Podcast
Wannabe Clutter Free | Declutter, Simplify, Find Freedom
Hosted by Deanna Yates | Professional Organizer, Decluttering Coach, Wannabe Minimalist · EN
Ready to finally calm the overwhelm and create a home and life you actually enjoy? The Wannabe Clutter Free podcast is here to help you clear the clutter, simplify your routines, and find freedom in the life you’re building.
I’m Deanna Yates, a busy mom who knows what it’s like to juggle family, career, and the never-ending piles of stuff. From selling 80% of what we owned to travel with our toddler, to managing the daily chaos of running a home with a school-aged kid, I’ve learned that living with less isn’t about deprivation. It’s about creating more space, more peace, and more joy.
Each week, I share real-life stories, simple decluttering strategies, and mindset shifts that make it easier to let go of what’s weighing you down. You’ll also hear from inspiring guests who share practical tips and fresh perspectives on minimalism, home organization, intentional living, and building habits that last.
If you’re tired of feeling buried in clutter and crave a home that feels calm, welcoming, and easy to manage, this show is for you. It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress, freedom, and finding space for what truly matters to you.
31episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why Your Schedule Will Never Work Until You Fix Your Home with Lori Oberbroeckling (Ep 311)
1w ago00:41:09Tap to summarizeTime management expert and Secrets of Supermom host Lori Oberbroeckling joins Deanna to talk about why energy runs out before time does, how clutter quietly sabotages your best-laid plans, and the small routine changes that actually stick. **************** RESOURCES Snag your ticket to Supermom Summer Camp Get the transcripts and more at wannabeclutterfree.com/311 Connect with Lori: Secrets of Supermom Website Secrets of Supermom Instagram Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on: Instagram Website Effortless Home: DAILY Edition - 5 Steps to Run Your Home Like Magic **************** You bought the planner. You made the schedule. You had a whole plan. And then a super busy day happened. Sound familiar? This week Deanna sits down with Lori Oberbroeckling, a working mom of four, corporate project management leader, and host of the Secrets of Supermom Show. Lori has spent years helping busy, ambitious moms figure out why their best systems keep falling apart. Spoiler: it is almost never the plan. In this episode, Lori introduces her framework of energy bleeds, energy blocks, and energy boosts, and explains why your home environment plays a much bigger role in your daily productivity than most time management advice will ever admit. When your physical space is draining you before you even start your to-do list, even a perfect schedule cannot save you. Lori also shares the moment she and Deanna both recognized in themselves: we think we need a better planner, when really we need more energy boosts built into our days first. If you have ever felt like you are doing all the right things and still ending every day depleted, this episode is going to reframe everything. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Why a cluttered, chaotic home is an energy bleed that quietly tanks your whole day How to do a simple time and energy audit to figure out where your energy is actually going What to do when you hate a task but still have to do it Why routines fall apart and the one question to ask before you try to build one The small change that helped Lori's family of six stop tripping over shoes How to get your family actually on board with new home routines TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction to Lori Oberbroeckling 03:05 Why home environment matters to your schedule 08:25 Energy bleeds, blocks, and boosts explained 10:01 What to do when you have to do an energy bleed task 16:18 How to find your energy boosts when you do not know what they are 20:24 Flying trapeze and other energy boost revelations 21:32 Why routines fall apart and how to build ones that stick 24:11 Small changes that create big impact for the whole family 26:58 Getting family buy-in with carrots, not sticks 29:28 Why the planner is not the problem 32:27 Where to start when everything feels out of control 34:26 Rapid fire: what clutter free means, what is making Lori happy, and one takeaway **************** Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com **************** We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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How to Declutter Thousands of Photos Without Losing Your Mind (Wannabe Clutter Free Ep 310)
2w ago00:32:52Tap to summarizeDigital clutter doesn’t feel as obvious as a cluttered closet. But if you’ve ever had that pit-in-your-stomach moment of not being able to find a photo that matters, you know this isn’t small. In this episode I’m breaking down the three phases of getting your photos in order (Declutter, Organize, Maintain), the two specific starting points that build momentum without making any hard decisions, and the triple backup system that means you’ll never lose a photo again. In this episode you’ll learn: Why photo clutter is an emotional problem, not a storage problem The three-phase framework: Declutter, Organize, Maintain The burst photos trick that eliminates hundreds of photos in 20 minutes The calendar method for going through your entire catalog one day at a time The triple backup system that keeps your photos safe forever Resources mentioned: Snag Photo Freedom Formula ($37) Instagram @WannabeClutterFree Episode 304: The 15-Minute Declutter Method This episode is Part 5 of a series. Start with Episode 304 if you haven’t already. Next episode: The Paper Clutter System That Took Me From 6 Piles to Zero If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference. TIMESTAMPS 02:03 The Invisible Weight of Digital Clutter 04:56 Understanding the Emotional Impact of Photo Clutter' 07:30 Framework for Organizing Photos 09:54 Three Phases of Photo Management 12:31 Practical Tips for Decluttering Photos 15:41 Maintaining Your Photo Organization 18:24 Quick Wins for Photo Organization 20:45The Calendar Method for Photo Management Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The Real Reason Your Kids Aren't Helping Around the House (And How to Fix It) with Katie Kimball (Ep 309)
3w ago00:54:55Tap to summarizeYour kids are more capable than you think. Katie Kimball, creator of Kids Cook Real Food and founder of the LifeSkillsNow summer camp, shares the practical systems that take kids from passengers to contributors -- and why cooking is the gateway to all of it. **************** RESOURCES Snag your ticket to the FREE #LifeSkillsNow Family Workshops Get the transcripts and more at wannabeclutterfree.com/309 Connect with Katie: Raising Healthy Families Website Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on: Instagram Website Effortless Home: Run your home in less than 20 minutes a day **************** What if the key to a calmer home (and a lighter mental load) was already walking around your house asking for snacks? In this episode, Deanna Yates sits down with Katie Kimball of Raising Healthy Families, a former classroom teacher, two-time TEDx speaker, and mom of four. Katie created Kids Cook Real Food (named the best online cooking class for kids by the Wall Street Journal) and runs LifeSkillsNow, a virtual summer camp that teaches kids everything from cooking and budgeting to entrepreneurship and mending their own clothes. This conversation is all about kids as contributors, not passengers. Katie shares how her teaching background shaped the way she thinks about agency, choice, and raising the bar for what kids can actually do. She talks through the moment she realized her mental and physical load didn't have to fall entirely on her, the summer she intentionally taught her kids to cook, and the chore system her family is still using ten years later. You'll also hear why Katie calls cooking the gateway life skill, how the skills gap happened across generations, and the three-part framework she uses to help any parent hand something off to their kid in a way that actually sticks. If you have ever stood in your kitchen thinking it would be faster to just do it yourself, this episode is for you. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: The summer everything changed: how Katie went from "forgetting the faces of the children she was feeding" to building a family system that actually works What her classroom teaching taught her about agency, choice, and why raising the bar is always a good idea Why teenagers need even more autonomy than young kids -- and how she built Teens Cook Real Food around that The story of her 14-year-old vacuuming on a day off with no one asking him to Cooking as the gateway life skill: why starting in the kitchen spills over into everything else The three-part framework for handing something off to your kid: teach the skill, find the motivation, set the expectation TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 -- Katie's Parenting and Cooking Journey 04:37 -- What Teaching Taught Her About How Kids Learn 07:31 -- Raising the Bar: Kids Are More Capable Than We Think 10:33 -- Teaching Teens: Why Choice Is Everything 13:14 -- Cooking as a Pathway to Empathy 19:20 -- The Long Game: What It Looks Like When It Works 22:27 -- The Life Skills Gap: What Kids Are Missing 30:05 -- Values, Vertical Transmission, and Family Culture 32:36 -- Cooking Is the Gateway Life Skill 36:50 -- LifeSkillsNow Summer Camp and Where to Start **************** Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com **************** We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The Nightly 10-Minute Declutter Routine Every Busy Mom Needs (Ep 308)
May 600:24:47Tap to summarizeYou can declutter your entire home and still end up right back where you started. I know because I’ve lived it. This episode is the piece that makes everything permanent. I’m teaching you the closing shift, the exit bin, and why stacking habits beats scheduling them every time. In this episode you’ll learn: Why I went from owning almost nothing to filling up a house, and what finally broke the cycle The restaurant-inspired closing shift my family does every night What the Lightning Tidy is and how to make it fun for your whole family Why the one-in-one-out rule doesn’t work (and what to do instead) The habit stacking trick that makes routines stick forever Resources mentioned: Effortless Home Course ($27) Instagram @WannabeClutterFree Episode 304: The 15-Minute Declutter Method Episode 305: The Joy Anchor Method Episode 306: The Motivation Cliff If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Clutter-Free Living 02:18 The Journey to Minimalism 04:45 Establishing a Daily Routine 07:13 The Closing Shift Explained 09:44 The Exit Bin Strategy 12:28 Habit Stacking for Success 14:23 The Invisible Weight of Clutter 21:03 Looking Ahead: Future Topics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The Science of Why Your Spaces Shape You (And How to Take Back Control) with Leidy Klotz | Ep. 307
Apr 2901:06:17Tap to summarizeBehavioral scientist Leidy Klotz reveals how your home feeds or starves three core psychological needs, why clutter blocks connection, and how to make your spaces actually work for your family. **************** RESOURCES Get the transcripts and more at wannabeclutterfree.com/307 Connect with Leidy: In a Good Place by Leidy Klotz: Available wherever you get your books Subtract by Leidy Klotz Leidy's website: leidyklotz.com Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on: Instagram Website Effortless Home: Run your home in less than 20 minutes a day **************** What if the reason you feel stuck, distracted, or disconnected at home has less to do with your habits and more to do with your spaces? Leidy Klotz, an engineering professor at the University of Virginia, is the author of Subtract and his brand-new book In a Good Place. He has spent over a decade studying the relationship between our physical environments and our psychological well-being, and today he is breaking it all down for us. This conversation changed how I think about my home. We are not just talking about decluttering (although we do get into that). We are talking about why our spaces either feed or starve our deepest needs, and what we can do about it. In this episode you will learn: The three core psychological needs your home either supports or works against How clutter literally gets between you and the people you love Why you use your spaces the same way every day (and a simple research-backed way to break out of it) The renovation trap: when updating your home actually makes it less meaningful How to involve your kids in decisions about your home (and why it changes everything) The beautiful story of Josie's Way and what it teaches us about legacy and space Content note: Leidy shares openly about his daughter Josie, who passed away unexpectedly at four years old. Her story is woven throughout this conversation and is both heartbreaking and deeply beautiful. Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction and Leidy's background 05:40 The intersection of environment and behavior 11:24 The three core psychological needs: agency, growth, and connection 17:25 Agency and connection in the home (plus tips for renters) 20:30 How clutter literally blocks connection 26:50 Behavioral changes through environmental cues 32:23 The family that moved dinner outside 36:06 Functional fixedness: why adults are worse at this than kids 40:42 Nostalgia, the renovation trap, and protecting what matters 50:57 Josie's Way: remembering through spaces and stories **************** Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com **************** We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Why You Quit Decluttering After One Week and 3 Tools to Fix It | Wannabe Clutter Free Ep. 306
Apr 2200:28:45Tap to summarizeYou started decluttering. It felt amazing. And then somewhere around day 7, your house felt just as cluttered as when you started, even though you know you did the work. That moment has a name. I call it the motivation cliff, and in this episode I'm explaining exactly why it happens and what to do about it. In this episode you'll learn: What the recalibration dip is and why your brain makes progress invisible The one metric that your brain can't trick you on How to make decluttering enjoyable enough to actually sustain The identity shift that turns you from a starter into a finisher Why motivation follows action, not the other way around This episode is Part 3 of a series. Start with Episode 304 (the 15-minute declutter method) and Episode 305 (the Joy Anchor Method for sentimental items) if you haven't already. Comment HOME on my latest Instagram post (@wannabeclutterfree) and I'll send you the link to Effortless Home. Resources mentioned: Effortless Home 19 for $19 Ultimate Decluttering Bundle (includes the 500 Item Challenge tracker) Decluttering Playlist on Spotify Episode 304: The 15-Minute Declutter Method Episode 305: The Joy Anchor Method If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Why the decluttering quit day hits around day 7 01:16 What the motivation cliff is and how to recognize it 04:01 The recalibration dip explained 08:37 Tool 1: Count items out the door, not how your home looks 13:04 Tool 2: Joy during the process, not after it 19:11 Tool 3: Finish what you start, even if it’s small 24:04 How Effortless Home and the 500 Item Challenge tracker can help 28:35 What’s coming next in the series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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How to Declutter Sentimental Items Without Guilt (The Joy Anchor Method) Ep 305
Apr 1500:36:02Tap to summarizeIf you’ve ever held onto something not because you need it but because of what it means to you, this episode is for you. I’m teaching you the Joy Anchor Method, a simple way to keep what matters and let go of what’s weighing you down. What you’ll learn: the reframe that makes it easier to know what sentimental items to keep the step-by-step method for handling sentimental collections How to use the Photo Bridge for items you can’t keep but can’t release A simple question I asked my client to help her get unstuck Comment PHOTOS on my latest Instagram post (@wannabeclutterfree) to get the link to Photo Freedom Formula. Next episode: The Motivation Cliff – Why You Quit Decluttering at Day 7 (And How to Not) Resources mentioned: Photo Freedom Formula Course Instagram @WannabeClutterFree If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The Emotional Weight of Sentimental Clutter 03:01 Understanding the Joy Anchor Method 10:34 Implementing the Joy Anchor Method 21:30 Creating a Photo Bridge for Memories 31:34 Navigating the Motivation Cliff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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How to Declutter When You Don't Know Where to Start (15-Minute Method) Ep 304
Apr 800:25:20Tap to summarizeIf you’ve ever said “I want to declutter but I don’t know where to start,” this episode is your answer. I’m breaking down the sequencing mistake that makes decluttering feel impossible, the 15-minute pulse check method you can use in any room today, and a reframe that changed how I think about letting go. Plus, I’ll tell you about Effortless Home, my room-by-room system for busy families who want a clutter free home without the weekend overhaul. What you’ll learn: Why starting with the hardest room is the #1 reason people quit The 15-minute pulse check method (three categories, one timer, done) How to reframe “letting go” so it feels like a gain, not a loss The room-by-room system inside Effortless Home Next episode: How to Declutter Sentimental Items Without Guilt (The Joy Anchor Method) Resources mentioned: Effortless Home Course ($27) Instagram @WannabeClutterFree If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference. TIMESTAMPS 00:00: Introduction to Decluttering 00:23: Identifying the Problem - "You have a sequencing problem." 01:41: Where most people go wrong with decluttering 4:29: Step One - Where to Start for Decluttering Success 07:23: Step Two - 15 Minute Pulse Check 08:51: The Sorting Categories to Get You Moving Quickly 15:41: The Mindset Shift that Flips Decluttering Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Why Routines Are the Secret to Making Room for Joy (Ep 303)
Apr 100:36:52Tap to summarizeDo you feel like you're constantly managing your home instead of enjoying it? Like no matter how much you declutter, the chaos just keeps coming back? In this solo episode, Deanna breaks down why routines are the missing piece and how building the right ones can completely change the way your home feels. Resources mentioned: Effortless Home Course ($27): comment HOME on any Instagram post at @WannabeClutterFree and Deanna will send the link straight to your DMs, or grab it in the show notes Finish by Jon Acuff Join the email list to be the first to hear about something exciting coming soon Links: Effortless Home Course Join the Email List Instagram @WannabeClutterFree In this episode you'll learn: Why decluttering without routines is like mopping the floor with dirty water The real reason your mental energy is gone by 4pm (hint: it's not laziness) Why most routines fail on day two and what Jon Acuff calls "the day after perfect" The STICK framework: five steps to building routines that actually last Why fewer things in your home makes your routines easier to stick to If this episode resonated with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you have two minutes, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts makes a real difference. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction 02:15 — Why decluttering without routines doesn't work 05:00 — Decision fatigue and why your brain is exhausted by 4pm 09:30 — Jon Acuff's "the day after perfect" and why day two is the danger zone 13:00 — The STICK framework: five steps to routines that last 20:00 — Why decluttering and routines work together 22:30 — Effortless Home + how to get the link 24:00 — Something exciting is coming soon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Discover the Secrets to an Organized and Joyful Home with Ea Fuqua and Meg DeLong (Ep 302)
Mar 2501:07:20Tap to summarizeProfessional organizers and sisters Meg DeLong and Ea Fuqua share practical, sustainable strategies for organizing your home based on function and intention rather than perfection. Discover how to create spaces that support your lifestyle and embrace real-life solutions without pressure. **************** RESOURCES Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/302 Tidy Up Book on Amazon IKEA Storage Solutions Connect with Meg & Ea: The Tidy Home Nashville Instagram Facebook Pinterest TikTok Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on: Instagram Website Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room **************** What does it actually look like when a professional organizer walks through your front door for the first time? Spoiler: it probably doesn't look like what you're imagining — and it definitely doesn't require a Pinterest-perfect pantry. Meg DeLong and Ea Fuqua are sisters and the founders of The Tidy Home Nashville. In nearly seven years of professional organizing, they've seen it all. And their message? Refreshingly real. Function first. Perfection never. And for the love of all things tidy, stop organizing your fridge. They also just released their first book, Tidying Up, and today they're breaking it all down for us. In this episode, you'll learn: What actually happens during a first consultation (everyone hides stuff in closets, yes, everyone) Why organization has to fit how you actually live, not how you think you should live The fridge organizing myth and why they're unapologetically anti-fridge How to create systems that grow and shift with your family over time Why the junk drawer is the best place to start (every. single. time.) What Tidying Up is really for (hint: it's not for people who already have it together) How to get your whole household on board without becoming the organization police Their evolution from perfection → function → intentionality, and what that means for your home Time Stamps: 00:00 - Meet Meg & Ea: sisters, professional organizers, and the story behind The Tidy Home Nashville 01:33 - What a first consultation actually looks like (and why you don't need to pre-clean) 09:20 - Function over pretty: building systems that fit how you actually live 22:30 - Why big decluttering sessions backfire — and what to do instead 32:07 - Their new book Tidying Up: room-by-room, no perfection required 44:30 - The anti-fridge stance + intentional living as an organizing philosophy 55:55 - Getting the whole family on board + where to find Meg & Ea **************** Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com **************** We’d love to hear how you’re applying the strategies discussed in this episode. Share your stories and tips with us on social media (@wannabeclutterfree). Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes designed to make your busy life a bit easier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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