The Tortoise with Brooke McAlary

Unbelievable though it may seem, today's episode is the final poggie of Season 3. (Time flies when you're having fun!)  Before Brooke and Ben get in to today's episode and the outstanding listener questions that have been submitted throughout the season, they begin on a bittersweet note as they bid a very fond farewell to two Slow Home team members.  Once they wipe away their tears and (literally) play Steph and Ryan off in to the sunset, Brooke and Ben dive head-first in to some terrific listener questions. These include:   Apart from people, what do you most miss about Canada and the US? And what are you most glad to have in Australia? Is it easier to live slower in Australia or in the US/Canada? What are you finding challenging in regards to slow living, and what are you doing in response? What area did you decide to buy and live in, and why did you chose that area? Were you ever nervous about not being close to the city, not being close to family and instead living in a rural area? Are you living mortgage free? Is there a slow way to manage money? Slow aspirations versus fast career path advice please? What is your ultimate ’slow’ date night?  How have you gone re-buying things for the house? Slowly or all at once?  Have you bought things you gave away when you left for your trip?  What made Ben choose to go to therapy?  What are your favourite books of 2019?  Is Brooke currently writing a book? What poggies are you currently listening to?  When will the next season of the podcast start?  As always, they do their do their best to answer these as honestly as possible (if not always, or ever, briefly) and end up discovering some really interesting things about themselves, their experiences of the past couple of years, and how they're each feeling now. Season 4 of the poggie will be in your ears late October, and until then, take it slow! Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season3 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for our love letters Join the Slow Experiment Club over on Patreon Or leave a rating or review in iTunes As always, thank you for listening! Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Brooke McAlary chats with Beth Kempton, an author and Japanologist. They discuss the concept of wabi sabi, how it helps us seek meaning beyond materialism, and its power to change the world. They also explore the beauty of creating moments of slowness in a busy life. The episode covers the contrasts in Japanese culture and Tokyo's atmosphere, the impact of American culture on Japan, and practical advice for mindfulness and embracing failure for growth and learning.

You may know by now that the fashion industry is one of the leading planet polluters,  and you also may know that fast fashion (cheap, poorly made fashion that's created for very short-term wear) is a huge part of the problem.  One of the best solutions is to start buying second-hand clothes, but if you're a little clueless about how to start thrifting or if you feel intimidated every time you step in to a vintage store, this episode is for you.  Brooke chats with Emily Stochl, a passionate thrift shopper who has the best advice on how to get started, how to make sure your bargain is money well spent and why it's important to take it slow when thrifting.  Emily also talks about the rise of 'eco fashion' on the high street and why we need to be cautious of greenwashing in the fashion industry, and shares why second-hand shopping is one of the most effective, fun, self-expressive ways to lower our personal carbon footprint.  Questions featured in this episode:  What's your primary motivation for thrifting? Is it environmental, the thrill of the hunt, finding things no-one else wears?  What's the first step to begin our second-hand shopping journey? How can a devoted shopper begin to slow their fashion habit?  What do we need to be aware of when donating our unwanted clothes?  What are your thoughts on the rise of eco fashion in the high street? Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season3 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for our love letters Join the Slow Experiment Club over on Patreon Or leave a rating or review in iTunes As always, thank you for listening!  Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Often on the podcast we dance around the topic of technology - usually viewing it as something that gets in the way of our efforts to slow down and live a more mindful, sustainable life. But what if we embraced technology and viewed it as the greatest opportunity we have to change (or maybe even save) the world? In this week’s episode Brooke chats with Katie Patrick, an environmental engineer and designer who applies data-driven, gamification, and behaviour-change techniques to solve the world’s environmental problems. Katie brings with her a completely new perspective on what it’s going to take to change the world, and it’s a refreshing, hope-filled, imagination-fuelled joy to listen to. Brooke and Katie talk about the important relationship between slowing down, getting creative and making an impact on the world, as well as what letting go of the idea of goals and success has done to Katie’s own life. Katie also shares how imagination and day dreaming might just hold the key to getting more people to care about the planet, and why we need to shift the current narrative away from doom and gloom, to one of opportunity and hope.   Questions featured in this episode:  What role does optimism play in our ability to change the world? Why do we need to slow down in order to access our creative potential? If we lead busy, full lives, how can we make space and time for creativity, particularly when it feels like a ‘nice to have’ rather than a necessity? What’s the link between optimism and taking action? Why do you think the current environmental, climate crisis messaging is falling flat for so many people? What can we do to change it? Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season3 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for our love letters Join the Slow Experiment Club over on Patreon Or leave a rating or review in iTunes As always, thank you for listening!Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there a link between the rise in consumerism, the endless advertising messages that assault us thousands of times a day and the increase in body image issues? According to today’s guest, Kali Gray, the answer is a resounding yes.  Kali is a body confidence expert and a “non diet” dietician and in today’s episode she and Brooke discuss the the relationship between food security and body image issues, while also looking at the crossover between slow living and the work of reframing our perspective on food, self-care, self-worth and the food we eat. Kali also turns the interview tables around on Brooke at one point, sparking a conversation on how big changes such as these take time, and no matter how well-versed we are in consumerism, health, wellness, body image and food, there’s always going to be part of us that requires a little extra love and empathy.  Questions featured in this episode:  Capitalism and consumerism are both linked to our dissatisfaction with ourselves and our bodies. How do you encourage people to recognise that and make changes so that we get to decide what is good and right for us individually? It’s counter-cultural to teach and encourage people to love themselves and accept themselves as they are, particularly in the face of a society that teaches us to find fault in our bodies from a very young age. Is that something that comes naturally to you? We both encourage people to ask the question WHY? Why do we do what we do? Why do we buy what we buy? Why do we eat what we eat? Do you find that once we begin to uncover that why, it becomes simpler to start making changes? As a process, this asking why and digging deep is uncomfortable. How do you encourage people to accept that this is outside their comfort zone and move through regardless? You highlight mindful eating as a way to begin to heal our relationship with food, but what actually is it to eat more mindfully? Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season3 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for our love letters Join the Slow Experiment Club over on Patreon Or leave a rating or review in iTunes As always, thank you for listening!Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode features the powerhouse that is Sheri Salata - creator of The Pillar Life.com and The Sheri and Nancy Show and author of The Beautiful No. Brooke was lucky enough to meet Sheri in person in LA during her book tour, and we’re thrilled we’ve finally had the opportunity to have her on the show. She and Brooke chat about her journey from executive producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show to where she is now, her approach to slowing down, spirituality, the second half of life and more. Questions featured in this episode: You've changed your life significantly over the past few years - what was the catalyst for those changes? You talk about going through a process of 'reckoning'. What did your reckoning look like? How do you balance finding joy in the present moment and working towards your big life goals? Do you think we need to reach a crisis point in order to reevaluate our lives? Or is there a way of manufacturing that awakening without hitting rock bottom? How did you learn to make ‘no’ a part of your vocabulary? What can people do to start this process of reevaluation, excavation and reinvention in their own lives? Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season3 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for our love letters Join the Slow Experiment Club over on Patreon Or leave a rating or review in iTunes As always, thank you for listening!Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One question we get asked a lot at Slow Home HQ is how can we find our passion and make it our work. It’s something so many of us grapple with, which is why we’re so excited to have Blaire Palmer on the show today. Blaire is an ex-BBC journalist turned business owner, who under the moniker A Brilliant Gamble works to help people unpick the industrial-age conventions of work and find a fulfilling way forward that works for them. In her chat with Brooke, Blaire shares her own story and the shifts she’s made to the way she works, how we can redefine work and the way we do it, the power of bringing humanity to your job, and the brilliant gamble of selling her house and travelling with her daughter for 7 months. Questions featured in this episode: You’ve spent the past few years unpicking the industrial age conventions of work: What are they? When did you start to question these conventions? How do we start to shift the system? How can we redefine what success looks like?  What was the catalyst to shift from working long hours to the way you work now? What was the call to return and put down roots after travelling? Did you ever find an approach to balance that worked for you while travelling, and that works for you now? Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season3 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for our love letters Join the Slow Experiment Club over on Patreon Or leave a rating or review in iTunes As always, thank you for listening!Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello, and welcome to season 3! We‘re thrilled to be back, and even more thrilled to share today’s conversation with slow fashion expert and advocate, fibre artist, writer and crafter Katrina Rodabaugh. She and Brooke talk all things slow fashion: why Katrina got started, how her fashion-fast experiment became her lifestyle, the art of mending, creating systems and networks for thrifting and more. They also talk social media and the importance of ‘showing the cracks’, the trade-offs of going slow, and how to start slowing down your wardrobe. It’s an incredibly inspiring and practical conversation, and we hope you enjoy! Questions featured in this episode: What did your fashion fast initially look like? What surprised or challenged you in that first year? Was the idea of convenience something you had to overcome? You also grow and forage dye plants on your property and the colours you create are incredible – is this something new for you? Do you think there was a stigma attached to mending clothes, and do you think it’s shifting? Where can people get started with slow fashion? Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season3 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for our love letters Join the Slow Experiment Club over on Patreon Or leave a rating or review in iTunes As always, thank you for listening!Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oh hello there! In this sneaky episode Brooke and Ben pop in with a mini-hostful and an update on what’s been happening over the past few weeks. Plus there's talk of what's on the horizon (lots of good stuff).   First of all they've got a huge thank you to give all our listeners for the understanding, encouragement and patience they've received as they took a wee break to tilt into finding a new rhythm for life in Oz. They also talk about what they’ve been up to, how they’ve been feeling since they got back home, and then go on to share what’s coming up for the next season of the show.  So listen in to get the goss and stay tuned for Season 3, which will be in and around your earholes on Thursday 25th July! See you then friends.Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re going out with a bang this week, ending season 2 with a hostful full to the brim with your amazing questions. It’s been a while between catch ups, and Brooke and Ben kick off by answering the question of the season – when are they coming home? Are they ever coming home? You’ll have to listen to find out! As well, they talk about everything from goals to their proudest moments, what they want to bring into their lives next and what they want to let go of, how to stay slow on a commute and more.  Thank you so much for joining us for Season 2, we’ve loved hearing your thoughts and hope you’ve enjoyed all the chats. We’re taking a few weeks off, but will be back for Season 3 on the first Thursday in May. Until then, take care! Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season2/ Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for our love letters Join the Slow Experiment Club over on Patreon Or leave a rating or review in iTunes As always, thank you for listening!Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.