Sustainable Minimalists

"I just listened to your podcast about waste and was surprised to hear that our energy consumption is so high in America! The problem is, I don't know where the energy is going, nor do I understand which things I might be doing to use so much. What are some tips for saving energy? Why do Americans require so much more than other countries?" Waste comes in many forms. Sadly, energy waste is all too common here in the United States.On today's show we're breaking down two important topics: 1. how much energy humans actually need to consume to live happy, healthy lives, and 2. practical ways to reduce the chances that the energy we're consuming isn’t wasted. Here's a preview:[2:30] A breakdown of exactly how much energy Americans use compared to citizens of other countries[5:30] What research has to say about energy consumption and quality of life[10:00] Let's chat about your home's holes for a hot minute[17:45] Reigning in excessive and unnecessary electricity use[22:00] Is community solar the renewable energy that's right for you?[25:30] Thoughts on finding comfort in being a tiny bit uncomfortable[30:00] Everything you need to know about the (two thumbs up!) heat pump Resources mentioned: 6 Ways to Save Money and Energy at Home (via Consumer Reports) How Much Energy Powers A Good Life? Less Than You're Using, Says A New Report (via National Public Radio) Community Solar Basics (via the Office Of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy) Heat Pump Buying Guide (via Consumer Reports) A Heat Pump Might Be Right for Your Home. Here’s Everything to Know (via The New York Times) Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency How To Make A DIY Chimney Balloon (via Eco Thrifty Living) -- * 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 sponsor! Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for your $60 free gift. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Fashion rules abound and, historically, it's the patriarchy that has embedded them into our collective psyche. That's right: women's clothing is heavily influenced by the opinions of men, and just a few of the most common man-inspired fashion "rules" include: Women would do well to wear "flattering" clothes (a.k.a. ones that bring them closer to the coveted hourglass silhouette). External appearance is paramount to comfort (Here's looking at you SPANX, stilettos, and wired push-up bras). While strong, straight silhouettes are powerful and masculine; tall and curvy ones are inherently feminine. If women want to be taken seriously, they must power dress (think: blazers and straight, tailored slacks). Fashion rules tend to influence our shopping habits whether we realize it or not. Today I'm speaking with personal stylist Dacy Gillespie about *exactly how* to reject societal messaging around what you "should" wear so you can live your best intentional life. Here's a preview:[4:15] The concept of “flattering” is a part of diet culture. Here's why it shouldn't be a priority in your wardrobe[8:30] Exactly how the trend cycle preys on women's insecurities to sell clothes[13:00] Thoughts on the guilt many of us experience when we reject commonly held fashion rules[15:15] Influencer culture and why we shouldn't buy what our favorite influencers recommend[19:00] The patriarchy and the male gaze: How women have historically been conditioned to prioritize their external appearance over their own comfort[22:00] Practical ways to reject commonly held fashion rules next time you shop for clothes--   Join our (free!) community here Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube  Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (857) 264-1967 (US and Canada listeners only)  --Thank you to our sponsors! Skillshare: Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free. Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for your $60 free gift. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

We're at it again! Today I'm answering 5 listener questions in a rapid-fire format.Here's a preview of the questions I'm answering today:[1:30] Are laundry detergent strips *actually* eco-friendly? What about TruEarth strips specifically?[7:00] Is eco-friendly pet parenting possible and, if so, how?[17:45] Is the Yuka app worth the hype?[22:30] Tofu containers, oat milk cartons, and more: How can I reduce packaging waste from plant-based foods?[28:00] How do minimalists gift their children during the holidays? Resources mentioned: West Paw dog essentials Yuka app for iOS and Android TruEarth laundry detergent strips The Very Best Christmas Gifts That Aren't Toys  Join our (free!) community here Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube  Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (857) 264-1967 (US and Canada listeners only)  Thank you to our sponsor! Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

We often think the solution to our household woes lies in better organization, but marketing pros have commercialized tidiness. "Getting organized" often entails purchasing plastic totes and baskets: Before we know it, we've spent boatloads of money to put order to the stuff we're storing.Desk organizers, drawer dividers, specialized hangers, oh my: When we talk about living our best lives with less, we're also talking about living with fewer commercialized organization "systems".If you're looking for motivation to flex your repurposing and organizational muscles this episode is for you. Today I speak with hospitality and organizing expert Leslie Lehr about stylish organization that goes beyond plastic bins and containers. She's on the show to offer her best repurposing tips (that also happen to be quite simple!) for common household items.Here's a preview:[8:45] Exactly where plastic bins and baskets fall short for both organizing and decor[14:30] Evaluating alternate uses for glassware and vases[16:00] How to take a ho-hum shoebox and make it aesthetically pleasing[19:30] Practical reuses for spice jars, plus: the many uses of Mason jars[24:00] Sentimental bowls, trays, and other houseware items: How to incorporate heirlooms into your seasonal decor Resources mentioned: Episode #120: Innovative repurposing jars for mason jars Leslie on Instagram  Join our (free!) community here Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube  Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (857) 264-1967 (US and Canada listeners only) --Thank you to our sponsors! Skillshare: Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free KiwiCo: Get your first month on any crate line free at kiwico.com/sustainablekiwi  Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

"How can I make eco-minimalist choices when I truly don’t have the time? I’m divorced, have two children, and work full time. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to care for the kids, earn an income, and run the household, let alone add in sustainable living. Help!"  Together, let's re-prioritize our priorities. On today's show I'm answering a listener's question about sustainability fatigue: What's the best course of action when we're exhausted, unmotivated, and overworked? Here's a preview:[3:30] The 'how' and 'why' behind making sure your heart-first values get onto your To-Do list[9:15] A deliberate and tragic trade-off: Why items on your To-Do list are not all created equal[16:00] How to change your verbiage to change your mindset Resources mentioned: Episode #200: The Eco-Contradiction Minefield Episode #303: Life's Changing Seasons Episode #40: Mindfulness For Modern Families U-Konserve stainless steel containers with silicone lids Squeesy (great for applesauce, smoothies, yogurts, etc) Thank you to our sponsor! Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free.---  Join our (free!) community here Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube  Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (857) 264-1967 (US and Canada listeners only)  Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Triggered much?It usually goes something like this. Someone in your life does SOMEthing: Maybe your boss criticizes your work. Perhaps your partner says something that hits you the wrong way. You child stalls as you're trying to get out the door.There’s an antecedent, and then there’s your go-to reaction. There’s no space between the antecedent and your reaction; there's no intention behind your reaction, either. You simply respond on autopilot.On today's show I'm speaking with fellow podcaster Jen Lumanlan about how to align your responses with who you'd like to be as a means of living a more intentional life. Here's a preview:[3:00] Are you triggered or are you flooded? Here's the difference, according to science[5:00] Fight, flight, freeze, or fawn: An overview of The Big Four triggering/flooding responses[11:30] The ways in which culture (and specifically capitalism!) provides us with Little T traumas, every single day[17:00] What are your needs and how can you meet them? Practical first steps for taming your own triggers[18:30] Everything you need to know about The Pause[21:00] The importance of nonjudgemental observation when interacting with our children Resources mentioned: Your Parenting Mojo podcast Taming Your Triggers workshop signup  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! Made Trade: Shop the best sustainable goods all in one place at madetrade.com Skillshare: Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free   Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

"One of the hardest things we haven’t been able to tackle is our kids' snacks: we still end up using a good amount of single use plastic wraps. Do you have any ideas?" Citing convenience, ultraprocessed foods are often sold in single-serve packs. But such snack and lunch items are overpriced (you're literally paying for that extra plastic!); they're also often unhealthy for both people and the planet.I get it: We're overtired and overstressed, and packing wholesome foods can feel like yet another daunting chore. That's why on today's show I answer a listener's question about how to pack low-waste lunchboxes without the extra stress (dozens of food ideas included!). Here's a preview:[1:30] What recent research says about the health effects of ultraprocessed foods on human health[7:00] The premiums we pay for foods packaged in single-serve plastics[11:30] 5 quick tips for managing picky eaters[17:30] The Bento Box route versus the traditional lunchbox: pros, cons, and gear recommendations[24:00] 30+ low-waste lunchbox ideas Resources mentioned: Episode #173: How To Simplify Picky Eating Leeann's FREE virtual event signup Eating Processed Foods Tied to Shorter Life (via NY Times) Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Participants of the NutriNet-Santé Prospective Cohort (via Journal Of The American Medical Association) Homemade Cereal Bars (recommended by listener Elsa) Say hello! Email Stephanie at MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (857) 264-1967 (US and Canada listeners only) * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  Lunchbox gear that listeners love: Lunchbots stainless steel Bento Box (recommended by Lauren) Planet Box stainless steel Bento Box (recommended by Elsa) Sistema plastic containers (recommended by Sara) Packit lunchbox (recommended by Sara) Reusable sandwich container, preferably stainless steel (recommended by Patricia) Wean Green reusable glass containers (recommended by yours truly) Foogo thermos (recommended by yours truly) --- Thank you to our sponsors! Made Trade: Shop the best sustainable goods all in one place at madetrade.com Thrive Market: Head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for up to $80 in free groceries Skillshare: Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Is the future refillable?When we look at the history of plastics, it's disheartening to realize that only 9% of all plastics ever created have been recycled. Another 12% has been incinerated; a whopping 79%, then, has accumulated in landfills and nature.That's right: your Bonnie Bell Lip Smacker tube circa 1995 is quite likely still somewhere on this planet. Refillable products (like ice cream in stainless steel jars and shampoo bottles refilled in-store) aren't new. But while most people say they want eco-friendly product options, their purchasing behaviors sing a different tune. Consumers tend to prioritize convenience over eco-friendliness, time and time again.Today I speak with Izzy Zero Waste Beauty founder Shannon Goldberg about closed loop consumption. Is packaging the problem, or does the problem lie within our consumption?Here's a preview:[6:00] 2 major barriers to mainstream refillables[11:00] Do refillable products *actually* make a dent in our trash production? What about our oversized environmental woes?[15:00] Refillable products and next-level greenwashing: Why we must expand our collective definition of waste to account for excess carbon emissions from sending back our products[20:00] Are refillable options sanitary in a post-COVID world?Resources mentioned: Loop global reuse platform Use code IZZYF20 at yourizzy.com for 20% off (Thanks, Shannon!) --Thank you to our sponsors! Thrive Market: Head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for up to $80 in free groceries Skillshare: Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free Better Help: Visit betterhelp.com/sustainable for 10% off your first month Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

A hotter planet is here, my friends. Don't believe me? Just turn on the news.On today's show we first break down major current climate events; we then ask ourselves a set of ethical quandaries. Should the global north pay reparations to the global south for its centuries-long polluting behaviors, or are the inequitable and unjust natures of climate change simply bad luck?  Here's a preview:[4:00] How'd summer go? (Hint: not great, especially in Pakistan)[12:30] The climate reparations argument: What it is and why it has legs[20:00] 3 ethical questions for you to answer re: charity versus reparationsResources mentioned/Further reading: Advocates Call On U.S. To Help Flooded Pakistan In The Name Of Climate Justice (via National Public Radio) A Hotter World: Climate Change’s Effects Are Already Unequal (via NY Times) Send me your Exit Ticket answers! Email Stephanie at MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (857) 264-1967 (US and Canada listeners only) Join our private (and super cool) Facebook group. It's free! Episode #165: Difficult Sustainability Conversations Episode #143: How To Discuss The Effects Of Climate Change --Thank you to our sponsors! Made Trade: Shop the best sustainable goods all in one place at madetrade.com Thrive Market: Head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for up to $80 in free groceries Skillshare: Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

When it comes to growing up, we tend to believe it's only for children. Adults, then, are assumed to be fully grown.But even us "grownups" are constantly changing, maturing, and evolving (and often at a rapid pace). Such inner changes also run concurrent with external ones that pop up as we move through our respective life seasons, day after day.If embracing change as life's only true constant is downright difficult, getting stuck underneath heaps of possessions that served our out-of-date versions makes such an embrace even harder. And what about jobs that are no longer fulfilling, relationships that are no longer harmonious, and life views that are no longer synchronous with the person we are evolving into? It's likely enough to make your head spin.Today I speak with life coach Jenny Cheifetz about loosening our grips on the past, embracing changes in both our lives and in ourselves, and letting go of our need to hold onto what was. In the first part of our conversation we speak on possessions; in the second, we discuss first steps to decluttering the big intangibles we know on the soul level we've outgrown. Here's a preview:[2:30] The internal pause: how and why to conduct a needs assessment[6:30] Why attaching emotion to possessions ultimately does us a disservice[11:30] 'Store it at the store' is about to become your new mantra and here's why[15:00] How to conduct a needs assessment with with your big but intangible baggage[19:00] Thoughts on 'flow' as a state of being, plus why we as humans are prone to white-knuckle grips--Thank you to our sponsors! Thrive Market: Head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for up to $80 in free groceries Skillshare: Visit skillshare.com/sustainable for your first month free  Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content