The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast

Parenthood is awash with immense pressure to do right by our kids. We are told that children need certain (expensive) experiences to 'get ahead', and many of us observe our parenting peers investing in countless extracurriculars. But children need downtime, and recent research suggests that children should experience twice as much unstructured time as structured enrichment.On today's show podcaster Kathryn Garland and I discuss how to find the structured, extracurricular sweet spot for your family.  Here's a preview:[4:30] Scheduling rule #1: Family First (not Kid First!)[15:00] When dabblers don't fit into a world of specializers[22:00] Musings on extracurriculars, the 'rat race' and getting ahead[26:00] Start with the end in mind (and other tips for finding the extracurriculars sweet spot)[31:00] Words of encouragement for leaning into the quiet and into the slow Resources mentioned: Don't Sign Your Child Up For That (Extra)Curricular Episode #478: Charting A Rich Life Homespun: Create The Life You Crave Po

‘Tis the season for back-to-school door busters, price slashes, and closeouts. On today’s re-air: How to reduce clutter, save money, and help the planet by shopping for back-to-school with greater intention. Here's a preview:[6:00] Let’s pull back the curtain on back-to-school marketing, shall we?[11:00] Here’s what it actually means (and what it actually looks like!) to shop your own home[18:30] Revisiting the kids’ capsule conversation[26:00] Thoughts on teacher wishlists (from a former teacher) Resources mentioned: Episode #391: Predictors Of Back To School Success Episode #006: The Ultimate Kids' Capsule Blueprint   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.

Welcome to Back To School Week 2024!In many homes, back to school season means back to packing lunchboxes. It's a stress-inducing chore, sure, as many parents find it difficult to think up new, creative lunch ideas that are actually healthy (and will actually get eaten!).On today's show registered dietician nutritionist Megan McNamee offers up her tried and true lunchbox formula; she also suggests simple lunch ideas that will make prepping lunches a breeze.Stay tuned for Thursday's Back To School episode about acquiring school supplies, clothes, and gear like a sustainable minimalist.  Here's a preview:[4:00] Is there anything "wrong" with school lunches?[8:00] Pack when your kitchen is open! (And other practical ways to make lunchbox packing easier)[13:00] Add balance and variety by following Megan's Lunch Formula[20:00] Lunchbox ideas you've never heard of before[26:00] Must lunchboxes have a dessert?[33:00] How to best use after school snack time as a sneaky way to supplement your child's diet Resources me

Scientists have found unsettling details about the potential health risks of common household cleaning products. And yet Big Cleaning capitalizes on fear of germs, bacteria, and disease to sell us home cleansers with traditional chemical compounds on the regular.It behooves us to ask ourselves whether the ways things have always been done align with our own values. On today's show Zac Kieffer argues it's high-time we redefine what it means to clean. Here's a preview:[3:00] Three reasons why it's important to perpetually question the way we clean and disinfect[8:00] Are you disinfecting correctly? (Answer: Probably not.)[16:00] Ammonia! 2-Butoxyethanol! BACs! Here's what cleaning companies don't want you to know about the (very powerful) chemical compounds in traditional cleansers[21:00] Big Cleaning and fear-based marketing[28:00] Does microfiber = microplastics? Resources mentioned: Episode #417: How To Buy Soap  E-Cloth (Minimalists15 for 15% off site-wide) Cleaning Products Emit Hundreds of Hazardous Che

If you're like me, you're likely dealing with constant, low-grade clutter situations, and that's because once a purchase is made, the item is ours to maintain, manage, and store. Sadly, consumerism never talks about the negative wellness effects of buying (I'm looking at you, cortisol!).If clutter keeps piling up despite your best efforts, my guest today argues that it's time to dig deeper. Not deeper into the piles, of course. Deeper into yourSELF.On today's show professional organizer Jenny Albertini argues that decluttering is an act of self-care; it can also become a habit that enhances wellness. Put this episode on while you tackle an oft-forgotten space in your home and get to work! Here's a preview:[4:00] Why do we clutter?[5:30] Breaking down the bidirectional exchange between clutter and wellness[12:00] Our personal thresholds for clutter tolerance ebb and flow throughout life (and that's totally normal)[24:00] Tangible ways to stop the many clutter streams coming into our homes[27:00] Thoughts on ri

In our hyper-capitalist society, it's often implied that the only things worth savoring are the really fancy, really shiny, really new, and really exotic. Let's push back against that narrative by finding the glimmers, also known as those simple moments of pleasure that pop up during our days.We minimalists already know that it's in the small things that beauty lies. On today's show: Research-backed ways to spot life's glimmers and reap the most joy possible from every instance. Here's a preview:[8:00] Glimmers are all around us all the time. Are you paying attention?[16:00] Savoring offers many wellness benefits. One of them? It's an active way to fight back against our innate negativity bias[26:00] Introducing savoring's evil cousin, dampening (plus: how to stop it right this second)[32:00] Add in some effort! Determine a glimmer in your life and get optimizing[37:00] Downtime is a necessary part of life (it's also a time when we are most available to catch the glimmers)[42:00] Say it loud and say it proud!

We talk an awful lot about "climate science" and "what climate scientists predict" on this podcast. Today, I'm talking to one of them. What exactly are the next 100 years likely going to look like for humans? What needs to happen for the US to mobilize for real? On today's show: A conversation with Michael Barnard about climate solutions, with an emphasis on that pesky air conditioning problem.  Here's a preview:[9:00] When it comes to cooling the planet, here's why my guest is "cautiously optimistic" despite the impending "ugly process"[14:00] Why climate change must first become impossible to ignore[20:00] The hotter it gets, the cooler we need our homes to be. And yet cooling our homes demands energy, which heats the planet more[27:00] Do we need to worry about mass electric grid failures in summer months?[32:00] Exactly why heat pumps are our collective heating and cooling future Resources mentioned: The New Climate War: The Fight To Take Back Our Planet (by Michael E. Mann) Proven Climate Solutions: Lea

When it comes to environmental concerns, there's certainly plenty to worry about at the moment. Whether you and your family is eating microplastics on the regular may not be your list of top concerns.But it’s an important topic to cover. While the health effects of microplastics on humans are not fully understood, common sense measures that reduce our exposures to both the plastic itself and also the endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are on and in such particles are certainly prudent. On today's show: How to eat, drink, and inhale fewer microplastics as you go about your days. Here's a preview:[6:00] Synthesizing the latest research into the effects of microplastics on human health[11:00] Stop eating microplastics! 3 practical action steps in the kitchen[27:00] Inhalation and absorption matters: Why vacuuming and dusting helps[35:00] 3 (super easy) ways to reduce your plastics exposure when you're out and about Resources mentioned: Episode #393: Single-Use Poison Episode #466: Toxic Fashion E-Cloth Numi Tea

In 1901, American families spent 20% of their income on non-necessities.  But 123 years later? These days that figure has risen to 50%. Many of us spend hard-earned money in hopes of acquiring things that money can't buy, and the result? Nearly 3 and 4 of Americans identify finances as a top stressor in their lives.Marketers have created consumer desire, sure, but it's entirely possible to spend in alignment with your values. In a world of disposable incomes, global warming, and far too much cortisol, we need values-based spending now more than ever, because spending on your core values benefits your wallet, your sanity, and the planet all at once.On today's show author Jill Sirianni encourages us to drill down our core values so we spend less, save more, and recenter our lives around what's actually important. Here's a preview:[8:30] The Number One reason not to buy to solve your problems (It rarely works!)[15:00] Faith, Family, Friends, and Fulfilling work: Identifying core values and the Four Fs[18:00] It'

Once upon a time (oh, about 175 years ago) we were epic creators. Human hands made things, grew things, built things, and even invented things on the regular. But these days? By and large, we identify as consumers, and our hands are mostly used for typing and swiping.And yet, when we consume too much, many of us experience stress, anxiety, and depression. We know it because we're living it: Our possessions can possess us. If we create more, we may very likely consume less. On today's show: Moving the needle of contentment away from over-consumption back to self-sufficiency by highlighting what research has to say about the wellness benefits associated with using our hands to create. Here's a preview:[4:30] Exactly when and how did we lost our collective abilities to create (Here's lookin' at you, mail-order catalog)[9:30] Our hands are marvels. Marvels, I say![15:00] Crafting is good for you, so pick up those knitting needles, woodworking tools, or art supplies[20:00] In defense of active leisure (and I do me

Tomatoes, green beans, peaches, and so much more: Our great-grandmas knew a thing or two about food preservation, and yet these days few of us can. It's a time- and labor-intensive practice, sure. But it's also a self-sufficient life skill. Whether you grow some or all of your own food or seek out bargains at the store and farmers' market, canning the season's bounty means you'll be eating well all year round. You'll also be participating in a nearly waste-free practice (no plastic to see here!). Back to our great-grandmas for a hot minute: They infused love in every jar, and so can you. On today's show author Sarah Thrush invites us to go back to food preservation basics with advice on how to integrate canning into a self-sufficient, money-saving, and sustainable lifestyle. Here's a preview:[10:00] Say it loud, say it proud: There's no self-sufficiency without community![15:00] The #1 Rule of canning, plus: why it's super important to start small[19:0o] The One Week, One Month, One Year principle: Here's exa

Does it sometimes feel as though the passive act of being alive is too expensive and too difficult? You're not alone: Many scholars argue that late stage capitalism is what happens when everything (literally everything!) is commodified. Existing feels unnecessarily hard, too.There IS good news: Surviving (and perhaps even thriving!) in a late stage capitalist society is possible. On today's show Laura Oldanie shows us exactly how to sur-thrive, with 6 actionable steps. Here's a preview of the strategies we're discussing today:[15:00] Pay attention to when and how you're influenced[17:00] Think of yourself less as a consumer and more as producer[21:00] Use your attention capital wisely[27:00] Embrace different forms of currency (free time, perhaps?)[35:00] Reduce unnecessary consumption and get off that capitalist hamster wheel, for good Resources mentioned: Join us for Book Club! We are super fun, I promise! Digital Minimalism (by Cal Newport) https://timebanks.org Episode #211 Redefining Wealth (with Shann

Despite our massive financial and material gains, happiness in the US has been in a consistent state of decline since at least the 1940s.The research is clear: Materialism is toxic to human happiness. On today's show author Jeff Golden suggests practical ways to nourish in our lives the things that can help us live well (while simultaneously avoiding the hooks of money and stuff). Here's a preview:[5:30] We live amidst unimaginable wealth, yet we are unhappier than ever before. Here's why[10:00] Materialism is toxic to happiness, and not for the reasons you think[16:00] Exactly why you should choose your neighborhood wisely[22:00] Want to be happier? Don't put your effort into amassing stuff; put it here instead[30:00] Are we overly concerned about owning stuff so that we don't have to face our internal lacks?  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 @sustainableminimalis

For so many of us, day in and day out home maintenance feels like a gigantic weight on our shoulders. And because conventional gender roles pervade, matters of the home often continue to be one (wo)man's burden.Decluttering, tidying, organizing, and cleaning, oh my! On today's show: A conversation with professional organizer Sona Avetisyan about getting our partners and our children to pitch in. Here's a preview:[5:00] What is it about clutter that's so triggering for women?[10:00] Status quo fallback prevention 101[13:00] Sick of nagging? Here's what works when I need my kids to help the heck out[18:00] Let's talk partners! Musings on what to do when your partner can't/won't pitch in[28:00] In defense of bringing playfulness back into our closest relationships (It's not that deep!)  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! MamaMinimalist

When we buy something, it's not necessarily about the *thing*. Oftentimes we are buying into a story about ourselves; namely, what we simply must fix as we seek to get one step closer to our aspirational, in-a-perfect-world self.Important truth time: You are not a perpetual self-improvement project, and no product can fix what was never broken in the first place. On today's show: A conversation with author Cait Flanders about why she broke up with self-help content and flaws-first marketing messages (and why, too, she never looked back). Here's a preview:[5:00] Buying stuff to escape your feelings? (Me too.)[10:00] The "there's something wrong with you" messaging starts in childhood, my friends[13:00] Where's the line between prioritizing self-growth versus living in that perpetually sad place of 'less than'?[20:00] Here's how your life may change if you stopped spending $$ on products to fix what you've been told is broken[26:00] Musings on letting go of our aspirational selves once and for all Resources men

Americans spend about 21 hours per day inside. On the whole, we are also more depressed and anxious than ever before.Many of us have been trained to seek out commodified services to unwind (I'm looking at you, #selfcare!). But what if a potential solution cost zero dollars and offered zero risk?On today's show: An invitation to welcome nature back into your life, with 5.5 novel suggestions that are backed by science. Here's a preview:[9:00] Walk barefoot! (Around your yard, at least)[14:00] Don't knock it 'til you've tried it, camping edition[20:00] We don't have to optimize every second. Here's how to wander like a boss in a wild space[26:00] Get your hands dirty[34:00] 2 hours per week outdoors offers a laundry list of benefits, so move your favorite activities outsideResources mentioned: Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit (by Lyanda Lynn Haupt) Why Gardening Is So Good for You (via The New York Times) Episode #465: Optimizing Your Walks (with Annabel Abbs) Cornell Lab bird app

Hyper-capitalism — also called late-stage capitalism — is what happens when material resources, lifestyle activities, and everything in between becomes both commodified and consumable. In hyper-capitalistic economies, products get invented that no one needs or wants. Celebrities are revered like gods. Inequity is everywhere, and citizens internalize the idea that their worth is measured by some mysterious combination of career success and amassed material goods.Many argue that the United States has entered its hyper-capitalist era, as Americans report that the relentless demands of trying to keep up results in working longer hours, increasing loneliness, and lowered life satisfaction.On today's show: A conversation with New York Times bestselling author Kirsten Powers about the ways in which Americans are experiencing the effects of hyper-capitalism in real time. Here's a preview:[5:00] A laundry list of hyper-capitalism's consequences in 2024[11:00] Europe doesn't consume way America does. They're not as lon

There's plenty of distressing research into what smartphones are doing to adults' attention spans, focus, and memory. And on child/teen development? Emerging research is even more alarming. We are change makers, and change making means making difficult decisions, having difficult conversations, and going against the grain. On today's show: Why we need to (yet again!) rethink our approach to technology and delay the age at which we give our children access to smartphones. Here's a preview:[8:30] 57% of Americans report being "addicted" to their smartphones. Are you one of them? [11:30] Smartphone addiction isn't your fault! Here's exactly how social media keeps your attention so they make more $$[17:30] How to declutter your cell phone like a boss[26:00] What recent research says with regard to the impacts of smartphones on children's/teens' wellness[37:00] 5 reasons parents say they're pulled to give their child a smartphone, plus alternative solutions![43:00] Individual actions impact the collective. How to

Want to feel calmer and happier? You don't have to shell out hundreds of dollars for the newest wellness product or service. In fact, the solution doesn't cost a cent: simply get in touch with your breathing.Breath is an amazing and responsive teacher. That's because if we breathe as we live — take in and let go — we can't go wrong.On today's show: An invitation to meet yourself with author Jean Hall. Here's a preview:[5:00] The breath underpins everything we do in life, and yet we rarely bring awareness to it. Why not?[10:00] 5 wellness benefits re: paying attention to your breathing patterns[25:00] Exploring the pause changes everything[29:00] Flowing with the breath is great practice for learning how to flow with life Resources mentioned: Breathe: Simple Breathing Techniques For A Calmer, Happier Life Jean 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 @sustain

From phone calls to blind dates to punctuation to civil discourse, the internet has changed every aspect of human life. While some losses are insignificant, the rise of the internet has also resulted in larger repercussions, like shorter attention spans, a collective inability to sit in solitude, and the the utter demolition of personal privacy.On today's show: A conversation with author and New York Times columnist Pamela Paul about the ways in which the internet has fundamentally changed human existence. Here's a preview:[8:00] Do humans need to experience boredom once in awhile? (Absolutely yes, and here's why)[14:00] Not-so-thanks to the internet, the past no longer stays in the past[20:00] The hive mind and queen bees: Does the internet hamper independent thought?[27:00] Parenting implications associated with the loss of the kitchen landline[35:00] Ruminating on the disappearance of the phone call Resource mentioned:100 Things We've Lost to the Internet  This show is listener-supported. Thank you for sup