Minimalist Moms Podcast | Purposeful Life & Parenting Tips

In this mini episode, Diane shares about Weeknight Winners, Family Dinners by Jack and Emmy Zhang, the parents behind the wildly popular @cookingforlevi account featuring their five-year-old son, Levi. What began as a simple way to spend time together in the kitchen has become a family mission: raising a curious eater while creating lasting memories around the table.
Rather than focusing on perfect meals or picky eating battles, Jack and Emmy encourage families to see cooking as an opportunity for connection, confidence, and curiosity.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
Previous Episode: How to Get Dinner on the Table When You Don't Feel Like Cooking | Caroline Chambers (Bonus Episode)
Connect with Jack + Emmy
Website
Instagram
Book: Weeknight Winners, Family Dinners: Kid-Approved, Adult-Loved Recipes

About Jack + Emmy |
Jack Zhang is a chef who has cooked at casual and upscale restaurants and for NFL players in the Buffalo, New York, area. With his wife, Emmy, he launched Cooking for Levi (@cookingforlevi), the wildly popular online cooking channel featuring their now five-year-old son, Levi. Jack was born in Guangzhou, China, and raised in Brooklyn. 
Emmy Zhang earned her Ed.M in English Language from the University at Buffalo, where she also earned an undergraduate degree in applied linguistics with a special focus on child language development.
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 Amazing Generation: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com

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

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In this episode, I’m joined by clinical psychologist and Stanford adjunct faculty member Dr. Celeste Birkhofer for a conversation about a powerful truth: the mental health your child will have as an adult is being shaped right now.
But this isn’t about perfect parenting. It’s about understanding the everyday experiences and relationships that help children develop the internal resources they’ll rely on for the rest of their lives.
We also explore: what “good enough” parenting actually looks like, the five essential capacities children need for long-term mental health, supporting versus rescuing - and why children need opportunities to struggle, building tolerance for boredom, frustration, and discomfort, how parenting strategies may need to shift for children with ADHD and much more...

Links Discussed in This Episode |
Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
Dr. Birkhofer's Resource: Kristen Neff | Self-Compassion Institute
Connect with Dr. Birkhofer
Website
Instagram
LinkedIn
Book: Beyond Quick Fixes: Essential Ingredients for Better Mental Health and a Fulfilling Life

About Dr. Birkhofer |
Dr. Celeste Birkhofer is a licensed clinical psychologist and adjunct clinical faculty member at Stanford Medical School, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She maintains a private psychotherapy practice, teaches and supervises Stanford psychiatry residents, and is on the clinical advisory board for the Jed Foundation - a nonprofit dedicated to promoting emotional well-being in teens and young adults and reducing suicide risk. Her holistic approach to patient care integrates extensive experience and training in contemporary psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies, grief counseling, couples therapy, dialectic behaviortherapy (DBT), and mindfulness and self-compassion practices.
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 Amazing Generation: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com

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

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

Many moms assume that back pain is simply part of motherhood. Between pregnancy, carrying babies, nursing, lifting toddlers, and juggling the physical demands of everyday life, aches and pains can feel inevitable.
But what if they aren't?
In this episode, Diane sits down with spine surgeon Dr. Amir Vokshoor to discuss why so many women experience back pain during pregnancy and postpartum - and why accepting it as "normal" may keep them from finding relief. Together, they explore how the small, repetitive movements of motherhood can quietly impact long-term spine health, the connection between core strength and spinal stability, and practical ways moms can care for their bodies before pain becomes chronic.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
Connect with Dr. Vokshoor
Website
Instagram

About Dr. Vookshor |
Dr. Amir Vokshoor is a highly rated, board-certified neurosurgeon based in Santa Monica, California, who specializes in minimally invasive and motion-preserving spine care. Practicing at the Neurosurgery and Spine Group, he focuses on advanced, non-fusion surgical techniques designed to target the root cause of spinal disorders while preserving natural mobility and accelerating recovery.
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 Amazing Generation: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com

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

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

What if creating a peaceful home didn't require getting rid of everything you love?
In this episode, Diane is joined by New York Times bestselling author Myquillyn Smith - known to many as The Nester - to discuss her newest book, House Hushing. Together, they explore a refreshing middle ground between minimalism and maximalism, proving that you don't have to sacrifice beauty or personality to create a home that feels calm. Instead, Myquillyn introduces the idea of "house hushing" - turning down the visual volume of your home so the pieces that matter most can truly shine.
From her unique "backwards decluttering" method to quiet decorating and embracing seasonal rhythms, Myquillyn shares practical ways to simplify your home without stripping it of warmth or character. If you've ever felt caught between wanting a peaceful space and wanting your home to still feel like you, this conversation will leave you inspired to create a home that's both restful and deeply personal.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
Diane's Resource: Book: Memory-Making Mom by Jessica Smartt
Previous Episode: Creating a Space That Reflects YOUR Personality | Myquillyn Smith
Myquillyn's Resource: Touch Lamps
Connect with Myquillyn
Website
Instagram
Podcast
Book: House Hushing: The Simple Method to Declutter and Decorate for a More Peaceful Home

About Myquillyn |
For the past ten years, Myquillyn Smith, also known as “The Nester,” has been encouraging women to embrace their homes - imperfections and all. Her lived-in, loved-on home has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Ladies' Home Journal and Cottages & Bungalows. Myquillyn is the author of The Nesting Place and Cozy Minimalist Home and was chosen by Christianity Today as one of the top twenty creatives in 2016. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three boys.
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 Amazing Generation: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com

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

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

You crawl into bed exhausted… and suddenly your brain decides it's the perfect time to replay conversations, plan tomorrow's to-do list, and worry about everything you didn't finish.
If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.
In this episode, Diane sits down with Kathryn Nicolai, creator of the wildly popular Nothing Much Happens sleep podcast, to explore why so many of us struggle to quiet our minds at the end of the day. Drawing from years of teaching meditation and helping millions of listeners fall asleep, Kathryn explains why our brains aren't broken - they're simply doing what they've been trained to do in a world of constant urgency and information overload.
Together, they discuss how simple evening rituals can help create a gentler transition from productivity to rest, why our minds feel busiest when we finally slow down, and practical ways to give our brains a calming place to land before sleep.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane.
Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel
Kathryn Resource: Vipassana
Connect with Kathryn
Website
Instagram
Podcast
YouTube
Audio Novel: On the Street Where You Live

About Kathryn |
Kathryn Nicolai is the creator and host of Nothing Much Happens, one of the most listened-to sleep podcasts in the world, where millions of listeners use her stories to calm anxiety, fall asleep, and feel more at ease in their bodies. With over 20 years of experience as a yoga and meditation teacher, Kathryn is a trusted voice in self-care, focusing on sleep hygiene, nervous system regulation, mindfulness, and storytelling as medicine. Through her work, she helps people cultivate rest, creativity, and emotional resilience in a culture shaped by overstimulation and burnout.
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 Amazing Generation: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com

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

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