• Prep Now, Breathe Later: Our Next 5 Stress-Cutters for the Holidays - Part 2
    Oct 28 2025

    In Part 2 of Kathi's Stress‑Less Holidays series, the creative and clever Tenneil Register joins Kathi as they get practical about creating a peaceful, people‑loving holiday—without running yourself ragged.

    Listeners will learn:

    • How to communicate boundaries early (and kindly)

    • Why writing your boundaries down reduces drama

    • How a simple printed agenda can keep a blended‑family gathering calm

    • Pre‑decluttering guest spaces to avoid stash‑and‑dash panic

    • Easy guest‑room touches that feel welcoming (without staging a hotel)

    • The power of starting a donation box now so there’s room for people, presents, and peace.

    You’ll hear smart ideas for thrifted gifting, family‑first traditions (hello, UNO and naps), and planning charitable giving in advance so it comes from joy, not guilt. If you want a holiday that’s calmer, kinder, and centered on what matters most, this episode offers doable steps you can start today.

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    24 mins
  • Prep Now, Breathe Later: Our first 5 Stress-Cutters for the Holidays
    Oct 21 2025

    In this Part 1 holiday prep episode, Kathi Lipp and the always creative Tenneil Register share practical, low‑energy strategies to help listeners enjoy a calmer, more meaningful season. If you’re short on time, money, or emotional bandwidth, start here. You’ll learn how to declutter before decorating (and why a single focal point may be all you need), simple ways to streamline gift giving for big families, how to audit your calendar for joy instead of obligation, and how to pre‑plan holiday meals that won’t leave you buried in dishes. Tenneil also shares her hospitality bin idea so you’re always ready for guests without last‑minute scrambling. Listen in for doable steps you can take now to reduce December stress and increase December joy.

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    33 mins
  • Declutter for the Hard Season: What to Tackle When Your Energy is Low
    Oct 14 2025

    In this candid Clutter Free Academy episode, Kathi and Roger share how a sudden shift to long COVID reshaped their energy, rhythms, and home—and the simple, grace-filled systems helping them keep life peaceful and clutter free. Listeners will learn:

    • How to reframe success when your “plate” gets smaller and energy is limited

    • The “energy budget” mindset that helps you spend your effort where it matters

    • Meal strategies that don’t require chef-level energy (hello, rotisserie chicken + prepared foods)

    • Easy home adaptations that save steps: snack stations, overbed tables, and a shower stool

    • The emotional shift from guilt to acceptance—and how gratitude lightens the load

    • Why decluttering brings immediate peace in a tough season

    • How to reset holiday expectations and ask for help without shame

    If you’re navigating illness, caregiving, burnout, or just a low-energy chapter, this episode will help you simplify plans, protect your energy, and find beauty in a smaller, saner life—one small doable step at a time.

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    30 mins
  • Before and After That Sticks: Outsmart Your Future Self with the Junk Drawer Challenge
    Oct 7 2025

    In this Clutter Free Academy episode, Kathi Lipp and Tonya Kubo invite listeners into a simple, quick-win challenge: the junk drawer. Using the Ulysses rule (pre-commitment plus accountability), they guide you to post a before photo in the Clutter Free Academy Facebook group, do short sessions throughout the week, and share your after on Friday—so you can finally get that satisfying progress you can see.

    Listeners will learn:

    • Why the junk drawer is the perfect place to start (everyone has one, and it’s a fast win)

    • How before-and-after photos retrain your brain to notice progress

    • Easy systems to keep it tidy: involving zip top bags, Sharpie marker and Post-it notes

    • How to ‘outsmart your future self’ with simple habit swaps (try a morning reset if evening resets fail) and pre-commitment strategies that hold steady when life gets stormy.

    Jump into the community challenge, get accountability, and walk away with a drawer that finally works for your real life.

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    12 mins
  • Compassion, Not Willpower: Build Daily Rhythms That Carry You to Clutter-Free
    Sep 30 2025
    In this episode of Clutter Free Academy, Kathi Lipp and co-host Tonya Kubo unpack the Ulysses rule—making a decision in a calm moment to protect your tired future self—and apply it to everyday decluttering. If you’ve ever believed your future self will “feel like it later,” this conversation is your gentle wake-up call. Kathi shares real-life “tie yourself to the mast” strategies: put your keys in the lunch bag so you don’t forget it, lay clothes on the bed so they must be put away before sleep, schedule regular donation pickups to create a decluttering deadline, and use grocery pickup, batch cooking, and a small rice cooker to simplify meals and reduce decision fatigue. Tonya adds her own accountability and evening wind-down moves that make mornings smoother for the whole family. Listeners are invited into an easy win: the Junk Drawer Challenge. Post your junk drawer “before” in Clutter Free Academy today and your “after” by Friday. Short, compassionate systems—not willpower—are what keep homes peaceful and clutter-free. Join the community for accountability at kathi.link/CFA.
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    25 mins
  • 688 - Declutter Your Books in 15 Minutes a Shelf: Forever Shelf vs Flow Shelf for a Peaceful Library
    Sep 23 2025

    If your books are managing you (not the other way around), this episode is your 15‑minute reset. Kathi Lipp walks you through a simple, shelf‑by‑shelf plan to create a peaceful, findable home library you’ll actually use—without losing the joy of reading. Listeners will learn:

    • The MEET method to make your library pay you back (Money, Energy, Emotional bandwidth, and Time) • Kathi’s three zero‑guilt questions to decide what stays and what goes • Forever Shelf vs Flow Shelf: two simple zones that make your system maintainable • Why capacity matters (and why you don’t need more shelves) • How to stop “buying to become” and end guilt stacks • Practical upkeep: one‑in‑one‑out, return stations, and exit strategies (little libraries, friends, donations) • Where to house TBR (hint: it’s not your nightstand!)

    Plus, Kathi Lipp shares a favorite Forever Shelf pick and introduces "Jesus Was," a thoughtful, conversation‑starting book she endorsed by her dear friend Susy Flory—perfect for souls that need a gentle reset. Press play and take back your shelves in the next 15 minutes.

    Find this episodes full show notes and resources here.

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    31 mins
  • 687 - What’s Lurking Under Your Bed? Declutter the Forgotten Zone for Good
    Sep 16 2025

    The space under your bed might be the most neglected—and mysterious—storage zone in your home. In this quick, practical episode, Kathi Lipp and Tonya Kubo equip you with simple steps to declutter the hidden chaos beneath your bed. You’ll learn the best way to tackle dust, discover what actually belongs in this space (and what definitely doesn’t), and get favorite solutions for easy, clutter-free storage—even if you’re short on closet space! Whether you struggle with allergies, have kids who love hiding treasures under the bed, or just want to make the most of every inch in your home, this episode is loaded with relatable ideas and proven tips. Listen in, laugh along, and finally say goodbye to that under-bed pit of mystery—for good!

    This episode’s full show notes and resources can be found here.

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    14 mins
  • 686 - Declutter Once and For All: Why Your Home’s Chaos Keeps Sneaking Back
    Sep 9 2025

    Are you tired of feeling like you’re living on an endless treadmill of tidying up, only to have chaos sneak right back in? This week on the Clutter Free Podcast, Kathi dives deep into the secret reason behind recurring clutter—and why baskets and labels alone aren’t the fix your soul is craving. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or ashamed of your mess, you’re not alone. Tune in for practical, faith-filled strategies that break the cycle for good, plus real talk on battling perfectionism, overcoming guilt, and creating a peaceful haven without losing your mind or your faith. Whether you’re managing family clutter or just wondering if you’ll ever find the bottom of the laundry pile, this episode will inspire you to reclaim your home, your peace, and your sense of possibility. Grab your coffee (and maybe a basket or two), and let’s start decluttering for good—together!

    View this episode’s full show notes and resources here.

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    21 mins