Spark Joy co-hosts cover the 2019 KonMari Consultant Meetup as Marie Kondo and her team greets hundreds of certified KonMari Consultants and trainees gathering for a joyful weekend in New York City. Exclusively for Spark Joy listeners, we are sharing special, joyful moments we captured on consultant meetup day when certified Consultants and trainees gathered in NYC from all over the world. Marie Kondo did made multiple appearances throughout the weekend. She shared some statistics about the impact certified consultants have had on the world. We’ve officially logged over 12,000 tidying sessions, impacting 4200 clients across 30 countries. We’re excited to give you rare access to the stories of joy behind all of these tidying hours, shared by those closely connected to the KonMari movement. This episode features stories from the following certified KonMari Consultants: Miho Armacost | KonMari Media Inc. | Personal Assistant to Marie Kondo and KonMari Consultant Community Manager Christina Cheadle | KonMari Media Inc. | Community and Events Manager Caitlin Roberts | Minimize with Purpose | Los Angeles, CA Eliette and Marieke Staub | Clarity Home Detox | Switzerland Ivanka Siolkowsky | The Tidy Moose | Canada Pilar Fernández | Neat Edit | Mexico Ana Paula Bezaury | Mexico and KonMari Consultant trainees: Brenna Kinkaid | Charlotte, NC Maria Ordal | Seattle, WA KonMari Consultant favorite tidying tips: Use a white sheet to lay Komono on while you're evaluating your items - Heather Young | Mississippi Gulf Coast Evaluate where in your home your personal sanctuary is - Caitlin Roberts Always remember to lead with the practice of gratitude - Ivanka Siolkowsky Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect, just do your best to find a balance - Pilar Fernandez You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Scott Marschall of Morgan Manhattan Moving shares tips and strategies for making your move less stressful. Listen as we combine his years of experience in the moving industry with KonMari principles. Scott first began at Morgan Manhattan over his high school summers as a moving helper where he fell in love with the industry and its clients. Following a career in the corporate world, he currently works in operations giving him the opportunity to work closely with all aspects of the company along the 5th generation of the Morgan family. He says his favorite part is helping customers during some of their most stressful days knowing that they are working with the best, and oldest, moving company in the area. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club! In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -Learning about the moving industry and how Morgan Manhattan works with families moving in and out of new homes -The biggest mistakes that people make when they are getting ready to move. -How professional organizers can help you make your move easier and more efficient. -Moving Tip: Give yourself enough time. Moving takes time and moving companies get really busy at the end/beginning of the month and holidays. -The benefits of the KonMari forward looking vision in preparing for a move. -How to determine if your old things will work in your new home. Really important when thinking about furniture. -The most rewarding aspects of the moving business: helping families with feeling overwhelmed about a move. Scott’s favorite moving tip: “Be prepared, give yourself time and be sure you trust the professionals you have hired.” What Sparks Joy for Scott “The happy families after they move into their new homes and some of the special projects we are involved in that really make a difference in people’s lives. And, I’m training for the NYC Marathon!” You can reach Scott at Morgan Manhattan: Morgan Manhattan His email is: smarschall@morganmanhattan.com Gems: “People don’t think about all the stuff they have in all their spaces when they are thinking about how long a move will take.” “If you aren’t using it now, it’s highly unlikely you will use it in your new home.” “When in doubt, leave it out.” You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Scott Marschall.

Becky May, fellow KonMari Consultant, helps us explore the best ways to make your next moving experience spark joy. In this episode, we explore the very necessary task that everyone loves to hate - Moving. We invited certified KonMari Consultant Becky May to help you make your next move organized and stress free. Becky is based in San Francisco, where she runs her business, Tidy With Becky. She loves helping people tidy the clutter that weighs on their homes and minds, so they can live lightly. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club! In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Becky's KonMari journey across the pond Becky's personal moving experiences How you can tweak the KonMari process to smooth your move What moving and KonMari have in common Why it's so important to honor this significant moment in your life with your time and attention The importance of leaning on the KonMari categories to reduce overwhelm and stay true to the process How to make the unpacking process more joyful while you take time to get to know your new space What to do when something doesn't quite fit your new space How much time you need to KonMari before a move Becky's favorite tidying tip: Keep your moving boxes to use as temporary storage. What Sparks Joy for Becky: Having a home that's a sanctuary that she shares with her husband. To connect with Becky May visit, tidywithbecky.com . Becky has an online tidying program called The Tidy Home Program Gems: "KonMari had really given me the courage to listen to my intuition in all areas of life." "KonMari, when it comes to moving, turns it away from being a daunting experience to a joyful one." "Everyone wants a tidy life, but for lots of people it's only when they're moving that they actually confront their stuff." "The blank canvas of a new home really lets people open up about 'what do I dream of creating in this new phase of my life?'" "The hope is that you're excited to unpack on the other end of your move because you know that there's no clutter that's followed you into your new phase of life." It's a lot easier to unpack when you know you just have things that bring you joy." "What role did this item play in my last home? What does it mean in this new space?" "Moving house does not have to be stressful." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Becky May.

KonMari Quick Tips! Every few weeks, we dedicate an episode to quick tips around a particular topic requested by a Spark Joy listener. This week KonMari Quick Tips episode is dedicated to tidying with kids! KonMari’ing with kids presents its own special opportunities and challenges, but it can be done and can even be fun! So now, we want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Head over to Apple podcasts to subscribe and review the show, which helps us reach others along their tidying journeys. To extend your tidying experience, you can join the Spark Joy Club! Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Thanks for tuning in and we hope your day, sparks joy. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -The question from listener Heather that sparked our Quick Tips episode. -How to determine whether to tidy your kids clothing after your own. -Be mindful that all your child’s things may feel sentimental to them. Respect this, but guide your child in making choices. -The importance of age and ability in guiding your child’s tidying experience. KonMari Quick Tips: -Tip: Utilize your kid’s natural love of their toys in teaching gratitude for the things they keep and the things they let go. -Tip: Use a Thank You box as a means to create a physical boundary around the sorting process. -Tip: Your kids will have different lengths of time they are able to focus. Keep sessions short. -Tip: For artwork, consider using services such as Artkive to consolidate and preserve the most special things. Artkive -Tip: Work with your kids to get rid of old broken crayons and paints in favor of things that encourage creativity. -Tip: When organizing, encourage your child to consider that space is a precious commodity and consider which item is in it own space. We are pleased to introduce the new Joy Sparker members of the Spark Joy Club. Welcome! Elisabeth Swim Jonathan Perry Janice Mellon Melissa Woody Robin Porter Marte Rieser Marla J. Williams Rosanna Sutherby Chelsea Lewis Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Robin Mitchell Cranfield, a graphic designer and illustrator who specializes in book design for art galleries and children’s books, shares her thoughts on the KonMari book category. Her work has been recognized by the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), the Alcuin Society, and How Magazine. Robin teaches typography & book design at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club! In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -Learning about the KonMari Book category controversy. Washington Post: Keep Your Tidy Spark Joy Hands Off My Books The Guardian: What We Gain From Keeping Books -We discuss some of the reasons that people have reacted to the books category with a lot of emotion. -What Marie Kondo has actually said about books. Book lovers, Relax: Marie Kondo is not coming for your books -The unanticipated benefits of the KonMari process in the books categories. Learn about Kenya Hara and the book as a physical object. The Hara Design Institute -About tokimeku. The Japanese Translation of Spark Joy -How Robin has sorted and organized her own books. -If you are tidying your books and looking for more details and tidying advice, check out our original book discussion via Spark Joy episode 57 | KonMari Books Category: Building a Library of Joy. Robin’s favorite tidying tip: “Feel free to discard book jackets. The jacket can be visually distracting to some people, so feel free to let it go if you want.“ What Sparks Joy for Robin: Google images! Uses images as a means to discover new wonders in nature with her son. Robin’s book recommendation: The Kitchen Counter Cooking School You can reach Robin at robinmitchellcranfield.com or on Twitter at @robincranfield Gems: “There’s been a panic in the book publishing world about the death of the book. However, people have been panicking about the death of books since they went from hand writing books to the printing press.” "It's interesting that people who are otherwise live-and-let-live are really quick to tell people how they should feel about books!" "Books are physical objects that hold not just the written contents, but the experience of holding the book itself. That is why Marie Kondo's tapping of the book to "wake it up" is so interesting to me." “Marie Kondo’s metric is to suggest that you find your own metric.” “Tidying the books in my home opened up my awareness of new types of books to explore.” You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Robin Mitchell Cranfield.

Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin debuts her latest book, "Outer Order, Inner Calm," as we explore the intersection of happiness, joy and order. Gretchen Rubin is one of the most influential writers on habits, happiness, and human nature. She’s the author of many books, including the New York Times bestsellers "Better Than Before" and "The Happiness Project" and she’s debuting her newest book, "Outer Order, Inner Calm" today! We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club! In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Gretchen's thoughts on defining happiness vs. joy Gretchen's interview with Marie Kondo and why she gave Netflix's Tidying Up a gold star on a recent episode of the Happier podcast Tips on tidying up while managing emotions around other's messiness Why every office should have a Chief Clutter Officer How your clutter comfort level is way more important than achieving perfection Gretchen's new book "Outer Order, Inner Calm" How to avoid fakework and makework How to get those little things done by leaning into a power hour The tension that comes along with "procrasticlearing" The deeper meaning behind someday, someone-based decision making The difference between underbuyers and overbuyers Gretchen's favorite tidying tip: The one minute rule. What Sparks Joy for Gretchen: The Bandoleir To connect with Gretchen Rubin you can find her and her new book "Outer Order, Inner Calm" at gretchenrubin.com/books Gems: "Do I need it? Do I use it? Do I love it?" "One of the worst things we can do is to do well something that we don't have to do at all." "Things that can be done at any time are often done at no time." "The stewing is worse than the doing." "The best way to anticipate what's going to happen in the future is what's happened in the past." "There's an unwillingness to accept that things are worth only what people will pay for them." "So much of clutter really is about delaying decision making." "The more we can decide now, the easier it gets latter." "Anything you can do in less than one minute, do it without delay." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Gretchen Rubin.

How to plan and organize the activities associated with tidying up. If you started to tidy, tackled clothes clothing or other categories, but quickly found other life priorities got in the way, then this is the show for you! Tidying up KonMari style is a one-time, special event that requires consistent effort and prioritization. It’s a project. A series of steps that need to be executed in an efficient series in order to shift behaviors you may have had all of your life. So, the less glamorous or obvious first step is to PLAN your tidying event before digging too deep. So now, we want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Head over to Apple podcasts to subscribe and review the show, which helps us reach others along their tidying journeys. To extend your tidying experience, you can join the Spark Joy Club! Visit sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Join the Club” to become a member of the Spark Joy Community or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Thanks for tuning in and we hope your day, sparks joy. Joy Checks: Karin loves staycations so she can indulge in her passion for the hotel room aesthetic. Here are some great hotel rooms and ways you can incorporate these ideas in your own bedroom. Hotel Room Ideas to Use in Your Bedroom: The Contemporist Kristyn is excited that the The Tidy Home Joy Journal is an Amazon #1 best seller across multiple categories! It’s beginning to arrive in the homes of early buyers and the reviews are amazing, 5 Stars! You can get yours by joining The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club! In this episode, you’ll enjoy: The question from listener Anne that prompted today’s show after listening to Episode 56: How 60 Hours of Tidying Lessons Changed One Single Mom's Life Forever The three factors that determine the length of time of your tidying event: The size of your home The volume of your clutter The anticipated pace of your decision-making How a KonMari Consultant can help in this process as we discussed in Spark Joy Episode 49: Why Hire a KonMari Consultant? Factors that slow down, or speed up your tidying event How to make tidying a short-term priority in order to gain from the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up! Confronting your calendar to get your priorities and values in order The suggested length of time for each tidying appointment, the length of time in between tidying appointments, and the length of time the entire process should take according to our experience and best practices The benefit of a little urgency in the process. As we discussed in Spark Joy Ep 68 | Behind the Scenes: Netflix's "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" with Tricia Fidler and Jane Grodem something like a reality show can help move the process into overdrive! How the 5 D’s: delegate, delete, defer, delay, or diminish, we learned about in Ep 16 | Stress Free Holiday Joy with Amanda Jefferson can help you plan your tidying event What contributes to KonMari Fatigue and how to overcome it Gems: "The average American home has over 300,000 items." "It can take anywhere from 15 to 30+ hours, but not all at once!" "Make it a priority for the short-term in order to make true change in the long-term." "Plan your work and work your plan!" "This will require you to temporarily delegate, delete, defer, delay, or diminish some of the priorities filling up your calendar." "KonMari Fatigue can reduce focus and limit your best ability Joy Check items." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Taking to the road alone is a brave decision. We're exploring solo traveling with award-winning writer, podcaster, and solo female travel specialist Gemma Thompson. Today's guest is Gemma Thompson. Gemma is an award-winning writer, podcaster and specialist in solo female travel. In 2014, she published the popular anthology ‘A Girl's Guide to Travelling Alone’, and has also recently launched a podcast of the same name. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club! In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Gemma’s favorite adventure: The Great Barrier Reef Why it’s a good idea to try solo traveling at least once How to stay safe while traveling solo: -- Be aware of cultural differences -- Be aware of civil unrest How a door wedge can keep you safe: Security Door Wedge Tips for a great solo trip: -Make sure the things you want to do most are accessible from where you are staying -Plan your route beforehand at least from the airport to your hotel -Make sure you have a couple of alternative routes to the hotel just in case -Have the address and route written out on paper in case your phone doesn’t work -Have a currency conversion chart and common words translated ("please," "thank you," "how much?") Tips for eating alone: -If you want to go to a fancy place, lunch is a good option to feel a little more comfortable -Don’t overthink it. People aren’t really paying attention to you -Research spots first to find the most solo friendly places -It’s ok to take a book -But, try not to look at your phone the whole time What Sparks Joy for Gemma: Her daughter! The joy of waking up in a new country. To connect with Gemma Thompson, you can find her at: girlsthattravel.com or on Facebook and Instagram Gemma's podcast: A Girl's Guide to Travelling Alone Gems: "The best things happen when you're just wandering around." "Doing the research is absolutely key when you're traveling alone." "You have to respect the culture of the city or the country you're going to." "Once you've eaten out on your own a couple of times it gets easier and it doesn't feel awkward." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Gemma Thompson.

Feng Shui Master, Laura Cerrano shares her expertise in bringing your KonMari tidying in alignment with the principles of Feng Shui. Today’s guest is Feng Shui Master Laura Cerrano. Laura shares her expertise in bringing your KonMari tidying in alignment with the principles of Feng Shui. Laura received her Feng Shui certification through the Proven Feng Shui School in NY under the guidance of her mother and mentor certified Feng Shui Master, Carole Provenzale. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club! In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -Learning about the importance of the decluttering step of Feng Shui to set up a vision and game plan for the practice -Hear about the history of Feng Shui -Learning the difference between “space clearing” and decluttering -The fundamental principles of Feng Shui and the Five Elements -How Laura started her company with her mother -How to incorporate Feng Shui into your own home -Myths and missteps in Feng Shui. You can hear about Myths and Missteps in KonMari here -Are you holding on to the very things you need to release in order to realize your vision? -How a small adjustment near your front door can help you "ring in the money" -How to Feng Shui your bedroom and what not to keep in your bedroom What Sparks Joy for Laura: "Traveling and spending time with family." To connect with Laura Cerrrano you can find her at: fengshuimanhattan.com She's on Facebook at: Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island and on Instagram at: Feng Shui by Laura Cerrano Gems: “To get started in Feng Shui, you need to have a clean canvas to work with.” "What do you not need, use, or love?" “What is the function of each room in my house?” “Your bed should have a commanding position.” "The headboard is an anchor of support when you're heading off to dream land" "Energy flows around over through..it goes through everything." "Depending on the objects that you have under the bed, they convey certain messages to the unconscious mind." "Does the composition of the overall room present a balance and a sense of harmony?" "Live in the present moment. Enjoy life to its fullest." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Laura Cerrano.

Spark Joy podcast co-hosts release a very special tool for listeners to extend their tidying experience! It’s been a very exciting time for the Spark Joy podcast! Our audience has grown so much since the beginning of the year and the release of Netflix’s “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” As KonMari Consultants, we’ve received so much positive support and feedback from clients, colleagues, family and friends as well as you, our listeners. In today’s episode, we have a very special announcement. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: -What’s Sparking Joy for Karin: Weekly flower delivery from a real florist and not just picking up any old flowers from the deli! -What’s Sparking Joy for Kristyn: The Life Changing Magic of Instacart! -What’s Sparking Joy for both of us: Spark Joy hit 700,000 downloads and is growing by the day! -Media outlets and events both Karin and Kristyn have been featured in recently Karin has been featured in: Money/Time Magazine: Marie Kondo KonMari Method Consultant Certification NY Magazine: How to Declutter Your Book Collection 6Sqft City Realty: Meet New York City’s Master KonMari Consultant Kristyn has been featured in: HuffPost: 6 Lessons From Marie Kondo’s Netflix Show You Can Apply To Work And Career You Need A Budget/Wander Wealthy Podcast And the Chicago Tidy Tour | KonMari 101 continues! -Our special announcement: Introducing The Spark Joy Club! -Spark Joy podcast announces two levels of membership: The Joy Riser Tier At this tier, you'll receive: A thank you shout out during an episode of Spark Joy and in the show notes during the month you join Access to the custom Spark Joy Episode Map and Listening Guide, which is updated following every episode This tier is $3 per month The Joy Sparker Tier At this tier, you'll receive: Everything above, plus… Full membership in The Spark Joy Club on Facebook Mix and mingle with our clients and fellow listeners and get support and feedback from us as well as the community A copy of The Tidy Home Joy Journal via Amazon This tier is $5 per month -Learn more about The Tidy Home Joy Journal -Join The Spark Joy Club today by heading over to our website, and clicking Join The Club! Gems: "This is a brand new membership only group." "We are looking forward to seeing you in The Spark Joy Club." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy