René is living and thriving with the diagnosis and empowering others to do the same. She has taken a late in life diagnosis and used it to uplift others.

René is the founder of Black Girl, Lost Keys, a blog that empowers black women with ADHD, helping them to live well with the disorder.

We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show.

While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

• Learn what ADHD is and the symptoms related to this category of challenges. Here is a well-known symptom checklist for ADHD self testing: Adult ADHD Self Report Scale
  Remember only an MD or a qualified health professional can give you an "official" diagnosis.

• René shares her own experiences in getting diagnosed and treated.

• We learn more about the special challenges facing women of color in address this disease.

• Hear René solutions for managing the day, your work and your life with techniques for overcoming barriers.

• Listen to our conversation with Craig Selinger in Ep 105 | Hope for Kids and Adults with ADHD

• René shares her tips for paper and content management.

René’s favorite organizing tip:
With the holidays coming up, make a plan to keep gifts in the car until you are ready to wrap them! This way, they won’t get lost or forgotten in a closet. Out of site is out of mind, which can be a trap for someone with ADHD.

What's sparking the most joy for René:
René loves her active, engaged Twitter community. You should definitely check it out!

Follow René on her website at blackgirllostkeys.com

On twitter @blkgirllostkeys

And FaceBook @BlackGirlLostKeys

René recommends her book, Clean Up the Trash, as very relevant to our listeners!

Gems:
"When you are having difficulty organizing your thoughts and your things, you find that increasingly run you out of time to do anything. In fact, starting to get organized and then stoping part way through is very common!"

"When you look over your life, you begin to see the patterns of ADHD didn't just happen overnight.
There are many pieces to the pie, but black women with ADHD are very isolated because they don't have a place that they fit in."

"If I don't have a time set for myself to look at email, it's not going to happen."

"You have to be willing to look at the goal of completing something and not worry too much about the method you used to accomplish it. The things that work change over time."

The Spark Joy Anniversary Give-A-Way contest prizes!

Win one of three bundles consisting of Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up, signed by Marie Kondo, a fifty dollar gift certificate to the KonMari Shop to select your own Joy Sparking gift, and a two-hour Virtual Tidying Session from For the Love of Tidy!

Three lucky winners will receive a bundle of all these prizes!

• To be eligible for all of the prizes above, all you need to do is head over to: www.sparkjoypodcast.com/itunes for detailed instructions on how to leave a review via iTunes. Once there, follow the Apple Podcast instructions to leave us a rating and review in iTunes to help us reach more ears, minds, and hearts.

• Most important step: Send an email to: contact@sparkjoypodcast.com letting us know you left us a review and what screen name you left it under. This will act as your official entry. Don’t forget this step! It is the only way we can officially log you as entered into the contest.

• Submit your star rating and review by November 24, 2020. We’ll announce the winners during our season finale “Best of” show that will air on December 1st.

**Contest runs from September 1 to November 24, 2020.* Winners will be announced during our Best of 2020 show on December 1, 2020***

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: René Brooks.

Scout started Scout's Agency with an emphasis in podcast PR. Most of her clients are women and she loves helping them find their voice in podcasting and other media.

This did not come without her own trials and tribulations.

Scout has been living with a severe case of bipolar disorder for 14 years. She once was unable to hold a job, go to school, or function in today's society. These experiences led her to host her own podcast, SCOUT, a podcast about mental health with a dose of entrepreneurship.

We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show.

While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast.

Book a custom Virtual Tidying Experience with For the Love of Tidy

Join The Spark Joy Club today!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

• Scout’s journey to entrepreneurship and branding in podcasting and other media spaces with an emphasis on helping others find their voices in her PR business
• Learn about Scout’s mental health diagnosis. You’ll learn about bipolar disorder: what it means, and what it doesn’t
• How just looking for help can start the journey toward wellness, even if you aren’t feeling much hope in the moment
• The ways that Scout brings joy into her work life
• How organization has helped Scout make her work life work
• How to find a good therapist

Scout’s favorite tidying tip:
“Look at something in your life, it can be anything, and ask yourself the yes or no question, ‘Does it bring you joy?’ if it doesn’t, it’s out. Set that as the standard for your life.”

What sparks joy for Scout
“I have been able to connect with women and have conversations around things that really mean something to people while also connecting with other women who are out there doing incredible things and spreading incredible messages.”

You can find Scout on Instagram: @scoutsobel

And be sure to check out her podcast: Scout on Apple Podcasts

Gems:
“Everything goes into a calendar. Every little thing: every call, every task, every email I need to send..I don’t want to have to remember anything at all and I don’t want to think about what I have to do until the day before.”

“I just write, write, write until I can drive the negative energy out of me.”

“Be clear on what your goals are for the future.”

“This is your life, these are the cards that you are dealt and you can take responsibility for your recovery.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Scout Sobel.

Originally from a suburb of Detroit, Christina spent 7 years in NYC working in fashion, a year in Boston and now lives in Chicago's Wicker Park with her husband, John, and dog, Drake. Christina lives basically in spreadsheets, on blogs, Pinterest, and the phone when it comes to planning her clients' big days

REMINDER
Don’t forget you have until November 26 to enter our Spark Joy Giveaway.

We’ll announce our winners during our “Best of” show on December 3.

Head over to sparkjoypodcast.com/itunes for instructions on how to leave a star rating and written review on iTunes.

Then, shoot an email to contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with your username for a chance to win one of 6 coveted KonMari-themed prizes that spark joy in celebration of our two-year anniversary.

Thanks again for your support!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

• Christina's path to "eventification"
• Tips on avoiding stress and choosing joy when preparing for the holidays
• Christina's love of simplified listmaking (a strategy that is also featured in Spark Joy Episode 107)
• Our favorite gifts for hosts and gift list making strategies
• The essential components of a great holiday event:
  • A great scent
  • An inclusive playlist
  • Fun interactive touches
• How to be a great guest!
  • RSVP promptly
  • Join in on the fun
  • Ask how you can lend a hand or if you can bring anything
  • Bring a host gift as a nice gesture (here's an example: Kristyn's favorite host gift)
  • Include a thank you card with a mindful gifting message: "If this gift does not spark joy in any way, please feel free to let it go with gratitude and a "thank you."
• Christina's plans to enjoy her first Christmas in Chicago

Christina's favorite tidying tip:
Pencil and paper. Writing things down and labeling.

What's sparking the most joy for Christina:
The turn of the season and excitement about the holidays!

You can find Christina on Instagram @totheninesevents and totheninesevents.com

Mention “SPARK JOY” if interested in working with To The Nines Events to receive 10% off any planning package of your choice.

Gems:

• "Whether it's your gift list, decorating your home, or planning your holiday party, you really need to start early."
• "Have faith over fear. You can do it!"

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Christina Lustig.

Jen Smith co-hosts the Frugal Friends Podcast and author of Amazon best-selling book, "The No-Spend Challenge Guide" and latest book "Pay Off Your Debt for Good."

REMINDER
Don’t forget you have until November 26 to enter our Spark Joy Giveaway.

We’ll announce our winners during our “Best of” show on December 3.

Head over to sparkjoypodcast.com/reviews for instructions on how to leave a star rating and written review on iTunes.

Then, shoot an email to contact@sparkjoypodcast.com with your username for a chance to win one of 6 coveted KonMari-themed prizes that spark joy in celebration of our two-year anniversary.

Thanks again for your support!

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

• Learn more about the ideas behind frugality and debt management including the Financial Independence or FI movement.

• The philosophy behind Modern Frugality

• The growth of the Modern Frugality platform and movement

• It’s not about being cheap!

• Learn about the Four Pillars of Modern Frugality:
  -Value based spending
  -Minimalism focused
  -Environmentally friendly
  -Simpler and cleaner

• Learn about Jen’s KonMari journey and what she and her husband learned along the way

• Why Jen is a big fan of KonMari folding

• The importance of focusing on the Big Four of expenditures: housing, transportation, bills and food. Focusing on these big expenditures and making changes will make a bigger difference in getting rid of debt than cutting back on small things that you love, things that Spark Joy!

• Be sure to check out Ep 6 | Declutter Your Path to Wealth with Tess Wicks and Ep 58 | KonMari + Financial Freedom with House of FI for more ideas finance and debt management

Jennifer’s favorite tidying tip for people wanting to live a life of modern frugality:
“Clear your surfaces. If you can clear your coffee table, your TV stands… your cloud of clutter will begin to lift.”

What is sparking the most joy for Jen:
“I’m a new mom and watching my husband become a dad has really warmed my heart.”

Parting words of wisdom:
“Find the brand of financial freedom that works for you.”

You can find Jen at modernfrugality.com

She’s on Facebook and Instagram at @ModernFrugality

Her podcast can be found here: The Frugal Friends Podcast
and you can grab a copy of her book on Amazon: The No-Spend Challenge Guide: How to Stop Spending Money Impulsively, Pay off Debt Fast, & Make Your Finances Fit Your Dreams

For Spark Joy Podcast listeners, go to modernfrugality.com/debtfreeworkbook and get the free workbook that walks you through each activity in her new book, "Pay Off Your Debt for Good".

Gems:

“Having control over your spending and having the confidence that you are spending money on only the things that you WANT to be spending your money on.”

“Learning a little bit about everything and finding what works for you. The radical middle!”

“If you try it for just a little while, you will be surprised at the things you learn about yourself. And I think that in itself if work the practice.”

“I follow "values-based spending" which is essentially spending without guilt on things that spark joy and eliminating or lowering spending on everything else.”

“So many things came to light while we were paying down our debt, I wanted to write a book about it.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Jennifer Smith.

Ania is a licensed clinical and school psychologist working for nearly two decades with children and adults. She founded The Fashionologist to help women align themselves with who they are at this very moment. She combines her expert skill as a therapist, passion for clothing, and solid research to back up her understanding of the value of clothes in order to provide a personalized, simple, and strategic experience with each client.

We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show.

While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:
-Learning about feeling “powerfully confident and in control” when it comes to your fashion choices

-Clothes Cognition Theory is a thing!

-Hear about studies that demonstrate the importance of clothing in our mood and in our daily interactions. Here are two studies that Ania spoke about: Enclothed Cognition and the White Lab Coat and Informal Clothing Effects Negotiation

-How Ania uses her background in psychology in working with her clients

-The importance of good closet organization in feeling empowered about your clothes

-Learn some simple tips for recognizing if your closet is working for you or against you

-Listen to previous episodes on fashion in our series, Closet Joy:
- Ep 38 | Closet Joy Part I: Find Your Style with Jessica Louie
- Ep 39 | Closet Joy Part II: Build Your Capsule Wardrobe with Courtney Carver
- Ep 40 | Closet Joy Part III: Buy It Once with Tara Button

Ania is at TheFashionologist.com

You can also find her on Instagram @TheFashionologistNyc

Ania has a special offer for Spark Joy Podcast listeners! Mention you heard her on the Spark Joy Podcast and get 20% your first Mindful Closet Edit

Ania’s favorite closet styling tip: “Have only your seasonal clothes either in your closet or at least keep the things you can wear in the front...and, hangers! They should be good solid ones. Good hangers show respect for your clothing.

What sparks joy for Ania: Her kids and being able to spend some good unstructured time with her kids over the holiday.

Parting words of Wisdom: Ania’s favorite quote comes from Coco Chanel: “Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”

Gems:

• “Clothes have a systemic influence on the wearers psychological processes and abilities.”
• “I function as a coach; as a wardrobe strategist.”
• “It takes a lot of courage to invite me into their closet and I take that very seriously.”
• “My job is not to toss out items they don’t need, but to shift their thinking toward what is working for them.”
• "People don’t always realize what they are projecting out into the world with their clothing.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Ania Schwartzman.

Vanessa Van Edwards is Lead Investigator at Science of People — where she unlocks the formulas and patterns behind human behavior for hundreds of thousands of students in over 200 countries. She is the national bestselling author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding With People, available in 14 languages around the world.

We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show.

While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

• Vanessa's path to the study of human behavior from being a self-described recovering awkward person
• Vanessa's interview with Tom Bilyeu that addresses how fake or ambivalent friendships can steal your joy just as much as toxic ones
• The connection between your relationships with people and your KonMari journey
• Vanessa's tips on how to break up with a friend that addresses how fake or ambivalent friendships can steel our joy just as much as toxic ones
• The only personality trait study backed by science. Take the free OCEAN personality quiz here to see where you land and share your results with us!
• How being labeled neurotic can work in your favor and is a part of how your body responds to worry
• Vanessa's Ted Talk and research on how our hand gestures influence the way people digest the information
• Internal and external considerations that will help you get motivated to tidy by considering if it's a pain pill or a vitamin
• Why it's very important to fully explore how you worry and how you self calm

Vanessa's favorite tidying tip: Allowing herself to only watch trashy TV while she is actively tidying.

What sparks joy for Vanessa: Her newborn daughter Sienna.

To connect with Vanessa, visit www.scienceofpeople.com . While you’re there, sign-up for People School. All the soft skills you wish you’d learned in school.

Gems:
-"You should be in control of every single relationship in your life."
-"There are people in your life who you're constantly wondering, 'is this person good for me?'"
-"Our hand gestures add depth to our ideas, and our thoughts, and our personalties."
-"Our hands are our notes along with our words."
-"Everyone deserves to have relationships that make them feel good."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Special Guest: Vanessa Van Edwards.

In this episode, Spark Joy explores how you can clarify your vision of the kind of life you want to lead and why it’s important step, but often overlooked, in the KonMari journey.

We discuss the why and how of identifying the vision of your ideal life and how it can help you complete the KonMari process to greater success. Your life vision will help you clarify why you want to tidy and how your life will look once the tidying is completed.

Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

• Tips for how to begin identifying your vision, making it specific, focused and intentional

• Learning how to break down identifying your ideal life into manageable parts:

  • What is your ideal day?
  • Your ideal moment that would spark joy? Picture yourself doing something delightful.
  • Begin with gratitude and appreciation - what is currently working for you in your space and in your life?
  • Imagine how you would be living your life today if money, time and obligations were not a constraint?
  • Take a holistic look at how you’re doing in each area of your life: Career, Relationships, Hobbies, Spirituality, Health, Finances, Community.
  • Check out the The KonMari Wheel of Impact
  • List the first five life goals (long- or short- term) that immediately come to mind as they relate to those categories.
  • Close your eyes and imagine you’ve reached the end of your tidying journey. Describe in detail how you envision your home to look and how you feel

• We share our own visions and visions of some of our clients from all stages of life: single people, families, couples, downsizers and empty nesters

• How to create your own Vision statement!

  • Get it out of your head and onto another media: diary, Pinterest board, website, blog, Facebook post, anything.
  • Establish a new tradition of creating a vision board and display it proudly in your home

Example of Vision Boards and Statements:
A Goal Setting Strategy That Sticks

Gems:
“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life”

“I just want things to be different instead of thinking about what that different looks like.”

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy