Sustainable Minimalists

Stephanie Seferian
Sustainable Minimalists
SUSTAINABLE MINIMALISTS+

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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. We Aren't Robots

    MAR 11 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    We Aren't Robots

    American culture prioritizes productivity and reveres output. Workaholism, then, often becomes a coping mechanism for anxiety or low self-esteem and “busyness” morphs into a distraction from negative emotions. But toxic productivity leaves many of us with that pervasive sense of running on a non-stop hamster wheel of stress, and subscribing to America's unhealthy output compulsion causes our well-being, relationships, and happiness to suffer. Our output isn't related to our worth! On today's show therapist and author Risa Williams offers suggestions for stepping back from hustle culture, finding life balance, and reclaiming rest while also taking small steps towards your goals. Here's a preview: [3:30] Are you burnt out? (You might be! 70% of people are!) [14:00] If you have a boss who is all-in on output, start by recognizing aspects of your work's culture that are unhealthy [22:00] We aren't robots, we are humans, and reaching a goal should come with an emotional reward [27:00] Toxic productivity versus our need to rest: Here's what to do if you tie your output to your self-worth Resources mentioned: Episode #439: The Negativity Bias The Motivation Mindset podcast Book Club is scheduled for May 13! Get the details here.  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.

    42 min
  2. Parenting During A Climate Crisis

    MAR 4 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Parenting During A Climate Crisis

    Camp canceled because of smokey air. Neighborhoods damaged by hurricanes. Surprise flash floods on the way home from school. Today's children are experiencing the effects of global warming firsthand and parents, meanwhile, are struggling to manage complex emotions like grief, anxiety, and fear while simultaneously raising resilient, happy kids. On today's show journalist and author Bridget Shirvell offers actionable advice for parents who are worried — and furious — about the precarity of their children's futures. Here's a preview: [1:00] Reminder time: An outline of our possible future, as per the IPCC [7:00] 84% of parents say their physical or emotional well-being is negatively affected by extreme weather. Take care of yourself first! [11:00] The time to talk to other parents about climate change is now. Here's how to do it without being a "crazy environmentalist" [24:00] It's not a one-and-done; it's ongoing: How to speak to children of all ages about climate change [33:00] Thoughts on addressing consumer culture in your home by stepping back from mass media/screens Resource mentioned: Parenting In A Climate Crisis: A Handbook for Turning Fear into Action 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.

    38 min
  3. Healthy Hair

    FEB 11 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Healthy Hair

    While shampoo is a staple in most haircare routines, many shampoos on the market strip away natural oils and leave hair dry, brittle, and weak. Enter all the other haircare products on the market like conditioner, hairspray, gels, and more to "fix" what shampoo originally broke. On today's show: The tenets of healthy, minimalist haircare with clean beauty expert Andrea Dahr. A note from Stephanie: Follow this link to listen on your preferred podcast player, or ‘load all images’ on your email server and listen straight from there. Here's a preview: [5:30] Cleanwashing? Say it ain't so! [9:00] Shampoos are among the worst offenders when it comes to potentially harmful ingredients, and here's why [12:30] Minimalists, unite! Step One is always LESS [22:00] Be wary of this staple dry shampoo carcinogen [26:00] If you do one thing today, get rid of aerosols [29:00] Got grays? (Me too.) Thoughts on hair dye and human health Resources mentioned: Episode #425: The Obesogens Switch Natural on Apple Switch Natural on Android Andrea on Instagram Book Club is TOMORROW! 7pm EST. Stay tuned for a separate email with our meeting link. Andrea's clean product recommendations: Clear Stem Captain Blankenship Rahua Yarok Feed Your Hold hair spray 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.

    36 min
  4. The Alcohol Episode

    JAN 28 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    The Alcohol Episode

    Americans consistently receive the message that moderate drinking is not only safe, it's a heart-healthy practice. And thanks to our alcohol-revering culture that positions alcohol is somehow both a staple of celebrations and the antidote to life's bad days, 6 in 10 Americans drink regularly. One demographic that's steadily drinking more (and more often)? American women. Today in honor of Dry January we take a critical look at America's cultural ideals with regard to wine and spirits; we also examine advertising trickery that specifically targets women and mothers. Here's a preview: [5:00] Exactly how the alcohol industry targets young women so they become consumers for life [8:00] Is red wine good for you? We are told one thing but science says something completely different [16:00] Mommy wine culture as a socially acceptable way of saying "motherhood is hard" and "Mommy needs support" [22:00] Freedom, empowerment, and community: Exactly how alcohol advertising hooks women by using the cigarette industry's playbook Resources mentioned: The Feminization Of Alcohol Marketing (via BBC) I Quit Drinking Four Years Ago. I’m Still Confronting Drinking Culture (via Charles Blow, NY Times) Happy? Sad? Stressed? How Drinking Became the Answer to Everything (via NY 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.

    32 min
  5. Is It Time For An Electric Vehicle?

    JAN 21 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Is It Time For An Electric Vehicle?

    Slowly but surely the US continues to transition away from internal combustion engines. More electric vehicles (EVs) are on American roads, yes, but problems persist. Inadequate charging infrastructure exasperates drivers; worse, reliability concerns continue to haunt the EV market. Is the time finally right to go all-in on an electric vehicle? If not now, when? On today's show Consumer Reports' Senior Director of Auto Testing Jake Fisher offers a 2025 EV report card; he also offers a compelling prediction on the future of cars.  Here's a preview: [6:00] EVs have 42% more problems than ICE cars on average. Should this figure scare us away? [13:00] Reliability matters! Distinguishing the best (Subaru, Toyota) from the worst (Rivian) [15:00] Good, bad and oh-so ugly: The latest on charging stations [21:30] Buying a pre-owned EV? Pay special attention to that battery! [26:00] Exactly why my guest believes our car future isn't necessarily electric Resources mentioned: Consumer Reports Automotive Report Card This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! **If you're a financial supporter over on Apple Podcasts and want to join Book Club, please email me and let me know! For privacy reasons, Apple won't share your contact info with me. Just email me and I'll happily add you!** Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

    29 min
4.8
out of 5
984 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).

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