The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast

Why biodiversity is important   Biodiversity is the result of billions of years of evolution into an intricate balancing act that can best be described as the web of life. When one species is lost, such loss threatens survival of countless others. This week I speak with Christianne Close, Global Practice Leader at the World Wildlife Fund. We discuss WWF’s Living Planet Index, a new report that puts numbers behind the rapid and unprecedented rates of population loss across the... Read More Read More The post Biodiversity is Declining. Here’s Why that’s Important appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

How to Become a Minimalist this School Year   I’ve always harbored mixed feelings about September. On one hand, it’s the end of summer (boo). But on the other, September ushers in both a literal and a figurative change in the air. Our kids head back to school, and there’s the opportunity to re-introduce routines after months of laid-back living. September is the perfect opportunity to both recenter and become a minimalist with intentional choices. And while January is often... Read More Read More The post Challenge Alert! Become a Minimalist this September appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Ethical Alternatives to Amazon   Shoppers adore Amazon, and it’s all thanks to convenience and price: The site’s Subscribe & Save feature lowers already quite low prices. And ultra-speedy shipping and responsive customer service? Many consumers have come to expect such heightened levels of convenience when shopping online. But Amazon has been in the news an awful lot in the past 5 years, and for less than stellar reasons. A growing subset of shoppers seek ethical online alternatives because Amazon... Read More Read More The post Ethical Alternatives to Amazon (and How to Support Them) appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Self Sufficiency Spotlight: Microgreens   [A Note from Stephanie: This episode is the first in a series that highlights attainable steps toward self-sufficiency. Once per month through December, the series offers a short and sweet interview to introduce you to an aspect of sustainability you may not have considered before. I hope the series will inspire you to adopt a fun, new hobby that also happens to be eco-friendly!]   Chances are you’ve heard of microgreens before (or perhaps noticed restaurants tout... Read More Read More The post Self Sufficiency Spotlight: Microgreens appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Americans are obsessed with lawns. In a perfect world, your grass is vibrant green. There’s nary a weed, and there are certainly no dandelions. It’s lush and neatly edged; yard care consists of trimming to exactly an inch and a half tall. But in order to achieve this idyllic lawn, you must be willing to shell out either money or time, despite the fact that there are other things you’d likely rather spend your money on and other things you’d... Read More Read More The post 10 Eco-Friendly Yard Care Rules appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

5 Facts About the Global Water Crisis   Ever wonder how many gallons it takes to flush your toilet? (Answer: 3.5.) Did you know that 55 gallons of water are required to grow the beans for a single cup of coffee? Today’s show is dedicated to our most important—and our most overlooked—resource: Water. Despite easy access from faucets and showers, access to clean water is a privilege. Water scarcity is driven by two phenomena happening at once: Humans are using more... Read More Read More The post 5 Facts About the Global Water Crisis appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

How to Declutter Your Home without Trashing the Planet   Many minimalist influencers trademark decluttering plans to show you how, exactly, to declutter your home. The most well-known? Marie Kondo’s Konmari method, of course. But what if you desire to declutter without sending items that no longer “spark joy” to the landfill? And while possessions that are broken or obsolete will inevitably be trashed, sustainable minimalists work tirelessly to send as little to the landfill as possible throughout the duration of... Read More Read More The post How to Declutter Your Home without Trashing the Planet appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

5 New Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Waste   Plastic waste is everywhere, am I right? (Hey there, plastic-wrapped cucumber!). If you’ve ever looked around and wondered why on Earth everything is wrapped in plastic—and if you’ve wondered whether such overreliance on a single-use product derived from fossil fuels is completely contradictory to common sense—you aren’t alone. Here’s the answer. Because plastic production requires fossil fuels, fossil fuel companies are investing billions of dollars into new plastic production facilities (source).... Read More Read More The post 5 New Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Waste appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Minimalist Parenting Guidance for Raising Good Humans   Parenting is hard; parenting during a pandemic is even harder. Still, guidance experts argue that raising children with both sanity and joy is possible. If you feel like you’re always on—and if you’re utterly exhausted—know that it’s A-OK to be minimalist in your parenting strategy, because doing less fosters resilience. My guest this week is nationally renowned parenting expert and mentor Sue Groner. Sue is on the show to discern what kids actually... Read More Read More The post Raising Good Humans with Minimalist Parenting Guidance appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

How to Buy Nothing By Joining a Gift Economy   Have you ever heard the popular saying, “Nothing in life is free”? Thanks to Buy Nothing groups, this platitude isn’t *exactly* true. Gifting has been around for almost as long as humans, and such economies rely on relationships—not personal gain—to spread love and share resources. And although market economies have pushed gifting aside in recent centuries, gifting is making a comeback in a big way. The benefits of Buy Nothing groups... Read More Read More The post How to Buy Nothing By Embracing the Gift Economy appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Advanced Simple Living Tips for Seasoned Minimalists   Simple living is a lifestyle that refuses to accept busy and harried as normal. Instead, intentionality is about removing unnecessary conflicts, excessive to-do items, and pointless distractions as a means of experiencing all life has to offer. But if you Google “how to live slow” (or some facsimile thereof), you will likely see the same strategies touted over and over: Turn your phone off. Walk in nature. Read. And while these strategies offer solid starting... Read More Read More The post Advanced Simple Living Tips for Seasoned Minimalists appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

  5 Facts Carbon Footprint Facts You Likely Didn’t Know   Carbon footprints are confusing. What’s a carbon footprint, exactly, and how is yours related to climate change? Carbon footprints are a handy-dandy metric that makes clear how severely your lifestyle impacts the planet.  Your diet, travel habits, and your home’s cooling and heating practices are just some lifestyle considerations that may increase (or decrease!) your unique footprint. If you live in the United States or another developed country, your... Read More Read More The post 5 Carbon Footprint Facts You Likely Didn’t Know appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

  Eco-Conscious Gifts for New Parents (That Are Actually Helpful)   Are you always on the hunt for gifts for new parents, but often feel as though you’re coming up short? OR do you plan to become a new parent someday but find it difficult – if not downright impossible – to distinguish true needs amidst all the hype? It’s time to discern new baby Must-Haves from Don’t-Needs, once and for all. On this week’s episode, I’m thrilled to replace... Read More Read More The post Eco-Conscious Gifts for New Parents (That Are Actually Helpful) appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

How to Simplify (and Green-ify!) Housework   Laundry, dishes, and general home cleaning: Mundane housework got you down? Sustainable minimalism is about doing less and living more. The good news? It’s entirely possible to apply the tenets of sustainable minimalism to housework by simplifying tasks, minimizing magnitude and -finally! – incorporating incremental eco-friendliness to our efforts. On this week’s episode, I offer dozens of tips and tricks to simplify (and green-ify!) our laundry, dishes, and general housework routines so that you... Read More Read More The post Housework Woes: How to Simplify (& Green-ify!) Common Chores appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

How to Save Money Like a Minimalist   The minimalist lifestyle often centers itself around possessions. Yet how we spend our money – what we choose to buy and how long we must work to make purchases – matters, as the tenets of minimalism uniquely lend themselves to finances. Indeed, simplified money matters can reduce stress, contribute to savings goals, and increase free time. On today’s show I speak with Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), author, and fellow minimalist Dawn Starks.... Read More Read More The post How to Save Money Like A Minimalist appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Environmental racism occurs every day and all over the globe. Worse, it rarely receives the media attention it deserves. In the United States, African Americans are more likely to live near toxic waste facilities and breathe polluted air. Their communities are less likely to receive adequate protection to prevent disasters and – when disasters do occur – they are less likely to receive an immediate, comprehensive response. We don’t have to look far to find instances of environmental racism all over... Read More Read More The post 5 Ways to Stand Up to Environmental Racism appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

COVID-19 has forced many of us to look critically at consumerist culture for perhaps the first time. If you don’t like what you see, you aren’t alone. Although anti-consumerism is countercultural, it isn’t uncommon. Proponents argue that breaking free from the purchasing hamster wheel ushers in financial freedom; it provides clarity around what’s *actually* important, too. My guest this week is Aleah Mohammed. Aleah had an ‘a-ha’ moment as she took out the trash; she committed herself to a no-new-purchases... Read More Read More The post 3 Steps to Becoming an Anti-Consumer appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

  Summer is all about living the simple life, with extended bedtimes, spur-of-the-moment jaunts, and a general commitment to squeezing out every last frills-free moment in the sunshine. But thanks to unnecessary purchases, chemical-laden sunscreen and bug repellent, and unsustainable vacations that create excessive carbon emissions, our summer celebrations may harm the planet. The good news is it’s entirely possible to enjoy a simple and eco-friendly summer. On this week’s episode we are discussing practical ways to tweak our summer... Read More Read More The post How Sustainable Minimalists Do Summer appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

The best online thrifting stores Prefer vintage? Love designer? If you have a distinct style – or if you simply prefer new clothes! – you may assume that thrifting couldn’t possibly be for you. But thanks to 5 of the best online thrifting stores, secondhand shopping makes thrifting for unique styles, shapes, and price ranges accessible for all of us. Corporations have fed us the false truth that new is best. Capitalist societies flourish when consumers constantly buy, but purchasing... Read More Read More The post How to Embrace Secondhand With The Best Online Thrifting Stores appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

5 Unique Ways to be Frugal Without Being Cheap   Pennypincher. Tightwad. Cheapskate. Under normal circumstances, public opinion tends to shun frugality. But frugality has been reborn, so to speak, thanks to the novel Coronavirus pandemic. Many are wasting less food and experimenting with gardening. Others are making conscious efforts to send less to the landfill by reusing, repurposing, and rethinking waste culture. Thrifty behaviors aren’t worthy of the side-eye anymore. Instead, the opposite is true: during a pandemic, frugality is smart. Thriftiness... Read More Read More The post 5 Ways to be Frugal Without Being Cheap appeared first on Sustainable Minimalists.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content