the tortoise & the hare

Latest Episodes:

Slow Holidays: Gift Giving Nov 05, 2017

Show notes

It’s the most wonderful (exhausting?) time of the year… and it’s almost upon us. Considering we’re now well in to November, Ben and Brooke wanted to spend the next few weeks talking about how you may be able to reduce the stress, overwhelm, expense, clutter and expectations we all feel when the silly season arrives, and today they begin by going to the heart of the matter - gifts.

In this episode they offer you a few ways of changing your mindset when it comes to gifts and showing love, but also share a whole heap of practical and interesting gifts that won’t add to the endless clutter that comes with the seemingly endless gift giving.

Plus, they also talk about the benefit of experiences over things, homemade and consumable gifts and one of Brooke’s favourites - giving the gift of time and skills.

They also talk about the fact that, yes, Ben and Brooke do give Christmas gifts to their kids, and that rather than get lost in the Toy of the Year debacle, buying whatever plastic piece of junk is on the Must Have List for all girls and boys, they stick to a simple set of guidelines.

Brooke and Ben then list some of their favourite clutter-free gift ideas for a variety of ages, including, as well as a list of experiences or activities that would appeal to people of all ages.

Head over to http://www.slowyourhome.com/210 for the full blog post and a link to Brooke’s Clutter-Free Gift Guide.

Enjoy!

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And thanks so much for listening!

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Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/

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Courtney Carver on heart-centred living and soulful simplicity Nov 01, 2017

Show notes

Today's episode is such a treat. Courtney Carver, one the first ever guests on the show (Episode 10!) returns to chat with Brooke about her story of simplicity, and how the changes were born of an incredibly difficult time.

So often the idea of simplifying life is presented in a fairly dogmatic, unemotional way. Initially the focus is on stuff and the process of letting it go, then the focus moves to habit changes or health or food, and then it shifts to mental wellbeing or enviromental awareness. Very rarely does it begin with soul, and hardly ever is it shaped (in the beginning at least) by love.

But in this conversation and in Courtney's wonderful new book, Soulful Simplicity, love is everywhere. It's sprinkled throughout each story and lesson learnt, and it's love that Courtney returns to every time.

Soulful Simplicity is not your standard decluttering book. There is heart and soul and passion and vulnerability on the pages, and Brooke and Courtney go deep in to what it means to share fully and honestly some of their hardest lessons learnt throughout the simplifying process, and the impact of a gradual and concerted effort to strip back the layers.

They speak about the discovery of self throughout the process, and the re-making of self as part of that, as well as the actual head and heart work that's involved. Courtney also talks specifically of her must-haves when it comes to living a simple, mindful, soulful life.

This is such a love-filled, soul-centred conversation. Enjoy!

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And thanks so much for listening!

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Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/

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The Age of Distraction and what to do about it Oct 29, 2017

Show notes

Over the past few weeks Ben and Brooke have been talking about social media and how they utilise it while still maintaining a slow(er) paced life.

They spoke about Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and finished last Monday's episode with a challenge - to delete social media apps of our phones for the next month.

That was supposed to be the end of the discussion, but then Brooke read an article on The Guardian that was so fascinating that they wanted to talk it over on today's show.

The article examines the 'attention economy' and the impact that social media platforms and, specifically the design of their apps, are having on the way we live, work, learn, vote, communicate and view ourselves and the world at large.

It is an article absolutely worth reading, and the link to it can be found in the show notes over at http://www.slowyourhome.com/208

Brooke and Ben also talk about some of the strategies and specific tools they use to combat the worst of these effects, and also what the result has been for them so far, as they removed the social media apps from their phones.

Enjoy!

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And thanks so much for listening!

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Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Live from the State Library of NSW Oct 26, 2017

Show notes

Brooke's book tour has given her the opportunity to speak with hundreds of people over the past few months at libraries and bookstores around the state, and the experience has been brilliant. Not only has she been able to talk about the process of writing SLOW, but she's also been able to meet so many poggie listeners and get a real sense of the questions and struggles people face as they undertake their own slow journey.

So today's episode is a live recording from the recent book talk Brooke gave at the State Library of NSW, where Ben first interviewed Brooke about SLOW and then they both answered audience questions. As always, the questions were fantastic and covered a wide range of topics, including:

finding your purpose or Why
encouraging friends and family to slow down with you
how to keep extra-curricular activities to a manageable level
how to balance your needs with those of others in your home

It was a fun event to record and Brooke and Ben are excited to bring the tour to Canada and the US next year. If you've got suggestions on where they should visit, feel free to leave them in a comment over at http://www.slowyourhome.com/207 or on the Facebook page.

Enjoy!

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And thanks so much for listening!

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Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Slow Living and Social Media: Facebook Oct 22, 2017

Show notes

In this final episode of the social media series, Brooke and Ben talk about the behemoth that is Facebook.

Ben’s only just returned to Facebook after many years away, and is keeping it at arm’s length, only using the platform to help Brooke run the pages for the podcast and the online retreat.

Brooke, on the other hand, has been using Facebook for more than 10 years and has a distinct love/hate relationship with it. It allows her to build a wonderful community of podcast listeners, but the immersive, all-consuming nature of Facebook means she barely uses it personally.

Today she and Ben talk through some of the strategies they’ve employed over the past year or so, to try and maintain a balanced approach to Facebook.

Brooke talks about the decision she made a few years ago to only accept friend requests from people she knows in person, and that, paired with her decision to keep their kids and personal lives off Facebook means that it’s largely not a privacy issue any more. It’s just a time issue, which is largely managed by the fact that she doesn’t really use it a lot.

When it comes to work however, Facebook is by far the biggest consideration. It’s where the majority of the podcast audience spends time, so it’s important that Brooke and Ben show up. Brooke talks through some of the strategies she’s instigated over the past couple of years, and the pros and cons of each of them.

Head over to http://www.slowyourhome.com/206 for the full blog post and links to any of the resources mentioned in today’s show.

Enjoy!

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And thanks so much for listening!

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Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Community with Dr Monty Badami Oct 18, 2017

Show notes

In today's poggie, Ben sits down to chat with Dr Monty Badami, who has what can only be described as the most varied and fascinating resume ever!

Monty is an:

Anthropolgist
Civil Marriage Celebrant
Justice of the Peace
Jazz Singer
English Teacher
Tai Chi Instructor
Youth Worker
Bouncer…
and is training to become an officer in the Australia Reserve!

To say that Monty leads a busy life is an understatement. Ben first met Monty at Dr Arne Rubenstein's leadership camp back in July, and today they chat about the importance of community and what it means on a very fundamental level to be part of a community.

Monty shares a beautiful story about his research travels in South India where he visited the Paniya, a marginalised indigenous ethnic group, who were slaves until quite recently and what that taught him about being accepted and valued in a community.

In a very articulate way, Monty also challenges the concept of the ‘broken community’ in Western culture and what he believes we need to do to better connect with like-minded people (*hint: it’s pretty simple!)

This is an extremely enlightening conversation that is designed to spark conversation (and many more questions!) rather than provide the answers.

Head over to http://www.slowyourhome.com/205 for the link to Monty's new podcast, Ben's episode with Dr Arne Rubinstein and all the information about the upcoming Live Life Simply Online Retreat.

Enjoy!

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And thanks so much for listening!

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Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Slow Living and Social Media: Instagram Oct 15, 2017

Show notes

In this second episode in the social media series, Brooke and Ben take on Instagram (Ben’s favourite social media channel!), and talk about how they make it work for them in their business as well as personally, while still living slowly .

First up they talk about the expectation that when you have a business online, you’re always accessible. Being mindful of social media use and setting boundaries around the amount of time spent on social media can feel like the opposite of all the business advice you read and hear. And that’s OK!

They discuss the evolving strategy for The Slow Home Podcast, with a dedicated Instagram on its way as their team grows. Brooke also shares some tips that she uses for managing her Instagram while still being present in everyday life. She rarely posts in real-time, and doesn’t post everyday (mainly because she thinks her life is too boring!). She also recommends that businesses prepare and schedule content where they can. As a self-employed person, it’s important to remember that social media is part of the job, and so it can be labelled as work and only done during work hours.

Lastly, Brooke and Ben talk about the dreaded comparisons that can happen when scrolling through Instagram. They challenge listeners to unfollow anyone that gives them that sinking feeling and see what happens. Instead, follow people who inspire and educate you, and who make you laugh (and keep an eye out for The Slow Home Instagram coming soon!).

Head over to http://www.slowyourhome.com/204 for links to the previous social media episode and for the full blog.

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And thanks so much for listening!

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Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to go zero waste (slowly) with Erin Rhoads Oct 11, 2017

Show notes

Last week Brooke and Ben attempted to answer a listener question about dealing with eco-anxiety. That is, the pressure or frustration we feel when even our best intentions to minimise waste and tread lightly on the earth are thwarted by an errant plastic bag or forgetting to ask for no straw.

In today’s episode Brooke chats with Erin Rhoads, who is undoubtedly more qualified to answer this question, as a zero-waste advocate and creator of The Rogue Ginger - a website that has both the coolest name and the most accessible and practical tips on living a zero-waste (or low-waste) life.

Brooke and Erin go back to the moment (the movie, actually) that changed Erin from a mindless consumer to conscious advocate and why her journey towards zero waste began with very small and gradual changes (and why she believes yours should too).

Erin answers a few questions that Brooke is consistently asked when it comes to living plastic-free, specifically:

How can we avoid plastic wrapping when buying cheese?
Is there an alternative for lunch wraps that doesn't require us to cook our own?
How can we open up the low-waste conversation with suppliers, family and friends without making people feel judged?

They also talk about the one simple change you can make today - regardless of where you are in your journey towards living plastic-free - as well as offering an encouragement to act rather than get angry.

Head over to http://www.slowyourhome.com/203 for all the links to Erin’s website and social media, as well as all the resources mentioned in today’s episode.

Erin is also part of the upcoming Live Life Simply Online Retreat and will be taking all attendees through the essentials of zero-waste living. Registration is open now so be sure to secure your place before October 22, 2017. The retreat opens its doors on October 23 and Brooke, Erin and co can’t wait to have you!

Head over to https://livelifesimplyretreat.com/ for all the details.

Enjoy!

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And thanks so much for listening!

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Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Slow Living and Social Media: Twitter Oct 08, 2017

Show notes

Quite often Brooke and Ben are asked about social media and slow living. That is, how have they managed to build a business that relies of social media to spread the word and build a community (namely Facebook, Twitter IG) without letting it encroach on their time.

So rather than try to cram a lot of information in to one hostful answer they've decided to spend the next few Mondays talking through the various social media platforms they use, and the strategies they employ for each of them.

Today it's Twitter, which has shifted a lot over the past couple of years. While both Brooke and Ben still use it personally and often rely on Twitter to keep on top of the news, it's become less central to their business.

Twitter itself is now a bit of a "let's shout our opinions at each other" space and that's made it a far less enjoyable way to communicate with people. Plus, the changing vibe of Twitter means a lot of slow living folk are no longer hanging out there anyway, so letting it dry up has been a pretty easy choice for Brooke to make.

They talk about the scheduling vs real-time posting question too, and why Twitter is the most political of the social media platforms for both Brooke and Ben.

In short, it's not what it used to be over in Twitter Land, but if you're looking to follow interesting people, activists, news organisations etc, it can be a valuable place to spend time (maybe a limited time though?)

Head over to http://www.slowyourhome.com/202 for all the links mentioned in today's episode and for the full blog post.

Enjoy!

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And thanks so much for listening!

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Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to tame the eco-anxiety and tit-for-tat gift giving Oct 04, 2017

Show notes

It's hostful time again, and this week Brooke and Ben answer three very different listener questions and launch the big, exciting project they've been working on for the past few months. It's a good day all round!

First up, Rachael asks about coping with eco-anxiety - a great term which encapsulates the frustration that results when we try to make positive changes to our home and the waste we create, only to be constantly reminded by how imperfect our efforts are. It's an obstacle that many people come across and Brooke and Ben give their insights in to how to let go of the perfectionism and embrace smaller, more consistent changes.

Brooke then puts on her ranty pants as she and Ben discuss the inanity of tit-for-tat holiday gift giving. You know the gifts for the extended family and friends, the office Christmas party, the neighbourhood get-together? Those ones really grind Brooke's gears and today she and Ben talk about how to best opt out of those gift giving arrangements if at all possible, and what crap-free options are available for the situations where a gift is still appropriate. It's a good time of year to start considering the impact of all these novelty gifts, as we edge closer to the holidays.

Finally, Kerry asks Brooke and Ben what's most recently made them laugh uncontrollably. Brooke's answers are absurd and Ben's are a little closer to home!

Months ago Brooke and Ben mentioned a new project they were working on in response to the recent listener survey results, and today they're finally ready to put it out in to the world! The Live Life Simply Online Retreat is the first of its kind and brings together the wisdom and expertise of 13 mindfulness, simplicity and slow living experts into one blissful six-week online retreat.

The retreat is super practical and designed to help you learn at your own pace, in your own home. You can practice yoga and meditation, uncover your purpose, learn the essentials of low tox and zero waste living, dive deep in to mindfulness, slow money, creating a rhythm that works for your daily life, plus loads more - all at a time and pace that works for you.

Join Brooke and Ben, plus previous podcast guests, Jessica Murnane, Rachael Kable, Alexx Stuart, Kelly Exeter, Janell Burley Hoffman, Carolyn Tate, Kevin Janks and Dr Sarah McKay, as well as Erin Rhoads, Sam Doove and Lauren Verona from Zenko Yoga.

The line-up is incredible and we can't wait to see you there!

Head over to https://livelifesimplyretreat.com/ for all the details and to secure your place.

For more info on today's episode, head over to the blog at http://www.slowyourhome.com/201.

Enjoy!

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And thanks so much for listening!

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Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.