Sustainable Minimalists

Quitting is aerobics for your brain; it's also the counterintuitive secret to success. Today I bring you a conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Julia Keller about how to view quitting not as a pejorative but instead as a tool for swapping one destiny for another. Here's a preview:[5:00] How the self-help movement created our anti-quit bias[9:00] The similarities between honeybees and Simone Biles, with a nod toward strategic quitting[17:00] How do you quit a high-stakes situation? (Answer: quasi-quitting!)[23:00] Words of encouragement for listeners concerned they'll regret it later[27:00] How parents listening can best support their children when they want to quit Resources mentioned: Pre-order Quitting: A Life Strategy (to release April 18) Orlo Nutrition 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

Organizing mega-influencer Marie Kondo made headlines earlier this week when she admitted to "kind of giv(ing) up" on tidying after having her third child. If, like Marie, you're feeling overwhelmed and disillusioned with minimalism, today's episode is here to help. Here's a preview:[6:00] Let's first reign in our expectations: minimalism won't solve EVERYthing (but it'll certainly help)[9:00] Simple organization strategies over complex ones, with real-life examples[12:30] The Number One benefit to eating the biggest frog first[17:00] If you find yourself with precious pockets of free time, utilize them this way[21:00] Why decluttering, organizing, and tidying are acts of self-love Resources mentioned: Episode #152: How To Organize For Your Personality 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 we return an unwanted gift to the manufacturer, it goes back on the shelf to be resold, right? Wrong. Most returned gifts (5.8 billion tons, to be exact) end up in landfills each and every year.The solution lies in responsible gifting, which alleviates the consequences associated with massive finite resource waste; it also saves shoppers time, money, and unnecessary stress.Today author Tracey Lynch explains how to tweak your gifting philosophy to save our planet while also ensuring every gift you give is actually wanted and used.Here's a preview:[5:00] Sad statistics alert: Exactly how the gift giving exchange impacts the planet[9:00] Reverse logistics is similar to driving backwards, and here's why[18:00] How to give gifts that provide 100% satisfaction to the recipient[32:00] Stephanie's 5 Rules for responsible gifting[35:00] The why and how behind aiming not for surprise, but for delight Resources mentioned: Donum: Creating A Sustainable Gifting Experience Qwant Neeva Episode #313: Thousands Of Data Points 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

Thanks to its rich supply of antioxidants, dark chocolate has long been revered for its health benefits. But there's a dark side to dark chocolate: Recent research has found heavy metals in many of our favorite brands. The worst part? These heavy metals - cadmium and lead - are linked to serious health problems including cancer in both children and adults. Today we round out Chocolate Week with a bang: Dr. Jim Rogers from Consumer Reports discusses what heavy metals in the cacao supply means for regular consumers; he also offers his best tips for shopping smarter and safer the next time we're in the chocolate aisle. Here's a preview:[2:00] Everything you need to know about cadmium and lead[6:00] Exactly how heavy metals find their ways into the chocolate supply[11:30] Traceability, trust, and responsibility: Addressing the industry's lack of corporate accountability[18:00] Chocolate's best offenders, worst offenders, and every brand in between[20:00] Does 'organic' matter with regard to heavy metals?[22:00] Action steps for concerned chocolate consumers Resources mentioned: Lead and Cadmium Could Be in Your Dark Chocolate (via Consumer Reports) Sign the petition and tell candy makers to educe risky heavy metals How Ethical Is Your Chocolate? Listen to Part 1 of Chocolate Week here --* 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

Ah, chocolate. While those decadent brown rectangles enjoy near-universal consumer love, the reality is far less sweet: Chocolate is one of the most unethical and unsustainable foods we eat. We can continue to enjoy chocolate by purchasing smarter. Today's show is Part 1 in a 2-part series about chocolate, and today - just in time for Valentine's Day! - we unearth the ethical and environmental implications associated with harvesting cacao on the global scale (I've also included 7 tips for being a conscious chocolate consumer, too). Here's a preview:[4:00] Machetes, pesticides, and kids: Child labor and slavery in the cacao industry[11:00] The environmental problems associated with monocultures [16:00] Some good news: 5 promising updates from the cacao industry[17:30] How to enjoy chocolate by purchasing with intention: 7 ideas Resources mentioned: Episode #187: Palm Oil 101 Well + Good's list of sustainable and ethical chocolate companies Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

70% of American parents worry their children spend too much time on screens. Are you one of them? Here's a preview:[3:00] The implications of multiple screen shifts on attention span and executive functioning[5:00] Exactly how much screen time children *should* get versus what they *actually* get[7:00] School performance, inactivity, and more: 4 consequences associated with too much screen time and too many screens[18:00] 5 Practical television reduction tips for newbies[22:00] Creative ways to set screen limits in your home[27:00] What's slow tv, exactly? Resources mentioned/Additional resources: The National Library of Medicine's full list of screen-related guidelines 1 Million Screen-Free Activities For Kids  Create your family media plan here  Take It Slow… The TV Trend That Will Chill You The F Out (via the handbook.com) Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. --Thank you to our sponsors! Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for 30% off your first order and a $60 free gift. Cariloha: Get 25% off your order with code SUSTAINABLE at checkout. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Algae is having moments in many spotlights. First, innovators are using microalgae - not petrochemicals - to create disposable packaging. Elsewhere, macroalgae is fed to cows to reduce their methane emittance. And pesky algae blooms? There's actually a company that first captures then transforms algae blooms into our favorite sneaker's cushiony foam. Still, algae's biggest potential comes within the field of human nutrition. Is microalgae an alternative to fish for omega 3s and, if so, can this oft-overlooked photosynthetic organism solve our oceans' overfishing woes?Here to unpack algae's emergence on the environmental scene is proud omega 3 evangelist Corinna Bellizzi, who believes algae is worth paying attention to for its array of both planetary and human health benefits. (Psst ... If you're new to Defend The Eco-Trend episodes, this series dives deep into a product or innovation in the sustainability sphere with big promises. Is the hype legitimate (or is it greenwashing?).Here's a preview:[3:00] Half the oxygen we breathe comes from algae, plus other fun algae-related facts[6:00] Recent innovations in the algae space[16:00] Hey there, omega 3s! Microalgae's emerging place as part of the human nutrition solution[19:00] 3 must-dos for optimal health[21:00] Fewer fish, more algae: The Top 5 environmental and human health benefits associated with algae for omega 3s Resources mentioned: Orlo Nutrition (use code SUSTAINABLE10 for 10 percent off!) Care More, Be Better podcast Bloom Materials Notpla algae-based disposable packaging Want more episodes like this one? Check out #295: Defend The Eco-Trend: Bamboo Nutrition Without Compromise podcast  * Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. --Thank you to our sponsors! Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for 30% off your first order and a $60 free gift. Cariloha: Get 25% off your order with code SUSTAINABLE at checkout.  Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

A Top 10 list of minimalism's best and biggest life lessons. Here's a preview of a few we're covering:[4:00] Memories don't reside in trinkets.[10:00] Save so you can spend ... on what matters.[21:30] Extras keep us cluttered.[23:30] You can’t recoup “worth”.[29:00] Space is more valuable than stuff (and peace of mind is most valuable of all).[31:00] It’s not a deal if you don’t need it. Resources mentioned: Episode #096: Why Self-Sufficiency Matters Sustainable Minimalism (the book) 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

From meat-free 'chicken' nuggets to non-dairy ice creams, plant-based foods that actually taste good are becoming increasingly available in grocery stores. In many ways it's never been easier to find kid-friendly and carnivore-friendly cuisine.So then why aren't more of us (myself included) transitioning our families to plant-based eating?In honor of Veganuary I bring you a conversation with PETA's Faith Robinson about why we should all take yet another look at our diets; she also offers her best tips for incrementally transitioning our families to plant-based eating.Here's a preview:[5:00] Are processed meat-free foods healthy?[9:00] Thoughts on the protein problem[10:00] Eating plant-based is one of the most environmentally friendly actions we can do and here's why[11:00] Capitalizing on our children's innate sense of compassion to ease the transition to plant-based[20:00] Don't reinvent the wheel! Incremental first steps for incorporating more plant-based meals Resources mentioned: Want more episodes like this one? Check out #238: The Future Of Food. Tons of resources for parents available at petakids.com. 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

Stuff breaks. In 2023, stuff breaks often. Few amongst us possess the knowledge to fix the evermore complex gadgets we use every day; worse, professional repairs (if they're even available) often cost more than replacing the item outright. What's a sustainable minimalist to do?On today's episode we discuss all-things conscious consumption as it relates to home appliances, planned obsolescence, and the Right To Repair movement (it'll be fun, I promise!).Here's a preview:[3:00] An electricity primer: where it comes from and why it's important to choose energy-efficient appliances[9:00] Exactly how long our favorite household appliances *should* last (we see you, planned obsolescence)[22:00] Energy Star versus Energy Guide: What's the difference?[29:00] Everything you need to know about the Right To Repair movement [36:00] Practical ways to maintain your appliances for longevity Resources mentioned: Repair.org How To Use the EnergyGuide Label To Shop for Home Appliances Buy Me Once Consumer Reports ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2023 Find a Repair Cafe near you Episode #095: What's Planned Obsolescence?  * Join our (free!) community here.* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.* Email Stephanie 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