Sustainable Minimalists

American culture is heavily influenced by a “rise and grind” reverence for hustling, and many of us have adopted the belief that sleep is a waste of time. When we dismiss the importance of sleep, we have more time to work harder and longer. And when we have more money in our pockets, what we are really doing is keeping our capitalist engines turning.Contrary to what you've been told, sleep is not time wasted. On today's show: The Number One way to improve your health, wellness, and quality of life without spending any money at all (ahem ... prioritizing sleep). Here's a preview:[3:00] Rise and grind culture promotes sleep deprivation![9:00] What happens when we sleep? Hop on a metaphorical submarine and explore the Sleep Sea [15:00] A laundry list of bad sleep's deleterious health and wellness effects[21:00] In your 40s or 50s? You especially need to prioritize sleep, and here's why[29:00] 6 research-backed ways to prioritize sleep every darn night Resources mentioned: Episode #472: Breath Awareness Episode #465: Optimizing Your Walks Outlive: The Science And Art Of Longevity (by Dr. Peter Attia) Why We Sleep: Unlocking The Power Of Sleep And Dreams (by Dr. Matthew Walker) The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We humans are evolutionarily primed to live in concert with the natural world, but these days Americans spend over 92% of time either indoors or inside a vehicle. The result? Stress, inflammation and — for some of us — a pervasive sense of malaise. American culture is designed to keep us indoors because capitalist engines make money when we are distracted, and yet cutting-edge science supports the reality that life on this planet is radically interconnected. On today's show author Lyanda Lynn Haupt introduces the concept of rooted living to benefit of both humans and nature. Here's a preview:[11:00] Nature provides connection, and yet 21st century life vilifies the outdoors[16:00] Exactly why our capitalist engines benefit when we live indoors lives [22:00] Musings on our collected extractive mindset, plus: how roots are the antidote[28:00] Lyanda's Number One tip for re-rooting yourself and your children (It's a good one!) Resources mentioned: Rooted: Life At The Crossroads Of Science, Nature, and Spirit Lyanda on Instagram Episode #384: Forest Bathing 101 This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A product needs to fit into someone’s life seamlessly in order for it to be bought, and it’s the job of the advertiser to show exactly how the item in question will fit into a life. On today's show: 5 crucial insights advertisers know about us (that we perhaps don't know about ourselves). Here's a preview:[1:00] Examining our clutter problem through metaphor (bathtub, baby!)[9:00] Selling isn't about emotion; it's about seduction[13:00] We humans are animals, and animals are evolutionarily primed to heed warnings[15:00] Curiosity versus urgency: Both emotional states convert![21:00] How companies slowly but surely increase market share, plus: here's what happens when a product differentiates itself on eco-friendliness[26:00] Insider advertising works! Resources mentioned:The Hidden Clutter Creator Right Under Your Nose (via Your House Machine on Substack) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One football field's-worth of forest is lost every single second of every single day. Loss of forests means loss of species and loss of stored carbon; it also means an increased risk of pandemics.On today's show: Explaining the ways in which deforestation is linked to the pandemic prevalence, with tangible action steps for conscious consumers.Here's a preview:[5:00] It's not *just* about timber; it's about livestock, soy, and palm oil too[12:30] Exactly what happens when we raze forests and the generalists (ahem ... the rats, the mosquitos) march in[26:00] Breaking down the differences between the 3 Forest Stewardship Council certifications[29:00] Revisiting the palm oil problem [32:00] The industrialized food system is broken, and it pays to shorten your personal food chain Resources mentioned: Episode #447: No Topsoils, No Food Episode #187: Why Is Palm Oil Bad? This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Parenthood is awash with immense pressure to do right by our kids. We are told that children need certain (expensive) experiences to 'get ahead', and many of us observe our parenting peers investing in countless extracurriculars. But children need downtime, and recent research suggests that children should experience twice as much unstructured time as structured enrichment.On today's show podcaster Kathryn Garland and I discuss how to find the structured, extracurricular sweet spot for your family. Here's a preview:[4:30] Scheduling rule #1: Family First (not Kid First!)[15:00] When dabblers don't fit into a world of specializers[22:00] Musings on extracurriculars, the 'rat race' and getting ahead[26:00] Start with the end in mind (and other tips for finding the extracurriculars sweet spot)[31:00] Words of encouragement for leaning into the quiet and into the slow Resources mentioned: Don't Sign Your Child Up For That (Extra)Curricular Episode #478: Charting A Rich Life Homespun: Create The Life You Crave Podcast Kathryn on Instagram This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

‘Tis the season for back-to-school door busters, price slashes, and closeouts. On today’s re-air: How to reduce clutter, save money, and help the planet by shopping for back-to-school with greater intention. Here's a preview:[6:00] Let’s pull back the curtain on back-to-school marketing, shall we?[11:00] Here’s what it actually means (and what it actually looks like!) to shop your own home[18:30] Revisiting the kids’ capsule conversation[26:00] Thoughts on teacher wishlists (from a former teacher) Resources mentioned: Episode #391: Predictors Of Back To School Success Episode #006: The Ultimate Kids' Capsule Blueprint This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to Back To School Week 2024!In many homes, back to school season means back to packing lunchboxes. It's a stress-inducing chore, sure, as many parents find it difficult to think up new, creative lunch ideas that are actually healthy (and will actually get eaten!).On today's show registered dietician nutritionist Megan McNamee offers up her tried and true lunchbox formula; she also suggests simple lunch ideas that will make prepping lunches a breeze.Stay tuned for Thursday's Back To School episode about acquiring school supplies, clothes, and gear like a sustainable minimalist. Here's a preview:[4:00] Is there anything "wrong" with school lunches?[8:00] Pack when your kitchen is open! (And other practical ways to make lunchbox packing easier)[13:00] Add balance and variety by following Megan's Lunch Formula[20:00] Lunchbox ideas you've never heard of before[26:00] Must lunchboxes have a dessert?[33:00] How to best use after school snack time as a sneaky way to supplement your child's diet Resources mentioned: Feeding Littles Lunches: 75+ No-Stress Lunches Everyone Will Love Episode #391: Predictors Of Back To School Success This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Scientists have found unsettling details about the potential health risks of common household cleaning products. And yet Big Cleaning capitalizes on fear of germs, bacteria, and disease to sell us home cleansers with traditional chemical compounds on the regular.It behooves us to ask ourselves whether the ways things have always been done align with our own values. On today's show Zac Kieffer argues it's high-time we redefine what it means to clean. Here's a preview:[3:00] Three reasons why it's important to perpetually question the way we clean and disinfect[8:00] Are you disinfecting correctly? (Answer: Probably not.)[16:00] Ammonia! 2-Butoxyethanol! BACs! Here's what cleaning companies don't want you to know about the (very powerful) chemical compounds in traditional cleansers[21:00] Big Cleaning and fear-based marketing[28:00] Does microfiber = microplastics? Resources mentioned: Episode #417: How To Buy Soap E-Cloth (Minimalists15 for 15% off site-wide) Cleaning Products Emit Hundreds of Hazardous Chemicals, New Study Finds (via EWG) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you're like me, you're likely dealing with constant, low-grade clutter situations, and that's because once a purchase is made, the item is ours to maintain, manage, and store. Sadly, consumerism never talks about the negative wellness effects of buying (I'm looking at you, cortisol!).If clutter keeps piling up despite your best efforts, my guest today argues that it's time to dig deeper. Not deeper into the piles, of course. Deeper into yourSELF.On today's show professional organizer Jenny Albertini argues that decluttering is an act of self-care; it can also become a habit that enhances wellness. Put this episode on while you tackle an oft-forgotten space in your home and get to work! Here's a preview:[4:00] Why do we clutter?[5:30] Breaking down the bidirectional exchange between clutter and wellness[12:00] Our personal thresholds for clutter tolerance ebb and flow throughout life (and that's totally normal)[24:00] Tangible ways to stop the many clutter streams coming into our homes[27:00] Thoughts on right-sizing other people's gifts and hand-me-downs with our own space confines[31:30] The quiet genius of the "Someday Maybe" technique Resources mentioned: Decluttered: Mindful Organizing for Health, Home, and Beyond This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Thanks to E-Cloth for being the feature sponsor of this episode! Use my code "Minimalists15" for 15% off sitewide: https://us.e-cloth.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In our hyper-capitalist society, it's often implied that the only things worth savoring are the really fancy, really shiny, really new, and really exotic. Let's push back against that narrative by finding the glimmers, also known as those simple moments of pleasure that pop up during our days.We minimalists already know that it's in the small things that beauty lies. On today's show: Research-backed ways to spot life's glimmers and reap the most joy possible from every instance. Here's a preview:[8:00] Glimmers are all around us all the time. Are you paying attention?[16:00] Savoring offers many wellness benefits. One of them? It's an active way to fight back against our innate negativity bias[26:00] Introducing savoring's evil cousin, dampening (plus: how to stop it right this second)[32:00] Add in some effort! Determine a glimmer in your life and get optimizing[37:00] Downtime is a necessary part of life (it's also a time when we are most available to catch the glimmers)[42:00] Say it loud and say it proud! Verbalize the simple pleasures as a means of extending and expanding the pleasure Resources mentioned: Episode #439: The Negativity Bias Aro This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! **If you're a financial supporter over on Apple Podcasts and want to join book club, please email me and let me know! For privacy reasons, Apple won't share your contact info with me. Just email me and I'll happily add you!** Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We talk an awful lot about "climate science" and "what climate scientists predict" on this podcast. Today, I'm talking to one of them. What exactly are the next 100 years likely going to look like for humans? What needs to happen for the US to mobilize for real? On today's show: A conversation with Michael Barnard about climate solutions, with an emphasis on that pesky air conditioning problem. Here's a preview:[9:00] When it comes to cooling the planet, here's why my guest is "cautiously optimistic" despite the impending "ugly process"[14:00] Why climate change must first become impossible to ignore[20:00] The hotter it gets, the cooler we need our homes to be. And yet cooling our homes demands energy, which heats the planet more[27:00] Do we need to worry about mass electric grid failures in summer months?[32:00] Exactly why heat pumps are our collective heating and cooling future Resources mentioned: The New Climate War: The Fight To Take Back Our Planet (by Michael E. Mann) Proven Climate Solutions: Leading Voices on How to Accelerate Change This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Thanks to E-Cloth for being the feature sponsor of this episode! Use code "Minimalists15" for 15% off sitewide: https://us.e-cloth.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When it comes to environmental concerns, there's certainly plenty to worry about at the moment. Whether you and your family is eating microplastics on the regular may not be your list of top concerns.But it’s an important topic to cover. While the health effects of microplastics on humans are not fully understood, common sense measures that reduce our exposures to both the plastic itself and also the endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are on and in such particles are certainly prudent. On today's show: How to eat, drink, and inhale fewer microplastics as you go about your days. Here's a preview:[6:00] Synthesizing the latest research into the effects of microplastics on human health[11:00] Stop eating microplastics! 3 practical action steps in the kitchen[27:00] Inhalation and absorption matters: Why vacuuming and dusting helps[35:00] 3 (super easy) ways to reduce your plastics exposure when you're out and about Resources mentioned: Episode #393: Single-Use Poison Episode #466: Toxic Fashion E-Cloth Numi Tea This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 1901, American families spent 20% of their income on non-necessities. But 123 years later? These days that figure has risen to 50%. Many of us spend hard-earned money in hopes of acquiring things that money can't buy, and the result? Nearly 3 and 4 of Americans identify finances as a top stressor in their lives.Marketers have created consumer desire, sure, but it's entirely possible to spend in alignment with your values. In a world of disposable incomes, global warming, and far too much cortisol, we need values-based spending now more than ever, because spending on your core values benefits your wallet, your sanity, and the planet all at once.On today's show author Jill Sirianni encourages us to drill down our core values so we spend less, save more, and recenter our lives around what's actually important. Here's a preview:[8:30] The Number One reason not to buy to solve your problems (It rarely works!)[15:00] Faith, Family, Friends, and Fulfilling work: Identifying core values and the Four Fs[18:00] It's not deprivation, but it could be sacrifice ... How does self-care fit into the values-based spending conversation?[26:00] Nailing down your values and curb impulse spending for good Resources mentioned: Buy What You Love Without Going Broke Frugal Friends Podcast Thanks to E-Cloth for being the feature sponsor of this episode! Use my code "Minimalists15" for 15% off sitewide at: https://us.e-cloth.com/ This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Once upon a time (oh, about 175 years ago) we were epic creators. Human hands made things, grew things, built things, and even invented things on the regular. But these days? By and large, we identify as consumers, and our hands are mostly used for typing and swiping.And yet, when we consume too much, many of us experience stress, anxiety, and depression. We know it because we're living it: Our possessions can possess us. If we create more, we may very likely consume less. On today's show: Moving the needle of contentment away from over-consumption back to self-sufficiency by highlighting what research has to say about the wellness benefits associated with using our hands to create. Here's a preview:[4:30] Exactly when and how did we lost our collective abilities to create (Here's lookin' at you, mail-order catalog)[9:30] Our hands are marvels. Marvels, I say![15:00] Crafting is good for you, so pick up those knitting needles, woodworking tools, or art supplies[20:00] In defense of active leisure (and I do mean active!)[24:00] Puzzles, board games, and the wellness benefits associated with "supercharged socializing" Resources mentioned: Book Club is August 5! 2 meetings this time around at 12pm EST and at 7pm EST. Join us! Working With Your Hands Is Good for Your Brain (via The New York Times) Handmade (by Gary Rogowski) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tomatoes, green beans, peaches, and so much more: Our great-grandmas knew a thing or two about food preservation, and yet these days few of us can. It's a time- and labor-intensive practice, sure. But it's also a self-sufficient life skill. Whether you grow some or all of your own food or seek out bargains at the store and farmers' market, canning the season's bounty means you'll be eating well all year round. You'll also be participating in a nearly waste-free practice (no plastic to see here!). Back to our great-grandmas for a hot minute: They infused love in every jar, and so can you. On today's show author Sarah Thrush invites us to go back to food preservation basics with advice on how to integrate canning into a self-sufficient, money-saving, and sustainable lifestyle. Here's a preview:[10:00] Say it loud, say it proud: There's no self-sufficiency without community![15:00] The #1 Rule of canning, plus: why it's super important to start small[19:0o] The One Week, One Month, One Year principle: Here's exactly how Sarah keeps enough food on hand to feed her family for an entire year[25:00] Troubleshooting the most common canning conundrums[33:00] Take it outside and make it a party! The benefits to canning outside with your familyThanks to E-Cloth for being the feature sponsor of this episode! Use code "Minimalists15" for 15% off sitewide: https://us.e-cloth.com/Resources mentioned: Preserving With A Purpose: Next Generations Canning Recipes and Wisdom Sarah on TikTok @peeliesandpetals Superb canning lids This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Does it sometimes feel as though the passive act of being alive is too expensive and too difficult? You're not alone: Many scholars argue that late stage capitalism is what happens when everything (literally everything!) is commodified. Existing feels unnecessarily hard, too.There IS good news: Surviving (and perhaps even thriving!) in a late stage capitalist society is possible. On today's show Laura Oldanie shows us exactly how to sur-thrive, with 6 actionable steps. Here's a preview of the strategies we're discussing today:[15:00] Pay attention to when and how you're influenced[17:00] Think of yourself less as a consumer and more as producer[21:00] Use your attention capital wisely[27:00] Embrace different forms of currency (free time, perhaps?)[35:00] Reduce unnecessary consumption and get off that capitalist hamster wheel, for good Resources mentioned: Join us for Book Club! We are super fun, I promise! Digital Minimalism (by Cal Newport) https://timebanks.org Episode #211 Redefining Wealth (with Shannon Hayes) Capitalism Survival Guide E-Book This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! **If you're a financial supporter over on Apple Podcasts and want to join Book Club, please email me and let me know! For privacy reasons, Apple won't share your contact info with me. Just email me and I'll happily add you!** Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Despite our massive financial and material gains, happiness in the US has been in a consistent state of decline since at least the 1940s.The research is clear: Materialism is toxic to human happiness. On today's show author Jeff Golden suggests practical ways to nourish in our lives the things that can help us live well (while simultaneously avoiding the hooks of money and stuff). Here's a preview:[5:30] We live amidst unimaginable wealth, yet we are unhappier than ever before. Here's why[10:00] Materialism is toxic to happiness, and not for the reasons you think[16:00] Exactly why you should choose your neighborhood wisely[22:00] Want to be happier? Don't put your effort into amassing stuff; put it here instead[30:00] Are we overly concerned about owning stuff so that we don't have to face our internal lacks? This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For so many of us, day in and day out home maintenance feels like a gigantic weight on our shoulders. And because conventional gender roles pervade, matters of the home often continue to be one (wo)man's burden.Decluttering, tidying, organizing, and cleaning, oh my! On today's show: A conversation with professional organizer Sona Avetisyan about getting our partners and our children to pitch in. Here's a preview:[5:00] What is it about clutter that's so triggering for women?[10:00] Status quo fallback prevention 101[13:00] Sick of nagging? Here's what works when I need my kids to help the heck out[18:00] Let's talk partners! Musings on what to do when your partner can't/won't pitch in[28:00] In defense of bringing playfulness back into our closest relationships (It's not that deep!) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When we buy something, it's not necessarily about the *thing*. Oftentimes we are buying into a story about ourselves; namely, what we simply must fix as we seek to get one step closer to our aspirational, in-a-perfect-world self.Important truth time: You are not a perpetual self-improvement project, and no product can fix what was never broken in the first place. On today's show: A conversation with author Cait Flanders about why she broke up with self-help content and flaws-first marketing messages (and why, too, she never looked back). Here's a preview:[5:00] Buying stuff to escape your feelings? (Me too.)[10:00] The "there's something wrong with you" messaging starts in childhood, my friends[13:00] Where's the line between prioritizing self-growth versus living in that perpetually sad place of 'less than'?[20:00] Here's how your life may change if you stopped spending $$ on products to fix what you've been told is broken[26:00] Musings on letting go of our aspirational selves once and for all Resources mentioned: The Year Of Less The Mindful Consumer on Substack Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide To Reclaiming Yourself (by Nedra Glover Tawwab) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Americans spend about 21 hours per day inside. On the whole, we are also more depressed and anxious than ever before.Many of us have been trained to seek out commodified services to unwind (I'm looking at you, #selfcare!). But what if a potential solution cost zero dollars and offered zero risk?On today's show: An invitation to welcome nature back into your life, with 5.5 novel suggestions that are backed by science. Here's a preview:[9:00] Walk barefoot! (Around your yard, at least)[14:00] Don't knock it 'til you've tried it, camping edition[20:00] We don't have to optimize every second. Here's how to wander like a boss in a wild space[26:00] Get your hands dirty[34:00] 2 hours per week outdoors offers a laundry list of benefits, so move your favorite activities outsideResources mentioned: Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit (by Lyanda Lynn Haupt) Why Gardening Is So Good for You (via The New York Times) Episode #465: Optimizing Your Walks (with Annabel Abbs) Cornell Lab bird app This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hyper-capitalism — also called late-stage capitalism — is what happens when material resources, lifestyle activities, and everything in between becomes both commodified and consumable. In hyper-capitalistic economies, products get invented that no one needs or wants. Celebrities are revered like gods. Inequity is everywhere, and citizens internalize the idea that their worth is measured by some mysterious combination of career success and amassed material goods.Many argue that the United States has entered its hyper-capitalist era, as Americans report that the relentless demands of trying to keep up results in working longer hours, increasing loneliness, and lowered life satisfaction.On today's show: A conversation with New York Times bestselling author Kirsten Powers about the ways in which Americans are experiencing the effects of hyper-capitalism in real time. Here's a preview:[5:00] A laundry list of hyper-capitalism's consequences in 2024[11:00] Europe doesn't consume way America does. They're not as lonely, either[15:00] Taking a good, hard look at our disordered American beliefs[19:00] Implications associated with celebrity worship[26:00] Pay for what you get? Not in this case! Debunking the privatized healthcare myth[33:00] Musings on nationwide learned helplessness This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's plenty of distressing research into what smartphones are doing to adults' attention spans, focus, and memory. And on child/teen development? Emerging research is even more alarming. We are change makers, and change making means making difficult decisions, having difficult conversations, and going against the grain. On today's show: Why we need to (yet again!) rethink our approach to technology and delay the age at which we give our children access to smartphones. Here's a preview:[8:30] 57% of Americans report being "addicted" to their smartphones. Are you one of them? [11:30] Smartphone addiction isn't your fault! Here's exactly how social media keeps your attention so they make more $$[17:30] How to declutter your cell phone like a boss[26:00] What recent research says with regard to the impacts of smartphones on children's/teens' wellness[37:00] 5 reasons parents say they're pulled to give their child a smartphone, plus alternative solutions![43:00] Individual actions impact the collective. How to make delaying the smartphone a staple in your community Resources mentioned: The Smart Phone Compulsion Test Wait Until 8th How To Break Up With Your Phone (by Catherine Price) The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness (by Jonathan Haidt) Investigation: How TikTok's Algorithm Figures Out Your Deepest Desires (via The Wall Street Journal) Have Smart Phones Destroyed A Generation? (via The Atlantic) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Want to feel calmer and happier? You don't have to shell out hundreds of dollars for the newest wellness product or service. In fact, the solution doesn't cost a cent: simply get in touch with your breathing.Breath is an amazing and responsive teacher. That's because if we breathe as we live — take in and let go — we can't go wrong.On today's show: An invitation to meet yourself with author Jean Hall. Here's a preview:[5:00] The breath underpins everything we do in life, and yet we rarely bring awareness to it. Why not?[10:00] 5 wellness benefits re: paying attention to your breathing patterns[25:00] Exploring the pause changes everything[29:00] Flowing with the breath is great practice for learning how to flow with life Resources mentioned: Breathe: Simple Breathing Techniques For A Calmer, Happier Life Jean on Instagram This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From phone calls to blind dates to punctuation to civil discourse, the internet has changed every aspect of human life. While some losses are insignificant, the rise of the internet has also resulted in larger repercussions, like shorter attention spans, a collective inability to sit in solitude, and the the utter demolition of personal privacy.On today's show: A conversation with author and New York Times columnist Pamela Paul about the ways in which the internet has fundamentally changed human existence. Here's a preview:[8:00] Do humans need to experience boredom once in awhile? (Absolutely yes, and here's why)[14:00] Not-so-thanks to the internet, the past no longer stays in the past[20:00] The hive mind and queen bees: Does the internet hamper independent thought?[27:00] Parenting implications associated with the loss of the kitchen landline[35:00] Ruminating on the disappearance of the phone call Resource mentioned:100 Things We've Lost to the Internet This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I received an email last month from two Dutchmen who have been sailing around the world for 8 years in search of climate solutions. They asked to visit my home and chat. I obliged, and I'm so happy I did.On today's show: an in-person interview with Floris van Hees and Ivar Smits — also affectionately known as Sailors For Sustainability — about the wisdom they've gained from their adventure.Here's a preview of 4 pieces of wisdom we are discussing today: [7:00] Leaving the "golden cage" is big risk, sure. But there's also big reward[16:00] America isn't normal![22:00] Bad news sells, but there's plenty of good going on in the world because humans are incredibly adaptable[43:00] When the smoke in the global theater thickens, the exit signs will shine brighter This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Before aluminum coated in Teflon, there was cast iron.Our great-grandparents revered cast iron in the kitchen because it lasts *forever*. And with proper care? It's naturally non-stick, no PFAS necessary.These days cast iron is experiencing a renaissance of sorts, and for many good reasons. On today's show cast iron historian Kyle Seip answers our burning questions about how to cook on and care for our beloved cast iron cookware (it's way easier than you think!). Here's a preview:[6:00] Before aluminum, it was iron: A brief cast iron history[11:00] What a price tag says about new and vintage cast iron pieces[13:00] Getting to the bottom of the confusing health claims[18:00] How do you clean cast iron? Is soap OK?[22:00] When to use enamel-coated cast iron (hey there, Le Creuset!) versus when reach for traditional[25:00] Everything you need to know about seasoning your cast iron (spoiler alert: you don't need to do much!)[27:00] Troubleshooting a rusty skillet Resources mentioned: Smithey Cast Iron Kyle On Instagram @castiron_kyle This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is the glass half empty, or is it half full? According to Tony Robbins, trading your expectations for appreciation instantly changes everything. Psychological research agrees: Gratitude has the power to improve every single aspect of your life.On today's show: how to truly feel gratitude for your stuff and people. Here's a preview:[3:00] Want to be 18% happier? It's as easy as putting on a new pair of glasses, metaphorically speaking[10:00] HABITUATION! Our brains are primed to forget why certain stuff and people are important [19:00] Say it with me: Stuff doesn't create gratitude! 3 tips for feeling grateful for what you already own[28:00] We expect way too much from our partners. Let's fix that together[35:00] Feeling less than grateful for the people in your life? That's normal (there's also a simple antidote) Resources mentioned: Episode #460: Pleasure-Saturated The Gratitude Diaries: How A Year Looking On The Bright Side Can Transform Your Life (by Janice Kaplan) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Packaged foods (obviously) have ingredients lists. Our favorite beauty products have ingredients lists. And those cleaning products under the kitchen sink? Yup, they've got ingredients lists, too.Ever wonder why our clothes don't have ingredients lists? While we'd *like* to think our favorite garments are made of woven fibers and nothing more, the sad truth is there are countless unregulated chemicals in our closet go-tos (and these chemicals are likely harming our health).On today's show investigative journalist Alden Wicker explains why synthetic fashion and dyes made from fossil fuels are so deeply intertwined with the rise of autoimmune disease, infertility, asthma, eczema, and more; she also suggests concrete action steps for curating a clean(er) closet. Here's a preview:[7:00] Uncovering the chemicals in our clothes and what they're doing to our health[10:30] Taking a special look at the especially problematic petrochemical-based azo dyes (often used on petrochemical-based fibers)[17:00] If all this stuff is in our clothing, why don't garments have ingredients lists?[22:00] Carter's, Victoria's Secret, and victim body blaming[31:00] Why 'organic' doesn't mean much when it comes to clothing[36:00] For subscribers! Action steps for curating a clean(er) closet Resources mentioned: To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick — And How We Can Fight Back Plastic-Free Activewear? Here are 15 Brands That Use Natural Instead of Synthetic Fibers (via Eco Cult) The Best Non-Toxic Fashion Brands For Chemically Sensitive People (via Eco Cult) Future Card This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Modern life panders to our innate desire to be sedentary, and never has it been more difficult to resist the alluring convenience of screens.Yet walking matters. On today's show author Annabel Abbs-Streets suggests tangible ways to attain the full range of benefits that walking has to offer — physical, emotional, and spiritual — that's backed by latest research. Here's a preview:[7:00] A laundry list of all the physiological benefits of walking and hiking for movement (get ready to be blown away)[11:00] Why it's important to walk with our eyes, plus: the mental health benefits associated with panoramic vision[16:00] Want more calm in your life? Research finds that these very specific nature sounds matter[21:00] Terpenes, baby! Large trees offer us these psychological and physiological benefits[25:00] Don't shy away from that mud puddle. Soil microbes matter![30:00] How to best optimize your daily walk for health and wellness benefits Want more episodes like this one? Check out #384: Forest Bathing 101 This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The environmental news headlines you need to know for Friday, May 10 2024:[00:30] Fish are shrinking around the world and no one knows why[4:00] Have a gas stove? Here's another thing to worry about [7:00] Exactly how green initiatives push some voters to the far right [11:30] A Sriracha shortage has climate change to blame[15:00] Climate change raises the risks of another pandemic, and here's why This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

While fresh fruits and vegetables are irreplaceable parts of a healthy diet, pesticides aren't benign. Sadly, many of our favorite produce items carry unhealthy levels of pesticides, and each one comes with its own unique risk profile.On today's show: A comprehensive review of the most recent research into pesticides in produce.Here's a preview:[5:00] Not all pesticides are the same, and different pesticides have different risk profiles[10:00] DDT, bald eagles, Silent Spring, and America's history with pesticides[19:00] Stephanie's thoughts on the EWG's Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen[25:00] Are the EPA's maximum residue limits too high?[30:00] ** You need to know about these countries with organic reciprocity![34:00] Does peeling help? How should we best wash conventional produce?[38:00] For subscribers! 6 concrete action steps for informed consumers Resources mentioned: EWG's Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen Produce Without Pesticides (via Consumer Reports) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We know climate change is expensive, but how expensive is it really?A new analysis finds that beyond its effects on the broader economy, rising temperatures seriously hurt our personal finances. On today's show: A conversation with Alexandra Grose about what happens when climate change reduces lifetime income and simultaneously raises prices on ... well, everything. Resource mentioned:Climate Change Could Cost Each American Born Today $500,000 (via Consumer Reports) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The environmental news headlines you need to know for Friday, May 3 2024:[1:30] Newly released documents and Big Oil's secret climate strategy[7:00] Here's what Patagonia's doing with all its profits[13:00] Therapists are trading the couch for the great outdoors, and here's why[16:00] Sea levels are rising in the US coastal South faster than anywhere else on Earth Resource mentioned: Tell DOJ to Investigate Big Oil (via Action Network) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Something semi-sad happens as we age: We lose our nimbleness. So many of us white-knuckle grip long-held habits and beliefs and thus fail to question whether such routines and ideas are working in our best interests. Worse, such rigidity goes directly against our "factory settings" as human beings: As a species, we fully live when we prioritize resilience, light-footedness, and fearlessness. (Don't believe me? Just observe a child!)On today's show: embracing fresh starts, prioritizing roads less travelled, and unpacking pressures associated with cultural uniformity with author and podcaster Shannon Leyko. Here's a preview:[14:00] How to lean into tension by taking "messy action"[18:00] It's not *just* about trying a new hobby; it's about resiliency. Self-efficacy, too![23:00] Timelines are rarely linear, and "starting over" isn't starting back at square one[30:00] Common struggles associated with living unconventionally in a conventional world Resources mentioned: The Paring Down Podcast Shannon on Instagram You're Completely Normal: Trading Where You Think You Should Be For Where You Want To Go This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Many corporations are hopping on the sustainability bandwagon these days, but it's not for altruistic reasons. It's likely due to the green premium: because eco-friendly products cost more, business owners see an opportunity for increased revenue. The result? Greenwashed products abound (And guess what? You're likely paying *extra* for a product that isn't at all eco-conscious!). On today's show Aidan Riehl offers advanced tips for avoiding greenwashing in today's ever-changing market. Here's a preview:[6:30] Some questions to ask: Is this eco-friendly product owned by a conglomerate? Is this one product the *only* eco-conscious product in their product line?[9:30] Getting to the bottom of "biodegradable" claims once and for all[16:30] Should we look for pre-consumer or post-consumer recycled plastics?[19:00] Laundry sheets and dishwasher pods! Is polyvinyl alcohol actually benign?[22:00] So many pledges, so little action[25:00] Steph's tips to spot greenwashing in influencer marketing Resources mentioned: Episode #106: Greenwashing 1.0 Ecolabelindex.com EU bans ‘misleading’ environmental claims that rely on offsetting (via The Guardian) How We Avoid A Climate Disaster (by Bill Gates) The World Is Falling Short of Its Climate Goals. Four Big Emitters Show Why. (via NY Times) Good On You Think Dirty This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The environmental news headlines you need to know for Friday, April 26 2024:[00:30] The world's biggest plastic polluters revealed[2:30] Biden limits oil drilling in the Alaskan arctic (it's also an election year)[5:00] One of the worst coral bleaching events happening right now in the Great Barrier Reef[8:00] Nearly 2 in 5 Americans live in a place with unhealthy or hazardous air. Are you one of them?[12:00] Can cloning be a legitimate solution to species extinction? Resource mentioned:One million species face extinction, U.N. report says. And humans will suffer as a result. (via WaPo) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We Homo Sapiens are notorious for avoiding pain and seeking pleasure. In fact, we have transformed the planet from a place of scarcity to a place of overwhelming abundance, with ample opportunities to flood our brains with dopamine at every turn.But over-consuming has consequences: Exposure to prolonged and repeated pleasurable stimuli decreases our capacity to tolerate pain and increases our threshold for experiencing pleasure. On today's show: Resetting your neural set point to make dopamine work FOR you, not against you.Here's a preview:[3:00] Here's exactly why our brains aren't designed to work optimally in our 2024 world of pleasure[7:00] Measuring the dopamine-induced addictive potential of various foods, habits, and drugs[10:00] What goes up must come down: Here's what opponent process theory means for you and your brain[14:00] Quantifying leisure time from the Civil War to present day[24:00] Dopamine fasts work! Here's how to recalibrate your brain[28:00] How to best lean into a bit of pain (and why you may want to) Resources mentioned: Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance In The Age Of Indulgence (by Dr. Anna Lembke) Episode #316: Moderation In All Things Episode #299: Future-Conscious Thinking This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Last year was the hottest year on record, so it's safe to say that Earth Day as we traditionally celebrate isn't working.On today's show I suggest what I believe is the antidote to the climate crisis (and I'm willing to bet you won't be able to guess what it is!). Here's a preview:[3:45] The Big 5: We know what we should do environment-wise, so why aren't we doing it?[7:15] Communal care is anti-capitalist, and that's really darn important[16:30] Here's what research finds re: the relationship between collectivist culture and pro-environmental behaviors[24:00] If the problem is disconnection, is the solution as simple as authentic reconnection?[34:00] It's actually not hard at all to pivot from the conventional, negative feedback loop we find ourselves currently in This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Reminder! Our hands can do more than type and text. In fact, they can grow things.On today's show — and in honor of National Gardening Day! — permaculture expert Kareen Erbe lists countless tangible and intangible benefits associated with active participation in your local growing community; she also offers practical suggestions for getting off our screens and reengaging with the natural world. Here's a preview:[8:00] Industrializing our food systems has benefits, sure. But in doing so, what have we sacrificed?[19:00] Industrial agriculture is the problem, but agriculture is also the solution[23:00] Don't want to grow anything? You don't have to! Here's how to best invest in your *local* food systems[27:00] It's not that local, organic food is so expensive; it's that corporate, industrialized food is too cheap[31:00] The 5 S-es: Scalable tips for newbie growers[35:00] Kids who grow kale eat kale! Resources mentioned: Episode #447: No Topsoils, No Food Kareen on Instagram This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Identifying 5 expensive and downright impractical geoengineering ideas designed to curb global warming:[5:30] 2 direct carbon capture projects (one of which plans to drill more oil)[8:30] A gigantic umbrella in space?[10:00] Adding iron to the ocean in hopes of spurring algae blooms[13:00] Sending sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere in weather balloons, oh my Resources mentioned: This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Take stealth wealth and reverse it: Stealth frugality is what happens when a person lives big without spending lots of money. On today's show: A laundry list of the ways in which we can each live a rich life but do so frugally. *A note from Stephanie: I mention a ridiculous amount of companies in today's show. None of them are sponsored! Here's a preview:[6:00] Home is where the heart is, so open up your home![10:30] Pizza? Cocktails? Manicures? Learn how make/do what you love but better[14:30] #selfcare culture is a capitalist construct (and you should never have to pay to care for your SELF)[19:00] How to enjoy your hobbies without going all-in with the extras[23:00] Want to eat like royalty? Learn how to cook[30:00] Get yo' hands on some great reading material (without overspending!) Resources mentioned: Living The Good Life, Just Cheaper? (via The Frugal Girl) The Buffalo Wool Company Episode #194: Safer Nail Polish Dazzle Dry nail polish Lego Replay -- This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Work emails. Social media notifications. Weather alerts. The constant news cycle.In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it's easy to get lost in the chaos of endless distractions. Yet research has shown that information overload can lead to mental exhaustion, reduced cognitive function, and an inability to make sound decisions. On the other hand, intentional disconnection has the power to enhance creativity and productivity. It improves overall well-being, too.On today's show podcaster Diane Boden and I discuss exactly why it's so important to disconnect from modern distractions at least once in awhile; we also brainstorm how to best unplug. Here's a preview:[12:00] Are we becoming a culture that can't sit with negative emotions? With boredom?[16:30] Blue laws once encouraged rest; these days stores are open 7 days a week (thanks, capitalism!)[23:00] Stephanie's Number One tip for mindfulness newbies[26:00] Hurry culture, busy-ness, and setting professional boundaries[30:00] Do you watch TV while scrolling on your phone? Theres a name for that! Outlining the (numerous) consequences associated with 'continuous partial attention' Resources mentioned: Diane on Instagram 10% Happier: How I Tamed The Voice In My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, And Found Self-Help That Actually Works — A True Story (by Dan Harris) Waking Up App The Ruthless Elimination Of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World (by John Mark Comer) -- This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Can a white couch and a toddler coexist? Research finds that environment impacts well-being, and we shouldn't have to wait 18 years to enjoy our homes. On today's show we address the age-old question: Can we have kids and nice things? The answer is yes; here's how. Here's a preview:[6:00] Hey you. (Yes, you!) You don't have to wait 18 years to enjoy your home[21:00] Don't invest in expensive accents and accessories! Go big on the timeless staples, instead [25:00] Making a case for proudly using and displaying heirlooms[35:00] Exactly how to reframe accidents into teachable opportunities Resources mentioned: The Magnolia Story Episode #452: House Rules Episode #454: The Low-Tox Life -- This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Living the low-tox life can seem expensive and out of reach. But it doesn’t have to be.On today's show podcaster Regan Nelson suggests 7 research-backed ways to reduce your exposure to toxins that just so happen to *also* be free. Here's a preview:[10:00] Lead! Pesticides! Here's what's on the bottom of your shoes [14:00] Sure, this household staple is convenient (but it's also bisphenol- and phthalate-laden)[19:00] Be wary of these "regrettable substitutions"[26:00] Are you still using products with synthetic fragrance? (Stop!)[34:00] Teens, tweens, and beauty products: How to best present the "less is more" message Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 29 2024:[00:30] Here's why Americans pay the most after a natural disaster[6:00] New laws against intentional methane release, plus: why this new law is a money maker [9:00] Throwing $$ at the industrial carbon emissions problem[12:00] Introducing radar gaps (a.k.a. another thing to worry about) Resources mentioned: Radar gaps threaten millions as severe weather season ramps up in U.S. (via WaPo) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fossil fuels power our modern lives, and yet fossil fuels are also powering global warming. Because many of us lack the self-sufficient skills necessary to survive an extended power outage event, we are one thing and one thing only: vulnerable.We have become over-reliant on the very thing that's destroying our planet. On today's show: Imagining the ways in which modern life, interpersonal connections, well-being and more would change in a hypothetical, fossil fuel-free world. Here's a preview:[6:00] We are so reliant on electricity that we are incapacitated without it. This is a problem![11:00] In the event of a 2-weeks plus outage, modernity would look a lot different[24:00] Is minimalism late stage capitalism personified?[28:00] Without fossil fuels, we'd be circular[30:00] What research says with regard to the wellness benefits of working with our hands Resources mentioned: Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath (by Ted Koppel) Doomsday Prep for the Super-Rich (via The New Yorker) Episode #096: Why Self-Sufficiency Matters (with Kelly Morris) -- This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When it comes to furnishing and styling ours homes, we all deserve spaces that facilitate easeful living. But for those of us without an eye for design? Furniture and decor mistakes can happen (and they can be costly).On today's show best-selling author Myquillyn Smith reveals her signature house rules for homes of every size, style, and budget; she also shows us how to get the most amount of comfort from our space with the least amount of stuff.Here's a preview of the house rules we are discussing today:[16:30] Threes, please[21:00] Resourcefulness is the ultimate resource[25:00] Plan on the kids growing up [29:00] Timelessness is here to stay [34:00] The size of your house does not dictate the size of your hospitality Resources mentioned: Win Every Argument Episode #433: The Fast Furniture Trap Climate Action Now Environmental Voter Project Postcards To Voters Vote Forward This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting its mission! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 22 2024:[00:30] What you need to know about "the most significant climate regulation in US history" announced this week[6:15] It has never been cheaper to purchase an EV, and here's why[9:00] ... Speaking of EVs: enter mega mining[12:00] Hi, TIM! How to book a flight like a conscious consumer Resources mentioned: This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Things are a-changin' around here. On today's show: Introducing new ways to support the show (with fun perks like ad-free shows, subscriber-only episodes and, yes, real life Book Club!)This is YOUR show. As always, thank you for your support! >> https://sustainableminimalists.substack.com/ --Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eating meals together is the ultimate parenting cheat code, and that's because in just one hour you can improve your kids' academic performance, self-esteem, and cardiovascular health while simultaneously reducing their risks of substance misuse, depression, and obesity.On today's show: author Annette Thurmon on making the kitchen the heart of the home once again. Here's a preview:[7:30] A laundry list of the nutritional benefits of regular family dinners, plus the developmental and mental health benefits for kids and teens[10:00] We parents should be including our children in the cooking process, and here's why (plus: easy lift how-tos)[20:00] Remember: It's not about the food! It's about the face-to-face, tech-free time[23:00] Practical dinnertime promptsResource mentioned:Simple Country Living: Techniques, Recipes, and Wisdom for the Garden, Kitchen, and Beyond Creative alternatives to "How was your day?" What's one thing you learned today? What's one thing that made you smile today? If you could change something about your day, what would it be? What's one thing you liked most about your day? What has made you feel loved recently? How did you help someone today? How did someone help you? What's it like to be a kid? To be a parent? What was your last thought before falling asleep last night? --Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Say hello! [email protected]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.