The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast

Cultural messaging and suggests you should be happy all the time. But your "happy chemicals"—dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphin—evolved to motivate survival behavior, not make you happy. In fact, unhappiness is your brain's default state. On today's show Dr. Loretta Breuning argues that you can manage your happy chemicals when you know how they work in the state of nature, and she's here to show us how. Here's a preview: [9:00] Serotonin is about social dominance. Enter comparison and competition [13:00] Want a dose of oxytocin? Be part of a herd [15:30] Endorphin is the brain's natural opioid. But you can habituate to it! [18:00] Just got something you want? That flood of happiness is dopamine's doing, but dopamine runs out [25:00] We are living in an era of immense abundance. So why aren't we happy?   Resources mentioned: Why You're Unhappy: Biology Versus Politics Become a subscriber on Substack!   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.

Every purchase you make has an impact on the world. If you aren't careful, your shopping choices contribute to climate change and social injustice. But when you align the contents of your shopping cart with your personal values you slowly but surely shape the market. Times are uncertain and everyday goods are getting more expensive. Still, we should purchase with intention anyway. On today's show author and sustainability expert Diane Osgood offers a comprehensive roadmap that navigates each of us toward positive and sustainable shopping practices. Here's a preview: [4:00] 70% of the U.S. economy is driven by consumer spending. We citizens control the market! [13:00] 3 easy-peasy shopping principles to guide you when you're feeling overwhelmed [17:00] Should you listen to the angel on your shoulder, or the devil? Here's what to remember in those moments you want to backtrack [21:00] *Exactly how* to avoid products made with forced labor or child labor [28:00] Buying small, local, and diverse has the power to "chip away at systemic inequality". Here's how   Resources mentioned: Your Shopping Superpower: Follow Your Values and Better Your World One Purchase At A Time The Chocolate Scorecard Remake U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Instagram, Substack + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Influencer marketing is a case study in how easy it is to sell things to followers who trust their favorite online personalities. But offering that elusive 'personal recommendation' for EVERYthing has normalized both inauthentic endorsing and impulse shopping. It has normalized the buying and selling of your precious attention, too. Here's a sneak peak of today's episode for subscribers. Listen to the whole episode by becoming a paid supporter! On Apple Podcasts hit the "Try Free" button or, if you listen elsewhere, sign up via Substack. Thanks for considering!  

I've been listening to The World with Marco Werman for a global perspective on the news. The World dives deep into global security, climate, migration, and public health—not just the headlines, but the real human stories behind them. Hope you check it out to see why I've been listening!

I've been listening to The World with Marco Werman for a global perspective on the news. The World dives deep into global security, climate, migration, and public health—not just the headlines, but the real human stories behind them. Hope you check it out to see why I've been listening!

There are few things more satisfying than completing a proper spring cleaning. Deep cleaning when the weather warms is a biological imperative that's rooted in centuries of tradition because the practice lightens moods and improves health. It also symbolizes renewal as we come out of hibernation and back into the sunshine. You aren't alone in your seasonal desire to deep clean. On today's show: Opening the windows, deep-cleaning those closets, stripping the beds, and vacuuming those oft-ignored places just in time for the Spring Equinox.   Here's a preview: [5:00] The evolutionary reasons that may explain why humans have "shaken their houses" for over 3 thousand years [8:00] Using newspapers to clean your windows, mopping every week, and other cleaning myths [18:00] Yes, you do need to spring clean your appliances! Here's how [24:00] Exactly how to deep clean your bedding in 4 steps [30:00] Love a good spring cleaning and want extra credit? Don't forget about these 5 oft-overlooked areas   Resources mentioned: Episode #487: Big Cleaning Episode #257: Spring Cleaning for Home, Head, and Heart Should You Use Your Oven's Self-Cleaning Setting? It Depends. (via Wirecutter) The Ultimate Guide on How to Clean Your Washing Machine (via Good Housekeeping) How to Wash Pillows Properly, According to a Cleaning Expert (via Good Housekeeping) Tip jar, and thank you! buymeacoffee.com/sustainableminimalists   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.

I've been listening to The World with Marco Werman for a global perspective on the news. The World dives deep into global security, climate, migration, and public health—not just the headlines, but the real human stories behind them. Hope you check it out to see why I've been listening!

When we let go of what doesn't serve us, we remove weight that holds us down. On today's show we turn to Zen Buddhism for wisdom on letting go of anxiety about the future, grudges, stuff, dead relationships, and more. Here's a preview: [4:00] Insanely anxious about the future? (Me too!) Don't spend your energy worrying; do this instead [12:00] Think of decluttering not as throwing stuff away; think of it instead as setting your stuff (and yourself!) free [19:00] How to let go of lost friendships and relationships, straight from the mouths of Buddhist monks [26:00] Holding a grudge requires vast amounts of energy so become skilled at forgetting [34:00] You're going to get to where you're meant to go, so there's no need to second-guess your choices   Resources mentioned: 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.

I cannot stop listening to the all new Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman podcast. It's a show for professionals who are looking to up their game in their careers and in life. Hope you check it out to see why I'm a regular listener!

I cannot stop listening to the all new Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman podcast. It's a show for professionals who are looking to up their game in their careers and in life. Hope you check it out to see why I'm a regular listener!

Women have been targeted for decades with the message that shopping is recreation. It's a way to relax and unwind, sure, but recreational shopping also contributes to the climate crisis, supports the worst of shareholder capitalism, and creates an awful lot of unnecessary waste. Enter Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy, a hard-hitting new Netflix documentary that forces viewers to look at our waste-related woes. On today's show producer Flora Bagenal offers a behind-the-scenes look at the documentary's creation; she also answers your pressing, post-viewing questions. A note from Stephanie: This episode was recorded before the Los Angeles wildfires. If you're able, please consider donating to one of these organizations.    Here's a preview: [7:00] People find it hard to look at waste, and yet the film makes us look. A behind-the-scenes examination all those hard-hitting images [16:30] Adidas, Amazon, Unilever, and Apple: Here's why the film featured former employees-turned-whistleblowers [26:00] Corporate execs must show growth, and corporations are on a treadmill of extracting more and more $$ by pushing unnecessary and redundant products. Is not buying an effective act of resistance? [30:00] Mindset shifts! Quality is a climate issue, and once you press ‘Buy Now' you become responsible for the item's end of life [36:00] Exactly how to Use. Your. Rage!   Resources mentioned: 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.

I hope you'll enjoy Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel. We have become regular Thursday listeners and we hope you check it out to see why!

I cannot stop listening to the all new Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman podcast. It's a show for professionals who are looking to up their game in their careers and in life. Hope you check it out to see why I'm a regular listener!

Have you ever thought about what your life would be like without a trash can? Here in the US, we don't think much about what happens to stuff once we're done with it. Indeed, American infrastructure isn't equipped to properly handle waste, and our wonton wastefulness on the cultural level exacerbates the climate crisis. It's entirely possible to take matters into your own hands by stepping up as a change maker. On today's show activist and author Fredrika Syren suggests tangible ways to treat waste with the reverence it deserves by systematically creating less of it.   Here's a preview: [4:00] Recycling is broken in America, and yet other countries have figured out how to do it right [17:00] Being a change maker means asking guests to take their trash home with them [26:30] Exactly how Fredrika saves $18,000 each year thanks to her zero-waste lifestyle [30:00] Pick a self-sufficient skill and teach yourself! Thoughts on taking your zero-waste efforts up a notch in 2025 Resources mentioned: "No Impact Man" Colin Beavan Fredrika on Instagram A Practical Guide To Zero-Waste For Families Zero Waste Family on YouTube Zero Time To Waste documentary The Comfort Crisis (Book Club pick for February 12, 7pm EST) Resources mentioned: 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.

Does it feel like there's something hypocritical about New Year's resolutions? They run counter to the idea that we should accept who we are. That we should give ourselves grace. Resolutions shouldn't be so grand that we set ourselves up to fail; they shouldn't attempt to "fix" what we've been told is broken, either ("I should be skinnier! I should make more $$!"). There's a way to work towards personal development without believing you are deficient, and author Tyler Moore is here to show us how. Here's a preview: [10:00] Where can you edit to make the time and space to flourish? [15:00] Differentiating between becoming the best you can be versus "fixing" what you've been told is broken [22:00] Clearing mental clutter is an awful lot like decluttering your closet [27:00] Instead of a New Year's resolution, try 12 monthly 'experiments', instead [32:00] Why hitching your star to external markers of success rarely works, plus: Don't move the goalpost!   Resources mentioned: Tidy Up Your Life: Rethinking How to Organize, Declutter, and Make Space for What Matters Most Episode #443 (with Tyler!) Tyler on Instagram   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.

Have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear? While capsule wardrobes are often touted as the singular solution to closet overwhelm, many report that they can be restrictive, boring and, frankly, unrealistic in practice. A minimalist closet is best served by first identifying the outfits needed to live YOUR unique life. On today's show podcaster Lauren Morley shows us how to streamline our wardrobes, say goodbye to clutter, and feel effortlessly put together every day by focusing less on capsules and more on a 20 outfit wardrobe, instead.   Here's a preview: [5:30] Identifying exactly where and why capsule wardrobes fall short [11:00] Why doesn't buying more clothes solve the problems associated with getting dressed? Conversely, why isn't decluttering the singular solution? [16:00] Say goodbye to capsule wardrobes and hello to your 20 outfit wardrobe [20:00] Getting to the root of our cultural reverence for bottomless closets [28:00] The trend cycle is not your friend, so hop off that bandwagon!   Resources mentioned: The Closet Course Millennial Minimalists podcast 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.

In Scandinavia, daily interaction with nature has helped turn many people into passionate advocates for the environment. But there are forces at play in American society that divide humans from nature. To name just a few? Schools cut recess to make more time for academic instruction, cities boast sprawl over walkability, and our societal reverence for cleanliness prevents many Americans from getting outside and getting a little dirty. Best-selling author Linda McGurk was born in Sweden and, later, raised her own children in the US. Linda is on the show to highlight the ways in which the two cultures diverge with regard to interacting with and respecting the natural world; she also offers both the encouragement and the how-to to get outside in all weather. Here's a preview: [5:00] Nature isn't an essential part of childhood here in America. Why not? [18:00] Not competitive, not motorized, and 3 other ways adults prioritize the open-air life in Scandinavia [23:00] No such thing as bad weather? What about extreme, climate change-induced weather events? [28:00] Revisiting our very-American need to be comfortable at all times [32:00] American schools are slowly eliminating outdoor recess. Here's how to advocate for more outdoor time at your child's school Resources mentioned: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day Linda on Substack Children And Nature Network Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy (via Netflix)   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.

What is the "holiday season", really? Savvy marketers have inserted gingerbread lattes, blow up lawn decor, and lots of gifts as synonymous with December. But we aren't in some made-up season of buying; instead, we are approaching the Winter Solstice. And when nature is our guide, living seasonally is less about shopping hauls and more about existing in pace with the changing seasons. In a world where we can buy just about anything, it takes intention to live in alignment with nature. On today's show Bailey Van Tassel offers suggestions for weaving what's outside your front door — not what's in Target! — into your seasonal celebrations. Here's a preview: [11:00] Transitioning from commercialized seasonal living to interacting with nature at your feet [15:00] The ways in which nature's pace complements modern life (if, of course, we allow it) [19:30] Minimalists, unite! Don't buy more ultra-trendy seasonal stuff; do this instead [25:00] Slow down your life by making your family traditions crave-able [33:00] Connections between seasons of a year and seasons of a life   Resources mentioned: Kitchen Garden Living: Seasonal Growing and Eating from a Beautiful, Bountiful Food Garden Bailey on Instagram @baileyvantassel Chatpods: www.chatpods.com/?fr=SustainableMinimalists   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.

Denim jeans were once the preferred trouser for cowboys in the American west; some decades later, they became a symbol of rebellion for non-conformist teens. These days jeans are all about comfort and casual style, and the average American woman owns 7 pairs.And yet blue jeans also happen to have one of fashion's biggest environmental footprints. On today's show Sarene Alsharif reveals the harsh realities associated with jeans production; she also shares practical strategies for transforming this wardrobe staple into a sustainable solution. Here's a preview:[7:00]  Stone-washed with actual stones? Dyed with carcinogenic dyes? Uncovering your favorite pair's dirty little enviro-secrets [13:00] Want some stretch? Revisiting our desire for synthetic fibers in our denim [23:00] The trend cycle = smoke and mirrors[27:00] It's a marriage not a fling (and other tried-and-true sustainable fashion tips)[31:00] Stephanie's nihilist thoughts: What happens when collective action matters, and yet the collective isn't doing its part? Resources mentioned: How To Save The World With A Pair Of Jeans (via YouTube) Tad More Tailoring Atomic Habits (by James Clear) The Comfort Crisis Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self (February's Book Club pick!)   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! **If you're a financial supporter over on Apple Podcasts and want to join Book Club, please email me and let me know! For privacy reasons, Apple won't share your contact info with me. Just email me and I'll happily add you!** Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.  

Denim jeans were once the preferred trouser for cowboys in the American west; some decades later, they became a symbol of rebellion for non-conformist teens. These days jeans are all about comfort and casual style, and the average American woman owns 7 pairs. And yet blue jeans also happen to have one of fashion's biggest environmental footprints. On today's show Sarene Alsharif reveals the harsh realities associated with jeans production; she also shares practical strategies for transforming this wardrobe staple into a sustainable solution.   Here's a preview: [7:00]  Stone-washed with actual stones? Dyed with carcinogenic dyes? Uncovering your favorite pair's dirty little enviro-secrets  [13:00] Want some stretch? Revisiting our desire for synthetic fibers in our denim  [23:00] The trend cycle = smoke and mirrors [27:00] It's a marriage not a fling (and other tried-and-true sustainable fashion tips) [31:00] Stephanie's nihilist thoughts: What happens when collective action matters, and yet the collective isn't doing its part?   Resources mentioned: How To Save The World With A Pair Of Jeans (via YouTube) Tad More Tailoring Atomic Habits (by James Clear) The Comfort Crisis Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self (February's Book Club pick!)   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! **If you're a financial supporter over on Apple Podcasts and want to join Book Club, please email me and let me know! For privacy reasons, Apple won't share your contact info with me. Just email me and I'll happily add you!** Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We Americans may indeed be "rich" in material terms, but we suffer from what Mother Teresa calls a poverty of spirit. As we chased economic growth we closed ourselves off. We abandoned interconnectedness with other people, beings, and things. We also abandoned ourselves. Many of the problems in our world today are visual manifestations of such abandonment. If the world isn't looking the way you want it to look right now, author Jeff Golden argues that solving our (numerous) issues starts by healing our culture-wide poverty of spirit.  Here's a preview: [4:00] Money doesn't make us happy, and the extent to which we strive for stuff is a manifestation of how unhappy we actually are inside [8:00] How we feel about ourselves impacts how we show up in the world. How we treat others! Whether we regard other beings with love and respect! [16:00] Exactly why healing our world (and ourselves!) may indeed start by getting out of our heads [32:00] Debunking heady intellectual conversations about the importance of the economy, plus: a laundry list of the ways we use stuff as stand-ins for well-being [38:00] Tangible ways to "drop into yourself" (because you and others deserve it!)  Resources mentioned: Episode #478: Charting A Rich Life Reclaiming the Sacred: Healing Our Relationships with Ourselves and the World Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting it! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.  

We Americans may indeed be "rich" in material terms, but we suffer from what Mother Teresa calls a poverty of spirit. As we chased economic growth we closed ourselves off. We abandoned interconnectedness with other people, beings, and things. We also abandoned ourselves.   Many of the problems in our world today are visual manifestations of such abandonment. If the world isn't looking the way you want it to look right now, author Jeff Golden argues that solving our (numerous) issues starts by healing our culture-wide poverty of spirit.     Here's a preview:   [4:00] Money doesn't make us happy, and the extent to which we strive for stuff is a manifestation of how unhappy we actually are inside   [8:00] How we feel about ourselves impacts how we show up in the world. How we treat others! Whether we regard other beings with love and respect!   [16:00] Exactly why healing our world (and ourselves!) may indeed start by getting out of our heads   [32:00] Debunking heady intellectual conversations about the importance of the economy, plus: a laundry list of the ways we use stuff as stand-ins for well-being   [38:00] Tangible ways to "drop into yourself" (because you and others deserve it!)     Resources mentioned: Episode #478: Charting A Rich Life Reclaiming the Sacred: Healing Our Relationships with Ourselves and the World Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting it! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of us shy away from the word 'activist' because the term brings to mind a very specific type of person. But if you're regularly taking action to make the world a better place? Guess what my friend, you're already an activist (yes, really!).What matters is not the size of the action, nor how vigorous the action is. It's all about consistency. On today's re-air author Omkari Williams helps us find the kind of social justice engagement that feels both empowering *and* sustainable.Here's a preview:[4:00] Activism isn't just marching and picketing: Here's what micro activism looks like in the day to day [10:30] Are you a headliner, an organizer, a producer, or an indispensable? How to determine your unique activist archetype[22:00] The status quo isn't working for the vast majority of us. So where's the passion for change?[30:00] How to know whether your efforts constitute shallow work or deep work Resources mentioned: Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World without a Bullhorn Take Omkari's Activist Archetype Quiz Seafoodwatch.org consumer guides   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.

Many of us shy away from the word 'activist' because the term brings to mind a very specific type of person. But if you're regularly taking action to make the world a better place? Guess what my friend, you're already an activist (yes, really!). What matters is not the size of the action, nor how vigorous the action is. It's all about consistency. On today's re-air author Omkari Williams helps us find the kind of social justice engagement that feels both empowering *and* sustainable. Here's a preview: [4:00] Activism isn't just marching and picketing: Here's what micro activism looks like in the day to day  [10:30] Are you a headliner, an organizer, a producer, or an indispensable? How to determine your unique activist archetype [22:00] The status quo isn't working for the vast majority of us. So where's the passion for change? [30:00] How to know whether your efforts constitute shallow work or deep work   Resources mentioned: Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World without a Bullhorn Take Omkari's Activist Archetype Quiz Seafoodwatch.org consumer guides   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Capitalism has transformed the world, sure. But at what cost? (Immense environmental ones, of course.)Americans, it's high-time we accept that the Golden Age of capitalism is long gone. On today's show: A frank discussion with sustainable finance visionary Kara Perez about insulating ourselves from late-stage capitalism's most damaging effects with individual and collective action. Here's a preview:[6:00] Money is a tool for change, and yet it's literally something we made up[11:00] Can we be nickled and dimed even more than we already are? (Spoiler alert: Yes.)[14:00] A few of the ways in which shareholder capitalism limits society's ability to progress[22:00] Tangible ways you and I can "change the flow of money" Resources mentioned: Episode #395: Lifestyle Creep (with Kara Perez) Green Money: How to Reduce Waste, Build Wealth, and Create a Better Future for All How to Be an Anticapitalist in the Twenty-First Century (by Erik Olin Wright)   Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20 Thank you also to Better Help for sponsoring this week's episode! Head to betterhelp.com/minimal for 10% off your first month.   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! **If you're a financial supporter over on Apple Podcasts and want to join Book Club, please email me and let me know! For privacy reasons, Apple won't share your contact info with me. Just email me and I'll happily add you!** Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Capitalism has transformed the world, sure. But at what cost? (Immense environmental ones, of course.) Americans, it's high-time we accept that the Golden Age of capitalism is long gone. On today's show: A frank discussion with sustainable finance visionary Kara Perez about insulating ourselves from late-stage capitalism's most damaging effects with individual and collective action.   Here's a preview: [6:00] Money is a tool for change, and yet it's literally something we made up [11:00] Can we be nickled and dimed even more than we already are? (Spoiler alert: Yes.) [14:00] A few of the ways in which shareholder capitalism limits society's ability to progress [22:00] Tangible ways you and I can "change the flow of money"   Resources mentioned: Episode #395: Lifestyle Creep (with Kara Perez) Green Money: How to Reduce Waste, Build Wealth, and Create a Better Future for All How to Be an Anticapitalist in the Twenty-First Century (by Erik Olin Wright)   Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20 Thank you also to Better Help for sponsoring this week's episode! Head to betterhelp.com/minimal for 10% off your first month.   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! **If you're a financial supporter over on Apple Podcasts and want to join Book Club, please email me and let me know! For privacy reasons, Apple won't share your contact info with me. Just email me and I'll happily add you!** Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cyberpsychology is an emerging field that examines the ways in which technology influences human behavior. On today's show we discuss what happens to our purchasing habits when psychology, sociology, and 21st century tech collide. Here's a preview: [1:30] Who you think you are is influenced by others (hello, looking glass self!) [8:30] It's human nature to compare and compete: Here's how and why we internalize social media messaging [16:00] 3 reasons why shoppers feel better when they purchase items that contribute to self-repair [20:00] 2 ways dopamine and online algorithms work together and entice us to buy   Resources mentioned/Further reading: The Digital Looking Glass Self (via Psychology Today) Buying: The Effect on Self-Worth Feelings and Consumer Well-Being  Why TikTok Made Us Buy It (via Psychology Today) Stay Free App 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cyberpsychology is an emerging field that examines the ways in which technology influences human behavior. On today's show we discuss what happens to our purchasing habits when psychology, sociology, and 21st century tech collide.Here's a preview:[1:30] Who you think you are is influenced by others (hello, looking glass self!)[8:30] It's human nature to compare and compete: Here's how and why we internalize social media messaging[16:00] 3 reasons why shoppers feel better when they purchase items that contribute to self-repair[20:00] 2 ways dopamine and online algorithms work together and entice us to buy Resources mentioned/Further reading: The Digital Looking Glass Self (via Psychology Today) Buying: The Effect on Self-Worth Feelings and Consumer Well-Being  Why TikTok Made Us Buy It (via Psychology Today) Stay Free App 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.

Our culture is marked by both comparison and overconsumption, and we are constantly urged to hustle for something bigger, better, or more expensive because (supposedly) happiness lies within the next purchase or achievement. But what if the key to living a more satisfied life is to simply slow down and listen to your intuition?On today's show: A conversation with best-selling author Stephanie O'Dea about breaking free from hustle culture for increased fulfillment, reduced stress, and a stronger sense of purpose. Here's a preview:[8:00] Doing things out of guilt, obligation, or acceptance versus Simply Looking Only Within (SLOW!)[12:00] It's a lot easier to sell to people who are unhappy. Enter our preponderance for fast living[20:00] Is conventional 'success' possible when we are living slow?[25:00] What to do when you can't hear the voice within because daily life is too fast and too noisy[27:00] The more social media scrolling, the more disenchantment. And yet we are creatures of comparison ... Resources mentioned: Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World The Slow Living Podcast   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.

Our culture is marked by both comparison and overconsumption, and we are constantly urged to hustle for something bigger, better, or more expensive because (supposedly) happiness lies within the next purchase or achievement. But what if the key to living a more satisfied life is to simply slow down and listen to your intuition? On today's show: A conversation with best-selling author Stephanie O'Dea about breaking free from hustle culture for increased fulfillment, reduced stress, and a stronger sense of purpose.   Here's a preview: [8:00] Doing things out of guilt, obligation, or acceptance versus Simply Looking Only Within (SLOW!) [12:00] It's a lot easier to sell things to people who are unhappy. Enter our preponderance for fast living [20:00] Is conventional 'success' possible when we are living slow? [25:00] What to do when you can't hear the voice within because daily life is too fast and too noisy [27:00] The more social media scrolling, the more disenchantment. And yet we are creatures of comparison ...   Resources mentioned: Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20 Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven World The Slow Living Podcast   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's no way around it: more stuff means more sedentarism.Products of convenience move on our behalf, and our kids are moving their bodies less than any other generation in human history. Our culture–and the items the market produces to support our ways of life—dissuade self-sufficiency, and so creating a movement-rich life for our health and for the planet's may often feel like an uphill battle.This week I speak with author and biomechanist Katy Bowman. Katy offers tangible ways to reclaim the movement opportunities that have been lost to the conveniences associated with modern living. Here's a preview:[7:30] The relationship between carbon footprints, pleasure, and movement lost[16:00] How to become more tolerant of movement in the house[19:15] Ways to engage kids who don't consider themselves "outdoorsy"[22:45] Multitasking versus stacking: What's the difference (and why does it matter?)[25:20]  2 steps listeners can take right now to reclaim movement opportunities that have been lost to convenience  Resources mentioned: Grow Wild: The Whole-Child, Whole-Family, Nature-Rich Guide to Moving More Katy on Instagram Save The Earth book series Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube 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.

There's no way around it: more stuff means more sedentarism. Products of convenience move on our behalf, and our kids are moving their bodies less than any other generation in human history. Our culture–and the items the market produces to support our ways of life—dissuade self-sufficiency, and so creating a movement-rich life for our health and for the planet's may often feel like an uphill battle. This week I speak with author and biomechanist Katy Bowman. Katy offers tangible ways to reclaim the movement opportunities that have been lost to the conveniences associated with modern living.   Here's a preview: [7:30] The relationship between carbon footprints, pleasure, and movement lost [16:00] How to become more tolerant of movement in the house [19:15] Ways to engage kids who don't consider themselves "outdoorsy" [22:45] Multitasking versus stacking: What's the difference (and why does it matter?) [25:20]  2 steps listeners can take right now to reclaim movement opportunities that have been lost to convenience     Resources mentioned: Grow Wild: The Whole-Child, Whole-Family, Nature-Rich Guide to Moving More Katy on Instagram Save The Earth book series Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I hope you'll enjoy Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel. We have become regular Thursday listeners and we hope you check it out to see why!

Water is a finite resource. Freshwater shortages are increasingly striking regions around the globe and, as demand for water rises while supply continues to drop, the price of water will likely skyrocket.It's more important than ever to be smart about water. On today's show horticulturist Noelle Johnson offers easy ways to save water and have a beautiful yard — even amongst challenging climatic conditions.  Here's a preview:[5:00] Globally, less rain is falling. And simultaneously the planet is desertifying. What are the consequences?[11:00] Exactly why rainwater is better for our plants than water from the hose, plus: 3 ways to effectively capture rainwater[15:00] Did you know you can repurpose gray water in your yard? (I sure didn't!)[26:00] Musings on lawns[32:00] 7 ways to use less water in your vegetable garden (hint: raised beds require more water!) Resources mentioned: Thank you to Wild for sponsoring this week's episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE20 at checkout for 20% off. https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20 Episode #137: The Global Water Crisis Episode #500: Rebuilding Your Village The Water-Smart Garden: Techniques and Strategies for Conserving, Capturing, and Efficiently Using Water in Today's Climate... and Tomorrow's Noelle on Instagram   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.

Water is a finite resource. Freshwater shortages are increasingly striking regions around the globe and, as demand for water rises while supply continues to drop, the price of water will likely skyrocket. It's more important than ever to be smart about water. On today's show horticulturist Noelle Johnson offers easy ways to save water and have a beautiful yard — even amongst challenging climatic conditions.    Here's a preview: [5:00] Globally, less rain is falling. And simultaneously the planet is desertifying. What are the consequences? [11:00] Exactly why rainwater is better for our plants than water from the hose, plus: 3 ways to effectively capture rainwater [15:00] Did you know you can repurpose gray water in your yard? (I sure didn't!) [26:00] Musings on lawns [32:00] 7 ways to use less water in your vegetable garden (hint: raised beds require more water!)   Resources mentioned: Episode #137: The Global Water Crisis Episode #500: Rebuilding Your Village The Water-Smart Garden: Techniques and Strategies for Conserving, Capturing, and Efficiently Using Water in Today's Climate... and Tomorrow's Noelle on Instagram   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people — and many societies, for that matter — rely on short-sighted quick wins as their Number One go-tos when managing oversized problems. But what works in the short-term likely isn't best in the long run; worse, such near-sightedness rarely considers its impacts on generations to come.Enter longpath thinking, a mindset that prioritizes future-conscious thinking and behavior.On today's episode I speak with author and futurist Ari Wallach. Ari argues that when we step away from knee-jerk reactions we will both reclaim meaning in our lives and help preserve the planet for future generations. And if making daily decisions by considering their reverberations 500 years from now sounds revolutionary to you, you're absolutely right. Ari's on the show to ease the transition to future-consciousness in 3 simple steps. Here's a preview: [2:00] “Future” isn't a noun; it's a verb. Here's why[4:30] Debunking lifespan biases so as to create a better world for future generations[6:00] 3 problems associated with short-termism[11:30] How an understanding of transgenerational empathy encourages us to act on behalf of future generations[17:00] What doubling down on sandbag strategies means for fulfilling our collective moral obligations[20:00] 3 ways to start practicing longpath thinking and acting right now Resource mentioned:Longpath: Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs 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.

Many people — and many societies, for that matter — rely on short-sighted quick wins as their Number One go-tos when managing oversized problems. But what works in the short-term likely isn't best in the long run; worse, such near-sightedness rarely considers its impacts on generations to come. Enter longpath thinking, a mindset that prioritizes future-conscious thinking and behavior. On today's episode I speak with author and futurist Ari Wallach. Ari argues that when we step away from knee-jerk reactions we will both reclaim meaning in our lives and help preserve the planet for future generations. And if making daily decisions by considering their reverberations 500 years from now sounds revolutionary to you, you're absolutely right. Ari's on the show to ease the transition to future-consciousness in 3 simple steps.   Here's a preview:  [2:00] “Future” isn't a noun; it's a verb. Here's why [4:30] Debunking lifespan biases so as to create a better world for future generations [6:00] 3 problems associated with short-termism [11:30] How an understanding of transgenerational empathy encourages us to act on behalf of future generations [17:00] What doubling down on sandbag strategies means for fulfilling our collective moral obligations [20:00] 3 ways to start practicing longpath thinking and acting right now   Resource mentioned: Longpath: Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

These days, dry cleaners press shirts, industrialized farms grow monocrops, and factories churn out single-use varieties of (nearly) everything. And when a possession looks a little worn or a little torn? Many Americans trash it and buy new without a second thought.Life can be simpler, more affordable, and downright sweeter when you do things yourself and maintain what you already own. On today's show: Calling on the timeless wisdom of our great grandparents to re-learn specific, self-sufficient skills for the long haul. Here's a preview of the skills we are re-learning today:[5:30] How to  season your cast iron skillet[9:30] How to buy local food every week[21:00] How to best care for your leather footwear Resources mentioned: Episode #468: Cooking With Cast Iron Episode #494: Streamlining Non-Negotiables localharvest.org   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

These days, dry cleaners press shirts, industrialized farms grow monocrops, and factories churn out single-use varieties of (nearly) everything. And when a possession looks a little worn or a little torn? Many Americans trash it and buy new without a second thought. Life can be simpler, more affordable, and downright sweeter when you do things yourself and maintain what you already own. On today's show: Calling on the timeless wisdom of our great grandparents to re-learn specific, self-sufficient skills for the long haul.   Here's a preview of the skills we are re-learning today: [5:30] How to  season your cast iron skillet [9:30] How to buy local food every week [21:00] How to best care for your leather footwear   Resources mentioned: Episode #468: Cooking With Cast Iron Episode #494: Streamlining Non-Negotiables localharvest.org   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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clothing swaps (or toy swaps, or book swaps, or home goods swaps) are a low-stakes way to declutter your closet and acquire new-to-you clothes. These events also happen to be the epitome of communal care and can fundamentally change how others view secondhand items.Share resources with your neighbors, reduce waste, and get socializing without exchanging money! On today's show 4-time clothing swap host Jess Schroeder divulges her pro secrets to hosting a successful event.  Here's a preview: [8:00] The price of clothes has dropped dramatically in the last 30 years. Are clothing swaps pointless amidst our cultural reverence for cheap goods?[13:30] What is it about a swap that's so darn fun?[19:00] Your questions answered: Exactly how to host a killer clothing swap[24:00] How to be size inclusive and other pro tips for hosts and guests alike Resources mentioned: Sophie Strauss on Instagram Sign up for our newsletter! This episode is sponsored by Better Help. Head to betterhelp.com/minimal for 10% off your first month.   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.

Clothing swaps (or toy swaps, or book swaps, or home goods swaps) are a low-stakes way to declutter your closet and acquire new-to-you clothes. These events also happen to be the epitome of of communal care and can fundamentally change how others view secondhand items. Share resources with your neighbors, reduce waste, and get socializing without exchanging money! On today's show 4-time clothing swap host Jess Schroeder divulges her pro secrets to hosting a successful event.    Here's a preview:  [8:00] The price of clothes has dropped dramatically in the last 30 years. Are clothing swaps pointless amidst our cultural reverence for cheap goods? [13:30] What is it about a swap that's so darn fun? [19:00] Your questions answered: Exactly how to host a killer clothing swap [24:00] How to be size inclusive and other pro tips for hosts and guests alike   Resources mentioned: Sophie Strauss on Instagram Sign up for our newsletter! This episode is sponsored by Better Help. Head to betterhelp.com/minimal for 10% off your first month.   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the dawn of the chemical era more than 300,000 chemicals have been invented, and many are made from oil and natural gas. While some manufactured chemicals have indeed provided benefit (Disinfectants! Antibiotics!), they have also caused great harm. Manufactured chemicals pollute every corner of the planet. They kill bees, fish, and mammals. They nearly destroyed the ozone and, yes, they give us cancer.Many types of cancer are on the rise in the US, and one explanation for this increase lies in our world of chemicals. On today's show environmental investigative reporter Kristina Marusic identifies the harmful environmental exposures linked to cancer; she also provides a step-by-step roadmap for reducing your cancer risk.Here's a preview: [2:00] Breaking down exactly what's happening with cancer rates around the world and why[12:00] The 3 Ps: 3 categories of pollutants that have clear links to childhood cancer[20:00] Pay special attention to these preventable environmental exposures if you have children[24:00] Revisiting the personal care product conundrum [28:00] The harmful environmental exposures you should zero in on at your child's daycare or school [36:00] In defense of being a loudmouth: You've been given a voice; here's how to best use it Resources mentioned:  A New War on Cancer: The Unlikely Heroes Revolutionizing Prevention Sample letters to send to your child's school and school board (via Non-Toxic Communities)  The Cancer Free Economy Network  The EWG's Healthy Living App  Silent Spring Institute The Center for Health, Environment, and Justice   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.

Since the dawn of the chemical era more than 300,000 chemicals have been invented, and many are made from oil and natural gas. While some manufactured chemicals have indeed provided benefit (Disinfectants! Antibiotics!), they have also caused great harm. Manufactured chemicals pollute every corner of the planet. They kill bees, fish, and mammals. They nearly destroyed the ozone and, yes, they give us cancer. Many types of cancer are on the rise in the US, and one explanation for this increase lies in our world of chemicals. On today's show environmental investigative reporter Kristina Marusic identifies the harmful environmental exposures linked to cancer; she also provides a step-by-step roadmap for reducing your cancer risk. Here's a preview:  [2:00] Breaking down exactly what's happening with cancer rates around the world and why [12:00] The 3 Ps: 3 categories of pollutants that have clear links to childhood cancer [20:00] Pay special attention to these preventable environmental exposures if you have children [24:00] Revisiting the personal care product conundrum  [28:00] The harmful environmental exposures you should zero in on at your child's daycare or school  [36:00] In defense of being a loudmouth: You've been given a voice; here's how to best use it   Resources mentioned:  A New War on Cancer: The Unlikely Heroes Revolutionizing Prevention Sample letters to send to your child's school and school board (via Non-Toxic Communities)  The Cancer Free Economy Network  The EWG's Healthy Living App  Silent Spring Institute The Center for Health, Environment, and Justice   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our To-Do lists are never-ending, sure. But it's neither realistic nor fair to assume we can excel in every arena. Enter selective mediocrity, a.k.a. that conscious choice to let some stuff go. We simply can't do it all, and selective mediocrity enables us to give our whole selves to the tasks and goals that really matter. On today's show: A conversation with Dr. Whitney Casares about *actually* lowering our expectations (not just pretending we lowered them!) and preserving our precious time and energy. Here's a preview:[3:30] Feel like you're doing it all? Here are the 9 areas that take up the majority of a woman's time and energy[9:30] We moms aren't broken. The system is broken![21:00] How do you decide when and where to be 'selectively mediocre'?[24:00] Anxiety loves perfection because anxiety loves control. Musings on being OK with letting some things go[28:00] Women have been conditioned to put others' needs ahead of their own. Time to enact self-boundaries! Resources mentioned:Doing It All: Stop Over-Functioning and Become the Mom and Person You're Meant to Be  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.

Our To-Do lists are never-ending, sure. But it's neither realistic nor fair to assume we can excel in every arena.  Enter selective mediocrity, a.k.a. that conscious choice to let some stuff go.  We simply can't do it all, and selective mediocrity enables us to give our whole selves to the tasks and goals that really matter. On today's show: A conversation with Dr. Whitney Casares about *actually* lowering our expectations (not just pretending we lowered them!) and preserving our precious time and energy.   Here's a preview: [3:30] Feel like you're doing it all? Here are the 9 areas that take up the majority of a woman's time and energy [9:30] We moms aren't broken. The system is broken! [21:00] How do you decide when and where to be 'selectively mediocre'? [24:00] Anxiety loves perfection because anxiety loves control. Musings on being OK with letting some things go [28:00] Women have been conditioned to put others' needs ahead of their own. Time to enact self-boundaries!   Resources mentioned: Doing It All: Stop Over-Functioning and Become the Mom and Person You're Meant to Be   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent study finds Americans are spending notably more time at home, and it's not wholly the pandemic's fault. Thank technology: For the last 20 years Americans have slowly traded their social institutions — like churches and clubs — for isolation. Have we forgotten how to be social creatures? On today's show: A conversation with journalist Rosie Spinks about concrete ways to rebuild your proverbial village.  Here's a preview: [4:00] Counting the ways in which the pandemic hastened a cultural shift toward isolation already in progress [9:00] You don't need friends; you need 50 people [16:00] Be the person who asks twice! [24:00] The quiet genius of enacting place-based rituals [31:00] Reminder! Canceling is not a form of self-care [35:00] Are your social efforts rarely reciprocated? Enact this 3-second mindset shift   Resources mentioned: What Do We Do Now That We're Here (via Substack) Kurt Vonnegut's commencement speech Episode #498: Removing The Mask   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent study finds Americans are spending notably more time at home, and it's not wholly the pandemic's fault. Thank technology: For the last 20 years Americans have slowly traded their social institutions — like churches and clubs — for isolation.Have we forgotten how to be social creatures? On today's show: A conversation with journalist Rosie Spinks about concrete ways to rebuild your proverbial village. Here's a preview:[4:00] Counting the ways in which the pandemic hastened a cultural shift toward isolation already in progress[9:00] You don't need friends; you need 50 people[16:00] Be the person who asks twice![24:00] The quiet genius of enacting place-based rituals[31:00] Reminder! Canceling is not a form of self-care[35:00] Are your social efforts rarely reciprocated? Enact this 3-second mindset shift Resources mentioned: What Do We Do Now That We're Here (via Substack) Kurt Vonnegut's commencement speech Episode #498: Removing The Mask   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.

Life is noisier, messier, and more complicated than ever. In our quest to keep up, we can try to do it all—with mixed results.Instead of life passively happening TO us, we each have the power to create the life we want to live. On today's show: A conversation with author Elisabeth Sharp McKetta about figuring out what matters most and hitting delete on what doesn't. Here's a preview:[7:00] Before we edit, we must first examine: 3 questions to regularly ask when seeking a life of intention[9:30] The paradox of choice, plus: Why many of us rarely go after our first choice[16:00] Words of encouragement for listeners who examine their life and don't like what they see[21:00] Using your unique "core competencies" as organizing principles when editing your life[27:00] Editing for generosity: How to edit your narrative to benefit the collective[33:00] Elisabeth and Stephanie's thoughts on enjoying life despite the world's messiness Resources mentioned: Edit Your Life: A Handbook For Living With Intention In A Messy World The Mother-Daughter Puzzle by Rosjke Hasseldine 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.

Life is noisier, messier, and more complicated than ever. In our quest to keep up, we can try to do it all—with mixed results. Instead of life passively happening TO us, we each have the power to create the life we want to live. On today's show: A conversation with author Elisabeth Sharp McKetta about figuring out what matters most and hitting delete on what doesn't.   Here's a preview: [7:00] Before we edit, we must first examine: 3 questions to regularly ask when seeking a life of intention [9:30] The paradox of choice, plus: Why many of us rarely go after our first choice [16:00] Words of encouragement for listeners who examine their life and don't like what they see [21:00] Using your unique "core competencies" as organizing principles when editing your life [27:00] Editing for generosity: How to edit your narrative to benefit the collective [33:00] Elisabeth and Stephanie's thoughts on enjoying life despite the world's messiness   Resources mentioned: Edit Your Life: A Handbook For Living With Intention In A Messy World The Mother-Daughter Puzzle by Rosjke Hasseldine 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The US hails consumption as a patriotic duty. But refraining from buying isn't a punishment, and practicing a bit of self-control both resets our hedonistic baseline and re-centers our behaviors around moderation. It's paradoxical but true: Imposing temporary limits ultimately sets you free. On today's show author John Oakes discusses the numerous benefits associated with fasting from food, from spending, and everything in between. Here's a preview:[9:00] What do ancient philosophers have to say about self-control, holding back, and managing desires?[13:00] Musings on why it's important to put limits on ourselves even though our economy thrives when we consume without limits[25:00] We can do hard things! The personal benefits associated with embarking on a challenge and accomplishing it[29:00] Is overconsumption contributing to our nationwide 'modern malaise'? Resources mentioned: The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and Promise of Doing Without Episode #049: The Why, How, and When of a No-Spend Challenge The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self   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 US hails consumption as a patriotic duty. But refraining from buying isn't a punishment, and practicing a bit of self-control both resets our hedonistic baseline and re-centers our behaviors around moderation.  It's paradoxical but true: Imposing temporary limits ultimately sets you free. On today's show author John Oakes discusses the numerous benefits associated with fasting from food, from spending, and everything in between.   Here's a preview: [9:00] What do ancient philosophers have to say about self-control, holding back, and managing desires? [13:00] Musings on why it's important to put limits on ourselves even though our economy thrives when we consume without limits [25:00] We can do hard things! The personal benefits associated with embarking on a challenge and accomplishing it [29:00] Is overconsumption contributing to our nationwide 'modern malaise'?   Resources mentioned: The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and Promise of Doing Without Episode #049: The Why, How, and When of a No-Spend Challenge The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self   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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices