The Minimalist Vegan Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Let's Talk About Toxic Chemicals Oct 07, 2019

Show notes

Being a mindful consumer is more than assessing how much you consume through minimalism or what you consume through the lens of veganism. Even the sustainability of a product is not enough! A significant part of the consumption puzzle lies in chemicals. Scientifically, there are some positive chemicals just as much as there are toxic chemicals. We're going to focus specifically on the harmful ones. Why do brands use harmful chemicals in products? How can you start to make better decisions for you and your family? In this episode, we go back and reflect on how we transitioned to a chemical-free lifestyle and share some tips on how you can limit the number of harmful chemicals in your life. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/034/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan

How To Say No: Even If You're a People Pleaser Sep 30, 2019

Show notes

If appears that some people blaze through life, knowing exactly what they want and have no problem saying no. However, they may come across as selfish, ruthless, or narrow-minded. Nevertheless, they are not over-committed and they generally live with incredible intentionality. Then you have the other side of the spectrum. People who walk around saying yes to just about every opportunity and demand. You say yes for everything your boss throws at you, to your spouse, to your friends, to your child. You just can’t help it. You want to please and you also don’t want to miss out. But what is the impact of saying yes to most things that come your way? That’s what we break down in this episode. We look at the impact of saying yes and offer some tips on how you can start saying no more often. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/033/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan

Why We Choose Not To Be Vegan Anymore Sep 23, 2019

Show notes

As the vegan movement grows, it’s increasingly common to see folks go on and off and back on the vegan lifestyle. This is particularly apparent with online content creators, as many influencers boycott veganism for various personal decisions. It’s only natural for our beliefs to change over time. With such a convicted lifestyle, we’re curious to break down some of the recurring reasons as to why people stop being vegan. Perhaps if we learn from these patterns, we can do a better job of having the right expectations when starting the vegan lifestyle for increased longevity. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/032/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan

Owning Your Identity Sep 16, 2019

Show notes

"I’m an aspiring minimalist. I’m a transitioning vegan. I love to write, but I’m not a writer." Does this sound familiar? Today we’re breaking down the pros and cons of owning your identity. We look at the stigma of labels, and when and how to use them to your advantage. This topic is especially close to home for us, as we’ve built a brand around two identities, minimalism and veganism. While at times it can feel restrictive to make bold claims about what you stand for, we’ve found so many benefits from owning our identities. If you struggle with labels and identity and find yourself being non-committal, then this episode is for you. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/031/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan

The Grey Area of Veganism Sep 09, 2019

Show notes

Since we became vegan over five years ago and the noticeable rise in the vegan movement, we have noticed the lines getting blurred between what is vegan and what is not. According to the Vegan Society, veganism is: "A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms, it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals." We all sometimes like to turn a blind eye to something as willful ignorance can prevent uncomfortable and maybe even downright awkward situations when socialising. We talk about everything from backyard eggs and beekeeping to alcohol and cosmetics. There's a lot to unpack in this episode, but fundamentally we wanted to discuss the idea of washing down the vegan message with our actions knowingly. How many of us have heard "I won't tell anyone if you have this ...." or "it's only a little bit of ....." or "it's just this one time". Too often others help to test us or attempt to make our lives "easier" to help us blur those lines and water down the vegan message. When we have a strong why and have done the research to understand the real definition of veganism, we can help the animals by staying true to the lifestyle. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/030/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan

Would You Live In a Tiny House? Sep 02, 2019

Show notes

We’ve recently found ourselves binge-watching Tiny House shows on YouTube. It’s been fascinating watching people of all walks of life decide to downsize into such a small yet personalised space. Their motivations are different depending on their age and values. Some owners are single and looking to escape their fast city life and decide to live in the woods in their small house. Retired baby boomer couples choose to pair down in a stable location to keep their costs down while having an incredibly personalised home. Then there’s a minimalist vegan couple in Australia who want to reduce their ecological imprint while still having the ability to enter the property market at an affordable price. All of these stories have inspired us to think differently about tiny houses, and honestly, we may very well join the movement in the future! In this episode, we break down the pros and cons of tiny house living, and we have an honest conversation about how we would approach it if we decided to go down that path. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/029/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan

The Challenges of Vegan Cooking at Home Aug 19, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the possible challenges of cooking at home. We unpack our upbringings and how that reflected on our cooking styles and passion for making delicious food. We discuss how important learning to cook at a young age is and that it should be a mandatory subject to do in school. Such a fundamental skill, yet not many people have acquired the basic skill of cooking at home. We both love food and find eating out one of our favourite things to do. This helps us reflect on our recent experiences and how we are starting to enjoy cooking at home more than eating out. Making food at home and sharing it with others is such an important practice. For those that are new to cooking or want some help, we also discuss how creating meals that you enjoy, and having a tight rotation can be a great way to start. This will give you the enthusiasm and interest to get in the kitchen and cook more often. Lastly, we share the fundamentals of cooking and our must-haves in the kitchen. If you or someone you know struggles in the kitchen, or you just want some inspiration, this podcast episode is definitely worth a listen! Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/028/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan

Minimalist Exercise: Bringing Meaning To Movement With Gemma Davis Aug 12, 2019

Show notes

Developing an exercise habit has been a struggle for us, especially as we've gotten older. We both used to be quite active when we were younger, but over the years, we have dropped off exercise as a priority. The most that we get these days is a walk with our dog every day. Michael might do a short but explosive exercise routine, whereas Maša might do a yoga stretch once in a blue moon. It is something that we’re really conscious of starting up again, but there is some resistance there since we haven’t developed a habit out of it yet. We tend to go in and out of it. In this week's podcast, we chat to our friend, yogi, author and naturopath, Gemma David from The Compassionate Road. She's incredibly in tune with the needs of her body and has developed a deep physical, emotional and philosophical connection with movement—that cascades into the rest of her value-driven lifestyle. Gemma shares with us her journey through creating a regular exercise practice that is stimulating in many ways. She shares with us how movement has brought so much meaning to her life and has created this compassionate and connected bond with herself. We were hoping that our conversation would inspire us to change and break that habit. All we need is a strong enough why. We certainly felt very inspired, and we hope that you do too. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/027/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan

Using Minimalism To Downsize Your Life Aug 05, 2019

Show notes

This past year has pushed and challenged us in more ways we thought was possible. In our quest to support ourselves online and move to Slovenia, we’ve had to rethink the expectations of our means. You hear it all of the time. One of the keys to happiness is living within or below your means. What does that mean exactly? What are one’s means? The pressure of money, if you’re not careful, can completely dominate how you experience life. We’ve all fallen into the trap of wanting more money so we can experience more of what life has to offer. Whether that's through tangible goods or non-product related experiences. We’ve for the most part have always seen a direct correlation between financial resources and living a better life. More money means more opportunity, right? But since we became minimalists, we’ve shifted our mindsets about how much we need to live the life that makes us happy. Minimalism helped us to downsize in many areas, and that’s what we want to talk about in this podcast episode. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/026/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan

What It's Like Wearing The Same Clothes Every Day Jul 29, 2019

Show notes

Last year we wrote an article exploring the dynamics of fashion and our need to express ourselves through clothing. As minimalists, clothing has always been a challenge for us as we try to find the balance between functional long-lasting garments that can be worn all of the time. For over 12 months, Michael has been experimenting with wearing the same clothes every day and has learned a lot throughout the process. In this episode, we reflect on some key points from the article as well as Michael’s experience to see how feasible it is for people to wear the same clothes and how it makes us feel in a society that is promoting us to stand out through fashion. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/025/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan

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