08/12/2026
“It has much more to do with the meaning of things. As the field is coming to really understand, it’s not just a failure to throw things out. It’s a whole cycle of how did these things get here in the first place, and what makes them hard to get rid of and stay gone?"
In this episode of Unravelling, Kurt White interviews renowned psychologist Dr. Randy Frost (Smith College), a pioneering researcher in hoarding disorder, who explains what clinically significant hoarding looks like and why it’s about far more than clutter or cleanliness. At the heart of hoarding, he explains, are powerful emotional attachments to possessions, and the anxiety, grief, and meaning tied to letting them go.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Frost shares clinical stories, including the story of Marnie Cooper, who documented her own struggle with hoarding and recovery. Her story sets the stage for the next episode of Unravelling, when Marnie joins Mary Wilson to speak candidly about her lived experience, what it took to confront her relationship with possessions, and what recovery continues to look like.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/684qraXpURxONflobG6EKu?si=5Q1RzB0TTZ6iJUWd5DUETg
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-about-clutter-why-we-misunderstand-hoarding/id1751187652?i=1000782941591
