Sustainable Minimalists

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 re-air 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Capitalism has transformed the world, sure. But at what cost? (Immense environmental ones, of course.)Americans, it's high-time we accept that the Golden Age of capitalism is long gone. On today's show: A frank discussion with sustainable finance visionary Kara Perez about insulating ourselves from late-stage capitalism's most damaging effects with individual and collective action. Here's a preview:[6:00] Money is a tool for change, and yet it's literally something we made up[11:00] Can we be nickled and dimed even more than we already are? (Spoiler alert: Yes.)[14:00] A few of the ways in which shareholder capitalism limits society's ability to progress[22:00] Tangible ways you and I can "change the flow of money" Resources mentioned: Episode #395: Lifestyle Creep (with Kara Perez) Green Money: How to Reduce Waste, Build Wealth, and Create a Better Future for All How to Be an Anticapitalist in the Twenty-First Century (by Erik Olin Wright)   Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20 Thank you also to Better Help for sponsoring this week's episode! Head to betterhelp.com/minimal for 10% off your first month.   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! **If you're a financial supporter over on Apple Podcasts and want to join Book Club, please email me and let me know! For privacy reasons, Apple won't share your contact info with me. Just email me and I'll happily add you!** Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cyberpsychology is an emerging field that examines the ways in which technology influences human behavior. On today's show we discuss what happens to our purchasing habits when psychology, sociology, and 21st century tech collide.Here's a preview:[1:30] Who you think you are is influenced by others (hello, looking glass self!)[8:30] It's human nature to compare and compete: Here's how and why we internalize social media messaging[16:00] 3 reasons why shoppers feel better when they purchase items that contribute to self-repair[20:00] 2 ways dopamine and online algorithms work together and entice us to buy Resources mentioned/Further reading: The Digital Looking Glass Self (via Psychology Today) Buying: The Effect on Self-Worth Feelings and Consumer Well-Being  Why TikTok Made Us Buy It (via Psychology Today) Stay Free App 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Our culture is marked by both comparison and overconsumption, and we are constantly urged to hustle for something bigger, better, or more expensive because (supposedly) happiness lies within the next purchase or achievement. But what if the key to living a more satisfied life is to simply slow down and listen to your intuition?On today's show: A conversation with best-selling author Stephanie O'Dea about breaking free from hustle culture for increased fulfillment, reduced stress, and a stronger sense of purpose. Here's a preview:[8:00] Doing things out of guilt, obligation, or acceptance versus Simply Looking Only Within (SLOW!)[12:00] It's a lot easier to sell to people who are unhappy. Enter our preponderance for fast living[20:00] Is conventional 'success' possible when we are living slow?[25:00] What to do when you can't hear the voice within because daily life is too fast and too noisy[27:00] The more social media scrolling, the more disenchantment. And yet we are creatures of comparison ... Resources mentioned: Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World The Slow Living Podcast   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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's no way around it: more stuff means more sedentarism.Products of convenience move on our behalf, and our kids are moving their bodies less than any other generation in human history. Our culture–and the items the market produces to support our ways of life—dissuade self-sufficiency, and so creating a movement-rich life for our health and for the planet's may often feel like an uphill battle.This week I speak with author and biomechanist Katy Bowman. Katy offers tangible ways to reclaim the movement opportunities that have been lost to the conveniences associated with modern living. Here's a preview:[7:30] The relationship between carbon footprints, pleasure, and movement lost[16:00] How to become more tolerant of movement in the house[19:15] Ways to engage kids who don't consider themselves "outdoorsy"[22:45] Multitasking versus stacking: What's the difference (and why does it matter?)[25:20]  2 steps listeners can take right now to reclaim movement opportunities that have been lost to convenience  Resources mentioned: Grow Wild: The Whole-Child, Whole-Family, Nature-Rich Guide to Moving More Katy on Instagram Save The Earth book series Watch the extended version of this interview 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Water is a finite resource. Freshwater shortages are increasingly striking regions around the globe and, as demand for water rises while supply continues to drop, the price of water will likely skyrocket.It’s more important than ever to be smart about water. On today's show horticulturist Noelle Johnson offers easy ways to save water and have a beautiful yard — even amongst challenging climatic conditions.  Here's a preview:[5:00] Globally, less rain is falling. And simultaneously the planet is desertifying. What are the consequences?[11:00] Exactly why rainwater is better for our plants than water from the hose, plus: 3 ways to effectively capture rainwater[15:00] Did you know you can repurpose gray water in your yard? (I sure didn't!)[26:00] Musings on lawns[32:00] 7 ways to use less water in your vegetable garden (hint: raised beds require more water!) Resources mentioned: Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 at checkout for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20 Episode #137: The Global Water Crisis Episode #500: Rebuilding Your Village The Water-Smart Garden: Techniques and Strategies for Conserving, Capturing, and Efficiently Using Water in Today's Climate... and Tomorrow's Noelle on Instagram   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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Many people — and many societies, for that matter — rely on short-sighted quick wins as their Number One go-tos when managing oversized problems. But what works in the short-term likely isn’t best in the long run; worse, such near-sightedness rarely considers its impacts on generations to come.Enter longpath thinking, a mindset that prioritizes future-conscious thinking and behavior.On today’s episode I speak with author and futurist Ari Wallach. Ari argues that when we step away from knee-jerk reactions we will both reclaim meaning in our lives and help preserve the planet for future generations. And if making daily decisions by considering their reverberations 500 years from now sounds revolutionary to you, you’re absolutely right. Ari’s on the show to ease the transition to future-consciousness in 3 simple steps. Here’s a preview: [2:00] “Future” isn’t a noun; it’s a verb. Here’s why[4:30] Debunking lifespan biases so as to create a better world for future generations[6:00] 3 problems associated with short-termism[11:30] How an understanding of transgenerational empathy encourages us to act on behalf of future generations[17:00] What doubling down on sandbag strategies means for fulfilling our collective moral obligations[20:00] 3 ways to start practicing longpath thinking and acting right now Resource mentioned:Longpath: Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

These days, dry cleaners press shirts, industrialized farms grow monocrops, and factories churn out single-use varieties of (nearly) everything. And when a possession looks a little worn or a little torn? Many Americans trash it and buy new without a second thought.Life can be simpler, more affordable, and downright sweeter when you do things yourself and maintain what you already own. On today's show: Calling on the timeless wisdom of our great grandparents to re-learn specific, self-sufficient skills for the long haul. Here's a preview of the skills we are re-learning today:[5:30] How to  season your cast iron skillet[9:30] How to buy local food every week[21:00] How to best care for your leather footwear Resources mentioned: Episode #468: Cooking With Cast Iron Episode #494: Streamlining Non-Negotiables localharvest.org   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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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: Sophie Strauss on Instagram Sign up for our newsletter! This episode is sponsored by Better Help. Head to betterhelp.com/minimal for 10% off your first month.   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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.