Sustainable Minimalists
Creating eco-minimalist, non-toxic homes (without the extra work). Although minimalism has experienced a rebirth in recent years, the "less is more" movement has been around for centuries. Yet today's minimalist influencers have resurrected minimalism with a decidedly consumerist spin, as modern minimalism is nearly synonymous with decluttering. While there's a lot of chatter about tidying, it's radio silence and crickets when it comes to sustainability. The result? Aspiring minimalists find themselves on an endless hamster wheel of buying, decluttering, buying more, and purging again. Overemphasizing decluttering and underemphasizing the reasons why we overbuy in the first place is thoroughly inconsistent with slow living as a movement; consumption without intention is terrible for the planet, too. Your host, Stephanie Seferian, is a stay-at-home/podcast-from-home mom and author who believes that minimalism, eco-friendliness, and non-toxic living are intrinsically intertwined. She's here to explore the topics of conscious consumerism, sustainability, and environmentally-friendly parenting practices with like-minded women; she's here, too, to show you how to curate eco-friendly, decluttered homes (without the extra work).
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Responsible Family Vacations
26 min
302
Subscription Services
Many of us signed up for entertainment (streaming television! date night in a box!) and regular home delivery of essentials (toothbrushes! groceries! toilet paper!) at the start of the pandemic. If you’re like me,
22 min
303
Evergreen Rooms
Home decor is a lot like fashion: the second we invest in a new piece of furniture or a new decor item, the catalogs and showrooms push a new trend. The items we just bought, then? They’re suddenly out of style.
27 min
304
Made In China
We want new things and we want them now. Our spending habits put brands on perpetual searches for ways to shorten the time between design, manufacturing, and distribution, and China has stepped up with the technology and the supply chains to meet our n...
27 min
305
Mental Minimalism
While minimalism may sometimes seem trendy, the reality is that the lifestyle has been around for centuries. Indeed, ancient philosophies touted the importance of Less Is More living as a means of finding inner peace amidst frenetic daily life.
26 min
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Forever Chemicals
When carbon and fluorine fuse together they create a virtually unbreakable compound. These days, such per- and polyfluoroalkyl (or PFAS) substances are widely used in thousands of products from food packaging to clothing, carpets, and more.
23 min
307
How to Use A Safety Razor
It’s no secret that plastic razors are meant to be used a handful of times and then thrown in the garbage. As with any disposable product, if we continue buying them, companies will continue making them. Enter the alternative: safety razors.
20 min
308
No Mow May
In my corner of the world trees are budding and flowers are blooming. But leaf blowers are also blowing, and it’s nearly time for that first grass cutting. Enter No Mow May. Lawns that aren’t exactly pristine may indeed get your neighbors’ side-eyes,
14 min
309
Minimalist Master Bedrooms
Our master bedrooms *should* be our sanctuaries. While they’re the singular space we retreat to for rest, relaxation, and recharging, all too often our master bedrooms become like any other room in our homes: havens for clutter.
28 min
310
The White Gold Rush
Lithium is so much more than the name of a (very) famous Nirvana song. Lithium is a metal affectionately known as white gold, and it’s having a moment. On today’s show we are examining the environmental implications associated with our growing lithium ...
26 min
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The Best Things Are Free: Rich Conversations
What’s better than deep and meaningful connections with those we love? Join me today for this third and final episode in our What’s Best In Life Is Free series as we discuss this importance of rich conversations.
27 min
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Conscious Spending
“I’m stuck between trying to spend as little money as possible while also buying sustainable, timeless items from eco-conscious companies (which often inherently cost more). Even though I’m buying fewer items and using my money more intentionally,
28 min
313
Spring Cleaning For Home, Head and Heart
The origins of spring cleaning date back to times when homes were heated by fires: spring, then, offered an opportunity to sweep out the soot and grime that accumulated throughout the long winter. These days,
16 min
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The Best Things Are Free: Sleep
People who get great sleep get sick less often. They also think more clearly and are better able to maintain a healthy weight. Still, approximately 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control an...
29 min
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The Best Things Are Free: Story Time
The best things in life are free, or so they say. And for moms and dads everywhere, one of the most enjoyable (and free!) aspects of parenting is story time. With this episode the podcast kicks off a new, limited series that dives deeper into the best ...
22 min
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Managing Just In Case Clutter
We all do it: We keep items around “just in case” we need them in the future. And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with holding onto things you’ll definitely use again, there’s a threshold in which just in case clutter gets to be too much and goes...
30 min
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Everything Eco-Minimalist Birthdays
Want to throw a birthday party for your child that’s light on waste but heavy on fun? Does a present-light party intrigue you but you aren’t sure how to pull it off? Today I’m answering listener Gretchen’s question about how eco-minimalists do kids’ bi...
29 min
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What’s Good For Us Is Also Free
Despite all the advances in modern medicine and despite all the good advice (ahem … diet and exercise), chronic disease and obesity rates are rising. While there are indeed many reasons, two of them include the reality that products of convenience have...
33 min
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Getting Your Partner On Board
“How do you get family members on board with minimalism? I’ve heard from so many of my friends and family about how they would love to embrace minimalism, but their partners don’t want to. It seems to create a lot of animosity in relationships … What a...
19 min
320
How To Find Quality Clothes
If you’ve been listening to this podcast for a while, you’re likely well-versed in the benefits of slow fashion. But where do you find clothes worthy of keeping for the long haul, and what specifically should you be looking for when shopping?
28 min
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Build Back Better?
When it comes to our future, climate scientists paint vastly different projections than politicians. (Think: extreme weather events, toxic air, entire nations under water, and major humanitarian conflicts over food and water.
21 min
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Reducing Home Toxins (Without Spending $$)
Too often, conversations about reducing home toxins center themselves around replacement: Get rid of your mattress and buy a new one. Toss your plastic Tupperware and replace with glass. And that plastic shower curtain liner? It has got to go.
28 min
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Ugly Fruit, Misshapen Veggies
Food waste is clearly an environmental problem: In the United States alone, Americans throw away approximately 63 million tons of food each year. Enter the ugly produce market. For-profit companies selling misshapen fruits and vegetables argue that the...
19 min
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Keep The Memories, Lose The Stuff
Your boxes of photos, family’s china, and even your kids’ height charts aren’t just stuff. These items are attached to a lifetime of memories, and letting them go can be scary. The reality is that people don’t miss stuff.
28 min
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Just Let It Go
Decluttering is liberating, and letting go of items that no longer serve us creates space to breathe and grow. If we experience benefits from decluttering physical stuff, it stands to reason, then, that we can experience similar if not greater well-bei...
15 min