Slow Living: Find Peace, Balance, and Calm in Hustle Society
New York Times bestselling author and slow living expert Stephanie O’Dea is your friendly guide to creating a calm, peaceful, and purpose-filled life—without the burnout. This isn’t a pushy productivity or goal-setting show. Instead, Stephanie shares gentle, practical ways to simplify your routines, find work-life balance, and bring more peace and tranquility into your days. Through honest conversations and easy-to-follow tips, you’ll learn to slow down, realign your priorities, and create the space to truly enjoy your life. Each episode covers topics like: Creating simple, sustainable routines Parenting with presence and patience Mindful time management (without the hustle) Organization and decluttering for a calm home Finding peace in relationships and daily life In a world that moves too fast and constantly demands more, this podcast is your weekly reminder that you are already enough. You don’t need to chase perfection—you just need to slow down and live intentionally. Stephanie O’Dea is the New York Times bestselling author of Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World and the creator of A Year of Slow Cooking, featured on Good Morning America, The Rachael Ray Show, and in major national publications. With a background in child development, psychology, and early childhood education, Stephanie has helped millions of busy families simplify, reconnect, and rediscover what truly matters. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband of 25+ years, their three kids, and their beloved dog, Sheldon—where they practice what she preaches: slowing down, unplugging, and savoring a peaceful life.
Episodes
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In this episode, Melessa and Stephanie catch up on her big move into a new home and the lessons that come with fresh beginnings. As she and her husband sort through what to keep and what to let go, Melessa reflects on how far they’ve come as a couple—learning to communicate better, compromise, and create a space that truly fits this new chapter of life.
Stephanie gives Melessa her latest “homework”: t...
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In this heartfelt continuation of Melessa’s first coaching session, she opens up about a recent autism diagnosis and how it’s helping her understand her past while embracing the woman she’s becoming. Together with Stephanie, she explores the “why” behind her life choices—what’s working, what’s not, and how to create more peace and structure in her days.
As the session unfolds, Melessa begins shaping a...
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In this first coaching session, we meet Melessa—an almost empty nester navigating a midlife transition. After raising five children, she’s now pursuing her dream of nonprofit grant writing, downsizing her home, and embracing the community she always hoped to live in. Diagnosed with ADHD at 50, she shares how cognitive behavioral therapy and tools like ChatGPT help her stay focused and manage life’s c...
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In this episode, Stephanie explores the connection between slow living and feminism, reminding us that true empowerment doesn’t mean doing it all—it means discovering who you really are. She shares why slowing down allows women to honor both ambition and biology, while also reflecting on lessons from the “girl boss” era and the importance of defining feminism on...
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In this episode, we explore why being content might just be the real secret to life. Instead of chasing the next big goal or running on the endless treadmill of “more,” it’s about shifting your mindset to embrace peace, happiness, and the goodness that already surrounds you. Discover how letting go of stress, debt, and constant striving can create more space for joy, family, and meaningful moments.
We...
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In this heartfelt episode, Kelsea and Stephanie open up about time management, home routines, and the emotions that come with balancing it all. From the stress of an untidy house to the importance of creating structure, Kelsea shares her challenges while Stephanie offers encouragement and reminds her that meaningful change takes time. Their conversation also touches on bigger goals, like startin...
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Kelsea is stepping into a fresh chapter with a new haircut and a boost of confidence. In this session, she shares the small wins making a big difference, like showing up “on time” without the pressure of being extra early and sticking to her 30-day goals. From delaying smoking to planning workouts when her kids return to school, Kelsea shows how small shifts can create real progress.
Of course, challe...
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In this episode, Kelsea shares her struggles with confidence and self-care as Stephanie encourages her to take small steps—like booking a haircut, making a doctor’s appointment, and curating outfits that make her feel good. They also talk about building a “peace pyramid” around finances and business goals with Ryan, plus Kelsea’s bucket list dreams, including running a 5K.
Kelsea reflects on her growi...
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In this episode, Kelsea shares her love for 30-day challenges and what it would mean to start one at the beginning of her cycle. She and Stephanie dive into her non-negotiables—like morning routines and progress check-ins—and explore how true wellness is more than just “holding it all together.”
Kelsea also reflects on building confidence through everyday moments, from connecting with other moms to jo...
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In this episode, Kelsea opens up about the challenges of trusting her in-laws with childcare and the shifting dynamic as they age. She’s learning to balance her mom instincts with the reality that it might be time to explore new support options. As she reflects on her personal bucket list, she realizes it’s much easier to dream big for her kids than for herself—a sign of how deeply motherhood s...
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In this episode, Kelsea reflects on listening to her first session and how it's already shifted her relationship with her mom in a powerful way. She opens up to Stephanie about an upcoming family event that’s bringing up old feelings of anxiety and fear of judgment—especially around her husband Ryan’s extended family. These gatherings often stir up a sense of not measuring up, despite the pride she f...
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In this episode, Kelsea and Stephanie talk about why “good enough” can still be something to celebrate. Kelsea shares her struggle with giving herself praise, while Stephanie encourages her to feel proud—even without outside validation. They also explore how habits like binge eating and cannabis use have become rewards that don’t always feel good.
Kelsea begins the Couch to 5K program, and Stephanie re...
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Episode 201 — Staying Grounded After a Slip: Kelsea – Session 3
In this follow-up coaching session, Kelsea opens up about a tough moment with food earlier in the week — and what makes this conversation powerful is what she didn’t do: she didn’t throw in the towel. Instead, she reflected, regrouped, and got back on track.
We talk about shifting the focus away from the number on the scale and toward how ...
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Episode 200 — Binge Eating and Tricky Relationships: Kelsea – Session 2 (Part 2)
In this milestone episode of the Slow Living Podcast, we continue our real-time coaching journey with Kelsea as she courageously opens up about her relationship with food, her family, and her own self-worth.
This session dives deep into two major themes:
- Healing patterns with food — including binge eating, finding f...
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In this episode, Kelsea shares how building a vision board—with guidance from Stephanie—helped her set daily intentions. Placing it in her bedroom anchors her morning routine. She opens up about using cannabis as a form of self-sabotage and how she's learning to shift those patterns with more kindness.
Stephanie introduces a 30-day challenge focused on lasting change, not strict timelines. They d...
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In this episode, Kelsea explores what it means to break old habits and shift into a more intentional life. With Stephanie’s guidance, she’s learning to rewrite negative thoughts, use tools like journaling and binaural beats, and imagine a future self she’s proud of.
From closing the kitchen at night to creating a vision board, Kelsea is starting to build small routines that support her growth. I...
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Meet Kelsea—a stay-at-home mom of two young boys who’s feeling stuck and ready for change. Though her mornings start strong, the chaos of caregiving often derails her day. She's searching for a slower, more intentional pace of life that feels sustainable and true to her.
In this honest coaching session, Kelsea opens up about self-doubt, emotional habits, and the fear of failing again. If you’ve ev...
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Ever feel like life is just one big game, but no one gave you the rulebook? In this episode, we’re exploring powerful life lessons hidden in everyday sports metaphors—from dropping the ball to keeping your eye on it. Whether you're waiting for permission to move forward, feeling thrown off course, or trying to stay focused in the chaos, these phrases offer more than clichés—they're reminders to...
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Do you ever find yourself yelling and instantly regretting it? In this episode, we’re digging into why we yell—hint: it’s rarely about what’s actually happening in the moment. We’ll talk about how yelling often stems from unprocessed emotions like fear, anxiety, and stress, and how it can leave lasting impacts on those around us.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of reactivity, you’re not al...
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In college, “dead week” is a quiet period with no new assignments—just space to prepare and breathe before final exams. What if we gave ourselves that same pause in everyday life? In this episode, we’re talking about how to create your own personal dead week to slow down, reset, and clear your plate when life feels like too much.
You’ll learn how to declutter what’s not working, focus on what matters, a...
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