Episode 7: The Pressure We Put on Ourselves

Practically Crunchy: Voice Notes from the Glamstead

How much of the pressure we're feeling is actually required of us, and how much have we quietly put on ourselves?

This summer I've caught myself rushing everyone out the door to go "make memories," trying to finish reading challenges, keeping up with work, motherhood, passion projects, social media, and all the other things I've decided should fit into this season.

And a few times I've had to stop and ask myself:

Wait. What am I rushing toward?

In this week's voice note, we're talking about:

recognizing the pressures we put on ourselves

choosing which commitments really matter

letting something go when it no longer fits the season

the difference between busy work and fruitful work

protecting our time and energy

why modern life can make slowing down so difficult

my "evening basket" experiment to curb mindless scrolling

finding ways to slow down even when life itself can't slow down

I'm not necessarily in a season where I can make life less full.

But I can be more intentional about what gets added to that fullness.

Sometimes the answer is, "Yes, this matters to me. It's worth the effort."

And sometimes it's being willing to crumple up the unfinished summer reading challenge and say, "Not this year."

Both can be intentional choices.

Talk soon, friend.

Sometimes the thing holding us back really isn’t that big.

It’s just annoying enough.

There’s an email you need to send.An appointment you need to make.A closet you need to put back together.A project you need to figure out how to start.

For me recently, it was this podcast.

We had a small technical issue. Nothing catastrophic. Nothing I couldn’t figure out.

But figuring it out required me to stop, look something up, learn a process I hadn’t done before, and actually deal with it.

And apparently that was just enough friction for me to keep saying, “I’ll get to it.”

Meanwhile, weeks passed.

The funny thing is, the actual problem didn’t take nearly as much from me as thinking about the problem did.

It rented space in my mind long before it ever took my time.

I think we do this with so many little things.

We spend days, weeks, sometimes months carrying around the weight of a task that might take us 10 minutes.

But probably far less time than we’ve already spent thinking about it.

So this week, I finally did the thing.

The podcast is back. The technical issue is fixed. And Practically Crunchy is officially streaming on Apple Podcasts too.

What’s that something sitting on your own mental back burner right now?

You don’t have to finish the whole thing today.

Just start it.

Sometimes getting past that first little point of friction is the hardest part.

And the freedom on the other side might be worth far more than the task itself.

This week’s Practically Crunchy Voice Note is The Cost of Friction.

Talk soon, friend.

Episode 5: Wisdom in the Garden

Practically Crunchy: Voice Notes from the Glamstead

This week's voice note is less about herbs and more about the people who quietly change our lives.

After years apart, I recently had the opportunity to reconnect with a dear friend who is an incredible herbalist. We spent the morning walking through her garden, catching up on life, and talking about plants, food, and the incredible wisdom woven throughout creation.

In this episode, I reflect on:

- reconnecting with old friends in new seasons of life

- the value of learning from people who have spent years honing their craft

- why curiosity is one of our greatest teachers

- seeing herbs as part of a bigger picture of nourishment

- the difference between quick fixes and long-term support

- the generosity that often exists within the herbal community

- finding the "wise women" already around us

More than anything, this episode is an encouragement to seek out the people who have wisdom to share. Whether it's an herbalist, a gardener, a neighbor, or a friend, there is so much to learn when we approach others with genuine curiosity.

One of my favorite reminders from this conversation was about Pirkei Avot:

"A wise person is someone who learns from everybody."

I hope this episode inspires you to reconnect with someone you've lost touch with, ask a few more questions, and keep cultivating a sense of wonder about the world around you.

Talk soon.

Episode 4: Resilient & NourishedPractically Crunchy: Voice Notes from the Glamstead

In this episode, we’re talking about two words currently written on the side of my fridge:Resilient & Nourished.

Not perfect.Not optimized.Not unattainable.

Just resilient and deeply nourished.

This conversation explores the difference between building a fragile “perfect” lifestyle versus building a strong body and mind that can move through real life with flexibility and strength.

We talk about:

- resilience versus perfection- building sustainable wellness rhythms- nourishment without fear- raising kids around food without anxiety- why adaptability matters- creating routines that can bend without breaking- realistic health in busy seasons of life- what true nourishment looks like beyond food alone

This episode is a reminder that wellness doesn’t have to come from pressure or extremes. Sometimes the goal is simply building a life strong enough to hold both nourishment and real life at the same time.

Talk soon.

Episode 3: Coming Back to Herbs

Practically Crunchy: Voice Notes from the Glamstead

In this episode, I’m sharing the story of how herbs quietly found their way back into my life.

From childhood memories of wandering through an herb garden with my grandmother, to mountain remedies passed through neighbors, to rediscovering herbal support during pregnancy and postpartum, this episode is a reflection on reconnecting with old wisdom in a modern season of life.

We talk about:

- Growing up around herbs in the mountains

- The story that changed how I viewed plants as a child

- Pregnancy, postpartum, and NORA tea

- Why herbalism suddenly felt accessible

- Teas and infusions as a simple starting point

- building an herbal pantry slowly over time

- reconnecting to rhythm, slowness, and creation

This episode is less of a “how-to” and more of a story about paying attention to the things that quietly stay with us over time.Here are the links to my stacks about herbs that I mentioned:https://liamkurkus.substack.com/p/returning-to-herbs-gently?r=761oehandhttps://liamkurkus.substack.com/p/herbs-can-be-simple

Talk soon.ps - sorry for the audio glitches - trying to figure out what is causing it.

I think one of the biggest traps in intentional living is the constant search for “the best.”

The best probiotic.The best ingredient.The best routine.The best parenting method.The best morning rhythm.The best supplement.The best way to live.

And while I understand where that instinct comes from — because I feel it too sometimes — I also think it can quietly stop people from starting at all.

Recently, someone asked in my group:“Which ferment is best?”

And honestly, I don’t really think there’s one perfect answer.

Historically, fermented foods weren’t a niche wellness product. They were simply part of everyday life. Different cultures regularly consumed different kinds of fermented foods because fermentation was deeply tied to food preservation, nourishment, and rhythm.

And I think there’s something important in that.

Not obsession.Not optimization.Natural rhythm.

Personally, I’m less interested in finding the single “perfect” probiotic and more interested in cultivating a family culture where fermented foods are normal, accessible, and regularly present.

Sometimes that looks like homemade yogurt.Sometimes kombucha.Sometimes sourdough.Sometimes cultured butter.Sometimes, the giant tub of sauerkraut from Costco.

And honestly? I think all of those can have value.

Because the truth is:

The “best” ferment is probably the one you’ll actually continue making or consuming consistently.

The one that fits your life.Your energy.Your season.Your budget.Your taste preferences.Your capacity.

I think there’s a lot of freedom in realizing that intentional living doesn’t have to become an all-or-nothing identity project.

Sometimes, homemade is best.Sometimes store-bought is better than nothing.Sometimes, convenience is what allows consistency to exist at all.

That doesn’t make you less intentional.

It makes you realistic.

And I think realism is underrated in a lot of crunchy spaces online.

At the end of the day, you really need to pick something that:

* you already enjoy consuming

* is realistic to continue consistently

* and doesn’t require an amount of effort you’ll eventually resent

Because sustainable rhythms will almost always outlast short-lived extremes.

That’s the kind of life I’m trying to build these days.

Not perfect.Not optimized.Just thoughtful enough to keep repeating.

And honestly, I think there’s something really beautiful about that.

Thanks for reading Practically Crunchy! Subscribe to get notifited when I post next :)

Episode 1: Welcome to Practically Crunchy

Voice Notes from the Glamstead

Welcome to Practically Crunchy, a voice-notes-style podcast about finding a more rooted, intentional way of living without falling into the pressure of perfection.

In this first episode, I’m sharing a little about who I am, why I started this podcast, and what “practically crunchy” actually means to me.

We talk about:

- living somewhere between homemade and real life

- the idea of “good, better, best”

- sustainability over extremes

- motherhood and realistic rhythms

- fresh-milled flour, sourdough, fermentation, and herbal teas

- being Orthodox Jewish and finding comfort in routine

- creating habits you can actually repeat consistently

- why this podcast is intentionally unconventional

This space is for thoughtful conversations about food, homemaking, slow living, family rhythms, and building a life that feels nourishing and sustainable in the season you’re actually living in.

Thanks for being here from the beginning.

Talk soon.