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Sustainable Minimalists — Health
Sustainable Minimalists

Creating eco-minimalist, non-toxic homes (without the extra work). Although minimalism has experienced a rebirth in recent years, the "less is more" movement has been around for centuries. Yet today's minimalist influencers have resurrected minimalism with a decidedly consumerist spin, as modern minimalism is nearly synonymous with decluttering. While there's a lot of chatter about tidying, it's radio silence and crickets when it comes to sustainability. The result? Aspiring minimalists find themselves on an endless hamster wheel of buying, decluttering, buying more, and purging again. Overemphasizing decluttering and underemphasizing the reasons why we overbuy in the first place is thoroughly inconsistent with slow living as a movement; consumption without intention is terrible for the planet, too. Your host, Stephanie Seferian, is a stay-at-home/podcast-from-home mom and author who believes that minimalism, eco-friendliness, and non-toxic living are intrinsically intertwined. She's here to explore the topics of conscious consumerism, sustainability, and environmentally-friendly parenting practices with like-minded women; she's here, too, to show you how to curate eco-friendly, decluttered homes (without the extra work).

Copyright: © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Latest Episodes:

A Green Burial Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

The typical American funeral boasts exotic flowers, a coffin made of fancy wood, and formaldehyde-based embalming. But green burials require fewer resources and skip a number of unnecessary steps; they also tend to be less expensive.

Today I speak with green mortician Elizabeth Fournier about alternatives to conventional burials and cremations that are easier on the planet.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] Exactly what's wrong from an environmental standpoint with standard burials and cremations

[12:30] A brief history of embalming: Is it actually necessary?

[19:00] Liner-free plots, conscious caskets, and more: The tenets of a green burial

[28:30] How exactly does a green burial compare in terms of cost?

[33:00] Everything you need to know about aqua cremation, burials at sea, and natural organic reduction

Resources mentioned/Further reading:

The Green Burial Guidebook: Everything You Need to Plan an Affordable, Environmentally Friendly Burial
Elizabeth on Instagram @elizabethgreenreaper
Let Your Love Grow
Eternal Reefs

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* Join our (free!) community here.

* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.

* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Our Sponsors:
* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists2448/exclusive-content
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Distorted Mirror Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

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:

Join our (free!) community here
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube
Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com
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

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists2448/exclusive-content
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

How To Quit Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Quitting is aerobics for your brain; it's also the counterintuitive secret to success. Today I bring you a conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Julia Keller about how to view quitting not as a pejorative but instead as a tool for swapping one destiny for another.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] How the self-help movement created our anti-quit bias

[9:00] The similarities between honeybees and Simone Biles, with a nod toward strategic quitting

[17:00] How do you quit a high-stakes situation? (Answer: quasi-quitting!)

[23:00] Words of encouragement for listeners concerned they'll regret it later

[27:00] How parents listening can best support their children when they want to quit

Resources mentioned:

Pre-order Quitting: A Life Strategy (to release April 18)
Orlo Nutrition
Join our (free!) community here
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube
Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Our Sponsors:
* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists2448/exclusive-content
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When Minimalism Feels Overwhelming Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

Organizing mega-influencer Marie Kondo made headlines earlier this week when she admitted to "kind of giv(ing) up" on tidying after having her third child. If, like Marie, you're feeling overwhelmed and disillusioned with minimalism, today's episode is here to help.

Here's a preview:

[6:00] Let's first reign in our expectations: minimalism won't solve EVERYthing (but it'll certainly help)

[9:00] Simple organization strategies over complex ones, with real-life examples

[12:30] The Number One benefit to eating the biggest frog first

[17:00] If you find yourself with precious pockets of free time, utilize them this way

[21:00] Why decluttering, organizing, and tidying are acts of self-love

Resources mentioned:

Episode #152: How To Organize For Your Personality
Join our (free!) community here
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube
Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Our Sponsors:
* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists2448/exclusive-content
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Gifting Experience Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

When we return an unwanted gift to the manufacturer, it goes back on the shelf to be resold, right? Wrong. Most returned gifts (5.8 billion tons, to be exact) end up in landfills each and every year.

The solution lies in responsible gifting, which alleviates the consequences associated with massive finite resource waste; it also saves shoppers time, money, and unnecessary stress.

Today author Tracey Lynch explains how to tweak your gifting philosophy to save our planet while also ensuring every gift you give is actually wanted and used.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] Sad statistics alert: Exactly how the gift giving exchange impacts the planet

[9:00] Reverse logistics is similar to driving backwards, and here's why

[18:00] How to give gifts that provide 100% satisfaction to the recipient

[32:00] Stephanie's 5 Rules for responsible gifting

[35:00] The why and how behind aiming not for surprise, but for delight

Resources mentioned:

Donum: Creating A Sustainable Gifting Experience
Qwant
Neeva
Episode #313: Thousands Of Data Points
Join our (free!) community here
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.
Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Our Sponsors:
* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists2448/exclusive-content
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dark Chocolate's Dark Side Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

Thanks to its rich supply of antioxidants, dark chocolate has long been revered for its health benefits. But there's a dark side to dark chocolate: Recent research has found heavy metals in many of our favorite brands. The worst part? These heavy metals - cadmium and lead - are linked to serious health problems including cancer in both children and adults.

Today we round out Chocolate Week with a bang: Dr. Jim Rogers from Consumer Reports discusses what heavy metals in the cacao supply means for regular consumers; he also offers his best tips for shopping smarter and safer the next time we're in the chocolate aisle.

Here's a preview:

[2:00] Everything you need to know about cadmium and lead

[6:00] Exactly how heavy metals find their ways into the chocolate supply

[11:30] Traceability, trust, and responsibility: Addressing the industry's lack of corporate accountability

[18:00] Chocolate's best offenders, worst offenders, and every brand in between

[20:00] Does 'organic' matter with regard to heavy metals?

[22:00] Action steps for concerned chocolate consumers

Resources mentioned:

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* Join our (free!) community here.

* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.

* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Our Sponsors:
* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists2448/exclusive-content
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

How Ethical Is Your Chocolate? Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

Ah, chocolate. While those decadent brown rectangles enjoy near-universal consumer love, the reality is far less sweet: Chocolate is one of the most unethical and unsustainable foods we eat.

We can continue to enjoy chocolate by purchasing smarter. Today's show is Part 1 in a 2-part series about chocolate, and today - just in time for Valentine's Day! - we unearth the ethical and environmental implications associated with harvesting cacao on the global scale (I've also included 7 tips for being a conscious chocolate consumer, too).

Here's a preview:

[4:00] Machetes, pesticides, and kids: Child labor and slavery in the cacao industry

[11:00] The environmental problems associated with monocultures

[16:00] Some good news: 5 promising updates from the cacao industry

[17:30] How to enjoy chocolate by purchasing with intention: 7 ideas

Resources mentioned:

Our Sponsors:
* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists2448/exclusive-content
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Intentional Screen Time and Slow TV Jan 19, 2023

Show notes

70% of American parents worry their children spend too much time on screens. Are you one of them?

Here's a preview:

[3:00] The implications of multiple screen shifts on attention span and executive functioning

[5:00] Exactly how much screen time children *should* get versus what they *actually* get

[7:00] School performance, inactivity, and more: 4 consequences associated with too much screen time and too many screens

[18:00] 5 Practical television reduction tips for newbies

[22:00] Creative ways to set screen limits in your home

[27:00] What's slow tv, exactly?

Resources mentioned/Additional resources:

The National Library of Medicine's full list of screen-related guidelines
1 Million Screen-Free Activities For Kids
Create your family media plan here
Take It Slow… The TV Trend That Will Chill You The F Out (via the handbook.com)
Join our (free!) community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.
Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

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Thank you to our sponsors!

Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for 30% off your first order and a $60 free gift.
Cariloha: Get 25% off your order with code SUSTAINABLE at checkout.

Our Sponsors:
* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists2448/exclusive-content
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Defend The Eco-Trend: Algae Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

Algae is having moments in many spotlights. First, innovators are using microalgae - not petrochemicals - to create disposable packaging. Elsewhere, macroalgae is fed to cows to reduce their methane emittance. And pesky algae blooms? There's actually a company that first captures then transforms algae blooms into our favorite sneaker's cushiony foam.

Still, algae's biggest potential comes within the field of human nutrition. Is microalgae an alternative to fish for omega 3s and, if so, can this oft-overlooked photosynthetic organism solve our oceans' overfishing woes?

Here to unpack algae's emergence on the environmental scene is proud omega 3 evangelist Corinna Bellizzi, who believes algae is worth paying attention to for its array of both planetary and human health benefits.

(Psst ... If you're new to Defend The Eco-Trend episodes, this series dives deep into a product or innovation in the sustainability sphere with big promises. Is the hype legitimate (or is it greenwashing?).

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Half the oxygen we breathe comes from algae, plus other fun algae-related facts

[6:00] Recent innovations in the algae space

[16:00] Hey there, omega 3s! Microalgae's emerging place as part of the human nutrition solution

[19:00] 3 must-dos for optimal health

[21:00] Fewer fish, more algae: The Top 5 environmental and human health benefits associated with algae for omega 3s

Resources mentioned:

Orlo Nutrition (use code SUSTAINABLE10 for 10 percent off!)
Care More, Be Better podcast
Bloom Materials
Notpla algae-based disposable packaging
Want more episodes like this one? Check out #295: Defend The Eco-Trend: Bamboo
Nutrition Without Compromise podcast

* Join our (free!) community here.

* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.

* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

--

Thank you to our sponsors!

Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for 30% off your first order and a $60 free gift.
Cariloha: Get 25% off your order with code SUSTAINABLE at checkout.

Our Sponsors:
* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists2448/exclusive-content
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Valuable Minimalist Lessons Jan 12, 2023

Show notes

A Top 10 list of minimalism's best and biggest life lessons. Here's a preview of a few we're covering:

[4:00] Memories don't reside in trinkets.

[10:00] Save so you can spend ... on what matters.

[21:30] Extras keep us cluttered.

[23:30] You can’t recoup “worth”.

[29:00] Space is more valuable than stuff (and peace of mind is most valuable of all).

[31:00] It’s not a deal if you don’t need it.

Resources mentioned:

Episode #096: Why Self-Sufficiency Matters
Sustainable Minimalism (the book)
Join our (free!) community here
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube
Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Our Sponsors:
* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists2448/exclusive-content
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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