Sustainable Minimalists

Despite all the advances in modern medicine and despite all the good advice (ahem … diet and exercise), chronic disease and obesity rates are rising. While there are indeed many reasons, two of them include the reality that products of convenience have engineered out the need for exercise and higher standards of living prevent us from abiding by tried-and-true simple living principles. Today I speak with Dr. Vimal George about the ways in which overconsumption affects our health and happiness. In our conversation today Dr. George offers his prescription for a paradigm shift for what afflicts our modern society. Here’s a preview: [5:21] How (and why) consumerism is making us sick [16:00] 3 forgotten secrets of good health from our ancestors [20:15] How health, happiness, stress, finances, and increasing standards of living are interrelated [23:30] What research says about the connection between overconsumption and mental health [24:40]  3 steps you can take right now for better health and happiness   Resources mentioned: * Health In Flames: A Doctor’s Prescription For Living Beyond Health & Exercise * Watch the extended version of this episode on Youtube.   Thank you to Zencastr for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use promo code SUSTAINABLEMINIMALISTS for 30% off your first 3 months. * Thank you also to KiwiCo! Get 50% off your first month plus free shipping with code SUSTAINABLE at kiwico.com. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.

“How do you get family members on board with minimalism? I’ve heard from so many of my friends and family about how they would love to embrace minimalism, but their partners don’t want to. It seems to create a lot of animosity in relationships … What are your thoughts?”   Living harmoniously with another human being requires constant dialogue and compromise. It’s no surprise, then, that when one person adopts a minimalist lifestyle the maximalist in the relationship feels uneasy. I’m married to a maximalist, and finding common ground in my own home is a daily balancing act. On today’s show I’m leaning on my experience to answer the Number One question I get from all you, the listeners: “How do I get my partner on board with decluttering?”   Here’s a preview: [4:30] Don’t touch your partner’s stuff; do this instead [6:15] Who gets to decide what happens to shared household items? [12:00] Distinguishing between micro-decisions and decisions that warrant a conversation [16:00] Stephanie’s thoughts on being sneaky (don’t do it!)   * Thank you to Let’s Make Art for sponsoring this week’s episode! Get 20% off your first order here. * Thank you also to Wild Planet Foods for sponsoring! Learn more about their sustainability vision here. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.    

If you’ve been listening to this podcast for a while, you’re likely well-versed in the benefits of slow fashion. But where do you find clothes worthy of keeping for the long haul, and what specifically should you be looking for when shopping? On today’s show we are continuing our fight against the fashion industry’s transition to single-use clothing by discussing the nuts and bolts of intentional clothes shopping. Lindsay Christinee, journalist and founder of The Wellness Feed, joins the conversation with her best tips for finding garments that are worthy of keeping for the long haul. Here’s a preview: [7:15] What a garment’s price tag does and does not tell you about the item’s quality [15:30] How exactly to read a garment label [17:15] Thoughts on garments with mixed fiber content [20:00] How to examine an item’s craftsmanship with a critical eye [23:30] Zippers, buttons, and button holes: How to find clothes with sturdy accessories [25:00] It’s possible to find quality garments when shopping online: Here’s how   Resources mentioned: * Watch the extended version of this episode on Youtube.     * Thank you to Let’s Make Art for sponsoring this week’s episode! Get 20% off your first order here. * Thank you also to Wild Planet Foods for sponsoring! Learn more about their sustainability vision here. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.    

When it comes to our future, climate scientists paint vastly different projections than politicians. (Think: extreme weather events, toxic air, entire nations under water, and major humanitarian conflicts over food and water.) Politicians paint much rosier pictures: electric vehicles, new industries, and better jobs, all made possible by investments into clean energy. President Joe Biden’s signature bill – the Build Back Better Framework – is a monstrosity of legislation with ambitious emissions goals. And while it passed in the House of Representatives in late 2021, the framework is currently collecting dust in the Senate. What’s worse? The US isn’t the only country not pulling its weight with regard to passing emissions legislation. According to independent trackers, every single country on the planet must do more. On today’s show we are discussing the state of emissions legislation around the globe. Why isn’t anything getting done, and what can we do about it?   Here’s a preview: [3:00] What’s in Biden’s Big Back Better bill: the lowdown on its proposed emissions legislation [10:15] An international look: what countries around the world are doing/not doing with regard to climate legislation [18:30] 10 lesser-known ways in which climate change is affecting every corner of the globe right this second   Resources mentioned: * Climate Action Tracker * Build Back Better Framework (via WhiteHouse.gov) * How to contact your US Senators * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #209: The Global Food Supply Chain Under Strain.   * Thank you to Wholesome Bakery for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use promo code SUSTAINABLE for 10% off your first order. * Thank you also to Simply Earth! Get your free 80ml essential oil diffuser here. * Leave a voicemail with your question and I’ll answer it on-air! Here’s how: State your name then leave the show a message at (508) 960-9046. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  

Too often, conversations about reducing home toxins center themselves around replacement: Get rid of your mattress and buy a new one. Toss your plastic Tupperware and replace with glass. And that plastic shower curtain liner? It has got to go. But replacing items that are in otherwise fine working order wastes money; it wastes environmental resources, too. Today I’m speaking with environmental engineer (and podcast host!) Emma Rohmann. Emma offers her practical and impartial voice to the low-tox conversation by outlining you can create a safer home without spending a single cent. Here’s a preview: [9:30] Reducing home toxins: The Number One place to focus on for greatest impact [17:00] Maintaining your home’s systems as a means of improving indoor air quality [21:15] Practical thoughts re: your existing Teflon pans [26:00] Plastic in the kitchen: Why you don’t necessarily have to trash and replace   Resources mentioned: * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube. * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #090: Household Neurotoxins, Uncovered. * Indoor Air Quality Index (via the EPA) * The Devil We Know (documentary) * Dark Waters (film) * Eco Parent Magazine * The Missing Pillar of Health podcast     * Thank you to Wholesome Bakery for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use promo code SUSTAINABLE for 10% off your first order. * Thank you also to Simply Earth! Get your free 80ml essential oil diffuser here. * Leave a voicemail with your question and I’ll answer it on-air! Here’s how: State your name then leave the show a message at (508) 960-9046. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  

Food waste is clearly an environmental problem: In the United States alone, Americans throw away approximately 63 million tons of food each year. Enter the ugly produce market. For-profit companies selling misshapen fruits and vegetables argue that they are saving perfectly healthy food from becoming waste. Consumers, too, who subscribe to such services believe they are acting both nobly and ethically. But is any of this true? On today’s short and sweet episode I’m answering a listener’s question as to whether ugly produce subscriptions are worth the hype. Here’s a preview: [2:30] 3 things the ugly produce business doesn’t want you to know [5:30] What *actually* happens to imperfect foods at farms and packing houses [10:30] Reducing food waste in our kitchens: What’s working for Stephanie right now [12:00] How and why to embark on a Use-It-Up week   Additional learning: * The Murky Ethics Of The Ugly Produce Business (via The Atlantic)  * Farms Aren’t Tossing Perfectly Good Produce. You are. (Via The Washington Post) * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #177: Becoming A Zero-Waste Chef     * Thank you to Wholesome Bakery for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use promo code SUSTAINABLE for 10% off your first order. * Thank you also to Simply Earth! Get your free 80ml essential oil diffuser here. * Leave a voicemail with your question and I’ll answer it on-air! Here’s how: State your name then leave the show a message at (508) 960-9046. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  

Your boxes of photos, family’s china, and even your kids’ height charts aren’t just stuff. These items are attached to a lifetime of memories, and letting them go can be scary. The reality is that people don’t miss stuff. They miss the people and memories behind their stuff, and keeping certain items in the right quantities can memorialize our loved ones and their unique life stories. On today’s show I speak with featured cleaner on Hoarders and host of the Emmy-nominated Legacy List Matt Paxton about how to weed out what’s worth keeping. Here’s a preview: [5:30] How to pare down old photos (and what to do with the ones you’re keeping) [15:30] Managing paper clutter: What to keep and how to store it [20:00] Responsible discarding of important papers [22:00] Creating (and displaying!) your legacy list   Resources mentioned: * Have a laugh with Matt on Jimmy Kimmel Live * Keep The Memories, Lose The Stuff   * Thank you to Wholesome Bakery for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use promo code SUSTAINABLE for 10% off your first order. * Thank you also to KiwiCo! Get 50% off your first month plus free shipping with code SUSTAINABLE at kiwico.com. * Leave a voicemail with your question and I’ll answer it on-air! Here’s how: State your name then leave the show a message at (508) 960-9046. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.    

Decluttering is liberating, and letting go of items that no longer serve us creates space to breathe and grow. If we experience benefits from decluttering physical stuff, it stands to reason, then, that we can experience similar if not greater well-being by letting go of intangibles. Transformation comes from letting go—not from holding on tighter!— and so today’s short-and-sweet episode is about letting go of whatever you’re holding onto that holds you down and holds you back.   Here’s a preview of the 3 intangibles we are letting go of today: [4:45] Letting go of the need to be productive [7:45] Letting go of oversized expectations [12:00] Letting go of worry   * Thank you to Wholesome Bakery for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use promo code SUSTAINABLE for 10% off your first order. * Thank you also to Simply Earth! Get your free 80ml essential oil diffuser here. * Leave a voicemail with your question and I’ll answer it on-air! Here’s how: State your name then leave the show a message at (508) 960-9046. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.    

As consumers, we’ve been conditioned to head to the store and buy whatever we need whenever we need it. But when it comes to personal care products, making exactly what your skin needs reduces waste, empowers you to have 100% control, and fully supports your skin story. Today I speak with certified aromatherapist Emelia Kohler. Emilia’s on the show to give us the motivation and knowledge to first understand our own skin stories and then confidently create products in our own kitchens that address our specific needs. A friendly note from Stephanie: This episode requires a bit of background knowledge. If you haven’t already, please listen to episode #193: Are Essential Oils Worth The Hype? before tuning into this one!   Here’s a preview: [6:15] 3 big benefits to DIY skincare [10:00] Exactly how (and why) to dilute your oil before putting it onto your skin [13:30] Lavender, Frankesense, Teatree, and Rosemary: 4 essential oils and their skin benefits [16:45] The nuts and bolts of DIY skincare [27:30] An easy skincare recipe for winter to try right now   Resources mentioned: * Dilution chart * Easy facial oil recipe * Check out Simply Earth’s recipe box subscription here * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube   * Thank you to Wholesome Bakery for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use promo code SUSTAINABLE for 10% off your first order just in time for Valentine’s Day! * Leave a voicemail with your question and I’ll answer it on-air! Simply state your name then leave the show a message at (508) 960-9046. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.    

Want Grandma’s crystal vase? How about that bedroom set that’s been sitting in your parents’ basement for decades? Generational clutter comprises All. The. Things. that your elder relatives currently possess but want to pass onto you. On today’s short-ish episode I’m answering a listener’s question on how to deal with generational clutter with grace (while still upholding your boundaries).   Here’s a preview: [2:30] 3 varying attachment styles; plus: how different generations view “stuff” [5:45] Defining the role of the family curator (and how to prevent yourself from becoming one) [6:45] How, where, and why boundaries come into play [12:00] 4 steps to managing generational clutter (and staving off interpersonal conflict)   Resources mentioned: * Episode #092: Sentimental Clutter Cleaning * Episode #091: 7 Declutter Tips For Tackling Sentimental Items * Episode #212: 5 Questions That Determine An Item’s Potential * Get in touch! Email Stephanie at MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com   * Thank you to Wholesome Bakery for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use promo code SUSTAINABLE for 10% off your first order. * Leave a voicemail with your question and I’ll answer it on-air! Here’s how: State your name then leave the show a message at (508) 960-9046. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  

Daily life in 2022 leaves many of us busy and distracted. Life and its quiet, nameless moments of joy can pass us by if we aren’t intentional about how we spend our time. Today I speak with Reilly Flynn, co-founder and CEO of Lome Calendar. Reilly is here to give us tangible tips that capture both the intention and the expectation of the moment as we schedule our family’s free time; he also distinguishes between rhythms, routines, and systems as a means of curating a cohesive family schedule that works for everyone within our homes.   Here’s a preview: [4:15] 4 mistakes families often make when scheduling their free time [6:30] Thoughts on focusing less on doing and more on being [10:30] Rhythms versus routines versus systems [15:00] Why it’s important to include kids in scheduling [19:30] How to best utilize a calendaring system to capture both intention and expectation   Resources mentioned: * Get your first month of Lome free at withlome.com/minimal * Send Stephanie an email at MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube     * Thank you to Wholesome Bakery for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use promo code SUSTAINABLE for 10% off your first order. * Leave a voicemail with your question and I’ll answer it on-air! Here’s how: State your name then leave the show a message at (508) 960-9046. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #108: 6 Minimalist Lifestyle Tips For Overarching Simplicity.        

Many to-be parents spend hours researching cribs and car seats; only rarely do they consider all the *other* ways in which their lives are about to change. And once the baby arrives? Many new mothers report a chasm between their parenting expectations versus day-to-day reality. Today I speak with journalist and parenting expert Ericka Sóuter about the unspoken challenges of motherhood. Ericka has spent hundreds of hours interviewing mothers and she’s on the show to discuss what moms are experiencing (but not saying aloud) about the state of their homes, friendships, and professions. Here’s a preview: [12:00] 6 items on your New To-Do list [13:30] 3 qualities every friendship needs to thrive [15:00] Thoughts on MDML (Modern Day Mommy Loneliness) [19:00] Practical ways to make your marriage less transactional [28:00] Fighting back against the “motherhood penalty” at work   Resources mentioned: * How To Have A Kid And A Life: A Survival Guide * Ericka on Instagram * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube   * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.  

It’s human nature to pursue more: More stuff. More money. More professional power. While it’s certainly important to both create and reach goals in life, the mindless pursuit of more leaves many of us feeling depleted. And when we’re always striving to attain the next big thing? We are effectively removing ourselves from the beauty of the present moment. On today’s show I’m speaking with blogger Tyler Moore about whether it’s possible to be happy with less and, if so, how.   Here’s a preview: [7:45] The relationship between tidying up your stuff and tidying up your priorities [10:30] Quieting the voice in your head that yearns for more [16:00] The unexpected benefits of living with just enough [25:00] First steps for determining what’s just enough for you   Resources mentioned: * Tidy Dad on Instagram * Watch the extended version of this episode on Youtube.   * Thank you to KiwiCo for sponsoring this week’s episode! Get 50% off your first month plus free shipping with code SUSTAINABLE at kiwico.com. * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #146: 10 Secrets Of Successful Declutterers. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.    

“I want to be able to create a home that we can truly feel at-home in, but [my new husband and I] still haven’t figured out what our “style” is. How can we find our home decor style without buying & trying different items? How can we figure out our tastes and preferences without spending a bunch of money, creating waste, and/or accidentally getting swept up by what’s trendy?”   It happens to the best of us: we search high and wide for the perfect decor that will transform our homes from lived-in disaster zones to ones reminiscent of those within the glossy pages of decor catalogs (I get it; I’ve been there too!). But “home” isn’t a place; it’s a feeling, and neither trinkets nor furniture have the power to make a house a home. Today I’m answering a listener’s question about how to determine your home decor style. I’m also offering my best advice on how to avoid costly mistakes when purchasing furniture and other expensive home items. Here’s a preview: [3:45] Home isn’t a place; it’s a feeling [7:15] 5 ways to find your home decor style [17:30] How (and why) you should “date” your home before furnishing it [22:45] Practicality versus aesthetics [24:00] Thoughts on personalizing your space without spending a lot of money   Resources mentioned: * Episode #191: Intentional Interior Decorating with Marianne Canada * Decorating style quiz   * Thank you to Zencastr for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use promo code SUSTAINABLEMINIMALISTS for 30% off your first 3 months. * Thank you also to Scentfill! Use promo code TSM10 for 10% off your order and fast, free shipping. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.  

Veganuary — the worldwide new years resolution movement — makes plant-based living accessible while also pushing for corporate change. While proponents of the month-long challenge report that veganism can be fun, today’s guest argues that plant-based living on the large scale (which, in her view, is inevitable!) will have positive consequences for our economy, climate, health, and culture. Veganism is one of the fastest growing social movements in the world and so in honor of Veganuary I’m speaking with anthropologist Roanne Van Voorst about what’s possible once the majority of humans embrace plant-based. Roanne offers new, compelling arguments for trying Veganuary; she offers practical tips to help you stay on track, too.   Here’s a preview: [5:15] We are amidst a great culture shift in which animal exploitation is becoming a thing of the past. Here’s why [10:00] Pushing back against the “but meat just tastes good!” argument [12:30] How a future without industrial-farmed meat and dairy will improve both the global economy and human culture [18:00] 5 ways to avoid common carnivorous pitfalls  [24:00] Smart steps to take before heading out to dinner [26:20] (Literal) conscious consumption: How eating is a form of voting   Resources mentioned: * Veganuary * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube * Once Upon A Time We Ate Animals   * Thank you to Zencastr for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use promo code SUSTAINABLEMINIMALISTS for 30% off your first 3 months. * Thank you also to Scentfill! Use promo code TSM10 for 10% off your order and fast, free shipping. * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #148: The Case For Part-Time Plant-Based. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.