Connected Simplicity

Suzanne Searcy Johnson
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

You've already simplified your space. Now your soul is asking for more. That's where I come in. Welcome to the Connected Simplicity podcast. I'm your host, Suzanne Searcy Johnson. Living in a tiny home in Austin, TX has given me a unique perspective on decluttering and living with less, but there's more to simplicity than that. I'm here to share how life becomes simpler and more rooted when we embrace connection. In these episodes, we'll take a look at connection - to nature, others, spirituality, and ourselves - as a path to the simple life you crave. Together we'll discover that simplicity isn't what you remove, it's what you return to.

  1. 7h ago

    The Fall Equinox: Balance, Harmony, & Nature's Cycles

    In this brief solo episode, I explore the meaning of the fall equinox — both the astronomical event and the deeper spiritual themes it invites us to consider. As day and night come into balance, the equinox offers a moment to reflect on our own inner steadiness, our relationships with others, and our connection to the natural world. In this episode: What the fall equinox is and why it mattersThree spiritual aspects of the equinox: Balance, Harmony, and Nature's CyclesThree simple actions to guide you in this season Resources mentioned: Farmer's Almanac: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/fall-equinox-first-day-of-fallA Vital Simplicity: Charles Wagner's The Simple Life revisited: https://a.co/d/02NQam6V Additional resources and links: Website: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/suzannesearcyjohnsonPrivate Coaching: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/work-with-me/Sign up for my newsletter: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/newsletter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzanne.searcy.johnson/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.searcy.johnsonTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonFree Resources: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/resources/

    The Fall Equinox: Balance, Harmony, & Nature's Cycles

  2. Sep 16

    Travel Made Simple with Laurie of Travel Tips by Laurie

    In this episode, I’m joined by Laurie from Travel Tips by Laurie, a pilot’s wife who has spent more than two decades traveling the world and learning how to make every part of the journey easier, calmer, and more enjoyable. Laurie has built a thriving YouTube community by teaching practical packing strategies, sharing airport and TSA tips, and helping travelers reduce stress before they ever reach their destination. We talk about how she started her channel, the lessons she’s learned from years of trial‑and‑error travel, and the heart behind her work — especially her desire to encourage women and help them feel more confident, capable, and prepared. Laurie also shares some of her favorite travel hacks, long‑flight essentials, and the free resources she’s created to help travelers pack smarter and move through airports with more peace of mind. In this episode: How Laurie went from schoolteacher to travel‑tips creatorCarry‑on strategies for long tripsCompression cubes, scarves, and other small items that make a big differenceTSA tips, including the little‑known TSA Cares programHow personality affects packing styleWhy encouraging other women has become central to her workFavorite destinations (and the ones still on her list)Connect with Laurie and Get Her Travel Freebies: Laurie's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/traveltipsbylaurieLaurie's packing blueprint: https://traveltipsbylaurie.mykajabi.com/lauries-packing-blueprintPickpocket Guide for 2026: https://bit.ly/pickpocketfreebie 3 Second Emergency Card: https://bit.ly/emergencykit2025 Additional resources and links: Website: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/suzannesearcyjohnsonPrivate Coaching: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/work-with-me/Sign up for my newsletter: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/newsletter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzanne.searcy.johnson/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.searcy.johnsonTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonFree Resources: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/resources/

    Travel Made Simple with Laurie of Travel Tips by Laurie

  3. Sep 9

    The Art of Knowing When to Speak

    In this brief solo episode, I explore two themes that surfaced after a recent Instagram post: knowing when to engage in potentially volatile conversations and cultivating a deep sense of self that doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. I share how I navigate group‑chat tension, how I listen for my own inner cues rather than reacting from ego or emotion, and why there is real peace in not always knowing the answer. I also offer three simple practices to help you reconnect with your inner voice — practices rooted in nature, quiet, and daily intention. In this episode: How to discern when to enter a heated or emotional conversationWhy certainty in who you are reduces the need to explain yourselfThe difference between reacting from ego and responding from clarityThe peace that comes from not always knowingThree grounding practices to reconnect with your intuitionLinks mentioned: Connected Simplicity Episode "Learning to Trust Your Own Voice Again": https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learning-to-trust-your-own-voice-again/id1896635650?i=1000770914543Instagram Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DclWiDmkYWe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Additional resources and links: Website: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/suzannesearcyjohnsonPrivate Coaching: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/work-with-me/Sign up for my newsletter: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/newsletter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzanne.searcy.johnson/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.searcy.johnsonTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonFree Resources: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/resources/Sixty Candles: Life Lessons from an OG Fire Horse: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/sixty-candles/

    The Art of Knowing When to Speak

  4. Sep 2

    Legacy & Love: A Conversation with My Brother and Sisters

    In this personal episode, I sit down with my brother and sisters — the Searcy siblings — to remember our parents, our childhood, and the legacy of love, faith, humor, and resilience that shaped each of us. We talk about growing up in a small house with big hospitality, the music that filled our home, the creativity that defined our early years, and the ways our parents’ strength and joy continue to guide us today. We also honor our oldest sister, Donna, whose presence and influence still echo through our lives. This conversation is honest and heartfelt — a reminder that the stories we’re given in childhood can become the stories we choose to carry, reshape, or release. In this episode: Birth order, big age gaps, and growing up in “two different families”Family vacations planned pre-internet (and with almost no money)Music, creativity, and homemade childhood “movies”Our parents’ faith, resilience, and entrepreneurial spiritLiving with chronic pain and choosing joy anywayHospitality, generosity, and welcoming strangersLessons we each carry into our adult livesRemembering our sister Donna with love and gratitudeResources and links: Website: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/suzannesearcyjohnsonPrivate Coaching: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/work-with-me/Sign up for my newsletter: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/newsletter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzanne.searcy.johnson/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.searcy.johnsonTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonFree Resources: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/resources/Sixty Candles: Life Lessons from an OG Fire Horse: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/sixty-candles/

    Legacy & Love: A Conversation with My Brother and Sisters

  5. Aug 26

    AI, Responsibility, & Real Connection

    In this solo episode, I explore the rapidly shifting AI landscape. I share why opt‑out (vs. opt-in) AI concerns me, potential environmental and creative harms, and how unchecked reliance on AI can weaken our critical thinking. I also offer an honest look at the ways I do use AI, along with simple practices to help you stay grounded, thoughtful, and human in an AI‑driven world. In this episode: The current AI landscape and why “opt‑out” mattersEnvironmental impacts of large‑scale AI useHow AI affects critical thinkingHarms to writers, musicians, and other creativesWhat I personally use AI forFour questions to ask before using AIThree simple ways to reduce AI use without losing convenienceWhy human connection matters more than everLinks mentioned: The web browser I use: https://noai.duckduckgo.com/Articles:https://unric.org/en/ais-environmental-costs-threaten-water-land-and-climate/https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/61285/20260209/water-shortage-crisis-are-we-running-out-fresh-water-global-data-reveals-truth.htmhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2026/08/17/ai-companies-are-buying-and-destroying-antique-books-heres-why/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/03/16/love-in-the-time-of-ai-companions (Print edition article "Sweet Nothings" by Anna Wiener)My children's book with illustrations by Kim Gatto: https://a.co/d/03Wlkfqa Connect with me: Website: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/suzannesearcyjohnsonPrivate Coaching: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/work-with-me/Sign up for my newsletter: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/newsletter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzanne.searcy.johnson/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.searcy.johnsonTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@suzannesearcyjohnson

    AI, Responsibility, & Real Connection

  6. Aug 19

    Bus Life, Dogs, & Big Adventures with Joe & Heather

    In this episode, I sit down with Joe and Heather McGarty — full‑time nomads traveling North America in their self‑converted school bus with their two dogs, Moose and Maple. We talk about how they went from New York newlyweds to building a home on wheels, what life is really like in 100 square feet, and the unexpected adventures that have shaped their journey — from volunteering at a horse ranch in Alberta to a sunrise encounter with two grizzly bears. If you’ve ever dreamed of simplifying your life, traveling more, or choosing a different path, this conversation is full of joy, honesty, and wide‑open‑road inspiration. In this episode: How they went from Long Island to life on the roadBuilding a school bus home with zero experienceMaking a living through video production and tiny home toursFinding community as nomadsLife in 100 square feet with two dogs (and a lizard!)Their favorite places across North AmericaA wild grizzly bear encounter at sunriseThe beauty, challenge, and freedom of choosing a simpler lifeConnect with Heather and Joe: https://www.roam-studio.com/https://www.youtube.com/@RoamingWithMoosehttps://www.instagram.com/roamingwithmoosehttps://www.tiktok.com/@roamingwithmooseResources and links: My tiny home tour filmed by Joe & Heather: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWZzpSl7eAQWebsite: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/suzannesearcyjohnsonPrivate Coaching: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/work-with-me/Sign up for my newsletter: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/newsletter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzanne.searcy.johnson/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.searcy.johnsonTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonFree Resources: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/resources/Sixty Candles: Life Lessons from an OG Fire Horse: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/sixty-candles/

    Bus Life, Dogs, & Big Adventures with Joe & Heather

  7. Aug 12

    Good Enough: Letting Go of Perfection & Lightening Up

    In this solo episode, I explore the quiet relief of letting go of perfection — and why “good enough” is often more than enough. I share a childhood story that shaped my understanding of excellence, how striving for “great” can sometimes keep us stuck, and why loosening our grip creates space for joy, connection, and fun. If life feels heavy or overly serious right now, this conversation is a gentle reminder to lighten up, laugh more, and choose presence over perfection. In this episode: When “good” is truly good enoughWhy connection matters more than pristine environmentsThe importance of fun, silliness, and shared joyLetting yourself be human — not a machineA simple invitation to lighten up this week Resources and links: Website: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/suzannesearcyjohnsonPrivate Coaching: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/work-with-me/Sign up for my newsletter: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/newsletter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzanne.searcy.johnson/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.searcy.johnsonTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonFree Resources: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/resources/Sixty Candles: Life Lessons from an OG Fire Horse: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/sixty-candles/

    Good Enough: Letting Go of Perfection & Lightening Up

  8. Aug 5

    Confidence, Connection, and the Red Lip Life with Heather Adams

    In this episode, I sit down with Heather Adams — founder and CEO of Choice Media & Communications — for a conversation about confidence, connection, and the “red lip life” she’s inspiring women to embrace. Heather shares how she built a career rooted in genuine relationships, why storytelling is at the heart of her work, and how naming and protecting her “life‑giving essentials” transformed the way she leads, parents, and lives. We also talk about midlife shifts, spiritual grounding, and the joy she’s found in writing her Substack, The Red Lip Life. This episode is full of candor, wisdom, and encouragement for women navigating ambition, identity, and meaningful connection. In this episode: Heather’s journey from yearbook editor to CEOThe difference between publicity and marketingWhy relationships matter more than transactionsThe story behind her signature red lipWhat she’s learning in midlife, motherhood, and leadershipHow she uses life‑giving essentials to stay groundedThe surprising joy she found in writing The Red Lip LifeConnect with Heather: Red Lip Life: https://theredliplife.substack.com/Heather's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherdixonadams/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheetChoice Website: https://choicemediacommunications.com/ Resources and links: Sixty Candles: Life Lessons from an OG Fire Horse: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/sixty-candles/Website: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/suzannesearcyjohnsonPrivate Coaching: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/work-with-me/Sign up for my newsletter: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/newsletter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzanne.searcy.johnson/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.searcy.johnsonTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@suzannesearcyjohnsonFree Resources: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/resources/

    Confidence, Connection, and the Red Lip Life with Heather Adams
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

You've already simplified your space. Now your soul is asking for more. That's where I come in. Welcome to the Connected Simplicity podcast. I'm your host, Suzanne Searcy Johnson. Living in a tiny home in Austin, TX has given me a unique perspective on decluttering and living with less, but there's more to simplicity than that. I'm here to share how life becomes simpler and more rooted when we embrace connection. In these episodes, we'll take a look at connection - to nature, others, spirituality, and ourselves - as a path to the simple life you crave. Together we'll discover that simplicity isn't what you remove, it's what you return to.

Information

  • Creator
    Suzanne Searcy Johnson
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Connected Simplicity LLC 2026
  • Show Website
    Connected Simplicity

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