What was the first book that made you fall in love with reading? In this nostalgic episode of The One Happy Thing Podcast, hosts Jennifer Moorman, Kerry Schafer, and Maddie Dawson share the childhood books that opened theirhearts, shaped their imaginations, and set them on the path to becoming authors themselves.

From flashlight-under-the-covers adventures to the life-changing gift of A Wrinkle in Time, the authors reflect on the stories that made them feel seen, sparked a lifelong love of reading, and still speak to them today. Along the way, they explore how early reading tastes echo in the books they now write—and how certain characters, like Jo March or Meg Murray—became lifelong companions.

Whether you were a fantasy lover, a realist, or a reader who came to books a little later, this episode will warm your heart and probably have you reaching for an old favorite.

☕ So grab something cozy (unless you’re driving!) and join us for a joy-filled conversation about the books that shaped us.

Welcome back to One Happy Thing! In today’s episode, we’re getting real about something that sneaks up on all of us—those pesky blame, complain, and shame loops. You know the ones.

Kerry Schafer gets vulnerable with a powerful personal epiphany: she realized she was resistant to taking full responsibility for her own happiness... because she was too busy being responsible for everything (and everyone) else. Ever been there? Yeah, us too.

This episode dives into:

• The sneaky ways we hand over our joy by blaming othersor ourselves
• Kerry’s tongue-in-cheek family motto: “I don’t knowwhat happened, but it sure wasn’t my fault”
• How automatic negative thoughts (ANTs!) can hijack yourmindset – and your joy
• Simple, practical ways to shift toward more empowering,positive thinking

Plus, we play a round of the Blame, Complain, and Shame Game—because sometimes laughter is the best way through our most humbling moments.

🎯 Takeaway: Your happiness? It’s yours. And reclaiming it starts with one small thought shift at a time.

We'd love to hear about one way you catch yourself giving away responsibility for your happiness -- and what you do (or plan to do) to take back your power.

Welcome back to One Happy Thing! Today, we’re diving into a topic that might make you both laugh and shudder: decluttering—specifically, digital decluttering.

📩 Our own Maddie Dawson bravely shares her recent experience clearing out thousands (yes, many, many thousands!) of unread emails from her inbox. From ancient newsletters to expired coupons and requests for politicaldonations, she takes us through the emotional rollercoaster of hitting “delete”—and the surprising joy that followed.

We talk about:

· Why clutter (even digital clutter!) carries emotional weight

· How unfinished or ignored things quietly drain your energy

· Why we are thinking of founding Email Inbox Anonymous 😂

· And how letting go—even of unread messages—can create space for new inspiration

✨ One Happy Takeaway

Decluttering doesn’t have to be a massive life overhaul. It can start with one folder, one drawer, one inbox. The energy you free up can make room for creativity, calm, and clarity.

🧹 Whether it’s your closet, your to-do list, or your email inbox, today’s challenge is simple: let go of something that’s weighing you down.

📣 We want to hear from you! What’s one small thing you’ve cleared recently that brought a surprising sense of peace? Share your story with us using #OneHappyThingPodcast,or drop us a note at onehappythingpodcast@gmail.com.

And don’t forget to leave a review if you’re enjoying the show—it helps us spread the happy! 💛

Until next time, remember: every little bit of lightness counts. Even if it’s just one email at a time.