Minimalist Moms Podcast | Purposeful Life & Parenting Tips

What if one of the most powerful tools for your health, longevity, and overall well-being is something you’re already doing every day - but not quite optimally? In today’s episode, we’re rethinking walking with expert-backed insights that challenge common assumptions (including the 10,000 steps myth). We explore how your walking speed, cadence, and even foot health can reveal deeper truths about your body, and how small, simple shifts can reduce pain, improve energy, and support long-term health.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
Xero Shoes
AltraRunning
WHITIN Women's Minimalist Barefoot Shoes
Milica's Resource: Fringe Red Light
Connect with Dr. Milica McDowell:
Website
Instagram
Book: Walk: Rediscover the Most Natural Way to Boost Your Health and Longevity - One Step at a Time

About Dr. Milica McDowell|
Dr. Milica McDowell is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, exercise physiologist, and certified strength and conditioning specialist with a passion for helping people move better and live longer. As the Vice President of Operations for Gait Happens, she specializes in foot health, biomechanics, and human movement, translating complex science into practical, everyday strategies. Dr. McDowell is also a trusted health expert featured in outlets like The New York Times, Women’s Health, and Runner’s World, where she shares evidence-based insights on injury prevention, longevity, and sustainable fitness. Through her work, she empowers individuals to reclaim movement as a foundational pillar of lifelong health.
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://betterhelp.com
* Check out Boll & Branch: https://bollandbranch.com/minimalist
* Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com

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

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This episode originally aired on the Millennial Minimalist podcast with host, Kelly Foss.
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Today’s episode is a little bit different—and kind of fun for me to share.
About a month ago, I had the opportunity to sit down as a guest on the Millennial Minimalist Podcast, which doesn’t happen all that often. I’m usually the one asking the questions, so it was refreshing (and honestly a little vulnerable) to be on the other side of the conversation.
Kelly and I talked about something that I know so many of us are craving - how to feel less overwhelmed, both in our homes and in our minds. And what I love about this conversation is that it really applies whether you have kids or not.
We get into the practical side of managing the constant influx of stuff, involving kids in the process, and navigating the mental load of parenting - but also the bigger picture of simplifying your environment, reducing distractions, and creating more calm in everyday life.
If you’ve ever wondered what it sounds like when I’m the one being interviewed… this is it.
I hope it feels like a helpful, honest conversation - and maybe even offers a fresh perspective on some of the things we talk about here regularly.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://AvocadoGreenMattress.com/MINIMALIST
* Check out BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com
* Check out Boll & Branch: https://bollandbranch.com/minimalist
* Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com

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

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

We don’t talk enough about how heavy fatherhood can feel. In this episode, I’m joined by Jon Gustin (known as “The Tired Dad”) for a candid conversation about the emotional weight dads carry behind the scenes. From postpartum challenges in his marriage to addiction and the pressure to provide while staying present, Jon shares what led him to speak out - and why so many men quietly relate. This is an honest look at modern fatherhood, vulnerability, and healing - for the whole family.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
Connect with Jon:
Website
Instagram
Book: The Tired Dad: 100 Reflections on Showing Up for What Matters Most

About Jon |
Jon Gustin is the founder and owner of The Tired Dad LLC, where he has amassed more than two million followers for his portrayal of life as an ordinary father and the lessons he’s learned. Gustin is also the co-host (along with his wife, Jessica) of The Tired Dad & Tired Mom Podcast.
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://betterhelp.com
* Check out Boll & Branch: https://bollandbranch.com/minimalist
* Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com

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

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

In this episode, Diane sits down with cookbook author and gardener Crystal Schmidt to talk about her approach to meal prep, outlined in her book Freeze Fresh Meal Prep. Instead of relying on fully pre-made freezer meals, Crystal introduces the concept of “meal starters” - prepping the fresh components of a dish ahead of time and freezing them, then finishing the meal later with pantry staples. We talk about how this method helps reduce food waste, simplify weeknight cooking, and make the most of seasonal produce. Crystal shares practical tips for getting started, including how to choose what to freeze, which vegetables need blanching, and what actually holds up well in the freezer. She also offers ideas like freezing cookie dough for easy treats and using what you already have on hand to build a system that feels sustainable. This conversation is a helpful guide for anyone looking to make home cooking more flexible, efficient, and aligned with real life.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
Crystal's Resource: Merlin Bird App
Connect with Crystal:
Instagram | Youtube | Website
Book: Freeze Fresh Meal Prep: 160 Meal Starters and Make-Ahead Dishes for the Freezer

About Crystal|
Crystal Schmidt is the bestselling author of Freeze Fresh, and creator of Whole-Fed Homestead. With a passion for good food, she inspires others to grow their own produce, create delicious meals, and preserve fresh ingredients.
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://betterhelp.com
* Check out Boll & Branch: https://bollandbranch.com/minimalist
* Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com

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

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

What if creating a more intentional life starts with rethinking the spaces around you? Today I’m joined by behavioral scientist and author, Leidy Klotz to explore a powerful (and often overlooked) idea: our surroundings don’t just reflect who we are - they actively shape who we become. While so much advice focuses on mindset, habits, and routines, Leidy invites us to zoom out and consider where those things are happening. From the layout of your kitchen to the design of your neighborhood, physical spaces influence your ability to connect, focus, learn, and thrive. In this conversation, we unpack how to work with your environment - not against it - and how even small, intentional changes can have a profound impact on your daily life.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
Diane's Resource: EP207: Swedish Death Cleaning: Morbid or Mandatory? with Emily McDermott
Previous Episode: Simplify Your Life Using Subtraction
Connect with Leidy:
Website
Book: In a Good Place: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive

About Leidy |
Leidy Klotz is a behavioral scientist and engineering professor at the University of Virginia who studies how and why humans design. He has written for the Washington Post, Fast Company, Scientific American, and Harvard Business Review; has published his work in top journals like Nature and Science; and has been interviewed on Hidden Brain, Freakonomics, Mindscape, and The Atlantic’s How to Build a Happy Life. Klotz has advised clients ranging from the Departments of Energy and Homeland Security to CapitalOne and Amazon.
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://betterhelp.com
* Check out Boll & Branch: https://bollandbranch.com/minimalist
* Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com

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

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