Sustainable Minimalists

From a young age, many of us were exposed to messages linking financial success with personal value. Advertisements, media, and even family conversations equate wealth with achievement and social status. Not surprisingly, this constant reinforcement creates strong associations between money and self-worth. Although our culture tends to regard money (and fancy job titles, for that matter) as symbols of success, my guest todays argues that money is nothing more than a tool. And if money is just a tool, it certainly doesn't have the power to say much about who we are as people: How worthy we are. How good we are. How important we are. On today's show: A conversation with podcaster Shari Rash about untangling your self-worth from your net worth, for good. Here's a preview: [7:30] Money is just a tool to help you feel the way you want to feel [11:00] Money conservations might be awkward, but they're essential in bringing to light your unconscious beliefs about finances [15:00] Exactly how our culture ties money to identity—and why that’s so damaging [21:00] Rewiring the way you see yourself in relation to money Resources mentioned: Breaking Free from the Consumption Hamster Wheel: How Minimalism Can Transform Your Money MindsetThank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Cultural messaging and suggests you should be happy all the time. But your "happy chemicals"—dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphin—evolved to motivate survival behavior, not make you happy. In fact, unhappiness is your brain's default state. On today's show Dr. Loretta Breuning argues that you can manage your happy chemicals when you know how they work in the state of nature, and she's here to show us how. Here's a preview: [9:00] Serotonin is about social dominance. Enter comparison and competition [13:00] Want a dose of oxytocin? Be part of a herd [15:30] Endorphin is the brain's natural opioid. But you can habituate to it! [18:00] Just got something you want? That flood of happiness is dopamine's doing, but dopamine runs out [25:00] We are living in an era of immense abundance. So why aren't we happy? Resources mentioned: Why You're Unhappy: Biology Versus PoliticsBecome a subscriber on Substack! Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Every purchase you make has an impact on the world. If you aren't careful, your shopping choices contribute to climate change and social injustice. But when you align the contents of your shopping cart with your personal values you slowly but surely shape the market. Times are uncertain and everyday goods are getting more expensive. Still, we should purchase with intention anyway. On today's show author and sustainability expert Diane Osgood offers a comprehensive roadmap that navigates each of us toward positive and sustainable shopping practices. Here's a preview: [4:00] 70% of the U.S. economy is driven by consumer spending. We citizens control the market! [13:00] 3 easy-peasy shopping principles to guide you when you're feeling overwhelmed [17:00] Should you listen to the angel on your shoulder, or the devil? Here's what to remember in those moments you want to backtrack [21:00] *Exactly how* to avoid products made with forced labor or child labor [28:00] Buying small, local, and diverse has the power to "chip away at systemic inequality". Here's how Resources mentioned: Your Shopping Superpower: Follow Your Values and Better Your World One Purchase At A TimeThe Chocolate ScorecardRemakeU.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Thank you for supporting!hereInstagram,SubstackYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Influencer marketing is a case study in how easy it is to sell things to followers who trust their favorite online personalities. But offering that elusive 'personal recommendation' for EVERYthing has normalized both inauthentic endorsing and impulse shopping. It has normalized the buying and selling of your precious attention, too. Here's a sneak peak of today's episode for subscribers. Listen to the whole episode by becoming a paid supporter! On Apple Podcasts hit the "Try Free" button or, if you listen elsewhere, sign up via Substack. Thanks for considering!

There are few things more satisfying than completing a proper spring cleaning. Deep cleaning when the weather warms is a biological imperative that's rooted in centuries of tradition because the practice lightens moods and improves health. It also symbolizes renewal as we come out of hibernation and back into the sunshine. You aren't alone in your seasonal desire to deep clean. On today's show: Opening the windows, deep-cleaning those closets, stripping the beds, and vacuuming those oft-ignored places just in time for the Spring Equinox. Here's a preview: [5:00] The evolutionary reasons that may explain why humans have "shaken their houses" for over 3 thousand years [8:00] Using newspapers to clean your windows, mopping every week, and other cleaning myths [18:00] Yes, you do need to spring clean your appliances! Here's how [24:00] Exactly how to deep clean your bedding in 4 steps [30:00] Love a good spring cleaning and want extra credit? Don't forget about these 5 oft-overlooked areas Resources mentioned: Episode #487: Big CleaningEpisode #257: Spring Cleaning for Home, Head, and HeartShould You Use Your Oven’s Self-Cleaning Setting? It Depends.The Ultimate Guide on How to Clean Your Washing MachineHow to Wash Pillows Properly, According to a Cleaning ExpertTip jar, and thank you! Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

When we let go of what doesn't serve us, we remove weight that holds us down. On today's show we turn to Zen Buddhism for wisdom on letting go of anxiety about the future, grudges, stuff, dead relationships, and more. Here's a preview: [4:00] Insanely anxious about the future? (Me too!) Don't spend your energy worrying; do this instead [12:00] Think of decluttering not as throwing stuff away; think of it instead as setting your stuff (and yourself!) free [19:00] How to let go of lost friendships and relationships, straight from the mouths of Buddhist monks [26:00] Holding a grudge requires vast amounts of energy so become skilled at forgetting [34:00] You're going to get to where you're meant to go, so there's no need to second-guess your choices Resources mentioned: Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Women have been targeted for decades with the message that shopping is recreation. It’s a way to relax and unwind, sure, but recreational shopping also contributes to the climate crisis, supports the worst of shareholder capitalism, and creates an awful lot of unnecessary waste. Enter Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy, a hard-hitting new Netflix documentary that forces viewers to look at our waste-related woes. On today’s show producer Flora Bagenal offers a behind-the-scenes look at the documentary’s creation; she also answers your pressing, post-viewing questions. A note from Stephanie: This episode was recorded before the Los Angeles wildfires. If you're able, please consider donating to one of these organizations. Here’s a preview: [7:00] People find it hard to look at waste, and yet the film makes us look. A behind-the-scenes examination all those hard-hitting images [16:30] Adidas, Amazon, Unilever, and Apple: Here's why the film featured former employees-turned-whistleblowers [26:00] Corporate execs must show growth, and corporations are on a treadmill of extracting more and more $$ by pushing unnecessary and redundant products. Is not buying an effective act of resistance? [30:00] Mindset shifts! Quality is a climate issue, and once you press ‘Buy Now’ you become responsible for the item’s end of life [36:00] Exactly how to Use. Your. Rage! Resources mentioned: Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Have you ever thought about what your life would be like without a trash can? Here in the US, we don't think much about what happens to stuff once we're done with it. Indeed, American infrastructure isn't equipped to properly handle waste, and our wonton wastefulness on the cultural level exacerbates the climate crisis. It's entirely possible to take matters into your own hands by stepping up as a change maker. On today's show activist and author Fredrika Syren suggests tangible ways to treat waste with the reverence it deserves by systematically creating less of it. Here's a preview: [4:00] Recycling is broken in America, and yet other countries have figured out how to do it right [17:00] Being a change maker means asking guests to take their trash home with them [26:30] Exactly how Fredrika saves $18,000 each year thanks to her zero-waste lifestyle [30:00] Pick a self-sufficient skill and teach yourself! Thoughts on taking your zero-waste efforts up a notch in 2025 Resources mentioned: "No Impact Man" Colin BeavanFredrika on InstagramA Practical Guide To Zero-Waste For FamiliesZero Waste Family on YouTubeZero Time To Waste documentaryThe Comfort Crisis Resources mentioned: Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Does it feel like there’s something hypocritical about New Year’s resolutions? They run counter to the idea that we should accept who we are. That we should give ourselves grace. Resolutions shouldn’t be so grand that we set ourselves up to fail; they shouldn't attempt to "fix" what we've been told is broken, either ("I should be skinnier! I should make more $$!"). There’s a way to work towards personal development without believing you are deficient, and author Tyler Moore is here to show us how. Here's a preview: [10:00] Where can you edit to make the time and space to flourish? [15:00] Differentiating between becoming the best you can be versus "fixing" what you've been told is broken [22:00] Clearing mental clutter is an awful lot like decluttering your closet [27:00] Instead of a New Year's resolution, try 12 monthly 'experiments', instead [32:00] Why hitching your star to external markers of success rarely works, plus: Don't move the goalpost! Resources mentioned: Tidy Up Your Life: Rethinking How to Organize, Declutter, and Make Space for What Matters MostEpisode #443 (with Tyler!)Tyler on Instagram Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear? While capsule wardrobes are often touted as the singular solution to closet overwhelm, many report that they can be restrictive, boring and, frankly, unrealistic in practice. A minimalist closet is best served by first identifying the outfits needed to live YOUR unique life. On today's show podcaster Lauren Morley shows us how to streamline our wardrobes, say goodbye to clutter, and feel effortlessly put together every day by focusing less on capsules and more on a 20 outfit wardrobe, instead. Here's a preview: [5:30] Identifying exactly where and why capsule wardrobes fall short [11:00] Why doesn't buying more clothes solve the problems associated with getting dressed? Conversely, why isn't decluttering the singular solution? [16:00] Say goodbye to capsule wardrobes and hello to your 20 outfit wardrobe [20:00] Getting to the root of our cultural reverence for bottomless closets [28:00] The trend cycle is not your friend, so hop off that bandwagon! Resources mentioned: The Closet CourseMillennial Minimalists podcastThank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

In Scandinavia, daily interaction with nature has helped turn many people into passionate advocates for the environment. But there are forces at play in American society that divide humans from nature. To name just a few? Schools cut recess to make more time for academic instruction, cities boast sprawl over walkability, and our societal reverence for cleanliness prevents many Americans from getting outside and getting a little dirty. Best-selling author Linda McGurk was born in Sweden and, later, raised her own children in the US. Linda is on the show to highlight the ways in which the two cultures diverge with regard to interacting with and respecting the natural world; she also offers both the encouragement and the how-to to get outside in all weather. Here's a preview: [5:00] Nature isn't an essential part of childhood here in America. Why not? [18:00] Not competitive, not motorized, and 3 other ways adults prioritize the open-air life in Scandinavia [23:00] No such thing as bad weather? What about extreme, climate change-induced weather events? [28:00] Revisiting our very-American need to be comfortable at all times [32:00] American schools are slowly eliminating outdoor recess. Here's how to advocate for more outdoor time at your child's school Resources mentioned: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident KidsThe Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every DayLinda on SubstackChildren And Nature NetworkBuy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

What is the "holiday season", really? Savvy marketers have inserted gingerbread lattes, blow up lawn decor, and lots of gifts as synonymous with December. But we aren't in some made-up season of buying; instead, we are approaching the Winter Solstice. And when nature is our guide, living seasonally is less about shopping hauls and more about existing in pace with the changing seasons. In a world where we can buy just about anything, it takes intention to live in alignment with nature. On today's show Bailey Van Tassel offers suggestions for weaving what's outside your front door — not what's in Target! — into your seasonal celebrations. Here's a preview: [11:00] Transitioning from commercialized seasonal living to interacting with nature at your feet [15:00] The ways in which nature's pace complements modern life (if, of course we allow it) [19:30] Minimalists, unite! Instead of buying more seasonal stuff, do this instead [25:00] Slow down your life by making your family traditions crave-able [33:00] Connections between seasons of a year and seasons of a life Resources mentioned: Kitchen Garden Living: Seasonal Growing and Eating from a Beautiful, Bountiful Food GardenBailey on Instagram @baileyvantasselChatpods: www.chatpods.com/?fr=SustainableMinimalists Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Denim jeans were once the preferred trouser for cowboys in the American west; some decades later, they became a symbol of rebellion for non-conformist teens. These days jeans are all about comfort and casual style, and the average American woman owns 7 pairs. And yet blue jeans also happen to have one of fashion's biggest environmental footprints. On today's show Sarene Alsharif reveals the harsh realities associated with jeans production; she also shares practical strategies for transforming this wardrobe staple into a sustainable solution. Here's a preview: [7:00] Stone-washed with actual stones? Dyed with carcinogenic dyes? Uncovering your favorite pair's dirty little enviro-secrets [13:00] Want some stretch? Revisiting our desire for synthetic fibers in our denim [23:00] The trend cycle = smoke and mirrors [27:00] It's a marriage not a fling (and other tried-and-true sustainable fashion tips) [31:00] Stephanie's nihilist thoughts: What happens when collective action matters, and yet the collective isn't doing its part? Resources mentioned: How To Save The World With A Pair Of JeansTad More TailoringAtomic HabitsThe Comfort Crisis Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutube

We Americans may indeed be "rich" in material terms, but we suffer from what Mother Teresa calls a poverty of spirit. As we chased economic growth we closed ourselves off. We abandoned interconnectedness with other people, beings, and things. We also abandoned ourselves. Many of the problems in our world today are visual manifestations of such abandonment. If the world isn't looking the way you want it to look right now, author Jeff Golden argues that solving our (numerous) issues starts by healing our culture-wide poverty of spirit. Here's a preview: [4:00] Money doesn’t make us happy, and the extent to which we strive for stuff is a manifestation of how unhappy we actually are inside [8:00] How we feel about ourselves impacts how we show up in the world. How we treat others! Whether we regard other beings with love and respect! [16:00] Exactly why healing our world (and ourselves!) may indeed start by getting out of our heads [32:00] Debunking heady intellectual conversations about the importance of the economy, plus: a laundry list of the ways we use stuff as stand-ins for well-being [38:00] Tangible ways to "drop into yourself" (because you and others deserve it!) Resources mentioned: Episode #478: Charting A Rich LifeReclaiming the Sacred: Healing Our Relationships with Ourselves and the Worldhttps://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20 Thank you for supporting it!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Many of us shy away from the word 'activist' because the term brings to mind a very specific type of person. But if you're regularly taking action to make the world a better place? Guess what my friend, you're already an activist (yes, really!). What matters is not the size of the action, nor how vigorous the action is. It's all about consistency. On today's re-air author Omkari Williams helps us find the kind of social justice engagement that feels both empowering *and* sustainable. Here's a preview: [4:00] Activism isn't just marching and picketing: Here's what micro activism looks like in the day to day [10:30] Are you a headliner, an organizer, a producer, or an indispensable? How to determine your unique activist archetype [22:00] The status quo isn't working for the vast majority of us. So where's the passion for change? [30:00] How to know whether your efforts constitute shallow work or deep work Resources mentioned: Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World without a BullhornTake Omkari's Activist Archetype QuizSeafoodwatch.org consumer guides Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutube

Capitalism has transformed the world, sure. But at what cost? (Immense environmental ones, of course.) Americans, it's high-time we accept that the Golden Age of capitalism is long gone. On today's show: A frank discussion with sustainable finance visionary Kara Perez about insulating ourselves from late-stage capitalism's most damaging effects with individual and collective action. Here's a preview: [6:00] Money is a tool for change, and yet it's literally something we made up [11:00] Can we be nickled and dimed even more than we already are? (Spoiler alert: Yes.) [14:00] A few of the ways in which shareholder capitalism limits society's ability to progress [22:00] Tangible ways you and I can "change the flow of money" Resources mentioned: Episode #395: Lifestyle Creep (with Kara Perez)Green Money: How to Reduce Waste, Build Wealth, and Create a Better Future for AllHow to Be an Anticapitalist in the Twenty-First Century https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20betterhelp.com/minimal Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutube

Cyberpsychology is an emerging field that examines the ways in which technology influences human behavior. On today's show we discuss what happens to our purchasing habits when psychology, sociology, and 21st century tech collide. Here's a preview: [1:30] Who you think you are is influenced by others (hello, looking glass self!) [8:30] It's human nature to compare and compete: Here's how and why we internalize social media messaging [16:00] 3 reasons why shoppers feel better when they purchase items that contribute to self-repair [20:00] 2 ways dopamine and online algorithms work together and entice us to buy Resources mentioned/Further reading: The Digital Looking Glass SelfBuying: The Effect on Self-Worth Feelings and Consumer Well-BeingWhy TikTok Made Us Buy ItStay Free App Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Our culture is marked by both comparison and overconsumption, and we are constantly urged to hustle for something bigger, better, or more expensive because (supposedly) happiness lies within the next purchase or achievement. But what if the key to living a more satisfied life is to simply slow down and listen to your intuition? On today's show: A conversation with best-selling author Stephanie O'Dea about breaking free from hustle culture for increased fulfillment, reduced stress, and a stronger sense of purpose. Here's a preview: [8:00] Doing things out of guilt, obligation, or acceptance versus Simply Looking Only Within (SLOW!) [12:00] It's a lot easier to sell to people who are unhappy. Enter our preponderance for fast living [20:00] Is conventional 'success' possible when we are living slow? [25:00] What to do when you can't hear the voice within because daily life is too fast and too noisy [27:00] The more social media scrolling, the more disenchantment. And yet we are creatures of comparison ... Resources mentioned: https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20Slow Living: Cultivating a Life of Purpose in a Hustle-Driven WorldThe Slow Living Podcast Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

There's no way around it: more stuff means more sedentarism. Products of convenience move on our behalf, and our kids are moving their bodies less than any other generation in human history. Our culture–and the items the market produces to support our ways of life—dissuade self-sufficiency, and so creating a movement-rich life for our health and for the planet's may often feel like an uphill battle. This week I speak with author and biomechanist Katy Bowman. Katy offers tangible ways to reclaim the movement opportunities that have been lost to the conveniences associated with modern living. Here's a preview: [7:30] The relationship between carbon footprints, pleasure, and movement lost [16:00] How to become more tolerant of movement in the house [19:15] Ways to engage kids who don't consider themselves "outdoorsy" [22:45] Multitasking versus stacking: What's the difference (and why does it matter?) [25:20] 2 steps listeners can take right now to reclaim movement opportunities that have been lost to convenience Resources mentioned: Grow Wild: The Whole-Child, Whole-Family, Nature-Rich Guide to Moving MoreKaty on InstagramSave The Earth book seriesYoutube Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Water is a finite resource. Freshwater shortages are increasingly striking regions around the globe and, as demand for water rises while supply continues to drop, the price of water will likely skyrocket. It’s more important than ever to be smart about water. On today's show horticulturist Noelle Johnson offers easy ways to save water and have a beautiful yard — even amongst challenging climatic conditions. Here's a preview: [5:00] Globally, less rain is falling. And simultaneously the planet is desertifying. What are the consequences? [11:00] Exactly why rainwater is better for our plants than water from the hose, plus: 3 ways to effectively capture rainwater [15:00] Did you know you can repurpose gray water in your yard? (I sure didn't!) [26:00] Musings on lawns [32:00] 7 ways to use less water in your vegetable garden (hint: raised beds require more water!) Resources mentioned: https://www.wearewild.com/us/?discount=SUSTAINABLE20Episode #137: The Global Water CrisisEpisode #500: Rebuilding Your VillageThe Water-Smart Garden: Techniques and Strategies for Conserving, Capturing, and Efficiently Using Water in Today's Climate... and Tomorrow'sNoelle on Instagram Thank you for supporting!hereFacebook,InstagramYoutubeMamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com