When we consider what becomes of the things we once owned, it might give us fresh perspective on our daily planetary impact, as well as what will be left behind when we’re gone.SummaryTeddy bears from childhood, life off the grid and organizing our “estate” before we die. In this wide-reaching conversation, Judy Dolmatch reflects on acquisition and disposition, staying connect with her late mother through a shared appreciation of art, and how living in a permaculture community deepened her appreciation for ecological systems. Her interest in cultural attitudes about death led to further reflections on  what becomes of possessions when we leave the planet.About my guestJudy Dolmatch is a champion of the creative spirit and the creative process. She co-founded performance troupes in comedy improvisation and playback theater in Ashland, OR. She also originated the Artrageous Community Arts Camps, a collaborative exploration for adults who want to explore creativity and leadership, and currently leads improvisation playshops and facilitates the Death Cafe in Florence, OR. Judy is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in life passages and trauma recovery.Podcast theme musicempty by Tea K Peafreemusicarchive.org/music/tea-k-pea/To hear more episodes of The Void Project, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Sometimes the internal experiences we crave are enhanced by changing our external environment.SummaryChange can surprise us. Even when we know it’s in the offing, it can take time to thoroughly unfold. Visions of what we thought we wanted may come to pass, whether or not the details we had in mind completely align with what reality turns out to be. By paying attention to our values as they evolved and refine, we can make choices that lead to the right things at the right time. Including knowing when and how to let things go.About my guestLaurie Riedman is a relationship and life coach at bu coaching. She publishes essays on her Substack blog titled More Than Words and is the author of a soon-to-be-published book, Diamonds in the Dirt: Stories from a Junkyard Girl. Laurie has run her own communications and coaching business for 35 years and earned numerous leadership awards along the way. She lives with her husband in the Finger Lakes of upstate New York.bu Coachinghttps://bucoach.com/More Than Wordshttps://laurieriedman.substack.com/Main Topics3:00ready for something new4:40the things I want now are different5:54letting go was hard9:28the right things at the right time15:27how living my values has changed18:46create space inside by having less things19:33you can make mistakes21:59letting go is a muscle; practice little things23:36use structural tensionPodcast theme musicempty by Tea K Peafreemusicarchive.org/music/tea-k-pea/To hear more episodes of The Void Project, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Conscientious clutter clearing and Feng Shui can release congestion in a home and invite more flow, while space clearing goes further to usher spirit into matter.SummaryMoving is often a conscious choice. It can also be a necessity, as in the aftermath of an earthquake. Either way, some level of upheaval is to be expected. Uprooting needn’t destabilize, however, at least not for long. And all new beginnings can spark curiosity and enthusiasm. Conscientious clutter clearing and Feng Shui can release congestion in a home and invite more flow, while space clearing goes further to usher spirit into matter.About my guestAnnette Kurtz and I met in 2010, which is when I began admiring her precise nature, her zest for life and her extraordinary sensory ability to read rooms and people. She’s a life long learner who achieves mastery in every subject she decides to study seriously.Early in her career Annette was a finance executive, working for DaimlerChrysler, Bayerische Landesbank and Shinsei Bank. After she began meditating and studying Feng Shui, she stepped off the corporate ladder to start her own business.Since 2011, Annette has been consulting for private and business clients on clearing and revitalizing energies in their homes and offices —  sharing her expertise in space clearing, clutter clearing and Feng Shui for truly transformative effects.In 2021, Annette authored her first book, Harmonize Your Home, which became an instant best-seller.Learn more about Annette and gain access to free materials at her website.https://annettekurtz.com/Main Topics1:57living through the Fukushima earthquake in 20119:55over 30 moves10:11re-opening storage storage units11:38moving is a big hurdle12:34things I appreciate (and keep)14:05 clutter clearing and space clearing, defined16:10bringing spirit into matter18:04traumatic imprints in homes18:51space clearing results, what makes it stick23:50new beginnings — a reading from Annette’s bestsellerAdditional ResourcesSpace Clearing ConsultantsAnnette Kurtzhttps://annettekurtz.com/Linda Freyahttp://www.lindafreya.com/Books and newslettersHarmonize Your Home, by Annette Kurtzhttps://www.amazon.com/Harmonize-Your-Energize-Greater-Success/dp/B08SBPQ9SN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1T0Y79J98DR3N&keywords=annette+kurtz&qid=1683734342&sprefix=annette+kurtz%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-1Space Clearing, by Karen Kingstonhttps://www.amazon.com/Creating-Sacred-Space-Feng-Shui/dp/0553069160/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1YK3WN1XYN7JO&keywords=space+clearing&qid=1683734063&sprefix=space+clearing%2Caps%2C187&sr=8-2Karen Kingston’s blog and newsletterhttps://www.karenkingston.com/blog/Podcast theme musicempty by Tea K Peafreemusicarchive.org/music/tea-k-pea/To hear more episodes of The Void Project, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

How can limitations actually spur creativity?SummaryHow might the intentional choice to live abroad influence one’s relationship to their possessions? Along with opportunities come constraints — which can spark entirely new approaches. For example, sorting through what we own and deciding what to do with it needn’t be burdensome; it can be big fun.About my guestLisa Donoughe is a brand expert and entrepreneur, a visionary, a communicator, and a true woman of the world dividing her time between homes in Berlin, New York City, and Portland, Oregon. She's a creator and a curator and a champion of fine food, art and culture. As one of Lisa’s clients describes it, “Lisa has her methods. Some of them are unconventional. She has a way of seeing the world in a different way.”More on Lisa at https://www.lisadonoughe.com/Main topics1:21living in Berlin started as an experiment2:35I love constraints6:38three cities, three homes, three styles9:00how Berlin’s apartments are different from those in the U.S.13:20worst nightmare: brown moths16:11fun re-evaluating everything in the house during pandemic lockdown19:21new relationship to appliances and possessionsPodcast theme musicempty by Tea K Peafreemusicarchive.org/music/tea-k-pea/To hear more episodes of The Void Project, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

What makes a person ready to sort and organize their things with the help of someone else?SummaryReadiness can look different for different people. A possible measure is the willingness to have one’s things ruffled through and shaken loose. Another is their receptivity to new organizing principles. Whatever gets it going, the sorting and reorganizing process can illicit insight for the client and the consultant alike.About my guestAmy Baskerville is a true world citizen. Born in Nebraska, raised in Japan during much of her childhood, she also lived in Singapore, Hong Kong and several places on both coasts of the US, and traveled to India, Norway, Mali, Iran and Russia. Her curiosity and zest for life are fed by ever-evolving professional roles across myriad industries including culinary, real estate, travel and education.Main topics2:00 when people are ready to change or transform5:24 everybody has their sweet spot6:09 what makes a client ready?12:30 gentle softening13:52 starting point for setting up my own home16:39 a function for storage19:16 dismantle a home20:13 traveling light abroad23:03 shaking things loose23:33 readiness projectAdditional ResourcesFor travel, Amy recommends packing a lightweight shawl. It can add versatility to fashion as a wrap, and to comfort as an extra layer.Podcast theme musicempty by Tea K Peafreemusicarchive.org/music/tea-k-pea/To hear more episodes of The Void Project, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

What does it look like to closely align one’s material possessions with clear personal values and aspirations?SummaryWhat does is look like to closely align one’s material possessions with clear personal values and aspirations? Danielle provides a shining example. Freedom has a very specific meaning to her. She deliberately organizes her life for simplicity, enabling flexibility and freedom for focused spiritual pursuits. She discusses her values, how she views time when making plans for the future, selecting possessions that are versatile, and creating a living space where she can feel herself more than the items in the room.About my guestDanielle Heckmeck is a serious meditator, an avid reader, a hiker and a world traveler who claims Paris as her favorite city. For our conversation, Danielle called in from Australia. She has worked in information technology for over 20 years, most recently as a project manager for a company that developed systems for public health organizations. Main topics4:20     can I live without this?6:02     I want to be as free as possible8:24     living my life in smaller time segments13:11  what about clothing for multiple climates?15:30  small-sized travel/camping gear19:07  clutter20:29  I want to feel me in it, I don’t want to feel all the stuff that’s in there24:50  we can get so tied into the things that we own … that we identify with themPodcast theme musicempty by Tea K Peafreemusicarchive.org/music/tea-k-pea/To hear more episodes of The Void Project, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

What can a 24-year-old teach us about shoring up our values before we run out and buy more?SummaryWhat can a 25-year-old teach us about shoring up our values before we run out and buy more? In the opening episode of the podcast, we speak with Sasha Newton, a young professional in Northern California. Based on her own life experience, she makes the case that real growth can be found in letting things go, then living in the tension of not yet knowing exactly what we want. Later, when we’re clear about why we want things, we can be economical with our money and our time, while dialing back potential waste and disposal on the planet. On the day we recorded this episode, Sasha had just sorted her closet and let of 60-70%.About my guestSasha Newton is a young professional currently living in the San Francisco Bay Area. She co-founded Peer Point, a program that supports youth in dispute resolution. Sasha graduated from Pomona College with a double major in Cognitive Science and Asian Studies and she speaks Spanish, Mandarin, Italian and Russian. Sasha also is an avid athlete on land and in water; in high school and college she competed in interscholastic swimming and polo.Main topics4:26the average woman has 125 articles of clothing5:45letting go of things from the past feels like growth6:58acquire a professional wardrobe at no cost10:55value simplicity, utility and high quality11:14perfect definition of a gift13:13the right tool at the right time14:23China, France, Sweden15:07Capsule wardrobeAdditional resourcesFresh Lifelines for Youth (host of the Peer Point program)flyprogram.orgHow many clothes do I really need?www.nytimes.com/2022/10/10/style/clothes-wardrobe-need.htmlCapsule wardrobeen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsule_wardrobeSasha’s tip for building a wardrobe at no costUse Facebook local buy/sell/trade groups to post a note about why you are building a wardrobe, the style or purpose you need it for, your size, and your willingness to pick it up wherever the donor would prefers. Say that you’re open to photo-sharing before pick-up to make sure it’s a match with what you want.Book to check outThe Year of Less, by Cait FlandersPodcast theme musicempty by Tea K Peafreemusicarchive.org/music/tea-k-pea/To hear more episodes of The Void Project, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

TranscriptHi.How do you feel about podcasts that are … personal?Because this one gets personal.It’s also about our stuff.What?!Yeah, the stuff you we buy or find or accept as a gift or inherit and it all builds up and up and up over time. Until one day we realize we’re in charge of managing it all. Why do people do that?Okay. I could stop right there. That would make for a pretty good podcast.But that’s not as deep as we could go. Here’s a way more interesting question:Might our belongings be a distraction that hides things we’d rather not see? And then, what do people actually discover when they finally do let go?My name is Kira Higgs. I’m a strategist, structural consultant, meditator and cyclist. I started a personal project a couple of years ago that I labelled, The Void Project.The little tasks I laid out for myself produced insights galore — about our stuff and about how what we keep in our midst can enhance, or detract from, our lives.It wasn’t solely about clearing physical things to make more space in my home and office.  It was to leverage the movement of books, papers, tchotchkes, email — all that and more — to stir up concepts that lie below the surface of my conscious awareness.Now, as a podcast, The Void Project shares stories about real journeys of discovery without glossing over the bumpy bits.I talk with people who pared down. They share their experiences, the lessons they learned, and some of the wonders that resulted.Ten lives. Ten conversations. Ten people who did it for themselves or for others.Let’s do this. Let’s get personal.Podcast theme musicempty by Tea K Peafreemusicarchive.org/music/tea-k-pea/To hear more episodes of The Void Project, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.