5 steps to aligning your intentions with your actions.

4 research-backed findings into the relationship between minimalism and well-being.

There's lots to consider when searching for an eco-friendly and non-toxic laundry detergent. Are those strips and pods actually environmentally conscious if they're wrapped in PVA? Why don't detergents offer a full list of ingredients on their packaging? As it turns out, laundry detergents have lots of misleading claims (ahem ... marketing gimmicks) designed to confuse consumers. On today's episode we're breaking down everything you need to know about detergent so you can make informed purchasing decisions moving forward.  Here's a preview: [2:00] Pricing discrepancies: Do eco-friendly laundry detergents always cost more? [6:15] Breaking down the 5 biggest environmental concerns associated with laundry detergent [9:15] Everything you need to know about Polyvinyl Alcohol (I'm looking at you, pods and sheets) [18:00] How to find a laundry detergent that's actually non-toxic [22:00] Stephanie's detergent-buying grading rubric for informed purchasing decisions Resources mentioned: Episode #277: All-Things Eggs Episode #294: A Better Trash Bag Tandi's Naturals Degradation of Polyvinyl Alcohol in US Wastewater Treatment Plants and Subsequent Nationwide Emission Estimate (via the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health) MamaSuds dryer ball Fit Organic stain remover Kind Laundry Episode #279: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Our Sponsors: * Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Let's face it: Impulse buys are fun in the moment. But what feels good in the short-term doesn't always jive with our long-term goals and quick decisions may not align with our core values. If you regularly buy on impulse, you're not alone. According to Shopify, over 87% of US shoppers make impulse buys and more than 50% of all grocery items are sold because of impulsiveness. Enter Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni, co-hosts of the Frugal Friends podcast. Jen and Jill argue that frugality at its roots means preserving all kinds of resources and they're on the show to help you uncover the emotion beneath impulse buys. Here's a preview: [6:30] The 'cheap' stigma: Reframing frugality from an undesirable trait to a positive one [11:00] What has to happen before you tackle your impulsive spending habit [18:00] When impulse spending is triggered by emotion [24:00] Buying and belonging: How to reign in comparison-related purchases [31:00] The 'both, and' approach: Holding the tension Resources mentioned: James Clear's Habit Loop Frugal Friends Podcast Want more episodes like this one? Check out # 258: Conscious Spending -- * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. * Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Our Sponsors: * Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

How to live a life of moderation with regard to interpersonal communication, spending, emotions, and home issues.

The World Wildlife Fund's Living Planet Report is a checkup on the health of Earth, and this year’s report is the most comprehensive yet. Spoiler alert: its findings aren't good. But all's not doom and gloom: Enter the Rescue Effect, a perspective that believes there’s a lot to be optimistic about.  On this episode I’m excited to bring you two contrasting viewpoints to the biodiversity problem. First I speak with Brent Loken, Global Food Lead Scientist for the World Wildlife Fund; in the second part of today's show I speak with conservation expert Michael Mehta Webster about his new book, The Rescue Effect.  -- Here's a preview: [2:30] An overview of the major findings from WWF's 2022 Living Planet Index [6:00] What's going on in the tropics? [19:00] The rescue effect in practice [21:00] If nature has an inherent ability to persist, why do species go extinct? [27:00] Can the rescue effect ensure the survival of human beings amidst the next great mass extinction event? [33:00] How we can help give species a leg up, according to conservation experts -- Resources mentioned: 2022 Living Planet Index (via the World Wildlife Fund) The Rescue Effect: The Key To Saving Life On Earth Our Sponsors: * Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

6 steps to slowly unsubscribe from a life of overwork.

Your favorite smartphone apps, your preferred weather forecaster, your go-to photo sharing app, and other seemingly benign technologies likely reveal details about your life to companies looking to collect consumer data. They're eager to gather thousands of data points on each and every one of us every single day because more data means better accuracy for algorithms seeking to predict human behavior. Data gathering can affect our lives in ways we can’t currently anticipate. But what about conscious consumerism? If companies can accurately predict our purchasing behavior - and if they're putting *perfectly* curated advertisements in front of us over and over again - do we minimalists stand a fighting chance? October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month (who knew?!). While keeping your personal information safe online can seem overwhelming there are simple ways to both protect your data and trick the algorithms. Amira Dhalla is on the show today to offer a blueprint about how you can be cyber smart-er. Here's a preview: [2:00] Beware of these  'deceptive patterns' that trick us into giving away extra personal information [10:00] The principles of threat monitoring applied to online privacy: Are quick-win benefits worth potential long-term risks? [12:30] Why you shouldn't automatically "Accept All Cookies" (online cookies aren't all that tasty!) [17:00] 5 privacy quick fixes you can enact in 5 minutes or less [28:00] Thoughts on practicing an ounce of prevention Resources mentioned: Firefox browser DuckDuck Go search engine securityplanner.org 30-Second Privacy Fixes: Simple Ways to Protect Your Data (via Consumer Reports) -- * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube. * Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. -- Thank you to our sponsors! Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for your $60 free gift. Nutrafol: get free shipping and $15 off with promo code SUSTAINABLE. Our Sponsors: * Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

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

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

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

How to repurpose common household items for organization.

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

How to align your responses with who you'd like to be as a means of living a more intentional life.

How to pack low-waste lunches and snacks that are light on packaging waste and heavy on nutrients.

Do closed loop products solve the packaging problem, or does our problem lie within our consumption habits themselves?

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

How to loosen our grips on the past, embrace changes in both our lives and in ourselves, and let go of our need to hold onto what was.

How to raise children to take care of their possessions without overvaluing them.

How to identify and heal from your own clutter block.

How to enhance your wellbeing by focusing on 3 research-backed intangibles.

3 steps to abandoning short-termism in favor of longpath thinking, which fulfills our moral obligations to generations that come next.

Everything the gas industry doesn't want you to know about natural gas, plus 5 reasons why it's time to end our love affair with our gas stoves.

Gendered children's fashion is a 20th century invention. Here's how to shop smart for kids' clothes.

Do consumers have a right to know and, if so, do we truly *want* to know? What lessons can we learn from California, and how can environmentalists both push for policy change and avoid the pitfalls associated with Prop 65?