We humans are evolutionarily primed to live in concert with the natural world, but these days Americans spend over 92% of time either indoors or inside a vehicle. The result? Stress, inflammation and — for some of us — a pervasive sense of malaise.  American culture is designed to keep us indoors because capitalist engines make money when we are distracted, and yet cutting-edge science supports the reality that life on this planet is radically interconnected. On today's show author Lyanda Lynn Haupt introduces the concept of rooted living to benefit of both humans and nature.   Here's a preview: [11:00] Nature provides connection, and yet 21st century life vilifies the outdoors [16:00] Exactly why our capitalist engines benefit when we live indoors lives  [22:00] Musings on our collected extractive mindset, plus: how roots are the antidote [28:00] Lyanda's Number One tip for re-rooting yourself and your children (It's a good one!)   Resources mentioned: Rooted: Life At The Crossroads Of Science, Nature, and Spirit Lyanda on Instagram Episode #384: Forest Bathing 101 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk an awful lot about "climate science" and "what climate scientists predict" on this podcast. Today, I'm talking to one of them.  What exactly are the next 100 years likely going to look like for humans? What needs to happen for the US to mobilize for real? On today's show: A conversation with Michael Barnard about climate solutions, with an emphasis on that pesky air conditioning problem.    Here's a preview: [9:00] When it comes to cooling the planet, here's why my guest is "cautiously optimistic" despite the impending "ugly process" [14:00] Why climate change must first become impossible to ignore [20:00] The hotter it gets, the cooler we need our homes to be. And yet cooling our homes demands energy, which heats the planet more [27:00] Do we need to worry about mass electric grid failures in summer months? [32:00] Exactly why heat pumps are our collective heating and cooling future   Resources mentioned: The New Climate War: The Fight To Take Back Our Planet (by Michael E. Mann) Proven Climate Solutions: Leading Voices on How to Accelerate Change   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. Thanks to E-Cloth for being the feature sponsor of this episode! Use code "Minimalists15" for 15% off sitewide: https://us.e-cloth.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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    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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Big Mouth Billy Bass Episode #323: O Christmas Tree Episode #101: 5 Spaces To Declutter Before Christmas Episode #051: How To Handle Holiday Clutter (with Joshua Becker) Episode #327: Holiday Boundaries Episode #326: Gift Boundaries 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World without a Bullhorn Take Omkari's Activist Archetype Quiz Seafoodwatch.org consumer guides   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Companies capture a lot of CO2. Most of it is going into new oil. (via WaPo) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Americans Are Some of the Most Stressed-Out People in the World, a New Global Survey Says (via Time) Stressed in the U.S.: 12 Tools to Tackle Anxiety, Loneliness, Tech Addiction, and More by Meg Van Deusen Episode #384: Forest Bathing 101  Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Michelin Green Star restaurants Episode #093: How (Exactly) To Cook Zero-Waste Meals Episode #270: Desperation Dinners Episode #038: What's For Dinner? 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to environmental concerns, there's certainly plenty to worry about at the moment. Whether you and your family is eating microplastics on the regular may not be your list of top concerns. But it’s an important topic to cover. While the health effects of microplastics on humans are not fully understood, common sense measures that reduce our exposures to both the plastic itself and also the endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are on and in such particles are certainly prudent. On today's show: How to eat, drink, and inhale fewer microplastics as you go about your days.   Here's a preview: [6:00] Synthesizing the latest research into the effects of microplastics on human health [11:00] Stop eating microplastics! 3 practical action steps in the kitchen [27:00] Inhalation and absorption matters: Why vacuuming and dusting helps [35:00] 3 (super easy) ways to reduce your plastics exposure when you're out and about   Resources mentioned: Episode #393: Single-Use Poison Episode #466: Toxic Fashion E-Cloth Numi Tea   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 more conscious consumer listening: Episode #294: A Better Trash Bag Episode #194: Safer Nail Polish  Episode #318: How To Buy Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent Episode #338: How Ethical Is Your Chocolate? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Justice Movement by Fredrik deBoer The Green Amendment: The People's Fight for a Clean, Safe, and Healthy Environment by Maya van Possum Green Amendments For The Generations 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Climate Migration Will Reshape America (via The New York Times) The Girl Next Door Podcast RisingShining.com The Creeks Will Rise by William Becker 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  Should You Not Have Kids Because Of Climate Change? It’s Complicated. (via The Washington Post)   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Real Bread Campaign Brod & Taylor Blue Zones documentary (via Netflix) Episode #403: The Processed Food Problem   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1901, American families spent 20% of their income on non-necessities.  But 123 years later? These days that figure has risen to 50%. Many of us spend hard-earned money in hopes of acquiring things that money can't buy, and the result? Nearly 3 and 4 of Americans identify finances as a top stressor in their lives. Marketers have created consumer desire, sure, but it's entirely possible to spend in alignment with your values. In a world of disposable incomes, global warming, and far too much cortisol, we need values-based spending now more than ever, because spending on your core values benefits your wallet, your sanity, and the planet all at once. On today's show author Jill Sirianni encourages us to drill down our core values so we spend less, save more, and recenter our lives around what's actually important.   Here's a preview: [8:30] The Number One reason not to buy to solve your problems (It rarely works!) [15:00] Faith, Family, Friends, and Fulfilling work: Identifying core values and the Four Fs [18:00] It's not deprivation, but it could be sacrifice ... How does self-care fit into the values-based spending conversation? [26:00] Nailing down your values and curb impulse spending for good   Resources mentioned: Buy What You Love Without Going Broke Frugal Friends Podcast Thanks to E-Cloth for being the feature sponsor of this episode! Use my code "Minimalists15" for 15% off sitewide at: https://us.e-cloth.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.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 and Die With No Regrets Get your own (free!) Memento Mori Calendar Episode #362: Living On Purpose   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 rest quiz Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity by Sandra Dalton-Smith The Weekend Effect: The Life-Changing Benefits of Taking Two Days Off by Katrina Onstad Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey Episode #354: Edit Your Life 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 items for your kitchen   Resources mentioned:  Episode #222: Everything Faux Leather Episode #396: The C Word Griswold cast iron 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yes, clutter is always going to accumulate. But there are ways to prevent at least some of it from entering our homes, and we're chatting about 3 of those ways today.   Here's a preview: [2:00] Our decluttering challenge wrap-up  [10:00] Browse, don't buy! [16:30] Rocks, pebbles, and your personal Chuck It List [25:30] Contentment is being satisfied with what you have. Enter the Don't Want List   Resources mentioned: Episode #376: When Everything's A Favorite Episode #397: What Organizers Do Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals by Oliver Burkeman Expand Your Don’t Want List (via Becoming Minimalist)   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People are naturally curious about the homes of professional organizers. On today's show author Shira Gill divulges 5 high-impact organizing tips straight from the mouths of fellow professional organizers. Here's a preview of the insider tricks we're discussing today: [10:30] Don't shop for a mansion if you live in a cottage! [16:00] Display what's beautiful; conceal what isn't [20:00] Ditch the product packaging for reduced visual clutter [23:00] When in doubt, decant  [35:00] Elevate your neglected spaces   Resources mentioned: Episode #217: Organized Entryway Ideas Organized Living: Solutions and Inspiration for Your Home HGTV Is Making Our Homes Boring And Us Sad, One Study Says (via The Washington Post) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The enviro-news you need to know about for Friday, August 25 2023: [00:30] What’s happening to South Florida’s coral reefs (and why you should care) [4:00] Don't call it a comeback: The golden lion tamarin's rebound [6:00] The richest Americans account for 40% of US emissions, but not for the reasons you may expect [11:00] The connection between air pollution and the silent pandemic, a.k.a. antibiotic resistance   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once upon a time (oh, about 175 years ago) we were epic creators. Human hands made things, grew things, built things, and even invented things on the regular. But these days? By and large, we identify as consumers, and our hands are mostly used for typing and swiping. And yet, when we consume too much, many of us experience stress, anxiety, and depression. We know it because we're living it: Our possessions can possess us.  If we create more, we may very likely consume less. On today's show: Moving the needle of contentment away from over-consumption back to self-sufficiency by highlighting what research has to say about the wellness benefits associated with using our hands to create.  Here's a preview: [4:30] Exactly when and how did we lost our collective abilities to create (Here's lookin' at you, mail-order catalog) [9:30] Our hands are marvels. Marvels, I say! [15:00] Crafting is good for you, so pick up those knitting needles, woodworking tools, or art supplies [20:00] In defense of active leisure (and I do mean active!) [24:00] Puzzles, board games, and the wellness benefits associated with "supercharged socializing"   Resources mentioned: Book Club is August 5! 2 meetings this time around at 12pm EST and at 7pm EST. Join us! Working With Your Hands Is Good for Your Brain (via The New York Times) Handmade (by Gary Rogowski)   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.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  A New War on Cancer: The Unlikely Heroes Revolutionizing Prevention Sample letters to send to your child's school and school board (via Non-Toxic Communities)  The Cancer Free Economy Network  The EWG's Healthy Living App  Silent Spring Institute The Center for Health, Environment, and Justice   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spend more money than necessary on non-essential upgrades? You're not alone. Lifestyle creep is often related to status, and its prevalence may indeed be bolstered by a perceived sense of lack. On today's show financial educator Kara Perez offers her best tips for combatting unintentional lifestyle creep in the day-to-day. Here’s a preview:  [3:00] When Latte Factors and Treat Yo’self! intersect: At what point do treats become lifestyle inflation? [9:00] The Number One question to ask if you suspect you’re defining your self-worth by others’ standards [16:00] Applying “You can’t be what you can’t see” to money decisions [20:00] 2 ways to bring your confidence back to awesome when you feel ‘less than’ (without buying something new) [26:00] Don’t call it a budget, call it a spending plan: The super smart way to track spending without that complicated spreadsheet   Resources mentioned:  Kara on YouTube 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The era of climate litigation is here, my friends. Today's episode breaks down 3 enviro-lawsuits happening right now:  [02:00] Held v. State of Montana and a big win for environmentalists this week [7:30] Attorney Missy Sims is a-comin' for Big Oil [12:30] $1.5B in damages: An Oregon county's lawsuit against fossil fuel big wigs    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The US pharmaceutical industry is unique in that it markets directly to consumers (hey there, Zoloft commercial!). Through such direct-to-consumer marketing we have been spoon-fed the notion that every hint of a symptom requires a drug. The result? Americans take more prescription medications today than at any other time in recent history.  On today's show we uncover the pharmaceutical industry's influence over the FDA and over consumers. Here's a preview: [2:30] Do Americans take more prescription drugs than citizens in other countries? [5:00] Prescription medication and the implications of its direct-to-consumer marketing [9:30] Big pharma, the FDA, and a great big conflict of interest [12:00] The connection between a patient's desire for a quick fix and a physician's prescribing habits [19:00] 3 action steps re: conscious consumerism and prescription drugs   Resources mentioned: Carbon Footprint Of The Global Pharmaceutical Industry And Relative Impact Of Its Major Players (via Journal Of Cleaner Production) Too Many Meds? America's Love Affair With Prescription Medication (via Consumer Reports) 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're surrounded by plastics everywhere, all the time. And single-use plastics? They're not only creating a pollution crisis; they are contributing to the climate crisis as well. Microplastics in particular are a cocktail of toxicity, containing at least 10,000 different chemicals, many of which are linked to diseases including diabetes and cancer. And yet more plastic waste is being produced than ever before.  On today's show journalist Matt Simon offers real, actionable solutions to combat the growing plastic crisis. Here's a preview: [4:00] What emerging research says into the effects of microplastics on human health [13:00] Thoughts on BPA, PFAS, and other "regrettable substitutions" [17:00] An update on the state of plastics regulation in the US [21:30] New moms, listen up! The #1 way to reduce your baby's exposure to micro- and nanoplastics [24:00] Research-backed ways to combat the microplastics problem in your home   Resources Mentioned: More Single-Use Plastic Waste Being Produced Than Ever Before, Study Finds (via Forbes) A Poison Like No Other: How Microplastics Corrupted Our Planet and Our Bodies The United Nations Plastics Treaty Episode #390: The Pet Episode 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday August 11, 2023: [00:45] Roads made of plastic waste?  [3:30] The Barbie hoax (and Mattel's response) [9:30] The fire whirl: Breaking down this weather phenomenon  [12:00] Tracking rising ocean temperatures around the world   Resources mentioned: The Barbie hoax (via Barbie Liberation Organization) Photo of a fire whirl (via MSN) Video of a fire whirl (via CBS News)   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

'Tis the season for back-to-school door busters, price slashes, and closeouts. On today's show we're discussing how to reduce clutter, save money, and help the planet by shopping for back-to-school with greater intention.  Here's a preview: [2:30] Let's pull back the curtain on back-to-school marketing, shall we? [7:00] Here's what it actually means (and what it actually looks like!) to shop your own home [12:30] Revisiting the kids' capsule conversation [21:00] Thoughts on teacher wishlists (from a former teacher)   Resources mentioned: It's Back-To-School Shopping Time, And Everyone Wants A Bargain (via National Public Radio) Back-to-Class Shopping Expected to Reach Record Levels (Via National Research Federation) Episode # 006: The Ultimate Kid Capsule Blueprint 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Back-To-School Week! In 2023, the average American family will spend $597 per child in anticipation of the upcoming school year. And while new school supplies and fresh outfits can definitely get our children into the school spirit, it's rest, nutrition, and routines that *actually* predict success. On today's show Dr. Rebecca Jackson offers research-backed ways to ensure our children head to school with the best possible foundation. Here's a preview: [2:30] A challenge amplifier: The pandemic's lasting impacts on our children [8:30] How parents can use the concept of neuroplasticity to help kids get back on track [11:30] Practical ways to prioritize rest in your home [21:00] Packing a healthy lunchbox... ugh! Here's why you should bother [29:00] Fresh start or nerve-stressed? Thoughts on easing your child's back-to-school unknowns   Resources mentioned: Back on Track: A Practical Guide to Help Kids of All Ages Thrive Brain Balance Center 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You love your pet; you also love the planet. Good news: How you feed, care for, and clean up after your dogs and cats have sizable impacts on our environment and ecosystems. On today's show: answering listener questions about all-things eco-conscious pets. Here's a preview of the pet-related questions we're answering today: [2:45] Should we transition our cats and dogs to plant-based diets? [7:00] Is PFAS in pet food bags? [10:30] What are the advantages and disadvantages of making our own pet food? [18:30] What's the most eco-friendly cat litter? [24:00] Should we be flushing or composting our cat litter? [27:00] Should domestic cats live indoors or outdoors?   Resources mentioned: Episode # 389: Certified B World's Best Cat Litter -- 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brands are continuously making environmental and socially conscious claims. And while many consumers want to purchase from ethical brands, it's hard to know which brands are legit (versus which ones are faking). Enter the B Corp certification, which is the only 3rd-party logo that certifies a company's social and environmental ethics. Yes, the logo is certainly helpful for those of us who buy stuff, but it's bigger than that. Indeed, the B Corp's mere existence forces capitalism to shift toward sustainability. On today's show CEO Mike Brown breaks down everything we savvy consumers need to know about that B-in-a-circle logo.   Here's a preview: [3:00] A vision centered around social impact? What does that mean? [12:00] The Nespresso controversy [19:00] Becoming a triple bottom line company has its advantages; plus: how we consumers can push business toward sustainability [25:00] Practical action steps for conscious consumers who want to shop with greater intention   Resources mentioned: Episode #388: The 30-Day Mess-Stress Fix (Join us!) Find a B Corp at bcorporation.net Mike on LinkedIn   -- 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tomatoes, green beans, peaches, and so much more: Our great-grandmas knew a thing or two about food preservation, and yet these days few of us can. It's a time- and labor-intensive practice, sure. But it's also a self-sufficient life skill.  Whether you grow some or all of your own food or seek out bargains at the store and farmers' market, canning the season's bounty means you'll be eating well all year round. You'll also be participating in a nearly waste-free practice (no plastic to see here!).  Back to our great-grandmas for a hot minute: They infused love in every jar, and so can you. On today's show author Sarah Thrush invites us to go back to food preservation basics with advice on how to integrate canning into a self-sufficient, money-saving, and sustainable lifestyle.   Here's a preview: [10:00] Say it loud, say it proud: There's no self-sufficiency without community! [15:00] The #1 Rule of canning, plus: why it's super important to start small [19:0o] The One Week, One Month, One Year principle: Here's exactly how Sarah keeps enough food on hand to feed her family for an entire year [25:00] Troubleshooting the most common canning conundrums [33:00] Take it outside and make it a party! The benefits to canning outside with your family Thanks to E-Cloth for being the feature sponsor of this episode! Use code "Minimalists15" for 15% off sitewide: https://us.e-cloth.com/ Resources mentioned: Preserving With A Purpose: Next Generations Canning Recipes and Wisdom Sarah on TikTok @peeliesandpetals Superb canning lids 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday July 28, 2023: [00:30] Native giraffes are reintroduced to the wild [2:45] A lithium mine in Nevada gets the green ahead (to the chagrin of environmentalists) [4:30] How to use empty office buildings for vertical farming (genius!) [10:00] Shein invited influencers on an all-expenses-paid trip and people are mad AF   Resource mentioned:  Episode #260: The White Gold Rush 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new month is nearly here, and this means it's the perfect time to usher in the change of seasons with some legitimate decluttering. If you're ready to get serious about the clutter you accumulated this summer - and if you're motivated by a bit of healthy competition! - today's episode outlines the objective, the setup, and the rules of play for the 30-day minimalism challenge I'll be participating in starting August 1. I also offer up some tips to ensure success, and I so hope you join me for both the episode and the challenge! And if you're listening welllllll past this episode's release date, know that this game can be played anytime, anywhere!    Here's a preview: [9:30] Three tips for avoiding the dreaded Doom Pile [12:30] Two birds, one stone: Exactly how to pair the 30-day minimalist challenge with your no-spend month [19:00] Using the Pomodoro Technique in decluttering and in life   Resources mentioned: Sustainable Minimalism: Embrace Zero Waste, Build Sustainability Habits that Last, and Become a Minimalist Without Sacrificing the Planet Play the 30-Day Minimalism Game (via The Minimalists) Episode #376: When Everything's A Favorite Episode #168: Intentional Living At Home The Pomodoro Technique   -- 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It used to be pink for girls and blue for boys, but no longer. These days it's frills and plunging cuts for girls, angry dinosaurs and athletic fabrics for boys. And while gendered clothing often leads to more purchases for each child and thus generates excessive waste, there are other reasons to give fashion's gender bias the side-eye. Most concerning, of course, is its impacts on our children's development, self-expression, and self-esteem. On today's show Anastasia Vasilieva offers reasons why you may want to confront the implications of shopping by gender; she also suggests practical advice for buying kids clothing the eco-conscious way.   Here's a preview: [4:00] Prints, fabrics, cuts, and more: Distinguishing gendered clothing from what's genderless [6:30] The 'why' behind early sexualization in girl's fashion [10:00] Two research-backed ways clothing perpetuates traditional gender roles [20:30] The negative correlation between gendered clothes and self-esteem [23:00] Three things to look for when buying clothes for the children in our lives   Resources mentioned: Episode #043: Slow Fashion In A Fast Fashion World What Is ‘Sad Beige’ Parenting, And How Did We Get Here? (via Huff Post) Treehouse Kids on Instagram -- Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday July 21, 2023: [00:30] The Amazon's deforestation rate is (finally) declining! [2:45] The unintended consequences of droughts [4:30] Say it ain't so: Worms are invading the Arctic [10:00] The consequences of HGTV on everyday renovations    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices