The Pro Organizer Studio Podcast

In Part 3 of this Minnesota Organizing Besties series, Melissa is back with Cori, Missi, and Kielyn for a conversation that's equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and deeply real. This episode goes beyond bins and labels and into the heart of what organizing actually does for people. From helping clients sleep better to navigating hoarding situations with compassion, the group talks about the mental health impact of this work — and why what organizers do truly matters. They share stories about setting boundaries (yes, including bed bugs), knowing when to say no, and knowing when to lean in and change someone's life. There's honest talk about burnout, trusting your team, letting go of control, and the identity shift that comes with growth. You'll also hear about ADHD, intuition, building your own mastermind circle, and what each of these business owners is excited about next — from expanding into coaching to petitioning professional sports leagues to cover organizing services for athletes. If you've ever wondered

Melissa has officially become…an influencer. Except instead of influencing you to buy something, she's influencing you to do something wildly radical in 2026: delete social media from your phone. In this late-night minisode, Melissa shares the unexpected challenge she took on for the new year—and why it's been one of the best decisions she's made for her mental health, focus, and overall life. In this episode, we talk about: The Japanese concept of "misogi" (doing something so hard you have less than a 50% chance of finishing) Why Melissa deleted Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and more on January 1 Revenge bedtime procrastination (aka scrolling until 12:30 AM because you "deserve it") How social media quietly fuels pressure, comparison, and anxiety Why "continued use despite adverse consequences" is a wake-up call The surprising truth: she doesn't miss it at all What she's gained instead: better sleep, more reading, more peace, more time How she still stays connected (Facebook groups + watching

Melissa kicks things off with a classic "I didn't hit record" moment, then shares the big news: Cabri Caldwell is now a partial owner and official business partner in Pro Organizer Studio. That means more programs, more energy, and more support for organizers who want to build real businesses. And the first big move? A full relaunch of Inspired Organizer TEAMS, a program built for organizers who want to stop doing everything themselves and start building a profitable, sustainable team. In this episode, we cover: Cabri's "accidental team" origin story (spoiler: a huge, fast-moving client project forced the leap) Why hiring is a slippery slope in the best way once you experience less burnout, less emotional load, and more time and bandwidth The profitability reality: how teams shift you from "time for money" to scalable profit The hard parts no one glamorizes, like cash flow and payroll pressure, team emotions and conflict, and protecting your team from difficult clients The identity shift from

In this episode, Melissa is back with her Minnesota organizing besties (Missi, Cori, and Kielyn) for an honest conversation about fear, authenticity, mistakes, and doing business scared anyway. If you've ever: Frozen because you were afraid to make the wrong decision Stayed in a bad situation because you feared a bad review Wondered if you're "professional enough" to be yourself Procrastinated something small but important (

What happens when four professional organizers (who are also actual IRL dear friends) finally manage to get on the same schedule… before 2031?

FOLLOW ALONG AT PROORGANIZERSTUDIO.COM/LINKS Goal setting doesn't have to feel overwhelming—or soul-sucking. In this episode, Melissa shares a powerful goal-setting workshop from inside the Inspired Organizer community, led by Cabri. Together, they walk through how to reflect on last year, set goals that actually fit your life and business, and create a plan you'll stick with—without burnout, guilt, or arbitrary pressure. You'll hear real examples from organizers setting goals around delegation, growth, visibility, and major transitions, plus practical strategies for breaking big goals into doable action. Whether you love big audacious goals or prefer a safer, steady approach, this episode will help you find a goal-setting style that works for your brain—and your season of life. Slides referenced in the episode are available at proorganizerstudio.com/links.   00:00 Introduction and Podcast Recap 00:42 Goal Setting Workshop Introduction 03:00 Visualization Exercise and Reflecting on the Past Year 06:34 Setting

This is part 3 of my convo with Kim--if you missed the first two, they're up for you to go back--but in this one, we're talking about how you can (really, you can)--think about your obligations and your electronic life.  _______________________________________________________________ Navigating Business and Personal Challenges: A Conversation with Kim - Part 3 In the third part of this conversation with Kim, the discussion delves into the concept of obligation and the pressures of societal expectations. Kim and Melissa explore various aspects of personal and professional life, including the impact of feeling obligated to do things simply because one is capable of doing them. They discuss the importance of questioning these obligations and the societal norms that dictate them. The conversation touches on the pressures business owners face, especially around the holiday season, and how it is important to listen to oneself and make decisions that align with personal well-being. Kim shares her personal experienc

This is part 2 of my conversation with Kim Snodgrass of Rustic Home Organizing--in this episode, we talk about her realizing she needed to make major changes and how she did it.  ______________________________________________________________________   Resetting Your Nervous System and Embracing Slow Living: A Conversation with Kim Snodgrass (Part 2) In this episode, Melissa continues her conversation with Kim Snodgrass, delving into the concepts of dopamine detox and nervous system reset. They discuss the challenges of disconnecting from technology, the importance of listening to one's body, and discovering personal methods to find calm and simplicity. Kim shares personal anecdotes about embracing slow living activities such as making sourdough, watching cheesy movies, and finding joy in everyday tasks. Both Melissa and Kim emphasize the importance of not feeling obligated to act according to societal pressures or norms and encourage listeners to creatively carve out a lifestyle that aligns with their person

There are few epsiodes each year that get more feedback than when I talk to my friend Kim of Rustic Home Organizing. She's back to kick off 2026 with us and is telling us about her 4th year of organizing, which brought challenges she never envisioned. She has so much to say and I'm excited for you to hear it!  ________________________________________________________________________   Navigating Through Trauma and Overwhelm: A Journey with Kim Snodgrass   As they kick off the fourth installment of their annual series, Kim shares the intense personal and professional challenges she faced in 2025. Kim opens up about the emotional rollercoaster she experienced, the toll of overcommitting, the impact of social media and electronic influences, and the importance of listening to one's nervous system. The episode concludes with Kim's transformative journey to Montana for a dopamine detox, as she begins to reset her life and business.   00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:38 Meet Kim Snodgrass: From Baby Organ

This podcast is a real one. Cabri and Melissa are talking about burnout, how our phones are making life really hard for everyone, boundaries for 2026, and so much more. We hope this podcast helps you know you're not alone!  _________________________________________________________________________________ Reflections on 2025: Burnout, Balance, and the Quest for Happiness   Melissa shares a reflective and candid podcast discussion about the challenges of 2025, specifically highlighting feelings of burnout and the fast-paced nature of the year.   She and her co-host, Cabri, delve into the pressures of modern life, particularly the impact of social media and the struggle to maintain balance. They touch on topics such as setting realistic goals, the importance of self-care, and the need for boundaries.   Despite the chaotic year, they stress the importance of leaving room for unexpected opportunities and maintaining a sense of magic in life.    00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 01:34 Reflecting on a Challen

The title says it all. It's just 15 minutes of Cabri and me talking about 100 different random things.   

Today we have a quick but hopefully impactful episode to help you avoid a common (and expensive) scam in the organizing industry.  Show Notes: The Moving Scam Alert [01:07] The Scam Overview Description of the scam email that's been circulating in the organizing industry. Melissa shares her personal experience receiving these emails. [01:44] Anatomy of the Scam Email Red flags in the email's language and structure. Overly formal or stilted English, mention of "aesthetic pleasure," and unnecessary state names. [03:19] The Emotional Manipulation Scammers claim to be deaf or hearing impaired to avoid phone calls and elicit sympathy. [04:26] The Financial Trap The scam involves sending a fraudulent certified check and asking the organizer to pay "movers" or other service providers. [05:28] How the Scam Works Explanation of how the organizer ends up losing money after the check bounces. [05:41] Increasing Sophistication Scammers are getting more advanced, using real addresses and names found

It's the THIRD day of our AI-palooza and today we are talking about super cool high end stuff you can do with your business. Queuing up some deep work with AI starting now! GET THE SLIDES AND THE STUFF proorganizerstudio.com/links _________________________________________________________________________ AI-Powered Deep Work: Maximizing Efficiency with AI Agents and GEO   In this third-day session of AI Palooza, the host shares insights on leveraging AI tools for deep work, particularly through the use of AI agents and the concept of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). They discuss practical examples of AI agents automating complex and tedious tasks, such as gathering data from Airbnb or organizing business contacts.   The episode also touches on the importance of generative engine optimization for maintaining online visibility. Listeners are encouraged to visit ProOrganizerStudio.com/links for additional resources, including tutorials, presentation slides, and videos.   The host also invites experts to con

In Part 2 we are talking about two KEY things in using AI for your organizing business: prompts and room transformations. This is chock full of crazy useful info and if you want more details, you can see slides and video that accompanies the episode by going to: proorganizerstudio.com/links ________________________________________________________________________ In this episode, Melissa and Cabri continue their discussion on how professional organizers can leverage AI to enhance their business. They emphasize the importance of detailed prompts for effective AI use, share various examples related to marketing content, blogging, client interactions, website SEO, and strategic goal planning.   Among the impactful ideas discussed are using AI for project mockups to visualize transformations for clients, conducting audits for marketing content, websites, SEO, client experience, tasks, and service offerings.   The episode also includes insights on how to utilize AI for strategic goal planning and client remarketin

Are you scared of AI? Unsure of how to use it? Don't know that it can help run your organizing business and cut down hours of your work per week? We're doing EVERYTHING AI this week.  GET SLIDES TO ACCOMPANY THIS PODCAST AND INFO FROM THIS EPISODE AT: proorganizerstudio.com/links _______________________________________________________________________ Harnessing AI for Professional Organizers: Part 1 Melissa, from the Pro Organizer Studio, introduces a mini-workshop styled podcast focusing on how artificial intelligence (AI) can transform organizing businesses. Joined by her business partner, Cabri, they embark on a detailed discussion, revisiting content from the How to Summit workshop held in Dallas, aimed at demystifying AI for professional organizers. The episode elaborates on the benefits of using AI to save time, increase revenue, and enhance business operations. They address common misconceptions about AI, such as the fear of it being 'cheating' or replacing human jobs, and provide a guide on how to

check out more at www.proorganizerstudio.com/links

My client and friend introduced me to the concept of Boss October several years ago--and I loved it so much I make sure we do it every year. This year, we are going extra on it--and I'm talking about that and giving you practical ideas to go implement it for you as well.  Connect with Melissa at hello@proorganizerstudio.com  

WANT TO JOIN US FOR BOSS OCTOBER? Email me at hello@proorganizerstudio.com   In this episode, Melissa shares the second part of her mainstage presentation at the How To Summit in Dallas.   She discusses seven key insights for professional organizers, emphasizing a solid digital foundation over social media vanity metrics and the importance of community support. Melissa also highlights the value of understanding ADHD and neurodivergence to better assist clients and grow your business.    Additionally, she provides details about the upcoming changes to the Inspired Organizer program and invites listeners to join. Throughout the episode, Melissa encourages organizers to focus on sustainable business practices, value their email and customer lists, and find joy in their work.   00:00 Introduction and Podcast Update 00:31 Inspired Organizer Program Details 01:27 Starting the Main Presentation 02:14 The Importance of Clients and Digital Foundation 02:37 Social Media Realities for Organizers 06:14 Ownership of Your

If you weren't able to be there--or even if you were and want a refresher--here is the presentation I gave at the How To Summit Last week.  You can follow along on slides and see what I presented by going to proorganizerstudio.com/links  If you want more information on Boss October--check it here: CLICK ___________________________________________________________________ In this episode of the Pro Organizer Studio podcast, Melissa returns from hiatus and dives deep into the key learnings from her experience and 233 podcast episodes. She discusses her undiagnosed ADHD, her journey in organizing, and her main stage presentation at the How To Summit.   Melissa shares the first three of seven lessons she's learned, including choosing the right business structure, overcoming perfectionism, and the importance of setting a solid digital foundation. She also introduces 'Boss October,' a concept aimed at helping organizers reset and improve their businesses before the new year.   00:00 Welcome Back: Melissa's Return a

HEY ORGANIZERS!! We are back from the How To Summit and we have a hangover--and we mean that in the BEST way. We have so many ideas and thoughts and plans that we wanted to share a little with you. Lots of info here so stay tuned for MORE coming your way this week and this month!  Connect with me at hello@proorganizerstudio.com  ______________________________________________________________________________ Post-Summit Recap: Insights, Ideas, and Boss October Plans In this episode, Melissa reconnects with listeners after a hiatus and shares updates from the recent How To Summit. Alongside co-host Cabri, they discuss key takeaways related to organizing strategies for clients with ADHD, senior downsizing, and creating recession-proof businesses. They emphasize the importance of building communities for support and accountability. Melissa and Cabri also announce an upcoming initiative called Boss October, aimed at helping organizers tackle pending tasks and preparations for 2026. Finally, they hint at future wor