Busy House, Happy Home

In today’s episode of Busy House Happy Home, I’m joined by the thoughtful and inspiring Camilla Poulton for a conversation about something that matters deeply to both of us: giving our time, using our skills, and stepping beyond the rhythm of our own daily lives to serve others.
Camilla first reached out to me by email, and what struck me straight away was her belief that life is not simply about talking about change, but about quietly and bravely putting it into action. Together, we talk about volunteering, community, purpose, and how helping others can often bring us back to ourselves.
We explore the many forms volunteering can take, from supporting schools and local community projects to listening to children read, helping in food banks, serving in the NHS in non-medical roles, and even working within the prison system. What I loved so much about this conversation is that it reminds us that volunteering does not have to look one particular way. It can begin with what you are naturally good at, what you care about, and where you feel quietly called to help.
We also touch on early childhood, family life, social responsibility, and the way a happy home is often built not only through what happens inside it, but through how fulfilled we feel within ourselves. There is so much wisdom here about purpose, confidence, resilience, and the importance of using whatever gifts we have, however ordinary they may seem.
If you are feeling a little stuck, a little flat, or as though life has become very small and inward-looking, I hope this episode feels like a gentle nudge towards something meaningful and life-giving.
Love, Charlie x

Less formal volunteering opportunities
https://volunteering.oxfam.org.uk/opportunities?cookieconsent=set#cookieconsent=set%3Fdisplay%3Dgrid&s=date_advertised&o=desc&limit=14&include=image&public_search=true&display=grid
https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/volunteer/
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/local-services-volunteer/
https://www.trussell.org.uk/support-us/volunteer
https://www.bookmarkreading.org/volunteer?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=googlead&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20270961095&gbraid=0AAAAACxctG3VT1xsasrdjMPMCroomJ8U5&gclid=CjwKCAiAqprNBhB6EiwAMe3yhp9be420vW3sn1sIqbeml_W-gPjEv9SJuhgEPrVX-IFUgPY8LDpoDRoCL00QAvD_BwE

More formal volunteering opportunities
https://governorsforschools.org.uk/become-a-school-governor/
https://magistrates.judiciary.uk/
https://imb.org.uk/prison-volunteer/prison-volunteer-uk/

Resources Mentioned
• Duke of Edinburgh Award
• School governor opportunities
• Local food banks
• Age UK
• Samaritans
• Community shops and cafés
• NHS patient and public involvement opportunities
• Hello email: [email protected]

Thank you for listening to Busy House, Happy Home - a place for gentle conversations about everyday life at home.

This podcast is shaped by the questions and conversations shared by its listeners, so please do get in touch if there’s something you’d like Charlie to talk about. You can reach her at [email protected].

For more from Charlie, including books, seasonal guides, and her Members Club, as well as lifestyle and homeware, you can visit askcharlie.how.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this week’s episode of Busy House Happy Home.
It may be the first of March, but outside the wind is howling and the rain is lashing against the windows. Inside, the fire is lit, the dogs are settled, and there is that unmistakable sense that something is beginning to shift. In this gentle episode, I read the spring introduction and March chapter from my book, reflecting on fresh starts, seasonal living and the quiet promise that brighter days are on their way.
We talk about spring cleaning, not simply as a chore, but as a hopeful act. Wiping down woodwork, washing dog beds, opening windows and letting in crisp air. Clearing cupboards, yes, but also clearing space in our minds.
I share thoughts on eating seasonally and how nature so cleverly provides what our bodies need, from wild garlic to dandelion tea. There is wisdom in the hedgerows and in the rhythm of the months, if we pause long enough to notice.
This month’s quote from Marcus Aurelius feels particularly timely: “You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” I reflect on growth, perspective and doing things that feel slightly daunting — and how often they shape us for the better.
If you’re feeling weary of the long winter, I hope this feels like sitting beside a warm fire with a cup of tea, being gently reminded that spring will come.
Love,
Charlie x

Through the Seasons by Charlie Gray – https://www.askcharlie.how/shop/p/through-the-seasons-with-ask-charlie
Contact: [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, you can subscribe to Busy House Happy Home wherever you listen to podcasts.
You can also watch the video version on YouTube at Ask Charlie. Subscribing and leaving a gentle review really does help the podcast reach more like-minded homes.

#BusyHouseHappyHome #AskCharlie #SeasonalLiving #SpringReset
#MarchReflections #Homemaking #SlowLiving #SimplePleasures #CountrysideLife
#SeasonalEating #SpringCleaning #GentleLiving
Thank you for listening to Busy House, Happy Home - a place for gentle conversations about everyday life at home.

This podcast is shaped by the questions and conversations shared by its listeners, so please do get in touch if there’s something you’d like Charlie to talk about. You can reach her at [email protected].

For more from Charlie, including books, seasonal guides, and her Members Club, as well as lifestyle and homeware, you can visit askcharlie.how.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s solo episode of Busy House Happy Home, I wanted to sit down with you for a quiet chat about mindset and the simple, everyday reframes that can change how life feels.
We all have jobs we don’t necessarily want to do. The laundry that never ends, the bed that needs changing, the dusting you keep putting off. And yet, so often, it isn’t the task itself that drains us, it’s the story we tell ourselves while we’re doing it. I share how I try to approach the dull, repetitive bits with a gracious heart, and how a small shift from “I have to” to “I get to” can soften the whole day. Sometimes that looks like saving a treat for the jobs I don’t love, a favourite podcast, an audiobook, a good song turned up loud enough to dance around the kitchen.
But we also go deeper than housework. I talk about identity, and how our sense of self can wobble through different seasons of life, especially as children grow and need us in new ways. I share parts of my own story: the confidence I didn’t have, the hard chapters, the long road of showing up, and the way purpose and determination can be built slowly, step by step.
If you’re feeling stuck in a rut, a relationship, a job, or simply a low patch, I hope this episode reminds you that change is possible. Not always instantly, and not always easily, but gently, bravely, and one choice at a time.
If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed or behind, I hope this feels like a steady hand on your shoulder - a reminder that you’re not alone, and you can start again today.
Love, Charlie x

Mel Robbins 5 Second Rule / “5-4-3-2-1” — https://www.melrobbins.com
Ask Charlie — https://www.askcharlie.how
Substack — https://substack.com/@askcharliehow
Contact: [email protected]

If you’d like more gentle chats like this, alongside practical, real-life homemaking, you can follow Busy House Happy Home wherever you listen to podcasts, and subscribe on YouTube for the video episodes too. It really does help more than you know, especially in these early growing days.
Thank you for listening to Busy House, Happy Home - a place for gentle conversations about everyday life at home.

This podcast is shaped by the questions and conversations shared by its listeners, so please do get in touch if there’s something you’d like Charlie to talk about. You can reach her at [email protected].

For more from Charlie, including books, seasonal guides, and her Members Club, as well as lifestyle and homeware, you can visit askcharlie.how.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Busy House, Happy Home, it’s a solo episode with just me and a cup of tea. I wanted to sit down and have a chat and keep you company as you go about your day.

I talk about the importance of quiet moments, and why I often have my best ideas when I’m driving, walking the dogs, or simply sitting with my own thoughts. I share how I capture those ideas, and why recording and transcribing my voice has been such a helpful way of writing, particularly as I’m dyslexic.

I also share a behind-the-scenes look at Ask Charlie as the business continues to grow. Growth can feel exciting, but it can also feel daunting, and I talk honestly about change, taking advice, and working out the best next steps.

I also wanted to address a comment I received about working with brands. I share how I approach partnerships, why I only recommend what I genuinely love and use, and why I recently turned down a paid collaboration because the quality was not right for me.

From there, I move into spring preparation. We talk about decluttering, organising and getting your home ready before spring cleaning begins properly, along with a few practical tips that make it easier. I also share what has been helping me feel brighter at this time of year, from my SAD lamp to daily movement, and why nourishing food makes such a difference.

It’s an honest, gentle chat about home, work, wellbeing, and the small changes that help life feel lighter as spring approaches.

In This Episode, We Talk About:
– Why quiet moments help us think clearly and come up with our best ideas
– How I capture ideas, and why I record and transcribe voice notes
– Writing as someone who is dyslexic, and how I work around it
– Ask Charlie growing, and why change can feel exciting and scary
– Working with brands, transparency, and turning down a paid partnership
– The difference between free content and paid work behind the scenes
– Getting ready for spring cleaning: decluttering, organising and packing away winter
– Selling, donating and rehoming items rather than throwing them away
– Why I’m not a minimalist, and having a home full of meaningful treasures
– SAD lamps, winter mood, and what helps at this time of year
– Exercise, energy, and feeling more grounded
– Nourishing food, simple home cooking, and making healthier choices
– Members Club recipes, cookery confidence, and why video tutorials help

Links & Resources Mentioned:
Ask Charlie website
https://www.askcharlie.how
Through the Seasons
https://www.askcharlie.how/shop/p/through-the-seasons-with-ask-charlie
Ask Charlie Loves
https://www.askcharlie.how/ask-charlie-loves
Suri toothbrushes - https://stry.cl/ASKCHARLIE extra 10% off current sales with my code ASKCHARLIE (Ad)
Bower Collective (discount code: CHARLIE)
https://bowercollective.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorp8GZtLPq5ev1icLemzy0p1XgeAywYKtQ55o5JEqTjBB3Q_fsr (Ad)

Get in Touch:
I’d love to hear from you.
If you have a question, a topic you’d like me to cover, or somebody you’d love me to speak to on the podcast, please do get in touch.
Email: [email protected]

Follow & Subscribe
If you’re listening on a podcast app, please do follow Busy House, Happy Home and add it to your library.
Thank you so much for being here, and for listening.
Love, Charlie x
Thank you for listening to Busy House, Happy Home - a place for gentle conversations about everyday life at home.

This podcast is shaped by the questions and conversations shared by its listeners, so please do get in touch if there’s something you’d like Charlie to talk about. You can reach her at [email protected].

For more from Charlie, including books, seasonal guides, and her Members Club, as well as lifestyle and homeware, you can visit askcharlie.how.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Busy House, Happy Home, I’m joined by my darling husband, Simon, for an honest conversation about marriage, parenting and what it really means to create a happy home.

We talk about why we believe a happy marriage sits at the heart of family life, and the importance of honesty, trust, communication and humour. We share how not letting small grievances fester, working as a team, and playing to each other’s strengths has helped us build a calm and supportive home.

We also talk about parenting at every stage, from young children to teenagers. We discuss routines, boundaries, screen time, encouraging hobbies and passions, and creating a safe space where children feel able to talk openly without judgement.

Simon also shares his experience of weight loss and lifestyle changes, how it has affected his energy and health, and why balance and movement matter.
It’s a thoughtful, open conversation about family life, teamwork, and the everyday choices that help make a house feel like a home.

In This Episode, We Talk About:
– What a happy home really means to us
– Why a strong marriage matters
– Honesty, trust and communication
– Not letting issues fester
– Humour and teamwork
– Parenting young children and the importance of routine
– Parenting teenagers, boundaries and screen time
– Encouraging hobbies and passions
– Creating a safe space for honest conversations
– Weight loss, health and lifestyle changes
– Playing to each other’s strengths
– Filming family life online and setting boundaries

Links & Resources Mentioned:
Online courses including sourdough, running an efficient home, batch cooking and basic sewing: https://www.askcharlie.how

Get in Touch:
I’d love to hear from you.
If you have a question, a topic you’d like me to cover, or somebody you’d love me to speak to on the podcast, please do get in touch.
Email: [email protected]

Follow & Subscribe
If you’re listening on a podcast app, please do follow Busy House, Happy Home and add it to your library.
Thank you so much for being here, and for listening.
Love, Charlie x
Thank you for listening to Busy House, Happy Home - a place for gentle conversations about everyday life at home.

This podcast is shaped by the questions and conversations shared by its listeners, so please do get in touch if there’s something you’d like Charlie to talk about. You can reach her at [email protected].

For more from Charlie, including books, seasonal guides, and her Members Club, as well as lifestyle and homeware, you can visit askcharlie.how.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.