Sustainable Minimalists - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

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:

Climate Reparations? Sep 15, 2022

Show notes

A hotter planet is here, my friends. Don't believe me? Just turn on the news.

On today's show we first break down major current climate events; we then ask ourselves a set of ethical quandaries. Should the global north pay reparations to the global south for its centuries-long polluting behaviors, or are the inequitable and unjust natures of climate change simply bad luck?

Here's a preview:

[4:00] How'd summer go? (Hint: not great, especially in Pakistan)

[12:30] The climate reparations argument: What it is and why it has legs

[20:00] 3 ethical questions for you to answer re: charity versus reparations

Resources mentioned/Further reading:

Advocates Call On U.S. To Help Flooded Pakistan In The Name Of Climate Justice (via National Public Radio)
A Hotter World: Climate Change’s Effects Are Already Unequal (via NY Times)
Send me your Exit Ticket answers! Email Stephanie at MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (857) 264-1967 (US and Canada listeners only)
Join our private (and super cool) Facebook group. It's free!
Episode #165: Difficult Sustainability Conversations
Episode #143: How To Discuss The Effects Of Climate Change

--

Thank you to our sponsors!

Made Trade: Shop the best sustainable goods all in one place at madetrade.com
Thrive Market: Head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for up to $80 in free groceries
Skillshare: Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free

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

Life's Changing Seasons Sep 13, 2022

Show notes

When it comes to growing up, we tend to believe it's only for children. Adults, then, are assumed to be fully grown.

But even us "grownups" are constantly changing, maturing, and evolving (and often at a rapid pace). Such inner changes also run concurrent with external ones that pop up as we move through our respective life seasons, day after day.

If embracing change as life's only true constant is downright difficult, getting stuck underneath heaps of possessions that served our out-of-date versions makes such an embrace even harder. And what about jobs that are no longer fulfilling, relationships that are no longer harmonious, and life views that are no longer synchronous with the person we are evolving into? It's likely enough to make your head spin.

Today I speak with life coach Jenny Cheifetz about loosening our grips on the past, embracing changes in both our lives and in ourselves, and letting go of our need to hold onto what was. In the first part of our conversation we speak on possessions; in the second, we discuss first steps to decluttering the big intangibles we know on the soul level we've outgrown.

Here's a preview:

[2:30] The internal pause: how and why to conduct a needs assessment

[6:30] Why attaching emotion to possessions ultimately does us a disservice

[11:30] 'Store it at the store' is about to become your new mantra and here's why

[15:00] How to conduct a needs assessment with with your big but intangible baggage

[19:00] Thoughts on 'flow' as a state of being, plus why we as humans are prone to white-knuckle grips

--

Thank you to our sponsors!

Thrive Market: Head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for up to $80 in free groceries
Skillshare: Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free

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

Materialism's Sweet Spot Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

"Much of the time I tell my kids that material possessions aren't that important, but I also want them to take care of the possessions they have. How should I best juggle these messages and still get my points across?"

As sustainable minimalists, we want our children to devalue stuff, as we certainly don't want them to associate their sense of self-worth with what they own. But at the same time we also want them to care for their existing possessions even though such care requires a certain amount of 'stuff' reverence.

It's a real paradox: On one hand we preach that stuff doesn't matter, but on the other we shout from the rooftops that stuff matters an awful lot and we best take care of it.

Amidst such conflicting messages, what's a child to believe?

On today's show I'm answering a listener's question about the sweet spot between the two extremes of materialism and reckless ownership.

Here's a preview:

[6:30] 2 parenting practices that result in materialistic children, according to research

[12:00] Best behaviors when bringing children into brick-and-mortar stores

[17:45] The how and why behind letting your child experience the natural consequences of their actions

[24:30] Parents, beware of these two research-backed materialist beliefs

[27:00] How to behave (and what to emphasize) when you buy new items for your children

[33:00] The sweet spot lies in these 3 quiet, simple, and non-grandiose habits that parents model every day

Resources mentioned/Further reading:

The 3 Parenting Strategies That Cause Kids to Become Materialistic (via Very Well Family)
Say hello! Email Stephanie at MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (857) 264-1967 (US and Canada listeners only)

--

Thank you to our sponsors!

Made Trade: Shop the best sustainable goods all in one place at madetrade.com
Thrive Market: Head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for up to $80 in free groceries
Skillshare: Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free

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

Clutter Blocks Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

Many people try to 'Marie Kondo' themselves out of clutter but find themselves unsuccessful. The reason? Decluttering only sticks when you first examine the deep roots into why clutter accumulated in the first place.

Today I speak with with celebrity decluttering expert Tracy McCubbin about the excuses we tell ourselves, the clutter blocks that hold us back, and the real reasons why we can't let go of our stuff.

Here's a preview of the clutter blocks we discuss today:

[3:30] I avoid my stuff

[6:45] I'm not worth my good stuff

[13:00] My stuff keeps me stuck in the past

[16:00] My stuff tells me who I am

[18:00] I'm trapped with other people's stuff

Resources mentioned:

Unearth your own clutter block here
Pre-order Tracy's newest book, Make Space For Happiness
Want more episodes like this one? Check out #146: 10 Secrets Of Successful Declutterers

--

Thank you to our sponsors!

Thrive Market: Head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for up to $80 in free groceries
Skillshare: Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free

--

* 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 Golden Triangle Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

A triangle is complete only when its three corners are intact. Our wellbeing similarly demands that three pillars work together in quiet harmony.

The Australian Wellbeing Index is a 15-year-and-counting study with data from over 60,000 participants. Its results remain consistent year after year: optimal wellbeing hinges upon 3 essential intangibles.

The good news? These three intangibles are entirely within our control.

On today's show we discuss the golden triangle of wellbeing for optimal life satisfaction.

Here's a preview:

[2:30] How to nurture interpersonal relationships when relationships get hard

[6:30] The difference between financial control versus mindless monetary accumulation, according to research

[13:00] The why and how behind living, breathing, and being your purpose

Resources mentioned/Further reading:

Episode #252: What's Good For Us Is Also Free
Episode #128: How To Save Money Like A Minimalist
Episode #225: How To Live Happier
'Golden Triangle' Of Happiness: Study Finds Three Simple Things Needed For A Happy Life
What Is Real Well-Being?
Say hello! Email Stephanie at MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (857) 264-1967 (US and Canada listeners only)

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

Future-Conscious Thinking Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

Many people — and many societies, for that matter — rely on short-sighted quick wins as their go-to 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 both reclaim life meaning 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 our 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

Resources mentioned:

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 Gas Stove Love Affair Aug 25, 2022

Show notes

Good cooks cook on gas, or so we've been told. Any realtor will likely tell you that a gas stove ranks high on homebuyers' lists of new home must-haves, but are they good for us? Are they good for the planet?

Fellow Americans, it's time to end our love affair with gas stoves. On today's show, we discuss All. The. Things. the natural gas industry doesn't want you to know about gas stoves, natural gas, and everything in between.

Here's a preview:

[1:30] Gas = luxury? A peek inside the gas industry's marketing campaigns

[4:00] Human health concerns re: burning a fossil fuel in your kitchen

[10:30] Let's chat about fracking for a hot minute

[12:15] CO2's evil stepsister, methane: Here's how this potent global warmer fits into the natural gas conversation

[14:45] Aren't natural gas power plants cleaner than coal power plants? (Yes, but ...)

[17:00] The why and how behind the "electrify everything" movement

Resources mentioned/Further reading:

Did I Turn Off the Stove? Yes, but Maybe Not the Gas (via NY Times)
Vintage 1965 Commercial For Gas Cooking (via YouTube)
We Need To Talk About Your Gas Stove, Your Health And Climate Change (via NPR)
Your Gas Stove Is Bad for You and the Planet (via NY Times)
Cleaner But Not Clean - Why Scientists Say Natural Gas Won't Avert Climate Disaster (via Reuters)

--

* 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 Kids' Clothes Conundrum Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

Have you ever bought an irresistibly on-trend outfit for a child in your life? If so, I'm willing to bet it was worn just a handful of times (or perhaps not at all).

Gendered children's fashion is a twentieth century invention and — surprise!— it was invented by marketing pros hoping to sell more clothes. The sad truths are that while kids' fast fashion creates unnecessary clutter for parents, the sheer quantity of it all contributes to our oversized environmental problems.

Today I speak with clothing designer Laurel Thompson about how we can avoid purchasing adorable future trash for the children in our lives.

Here's a preview:

[3:30] The history of children's clothing: How the post-industrial revolution impacted wardrobe longevity

[8:00] Exactly how the design of kids clothes has devolved to the detriment of mothers everywhere

[17:00] From fabrication to construction: 10 things to look for when shopping for children's outfits

[22:00] How to talk to the grandparents in your life about responsibly acquiring kids' clothes

* 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 Right-To-Know Revolution Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

In 1986, California passed Proposition 65. The legislation forced companies that sell products with chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects to label them as such. While the legislation was originally a gigantic win for environmentalists, these days it's a running joke. Cancer warnings adorn everything from organic soaps to steering wheel covers, bikinis, parking garages, Disney Land, and much more.

Proposition 65 is a case study in the ways in which good intention advocacy can go woefully wrong. Do consumers have a right to know and, if so, do we truly *want* to know? What lessons can we learn from California, and how can environmentalists both push for policy change and avoid the pitfalls associated with Prop 65?

Here's a preview:

[5:45] California as a leader in environmental action, plus a brief history leading up to the passage of Proposition 65

[14:00] What went wrong: 3 controversies associated with Proposition 65

[21:00] Has the law yielded any positive change at all? (Yes, here's how.)

Resources mentioned/Further reading:

Leave Stephanie a voicemail! (857) 264-1967
You See The Warnings Everywhere. But Does Prop. 65 Really Protect You? (via LA Times)
Prop 65 Was Meant To Protect Residents From Toxic Water. How Did Warning Stickers End Up On Everything? (via Vox)

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: Bamboo Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

In eco-leaning circles, bamboo is hot, hot, hot. The grass (yep, it's a grass!) is touted as *the* solution to deforestation and these days bamboo is the main fiber in some paper products, textiles, bathroom necessities, furniture, flooring, and more.

But as with any crop, there are plenty of problems associated with worldwide reliance on a monoculture. Are marketing claims that tout bamboo's benefits nothing more than next-level greenwashing?

Today I put my guest in the hot seat and ask him the not so pie-in-the-sky questions about bamboo. Ryan Fritsch, co-founder of Cloud Paper, is on the show to make the case that bamboo is the best alternative to standing trees and is here to stay.

Here's a preview:

[4:45] 3 things you may not know about bamboo plantations, plus: the importance of relying on 3rd party certifications when assessing whether your bamboo product is actually eco-friendly

[12:30] Understanding the different FSC tiers: Which certification should you be looking for?

[14:00] Bamboo's sourcing concerns: If bamboo is so easy to grow, why are (almost) all of the world's bamboo plantations in Asia?

[17:00] Are bamboo paper products better than ones made from recycled paper? What's the difference between pre- and post-consumer waste, anyway?

Resources mentioned:

Grove Collaborative trash bags

--

Thank you to this week's sponsors!

Ettitude: Use code SUSTAINABLE for 20% off bamboo bedding
Thrive Market: Head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for up to $80 in free groceries
Better Help: Head to betterhelp.com/sustainable for 10% off your first month

--

* 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

Related Podcasts