Sustainable Minimalists

A Poverty Of Spirit Nov 12, 2024

We Americans may indeed be "rich" in material terms, but we suffer from what Mother Teresa calls a poverty of spirit. As we chased economic growth we closed ourselves off. We abandoned interconnectedness with other people, beings, and things. We also abandoned ourselves.

Many of the problems in our world today are visual manifestations of such abandonment. If the world isn't looking the way you want it to look right now, author Jeff Golden argues that solving our (numerous) issues starts by healing our culture-wide poverty of spirit.

Here's a preview:

[4:00] Money doesn’t make us happy, and the extent to which we strive for stuff is a manifestation of how unhappy we actually are inside

[8:00] How we feel about ourselves impacts how we show up in the world. How we treat others! Whether we regard other beings with love and respect!

[16:00] Exactly why healing our world (and ourselves!) may indeed start by getting out of our heads

[32:00] Debunking heady intellectual conversations about the importance of the economy, plus: a laundry list of the ways we use stuff as stand-ins for well-being

[38:00] Tangible ways to "drop into yourself" (because you and others deserve it!)

Resources mentioned:

Episode #478: Charting A Rich Life
Reclaiming the Sacred: Healing Our Relationships with Ourselves and the World
Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20

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Introducing Smart Money Happy Hour Nov 12, 2024

I hope you'll enjoy Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel. We have become regular Thursday listeners and we hope you check it out to see why!

Micro Activism Nov 08, 2024

Many of us shy away from the word 'activist' because the term brings to mind a very specific type of person. But if you're regularly taking action to make the world a better place? Guess what my friend, you're already an activist (yes, really!).

What matters is not the size of the action, nor how vigorous the action is. It's all about consistency. On today's re-air author Omkari Williams helps us find the kind of social justice engagement that feels both empowering *and* sustainable.

Here's a preview:

[4:00] Activism isn't just marching and picketing: Here's what micro activism looks like in the day to day

[10:30] Are you a headliner, an organizer, a producer, or an indispensable? How to determine your unique activist archetype

[22:00] The status quo isn't working for the vast majority of us. So where's the passion for change?

[30:00] How to know whether your efforts constitute shallow work or deep work

Resources mentioned:

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How To Be An Anti-Capitalist Nov 05, 2024

Capitalism has transformed the world, sure. But at what cost? (Immense environmental ones, of course.)

Americans, it's high-time we accept that the Golden Age of capitalism is long gone. On today's show: A frank discussion with sustainable finance visionary Kara Perez about insulating ourselves from late-stage capitalism's most damaging effects with individual and collective action.

Here's a preview:

[6:00] Money is a tool for change, and yet it's literally something we made up

[11:00] Can we be nickled and dimed even more than we already are? (Spoiler alert: Yes.)

[14:00] A few of the ways in which shareholder capitalism limits society's ability to progress

[22:00] Tangible ways you and I can "change the flow of money"

Resources mentioned:

Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20
Thank you also to Better Help for sponsoring this week's episode! Head to betterhelp.com/minimal for 10% off your first month.

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! **If you're a financial supporter over on Apple Podcasts and want to join Book Club, please email me and let me know! For privacy reasons, Apple won't share your contact info with me. Just email me and I'll happily add you!**
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The Distorted Mirror Nov 01, 2024

Cyberpsychology is an emerging field that examines the ways in which technology influences human behavior. On today's show we discuss what happens to our purchasing habits when psychology, sociology, and 21st century tech collide.

Here's a preview:

[1:30] Who you think you are is influenced by others (hello, looking glass self!)

[8:30] It's human nature to compare and compete: Here's how and why we internalize social media messaging

[16:00] 3 reasons why shoppers feel better when they purchase items that contribute to self-repair

[20:00] 2 ways dopamine and online algorithms work together and entice us to buy

Resources mentioned/Further reading:

The Digital Looking Glass Self (via Psychology Today)
Buying: The Effect on Self-Worth Feelings and Consumer Well-Being
Why TikTok Made Us Buy It (via Psychology Today)
Stay Free App

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A Life Of Purpose Oct 29, 2024

Our culture is marked by both comparison and overconsumption, and we are constantly urged to hustle for something bigger, better, or more expensive because (supposedly) happiness lies within the next purchase or achievement. But what if the key to living a more satisfied life is to simply slow down and listen to your intuition?

On today's show: A conversation with best-selling author Stephanie O'Dea about breaking free from hustle culture for increased fulfillment, reduced stress, and a stronger sense of purpose.

Here's a preview:

[8:00] Doing things out of guilt, obligation, or acceptance versus Simply Looking Only Within (SLOW!)

[12:00] It's a lot easier to sell to people who are unhappy. Enter our preponderance for fast living

[20:00] Is conventional 'success' possible when we are living slow?

[25:00] What to do when you can't hear the voice within because daily life is too fast and too noisy

[27:00] The more social media scrolling, the more disenchantment. And yet we are creatures of comparison ...

Resources mentioned:

Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20
Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World
The Slow Living Podcast

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Reclaiming Movement Opportunities Oct 25, 2024

There's no way around it: more stuff means more sedentarism.

Products of convenience move on our behalf, and our kids are moving their bodies less than any other generation in human history. Our culture–and the items the market produces to support our ways of life—dissuade self-sufficiency, and so creating a movement-rich life for our health and for the planet's may often feel like an uphill battle.

This week I speak with author and biomechanist Katy Bowman. Katy offers tangible ways to reclaim the movement opportunities that have been lost to the conveniences associated with modern living.

Here's a preview:

[7:30] The relationship between carbon footprints, pleasure, and movement lost

[16:00] How to become more tolerant of movement in the house

[19:15] Ways to engage kids who don't consider themselves "outdoorsy"

[22:45] Multitasking versus stacking: What's the difference (and why does it matter?)

[25:20] 2 steps listeners can take right now to reclaim movement opportunities that have been lost to convenience

Resources mentioned:

Grow Wild: The Whole-Child, Whole-Family, Nature-Rich Guide to Moving More
Katy on Instagram
Save The Earth book series
Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube

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Water Smarts Oct 22, 2024

Water is a finite resource. Freshwater shortages are increasingly striking regions around the globe and, as demand for water rises while supply continues to drop, the price of water will likely skyrocket.

It’s more important than ever to be smart about water. On today's show horticulturist Noelle Johnson offers easy ways to save water and have a beautiful yard — even amongst challenging climatic conditions.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] Globally, less rain is falling. And simultaneously the planet is desertifying. What are the consequences?

[11:00] Exactly why rainwater is better for our plants than water from the hose, plus: 3 ways to effectively capture rainwater

[15:00] Did you know you can repurpose gray water in your yard? (I sure didn't!)

[26:00] Musings on lawns

[32:00] 7 ways to use less water in your vegetable garden (hint: raised beds require more water!)

Resources mentioned:

Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 at checkout for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20
Episode #137: The Global Water Crisis
Episode #500: Rebuilding Your Village
The Water-Smart Garden: Techniques and Strategies for Conserving, Capturing, and Efficiently Using Water in Today's Climate... and Tomorrow's
Noelle on Instagram

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Future-Conscious Thinking Oct 18, 2024

Many people — and many societies, for that matter — rely on short-sighted quick wins as their Number One go-tos when managing oversized problems. But what works in the short-term likely isn’t best in the long run; worse, such near-sightedness rarely considers its impacts on generations to come.

Enter longpath thinking, a mindset that prioritizes future-conscious thinking and behavior.

On today’s episode I speak with author and futurist Ari Wallach. Ari argues that when we step away from knee-jerk reactions we will both reclaim meaning in our lives and help preserve the planet for future generations. And if making daily decisions by considering their reverberations 500 years from now sounds revolutionary to you, you’re absolutely right. Ari’s on the show to ease the transition to future-consciousness in 3 simple steps.

Here’s a preview:

[2:00] “Future” isn’t a noun; it’s a verb. Here’s why

[4:30] Debunking lifespan biases so as to create a better world for future generations

[6:00] 3 problems associated with short-termism

[11:30] How an understanding of transgenerational empathy encourages us to act on behalf of future generations

[17:00] What doubling down on sandbag strategies means for fulfilling our collective moral obligations

[20:00] 3 ways to start practicing longpath thinking and acting right now

Resource mentioned:

Longpath: Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs

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Stuff You Should Know Oct 17, 2024

These days, dry cleaners press shirts, industrialized farms grow monocrops, and factories churn out single-use varieties of (nearly) everything. And when a possession looks a little worn or a little torn? Many Americans trash it and buy new without a second thought.

Life can be simpler, more affordable, and downright sweeter when you do things yourself and maintain what you already own. On today's show: Calling on the timeless wisdom of our great grandparents to re-learn specific, self-sufficient skills for the long haul.

Here's a preview of the skills we are re-learning today:

[5:30] How to season your cast iron skillet

[9:30] How to buy local food every week

[21:00] How to best care for your leather footwear

Resources mentioned:

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How To Host A Clothing Swap Oct 15, 2024

Clothing swaps (or toy swaps, or book swaps, or home goods swaps) are a low-stakes way to declutter your closet and acquire new-to-you clothes. These events also happen to be the epitome of communal care and can fundamentally change how others view secondhand items.

Share resources with your neighbors, reduce waste, and get socializing without exchanging money! On today's show 4-time clothing swap host Jess Schroeder divulges her pro secrets to hosting a successful event.

Here's a preview:

[8:00] The price of clothes has dropped dramatically in the last 30 years. Are clothing swaps pointless amidst our cultural reverence for cheap goods?

[13:30] What is it about a swap that's so darn fun?

[19:00] Your questions answered: Exactly how to host a killer clothing swap

[24:00] How to be size inclusive and other pro tips for hosts and guests alike

Resources mentioned:

Sophie Strauss on Instagram
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The C Word (Cancer!) Oct 11, 2024

Since the dawn of the chemical era more than 300,000 chemicals have been invented, and many are made from oil and natural gas. While some manufactured chemicals have indeed provided benefit (Disinfectants! Antibiotics!), they have also caused great harm. Manufactured chemicals pollute every corner of the planet. They kill bees, fish, and mammals. They nearly destroyed the ozone and, yes, they give us cancer.

Many types of cancer are on the rise in the US, and one explanation for this increase lies in our world of chemicals. On today's show environmental investigative reporter Kristina Marusic identifies the harmful environmental exposures linked to cancer; she also provides a step-by-step roadmap for reducing your cancer risk.

Here's a preview:

[2:00] Breaking down exactly what's happening with cancer rates around the world and why

[12:00] The 3 Ps: 3 categories of pollutants that have clear links to childhood cancer

[20:00] Pay special attention to these preventable environmental exposures if you have children

[24:00] Revisiting the personal care product conundrum

[28:00] The harmful environmental exposures you should zero in on at your child's daycare or school

[36:00] In defense of being a loudmouth: You've been given a voice; here's how to best use it

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
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Selective Mediocrity Oct 10, 2024

Our To-Do lists are never-ending, sure. But it's neither realistic nor fair to assume we can excel in every arena.

Enter selective mediocrity, a.k.a. that conscious choice to let some stuff go.

We simply can't do it all, and selective mediocrity enables us to give our whole selves to the tasks and goals that really matter. On today's show: A conversation with Dr. Whitney Casares about *actually* lowering our expectations (not just pretending we lowered them!) and preserving our precious time and energy.

Here's a preview:

[3:30] Feel like you're doing it all? Here are the 9 areas that take up the majority of a woman's time and energy

[9:30] We moms aren't broken. The system is broken!

[21:00] How do you decide when and where to be 'selectively mediocre'?

[24:00] Anxiety loves perfection because anxiety loves control. Musings on being OK with letting some things go

[28:00] Women have been conditioned to put others' needs ahead of their own. Time to enact self-boundaries!

Resources mentioned:

Doing It All: Stop Over-Functioning and Become the Mom and Person You're Meant to Be

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Rebuilding Your Village Oct 08, 2024

A recent study finds Americans are spending notably more time at home, and it's not wholly the pandemic's fault. Thank technology: For the last 20 years Americans have slowly traded their social institutions — like churches and clubs — for isolation.

Have we forgotten how to be social creatures? On today's show: A conversation with journalist Rosie Spinks about concrete ways to rebuild your proverbial village.

Here's a preview:

[4:00] Counting the ways in which the pandemic hastened a cultural shift toward isolation already in progress

[9:00] You don't need friends; you need 50 people

[16:00] Be the person who asks twice!

[24:00] The quiet genius of enacting place-based rituals

[31:00] Reminder! Canceling is not a form of self-care

[35:00] Are your social efforts rarely reciprocated? Enact this 3-second mindset shift

Resources mentioned:

What Do We Do Now That We're Here (via Substack)
Kurt Vonnegut's commencement speech
Episode #498: Removing The Mask

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Edit Your Life Oct 04, 2024

Life is noisier, messier, and more complicated than ever. In our quest to keep up, we can try to do it all—with mixed results.

Instead of life passively happening TO us, we each have the power to create the life we want to live. On today's show: A conversation with author Elisabeth Sharp McKetta about figuring out what matters most and hitting delete on what doesn’t.

Here's a preview:

[7:00] Before we edit, we must first examine: 3 questions to regularly ask when seeking a life of intention

[9:30] The paradox of choice, plus: Why many of us rarely go after our first choice

[16:00] Words of encouragement for listeners who examine their life and don't like what they see

[21:00] Using your unique "core competencies" as organizing principles when editing your life

[27:00] Editing for generosity: How to edit your narrative to benefit the collective

[33:00] Elisabeth and Stephanie's thoughts on enjoying life despite the world's messiness

Resources mentioned:

Edit Your Life: A Handbook For Living With Intention In A Messy World
The Mother-Daughter Puzzle by Rosjke Hasseldine

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The Antidote To Hedonic Adaptation Oct 01, 2024

The US hails consumption as a patriotic duty. But refraining from buying isn't a punishment, and practicing a bit of self-control both resets our hedonistic baseline and re-centers our behaviors around moderation.

It's paradoxical but true: Imposing temporary limits ultimately sets you free. On today's show author John Oakes discusses the numerous benefits associated with fasting from food, from spending, and everything in between.

Here's a preview:

[9:00] What do ancient philosophers have to say about self-control, holding back, and managing desires?

[13:00] Musings on why it's important to put limits on ourselves even though our economy thrives when we consume without limits

[25:00] We can do hard things! The personal benefits associated with embarking on a challenge and accomplishing it

[29:00] Is overconsumption contributing to our nationwide 'modern malaise'?

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
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The Commercialization Of Kids Sep 27, 2024

Big tech trains kids to become consumers from … well, birth.

Child-targeted marketing is cringe-worthy at best and unethical at worst. It also undermines children’s healthy development because it robs them of opportunities to play, imagine, and learn freely without manipulation.

Today I speak with Dr. Susan Linn about the ways in which technology exploits children (and what we can do about it at home).

(The podcast is approaching its 500th episode and in celebration I'm re-airing my Top 5 favorite episodes of all time. Here's #5.)

Here’s a preview:

[3:30] Brand loyalty? How media corporations exploit our children for profit

[6:30] Societal implications associated with perpetually up-selling to kids

[11:30] The ways in which big tech manipulates children into bonding with their devices

[17:00] A good, hard look: Addressing our collective preoccupation with technology

[28:00] Thoughts on breaking an older child’s screen addiction

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
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Removing The Mask Sep 26, 2024

The Japanese argue that we each have three faces. The first is your idealized, near-perfect version; it's also the mask you present to the world. You reveal your second face selectively to very close friends and family, and you keep your third face — your true self — hidden from everyone (including, perhaps, yourself).

Our first mask conveys self-assuredness. Of being happy, put together, and in charge. But beneath our masks, we are messy creatures. We may even be living in deep emotional pain. On today's show: A conversation with author Jarod K. Anderson about removing our masks, being vulnerable, and boldly accepting our authentic, messy selves.

* A note from Stephanie: The future of this show is uncertain, and it needs hundreds (hundreds!) more supporters to stay afloat. If you find yourself thinking about the world differently after listening, please consider supporting the show with $5 per month or $45 per year. Thank you for doing your part to keep Sustainable Minimalists in existence! https://sustainableminimalists.substack.com

Here's a preview:

[6:00] Shoulds, musts, and our cultural love of billable productivity

[10:00] Jarod's thoughts on why we tend to turn to external validation and societally-approved markers to enhance self-esteem

[13:00] The toxic myth that is 'rugged individualism'

[18:00] Exactly why vulnerability is terrifying but essential

[25:00] How to view the natural world as a medicinal anchor that accepts us just as we are

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
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A Mindful Wardrobe Refresh Sep 24, 2024

Want to be "up to date" with your wardrobe choices? Fashion forwardness understands that the textile industry is incredibly polluting; having your finger on the fashion pulse, then, is about consciously choosing not to participate in trends.

And yet we somehow must dress ourselves. While fast fashion is quite literally made to fall apart, wearing what we wore decades ago isn't a good look. So what on earth is a sustainable minimalist to do?

On today's show: How to mindfully refresh your wardrobe with tips straight from experts.

* A note from Stephanie: The future of this show is uncertain, and it needs hundreds (hundreds!) more supporters to stay afloat. If you find yourself thinking about the world differently after listening, please consider supporting the show with $5 per month or $45 per year. Thank you for doing your part to keep Sustainable Minimalists in existence! https://sustainableminimalists.substack.com

Here's a preview of the expert-backed techniques we are discussing today:

[8:30] All Killer, No Filler! Stop settling for garments that are "good enough"

[17:00] Adapt, Don't Abandon: How to pair an outdated item with something that's on trend

[24:00] Refine your style with The 3-Word Method

[26:00] Raise the dead! (A.K.A. bring back to life high-quality, foundational pieces)

[31:00] When all else fails, consider a uniform

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

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Ripple Effects Sep 19, 2024

More free time and less stress. Extra money in the bank. While minimalists often report such benefits of the lifestyle over and over, for many of us, it goes deeper. Indeed, a minimalist lifestyle may fundamentally change the way we interact with the world.

As this podcast approaches its 500th episode I find myself curious about the ways in which adopting a minimalist or minimal-ish outlook has altered the ways in which we as community act and think.

On today's show: A conversation with minimalist Elaina Jindra about just some of the ways her life is different these days.

Here's a preview of the minimalism-inspired habit changes we are discussing today:

[8:00] Watching less television and turning away from mass media

[14:00] Buying in bulk, no more

[19:00] Storing it at the store? Sure. Plus: Storing it at Goodwill!

[22:00] Eating healthier and drinking less alcohol

[25:00] Stepping into the role of 'creator' while losing the identity of 'consumer'

Resources mentioned:

Sign up for the Sustainable Minimalists newsletter (it's free!) here
Hobby Hour (via Substack)

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Phthalates And Kids Products Sep 17, 2024

Just because a product is marketed to babies or kids doesn't mean it's safe, and new research published just last week has alarming things to say about the presence of phthalates in personal care products for children.

While minimalists know that excess stuff harms our emotional well-being and mental loads, *sustainable* minimalists understand that products can harm our physical health. On today's show: Applying the tenets of sustainable minimalism to the hair and skin products our children use each day.

Here's a preview:

[7:00] If phthalates make plastics flexible and bendy, what on earth are they doing in personal care products?

[10:00] Don't see the term 'phthalate' on a product's ingredients list? That doesn't mean it's phthalate-free!

[13:00] Are phthalates the reason why our daughters are getting their periods younger and younger?

[19:00] No 10-step skincare regimen to see here: Here's a 5-step cleanup regimen for your household

[25:00] Musings on the tween and teen skincare beauty craze

Resources mentioned:

Products mentioned on today's show:

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Streamlining Non-Negotiables Sep 12, 2024

Meal planning and prepping, laundry, and taking out the trash: These non-negotiable household tasks are never truly "done". And because it's impossible to get ahead of these mundane chores, they are likely the reason you feel like you’re always busy but never accomplish anything.

The bad news? Non-negotiables are a part of adulting. The good news? Streamlining such chores with a reduces the time and mental load associated with getting them done.

On today's show: How to streamline meal planning *for the rest of your life* in under an hour.

Here's a preview:

[6:30] Breaking down exactly how much extra you're paying for meal kits

[12:00] How to create a 28-day meal plan so you never have to meal plan again

[16:00] Take it a step further with one-and-done and done grocery lists

Resource mentioned:

Episode #270: Desperation Dinners
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Sleep Is Medicine Sep 05, 2024

American culture is heavily influenced by a “rise and grind” reverence for hustling, and many of us have adopted the belief that sleep is a waste of time. When we dismiss the importance of sleep, we have more time to work harder and longer. And when we have more money in our pockets, what we are really doing is keeping our capitalist engines turning.

Contrary to what you've been told, sleep is not time wasted. On today's show: The Number One way to improve your health, wellness, and quality of life without spending any money at all (ahem ... prioritizing sleep).

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Rise and grind culture promotes sleep deprivation!

[9:00] What happens when we sleep? Hop on a metaphorical submarine and explore the Sleep Sea

[15:00] A laundry list of bad sleep's deleterious health and wellness effects

[21:00] In your 40s or 50s? You especially need to prioritize sleep, and here's why

[29:00] 6 research-backed ways to prioritize sleep every darn night

Resources mentioned:

Episode #472: Breath Awareness
Episode #465: Optimizing Your Walks
Outlive: The Science And Art Of Longevity (by Dr. Peter Attia)
Why We Sleep: Unlocking The Power Of Sleep And Dreams (by Dr. Matthew Walker)
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

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Roots Sep 03, 2024

We humans are evolutionarily primed to live in concert with the natural world, but these days Americans spend over 92% of time either indoors or inside a vehicle. The result? Stress, inflammation and — for some of us — a pervasive sense of malaise.

American culture is designed to keep us indoors because capitalist engines make money when we are distracted, and yet cutting-edge science supports the reality that life on this planet is radically interconnected. On today's show author Lyanda Lynn Haupt introduces the concept of rooted living to benefit of both humans and nature.

Here's a preview:

[11:00] Nature provides connection, and yet 21st century life vilifies the outdoors

[16:00] Exactly why our capitalist engines benefit when we live indoors lives

[22:00] Musings on our collected extractive mindset, plus: how roots are the antidote

[28:00] Lyanda's Number One tip for re-rooting yourself and your children (It's a good one!)

Resources mentioned:

Rooted: Life At The Crossroads Of Science, Nature, and Spirit
Lyanda on Instagram
Episode #384: Forest Bathing 101
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What Advertisers Know Aug 29, 2024

A product needs to fit into someone’s life seamlessly in order for it to be bought, and it’s the job of the advertiser to show exactly how the item in question will fit into a life. On today's show: 5 crucial insights advertisers know about us (that we perhaps don't know about ourselves).

Here's a preview:

[1:00] Examining our clutter problem through metaphor (bathtub, baby!)

[9:00] Selling isn't about emotion; it's about seduction

[13:00] We humans are animals, and animals are evolutionarily primed to heed warnings

[15:00] Curiosity versus urgency: Both emotional states convert!

[21:00] How companies slowly but surely increase market share, plus: here's what happens when a product differentiates itself on eco-friendliness

[26:00] Insider advertising works!

Resources mentioned:

The Hidden Clutter Creator Right Under Your Nose (via Your House Machine on Substack)

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If Trees Could Talk Aug 27, 2024

One football field's-worth of forest is lost every single second of every single day. Loss of forests means loss of species and loss of stored carbon; it also means an increased risk of pandemics.

On today's show: Explaining the ways in which deforestation is linked to the pandemic prevalence, with tangible action steps for conscious consumers.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] It's not *just* about timber; it's about livestock, soy, and palm oil too

[12:30] Exactly what happens when we raze forests and the generalists (ahem ... the rats, the mosquitos) march in

[26:00] Breaking down the differences between the 3 Forest Stewardship Council certifications

[29:00] Revisiting the palm oil problem

[32:00] The industrialized food system is broken, and it pays to shorten your personal food chain

Resources mentioned:

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Extracurriculars Are Extra Aug 20, 2024

Parenthood is awash with immense pressure to do right by our kids. We are told that children need certain (expensive) experiences to 'get ahead', and many of us observe our parenting peers investing in countless extracurriculars. But children need downtime, and recent research suggests that children should experience twice as much unstructured time as structured enrichment.

On today's show podcaster Kathryn Garland and I discuss how to find the structured, extracurricular sweet spot for your family.

Here's a preview:

[4:30] Scheduling rule #1: Family First (not Kid First!)

[15:00] When dabblers don't fit into a world of specializers

[22:00] Musings on extracurriculars, the 'rat race' and getting ahead

[26:00] Start with the end in mind (and other tips for finding the extracurriculars sweet spot)

[31:00] Words of encouragement for leaning into the quiet and into the slow

Resources mentioned:

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Back To School Shopping Aug 15, 2024

‘Tis the season for back-to-school door busters, price slashes, and closeouts. On today’s re-air: How to reduce clutter, save money, and help the planet by shopping for back-to-school with greater intention.

Here's a preview:

[6:00] Let’s pull back the curtain on back-to-school marketing, shall we?

[11:00] Here’s what it actually means (and what it actually looks like!) to shop your own home

[18:30] Revisiting the kids’ capsule conversation

[26:00] Thoughts on teacher wishlists (from a former teacher)

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
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Feeding Littles Lunches Aug 13, 2024

Welcome to Back To School Week 2024!

In many homes, back to school season means back to packing lunchboxes. It's a stress-inducing chore, sure, as many parents find it difficult to think up new, creative lunch ideas that are actually healthy (and will actually get eaten!).

On today's show registered dietician nutritionist Megan McNamee offers up her tried and true lunchbox formula; she also suggests simple lunch ideas that will make prepping lunches a breeze.

Stay tuned for Thursday's Back To School episode about acquiring school supplies, clothes, and gear like a sustainable minimalist.

Here's a preview:

[4:00] Is there anything "wrong" with school lunches?

[8:00] Pack when your kitchen is open! (And other practical ways to make lunchbox packing easier)

[13:00] Add balance and variety by following Megan's Lunch Formula

[20:00] Lunchbox ideas you've never heard of before

[26:00] Must lunchboxes have a dessert?

[33:00] How to best use after school snack time as a sneaky way to supplement your child's diet

Resources mentioned:

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Big Cleaning Aug 08, 2024

Scientists have found unsettling details about the potential health risks of common household cleaning products. And yet Big Cleaning capitalizes on fear of germs, bacteria, and disease to sell us home cleansers with traditional chemical compounds on the regular.

It behooves us to ask ourselves whether the ways things have always been done align with our own values. On today's show Zac Kieffer argues it's high-time we redefine what it means to clean.

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Three reasons why it's important to perpetually question the way we clean and disinfect

[8:00] Are you disinfecting correctly? (Answer: Probably not.)

[16:00] Ammonia! 2-Butoxyethanol! BACs! Here's what cleaning companies don't want you to know about the (very powerful) chemical compounds in traditional cleansers

[21:00] Big Cleaning and fear-based marketing

[28:00] Does microfiber = microplastics?

Resources mentioned:

Episode #417: How To Buy Soap
E-Cloth (Minimalists15 for 15% off site-wide)
Cleaning Products Emit Hundreds of Hazardous Chemicals, New Study Finds (via EWG)

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Decluttering For Self-Care Aug 06, 2024

If you're like me, you're likely dealing with constant, low-grade clutter situations, and that's because once a purchase is made, the item is ours to maintain, manage, and store. Sadly, consumerism never talks about the negative wellness effects of buying (I'm looking at you, cortisol!).

If clutter keeps piling up despite your best efforts, my guest today argues that it's time to dig deeper. Not deeper into the piles, of course. Deeper into yourSELF.

On today's show professional organizer Jenny Albertini argues that decluttering is an act of self-care; it can also become a habit that enhances wellness. Put this episode on while you tackle an oft-forgotten space in your home and get to work!

Here's a preview:

[4:00] Why do we clutter?

[5:30] Breaking down the bidirectional exchange between clutter and wellness

[12:00] Our personal thresholds for clutter tolerance ebb and flow throughout life (and that's totally normal)

[24:00] Tangible ways to stop the many clutter streams coming into our homes

[27:00] Thoughts on right-sizing other people's gifts and hand-me-downs with our own space confines

[31:30] The quiet genius of the "Someday Maybe" technique

Resources mentioned:

Decluttered: Mindful Organizing for Health, Home, and Beyond
This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
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Glimmers Aug 01, 2024

In our hyper-capitalist society, it's often implied that the only things worth savoring are the really fancy, really shiny, really new, and really exotic. Let's push back against that narrative by finding the glimmers, also known as those simple moments of pleasure that pop up during our days.

We minimalists already know that it's in the small things that beauty lies. On today's show: Research-backed ways to spot life's glimmers and reap the most joy possible from every instance.

Here's a preview:

[8:00] Glimmers are all around us all the time. Are you paying attention?

[16:00] Savoring offers many wellness benefits. One of them? It's an active way to fight back against our innate negativity bias

[26:00] Introducing savoring's evil cousin, dampening (plus: how to stop it right this second)

[32:00] Add in some effort! Determine a glimmer in your life and get optimizing

[37:00] Downtime is a necessary part of life (it's also a time when we are most available to catch the glimmers)

[42:00] Say it loud and say it proud! Verbalize the simple pleasures as a means of extending and expanding the pleasure

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! **If you're a financial supporter over on Apple Podcasts and want to join book club, please email me and let me know! For privacy reasons, Apple won't share your contact info with me. Just email me and I'll happily add you!**
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Climate Solutions Jul 30, 2024

We talk an awful lot about "climate science" and "what climate scientists predict" on this podcast. Today, I'm talking to one of them.

What exactly are the next 100 years likely going to look like for humans? What needs to happen for the US to mobilize for real? On today's show: A conversation with Michael Barnard about climate solutions, with an emphasis on that pesky air conditioning problem.

Here's a preview:

[9:00] When it comes to cooling the planet, here's why my guest is "cautiously optimistic" despite the impending "ugly process"

[14:00] Why climate change must first become impossible to ignore

[20:00] The hotter it gets, the cooler we need our homes to be. And yet cooling our homes demands energy, which heats the planet more

[27:00] Do we need to worry about mass electric grid failures in summer months?

[32:00] Exactly why heat pumps are our collective heating and cooling future

Resources mentioned:

The New Climate War: The Fight To Take Back Our Planet (by Michael E. Mann)
Proven Climate Solutions: Leading Voices on How to Accelerate Change

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How To Stop Eating Microplastics Jul 25, 2024

When it comes to environmental concerns, there's certainly plenty to worry about at the moment. Whether you and your family is eating microplastics on the regular may not be your list of top concerns.

But it’s an important topic to cover. While the health effects of microplastics on humans are not fully understood, common sense measures that reduce our exposures to both the plastic itself and also the endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are on and in such particles are certainly prudent. On today's show: How to eat, drink, and inhale fewer microplastics as you go about your days.

Here's a preview:

[6:00] Synthesizing the latest research into the effects of microplastics on human health

[11:00] Stop eating microplastics! 3 practical action steps in the kitchen

[27:00] Inhalation and absorption matters: Why vacuuming and dusting helps

[35:00] 3 (super easy) ways to reduce your plastics exposure when you're out and about

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
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Values-Driven Spending Jul 23, 2024

In 1901, American families spent 20% of their income on non-necessities. But 123 years later? These days that figure has risen to 50%. Many of us spend hard-earned money in hopes of acquiring things that money can't buy, and the result? Nearly 3 and 4 of Americans identify finances as a top stressor in their lives.

Marketers have created consumer desire, sure, but it's entirely possible to spend in alignment with your values. In a world of disposable incomes, global warming, and far too much cortisol, we need values-based spending now more than ever, because spending on your core values benefits your wallet, your sanity, and the planet all at once.

On today's show author Jill Sirianni encourages us to drill down our core values so we spend less, save more, and recenter our lives around what's actually important.

Here's a preview:

[8:30] The Number One reason not to buy to solve your problems (It rarely works!)

[15:00] Faith, Family, Friends, and Fulfilling work: Identifying core values and the Four Fs

[18:00] It's not deprivation, but it could be sacrifice ... How does self-care fit into the values-based spending conversation?

[26:00] Nailing down your values and curb impulse spending for good

Resources mentioned:

Thanks to E-Cloth for being the feature sponsor of this episode! Use my code "Minimalists15" for 15% off sitewide at: https://us.e-cloth.com/

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
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Create More, Consume Less Jul 18, 2024

Once upon a time (oh, about 175 years ago) we were epic creators. Human hands made things, grew things, built things, and even invented things on the regular. But these days? By and large, we identify as consumers, and our hands are mostly used for typing and swiping.

And yet, when we consume too much, many of us experience stress, anxiety, and depression. We know it because we're living it: Our possessions can possess us.

If we create more, we may very likely consume less. On today's show: Moving the needle of contentment away from over-consumption back to self-sufficiency by highlighting what research has to say about the wellness benefits associated with using our hands to create.

Here's a preview:

[4:30] Exactly when and how did we lost our collective abilities to create (Here's lookin' at you, mail-order catalog)

[9:30] Our hands are marvels. Marvels, I say!

[15:00] Crafting is good for you, so pick up those knitting needles, woodworking tools, or art supplies

[20:00] In defense of active leisure (and I do mean active!)

[24:00] Puzzles, board games, and the wellness benefits associated with "supercharged socializing"

Resources mentioned:

Book Club is August 5! 2 meetings this time around at 12pm EST and at 7pm EST. Join us!
Working With Your Hands Is Good for Your Brain (via The New York Times)
Handmade (by Gary Rogowski)

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Preserving With A Purpose Jul 16, 2024

Tomatoes, green beans, peaches, and so much more: Our great-grandmas knew a thing or two about food preservation, and yet these days few of us can. It's a time- and labor-intensive practice, sure. But it's also a self-sufficient life skill.

Whether you grow some or all of your own food or seek out bargains at the store and farmers' market, canning the season's bounty means you'll be eating well all year round. You'll also be participating in a nearly waste-free practice (no plastic to see here!).

Back to our great-grandmas for a hot minute: They infused love in every jar, and so can you. On today's show author Sarah Thrush invites us to go back to food preservation basics with advice on how to integrate canning into a self-sufficient, money-saving, and sustainable lifestyle.

Here's a preview:

[10:00] Say it loud, say it proud: There's no self-sufficiency without community!

[15:00] The #1 Rule of canning, plus: why it's super important to start small

[19:0o] The One Week, One Month, One Year principle: Here's exactly how Sarah keeps enough food on hand to feed her family for an entire year

[25:00] Troubleshooting the most common canning conundrums

[33:00] Take it outside and make it a party! The benefits to canning outside with your family

Thanks to E-Cloth for being the feature sponsor of this episode! Use code "Minimalists15" for 15% off sitewide: https://us.e-cloth.com/

Resources mentioned:

Preserving With A Purpose: Next Generations Canning Recipes and Wisdom
Sarah on TikTok @peeliesandpetals
Superb canning lids

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Surviving Late Stage Capitalism Jul 11, 2024

Does it sometimes feel as though the passive act of being alive is too expensive and too difficult? You're not alone: Many scholars argue that late stage capitalism is what happens when everything (literally everything!) is commodified. Existing feels unnecessarily hard, too.

There IS good news: Surviving (and perhaps even thriving!) in a late stage capitalist society is possible. On today's show Laura Oldanie shows us exactly how to sur-thrive, with 6 actionable steps.

Here's a preview of the strategies we're discussing today:

[15:00] Pay attention to when and how you're influenced

[17:00] Think of yourself less as a consumer and more as producer

[21:00] Use your attention capital wisely

[27:00] Embrace different forms of currency (free time, perhaps?)

[35:00] Reduce unnecessary consumption and get off that capitalist hamster wheel, for good

Resources mentioned:

Join us for Book Club! We are super fun, I promise!
Digital Minimalism (by Cal Newport)
https://timebanks.org
Episode #211 Redefining Wealth (with Shannon Hayes)
Capitalism Survival Guide E-Book

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! **If you're a financial supporter over on Apple Podcasts and want to join Book Club, please email me and let me know! For privacy reasons, Apple won't share your contact info with me. Just email me and I'll happily add you!**
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Charting A Rich Life Jul 09, 2024

Despite our massive financial and material gains, happiness in the US has been in a consistent state of decline since at least the 1940s.

The research is clear: Materialism is toxic to human happiness. On today's show author Jeff Golden suggests practical ways to nourish in our lives the things that can help us live well (while simultaneously avoiding the hooks of money and stuff).

Here's a preview:

[5:30] We live amidst unimaginable wealth, yet we are unhappier than ever before. Here's why

[10:00] Materialism is toxic to happiness, and not for the reasons you think

[16:00] Exactly why you should choose your neighborhood wisely

[22:00] Want to be happier? Don't put your effort into amassing stuff; put it here instead

[30:00] Are we overly concerned about owning stuff so that we don't have to face our internal lacks?

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Home Overwhelm Jun 27, 2024

For so many of us, day in and day out home maintenance feels like a gigantic weight on our shoulders. And because conventional gender roles pervade, matters of the home often continue to be one (wo)man's burden.

Decluttering, tidying, organizing, and cleaning, oh my! On today's show: A conversation with professional organizer Sona Avetisyan about getting our partners and our children to pitch in.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] What is it about clutter that's so triggering for women?

[10:00] Status quo fallback prevention 101

[13:00] Sick of nagging? Here's what works when I need my kids to help the heck out

[18:00] Let's talk partners! Musings on what to do when your partner can't/won't pitch in

[28:00] In defense of bringing playfulness back into our closest relationships (It's not that deep!)

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There's Nothing Wrong With You Jun 25, 2024

When we buy something, it's not necessarily about the *thing*. Oftentimes we are buying into a story about ourselves; namely, what we simply must fix as we seek to get one step closer to our aspirational, in-a-perfect-world self.

Important truth time: You are not a perpetual self-improvement project, and no product can fix what was never broken in the first place. On today's show: A conversation with author Cait Flanders about why she broke up with self-help content and flaws-first marketing messages (and why, too, she never looked back).

Here's a preview:

[5:00] Buying stuff to escape your feelings? (Me too.)

[10:00] The "there's something wrong with you" messaging starts in childhood, my friends

[13:00] Where's the line between prioritizing self-growth versus living in that perpetually sad place of 'less than'?

[20:00] Here's how your life may change if you stopped spending $$ on products to fix what you've been told is broken

[26:00] Musings on letting go of our aspirational selves once and for all

Resources mentioned:

The Year Of Less
The Mindful Consumer on Substack
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide To Reclaiming Yourself (by Nedra Glover Tawwab)

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The Great Outdoors Jun 13, 2024

Americans spend about 21 hours per day inside. On the whole, we are also more depressed and anxious than ever before.

Many of us have been trained to seek out commodified services to unwind (I'm looking at you, #selfcare!). But what if a potential solution cost zero dollars and offered zero risk?

On today's show: An invitation to welcome nature back into your life, with 5.5 novel suggestions that are backed by science.

Here's a preview:

[9:00] Walk barefoot! (Around your yard, at least)

[14:00] Don't knock it 'til you've tried it, camping edition

[20:00] We don't have to optimize every second. Here's how to wander like a boss in a wild space

[26:00] Get your hands dirty

[34:00] 2 hours per week outdoors offers a laundry list of benefits, so move your favorite activities outside

Resources mentioned:

Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit (by Lyanda Lynn Haupt)
Why Gardening Is So Good for You (via The New York Times)
Episode #465: Optimizing Your Walks (with Annabel Abbs)
Cornell Lab bird app

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
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Hyper-Capitalism Jun 11, 2024

Hyper-capitalism — also called late-stage capitalism — is what happens when material resources, lifestyle activities, and everything in between becomes both commodified and consumable. In hyper-capitalistic economies, products get invented that no one needs or wants. Celebrities are revered like gods. Inequity is everywhere, and citizens internalize the idea that their worth is measured by some mysterious combination of career success and amassed material goods.

Many argue that the United States has entered its hyper-capitalist era, as Americans report that the relentless demands of trying to keep up results in working longer hours, increasing loneliness, and lowered life satisfaction.

On today's show: A conversation with New York Times bestselling author Kirsten Powers about the ways in which Americans are experiencing the effects of hyper-capitalism in real time.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] A laundry list of hyper-capitalism's consequences in 2024

[11:00] Europe doesn't consume way America does. They're not as lonely, either

[15:00] Taking a good, hard look at our disordered American beliefs

[19:00] Implications associated with celebrity worship

[26:00] Pay for what you get? Not in this case! Debunking the privatized healthcare myth

[33:00] Musings on nationwide learned helplessness

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Are You Smartphone Addicted? Jun 06, 2024

There's plenty of distressing research into what smartphones are doing to adults' attention spans, focus, and memory. And on child/teen development? Emerging research is even more alarming.

We are change makers, and change making means making difficult decisions, having difficult conversations, and going against the grain. On today's show: Why we need to (yet again!) rethink our approach to technology and delay the age at which we give our children access to smartphones.

Here's a preview:

[8:30] 57% of Americans report being "addicted" to their smartphones. Are you one of them?

[11:30] Smartphone addiction isn't your fault! Here's exactly how social media keeps your attention so they make more $$

[17:30] How to declutter your cell phone like a boss

[26:00] What recent research says with regard to the impacts of smartphones on children's/teens' wellness

[37:00] 5 reasons parents say they're pulled to give their child a smartphone, plus alternative solutions!

[43:00] Individual actions impact the collective. How to make delaying the smartphone a staple in your community

Resources mentioned:

The Smart Phone Compulsion Test
Wait Until 8th
How To Break Up With Your Phone (by Catherine Price)
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness (by Jonathan Haidt)
Investigation: How TikTok's Algorithm Figures Out Your Deepest Desires (via The Wall Street Journal)
Have Smart Phones Destroyed A Generation? (via The Atlantic)

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
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Breath Awareness Jun 04, 2024

Want to feel calmer and happier? You don't have to shell out hundreds of dollars for the newest wellness product or service. In fact, the solution doesn't cost a cent: simply get in touch with your breathing.

Breath is an amazing and responsive teacher. That's because if we breathe as we live — take in and let go — we can't go wrong.

On today's show: An invitation to meet yourself with author Jean Hall.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] The breath underpins everything we do in life, and yet we rarely bring awareness to it. Why not?

[10:00] 5 wellness benefits re: paying attention to your breathing patterns

[25:00] Exploring the pause changes everything

[29:00] Flowing with the breath is great practice for learning how to flow with life

Resources mentioned:

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Things We've Lost To The Internet May 30, 2024

From phone calls to blind dates to punctuation to civil discourse, the internet has changed every aspect of human life. While some losses are insignificant, the rise of the internet has also resulted in larger repercussions, like shorter attention spans, a collective inability to sit in solitude, and the the utter demolition of personal privacy.

On today's show: A conversation with author and New York Times columnist Pamela Paul about the ways in which the internet has fundamentally changed human existence.

Here's a preview:

[8:00] Do humans need to experience boredom once in awhile? (Absolutely yes, and here's why)

[14:00] Not-so-thanks to the internet, the past no longer stays in the past

[20:00] The hive mind and queen bees: Does the internet hamper independent thought?

[27:00] Parenting implications associated with the loss of the kitchen landline

[35:00] Ruminating on the disappearance of the phone call

Resource mentioned:

100 Things We've Lost to the Internet

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Shared Solutions May 28, 2024

I received an email last month from two Dutchmen who have been sailing around the world for 8 years in search of climate solutions. They asked to visit my home and chat. I obliged, and I'm so happy I did.

On today's show: an in-person interview with Floris van Hees and Ivar Smits — also affectionately known as Sailors For Sustainability — about the wisdom they've gained from their adventure.

Here's a preview of 4 pieces of wisdom we are discussing today:

[7:00] Leaving the "golden cage" is big risk, sure. But there's also big reward

[16:00] America isn't normal!

[22:00] Bad news sells, but there's plenty of good going on in the world because humans are incredibly adaptable

[43:00] When the smoke in the global theater thickens, the exit signs will shine brighter

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Cooking With Cast Iron May 23, 2024

Before aluminum coated in Teflon, there was cast iron.

Our great-grandparents revered cast iron in the kitchen because it lasts *forever*. And with proper care? It's naturally non-stick, no PFAS necessary.

These days cast iron is experiencing a renaissance of sorts, and for many good reasons. On today's show cast iron historian Kyle Seip answers our burning questions about how to cook on and care for our beloved cast iron cookware (it's way easier than you think!).

Here's a preview:

[6:00] Before aluminum, it was iron: A brief cast iron history

[11:00] What a price tag says about new and vintage cast iron pieces

[13:00] Getting to the bottom of the confusing health claims

[18:00] How do you clean cast iron? Is soap OK?

[22:00] When to use enamel-coated cast iron (hey there, Le Creuset!) versus when reach for traditional

[25:00] Everything you need to know about seasoning your cast iron (spoiler alert: you don't need to do much!)

[27:00] Troubleshooting a rusty skillet

Resources mentioned:

Smithey Cast Iron
Kyle On Instagram @castiron_kyle

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An Attitude Of Gratitude May 21, 2024

Is the glass half empty, or is it half full? According to Tony Robbins, trading your expectations for appreciation instantly changes everything. Psychological research agrees: Gratitude has the power to improve every single aspect of your life.

On today's show: how to truly feel gratitude for your stuff and people.

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Want to be 18% happier? It's as easy as putting on a new pair of glasses, metaphorically speaking

[10:00] HABITUATION! Our brains are primed to forget why certain stuff and people are important

[19:00] Say it with me: Stuff doesn't create gratitude! 3 tips for feeling grateful for what you already own

[28:00] We expect way too much from our partners. Let's fix that together

[35:00] Feeling less than grateful for the people in your life? That's normal (there's also a simple antidote)

Resources mentioned:

Episode #460: Pleasure-Saturated
The Gratitude Diaries: How A Year Looking On The Bright Side Can Transform Your Life (by Janice Kaplan)

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Toxic Fashion May 16, 2024

Packaged foods (obviously) have ingredients lists. Our favorite beauty products have ingredients lists. And those cleaning products under the kitchen sink? Yup, they've got ingredients lists, too.

Ever wonder why our clothes don't have ingredients lists? While we'd *like* to think our favorite garments are made of woven fibers and nothing more, the sad truth is there are countless unregulated chemicals in our closet go-tos (and these chemicals are likely harming our health).

On today's show investigative journalist Alden Wicker explains why synthetic fashion and dyes made from fossil fuels are so deeply intertwined with the rise of autoimmune disease, infertility, asthma, eczema, and more; she also suggests concrete action steps for curating a clean(er) closet.

Here's a preview:

[7:00] Uncovering the chemicals in our clothes and what they're doing to our health

[10:30] Taking a special look at the especially problematic petrochemical-based azo dyes (often used on petrochemical-based fibers)

[17:00] If all this stuff is in our clothing, why don't garments have ingredients lists?

[22:00] Carter's, Victoria's Secret, and victim body blaming

[31:00] Why 'organic' doesn't mean much when it comes to clothing

[36:00] For subscribers! Action steps for curating a clean(er) closet

Resources mentioned:

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Optimizing Your Walks May 14, 2024

Modern life panders to our innate desire to be sedentary, and never has it been more difficult to resist the alluring convenience of screens.

Yet walking matters. On today's show author Annabel Abbs-Streets suggests tangible ways to attain the full range of benefits that walking has to offer — physical, emotional, and spiritual — that's backed by latest research.

Here's a preview:

[7:00] A laundry list of all the physiological benefits of walking and hiking for movement (get ready to be blown away)

[11:00] Why it's important to walk with our eyes, plus: the mental health benefits associated with panoramic vision

[16:00] Want more calm in your life? Research finds that these very specific nature sounds matter

[21:00] Terpenes, baby! Large trees offer us these psychological and physiological benefits

[25:00] Don't shy away from that mud puddle. Soil microbes matter!

[30:00] How to best optimize your daily walk for health and wellness benefits

Want more episodes like this one? Check out #384: Forest Bathing 101

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HEADLINES: Shrinking Fish May 10, 2024

The environmental news headlines you need to know for Friday, May 10 2024:

[00:30] Fish are shrinking around the world and no one knows why

[4:00] Have a gas stove? Here's another thing to worry about

[7:00] Exactly how green initiatives push some voters to the far right

[11:30] A Sriracha shortage has climate change to blame

[15:00] Climate change raises the risks of another pandemic, and here's why

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Produce Without Pesticides May 09, 2024

While fresh fruits and vegetables are irreplaceable parts of a healthy diet, pesticides aren't benign. Sadly, many of our favorite produce items carry unhealthy levels of pesticides, and each one comes with its own unique risk profile.

On today's show: A comprehensive review of the most recent research into pesticides in produce.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] Not all pesticides are the same, and different pesticides have different risk profiles

[10:00] DDT, bald eagles, Silent Spring, and America's history with pesticides

[19:00] Stephanie's thoughts on the EWG's Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen

[25:00] Are the EPA's maximum residue limits too high?

[30:00] ** You need to know about these countries with organic reciprocity!

[34:00] Does peeling help? How should we best wash conventional produce?

[38:00] For subscribers! 6 concrete action steps for informed consumers

Resources mentioned:

EWG's Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen
Produce Without Pesticides (via Consumer Reports)

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Our Sponsors:

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The Cost Of Climate Change May 07, 2024

We know climate change is expensive, but how expensive is it really?

A new analysis finds that beyond its effects on the broader economy, rising temperatures seriously hurt our personal finances. On today's show: A conversation with Alexandra Grose about what happens when climate change reduces lifetime income and simultaneously raises prices on ... well, everything.

Resource mentioned:

Climate Change Could Cost Each American Born Today $500,000 (via Consumer Reports)

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HEADLINES: Ulterior Motives May 03, 2024

The environmental news headlines you need to know for Friday, May 3 2024:

[1:30] Newly released documents and Big Oil's secret climate strategy

[7:00] Here's what Patagonia's doing with all its profits

[13:00] Therapists are trading the couch for the great outdoors, and here's why

[16:00] Sea levels are rising in the US coastal South faster than anywhere else on Earth

Resource mentioned:

Tell DOJ to Investigate Big Oil (via Action Network)

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Roads Less Travelled May 02, 2024

Something semi-sad happens as we age: We lose our nimbleness. So many of us white-knuckle grip long-held habits and beliefs and thus fail to question whether such routines and ideas are working in our best interests. Worse, such rigidity goes directly against our "factory settings" as human beings: As a species, we fully live when we prioritize resilience, light-footedness, and fearlessness. (Don't believe me? Just observe a child!)

On today's show: embracing fresh starts, prioritizing roads less travelled, and unpacking pressures associated with cultural uniformity with author and podcaster Shannon Leyko.

Here's a preview:

[14:00] How to lean into tension by taking "messy action"

[18:00] It's not *just* about trying a new hobby; it's about resiliency. Self-efficacy, too!

[23:00] Timelines are rarely linear, and "starting over" isn't starting back at square one

[30:00] Common struggles associated with living unconventionally in a conventional world

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.
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Greenwashing 2.0 Apr 30, 2024

Many corporations are hopping on the sustainability bandwagon these days, but it's not for altruistic reasons. It's likely due to the green premium: because eco-friendly products cost more, business owners see an opportunity for increased revenue.

The result? Greenwashed products abound (And guess what? You're likely paying *extra* for a product that isn't at all eco-conscious!).

On today's show Aidan Riehl offers advanced tips for avoiding greenwashing in today's ever-changing market.

Here's a preview:

[6:30] Some questions to ask: Is this eco-friendly product owned by a conglomerate? Is this one product the *only* eco-conscious product in their product line?

[9:30] Getting to the bottom of "biodegradable" claims once and for all

[16:30] Should we look for pre-consumer or post-consumer recycled plastics?

[19:00] Laundry sheets and dishwasher pods! Is polyvinyl alcohol actually benign?

[22:00] So many pledges, so little action

[25:00] Steph's tips to spot greenwashing in influencer marketing

Resources mentioned:

Episode #106: Greenwashing 1.0
Ecolabelindex.com
EU bans ‘misleading’ environmental claims that rely on offsetting (via The Guardian)
How We Avoid A Climate Disaster (by Bill Gates)
The World Is Falling Short of Its Climate Goals. Four Big Emitters Show Why. (via NY Times)
Good On You
Think Dirty

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HEADLINES: Biggest Plastic Polluters Revealed Apr 26, 2024

The environmental news headlines you need to know for Friday, April 26 2024:

[00:30] The world's biggest plastic polluters revealed

[2:30] Biden limits oil drilling in the Alaskan arctic (it's also an election year)

[5:00] One of the worst coral bleaching events happening right now in the Great Barrier Reef

[8:00] Nearly 2 in 5 Americans live in a place with unhealthy or hazardous air. Are you one of them?

[12:00] Can cloning be a legitimate solution to species extinction?

Resource mentioned:

One million species face extinction, U.N. report says. And humans will suffer as a result. (via WaPo)

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Pleasure-Saturated Apr 23, 2024

We Homo Sapiens are notorious for avoiding pain and seeking pleasure. In fact, we have transformed the planet from a place of scarcity to a place of overwhelming abundance, with ample opportunities to flood our brains with dopamine at every turn.

But over-consuming has consequences: Exposure to prolonged and repeated pleasurable stimuli decreases our capacity to tolerate pain and increases our threshold for experiencing pleasure.

On today's show: Resetting your neural set point to make dopamine work FOR you, not against you.

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Here's exactly why our brains aren't designed to work optimally in our 2024 world of pleasure

[7:00] Measuring the dopamine-induced addictive potential of various foods, habits, and drugs

[10:00] What goes up must come down: Here's what opponent process theory means for you and your brain

[14:00] Quantifying leisure time from the Civil War to present day

[24:00] Dopamine fasts work! Here's how to recalibrate your brain

[28:00] How to best lean into a bit of pain (and why you may want to)

Resources mentioned:

Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance In The Age Of Indulgence (by Dr. Anna Lembke)
Episode #316: Moderation In All Things
Episode #299: Future-Conscious Thinking

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Labors Of Love Apr 18, 2024

Last year was the hottest year on record, so it's safe to say that Earth Day as we traditionally celebrate isn't working.

On today's show I suggest what I believe is the antidote to the climate crisis (and I'm willing to bet you won't be able to guess what it is!).

Here's a preview:

[3:45] The Big 5: We know what we should do environment-wise, so why aren't we doing it?

[7:15] Communal care is anti-capitalist, and that's really darn important

[16:30] Here's what research finds re: the relationship between collectivist culture and pro-environmental behaviors

[24:00] If the problem is disconnection, is the solution as simple as authentic reconnection?

[34:00] It's actually not hard at all to pivot from the conventional, negative feedback loop we find ourselves currently in

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The Great Connector Apr 16, 2024

Reminder! Our hands can do more than type and text. In fact, they can grow things.

On today's show — and in honor of National Gardening Day! — permaculture expert Kareen Erbe lists countless tangible and intangible benefits associated with active participation in your local growing community; she also offers practical suggestions for getting off our screens and reengaging with the natural world.

Here's a preview:

[8:00] Industrializing our food systems has benefits, sure. But in doing so, what have we sacrificed?

[19:00] Industrial agriculture is the problem, but agriculture is also the solution

[23:00] Don't want to grow anything? You don't have to! Here's how to best invest in your *local* food systems

[27:00] It's not that local, organic food is so expensive; it's that corporate, industrialized food is too cheap

[31:00] The 5 S-es: Scalable tips for newbie growers

[35:00] Kids who grow kale eat kale!

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) community here.
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HEADLINES: Geoengineering Apr 12, 2024

Identifying 5 expensive and downright impractical geoengineering ideas designed to curb global warming:

[5:30] 2 direct carbon capture projects (one of which plans to drill more oil)

[8:30] A gigantic umbrella in space?

[10:00] Adding iron to the ocean in hopes of spurring algae blooms

[13:00] Sending sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere in weather balloons, oh my

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.
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Stealthily Frugal Apr 11, 2024

Take stealth wealth and reverse it: Stealth frugality is what happens when a person lives big without spending lots of money.

On today's show: A laundry list of the ways in which we can each live a rich life but do so frugally.

*A note from Stephanie: I mention a ridiculous amount of companies in today's show. None of them are sponsored!

Here's a preview:

[6:00] Home is where the heart is, so open up your home!

[10:30] Pizza? Cocktails? Manicures? Learn how make/do what you love but better

[14:30] #selfcare culture is a capitalist construct (and you should never have to pay to care for your SELF)

[19:00] How to enjoy your hobbies without going all-in with the extras

[23:00] Want to eat like royalty? Learn how to cook

[30:00] Get yo' hands on some great reading material (without overspending!)

Resources mentioned:

Living The Good Life, Just Cheaper? (via The Frugal Girl)
The Buffalo Wool Company
Episode #194: Safer Nail Polish
Dazzle Dry nail polish
Lego Replay

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Disconnecting Apr 09, 2024

Work emails. Social media notifications. Weather alerts. The constant news cycle.

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it's easy to get lost in the chaos of endless distractions. Yet research has shown that information overload can lead to mental exhaustion, reduced cognitive function, and an inability to make sound decisions. On the other hand, intentional disconnection has the power to enhance creativity and productivity. It improves overall well-being, too.

On today's show podcaster Diane Boden and I discuss exactly why it's so important to disconnect from modern distractions at least once in awhile; we also brainstorm how to best unplug.

Here's a preview:

[12:00] Are we becoming a culture that can't sit with negative emotions? With boredom?

[16:30] Blue laws once encouraged rest; these days stores are open 7 days a week (thanks, capitalism!)

[23:00] Stephanie's Number One tip for mindfulness newbies

[26:00] Hurry culture, busy-ness, and setting professional boundaries

[30:00] Do you watch TV while scrolling on your phone? Theres a name for that! Outlining the (numerous) consequences associated with 'continuous partial attention'

Resources mentioned:

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Can We Have Kids And Nice Things? Apr 04, 2024

Can a white couch and a toddler coexist?

Research finds that environment impacts well-being, and we shouldn't have to wait 18 years to enjoy our homes.

On today's show we address the age-old question: Can we have kids and nice things? The answer is yes; here's how.

Here's a preview:

[6:00] Hey you. (Yes, you!) You don't have to wait 18 years to enjoy your home

[21:00] Don't invest in expensive accents and accessories! Go big on the timeless staples, instead

[25:00] Making a case for proudly using and displaying heirlooms

[35:00] Exactly how to reframe accidents into teachable opportunities

Resources mentioned:

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The Low-Tox Lifestyle Apr 02, 2024

Living the low-tox life can seem expensive and out of reach. But it doesn’t have to be.

On today's show podcaster Regan Nelson suggests 7 research-backed ways to reduce your exposure to toxins that just so happen to *also* be free.

Here's a preview:

[10:00] Lead! Pesticides! Here's what's on the bottom of your shoes

[14:00] Sure, this household staple is convenient (but it's also bisphenol- and phthalate-laden)

[19:00] Be wary of these "regrettable substitutions"

[26:00] Are you still using products with synthetic fragrance? (Stop!)

[34:00] Teens, tweens, and beauty products: How to best present the "less is more" message

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HEADLINES: The Economics Of Climate Change Mar 29, 2024

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 29 2024:

[00:30] Here's why Americans pay the most after a natural disaster

[6:00] New laws against intentional methane release, plus: why this new law is a money maker

[9:00] Throwing $$ at the industrial carbon emissions problem

[12:00] Introducing radar gaps (a.k.a. another thing to worry about)

Resources mentioned:

Radar gaps threaten millions as severe weather season ramps up in U.S. (via WaPo)
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Lights Out Mar 28, 2024

Fossil fuels power our modern lives, and yet fossil fuels are also powering global warming. Because many of us lack the self-sufficient skills necessary to survive an extended power outage event, we are one thing and one thing only: vulnerable.

We have become over-reliant on the very thing that's destroying our planet. On today's show: Imagining the ways in which modern life, interpersonal connections, well-being and more would change in a hypothetical, fossil fuel-free world.

Here's a preview:

[6:00] We are so reliant on electricity that we are incapacitated without it. This is a problem!

[11:00] In the event of a 2-weeks plus outage, modernity would look a lot different

[24:00] Is minimalism late stage capitalism personified?

[28:00] Without fossil fuels, we'd be circular

[30:00] What research says with regard to the wellness benefits of working with our hands

Resources mentioned:

Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath (by Ted Koppel)
Doomsday Prep for the Super-Rich (via The New Yorker)
Episode #096: Why Self-Sufficiency Matters (with Kelly Morris)

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House Rules Mar 26, 2024

When it comes to furnishing and styling ours homes, we all deserve spaces that facilitate easeful living. But for those of us without an eye for design? Furniture and decor mistakes can happen (and they can be costly).

On today's show best-selling author Myquillyn Smith reveals her signature house rules for homes of every size, style, and budget; she also shows us how to get the most amount of comfort from our space with the least amount of stuff.

Here's a preview of the house rules we are discussing today:

[16:30] Threes, please

[21:00] Resourcefulness is the ultimate resource

[25:00] Plan on the kids growing up

[29:00] Timelessness is here to stay

[34:00] The size of your house does not dictate the size of your hospitality

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting its mission!
Join our (free!) community here.
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HEADLINES: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Mar 22, 2024

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 22 2024:

[00:30] What you need to know about "the most significant climate regulation in US history" announced this week

[6:15] It has never been cheaper to purchase an EV, and here's why

[9:00] ... Speaking of EVs: enter mega mining

[12:00] Hi, TIM! How to book a flight like a conscious consumer

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) community here.
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INTRODUCING: Book Club! Mar 21, 2024

Things are a-changin' around here.

On today's show: Introducing new ways to support the show (with fun perks like ad-free shows, subscriber-only episodes and, yes, real life Book Club!)

This is YOUR show. As always, thank you for your support! >> https://sustainableminimalists.substack.com/

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Family Dinner Mar 19, 2024

Eating meals together is the ultimate parenting cheat code, and that's because in just one hour you can improve your kids' academic performance, self-esteem, and cardiovascular health while simultaneously reducing their risks of substance misuse, depression, and obesity.

On today's show: author Annette Thurmon on making the kitchen the heart of the home once again.

Here's a preview:

[7:30] A laundry list of the nutritional benefits of regular family dinners, plus the developmental and mental health benefits for kids and teens

[10:00] We parents should be including our children in the cooking process, and here's why (plus: easy lift how-tos)

[20:00] Remember: It's not about the food! It's about the face-to-face, tech-free time

[23:00] Practical dinnertime prompts

Resource mentioned:

Simple Country Living: Techniques, Recipes, and Wisdom for the Garden, Kitchen, and Beyond

Creative alternatives to "How was your day?"

What's one thing you learned today?
What's one thing that made you smile today?
If you could change something about your day, what would it be?
What's one thing you liked most about your day?
What has made you feel loved recently?
How did you help someone today? How did someone help you?
What's it like to be a kid? To be a parent?
What was your last thought before falling asleep last night?

--

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HEADLINES: Jevon's Paradox Mar 15, 2024

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 15 2024:

[00:30] The paradox that's holding back clean energy gains

[7:15] You're not crazy: Spring is indeed arriving earlier

[13:00] Breaking down the EU's new 'gold standard' deforestation law

[12:00] A war on utes? Updates from Australia's emissions regulations

Resources mentioned:

Episode #187: Everything You Need To Know About Palm Oil
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Three Acts Mar 14, 2024

Today's show is a series of 3 very diverse updates straight from developments in my own life: The first is about self-sufficiency, the second is sustainability-focused, and the final act dedicates itself to intentional living.

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Act 1: The hydroponic growing hype. (Stephanie's good, bad, and ugly experiences with her new grow tower)

[16:00] Act 2: Electrify Everything? (Our boiler is leaking. Here's where we are at with regard to heat pumps: costs, struggles, etc.)

[28:00] Act 3: More intention, please! (Here's what I'm working on to avoid the busy trap)

Resources mentioned:

Episode #429: Get Growing (with Kevin Espiritu)
Magic Puzzle Company
The 'Busy' Trap (via NY Times)

--

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Excessively Convenient Mar 12, 2024

There's convenience, and then there's *excessive* convenience. While some modern conveniences are indeed necessary and needed, the excessive ones can be detrimental to ourselves and society as a whole.

Items and services of convenience are often substitutes for supportive culture and connection. On today's show historian Jennifer Newton and I discuss how culture - and specifically excessively convenient, disposable culture - perpetuates itself; we also muse on what to do if the prevailing culture no longer "fits".

Here's a preview:

[5:00] How'd we get here? A brief history of the Convenience Industrial Complex in America

[10:00] Weak ties, strong ties, and 3 ways convenience culture reduces social connection

[23:00] The average American watches 4 hours of TV a day. What are the cultural implications?

[35:00] Passive and active ways to fight back against excessive convenience

Resources mentioned:

Sustain Initiative Substack

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HEADLINES: Good News, Bad News Mar 08, 2024

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 8 2024:

[00:30] SEC scales back its new pollution-disclosure rules

[4:15] Apparently we're smuggling greenhouse gases now

[9:00 It's no longer a debate! Our warm winter has human fingerprints all over it

[12:00] Gray whales in the Atlantic? How is this possible?

Resources mentioned:

Weirdly Warm Winter Has Climate Fingerprints All Over It, Study Says (via NY Times)
Seasonal Attribution Report (via Climate Central)
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Athleisure Mar 07, 2024

Yoga pants, baby! Athleisure is a fashion trend that features comfortable, flattering, and aesthetically pleasing athletic clothing designed to be worn all day. And while many of us turned to athleisure during the pandemic and never went back, athleisure has a dirty little secret: petroleum-based fibers.

On today's show former Athleta senior fashion designer Nancy Taylor outlines what needs to happen systemically to make the the fashion industry circular; she also introduces bio-based textile innovations in the athleisure space we all should be paying attention to.

Here's a preview:

[6:00] From a fashion designer's perspective, here's why athleisure is so darn amazing

[12:00] What's the fashion industry's biggest problem: is it that too many products are being produced, or is that consumers simply consuming too much?

[18:00] Bio-based synthetics, oh my! Here are some exciting innovations happening right now in the textile space

[23:00] Are items made from recycled materials of lesser quality?

[28:00] Don't forget about natural fibers and semi-synthetics when exercising! Here are the best

Resources mentioned:

époque évolution
Lolë
Send me your eco-tips! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

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No Topsoils, No Food Mar 05, 2024

Soil grows 95 percent of our food and sustains human life. But monocrops, pesticide reliance, and other modern farming methods have degraded soil health in lasting ways. Some scientists believe we have less than 60 harvests left.

The way we are feeding ourselves is undermining the very ecology we’re dependent upon. The hope? Regenerative farming. On today's show Kiss The Ground's Chief Executive Officer Evan Harrison urges each of us to participate in the regenerative movement.

Here's a preview:

[6:00] A laundry list of all the consequences associated with degraded soil

[10:00] The main reason why pesticides are a staple of the monocrop farming model, plus: what science says about degraded soil and a food's nutrient density

[19:00] For people who buy and eat food (aka everyone), here's how you can support regenerative agriculture

Resource mentioned:

Kiss The Ground film

--

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HEADLINES: Assessing Air Quality Mar 01, 2024

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 1 2024:

[2:30] Air pollution and Alzheimer’s

[5:00] Won't you be my neighbor? Supreme Court seems poised to halt EPA's 'good neighbor' rule

[9:00] 150 Canadian 'zombie fires' just won't die

[12:00] A breakdown on how air quality is measured, plus: How to find the best air quality apps

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Vital Simplicity Feb 27, 2024

“From the cradle to the grave … the [wo]man of modern times struggles through a maze of endless complication.”

Although Charles Wagner penned these words over 125 years ago, they are more true today than ever before. On today’s show author Suzanne Johnson modernizes Wagner’s tenets of simple living for twenty-first century existence.

Here’s a preview of the Wagner-isms we are revisiting today:

[7:30] We suffer the consequences of a too artificial life

[11:30] The more goods a woman has, the more she wants

[18:00] Pleasure cannot be bought or sold

[24:00] Obscurity is not a sign of disgrace

[30:00] The realm of silence is vaster than the realm of noise

[41:00] Simplicity is a state of mind

Resources mentioned:

Simplify Your Life: 100 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy the Things That Really Matter by Elaine St. James
The Simple Life by Charles Wagner

—

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Sustainable Seafood? Feb 22, 2024

Billions of people worldwide rely on seafood for nutrition and economic livelihood, but 90 percent of fish populations are currently overfished.

Your seafood choices matter, and buying responsibly is one of the most important ways you can contribute to healthier oceans. On today's show: breaking down exactly how to be an informed seafood consumer.

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Everything you need to know about that wild-caught fish

[14:00] Dirty little secrets from fish farms

[21:00] ... But which is healthier: farmed or wild caught?

[26:00] 6 ways to buy seafood like an informed and conscious consumer, plus: what it looks like to use a sustainable seafood guide IRL

Resources mentioned:

Episode #236: The Health Of Our Oceans with Dr. Sylvia Earle
Salmon Wars: The Dark Underbelly Of Your Favorite Fish by Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins
Seaspiracy
Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch
You May Not Be Getting The Fish You Paid For. Here’s How To Spot Seafood Fraud (via WaPo)

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Unpaid Labor And Gendered Work Feb 20, 2024

Reminder to my fellow moms: You don't have to do it all.

Studies have shown for decades that women in heterosexual partnerships are responsible for the "invisible labor" at home. Not surprisingly, carrying the lion's share of the burden has oversized impacts on women's mental health.

The solution sounds simple: Divvying up domestic responsibilities decreases resentment and increases family cohesion. But how do we best encourage our partners and children to participate in the work of the home for the long haul?

It's not gendered work; it's the work of the family and all should contribute. On today's show Lori Sugarman-Li encourages us to release the need to do everything; she also calls on our partners and children to step up and participate in the essential - yet sadly unpaid! - work of the home.

Here's a preview:

[6:30] Semi-disturbing stats re: impacts of inequitable unpaid labor on women's wellness

[9:00] Defining family flow: How can we best change a family's flow if the flow isn't working for everyone?

[17:00] They aren't chores! Here's why we must change both the language and the energy around "chores"

[19:00] Full task ownership versus division of labor: Which provides long-term balance?

[30:00] Words of encouragement for the default (ahem ... 'she-fault') parents, plus: cycle breaking is in our hands

Resources mentioned:

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Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
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HEADLINES: An Oceans Update Feb 16, 2024

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, February 16 2024:

[1:00] Are you a victim of seafood fraud? Probability says yes

[6:30] What warm oceans mean for hurricane season here in the US

[11:00] Why are Louisiana's coastal wetlands predicted to collapse, and what does this mean for storm protection?

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Weekend Catch Up Feb 15, 2024

Weekends *should be* for resting, exploring, and participating in beloved hobbies. Yet for so many of us, our weekends are bogged down with housework. Errands too.

On today's show Tyler Moore explains his system for centering his weekends — and his life — around what's most important.

Here's a preview:

[6:00] Be efficient about it: The order in which you perform household tasks matters!

[9:00] Mondays are for bathrooms! 3 benefits to maintaining a weekday cleaning routine

[18:00] Is it really as simple as lowering expectations, or is this terrible advice?

[25:00] Surthrival = getting through a stressful time while simultaneously noticing moments of thriving

[28:00] Home rhythms and routines can indeed secure space for more of what actually matters, and here's how

Resources mentioned:

Tyler on Instagram @tidydad
Join our (free!) community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.
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The Anti-Aging Problem Feb 13, 2024

It can often feel in our culture as though women aren’t allowed to age. If we do? The patriarchy will (gasp!) deem us irrelevant.

Enter countless off-the-shelf products, monthly treatments, and medical procedures that claim to turn back the clock, albeit temporarily. And while hair dyeing, teeth whitening, and more are wildly popular amongst women (and men!) forty-plus, such habits often come with excessive exposure to cancer-causing agents and hormone disruptors.

On today's show Sophia Ruan Gushee encourages us to diversify our risks as we consider which anti-aging products to try.

Here's a preview:

[6:00] "I never worried about toxins and I turned out fine." This logic is flawed, and here's why

[11:00] Don't go straight to the permanent hair dye! And other hair dyeing considerations

[17:00] Teeth no longer pearly white? Beware of the heavy metals

[24:00] Take an inside-out approach (not a 10 step regimen) to glowing, radiant skin

Related episodes:

* Have you left this show an Apple Podcasts review yet? I'd so appreciate it, and thank you!

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HEADLINES: The Food Episode (Sort Of) Feb 09, 2024

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, February 9 2024:

[1:00] Your plant-based meat could soon have animal fat

[5:00] A hamburger that saves the planet? Hmm ...

[10:00] Introducing Michael Mann, the hockey stick chart, and 2 climate change deniers

[15:30] Let's talk about Taylor's private jet ...

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Plasticizers Feb 08, 2024

By the time you open, say, a container of yogurt, the food has taken a looong journey to reach your spoon. And at each step, there's the chance that a little something extra has snuck in.

Consumer Reports tested supermarket staples and found high levels of bisphenols and phthalates — also known as plasticizers — within. The bad news? Scientists believe there's no safe level of plasticizers on human health.

On todays show Dr. James Rogers breaks down everything you need to know about the plastic chemicals hiding in your food.

Here's a preview:

[2:00] So many plastic problems, so little time! Breaking down the differences between PFAS, plasticizers, microplastics, and more

[6:00] The documented human health effects of plasticizers, plus: What their cumulative effects mean for chronic conditions

[12:00] 9 phthalates are banned in toys but they're allowed in food? Make it make sense!

[15:00] 5 ways plasticizers become stowaways in our food

[20:00] Lifestyle changes that reduce your exposure to phthalates and bisphenols

Resources mentioned:

Episode #339: Dark Chocolate's Dark Side
Episode #264: Forever Chemicals
The Plastic Chemicals Hiding in Your Food (via Consumer Reports)
* Your Homework! Sign the petition to get plasticizers out of Annie's and other General Mills products

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The Negativity Bias Feb 06, 2024

If you're like most humans, 70-percent of your thoughts each day skew negative.

The good news? You aren't your thoughts; you're the observer. On today's show therapist Risa Williams shows us how to break free of the negativity bias that afflicts our species once and for all.

Here's a preview:

[1:00] No-Spend Reset wrap-up! Here are the biggest takeaways from you, our listeners

[8:30] The real-life and real-time benefits of being the observer

[11:30] How to catch your bias towards negativity *before* you spiral

[17:00] Whatever you decide to instantly re-play in your brain impacts your mood. Is it time to change the channel?

[38:00] Changes to the podcast are a-comin'! Now's your time for public comment

Resource mentioned:

The Motivation Mindset podcast

--

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
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What Our Kids Really Need Feb 01, 2024

Enough with excessive educational toys, extracurriculars, and enrichment activities. It’s time to take a step back, put our wallets away, and realize what our children *actually* need.

On today's show: re-centering our parenting efforts around 3 of the most important childhood needs.

Here's a preview:

[10:00] Kids need your undivided attention! Make sure you're giving twice as much positive attention as negative attention

[13:00] What recent research says about the benefits of delighting in our children

[16:30] 3 benefits to signing up for one less extracurricular

[28:00] Not all foods are created equal! Kids really do need these 8 micronutrients

Resources mentioned:

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Breaking Food Waste Norms Jan 30, 2024

Reducing food waste doesn't always jive with societal norms.

That's because keeping perfectly edible food out of landfills might mean being the weirdo who boxes their wedding entree. Or asking (gasp!) to take home extra pizza from a child's birthday party.

On today's show: A conversation with journalist Rachael Jackson about how to value food more than we value fitting in.

Here's a preview:

[7:45] Is composting the solution to food waste? (Answer: No.)

[10:00] 5 ways to shamelessly break social norms around food and waste

[23:00] Brown avocados, wet spinach, and more: Can we eat or should we toss?

Resources mentioned:

EPA Wasted Food Scale
Project Drawdown
ReFED
Avocado library
I Bought It, Now What Ebooks for reducing food waste

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HEADLINES: Spin City Jan 26, 2024

First facts, then the inevitable spin! The enviro-news we are spinning for Friday, January 26 2024:

[1:00] 3 cheers for a White House pause in the natural gas export terminal CP2

[5:00] No one likes air pollution. Enter new rules for fine particulates

[10:00] Understanding the global average temperature, with predictions for 2024

[12:30] Where to put Lahaina's toxic debris? Next to an important coral reef, of course

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Willful Blindness Jan 25, 2024

When faced with information that challenges our long-held beliefs, we humans do one of two things. Either we think hard about our values and adapt our lifestyles to reflect this new data, or we cling to willful blindness so that we may continue to think and act in the ways we've always thought and acted.

In honor of Veganuary I bring you a conversation with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau about changing our beliefs — and perhaps our diets — in the face of new information.

Here's a preview:

[7:30] Unpacking willful blindness: How and why we tell ourselves untruths to maintain long-held beliefs

[11:00] Cognitive dissonance is uncomfortable. Why, then, do some people learn and change while others cling to defunct beliefs?

[19:00] It's not giving up, it's letting go! Uncovering the story that's underneath your eating habits that you're unwilling to let go of

[23:00] Debunking 3 commonly-held plant-based myths to reflect updated science

[37:00] Attitude is everything, so flip the script!

Resources mentioned:

Previous Veganuary episodes:

Episode #334: Plant-Based Families
Episode #238: The Future Of Food

changing our beliefs — and perhaps our diets — in the face of new information.

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Advice For Living Jan 23, 2024

Wisdom is the cumulation of valuable lessons we pick up along our journeys through this messy thing called life, and pearls of wisdom are guideposts to help us navigate the complexities of living in an uncertain world in an uncertain time.

On today's show: A conversation with author Dr. Elizabeth Kagan Arleo about trusting the wisdom of the experts — both modern and ancient — so as to better overcome life's challenges and improve overall well-being.

Here's a preview of the wisdom we discuss today:

[1:30] First, eat your frog!

[4:00] Schedule your time in 168-hour chunks

[11:30] Set criteria, meet criteria, and be satisfied (no perfection required)

[18:00] Stop over-apologizing (seriously, stop it!)

[22:00] If you don't ask, the answer is always no

[27:00] Imposter Syndrome: Name it to tame it

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
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HEADLINES: Losses And "Gains" Jan 19, 2024

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, January 19 2024:

[00:30] Updates from the Greenland ice sheet

[5:00] Staggering losses to North American bird populations, plus: outlining their (human-made) threats

[10:00] Gross! Our favorite foods have an awful lot of microplastics within

[14:00] "Plastic-free" laundry sheets aren't actually plastic-free

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Is It Time To Quit Amazon Prime? Jan 18, 2024

Over 200 million Americans subscribe to Prime, and estimates suggest that Amazon delivers 3.4 million packages per day in the US alone.

Quitters, unite! I'm quitting Amazon Prime, and perhaps it's time for you to consider quitting too.

Here's a preview:

[7:30] How on earth is Amazon able to selling items at such low prices? It ain't pretty ...

[12:00] Amazon is only the cheapest option if you're willing to buy almost everything on Amazon, and I'm going to prove it

[20:00] What does Amazon's Climate Friendly Pledge *really* mean?

[23:00] A laundry list of things we lose when we choose convenience

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The Fast Furniture Trap Jan 16, 2024

Did you know? Ikea beds, Wayfair desks, and other fast furniture items are designed to last about five years.

Fast furniture is mass-produced and relatively inexpensive; it's easy, then, to obtain and abandon. And fast decor? Low price points essentially render disposable those trendy but cheap pillows, artwork, and trinkets.

There's a better way, and it always starts with slowing down. Slow Style is Zandra Zuraw's framework for creating homes that nurture without breaking the bank, and today she shows us how to create havens that inspire and welcome without anything fast or cheap.

Here’s a preview:

[4:30] Why bother surrounding ourselves with beauty (and other big-picture musings)

[7:00] Mass production, economies of sale, and the environmental implications of fast decor

[17:00] Developing your eye for design means paying attention!

[25:00] How to find the fine line between keeping stuff you hate versus hopping on the hamster wheel of buying

[30:00] Ethical furnishings companies DO exist! Here's where to find them once and for all

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
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HEADLINES: President Biden Jan 12, 2024

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, January 12 2024:

[00:45] Want to eat and drink less plastic? Don't drink bottled water ...

[5:00] Vroom vroom! Clean yellow school buses are a-comin' nationwide

[10:00] Say it ain't so: Right now the US is producing more oil than any other country ... ever

[14:00] Help halt the fossil fuel industry's Liquified Natural Gas export expansion! Here's how

Resources mentioned:

Petition to Stop New LNG Exports (via actionnetwork.org)
#StopLNG Sit-in at Department of Energy in Washington, DC (via thirdact.org)

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Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
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Shopping Triggers Jan 11, 2024

You've likely been there. That moment when you look at your credit card statement and your heart sinks. Sometimes logic gives way to desire, and nothing's worse than realizing you overshopped on impulses. A lot.

It’s time to take a look at what happens in the moments *before* we impulse buy. On today's show: honing in our 5 shopping triggers so we can insert that crucial pause before buying.

Here's a preview:

[3:45] Advertisers shape our desires, and the credit industry makes these desires seem affordable. Yikes!

[9:30] Buyer, beware: when your mind becomes your own worst enemy.

[15:00] The shopping trigger that's the most common and the most difficult to overcome

[23:00] Got parental guilt? Why you should stop buying stuff for your kids to compensate

[29:00] Hankering to buy food when your kitchen is full? How to determine whether a physical trigger is colliding with an emotional one

Resources mentioned:

To Buy or Not to Buy: Why We Overshop and How to Stop (by Dr. April Benson)
Insert that pause with this free printout for your wallet
The Poverty of Affluence: A Psychological Portrait of the American Way of Life (by Dr. Paul Wachel)

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Why Repairability Matters Jan 09, 2024

In some ways, our preponderance toward tech disposability is systemic. We consumers in the US are denied the right to repair: fixing a broken smartphone, then, is costly. It's simply more convenient to replace our broken item for the newest model.

When your device is broken you should have more options than a high-priced service or the landfill, and New York agrees. The Digital Fair Repair Act should make it easier to repair our smartphones and laptops at shops of *our* choosing. It's good news, because the law may ultimately bring down repair prices for all of us. And if repair is affordable? Fingers crossed, tech stays out of landfills.

On today's show: Nicholas De Leon from Consumer Reports breaks down this landmark grassroots consumer win.

Here's a preview:

[3:45] Need-to-know details about New Yorks' Digital Fair Repair Act

[9:00] Why aren't dishwashers, washing machines, and other "white goods" covered?

[19:30] What if any benefits from NY's new law will non-New Yorkers receive?

[25:00] The bigger picture: Why repair what's designed to break?

Resources mentioned:

New York Right-to-Repair Law Promises Easier, Cheaper Electronics Repairs (via Consumer Reports)
iFixit

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HEADLINES: A Glimpse Into The Future Jan 05, 2024

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, January 5 2024:

[00:45] Is drinking toilet water in our future? (Answer: Yes.)

[3:45] Some flowers are evolving to pollinate themselves, and this is not good news

[7:15] Got climate trauma? Good luck finding professional support

[15:00] A lack of EPA oversight in Cancer Alley

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Lessons Re-Learned Jan 04, 2024

Over the holidays my family and I staycationed for 9 glorious days. During this time of introspection I re-learned these 4 universally applicable lessons which we are discussing today:

[2:45] Appearance is EVERYthing (when shopping, at least).

[10:00] Explanations are unnecessary.

[18:00] No ones need to eat like royalty *every* night.

[27:00] Habit forming? Remember dosage. Repetition too!

Resources mentioned:

Mailbird (Note: it's not free!)
Episode #223: Reclaiming Movement Opportunities

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Get Growing Jan 02, 2024

Whether you boast a small windowsill herb garden, a thriving hydroponic system or something in between, growing your own food is great for your well-being. And when you grow what you eat? You also reduce the environmental harm that's incurred by industrial agricultural methods; you eliminate food miles, too.

Kevin Espiritu built a modern homestead on a very modest urban lot; he also happens to help millions of home growers take their gardening efforts to the next level. On today's show Kevin outlines the ways in which each of us — even those who can't keep anything alive! — can grow big(ger) in 2024.

Here's a preview:

[4:00] Why grow stuff? Food miles, nutrition, and industrialized food

[15:00] The more you grow, the better you grow: Remembering the gardener's lesson

[19:00] Are those fancy-shmancy hydroponic garden towers worth it? Could you build one yourself?

[22:00] Can't keep anything alive? Start with sprouts!

[27:00] The Number One question expert home growers ask themselves, and often

Resources mentioned:

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Your No Spend/Low Spend January Dec 30, 2023

The holidays are all about overabundance. We buy too much, consume too much and despite our best efforts spend far too much money. But there is a solution, and it’s happening on January 1: A No Spend Reset.

A practical first step toward adopting a lifestyle rooted in sustainable minimalism is to hop off the consumerist bandwagon, at least for a little while, and January is the perfect right time to tackle that project you've been meaning to get to in your home, explore the wonder of recreational activities that don’t cost a cent, and recenter yourself with gratitude for what you already have.

On today's re-air: Julie Winpisinger divulges the Why and How of a no spend/low spend month so you can confidently embark on intentionally NOT SPENDING for 31 days.

Resources mentioned:

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SMART Resolutions Dec 27, 2023

A New Year's resolution is a tool that helps us become the best possible versions of ourselves. And yet research finds most people abandon their resolutions by February.

Many New Year's resolutions fail because they're too broad, too lofty, and not at all time-sensitive. On today's show we set ourselves up for resolution success by applying the 5 components of SMART goals to our 2024 aspirations.

Here's a preview:

[2:00] What do the statistics say? Here's just how many resolutions fail, and when

[4:30] How to use the SMART acronym to improve your own 2024 resolution

[7:30] Taking 4 of the most common new years resolutions and making them better

[12:00] Got a sustainability goal on your mind? Stephanie's best thoughts

[19:00] 6 research-backed tips for making your resolution stick

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HEADLINES: Only Good News Dec 22, 2023

The (only positive!) enviro-news you need to know for Friday, December 22 2023:

[3:30] Can microorganisms help in our plastics fight?

[6:00] Exactly how plants communicate with other plants (and why it's important in climate change conversations)

[9:00] 'Sustainable' Aviation Fuels: Is climate-friendly flying an oxymoron?

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Modern Distractions Dec 19, 2023

We are taught from an early age that contentment is found in possessions. But lasting peace comes from within, and meditation is a powerful (and free!) way to find what so many of us seek.

Yet thanks to All. The. Distractions, modern life has engineered out opportunities to go inward. And at the same time? Meditation has never been more needed or necessary.

On today's show, a conversation with Brett Koon about the #1 way to boost happiness, reduce stress, hop off the consumerist bandwagon for good and - most importantly - find out who you really are.

Here's a preview:

[7:00] Happiness isn't in stuff, and life isn't a scavenger hunt to amass 'things'

[10:30] Feelings are just thoughts with lag time (and they aren't the real YOU!)

[14:00] The separation of awareness and mind takes time. Enter modern distractions

[26:00] Is the solution to climate anxiety as simple as surrendering?

[33:00] Common meditation myths debunked, plus: quick wins for getting started

Resources mentioned:

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment (by Eckhart Tolle)
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (by Eckhart Tolle)

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HEADLINES: Water Wars Dec 15, 2023

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, December 15 2023:

[00:30] COP28: The good, the bad, and the ugly

[9:15] Who gets the (limited) water in California?

[13:30] Extreme weather and the cost of sugar

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The Obesogens Dec 12, 2023

The human endocrine system is delicate and complex. While scientists first discovered endocrine disrupting chemicals in 1991, obesogens - a subset of endocrine disruptors in personal care products that cause weight gain - were discovered only within the last two decades.

Our cosmetics can cause us to develop more and bigger fat cells; they may also make it harder to stay at a healthy weight. On today's show: A conversation with Andrea Dahr about the endocrine disruptors, with special attention to the obesogens.

Here's a preview:

[4:45] Back to biology class: Breaking down the need-to-know info about your endocrine system

[7:45] Losing weight isn't as simple as burning more calories than you consume, and here's why

[12:00] Fascinating research about the impact of obesogen exposure on prenatal development and possible generational effects on our great-grandchildren

[15:00] What does "dermatologist approved" actually mean?

[18:00] Next level steps for intermediate product label readers, plus: Why simply shopping at "healthy" stores isn't enough

Resources mentioned:

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HEADLINES: Business As Usual Dec 08, 2023

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, December 8 2023:

[00:30] An update on how companies are doing on their environmental "pledges"

[4:30] Lego-like bricks? A carbon capture breakthrough

[7:30] Would you pay a monthly fee to not see ads on Facebook and Instagram?

[9:30] Quick check-ins from COP28 and Wednesday's Republican presidential debate

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The Happiness Formula Dec 07, 2023

Research finds that by and large happiness is a learned and cultivated behavior. Even better? Decades of psychological research lay the foundation for a handy-dandy formula that helps us *increase* the amount of happiness we experience in our daily lives.

On today's show: abandoning cultural expectations in favor of a happiness formula that's both practical and empirically-based.

Here's a preview:

[3:00] If happiness isn't a state of being, what is it, really? Should we even seek it out?

[7:45] H = S + C + V! An easy-to-understand formula for a happier life

[16:00] Adults today are less happy than adults in previous generations, and here's why

[21:00] 7 research-backed ways to increase your level of enduring happiness

Resources mentioned:

Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment by Dr. Martin Seligman
Episode #343: The Distorted Mirror

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Sustainable Shopping Is An Oxymoron Dec 05, 2023

Sustainability has the reputation of being, well, expensive. When money's tight, how do modern families decide what to prioritize with their dollars?

Today I chat with Whitney Leigh Morris about the space where eco-consciousness and finances collide.

Here's a preview:

[3:30] Think you can't afford to be eco-friendly? Think again

[6:00] $8 leggings from Target or a $35 pair from an ethical brand? It's complicated ...

[13:00] Electric vehicle? Heat pump? How to get in the habit of asking whether you *actually* need that big ticket eco-item

[16:00] Thoughts on replacing items that are in working condition for more energy efficient options

[19:30] Are carbon offsets really worth the money?

[26:30] What 'voting with your dollars' really means

Resources mentioned:

Episode #326: Gifting Boundaries with Whitney
Whitney on Instagram

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HEADLINES: COP28 Dec 01, 2023

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, December 1 2023:

[00:30] Frustration and skepticism surrounding the latest climate summit happening now

[5:30] A plane just flew across the Atlantic without fossil fuels, but let's reign in our excitement

[10:00] Lead pipes, be gone

[14:00] The plight of the wolverine

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How To Buy Wine Like A Conscious Consumer Nov 30, 2023

Like wine? Me too! On today's show: Everything you need to know about selecting wine that's aligned with your values.

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Why, oh why aren't there ingredients labels on alcohol?

[8:00] Your favorite wine may have up to 6 dozen additives within. Let's chat about a few of them

[13:00] Do sulfites deserve their bad rap? (hey there, red wine headaches!)

[20:00] Grapes are listed as #8 on the EWG's Dirty Dozen. Should we be buying organic wine?

[24:00] Biodynamic wine is organic, but organic wine isn't necessarily biodynamic. Here's why

[33:00] How to buy wine like an informed and conscious consumer

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It's More Than Just Stuff Nov 28, 2023

Many of us have a complicated relationship with our stuff. And while no one wants their possessions to possess their lives, our stuff often has fascinating stories to tell.

On today's show: A conversation with psychotherapist and professional organizer Helen Sanderson about what the state of our homes reveal about our psychology.

Here's a preview:

[3:45] Pack rat, minimalist, or somewhere in between? Here's what our homes show us about ourselves

[6:15] How to best guide your child toward tidiness, no nagging necessary

[12:00] When a neat freak and a slob get married: How to best navigate differences in home maintenance styles

[17:00] Home management is like tending a garden (and other applicable metaphors)

[20:00] Thoughts on finding the drive to get to "maintenance"

Resources mentioned:

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Anti-Black Friday 2023 Nov 23, 2023

It’s crazy but it’s true: Only in America do we trample each other for sales exactly ONE day after being thankful for what we already have.

Corporations want us to believe that happiness lies in stuff, but research consistently suggests otherwise. On today's re-air: A conversation with blogger Barbara Alfeo about making the most of the day after Thanksgiving in ways that have nothing to do with shopping.

Here's a preview:

[4:00] A Black Friday primer: Its humble origins and its spectacular modern-day popularity

[8:15] Why do we over-shop? It's likely to fill the hole that our communities used to fill

[12:00] Get out of the stores and get off the internet; have an anti-Black Friday instead. Here's how

[20:00] Are you *just* a consumer or are you a helper, a volunteer, a friend? Here's why Black Friday is the perfect day to give back

[26:00] How to set clear cut gifting limits so you don't overspend on Cyber Monday and throughout the holiday season

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Secondhand Sunday Nov 21, 2023

Is that Christmas in the air, or is it capitalism?

There's no doubt about it: overconsumption degrades the planet. Enter Secondhand Sunday, a new-ish shopping holiday that's nestled between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It's dedicated to all-things thrifted and redirects shoppers away from mass consumption and toward pre-loved items instead.

On today's show Poshmark's Kelly Mason inspires us to think differently about shopping during the holidays.

(P.S. Are you putting up your Christmas tree this weekend? Listen to Episode #323: O Christmas Tree first!)

Here's a preview:

[2:45] The case for normalizing secondhand items as gifts

[6:00] We live in a different world than we did as children! Here's why it's high-time our giving rituals adapt to our current enviro-reality

[13:00] Would your loved ones be open to receiving a secondhand gift? This is what market research says

[15:00] Skeptics, unite! How to best dip your toe into the secondhand lifestyle

[21:00] Why it's individual voices (a.k.a. yours and mine) that contribute to the collective gifting mindset shift

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HEADLINES: A Climate Report Breakdown Nov 17, 2023

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, November 17 2023:

[2:45] Climate disasters are expensive, yo

[7:30] Earth just experienced its hottest year in 125,000 years

[12:00] The planet is "woefully off track" on 41 out of 42 global climate goals

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A Minimal-ish Holiday Nov 16, 2023

The holidays are meant to be about peace, joy, and togetherness … but they often end up steeped in chaos, rush, and overspending.

Not this year! There’s really no better time than right this minute to practice slowing down and getting intentional *before* we say yes to another obligation or hit 'add to cart'.

On today's show podcast host Desirae Endres reminds us that the holidays aren't just for kids; they are for us to enjoy too.

Here's a preview:

[6:30] First things first: We can't manufacture perfection, and kids make their own magic

[11:00] Are you the behind-the-scenes magic maker? The importance of remembering what YOU love about the season

[23:00] Protect your peace by zeroing in on what's within your control

[29:00] Focus on contentment, not on comparison! Shining light on the chasm between our idealized (ahem...commercialized) celebrations versus real life

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
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Waking up Grateful Nov 14, 2023

Are you doing gratitude wrong?

So many of us are always waiting for more. But when you greet each moment gratefully? You're always receiving.

On today's show author Kristi Nelson offers a mini-formula for grateful living (put this conversation on as you're preparing for Thanksgiving!).

Here's a preview:

[10:00] It's not happiness that makes us grateful; it's gratefulness that makes us happy (and other research-backed benefits to grateful living)

[20:00] Is what once was plenty now no longer enough? Practical ways to fight back against "gratitude tolerance"

[26:00] The super-simple solution to mind grind

[30:00] Thoughts on practicing gratitude during moments of grief, illness, and struggle

Resource mentioned:

Wake Up Grateful: The Practice Of Taking Nothing For Granted

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HEADLINES: An Electric Airplane Nov 10, 2023

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, November 10 2023:

[00:30] Microplastics are now in clouds; here's what this means

[3:00] The leaf blower problem

[10:30] The world's first solar SUV has entered the chat

[11:00] An electric plane just flew from Vermont to Florida (!)

Resources mentioned:

Episode #260: The White Gold Rush

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How To Buy Soap Nov 09, 2023

Choosing the right hand soap and body wash isn't *just* about cleanliness. You deserve non-toxic products and our waterways deserve non-polluting ones, so it's really about committing to a higher standard of care.

We're likely using soap every day for the rest of our lives; it's prudent, then, to get intentional about this must-have product. On today's show: conscious consumerism in the soap aisle.

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Are antibacterial/antimicrobial soaps really necessary?

[6:30] A hand sanitizer tangent: pro tips for buying and using sanitizer the *right* way

[9:00] Research finds that putting products with toxins on our skin is more deleterious to our health than eating them, and here's why

[11:00] Everything you absolutely must know about Triclosan

[19:00] How to excel at the hand soap class of life via Stephanie's handy-dandy grading rubric

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
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Sustainable Investing 2.0 Nov 07, 2023

Perhaps you're a veteran investor, or maybe you're just now starting to financial plan. Either way, where you put your money can substantially increase (or decrease!) your annual carbon footprint.

Don't put your money where your mouth is; put it where your values are. On today's show financial consultant Shila Wattamwar leads an advanced level discussion about sustainable investing for the eco-conscious.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] The sneaky ways you may be funding fossil fuels with your $$

[8:00] How well do ESG rating scales actually work? (And why aren't these measures standardized?)

[21:00] Proxy ballots are an opportunity. Don't throw them in the trash!

[25:00] What a time to be alive: A financial advisor's thoughts on next gen "alternative investments"

New to sustainable investing? Listen to these episodes first!

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
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HEADLINES: How To Cool Down A City Nov 03, 2023

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, November 3 2023:

[00:30] French cheese, meet climate change

[4:00] This is why olive oil is so expensive right now

[6:30] Why many scientists are now saying climate change is an all-out 'emergency'

[11:00] Cities are notoriously hot. Here are some cutting edge cooling solutions

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Just Stop It! (Holiday Decor Edition) Nov 02, 2023

Some environmentalists call Christmas the world’s greatest annual environmental disaster, and for good reason: All that cheap, ultra-trendy decor adds up. On today's show: getting intentional about our holiday decorations once and for all.

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Let's talk numbers: How much do Americans spend each year on holiday decor?

[10:00] 3 ways in which 'Christmas Creep' encourages us to spend more than we intended on decorations

[13:00] The origins of those inflatable lawn thingys: Where did they come from and when will they disappear?

[22:00] Don't go out and buy another decoration until you've displayed the decorations you already own, and here are 4 reasons why

[32:00] Want to make your child smile? Don't buy a cheap piece of holiday decor; do this instead

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
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Micro Activism Oct 31, 2023

Many of us shy away from the word 'activist' because the term brings to mind a very specific type of person. But if you're regularly taking action to make the world a better place? Guess what my friend, you're already an activist (yes, really!).

What matters is not the size of the action, nor how vigorous the action is. It's all about consistency. On today's show author Omkari Williams helps us find the kind of social justice engagement that feels both empowering *and* sustainable.

Here's a preview:

[4:00] Activism isn't just marching and picketing: Here's what micro activism looks like in the day to day

[10:30] Are you a headliner, an organizer, a producer, or an indispensable? How to determine your unique activist archetype

[22:00] The status quo isn't working for the vast majority of us. So where's the passion for change?

[30:00] How to know whether your efforts constitute shallow work or deep work

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
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HEADLINES: Enhanced Oil Recovery Oct 27, 2023

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, October 27 2023:

[00:30] The West Antarctic ice sheet appears to be headed for an eventual “collapse”

[3:00] The oil giants are feeling pretty darn good about their futures, apparently

[6:30] Why on earth is the US government funding enhanced oil recovery?

[13:00] This potential climate warrior may be gearing up for a White House run

Resources mentioned:

Companies capture a lot of CO2. Most of it is going into new oil. (via WaPo)

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Modern Stress Oct 26, 2023

It's sad but true: Americans are some of the most chronically stressed people on the planet. On today's show: how to incorporate Japanese lifestyle philosophies into our lives for reduced stress, greater well-being, and a longer life.

Here's a preview:

[3:00] The physiology of stress: What *actually* goes on in our bodies when we encounter a stressor?

[11:00] 5 reasons why Americans are among the most stressed in the world

[20:00] The secret to a great life isn't the accumulation of $$, it's this

[27:00] How being in a hurry is inversely proportional to your quality of life

Resources mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
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Eating Out Oct 24, 2023

Whether you’re dining at a restaurant or ordering takeout, eating out leaves a footprint.

On today's show: asking the right questions, minimizing food waste, and reading through All. The. Greenwashing the next time you head to a restaurant.

Here's a preview:

[6:30] The food waste issue at fine dine, quick serve, and fast casual

[12:00] Farm-to-table? How to find restaurants that actually care about environmental sustainability

[22:30] The best way to *gently* suggest a change in a restaurant's policy

[27:00] Our lives may be go go go, but our food doesn't have to be!

Resources mentioned:

Michelin Green Star restaurants
Episode #093: How (Exactly) To Cook Zero-Waste Meals
Episode #270: Desperation Dinners
Episode #038: What's For Dinner?

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HEADLINES: Iron Enrichment Oct 20, 2023

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, October 20 2023:

[00:30] These are the places that could become ‘unlivable’ as the Earth warms

[3:00] Engineer the ocean to curb climate change? Hmm ...

[6:30] Ozone-destroying gasses are largely banned. So why are they still being emitted into the atmosphere?

[13:00] Climate rules are coming for corporate America

[15:00] The enviro-implications of that Taylor Swift tweet

Resources mentioned:

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To-Do List Freedom Oct 19, 2023

We are often told that if we accomplish as much as possible in a day’s time we’ll feel fulfilled come day’s end. Enter to-do lists, which provide focus, direction, and purpose. But action doesn't always equal progress; it's no surprise, then, that so many of us feel drained and dissatisfied once the sun goes down.

On today's show: how to find freedom in your to-do list and (finally!) make room for peace, connection, and fulfillment.

Here's a preview:

[4:00] Your daily to-do list should have 7 items or less, and here's why

[8:30] Exactly how to focus less on efficiency and more on intentionality

[15:00] Time Boxing, Post-Its, and more: 4 research-backed ways to make your to-do list work for you

[29:00] The Number One way to ensure you're spending your precious finite resource (ahem ... your TIME) on the right things

Resources mentioned:

18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done (by Peter Bregnan)
Fat And The Moon deodorant

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Comfort At All Costs Oct 17, 2023

We have nearly engineered out all discomfort from our modern lives. Great, right? Not so fast: doing so comes at our own expense.

On today's show: comfort creep's harms, with practical thoughts on course correction.

Here's a preview:

[1:30] Humans have evolved to prioritize comfort. What's so wrong with being ultra-comfy?

[6:30] Research finds that when we adopt a new comfort in our lives we adapt to it quite quickly. Enter comfort creep

[11:30] ... But is it sustainable? Our reverence for comfort has come at the expense of our planet's health

[19:30] We have countless modern comforts yet we're still unhappy; here's why

[25:00] Parents, stop managing all of your child's discomforts!

Resources Mentioned:

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
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Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
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HEADLINES: Lots Of Dead Animals Oct 13, 2023

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, October 13 2023:

[00:30] The "apocalyptic" mass death of over 100 freshwater dolphins in the Amazon

[3:00] The fall migration season and mass bird deaths in Chicago

[5:30] Electric bikes may (finally) be getting cheaper

[10:00] 3 cheers for Norway's latest re-wilding efforts

[13:00] Are McMansions a thing of the past?

Resources mentioned:

E-Bike Incentive Programs of North America

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
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Breaking Down Body Odor Oct 12, 2023

There are tens of thousands of chemicals currently used in the US and (shocker!) most aren't adequately tested for health and safety. The fewer we come into contact with, the better.

Still, no one wants to stink. Enter deodorant and antiperspirant, two pesky places in which we conscious consumers can certainly buy better. On today's show: everything you never knew you *needed* to know about deodorant, plus: how to buy this medicine cabinet staple like a boss.

Here's a preview:

[2:15] First things first: Breaking down exactly what's happening under your arms

[7:00] Antiperspirants block sweat glands and constrict pores. Is this a good thing?

[9:30] What does recent empirical research say about aluminum and breast cancer? About Alzheimer's?

[21:00] Exactly how to read the back of any personal care product

[25:00] 5 steps to buying non-toxic and zero-waste deodorant

Resources mentioned:

For more conscious consumer listening:

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HEADLINES: Monster Fracks Oct 06, 2023

Your enviro-news for Friday, October 6 2023:

[00:30] Everything you need to know about monster fracking

[5:00] Better late than never? Vaccines, horseshoe crab blood, and (finally) a synthetic alternative

[9:00] Will our grandchildren know frogs?

[12:00] Introducing the Climate Corps, a green jobs training program

Resources mentioned:

American Climate Corps (via The White House)
Upstate NY program on sustainable agriculture and animal welfare
Join our (free!) community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.
Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cheat Codes For A Good Life Oct 05, 2023

Cheat codes for living are handy tricks that help us navigate this crazy game called life in a more easeful (and perhaps more joyful!) manner. On today's show we break down 16 of the most important.

Here's a preview:

[2:15] The hands down best way to rewire your brain to forget about rejection

[10:00] Head or heart? Answering this age-old question once and for all (with the help of science)

[18:00] There's only one right way to respond to compliments and this is it

[21:00] Adopt this simple trick as your brain "prunes its synapses"

[28:00] Don't praise your child for being smart! Say this instead

Resources mentioned:

Episode #402: Building Experiential Wealth

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
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A Green Constitutional Amendment Oct 03, 2023

There may indeed be a singular solution that addresses environmental racism, the climate crisis, pollution, and withering US ecosystems simultaneously. That solution? Green Amendments.

Constitutions are the people's documents. Although getting environmental rights included may indeed be ... well, difficult, advocates argue it's possible. In fact, it's already being done.

Today attorney and environmental activist Maya van Rossum empowers us to mobilize for constitutional change that will protect our right to a healthful climate once and for all.

Here's a preview:

[3:30] Held v. Montana's landmark win: Breaking down its implications in laymen's terms

[9:30] If environmental rights are indeed human rights, why didn't our founding fathers include them in the US Constitution?

[12:30] How legislative remedies (ahem ... The Clean Air Act, The Safe Drinking Water Act) legalize pollution and harm

[25:00] The power lies in grassroots organization. Join us!

Resources Mentioned/Further Reading:

How Elites Ate the Social Justice Movement by Fredrik deBoer
The Green Amendment: The People's Fight for a Clean, Safe, and Healthy Environment by Maya van Possum
Green Amendments For The Generations

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

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HEADLINES: Net Zero Greenwashing Sep 29, 2023

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, September 29 2023:

[00:30] Antarctic winter sea ice hits 'extreme' record low

[3:00] Net-zero "pledges" and "ambitions" in the food and restaurant industries

[9:00] Don't call it a (snow leopard) comeback

[11:00] The simple and cost-effective way Japanese businesspeople are combatting emissions

This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

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Climate Migration Sep 28, 2023

We humans have lived within a surprisingly narrow range of temperatures for most of our history. But this range? It's slowly and steadily moving north.

As the planet warms and weather events become more severe, it's natural to wonder about safety. How do we know it's time to leave our beloved homes and move for good? Where are the so-called climate havens, and do they have infrastructure in place to support a sudden population influx?

On today's show we round out Difficult Decisions Week with two women who are among the first to consider climate change when buying property and laying down roots.

Here's a preview:

[11:00] 3 characteristics to look for in a prospective climate haven

[22:00] The red flags one guest believes will inform her it's time to go for good

[27:00] Even in 2023, Americans continue to move toward both heat and coastlines. At what point is doing so no longer a solid financial investment?

[30:00] Advice for listeners considering a proactive climate move

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