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Wannabe Clutter Free | Declutter, Simplify, Find Freedom

Wannabe Clutter Free | Declutter, Simplify, Find Freedom

By: Deanna Yates | Professional Organizer Decluttering Coach Wannabe Minimalist
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 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.All rights reserved. Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • End Clutter Chaos: Master the Art of Holistic Decluttering with Katy Wells (Ep 295)

    End Clutter Chaos: Master the Art of Holistic Decluttering with Katy Wells (Ep 295)
    Feb 4 2026
    Why does clutter keep coming back no matter what you try? Author Katy Wells shares her holistic approach to decluttering that tackles the root cause, not just the stuff, so you can finally feel at peace in your home. **************** RESOURCES Katy's Book - Making Home Your Happy Place: A Real Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm (available wherever books are sold) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/295⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Katy Wells: ⁠Katy's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 if the reason clutter keeps coming back has nothing to do with your organizing systems and everything to do with what's going on beneath the surface? In this episode, host Deanna Yates welcomes Katy Wells, author of Making Home Your Happy Place and host of the Maximized Minimalist podcast. Katy shares how she developed her holistic decluttering method after years of trying every hack, bin system, and organizing strategy only to watch her home fall apart two days later. Drawing from her background in holistic wellness, she realized that lasting change required looking at not just the stuff, but the beliefs, emotions, and stories behind it. Together, Deanna and Katy dig into why clutter sometimes serves as a coping mechanism that protects us from feeling harder emotions, the crucial difference between expected mess and actual clutter, and how to release the shame that comes from comparing your home to magazine perfection. They also explore the four main types of clutter (superficial, sentimental, scarcity, and identity), how generational patterns and cultural messaging quietly shape what we keep, and the ART framework for working through sentimental items without regret. Plus, Katy shares practical strategies for getting your partner on board without nagging, helping kids build decluttering as a life skill, and understanding how dopamine actually works when it comes to shopping habits. This is a conversation that will change how you think about your stuff and the space you call home. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why clutter keeps coming back and how it can secretly be a coping mechanism The difference between expected mess and clutter, and how to release shame around both The four types of clutter and where to start decluttering How to get your partner on board without nagging using one simple change What dopamine actually does when you shop and how to break the cycle Time Stamps: (00:00) Introduction and guest intro (02:41) Katy's background and holistic decluttering origin story (07:34) When clutter becomes a coping mechanism (10:29) Expected mess vs. clutter: releasing the shame (14:14) The "shoulds" around decluttering and setting your own benchmarks (19:14) The four main clutter types and where to start (24:29) Your "stuff story": how family history and culture shape what you keep (29:17) The ART framework for sentimental items (37:56) Onboarding your partner without nagging (45:51) Helping kids declutter toys and build life skills (50:45) Dopamine and shopping: the motivation molecule (57:00) Social media, comparison, and anchoring to your core values (1:00:14) Where to find Katy and her book **************** 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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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Decluttering a Hoarder House in One Year: Lessons in Letting Go with Eileen Stukane (Ep 294)

    Decluttering a Hoarder House in One Year: Lessons in Letting Go with Eileen Stukane (Ep 294)
    Jan 28 2026
    What can a year of decluttering a hoarder house teach us about letting go? Author Eileen Stukane shares her journey from horror to healing, plus practical tips for helping loved ones and releasing your own grip on stuff. **************** RESOURCES ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/294⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Eileen Stukane: Eileen's Website⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 would you do if you inherited a home from a family member, a home you'd visited many times and remembered as warm and elegant, only to open the door and find it had become a floor-to-ceiling hoarder house? In this episode, host Deanna Yates talks with author and journalist Eileen Stukane about her memoir, The House That Held Everything. When Eileen and her sister inherited their cousin's childhood home after his death, they were shocked to discover rooms so packed with stuff they could barely get through the front door. What followed was a year-long journey of clearing out the house and uncovering family secrets that had been buried for decades. With an estimated 19 million Americans affected by hoarding, this episode offers hope, understanding, and practical wisdom for anyone who knows someone struggling with this issue or recognizes tendencies in themselves. In this episode, you'll learn: How possessions become "mini autobiographies" that reveal sides of people you never knew The difference between collecting and hoarding, and warning signs to watch for A powerful tip for letting go: create a photo album "museum" of items you can't keep How to help a loved one who hoards using trust-building and the harm reduction approach Why checking in on people matters, even when they say "don't come over" Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction & Welcome 01:52 Meet Eileen Stukane: From Magazine Editor to Memoir Author 04:18 Inheriting the House: The Shocking Discovery 06:20 From Repulsion to Compassion: Why Eileen Wrote the Book 09:15 Possessions as Mini Autobiographies 14:08 Uncovering Family Secrets 18:15 Discovery via Ancestry.com and the Year-Long Cleanout 23:17 The Photo Museum Tip: Taking Pictures Before Letting Go 24:55 Sorting Categories: Keep, Throw Out, Auction, Donate, Not Sure 29:57 Understanding Why: The Psychology of Hoarding 34:11 Helping a Loved One: Building Trust First 41:00 How the Experience Changed Eileen's Relationship with Stuff 43:44 Rapid Fire Questions 47:09 Closing Thoughts: 19 Million Americans Affected **************** 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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    59 mins
  • Decluttering Without Guilt: Clearing the F.O.G. That Keeps You Stuck with Ashley Hines (Ep 293)

    Decluttering Without Guilt: Clearing the F.O.G. That Keeps You Stuck with Ashley Hines (Ep 293)
    Jan 21 2026
    Decluttering gets easier when you release fear, obligation, and guilt. Ashley Hines shares a holistic approach to organizing that builds self-trust and helps you create a clutter-free home with intention. **************** RESOURCES ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get all the links and resources at wannabeclutterfree.com/293⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Ashley Hines: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Ashley's Website⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Deanna Yates, the host of Wannabe Clutter Free on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get my children's book: Lenora and Her Super Duper Messy Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ **************** Fear. Obligation. Guilt. If decluttering feels emotionally heavy (even when you want a clutter-free home) you’re not doing it wrong. You’re just stuck in F.O.G. In this episode, I’m joined by Ashley Hines, founder of Thee Tailored Life, to talk about the emotional side of decluttering and why letting go can feel so complicated. Ashley introduces her F.O.G. framework (fear, obligation, and guilt) and explains how it quietly shapes our homes, our decisions, and even our sense of identity. We talk about why “should” is such a powerful clutter trigger, why identity-based items are the hardest to release, and what actually changes when you begin trusting yourself again. This conversation is gentle, validating, and deeply grounding, especially if you’ve ever felt bad for wanting less. We cover: How fear, obligation, and guilt show up in our homes Why decluttering isn’t just physical—it’s emotional The hidden pressure behind “should-keep” items Why identity-based clutter feels impossible to release How self-trust makes decluttering easier over time A gentle first step if you feel completely stuck What it looks like to live clutter-free without perfection If you’re craving a calmer home and more confidence in your decisions, this episode will meet you right where you are. Time Stamps: 00:00 Welcome + why decluttering feels emotional 02:00 What holistic organizing really means 04:30 Introducing F.O.G.: fear, obligation, and guilt 08:10 Where F.O.G. shows up most in homes 12:45 The problem with “should” 17:30 Identity-based clutter and emotional weight 22:15 Self-trust and decision-making 27:40 A gentle first step for overwhelmed listeners 33:10 Community, sharing, and living with intention 38:30 What freedom actually looks like in a clutter-free home **************** 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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    51 mins
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