Sustainable Minimalists Sustainable Minimalists+

We Homo Sapiens are notorious for avoiding pain and seeking pleasure. In fact, we have transformed the planet from a place of scarcity to a place of overwhelming abundance, with ample opportunities to flood our brains with dopamine at every turn.

But over-consuming has consequences: Exposure to prolonged and repeated pleasurable stimuli decreases our capacity to tolerate pain and increases our threshold for experiencing pleasure. 

On today's show: Resetting your neural set point to make dopamine work FOR you, not against you.

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Here's exactly why our brains aren't designed to work optimally in our 2024 world of pleasure

[7:00] Measuring the dopamine-induced addictive potential of various foods, habits, and drugs

[10:00] What goes up must come down: Here's what opponent process theory means for you and your brain

[14:00] Quantifying leisure time from the Civil War to present day

[24:00] Dopamine fasts work! Here's how to recalibrate your brain

[28:00] How to best lean into a bit of pain (and why you may want to)



Resources mentioned:

Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance In The Age Of Indulgence (by Dr. Anna Lembke)
Episode #316: Moderation In All Things
Episode #299: Future-Conscious Thinking


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:
* Check out Puro Air: getpuroair.com
* 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.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Finding ways to travel on your terms can be a challenge. We’ve become fans of the Zero To Travel podcast and hope you check it out too.

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:
* Check out Puro Air: getpuroair.com
* 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.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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] Transitioning from negative feedback loop we find ourselves currently in to a positive one



* A note from Stephanie: No Headlines Friday, and Tuesday's episode will be out next Wednesday!


Join our (free!) community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.
Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

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 Food
Kareen 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:
* Check out Puro Air: getpuroair.com
* 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.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Food
Kareen 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.