These days, durable and long-lasting products often seem like elusive unicorns. But they do exist, and finding them is a 2-step process. First, it's imperative that we check our collective predisposition for disposability at the curb. Second, we must learn insider tricks for discerning the buy-for-life products from the cheap junk that lines store shelves. Enter Buy Just Once Week! On today's show sustainability educator Sophie Jungbauer suggests practical ways for adopting our grandmoth...
Sep 05, 2023•39 min•Ep 399•Transcript available on Metacast The enviro-news you need to know about for Friday, September 1 2023: [00:30] What you need to know about the new deal between Shein and Forever 21 [4:30] China says Japan's seafood is unsafe. What does science say? [11:00] 3 cheers for windsails made especially for cargo ships [13:30] Renewable propane is here (!!) Resources mentioned: Nullker.com Join our (free!) community here . Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube . Email me and say hello! MamaMini...
Sep 01, 2023•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Yes, clutter is always going to accumulate. But there are ways to prevent at least some of it from entering our homes, and we're chatting about 3 of those ways today. Here's a preview: [2:00] Our decluttering challenge wrap-up [10:00] Browse, don't buy! [16:30] Rocks, pebbles, and your personal Chuck It List [25:30] Contentment is being satisfied with what you have. Enter the Don't Want List Resources mentioned: Episode #376: When Everything's A Favorite Episode #397: What Or...
Aug 31, 2023•31 min•Ep 398•Transcript available on Metacast People are naturally curious about the homes of professional organizers. On today's show author Shira Gill divulges 5 high-impact organizing tips straight from the mouths of fellow professional organizers. Here's a preview of the insider tricks we're discussing today: [10:30] Don't shop for a mansion if you live in a cottage! [16:00] Display what's beautiful; conceal what isn't [20:00] Ditch the product packaging for reduced visual clutter [23:00] When in doubt, decant [3...
Aug 29, 2023•38 min•Ep 397•Transcript available on Metacast The enviro-news you need to know about for Friday, August 25 2023: [00:30] What’s happening to South Florida’s coral reefs (and why you should care) [4:00] Don't call it a comeback: The golden lion tamarin's rebound [6:00] The richest Americans account for 40% of US emissions, but not for the reasons you may expect [11:00] The connection between air pollution and the silent pandemic, a.k.a. antibiotic resistance Join our (free!) community here . Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists a...
Aug 25, 2023•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 li...
Aug 24, 2023•41 min•Ep 396•Transcript available on Metacast Spend more money than necessary on non-essential upgrades? You're not alone. Lifestyle creep is often related to status, and its prevalence may indeed be bolstered by a perceived sense of lack. On today's show financial educator Kara Perez offers her best tips for combatting unintentional lifestyle creep in the day-to-day. Here’s a preview: [3:00] When Latte Factors and Treat Yo’self! intersect: At what point do treats become lifestyle inflation? [9:00] The Number One question to ask if ...
Aug 22, 2023•35 min•Ep 395•Transcript available on Metacast The era of climate litigation is here, my friends. Today's episode breaks down 3 enviro-lawsuits happening right now: [02:00] Held v. State of Montana and a big win for environmentalists this week [7:30] Attorney Missy Sims is a-comin' for Big Oil [12:30] $1.5B in damages: An Oregon county's lawsuit against fossil fuel big wigs Join our (free!) community here . Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube . Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston...
Aug 18, 2023•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast The US pharmaceutical industry is unique in that it markets directly to consumers (hey there, Zoloft commercial!) . Through such direct-to-consumer marketing we have been spoon-fed the notion that every hint of a symptom requires a drug. The result? Americans take more prescription medications today than at any other time in recent history. On today's show we uncover the pharmaceutical industry's influence over the FDA and over consumers. Here's a preview: [2:30] Do Americans take mo...
Aug 17, 2023•25 min•Ep 394•Transcript available on Metacast We're surrounded by plastics everywhere, all the time. And single-use plastics? They're not only creating a pollution crisis; they are contributing to the climate crisis as well. Microplastics in particular are a cocktail of toxicity, containing at least 10,000 different chemicals, many of which are linked to diseases including diabetes and cancer. And yet more plastic waste is being produced than ever before. On today's show journalist Matt Simon offers real, actionable solutions to...
Aug 15, 2023•32 min•Ep 393•Transcript available on Metacast The enviro-news you need to know for Friday August 11, 2023: [00:45] Roads made of plastic waste? [3:30] The Barbie hoax (and Mattel's response) [9:30] The fire whirl: Breaking down this weather phenomenon [12:00] Tracking rising ocean temperatures around the world Resources mentioned: The Barbie hoax (via Barbie Liberation Organization) Photo of a fire whirl (via MSN) Video of a fire whirl (via CBS News) Join our (free!) community here . Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Faceb...
Aug 11, 2023•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast 'Tis the season for back-to-school door busters, price slashes, and closeouts. On today's show we're discussing how to reduce clutter, save money, and help the planet by shopping for back-to-school with greater intention. Here's a preview: [2:30] Let's pull back the curtain on back-to-school marketing, shall we? [7:00] Here's what it actually means (and what it actually looks like!) to shop your own home [12:30] Revisiting the kids' capsule conversation [21:00] Though...
Aug 10, 2023•35 min•Ep 392•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to Back-To-School Week! In 2023, the average American family will spend $597 per child in anticipation of the upcoming school year. And while new school supplies and fresh outfits can definitely get our children into the school spirit, it's rest, nutrition, and routines that *actually* predict success. On today's show Dr. Rebecca Jackson offers research-backed ways to ensure our children head to school with the best possible foundation. Here's a preview: [2:30] A challenge am...
Aug 08, 2023•37 min•Ep 391•Transcript available on Metacast You love your pet; you also love the planet. Good news: How you feed, care for, and clean up after your dogs and cats have sizable impacts on our environment and ecosystems. On today's show: answering listener questions about all-things eco-conscious pets. Here's a preview of the pet-related questions we're answering today: [2:45] Should we transition our cats and dogs to plant-based diets? [7:00] Is PFAS in pet food bags? [10:30] What are the advantages and disadvantages of making o...
Aug 03, 2023•32 min•Ep 390•Transcript available on Metacast Brands are continuously making environmental and socially conscious claims. And while many consumers want to purchase from ethical brands, it's hard to know which brands are legit (versus which ones are faking). Enter the B Corp certification, which is the only 3rd-party logo that certifies a company's social and environmental ethics. Yes, the logo is certainly helpful for those of us who buy stuff, but it's bigger than that. Indeed, the B Corp's mere existence forces capitalism ...
Aug 01, 2023•39 min•Ep 389•Transcript available on Metacast The enviro-news you need to know for Friday July 28, 2023: [00:30] Native giraffes are reintroduced to the wild [2:45] A lithium mine in Nevada gets the green ahead (to the chagrin of environmentalists) [4:30] How to use empty office buildings for vertical farming (genius!) [10:00] Shein invited influencers on an all-expenses-paid trip and people are mad AF Resource mentioned: Episode #260: The White Gold Rush Join our (free!) community here . Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Face...
Jul 28, 2023•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast A new month is nearly here, and this means it's the perfect time to usher in the change of seasons with some legitimate decluttering. If you're ready to get serious about the clutter you accumulated this summer - and if you're motivated by a bit of healthy competition! - today's episode outlines the objective, the setup, and the rules of play for the 30-day minimalism challenge I'll be participating in starting August 1. I also offer up some tips to ensure success, and I so h...
Jul 27, 2023•26 min•Ep 326•Transcript available on Metacast It used to be pink for girls and blue for boys, but no longer. These days it's frills and plunging cuts for girls, angry dinosaurs and athletic fabrics for boys. And while gendered clothing often leads to more purchases for each child and thus generates excessive waste, there are other reasons to give fashion's gender bias the side-eye. Most concerning, of course, is its impacts on our children's development, self-expression, and self-esteem. On today's show Anastasia Vasilieva o...
Jul 25, 2023•30 min•Ep 387•Transcript available on Metacast The enviro-news you need to know for Friday July 21, 2023: [00:30] The Amazon's deforestation rate is (finally) declining! [2:45] The unintended consequences of droughts [4:30] Say it ain't so: Worms are invading the Arctic [10:00] The consequences of HGTV on everyday renovations 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 Equilibria! ...
Jul 21, 2023•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Prime Week has come and gone ... for now. And while there are countless questionable items you can indeed purchase on Amazon ( a mini hand squirrel, anyone? ), there are 6 very specific intangibles that simply cannot be bought. Not now, not ever. On today's show we apply the 6-Factor Model For Psychological Wellbeing to our lives for greater clarity around what actually sparks joy. Here's a preview: [4:00] Connections between the fashion and beauty industries and bandaids when it comes t...
Jul 20, 2023•26 min•Ep 386•Transcript available on Metacast Have a summer trip planned? You're not alone. For many, traveling has become more lifestyle than luxury: in the time it takes you to read this blurb over 2,000 people will have arrived in a foreign country and a quarter of a million dollars will have been spent by Americans abroad. Staycations are emerging in popularity as a hassle-free and environmentally friendly way to holiday. And if you need more convincing, today's conversation with podcaster Chris Christou outlines why being a bet...
Jul 18, 2023•35 min•Ep 385•Transcript available on Metacast The enviro-news you need to know for Friday July 14, 2023: [00:30] Flash floods 101 [3:30] An alternative to single-use plastic packaging is (almost) here! [9:00] 12 years later, Fukushima has an awful lot of wastewater. What should be done with it? [13:00] Introducing the Devil's Hole Pupfish 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 Eq...
Jul 14, 2023•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Spending time in nature is recreation; it's also restorative and preventative medicine. Enter forest bathing which, like yoga, has been around for centuries and is now gaining newfound popularity amongst those of us who are overexposed, overworked, and overscheduled. On today's show author Ben Page invites us to connect with nature - and ourselves - in a new way. Here's a preview: [5:00] Japan and shirin-yoku: The origins of modern forest bathing [9:00] Why bother? Here's a laund...
Jul 13, 2023•35 min•Ep 384•Transcript available on Metacast When it comes to reducing cell phone use, we've all heard the advice. Turn off notifications. Unfollow and unfriend. But this advice? It's stale. Shallow, even, because it does little to *actually* reduce time spent on screens. We often discuss gatekeeping our homes and the responsibility that comes with deciding what gets granted admittance. On today's show we identify what it means to be the gatekeeper of our peace by once and for all getting intentional with our tech. Here's a...
Jul 11, 2023•28 min•Ep 329•Transcript available on Metacast The enviro-news you need to know for Friday July 7, 2023: [00:45] The rise of livestream e-commerce in China [5:00] Is passive cooling the way of the future? [10:00] Are insects wildlife? Well, it depends on where you live [12:00] Wealth matters. So does population density Resources mentioned: Dow Cool Roof Energy Calculator Join our (free!) community here . Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube . Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Our...
Jul 07, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Spoiler alert: Disposable diapers are terrible for the planet. They account for about 2% of all landfill waste in the US; worse – because they're made of plastics – they decompose very, very slowly. Before their arrival on the commercial scene in the 1960s babies were fully potty trained by 18 months. But thanks to this "convenient" option, these days the average potty training age is 3 years. Andrea Olson is the voice behind the über popular method of bathroom training called elimin...
Jul 05, 2023•28 min•Ep 382•Transcript available on Metacast The (positive!) enviro-news you need to know for Friday June 30, 2023: [00:30] The latest re: nature's healing effects on human health & wellness [2:45] The planet gets a big win in Switzerland [4:00] 400 Panamanian golden frogs, 6 black-footed ferries, and a western lowland gorilla [9:00] What's living at the bottom of the ocean? (We don't know!) [12:00] The climate denying tide, it is a-changin' Join our (free!) community here . Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are ...
Jun 30, 2023•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast The world has a big fat carbon problem. There’s already too much of it in the atmosphere and – thanks to both our lifestyles and corporations' polluting, business-as-usual practices – we're emitting even more carbon into the atmosphere each and every second. Enter carbon capturing. Today in honor of Climate Optimism Week we are outlining the latest and greatest in the carbon capture game. Here's a preview: [2:00] A carbon capture primer: What it is, why we need it, and why trees are ...
Jun 29, 2023•22 min•Ep 381•Transcript available on Metacast When the climate narrative is all doom and gloom, many of us find it difficult to rally. It's the Snooze Button Effect in real-time: the barrage of "climate apocalypse" headlines lose their urgency, their potency. If you're desensitized to environmental news, know that you're not alone. Today I speak with angry-activist-turned-climate optimist Anne Therese Gennari about becoming more resilient and motivated when confronting the climate crisis – and why optimism is key when it...
Jun 27, 2023•36 min•Ep 380•Transcript available on Metacast The enviro-news you need to know for Friday June 13, 2023: [00:45] It's here my friends. We're living in the Fire Age [05:00] Cutting edge fire detection measures happening now [9:00] 5 steps to improving your indoor air quality [11:00] Air conditioners of the future Resources mentioned: The Best Home Air Quality Monitor (via NY Times) AirNow app Episode #312: 12 Practical Energy Saving Tips Join our (free!) community here . Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Insta...
Jun 23, 2023•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
