

Sustainable Minimalists
Stephanie Seferian
Creating eco-minimalist, non-toxic homes (without the extra work). Although minimalism has experienced a rebirth in recent years, the "less is more" movement has been around for centuries. Yet today's minimalist influencers have resurrected minimalism with a decidedly consumerist spin, as modern minimalism is nearly synonymous with decluttering. While there's a lot of chatter about tidying, it's radio silence and crickets when it comes to sustainability. The result? Aspiring minimalists find themselves on an endless hamster wheel of buying, decluttering, buying more, and purging again. Overemphasizing decluttering and underemphasizing the reasons why we overbuy in the first place is thoroughly inconsistent with slow living as a movement; consumption without intention is terrible for the planet, too. Your host, Stephanie Seferian, is a stay-at-home/podcast-from-home mom and author who believes that minimalism, eco-friendliness, and non-toxic living are intrinsically intertwined. She's here to explore the topics of conscious consumerism, sustainability, and environmentally-friendly parenting practices with like-minded women; she's here, too, to show you how to curate eco-friendly, decluttered homes (without the extra work).
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 24, 2018 • 33min
030: Pet Parenting Done Right
Is your home overrun with hardly-used dog + cat toys, like mine? Do you find yourself wondering whether there’s an eco-friendly alternative to those plastic poo bags? When it comes to pet parenting, it’s easy to buy All. The. Toys. It’s easy to forget about sustainability, too. That’s where today’s episode comes in. My guest is Kim Almon. She’s a blogger, animal-lover + expert on sustainability + minimalism as they apply to our furry friends. On today’s episode, we: –...
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Jul 17, 2018 • 32min
029: Is Sustainability Unmanly?
Men are less likely to buy eco-friendly products. They’re hesitant to carry reusable bags + drive hybrid cars, too. That’s because environmentalism is for women + crossing gender boundaries makes men uncomfortable. Sustainability has long been associated with femininity. On today’s episode we examine why this stereotype exists; we offer research-based methods to engage reluctant men in the eco-friendly movement, too. My guest today is Dr. James Wilkie. He’s a consumer psychologist, professor + researcher who examines how social norms...
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Jul 10, 2018 • 14min
028: The Low-Waste Parenting Rulebook
Cloth diaper. Breastfeed. Minimize plastic. …… Duh. It’s sad but true: Most low-waste parenting strategies read like obvious platitudes. Worse, such practices are recycled ad nauseam on the eco-friendly inter web. Did you know? There are HEAPS of zero-waste parenting tips that aren’t QUITE so apparent: It’s THESE 10 strategies we’re discussing today. On this week’s episode, I’m thrilled to divulge the not-so-obvious, often overlooked sustainable parenting rules. They’re Kid-Tested, Parent-Approved + are guaranteed to slash into the waste your household (+...
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Jul 4, 2018 • 15min
027: 5 Super Easy Clothing Repairs (No Sewing Machine Required!)
Ever scrutinize old photos + pick apart your outfits of decades past? I do. My first thought: “Ugh what was I thinking wearing THAT?” My second thought: “Where’s that outfit now?” *Spoiler Alert* : ALL your outfits of decades-past are SOMEwhere. (The landfill, probably.) These days, we’re in the habit of tossing clothes at the first sign of wear + tear. That’s because timeless skills like mending + darning are thrown to the wayside in favor of convenience. This episode changes...
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Jun 26, 2018 • 32min
026: The (Inconvenient) Relationship between Clutter + Anxiety
You’ve purged, donated, decluttered + organized your heart out, but – STILL! – you find yourself stressed + anxious? You’re not alone. Minimalism is good for kids; it’s good for parents, too. But minimalism is a Band-Aid for a much larger problem, and that problem is stress + anxiety. My guest this week is Anna Seewald. She’s a parent educator, speaker, author + podcaster with backgrounds in psychology + education. She’s here to legitimize the connection between clutter +...
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Jun 19, 2018 • 28min
025: NOT Keeping Up with the Joneses
Ever feel like life is one gigantic competition? (I do, sometimes!) This week’s guest ISN’T keeping up with the Joneses. She’s happily living the life she WANTS to lead; today, she shows you how to do it, too. This week, we: – outline concrete strategies to remove financial obstacles standing in the way of living our best lives, – discuss the nitty-gritty behind consciously exiting the rat race, and – offer 3 questions to ask yourself BEFORE veering from life’s...
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Jun 12, 2018 • 20min
024: Wedding Season Done Right
Paper invitations + lined envelopes? Meh. Table arrangements with beautiful but foreign booms? Eeek! Heaps of uneaten food, discarded food? Yuck! Here’s a secret: Weddings don’t have to be wasteful! Luxury + sustainability can coexist at ceremonies, receptions +beyond. This week, I offer my best tips for planning a wedding that’s both eco-friendly + elegant; I show how sustainable choices save SERIOUS CASH, too. Not getting married anytime soon? I’ve got you covered, because I’m also divulging 6 tips...
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Jun 5, 2018 • 37min
023: Minimalism + The Mental Load
Everyone’s talking about the mental load these days. On today’s episode, we analyze the ways in which this endless To-Do List + minimalism collide. My guest this week is Leslie Forde. She divulges takeaways she’s gained from her data-driven approach to studying the mental load; she gets deeply personal, too. This week, we: – Describe EXACTLY HOW the mental load erodes well-being, – Prioritize the needs of busy women, and – Reveal the real reason why I started this podcast...
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May 29, 2018 • 39min
022: Debunking KonMari Myths
“Tiidying [the KonMari way] … is meant to be an exercise of self-expression, self-discovery, self-care + self-love. It’s the hard work that creates the change.” MARIE. KONDO. Ever heard of her? On today’s episode, we’re diving deep into her groundbreaking decluttering method with two *certified* KonMari consultants. My guests have dedicated their lives to the KonMari way. On today’s episode, they: – Explain why Marie Kondo ISN’T a minimalist, – Address the Number One criticism of the KonMari method, and...
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May 22, 2018 • 25min
Low-Waste on a Low Budget
It’s sad but true: Sustainable living is exponentially harder for low-income individuals.That’s because eco-consciousness can be expensive; it’s a drain on mental energy + time, too.Today we seek to answer some very oversized questions: Is environmental consciousness an upper class privilege? Why do sustainable choices often carry a price tag?Note: this is Part Two of a series on zero-waste living. Listen to Part One here.
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