Minimalist Moms Podcast | Purposeful Life & Parenting Tips

For those who are new here, I occasionally release bonus episodes designed for a specific part of my audience. I have listeners from all kinds of faith backgrounds, and this episode is shared from a Christian perspective. If that’s not quite what you’re looking for today, feel free to explore the other episodes released this week - or join me back here next Tuesday for a conversation you won’t want to miss!
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What if one of the most important things we could give our children isn't having all the answers, but creating a relationship where they feel safe asking the questions?
In today's episode, I'm joined by Dr. Kathryn Saunders, a mom, grandmother, and spiritual formation doctor, to explore how vulnerability, humility, and honest conversations can strengthen our relationships with our children while helping them develop a faith of their own.
We discuss why admitting our mistakes can actually build trust, how to make room for difficult questions and doubts, and the importance of creating margin for meaningful connection. Kathryn also introduces the idea of a family "rule of life," challenges the comparison traps that shape our expectations of family life, and reminds us that hospitality begins with simply being present.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
Connect with Dr. Katheryn Saunders
Book: Having Spiritual Conversations with Your Kids: Simple Practices for Deepening Your Faith Together

About Katheryn |
Dr. Katheryn Saunders has a DMin in leadership and spiritual formation from Portland Seminary, focusing on next-generation faith and giving. She also has a master’s degree in teaching and is a licensed chaplain. Dr. Saunders has more than twentyfive years of experience working in the Christian nonprofit world, including more than a decade working for World Vision, where she is currently regional director for philanthropy for the northwest region.
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 BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Cure Hydration and use my code MINIMALIST for a great deal: https://www.curehydration.com
* Check out DeleteMe and use my code joindeleteme.com/MINIMALIST for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.com
* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I’m excited to share a podcast I’ve been loving lately called Just Sleep: Bedtime Stories for Adults. Host Tasha Glasgow reads classic, comforting stories to help you quiet your racing mind, step away from late-night phone scrolling, and easily drift off to sleep. Search for Just Sleep wherever you get your podcasts. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

What if the reason you're feeling exhausted isn't how much you're doing, but the pace at which you're doing it? In this episode, I'm joined by Elizabeth Svoboda, author of The Art of Pacing, to explore why so many of us are caught in a cycle of pushing harder, doing more, and struggling to slow down. Drawing on research, psychology, and lessons from elite athletes, Elizabeth explains how to recognize when you're running on empty, work with your natural energy rhythms, and make room for rest without putting your goals on hold. It's a refreshing perspective for anyone who's tired of feeling like they're always racing to keep up.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
Elizabeth's Resource: Hero's Journey Exercise
Connect with Elizabeth
Website
Instagram
Book: The Art of Pacing: A Guide to Balancing Short-Term Demands with Long-Term Thriving

About Elizabeth |
Elizabeth Svoboda is an award-winning science writer and contributor to Scientific American, Discover, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and other publications. Elizabeth is a winner of the Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for Young Science Writers, and her work has been anthologized in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series. She lives in San Jose, California, with her husband and 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 BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Cure Hydration and use my code MINIMALIST for a great deal: https://www.curehydration.com
* Check out DeleteMe and use my code joindeleteme.com/MINIMALIST for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.com
* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Our attention is one of our most finite resources - and just as we consider what deserves space in our homes, we should also be considering what deserves space in our minds, our days and our relationships.
In this episode, I’m joined by Ruby Ryba, author of How to Stop Scrolling, for a conversation that goes beyond the typical “we’re all on our phones too much” advice. Instead, we explore what it looks like to become more intentional about where our attention is going in the first place.
We talk about why simply knowing we scroll too much usually isn’t enough to change our behavior, what we lose when every quiet or uncomfortable moment gets filled with input, and why boredom and empty space may actually be worth protecting. Ruby also shares practical ways to create healthier digital boundaries without demonizing technology or pretending we can simply throw our phones away.
This isn’t about using your phone perfectly - or even necessarily using it less. It’s about recognizing that our attention has value and becoming more intentional about where we choose to spend it.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
Diane's Resource: App: ReThink (Pause Before You Buy) Use code MINIMALIST for 10% off in the app
Previous Episode: Your Phone Doesn't Belong in Your Bedroom (Here's Why) | Emily Bryne (Bonus Episode)
Previous Episode: The Attention Problem: Why Screen Time Isn’t the Real Issue | @OliviaUnplugged (EP466)
Previous Episode: What We Lose (and Reclaim) When We Put Down Our Phones | Frank Possemato (EP433)
Previous Episode: Reset Your Relationship with Your Phone | Joey Odom (EP345)
Brick
Book: Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again
Ruby's Resource: Libby app
Connect with Ruby:
Website
Book: How to Stop Scrolling: A clear path from phone dependency to digital empowerment

About Ruby |
Ruby is a Columbia trained Statistician and former New York City high school math teacher. Her background and training along with her personal interest in psychology, have shaped her research and writing interest: the intersection of optimization, habits, and intentionality. She is the author of the book, How to Stop Scrolling, which is available in paperback, kindle and audiobook. You can find her book, blog, and weekly newsletter The Scroll Shift, on her website, rubyrybawrites.com  
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 BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Cure Hydration and use my code MINIMALIST for a great deal: https://www.curehydration.com
* Check out DeleteMe and use my code joindeleteme.com/MINIMALIST for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.com
* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A quick note before we begin: Eryn Lynum is a Christian author and creator, and her work explores the natural world through the lens of both science and faith. While our conversation includes references to God and Scripture, the ideas we explore around attention, wonder, contentment, and helping our kids become more curious about the world around them are relevant regardless of your faith background.
Our kids are growing up in a world designed to make them want the next thing - the next video, the next toy, the next experience, the next hit of stimulation. So how do we help them discover the satisfaction of simply paying attention to what's already here?
Today I'm joined by master naturalist, author, and Nat Theo podcast host Eryn Lynum for a conversation that goes beyond the usual advice to “get your kids outside.” Instead, we're exploring what the natural world can teach our kids about attention, contentment, curiosity, and enough.
Eryn explains why “noticing” is both a scientific and spiritual discipline and how learning to observe creation closely can shift kids from passive consumption to active curiosity. We talk about the surprising purpose behind creatures we often dismiss - from mosquitoes and skunks to vultures - and how discovering order in the natural world can deepen a child's sense of wonder.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
Previous Episode: The Case Against Convenience: Why the Small Stuff Makes Life Better | Ian Bogost (EP464)
App: Merlin Bird ID
Episode: Why Did God Make Mosquitoes? Lesson 129
Erin's Resource: Sherwood Audio App
Connect with Erin:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Youtube
Podcast
Book: Made to Marvel: 52 Family Devotions Exploring the Wild Wonders of God's Creation | Where Wonder Leads: An Adventure in God's Wild and Wonderful World

About Erin |
Eryn Lynum is a certified master naturalist, has a degree in biblical studies and systematic theology, and hosts the popular podcast Nat Theo: Nature Lessons Rooted in the Bible, which is regularly ranked as a Top Ten podcast in multiple categories on Apple Podcasts. She is the author of three books, has four children, and lives in Colorado with her family.
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 BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Cure Hydration and use my code MINIMALIST for a great deal: https://www.curehydration.com
* Check out DeleteMe and use my code joindeleteme.com/MINIMALIST for a great deal: https://joindeleteme.com
* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy