Meet Shannon Leyko

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shannon Leyko. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shannon below.

Hi Shannon, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Purpose can feel like such an abstract word, but once I found a definition that I love, I gained more clarity on my core values and what kind of work I want to pursue. In his book Things That Matter, Joshua Becker writes that purpose is when our passion and skills align to meet a need of others. I couldn’t love that more!

Besides being a mother, my purpose is helping anyone who feels overwhelmed – mostly women – declutter their homes to experience less stress and live more intentional lives. I’ve found that decluttering is a powerful catalyst for building our discernment muscle in every area of life. Am I consciously choosing what stays in my life (tangible and otherwise), or am I on autopilot, just letting life happen TO me?

I think the reason I was successful in eventually identifying my purpose as the host of the Paring Down podcast is because I explored different opportunities and interests, not forcing myself to stick to one path. From working as a professional vocalist to becoming a development producer for reality television, I’ve been able to identify my passion (loving others through entertainment), hone my skills (communication via writing & speaking), and meet a need of others (after experiencing how my own life changed when I let go of my excess).

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am the host of the Paring Down podcast, which I hope feels like listening to your best friend encourage you to declutter your home. No judgment, no unrealistic minimalism – just honest stories and inspiring guests to help you live with less stuff and more intention. We cover everything from getting past mental roadblocks like “What if I end up needing this?” to broader questions about the relation between money and happiness.

I also have a large social media platform on Instagram (@paring_down) and Facebook (just search for Shannon Leyko!), where I share bite-sized tips to keep my followers focused on their goal of living in a less overwhelming home.

One of my favorite parts of what I do is being able to validate the collective experience so many of us feel. So much shame is wrapped up in the state of our homes, but my work allows people to know they are not alone – and there is hope! We CAN make a change to our spaces, and therefore our lives, without getting rid of our most cherished belongings or depriving our kids. It’s possible to make a real change while feeling very normal in our struggle to let go, stop consuming, or keep up with the house.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I attribute much of my “success” to authenticity, generosity, and consistency.

I was not a popular kid growing up – I have simply never had that “cool” factor. For better or worse, I’ve never been able to shake my animated way of speaking or hold my cards close to my chest. Those things weren’t the most attractive qualities as a teenager, but throughout life, they’ve come to serve me well. People know that they don’t have to put on any kind of front around me because my weird shines bright, which has allowed my network of people to grow strong and wide. Simply put, vulnerability begets vulnerability! And vulnerability is the foundation of genuine relationships. That network of generous people is what allowed my different endeavors to be successful, as so many people have stepped up along the way to offer me opportunities, share my work, and encourage me to continue pursuing my passions. Authenticity goes a long, long way.

Speaking of generosity from others, I’ve learned to lead with generosity, myself. I’ll tell you anything I know without hesitation. I’ve never been a particularly competitive person, so I don’t see the benefit in gatekeeping information or believing someone else’s success would hamper my own. That willingness to answer questions, present opportunities, and give things away for free has come back to benefit me tenfold.

And finally, I’m a small-steps gal. Consistency over irregular leaps! When I wrote my book, I wrote 500 words a day. That’s fewer words than most emails! In 7 months – while pregnant (then postpartum) alongside raising a toddler – my book was complete. I posted 6 simple reels a week, and grew from 0-200,000 followers in a year. I share one podcast episode per week without bells and whistles of fancy video production, and Paring Down recently bumped into the Top 1% of all podcasts! It doesn’t have to be perfect or impressive – it just has to happen.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My mother passed away from bladder cancer in 2012, and she gave me one piece of advice in her last days that changed my life. I asked her “What’s one thing you want to make sure I know?” and she said (a bit flippantly because it was such a ridiculously monumental question) “Don’t save the good wine. I was saving a few nice bottles for a special occasion, and now I’ll never know what they taste like.”

“Don’t save the good wine” is now my life’s motto. Even in the decluttering process, I encourage people to use the quilt from their grandma instead of shoving it in a closet. Display that sentimental item you love. Drink out of the nice teacups. Don’t let the things you love become clutter. Use the good stuff!

Beyond that, live every day in celebration. Special occasions are fine, but today is an occasion, too. We aren’t guaranteed time, so let’s lean in and enjoy it in any way we can.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
From Exhausted to Energized: Overcoming and Avoiding Burnout

Between Hustle Culture, Work-From-Home, and other trends and changes in the work and business culture,

Productivity
Keeping Your Creativity Alive

One of the most challenging aspects of creative work is keeping your creativity alive. If

Resilience
Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our