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September 2, 2025 29 mins

Ep #86: EASE Framework: Decluttering Your Life During Career Transitions

Summary of the episode

In this solo episode of noseyAF, host Stephanie Graham opens up about navigating over a year without steady film work and how she's using this unexpected time for personal growth. She introduces her EASE framework—Eliminate, Accept, Simplify, Expand—a decision-making approach she developed while decluttering her life and dealing with the film industry's ongoing challenges. From working on her first movie in months to starting a fellowship focused on community activism, Stephanie shares how she's creating space for new opportunities while letting go of what no longer serves her. This candid conversation explores the reality of freelance creative work, the importance of being a good neighbor, and practical strategies for finding ease during uncertain career transitions.

What we talk about

  • The harsh reality of the film industry crisis and being out of work for over a year
  • Stephanie's EASE framework: Eliminate, Accept, Simplify, Expand as a guide for life transitions
  • Her community activism project to bring a movie theater back to her neighborhood through the Change Collective fellowship
  • The therapeutic process of decluttering physical spaces and digital life
  • Finding acceptance when fighting against circumstances isn't working
  • Creating space for new ideas, relationships, and opportunities during career uncertainty

Chapters

  • 00:09 - Seeking Expert Insight on Palestine
  • 04:05 - Navigating the Film Industry Crisis
  • 14:51 - Decluttering and Organizing as a Creative Journey
  • 20:07 - The EASE Framework: Decluttering Life and Creativity
  • 24:23 - Embracing Change: Letting Go and Simplifying

Things We Mentioned


All about... This Solo Episode

You're gonna love this raw, honest check-in—Stephanie's serving up real talk about career uncertainty mixed with practical wisdom and that signature warmth that makes you feel like you're chatting with your most insightful friend.

Connect with Stephanie

Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hey, friends. Welcome. Andwelcome back to Nosy AF conversations
about art, activism and socialchange. I am your host and friend,
Stephanie Graham. And beforewe dive in to today's conversation,
I have a quick request, andthat request is that I am looking
for someone who's reallyknowledgeable about Palestine, not

(00:22):
just a friend who's beenreading a couple of, like, Instagram
posts and sort of stitchingtheir ideas together, but like, an
expert, someone with deeperinsight who can help us understand
more. And this is selfishbecause it's really to help me understand
more, but hopefully you wantto understand more. And maybe it

(00:43):
could just sort of be a thingwhere there's questions submitted
and I have questions, and itcould be just a really fruitful conversation.
So if that's you or if it'ssomeone who you think would be a
great fit, would you pleaseget in touch with me? I would greatly
appreciate it. Yeah. Becausethis has, like, been really sitting
with me and I want to knowmore, want to do more, want to just

(01:06):
understand. And so, yeah, thatwould be great. So thank you so much.
Today's conversation is justgonna be a solo one, just you and
I. And I'm pretty much justchecking in during these last weeks
of summer, sharing what I'vebeen up to, from working on a film
set to decluttering andstreamlining my life. And, you know,

(01:27):
along the way, I have noticeda pattern in how I've been making
decisions about what I want tokeep, what I want to let go of, what
is going on in the world in mylife, and what I want to make room
for. So I even gave it anacronym. I'm calling it my little
ease framework. E.A.S.E.framework. And I'm going to walk

(01:53):
you through it and see if it'ssomething that you resonate with.
But you know what we gotta do?We have to play our theme.
Gotta get up, get up to thewhole world. You a winner, winner
vision of a star with amission in the cause what you doing?
How you doing? What you'redoing and who you are. Flex yourself

(02:16):
and press yourself Checkyourself don't wreck yourself if
you know me then you know thatI be knowing what's up. Stephanie,
Graham is nosy as I have.
To ask you, do you danceduring this new song? I just love
it so much. I be getting mygroove on in my little podcast station
over here. I just love thetheme music. So, okay, so we played

(02:40):
the theme music, and here weare, you and I, having a conversation,
and I have to tell yousomething which I barely talk about.
I talk about with like familyand friends, but not like publicly.
And it's not like I'm not likea public figure, but you know how
folks be on like Instagram andFacebook, like charting their worlds.

(03:02):
That's not really me. But letme get to the point. I have not worked
in over a year. I'm so shockedto say that, like, I had to sit here
and like try to connect thedots. Like, okay, when was my last
big film job? Okay, it was inApril. And then I did an indie in

(03:24):
June. And then I did anotherfill in where I helped a friend who
was going out of town. So Ifilled in for them on their job,
their TV job, and that was inAugust. And then in September I did
another indie. But outside ofthat, y', all, it wasn't until May
of this year that I booked amovie job. And let me tell you, it's

(03:48):
been rough on a sister. It'sbeen rough on a sister. I think the
most craziest thing is thatthe film industry has really lost
its mind. It's just in crisis.Can I say that? Is that appropriate

(04:09):
word? I feel that when Covidshutdown happened, all of us wasn't
working, no matter whatindustry. And then, you know, we
got that under control andthen we were back at work. Then the
writers went on strike, theactors went on strike. Okay, we got

(04:30):
that under control after a fewmonths of being off work because,
you know, if we have nowriters, we have no actors, what
are we filming? And we gotthat under control. But then the
crews were like, hold up, it'sour turn. We're thinking of striking
too. And that was filled withtension. And then that got under

(04:56):
control. There were nostrikes. And then all of a sudden
all the film work was justsent overseas. And TV shows that
were supposed to come back,they were pushed till later releases.

(05:16):
There has been a rise in indiefilms, which is a good thing, I think.
You know, even from mycolleagues, you know, some of the
indies that I worked on, theyhave projects they want to see and
it's like we're around, solet's help them make their projects.
But then there's also beenbigger budget indies, like 6 to 10
million that have come around.And that's been really good. But

(05:39):
there's also been a bunch oflike big billion dollar corporations
who's been sneaking, trying todo a lot of non union work. And that's
an issue because, you know,film work at the commercial level
is all union. And when you Tryto get non union people, you know,

(06:03):
maybe they're not being paid afair wage, they're maybe being overworked.
And so unions are really goodto have in place because to stop
all of that and it's been aproblem, you know, and these are
like big companies. Just likethink of if you are listening to
this while driving, if you seea big company, imagine them trying
to just make a commercialthat's not union or a film that's

(06:28):
not union, you know, and it'snot like non union work is okay if
we are making a short film ora feature film for, you know, a colleague
or friend who we're helpingout or even if, you know, sister
wants a commercial for herhair salon. Like, sure, you know,
there's a time and place foreverything. But when projects are

(06:50):
supposed to be union andthey're not, it's just. Oh, and then,
not to mention the LA fires.So it's just been really wild out
here and unfortunate and sadand stressful and angering. And I
felt really lucky to be ableto book this film that I worked on

(07:14):
for two months. And I'mexcited to share it with you when
it came out. I can't talk toomuch about it. I think the point
in me telling you is just thatit's been wild to be off work, but
also enjoying the time off byhaving more time to be with family
and be in the house and workon my podcast and be in the studio,

(07:39):
you know, all of that stuff.So I'm excited to hopefully get back
to work. But I'm really beentaking this time to say, oh, what
else? And the sad thing aboutthat is that I've had friends leave
the business because there'sjust no work and bills are due. And

(07:59):
that's real, that's a veryreal thing. And it's tough. It is
tough. It is tough. And soyeah, I booked this movie and it
is going to be great. I can'twait to tell you about it. And I
can't wait to tell you aboutall of the film projects that come
out that I've been working on.And I want to do a better job at

(08:23):
that one film I worked on. Iwant to say maybe about three years,
two to three years now. Let'sjust say that a film called We Strangers
is coming out and it's doing alimited release. I will put a link
to it in the show notes. Butthat's a beautiful film directed

(08:45):
by Anu Valia, a productiondesigned by Amelia Steely, and it
is A story of a house cleanerwho. See, how can I describe this?
It's a house cleaner. It's astory about a house cleaner who gets,

(09:05):
you know, wrapped up inworking for some really wealthy people.
And it's just a fun story.It's a wild story and I think you
will like it. And it's anindependent film. You know, Anu,
the director, has done a lotof things and this was a project
that she had been working onfor a long time that she finally

(09:26):
brought to fruition. So it wasa blessing to be a part of that.
You know, seeing people have adream, have it come to life. And
I feel so lucky to be a partof that. So, yeah, so that's the
first thing. Okay, Working ona film. Now listen, I haven't worked
since that film. Oh my God, myfather, I hear my father right now

(09:49):
being. That's not funny. Thatis not funny. You know, like, yeah,
it's not. But again, beingable to have this time to think,
like, even I, even myself,I've been sort of like, yo, if I
don't do film, what else do Iwant to do? Like, what do I want
to make space for? So I'm justtrying to be expansive. I always

(10:11):
want to do film. It's the onlyjob I've ever done, really, so we'll
see. But I have other ideasand so I'm trying to make use of
this time while I have it.Speaking of making use of my time

(10:32):
while I have it, I did afellowship. I did a fellowship. I
believe it was maybe like sixmonths. Because let me tell you something,
when you essentially don'thave a job, you lose track of time.
You are like Mariah Carey,like, what is time? What is time?
But I did this six monthfellowship called the Change Collective

(10:53):
and it's for civic mindedfolks who are just leaders trying
to make a difference in theircommunities. So I think I actually
might try to have someone fromChange Collective on the podcast
because I think it's a reallycool organization. But for six months,
all of us leaders, folks fromChicago, Detroit and Jackson, we

(11:15):
all met once a month for sixmonths. And then we had like exchanges
in between all to create withthe dreams of creating a project
either either for our not anot for profit that we're already
a part of or starting, or it'sa brand new project. And so my project

(11:38):
was in my neighborhood. Igreatly want to have a movie theater.
We do not have a movie theaterin our neighborhood. The closest
one is probably like 30, 40minutes away. And probably even maybe
40 minutes away by bus. But itcould be longer. Depends on what

(11:59):
theater you want to go to. Theclosest theater that was in my neighborhood
closed during the pandemic.And let me tell you, that theater
was the bomb. It showedHollywood pictures, it showed independent
pictures. It had buy one, getone free. There was a bar in there,
it was amazing. Free parking.And there's just nowhere if you want

(12:23):
to stay on the up and up aboutwhat's going on with movies. There's
no place for you to really go.Like, you could have went to my local
theater that was. It wascalled Chatham Cinema, I believe,
but it's not there anymore.And so I'm like, yo, we need a movie
theater. And so my idea, whichis not a new idea, is to just make

(12:46):
pop up film screenings andthen hopefully it will develop into
a micro cinema. And so I'vebeen developing that and I hope to
start having screenings in thefall. But that's been something I've
been working on. And I thinkthat, you know, being a part of your
community is really important.You know, to me, that is activism,

(13:08):
being a good neighbor. Andyeah, I think that the neighborhood
I live in, we need moreentertainment outlets. And so why
not have a movie theater now?When it gets started, it probably
will very much be in the gymwith folded chairs. But so what,
you know, you gotta startsomewhere. And so, yeah, that's something

(13:31):
that I'm really lookingforward to. Let me see. Yeah, I'm
trying to think like, oh,should I tell you some of the other
people's projects? But sinceI'm just sort of going off the dome,
I didn't get their permission.I didn't. So I'm gonna get their
permission. Maybe some of themwill be on the podcast. We'll see.
And yeah, so changecollective. I'll put the link to

(13:53):
the show notes. That has beena really good way to spend my time,
honestly, because it gives mesomething to focus on. And it's also
a project that I really wantto do. I selfishly would like to
have a movie theater in myneighborhood. Just like I selfishly
would like to have a grocerystore that I could walk to. So hope,

(14:16):
you know, when. When I thinkabout stuff like that, I'm like,
is that right? Is thatthinking about everybody else when
you're thinking aboutyourself? But I think so. I think
so. When I talk to myneighbors about it, they're like
all down for it, you know,they're like, yes, yes. And it also
gives kids something to do.Like Maybe kids might want to be
interested in film. Right nowmight not be the best time to be

(14:38):
a part of film, but maybethey'll want to be an independent
filmmaker. And being able tosee movies is very, very important.
And plus, movies spark ideas.Like cinema is an important platform.
Okay, so the thing last thingthat also I've been doing with my

(15:00):
summer is decluttering andorganizing. And let me tell you,
this is a huge undertaking.And one thing I've realized, especially
with decluttering, is thatit's just like your relationship
with the Lord. It is nevercomplete. It is always a work in
progress. It is alwayssomething that you have to do all

(15:23):
the time. It's never like,okay, I did it, and it's done. It
just becomes a part of yourlife. But sometimes are going to
be bigger than other times.And right now, I am in one of the
big times. So this wholedecluttering journey started with
two things. One was that I hada artist residency at a place called

(15:49):
Chicago Art Department. Andthat residency was coming to a close.
And so the artist studio thatI had there, I had to bring everything
out and bring it back into myhome studio. And so I needed to make
space for where all of thatwas going to go. So that was one

(16:09):
event. The second event was myneighborhood was having a spring
cleaning event, and theybrought a big dumpster for the whole
community to throw whateverthey wanted. Electricity, electronics,
batteries, whatever you had.And my one neighbor, Mr. Wilson,

(16:31):
decided to get rid of hisgrill. And he rolled it down the
street and threw it in thedumpster. And it was so funny because
some of my neighbors werelike, hey, you can't do that. You
can't do that. He said, didn'ty' all say anything? You said, we
can put anything in here. AndI'm like, you told him he could put

(16:52):
anything in there. Help Mr.Wilson with the grill. And so they
did. Mr. Wilson got his wayalso. I'm like, are you guys really
going to make Mr. Wilson rollthis grill back home? He rolled it
all the way down here. It iswhat it is. Put it in the dumpster.
So they did. And that made melaugh. But the best part of the declutter

(17:17):
was the paper declutter. Andso I was going through my house,
in my studio, grabbing all thepaper. You know how it is. The tax
returns, bank statements, allthat stuff that you didn't need anymore
to declutter and or to shred.And so when I got back, my place
just sort of looked crazy. Ijust had stuff Everywhere for me,

(17:38):
trying to throw things out.Oh, one last thing about Mr. William,
about Mr. Wilson's grill.Because it was so big, they had to
take the dumpster away early.So a lot of us weren't really able
to throw away things we neededto. But it also was first come, first
serve. And if you would'veseen this grill just going down the

(18:02):
street at like, at the top ofa mound of just consumer electronics
and things, all this stuffthat they had organized to be sorted
out and disposed of in theappropriate way. But just seeing
that grill, like the legs ofit sticking out, it just. And that
Mr. Wilson got his way, itreally just made me laugh. But yeah,

(18:25):
so the shredding, all of thatbrings me back to my home studio
that was in complete disarray.And I'm like, oopsie, oopsie. But
it just made me start goingthrough things and just decluttering
stuff. Like, do I even reallyneed these lights? Do I really need
this box? Do I need thesewooden trays? Like, let me really

(18:46):
get rid of some of this stuff.So I've just been going crazy. So
I've just been watching allthe YouTube cleaning experts. I've
been all on Reddit in theminimalism thread, just trying to
get ideas and I've beendecluttering. And one of the best
rules that I found was, haveyou used it? Do you really need it?

(19:09):
If not get rid of it. Andthat's just. And just being ruthless
about that. I understandpeople have attachment to stuff.
There's been things that Ifound, like both of my grandparents
have passed and I have a boxof like my grandma's telephone book,
you know, or like my grandpahad a planner. Like, those are things

(19:29):
that I still have that haslike their handwriting in it. So
yeah, I keep those. But otherstuff that's not necessary. I've
just been trying to be asruthless as possible and bring some
order into my space. So I lovethat for me. And you know, it's been
decluttering in the summer,but whatever, I've really been decluttering.

(19:53):
I feel almost in spring. Butyou know, it's a process. Like it
doesn't all happen overnight.And so, yeah, so decluttering has
been a big part of my summer.So all of this leads me to my EASE
framework I just made up justfor the sake of talking with you

(20:18):
today. But also I feel likeit's how I've been looking at all
of this time that I've had.And EASE stands for Eliminate, accept,
simplify and expand. And whenthe. In particular when the writer
strike happened and the actorswere on strike and the Studios were

(20:42):
being Mr. Meanie mean pants, Iwas really upset. I'm like, you know
what? All we want to do istell stories. We just want to make
movies and tell stories.That's it. Rinse and repeat. And
the fact that there was suchresistance towards giving the actors

(21:03):
and writers what they wantedreally just boiled my button. Is
that a phrase? I think there'sa better way to say it. It's like
boiled something. But itpissed me off. Okay, I'll just say
it. It pissed me off. And aswe've been off work or my. I've been

(21:25):
off work and my friends, Ihave friends off work. As we're all
like contemplating what'snext, applying for non film jobs,
it's made me think, you knowwhat? I gotta stop fighting this.
I am accepting what this is.You know, I chose this life, this
film life. And it is notalways going to be steady. It is

(21:50):
a freelancer's life. And thereare going to be hills and valleys.
But I didn't expect the valleyto go all the way down to the ocean.
But for real, I just had to belike, look, this is what it is. You
don't have a gig, right?There's no film work right now. You

(22:10):
know, this all has to besorted out. You know, folks, it's
just wild. It's just wild. SoI had to accept. Okay, so that is
the A of the E's accept. Ihave accepted this for what it is
and making space for new. Andthat leads me to E. Expand right

(22:33):
now, by the way, this is notin order, obviously, as you can see,
but expand means create spacefor new ideas, relationships and
opportunities. So while I'vebeen off, I've been meeting people,
going out, catching shows,collaborating, brainstorming, dreaming,

(22:55):
all of that, you know, andwriting. I've been writing. I want
to make a film too. Like, youknow, just making space for new ideas.
So I welcome you to do thatand to keep doing it because I'm
sure you are already doing it.So a, acceptance what it is. Stop
fighting what it is and knowthat your situation, whatever that

(23:20):
situation is, accept it forwhat it is so that way we can move
on. All right? Look at me. Whodo I think I am? Martha Stewart giving
this advice? Does MarthaStewart give advice? Let me tell
you something. Martha Stewartis a baddie. I love her, all right?
I just think she's a baddie.Do you find her a problematic? Let
me know. I'D be so curious,but I really just admire her, and

(23:44):
I think it was the Lifetimemovie based on her that I liked.
I have yet to see herdocumentary, but that is what it
is. I will get there. Andsorry for the tangent, but let's
move on to E. Eliminate.Remove what's not serving you. All
right, so getting rid of theclothes, the clutter, you know, I

(24:06):
had all these art pieces that.Or, like, art supplies that I didn't
even use. You know, I gavethat away to a community that collects
art supplies. It's like, y'all need this stuff. I do not need
this stuff. It has beensitting in my closet for years. You
gotta let it go. So justletting go of things that you wanted

(24:28):
to keep, just in case, I'mgetting rid of it. I've even gone
through my Instagram andunfollowed accounts and email unsubscribed.
Like, just, you know, as soonas I see it and I don't want to be
bothered, I'm cutting it out.All right? I'm trying to be easy,
keep it smooth and easy. Youknow what I mean? So that is the

(24:51):
E. And finally S. So S issimplify. Keeping it smooth. Maybe
S should have really beensmooth. But let's say smooth and
simplify. Just making thingseasier and repeatable. You know,
my routines. Especially sinceI've been off just trying to keep

(25:12):
myself busy but not givingmyself too much. And one example
of this is with mydecluttering. I've made this donation
box, and one of the cleaningexperts on YouTube told me this.
You know, she just says, keepyour donation box in the hallway
and fill it every week. So asI've been going through decluttering

(25:34):
my studio, setting things backin place, I've just been finding
more stuff to drop off at theart shop. And I love it. I love it.
And, you know, even beenkeeping my cereal the same. Shout
out to Special K Vanilla. Youknow, I've just been trying to keep
things simple because thenI'll follow through on it. You know

(25:56):
what I mean? So I would inviteyou, dear listener, to pick one of
these this week to try it. Solet me go through it again. The E's
framework E for eliminate.Remove what's not serving you. A.
Accept. Stop fighting what itis. S. Simplify. Make things easier

(26:17):
and repeatable. E. Expand.Create space for new ideas, relationships,
and opportunities. So whichone will you pick? I would love to
hear about it. If you decideto declutter, just take a kitchen
drawer. You know what I mean?Just reach out to one person, take
one person for tea, hitsomebody up and talk on Zoom. You

(26:41):
know, expand your network,simplify, you know your matcha routine,
accept that it is what it isand get rid of stuff that no longer
serves you immediately. Don'teven double think it, just get rid
of it. That's a big part ofthis easy stuff. It's easy. I don't
want you go maybe not be thatrude about it. But yeah, I'm so curious.

(27:05):
What are you letting go ofthis summer and what do you want
more ease around? I would loveit if you would tag me on Instagram
or DM me, email me withsomething, maybe you've decluttered
or a cool group that you'vejoined. I would love that. So that's

(27:26):
my little summer check in. Alook at how I've been practicing
this ease these past fewmonths. Eliminating what's no longer
serving me, accepting what Ican't control, simplifying where
I can and expanding into newopportunities. And I hope some of
that resonates with you andmaybe even gives you a spark for
your own season of ease. Andone last reminder again, if you know

(27:48):
someone, or maybe it is you,who knows what's happening in Palestine,
I would very much love tospeak to them. My email address is
stephaniessgraham.com thankyou so much as always for listening.
I'll be back soon with moreconversations and guests. Until then,
please take good care ofyourself. This has been another episode

(28:10):
of Nosy af. I'm your host,Stephanie Graham. What did you think
about today's conversation? Iwould love to hear your thoughts.
Head over to the Nosy AFwebsite for all the show notes related
to this episode. You can alsofind me on Instagram at Stephanie
Graham, what would you know?Or online@missgraham.com where you
can sign up for my newsletterwhere I share exclusive updates about

(28:33):
my studio practice as well asthis podcast. Until next time, y'
all stay curious and takecare. Bye Sam.
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