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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).

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Latest Episodes:

Countertop Composters Jun 02, 2022

Show notes

Countertop composters have hit the market, and they've hit the market in a big way. Many promise to transform ho-hum food waste into nutrient-rich soil in under 24 hours without odors or hassle. For some of us, these new machines sound like the answers to all our composting prayers.

But listener Katie wants to know if countertop composters - and specifically the Lomi by Pela - are worth the hefty price tags. Are their environmental claims overblown, or will such devices actually reduce household waste by up to 50 percent? And what about the energy requirements? Is any product truly eco-friendly if it requires (fossil-fuels sourced) electricity?

On today's episode I'm offering my unbiased thoughts on the Lomi countertop composter. (**Please note all opinions are 100% all my own.)

Here's a preview:

[3:30] Why compost? A quick composting primer

[4:30] 5 benefits to the Lomi countertop composter

[10:00] 5 (significant) drawbacks to countertop composters for conscious consumers (hey there, alliteration!)

[12:00] Let's talk about those energy concerns ...

[18:00] Electricity in the United States: how to read your electric bill with a critical eye

Resources mentioned:

Episode #081: How To Make Great Compost (With Very Little Effort)
Episode #121: Fair Trade, Certified B and More: The 3rd Party Labels You Need To Know
What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source? (Via US Energy & Administration)

* 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
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Rebalancing May 31, 2022

Show notes

There are certain things in life that don't have to get done, and then there are priorities that absolutely must get done well. On today's show we discuss what it takes to thrive on purpose, and specifically we're discussing the importance of flexibility.

Today I speak with author and social impact leader Wendy Teleki. Wendy argues we shouldn't be afraid to recalibrate and make the big changes when we need to. In our conversation today Wendy distills her hard-earned lessons on balancing - and rebalancing - amid an onslaught of ever-changing demands and priorities.

Here's a preview:

[6:20] Thoughts on "having it all" versus letting some things go

[10:45] Why the edge of the wheel is where you want to be (and how to get there)

[20:30] What to do when you find yourself in a role you're not necessarily comfortable with

[25:00] The benefits of creating your Don't-Do list first

[26:00] Thoughts on using the speeding of time as a means of becoming our best selves now

[29:45] Wendy's Number One piece of advice for parents

Resources mentioned:

* 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

Quick Fix Thinking May 26, 2022

Show notes

We want new stuff and we want it now. The possessions we buy often make us happy, at least for a little while (hello, dopamine!). But before we know it, today's 'it' item becomes tomorrow's clutter.

On today's show we are examining the psychology behind quick fix thinking. Why do humans tend to prioritize instant gratification over long-term goals such as having a decluttered, minimalist home and obtaining financial security? The good news is we aren't slaves to our DNA, and in the second part of today's episode I'm offering my best thoughts for stepping away from quick fixes - which, by the way, are also almost always to our detriment - and toward intentional but distant priorities.

Here's a preview:

[5:45] The psychology behind instant gratification: how quick fix thinking changes our brains

[9:50] Why it's so hard to make new, positive habits stick (and why it's so easy to pick up bad habits)

[13:00] 4 reasons why humans tend to prioritize quick fixes over long-term goals

[19:00] 5 action steps for stepping away from quick fixes and towards what's best for us in the future

Further reading/Resources mentioned:

Spying a product and unsure if it's as good as the marketing makes it sound? Send me the product name and I'll do the research for you!
10 Reasons We Rush for Immediate Gratification (via Psychology Today)
The Real Issue With Instant Gratification (via Psychology Today)
Listen to this episode on Youtube

* 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

Desperation Dinners May 24, 2022

Show notes

Cooking at home is generally cheaper, healthier, and better for the planet than relying on takeout and meal subscriptions. Still, our busy lives crave convenience: cooking, then, is a self-sufficient skill our culture is in danger of losing.

Today I speak with blogger Rachael McKennon about cooking at home and cooking from scratch. Rachael understands that feeding a family is hard work, so she's here to offer her best tips, tricks, and hacks to take the overwhelm out of the task.

Here's a preview:

[6:30] Convenience versus whole foods: The benefits of home cooked meals

[11:00] How to fully stock your pantry before cooking a single thing

[15:00] Kitchen appliances that are actually worth the money (and ones that aren't)

[21:00] 4 desperation dinners for those nights when you're hangry and unprepared

* Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube.

* Join our (free!) community here.

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

* Please send me your episode ideas! 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

Responsible Family Vacations May 18, 2022

Show notes

If you are fortunate to embark on vacation with your family this summer, your children will undoubtedly benefit from the experience. There's the need for them to practice flexibility and problem-solving in real-time; there's also the fact that seeing more of the planet will encourage your children to care for its future.

Yet there's an elephant in the room, and it's this: vacations often come with a hefty carbon cost.

On today's show - and just in time for summer! - we discuss tangible ways to make your summer holiday more sustainable. Today I speak with travel blogger Samantha Runkel. Samantha has been to a whopping 80 countries and counting and so she's on the show to offer the knowledge she's gained from boots-on-the-ground experience as to how we can be responsible travelers this vacation season and beyond (while also infusing a heavy dose of memory-making!).

Here's a preview:

[4:00] Put your money where your (suitcase) is: Reframing the assumption that long-distance is always eco-unfriendly

[8:00] Carbon offsets: Yay or nay?

[10:15] Where to find green booking options for your next getaway

[11:45] What participating in active regeneration looks like for families with children

[14:30] How and why you should intentionally spread your dollars around on your next holiday

[17:45] Family road trips that aren't completely wasteful

* Join our (free!) community here.

* Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube.

* 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

Subscription Services May 12, 2022

Show notes

Many of us signed up for entertainment (streaming television! date night in a box!) and regular home delivery of essentials (toothbrushes! groceries! toilet paper!) at the start of the pandemic. If you're like me, these days you may find yourself signed up for 10 or more subscription services.

Subscriptions can be time-saving and convenient, and specialty ones make great gifts. But if you aren't receiving the value you expect from the subscription in question, it's simply a colossal waste of money and resources. There are other drawbacks to the recurring payment model as well, and on today's short and sweet episode I'm uncovering them.

Here's a preview:

[7:30] 5 disadvantages to subscription services that you may not have considered

[8:45] What do recurring charges mean for our data and privacy?

[12:30] Subscription services and the concept of sunk cost

[18:00] One incremental action step for listeners to save money

Further reading:

The Rise Of The Subscription Model (via Forbes)

* 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

Evergreen Rooms May 10, 2022

Show notes

Home decor is a lot like fashion: the second we invest in a new piece of furniture or a new decor item, the catalogs and showrooms push a new trend. The items we just bought, then? They're suddenly out of style.

Today I speak with interior designer Jessica Velazquez about curating rooms that are timeless. Jessica believes that style must always support lifestyle: when we play it right, we can design spaces that won't expire when stores usher in a new trend.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] Does evergreen and minimalist mean boring? Debunking common home decor myths

[12:00] The Number One way to avoid making costly design mistakes

[18:00] The hierarchy of accent pieces: tips for refreshing a space by zeroing in on accessories

[23:00] What color should we paint our walls?

[27:00] An eco-tip and a correction

Resources mentioned:

Jessica on Instagram
Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube
Want more episodes like this one? Check out #217: Organized Entryway Ideas

* Join our (free!) community here.

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

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

Made In China May 05, 2022

Show notes

We want new things and we want them now. Our spending habits put brands on perpetual searches for ways to shorten the time between design, manufacturing, and distribution, and China has stepped up with the technology and the supply chains to meet our needs.

Our consumption habits, then, can only be satisfied by purchasing from China.

Today's show analyzes the ethical and environmental implications associated with excessive reliance on the "World's Factory", as China has affectionately been dubbed. What does manufacturing and lax regulations mean for both the people and the planet, and how can we as consumers do better?

Here's a preview:

[2:00] What the Made In China label means (and doesn't mean) about a product's quality

[5:00] A deep dive into Chinese manufacturing: 5 reasons why China has become the "world's factory"

[7:00] What China's lower compliance standards mean for people

[10:30] The story of Oregon mother Julie Keith, Halloween decorations, and Sun Yi

[14:00] Chinese manufacturing and environmental pollution

[19:15] Practical action steps for listeners that go beyond "just buy local"

Further Reading:

Nearly 14,000 companies violate China pollution rules (via NYTimes)
How your cheap Chinese-made products may be killing thousands in China (via USAToday)
How much do we buy from China? (via NPR)
Are Made In China toys safe? (via The Baby Penguin)

Resources mentioned:

Episode #186: The Lowdown On Wooden Toys with Christina Floyd

* Join our (free!) community here.

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

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

Mental Minimalism May 03, 2022

Show notes

While minimalism may sometimes seem trendy, the reality is that the lifestyle has been around for centuries. Indeed, ancient philosophies touted the importance of Less Is More living as a means of finding inner peace amidst frenetic daily life. Today I speak with author Jessie Kanzer about first steps toward mental minimalism. Jessie argues that you don’t have to be a Zen master to simplify your cognitions and reduce unnecessary internal chatter; she argues too that enlightenment is about first...

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The post Mental Minimalism appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.

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
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Forever Chemicals Apr 28, 2022

Show notes

When carbon and fluorine fuse together they create a virtually unbreakable compound. These days, such per- and polyfluoroalkyl (or PFAS) substances are widely used in thousands of products from food packaging to clothing, carpets, and more. And because these chemicals are designed to be unbreakable, “forever chemicals” are adding up in our bodies and in the environment. On today’s episode I’m answering a listener’s question about the group of chemicals known as PFAS by bringing you an interview with Kevin Loria....

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The post Forever Chemicals appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.

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
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