Sustainable Minimalists

The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, March 10, 2023:[2:00] #StopWillow[4:30] 'Zombie' forests[7:30] The UN's (historic) High Seas Treaty[11:30] Poland Spring's unquenchable thirst Further learning: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.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Corporations make money when consumers perseverate over what they don't have. And personal development? If you want to grow into the best person you can be, Step One is to abandon a mindset that's focused on scarcity.On this episode: how to radically transform your cognitive patterns from ruminating on what you lack to appreciating what you have in under 5 minutes a day. Here's a preview:[3:30] Do you suffer from a scarcity mindset? Find out in this quick, 6-question quiz[8:00] Exactly how a scarcity mindset impacts your brain and behavior, according to psychology[20:00] The multitudinous benefits associated with an abundance mindset, plus 3 steps to get you there Resources mentioned: Episode #343: The Distorted Mirror Episode #299: Future-Conscious Thinking 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

When it comes to sustainable action, we tend to label behaviors as either/or: Either we're acting in a way that's "eco-friendly" or ..., well, not. But some lifestyle tweaks are greener than others: When time, energy, and funds are finite, where's the best place to focus our efforts?On today's show: A conversation with Sam Schreiner about the 4 categories of sustainable action - with a hefty dose of data-driven analysis to boot.Here's a preview:[7:00] 0.1 versus 1.0 makes a big difference! 5 examples of high impact efforts[20:00] The privilege problem: Why are high impact behaviors also often high cost?[27:00] Let's chat about low impact efforts. Do they matter?[31:00] Gateway drugs and ripple effects: Here's why its impossible to quantify a lifetime's-worth of intention Resources mentioned: University of California Berkeley CoolClimate Calculator Project Sunroof Episode #330: The Big Fix Episode #253: Everything Eco-Minimalist Birthdays Ecosia 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

6 high-traffic, high-impact spaces to declutter that you can complete in 20 minutes or less.Here's a preview of the spaces we're decluttering today:[4:00] Your car console[9:45] Your purse/backpack/baby bag[16:00] Your linen closet[25:00] Your medicine cabinet[28:00] The surface of your desk[33:00] Your spice cabinet Resources mentioned: Episode #009: A Sustainable Minimalist's Bathroom 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

When it comes to skincare, loads of products line store shelves. Almost all of them make bold, anti-aging claims (fountain of youth, anyone?).But buying All. The. Products. comes with hefty financial and environmental price tags: If we want to age gracefully, what's the average woman to do and buy?On today's show, board certified dermatologist Dr. Mary Alice Mina makes the case that using too many skincare products is unnecessary at best and potentially harmful at worst.Here's a preview:[4:00] What we're doing wrong when it comes to skincare from a dermatologist's perspective[7:00] Transitioning from reactive quick skin fixes to long-term, preventative care[11:30] Holistic skincare means skin cancer prevention: Here are the latest sunscreen guidelines [17:00] Products we *actually* need (versus products we can confidently leave on the shelf)[30:00] When, where, and who re: toner, exfoliant, and other ancillary products[32:00] A medical professional's thoughts on Botox and fillers Resources mentioned: Kinship Self-Reflect Sunscreen The Skin Real Podcast 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

And we’re at it again! On today's show I’m answering 4 listener questions in rapid-fire format.Here's a preview of the questions I'm answering:[1:30] What should conscious consumers consider when buying eco-conscious undergarments?[13:30] What are some practical first steps for college students who want to practice sustainability?[18:00] Oh what to do with baby bottles, car seats, breast pumps, and other one-and-done baby gear?[23:00] Eco-home renovations 101: What should we keep in mind when embarking on a reno (with a limited budget to boot)?Resources mentioned: ARQ Everlane Episode #326: Gift Boundaries with Whitney Leah Morris Clek Re:Wild Your Campus Bee Campus USA  Medela's breast pump recycling program Find an energy auditor at Energy.gov Habitat Restore Renovation Angel Big Reuse Episode #312: Practical Energy Saving Steps  Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Inflation got you down? Chin up, friends! On today's episode: 12 tangible grocery store hacks that save money and reduce food waste. Here's a preview:[2:00] What it looks like in real life to sacrifice convenience for better prices[7:30] Even more reasons why you should consider buying dried beans instead of canned[13:00] Can you freeze cheese? (Answer: Yes! Here's how)[18:00] Where to get the best deals on milk, plus: the financial benefits associated with dairy-free alternatives[24:00] What to do with produce you've bought on sale Resources mentioned: Flipp App Egg Frittatas  --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

88% of US and UK consumers want brands to help them be more sustainable in their daily lives and many are willing to pay a premium for plastic-free products. But despite consumer demand, plastic is everywhere and downright impossible to avoid. On today's show: 9 places those pesky polymers lurk, plus hacks for avoiding them.Here's a preview:[4:00] Here's what you never knew about tires[8:00] How to shop for tea like a conscious consumer[15:00] Your dish sponge's dirty little secret[17:30] Are e-cigarettes any better than regular cigs from an environmental standpoint?[25:00] The latest research into cloth versus disposable diapers[28:00] Microplastics vs. liquid plastics in makeup Resources mentioned: Customers Hate Plastic Packaging, So Why Do Companies Keep Using It? (via Forbes) Gaia Guy Etee Microplastics: Which Beauty Brands Are Safe To Use? (via The Guardian) Pukka Republic of Tea Numi Tea Wot Not Beat The MicroBead (The Plastic Soup Foundation's free app)  * 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

The typical American funeral boasts exotic flowers, a coffin made of fancy wood, and formaldehyde-based embalming. But green burials require fewer resources and skip a number of unnecessary steps; they also tend to be less expensive.Today I speak with green mortician Elizabeth Fournier about alternatives to conventional burials and cremations that are easier on the planet.Here's a preview:[5:00] Exactly what's wrong from an environmental standpoint with standard burials and cremations[12:30] A brief history of embalming: Is it actually necessary?[19:00] Liner-free plots, conscious caskets, and more: The tenets of a green burial[28:30] How exactly does a green burial compare in terms of cost?[33:00] Everything you need to know about aqua cremation, burials at sea, and natural organic reduction Resources mentioned/Further reading: The Green Burial Guidebook: Everything You Need to Plan an Affordable, Environmentally Friendly Burial Elizabeth on Instagram @elizabethgreenreaper Let Your Love Grow Eternal Reefs --* 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

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: Join our (free!) community here Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com 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