Sustainable Minimalists

Ever scrutinize old photos + pick apart your outfits of decades past? I do.  My first thought: “Ugh what was I thinking wearing THAT?”  My second thought: “Where’s that outfit now?” *Spoiler Alert* : ALL your outfits of decades-past are SOMEwhere. (The landfill, probably.) These days, we’re in the habit of tossing clothes at the first sign of wear + tear. That’s because timeless skills like mending + darning are thrown to the wayside in favor of convenience. This episode changes that.  Today I’m thrilled to highlight 5 mending tricks that go beyond sewing on a button. You don’t need a sewing machine, either! * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook + Instagram!

  You’ve purged, donated, decluttered + organized your heart out, but – STILL! – you find yourself stressed + anxious? You’re not alone. Minimalism is good for kids; it’s good for parents, too. But minimalism is a Band-Aid for a much larger problem, and that problem is stress + anxiety. My guest this week is Anna Seewald. She’s a parent educator, speaker, author + podcaster with backgrounds in psychology + education. She’s here to legitimize the connection between clutter + anxiety; she offers not-so-obvious strategies that work ALONGSIDE minimalism in your life and in your homes, too.  Enjoy! * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook + Instagram!

Ever feel like life is one gigantic competition? (I do, sometimes!) This week’s guest ISN’T keeping up with the Joneses. She’s happily living the life she WANTS to lead; today, she shows you how to do it, too. This week, we: – outline concrete strategies to remove financial obstacles standing in the way of living our best lives, – discuss the nitty-gritty behind consciously exiting the rat race, and – offer 3 questions to ask yourself BEFORE veering from life’s standard script, for good. My guest this week is Alli Owen. She minimized her finances, saved 70-percent of her income + quit her high-powered job. These days she’s traveling around the country in a converted van. Alli is a gem: She offers nuggets of wisdom for everyone aspiring to live in greater synchronicity with their values. I’m thrilled to introduce you to Alli Owen! * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable minimalists are on Facebook + Instagram!

  Paper invitations + lined envelopes? Meh. Table arrangements with beautiful but foreign booms? Eeek! Heaps of uneaten food, discarded food? Yuck! Here’s a secret: Weddings don’t have to be wasteful! Luxury + sustainability can coexist at ceremonies, receptions +beyond. This week, I offer my best tips for planning a wedding that’s both eco-friendly + elegant; I show how sustainable choices save SERIOUS CASH, too. Not getting married anytime soon? I’ve got you covered, because I’m also divulging 6 tips for eco-conscious guests to enjoy wedding season guilt and waste-free. * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Interested in the FREE Sustainability Challenge? It’s not too late! Learn more + Sign up here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable minimalists are on Facebook + Instagram!  

Everyone’s talking about the mental load these days. On today’s episode, we analyze the ways in which this endless To-Do List + minimalism collide. My guest this week is Leslie Forde. She divulges takeaways she’s gained from her data-driven approach to studying the mental load; she gets deeply personal, too. This week, we: – Describe EXACTLY HOW the mental load erodes well-being, – Prioritize the needs of busy women, and – Reveal the real reason why I started this podcast (It isn’t for the reasons you think!). This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about what’s at the heart of the minimalist movement. Enjoy! * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Interested in the FREE Sustainability Challenge? It’s not too late! Learn more + Sign up here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable minimalists are on Facebook + Instagram!

“Tiidying [the KonMari way] … is meant to be an exercise of self-expression, self-discovery, self-care + self-love. It’s the hard work that creates the change.” MARIE. KONDO. Ever heard of her? On today’s episode, we’re diving deep into her groundbreaking decluttering method with two *certified* KonMari consultants. My guests have dedicated their lives to the KonMari way. On today’s episode, they: – Explain why Marie Kondo ISN’T a minimalist, – Address the Number One criticism of the KonMari method, and – Debunk common KonMari myths by listing essential Dos + Don’ts. I’m delighted to introduce you to Karin Socci + Kristyn Ivey! * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Interested in the FREE Sustainability Challenge? We start June 1! Learn more + sign up here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable minimalists are on Facebook + Instagram!

“There are people who are on the hustle; (they’re) worried about making rent. They’re not thinking about their trash.” It’s sad but true: Sustainable living is exponentially harder for low-income individuals. That’s because eco-consciousness can be expensive; it’s a drain on mental energy + time, too. My guest this week is Ghoncheh Azadeh: she’s a sustainability warrior who comes to our conversation armed with challenges specific to eco-minimalism on a budget. First, our conversation is theoretical: – Is environmental consciousness an upper class privilege? – Why do sustainable choices often carry a price tag? Then we get practical: Ghoncheh makes eco-minimalism work for everyone with common-sense, incremental strategies. My guest this week has a persistence + passion about her that’s envigorating. I’m thrilled to introduce you to Ghoncheh Azadeh! Note: this is Part Two of a series on zero-waste living. Listen to Part One here. * Access this week’s Show Notes (+ grab the 2 freebies!) here. * Love the podcast? (Hey, me too!) Kindly leave a review here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable minimalists are on Facebook + Instagram!

“The term ‘zero-waste’ sounds really daunting, especially for normal people (with) busy lives … but if you take it slow it’s really not that overwhelming.” To celebrate our 20th episode, I’m thrilled to offer Part One of a Two-Part series on the zero-waste lifestyle! This week, I present two mini-interviews with women on different stages of their shared journey toward sustainability: First there’s Julie: A mission trip to Nicaragua contrasted sharply with the throw-away culture of life back home. The experience catapulted Julie toward the zero-waste movement soon after. Then there’s Laura: On a whim + without first informing her husband, Laura signed her family up for a county-sponsored zero-waste challenge. The county accepted her application and offered guidance + support as they significantly reduced their garbage production by 30 pounds per week. With Julie + Lara’s help, today’s episode covers So. Much. Ground. We: – Outline practical, action-oriented first steps, – Highlight the importance of having Zero-Waste Wishlist, and – Uncover three hidden, oft-overlooked benefits of the zero-waste lifestyle (some WILL  surprise you!) I’m delighted to introduce you to Julie Winpisinger + Laura Durenburger! * Access this week’s Show Notes (+ grab the 2 freebies!) here. * Love the podcast? (Hey, me too!) Kindly leave a review here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable minimalists are on Facebook + Instagram!

“Before knowing anything about tiny houses, I walked around my 2,200 square-foot home and was like, ‘Wow, this room is completely empty besides, like, a chair. I have this space that I’m heating and cooling and I’m not even using it.” Is it time to rethink the ‘bigger is better’ mentality? This week’s guest says yes. Emily Gerde is an author, tiny home dweller + advocate of the tiny home movement. HGTV featured her tiny home search; today; she and her family live comfortably in just 325 square feet. On this episode, we: – Identify the crucial differences between mobile homes + tiny homes, – Discuss 4 HUGE benefits to smaller living, and – Get into the meat + potatoes about what exactly Emily’s family has gained by consciously living with less Thinking about going tiny? You’re in luck, because Emily also shares her must-haves when designing a sustainable, functional + spacious tiny home. * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Join the movement + Let your voice be heard. Find fellow sustainable minimalists on Facebook + Instagram!

There’s a big problem with minimalism. Worse, no one’s talking about it.  The problem is this: While minimalism’s benefits include more mental space, extra free time + decreased anxiety, the process of actually becoming a minimalist requires EXTRA mental space, a TON of free time + OVER-THE-MOON anxiety. That’s because completing a whole-house purge the way the gurus suggest is really, really hard. Today we’re praising the power of 10 minutes. I suggest little tasks with big impacts to take on if (like me!) you’ve only got a little bit of time. * Access this week’s Show Notes (and get the Time-Saving Checklist!) here. * Join the movement + Let your voice be heard. Find fellow sustainable minimalists on Facebook + Instagram!

“I used to be … a Sport Shopper. I loved to shop for fun. I would just go shopping and there was never really a plan, I would just go shopping and I would buy what was on sale even though I didn’t need it, and I would fill my closet and home with things I didn’t need.” Sound familiar? This week, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Rose Lounsbury, a minimalism coach, author + self-described former Sport Shopper. We dive deep into her trademarked decluttering method; we get a little silly, too. On this episode, we: – Define the key differences between shopping for fun + shopping for purpose. – Muse about the evolution of the eco-minimalist movement. – Detail action-oriented techniques for getting a reluctant spouse + kids on board with minimalism. Be sure to hang out until the end of the episode for a powerful takeaway: Rose lists 7 key questions to ask yourself before discarding any item (trust me; they’re good!). * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Join the movement + Let your voice be heard. Find fellow sustainable minimalists on Facebook + Instagram!

On April 22, 193 countries celebrate Earth Day. The premise of the holiday is great, right? It’s a day dedicated to planting trees. Picking up trash. Recycling. But there’s a big problem with Earth Day, and it’s this: It’s just one day out of 365, then it’s over. When it comes to the state of our planet, there’s not much to celebrate; that’s why I suggest we honor Mother Nature differently. This Earth Day, let’s NOT pick up trash. Let’s stop producing it, instead. On this episode, I’m delighted to offer 5 action steps for those just beginning their eco-minimalist journey followed by 5 advanced strategies for those looking to up their sustainability game. Pick one + join me! Access this week’s Show Notes here. Join the movement + Let your voice be heard. Find fellow sustainable minimalists on Facebook + Instagram!

There’s nothing more cringe-worthy than an overflowing trashcan full of disposable plates + silverware following a party. Uneaten, discarded food is wasteful, depressing. And mounds of wine + beer bottles headed for the landfill instead of the recycling center? Ouch. Painful. It’s possible to host affordably + sustainably. This week, I’m delighted to show you how! * Access this week’s Show Notes (+ grab the free Low Waste Party Checklist!) here. * Like what you hear? Please leave the podcast a review! This helps reach more interested listeners.

On this episode: – We confront the massive problem that is food waste. – We address the relationship between spending habits + food. – We slash into the plastic waste our homes create. It all starts (+ stops!) at the supermarket. This week, I’m thrilled to offer 4 tips to get eco-savvy at the supermarket and 4 more tips to slash into waste at home. * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Want the Show Notes sent straight to your inbox? Sign up here!

Want to reduce junk mail and spam without added stress? Want to tune out commercials and robo calls so that you can live a quieter, simpler life? Me too. Marketers + advertisers are pros at making us feel as though we need items we don’t already have. Their Noise shows up in our mailboxes and inboxes and on our television sets and cell phones. The Noise is catchy slogans. Promotions. Pretty people. Glitz; faux Glamour. The Noise is junk ads and junk claims. The Noise entices us to buy more, more, more. The Noise takes us out of the moment; The Noise prevents us from living our best and most authentic lives. It’s time to hit Mute. On today’s episode we tackle 4 means by which The Noise sneaks into our daily lives – though junk mail, cell phones, e-mail and television – then I offer simple, actionable strategies to both tune it out + turn it all off. * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Want the Show Notes sent straight to your inbox every week? Sign up here!