Meet the Chaos to Calm Summit Speakers
Meet Your Host
podcast host and wannabe minimalist
Deanna Yates is the host of the popular podcast, Wannabe Clutter Free, where she helps busy families learn how to let go of the stuff holding them back so they can stop spending their entire weekend cleaning house and start enjoy more time together.
Deanna's positive attitude and down to earth nature has propelled the Wannabe Clutter Free podcast to the top 1% of podcasts and has reached over 1.8 Million listens. With expert guests, and tips and tricks from her own experiences she has helped women from all over the world discover the freedom that comes from living clutter-free.
When she's not helping clients realize their dreams, you can find her paddle boarding, searching for the tastiest breakfast burrito, or balancing her love of world travel with her love of snuggling up on the couch.
Meet your Speakers
Alicia Cohen
Productivity Expert
Alicia Cohen is a productivity expert, specializing in prioritization and time management.
Alicia built her business, Alicia Cohen Designs: Expert Productivity Solutions, based on her own journey of overcoming her overwhelmed and frazzled life -- what she calls the "hamster wheel marathon" -- and now teaches others the methods that she discovered and uses personally.
With Alicia’s support, busy people learn intentional planning, effective productivity, and high-impact mindset shifts that enable them to transform from constantly feeling behind to designing lives that work well and feel great.
Alicia is based in the U.S. where she lives with her husband and children. She finds great joy in homeschooling her children and marvels at how blessed she is.
Amanda Jefferson
Tech & Productivity Coach
Amanda Jefferson is the owner of Indigo Organizing, the creator of the Done-With-You Digital Organizing coaching program and the Get It Done Club, and one of the world's first KonMari consultants. A TEDx speaker and co-host of the Good Enough-Ish podcast, Amanda has been featured in Real Simple, Harpers Bazaar, the Wall Street Journal, and Better Homes & Garden, among others. She was recently named a Top 50 Women Speaker of 2024 by renowned speaker and author Jess Ekstrom. Known affectionately as the Tech Whisperer, Amanda helps busy people declutter their digital lives and talks to audiences about how to quiet the noisy shoulds of society.
Amy Nesbitt
Founder of Whole Wellness Mamas
Amy Nesbitt is a full time, corporate world working mama to two boys who has spent large amounts of time in Silicon Valley and San Diego. She shares her passion for wellness, travel, books, and eats on her blog as well as Instagram and TikTok “WholeWellnessMamas”. She empowers other mamas to find joy in their work and home life through her courses and summits. You can also find her spreading the love for her other passions like Japanese travel, cooking and culture on her Youtube "This Japanese American Life" and Book YouTube “AmyNsReads” enjoying the ordinary moments!
Ashley Hines
Holistic Home Organizer
Ashley Hines believes everyone deserves a life tailored to their well-being. With this vision in mind, she founded Thee Tailored Life in December 2020. Amidst the challenges of the pandemic, she realized that living an organized life is a form of self-care that significantly impacts mental health and overall well-being. Ashley guides clients to live with peace, order, and intention and fosters optimal well-being through holistic home organizing.
She has been featured in Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, Good Housekeeping, Real Simple, New York Times Wirecutter, and Buyside by the Wall Street Journal. Ashley was chosen for The Container Store Brand Ambassador Program (2023-25), the Lowes Creator Beta Program (2023-25), and the American Family Insurance Free to Dream community initiative (2022 and 2023).
As a corporate executive, business owner, and community leader, Ashley brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her work. She has been married to her wonderful husband, Brandon, for thirteen years and has two incredible children - a nine-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter.
Christine Koh
Lifestyle Editing Ninja
Christine Koh is a music and brain scientist turned multimedia creative. She spent a decade in academia, during which time she earned prestigious fellowships from the National Institutes of Health to fund her Ph.D. research at Queen’s University and joint-appointment postdoctoral fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Christine was about to become a professor when she decided to hang up her academic spurs in favor of more flexible and independent ventures.
Since leaving academia in 2006, Christine has created a varied professional palette oriented around her passions for storytelling and problem solving, while also encouraging reflection, growth, and disruption. She is a pioneer in hyperlocal blogging, writes for major media outlets (The Washington Post, Boston Globe Magazine, and CNN), is a book author (Minimalist Parenting), and writes the popular Substack, There’s Always A Story. She is the award-winning podcaster behind Edit Your Life. She did not go to art school but as a designer, founded and ran a stationery and graphic design firm as well as a resistance apparel company (worn by Whoopi Goldberg and Alyssa Milano). And she is a sought after creative director/strategist with a passion for mission-driven work.
Colette Roy
Relationship and Clutter Coach
Colette has been a Professional Organizer in Boulder, Colorado, for 20 years and is an expert in helping couples navigate the sometimes dire challenge of their combined clutter. She’s recently published her first book, Clutter And Couples: How To Organize Your Home & Transform Your Relationship, which speaks directly to those challenges. The book offers a deeper understanding of the impacts of clutter and how to communicate effectively while staying on the same team with your beloved. She’s passionate about helping couples prioritize the health of their intimate life through cutting-edge communication rituals and evolving together.
Elisabeth Beam
Founder of Balancing Beams
Elisabeth Beam is founder of Balancing Beams, where she helps overwhelmed moms create easy-to-manage homes 15 minutes at a time. After the birth of her third daughter, she found herself struggling with postpartum anxiety and a home that felt impossible to maintain. That's when she discovered that the solution wasn't more storage or complicated systems – she was simply trying to manage too much stuff.
With three kids under 5, Elisabeth decluttered over 50% of her family's belongings using small pockets of time during naps and between snacks. Her popular "Declutter in 15" challenge has helped hundreds of busy moms discover that creating a peaceful home is possible, even without endless hours to organize.
Through her Instagram community @balancingbeams and her practical, mom-friendly guidance, Elisabeth shows women how to create homes that work for them, not against them – giving them back their time and energy for what matters most.
Emily McDermott
Podcaster & Declutter Coach
Emily McDermott is a wife, mother of two energetic boys, and simplicity seeker. She is also the host of the top 1% globally ranked podcast Moms Overcoming Overwhelm, where she helps moms declutter their homes, heads, and hearts. As a virtual and in-person decluttering coach, she works with moms one-on-one to define what matters, eliminate what doesn’t and automate the rest. Emily enjoys writing custom poetry, dancing, and eating peanut butter out of the jar.
Emily Nichols
Habit & Fitness Coach
Emily Nichols is the host of Habit Hack Your Health—a top ranked podcast that helps working moms habit hack their health in less time, guilt free. From her own struggles and working with 100s of moms as a personal trainer since 2016, Emily found that women need a more habit based approach to their wellness in order for it to be sustainable. No more diets or quick fixes, but a system that allows you to train for life instead.
Heather Riggs
Certified Image Consultant & Color Specialist
Heather Riggs is the founder of HER Style, LLC and host of HER Style Podcast. As a 17-year Certified Image Consultant and Color Specialist, Heather empowers ambitious women to buy less, shop smarter, and build wardrobes they love so they can show up ─ and get dressed every day ─ with confidence. Get started with her Free 5-Minute Personal Style Quiz to dial-in your own swoon worthy signature look at https://herstylellc.com/quiz. You can also connect with her on Instagram @heatherriggsstyle.
Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni
Hosts of the Frugal Friends Podcast
Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni are co-hosts of the top-rated Frugal Friends Podcast. With over 400 episodes and almost 7 million downloads, Frugal Friends is changing the way the world thinks about frugality. Jen Smith is a personal finance expert who, along with her husband, paid off $78,000 of debt in two years while facing unemployment and buying a house. Jill is a licensed clinical social worker who enjoys exploring the connections between our money behaviors and mental health. Together they’re helping people become better stewards of their money, time, space, and natural resources.
Jenny Layton
Professional Organizer, Productivity Expert, Mindset Coach
Jenny Layton is a leading expert in organization, time management, and mindset. Through her signature systems and programs, she has helped thousands of women achieve their goals without sacrificing what matters most. You can learn more about getting organized on her Life Organized podcast, her regular segments on local lifestyle television, and at thehappygal.com. She lives in Utah with her husband and five kids and spends her free time hiking, boating on the beautiful mountain lakes, and on the pickleball court.
Jessica Litman
Organizing Educator
Jessica Litman, widely recognized as "The Organized Mama," is a leading expert in home organization and DIY solutions. Known for her practical, approachable style, Jessica helps families transform their homes into functional, stress-free spaces. Her expertise has earned her a feature on People.com as an "organizing and DIY expert," along with appearances in Today.com, Better Homes & Gardens, Parents Magazine, and other notable outlets.
Jessica is also the creator of the popular podcast, Organizing Tune-Ups, which has gained over 14,000 downloads in its second season, offering listeners actionable tips and advice on simplifying their homes.
In addition to her media presence, Jessica is the author of Home Sweet Organized Home, a guide that helps readers declutter and organize with ease. She is also the founder of The Organized Mama Co., where she offers digital products and courses designed to streamline every aspect of home management.
Through her practical tools and engaging resources, Jessica empowers families to take control of their homes, creating spaces that inspire calm and productivity. Whether through her courses, books, or podcast, Jessica’s passion for organization continues to make a lasting impact on homes everywhere.
Krista Kowalczyk
no title
For the past 25 years, Krista Kowalczyk has been capturing life’s most cherished moments. As the owner of Impressions Photography, she is renowned for her exceptional wedding and portrait photography, as well as her outstanding customer service.
After Krista’s region was devastated by Hurricane Ian, Krista began to help flood victims to salvage their damaged photographs. She volunteered countless hours to salvage thousands of photographs. She worked tirelessly to give photo memories back to people who had otherwise lost everything.
Those efforts inspired her to begin to teach people how to proactively secure pictures before any disaster strikes. Now she is on a mission to share easy-to-follow photo organizing techniques to safeguard both print and digital memories. Her approachable guidance helps people of all tech levels protect their personal collections.
Krista’s work and expertise have been featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, Fox Weather, The Weather Channel, and NBCLX.
Most recently, Krista was named Mentor of the Year by the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. She also authored her first book, Beyond The Storm. However, she takes the most pride of all being a mother and wife.
Michaela Bucchianeri
Psychologist + Stepmom Coach
Michaela Bucchianeri, PhD is a clinical psychologist, speaker, and coach specializing in stepmom emotional wellness. Blending the science of psychology and the art of stepmom-ing, Michaela helps women navigate stepmotherhood more skillfully—empowering them to create a stepmom identity they love, so they can worry less, shift their energy to what lights them up, and start having (way) more fun.
In addition to coaching, Michaela's passionate about sharing honest reflections from her own 12 years' experience as a stepmom, and translating what mental health research has to say about thriving in this unique role. Her work has been featured in StepMom Magazine, The Everygirl, VerywellHealth, HuffPost, and The New York Times.
Michaela lives in Minnesota with her husband and two teen stepsons, and is committed to supporting women in stepfamilies by offering real, research-backed insights and strategies for emotional wellness and balance.
Risa Williams, LMFT
Licensed Therapist and Time Management Expert
Risa Williams is a licensed therapist, a time management expert and an award-winning book author. Her five self-help books include: Get Stuff Done Without the Stress (Mango Books), The Procrastination Playbook, The Ultimate Anxiety Toolkit, The Ultimate Time Management Toolkit and The Ultimate Self-Esteem Toolkit (JKP Books). She's also the host of The Motivation Mindset Podcast (Apple, Spotify). Risa has been featured in Forbes Magazine, HuffPost, Wired Magazine, Bustle, Psych Today, Very Well Mind, Therapist Magazine, Women's World, Parade and Business Insider. She's also a busy mom of two, a screenwriter, and a university professor. Follow her at @risawilliamstherapy.
Sarah Horgan
Intentional Living Coach
Sarah is a full-time working mom + wife, who lived with clutter and found her way to the other side. She radically changed her own life after a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Forced to examine everything, including her perfectionism and people pleasing, she realized all the stuff (and not just the physical stuff) was standing in her way of living her life, her way.
After embracing minimalism and finding her way to simplicity, Sarah started simple + intentional to support other women to do the same. She encourages + inspires others through her blog, instagram account, podcast and soon to be online membership community.
Sarah lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter. She loves the outdoors, a strong cup of tea and is following her dream of writing a book, step by step.
Shannon Johnson
Professional Organizer
Shannon Johnson is a New Orleans native and the founder of Situate Your Space, a Houston-based professional organizing company. As a busy mom of three, Shannon understands the challenges families face in balancing a busy lifestyle while maintaining a structure at home. With a professional background in aging and wellness, she brings a unique perspective to organizing that emphasizes not only efficiency but also a nurturing environment that serves you daily.
Over the years, Shannon has helped dozens of families transform their living spaces into high-functioning spaces that support their lifestyles. Her passion for decluttering and organization is driven by a desire to empower today’s women to reclaim their space and peace of mind. Through her practical strategies and personalized approach, Shannon inspires participants to embrace simplicity and functionality while honoring their unique lifestyle and goals.
Shannon Leyko
Host of The Paring Down Podcast
Shannon Leyko (LAY-KOH) is an author, podcast host, mother of three, and military wife. Her book, You’re Completely Normal, debuted as an Amazon Top 50 hot new release in 2020, and her podcast, Paring Down, has reached the top 5% of all podcasts in under a year. She is a former Miss New York in the Miss America Organization, former professional vocalist, and was also a reality television development producer before working in social media and on her podcast. Her online platform, Paring Down, is built around helping people declutter their homes and schedules in order to make room for what matters-- without the judgment, shame, or comparison. You can follow her on Instagram @paring_down or learn more about the podcast, blog, newsletter, and decluttering guides & freebies on her website: www.theexpertbeginner.com.
Stephanie O'Dea
NYT best-selling author and Slow Living Expert
In 2008 Stephanie O'Dea made a New Year's resolution to use her crockpot slow cooker every day for a year and write about it online. This simple idea resulted in 10 books, multiple television appearances, and a coveted spot on the New York Times best sellers list. In 2012 Cision named her no-money-down website the #3 food website in the US.
Stephanie is passionate about achieving goals in a slow, steady, and sustainable way.
She is the host of the Slow Living podcast and her newest book, Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World was released in the fall of 2024 by Dexterity publishing. She lives in the SF Bay area with her husband, their three daughters, and a basset hound named Sheldon.
Tara Bremer, MA
Compassionate Home Organization Specialist
Tara is the founder, owner, and CEO of House Peace and has been bringing peace into homes since 2013. She holds a BA in Psychology from Purdue University, and a Master's in Counseling from Moravian Theological Seminary. She brings this knowledge of the human condition, behavioral psychology, and habit formation to every home she visits, all with a judgement-free mentality. Tara puts her experience to the test every day with her own family, as a wife and mother of three.
Toni-Ann Mayembe
Creator of Real Happy Mom
Toni-Ann is a full-time dentist, a reservist in the Navy, and the blogger and podcaster at Real Happy Mom. She is a wife and a boy mom that understands the struggle of juggling work and home. When she is not working, she enjoys watching WWE and watching stand up comedy.
Copyright 2024 | Chaos to Calm Summit presented by Wannabe Clutter Free
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