Before aluminum coated in Teflon, there was cast iron.Our great-grandparents revered cast iron in the kitchen because it lasts *forever*. And with proper care? It's naturally non-stick, no PFAS necessary.These days cast iron is experiencing a renaissance of sorts, and for many good reasons. On today's show cast iron historian Kyle Seip answers our burning questions about how to cook on and care for our beloved cast iron cookware (it's way easier than you think!). Here's a preview:[6:00] Before aluminum, it was iron: A brief cast iron history[11:00] What a price tag says about new and vintage cast iron pieces[13:00] Getting to the bottom of the confusing health claims[18:00] How do you clean cast iron? Is soap OK?[22:00] When to use enamel-coated cast iron (hey there, Le Creuset!) versus when reach for traditional[25:00] Everything you need to know about seasoning your cast iron (spoiler alert: you don't need to do much!)[27:00] Troubleshooting a rusty skillet Resources mentioned: Smithey Cast Iron Kyle On Instagram @castiron_kyle   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.

Is the glass half empty, or is it half full? According to Tony Robbins, trading your expectations for appreciation instantly changes everything. Psychological research agrees: Gratitude has the power to improve every single aspect of your life.On today's show: how to truly feel gratitude for your stuff and people. Here's a preview:[3:00] Want to be 18% happier? It's as easy as putting on a new pair of glasses, metaphorically speaking[10:00] HABITUATION! Our brains are primed to forget why certain stuff and people are important [19:00] Say it with me: Stuff doesn't create gratitude! 3 tips for feeling grateful for what you already own[28:00] We expect way too much from our partners. Let's fix that together[35:00] Feeling less than grateful for the people in your life? That's normal (there's also a simple antidote) Resources mentioned: Episode #460: Pleasure-Saturated The Gratitude Diaries: How A Year Looking On The Bright Side Can Transform Your Life (by Janice Kaplan)   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.

Packaged foods (obviously) have ingredients lists. Our favorite beauty products have ingredients lists. And those cleaning products under the kitchen sink? Yup, they've got ingredients lists, too.Ever wonder why our clothes don't have ingredients lists? While we'd *like* to think our favorite garments are made of woven fibers and nothing more, the sad truth is there are countless unregulated chemicals in our closet go-tos (and these chemicals are likely harming our health).On today's show investigative journalist Alden Wicker explains why synthetic fashion and dyes made from fossil fuels are so deeply intertwined with the rise of autoimmune disease, infertility, asthma, eczema, and more; she also suggests concrete action steps for curating a clean(er) closet. Here's a preview:[7:00] Uncovering the chemicals in our clothes and what they're doing to our health[10:30] Taking a special look at the especially problematic petrochemical-based azo dyes (often used on petrochemical-based fibers)[17:00] If all this stuff is in our clothing, why don't garments have ingredients lists?[22:00] Carter's, Victoria's Secret, and victim body blaming[31:00] Why 'organic' doesn't mean much when it comes to clothing[36:00] For subscribers! Action steps for curating a clean(er) closet Resources mentioned: To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick — And How We Can Fight Back Plastic-Free Activewear? Here are 15 Brands That Use Natural Instead of Synthetic Fibers (via Eco Cult) The Best Non-Toxic Fashion Brands For Chemically Sensitive People (via Eco Cult) Future Card   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.

Modern life panders to our innate desire to be sedentary, and never has it been more difficult to resist the alluring convenience of screens.Yet walking matters. On today's show author Annabel Abbs-Streets suggests tangible ways to attain the full range of benefits that walking has to offer — physical, emotional, and spiritual — that's backed by latest research. Here's a preview:[7:00] A laundry list of all the physiological benefits of walking and hiking for movement (get ready to be blown away)[11:00] Why it's important to walk with our eyes, plus: the mental health benefits associated with panoramic vision[16:00] Want more calm in your life? Research finds that these very specific nature sounds matter[21:00] Terpenes, baby! Large trees offer us these psychological and physiological benefits[25:00] Don't shy away from that mud puddle. Soil microbes matter![30:00] How to best optimize your daily walk for health and wellness benefits Want more episodes like this one? Check out #384: Forest Bathing 101   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 environmental news headlines you need to know for Friday, May 10 2024:[00:30] Fish are shrinking around the world and no one knows why[4:00] Have a gas stove? Here's another thing to worry about [7:00] Exactly how green initiatives push some voters to the far right [11:30]  A Sriracha shortage has climate change to blame[15:00] Climate change raises the risks of another pandemic, and here's why  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.

While fresh fruits and vegetables are irreplaceable parts of a healthy diet, pesticides aren't benign. Sadly, many of our favorite produce items carry unhealthy levels of pesticides, and each one comes with its own unique risk profile.On today's show: A comprehensive review of the most recent research into pesticides in produce.Here's a preview:[5:00] Not all pesticides are the same, and different pesticides have different risk profiles[10:00] DDT, bald eagles, Silent Spring, and America's history with pesticides[19:00] Stephanie's thoughts on the EWG's Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen[25:00] Are the EPA's maximum residue limits too high?[30:00] ** You need to know about these countries with organic reciprocity![34:00] Does peeling help? How should we best wash conventional produce?[38:00] For subscribers! 6 concrete action steps for informed consumers Resources mentioned: EWG's Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen Produce Without Pesticides (via Consumer Reports)   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. 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

We know climate change is expensive, but how expensive is it really?A new analysis finds that beyond its effects on the broader economy, rising temperatures seriously hurt our personal finances. On today's show: A conversation with Alexandra Grose about what happens when climate change reduces lifetime income and simultaneously raises prices on ... well, everything. Resource mentioned:Climate Change Could Cost Each American Born Today $500,000 (via Consumer Reports)  This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

The environmental news headlines you need to know for Friday, May 3 2024:[1:30] Newly released documents and Big Oil's secret climate strategy[7:00] Here's what Patagonia's doing with all its profits[13:00] Therapists are trading the couch for the great outdoors, and here's why[16:00] Sea levels are rising in the US coastal South faster than anywhere else on Earth Resource mentioned: Tell DOJ to Investigate Big Oil (via Action Network)  This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Something semi-sad happens as we age: We lose our nimbleness. So many of us white-knuckle grip long-held habits and beliefs and thus fail to question whether such routines and ideas are working in our best interests. Worse, such rigidity goes directly against our "factory settings" as human beings: As a species, we fully live when we prioritize resilience, light-footedness, and fearlessness. (Don't believe me? Just observe a child!)On today's show: embracing fresh starts, prioritizing roads less travelled, and unpacking pressures associated with cultural uniformity with author and podcaster Shannon Leyko. Here's a preview:[14:00] How to lean into tension by taking "messy action"[18:00] It's not *just* about trying a new hobby; it's about resiliency. Self-efficacy, too![23:00] Timelines are rarely linear, and "starting over" isn't starting back at square one[30:00] Common struggles associated with living unconventionally in a conventional world Resources mentioned: The Paring Down Podcast Shannon on Instagram You're Completely Normal: Trading Where You Think You Should Be For Where You Want To Go   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Many corporations are hopping on the sustainability bandwagon these days, but it's not for altruistic reasons. It's likely due to the green premium: because eco-friendly products cost more, business owners see an opportunity for increased revenue. The result? Greenwashed products abound (And guess what? You're likely paying *extra* for a product that isn't at all eco-conscious!). On today's show Aidan Riehl offers advanced tips for avoiding greenwashing in today's ever-changing market.  Here's a preview:[6:30] Some questions to ask: Is this eco-friendly product owned by a conglomerate? Is this one product the *only* eco-conscious product in their product line?[9:30] Getting to the bottom of "biodegradable" claims once and for all[16:30] Should we look for pre-consumer or post-consumer recycled plastics?[19:00] Laundry sheets and dishwasher pods! Is polyvinyl alcohol actually benign?[22:00] So many pledges, so little action[25:00] Steph's tips to spot greenwashing in influencer marketing Resources mentioned: Episode #106: Greenwashing 1.0 Ecolabelindex.com EU bans ‘misleading’ environmental claims that rely on offsetting (via The Guardian) How We Avoid A Climate Disaster (by Bill Gates) The World Is Falling Short of Its Climate Goals. Four Big Emitters Show Why. (via NY Times) Good On You Think Dirty   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.