Success StoryLife Simplified Podcast



Life Simplified Podcast

Author: Joni Phelps

Planning Unit: Livingston County CES

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Plan of Work: Health and nutrition education, physical activity, aging, and chronic disease awareness/prevention.

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) programs are designed to reach audiences across the lifespan. Many individuals in the 20-50 age range need the skills taught by Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) agents, but do not attend traditional programming due to other commitments, life phases, or real or perceived stigma. To reach these individuals, FCS agents in Caldwell, Christian, Hopkins, and Livingston knew they must pivot and offer research-based information in a new way. On average, 62 % of the US population have listened to podcasts. Out of these listeners, 50% of individuals aged 12-34 and 43% of individuals aged 35-54 have listened to a podcast within the last month.   

The Life Simplified Podcast was created to distribute research-based information on topics such as mental health, relationships, parenting, physical health, and resource management.  Life can be difficult, and the goal of this podcast is to make the difficult seasons of life a little easier by offering practical tips to assist listeners with applying the research-based information to their life. 

Life Simplified has a dedicated following of listeners and the vast majority learned about the podcast from social media and their local extension office.  There have been over 50 episodes recorded, edited, and shared on the Life Simplified website. The podcast has been downloaded over 1700 times. Nearly three-quarters of listeners surveyed shared that they were able to dig deeper and have meaningful conversations with family members and friends after listening to Life Simplified. When asked to share what they have changed because of an episode, listeners mentioned trying to balance responsibilities, being more mindful of the things that matter most, making more of an effort to increase peace in life by decluttering, setting healthy boundaries, and being more intentional with relationships. One listener said, “This has improved my mental health.” Another listener said, “I really enjoy how they structure the conversations.” A third listener said, “I love how honest these ladies are and they don’t make life out to be perfect.”






Stories by Joni Phelps


Cooking with Joni

about 5 years ago by Joni Phelps

The Caldwell County SNAP-ED Senior Assistant paraprofessional taught fifteen limited resource famili... Read More


Little Books Little Cooks

about 5 years ago by Joni Phelps

The Caldwell County Family & Consumer Sciences Agent and SNAP-Ed Senior Assistant combined the idea ... Read More


Stories by Livingston County CES


Activities for Home

Activities for Home

about 4 years ago by Adam Barnes

Activities for HomeLivingston County Cooperative Extension Service worked hard during the quarantine... Read More


Bees in a package

Bees in a package

about 4 years ago by Adam Barnes

Bees in a packageDuring the COVID-19 quarantine, Livingston ANR worked in more unconventional ways t... Read More