Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
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196 episodes
189: Environmentally Friendly Decluttering—from Recycling Razor Blades to the Truth About Greenwashing with Tom Szaky of TerraCycle
28/07/2026 | 59 mins.This is such a fascinating episode for anyone who wants to declutter while being mindful about the environment! I’m joined by Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, who gives us a behind-the-scenes look at recycling and his unique approach to reducing waste.
We get into the truth about greenwashing, how TerraCycle recycles unique items like cigarette butts, diapers, and razor blades, and even how mindful consumption has affected how often Tom washes his hair.
If you've ever wondered what actually happens to your recycling—or felt guilty about what you can't recycle—this conversation will leave you feeling inspired, hopeful, creative, and determined to alter your consumption.
TERRACYCLE WEBSITE: https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/
PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO):
Sign up for my newsletter! The L.E.S.S. Express
Website: www.shannonleyko.com
Instagram: @shannonleyko
TikTok: @shannon_leyko
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shannonleyko
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shannonleyko.paringdown
Substack: Blog & Additional Support (free trial!)
TAKE THE QUIZ!! "What's Your Decluttering Type?" & receive a customized playlist with 10 episodes of Paring Down for your exact needs.
PARING DOWN RESOURCES: CLICK HERE for free checklist, hacks, worksheet, & more!
SPONSORS:
Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!
Get 15% off your first order of organic bedsheets and more at Boll & Branch (https://BollAndBranch.com/paring) plus free shipping with code PARING
Zenni Optical offers beautiful eye glasses starting at just $30- (https://zenni.com/PODCAST) use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order
Green Chef is the leading sustainable meal kit - (https://Greenchef.com/50paring) use code 50paring to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months
Make custom gifts with Zazzle - save 25% on your first order (https://Zazzle.com)
K12 Powered Schools offers tuition-free virtual public school- Enroll online today (https://K12.com/paring)
20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING
$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices- If you struggle with decluttering because it feels like watching bags of money go out the door, then this episode is for you!
In it, I share not only helpful mindset shifts, but practical ways that decluttering actually helps us financially in the long run.
PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO):
Sign up for my newsletter! The L.E.S.S. Express
Website: www.shannonleyko.com
Instagram: @shannonleyko
TikTok: @shannon_leyko
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shannonleyko
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shannonleyko.paringdown
Substack: Blog & Additional Support (free trial!)
TAKE THE QUIZ!! "What's Your Decluttering Type?" & receive a customized playlist with 10 episodes of Paring Down for your exact needs.
PARING DOWN RESOURCES: CLICK HERE for free checklist, hacks, worksheet, & more!
SPONSORS:
$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING
Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!
Get 15% off your first order of organic bedsheets and more at Boll & Branch (https://BollAndBranch.com/paring) plus free shipping with code PARING
Zenni Optical offers beautiful eye glasses starting at just $30- (https://zenni.com/PODCAST) use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order
Green Chef is the leading sustainable meal kit - (https://Greenchef.com/50paring) use code 50paring to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months
Make custom gifts with Zazzle - save 25% on your first order (https://Zazzle.com)
K12 Powered Schools offers tuition-free virtual public school- Enroll online today (https://K12.com/paring)
20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 188: How to Request Money Instead of Gifts, Homemade Chai Lattes, & Washing Scrunchies
23/07/2026 | 14 mins.Here's what you'll find in this week's mini episode, a.k.a. Chai Chat!
I answer:
1. What’s the best way to ask for money for a gift instead of stuff?
2. How do you make your chai lattes?
Listener recommendation of the week: Away luggage
MENTIONED THIS EPISODE
Email Chai Chat submissions to paringdownpodcast@gmail.com
Gift Request Template
TAZO Chai Latte Concentrate
PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO):
Sign up for my newsletter! The L.E.S.S. Express
Website: www.shannonleyko.com
Instagram: @shannonleyko
TikTok: @shannon_leyko
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shannonleyko
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shannonleyko.paringdown
Substack: Blog & Additional Support (free trial!)
TAKE THE QUIZ!! "What's Your Decluttering Type?" & receive a customized playlist with 10 episodes of Paring Down for your exact needs.
PARING DOWN RESOURCES: CLICK HERE for free checklist, hacks, worksheet, & more!
SPONSORS:
$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING
Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!
Get 15% off your first order of organic bedsheets and more at Boll & Branch (https://BollAndBranch.com/paring) plus free shipping with code PARING
Zenni Optical offers beautiful eye glasses starting at just $30- (https://zenni.com/PODCAST) use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order
Green Chef is the leading sustainable meal kit - (https://Greenchef.com/50paring) use code 50paring to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months
Make custom gifts with Zazzle - save 25% on your first order (https://Zazzle.com)
K12 Powered Schools offers tuition-free virtual public school- Enroll online today (https://K12.com/paring)
20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices187: Opening Up About My Health: Postpartum Struggles, Weight Fluctuations, PMDD and More
22/07/2026 | 43 mins.I'm kicking off a brand new 10-week series on health for these Good Stuff episodes—what do we want to fill our lives with? Health seems like a great option to me!
Before we dive in with an impressive array of expert guests in this series, I wanted to start with a vulnerable solo episode about my own health journey—physical, mental, and everything in between.
If you've ever felt like health talk online is more about hacks and appearances than an honest desire to take care of the bodies that help us enjoy life, I know you'll enjoy this new series! And I hope this first episode will help you feel less alone in your own struggles.
MENTIONED THIS EPISODE
Ep 103: Struggling Through PMDD to Declutter & Tidy
PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO):
Sign up for my newsletter! The L.E.S.S. Express
Website: www.shannonleyko.com
Instagram: @shannonleyko
TikTok: @shannon_leyko
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shannonleyko
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shannonleyko.paringdown
Substack: Blog & Additional Support (free trial!)
TAKE THE QUIZ!! "What's Your Decluttering Type?" & receive a customized playlist with 10 episodes of Paring Down for your exact needs.
PARING DOWN RESOURCES: CLICK HERE for free checklist, hacks, worksheet, & more!
SPONSORS:
$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING
Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!
Get 15% off your first order of organic bedsheets and more at Boll & Branch (https://BollAndBranch.com/paring) plus free shipping with code PARING
Zenni Optical offers beautiful eye glasses starting at just $30- (https://zenni.com/PODCAST) use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order
Green Chef is the leading sustainable meal kit - (https://Greenchef.com/50paring) use code 50paring to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months
Make custom gifts with Zazzle - save 25% on your first order (https://Zazzle.com)
K12 Powered Schools offers tuition-free virtual public school- Enroll online today (https://K12.com/paring)
20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices186: Decluttering Your House is Only the Beginning of a Better Life with Suzanne Searcy Johnson
21/07/2026 | 54 mins.You know this one will be good because it’s the second time we’re welcoming Suzanne Searcy Johnson to the podcast! This time, we dig into why decluttering is only the first step toward a simpler life, and what it really takes to enjoy life beyond the clutter.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why organizing your space can be its own subtle form of control, and how to recognize when decluttering has become the end goal instead of a starting point
What "Blue Zones" are and how they contribute to longer, more fulfilling lives
Why expectations can quietly turn into resentment in our closest relationships
If you've ever cleaned out your closets and still felt unsettled, this conversation is a wise reminder that true simplicity isn't just about your space. It's about nature, others, spirituality, and yourself.
MENTIONED THIS EPISODE:
Ep 41: Timeless Truths About Simplicity with Suzanne JohnsonNetflix Documentary on Blue Zones
SUZANNE SEARCY JOHNSON
Website: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/Suzanne's Linktree
PARING DOWN (SHANNON LEYKO):
Sign up for my newsletter! The L.E.S.S. Express
Website: www.shannonleyko.com
Instagram: @shannonleyko
TikTok: @shannon_leyko
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shannonleyko
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shannonleyko.paringdown
Substack: Blog & Additional Support (free trial!)
TAKE THE QUIZ!! "What's Your Decluttering Type?" & receive a customized playlist with 10 episodes of Paring Down for your exact needs.
PARING DOWN RESOURCES: CLICK HERE for free checklist, hacks, worksheet, & more!
SPONSORS:
$300 off Air Doctor Pro air purifier: https://airdoctorpro.com/ - Use code PARING
Ethical, luxury women's clothing at Quince.com/paring for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!
Get 15% off your first order of organic bedsheets and more at Boll & Branch (https://BollAndBranch.com/paring) plus free shipping with code PARING
Zenni Optical offers beautiful eye glasses starting at just $30- (https://zenni.com/PODCAST) use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order
Green Chef is the leading sustainable meal kit - (https://Greenchef.com/50paring) use code 50paring to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months
Make custom gifts with Zazzle - save 25% on your first order (https://Zazzle.com)
K12 Powered Schools offers tuition-free virtual public school- Enroll online today (https://K12.com/paring)
20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier when you go to AquaTru.com and use promo code PARING
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About Paring Down: Realistic minimalism, decluttering, & intentional living
If staunch minimalism feels too extreme, but you want to declutter your house to alleviate some stress, this is the podcast for you.
Shannon Leyko's style is like having your best friend in your ear, helping you get past those tough mental roadblocks that are keeping you from decluttering the things you don't need.
From New York Times bestselling authors to everyday people in the trenches of life, Shannon's guests give practical tips and mindset advice for intentional living and self-improvement.
Listen to Paring Down if you've ever asked yourself...
Where do I start decluttering my house?
Where do I start decluttering when overwhelmed?
How do I declutter if I have ADHD?
What if I end up needing something I decluttered?
How can I stop shopping my shopping addiction?
How do I stop being stressed?
How do I keep my house clean?
How do I tidy my room?
How do I get my husband or wife to declutter?
How many toys should a child have?
How can I save money?
What is minimalism?
How can I be a minimalist with kids?
What should I declutter first?
How can I be a conscious consumer?
Find more of Shannon's work:
Website: www.shannonleyko.com
Instagram: @shannonleyko
TikTok: @shannon_leyko
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shannonleyko
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shannonleyko.paringdown
Weekly Newsletter: The L.E.S.S. Express
Substack: Blog & Additional Support (free trial!)
PARING DOWN RESOURCES (free checklist, hacks, worksheet, & more!)
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- Stations and podcasts to bookmark
- Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Supports Carplay & Android Auto
- Many other app features

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