There are things in life that many of us struggle with, some internal, some spoken out loud, and some we may not even fully understand ourselves yet. One of the encouraging shifts in recent years is how much more open people have become about sharing these experiences. With so many platforms, social media spaces, and online access, it’s easier than ever to tell stories, connect with strangers, and build community around topics that once felt private or even taboo. Because of this, people are more often realizing that they’re not alone out here.
One person using the technology space to open up conversation is Egg Harbor Township-based writer and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel. She recently launched a podcast called “Finders and Keepers.” As a self-proclaimed “recovering hoarder,” Bussel explores the emotional and personal meaning behind the things we hold onto, whether they’ve been with us since childhood, recently acquired, or once deeply meaningful but now difficult to let go of.
She has long explored personal storytelling and the emotional connections people have to their belongings through her writing and editorial work, including as the founder and editor of the literary magazine “Open Secrets.”
She said the timing of the podcast launch felt especially relevant. “Between spring cleaning season and the stretch of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, there’s a natural collective reflection around memory, family, and the objects tied to both. More broadly, it also taps into ongoing cultural conversations around minimalism, clutter, and how identity can become tied to the things we keep. These seasonal moments often bring up shared experiences that shape how people think about saving versus discarding,” she noted.
“This podcast grew out of casually discussing the meaning of our belongings with friends, family, and professional contacts and realizing how rich a topic it is. Everyone has had something to say and those conversations have been so fascinating to me that I wanted to make them public,” Bussel said. “Since I’ve written widely about being a hoarder, people often feel comfortable sharing where they fall on the minimalist to hoarder spectrum with me.”
Her hope is to encourage open conversation and help others feel less alone in those feelings. Bussel aims to build a sense of community through the podcast, one where people can talk honestly about their relationships with “things” without judgment.
Alongside her own reflections, the podcast also features guests who share their personal experiences and perspectives from a wide range of creative and everyday backgrounds.
“We have author Athena Dixon talking about her Black memorabilia collection, which is far more extensive and surprising than I expected when she first told me about it, comedy writer Alrinthea Carter on why her MC Hammer doll from the eighties is her personal good luck charm, and memoir author Edgar Gomez on exploring gender through special fashion and favorite feminine-coded clothing,” Bussel shared.
Bussel also reflected that the process has made her more mindful of her own habits around keeping and letting go. She hopes listeners may find themselves reflecting in a similar way.
“I hope listeners feel comforted whatever the status of their stuff, whether they have everything in disarray or have a whole garage or storage container of carefully curated keepsakes. I also hope it makes people have conversations with their loved ones about why they display or save certain special items and share those memories with others,” Bussel said.
While the podcast is open to all listeners, Bussel noted that it may especially resonate with people who are nostalgic or intentional about their belongings, whether they prefer order and minimalism or find meaning in sentimental keepsakes. It may also appeal to those simply curious about why people collect and preserve the things they do.
“My favorite part of creating Finders and Keepers has been geeking out about belongings with podcast guests and other people I happen to meet. I like that the topic is so broad that everyone I discuss their stuff with has something interesting and unique to say,” Bussel said. “I’ve also been introduced to so many creative people online making art out of found objects and doing interesting things with stuff, like a jacket made out of Scrabble tiles, that I plan to explore in future episodes.”
“Finders and Keepers” with Rachel Kramer Bussel is available on major streaming platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, with new episodes released weekly.
