The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday March 31, 2023:[00:30] iPhone's new eco-feature[4:00] Bee brains[7:30] Kids v. Montana[12:00] Why is Duluth, Minnesota suddenly popular?  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

"I wish you would do an episode on TerraCycle. They have been in the news about not truly recycling the items they collect [and] their boxes are expensive. Am I wasting my money?"  Here's a preview:[3:30] The Number One difference between TerraCycle's sponsored waste program and zero waste boxes[7:00] Have you seen the that cool infinity logo on products? Here's what it means[13:30] What happened to Loop?[19:00] Two 'gotcha' moments and a lawsuitJoin 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

Furniture and decor trends can be tempting. But trends peak then inevitably decline; after just a few years, our choices re: side lamps, accent chairs and everything in between often become (gasp!) outdated.It's true: hopping on and off the trend bandwagon can leave us broke and wasteful. On today's show interior designer Betsy Helmuth first offers this spring's biggest decor trends, then together we make them eco-conscious.Here's a preview of the spring decor trends we're tweaking today:[4:30] Moody maximalist wall colors[9:00] Large-scale natural stone[14:00] Embellished window treatments[22:00] Doorknobs, pulls, and other metal finishes[30:00] Statement lamps Resources mentioned: Van Deusen Blue paint by Benjamin Moore Rub and Buff CoolKnobsAndPulls.com Episode #239: How To Find Your Home Decor Style Annie Sloan chalk paint Join our (free!) Facebook community here Affordable Interior Design podcast  Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Email me and say hello! MamaM

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 24, 2023:[00:30] Potential PFAS regulation?[3:30] The planet's enduring fever[8:30] 'Slow burn' television[12:00] We want what we want when we want it: Our love of off-season produce Resource mentioned: Episode #264: Forever ChemicalsJoin 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

Goody bags, Easter baskets, and other junk culture opportunities: Revisiting the cheap plastic toys conundrum.Here's a preview:[3:00] Everybody hates goody bags, so why are we still giving them?[8:00] The history of gifting: 4 reasons why humans are wired to give gifts[20:00] Words of encouragement for listeners reluctant to go against the grain[27:00] 5 things to consider re: hosting a no-present birthday  Resources mentioned: Episode #253: Everything Eco-Minimalist Birthdays Episode #8: How To Host a No-Presents Birthday Email me your best junk-culture free birthday hacks! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.  Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + YoutubeOur Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Life is noisier, messier, and more complicated than ever. In our quest to keep up, we can try to do it all—with mixed results.Instead of life passively happening TO us, we each have the power to create the life we want to live. On today's show: A conversation with author Elisabeth Sharp McKetta about figuring out what matters most and hitting delete on what doesn’t. Here's a preview:[7:00] Before we edit, we must first examine: 3 questions to regularly ask when seeking a life of intention[9:30] The paradox of choice, plus: Why many of us rarely go after our first choice[16:00] Words of encouragement for listeners who examine their life and don't like what they see[21:00] Using your unique "core competencies" as organizing principles when editing your life[27:00] Editing for generosity: How to edit your narrative to benefit the collective[33:00] Elisabeth and Stephanie's thoughts on enjoying life despite the world's messiness Resources mentioned: Edit Your Life: A Handbook For Living With Intention In A Messy

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 17, 2023:[00:30] Lab-to-table dairy[4:00] Norfolk Southern's dioxin problem[7:45] A failed levee and aging infrastructure[12:00] Bumpy flights and climate change[14:30] Cooking oil jet fuel? 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

Should you pay a bit more for carbon-neutral shipping? (Answer: It's complicated.) How do you best offset your next flight? (Answer: Pay much more than you think.)  On today's show we break down all-things carbon offsets. Here's a preview:[4:00] Are carbon offsets a greenwashing gimmick?[6:00] How to calculate the equity weighted social cost of carbon of your next flight[15:30] Guilt-free shopping? Here's what carbon neutral shipping really means[19:30] Breaking down the Climate Neutral Certified logo  Resources mentioned/Further reading: Revealed: more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by biggest certifier are worthless, analysis shows (via The Guardian) Calculate your flight emissions with MyClimate  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

The answer to a happier, more connected life may be as simple as connecting with nature. Enter houseplants, a.k.a. an easy and accessible way to bring the outside in. Although caring for plants has been shown to reduce stress, increase joy, and cultivate connections with ourselves, others and the earth, many of us are epic plant killers. What then?On today's show author and podcaster Maria Failla teaches a crash course on houseplant care for novice and intermediate listeners so that we (fingers crossed!) never kill a houseplant again.Here's a preview:[4:30] Why do plants make us feel so good? Here's what science says[10:45] How to create your plant collection for under $20[19:00] How to successfully grow houseplants in cold, dark, and drafty homes[23:00] Exactly when and how to "pot up"[28:00] Brown leaves, yellow leaves, plants with "legs", pests, orchids that won't re-bloom, and other common plant woesResources mentioned: Maria's Plant Parent Personality Test Espoma Organic Hand Me Up Young Planet Join our

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 10, 2023:[2:00] #StopWillow[4:30] 'Zombie' forests[7:30] The UN's (historic) High Seas Treaty[11:30] Poland Spring's unquenchable thirst Further learning:Episode #137: 5 Facts 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

Corporations make money when consumers perseverate over what they don't have. And personal development? If you want to grow into the best person you can be, Step One is to abandon a mindset that's focused on scarcity.On this episode: how to radically transform your cognitive patterns from ruminating on what you lack to appreciating what you have in under 5 minutes a day. Here's a preview:[3:30] Do you suffer from a scarcity mindset? Find out in this quick, 6-question quiz[8:00] Exactly how a scarcity mindset impacts your brain and behavior, according to psychology[20:00] The multitudinous benefits associated with an abundance mindset, plus 3 steps to get you there Resources mentioned: Episode #343: The Distorted Mirror Episode #299: Future-Conscious Thinking 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

When it comes to sustainable action, we tend to label behaviors as either/or: Either we're acting in a way that's "eco-friendly" or ..., well, not. But some lifestyle tweaks are greener than others: When time, energy, and funds are finite, where's the best place to focus our efforts?On today's show: A conversation with Sam Schreiner about the 4 categories of sustainable action - with a hefty dose of data-driven analysis to boot.Here's a preview:[7:00] 0.1 versus 1.0 makes a big difference! 5 examples of high impact efforts[20:00] The privilege problem: Why are high impact behaviors also often high cost?[27:00] Let's chat about low impact efforts. Do they matter?[31:00] Gateway drugs and ripple effects: Here's why its impossible to quantify a lifetime's-worth of intention Resources mentioned: University of California Berkeley CoolClimate Calculator Project Sunroof Episode #330: The Big Fix Episode #253: Everything Eco-Minimalist Birthdays Ecosia Join our (free!) community here Find your tribe. Sustainable M

6 high-traffic, high-impact spaces to declutter that you can complete in 20 minutes or less.Here's a preview of the spaces we're decluttering today:[4:00] Your car console[9:45] Your purse/backpack/baby bag[16:00] Your linen closet[25:00] Your medicine cabinet[28:00] The surface of your desk[33:00] Your spice cabinet Resources mentioned: Episode #009: A Sustainable Minimalist's Bathroom 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

When it comes to skincare, loads of products line store shelves. Almost all of them make bold, anti-aging claims (fountain of youth, anyone?).But buying All. The. Products. comes with hefty financial and environmental price tags: If we want to age gracefully, what's the average woman to do and buy?On today's show, board certified dermatologist Dr. Mary Alice Mina makes the case that using too many skincare products is unnecessary at best and potentially harmful at worst.Here's a preview:[4:00] What we're doing wrong when it comes to skincare from a dermatologist's perspective[7:00] Transitioning from reactive quick skin fixes to long-term, preventative care[11:30] Holistic skincare means skin cancer prevention: Here are the latest sunscreen guidelines [17:00] Products we *actually* need (versus products we can confidently leave on the shelf)[30:00] When, where, and who re: toner, exfoliant, and other ancillary products[32:00] A medical professional's thoughts on Botox and fillers Resources mentioned: Kinship

And we’re at it again! On today's show I’m answering 4 listener questions in rapid-fire format.Here's a preview of the questions I'm answering:[1:30] What should conscious consumers consider when buying eco-conscious undergarments?[13:30] What are some practical first steps for college students who want to practice sustainability?[18:00] Oh what to do with baby bottles, car seats, breast pumps, and other one-and-done baby gear?[23:00] Eco-home renovations 101: What should we keep in mind when embarking on a reno (with a limited budget to boot)?Resources mentioned: ARQ Everlane Episode #326: Gift Boundaries with Whitney Leah Morris Clek Re:Wild Your Campus Bee Campus USA  Medela's breast pump recycling program Find an energy auditor at Energy.gov Habitat Restore Renovation Angel Big Reuse Episode #312: Practical Energy Saving Steps  Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Inflation got you down? Chin up, friends! On today's episode: 12 tangible grocery store hacks that save money and reduce food waste. Here's a preview:[2:00] What it looks like in real life to sacrifice convenience for better prices[7:30] Even more reasons why you should consider buying dried beans instead of canned[13:00] Can you freeze cheese? (Answer: Yes! Here's how)[18:00] Where to get the best deals on milk, plus: the financial benefits associated with dairy-free alternatives[24:00] What to do with produce you've bought on sale Resources mentioned: Flipp App Egg Frittatas  --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

88% of US and UK consumers want brands to help them be more sustainable in their daily lives and many are willing to pay a premium for plastic-free products. But despite consumer demand, plastic is everywhere and downright impossible to avoid. On today's show: 9 places those pesky polymers lurk, plus hacks for avoiding them.Here's a preview:[4:00] Here's what you never knew about tires[8:00] How to shop for tea like a conscious consumer[15:00] Your dish sponge's dirty little secret[17:30] Are e-cigarettes any better than regular cigs from an environmental standpoint?[25:00] The latest research into cloth versus disposable diapers[28:00] Microplastics vs. liquid plastics in makeup Resources mentioned: Customers Hate Plastic Packaging, So Why Do Companies Keep Using It? (via Forbes) Gaia Guy Etee Microplastics: Which Beauty Brands Are Safe To Use? (via The Guardian) Pukka Republic of Tea Numi Tea Wot Not Beat The MicroBead (The Plastic Soup Foundation's free app)  * Join our (free!) community here.* Find you

The typical American funeral boasts exotic flowers, a coffin made of fancy wood, and formaldehyde-based embalming. But green burials require fewer resources and skip a number of unnecessary steps; they also tend to be less expensive.Today I speak with green mortician Elizabeth Fournier about alternatives to conventional burials and cremations that are easier on the planet.Here's a preview:[5:00] Exactly what's wrong from an environmental standpoint with standard burials and cremations[12:30] A brief history of embalming: Is it actually necessary?[19:00] Liner-free plots, conscious caskets, and more: The tenets of a green burial[28:30] How exactly does a green burial compare in terms of cost?[33:00] Everything you need to know about aqua cremation, burials at sea, and natural organic reduction Resources mentioned/Further reading: The Green Burial Guidebook: Everything You Need to Plan an Affordable, Environmentally Friendly Burial Elizabeth on Instagram @elizabethgreenreaper Let Your Love Grow Eternal Reefs -

Cyberpsychology is an emerging field that examines the ways in which technology influences human behavior. On today's show we discuss what happens to our purchasing habits when psychology, sociology, and 21st century tech collide.Here's a preview:[1:30] Who you think you are is influenced by others (hello, looking glass self!)[8:30] It's human nature to compare and compete: Here's how and why we internalize social media messaging[16:00] 3 reasons why shoppers feel better when they purchase items that contribute to self-repair[20:00] 2 ways dopamine and online algorithms work together and entice us to buy Resources mentioned/Further reading: Join our (free!) community here Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com The Digital Looking Glass Self (via Psychology Today) Buying: The Effect on Self-Worth Feelings and Consumer Well-Being  Why TikTok Made Us Buy It (via Psychology Today) Stay Free App

Quitting is aerobics for your brain; it's also the counterintuitive secret to success. Today I bring you a conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Julia Keller about how to view quitting not as a pejorative but instead as a tool for swapping one destiny for another. Here's a preview:[5:00] How the self-help movement created our anti-quit bias[9:00] The similarities between honeybees and Simone Biles, with a nod toward strategic quitting[17:00] How do you quit a high-stakes situation? (Answer: quasi-quitting!)[23:00] Words of encouragement for listeners concerned they'll regret it later[27:00] How parents listening can best support their children when they want to quit Resources mentioned: Pre-order Quitting: A Life Strategy (to release April 18) Orlo Nutrition 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