Explore every episode of the podcast Sustainable Minimalists
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How Many Jeans Do You Own? | 19 Nov 2024 | 00:41:57 | |
Denim jeans were once the preferred trouser for cowboys in the American west; some decades later, they became a symbol of rebellion for non-conformist teens. These days jeans are all about comfort and casual style, and the average American woman owns 7 pairs. And yet blue jeans also happen to have one of fashion's biggest environmental footprints. On today's show Sarene Alsharif reveals the harsh realities associated with jeans production; she also shares practical strategies for transforming this wardrobe staple into a sustainable solution.
Here's a preview: [7:00] Stone-washed with actual stones? Dyed with carcinogenic dyes? Uncovering your favorite pair's dirty little enviro-secrets [13:00] Want some stretch? Revisiting our desire for synthetic fibers in our denim [23:00] The trend cycle = smoke and mirrors [27:00] It's a marriage not a fling (and other tried-and-true sustainable fashion tips) [31:00] Stephanie's nihilist thoughts: What happens when collective action matters, and yet the collective isn't doing its part?
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| A Poverty Of Spirit | 12 Nov 2024 | 00:48:56 | |
We Americans may indeed be "rich" in material terms, but we suffer from what Mother Teresa calls a poverty of spirit. As we chased economic growth we closed ourselves off. We abandoned interconnectedness with other people, beings, and things. We also abandoned ourselves.
Many of the problems in our world today are visual manifestations of such abandonment. If the world isn't looking the way you want it to look right now, author Jeff Golden argues that solving our (numerous) issues starts by healing our culture-wide poverty of spirit.
Here's a preview:
[4:00] Money doesn’t make us happy, and the extent to which we strive for stuff is a manifestation of how unhappy we actually are inside
[8:00] How we feel about ourselves impacts how we show up in the world. How we treat others! Whether we regard other beings with love and respect!
[16:00] Exactly why healing our world (and ourselves!) may indeed start by getting out of our heads
[32:00] Debunking heady intellectual conversations about the importance of the economy, plus: a laundry list of the ways we use stuff as stand-ins for well-being
[38:00] Tangible ways to "drop into yourself" (because you and others deserve it!)
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| How To Host A Clothing Swap | 15 Oct 2024 | 00:33:33 | |
Clothing swaps (or toy swaps, or book swaps, or home goods swaps) are a low-stakes way to declutter your closet and acquire new-to-you clothes. These events also happen to be the epitome of communal care and can fundamentally change how others view secondhand items. Share resources with your neighbors, reduce waste, and get socializing without exchanging money! On today's show 4-time clothing swap host Jess Schroeder divulges her pro secrets to hosting a successful event.
Here's a preview: [8:00] The price of clothes has dropped dramatically in the last 30 years. Are clothing swaps pointless amidst our cultural reverence for cheap goods? [13:30] What is it about a swap that's so darn fun? [19:00] Your questions answered: Exactly how to host a killer clothing swap [24:00] How to be size inclusive and other pro tips for hosts and guests alike
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| Lessons Re-Learned | 04 Jan 2024 | 00:30:53 | |
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:
| |||
| Get Growing | 02 Jan 2024 | 00:31:52 | |
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:
| |||
| Your No Spend/Low Spend January | 30 Dec 2023 | 00:27:37 | |
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:
| |||
| SMART Resolutions | 27 Dec 2023 | 00:29:25 | |
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
| |||
| HEADLINES: Only Good News | 22 Dec 2023 | 00:13:06 | |
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?
| |||
| Modern Distractions | 19 Dec 2023 | 00:38:04 | |
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:
| |||
| HEADLINES: Water Wars | 15 Dec 2023 | 00:16:22 | |
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
| |||
| The Obesogens | 12 Dec 2023 | 00:27:46 | |
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 "healthy" stores isn't enough
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| HEADLINES: Business As Usual | 08 Dec 2023 | 00:11:47 | |
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
| |||
| The Happiness Formula | 07 Dec 2023 | 00:33:15 | |
Research finds that by and large happiness is a learned and cultivated behavior. Even better? Decades of psychological research lay the foundation for a handy-dandy formula that helps us *increase* the amount of happiness we experience in our daily lives. On today's show: abandoning cultural expectations in favor of a happiness formula that's both practical and empirically-based. Here's a preview: [3:00] If happiness isn't a state of being, what is it, really? Should we even seek it out? [7:45] H = S + C + V! An easy-to-understand formula for a happier life [16:00] Adults today are less happy than adults in previous generations, and here's why [21:00] 7 research-backed ways to increase your level of enduring happiness
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| The C Word (Cancer!) | 11 Oct 2024 | 00:43:02 | |
Since the dawn of the chemical era more than 300,000 chemicals have been invented, and many are made from oil and natural gas. While some manufactured chemicals have indeed provided benefit (Disinfectants! Antibiotics!), they have also caused great harm. Manufactured chemicals pollute every corner of the planet. They kill bees, fish, and mammals. They nearly destroyed the ozone and, yes, they give us cancer. Many types of cancer are on the rise in the US, and one explanation for this increase lies in our world of chemicals. On today's show environmental investigative reporter Kristina Marusic identifies the harmful environmental exposures linked to cancer; she also provides a step-by-step roadmap for reducing your cancer risk. Here's a preview: [2:00] Breaking down exactly what's happening with cancer rates around the world and why [12:00] The 3 Ps: 3 categories of pollutants that have clear links to childhood cancer [20:00] Pay special attention to these preventable environmental exposures if you have children [24:00] Revisiting the personal care product conundrum [28:00] The harmful environmental exposures you should zero in on at your child's daycare or school [36:00] In defense of being a loudmouth: You've been given a voice; here's how to best use it
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| Sustainable Shopping Is An Oxymoron | 05 Dec 2023 | 00:28:21 | |
Sustainability has the reputation of being, well, expensive. When money's tight, how do modern families decide what to prioritize with their dollars? Today I chat with Whitney Leigh Morris about the space where eco-consciousness and finances collide. Here's a preview: [3:30] Think you can't afford to be eco-friendly? Think again [6:00] $8 leggings from Target or a $35 pair from an ethical brand? It's complicated ... [13:00] Electric vehicle? Heat pump? How to get in the habit of asking whether you *actually* need that big ticket eco-item [16:00] Thoughts on replacing items that are in working condition for more energy efficient options [19:30] Are carbon offsets really worth the money? [26:30] What 'voting with your dollars' really means
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| HEADLINES: COP28 | 01 Dec 2023 | 00:14:56 | |
The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, December 1 2023: [00:30] Frustration and skepticism surrounding the latest climate summit happening now [5:30] A plane just flew across the Atlantic without fossil fuels, but let's reign in our excitement [10:00] Lead pipes, be gone [14:00] The plight of the wolverine
| |||
| How To Buy Wine Like A Conscious Consumer | 30 Nov 2023 | 00:36:45 | |
Like wine? Me too! On today's show: Everything you need to know about selecting wine that's aligned with your values. Here's a preview: [3:00] Why, oh why aren't there ingredients labels on alcohol? [8:00] Your favorite wine may have up to 6 dozen additives within. Let's chat about a few of them [13:00] Do sulfites deserve their bad rap? (hey there, red wine headaches!) [20:00] Grapes are listed as #8 on the EWG's Dirty Dozen. Should we be buying organic wine? [24:00] Biodynamic wine is organic, but organic wine isn't necessarily biodynamic. Here's why [33:00] How to buy wine like an informed and conscious consumer
| |||
| It's More Than Just Stuff | 28 Nov 2023 | 00:31:22 | |
Many of us have a complicated relationship with our stuff. And while no one wants their possessions to possess their lives, our stuff often has fascinating stories to tell. On today's show: A conversation with psychotherapist and professional organizer Helen Sanderson about what the state of our homes reveal about our psychology.
Here's a preview: [3:45] Pack rat, minimalist, or somewhere in between? Here's what our homes show us about ourselves [6:15] How to best guide your child toward tidiness, no nagging necessary [12:00] When a neat freak and a slob get married: How to best navigate differences in home maintenance styles [17:00] Home management is like tending a garden (and other applicable metaphors) [20:00] Thoughts on finding the drive to get to "maintenance"
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| Anti-Black Friday 2023 | 23 Nov 2023 | 00:30:22 | |
It’s crazy but it’s true: Only in America do we trample each other for sales exactly ONE day after being thankful for what we already have. Corporations want us to believe that happiness lies in stuff, but research consistently suggests otherwise. On today's re-air: A conversation with blogger Barbara Alfeo about making the most of the day after Thanksgiving in ways that have nothing to do with shopping. Here's a preview: [4:00] A Black Friday primer: Its humble origins and its spectacular modern-day popularity [8:15] Why do we over-shop? It's likely to fill the hole that our communities used to fill [12:00] Get out of the stores and get off the internet; have an anti-Black Friday instead. Here's how [20:00] Are you *just* a consumer or are you a helper, a volunteer, a friend? Here's why Black Friday is the perfect day to give back [26:00] How to set clear cut gifting limits so you don't overspend on Cyber Monday and throughout the holiday season
| |||
| Secondhand Sunday | 21 Nov 2023 | 00:30:25 | |
Is that Christmas in the air, or is it capitalism? There's no doubt about it: overconsumption degrades the planet. Enter Secondhand Sunday, a new-ish shopping holiday that's nestled between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It's dedicated to all-things thrifted and redirects shoppers away from mass consumption and toward pre-loved items instead. On today's show Poshmark's Kelly Mason inspires us to think differently about shopping during the holidays. (P.S. Are you putting up your Christmas tree this weekend? Listen to Episode #323: O Christmas Tree first!)
Here's a preview: [2:45] The case for normalizing secondhand items as gifts [6:00] We live in a different world than we did as children! Here's why it's high-time our giving rituals adapt to our current enviro-reality [13:00] Would your loved ones be open to receiving a secondhand gift? This is what market research says [15:00] Skeptics, unite! How to best dip your toe into the secondhand lifestyle [21:00] Why it's individual voices (a.k.a. yours and mine) that contribute to the collective gifting mindset shift
| |||
| HEADLINES: A Climate Report Breakdown | 17 Nov 2023 | 00:14:48 | |
The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, November 17 2023: [2:45] Climate disasters are expensive, yo [7:30] Earth just experienced its hottest year in 125,000 years [12:00] The planet is "woefully off track" on 41 out of 42 global climate goals
| |||
| A Minimal-ish Holiday | 16 Nov 2023 | 00:37:56 | |
The holidays are meant to be about peace, joy, and togetherness … but they often end up steeped in chaos, rush, and overspending. Not this year! There’s really no better time than right this minute to practice slowing down and getting intentional *before* we say yes to another obligation or hit 'add to cart'. On today's show podcast host Desirae Endres reminds us that the holidays aren't just for kids; they are for us to enjoy too.
Here's a preview: [6:30] First things first: We can't manufacture perfection, and kids make their own magic [11:00] Are you the behind-the-scenes magic maker? The importance of remembering what YOU love about the season [23:00] Protect your peace by zeroing in on what's within your control [29:00] Focus on contentment, not on comparison! Shining light on the chasm between our idealized (ahem...commercialized) celebrations versus real life
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| Waking up Grateful | 14 Nov 2023 | 00:34:03 | |
Are you doing gratitude wrong? So many of us are always waiting for more. But when you greet each moment gratefully? You're always receiving. On today's show author Kristi Nelson offers a mini-formula for grateful living (put this conversation on as you're preparing for Thanksgiving!).
Here's a preview: [10:00] It's not happiness that makes us grateful; it's gratefulness that makes us happy (and other research-backed benefits to grateful living) [20:00] Is what once was plenty now no longer enough? Practical ways to fight back against "gratitude tolerance" [26:00] The super-simple solution to mind grind [30:00] Thoughts on practicing gratitude during moments of grief, illness, and struggle
Resource mentioned:
| |||
| HEADLINES: An Electric Airplane | 10 Nov 2023 | 00:15:00 | |
The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, November 10 2023: [00:30] Microplastics are now in clouds; here's what this means [3:00] The leaf blower problem [10:30] The world's first solar SUV has entered the chat [11:00] An electric plane just flew from Vermont to Florida (!)
Resources mentioned: Episode #260: The White Gold Rush
| |||
| Selective Mediocrity | 10 Oct 2024 | 00:37:04 | |
Our To-Do lists are never-ending, sure. But it's neither realistic nor fair to assume we can excel in every arena. Enter selective mediocrity, a.k.a. that conscious choice to let some stuff go. We simply can't do it all, and selective mediocrity enables us to give our whole selves to the tasks and goals that really matter. On today's show: A conversation with Dr. Whitney Casares about *actually* lowering our expectations (not just pretending we lowered them!) and preserving our precious time and energy.
Here's a preview: [3:30] Feel like you're doing it all? Here are the 9 areas that take up the majority of a woman's time and energy [9:30] We moms aren't broken. The system is broken! [21:00] How do you decide when and where to be 'selectively mediocre'? [24:00] Anxiety loves perfection because anxiety loves control. Musings on being OK with letting some things go [28:00] Women have been conditioned to put others' needs ahead of their own. Time to enact self-boundaries!
Resources mentioned: Doing It All: Stop Over-Functioning and Become the Mom and Person You're Meant to Be
| |||
| How To Buy Soap | 09 Nov 2023 | 00:32:40 | |
Choosing the right hand soap and body wash isn't *just* about cleanliness. You deserve non-toxic products and our waterways deserve non-polluting ones, so it's really about committing to a higher standard of care. We're likely using soap every day for the rest of our lives; it's prudent, then, to get intentional about this must-have product. On today's show: conscious consumerism in the soap aisle.
Here's a preview: [3:00] Are antibacterial/antimicrobial soaps really necessary? [6:30] A hand sanitizer tangent: pro tips for buying and using sanitizer the *right* way [9:00] Research finds that putting products with toxins on our skin is more deleterious to our health than eating them, and here's why [11:00] Everything you absolutely must know about Triclosan [19:00] How to excel at the hand soap class of life via Stephanie's handy-dandy grading rubric
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| Sustainable Investing 2.0 | 07 Nov 2023 | 00:32:34 | |
Perhaps you're a veteran investor, or maybe you're just now starting to financial plan. Either way, where you put your money can substantially increase (or decrease!) your annual carbon footprint. Don't put your money where your mouth is; put it where your values are. On today's show financial consultant Shila Wattamwar leads an advanced level discussion about sustainable investing for the eco-conscious.
Here's a preview: [5:00] The sneaky ways you may be funding fossil fuels with your $$ [8:00] How well do ESG rating scales actually work? (And why aren't these measures standardized?) [21:00] Proxy ballots are an opportunity. Don't throw them in the trash! [25:00] What a time to be alive: A financial advisor's thoughts on next gen "alternative investments"
New to sustainable investing? Listen to these episodes first!
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| HEADLINES: How To Cool Down A City | 03 Nov 2023 | 00:15:39 | |
The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, November 3 2023: [00:30] French cheese, meet climate change [4:00] This is why olive oil is so expensive right now [6:30] Why many scientists are now saying climate change is an all-out 'emergency' [11:00] Cities are notoriously hot. Here are some cutting edge cooling solutions
| |||
| Just Stop It! (Holiday Decor Edition) | 02 Nov 2023 | 00:39:14 | |
Some environmentalists call Christmas the world’s greatest annual environmental disaster, and for good reason: All that cheap, ultra-trendy decor adds up. On today's show: getting intentional about our holiday decorations once and for all.
Here's a preview: [3:00] Let's talk numbers: How much do Americans spend each year on holiday decor? [10:00] 3 ways in which 'Christmas Creep' encourages us to spend more than we intended on decorations [13:00] The origins of those inflatable lawn thingys: Where did they come from and when will they disappear? [22:00] Don't go out and buy another decoration until you've displayed the decorations you already own, and here are 4 reasons why [32:00] Want to make your child smile? Don't buy a cheap piece of holiday decor; do this instead
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| Micro Activism | 31 Oct 2023 | 00:34:18 | |
Many of us shy away from the word 'activist' because the term brings to mind a very specific type of person. But if you're regularly taking action to make the world a better place? Guess what my friend, you're already an activist (yes, really!). What matters is not the size of the action, nor how vigorous the action is. It's all about consistency. On today's show author Omkari Williams helps us find the kind of social justice engagement that feels both empowering *and* sustainable. Here's a preview: [4:00] Activism isn't just marching and picketing: Here's what micro activism looks like in the day to day [10:30] Are you a headliner, an organizer, a producer, or an indispensable? How to determine your unique activist archetype [22:00] The status quo isn't working for the vast majority of us. So where's the passion for change? [30:00] How to know whether your efforts constitute shallow work or deep work
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| HEADLINES: Enhanced Oil Recovery | 27 Oct 2023 | 00:14:32 | |
The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, October 27 2023: [00:30] The West Antarctic ice sheet appears to be headed for an eventual “collapse” [3:00] The oil giants are feeling pretty darn good about their futures, apparently [6:30] Why on earth is the US government funding enhanced oil recovery? [13:00] This potential climate warrior may be gearing up for a White House run
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| Modern Stress | 26 Oct 2023 | 00:33:05 | |
It's sad but true: Americans are some of the most chronically stressed people on the planet. On today's show: how to incorporate Japanese lifestyle philosophies into our lives for reduced stress, greater well-being, and a longer life. Here's a preview: [3:00] The physiology of stress: What *actually* goes on in our bodies when we encounter a stressor? [11:00] 5 reasons why Americans are among the most stressed in the world [20:00] The secret to a great life isn't the accumulation of $$, it's this [27:00] How being in a hurry is inversely proportional to your quality of life
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| Eating Out | 24 Oct 2023 | 00:32:47 | |
Whether you’re dining at a restaurant or ordering takeout, eating out leaves a footprint. On today's show: asking the right questions, minimizing food waste, and reading through All. The. Greenwashing the next time you head to a restaurant. Here's a preview: [6:30] The food waste issue at fine dine, quick serve, and fast casual [12:00] Farm-to-table? How to find restaurants that actually care about environmental sustainability [22:30] The best way to *gently* suggest a change in a restaurant's policy [27:00] Our lives may be go go go, but our food doesn't have to be!
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| HEADLINES: Iron Enrichment | 20 Oct 2023 | 00:17:18 | |
The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, October 20 2023: [00:30] These are the places that could become ‘unlivable’ as the Earth warms [3:00] Engineer the ocean to curb climate change? Hmm ... [6:30] Ozone-destroying gasses are largely banned. So why are they still being emitted into the atmosphere? [13:00] Climate rules are coming for corporate America [15:00] The enviro-implications of that Taylor Swift tweet Resources mentioned:
| |||
| To-Do List Freedom | 19 Oct 2023 | 00:33:45 | |
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:
| |||
| Rebuilding Your Village | 08 Oct 2024 | 00:40:40 | |
A recent study finds Americans are spending notably more time at home, and it's not wholly the pandemic's fault. Thank technology: For the last 20 years Americans have slowly traded their social institutions — like churches and clubs — for isolation. Have we forgotten how to be social creatures? On today's show: A conversation with journalist Rosie Spinks about concrete ways to rebuild your proverbial village. Here's a preview: [4:00] Counting the ways in which the pandemic hastened a cultural shift toward isolation already in progress [9:00] You don't need friends; you need 50 people [16:00] Be the person who asks twice! [24:00] The quiet genius of enacting place-based rituals [31:00] Reminder! Canceling is not a form of self-care [35:00] Are your social efforts rarely reciprocated? Enact this 3-second mindset shift
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| Comfort At All Costs | 17 Oct 2023 | 00:33:29 | |
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:
| |||
| HEADLINES: Lots Of Dead Animals | 13 Oct 2023 | 00:13:24 | |
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:
| |||
| Breaking Down Body Odor | 12 Oct 2023 | 00:35:01 | |
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:
For more conscious consumer listening:
| |||
| HEADLINES: Monster Fracks | 06 Oct 2023 | 00:15:52 | |
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:
| |||
| Cheat Codes For A Good Life | 05 Oct 2023 | 00:35:48 | |
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:
| |||
| A Green Constitutional Amendment | 03 Oct 2023 | 00:31:54 | |
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:
| |||
| HEADLINES: Net Zero Greenwashing | 29 Sep 2023 | 00:14:00 | |
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
| |||
| Climate Migration | 28 Sep 2023 | 00:32:19 | |
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:
| |||
| Climate Change And Family Planning | 26 Sep 2023 | 00:24:52 | |
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 rapidly warming? [14:00] Thoughts on intentionally having children and raising them to be stewards of the planet [20:00] The paradox of privilege: if we’re privileged enough to not feel the effects of climate change, can/should we go on living as usual? [24:00] It all comes down to hope. How hopeful are you?
Further Reading:
| |||
| HEADLINES: A Busy Week In New York | 22 Sep 2023 | 00:14:30 | |
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:
| |||
| Edit Your Life | 04 Oct 2024 | 00:39:24 | |
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:
| |||
| A Better Bread | 21 Sep 2023 | 00:34:51 | |
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 you need to know about your "low-maintenance pet" [29:00] Pro tips for sourdough success from professional bakers
Resources mentioned:
| |||
| The Processed Food Problem | 19 Sep 2023 | 00:33:24 | |
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
| |||
| HEADLINES: Dating Debt | 15 Sep 2023 | 00:14:43 | |
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:
| |||