spiritual. And so much of our health stems from how we’re caring for our bodies. What are we using to fuel our energy? How much are we moving? It’s something Emily’s been thinking about a lot over the past few months. Emily shares the catalyst that caused her to dive deep into her health and wellness (spoiler alert: it’s definitely not something you’d expect) to see if she could tackle why she was losing hair, exper...
May 12, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 64
Infertility is something so many families struggle with. It’s a journey filled with physical and emotional exertion on a daily basis, of doctors and medications and countless whispered prayers and tears. Some journeys end the way you wished for. Many of them don’t. No two journeys are the same, and that holds true for Emily and her BFF Kristin Winchester. Emily and Kristin share the long, winding road through infertility they each experienced, how it impacted their partners, and the complicated ...
May 05, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 63
