About Us

Get to know Real Simple!

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Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong.

REAL SIMPLE is your go-to source for practical, useful and clever solutions to make every aspect of your busy life easier:

  • Quick, tasty dinners. Our collection of simple, healthful recipes have fewer ingredients and won't take forever to get to the table.
  • Cleaning and organizing hacks. A clean, organized space means a clean, organized mind. Let us help you find your bliss.
  • No-fuss beauty and fashion. Sometimes it's as easy as the perfect pair of jeans, comfortable shoes and a dab of sunscreen.
  • Sensible health advice. Separate the proven from the trendy with sound, tested information about nutrition, fitness, wellness and mental health.
  • Get daily solutions via e-mail. Sign up for free newsletters and get tips and tricks sent straight to your inbox.

History

We started REAL SIMPLE in 2000 with the goal of keeping life simple and stress free. Today, we reach more than 10 million digital users and 6.2 million magazine readers each month.

You can find REAL SIMPLE everywhere, including on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok; by listening to our award-winning podcast Money Confidential, or by purchasing our line of cleaning products for Clorox, an upcoming line of kitchen tools by Argento, and other special items at T.J. Maxx, 1-800-Flowers, QVC and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Editorial Guidelines

At REAL SIMPLE we take pride in providing you accurate, reliable, credible, engaging, and balanced information, and we review our content on an ongoing basis to ensure it is up-to-date and accurate. 

We are committed to creating high-quality content that represents and serves all people, working with a diverse group of writers and editors representing a wide range of ages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and abilities, all of which reflects in our content. And, we aspire to provide the highest quality content produced by humans, for humans. It is against our guidelines to publish automatically generated content using AI (artificial intelligence) writing tools such as ChatGPT.

We uphold the principles of the Dotdash Meredith Content Integrity Promise including the following policies:

Independence and Impartiality

​​We believe in independent, fair, and impartial journalism. Our editors and writers are held accountable to a high standard of honesty and transparency, and our original editorial content is not influenced by our advertisers. As such, we maintain a strict separation between advertising and editorial content. Any content that is provided by or on behalf of an advertiser or sponsor, is clearly labeled as such.

Product Reviews

All product reviews on RealSimple.com are independent and based on research and product testing conducted by our editors and writers. We share the products we love and that we think our readers will love, too. If you visit certain links within our content, we may receive commissions from your purchases. We never receive compensation for recommending products within our content.

Sourcing and Fact Checking

Our writers and editors investigate claims and verify all information and data gathered for all articles, including news. We consult relevant, diverse, qualified sources to ensure we're providing proper context and background to the reader. 

We rely on current and reputable primary sources, such as expert interviews, government organizations, and professional and academic institutions and studies. All data points, facts, and claims are backed up by at least one credible source. 

All of our news and information is thoroughly reviewed by a staff editor and articles are rigorously evaluated for accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

Corrections

If there is an error in a story, we will correct it as soon as possible. All corrections will be clearly labeled as such and will include what changes were made and when. When an article is factually correct, but the language is not as clear or detailed as necessary, the story may be updated without an editor's note.

Timely and daily news stories generally cover a distinct event in time, so they are not routinely updated. Our editorial team consistently reevaluates and updates evergreen content to ensure everything is timely, accurate, and relevant. The date-stamp at the top of each article reflects when it was last updated.

If you've noticed an issue or error, please bring it to our attention by emailing contact@realsimple.com.

Diversity and Inclusion

At REAL SIMPLE we aim to help everyone simplify their lives. Key to that mission is understanding the many structural and societal obstacles that our readers face and to respond with the most inclusive solutions.We know REAL SIMPLE readers are not a monolith: We are many races, sizes, identities, and abilities, we form different relationships and families; and we follow different cultural and religious traditions. We want REAL SIMPLE to be a valuable resource for all, and we will use our platform to foster inclusivity, equality, and human rights.

Read more about our pledge to make our site more inclusive and promote diversity.

Real Simple Digital

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Jennifer Davidson

Senior Editorial & Strategy Director
Jennifer Davidson is the senior editorial & strategy director at Real Simple. Previously, she was the senior editorial director at Martha Stewart for two years, and associate editorial director at Real Simple for three years, where she worked on editorial packages and podcasts recognized by the Webby and Folio Eddie & Ozzie awards. Jennifer is a seasoned editor with over 20 years of experience writing and editing home, food, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content across multiple platforms, including digital and television.
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Katie Holdefehr, Associate Editorial Director at RealSimple.com

Katie Holdefehr

Associate Editorial Director

Katie Holdefehr is the associate editorial director at RealSimple.com. She was previously the senior home editor at the brand, covering everything from cleaning and organizing to decor and paint colors. She is the host of Spotless, a cleaning video series, and has made appearances on Good Morning America, the Today Show, PIX11 News, and Cheddar as a home decor and cleaning expert. Before joining Real Simple, she was an associate editor at Apartment Therapy, where she became well-versed in reversible decor for rentals and small spaces.

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Leah Lopez Cardenas

Senior Special Projects Editor
Leah is a digital lifestyle editor at Real Simple with 11 years of experience in digital marketing and editorial, covering topics across all categories, including home, health, beauty, food, and more.
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Leslie Corona

Associate Home Director
Leslie Corona is the Associate Home Director at Realsimple.com. She has been styling, organizing, writing, and reporting on all things in the home space for a decade. She was previously at Good Housekeeping, HGTV Magazine, and Parents. She has shared her expertise on the TODAY show, Cheddar, and local television news outlets.
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Samantha Leffler

Samantha Leffler

Senior Food Editor

Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple.com. Prior to joining Real Simple, she wrote and edited stories about food trends, plant-based food, nutrition, and new product releases for Food Network, LIVEKINDLY, and Eat This, Not That. She also launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. She is a graduate of New York University as a University Honors Scholar.

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Hana-Hong

Hana Hong

Beauty & Fashion Editor
Hana Hong is the beauty & fashion editor at RealSimple.com. She has been a writer and editor in the beauty and fashion industry for more than six years, sharing her expansive knowledge on skincare, hair care, makeup, fashion, and more. In addition to her broad network of beauty experts, she uses her family's background and training in skin science and cosmetic chemistry to differentiate between effective skincare formulations and marketing jargon.
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Morgan Noll

Morgan Noll

Home Editor
Morgan Noll is the digital home editor at Real Simple. She is a lifestyle writer and editor with a background covering a range of topics—from home and real estate content, to holidays, fashion, and beauty. Whether thoroughly testing products or digging up the best organizing advice, she's passionate about providing accurate, current, and resourceful content to readers.
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Ria Bhagwat

Lifestyle Editor
Ria Bhagwat is the lifestyle editor at Real Simple, where she covers stories related to home, life, and health. Prior to joining Real Simple, Ria was a freelance lifestyle writer at a variety of publications, including Apartment Therapy and Well+Good.
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Olivia Barr

Olivia Barr

Visuals Editor
Olivia joined RealSimple.com in 2018 as the photo manager. Prior to Real Simple, Olivia worked for O, The Oprah Magazine, Health, and Rolling Stone, for both print and digital. She received her BFA from Syracuse University and lives in New York City.
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Samantha Saunion

Senior Social Media Editor
Samantha Saunion is the Social Media Editor at Real Simple. Prior to joining Real Simple, she managed social media content at brands like People, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Taste of Home, Reader's Digest, and Family Handyman. She received her bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and her master's in Media Studies from The New School in New York City.
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Jennifer Lomeli

Senior Producer, Video
Jennifer is the senior video producer for REAL SIMPLE. With a background in photography, she's passionate about shooting and producing visually compelling videos. Prior to REAL SIMPLE, she worked for Food & Wine as the senior video Producer. She received her BFA from The School of Visual Arts.
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Real Simple Magazine

Lauren Iannotti

Lauren Iannotti

Editor in Chief

Lauren is the editor in chief of REAL SIMPLE, one of the premier brands in the women's lifestyle space with a print and digital reach of nearly 22 million. An award-winning content professional with more than 20 years in publishing, Lauren has worked at some of the biggest and most respected brands in the industry, including Rachael Ray Every Day, Drew + Jonathan Reveal, Glamour, O, The Oprah Magazine, Marie Claire, and Allure. Lauren lives just outside of New York City with her husband, two daughters, and their scruffy mutt Rusty.

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Creative Director Phoebe Flynn Rich

Lisa Freedman, Executive Editor

Lisa Freedman

Executive Editor
Lisa Freedman is the Executive Editor of Real Simple magazine, with more than 18 years of experience in national media. Her focus is on food, kitchen gadgets, home design, and cleaning and organizing, She has never met a cheese she didn't like. Her husband is technically her best friend, but her pup, Millie, is also up there.
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Muzam Agha

Muzam Agha is Real Simple's photo director. He has nearly two decades of experience in magazine photo departments.
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Tara Cox, Managing Editor, Real Simple Magazine

Tara Cox

Tara Cox is the managing editor at Real Simple. Before joining the team in September of 2022, she was the executive managing editor at former Dotdash Meredith titles Drew and Jonathan Reveal and Rachael Ray In Season magazines.
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Amy Maclin

Amy Maclin is an editor with over two decades of experience in print and digital publications.
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Melissa Matthews

Features Editor, Real Simple
Melissa Matthews is the features editor at Real Simple covering health, lifestyle, fitness, money and relationships. Melissa earned a master's degree in long-form magazine writing from New York University and previously covered science, health, and fitness at publications including Men's Health, Marie Claire, Women's Health, and Newsweek. 
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Jenna Helwig, food director at Real Simple

Jenna Helwig

Jenna is the food director at Real Simple and the author of Bare Minimum Dinners, a cookbook featuring more than 100 low-lift, high-reward recipes. Previously, Jenna was the food director at Health and Parents. She is also the founder and operator of Rosaberry, a boutique personal chef services company, and the author of four other cookbooks, including the bestselling Baby-Led Feeding.
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Heather Muir Maffei

Heather Muir Maffei

Heather Muir Maffei brings more than 15 years of beauty know-how to readers at Real Simple and Health magazines as beauty director. She has worked at Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Allure, Fitness Magazine, and more.
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Erica Finamore

Erica Finamore

Home Director

Erica Finamore is Real Simple's home director, sharing her knowledge on decorating, organizing, cleaning and DIYing. She has over 10 years' experience and favors statement sofas, gallery walls and organizing books in rainbow order.

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Hannah Baker

Hannah is the Senior Home Editor at REAL SIMPLE magazine. She's worked in media for over a decade and previously worked at BRIDES magazine, Rachael Ray in Season magazine, and Reveal magazine. Her other bylines include Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, Shop TODAY, Better Homes & Gardens, Martha Stewart Weddings, and more.
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Jenny Brown

Jenny Brown leads the copy and research department at Real Simple magazine. Whether the topic is home, food, fashion, beauty, health, or finances, she helps ensure print articles are clear, engaging, factually accurate, and unbiased. She has more than 13 years' experience as a writer, reporter, copyeditor, and fact-checker.
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Maya Kukes

Maya Kukes is a research editor with nearly three decades of experience in print and digital media.
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Contributing Editors Kristyn Kusek Lewis (Books)

Contributing Home Editor Cat Dash

Design Director Deanna Lowe

Deputy Photo Editor Lawrence J. Whritenour Jr.

Editorial Production Director Filomena Guzzardi

Awards and Recognition

Contacts

For help with your magazine subscription, or to renew or buy a gift subscription, please visit Customer Service, call (800) 881-1172, or email us at rspcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com.

To respond to the magazine's monthly "Your Words" question, please email yourwords@realsimple.com.

To ask a "Modern Manners" question, please email modernmanners@realsimple.com.

If you would like to advertise in REAL SIMPLE magazine, please email Tiffany Ehasz, senior VP/publisher, or Kristin Guinan, associate publisher, marketing.

If you would like to advertise on RealSimple.com, please email advertise@dotdash.com.

About Dotdash Meredith

REAL SIMPLE is published by Dotdash Meredith, an operating business of IAC, and the largest digital and print publisher in America. From mobile to magazines, nearly 200 million people trust Dotdash Meredith to help them make decisions, take action, and find inspiration. Dotdash Meredith's more than 40 iconic brands include PEOPLE, Better Homes & Gardens, Verywell, FOOD & WINE, The Spruce, Allrecipes, Byrdie, Investopedia, Southern Living, Lifewire, and The Balance.

Learn about the Dotdash Meredith leadership team.