A few weeks ago, Emily led a discussion on her Substack that got . . . well, a little attention. It was about alcohol—the expectations we have around it, the “wine mommy” marketing, what we use it for (to celebrate, to cope) and how that might change (or not!) moving forward. There were so many thoughtful conversations in the comments, Emily thought, Why not ask my own Simplified women about this? She brought Liz and Laura in for their takes around some scientific research and their own personal...
Jun 01, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 118
Do you want ✨vibes✨ as soon as you walk into your home? Do you need a new top or a piece of furniture, but your budget doesn't have room for another big purchase this month? Do you miss the avocado green Tupperware your grandma collected in the '70s, or want to let your kid have the rite of passage of owning a hamburger phone? Then sis, it's time to go thrifting! Jessa's a thrifty maven who's got all the tips (seriously, just go look at her Instagram @jessabrayy—from her house to her wardrobe, s...
May 25, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 117
Looking for easy ways to create fun this summer? From fresh salads and no-churn ice cream, to tips for road tripping and hosting a backyard Super Soakers tournament, a Summer Bucket List doesn't have to have *huge* things on it—and you don't have to check everything off, either. This is all about ✨vibes.✨ Emily, Liz, Jessa and Laura share easy ways you can create the kind of summer you want: one that’s a bit more loose and carefree, like the ones you loved when you were a kid. Thanks to our epis...
May 18, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 116
“I cannot show up to be the mom I want to be for Bennett if I don't show up for myself,” says co-host Liz. But when you have so many things pulling at your attention—your kids, your work, your partner, your family and friends—how *do* you find time to show up for yourself? Ashlee Gadd, found of Coffee + Crumbs, knows this struggle all too well. Ashlee talks with new mama Liz about how she learned to let go of the guilt of not doing it all perfectly, and why pursuing what fills you up benefits ev...
May 11, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 115
🇬🇧 What we choose to wear communicates a message: What do we value? And how do we want to present ourselves to the world? This is *especially* true for the British Royal Family, says journalist Elizabeth Holmes. Elizabeth is the brilliant mind behind “So Many Thoughts,” a Substack and Instagram series where she breaks down the messages (and history!) behind what the Royals choose to wear. Ahead of King Charles III’s coronation, Emily and Elizabeth break down how Royal style has evolved over th...
May 04, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 114
When women come together with open books and open hearts, the best thing happens: connection. When co-host Laura moved to a new town in 2019, she had no idea how she was going to make friends. But a chance encounter with a fellow mom at the neighborhood pool changed Laura’s life—because it led her to her life-giving group, The Book Club Babes! Laura shares easy tips you can use to create your own book club: how to meet your people, decide what to read (spoiler alert: you can read anything you wa...
Apr 27, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 113
✨ Secrets Revealed! ✨ The brand-new Spring Collection is HERE! And to celebrate, we're asking: ever wonder how Team Simplified chooses new planner patterns? And how do they figure out new products to make?? Creative Director Whitney Hawkins joins co-host Laura (and Graphic Designer extraordinaire!) to reveal some *fascinating* Simplified secrets behind all things design. Don't miss this one—and grab your favorite new Planner and accessories in the Spring Collection! https://emilyley.com Thanks t...
Apr 20, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 112
Ahh, spring is here! 🌷 Time to open the windows, break out the cleaning caddy, and give our rooms a fresh start. 🧹🫧 Laura’s at the mic this week, and after her BIG move, she’s revealing her top tips for giving your home a thorough declutter quickly so you can get back to the sunshine. She also shares the *best* tools and potions to keep your home sparkling clean (spoiler alert: there are two kinds of vacuums on this list—and zero regrets). Thank you to our episode sponsors! (+ codes to help y...
Apr 13, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 111
“If you want to make one decision to ensure your own health and happiness,” said a recent study from Harvard University, “it should be to cultivate warm relationships of all kinds.” And that includes friendships! But what kinds of friends do we need? And what kind of friend should *we* be? Author and podcaster Laura Tremaine (of 10 Things to Tell You fame!) is here, and she’s written a fantastic new book called The Life Council. And this week, she and Emily are talking about where they’ve shined...
Apr 06, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 110
What an interesting time to be alive—isn’t that right, Millennials? That’s especially true when it comes to being partnered or married to someone, because the world looks a liiiiiittle different than when our parents were our age and trying to navigate their own relationships (i.e. The economy! A pandemic! Social media!). Laura and Jessa get vulnerable and peel back the curtain on their marriages, each going on dozen years. What’s been the best thing? What’s been super hard? How do they handle t...
Mar 30, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 109
Sometimes you just *need a minute,* right? Jessa and Laura definitely do, and they’re talking about alllll the shows that bring them a quick dose of good feels: shows to put on in the background (look at you, The Office and Park & Rec), who’s Team Friends and who’s Team Seinfeld, which reality TV shows and documentaries are worth your time (have you seen The Jinx!?), and—most importantly—why Schitt’s Creek may be the greatest comfort watch of all time (“EW, DAVID!”). Thank to our episode spo...
Mar 23, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 108
Have you ever felt yourself coming to a new chapter—but you weren't quite sure how to navigate it? Maybe you finally reached the milestone you've worked so hard for, or you can't figure out exactly how to get there. Weirdly, in both scenarios, we find ourselves asking, "What's next?” Which can often be translated to: “What's the next right decision for me here?" Emily shares about reaching her own "What's next?" moment, and what she's doing to answer that question for herself. Thank to our episo...
Mar 16, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 107
Let go of "perfect" and say hello to "Halfway Homemade" – the mantra that's going to change your life in the kitchen! Jessa and Laura share the easiest 30-minute meals to make on a busy weeknight (that their kids actually eat!), plus the freezer and pantry must-haves that cut their cooking time in half, and why most kitchen fails can be fixed with a sauce. Because sauce. ✨ Thanks to our episode sponsors! (+ codes to help you save) GREEN CHEF | Get 60% off (plus free shipping!) with code simplifi...
Mar 09, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 106
What do you do when something so heartbreaking happens that it takes you years to process exactly what you went through? If you’re NYT author J.T. Ellison, you put it in a thriller novel. This week, Emily joins J.T. (who’s one of Emily’s favorite authors!) for a conversation around a topic that links them both: infertility. J.T. vulnerably shares about her own miscarriages, about transmitting pain into your work, why marriages has room for secrets but not lies, about the joys and pitfalls of liv...
Mar 02, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 105
What's it *really* like to build your own home? After selling her house via text (yep, really) and beginning to build her forever home with her family on the lake they love, co-host Laura knows. And she's here, along with Jessa, to share her best tips for creating the home of your dreams (while avoiding the same "fun" surprises she encountered along the way). Thanks to our episode sponsors! GREEN CHEF | Get 60% off (plus free shipping!) with code simplified60 at https://greenchef.com/simplified6...
Feb 23, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 104
It can be lonely to feel like you're the only one who struggles with something. For the longest time, that's how co-host Liz felt, too, as she struggled with anxiety that turned her days upside down. Liz opens up with producer Amy as they talk about Liz's journey with anxiety and how it's affected her life. They talk about the concrete steps that have helped Liz move through hard moments, how she's learned to become her own best advocate and how to care for herself well. PS: if you're struggling...
Feb 16, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 103
"How did you know your partner was 'the one'? What advice would you give yourself before your wedding day? How do you move through parenting situations where you don't see eye to eye? What do we *really* get the partner who says they don't want a gift?" We asked for your relationship questions, and you delivered. And in honor of Valentine's Day, Emily and her husband Bryan draw from their 15 years of married wisdom to answer some of your most frequently asked questions. Thanks to our episode spo...
Feb 09, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 102
Need a 30-minute weeknight dinner without burning a hole in your credit card? Jessa would like to introduce you to the magical world of ALDI. #IYKYK (PS: ALDI has no idea who we are. We’re just doing this episode because we really like ALDI!) Thanks to our episode sponsors! (+ codes to help you save ) VEGAMOUR | Get 20% off your first order at https://vegamour.com/simplified ROCKET MONEY | Cancel unwanted subscriptions—and manage your expenses the easy way! https://rocketmoney.com/simplified * *...
Feb 02, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 101
Join Emily as she walks down memory lane—and shares some exciting news we think you're going to love! 🎉 Thanks to our episode sponsors! (+ codes to help you save) GREEN CHEF | Get 60% off (plus free shipping!) with code simplified60 at https://greenchef.com/simplified60 GLADSKIN | Get 15% off (plus free shipping!) on your first order at https://gladskin.com/simplified FABRIC | Protect your family today with Fabric by Gerber Life. Apply today in just 10 minutes at http://meetfabric.com/simplifie...
Jan 26, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 100
We all want to make real, lasting connections with people. So why not start with your very own neighbors? It can feel a little intimidating to reach out to someone you don’t know, maybe even a little awkward. It did for writer Shannan Martin too. But despite her status as a card-carrying introvert, Shannan has found that connecting with the community around her in small, low-stakes ways has given her more joy than just sticking to a polite wave. Emily and Shannan talk about some easy ways you ca...
Jan 19, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 99
Ever hit a milestone birthday that makes you sit and *think*? This year, Emily’s hitting 40, and she’s thinking about the wonderful things this new season has to offer: the wisdom of hindsight and experience, the gift of caring for a body that’s carried you so far, the ability to know what fills you up (and when to give a hearty “No, thanks!”), and the abundance of love we’ve given and received along the way. Whether you’re 25 and wondering where life will take you, or you’re right where Emily i...
Jan 12, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 98
Happy 2023! As you dive into a fresh new year, Emily’s going to help you tackle one of the biggest clutter magnets in your home: your fridge. And here to help is a Simplified sister (and fellow organization nerd) behind the scenes: our Simplified Podcast producer, Amy Kerr! Emily and Amy share tons of tips for keeping your fridge in tip-top shape, like which organizing tools will help your fridge out, how to store fresh veggies and herbs so they last a bit longer, the best system for restocking ...
Jan 05, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 97
In 2023, we have two wishes for you: that balance would come to you with ease, and through all your days, your spirit feels the warmth of joy and abundant life. In this episode, Emily’s going to take you through three routines—one daily, one weekly, and one monthly—that will bring you back to center and feed your spirit. And why does that matter? Because if your spirit is nourished, then sister, then you’ve got enough kindling to handle whatever comes your way. And no matter what happens, your f...
Dec 31, 2022•18 min
How can you shape your home to nurture your heart in this particular season? What you needed ten years ago probably isn’t what you need right now. And today, Jen Robin, founder of the organizational firm Life in Jeneral, is going to help you create a home you love! Jen and Emily talk about the room that gets the most “bang for your organizational buck,” how to tame the spaces where clutter tends to add up, hacks to clean your car, and the most important question to ask yourself before you start ...
Dec 30, 2022•29 min
Do you find yourself saying, I wish someone else would decide what we’re having for dinner, or which movie to watch, or what to buy for teacher gifts? Then, friend, you need to try out this concept: “Decide once.” Coined by The Lazy Genius herself, Kendra Adachi, “decide once” is going to transform your 2023! It’ll take out the stress of decision fatigue and hand you the peace that comes from decisions you’ve made for your season: Taco Tuesdays, teachers get a gift card to the local bookstore, “...
Dec 29, 2022•48 min
Happy Fresh Start season! 🎉 This week, as we get ready for a brand-new year, we’re bringing you “Simplifying 2023,” a short series to help you gently think about where you are, and where you’d like the new year to take you. Here’s where we’re starting: sometimes, in order to move forward, we need to look behind us to see what worked, what didn’t, and how to make tweaks as we try again. Think of this as your personal Spotify Wrapped: Life Edition! Emily has a few questions to ask yourself as you...
Dec 28, 2022•14 min
Here we are at yet another holiday—and yet another week we’re asking, “What the heck do we make for dinner apart from the Big Day?” Friend, this is what you need this week: no-cook dinners that are easy to assemble. So easy, in fact, that it’ll only take you five minutes from fridge the finished. Emily’s got some super-easy ideas for you, so hit up your grocery delivery app and bask in all the time you’ve given back to yourself this busy week. Happy Holidays—and happy eating! *Thanks to our epis...
Dec 22, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 96
Hey, magic maker, we see you right now. We see you making all the lists for presents and parties and everything in between. We see the way you’re shepherding the tiny angels in the church Christmas pageant after a busy work day, and praying your mint mocha gives you a boost as you drive around and look at Christmas lights with squealing kids in your backseat. We see you adding more to your plate than feels comfortable right now. And Emily’s got one message for you: you’re doing so great. And per...
Dec 15, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 95
Sometimes the holidays get awkward because families are weird. And when you get a bunch of quirky people under one roof, stuff 👴🏼 is 👧🏾 going 👵🏾 to 🤷🏻♂️ happen. And Emily and Jessa, beloved and hilarious art director for Simplified, are going to talk about that stuff. Emily and Jessa deliver some of the most cringe moments they've ever seen at their holiday gatherings (Jessa's first with her brand-new-fiancé's family might've involved her, a bottle rocket, and uttering, "I'm just new to...
Dec 08, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 94
’Tis the season of giving! But not every gift comes with a bow—the best gifts usually don’t. With each passing holiday season, we bet you’ve seen that the most meaningful gifts are the gifts of time and attention. And that’s something we want to teach our kids, too. This week, Emily’s giving you three easy ways to teach kids to develop their giving muscles, to look around and see ways they can help not only their friends and family, but people in their community. Because the truth is, when we gi...
Dec 01, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 93
