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PODCAST · education

Clutter Chronicles

by Lori Koppelman

This podcast series is an ongoing conversation with Mary, who calls herself a recovering hoarder. She is willing to share her up-til-now very private life in an effort to be helpful to others, may they be packrats, someone who loves a hoarder or those who just want to understand something that's mystifying to them. We go step by step through the muck, the stuck places, the victories. We don't know when and if she will recover from her "unusual relationship with stuff." Come along with me and cheer Mary on as she does the very hard work of healing. Will she ever let me into her home? Stay tuned.

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Episodes

  1. 62: Stronger Than Ever

    Mary tells us she is emerging from this process realizing she is strong and able to receive and accept love.

  2. 61: Live in the Bittersweet

    Mary tells us about the marvelous challenge by her therapist to live in the bittersweet.

  3. 60: Did Her New Ideas Stick?

    I was curious about Mary’s progress on several fronts, including her new reading chair and command center. Since it's been four months since we last talked, did these new ideas stick?

  4. 59: Bumping into Paradigm Shifts

    We get to hear Mary’s brothers' reaction to our podcast and how Mary finally found a place for praying and reading in her home.

  5. 58: Gaining & Letting Go of Control

    In today’s conversation, we talk about setting up a desk for Mary’s new job working from home, her wardrobe, shopping - all arenas for gaining and letting go of control.

  6. 57: Learn Do Become Decreases Mary's Anxiety

    Mary shares that she has taken advantage of helping resources, such as Learn Do Become, and that has significantly decreased her anxiety. Savvy Cleaner YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8OUzZ0rKHOUZ19em4cEXyQ Savvy Cleaner Top 10 Hoarding Resources show:...

  7. 56: Are We There Yet?

    We discuss why Mary cannot accept help and though she feels like she’s coming back to square one over and over, how she is really and truly changing for good.

  8. 55: I don't Want It

    Today we explore why we settle for things we don’t want.

  9. 54: Working Inside Anxiety

    Last time we talked, Mary was talking about the natural disaster that happened in her basement and the good that came from it. In today’s conversation, as if on cue, another backward step in the healing process for Mary, and we bring her anxiety issues into focus.

  10. 53: The Flood

    In today’s conversation, is it kitty accidents or something else? And is it a disaster or the best thing?

  11. 52: Sunshine in Her Voice

    Last time we talked, I asked Mary what she thought about getting a dumpster to help speed her progress. It today’s conversation, Mary’s progress takes a turn for the very good when she goes to a healing retreat and magic ensues, but not before she freezes her tail off!

  12. 51: Wouldn't a Dumpster Help?

    Last time we talked, almost five months ago, Mary started getting us caught up on the progress she’s been making packing up her car and getting rid of loads and loads of stuff. In today’s conversation, I ask Mary what she thinks about getting a dumpster to help speed her progress.

  13. 50: Charity is the Antidote to Hoarding

    Mary starts getting us caught up on the progress she’s been making over the past four months, packing up her car and getting rid of loads and loads of stuff.

  14. 49: Stuff is Dangerous to My Soul

    In today’s conversation, we talk about how Mary's “life is short” lesson is impacting her in the time since her friend Lisa’s untimely death. The song we reference is Blonde's Heart of Glass. For copyright reasons, I did not play it during the episode.

  15. 48: What's Wrong with Them?

    Last time we talked, Mary talked about moving from the arena of hoarding to one of hope and the positive impact that’s made. In today’s conversation, we check in on how her "Wet It Go Wednesday" plan has been working out.

  16. 47: From Shame to Worthiness

    Mary talks about moving from the arena of hoarding to one of hope and explains how she has made leaps in her healing from shame with the help of her therapist.

  17. 46: Life is Short

    Mary shares a very sad story that is giving her a new perspective and motivating her like never before.

  18. 45: Good Better Best

    Last time Mary explained the unique process of unclogging her insides. In today's conversation, Mary talks about how her relationship to clothing is starting to shift and how she’s poised to start letting go of a brand new category of her treasures.

  19. 44: Unhoarding on the Inside

    Last time we talked, about three months ago, Mary shared the uncomfortable situation that was going on inside her body and how it related to her external hoarding situation. In today’s conversation, Mary explains the unclogging process, and it's no fun.

  20. 43: Hoarding on the Inside

    Mary shares the uncomfortable situation going on inside her body and how it relates to her external situation.

  21. 42: Shredding & Tossing with Abandon

    Mary has discovered the core of her hoarding and it’s the family’s paper memorabilia. Show Notes: Becoming Minimalist 12-week Uncluttered course Sunk cost fallacy is the behavioral economic theory that I was referring to in my example of the shirt I bought and didn’t want to get rid of. The…

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  22. 41: Higher Expectations

    Mary is peeling away more and more shame and raising expectations for what her home can be.

  23. 40: So Much Hope it Hurts

    Mary describes the hope she is allowing herself to feel now as she moves stuff out of the #1 position in her life. The book I reference at the end of our conversation is The Path is Everywhere, by Matt Licata.

  24. 39: Tapping into Resources

    Mary is starting to tap resources that are proving quite helpful that she wasn’t ready or able to access before.

  25. 38: On the Cusp of Normalcy

    Last time we learned that Mary DID get the garage cleared out but it brought anxiety more than anything. In today’s conversation, Mary recognizes the progress she’s made and feels she’s on the cusp of normalcy.

  26. 37: Space = Anxiety

    Mary did get the garage cleared out but it brought anxiety more than anything, which was a big surprise to me.

  27. 36: Letting Go of Old Thoughts & Ways

    Last time Mary shared with us her new goal of getting the garage cleared out to park their truck inside during the winter. In today’s conversation, we continue discussing that and learn that Mary is letting go old thoughts and old ways which is really the hardest part.

  28. 35: Crossing into Truth

    Mary shares with us her new goal of getting the garage cleared out to park their truck inside during the winter.

  29. 34: Trash Redefined

    Last time we talked about how how Mary had been learning, along with her preschoolers, how to transition and make better decisions, things she had never learned before. That was over three months ago. In today’s conversation, Mary has learned another new skill: how to fill up a garbage can.

  30. 33: Transition & Decision-Making Muscles

    Last time. we caught up after several months between recording sessions and heard that Mary no longer had an out-of-control need to keep things. In today’s conversation we talk about how Mary has been learning, along with her preschoolers, how to transition and make better decisions, key skills...

  31. 32: Letting Go

    In today’s conversation we catch up after several months between recording sessions and hear that Mary no longer has an out-of-control need to keep things and we find out why.

  32. 31: Office Clear Out & Tackle Boxes

    Mary tells us about how she could turn on a dime and ready office space at home for her husband and the strategies she is using with boxes to help calm the chaos.

  33. 30: Invisible Lifesaver

    Mary talks about the healing conversations between she and her husband now that the shame, that dirty rotten scoundrel, is beginning to lift. And we discuss the invisible lifesaver that has been critical to her healing.

  34. 29: Hooray for Hoarders!

    Up until this point it's been just over four months since Mary and I began recording our conversations and she is making great progress. When we get together, we usually have a lot to talk about so record several sessions at once. Last time Mary recognized what her stuff has been doing to her and...

  35. 28: Floodgates Open

    Last time we talked about how things were going with Mary’s space loving spouse and the tricky dynamics involved with her stuff. In this conversation Mary recognizes what her stuff has been doing to her and the floodgates open.

  36. 27: Spouse Check-in

    We check in on how things are going with her spouse. With him loving space and her needing to fill it up, it can get tricky.

  37. 26: Letting Go of Family Heirlooms

    Mary describes what it was like to say goodbye to her mother’s things and the trust required to let them go. We also heard how the dog purse went over at the vintage store.

  38. 25: Family Heirlooms: Treasure or Clutter?

    In today’s conversation, we change things up and little. We’ve invited a woman named Barbara, who Mary met because she was wearing a blouse she had made out of a vintage tablecloth. Mary thought she might be the perfect person to sell some of her treasured family linens. But it was really hard…

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  39. 24: Turning Hoarding Inside Out

    We discuss our admiration for Amanda Palmer’s "Art of Asking" TED talk, what it’s like to ask people for help and how our podcast project is like science fiction, turning hoarding inside out.

  40. 23: Making Room

    Last time we heard about Mary’s recent breakthroughs, in this episode Mary is now able to get glimpses about what she would do with her time instead of marshaling her stuff.

  41. 22: Breakthroughs

    Today, we get to hear about Mary’s recent breakthrough experiences. It’s some good news today, friends.

  42. 21: House Visit Aftermath Part 2

    Last time we started processing through the aftermath of my visit to Mary’s house and we had more to explore, so here’s part two of that conversation.

  43. 20: House Visit Aftermath

    Last time we finished up my momentous visit to Mary’s house. We had set a goal at the beginning our our podcast to let me into her home. Today, we debrief how that visit went for each of us.

  44. 19: House Visit Part 3

    This was an overwhelming experience for both of us. Mary reveals what she really wants to be able to do with her time instead of worry about her stuff. And I awkwardly ask if she wants my help to get ready for her looming house inspection. How I wish I would have been more celebratory about what…

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  45. 18: House Visit Part 2

    This is the second episode of three we recorded during my visit to Mary’s house. In this conversation I see the worst, her most packed rooms and things got a little weird for us.

  46. 17: Mary Lets Me In: House Visit Part 1

    Mary lets me visit her house, and this is a very big deal.

  47. 16: Taming the Compulsive Shopping Dragon

    We discuss how Mary stopped the inflow of stuff into her home by addressing her compulsive shopping habit. Also on deck: Will she or won’t she? Is Mary ready to let me into her home?

  48. 15: Hoarders on TV

    We get Mary's perspective on the Hoarders TV show and we discuss the email that she wrote to God. Notes: The person I couldn't remember is Peter Walsh. He's been on two TV shows: Clean Sweep and Enough Already.

  49. 14: Procrastination Bandwagon

    Mary gets rid of her precious vintage robe and lives to tell the tale!

  50. 13: More Resistance

    Mary talks about trying to make a 2nd vintage clothing store appointment in the midst of heavy resistance. She particularly wants to bring a precious vintage formal robe that she has loved and displayed for many years, one of her most favorite pieces.

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TOPICS IN THIS SHOW

Hoarder Recovery Home Transformation Mental Health Mindful Decluttering Organizing Tips Personal Narrative Supportive Storytelling

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

This podcast series is an ongoing conversation with Mary, who calls herself a recovering hoarder. She is willing to share her up-til-now very private life in an effort to be helpful to others, may they be packrats, someone who loves a hoarder or those who just want to understand something that's mystifying to them. We go step by step through the muck, the stuck places, the victories. We don't know when and if she will recover from her "unusual relationship with stuff." Come along with me and cheer Mary on as she does the very hard work of healing. Will she ever let me into her home? Stay tuned.

HOSTED BY

Lori Koppelman

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Clutter Chronicles have?

Clutter Chronicles currently has 62 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Clutter Chronicles about?

This podcast series is an ongoing conversation with Mary, who calls herself a recovering hoarder. She is willing to share her up-til-now very private life in an effort to be helpful to others, may they be packrats, someone who loves a hoarder or those who just want to understand something that's...

How often does Clutter Chronicles release new episodes?

Clutter Chronicles has 62 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Clutter Chronicles?

You can listen to Clutter Chronicles on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Clutter Chronicles?

Clutter Chronicles is created and hosted by Lori Koppelman.
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