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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 Better Bag Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

When it comes to trash bags, there's plenty of confusing verbiage. Compostable? Biodegradable? Bags with post-consumer recycled content?

While one could certainly make the argument that biodegradable and compostable trash bags aren't worth the money since they're headed to the landfill anyway (those pits aren't gardens, after all); the more cynical amongst us could say there's no such thing as an eco-friendly trash bag if it holds bad-for-the-planet waste.

Purchasing eco-friendly-ish trash bags doesn't give us carte blanche to throw away as much as we want, but buying the right bags is a simple and accessible lifestyle switch. On today's show I'm divulging what to know (and which trash bags to buy) moving forward.

Here's a preview:

[3:15] Are biodegradable trash bags eco-friendly? (What does 'biodegradable' even mean?)

[6:00] Everything you need to know about compostable trash bags: pros, cons, and everything in between

[16:00] Breaking down (see what I did there?) all-things plastic bags with post-consumer recycled content

[22:00] Stephanie's handy-dandy rubric to assess your trash bag purchases moving forward

Resources mentioned:

Green Polly trash bags made of recycled content
HoldOn compostable trash bags (Want 15% off? Use code SUSTAINABLE)
Episode #277: All-Things Eggs

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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

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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

Productive Pantries Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

Your pantry can be your friend or your foe. When it's well-stocked and organized it will support your health goals, but disorganized spaces will likely derail your long-term wellness objectives.

The worst part? Pantry staples that are marketed as healthy (ahem ... bars, protein powders, and crackers) are oftentimes the main culprits contributing to brain fog, weight gain, and belly bloat.

Today I speak with Board Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach Leeann Rybakov about how to declutter and organize your pantry for optimal wellness. Leann walks us through what to look for when stocking our pantries with nut butters, protein powders, dressings, sauces, bars, and grains so we can eat with intention (and on autopilot!).

Here's a preview:

[8:00] Pantry items known to cause inflammation and brain fog (declutter them, and STAT!)

[11:30] The problems with "quick-grab" pantry staples (and what to grab-and-go instead)

[15:00] All-things salad dressings and sauces: ingredients to seek out versus ingredients to avoid

[19:00] How to organize the pantry, plus: healthy foods to keep stocked

[28:00] Specific foods to avoid to reduce belly bloat and brain fog

Resources mentioned:

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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
AprilAire: Check out their air purifying and filtration options at AprilAire.com

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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 Minimalist Phone Movement Aug 04, 2022

Show notes

The first iPhone hit the market in 2007 and most of us jumped on the smartphone bandwagon without looking back. 15 years later, countless studies document the pitfalls associated with reliance on powerful tech at our (literal) fingertips: impaired cognitive functioning, loss of self-esteem, and increased depression and anxiety are just a few.

The minimalist cell phone movement seeks to take back what smartphones have taken from us, and it advocates for the return of simple phones without distractions, apps, or advertisements.

On today's show I answer a listener's question about the Wisephone. Do minimalist cell phones actually give us our lives back, or do they simply seek to target a very particular subset of buyers?

Here's a preview:

[4:30] Why you should be concerned about your cellular data and privacy (plus: how a minimalist cell phone can protect you)

[9:00] What research says about the human tendency to become psychologically dependent on technology

[14:30] 3 benefits to the "pure and simple" Wisephone

[19:30] 3 real-time problems with the minimalist cell phone movement

[25:00] How and why smartphones are necessary for participation in today's economy (and how to fight back)

[27:30] Weighing long-term, intangible benefits with short-term, tangible ones when deciding whether a minimalist cell phone is right for you

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

The Pinch At The Pump Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

Gas prices are through the roof and we're feeling the pinch at the gas station. Is now the right time to invest in an electric vehicle?

There's no sugarcoating it: Automobiles leave a big footprint. Extracting petroleum products from the earth and shipping them around the planet is both energy-intensive and damaging (let's not forget about oil spills!). There's also the tailpipe emissions problem: vehicles in the US are responsible for a whopping one-third of all air pollution in the country.

The rollout of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and traditional hybrids is good news if you’re looking for an alternative to the combustion engine, and that's because these models provide energy-efficient transportation while lowering/eliminating tailpipe emissions, diminishing noise, and reducing operating costs.

On today's show my guest and I outline 5 things to consider before purchasing or leasing your next vehicle. Jon Linkov is the Deputy Autos Editor at Consumer Reports and he brings a wealth of real-world knowledge as both a tester of cars and an owner of an electric vehicle to our conversation.

Here's a preview:

[2:30] The major differences as well as the minor intricacies that distinguish hybrids and plug-in hybrids from electric vehicles

[9:00] The price problem: Weighing sticker prices with federal and state rebates and gasoline costs

[13:00] Everything you need to know about the $7500 US Federal Tax Incentive on (some) electric vehicles

[17:30] Should we be concerned about running out of charge? All-things charging, charging stations, at-home charger installation, and the average driving ranges of top EV models

[22:00] Do EVs and hybrids need more frequent — and more expensive — maintenance? (Hint: the answer is no.)

[24:00] Jon's thoughts on whether alternate technologies are actually fun to drive

Resources mentioned and further reading:

How to Decide If a Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid, or Fully Electric Car Is Right for You (via Consumer Reports)
The Environmental Impacts of Cars, Explained (via National Geographic)
More Americans Would Buy an Electric Vehicle, and Some Consumers Would Use Low-Carbon Fuels, Survey Shows

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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

Late Stage Capitalism and Self-Care Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

Underneath all of life's burdens, many of us experience the triple losses of time, freedom, and mental space. Self-care is generally touted as burnout's antidote, and advocates argue that regular self-care routines lower stress, anxiety, and frustration while simultaneously improving energy, concentration, and overall life satisfaction.

Sounds wonderful, right? But there's a problem with #selfcare culture: In a capitalist society, anything and everything becomes a sellable product or service, self-care included. Indeed, these days the term 'self-care' is often used synonymously with spa days, last-minute getaways, and other actions that require a financial transaction.

On today’s show we attempt to answer this very 2022 question: Is self-care a commodity that is best purchased, or is the idea that taking care of ourselves must be outsourced the epitome of late stage capitalism?

Here's a preview:

[1:15] Differentiating between an expanded view of self-care versus a narrow, contorted one

[4:33] Understanding the ways in which capitalism misconstrues our collective notion of self-care

[8:15] Defining late stage capitalism (with real life examples!)

[12:20] The 4 categories of self-care

[18:30] Communal care is self-care: 3 benefits to thinking of others - not the self! - first

Resources mentioned:

Why the Phrase 'Late Capitalism' Is Suddenly Everywhere (via The Atlantic)
We Need To Move On From Self-Care To Something That Cannot Be Captured By Capitalism (via The Guardian)

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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
AprilAire: Check out their air purifying and filtration options at AprilAire.com

--

* 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 Convenience Tax Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

All too often (and perhaps without even realizing it!) many of us live our lives by taking the path of least resistance. What's the easiest choice? What's most convenient? But there's cognitive dissonance to be felt when we sacrifice our values in the name of convenience, and experiencing such dissonance can be uncomfortable.

Today I speak with author and social impact expert Sharon Schneider about how seemingly small daily choices can enhance a life of alignment with your heart-first goals. Sharon believes that intentional living often means sacrificing short-term convenience for larger-than-you goals, and she's on the podcast to show us how.

Here's a preview:

[8:30] We shouldn't be give back; we should simply give. Here's why

[10:30] Thoughts on rugged individualism, self-centered living, and curating social circles around different shared values

[12:00] The fundamentals of the Convenience Tax, plus how and why to tax yourself

[17:00] Are we just lazy? The origins of the 'convenience' problem (with ways to resist its allure in the future)

[21:00] 2 ways to make your charitable giving go further

Resources mentioned:

Handbook For An Integrated Life: A Practical Guide to Aligning Your Everyday Choices with Your Internal Compass (via IndieBound)
Have you left your favorite podcasts a review yet? Today's the day to get it done!

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
AprilAire: Check out their air purifying and filtration options at AprilAire.com

--

* 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

An Ounce Of (Mess) Prevention Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

Comedian Phyllis Diller famously once said, "Housework can't kill you, but why take the risk?"

Our homes are for living, and living is a messy business. But warding off messes before they become unmanageable is indeed possible, and seasoned minimalists often rely on tried-and-true prevention techniques to reduce both housework and overwhelm.

On today's show I offer 5 and a half tips to help you vacuum, fold, and dust less so you can enjoy life more.

Resources mentioned:

Episode #013: The How & Why Of Turning Off "The Noise"
Episode #006: The Ultimate Kid's Capsule Blueprint

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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

Intuitive Eating Jul 19, 2022

Show notes

Calorie counting, diet cycling, and heaps of food guilt. Sound familiar?

We have diet culture to thank for our body image woes, and that's because corporations first sell us unhealthy food that detracts from our health, and then we're sold the promise of yet another restrictive diet as the ultimate - and only - solution.

Today my guest and I answer a listener's question about the fundamentals of intuitive eating. Claire Chewning is a Registered Dietician who believes we can recover from the negative mental, emotional, and physical effects of diet culture by first rejecting the food and weight messages our culture bombards us with every single day.

Here's a preview:

[5:30] An introduction to the 10 principles of intuitive eating

[6:45] The problems associated with diet culture (plus: how diet culture keeps us unhealthy)

[9:30] Distinguishing between calorie deficits and health promoting behaviors

[11:00] The un-learning process as it relates to internalized lies regarding size and self-worth

[23:00] Can intuitive eating help emotional eaters?

[26:00] Intuitive eating first steps

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

Wasted Money Jul 14, 2022

Show notes

Materialistic, overly consumptive, and incredibly wasteful: The stereotype of the average American isn't flattering. And while being wasteful isn't a personality trait most of us aspire to have, for many US citizens, wasting enormous amounts of resources and money is simply our way of life.

Fellow Americans, we can do better. On today's show I rank order 10 specific ways Americans waste money without even realizing it; I also offer practical action steps toward resourcefulness for today and onward.

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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

Minimalist Game Night Jul 12, 2022

Show notes

Ah, game night. Something special happens when we put our phones away, sit around the table, and have fun with our loved ones. But if you have children, game night can be fraught with whines, groans, and tantrums. And after a long workweek? Game night can feel like another To-Do item.

On today's show we discuss what research says about the benefits of game night. In Part 1 I offer 6 strategies for curating a successful family game night; in Part 2 I sit down with Ali Aydar, CEO of SPORCLE.com. Ali is on the show to make the point that you can make lasting, happy memories with your loved ones *and* keep your kids learning this summer without spending money on new board games.

(A note from Stephanie: This episode is the fourth in the "Best Things Are Free" series in which the podcast dives deep into life's little pleasures that also happen to not cost money. To listen to other episodes in the series, check out #259: Rich Conversations, #246: Sleep, and #255: Storytime.)

Here's a preview:

[ 2:25] 10 research-backed benefits to family game night

[4:30] Stephanie's 6 best tips for hosting a successful game event

[9:00] Thoughts on being a minimalist who also loves games: also, what to consider when investing in new games

[19:00] How to intentionally incorporate 21st Century technology into modern game nights

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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

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