The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast

Reducing food waste doesn't always jive with societal norms.That's because keeping perfectly edible food out of landfills might mean being the weirdo who boxes their wedding entree. Or asking (gasp!) to take home extra pizza from a child's birthday party. On today's show: A conversation with journalist Rachael Jackson about how to value food more than we value fitting in.  Here's a preview:[7:45] Is composting the solution to food waste? (Answer: No.)[10:00] 5 ways to shamelessly break social norms around food and waste[23:00] Brown avocados, wet spinach, and more: Can we eat or should we toss? Resources mentioned: EPA Wasted Food Scale  Project Drawdown ReFED  Avocado library I Bought It, Now What Ebooks for reducing food waste 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! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

First facts, then the inevitable spin! The enviro-news we are spinning for Friday, January 26 2024:[1:00] 3 cheers for a White House pause in the natural gas export terminal CP2[5:00] No one likes air pollution. Enter new rules for fine particulates [10:00] Understanding the global average temperature, with predictions for 2024[12:30] Where to put Lahaina's toxic debris? Next to an important coral reef, of course  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! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

When faced with information that challenges our long-held beliefs, we humans do one of two things. Either we think hard about our values and adapt our lifestyles to reflect this new data, or we cling to willful blindness so that we may continue to think and act in the ways we've always thought and acted.In honor of Veganuary I bring you a conversation with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau about changing our beliefs — and perhaps our diets — in the face of new information. Here's a preview: [7:30] Unpacking willful blindness: How and why we tell ourselves untruths to maintain long-held beliefs[11:00] Cognitive dissonance is uncomfortable. Why, then, do some people learn and change while others cling to defunct beliefs?[19:00] It's not giving up, it's letting go! Uncovering the story that's underneath your eating habits that you're unwilling to let go of[23:00] Debunking 3 commonly-held plant-based myths to reflect updated science [37:00] Attitude is everything, so flip the script! Resources mentioned:  Diet For A New

Wisdom is the cumulation of valuable lessons we pick up along our journeys through this messy thing called life, and pearls of wisdom are guideposts to help us navigate the complexities of living in an uncertain world in an uncertain time.On today's show: A conversation with author Dr. Elizabeth Kagan Arleo about trusting the wisdom of the experts — both modern and ancient — so as to better overcome life's challenges and improve overall well-being. Here's a preview of the wisdom we discuss today:[1:30] First, eat your frog![4:00] Schedule your time in 168-hour chunks[11:30] Set criteria, meet criteria, and be satisfied (no perfection required)[18:00] Stop over-apologizing (seriously, stop it!)[22:00] If you don't ask, the answer is always no[27:00] Imposter Syndrome: Name it to tame it Resources mentioned: First, Eat Your Frog: And Other Pearls for Professional Working Mothers Episode #434: Is It Time To Quit Amazon Prime?   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, January 19 2024:[00:30] Updates from the Greenland ice sheet[5:00] Staggering losses to North American bird populations, plus: outlining their (human-made) threats[10:00] Gross! Our favorite foods have an awful lot of microplastics within[14:00] "Plastic-free" laundry sheets aren't actually plastic-free  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! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Over 200 million Americans subscribe to Prime, and estimates suggest that Amazon delivers 3.4 million packages per day in the US alone.Quitters, unite! I'm quitting Amazon Prime, and perhaps it's time for you to consider quitting too. Here's a preview: [7:30] How on earth is Amazon able to selling items at such low prices? It ain't pretty ...[12:00] Amazon is only the cheapest option if you're willing to buy almost everything on Amazon, and I'm going to prove it [20:00] What does Amazon's Climate Friendly Pledge *really* mean?[23:00] A laundry list of things we lose when we choose convenience   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! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Did you know? Ikea beds, Wayfair desks, and other fast furniture items are designed to last about five years.Fast furniture is mass-produced and relatively inexpensive; it's easy, then, to obtain and abandon. And fast decor? Low price points essentially render disposable those trendy but cheap pillows, artwork, and trinkets.There's a better way, and it always starts with slowing down. Slow Style is Zandra Zuraw's framework for creating homes that nurture without breaking the bank, and today she shows us how to create havens that inspire and welcome without anything fast or cheap.Here’s a preview:[4:30] Why bother surrounding ourselves with beauty (and other big-picture musings)[7:00] Mass production, economies of sale, and the environmental implications of fast decor[17:00] Developing your eye for design means paying attention! [25:00] How to find the fine line between keeping stuff you hate versus hopping on the hamster wheel of buying[30:00] Ethical furnishings companies DO exist! Here's where to find them

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, January 12 2024:[00:45] Want to eat and drink less plastic? Don't drink bottled water ... [5:00] Vroom vroom! Clean yellow school buses are a-comin' nationwide[10:00] Say it ain't so: Right now the US is producing more oil than any other country ... ever[14:00] Help halt the fossil fuel industry's Liquified Natural Gas export expansion! Here's how Resources mentioned: Petition to Stop New LNG Exports (via actionnetwork.org) #StopLNG Sit-in at Department of Energy in Washington, DC (via thirdact.org)   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! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

You've likely been there. That moment when you look at your credit card statement and your heart sinks. Sometimes logic gives way to desire, and nothing's worse than realizing you overshopped on impulses. A lot.It’s time to take a look at what happens in the moments *before* we impulse buy. On today's show: honing in our 5 shopping triggers so we can insert that crucial pause before buying.Here's a preview:[3:45] Advertisers shape our desires, and the credit industry makes these desires seem affordable. Yikes![9:30] Buyer, beware: when your mind becomes your own worst enemy. [15:00] The shopping trigger that's the most common and the most difficult to overcome[23:00] Got parental guilt? Why you should stop buying stuff for your kids to compensate [29:00] Hankering to buy food when your kitchen is full? How to determine whether a physical trigger is colliding with an emotional one Resources mentioned: To Buy or Not to Buy: Why We Overshop and How to Stop (by Dr. April Benson) Insert that pause with this free

In some ways, our preponderance toward tech disposability is systemic. We consumers in the US are denied the right to repair: fixing a broken smartphone, then, is costly. It's simply more convenient to replace our broken item for the newest model.When your device is broken you should have more options than a high-priced service or the landfill, and New York agrees. The Digital Fair Repair Act should make it easier to repair our smartphones and laptops at shops of *our* choosing. It's good news, because the law may ultimately bring down repair prices for all of us. And if repair is affordable? Fingers crossed, tech stays out of landfills.On today's show: Nicholas De Leon from Consumer Reports breaks down this landmark grassroots consumer win. Here's a preview:[3:45] Need-to-know details about New Yorks' Digital Fair Repair Act[9:00] Why aren't dishwashers, washing machines, and other "white goods" covered?[19:30] What if any benefits from NY's new law will non-New Yorkers receive? [25:00] The bigger picture: W

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, January 5 2024:[00:45] Is drinking toilet water in our future? (Answer: Yes.)[3:45] Some flowers are evolving to pollinate themselves, and this is not good news[7:15] Got climate trauma? Good luck finding professional support[15:00] A lack of EPA oversight in Cancer Alley 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! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Over the holidays my family and I staycationed for 9 glorious days. During this time of introspection I re-learned these 4 universally applicable lessons which we are discussing today:[2:45] Appearance is EVERYthing (when shopping, at least).[10:00] Explanations are unnecessary.[18:00] No ones need to eat like royalty *every* night.[27:00] Habit forming? Remember dosage. Repetition too!  Resources mentioned: Mailbird (Note: it's not free!) Episode #223: Reclaiming Movement Opportunities   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! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Whether you boast a small windowsill herb garden, a thriving hydroponic system or something in between, growing your own food is great for your well-being. And when you grow what you eat? You also reduce the environmental harm that's incurred by industrial agricultural methods; you eliminate food miles, too.Kevin Espiritu built a modern homestead on a very modest urban lot; he also happens to help millions of home growers take their gardening efforts to the next level. On today's show Kevin outlines the ways in which each of us — even those who can't keep anything alive! — can grow big(ger) in 2024. Here's a preview:[4:00] Why grow stuff? Food miles, nutrition, and industrialized food [15:00] The more you grow, the better you grow: Remembering the gardener's lesson[19:00] Are those fancy-shmancy hydroponic garden towers worth it? Could you build one yourself?[22:00] Can't keep anything alive? Start with sprouts![27:00] The Number One question expert home growers ask themselves, and often Resources mentioned:

The holidays are all about overabundance. We buy too much, consume too much and despite our best efforts spend far too much money. But there is a solution, and it’s happening on January 1: A No Spend Reset. A practical first step toward adopting a lifestyle rooted in sustainable minimalism is to hop off the consumerist bandwagon, at least for a little while, and January is the perfect right time to tackle that project you've been meaning to get to in your home, explore the wonder of recreational activities that don’t cost a cent, and recenter yourself with gratitude for what you already have.On today's re-air: Julie Winpisinger divulges the Why and How of a no spend/low spend month so you can confidently embark on intentionally NOT SPENDING for 31 days.Resources mentioned:  Sustainable Minimalists Substack Join our closed Facebook group   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Y

A New Year's resolution is a tool that helps us become the best possible versions of ourselves. And yet research finds most people abandon their resolutions by February. Many New Year's resolutions fail because they're too broad, too lofty, and not at all time-sensitive. On today's show we set ourselves up for resolution success by applying the 5 components of SMART goals to our 2024 aspirations. Here's a preview: [2:00] What do the statistics say? Here's just how many resolutions fail, and when[4:30] How to use the SMART acronym to improve your own 2024 resolution [7:30] Taking 4 of the most common new years resolutions and making them better[12:00] Got a sustainability goal on your mind? Stephanie's best thoughts[19:00] 6 research-backed tips for making your resolution stick  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! MamaMinimalistBoston

The (only positive!) enviro-news you need to know for Friday, December 22 2023:[3:30] Can microorganisms help in our plastics fight?[6:00] Exactly how plants communicate with other plants (and why it's important in climate change conversations)[9:00] 'Sustainable' Aviation Fuels: Is climate-friendly flying an oxymoron?  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! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

We are taught from an early age that contentment is found in possessions. But lasting peace comes from within, and meditation is a powerful (and free!) way to find what so many of us seek. Yet thanks to All. The. Distractions, modern life has engineered out opportunities to go inward. And at the same time? Meditation has never been more needed or necessary.On today's show, a conversation with Brett Koon about the #1 way to boost happiness, reduce stress, hop off the consumerist bandwagon for good and - most importantly - find out who you really are.Here's a preview:[7:00] Happiness isn't in stuff, and life isn't a scavenger hunt to amass 'things'[10:30] Feelings are just thoughts with lag time (and they aren't the real YOU!)[14:00] The separation of awareness and mind takes time. Enter modern distractions[26:00] Is the solution to climate anxiety as simple as surrendering?[33:00] Common meditation myths debunked, plus: quick wins for getting started Resources mentioned: The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, December 15 2023:[00:30] COP28: The good, the bad, and the ugly[9:15] Who gets the (limited) water in California?[13:30] Extreme weather and the cost of sugar  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! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

The human endocrine system is delicate and complex. While scientists first discovered endocrine disrupting chemicals in 1991, obesogens - a subset of endocrine disruptors in personal care products that cause weight gain - were discovered only within the last two decades.Our cosmetics can cause us to develop more and bigger fat cells; they may also make it harder to stay at a healthy weight. On today's show: A conversation with Andrea Dahr about the endocrine disruptors, with special attention to the obesogens. Here's a preview:[4:45] Back to biology class: Breaking down the need-to-know info about your endocrine system[7:45] Losing weight isn't as simple as burning more calories than you consume, and here's why[12:00] Fascinating research about the impact of obesogen exposure on prenatal development and possible generational effects on our great-grandchildren[15:00] What does "dermatologist approved" actually mean?[18:00] Next level steps for intermediate product label readers, plus: Why simply shopping at "h

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, December 8 2023:[00:30] An update on how companies are doing on their environmental "pledges"[4:30] Lego-like bricks? A carbon capture breakthrough[7:30] Would you pay a monthly fee to not see ads on Facebook and Instagram? [9:30] Quick check-ins from COP28 and Wednesday's Republican presidential debate  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! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.