Maximized Minimalist Podcast
Katy Wells
Recent Episodes
📚 PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK!
Making Home Your Happy Place: The Real Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm releases February 17th!
Pre-order now and receive exclusive bonus goodies—simple, supportive tools you can apply right away through the holiday season and beyond!
🎯 TAKE THE FREE QUIZ!
Discover your unique Decluttering Style and get personalized tips that actually work for YOU.
👉 Take the Decluttering Style Quiz
In this heartfelt episode, Andrew joins me to share the story of our unexpected mold crisis—one that forced us to let go of sentimental items, old hobbies, emotional keepsakes, and "someday" things… almost overnight. What started as a stressful, logistical nightmare in our basement turned into one of the clearest real-life lessons we've ever had about clutter, attachment, identity, and what truly matters.
We're taking you behind the scenes of what it was really like to lose a space that held so many of our memories—Andrew's office, our wellness area, guest room, and our entire storage zone. What we learned surprised us both: what we missed, what we didn't, what stirred emotions we didn't expect, and what letting go made room for.
If you've ever feared "What if I need this someday?" or felt stuck because everything feels meaningful… this conversation is going to feel like a warm exhale.
What You'll Learn-
How our mold discovery forced a decluttering process we didn't choose—but deeply benefited from
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Why "I might need it someday" feels SO real… and how to see through that fear
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What sentimental items actually represent—and why letting go doesn't erase the memories
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Andrew's journey from "the guy with a hoarder-room" to someone who enjoys living with less
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Why time is often the most powerful tool when it comes to releasing emotional items
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How relationships, identity, and childhood experiences shape the way we hold on to stuff
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What to do when your partner's things trigger you (and vice versa)
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The surprising emotional layers behind trophies, t-shirts, rugs, and wedding keepsakes
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How decluttering actually makes many people more sentimental, not less
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Why a "good enough" home (not a perfect one) builds peace and connection
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The memories don't live in the items. They live in you—and letting go cannot erase them.
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Sentimental clutter is deeply personal. What looks like "junk" to someone else may represent years of meaning you can't see on the surface.
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Your partner's pace matters. Slow, patient progress creates lasting change—pressure doesn't.
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Time does emotional heavy lifting. What once felt impossible to part with may someday feel neutral.
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Seasons of life shift what belongs in your home. Hobbies evolve, kids grow, needs change—and your home should adapt too.
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Letting go often creates more presence. You notice the life happening now, not just the life that already happened.
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A home that's "good enough" supports you far better than a home striving for perfection.
"When you get rid of stuff, it doesn't make you less sentimental—it makes you more sentimental in the moments that actually matter."
— Andrew Wells
The Most Powerful Stories From This Episode 🧡 Andrew's 5K T-shirtsHow a duffel bag of old race shirts turned into a lesson on fatherhood, memories, and what we really hold on to. And how two vintage Bulls shirts ended up becoming treasured keepsakes for our boys.
🧡 The Moroccan RugA story about backpacking, freedom, and why a rug bought at 22 taught Andrew more about letting go at 42 than he ever expected.
🧡 Our Wedding Time CapsuleWhat happened when we finally opened our handmade wedding box—14 years late—and why a moment of discomfort led to one of the clearest reminders of what matters most.
🧡 Parenting, Airsoft, and the "Junk" in the GarageWhy the piles of pallets and gear that once felt like clutter now feel like connection, community, and exactly the kind of childhood we want our boys to remember.
Join Clutter Cure ClubWant to create a home that feels light, peaceful, and aligned with real life? Inside CCC, we turn tiny shifts (like today's reset) into lasting rhythms that stick. 👉 Join me inside the Clutter Cure Club (https://www.katyjoywells.com/clutter-cure-club)
Join the Ready, Set, Simplify NewsletterOver 35,000 women read it weekly for clutter-busting tips, mindset support, and doable steps to simplify your home. 👉 Sign up here (https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify)
Come Say Hi on InstagramReal-life simplicity, behind-the-scenes, and encouragement. @katyjoywells
Interested in Working with Me 1:1? Join the Inner Circle WaitlistIf you're thinking, "I know what to do, I just can't seem to follow through," or clutter keeps coming back no matter how much you reset—this is your next step. The Inner Circle opens once a year, and waitlisters get first access.
Applications open mid-December. 👉 Join the waitlist (https://www.katyjoywells.com/innercircle)
Coming Up Next WeekDon't miss our next episode, where I share more holiday-season support, simple home resets, and practical encouragement to help you stay grounded and peaceful in a full season.
Ready, Set, Simplify! 💛
📚 PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK!
Making Home Your Happy Place: The Real Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm releases February 17th!
Pre-order now and receive exclusive bonus goodies—simple, supportive tools you can apply right away through the holiday season and beyond!
🎯 TAKE THE FREE QUIZ!
Discover your unique Decluttering Style and get personalized tips that actually work for YOU.
👉 Take the Decluttering Style Quiz
In today's bonus episode, we're talking about something nearly every woman struggles with this time of year—when your home suddenly feels loud, chaotic, and like everything has spiraled… fast. I'm breaking down the difference between expected mess and actual clutter, why mixing them up keeps you stuck in shame, and how a simple 10-minute reset can pull you out of overwhelm and bring your nervous system back online.
I'm sharing the story of a client who texted me feeling defeated after dropping her Target bags on the floor and realizing every surface in her home felt like it was screaming at her. Her experience is so common—and the shift she made is one I want every woman to have during this busy, full season.
If your home has started behaving like a runaway train, this episode will help you tap the brakes with compassion, clarity, and small steps that actually work.
What You'll Learn-
Why expected mess is not the same thing as clutter—and why the distinction matters
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The common mental spiral ("I failed… it always comes back… I'm bad at this") and how to interrupt it
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The 10-minute reset that gives your brain an instant sense of calm
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How visible surfaces act as your home's "dashboard" for your nervous system
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What research says about clutter, cortisol, and working memory
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How to shrink mental load simply by putting things back where they belong
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Why one small clear zone can change your entire emotional state
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How resets create "visual islands of calm" during the busiest weeks of the year
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The mindset shift that keeps your home from getting as loud in the first place
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Expected mess is normal. It's a byproduct of being alive—not a moral failure.
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Clutter is different. It's the stuff no longer serving you, and treating expected mess like clutter keeps you overwhelmed.
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Your brain craves order. Even one cleared surface sends a safety signal that lowers stress.
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You don't need a marathon. Two minutes or even 30 seconds of returning items to their homes can shift everything.
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Good enough is the goal. Your home doesn't need to look like a Pottery Barn ad to support you well.
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Consistency > intensity. The more you declutter and reset, the quieter your home feels day-to-day.
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You're not missing discipline—you're missing the right rhythm and brain-friendly strategy.
"One clear section of your counter is truly all it takes. When you reset your space, you reset your nervous system—and your home stops feeling like a runaway train."
— Katy Wells
Connect with Katy & Resources Join Clutter Cure ClubWant to create a home that feels light, peaceful, and aligned with real life? Inside CCC, we turn tiny shifts (like today's reset) into lasting rhythms that stick. 👉 Join me inside the Clutter Cure Club (https://www.katyjoywells.com/clutter-cure-club)
Join the Ready, Set, Simplify NewsletterOver 35,000 women read it weekly for clutter-busting tips, mindset support, and doable steps to simplify your home. 👉 Sign up here (https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify)
Come Say Hi on InstagramReal-life simplicity, behind-the-scenes, and encouragement. @katyjoywells
Interested in Working with Me 1:1? Join the Inner Circle WaitlistIf you're thinking, "I know what to do, I just can't seem to follow through," or clutter keeps coming back no matter how much you reset—this is your next step. The Inner Circle opens once a year, and waitlisters get first access.
Applications open mid-December. 👉 Join the waitlist (https://www.katyjoywells.com/innercircle)
Coming Up This WeekDon't miss Wednesday's episode with my husband, Andrew, where we talk about what our mold crisis taught us about clutter, comfort, and letting go. A powerful conversation you won't want to miss.
Ready, Set, Simplify! 💛
📚 PRE-ORDER MY NEW BOOK!
Making Home Your Happy Place: The Real Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm releases February 17th!
Pre-order now and receive exclusive bonus goodies—simple, supportive tools you can apply right away through the holiday season and beyond!
🎯 TAKE THE FREE QUIZ!
Discover your unique Decluttering Style and get personalized tips that actually work for YOU.
👉 Take the Decluttering Style Quiz
In this special episode, I'm sharing the deeply personal story behind writing my first book—from an unexpected moment in my laundry room where I felt called to write, to the journey of trusting the process through prayer, connection, and even a hurricane. I'm opening up about how God meets us in ordinary moments, why clutter is rarely just about the stuff, and the heart behind my holistic decluttering method that honors your whole self.
What You'll Learn
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The laundry room moment that sparked the idea for this book
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Why "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called" became myguiding principle
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The three pillars of my holistic decluttering method: Root Awareness, Empowered Action, and Sustainable Momentum
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An introduction to the four clutter types: Superficial, Scarcity, Sentimental, and Identity clutter
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Why this book is about freedom—from shame, overwhelm, and unrealistic expectations
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What to expect from bonus December episodes with quick wins for the holiday season
Key Takeaways
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Your home doesn't have to be perfect to support you—it just has to be good enough to hold you and your family well.
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Clutter is rarely just about the stuff—it's the stories, emotions, beliefs, and pressures wrapped around it.
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You can declutter your home over and over, but until you understand yourself, the clutter and overwhelm will keep coming back.
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Different clutter types need different toolkits—one size does not fit all.
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We are often met by God in the middle of ordinary life, and callings can show up in spaces where we don't expect.
The Four Clutter Types (From the Book)
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Superficial Clutter: Surface piles that reappear the moment life speeds up
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Scarcity Clutter: "Just in case" items that feel safe but can be suffocating
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Sentimental Clutter: Memory-filled treasures that are hard to let go
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Identity Clutter: Items tied to past, future, or aspirational versions of ourselves
Quotable Moment
"I wasn't failing the solutions. They were failing me. Nothing was wrong with me, and nothing's wrong with you either. You just need a compassionate, real life approach that honors who you are and the life you're living."
— Katy Wells
Connect with Katy & Resources
Join Clutter Cure Club
Want to create a home that feels light, peaceful, and aligned with what truly matters? Inside CCC, we turn powerful mindset shifts (like today's episode) into small, doable changes that last.
👉 Join me inside the Clutter Cure Club
Join the Ready, Set, Simplify Newsletter
Over 35,000 women read it weekly for clutter-busting tips, tiny mindset shifts, and practical steps to simplify your home and your life.
Come Say Hi on Instagram
Behind-the-scenes and real-life simplicity. @katyjoywells
Coming Up in December
Look out for bonus Monday episodes throughout December with super actionable quick wins—what to do with unwanted stuff, simple resets to make your home feel lighter instantly, and more. Hit follow or subscribe so you don't miss them!
Ready, Set, Simplify! 💛
You can declutter every drawer, color-code every pantry shelf, and label every bin… but if your nervous system braces every time your in-laws walk through the door, your home will never truly feel peaceful.
In today's powerful conversation, clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Tracy Dalgleish returns to the show to unpack one of the most common sources of emotional clutter and holiday stress: in-law dynamics — especially between daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law.
If you've ever felt squeezed between your partner and their parent, felt like you were "keeping the peace" at the cost of your own wellbeing, or wondered why family visits leave you emotionally wiped… this episode will bring so much clarity, permission, and grounding.
Dr. Tracy breaks down the family patterns we inherit, the roles we unconsciously step into, why your nervous system reacts the way it does, and her powerful VAULT Method that helps couples set healthier boundaries together with compassion, not conflict.
Grab your tea (or your cold Americano 😉) — this one is validating, eye-opening, and deeply empowering.
💡 You'll Learn:1️⃣ Why your nervous system reacts to family the way it does (and why in-law interactions can hijack your fight/flight/fawn response)
2️⃣ The hidden family patterns you bring into your marriage — and how they shape your expectations, emotional triggers, and boundaries.
3️⃣ The most common mistakes couples make when dealing with in-laws (like attacking the mother-in-law instead of asking for what you need)
4️⃣ Why your partner may struggle to set boundaries with their parent — and why it's not because they don't care about you.
5️⃣ A deep dive into Dr. Tracy's VAULT Method:
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V — Values: Build a united foundation as a couple
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A — Aspirations: Align on what you want your family life to actually look like
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U — Understanding Your Triangle: Recognize the dynamics you're pulled into
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L — Limits & Boundaries: Create boundaries as a united front
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T — Take Action: Put your plan into practice with clarity and compassion
6️⃣ How to respond when a boundary isn't respected (hint: it's not about arguing — it's about empathy + holding the line)
7️⃣ What to do when your mother-in-law brings clutter into your home — childhood trophies, boxes of stuff, unwanted gifts… all of it.
🎯 If You're Feeling Emotionally Cluttered…This episode pairs beautifully with my DASH Method for physical clutter. If your home feels heavy and you want guided support applying DASH step-by-step:
👉 Join Clutter Cure Club (CCC) for the DASH Masterclass + monthly coaching https://www.katyjoywells.com/cluttercureclub-page
If this episode made you feel seen or validated (and I bet it did), share it with a friend who's navigating tough family dynamics — especially with the holidays approaching.
If you haven't yet, hit Follow and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review. It helps more women find calm, clarity, and connection through the show.
Ever look around your house and think, "How did it get this bad?" You're not failing at being an adult, friend — you're just human.
In this episode of The Maximized Minimalist Podcast, we're walking through my signature method, The DASH Framework, to help you figure out exactly what's behind your clutter (and what to do about it).
You'll learn how to tell whether you're dealing with everyday mess, deeper clutter, or a system that simply needs tweaking, so you can stop spinning your wheels and finally create a home that feels light, manageable, and peaceful again.
If you've ever tried to organize clutter, declutter what wasn't actually clutter, or wondered why the chaos keeps coming back, this episode will be a game-changer.
💡 You'll Learn:- How to tell the difference between "expected mess" and true clutter — and why each needs a totally different solution.
- Why mess and clutter raise stress hormones (yes, really) and how to lower that mental load that's keeping you reactive.
- What to do when your home feels overwhelming — without starting from scratch or burning it all down.
- The DASH Method explained and how to use it anytime your home starts spiraling.
- How to know which step to focus on next so you don't waste time, energy, or money solving the wrong problem.
Want the full walkthrough? 👉 Get the DASH Step-by-Step Masterclass inside Clutter Cure Club: (https://www.katyjoywells.com/cluttercureclub-page837548)
🧺 Real-Life ExamplesInside Clutter Cure Club, members are using DASH to find calm again:
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Megan realized her family room chaos wasn't clutter — her toy system just needed an update.
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Jen added a catch-all basket for mail and papers, instantly clearing her counters.
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Tanya turned her nightly reset from resentment to relaxation with a cup of tea and her favorite playlist.
Each woman solved a different kind of "mess," but the outcome was the same: peace, not perfection.
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- Join Clutter Cure ClubWant to create a home that feels light, peaceful, and aligned with what truly matters? Inside CCC, we turn powerful mindset shifts (like today's episode) into small, doable changes that last. 👉 Join me inside the Clutter Cure Club (https://www.katyjoywells.com/cluttercureclub-page837548)
- Join the Ready, Set, Simplify Newsletter Over 35,000 women read it weekly for clutter-busting tips, tiny mindset shifts, and practical steps to simplify your home and your life. 👉 Sign up here (https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify)
- Come Say Hi on Instagram Behind-the-scenes and real-life simplicity. @katyjoywells
If this episode helped you breathe a little deeper (literally and figuratively), share it with a friend who's drowning in the mess right now.
And if you haven't yet — hit Follow and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review. It helps other women find the show and join our community of Simplifiers who are trading perfection for peace.