Sustainable Minimalists

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

The enviro-news you need to know about for Friday, September 8 2023:[00:30] 3 cheers for the rise of tiny forests[5:00] What sea ice loss means for emperor penguins [10:00] We're running out of groundwater ...[14:00] Revisiting climate havens Resources mentioned: Episode #137: 5 Facts About The Global Water Crisis Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.  

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

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.