SUSTAINABLE MINIMALISTS+

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Sustainable Minimalists

Stephanie Seferian
  • 4.8 (996)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Creating eco-minimalist, non-toxic homes (without the extra work). Although minimalism has experienced a rebirth in recent years, the "less is more" movement has been around for centuries. Yet today's minimalist influencers have resurrected minimalism with a decidedly consumerist spin, as modern minimalism is nearly synonymous with decluttering. While there's a lot of chatter about tidying, it's radio silence and crickets when it comes to sustainability. The result? Aspiring minimalists find themselves on an endless hamster wheel of buying, decluttering, buying more, and purging again. Overemphasizing decluttering and underemphasizing the reasons why we overbuy in the first place is thoroughly inconsistent with slow living as a movement; consumption without intention is terrible for the planet, too. Your host, Stephanie Seferian, is a stay-at-home/podcast-from-home mom and author who believes that minimalism, eco-friendliness, and non-toxic living are intrinsically intertwined. She's here to explore the topics of conscious consumerism, sustainability, and environmentally-friendly parenting practices with like-minded women; she's here, too, to show you how to curate eco-friendly, decluttered homes (without the extra work).

  1. The IDGAF Decade

    3D AGO • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    The IDGAF Decade

    American culture tends to market aging as a slow fade into the background. After all, women are told that getting older comes with a loss of relevance, memory, and attractiveness. But what if the season of midlife isn't a crisis? We aren't just getting older; in fact, we're getting louder, bolder, and more authentic. On today's show podcast host Stacey Hutson dismantles the myth that our best years are behind us by breaking down the the science behind those hormonal shifts while also celebrating the fierce second act that follows. Here's a preview: [7:00] IDGAF Energy: How hormonal shifts can actually fuel a powerful new sense of assertiveness and boundaries [16:00] Science-backed ways to navigate the intersection of "puberty in reverse" and the relentless mental load of motherhood [19:00] Mindfulness, cycle syncing, creatine, and other "buffer supporting" practices [25:00] Musings on why our culture tends to dismiss older women [28:00] Rejecting the idea that aging equals irrelevance, plus: Thoughts on leaning into the mundane Resources mentioned: The Next Phase podcast Explain Cycle Syncing to Me: Your Guide to Aligning Food, Fitness & Energy with Your Hormones (via Apple Podcasts) How to Eat With Your Cycle to Balance Hormones in Perimenopause (via Apple Podcasts) Fair Play (via Bookshop.org) Stacey on Substack Our Book Club pick for Mon. March 3: Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

    40 min

  2. JAN 22

    Starve The Machine

    Behind every clever AI response is a massive, windowless data center humming with heat. From the water-starved plains of West Texas to the sprawling 'Stargate' megaprojects in Wisconsin, the infrastructure that powers ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude is eating up natural resources and altering the landscapes of countless communities. And while news headlines are hyper-focused on what AI can do, the real story lies in the uncovering the important resources it's devouring. On today's show we're pulling back the curtain on AI data centers to reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly. We're also outlining action steps if a data center is in your community. Here's a preview: [5:00] Data centers simply must stay on 99.999% of the time (and other little-known data center facts) [10:00] A single AI query emits ten times more carbon into the atmosphere. Plus: Rising electricity prices for everyone! [21:00] Cognitive offloading? AI offloads *thinking* [25:00] Your attention is your most valuable currency [27:00] Not in your backyard! If a data center being planned in your community, stop, drop, and follow these action steps Resources mentioned: What We Can Know by Ian McKewan Community Action Works This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    31 min
  3. Starve the Machine

    JAN 19 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Starve the Machine

    Behind every clever AI response is a massive, windowless data center humming with heat. From the water-starved plains of West Texas to the sprawling 'Stargate' megaprojects in Wisconsin, the infrastructure that powers ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude is eating up natural resources and altering the landscapes of countless communities. And while news headlines are hyper-focused on what AI can do, the real story lies in the uncovering the important resources it's devouring. On today's show we're pulling back the curtain on AI data centers to reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly. We're also outlining action steps if a data center is in your community. Here's a preview: [5:00] Data centers simply must stay on 99.999% of the time (and other little-known data center facts) [10:00] A single AI query emits ten times more carbon into the atmosphere. Plus: Rising electricity prices for everyone! [21:00] Cognitive offloading? AI offloads *thinking* [25:00] Your attention is your most valuable currency [27:00] Not in your backyard! If a data center being planned in your community, stop, drop, and follow these action steps Resources mentioned: What We Can Know by Ian McKewan Community Action Works This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

    31 min

  4. JAN 13

    The Anti-Catalog Home

    In a world of minimalist trends and beige-on-beige living rooms, it’s easy to feel as though your home should look like a page from a high-end decor catalog. But when you prioritize perfection over personality, your home may become just another place in which you feel pressure to "keep up". Let's ditch picture-perfect spaces in favor of lived-in havens. On today's show author Don Suttajit encourages us to curate homes that support our growth, restore our energy, and help us uncover who we truly are.   Here's a preview: [9:00] If we're not careful, advertising will sell us our identities [14:00] Busy-ness is a capitalist construct! [18:30] How to set your home up to be less of a stress-inducer and more of a haven [28:00] Havens aren't about aesthetics. They're about function and feel   Resources mentioned: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (via the National Library of Medicine) Tidy Less, Live More: An Identity-Based Approach to Organizing Your Home and Life This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    32 min

  5. JAN 6

    Timeless Parenting

    The world has changed so much, but the tenets of timeless parenting haven't changed one bit. Our culture tends to treat childhood like a race. But the push to meet academic benchmarks at younger and younger ages is counterproductive to how a child's brain naturally develops. And when parents overschedule their children because they're afraid they'll be left behind, they may be robbing them of the downtime they need to thrive. On today's show world-renowned child psychologists Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Dr. Roberta Michnick Golinkoff dive into how to raise healthy, happy children without burning out -- and without relying on the latest "educational" gadgets.   Here's a preview: [5:15] Smart phones, AI, oh my: The fundamental needs of children haven't changed, even if  technology has [15:00] How to ignore the very-real temptation to get our kids "ahead" [19:45] Unrealistic expectations characterize much of the "academic" toys on the market. Here's how to spot them [25:00] The research is clear: Kids need more downtime. Extracurriculars aren't downtime! [34:00] Your new parenting mantra: "Reflect, Resist, Recenter"   Resources mentioned: Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Our Children Really Learn–And Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less Trouble in Toyland 2025: A.I. bots and toxics present hidden dangers (via PIRG) Kathy and Roberta on Instagram Book clubs are scheduled!    This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    42 min
  6. Cash Back on Cranberries

    12/09/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Cash Back on Cranberries

    Maybe you’ve noticed: Grocery prices are hitting record highs. And when we toss uneaten food, we’re also throwing out hard-earned cash. The average household wastes over one thousand dollars on food every year, and that number spikes during the holidays. But with some simple tweaks in the kitchen, we can each keep that money in our respective wallets. On today’s show sustainability expert Sarah Robertson Barnes breaks down cost-saving strategies for smarter grocery shopping. She also offers actionable advice for transforming leftovers and uneaten food bits into free meals. Here’s a preview: [7:30] Reminder: Food doesn’t come from the grocery store, and water doesn’t come from the tap! [11:30] Abundance and excess are two different things. Break out of “feast mentality” and save $15 right off the bat by planning better [19:00] Think of your freezer as a piggy bank by saving uneaten food bits and getting every last goodness out of fruits and veggies [25:00] How to make “free” meals out of leftovers Resources mentioned: A Simple Kitchen Audit A Beginner’s Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen Sustainable in the Suburbs Podcast Episode #437: Breaking food waste norms How Do I Store Potatoes? (via The New York Times) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

    39 min
  7. Sticking It To Capitalism

    12/03/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Sticking It To Capitalism

    Many of us feel the pressure to buy more, earn more, and achieve more, and capitalism may be to blame. That’s because capitalism demands continuous growth, which is fueled by consumption. Enter unhappiness, isolation, apathy, and exhaustion. But we can fight back. On today’s show author Elsie Gilmore dives into the ways capitalism affects our well-being. She also offers actionable strategies for prioritizing joy, embracing the power of community, and learning the subtle art of resisting the hustle. Here’s a preview: [3:30] Capitalism wants us to be unhappy and apathetic so we don’t fight back against the injustices it causes [10:00] Seeking out and relishing in little moments of joy every day is THE way to snatch back your power [15:30] The ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind cultivating willpower [18:00] Get in the habit of regularly healing and resting [22:00] Prioritize real relationships with real people in real life [28:00] Capitalism wants us to be at odds with each other. Stop fighting with your neighbor and remember the true foes, instead Resources mentioned: How To Find Joy in a Capitalist Hellscape Elsie on Instagram @elsie_gilmore_author This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists

    32 min
  8. The #SkinTok Effect

    11/18/2025

    The #SkinTok Effect

    A former Meta executive recently revealed that, when a girl posts a selfie on social media and takes it down, the algorithm then targets her for beauty products. Enter today's teen and tween skincare craze, where Sephora Kids and "SkinTock" reign supreme. But pushing skincare on young girls is a business that's off of highlighting a child's flaws. Worse, many of the products being marketed to them contain powerful ingredients that may actually harm — not help — developing skin. On today's show: A minimalist parent's take on multi-step skincare routines for tweens and teens, with the help of clean beauty expert Andrea Dahr.   Here's a preview: [7:00] Children have sensitive skin, and anti-aging products can harm their skin for the long haul [9:00] What the "clean section" at Sephora means — and what it doesn't [14:30] The link between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and early puberty [20:00] What should teens and tweens *actually* be putting on their faces on a daily basis? [34:00] Five tips for parents of teens and tweens who love skincare   Resources mentioned: Episode #528: Heathy Hair Episode #320: The Obesogens Switch Natural app We have an aligned sponsor! Head to Duckfeetusa.com and use code MAMAMINIMALIST FOR $50 off.   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    40 min
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4.8
out of 5
996 Ratings

About

Creating eco-minimalist, non-toxic homes (without the extra work). Although minimalism has experienced a rebirth in recent years, the "less is more" movement has been around for centuries. Yet today's minimalist influencers have resurrected minimalism with a decidedly consumerist spin, as modern minimalism is nearly synonymous with decluttering. While there's a lot of chatter about tidying, it's radio silence and crickets when it comes to sustainability. The result? Aspiring minimalists find themselves on an endless hamster wheel of buying, decluttering, buying more, and purging again. Overemphasizing decluttering and underemphasizing the reasons why we overbuy in the first place is thoroughly inconsistent with slow living as a movement; consumption without intention is terrible for the planet, too. Your host, Stephanie Seferian, is a stay-at-home/podcast-from-home mom and author who believes that minimalism, eco-friendliness, and non-toxic living are intrinsically intertwined. She's here to explore the topics of conscious consumerism, sustainability, and environmentally-friendly parenting practices with like-minded women; she's here, too, to show you how to curate eco-friendly, decluttered homes (without the extra work).

Information

  • Creator
    Stephanie Seferian
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    648
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Sustainable Minimalists
  • Provider
    Sustainable Minimalists LLC

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