Minimalist Moms Podcast | Purposeful Life & Parenting Tips

What if the key to better health isn’t found in a pill bottle - but in community, creativity, and connection? Today I’m joined by author and researcher Julia Hotz to talk about her new book, The Connection Cure, where she uncovers how movement, nature, art, service, and belonging can transform our well-being.From dementia care farms in Norway to social prescribing programs around the world, Julia shares powerful, real-life stories of how people are healing through human connection. We dive into how prescribing joy, purpose, and relationships could radically shift how we think about healthcare.Links Discussed in This Episode |Book: Outlive by Peter AttiaBook: The Nature Fix by Florence WilliamsBook: Heartbreak by Florence WilliamsBook: Your Brain on Art: How Art Transform Us by Ivy RossBook: Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek MurthyBook: The Power of Fun by Catherine PriceConnect with Julia:WebsiteBook: The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and BelongingInstagramAbout Julia |Julia Hotz is a solutions focused journalist based in New York. Her stories have appeared in The New York Times, WIRED, Scientific American, The Boston Globe, Time, and more. She helps other journalists report on the big new ideas changing the world at the Solutions Journalism Network. For her insights on social prescribing, she has been invited to advise health and community organizations, teach in medical schools, deliver talks at TEDx, university symposiums, and international conferences, and write editorials for publications including The Wall Street Journal, Slate, and more. She proudly serves on the board of Walk with a Doc, and as an advisor to Social Prescribing USA.Episode Sponsors |The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!Enjoy the Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity. You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/MINIMALIST* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Boll & Branch: http://bollandbranch.com/minimalist* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today’s guest says that when we talk about addiction, we often focus on the individual but rarely on the people standing right beside them.The parents, the spouses, the friends… who so deeply want to help, but often feel like they’re walking on eggshells - unsure if what they’re doing is actually supporting healing… or unintentionally making things harder.In this episode, I’m joined by Caroline Beidler, a licensed social worker and author of When You Love Someone in Recovery, to talk about what it really looks like to support a loved one through recovery in a way that fosters connection, not fear.If you love someone in recovery - or want to better understand how to show up with clarity and compassion - this conversation is such a valuable resource.Links Discussed in This Episode |Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.Recovery.comConnect with Caroline:WebsiteInstagramBook: When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide to Understanding AddictionAbout Caroline|Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and managing editor of Recovery.com, where she combines research and expert insight on addiction and mental health. Drawing from her own recovery journey, she is the founder of the Women's Recovery Leadership Foundation and helps others find healing through her newsletter and podcast, Circle of Chairs, which reaches thousands weekly. Caroline’s next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery, a compassionate and practical guide to understanding addiction and supporting loved ones through recovery, hits shelves April 2026. She lives in eastern Tennessee with her husband and seven-year-old twins.Episode Sponsors |The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!Enjoy the Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/MINIMALIST* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Boll & Branch: http://bollandbranch.com/minimalist* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Diane sits down with Casey and Meygan Caston, co-founders of Marriage 365 and authors of The Marriage Habit, to explore why modern relationships often feel strained - and what we can do about it. They share how today’s culture of constant distraction, convenience, and digital noise can quietly pull couples apart, leading to what they call “the drift.” But more importantly, Casey and Megan offer tools to rebuild connection. If you’ve ever felt like you and your partner are just a little out of sync, this conversation is a really helpful place to start.Links Discussed in This Episode |Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.Previous Episode: Cultivating an Intentional Marriage (EP264)Connect with Marriage365:WebsiteInstagramBook: The Marriage Habit: 10 Simple Practices to Build a More Intentional, Thriving RelationshipAbout Marriage365|Casey and Meygan Caston are the founders of Marriage365, an online platform for couples looking to overcome the obstacles keeping them from a connected, thriving marriage.Episode Sponsors |The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!Enjoy the Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/MINIMALIST* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Boll & Branch: http://bollandbranch.com/minimalist* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What if love isn’t something you simply find - but something you learn? In this episode, Diane sits down with relationship expert Robin Ducharme, author of Real Love Ready, to explore the idea that healthy, fulfilling relationships are built through something she calls “relational literacy.” Robin shares how our earliest relational patterns shape the way we show up in love, parenting, and everyday interactions - and why healing those patterns is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. If you’ve ever felt stuck in relationship patterns or wondered how to create deeper connection in your home, this conversation offers both a hopeful reframe and practical tools to begin.Links Discussed in This Episode |Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.Esther PerelRobin's Resource: A Course in MiraclesConnect with Robin:WebsiteInstagramPodcast: Let's Talk LoveBook: Real Love Ready: A Guide to Relational LiteracyAbout Robin|Robin Ducharme is the founder and CEO of Real Love Ready, a company that helps people turn relationship theory into real-life skills. A former matchmaker and love coach, she is the host of Let’s Talk Love, a podcast about relational literacy. She also hosts the Ask the Experts series on Instagram, where she collaborates with relationship thinkers from around the world. Robin is the creator and producer of the popular In Bloom Summit, held in Vancouver, BC, and streamed globally each spring. Her forthcoming book, Real Love Ready, is set for release in April 2026.Episode Sponsors |The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!Enjoy the Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/MINIMALIST* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Boll & Branch: http://bollandbranch.com/minimalist* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What if the goal of money isn’t just more - but meaning? In this conversation, Diane explores a refreshing and purpose-driven approach to personal finance inspired by Good Money by John Coleman. Rather than following the traditional formula of earning more, saving for retirement, and checking all the expected boxes, this episode invites you to rethink your relationship with money from the ground up. Together, we unpack how to align your finances with your values, prioritize purpose in your work, spend more intentionally, and use your resources to create real impact. Links Discussed in This Episode |Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.Previous Episode: Uncluttered Faith: How Minimalism Deepens Your Relationship with God | Joshua Becker (Bonus Episode)Book: HBR Guide to Crafting Your PurposeBook: Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your MoneyHarvard StudyJohn Beneficial Resource: Hallow appConnect with John:Website: https://www.johnwilliamcoleman.com/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/johnwcoleman Subtack: https://onpurpose.substack.com/ Book: Good Money: Six Steps to Building a Financial Life with PurposeAbout John|John Coleman is an investor, author, and speaker whose work explores the intersection of faith, purpose and finance. He serves as co-CEO of Sovereign’s Capital, a values-driven investment firm active in public equities, private equity and venture capital, and is a co-founder of the Faith Driven Investor movement. A frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, his writing has also appeared in Forbes, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Financial Times and Los Angeles Times. His books include Passion & Purpose, The HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose and even a novel, Miracles. A graduate of Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School, Coleman and his wife live in Atlanta with their four children, pursuing the good life he teaches—one marked by purpose, generosity and faithful stewardship.Episode Sponsors |The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!Enjoy the Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/MINIMALIST* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Boll & Branch: http://bollandbranch.com/minimalist* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Diane sits down with bestselling author Jennifer Dukes Lee to talk about her new book, How to Love Your Morning, and why renewal doesn’t have to begin with a rigid 5 a.m. routine. Jennifer shares how grief after her father’s passing reshaped her relationship with mornings - turning dread into a gentle invitation to hope.Together, they explore why she prefers the word ritual over routine, how to identify your unique morning archetype, and how to create a personalized, faith-filled rhythm that engages your body, mind, and soul. This conversation is an invitation to begin your day not proving your discipline, but remembering God’s faithfulness - because His mercies truly are new every morning.Links Discussed in This Episode |Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.Jennifer's Resource: Weighted Vest + Treadmill DeskConnect with Jennifer:WebsiteInstagramFacebookFree Morning ResourcesBook: How to Love Your Morning: Faith-Filled Habits to Build a Life of Joy and Purpose One Day at a TimeAbout Jennifer |Jennifer Dukes Lee is a bestselling author, speaker, and morning evangelist from Iowa. She is the author of several books, including Growing Slow, It’s All Under Control, and Stuff I’d Only Tell God. She wants to live her life in such a way thatyou can’t help but want more of Jesus.Episode Sponsors |The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!Enjoy the Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/MINIMALIST* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Boll & Branch: http://bollandbranch.com/minimalist* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, I sit down with author Adriel Booker to talk about what she calls “the crisis after the crisis” - that disorienting, in-between space where life no longer looks the way it once did, but the path forward still feels unclear. Drawing from her book Tethered to Hope, Adriel shares how these liminal seasons - while often uncomfortable - can become places of deep transformation. We talk about the quiet ways God meets us in uncertainty, why we don’t have to grip hope as tightly as we think, and a few simple, grounding practices that can help us move through change with more peace. If you’re in a season that feels heavy or unclear, this conversation is a gentle reminder: you’re not as lost as you feel.Links Discussed in This Episode |Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.Book: Renovated: God, Dallas Willard, and the Church That TransformsAdriel's Beneficial Resource: These Comfy ShoesAdriel Can't Stop Talking About:Connect with Adriel:WebsiteInstagramBook: Tethered to Hope: The Quiet Kindness of God in Crisis, Change, and the Spaces in BetweenAbout Adriel |Adriel Booker is a writer, speaker, and curator who believes the best things in life happen while gathered around the table. She lives with her family among the gum trees and sea breezes of a small town on Ngarrindjeri Country in the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia, where they own and operate a café, vintage shop, and co-working studio for creatives. Adriel is the author of Tethered to Hope and Grace Like Scarlett and has appeared in outlets such as Christianity Today and ABC Religion & Ethics. She writes regularly at The Foundry on Substack, and can also be found at AdrielBooker.com and across social media platforms at @adrielbooker.Episode Sponsors |The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!Enjoy the Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/MINIMALIST* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Boll & Branch: http://bollandbranch.com/minimalist* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What if minimalism wasn’t about having less - but about making space for what matters? In this episode, Diane sits down with Kelly Foss of the Millennial Minimalists podcast to talk about how minimalism extends beyond your home. Kelly shares how embracing a “perfectly imperfect” approach helped her navigate stress, decision fatigue, and major life transitions with more clarity and intention. From simple decluttering strategies to mindset shifts around consumption, this conversation offers practical, doable ways to reduce overwhelm.Links Discussed in This Episode |Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.Diane's Resource: Rosy SoilPodcast Episode: Minimalism with Kids (and Beyond) with Diane BodenBook: The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry SchwartzBook: Atomic Habits by James ClearConnect with Kelly:WebsitePodcastInstagramAbout Kelly|Millennial Minimalists is a podcast about living simply and intentionally, hosted by Kelly Foss. Through conversations with bestselling authors, thought leaders, and listeners, the show explores how letting go of physical and mental clutter can lead to greater clarity, focus, and purpose. With over 257 episodes and 2 million downloads, the podcast features voices from the simplicity and personal development space. Launched in 2018, the show continues to inspire a global audience seeking to simplify their lives and cultivate more intentional living.Episode Sponsors |The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!Enjoy the Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/MINIMALIST* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Boll & Branch: http://bollandbranch.com/minimalist* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

There’s a quiet fear many mothers carry - but rarely say out loud: What if I’m messing this up?What if my impatience, my selfishness, my exhaustion are shaping my kids in ways I don’t intend?In today’s conversation, I’m joined by Abbey Wedgeworth, author of the the new book, Help I’m Ruining My Kids. Abbey shares candidly about her early struggles in motherhood and the uncomfortable realization that sometimes the problem wasn’t her kids...it was her heart.We talk about what it really means to be a “work in progress.” Not self-condemnation. Not blaming our circumstances. But honest repentance - the kind that leads  to repair, growth, and deeper connection with our children.Links Discussed in This Episode |Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.Connect with Abbey:WebsiteInstagramBook: Help! I'm Ruining My Kids: A Gospel Guide for the Mom Who's Desperate for ChangeAbout Abbey |Abbey Wedgeworth is a Bible teacher, speaker and writer. She is the author of Held: 31 Biblical Reflections on God’s Comfort and Care in the Sorrow of Miscarriage (a Christian Book Award finalist), as well as the nine-book children’s series, Training Young Hearts. She is known for her popular parenting reels on Instagram and enjoys serving and teaching in her local church as well as at conferences, retreats and conventions. Abbey and her husband, David, live in the South Carolina lowcountry, where she homeschools their three young sons. Episode Sponsors |The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!Enjoy the Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/MINIMALIST* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Boll & Branch: http://bollandbranch.com/minimalist* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What if you’re not broken - but simply carrying too much? In this episode, Diane sits down with psychologist and coach Danielle Dowling to talk about the invisible weight so many mothers carry - burnout, emotional labor, identity loss, and the quiet pressure to “do it all.” Through honest conversation and practical tools, Danielle shares how to support your nervous system, set boundaries, and begin reconnecting with yourself in the middle of everyday motherhood. If you're overwhelmed, resentful, or unsure of who you are anymore, this conversation offers both validation and a way forward - one small, doable step at a time.Links Discussed in This Episode |Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.Connect with Danielle:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInBook: Good Girl, Bad Mom: For Every Mom Who Has Ever Felt Imperfect About Danielle |Dr. Danielle Dowling, Psy.D., is a therapist-trained life coach, Mom, and author of the upcoming memoir-manifesto GOOD GIRL, BAD MOM. With over 12,000 hours of 1:1 coaching, she helps women rewrite inherited “good girl” scripts, build bold boundaries, and reclaim a life beyond the to-do list. Blending psychological insight with warm, irreverent honesty, Danielle speaks and writes about Motherhood as both joy and job, the mental load, and simple nervous system resets she calls “Slivers of Self-Care” that actually fit into real life. Through her book, coaching, and conversations, she’s becoming a thoughtful, emerging voice in the growing movement to better see, support, and value Moms—starting with how they see and value themselves.Episode Sponsors |The Minimalist Moms Podcast would not be possible without the support of weekly sponsors. Choosing brands that I believe in is important to me. I only want to recommend brands that I believe may help you in your daily life. As always, never feel pressured into buying anything. Remember: if you don't need it, it's not a good deal!Enjoy the Podcast?Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your fellow mothers so that they can be inspired to think more and do with less. Order (or review) my book, Minimalist Moms: Living & Parenting With Simplicity.You can contact me through my website, find me on Instagram, Pinterest or like The Minimalist Moms Page on Facebook.Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/MINIMALIST* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Boll & Branch: http://bollandbranch.com/minimalist* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy