Let’s Slow Down: Simple + Intentional Living, Decluttering, Life on Purpose – Details, episodes & analysis

Can you believe it's the end of July? While summer may feel like it’s turning a corner, we’ve still got time to soak it all in. One of my favorite ways to slow down and savor the season is by getting lost in a good book. In today’s episode, I’m sharing my current reading list—both fiction and nonfiction—and a few standout titles that brought me joy, laughter, insight, and even a little surprise twist or two.

From thought-provoking personal development reads to entertaining novels with clever storylines, there’s something here for everyone—especially if you’re looking for a way to relax, recharge, and reconnect with yourself this summer.

📖 Books I Mentioned:

• In Five Years & One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

• Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

• Take Less. Do More. by Glen Van Peski

• Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means
  

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Order Annemarie’s Book:📖 Let’s Slow Down: The Art of Simple, Intentional Living – Order Here

Have feedback or a podcast idea?Email Annemarie at hello@letsslowdown.net.

Let’s uncover your purpose and embrace intentional living together! 🌿

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If it feels like summer is flying by, you’re not alone. In this solo episode, I invite you to pause and make space to truly feel the season. Inspired by summer rhythms around the world—from Italian "Ferragosto" to Nordic cottages by the water—we'll explore how entire cultures embrace rest and how we can, too.

Join me as I share:

• A gentle reminder that you don’t have to earn rest

• How other countries honor the slower pace of summer

• My favorite simple summer pleasures to savor

• Thoughts on the beauty of slow mornings, mindful living, and doing less to feel more

• A small but powerful challenge to bring more presence into your day

Whether you're coming off a big family vacation or navigating a hot, busy week, this episode is your invitation to loosen up, take a deep breath, and remember that slowing down isn't laziness—it’s essential.

A Gentle Challenge for You:Pick one thing to do just a little bit slower today. Let it be a moment you savor. 💛

Love this podcast? 💞 Leave a review and share it with a friend!

Follow Let’s Slow Down:WEBSITE

Instagram

Facebook Page

Order Annemarie’s Book:📖 Let’s Slow Down: The Art of Simple, Intentional Living – Order Here

Have feedback or a podcast idea?Email Annemarie at hello@letsslowdown.net.

Let’s uncover your purpose and embrace intentional living together! 🌿

*affiliate link that doesn’t affect your price at all!

Today, Dr. Peggy DeLong is back to help us learn methods of cultivating inner peace and relief from anxiety with her ‘Prioritize P.E.A.C.E. Method.’

Highlights Include:

• The importance of a gratitude practice - try using The Five Minute Journal*

• How gratitude can increase serotonin to help you sleep

• How to create inner peace in your world through 5 specific areas of focus

• The 4 P’s of mental health

• Simple ways to incorporate gratitude and peace in our everyday lives

• The power of music on our nervous system

• How walking for exercise also supports mental health

• Being kinder to ourselves and silencing our inner critic

Dr. DeLong’s previous appearance on Let’s Slow Down:

Episode 41: How Practicing Gratitude Can Change Your View of the World

Connect with Dr. Peggy DeLong here:

Peaceful Present, Future Flourish

Women's Wellness Retreat on April 26, 2025

The Grateful Day Challenge

Books Mentioned:

Blue Mind*

Resources Mentioned:

Self-Compassion with Dr. Kristin Neff and Meditation & Emotional Healing with Dr. Tara Brach

Love this podcast? 💞🌟 Leave a review and share it with a friend!

Follow Let’s Slow Down:WEBSITE

Instagram

Facebook Page

Order Annemarie’s Book:📖 Let’s Slow Down: The Art of Simple, Intentional Living – Order Here

Have feedback or a podcast idea?Email Annemarie at hello@letsslowdown.net.

Let’s uncover your purpose and embrace intentional living together! 🌿

*affiliate link that doesn’t affect your price at all!

Today's guest, Shay Richter, is the author of the book Budget Burnout: 12 weeks to get out of your budget slump and accelerate your goals. She is the owner/creator of Front Porch Finances where she helps women take charge of their money. Some highlights of this episode include:

-how to incorporate your financial goals with a slower mindset

-simplifying your finances/expenses

-taking advantage of free resources such as the library

-limiting subscriptions

-shop secondhand

-know what is important so you can cut out the extras

"When you want to live slower....simplify your expenses." -Shay Richter

Connect with Shay:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/frontporchfinances/

Shay's Ebook! Budget Burnout:

https://www.amazon.com/Budget-Burnout-weeks-budget-accelerate-ebook/dp/B0C12BQHYL?ref_=ast_author_mpb

www.frontporchfinances.com

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Today’s guest is Suzanne Goulden, Intentional Living Consultant. She helps overwhelmed women create peace in their homes and reclaim time to do the things they love by minimizing belongings and simplifying lifestyle. She believes women who make choices with intention reap the benefits of simplifying their life, reducing stress, and regaining control of their time, money, and space.

We talked about decluttering tips, minimalism, non-functioning burnout, to-do lists, self care, battling the ‘shoulds’ and how to change mindset.

Mentioned in today’s episode:

Book: From Clutter to Clarity by Kerri Richardson

Netflix: The Biggest Little Farm

Connect with Suzanne:

https://suzannegoulden.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/suzannegouldenilc/

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Head over to iTunes and leave a review so the Let’s Slow Down message can spread to those who need to hear it. 
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Bonus! Enjoy this bonus minisode today featuring a breathwork session with recent guest Lucia Oliveira.

Lucia Oliveira is a certified sleep coach and trauma-informed breathwork facilitator who has a passion for helping moms find their wellbeing while navigating motherhood.  Having personally experienced postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA), Lucia knows firsthand the challenges that can come with motherhood. This led her to seek a deeper connection with her mind and body, which ultimately sparked her interest in sleep and breathwork. Now, she is dedicated to supporting other moms on their wellness journey, and helping them find a sense of peace and balance amidst the demands of motherhood.

Connect with Lucia:

IG handle: @luminousbylucia

Website: https://www.luminousbylucia.com/

Loving this podcast? Please subscribe!

Head over to iTunes and leave a review so the Let’s Slow Down message can spread to those who need to hear it. 

Join Let’s Slow Down on Instagram:  instagram.com/letsslowdown2023

Lucia Oliveira is a certified sleep coach and trauma-informed breathwork facilitator who has a passion for helping moms find their wellbeing while navigating motherhood.  Having personally experienced postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA), Lucia knows firsthand the challenges that can come with motherhood. This led her to seek a deeper connection with her mind and body, which ultimately sparked her interest in sleep and breathwork. Now, she is dedicated to supporting other moms on their wellness journey, and helping them find a sense of peace and balance amidst the demands of motherhood.

Connect with Lucia:

IG handle: @luminousbylucia

Website: https://www.luminousbylucia.com/

Loving this podcast? Please subscribe!

Head over to iTunes and leave a review so the Let’s Slow Down message can spread to those who need to hear it. 

Join Let’s Slow Down on Instagram:  instagram.com/letsslowdown2023

Luis Fernando Llosa is a Peruvian-Ukrainian American writer, editor, speaker, investigative reporter, documentarian, youth sports consultant and full time father-coach.

His first book, Beyond Winning: Smart Parenting in a Toxic Sports Environment (Lyons Press), co-authored with Kim John Payne (Simplicity Parenting) and Scott B. Lancaster (former National Football League youth sports director), is a candid, practical guide to help parents navigate the fanatical, results-obsessed world of youth sports.

His second book, award winning Emotionally Resilient Tweens and Teens: Empowering Your Child to Navigate Bullying, Teasing and Social Exclusion, was co-written with Kim John Payne (Shambhala Press) and a third on youth sports is currently in development.

Youth sports has been a primary passion for Llosa, who has coached soccer for twenty-five years, and humbly acknowledges he knows little and has mucho to learn. He co-founded Whole Child Sports, an organization which aims to help develop a healthier, more creative youth sports experience for kids across America.

He lives with his talented, beautiful wife and five children in New York City.

Connect with Luis:

https://luisfernandollosa.com/

Previous Episodes Mentioned Today:

15. Kim John Payne - Simplicity Parenting

17. Scott Lancaster - Beyond Winning

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Head over to iTunes and leave a review so the Let’s Slow Down message can spread to those who need to hear it. 

Join Let’s Slow Down on Instagram:  instagram.com/letsslowdown2023
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/letsslowdown2023/

Today I talk with interior designer, Kristina Westerholm, host of the Keeping Up with the Homeses podcast. Kristina and I talk about what home means to us and how we can create homes that feel authentic and true to ourselves. Hint: decluttering helps uncover A LOT!

Connect with Kristina:

https://www.instagram.com/thehomeses/

Sign Up for Kristina's Design Course here!

Use Code: SLOWDOWN for a discount

Loving this podcast? Please subscribe!

Head over to iTunes and leave a review so the Let’s Slow Down message can spread to those who need to hear it. 

Let's Slow Down Linktree

Join Let’s Slow Down on Instagram:  instagram.com/letsslowdown2023

Looking to adopt a simpler mindset for the new season? Check out the free guide I created:

Your Guide to Embracing a Simple Spring

What represents your perfect day? Have you even allowed your self to think about this lately?

Carey Tambio has this figured out for herself, and offers ways to use her 4 pillars of wellness to support a lifestyle where we experience genuine joy and fulfillment each day. We talk about the importance of habits that serve us as a whole person - mind, body, and soul.

"When you change your own life and increase your wellbeing, you also impact the lives of those around you." - Carey Tambio

Connect with Carey:

https://www.instagram.com/coffeesurfyogawine/

https://linktr.ee/coffeesurfyogawine

Live Webinar, 5/10/23! Register Here!

https://forms.gle/7yo2MsDFjfqgRGTm6

Loving this podcast? Please subscribe!

Head over to iTunes and leave a review so the Let’s Slow Down message can spread to those who need to hear it. 

Let's Slow Down Linktree

Join Let’s Slow Down on Instagram:  instagram.com/letsslowdown2023

Looking to adopt a simpler mindset for the new season? Check out the free guide I created:

Your Guide to Embracing a Simple Spring