The Slow Home Podcast

Brooke and Ben check-in and provide a quick update on the year that was, as well as what Brooke is working on and plans for the podcast in 2023.  Links Subscribe to The Tortoise for weekly slow-living blog posts and newsletters Love Slow? Support the show!  Buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow Brooke on Instagram @brookemcalary Or leave a rating or review in iTunes  Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooke and Ben are back for this season's hostful where they discuss teens and tech, Brooke's new hobbies and provide an update on her Dad's health and so much more.  Links Head to slowyourhome.com/season9 for the complete show notes and links to everything mentioned in today's show  Love Slow? Support the show!  Subscribe to The Tortoise for weekly slow-living blog posts and newsletters Buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow Brooke on Instagram @brookemcalary Or leave a rating or review in iTunes     Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's guest is the wonderful Mary Beth Larue - a yoga teacher whose soulful, deep-diving brand of slow flow yoga is 100%, completely and utterly Brooke's jam.  Mary Beth shares her yoga origin story and why she now focuses so much of her teaching on slow flow yoga. She and Brooke then dive into a beautiful exploration of how to practice embodiment not only through yoga, but probably more importantly, how to practice in the mundane moments of life. They also discuss: Mary Beth's journey to motherhood through foster-care and adoption how a yoga practise helped her navigate the uncertainty of those years of not-knowing slow flow yoga - what is it and how to practise? how to apply the idea of slow flow off the mat navigating periods of profound uncertainty using our values and an attuned inner-knowing how to ground yourself in the moment when you feel yourself becoming disconnected Links Head to slowyourhome.com/season9 for the complete show notes and links to everything mentioned in today's show  Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes     Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tricia Walker has inspired a lot of people. From her decade-long work blogging about sustainable living, to her more recent role of nature connection facilitator, she is leading the way in what it looks like to live a truly nature-connected life. Recently returned from what she calls a ‘midlife gap year', in today's episode, Tricia talks about the potency of stepping back from the status quo of life, and how to do that even when our circumstances won't allow a full gap year.  Brooke and Tricia then dive into the topic of cyclical living, the power of using moon cycles to structure our lives, and why the gap year (or gap day, or gap moment) can help us to process the stresses of our busy modern lives, and, by extension, help us to avoid the worst emotional symptoms of PMS and even menopause. They also discuss: heading in to the bush with no food or shelter for days a time lessons learnt in solitude how to structure your life around the waxing and waning of the moon why every cycle of nature is an invitation to clear out the crap in our lives the role that busyness plays in PMS and menopause the realities of living in a one-room home with a family Links Head to slowyourhome.com/season9 for the complete show notes and links to everything mentioned in today's show  Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've spent any time in the permaculture and climate activism spaces online over the past few years, you've no doubt come across the work of illustrator and permaculture educator, Brenna Quinlan. Brenna takes complex, overwhelming topics (think decolonising permaculture, doughnut economics, privilege and regenerative disobedience) and presents them in a simple, accessible and - most importantly - positive way. This conversation lands at such an opportune time, as so many of us are feeling overwhelmed (once again) by the challenges of our ever-changing world. Brenna has a way of reframing things so that we can focus on positive solutions rather than negative doom-scrolling, and if there's something we all need right now, it's positivity.  In this chat, Brenna shares where her interest in permaculture began, and what the three guiding principles of ‘earth care, people care, fair share' mean to her. Brooke and Brenna talk about the distinction between creativity as work versus creativity as play and why she believes art and education are two of the most powerful forms of activism. They also discuss: The bike trip across the Americas that began Brenna's relationship with permaculture and activism Using art as a way of teaching kids about positive climate solutions What an ‘intentional community' is and what it's like to live in one Living in a converted firetruck and building a strawbale house The importance of gentle activism and what to do when it gets too heavy Enjoy! Links Head to slowyourhome.com/season9 for the complete show notes and links to everything mentioned in today's show  Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's little doubt the world is undergoing significant changes right now. Pandemic, war, the climate crisis - it's all impacting our visions of “normal” and, for many of us, prompting an uncomfortable amount of reflection. What is important? How can I have a positive impact? Is the way I've been living in alignment with those things? If you're feeling overwhelmed or wondering just how the hell to start making changes when it feels like the system isn't set up for you to change, then today's episode lands right when you need it. Brooke talks with the wonderful Dr. Kate Litterer - a productivity coach who specialises in both sustainable and well-being oriented productivity - and while they do talk a lot about productivity (and its relationship to capitalism), they also talk about the obstacles so many people face (classism, ableism and privilege, to name a few) when it comes to making necessary changes to their lives. Kate also talks about her experience with workaholism and its relationship to sobriety, as well as the impact that living with a chronic illness has had on not only her work, but also her choices, priorities and boundaries. In this episode they also discuss: How to apply slow productivity to work when you're not self-employed, and the limitations on your time are more rigid Creativity and slow living Kate's work with undergraduate students and why it's so important to develop sustainable habits early in our careers Detaching our identity and value from our output and efficiency How Kate structures her working week How to maintain a sense of flexibility to our rhythms in order to flow with the inevitable obstacles life serves up Enjoy! Links Head to slowyourhome.com/season9 for the complete show notes and links to everything mentioned in today's show  Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's guest, the effervescent Amanda Ewin, has arrived on the pod at precisely the right time, as so many of us settle in to the year's new normal and (if you're anything like Brooke) the struggles of maintaining those rhythms, goals and rituals.  In this episode Amanda shares her story of overwhelm, loss, grief, reflection and transformation, and through it all weaves the thread of mornings. First as the overwhelmed mother and business owner who found mornings chaotic, through to the woman who now bounces out of bed, nary a snooze button in sight. Amanda and Brooke talk about the process of establishing and revisiting morning rhythms as life changes, as well as the handy notion of “habit stacking” that has allowed Amanda to develop space in her mornings for meditation, movement, breath work and play. Amanda also shares her thoughts on ‘the tyranny of the shoulds' and why redefining success and doing the work to uncover our personal values lies at the heart of any lasting transformation. They also discuss: why hitting the snooze button is (usually) a terrible idea the Wim Hof breathing method why both Amanda and Brooke have been afraid of goals in the past why it's important to understand the difference between dreams and goals Enjoy! Links Head to slowyourhome.com/season9 for the complete show notes and links to everything mentioned in today's show  Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's episode is, at its heart, about change. And if there's something we've all experienced over the past two years, it's been change. Specifically for our listeners, many of us find ourselves having to reframe our definition of "simple living" as the world has changed and so too our vision of slow or simple.  Clare Reilly knows exactly this tension. After advocating a slower, simpler, more local life for many years, everything was turned on its head when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis - a progressive, neurological disease. In this conversation Clare and Brooke talk about the process of reframing their definitions of simple living, and what a simpler life looks like for Clare now. (Spoiler alert: there's no one right answer to this question!)  As someone who lives with a chronic illness, Clare also discusses how her relationship with rest has changed, and the interlinked roots of productivity and capitalism. The conversation also digs into: values (as always, so much of slow living comes back to the question of ‘what matters to me?') the benefits slow living brings to someone living with chronic illness the role of food in Clare's vision of simple living the tension that exists between simplicity and sustainability giving ourselves permission to rest even when (or especially when!) we feel the capitalist pressure to be constantly productive. Enjoy! Links Head to slowyourhome.com/season9 for the complete show notes and links to everything mentioned in today's show  Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to another year of the Slow Home Podcast!  Never before has slow living felt so relevant to so many people, as we grapple with the question of what we want life to look and feel like as we head in to the third year of the pandemic.  Today's guest is the perfect person to begin this exploration with, as she's spent many years experimenting and, quite literally, practising simplicity.  Jodi Wilson is an author, risk-averse adventurer, mother, photographer, yoga teacher and all-round thoughtful human, and has recently published her beautiful book, 'Practising Simplicity'.  In this conversation Brooke and Jodi talk about: letting go - what it means and how to move through the discomfort that comes with it the idea of risk, and how Jodi decided seemingly on a whim to sell up and move her family of six into a caravan for more than 2 years of cross-country travel living with awe at the centre of our lives the importance of small steps in making big change what constitutes bravery  how we can all live a life (slightly) less distracted without the need to live long-term in a caravan the role of contentment in our lives. Links Head to slowyourhome.com/season9 for the complete show notes and links to everything mentioned in today's show  Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have reached the last episode of this year's Summer Series/Winter Warmies and Brooke takes us through her (one of) favourite episodes of the past 7 years featuring Katie Bowman on nutritious movement and couchless living.  Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 3rd instalment in this year's Summer Series/Winter Warmies includes an episode recorded in 2019 with Beth Kempton. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part 2 of this year's Summer Series/Winter Warmies sees Ben and Brooke look way back into the archives with a 2017 banger on food waste reduction featuring over 50 ways you can seriously reduce your waste footprint. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben and Brooke talk through the format for this year's Summer Series/Winter Warmies and bring you Part 1, featuring analogue creativity with Jess Davis.  Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, it's that time of the year again. The final pod is here, and as is tradition, Brooke and Ben round out the year with their own Top 10 list.  First though, Ben decides to turn the tables on Brooke and interview her for once. He digs in to some of the recurring themes of Season 8 - sobriety, health and creativity - and it's as human and messy as you might expect.  They then get into their personal Top 10, listing their individual favourite:  TV show small detail movie new destination book discovery album new podcast meal experience In a year like no other, there are some unexpected answers to be found in this episode. Enjoy!  Links Head to slowyourhome.com/season8 for the complete show notes and links to everything mentioned in today's show  Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friend of the show, author, cook, founder of the Granny Skills movement and co-founder of native food company Warndu, Rebecca Sullivan, returns to the podcast for a wide-ranging, emotional, messy, human and very honest conversation (in other words - there's a content warning on this one!) Rebecca and Brooke talk birth stories, post-natal health, navigating trauma, alcohol-free holiday drinks and being an imperfect activist, all through the lens of the past two pandemic years and living with mental illness. It sounds like a drag, but it's an incredibly important, heartfelt, hard-won conversation with plenty of laughs (and only some of them inappropriate).  So settle in and be prepared to listen to some real talk about women's bodies, birth, transformation and healing. Enjoy! Links Head to slowyourhome.com/season8 for the complete show notes Check out warndu.com Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friend of the show, book inspiration-giver and all-round fabulous person, Meg Berryman, returns to the pod today, which means you're in for a treat.  Meg and Brooke dig deep into the topic of regenerative living (no, it's not just about agriculture!) and why regeneration of the self is vital if we want to help regenerate our families, communities and the planet we all share. They look at the relationship between micro and macro regeneration, how to find time for the important acts of care and what role, if any, guilt plays in all of this.  It is another uplifting, practical episode, and we hope you enjoy it! Links Head to slowyourhome.com/season8 for the complete show notes Check out Meg's website: megberryman.com Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes, in our efforts to do better by the planet, our communities, our families and ourselves, we can get tangled in knots - especially when it comes to food. Today's guest, Alexx Stuart, is (thankfully) here to talk us down from this way of thinking. She and Brooke look at food choices through the lens of finding common ground, avoiding absolutes and applying critical thought, and it's a delightful breath of fresh air. We hope you enjoy it!  Links Head to slowyourhome.com for the complete show notes Check out Alexx's website: Low Tox Life Order your copy of Low Tox Life Food Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author, Gardening Australia Presenter and Activist Hannah Maloney joins the pogpast this week to talk about her values, privilege, reclaiming activism, health (including lifting weights!) and lessons learnt during the pandemic.  We hope you enjoy it!  Links Check out Hannah's YouTube Channel  Hannah's website  Gardening Australia is now in its 32nd season  Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod  Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are back at it with another season of the Slow Home Podcast. Kicking-off this season is another frank and fearless conversation between Ben and Brooke. As the dust settles on Ben's 40th birthday celebrations. Brooke and Ben talk about updates in Ben's life since 2018, including career change, identity, and how he aligns these days to his life motto of Health, Happiness, and Heart.  It's a raw, sometimes uncomfortable, always entertaining episode to begin the new season. We hope you enjoy it.  Links Order signed copies of Brooke's books Shred Kelly: Website and Spotify   Check out a new podcast project Ben is working on with Cerebral Palsy Alliance Ben's past episodes Live Immediately with Mike Campbell (and the origin for Health, Happiness, and Heart)  Slow Your Home episode 242 An interview with Ben  Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod  @ben_mcalary Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Brooke and Ben for the last episode of the season in a 'hostful' episode where they talk about imposter syndrome and answer listener questions about daily rhythms, cooking and the best non-alcoholic IPA!  Links Head here for all links from today's episode Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooke chats with Jade Miles, one-half of Future Steading and Black Barn Farm, to learn about what future-steading is (and its relationship with home-steading) as well as the launch of Jade's new book Futuresteading, a practical and inspirational guide to living in a way that values tomorrow: a slower, simpler, steadier existence that is healthier for you, your home and the environment. Links Head here for all links from today's episode Futuresteading website  Connect with Jade on Instagram Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooke chats with returning guest and zero-waste advocate Anita van Dyke (ex-rocket scientist, turned medical doctor and awesome Mum) about the challenges of zero-waste living in a busy family and ways to work smarter not harder when it comes to zero-waste. Brooke also gushes about Anita's op-shop wardrobe! Links Head here for all links from today's episode Anita's website Connect with Anita on Instagram Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooke catches up with friend of the show Jacki Carr (Goal Coach and Speaker) about setting goals in a changing world, and the utter liberation of embracing our personal evolutions. Links Head here for all links from today's episode Jacki Carr's website  Connect with Jacki on Instagram Order Brooke's new book 'Care' Amazon Booktopia Looking for more Slow? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Returning guest Jess Davis from Folk Rebellion talks with Brooke about how New York has changed since the pandemic, what has survived and what has thrived as the City (that now sleeps!) rebuilds from the devastation caused by COVID-19.  Links Watch Jess' film "What day is it?"  Connect with Jess on Instagram and Facebook Order Brooke's new book 'Care' Amazon Booktopia Looking for more Slow? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooke and Ben drop into your feed with an unscheduled hostful to talk through the happenings over the past month. Links Check out the new website and upcoming events Pre-order Brooke's new book 'Care' Amazon Booktopia Looking for more Slow? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a conversation many months in the making, recorded a few months ago, Brooke chats with illustrator, writer and environmentalist Em Ehlers.  Links Buy Hope is a Verb: Six steps to radical optimism when the world seems broken  Connect with Em on Instagram and Facebook  Pre-order Brooke's new book 'Care' Amazon Booktopia Looking for more Slow? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooke and Ben sit down in their very 'echoey' living room next to their very loud dogs to talk through what has been happening over the last month or so. They also answer a number of questions posed by listeners in the first Hostful in quite some time.  This episode includes a slight disclaimer that some of the content may be a bit dated as it was recorded well over a month ago.  Links Shred Kelly Pre-order Brooke's new book 'Care' Amazon Booktopia Pain and Prejudice - Gabrielle Jackson  Brooke talks to Slow Productivity Expert Louise Miller  Looking for more Slow? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooke and Ben are back in your earholes. They share updates on the last nine months, what they are doing now and their plans for the future.  Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all heard about the transformative power of meditation, but how can we access it when uncertainty, stress and living through a pandemic make it difficult to simply sit still and breathe?  In today's episode Brooke is joined by friend of the show and founder of Centred Meditation, Kevin Janks, to talk through the power of meditation in challenging times.  Meditation allows us to decompress from 'fight or flight' mode and as Kevin explains, the time investment doesn’t need to be excessive. (Research has found that meditating for as little as 12 minutes a day can have a substantial impact over the course of three weeks). It can also be used to shift our perception of control, which is often the overriding emotion during times of crisis, and by doing so, release us from the stress of trying to control and uncontrollable situation. Kevin also shares how meditation allows us to accept the current circumstances we find ourselves in (not in order to accept and give up, but in order to simply accept the way things are at the moment) and use that freedom to look at how we will move forward when we're able.  There's so much to be taken from meditation, particularly during such stressful times, and this conversation with Kevin is full of tools and takeaways that will hopefully help you.  Enjoy!  Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season6 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we begin to see some countries relax their pandemic restrictions and allow the general public back into society at varying levels, naturally our attention turns to what that new version of daily life might look like. In this host-only chat, Ben and Brooke discuss what they hope the 'new normal' might entail, whether we should simply be re-entering or re-booting society, and what each of us can do now in order to set that in motion.  Australia’s government is talking about a snap back to pre-virus ways of doing things. But doesn’t that just mean a return to old problems? What if we instead adopted the theme of rebooting back into society, rebooting the way we managed our finance, our view on the environment and even our values? Brooke and Ben dig in to what this means for them, why we need to reframe success and why we can take heart even amidst the pain and uncertainty.  Plus they pose some questions to you, the listener, that offer the chance to imagine your ideal post-Covid future and provide a place to begin creating it.  Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season6 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lots of airtime has been given to the stress that parents and carers of young families are currently under, juggling working from home or job loss with remote schooling and caring for kids too young to understand why everything is different. Amongst all of that there has been little time given to the question of how people in single-person households are faring, so in today's episode Brooke sits down with friend of the show Sarah Wilson to talk loneliness during lockdown. Sarah is a former journalist, TV presenter, activist and author of one of the best books about anxiety and depression published over the past few years, First We Make the Beast Beautiful. With her incredible depth of knowledge on living with anxiety, Sarah shares not only how she's finding lockdown, but also why she thinks anxiety has given her an advantage to coping with strange times.  Brooke and Sarah also discuss how COVID-19 will impact Australia in terms of social, economic and climate issues, and talk about the need for resilience and the differing levels of emotional resilience across generations.  One of the other really common conversations people are having now revolves around what our 'new normal' might look like, and Sarah offers her typically thought-provoking, status-quo challenging insights and shares why we need to be both "slow and outraged" as we move forward.  Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season6 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Undoubtedly we are living in times of heightened stress. Uncertainty, fear, anxiety, living in close quarters, loneliness - they're all stressful experiences and in some way or another, we're all grappling with them as we live through the Covid-19 pandemic.  Today's guest, Ellen Carr, is a holistic coach and yoga teacher who believes that Ayurveda - the ancient sister science of yoga - offers us a way to learn how to identify our stress responses, and importantly, how we can begin to balance them out.  In today's episode Brooke and Ellen talk about Ayurveda, how it can help us live a more well-rounded life and why it's so important to identify your stress responses, particularly in a time of high stress. They also discuss: What is a 'dosha' type and why is it an important part of Ayurveda? How to discover your dosha What happens if you're split across two or even three dosha types  Some practical actions that will help calm your nervous system, no matter what your dosha  What are some of the more common stress responses?  How do we identify our stress responses and work to balance them out?  Why naming it can help in alleviating some of the stress  Enjoy!  Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season6 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remote learning is one of the biggest changes many of us are facing as lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders continue, and Brooke and Ben know they're not alone in finding the transition challenging. Today’s guest Sarah is a high-school science teacher from Sydney who has some incredibly helpful, practical tips on how we can make this learning-from-home experience a little less stressful for everyone. The tips and suggestions Sarah offers apply to kids of all ages, but Brooke also knows there are a lot of parents of older high school students listening who have specific concerns about their kids' schooling, so she and Sarah delve in to that at the beginning of the episode.  Sarah also offers some advice on how to best advocate for your kids if they are struggling under the current learning conditions, as well as how to make some of the learning (which for many students is almost 100% digital and online at the moment) more analogue. Lastly, Sarah and Brooke talk about the ways in which local communities can come together and help show support to teachers during this tough time.  Enjoy!  Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season6 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Brooke is joined by return guest and permaculture expert, Robyn Rosenfeldt, for a fantastic conversation centred on the vital role of community in times of crisis.  Robyn talks about the devastation of the summer bushfires and how that crisis highlighted the issue of food security in her community, before sharing the similar impact the Covid-19 crisis is now having on local supermarket shelves.  In times of crisis there is a tendency to turn our attention to community, and Robyn and Brooke talk about the importance of being community-minded as an antidote to the challenges that face us now and that may await us in the future. Robyn shares the three pillars of permaculture - earth care, people care and a fair share - and speaks about what they look like in daily life, and how we can all harness them to create stronger communities. Brooke and Robyn also speak about the tricky business of living a values-aligned life while also raising independent-minded children, how to pick your battles and why compromise is an important tool.  Enjoy! Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season6 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 6 coming in hot!  After some feedback and lots of questions about slow living in the time of Covid-19, Brooke and Ben decided to bring forward the new season. There are so many ways  slow living might be able to help as we all adjust to the weirdness of isolation, but even more importantly as we all start to think about what we'd like our 'new normal' to look like on the other side of it. So that's what Season 6 is going to focus on, and it will be full of practical advice, realistic suggestions and hopefully helpful strategies to navigate the world during a pandemic.  In today’s episode Brooke speaks with Louise Miller, a productivity coach who doesn't believe in productivity for productivity's sake. They discuss the ins and outs of working from home, with lots of tools and strategies for those of you who are very new to the remote working scene.   Louise shares her insights on:  The importance of grace and compassion right now as everyone navigates this new reality Why creating 'Ta Da' lists instead of 'To Do' lists is one powerful way of finding satisfaction in our work efforts - particularly on those days where we feel we're not doing enough Why the loss of your commute might be affecting you more than you think  How installing a buffer in to your daily rhythm can help create grace and compassion amidst the stress and worry Why 'slow productivity' gets such a bad rap and why she's such a big fan of it Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season6 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And just like that, the end of Season 5 is upon us.  In today's hostful episode, Brooke and Ben spend some time answering the most common pandemic-related questions as asked by you, as well as tackling some lighter topics to try and provide some much-needed balance to not only this episode but also their own mindset.  It's undoubtedly been an incredibly difficult few weeks for everyone, with many more challenges and dark days ahead. Today Brooke and Ben offer some insights in to how they're trying to use the tools in their slow living toolbox to navigate some of these hard days, as well as offering some suggestions for how you might want to adapt some of them in to your own life.  They also answer the following questions:  How are you managing remote schooling while also trying to work from home?  Do you think slow living is helping during lockdown? And if so do you think it will have a positive effect in the future?  What did you learn about schooling and spending a lot of time together while travelling? And has any of that been helpful during lockdown?  How to create rhythms for working or studying at home, for those who've never done it before?  What good new recipes have you tried lately?  What's bringing you joy right now?  What are you listening to/watching/reading right now?  Brooke and Ben end with a brief update of what you can expect from Season 6 (which will be in your ears shortly - they've decided not to take a break between seasons in light of the current situation and all of the excellent guest interviews they have coming up which may offer some help) as well as what to expect from the next round of the Slow Beginnings Online Retreat, which starts on April 26.  Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season5 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 5 has thus far been a pandemic-free zone (mostly because all episodes previous to this one were recorded before the world turned topsy-turvy) but that changes today.  After having a couple of weeks to process some of the changes in their own lives and the world at large, Brooke and Ben chat about where they're at right now and the huge shift in pace that's happened. Ben shares the impact the crisis has had on his business and Brooke talks a little about trying to work around home-school responsibilities, heightened anxiety and a new normal.  Slow living has given Brooke and Ben a lot of tools over the years, many of which have been helpful in the first weeks of the pandemic and lockdown, and in the first half of this episode they share what they are and how they're helping. They also discuss: The impact the crisis has had on Ben's business Working from home while also trying to keep on top of home-schooling responsibilities  What's helping them the most right now Why limiting inputs of news and social media is so important How they're allowing themselves to 'feel all the feelings'  Why single-tasking has become more important than ever The second half of the episode resumes normal transmission as Brooke continue her follow-ups with guests of last season. This week she catches up with Elisa who shares some of the changes she has implemented in her days, before sharing one of her biggest ongoing challenges. One of Elisa's children has medically-complex needs and working out how to apply intentional living to those additional requirements is something she and Brooke discuss in-depth. Elisa will remind you of the power of resilience, and the strength in being able to encompass the messiness of life and the warrior of motherhood - and everything in between.   Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season5 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In another 'pre-pandemic’ yet very timely episode, Brooke and Ben dig deep in to ’self-care’ and all it represents, as well as how they apply it in their own lives.  Slow living and self-care have kind of become synonymous in the mainstream, featuring a lot on Instagram and in books and blogs and magazines. There is undoubtedly a lot of crossover between the two, but there is also a lot of consumerism and privilege tied up in the modern-day vision of self care. In this episode Brooke shares her thoughts on that, and then she and Ben dig deep in to what they think self-care is, and why it's so important.  They explore: The origins of self-care as a movement and how society defines self-care now What it means to advocate for yourself How they each manage self-care now Where the words ‘want’ versus ‘need’ fit into self-care How important exercise is within their own self-care The enemies of self-care What self-care looks like for them in a practical sense The second half of the episode features Season 4 friend of the show Amy and follows up on her waste-reduction efforts in beautiful rural Maine. Amy shares how she's taken on board a lot of the changes and experiments we discussed in our last chat, including some composting ideas (and attending a composting conference!), and the ways she's finding balance between working from home and spending time with her family.  Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season5 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is slow living anti-tech? In today's episode Brooke and Ben dig deep in to their relationship with technology, which was one of the most requested topics for this season of the podcast. Tech strategies and boundaries are something Brooke and Ben have spoken about before but as their work has shifted and their kids have grown, their approach has changed over the past couple of years. In this show they talk about:  The elephant in the room  – is slow living anti-tech? How they make technology work in a way that feels slow What they mean when they talk about tech The mindset they adopt when managing their relationship to connect-tech Other tools they use to develop and maintain tech boundaries  Other ways they manage tech use with the kids and themselves when not working How important it is to be a role model when it comes tech (and how challenging that can be) Whether they feel good about their relationship to tech or if there are things they're still working on  Brooke then has a wonderful chat with Sara from Season 4 who shares not only some of the shifts she's made since she and Brooke last spoke, but also some of the feedback she received from family and friends in her community. They talk about lifelong learning, finding awe and the ways Sara is supporting her community through her slow living efforts (not always in the ways you might imagine).  Enjoy! Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season5 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode Ben and Brooke get talking about community. The sense of place or home or belonging that strikes us when we truly feel seen.  In part this episode was prompted by their own experience of searching for and finding community, and in part due to the many questions they've received about how and why they settled in their new community after travelling for 18 months. Brooke and Ben discuss how, as they travelled, they almost subconsciously formulated a list of traits they were looking for in a community - access to nature, finding like-minded people, sustainability - and how they went about finding a place in Australia that had most of those things.  They also discuss: How they've previously struggled with the idea of community, and what it actually means to them now How their idea of community has changed over time Whether slow living has anything to do with community and if it's possible to create a slow living community How they were forced to rethink old beliefs, patterns and boundaries as their experience and ideas of community has changed What the ultimate slow living community might look like How you can find community in your work Whether it's possible to find one community the delivers on all your needs Brooke then has a great follow-up chat with Lauren from Season 4 to see how she went with her values exercise and whether she was able to experiment with a slow living media ‘fast’. Lauren shares how her values exercise played out and how the values she was able to zero in on have helped her make big changes already (new job, new city) as well as sharing some of the really practical shifts she's made over the past few months (gratitude journalling and weekly review). No doubt, Lauren took her homework seriously and has a lot of insight to share.  Enjoy! Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season5 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In what feels like a very natural progression from last week’s episode on Stuff, this week Ben and Brooke talk about their efforts to reduce waste in their home. From food, to clothes, to cleaning Ben and Brooke talk about where they started out on their waste reduction journey and where they find themselves now. This week they talk through:  Where the shift from simple living and decluttering to reducing waste and being more sustainable came from How they first started to reduce waste Whether they believe they do ‘enough’ Where they've found new opportunities to reduce waste and what those opportunities look like How they capture their plastic waste Other than food, what other kinds of waste they've been trying to reduce, and how they're going about it  Brooke then speaks with Georgi from Season 4, who shares the practical and inspiring things she's done since they last spoke. Not only has Georgi engaged with the communities she's part of, but has also begun a conversation with her council to explore what changes they can begin to make in her local area. Georgi also shares the really exciting project she's working on - a creative and encouraging handbook for action and optimism, written for young people.  There's a lot of inspiration - both practical and heart-centred - in today's episode, and Georgi shows us how much progress can be made when individuals step up and connect with their local communities.  Enjoy!  Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season5 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since returning to Australia and moving in to a new home, Brooke and Ben have found that there's a lot of curiosity about their stuff. Have they bought a whole heap of it? Are they still living out of suitcases? Are they still minimalists?  So in this episode they decide to dive deep in to their current relationship with stuff and how they view the accumulation or letting go of it through a slow living lens. They also answer some common questions about the things they own: How has their relationship with stuff changed? What stuff have they rediscovered since settling back in to a normal life? What sort of stuff have they bought and how do they approach buying now Have they continued to declutter, and if so, how do they do it now?  Running through the entire deep dive is a more general discussion of how Brooke and Ben have moved away from a 'traditional minimalist' mindset to a more 'lower waste living' philosophy, as well as some thoughts on why they don’t really associate with a minimalist approach to life anymore.  In the second half of the episode Brooke speaks with Nancy from Season 4 who shares some of the incredible progress she's made since her and Brooke last spoke, which includes a very insightful realisation all about hummus. (Yes, really!) Nancy has come so far along her path of intentional living and it's pure joy to hear her share the changes in her self-confidence, self-esteem and ability to embrace discomfort. Enjoy!  Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season5 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to another season of the Slow Home podcast!  Season 5 of the poggie has a new format, with each episode comprising of two parts. In the first part Ben and Brooke will be diving deep into an area of slow living that listeners want to know more about (think topics like self-care, waste reduction, tech and their relationship to stuff). The second part of the episode will be a dedicated follow-up with guests from Season 4 to see how they have been tracking and whether they have implemented any changes.  Today's episode kicks off with a conversation on rhythms (as opposed to routines) where Brooke and Ben discuss: What exactly are rhythms? How rhythms are applied to different parts of their life What rhythms have looked like for them since settling into their new town What they have discovered about rhythms and how they best work for them If there is room for flexibility and fluidity within rhythms How to set up and maintain rhythms Brooke then catches up with Season 4 guest, Kate, who you might remember was struggling with the question of whether slow living might actually be robbing her of ambition.  Kate shares how she has embraced the 'messy middle' and has started to get comfortable with the unknown since she and Brooke last spoke. She also talks about how saying no to things has given her energy, and shares a few examples of opportunities she would have previously said yes to, and the power she felt by saying no instead.  There's so much inspiration and practical slow living in action in this episode and we hope you enjoy it!  Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season5 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooke and Ben are busily preparing for the Season 5 launch of the podcast (next Thursday!) and sat down earlier this week to record a quick catch-up episode, to share where they're at after a strange and awful summer. They chat about the bushfires, the amazing efforts of the Slow Home community in helping support a local wildlife rescue organisation and how they're moving forward. They also share a little more of what you can expect from Season 5, including weekly deep-dive conversations on topics like daily rhythms, stuff, waste reduction, community, technology, exercise and running a household, as well as catch-up conversations with guests from last season.  Season 5 will be with you in no time, but until then, enjoy!  Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/season5 Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for our love letters Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the fifth and final episode of our Summer Series (Winter Warmies!) Throughout all of January, we’ll be sharing some of your favourite episodes from 2019, to keep you company on the beach (or slopes!) Often on the podcast we dance around the topic of technology - usually viewing it as something that gets in the way of our efforts to slow down and live a more mindful, sustainable life. But what if we embraced technology and viewed it as the greatest opportunity we have to change (or maybe even save) the world? In this week’s episode Brooke chats with Katie Patrick, an environmental engineer and designer who applies data-driven, gamification, and behaviour-change techniques to solve the world’s environmental problems. Katie brings with her a completely new perspective on what it’s going to take to change the world, and it’s a refreshing, hope-filled, imagination-fuelled joy to listen to. Brooke and Katie talk about the important relationship between slowing down, getting creative and making an impact on the world, as well as what letting go of the idea of goals and success has done to Katie’s own life. Katie also shares how imagination and day dreaming might just hold the key to getting more people to care about the planet, and why we need to shift the current narrative away from doom and gloom, to one of opportunity and hope.   Questions featured in this episode:  What role does optimism play in our ability to change the world? Why do we need to slow down in order to access our creative potential? If we lead busy, full lives, how can we make space and time for creativity, particularly when it feels like a ‘nice to have’ rather than a necessity? What’s the link between optimism and taking action? Why do you think the current environmental, climate crisis messaging is falling flat for so many people? What can we do to change it? Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/summerseries Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Or leave a rating or review in iTunes As always, thank you for listening! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the third episode of our Summer Series (Winter Warmies!) Throughout all of January, we’ll be sharing some of your favourite episodes from 2019, to keep you company on the beach (or slopes!) In this episode Brooke asks her guest, Kali Gray, if there's a link between the rise in consumerism, the endless advertising messages that assault us thousands of times a day and the increase in body image issues. Kali is a body confidence expert and a “non diet” dietician and in today’s episode she and Brooke discuss the the relationship between food security and body image issues, while also looking at the crossover between slow living and the work of reframing our perspective on food, self-care, self-worth and the food we eat. Kali also turns the interview tables around on Brooke at one point, sparking a conversation on how big changes such as these take time, and no matter how well-versed we are in consumerism, health, wellness, body image and food, there’s always going to be part of us that requires a little extra love and empathy.  Questions featured in this episode:  Capitalism and consumerism are both linked to our dissatisfaction with ourselves and our bodies. How do you encourage people to recognise that and make changes so that we get to decide what is good and right for us individually? It’s counter-cultural to teach and encourage people to love themselves and accept themselves as they are, particularly in the face of a society that teaches us to find fault in our bodies from a very young age. Is that something that comes naturally to you? We both encourage people to ask the question WHY? Why do we do what we do? Why do we buy what we buy? Why do we eat what we eat? Do you find that once we begin to uncover that why, it becomes simpler to start making changes? As a process, this asking why and digging deep is uncomfortable. How do you encourage people to accept that this is outside their comfort zone and move through regardless? You highlight mindful eating as a way to begin to heal our relationship with food, but what actually is it to eat more mindfully? Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/summerseries Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Or leave a rating or review in iTunes As always, thank you for listening! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the third episode of our Summer Series (Winter Warmies!) Throughout all of January, we’ll be sharing some of your favourite episodes from 2019, to keep you company on the beach (or the slopes!) Platonic sparks fly in today’s episode, when Brooke sits down with Meg Berryman of Beyond Being Well. Meg is a women’s coach, mum, yoga teacher, empowerment educator and fabulous no-BS human. We couldn’t wait to have her on the show to talk about her work and especially the link between making changes for ourselves and making changes for the collective, which is something Brooke has felt herself being pulled toward more and more. Meg talks about the journey from wellness to wholeness to igniting social change – a shift from self to collective focus. She touches on the importance of discovering what wellness is to us as individuals, connecting to the body, why we need compassion in the face of patriarchy and capitalism and so much more. This conversation was truly effortless but engaging, and we hope you enjoy! Questions featured in this episode: What does wellness mean to you? How can people can start to explore what wellness looks like for them? Do you think it’s a counter-cultural move to fully explore your own wholeness? Do you find that a lot of people reach the point of wanting to shift their focus from the self to the collective in their explorations of wholeness? Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/summerseries Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Or leave a rating or review in iTunes As always, thank you for listening! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the second episode of our Summer Series, where throughout all of January, we’ll be sharing some of your favourite episodes from 2019, to keep you company on the beach (or slopes!) As we head not only in to a new year but also a new decade many of us are looking to make positive changes to the way we live by reducing plastic and reducing waste. Today's episode not only gives you some practical advice on how to do that, but also  offers some gentle encouragement to make changes even when they're difficult or slow in coming. Brooke is joined by Erin Rhoads, creator of The Rogue Ginger blog and author of two excellent low-waste living books, and in this conversation she provides incredibly accessible and practical tips on living a zero-waste life. Erin also answers a few common questions about living plastic-free, specifically: How can we avoid plastic wrapping when buying cheese? Is there an alternative for lunch wraps that doesn't require us to cook our own? How can we open up the low-waste conversation with suppliers, family and friends without making people feel judged? It's a conversation full of practical tips and encouragement - the perfect place to begin your own low-waste journey in 2020.  Enjoy! Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/summerseries Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Or leave a rating or review in iTunes As always, thank you for listening! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the first episode of our Summer Series (Winter Warmies!) Throughout all of January, we’ll be sharing some of your favourite episodes from 2019, to keep you company on the beach (or the slopes!) In this episode Brooke sits down with goals coach, co-founder of Rock Your Bliss and incredible public speaker/human Jacki Carr. Brooke did some work with Jacki in 2018 before embarking on the Slow book tour and it had the most enormous impact on her time on the road. So she was determined to chat with Jacki this season, and especially at this time of year, as there’s so much buzz about resolutions, goals and general New Year vibes, which is all Jacki’s passion. Brooke and Jacki cover so much in this conversation, talking all things resolutions, change, defining and committing to goals, values, balance, community and how to use social media as a tool for connection rather than a crutch, by consistently returning to your values. Questions featured in this episode: How do you help people define their values? How do you encourage people to keep re-centering on their values even when life happens? Have you intentionally developed a crew of people in your corner to support you in living with your values? What are your thoughts on balance? Do you look for ease in situations, or always look to expansion? When did developing in-person communities become important to you? Do you have any tools you use to help social media be a way to connect rather than a crutch? Looking for more Slow? Find show notes, resources and links at slowyourhome.com/summerseries Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Or leave a rating or review in iTunes As always, thank you for listening! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/slow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.