The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast

It's almost always advisable to refrain from rash actions when emotionally charged, and rage decluttering is no exception. While filling that trash bag may feel great in the moment, enter guilt and shame shortly after.Often feel the impulse to rage clean and declutter? Today I speak with coach Leslie Alder about what to do instead. Here's a preview:[3:00] Rage decluttering isn't about stuff; it's about control[9:00] Getting to the root of the trigger, plus: shame and guilt's consequences[21:00] Exactly how to process our big adult feelings without grabbing the trash bag[27:00] Getting out of the house to refresh your perspective (Srsly, just leave!)[32:00] The antidote to periodic rage declutters? The quarantine box Resources mentioned: Leslie on Instagram Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.  Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — h

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday May 18, 2023:[00:30] Indonesia's sinking problem[4:00] Trees can't walk but they're still moving north[7:00] Prepare yo'self! Extreme heat's a-coming in the next 5 years[13:00] Updates from beloved Yellowstone Resources mentioned:  Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Commission Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.  Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Maintaining a balanced life isn’t effortless. It takes constant adjustment and re-adjustment to remain steady.The good news? When our health, wellness, or happiness feels a little off, the solution is often as simple as a few tweaks to our mostly-working routines.It pays to take time to re-focus on the basics, and that's what we're doing today.Here's a preview:[6:30] Are you a Toyota, or are you a Lamborghini? (hint: you're a Lamborghini.)[10:30] The 30-second daily practice that promises to transform your life[16:00] Meaningful connections with other humans are worth the effort. Here's why[21:00] Why it's important to be bored Resources mentioned: Episode #365: Old Fashioned On Purpose Episode #300: The Golden Triangle Episode #369: The Commercialization Of Kids David's toothpaste  --Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Su

Big tech trains kids to become consumers from ... well, birth.Child-targeted marketing is cringe-worthy at best and unethical at worst. It also undermines our children's healthy development because it robs them of opportunities to play, imagine, and learn freely without manipulation.Today I speak with Dr. Susan Linn about the ways in which technology exploits children (and what we can do about it at home).  Here's a preview: [3:30] Brand loyalty? How media corporations exploit our children for profit[6:30] Societal implications associated with perpetually up-selling to kids[11:30] The ways in which big tech manipulates children into bonding with their devices[17:00] A good, hard look: Addressing our collective preoccupation with technology[28:00] Thoughts on breaking an older child’s screen addiction Resources mentioned: Episode #337: Minimalist Screen Time and Slow TV  Who’s Raising the Kids? Big Tech, Big Business, and the Lives of Children Fair play  * Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sus

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday May 12, 2023:[00:30] An Alberta wildfires update[2:00] Unplugged and offshore: The risks associated with 14,000 unplugged oil and gas wells in the Gulf[6:30] Renewable energy and 266,410 square miles[13:00] A sneak peek into our electric vehicle future  Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Are you consuming the news, or is the news consuming you?While it's certainly important to be informed, there's a line in the sand between being adequately informed and over-informed. For many of us, regularly crossing that line leads to negative health and wellness effects.On today's show: how to protect your headspace while also staying informed.Here's a preview:[3:00] 5 reasons why it's so darn easy to get caught up in the news cycle[15:00] Headline stress disorder's effect of excessive new consumption on our physical and mental health[18:00] The dopamine loop: 2 reasons why overconsumption of stuff is similar to overconsumption of news[27:00] 3 tips and a final word Resources mentioned: 1440 The Skimm The Dopamine Seeking-Reward Loop (via Psychology Today) How the news changes the way we think and behave (via BBC) Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.  Our Sponsors:* Thank yo

From an early age we’re taught that personal fulfillment is dependent on both our accomplishments and our possessions. Yet despite advancing in our careers and overflowing our homes, many of us remain unsatisfied.What's missing? According to today's guest, we are far too concerned with living from the outside-in when we should be doing the opposite. There is indeed a reality in which yearning for the bigger house and the better job takes a backseat to the whispers of our inner selves. On today's show: Shirin Etessam on true fulfillment as a byproduct of silencing our mental and emotional clutter.  Here's a preview:[6:00] What do our souls have to do with sustainable minimalism?[9:00] The work is hard, but is the struggle worth it?[17:00] The real reason we must address the mental clutter (and how to do it)[30:00] Exactly how to heal your heart[33:00] The importance of play, creativity, and curiosity in the lives of adults Resources mentioned:Pre-order Free To Be: A Six-Week Guide to Reclaiming Your Soul--Join

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday May 5, 2023:[00:30] Dear gas stoves, Buh-bye! Love, New York[2:00] Move over, Arabica: Why Liberica excelsa coffee may soon be in your mug[5:00] Harnessing the knowledge of indigenous communities to curb global warming[11:00] The world's leaders are looking to solar geo-engineering for quick, easy warming wins. Here's why Resources mentioned:  Episode #230: A Better Cup Of (Ethical) Coffee Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Nonprofit organizations work tirelessly for the better good and they depend on donations from you and me to fund their programs. But giving is not equally distributed: in 2021, just 3% of all donation dollars went to environmental and animal welfare organizations (source).While we do indeed have the power to use every dollar we earn for change, giving can be confusing. There’s a massive difference between a worthy cause and a solid nonprofit and so on today's show I'm giving you the tools you need to find a quality charity that speaks to your heart. I'm also suggesting 7 environmental charities worthy of our hard-earned donations.Here's a preview:[5:00] Stay away from these shell non-profits, PACs, and misinformation funnels[7:45] It's a minefield out there! How to vet a nonprofit like a boss[19:00] Environmental catch-all orgs do an awful lot. Here are two of the best[21:00] Care about animals? I've got you! [24:00] Want to remove carbon from the atmosphere? 2 nonprofit recs Resources mentioned: GuideStar BB

In the name of convenience, manufacturers sold us the promise that their products make life easier. And while such gadgets, appliances, and electronics have indeed taken over much of the physical labor associated with living, they have also eliminated many of the core competencies that once grounded us, connected us, and made us whole.It's no surprise that many of us feel like something's missing.It's a time of unprecedented technology and ease, sure, but still: many of us find ourselves craving a simpler way. If you've ever wondered whether you're working far too hard at all the wrong endeavors, today's conversation with podcaster Jill Winger is here to help. Here's a preview: [8:00] Uncovering our collective 'modern malaise'[12:00] The good, bag, and ugly: 3 ways in which industrialization has impacted our quality of life[18:00] Want to be very slightly more self-sufficient? Here are some suggestions for where to start[25:00] 2 steps to adopting an old-fashioned mindset right where you are Resources mention

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday April 28, 2023:[00:30] Allergies, pollen, and climate change[3:00] Fellow wine lovers, unite! Benefits to lighter bottles[5:00] Enviro-implications re: SpaceX's Starship launch[11:00] Everything you didn't know you wanted to know about nuclear energy Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Low waste living sounds great in theory, but in practice? Thanks to life's obstacles, it's much harder to commit for the long-haul. Add children into the equation and intentionally creating less trash can feel like a daily, uphill slog.On today's show I speak with blogger and life coach Rebekah Lara about recommitting to your low waste goals despite waning motivation.Here's a preview:[3:30] An excuse, or a legitimate barrier?[10:30] Imperfection vs. perfection in the low-waste community[17:30] Intermediate low-wasters unite! Why you should take a second (and third) look at the contents of your trashcan[25:00] It's not about the mason jar filled with trash: How to re-center your efforts around the big picture Resources mentioned:Going Green And Living Green WorkbookWant more episodes like this one? Check out the following:  #306: Low-Waste Lunchboxes #177: Becoming A Zero Waste Chef #093: How (Exactly) To Cook Zero Waste Meals --Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on F

We all have habits we’d like to banish, and often we believe our success or failure comes down to discipline and willpower. But discipline and willpower don't tell the whole story, and that's because the brain doesn’t make changes easily.Breaking a bad habit CAN be done, and today's show is here to help.Today's content is specifically framed around a listener's question re: buying on impulse, but please know the suggestions offered are rooted in neuroscience and can be applied to any (and every!) habit you’d like to break.Here's a preview:[4:30] How to use the Feedback Loop to ask yourself the right whys [15:00] The importance of removing and/or inserting visual cues when breaking a bad habit[27:00] Reign in your expectations! Here's why it takes lots of time to rewire your brain[33:00] Everything you need to know about compulsive shopping disorder Resources mentioned: Episode #362: Living On Purpose 5 Ways to Break Your Bad Habit Now (via Psychology Today) Compulsive Shopping: A Guide to Causes and Treatme

Welcome to Living On Purpose week!Living on purpose isn't about changing who you are; it's about rising up and becoming the best version of you. But amidst the chaotic rush of our days it's easy to get caught up in the “doing”. And when we hyper-focus on doing, we often neglect the important and intentional act of reflection.Today best-selling author Tanya Dalton brings us both cutting-edge research and practical inspiration to help you find the unhurried purpose that's hidden in your days.Stay tuned for Thursday's related episode in which we discuss how to break a bad habit, for good. Here's a preview:[4:00] Why we absolutely must look backwards for clues before planning ahead[18:00] We tend to choose instant gratification over pursuing our long-term goals. Here's why, according to neuroscience[20:00] How to use Cathedral Thinking to visualize your purpose[32:00] It's not 'unstuck'! The real opposite of being stuck, plus tangible ways to get out of a rut[37:00] Exactly why discipline and willpower are overra

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday April 14, 2023:[00:30] From 7% to 67%: The EPA's proposed new EV standards[3:30] The dirty electricity turning point is here[5:30] Buh-bye, lithium? The rise of sodium batteries[12:00] 22K gallons for your swimming pool Resources mentioned: Episode #260: The White Gold Rush Episode #131: 5 Fact About The Global Water Crisis Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

We Americans are notorious for making our unwanted stuff someone else's problem. Part of the reason has to do with our desire to be altruistic: We tell ourselves we're helping the less fortunate when we pass on our perfectly decent items.But the reality is much bleaker: Both our recently-decluttered donations and our down-and-dirty trash create problems for the people and places that get stuck with our stuff. Here's a preview of what we're discussing today:[3:00] The literal mountain of clothes in West Africa[7:00] Swirling, soupy, and more than one: Here's what you likely didn't know about the Pacific trash vortex[14:00] Alabama's recent landfill fire[18:00] What's the reality re: America's plastic recyclables?[22:00] You - yes you! - can help. Here's how --Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — htt

Our culture's messaging angles household labor as unimportant and uninspiring. And while work within the home is largely undervalued, the sad reality is that the chores, cooking, laundry, and everything else simply must get done. Here's something that's not often discussed: there's a quiet joy to be found in tending to the home. Today I speak with podcaster and homemaker extraordinaire Lisa Bass about the underappreciated value an excellent homemaker brings to their family.  Here's a preview:[6:00] Societal messaging around homemaking versus the importance of learning by doing[15:00] How to find the time and motivation to cook in a culture that glorifies convenience[25:00] Conducting a ruthless self-assessment of your cooking skills (and how to improve!)[30:00] The essential mindset shift re: all-things homemaking[35:00] Using "the sauce of hunger" as a tool for managing picky eaters Resources mentioned: Episode Episode #357: Recycling The Unrecyclable Simple Farmhouse Life podcast Lisa on Instagram Join our

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday April 7, 2023:[00:30] Changing tornados and tornado seasons[4:00] Amazon.com and the problem with climate "pledges"[5:30] Paris's electric scooters problem[10:00] Big Oil in the Niger Delta Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Chances are we've all been influenced to buy something at least once before. But the rise of influencer marketing is a different beast that has fundamentally altered the way brands sell to consumers. On today's show I suggest 5 ways to be influenced less. Here's a preview of the tips we're discussing today:[13:00] Think of influencers not as friends but as salespeople[15:00] Look for these FTC disclosures[18:00] Know thyself by decluttering[21:00] Raise the buying bar[25:00] It's not a deal if you don't need it Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

After losing a loved one, deciding what to do with their possessions is a complicated process. We humans tend to attach sentiment to physical things; it's no surprise, then, that many of us find ourselves suffering over not just the loss of life but also over the perceived loss of memories embedded within their belongings.Today's conversation offers insight into decluttering through grief. Krista St. Germain is a Post-Traumatic Growth and grief expert; she's also a widow who believes that pain is inevitable but whether or not we suffer is entirely within our control.Here's a preview:[6:00] How to know when the time is right to sort through your deceased loved one's belongings (and where to start)[9:45] Here's how facing sentimental clutter head-on fits within the grieving process[22:00] Where to start and how to keep going: Krista's best tips[27:00] Practical ways to steer clear of indecision drama[30:00] How to best memorialize a loved one without keeping every single thing Resources mentioned: The Widowed M