The Enlighten Me Podcast

It’s official - this is one of my all-time favorite interviews in podcast history! I think Chris Singleton is not only an inspirational speaker, but someone who is great at speaking into the lives of people of all walks of life. No matter your skin color or background, you’re going to learn so much from him. To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

In Part 1 of this interview, Chris shared about his mother’s death and how that sparked a mission in him to spread a message of love. We discussed what racial unity means to Chris and what exactly it looks like, and today we’re continuing that conversation as we discuss some hot-button topics like white privilege. I call this a hot-button topic because it can be so controversial, but what you’ll learn from Chris today is that it really shouldn’t be. He teaches us that we all have privileges - for some of us, those might be because of our skin color, but that doesn’t mean that we haven’t worked hard for what we do have or that we haven’t had a hard life. Chris does a great job of explaining privilege and reminding us that, no matter where we come from or what we believe, we should show compassion to those who are struggling. 

On this show Chris also encourages us with tips on how to approach tough conversations with those who might have different opinions than us on some of these things. Many of us have been here before, but in Chris’ eyes it’s not something to lose relationships over. Rather, we can do our duty by keeping these conversations going and not shying away from the uncomfortable with the promise that we are making a difference - even if that difference feels too small to see sometimes!

Of course, I couldn’t have Chris on the show without talking about some of his creative endeavors. Not only is he in the process of publishing his second children’s book, but he recently was featured in a documentary! You’ll find links to those things and everything else Chris and I referenced below. You’re gonna want to keep track of this guy - he is a man on a mission and I just know he’s going to continue to do mighty, mighty things!

Links from the show:

“Different” by Chris Singleton:

https://www.loveyourneighborbrand.com/product-page/different-a-story-about-loving-your-neighbor

“Relentless” by Tim S. Grover

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17354208-relentless

“A Kid from Coney Island” documentary:

https://www.netflix.com/title/81155851

“Emanuel” documentary:

https://www.amazon.com/Emanuel-Brian-Ivie/dp/B07YCSMZYL

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram: @theheartfelthippie // @the.enlightenme.podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theheartfelthippie/

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Chris:

Website: www.chrissingleton.com

Instagram & Twitter: @csingleton_2

4.6 million pounds. That's the amount of disposable gift wrap that's purchased every single year. According to Earth 911, at least half of that ends up in the landfills right away (2018).

Besides the massive amounts of waste, the other problem that gift wrap creates is the extra work for our recycling plant workers. Often times, things that can't be recycled end up in the recycling bin due to wishful thinkers who want to be less wasteful. However, according to Treehugger, this hurts more than it helps. Not only can some of these non-recyclable items clog up the machines that plants use to sort the recycled materials, but sometimes it even causes entire loads of waste to be thrown out because there's too much to sort through (2020).

As we approach the holidays, its so important to know what can and can't be recycled when it comes to all our gift wrapping materials! That's what this EMM episode is dedicated to do - we're sorting through the landfill and the recycling piles (pun intended) AND I'm giving you some super fun and creative ways that you can wrap your gifts this year that are much more eco-friendly than traditional gift wrap!

To view the full show notes, visit my website at https://theheartfelthippie.wordpress.com/emm-11-sustainable-gift-wrapping-ideas/ or read below for a quick recap of my sustainable gift wrap ideas.

1. Use and reuse what you already have.
2. Reuse packaging materials from online orders.
3. Turn paper grocery sacks inside-out for a kraft paper look.
4. Give new life to old newspapers or maps that would normally be discarded.
5. Use your child's artwork.
6. Flip a chip bag inside out for a shiny foil wrapping.
7. Wrap a gift in fabric using the Japanese art of furoshiki.
8. Use thrifted baskets instead of gift bags.
9. Reuse old tote bags instead of gift bags.
10. Buy plain paper products that can be recycled when you need to buy new.
11. Use natural twine or cotton string instead of ribbon.
12. Skip the tape, or use paper tape instead.
13. Skip the name tag stickers - write directly on the package or make your own hang tags from paper and string.
14. Decorate with natural elements, like sprigs from the Christmas tree, instead of bows.

Links from the show:

Furoshiki Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAFl3iOp5HY

Turtley Eco Paper Tape:

https://www.turtley-eco.com/product-page/paper-tape

Plastic Freedom Paper Tape:

https://plasticfreedom.co.uk/products/plastic-freedom-paper-tape-48mm-x50m

Earth 911 Article:

https://earth911.com/home-garden/holiday-tip-dont-recycle-gift-wrap/

USA Today Article:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/12/20/dont-recycle-bow-sloppy-christmas-recycling-can-send-all-your-efforts-landfill/963415001/

Treehugger Article:

In June of 2015, tragedy struck in Charleston, South Carolina. Many of us can remember watching the news and hearing about the mass shooting that took place in a church downtown. A white man who wanted to start a race war murdered 9 innocent people, complete strangers, and all of them Black. While for many of us this is just a page in the history books, this is real life for Chris Singleton, whose mother was one of the victims. Chris famously forgave his mother’s killer and proclaimed on national television that “love is stronger than hate.” Ever since that day, he’s been on a mission to spread that message of love. I had the privilege of interviewing him about just that! To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Ever since moving to Charleston, I’ve wanted to have Chris on the show. Everyone around here knows about him - the Charleston kid-turned pro baseball player, and now turned public speaker and author! Chris’s life hasn’t gone exactly as he’d planned, but he knows it’s exactly how God orchestrated it. He is a preacher on a mission to share about loving your neighbor, especially your neighbors of different skin colors. The concept of racial reconciliation has perhaps never been needed more than it is right now. The killing of so many innocent, unarmed people of color is hardly new, however it seems to be something that many people are finally waking up to.

I didn’t have too many questions planned out when I sat down to talk with Chris - I just wanted to let him share his story and do his inspirational speaking thing! We had a real, raw conversation about racism, about reconciliation, about protests and police reform, about all the things that many of us have questions on! This is just Part 1 of our conversation, so make sure to tune back in next week for Part 2 where we continue to deep dive these important topics.

I really appreciated Chris’s vulnerability, his willingness to share his story, and just his kindness and patience in letting me ask him some tough questions. He also gave some very practical action steps that we can take to start building racial unity in our very own homes! If you’ve been listening to the show for some time, you know I love me some practical action steps. One of these steps is to take an implicit bias test like the one I’ve linked below. So, here’s to learning together and being willing to acknowledge that we all have biases - this is the first step to our healing!

Links from the show:

Harvard Implicit Association Test:

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram: @theheartfelthippie // @the.enlightenme.podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theheartfelthippie/

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Chris:

Website: www.chrissingleton.com

Instagram & Twitter: @csingleton_2

It’s that time of year again! The time of year where we all start maxing out our grocery budgets, putting up festive decorations, and scratching our heads as we try to think of what in the world we should buy for our loved ones! We’ve all been there. And that’s why this is my favorite episode to do all year! Welcome to your 2020 Ethical Holiday Gift Guide. To view the full gift guide with descriptions, visit my website: https://theheartfelthippie.wordpress.com/episode-55-2020-ethical-holiday-gift-guide/

Christmas tends to be a time of major consumerism. Why not make that consumerism more meaningful by buying ethically from responsible brands? Gabi Goddard came back on the show to help me with this guide and we have so many good things in store for you! Gabi is an actor, a writer, a child care worker, and an expert on all things ethical and sustainable. She was originally on the podcast back in 2019 to discuss the problems in the fast fashion world. On that episode we talked for close to two hours because there’s just so much to learn, and here we are again doing the exact same thing!

This holiday gift guide is comprised of items for all ages, genders, and price ranges. Gabi and I both came up with several brands who we deem either ethical or sustainable. We looked for things like small businesses and minority-owned shops, brands that are certified fair trade or certified B-corporations, brands that give back, and of course businesses that have transparent manufacturing in how they source their materials, how they treat and pay their employees, and how their products are made. Extra points for brands that are low waste, use clean ingredients, and are cruelty free!

There were SO many awesome brands to choose from that it was difficult to come up with this list! Our hope is that you may find some fun items to buy for your friends and family this year, and also that this episode helps you to think more critically about what types of businesses and what types of products you want to be spending your money on. Every time we make a purchase, we are voting with our dollar for the kind of world we want. Let’s put our dollars to use buy making ethical and sustainable purchases this holiday season and always!

Links from the show:

Read the 2020 Ethical Holiday Gift Guide:

https://theheartfelthippie.wordpress.com/episode-55-2020-ethical-holiday-gift-guide/

Fay & Phable Pajamas:

https://www.fayandphable.com/

EME article about plant dyes:

https://ethicalmadeeasy.com/natural-vs-synthetic-dyes-which-is-better/

Redeemed with Purpose Jewelry - Use code MACKENZIE15 for 15% off!

https://www.redeemedwithpurpose.com/

New Creation Designs:

https://newcreationva.org/

Argent Silversmith Jewelry - Use code ETHICALMADEEASY for 10% off!

https://www.argentsilversmith.com/

Leoni & Vonk Jewelry:

https://leoniandvonk.com/

Pecora Madrid Jewelry:

https://pecoramadrid.patternbyetsy.com/

Cherry Tree Finery:

https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/CherryTreeFinery?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Clay By Cait:

Have you ever thought about how much it’s going to cost you to pay for Netflix over a 5 year period? Or Spotify? Or really, any of those unnecessary purchases that we all love to splurge on?! Well, what if you decided to invest in the same way in your own health? That’s what Jess is sharing about today in Part 2 of our conversation on Kangen water. Jess isn’t here to make a sales pitch, but rather to inspire us to think differently about our health and truly make it a priority in our lives. To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Last week Jess educated us on why our tap water isn’t as safe as we may assume. Yep, the water that we drink, bathe in, and cook with is full of nasty contaminants! She gave us some really helpful resources to check out what’s in our local water supply, and we also started diving into her solution to this problem - Kangen water! Kangen is a machine that produces seven different pH levels of water from acidic to alkaline, and there are soooo many uses for all the different types! That’s what Jess is explaining today. She shares the benefits of drinking alkaline water, but the uses go way beyond quenching your thirst. 

Jess also goes on to explain why the price point is so high on these machines. If you’re like me, you may have already done a Google search to see how much you’d have to drop to get your hands on one of these bad boys. Before you make up your mind on the cost, listen to what Jess has to share. She not only explains the upkeep required and how to pick out the right machine for you, but she also tells us why she feels they are truly worth the investment.

All in all, this isn’t just about one machine - this conversation is about our health and how much we value it. Jess is going to share the information that we need to make the right decisions for ourselves and our families when it comes to clean water, so listen up! We also have a lot of fun chatting about what she’s loving lately, including her favorite CBD product! After listening, you’re going to want a vanilla chai latte and also want to learn more about this miraculous plant-based medicine. Don’t worry, there will be an episode to come on that in the future!

Links from the show:

Kangen Water Uses:

https://alignedcollective.net/kangenwateruses

“A Happy Pocket Full of Money” by David Cameron Gikandi:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11507609-a-happy-pocket-full-of-money

Ed Mylett and JP Sears podcast:

https://www.edmylett.com/podcast/jp-sears-the-spiritual-healing/

ThoughtCloud CBD Oil:

https://thoughtcloud.net/

EWG’s Tap Water Database:

https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/index.php#results-by-state-map

Kangen Water Cost Inquiry:

https://alignedcollective.net/kangenwater

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram: @theheartfelthippie // @the.enlightenme.podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theheartfelthippie/

Website:

We all know we need to drink more water. But, do you know that your go-to water source might not be the safest? Access to clean drinking water is a global crisis, but most people don’t realize that this is something that affects even us who live in developed countries! The common ways that people consume their water through household filtration systems, plastic bottles, or even straight from the tap just aren’t doing the trick in ensuring our safety. Jess, a Kangen water expert, is here to share some better options with us!

Jess Millman prides herself on inspiring others. For years, she has used her social media platform to get people thinking more about the choices they make. This includes having a sustainable lifestyle and being more mindful about food and water choices. Jess discovered the magic of using alkaline water a few years back and wants to spread the word! Today, she’s discussing why we need alkaline water in our lives - predominantly because of the dangers that come with drinking your average tap water. We chat about some of the common pollutants that are found in our water supplies, and also why bottled water and simple home filtration systems aren’t sufficient enough to protect us from these toxins. Jess further educates me on why other water purification processes just aren’t as good as the Kangen Machine.

This episode really took me back to the days of high school chemistry - I was having flashbacks of doing pH testing in the lab and wishing I had paid more attention then! But, this conversation is a great introduction for beginners to help understand what exactly alkaline water is and how the Kangen machine really works. Don’t get overwhelmed by the scientific talk - Jess will explain more in Part 2 next week. On that episode we’ll also discuss some of the benefits and different uses of Kangen water and why she believes this machine is worth the investment. This is one of those episodes that’s going to truly open your eyes to an everyday issue that so many of us are blind to, and I hope it is an episode that will help you in making safer choices for your and your family’s health!

Links from the show:

EWG Tap Water Rating:

https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/

EWG’s Guide to Safe Drinking Water:

https://www.ewg.org/research/ewgs-guide-safe-drinking-water

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram: @theheartfelthippie // @the.enlightenme.podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theheartfelthippie/

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Jess:

Website: www.alignedcollective.net

Instagram: @jessmillman

I can hardly believe it’s already November…that means the holidays are just around the corner! As many of us dive into our holiday shopping and scanning online sales, don’t forget about all the local businesses that still need our support! This includes your local thrift shops, too. To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Shopping secondhand is one of my favorite ways to shop for two main reasons. First, it’s friendly on the budget. Second, it’s friendly on the earth. A lot of natural resources, predominantly water, are required to produce new clothing. And then, often times these clothes end up getting discarded once we’re finished with them or, even worse, they were never purchased in the first place! Of course, this isn’t even to mention the human exploitation that occurs in the fast fashion industry, too. Thrift shopping is a great way to avoid contributing to so many of these problems! And what better time to dive into the fun than when we’re all maxing out or credit cards - holiday shopping!

Thrifted items can make wonderful gifts - whether it’s clothes and shoes or other types of items like home decor, sports gear, toys, kitchenware, furniture, and so much more! And because it’s so budget-friendly, you’ll be able to give even more to that special someone! As you go about your holiday shopping this year, consider what items you could find secondhand. And if after listening you still don’t think thrift shopping is for you, try another method of shopping secondhand, such as consignment shopping, buying from online resellers, or participating in a clothing swap. The fun never ends when it comes to shopping used!

My top tips for thrifting:

1. Know the difference between thrift shopping and consignment shopping.
2. Search your area for the best thrift shops and look for less popular shops.
3. Have an idea of what your looking for ahead of time.
4. Wear solid colors and dress in layers when you go shopping.
5. Ignore sizes and genders.
6. Check for stains, tears and odors before you buy.
7. Get over the gross factor!
8. Check labels for brands, materials, and care instructions.
9. Practice visualizing the item in your home or closet.
10. Be patient and persistent.
11. Set a budget.
12. Ask about discounts and bring your own bag!

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram: @theheartfelthippie // @the.enlightenme.podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theheartfelthippie/

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Email: [email protected]

“This is not something we can agree to disagree on.” 2020 has certainly been a year of political discourse and often-times heated conversations with our friends and family members. There are a lot of topics that we don’t all see eye to eye on, but we can’t always settle on agreeing to disagree if the topic has a direct impact on our own family. That’s what I learned from Lindsay as we continued the conversation on interracial adoption and foster care today on the show. To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

While foster care and adoption are beautiful experiences, there are obviously plenty of complications and messy experiences that come along for the ride. Lindsay is never hesitant to be open and honest about those, and it’s something I appreciate so much about her because it has given me a much more realistic picture of what diving into the world of orphan care looks like! Whether you’re interested in parenting through one of these methods or not, you’re going to learn lot today. Lindsay will teach us about what it truly looks like to care for the marginalized and the vulnerable and those in need. This is something that I personally think her and her husband, Gabe, do a wonderful job at - you could say they put their money where their mouths are in this way.

In Part 1, Lindsay and I chatted about the special story of how their most newly adopted son, Leo, joined their family and the decision process that led them to pursuing a private, domestic adoption. Today, Lindsay and I are picking up where we left off and chatting about what she has learned surrounding parenting children of different races than her own. We talked about this back on the first episode we recorded in 2018, but her kiddos were just toddlers then and so I wanted to know what it’s like now with older kids and with the influence of all the events that have taken place in 2020. We also talk about what it’s like for Lindsay to look back on the foster care experiences she shared about in that original episode - if she still feels the same way and if her and Gabe would consider doing foster care again in the future. 

This conversation isn’t just for parents - you’re going to get something out of it no matter where you sit in life. I’m honored to carry Lindsay’s story and to share it with all of you, and I’m even more honored to be the exclusive podcast featuring the one and only Lindsay!

Links from the show:

“Stamped from the Beginning” by Ibra X. Kendi

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25898216-stamped-from-the-beginning

“White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43708708-white-fragility

"The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/672493.The_Pursuit_of_God

"Hinds' Feet on High Places" by Hannah Hurnard:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/821056.Hinds_Feet_on_High_Places

"Falling Free" by Shannan Martin:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27840647-falling-free

"The Ministry of Ordinary Places" by Shannan Martin:

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/38915858-the-ministry-of-ordinary-places

“When They See Us” Series:

https://www.netflix.com/title/80200549

“Fruitvale Station” Movie:

Join me in welcoming back my most popular guest - Lindsay Walder! I had Lindsay on the show wayyyy back on episode 5! In that conversation, we discussed her family's journey with foster care and adoption. We talked about some hard but really good things, like what it’s like to “get too attached” to kids in your home and what Lindsay has learned with having an interracial family. A few years later and the Walder family has grown! I knew I needed to have Lindsay back on so we could talk about the changes that have taken place and continue the conversations on orphan care. To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

I thought that now would be the perfect time to have Lindsay back on the podcast with National Adoption Month just around the corner! November is a special time to raise awareness for all the kids in need waiting to be adopted. It’s also a great time to consider how we can support foster and adoptive families just like Lindsay’s! In today’s episode, Lindsay and I are predominantly talking about the most recent addition to the clan - her son, Leo. Leo joined the family through a private, domestic adoption agency, and Lindsay shares his story with us and also how she and Gabe decided to fundraise and pursue a private adoption rather than continue on with foster care or an international adoption.

Hearing Lindsay share about what they have learned on trauma-informed parenting was so eye-opening. These are things that most of us aren’t aware of, but it’s so important in the world of orphan care to be aware of trauma triggers. Next week on Part 2, Lindsay and I continue the hard conversations as we discuss raising an interracial family in 2020 and also what it’s like to look back on a foster care journey that was not by any means easy on them! Once again, I learned a lot from Lindsay and I know you will too. I highly recommend going back to listen to our first episode together, recorded in 2018, if you haven’t yet! And make sure you check out Lindsay’s social media and photography business while you’re at it, too!

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram: @theheartfelthippie // @the.enlightenme.podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theheartfelthippie/

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Lindsay:

Website: https://www.lindsaywalderphotography.com/

Blog: http://www.hopeunswerving.com/

Instagram: @lindsay.walder // @lindsaywalderphotography

50 episodes! Wow, it feels like this has been a long time coming. I’m jazzed to be celebrating this milestone, and I knew I wanted to do it with a bang! That’s why I invited a very special guest on, my one and only Mom, to help me celebrate! In honor of 50 episodes, my Mom and I together shared 50 of our best tips for sustainable living on a budget. Often times, the information we’re fed about being sustainable can seem like it has to cost a lot of money to participate in. That’s simply not the case, though! We each picked out 25 things you can do for very low cost and low effort that will help to make this world a better place.

I also want to point out that we broaden the term “sustainability” here, so we’re not just referring to things that are eco-friendly. There is plenty of that, of course, but we also discuss some ethical living ideas that focus more on social justice. I had such a blast going through all these tips with my biggest podcast fan - shoutout to Mom for always supporting me and for helping me celebrate a special time! You can view a summarized list of all of our tips below, along with links to any products that we referenced today. While you’re listening, always remember this: we don’t need anyone to be perfect at sustainability, we need lots of people to be imperfect at it! All of our small little efforts collectively add up to some big change. Keep going!

1. Bring your own bags while shopping.
2. Recycle plastic bags properly.
3. Say “no” to straws and bring your own instead.
4. Use bar soap instead of liquid soap.
5. Use a bamboo or recycled plastic toothbrush.
6. Use wooden and metal kitchen utensils.
7. Buy wooden toys or toys made from recycled materials.
8. Stop buying plastic sandwich bags - reuse what you have or buy reusable ones.
9. Choose recycled plastic whenever possible.
10. Use old containers and glass jars for food storage.
11. Bring your own leftover containers to restaurants.
12. Bring your own produce bags.
13. Buy naked, unpackaged produce.
14. Bring your own reusable water bottle and coffee cup.
15. Bring your own eating utensils.
16. Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.
17. Use rags for cleaning instead of paper towels.
18. Use cloth diapers instead of disposable ones and reusable feminine products instead of disposable ones.
19. Check your recycling guide before you throw things in the trash.
20. Plant flowers that attract bees.
21. Provide water for bees outside.
22. Rethink driving whenever possible,
23. Plant trees.
24. Compost your food waste.
25. Wear liquid sunscreen that is oxybenzone free.
26. Water your lawn and plants in the early morning hours.
27. Reuse rain water and cooking water for plants.
28. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth, washing your hands, and doing dishes.
29. Wash full loads of laundry only.
30. Wash your laundry in cold water.
31. Hang your clothes and linens to dry.
32. Use the dishwasher when full instead of hand washing dishes.
33. Try Meatless Monday and cut down meat consumption.
34. Join local groups for beach and neighborhood clean ups.
35. Advocate for green cleaning in your public spaces.
36. Buy used clothing.
37. Buy used furniture and other home goods.
38. Buy used books, CD’s, DVD’s and other media.
39. Sell your old clothes or do a clothing swap.
40. Check your labels and buy natural fibers instead of synthetic.
41. Find a local seamstress/cobbler to help repair worn clothes/shoes.
42. Watch more documentaries and listen to more podcasts.
43. Follow accounts and hashtags to learn more.
44. Support Black-owned and female-owned businesses.
45. Support local businesses before shopping online.
46. Support small businesses in-person and online.
47. Opt for plastic-free and no-rush shipping whenever...