The attitude-behavior gap is a fancy schmancy research term that describes the discrepancy between what we say and what we do. When it comes to eco-minimalist living, many of us quietly experience an oversized gap between our values (save the planet! live minimally!) and our actions (buy single use plastic! purchase on impulse!). 

On today's show we are diving into the recesses of this, well, gap. Why does it exist for the vast majority of us, and how can we close it?

Here's a preview:

[2:00] A breakdown of the 5 distinct consumer personas: Which one are you?

[11:00] 5 reasons why the attitude-behavior gap exists

[18:00] 5 steps to closing your own attitude-behavior gap

Resources mentioned/Further reading:

--

* Join our (free!) community here.

* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.

* Email me and say hello! [email protected].

Many minimalists boast that living simply has improved their well-being in a myriad of ways. The problem, however, is that such statements are anecdotal. Does research back up these personal stories? What - if anything - does science say about minimalism's benefits?

On today's show Shannon and Gerry Arner and I marry research findings re: simple living with day-to-day experience. 

Here's a preview:

[5:45] The link between materialism and loneliness

[10:00] How living simply on purpose impacts well-being

[14:30] Cortisol be gone: The negative correlation between clutter and mental health

[20:00] How to use minimalism as a re-centering tool

[22:00] Practical ways to infuse slightly more minimalism into your daily life

Resources mentioned:

--

* Join our (free!) community here.

* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.

* Email me and say hello! [email protected].

There's lots to consider when searching for an eco-friendly and non-toxic laundry detergent. Are those strips and pods actually environmentally conscious if they're wrapped in PVA? Why don't detergents offer a full list of ingredients on their packaging?

As it turns out, laundry detergents have lots of misleading claims (ahem ... marketing gimmicks) designed to confuse consumers. On today's episode we're breaking down everything you need to know about detergent so you can make informed purchasing decisions moving forward. 

Here's a preview:

[2:00] Pricing discrepancies: Do eco-friendly laundry detergents always cost more?

[6:15] Breaking down the 5 biggest environmental concerns associated with laundry detergent

[9:15] Everything you need to know about Polyvinyl Alcohol (I'm looking at you, pods and sheets)

[18:00] How to find a laundry detergent that's actually non-toxic

[22:00] Stephanie's detergent-buying grading rubric for informed purchasing decisions

Resources mentioned:

Let's face it: Impulse buys are fun in the moment. But what feels good in the short-term doesn't always jive with our long-term goals and quick decisions may not align with our core values.

If you regularly buy on impulse, you're not alone. According to Shopify, over 87% of US shoppers make impulse buys and more than 50% of all grocery items are sold because of impulsiveness. Enter Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni, co-hosts of the Frugal Friends podcast. Jen and Jill argue that frugality at its roots means preserving all kinds of resources and they're on the show to help you uncover the emotion beneath impulse buys.

Here's a preview:

[6:30] The 'cheap' stigma: Reframing frugality from an undesirable trait to a positive one

[11:00] What has to happen before you tackle your impulsive spending habit

[18:00] When impulse spending is triggered by emotion

[24:00] Buying and belonging: How to reign in comparison-related purchases

[31:00] The 'both, and' approach: Holding the tension

Resources mentioned:

--

* Join our (free!) community here.

* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.

* Email me and say hello! [email protected].

There's such a thing as too much of a good thing. The key to a balanced life lies in moderation, as any of us who's ever overdone it knows that excess quickly becomes miserable.

On today's show we first discuss the Swedish concept of lagom, a.k.a. 'good enough' living. Next, we apply age-old, temperate wisdom to spending habits, interpersonal communication, tidying, and emotions.

Here's a preview:

[3:30] The middle is where we want to be. (Don't believe me? I'll prove it)

[6:30] 5 ways extreme thinking gets rewarded every darn day

[9:30] The Swedish philosophy of lagom, a.k.a. living with just the right amount

[17:00] How to apply the concepts of moderation and balance to our spending habits

[22:00] The Traffic Light Rule of interpersonal communication

[26:00] 3 real problems associated with emotion suppression

[29:00] When it comes to your home's tidiness, what's good enough?

Resources mentioned:

-

* Join our (free!) community here.

* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.

* Email me and say hello! [email protected].

The World Wildlife Fund's Living Planet Report is a checkup on the health of Earth, and this year’s report is the most comprehensive yet. Spoiler alert: its findings aren't good.

But all's not doom and gloom: Enter the Rescue Effect, a perspective that believes there’s a lot to be optimistic about. 

On this episode I’m excited to bring you two contrasting viewpoints to the biodiversity problem. First I speak with Brent Loken, Global Food Lead Scientist for the World Wildlife Fund; in the second part of today's show I speak with conservation expert Michael Mehta Webster about his new book, The Rescue Effect. 

Here's a preview:

[2:30] An overview of the major findings from WWF's 2022 Living Planet Index

[6:00] What's going on in the tropics?

[19:00] The rescue effect in practice

[21:00] If nature has an inherent ability to persist, why do species go extinct?

[27:00] Can the rescue effect ensure the survival of human beings amidst the next great mass extinction event?

[33:00] How we can help give species a leg up, according to conservation experts

Resources mentioned:

'Rise and Grind' reveres working for work's sake, and it's immensely popular.

But grind culture is capitalism's fuel; worse, it diminishes you and me to cogs in the capitalist wheel.

Today we're discussing hustle culture: What it is, who benefits from the collective all-in, and how we can slowly unsubscribe from a life of overwork.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] Why do the (Western) masses follow grind culture's principles despite its best interest?

[8:30] Who - or what - benefits from overwork? (Hint: It's not you and me.)

[14:30] Rise and Shine over Rise and Grind: Here's how

[22:30] How to practice letting of obligations go IRL, plus: what to do with your newfound free time

Resources mentioned:

--

* Join our (free!) community here.

* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.

* Email me and say hello! [email protected].

Your favorite smartphone apps, your preferred weather forecaster, your go-to photo sharing app, and other seemingly benign technologies likely reveal details about your life to companies looking to collect consumer data. They're eager to gather thousands of data points on each and every one of us every single day because more data means better accuracy for algorithms seeking to predict human behavior.

Data gathering can affect our lives in ways we can’t currently anticipate. But what about conscious consumerism? If companies can accurately predict our purchasing behavior - and if they're putting *perfectly* curated advertisements in front of us over and over again - do we minimalists stand a fighting chance?

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month (who knew?!). While keeping your personal information safe online can seem overwhelming there are simple ways to both protect your data and trick the algorithms. Amira Dhalla is on the show today to offer a blueprint about how you can be cyber smart-er.

Here's a preview:

[2:00] Beware of these 'deceptive patterns' that trick us into giving away extra personal information

[10:00] The principles of threat monitoring applied to online privacy: Are quick-win benefits worth potential long-term risks?

[12:30] Why you shouldn't automatically "Accept All Cookies" (online cookies aren't all that tasty!)

[17:00] 5 privacy quick fixes you can enact in 5 minutes or less

[28:00] Thoughts on practicing an ounce of prevention

Resources mentioned:

--

--

Thank you to our sponsors!

"I just listened to your podcast about waste and was surprised to hear that our energy consumption is so high in America! The problem is, I don't know where the energy is going, nor do I understand which things I might be doing to use so much. What are some tips for saving energy? Why do Americans require so much more than other countries?"

Waste comes in many forms. Sadly, energy waste is all too common here in the United States.

On today's show we're breaking down two important topics: 1. how much energy humans actually need to consume to live happy, healthy lives, and 2. practical ways to reduce the chances that the energy we're consuming isn’t wasted.

Here's a preview:

[2:30] A breakdown of exactly how much energy Americans use compared to citizens of other countries

[5:30] What research has to say about energy consumption and quality of life

[10:00] Let's chat about your home's holes for a hot minute

[17:45] Reigning in excessive and unnecessary electricity use

[22:00] Is community solar the renewable energy that's right for you?

[25:30] Thoughts on finding comfort in being a tiny bit uncomfortable

[30:00] Everything you need to know about the (two thumbs up!) heat pump

Resources mentioned:

--

--

Thank you to our sponsor!