The Japanese argue that we each have three faces. The first is your idealized, near-perfect version; it's also the mask you present to the world. You reveal your second face selectively to very close friends and family, and you keep your third face — your true self — hidden from everyone (including, perhaps, yourself).

Our first mask conveys self-assuredness. Of being happy, put together, and in charge. But beneath our masks, we are messy creatures. We may even be living in deep emotional pain. On today's show: A conversation with author Jarod K. Anderson about removing our masks, being vulnerable, and boldly accepting our authentic, messy selves.

* A note from Stephanie: The future of this show is uncertain, and it needs hundreds (hundreds!) more supporters to stay afloat. If you find yourself thinking about the world differently after listening, please consider supporting the show with $5 per month or $45 per year. Thank you for doing your part  to keep Sustainable Minimalists in existence! https://sustainableminimalists.substack.com

Here's a preview:

[6:00] Shoulds, musts, and our cultural love of billable productivity

[10:00] Jarod's thoughts on why we tend to turn to external validation and societally-approved markers to enhance self-esteem

[13:00] The toxic myth that is 'rugged individualism'

[18:00] Exactly why vulnerability is terrifying but essential 

[25:00] How to view the natural world as a medicinal anchor that accepts us just as we are

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Want to be "up to date" with your wardrobe choices? Fashion forwardness understands that the textile industry is incredibly polluting; having your finger on the fashion pulse, then, is about consciously choosing not to participate in trends.

And yet we somehow must dress ourselves. While fast fashion is quite literally made to fall apart, wearing what we wore decades ago isn't a good look. So what on earth is a sustainable minimalist to do?

On today's show: How to mindfully refresh your wardrobe with tips straight from experts. 

* A note from Stephanie: The future of this show is uncertain, and it needs hundreds (hundreds!) more supporters to stay afloat. If you find yourself thinking about the world differently after listening, please consider supporting the show with $5 per month or $45 per year. Thank you for doing your part  to keep Sustainable Minimalists in existence! https://sustainableminimalists.substack.com

Here's a preview of the expert-backed techniques we are discussing today:

[8:30] All Killer, No Filler! Stop settling for garments that are "good enough"

[17:00] Adapt, Don't Abandon: How to pair an outdated item with something that's on trend

[24:00] Refine your style with The 3-Word Method

[26:00] Raise the dead! (A.K.A. bring back to life high-quality, foundational pieces)

[31:00] When all else fails, consider a uniform 

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More free time and less stress. Extra money in the bank. While minimalists often report such benefits of the lifestyle over and over, for many of us, it goes deeper. Indeed, a minimalist lifestyle may fundamentally change the way we interact with the world.

As this podcast approaches its 500th episode I find myself curious about the ways in which adopting a minimalist or minimal-ish outlook has altered the ways in which we as community act and think.

On today's show: A conversation with minimalist Elaina Jindra about just some of the ways her life is different these days.

Here's a preview of the minimalism-inspired habit changes we are discussing today:

[8:00] Watching less television and turning away from mass media

[14:00] Buying in bulk, no more

[19:00] Storing it at the store? Sure. Plus: Storing it at Goodwill!

[22:00] Eating healthier and drinking less alcohol

[25:00] Stepping into the role of 'creator' while losing the identity of 'consumer'

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Just because a product is marketed to babies or kids doesn't mean it's safe, and new research published just last week has alarming things to say about the presence of phthalates in personal care products for children. 

While minimalists know that excess stuff harms our emotional well-being and mental loads, *sustainable* minimalists understand that products can harm our physical health. On today's show: Applying the tenets of sustainable minimalism to the hair and skin products our children use each day.

Here's a preview:

[7:00] If phthalates make plastics flexible and bendy, what on earth are they doing in personal care products?

[10:00] Don't see the term 'phthalate' on a product's ingredients list? That doesn't mean it's phthalate-free!

[13:00] Are phthalates the reason why our daughters are getting their periods younger and younger?

[19:00] No 10-step skincare regimen to see here: Here's a 5-step cleanup regimen for your household

[25:00] Musings on the tween and teen skincare beauty craze

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Meal planning and prepping, laundry, and taking out the trash: These non-negotiable household tasks are never truly "done". And because it's impossible to get ahead of these mundane chores, they are likely the reason you feel like you’re always busy but never accomplish anything.

The bad news? Non-negotiables are a part of adulting. The good news? Streamlining such chores with a reduces the time and mental load associated with getting them done. 

On today's show: How to streamline meal planning *for the rest of your life* in under an hour.

Here's a preview: 

[6:30] Breaking down exactly how much extra you're paying for meal kits

[12:00] How to create a 28-day meal plan so you never have to meal plan again

[16:00] Take it a step further with one-and-done and done grocery lists 

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American culture is heavily influenced by a “rise and grind” reverence for hustling, and many of us have adopted the belief that sleep is a waste of time. When we dismiss the importance of sleep, we have more time to work harder and longer. And when we have more money in our pockets, what we are really doing is keeping our capitalist engines turning.

Contrary to what you've been told, sleep is not time wasted. On today's show: The Number One way to improve your health, wellness, and quality of life without spending any money at all (ahem ... prioritizing sleep).

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Rise and grind culture promotes sleep deprivation!

[9:00] What happens when we sleep? Hop on a metaphorical submarine and explore the Sleep Sea 

[15:00] A laundry list of bad sleep's deleterious health and wellness effects

[21:00] In your 40s or 50s? You especially need to prioritize sleep, and here's why

[29:00] 6 research-backed ways to prioritize sleep every darn night

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We humans are evolutionarily primed to live in concert with the natural world, but these days Americans spend over 92% of time either indoors or inside a vehicle. The result? Stress, inflammation and — for some of us — a pervasive sense of malaise. 

American culture is designed to keep us indoors because capitalist engines make money when we are distracted, and yet cutting-edge science supports the reality that life on this planet is radically interconnected. On today's show author Lyanda Lynn Haupt introduces the concept of rooted living to benefit of both humans and nature.

Here's a preview:

[11:00] Nature provides connection, and yet 21st century life vilifies the outdoors

[16:00] Exactly why our capitalist engines benefit when we live indoors lives 

[22:00] Musings on our collected extractive mindset, plus: how roots are the antidote

[28:00] Lyanda's Number One tip for re-rooting yourself and your children (It's a good one!)

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A product needs to fit into someone’s life seamlessly in order for it to be bought, and it’s the job of the advertiser to show exactly how the item in question will fit into a life. On today's show: 5 crucial insights advertisers know about us (that we perhaps don't know about ourselves).

Here's a preview:

[1:00] Examining our clutter problem through metaphor (bathtub, baby!)

[9:00] Selling isn't about emotion; it's about seduction

[13:00] We humans are animals, and animals are evolutionarily primed to heed warnings

[15:00] Curiosity versus urgency: Both emotional states convert!

[21:00] How companies slowly but surely increase market share, plus: here's what happens when a product differentiates itself on eco-friendliness

[26:00] Insider advertising works!

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The Hidden Clutter Creator Right Under Your Nose (via Your House Machine on Substack)

One football field's-worth of forest is lost every single second of every single day. Loss of forests means loss of species and loss of stored carbon; it also means an increased risk of pandemics.

On today's show: Explaining the ways in which deforestation is linked to the pandemic prevalence, with tangible action steps for conscious consumers.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] It's not *just* about timber; it's about livestock, soy, and palm oil too

[12:30] Exactly what happens when we raze forests and the generalists (ahem ... the rats, the mosquitos) march in

[26:00] Breaking down the differences between the 3 Forest Stewardship Council certifications

[29:00] Revisiting the palm oil problem

 [32:00] The industrialized food system is broken, and it pays to shorten your personal food chain

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Parenthood is awash with immense pressure to do right by our kids. We are told that children need certain (expensive) experiences to 'get ahead', and many of us observe our parenting peers investing in countless extracurriculars. But children need downtime, and recent research suggests that children should experience twice as much unstructured time as structured enrichment.

On today's show podcaster Kathryn Garland and I discuss how to find the structured, extracurricular sweet spot for your family. 

Here's a preview:

[4:30] Scheduling rule #1: Family First (not Kid First!)

[15:00] When dabblers don't fit into a world of specializers

[22:00] Musings on extracurriculars, the 'rat race' and getting ahead

[26:00] Start with the end in mind (and other tips for finding the extracurriculars sweet spot)

[31:00] Words of encouragement for leaning into the quiet and into the slow

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