Tiny houses have a way of stripping life back to what really matters, and for Steph, that clarity turned into a book.
I invited her onto my Raglan Community Radio show How to Make It Work, a podcast exploring how people build lives and livelihoods that truly fit them. In this conversation, Steph shares the story behind her new book Tiny House Diaries, launching this month. She also talks about her work helping people make sense of change — personally and professionally as the “Head” Consultant at Inside Your Mind.
Q: Steph, for people who don’t know you yet, how would you describe what you do?
I help people shift their identity. That might sound big, but really it’s about helping people come back to who they are when life has pulled them in ten different directions. We’re all constantly evolving, and sometimes people reach a point where they know they’ve changed, but they don’t quite know how — or into what. They can feel stuck between who they were and who they’re becoming.
Q: You didn’t originally plan to become a coach, did you?
No, not at all. I was the HR manager at a power company with around 120 staff. People would come to me with problems, and I often sensed when something deeper was going on, when someone wasn’t quite themselves.
I didn’t know how I knew; I just did. Later, when I discovered Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), it all made sense. I realised I’d been picking up on signals like tone of voice, body language, and subtle changes that other people didn’t consciously notice.
Q: NLP is something you talk about a lot. How do you explain it in simple terms?
NLP stands for Neuro Linguistic Programming. “Neuro” is about how our mind and body work together. “Linguistic” is language — not just words, but all kinds of communication. And “programming” refers to the habits and patterns we run automatically.
We’re all running programmes installed by parents, teachers, culture, and experience. In the past they helped us — but we outgrow them. NLP is about recognising those patterns and changing them at an unconscious level, where real change actually happens.
Q: You also speak a lot about intuition. Is it something people can trust?
Yes, but people often confuse intuition with ego. Intuition feels different. For me it’s a physical pull, often in my solar plexus. Scientifically, it makes sense too. We don’t just have one brain, we have three: the head, the heart, and the gut. When all three are working together, we’re creative, compassionate, and courageous. When one is out of sync, we feel misaligned or stuck.
Q: Let’s talk about Inside Your Mind as a business. How do you work with people?
I do one-on-one sessions, group coaching, workshops, and longer programmes. I love face-to-face work because the energy in a room is powerful, but I also work online. I run a six-month program called B.O.L.T Coaching — Build, Own, Lead and Thrive — for solopreneurs and small business owners, because running a business can be incredibly isolating. I’ve been in business for about 30 years, so a lot of what I offer is a mix of mindset work, NLP tools, and practical mentoring.
Q: And now to the exciting part: you’re launching a new book this month. Tell us about Tiny House Diaries.
Tiny House Diaries is about decluttering, downsizing, and discovering what matters most, and it’s my most personal book so far.
The first part tells the story of leaving my flat, living in a tiny caravan for six months with my dog and parrot, including through Cyclone Gabrielle, and eventually moving into my tiny house, where I’ve now lived for over two years.
Q: So it’s not just a book about tiny houses?
Not at all. The middle section is about what I learned from that experience — mentally, emotionally, and practically. The final part offers tips for anyone thinking about downsizing, decluttering, or simplifying their life. Decluttering isn’t just about stuff; it’s about headspace. What we let go of physically often mirrors what we’re ready to release internally.
Q: Why do you think this topic resonates so strongly right now?
Because people are realising how little they actually need to live a fulfilling life.
Downsizing can bring up grief, identity shifts, and big emotions — but also freedom. When you have less, you worry less. You focus on what really matters. That’s what the book is ultimately about.
Q: Where can people get the book?
Tiny House Diaries launches this February. It will be available in print in New Zealand and as an ebook via Amazon. I’m also planning a local book launch to celebrate, and to say thank you to the community who supported me along the way. I’ll be sharing more details soon.
Catch the full interview on Raglan Community Radio’s How to Make It Work, Mondays at 12:30 pm, or listen anytime via the station’s website, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
If you’re in Raglan and have found a creative or unconventional way to make life work, I’d love to hear from you! Get in touch via Instagram @stories.by.annika.
by Annika Stricker
