Whether you are just launching a career in professional organizing and productivity or you’re a seasoned veteran — The Stand Out Podcast Series from the National Association of Organizing & Productivity Professionals (NAPO) will teach you how to make the most of the Organizing and Productivity Industry. Host Clare Kumar interviews business experts and successful professionals in the productivity and organizing world.
Site
RSS
Apple
Data updated on 04/07/2026
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
In today’s digital day and age, we have forgotten about the benefits of using paper. We turn to our shiny little screens to take photos, notes, and store records. Joining us today on the Stand Out podcast is long-time NAPO member, Julie Bestry. Julie is a professional organizer who dazzles people with her wonderful blogs. Today, we discuss what she is noticing about the shift in our relationship to paper over the last few years, the Cornell note-taking method, haptics, and the beauty of cursive. We also discuss Julie’s hybrid system when it comes to note-taking, planning, and recording, and look at the importance of finding a system that works for you. Finally, Julie tells us why she is known as the ‘paper doll.’ To hear all this and more, tune in now!
Key Points From This Episode:
An introduction to today’s guest, Julie Bestry.
What Julie is noticing about how our relationship to paper has shifted over the past few years.
Discussing the Cornell note-taking method.
Julie explains what haptic is.
How writing was a thing of beauty in the past.
The beauty of being able to read and write cursive.
The importance of finding a system that works for you; digital, paper, or hybrid.
Prolific Productivity Pioneer Reveals Secrets of Success
Season 3 · Episode 102
Wednesday, July 27, 2022 • Duration 47:41
This is an extra special episode of Stand Out, and one that none of our listeners will want to miss! Today we have the past Director of NAPO and organizing and productivity pioneer, Harold Taylor on the show, to share some of the wealth of wisdom he has accumulated after 45 years in the business! Harold is now in his 80s, but has not let this slow him down, and continues to work, publishing books and leading an extremely rich and exciting life. In our conversation, we get to cover the basics with Harold, talking about personal productivity and building a system that suits our unique needs, before we get into some of the more specialized areas in which our guest has worked. We talk about the many books he has written and published, the use of humor in his presentations, the evolution of distractions, and much more. As you will see, Harold has an amazing ability to synthesize and communicate ideas, so to catch it all from this generous and important member of our community, tune in!
Key Points From This Episode:
[00:03:32] The ever-present experiences Harold Taylor has dealt with throughout his career.
[00:06:26] How Harold has depicted disorganization in his presentations.
[00:08:48] Blocking out the necessary interruptions; taking responsibility for your own time!
[00:11:24] What actually happens when we allow ourselves to get distracted.
[00:13:19] The inclusion of humor in Harold's presentations, and the idea of high-risk speaking!
[00:15:02] The importance of focusing on a specific niche and area of your subject.
[00:19:29] Developing a system that suits your unique needs and habits.
[00:22:40] The range of work that Harold still does; seminars, writing, and more.
[00:24:45] What keeps Harold interested and motivated at this stage of his life and career!
Community-Inspired Collaboration
Season 3 · Episode 101
Wednesday, July 13, 2022 • Duration 33:24
Diversity, inclusion, and representation are essential in any field. Unfortunately, most of our institutions still have a long way to go in addressing this. It’s unsurprising that in response to this type of exclusion, whether intentional or not, people of color and other minorities have often formed support groups and alternative organizations where they can find much-needed solidarity and understanding. Today on the show we talk with Carolyn Rogers, an electrical and software engineer and organizer, and one of the six founders of Ebony & Orderly as well as the National Association of Black Professional Organizers (NABPO). We discuss the many positive elements of NAPO, its unfortunate lack of diversity, and some of the steps they’re taking to rectify this. Carolyn reflects on how gravitating towards people who look like us is part of human nature and the important role that human connection has played in her career as an organizer. She describes how NABPO was formed out of a desire to serve a broader community, why NABPO is all about inclusivity, and how anyone can get involved. We also take a closer look at how intimate and personal being an organizer can be and why trust between a client and organizer is essential. To learn more about NABPO, building community, diversity, inclusion, and much more, make sure you tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
Introducing the National Association of Black Professional Organizers (NABPO) and today’s guest Carolyn Rogers [00:00:33].
The group Ebony & Orderly and how it inspired the formation of NABPO [00:03:06].
How NABPO first started gaining clients and hosting conferences. [00:05:30]
The importance of helping people see the benefits of getting organized. [00:06:14].
The figures that have brought awareness to organizing as a career and a service. [00:07:18].
How the COVID-19 pandemic has created a demand for organizational services. [00:09:14].
The current state of Ebony & Orderly and how its members are supporting each other's individual journeys. [00:10:18].
How to Stop Overthinking and Trust Yourself
Season 3 · Episode 100
Wednesday, June 22, 2022 • Duration 33:48
High sensitivity is a trait that affects one in five people in the general population, but today’s expert guest agrees that there seems to be a much higher prevalence of this in the organizing and productivity community as well as the coaching community. Joining us today is Melody Wilding, a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), thought leader, coach, professor of human behavior, and the author of Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work. She’s been listed as Business Insider’s most innovative coach and has written for publications such as Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, O Magazine, and many other high-profile publications. Tuning in you’ll hear about the traits that define highly sensitive people, the percentage of people who fall into this category, and how these personality traits can create challenges for us while also being our superpower. Melody breaks down some of the common challenges we face, such as “the honor roll hangover,” and explains how we can harness our emotions to have them work for us and not against us, along with some practical exercises to try. For some fascinating insight into the minds of highly sensitive people that may help you achieve success at work, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
Claire’s suspicion that there are more highly sensitive people in the organizing, productivity, and coaching communities. [00:00:42]
An introduction to today’s guest, Melody Wilding, and her impressive career. [00:01:39]
Why Melody agrees that high sensitivity is more prevalent in organizing and coaching professions. [00:03:14]
Insight into the percentage of people who are highly sensitive. [00:04:13]
The SEED model Claire uses to differentiate highly sensitive people from others. [00:06:07]
The STRIVE model Melody uses to describe the personality traits common among high-achieving highly sensitive people. [00:07:56]
The Critical Role of Organizing in Caregiving - Amelia Pleasant Kennedy
Season 3 · Episode 99
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 • Duration 27:32
Today we talk about the critical role of organizing in caregiving. Joining us for this discussion is Amelia Pleasant Kennedy, a NAPO member and an experienced professional organizer and life coach who runs a company called A Pleasant Solution. Amelia explains how she began her journey into the world of caregiving when her mother could no longer care for herself and how being a professional organizer uniquely prepared her for this role. She shares her story with us about how she first realized her mother needed additional care, how she broached the conversation with her brother, and how together they broached the conversation with their mom. Tuning in you’ll hear how Amelia overcame the emotional challenges of this journey by compartmentalizing, the importance of caring for yourself in a process like this, and some of the unexpected joys that Amelia got out of this experience. To hear Amelia’s advice and encouragement to anyone who may find themselves in a similar situation, or may be serving a client who is going through this process, as well as tips on how to marry compassion with the practical, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
The story of how Amelia became a caregiver. [00:03:18]
How Amelia’s organizing expertise prepared her for caregiving. [00:04:57]
Amelia explains how she navigated family conversations about her mother’s need for more care. [00:06:38]
Advice to anyone who has to approach a conversation about care, and the importance of marrying compassion with practicality. [00:08:53]
How Amelia has overcome the emotional challenges by compartmentalizing. [00:11:24]
How Amelia’s mother’s home reflected the state of her mental disorganization. [00:12:40]
Clues that an elder parent may need extra care or assisted living. [00:14:11]
Some of the unexpected joys that came out of this experience for Amelia. [00:17:31]
Amelia’s advice to anyone in the organizing profession who may find themselves in a similar situation. .
Good Enough is Perfect - KC Davis (EP.98)
Season 3 · Episode 98
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 • Duration 34:42
We’re all familiar with the phrase, “Good enough is good enough,” but today’s guest is here to share some wisdom around why good enough isn’t just good enough, it’s perfect. KC Davis is a therapist, author (of How to Keep House While Drowning, which we highly recommend), and mother of two, who also recently became a TikTok sensation for her open and honest accounts of her home life during the pandemic and her approach to dealing with a messy household. Struggling with postpartum depression during nationwide lockdowns, KC came to the life-altering realization that not folding her kids’ clothes didn’t make her a bad mother and that it’s unrealistic to expect a lived-in home to look fit for the cover of a magazine. She has since come up with practical strategies to help people concurrently look after their mental health and their home environment, which she shares with us today. Sometimes we get too caught up in society’s expectations of us and we forget what’s really important; so if you’re needing some perspective, you’ve come to the right place!
Key Points From This Episode:
Introducing today’s guest, KC Davis. [00:01:51].
KC’s accidental journey to becoming internet-famous, and how it has changed her life and continues to change the lives of many others. [00:03:06].
The mindset shift required to make dealing with a messy house more manageable. [00:08:07].
How KC’s relationship with the phrase “do your best” has evolved over time. [00:10:11].
KC explains the concept of moral neutrality, and how it can be applied to so many areas of our lives. [00:15:15].
Why embracing imperfection is the key to living a full and happy life. [00:17:54].
A household task that KC struggled with when she had postpartum depression, and the ‘adaptive imperfection’ solution she came up with to manage it. [00:19:55].
The three layers of function that KC has developed as a way to help people manage their household tasks. [00:26:14].
An explanation of KC’s 9 square matrix for setting priorities. .
Closet Design Magic - Naeemah Ford Goldson (EP.97)
Season 3 · Episode 97
Wednesday, May 11, 2022 • Duration 28:16
“When you think about it, our day starts and it ends in our closet.” These are the words of today’s guest Naeemah Ford Goldson, who joins us as we delve into the world of closets! Naeemah is a NAPO member, the proud owner of Restore Order Professional Organizing, and the host of her own podcast Organize Me! Radio. She's also a member of the ICD and the founder of NABPO which is the National Association of Black Professional Organizers, a non-profit that seeks to empower BIPOC Professional Organizers. Naeemah joins us to help us get a current take on what's hot in the land of closets! She explains why closets are so important, why they should be customized, and how our individual sizes and shapes affect the way we should design them. We discuss how putting things away affects the design of the closet, why it’s so important for the hamper to be convenient and functional, and how to design a closet for two people with different organizing styles. To discover valuable tips for organizing professionals who are looking for closet solutions for their clients, and what is currently trending in design finishes and colors, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
Naeemah Ford Goldson’s thoughts on why closets should be customized. [00:02:52].
How our sizes and shapes affect the way we design closets. [00:04:42].
Other things to consider when customizing closet space. [00:05:53].
Why you should edit your closet content before you do inventory. [00:07:40].
How putting things away affects the design of the closet. [00:09:25].
The importance of the hamper being convenient and functional. [00:10:50].
Tips on how to design a closet for two people with different organizing styles..
Discover Your Organizing Style (EP.96)
Season 3 · Episode 96
Wednesday, April 6, 2022 • Duration 34:38
After years of struggling with clutter, today’s guest realized something that would change her life forever; she didn’t organize in the traditional way. Cassandra Aarssen discovered that there are, in fact, four different organizing styles. Once she knew her style, Cassandra (or Cass, as she is affectionately known) was finally able to design a system that worked for her and stay organized for good! She’s now on a mission to spread the Clutterbug Organizing Philosophy and help other families who struggle with disorganization and clutter. You may have seen her hosting Hot Mess House on HGTV, although she also offers free education and ideas through her YouTube videos, podcasts, and her amazing online Facebook support group. In today’s episode, she shares why she believes that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for organization, and the four different organizing types that Cass calls Clutterbugs; Ladybug, Bee, Cricket, and Butterfly. We also discuss how differing organizing styles can co-exist under the same roof, and how you can encourage your children to develop their own relationships with things. Cass gives advice for listeners who are considering a less organized approach, and so much more! Tune in today to find out how Cass has been able to help millions of families transform their lives through organization and how you can do the same!
Key Points From This Episode:
Cass shares her personal struggle with clutter that drove her to start Clutterbugs [00:02:26].
Why a particular organizing system works for one person and not another [00:04:30].
Your guide to understanding different organizing styles [00:06:04].
Where you can take the Clutterbug Quiz and why you should answer honestly [00:09:38].
Why Cass believes that self-confidence is half the battle when it comes to clutter [00:10:37].
Breaking down the four Clutterbug styles: Butterfly, Bee, Ladybug, and Cricket [00:11:00].
What’s on the horizon for Cass, including product development for each style .
Organizing Industry Trends in 2022
Season 3 · Episode 95
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 • Duration 34:11
Over the last few decades, the organizing industry has progressed in almost indescribable ways and our guest today, Dorothy Breininger, has witnessed many of these changes, having built an amazing career along the way. Dorothy joins us on the show today to talk about this wonderful journey that she has been on, what got her started, and her thoughts on the current landscape of organizing. She has some truly inspiring messages for all of our listeners around working with your circumstance, staying generous, and how curiosity and volunteering can serve you and your business in positive and unexpected ways. In our chat, Dorothy reflects on her first connection with NAPO, and how she went about building her business before we talk about the organizing community and the explosion of the industry that we have seen more recently. We also get into the appearances that Dorothy has made across many popular TV shows and how she learned to bring her authentic self to her brand. This is a truly unmissable episode, so join us to get it all!
Key Points From This Episode:
[00:01:27] Looking back at Dorothy's history in the world of organizing up to this point.
[00:06:15] Memories of connecting with NAPO and what the organizing profession looked like at the start of Dorothy's career.
[00:08:34] Building her own business and the resources that helped Dorothy expand.
[00:13:08] The need for community and how Dorothy learned to collaborate and share with others.
[00:14:49] Dorothy's reflections on the last few years, and the current moment in the industry.
[00:16:49] How the different skills are opening up new avenues in the industry.
[00:19:33] Current challenges in the organizing industry and Dorothy's positive spin on things!
[00:22:20] Cultural perceptions of organizing and the progress that has been made in awareness.
[00:23:18] Escaping the shame and the normalization of the common needs for assistance.
[00:25:12] Considerations around the environment and the move to more minimal materialism.
Unmute - Painless Virtual Communication
Season 3 · Episode 94
Wednesday, March 9, 2022 • Duration 43:41
The past two years have reshaped the way we communicate with each other, and today we’re going to be tackling the hyper-relevant topic of Zoom Doom! Our principal point of connection these days is through a screen and many of us are simply exhausted by it. The phenomenon of virtual communication isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and joining us today to dissect the causes and provide solutions for the dreaded Zoom fatigue is communication expert, Lauren Sergy. Lauren has recently published a new book, Unmute!: How to Master Virtual Meetings and Reclaim Your Sanity, and today she shares her findings with us, as well as some astute advice for navigating the world through your webcam. In this episode, we delve into how we should be showing up in a virtual space and how to manage our energy so that we can show up for others and maintain connections. We find out how we can use the medium to its full potential, acknowledge its distinctions, and ensure that it is approached with intentionality and inclusivity.
Lauren comments on the emotional nimbleness required to read the virtual room, and gives us a succinct, straightforward answer to the great question of our age: cameras on or cameras off? Tune in for some great tips on how to breed consistency, prioritize your viewer, and generally ensure a painless virtual interaction!
Key Points From This Episode:
What Zoom fatigue is, what causes it, and what to do about it! [00:03:39]
The importance of eye-to-eye contact in our culture, and the lack thereof on Zoom. [00:06:39]
How to make intentional eye contact easier via virtual communication. [00:08:26]
The difficulty for those with introverted temperaments! [00:10:23]
The issue of physical orientation when one uses multiple monitors. [00:11:10]
[00:27:06] The different writing projects that led up to Harold publishing books.
[00:34:35] Harold's approach to new technologies and leveraging this power.
[00:39:51] The recent book that Harold wrote on the subject of how to develop character.
[00:40:45] Comments on the malleability of personality; how environment and attitude impact us.
Discover shows related to Stand Out, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
