The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast

We are often told that if we accomplish as much as possible in a day’s time we’ll feel fulfilled come day’s end. Enter to-do lists, which provide focus, direction, and purpose. But action doesn't always equal progress; it's no surprise, then, that so many of us feel drained and dissatisfied once the sun goes down.On today's show: how to find freedom in your to-do list and (finally!) make room for peace, connection, and fulfillment. Here's a preview:[4:00] Your daily to-do list should have 7 items or less, and here's why[8:30] Exactly how to focus less on efficiency and more on intentionality[15:00] Time Boxing, Post-Its, and more: 4 research-backed ways to make your to-do list work for you[29:00] The Number One way to ensure you're spending your precious finite resource (ahem ... your TIME) on the right things  Resources mentioned: 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done (by Peter Bregnan) Fat And The Moon deodorant This show is listener-supported. Thank you for suppor

We have nearly engineered out all discomfort from our modern lives. Great, right? Not so fast: doing so comes at our own expense.On today's show: comfort creep's harms, with practical thoughts on course correction. Here's a preview:[1:30] Humans have evolved to prioritize comfort. What's so wrong with being ultra-comfy?[6:30] Research finds that when we adopt a new comfort in our lives we adapt to it quite quickly. Enter comfort creep[11:30] ... But is it sustainable? Our reverence for comfort has come at the expense of our planet's health[19:30] We have countless modern comforts yet we're still unhappy; here's why[25:00] Parents, stop managing all of your child's discomforts! Resources Mentioned: The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self by Michael Easter Episode #365: Old Fashioned On Purpose Episode #395: Lifestyle Creep This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, October 13 2023:[00:30] The "apocalyptic" mass death of over 100 freshwater dolphins in the Amazon[3:00] The fall migration season and mass bird deaths in Chicago[5:30] Electric bikes may (finally) be getting cheaper[10:00] 3 cheers for Norway's latest re-wilding efforts[13:00] Are McMansions a thing of the past? Resources mentioned:E-Bike Incentive Programs of North America  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.

There are tens of thousands of chemicals currently used in the US and (shocker!) most aren't adequately tested for health and safety. The fewer we come into contact with, the better.Still, no one wants to stink. Enter deodorant and antiperspirant, two pesky places in which we conscious consumers can certainly buy better. On today's show: everything you never knew you *needed* to know about deodorant, plus: how to buy this medicine cabinet staple like a boss. Here's a preview:[2:15] First things first: Breaking down exactly what's happening under your arms [7:00] Antiperspirants block sweat glands and constrict pores. Is this a good thing?[9:30] What does recent empirical research say about aluminum and breast cancer? About Alzheimer's?[21:00] Exactly how to read the back of any personal care product[25:00] 5 steps to buying non-toxic and zero-waste deodorant Resources mentioned: Wild deodorant  Pretty Frank Soapwalla Ursa Major Primal Life Organics The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database For mor

Your enviro-news for Friday, October 6 2023:[00:30] Everything you need to know about monster fracking [5:00] Better late than never? Vaccines, horseshoe crab blood, and (finally) a synthetic alternative[9:00] Will our grandchildren know frogs?[12:00] Introducing the Climate Corps, a green jobs training program Resources mentioned:  American Climate Corps (via The White House)  Upstate NY program on sustainable agriculture and animal welfare Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. 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.

Cheat codes for living are handy tricks that help us navigate this crazy game called life in a more easeful (and perhaps more joyful!) manner. On today's show we break down 16 of the most important. Here's a preview:[2:15] The hands down best way to rewire your brain to forget about rejection[10:00] Head or heart? Answering this age-old question once and for all (with the help of science)[18:00] There's only one right way to respond to compliments and this is it[21:00] Adopt this simple trick as your brain "prunes its synapses"[28:00] Don't praise your child for being smart! Say this instead Resources mentioned:Episode #402: Building Experiential Wealth 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.

There may indeed be a singular solution that addresses environmental racism, the climate crisis, pollution, and withering US ecosystems simultaneously. That solution? Green Amendments.Constitutions are the people's documents. Although getting environmental rights included may indeed be ... well, difficult, advocates argue it's possible. In fact, it's already being done.Today attorney and environmental activist Maya van Rossum empowers us to mobilize for constitutional change that will protect our right to a healthful climate once and for all. Here's a preview:[3:30] Held v. Montana's landmark win: Breaking down its implications in laymen's terms[9:30] If environmental rights are indeed human rights, why didn't our founding fathers include them in the US Constitution?[12:30] How legislative remedies (ahem ... The Clean Air Act, The Safe Drinking Water Act) legalize pollution and harm[25:00] The power lies in grassroots organization. Join us! Resources Mentioned/Further Reading: How Elites Ate the Social Justi

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, September 29 2023:[00:30] Antarctic winter sea ice hits 'extreme' record low[3:00] Net-zero "pledges" and "ambitions" in the food and restaurant industries[9:00] Don't call it a (snow leopard) comeback[11:00] The simple and cost-effective way Japanese businesspeople are combatting emissions  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 humans have lived within a surprisingly narrow range of temperatures for most of our history. But this range? It's slowly and steadily moving north.As the planet warms and weather events become more severe, it's natural to wonder about safety. How do we know it's time to leave our beloved homes and move for good? Where are the so-called climate havens, and do they have infrastructure in place to support a sudden population influx?On today's show we round out Difficult Decisions Week with two women who are among the first to consider climate change when buying property and laying down roots.Here's a preview:[11:00] 3 characteristics to look for in a prospective climate haven[22:00] The red flags one guest believes will inform her it's time to go for good[27:00] Even in 2023, Americans continue to move toward both heat and coastlines. At what point is doing so no longer a solid financial investment?[30:00] Advice for listeners considering a proactive climate move Further reading/Resources mentioned: How Cli

Difficult truth time: A child born today will live on a planet that’s hotter than it has ever been since human civilization developed. And us humans? We’re the ones who created this problem.According to one study, each child born in the United States adds thousands of tons of carbon to their parents’ lifetime carbon legacy. While some would-be parents rightly question whether it’s ethical to have children and thus contribute to our global warming woes, others wonder whether it’s fair *to the child* to bring them into a world with such an uncertain - and perhaps unstable - future.The decision to have a family is a profoundly emotional and personal one that’s made more complex with looming climate threats. It's Difficult Decisions Week on the podcast and on today's show my guests and I tackle the most difficult one of all: family planning in the era of climate change.Here's a preview: [9:00] Breaking down the carbon emissions numbers and adding in legacy[12:00] Is it ethical to bring a child into a world that’s

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, September 22 2023:[00:30] Updates from the Climate Ambition Summit[2:00] Climate protesters march in Manhattan[4:00] California sues fossil fuels giants[11:00] Dogs are joining the conservation movement Resources mentioned: Working Dogs For Conservation Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. 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.

Sourdough bread is alchemy personified, as just 3 ingredients — flour, salt, and water — transform themselves into a delicious food item that also happens to be insanely healthy. Yet despite centuries of sourdough wisdom, 21st century bread is made with dozens of unnecessary (and perhaps unsafe) additives. And those microbiome benefits that sourdough boasts? Sadly, modern bread has none.Today in honor of #SourdoughSeptember: A conversation with professional bakers Ed and Natasha Tatton about the reasons why we should all be eating sourdough on the regular (and how, too, to get started on your own sourdough baking journey if the mood strikes).Here's a preview:[5:00] Sourdough isn't a skill, it's an understanding[9:00] Sour-faux? Loaves at the supermarket may say "sourdough" but are a-lyin'[15:00] Not everyone should bake sourdough, but everyone should be eating it: Breaking down the (numerous) health benefits of fermented foods[22:00] Sourdough starters were once passed down as wedding gifts. Here's everything

About 60 percent of the foods Americans eat these days are processed, and diet-related illnesses are the leading cause of mortality in the USA. If you’re like most people you may be spending your hard-earned dollars on food you’ve been told is healthy and safe but simply isn't. Amidst both all the conflicting diet information and all the greenwashing it has never been more important to pay attention to what's in our food. On today's show we discuss the processed food problem by zeroing in on 3 specific additives we should be on the lookout for the next time we venture into the grocery store.Here's a preview:[4:30] Is processing the problem, or is it the additives?[7:30] Why 'Generally Recognized As Safe' is ridiculously unsafe[15:00] Red 3, Yellow 4, and everything you need to know about artificial food dyes [18:00] The connection between the benzoates and hyperactivity[24:00] What on earth is potassium bromate? Here's the simplest way to avoid this bread additive This show is listener-supported. Thank you fo

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, September 15 2023:[00:30] Biden blocks oil drilling in Arctic Alaska (yay!). But don't forget about Willow ...[3:30] Extreme heat and indoor recess [9:00] A (gorgeous) once-extinct bird is reintroduced to New Zealand[13:00] Millennials are racking up 'romantic debt' in the pursuit of love Resources mentioned: A Rare Pair of Chicks for the Exotic and Endangered Takahe Into The Wild  Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.   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.

Our experiences - the big trips, the small moments of joy, and everything in between - are the real wealth of our lives. So why is it that we consistently fail to do the things we're yearning to do? And how can we live lives that are experientially rich despite the daily grind?Today's show is a conversation with authors Bridget Hilton and Joe Huff about how to treat time as our most valuable currency while it's still on our side.Here's a preview:[4:00] How to accurately measure the importance of experiences in a capitalist society[12:00] Experiences yield wealth, yet so few of us fully live. Here are the top reasons why, according to a study of over 20K individuals[15:30] Fear holding you back? Do this![19:00] Shake yourself awake to what really matters (and don't fall back asleep!) with these 2 resources[31:00] 3 ways to avoid regrets by keeping yourself accountable Resources mentioned: Your reviews on Apple Podcasts really help the show. Thank you! Experiential Billionaire: Build a Life Rich in Experiences

For many, weekends are for chores. They're also for carting kids to sports games and getting caught up on errands. But amidst all that driving and laundering, where are the opportunities to rest, rejuvenate, and fully live our lives?Feeling rested is so much more than a good night's sleep and on today's show we discuss research-backed ways to reclaim your time and wellness by making weekends work for you. Here's a preview:[3:00] Connections between work, busyness, and feeding the capitalist engine[5:00] The 7 types of rest our bodies and minds need[20:00] What research says about the benefits of active recreation as opposed to passive recreation[24:00] Thoughts on playing catch up on the weekends: Can we minimize our weekend chores? [29:00] Whatever happened to blue laws? Making a case for jumping off the work-spend hamster wheel, at least on the weekend[33:00] Parents, we simply must: Together let's take a critical look at our children's weekend activities Resources mentioned: Take Dr. Dalton-Smith's free re

The enviro-news you need to know about for Friday, September 8 2023:[00:30] 3 cheers for the rise of tiny forests[5:00] What sea ice loss means for emperor penguins [10:00] We're running out of groundwater ...[14:00] Revisiting climate havens Resources mentioned: 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.  

We live in a world that's always trying to sell us more stuff, and much of it is junk. Enter environmental degradation, wasted money, unnecessary headaches, and clutter. Lots of clutter.Today we continue this week's Buy Just Once theme with BuyMeOnce.com founder Tara Button, who's here to lay bare the tenets of what she terms 'mindful curation'.Here's a preview:[7:00] Exactly how our ultra-commercialized world leaves us broke and lonely[12:00] Examining the discrepancy between the "poor premium" and consumer rights[23:00] 4 fixability elements to look for when researching appliances and electronics[28:00] Thoughts on trust and brand loyalty at a time when consumer confidence is at an all-time low Resources mentioned: A Life Less Throwaway: The Lost Art of Buying for Life by Tara Button Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All by John Alexander Blendtec blender Well Rigged   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustain

These days, durable and long-lasting products often seem like elusive unicorns. But they do exist, and finding them is a 2-step process.First, it's imperative that we check our collective predisposition for disposability at the curb. Second, we must learn insider tricks for discerning the buy-for-life products from the cheap junk that lines store shelves. Enter Buy Just Once Week! On today's show sustainability educator Sophie Jungbauer suggests practical ways for adopting our grandmothers' mindsets when it comes to sourcing and caring for must-have household items. Here's a preview: [3:00] What exactly does 'quality' look like IRL?[10:30] Musings on consumerism and its consequences[14:00] Does "American Made" mean anything in terms of durability?[25:00] Getting in the habit of asking yourself, "Did my grandma have this?"[28:00] Quality over quantity! The #1 minimalist mindset shift that must first happen before conscious consumption can take place[35:00] Pyrex, stainless steel, and more: 5 Buy Just Once item

The enviro-news you need to know about for Friday, September 1 2023:[00:30] What you need to know about the new deal between Shein and Forever 21[4:30] China says Japan's seafood is unsafe. What does science say?[11:00] 3 cheers for windsails made especially for cargo ships[13:30] Renewable propane is here (!!)Resources mentioned: Nullker.com Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. 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.