THE POP BLOG

Professional home organizer Colleen Waterston sits down with author and anthropologist Carrie Lane to discuss her new book, More Than Pretty Boxes: How the Rise of Professional Organizing Shows Us the Way We Work Isn't Working. Together, they explore why so many Americans feel overwhelmed, how our homes have become a reflection of larger pressures around work, family, and consumer culture, and why professional organizers do far more than create beautiful spaces. From overstuf

Can sustainable fashion help us simplify our lives and reduce waste? In Episode 24 of Sorting Through Life, Colleen Waterston talks with Krystell Theisen Escobar, founder of EcoChico and Soul aWear Circular Fashion, about fast fashion, resale, decluttering, and practical ways families can embrace reuse. From kids' clothing systems to mending and secondhand shopping, this conversation is full of inspiration for creating a more organized home and a more sustainable future.

In this special role-reversal episode of Sorting Through Life, host Colleen Waterston moves from the host seat to the guest seat. Interviewed by her colleague and fellow Space by Space organizer, Alicia, Colleen shares the story behind her work as a home organizer and entrepreneur. From her journey into the organizing world to launching her own business, Colleen reflects on the challenges and lessons that have shaped her journey. She opens up about navigating uncertainty, bal

On this episode of Sorting Through Life, Colleen Waterston and estate attorney Rachel Schromen navigate the tricky waters of choosing who will manage your affairs when you no longer can. It turns out that your oldest child or even your spouse might not actually be the best fit for the job, and it is perfectly okay to look outside your immediate family for help. Listen in for practical advice on picking the right personality types for these heavy roles to ensure your legacy is

On this episode of Sorting Through Life, Colleen Waterston and Ellen Faye dive into one of the biggest sources of stress in modern life: the overwhelming to-do list. If your brain feels like it’s flashing “storage almost full,” you’re not alone. This conversation explores why traditional task lists often fail, how people confuse projects with tasks, and why the right productivity method matters more than the latest planner or app. Topics explored in this episode include How t

In this episode of Sorting Through Life, Colleen Waterston, owner and lead organizer of Space by Space Organizing, is joined by team member Alicia and longtime friend and client Warren for an honest conversation about decluttering a longtime family home and preparing for a successful garage sale. Warren shares his experience caring for his mother, who was an “excessive collector” and the emotional process of sorting through years of belongings in the home they shared. This ep

Host Colleen Waterston welcomes Charlie Greene, co‑founder & CEO of Remento (remento.co), to discuss preserving family stories through an easy, interview‑based service that converts spoken memories into polished text and a hardcover keepsake. Greene explains Memento’s web‑based prompts (call, text, or email) that record answers, convert speech to story (verbatim or edited, first‑ or third‑person), and embed QR codes so families can hear loved ones’ voices alongside printed st

In this episode of Sorting Through Life, Colleen Waterston, professional home organizer and founder of Space by Space Organizing in the Twin Cities, sits down with fellow organizer, Alicia and client Danielle for an honest conversation about the emotional side of getting organized. They dive into the guilt and hesitation many people feel when hiring a professional organizer, especially the belief that “I should be able to do this myself.” Danielle shares her personal experien

If you've ever wondered what to do with unwanted items when decluttering, this episode is packed with practical answers. From old electronics to furniture, clothing, and even hazardous waste, knowing where your items should go can feel overwhelming. Today, we’re making it simple. Colleen welcomes Emily Barker, Executive Director of ReuseMN, a Minnesota-based nonprofit leading a movement to extend the life of resources and reduce waste through reuse. Emily shares the story beh

Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy or the elderly, it’s for anyone who wants to make life easier for the people they love. In this episode of Sorting Through Life, Colleen Waterston sits down with estate attorney Rachel Schromen to break down the essentials of planning for the future at any age. Together, they walk through the key documents everyone should understand, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives. Rachel explains how these to

In this episode of Sorting Through Life with Colleen Waterston, Colleen sits down with Greg DeMarco of Choice Connections, a senior living advisor who helps families navigate housing decisions with clarity and confidence. Together, they break down the often confusing landscape of senior living options and share practical strategies to help families plan ahead—before urgency removes choice. Greg explains his four-step personalized approach to matching individuals with the righ

In this heartfelt episode of Sorting Through Life with Colleen Waterston, Colleen sits down with her 88-year-old best friend Mary and Mary’s daughter Anne to share their deeply personal journey of transitioning to senior living. Together, they walk through the emotional and practical steps of realizing when it was time for Mary to move into a senior living community, how they planned the transition, and what it really felt like to downsize decades of memories into a smaller s

Thinking about a home renovation or addition but not sure where to start? In this episode of Sorting Through Life with Colleen Waterston, Colleen sits down with Twin Cities residential architect Ashley Mytling, owner of Mytling Design, to break down what homeowners really need to know before starting a renovation. Ashley shares how thoughtful architectural planning can honor the character of your home while improving everyday function, and explains the difference between work

In this episode of Sorting Through Life with Colleen Waterston, Colleen sits down with furniture flipper Natalie to explore how restoring and repurposing furniture can save money, reduce waste, and create beautiful, functional storage solutions. Natalie shares how she turned a passion for refinishing furniture into a full-time business, along with the lessons she learned along the way. Listeners will learn how to spot high-quality furniture at estate sales, thrift stores, and

In this episode of Sorting Through Life with Colleen Waterston, Colleen teams up with productivity coach Ellen Faye, author of Productivity for How You’re Wired, to tackle one of modern life’s biggest sources of stress: email overload. Together, they explore why inboxes get out of control, how to sort emails using simple triage methods, and practical strategies to reduce email clutter without feeling overwhelmed. From managing multiple email accounts to unsubscribing without

In this episode of Sorting Through Life with Colleen Waterston, Colleen explores the powerful organizing philosophy of Margareta Magnusson and her book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, introducing listeners to the method known as Swedish Death Cleaning, or döstädning. This practical and thoughtful approach to decluttering focuses on simplifying your home, reducing unnecessary belongings, and organizing your life with the future in mind. Listeners will learn when to s

In this episode of Sorting Through Life with Colleen Waterston, Colleen shares a real Space by Space client story featuring Jen, an “elevate” client who already had strong systems in place but wanted her home to function even better. Through Jen’s experience, listeners learn how professional organizing can improve efficiency, maximize storage, and enhance everyday routines without expensive renovations. This episode explores practical organizing strategies such as reworking c

In this episode of Sorting Through Life with Colleen Waterston, Colleen is joined by her organizing team to break down the signature Space-by-Space organizing method used by Space by Space Organizing. Together, they walk listeners through the full professional organizing process from the initial consultation to the final “big sigh of relief.” You’ll learn what really happens during a professional home organizing project, including the Big Sort, Big Evaluation, and Big Rearran

In this episode of Sorting Through Life with Colleen Waterston, Colleen is joined by estate planning attorney Rachel Schromen of Schromen Law to kick off a new series on estate planning and organizing life’s most important paperwork. Together, they explore why so many people delay creating wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives and how avoiding these decisions can create confusion and stress for loved ones later. Listeners will learn the first practical steps to

In this episode of Sorting Through Life with Colleen Waterston, Colleen welcomes her father, longtime funeral director Kevin Waterston, for an honest and practical conversation about organizing with the end in mind. Together, they explore today’s funeral trends, including why cremation has become the most common choice, what families can do with cremated remains, and how documenting final wishes can ease stress for loved ones. They also discuss eco-friendly end-of-life option