Sustainable Minimalists

Stephanie Seferian

Creating eco-friendly, minimalist homes (without the extra work).

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Our Editor's Take

The Sustainable Minimalists podcast promotes eco-conscious living. It explores the ways people can live sustainably and declutter their lifestyles. The benefits of living with a minimalist mindset include saving money and being tidier. It's often better for the planet and healthier. This podcast shares how to make life less messy with less stuff. Each episode examines how sustainable minimalism can be relevant in daily life.

Stephanie Seferian hosts Sustainable Minimalists. She is a writer and podcaster passionate about helping others simplify their lives. As a business owner and mom of two, she is always discovering new ways to be more efficient. On her podcast, she showcases a range of topics to inspire listeners. Stephanie talks about conscious consumerism and being thoughtful with purchases. She speaks about avoiding plastics and choosing natural cleaning products. She also discusses the benefits of buying less and repairing more. By buying better, consumers can avoid more waste going to landfills. This also allows homes to be tidier and easier to clean.

Expert guests, such as journalists and business owners, feature on the podcast. Stephanie talks to Anne-Marie Bonneau, better known as "The Zero Waste Chef." She speaks about reducing waste when cooking and being eco-friendly with food. Buy Me Once founder Tara Button discusses investing in quality. She also shares why the repairability of goods matters. Julie Winpisinger promotes trying a no-spend month. Each guest talks about how making small changes in life can reap significant benefits.

The "Headlines" episodes review the latest environmental news. These episodes analyze news stories for spin or "greenwashing." Stephanie speaks about climate change and the importance of minimalism for the future. The Sustainable Minimalists podcast releases new episodes every few days. Episodes are brief. "Headlines" episodes are around fifteen minutes long. Other episodes come in at about 30 minutes.

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Episodes

Labors Of Love
2d ago
Labors Of Love
Last year was the hottest year on record, so it's safe to say that Earth Day as we traditionally celebrate isn't working.On today's show I suggest what I believe is the antidote to the climate crisis (and I'm willing to bet you won't be able to guess what it is!). Here's a preview:[3:45] The Big 5: We know what we should do environment-wise, so why aren't we doing it?[7:15] Communal care is anti-capitalist, and that's really darn important[16:30] Here's what research finds re: the relationship between collectivist culture and pro-environmental behaviors[24:00] If the problem is disconnection, is the solution as simple as authentic reconnection?[34:00] It's actually not hard at all to pivot from the conventional, negative feedback loop we find ourselves currently in * A note from Stephanie: No Headlines Friday, and Tuesday's episode will be out next Wednesday!This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to Equilibria! Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off sitewide: http://www.myeq.com* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/* Thank you to My Life In A Book! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for 10% off. https://www.mylifeinabook.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
The Great Connector
4d ago
The Great Connector
Reminder! Our hands can do more than type and text. In fact, they can grow things.On today's show — and in honor of National Gardening Day! — permaculture expert Kareen Erbe lists countless tangible and intangible benefits associated with active participation in your local growing community; she also offers practical suggestions for getting off our screens and reengaging with the natural world. Here's a preview:[8:00] Industrializing our food systems has benefits, sure. But in doing so, what have we sacrificed?[19:00] Industrial agriculture is the problem, but agriculture is also the solution[23:00] Don't want to grow anything? You don't have to! Here's how to best invest in your *local* food systems[27:00] It's not that local, organic food is so expensive; it's that corporate, industrialized food is too cheap[31:00] The 5 S-es: Scalable tips for newbie growers[35:00] Kids who grow kale eat kale! Resources mentioned:Episode #447: No Topsoils, No FoodKareen on Instagram This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to Equilibria! Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off sitewide: http://www.myeq.com* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/* Thank you to My Life In A Book! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for 10% off. https://www.mylifeinabook.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Stealthily Frugal
Apr 11 2024
Stealthily Frugal
Take stealth wealth and reverse it: Stealth frugality is what happens when a person lives big without spending lots of money. On today's show: A laundry list of the ways in which we can each live a rich life but do so frugally. *A note from Stephanie: I mention a ridiculous amount of companies in today's show. None of them are sponsored! Here's a preview:[6:00] Home is where the heart is, so open up your home![10:30] Pizza? Cocktails? Manicures? Learn how make/do what you love but better[14:30] #selfcare culture is a capitalist construct (and you should never have to pay to care for your SELF)[19:00] How to enjoy your hobbies without going all-in with the extras[23:00] Want to eat like royalty? Learn how to cook[30:00] Get yo' hands on some great reading material (without overspending!) Resources mentioned:Living The Good Life, Just Cheaper? (via The Frugal Girl)The Buffalo Wool CompanyEpisode #194: Safer Nail Polish Dazzle Dry nail polishLego Replay--This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to Equilibria! Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off sitewide: http://www.myeq.com* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/* Thank you to My Life In A Book! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for 10% off. https://www.mylifeinabook.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Disconnecting
Apr 9 2024
Disconnecting
Work emails. Social media notifications. Weather alerts. The constant news cycle.In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it's easy to get lost in the chaos of endless distractions. Yet research has shown that information overload can lead to mental exhaustion, reduced cognitive function, and an inability to make sound decisions. On the other hand, intentional disconnection has the power to enhance creativity and productivity. It improves overall well-being, too.On today's show podcaster Diane Boden and I discuss exactly why it's so important to disconnect from modern distractions at least once in awhile; we also brainstorm how to best unplug. Here's a preview:[12:00] Are we becoming a culture that can't sit with negative emotions? With boredom?[16:30] Blue laws once encouraged rest; these days stores are open 7 days a week (thanks, capitalism!)[23:00] Stephanie's Number One tip for mindfulness newbies[26:00] Hurry culture, busy-ness, and setting professional boundaries[30:00] Do you watch TV while scrolling on your phone? Theres a name for that! Outlining the (numerous) consequences associated with 'continuous partial attention' Resources mentioned:Diane on Instagram10% Happier: How I Tamed The Voice In My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, And Found Self-Help That Actually Works — A True Story (by Dan Harris)Waking Up AppThe Ruthless Elimination Of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World (by John Mark Comer)--This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to Equilibria! Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off sitewide: http://www.myeq.com* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/* Thank you to My Life In A Book! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for 10% off. https://www.mylifeinabook.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Lights Out
Mar 28 2024
Lights Out
Fossil fuels power our modern lives, and yet fossil fuels are also powering global warming. Because many of us lack the self-sufficient skills necessary to survive an extended power outage event, we are one thing and one thing only: vulnerable.We have become over-reliant on the very thing that's destroying our planet. On today's show: Imagining the ways in which modern life, interpersonal connections, well-being and more would change in a hypothetical, fossil fuel-free world. Here's a preview:[6:00] We are so reliant on electricity that we are incapacitated without it. This is a problem![11:00] In the event of a 2-weeks plus outage, modernity would look a lot different[24:00] Is minimalism late stage capitalism personified?[28:00] Without fossil fuels, we'd be circular[30:00] What research says with regard to the wellness benefits of working with our hands Resources mentioned:Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath (by Ted Koppel)Doomsday Prep for the Super-Rich (via The New Yorker)Episode #096: Why Self-Sufficiency Matters (with Kelly Morris) --This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to Equilibria! Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off sitewide: http://www.myeq.com* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/* Thank you to My Life In A Book! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for 10% off. https://www.mylifeinabook.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
House Rules
Mar 26 2024
House Rules
When it comes to furnishing and styling ours homes, we all deserve spaces that facilitate easeful living. But for those of us without an eye for design? Furniture and decor mistakes can happen (and they can be costly).On today's show best-selling author Myquillyn Smith reveals her signature house rules for homes of every size, style, and budget; she also shows us how to get the most amount of comfort from our space with the least amount of stuff.Here's a preview of the house rules we are discussing today:[16:30] Threes, please[21:00] Resourcefulness is the ultimate resource[25:00] Plan on the kids growing up [29:00] Timelessness is here to stay [34:00] The size of your house does not dictate the size of your hospitality Resources mentioned:Win Every ArgumentEpisode #433: The Fast Furniture Trap Climate Action NowEnvironmental Voter ProjectPostcards To VotersVote Forward This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting its mission!Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Our Sponsors:* Thank you to Equilibria! Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off sitewide: http://www.myeq.com* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/* Thank you to My Life In A Book! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for 10% off. https://www.mylifeinabook.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Family Dinner
Mar 19 2024
Family Dinner
Eating meals together is the ultimate parenting cheat code, and that's because in just one hour you can improve your kids' academic performance, self-esteem, and cardiovascular health while simultaneously reducing their risks of substance misuse, depression, and obesity.On today's show: author Annette Thurmon on making the kitchen the heart of the home once again. Here's a preview:[7:30] A laundry list of the nutritional benefits of regular family dinners, plus the developmental and mental health benefits for kids and teens[10:00] We parents should be including our children in the cooking process, and here's why (plus: easy lift how-tos)[20:00] Remember: It's not about the food! It's about the face-to-face, tech-free time[23:00] Practical dinnertime promptsResource mentioned:Simple Country Living: Techniques, Recipes, and Wisdom for the Garden, Kitchen, and Beyond Creative alternatives to "How was your day?"What's one thing you learned today?What's one thing that made you smile today?If you could change something about your day, what would it be?What's one thing you liked most about your day?What has made you feel loved recently?How did you help someone today? How did someone help you?What's it like to be a kid? To be a parent?What was your last thought before falling asleep last night?--Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to Equilibria! Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off sitewide: http://www.myeq.com* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/* Thank you to My Life In A Book! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for 10% off. https://www.mylifeinabook.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Excessively Convenient
Mar 12 2024
Excessively Convenient
There's convenience, and then there's *excessive* convenience. While some modern conveniences are indeed necessary and needed, the excessive ones can be detrimental to ourselves and society as a whole.Items and services of convenience are often substitutes for supportive culture and connection. On today's show historian Jennifer Newton and I discuss how culture - and specifically excessively convenient, disposable culture - perpetuates itself; we also muse on what to do if the prevailing culture no longer "fits". Here's a preview:[5:00] How'd we get here? A brief history of the Convenience Industrial Complex in America[10:00] Weak ties, strong ties, and 3 ways convenience culture reduces social connection[23:00] The average American watches 4 hours of TV a day. What are the cultural implications?[35:00] Passive and active ways to fight back against excessive convenience Resources mentioned:Sustain Initiative Substack --Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to Equilibria! Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off sitewide: http://www.myeq.com* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/* Thank you to My Life In A Book! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for 10% off. https://www.mylifeinabook.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Athleisure
Mar 7 2024
Athleisure
Yoga pants, baby! Athleisure is a fashion trend that features comfortable, flattering, and aesthetically pleasing athletic clothing designed to be worn all day. And while many of us turned to athleisure during the pandemic and never went back, athleisure has a dirty little secret: petroleum-based fibers.On today's show former Athleta senior fashion designer Nancy Taylor outlines what needs to happen systemically to make the the fashion industry circular; she also introduces bio-based textile innovations in the athleisure space that we all should be paying attention to.  Here's a preview:[6:00] From a fashion designer's perspective, here's why athleisure is so darn amazing[12:00] What's the fashion industry's biggest problem: is it that too many products are being produced, or is that consumers simply consuming too much?[18:00] Bio-based synthetics, oh my! Here are some exciting innovations happening right now in the textile space[23:00] Are items made from recycled materials of lesser quality?[28:00] Don't forget about natural fibers and semi-synthetics when exercising! Here are the best Resources mentioned: époque évolutionLolëSend me your eco-tips! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.--Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to Equilibria! Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off sitewide: http://www.myeq.com* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/* Thank you to My Life In A Book! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for 10% off. https://www.mylifeinabook.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
No Topsoils, No Food
Mar 5 2024
No Topsoils, No Food
Soil grows 95 percent of our food and sustains human life. But monocrops, pesticide reliance, and other modern farming methods have degraded soil health in lasting ways. Some scientists believe we have less than 60 harvests left. The way we are feeding ourselves is undermining the very ecology we’re dependent upon. The hope? Regenerative farming. On today's show Kiss The Ground's Chief Executive Officer Evan Harrison urges each of us to participate in the regenerative movement. Here's a preview:[6:00] A laundry list of all the consequences associated with degraded soil[10:00] The main reason why pesticides are a staple of the monocrop farming model, plus: what science says about degraded soil and a food's nutrient density[19:00] For people who buy and eat food (aka everyone), here's how you can support regenerative agriculture Resource mentioned:Kiss The Ground film--Join our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.Our Sponsors:* Thank you to Equilibria! Use code SUSTAINABLE for 15% off sitewide: http://www.myeq.com* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/* Thank you to My Life In A Book! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for 10% off. https://www.mylifeinabook.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy