The Enlighten Me Podcast

Welcome to Enlighten Me Mini (EMM) #2! If you’re new here, these are mini segments of the podcast where me, myself and I focus in on one topic and try to give some tips for living your best life. Today’s topic is palm oil - what the heck is the deal with palm oil? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m referring to the product that we use in our cooking, in our packaged foods, in our makeup, and in our household cleaners, to name a few. That’s right - we all use palm oil! So, it’s time to learn the truth about this stuff. To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

At first look, palm oil is a super awesome product. It’s easy to grow in tropical climates, it has a longer shelf life than other oils, and it’s pretty darn cheap to grow and harvest. It also is low in saturated fat and has no trans fat, which is why the food industry grabbed hold of it back in the 90’s. This super versatile oil has become so highly demanded all over the world, though, that farmers are going to dangerous lengths to produce it.

85% of the worlds palm oil comes from two places: Indonesia and Malaysia, where human rights and environmental laws are not the strongest. To plant oil palms, rainforests are being excavated and burned down to make room for crops. This is killing animals and their natural habitats, it’s releasing carbon dioxide into the air, it’s sending local village people to the hospital because of smoke inhalation, and sometimes these fires get out of control and cause mass destruction. Oh, and this isn’t to mention the fact that worker exploitation and child labor are also rampant in these areas, making the work even more dangerous. Yikes!

So, why the heck are we still using palm oil?! Well, there’s an argument that it’s all worth it because we can use palm oil in biodiesel, which is a more “eco-friendly” alternative - but really, we’re hurting the environment more than we’re helping it through this process. Truly, the issue is that we as consumers have a huge need for oil! If it wasn’t palm oil, it would be another kind of oil. We eat a lot of oil, we use oil in our home care products, and we drive cars that need fueling. Rather than shouting from our homes for all of this to stop, we need to be more mindful in our purchasing. Let’s cut back our consumption, buy local, and read labels before we do purchase!

This is a BIG topic with no perfect solution, but by being a little more mindful, we can all make a difference together. It’s not something to feel depressed about, rather it’s something to continue to get educated about. Listen in for more tips on how you can be a more conscious consumer!

Links from the show:

World Wildlife Fund:

https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/palm-oil

https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/8-things-know-about-palm-oil

New York Times article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/magazine/palm-oil-borneo-climate-catastrophe.html

The Guardian article:

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/feb/19/palm-oil-ingredient-biscuits-shampoo-environmental

Harvard Med article:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/by_the_way_doctor_is_palm_oil_good_for_you

Episode 11 - Endangered Species Chocolate:

https://theheartfelthippie.wordpress.com/episode-11-fair-trade-chocolate/

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo App:

https://www.cmzoo.org/conservation/orangutans-palm-oil/sustainable-palm-oil-shopping-app/

Palm Smart App:

https://palmsmart.azurewebsites.net/

Orangutan Alliance - Alternative Names for Palm Oil:

https://orangutanalliance.org/certified-products

Orangutan Alliance - Palm Oil Free Certification:

https://orangutanalliance.org/certified-products

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram and Facebook: @theheartfelthippie

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Welcome to the first ever Enlighten Me Mini (EMM) episode!! This podcast has been so much fun for me and I have learned SO much from the guests who have been kind enough to give up their time for our interviews. But, I know that not everyone always feels like they have the time to listen to an hour-long episode. Enter EMM’s! I wanted to bring you, my listener, more content but in smaller doses. I’ll still be sharing my super awesome (and longer) interview episodes broken into two parts at the beginning of the month, but on the weeks in between I will be airing these mini episodes that have tidbits of information meant to educate you and help you live better. To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

This very first EMM episode is dedicated to the delicate art of shaving. I personally have a love-hate relationship with shaving. Of course, I love having silky smooth skin, but ahhhh, the razor burn! Oh, and did you know that the plastic razors that most people are using are a HUGE waste producer that clog up our landfills and oceans due to the lack of a proper recycling technique? Bad for the earth and bad for us - yuck! In the episode I go into more detail on the issues with plastic disposable razors and I also talk about the 200-year-old solution of switching back to metal safety razors! That’s right, our grandpa’s had the right idea. We’re going back to the basics, y’all!

The second half of this episode is about where you can find some super awesome metal razors at a very reasonable price, along with tips about how to shave with a metal razor. If you’ve been using a disposable razor for a long time, this may be a bit of a learning process for you. But have no fear, I was able to re-teach myself in no time! I think you will find that with a safety razor you not only get a much closer shave but a shave that lasts longer and feels better. I hope this episode helps you to treat your skin better and teaches you how, together, we can SHAVE the world from plastic! (Credit goes to Albatross Sailing Co., linked below, for that pun.)

Links from the show:

USA Today article:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/07/landfill-waste-how-prevent-disposable-razor-plastic-pollution/1943345001/

The Atlantic article:

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/02/razor-bumps/516804/

Adam Ruin’s Everything - How Women Were Tricked Into Shaving:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTavR2PhsOY

Where to buy razors:

https://albatrossdesigns.it/

https://notoxlife.com/collections/shaving/products/rose-gold-safety-razor

https://lisseshave.com/

https://www.bareaya.com/

Shaving tips:

https://albatrossdesigns.it/pages/shaving-tips

CREMO Shave Cream:

https://cremocompany.com/mens-shave/original-shave-stick

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram & Facebook: @theheartfelthippie

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Email: [email protected]

Welcome back, Sandee and Callie! In Part 2 of this interview, we continue the conversation on non-toxic living and talk about what we can look for as consumers in the products we’re purchasing. If you missed Part 1, you’re gonna wanna go back and listen to that first to get the full picture on why toxins are so…bleh! And also what products we can find toxins in. If you’re ready to hear more about the solution, you’re in the right place! To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

We already heard about why we want to avoid toxins, so now what? Well, first, Sandee and Callie give us a little background on what safe ingredients ARE in their products and what makes them so effective. They share what we can look for in brands and ingredient labels as well as places where we can do credible, trustworthy research (yep, you read that right!). What they have to share about using products that come in solid form instead of liquid form (both for us and for the planet) is going to rock your world - you won’t be able to look at that bottle of shampoo the same ever again!

I told you before that the three of us go down a few rabbit holes during this interview, and you’ll see that that continues here, especially as Sandee and Callie give us recommendations on things they’re loving right now. They have some great ideas for books and shows that you can add to your quarantine bucket-list as well as some very valuable information on one of my favorite funguses - mushrooms. I learned so much from Sandee and Callie and I know you will too. I’m so grateful as a consumer that there are ladies like them running ethical, sustainable and conscientious businesses for the good of us all. Make sure you check out their favorite products linked below!

Links from the show:

Chemical of the Day:

http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/

Inci Decoder:

https://incidecoder.com/

Website with scientific studies - Cosmetic Ingredient Review:

https://www.cir-safety.org/ingredients

Blue Planet, Blue Planet 2, and Our Planet documentaries:

https://www.bbcearth.com/shows/blue-planet/

https://www.bbcearth.com/blueplanet2/

https://www.netflix.com/title/80049832

“Forks Over Knives” by Gene Stone:

https://www.amazon.com/Forks-Over-Knives-Plant-Based-Health/dp/1615190457

“Healing Mushrooms” by Tero Isokauppila:

https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Mushrooms-Practical-Culinary-Health/dp/0735216029

“Mycelium Running” by Paul Stamets:

https://www.amazon.com/Mycelium-Running-Mushrooms-Help-World/dp/1580085792

“Broken” docu-series:

https://www.netflix.com/title/81002391

“Forks Over Knives” documentary:

https://www.netflix.com/title/70185045

No Tox Life Conditioner Bar:

https://notoxlife.com/collections/hair-care/products/seaweed-conditioner-bar-for-all-hair-types

No Tox Life Dish Washing Block:

https://notoxlife.com/collections/nontoxic-home/products/zero-waste-dish-washing-block-single

Pyne & Smith Clothiers:

https://www.pyneandsmith.com/imported-products

OXO Compost Bin:

https://www.surlatable.com/oxo-good-grips-easy-clean-compost-bin-175-gal/PRO-5940416.html#prefn1=productType&prefv1=HardGood&q=composter&start=1

Urban City Compost Bin:

https://www.urbancomposterusa.com/product/urban-composter-city-starter-kit/

Find No Tox Life near you:

https://notoxlife.com/pages/where-to-find-us

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram and Facebook: @theheartfelthippie

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Sandee and Callie:

Instagram: @notoxlife // @notoxlife.la

Website: https://notoxlife.com/

TOXINS. Nobody wants them, but does anyone know what they actually are? On Part 1 of this 2-part series, Sandee and Callie, the mother-daughter duo, are sharing their insights into what toxins are and what products we can find them in. I’ll give you a hint: This is not just about beauty products, so listen up, fellas! To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Thanks to her daughter, Callie’s, prompting, Sandee decided she would try her hand at making soap for fun one Christmas. She never thought that this would turn into running her very own company with her daughter-turned-business-partner 6 years later! Once Sandee and Callie learned what the ingredients listed on the back of their shampoo bottles really were, though, they knew they had to do something about it. On Earth Day 2014, No Tox Life was born! For 6 years now this company has been growing and growing to provide clean, safe, yummy-smelling body and home care products at an affordable price for their patrons. Oh, and better yet, Sandee and Callie are super conscious of wastefulness and do their best to make sure the packaging of their products is as waste-free as possible!

On today’s episode, we’re focusing on defining toxins for the listeners and breaking down a lot of the mystery that comes with the technical terms we often see on labels. I’ll be honest, this conversation has me wishing I paid more attention in high school chemistry! But no worries, Sandee and Callie are here to help. They define some of the most common terms we see on labels, tell us where these toxins are often found and also explain the effects they can have on our bodies. I learned SO much from them during this interview. I wish I could just have them on speed dial to ask them questions all the time! One thing is for sure though - after listening to this you won’t want to buy products anywhere else except from No Tox Life!

Okay, after listening, you need to do these things (in no particular order)…

1. Make sure you check out Sandee and Callie’s website! (link listed below)

2. Subscribe to the show so that you know when Part 2 is coming (heck yeah! We’re gonna talk more about their awesome products and how to avoid toxins in your purchases!)

3. Leave a REVIEW - I’m donating money for reviews right now, so when you leave one you’re helping me to help others. Booyah!

Links from the show:

No Tox Life Website:

https://notoxlife.com/

Think Dirty App from EWG:

https://www.thinkdirtyapp.com/

Podcast about miscarriage - The Goal Digger Podcast:

https://jennakutcherblog.com/095-2/

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram and Facebook: @theheartfelthippie

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Sandee and Callie:

Instagram: @notoxlife // @notoxlife.la

Website: https://notoxlife.com/

Find them in a store near you: https://notoxlife.com/pages/where-to-find-us

Happy second birthday, EMP!! 2 years in the books, a lot more to go. Part of me can't believe I've made it this far, while another part of me feels like it's already been a lifetime. If you've been following along, you've seen the updates that I'm going to be releasing more frequent, shorter episodes because, let's face it, we have a lot more work to do! Enough business though, let's get to the fun stuff! To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

To celebrate this momentous occasion, I invited a super special guest to talk with me. She is someone who I've known for a long time, someone who I admire in a lot of ways, someone who never fails to encourage me when I need a confidence boost, and my bff. Welcome, Aimee! I got so excited about having Aimee on the show that I forgot to have her introduce herself to those who are listening. So, a few things you should know about her are: we became friends during our sophomore year of high school; we are both from Everett, Washington and Aimee still lives there; Aimee is a police officer by day, and by night she's a proud cat-mom to her cat, Yodi. Also, Aimee is easily the funniest person I know and has the best laugh, so get ready to laugh along with us!

I wanted this episode to be all about having fun because that's why I started this show - to talk about important topics and have fun doing it. So today's conversation is all about having fun, giving helpful suggestions as we continue to live in isolation, and, like I said, lots of laughter. We also happened to record this on EARTH DAY, which was super exciting for a hippie like me. We're chatting about books and shows we like, recipes to try, healthy habits to start practicing, things you can do for the planet (since it is Earth Day after all), and our favorite memories of each other.

Something else I share today is that for every review I receive on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, I am going to be donating $2 of my very own money to two super awesome organizations. Pretty cool, right? If you can sacrifice one minute of your time to write a review, you can help me to help others! Let's see how much money we can give away! If you need instructions on how to write a review, visit my website: https://theheartfelthippie.wordpress.com/how-to-write-a-podcast-review/

Links from the show:

Beachbody Workouts:

https://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/on-demand-workout-videos.do

Aimee’s favorite show: Podcast about Drinking

https://www.theporch.live/messages/5267-drunkenness-soberness

Mackenzie’s favorite show: The Happy Hour Podcast

https://jamieivey.com/tag/the-happy-hour-podcast

Little Fires Everywhere:

https://www.hulu.com/series/little-fires-everywhere-bce24897-1a74-48a3-95e8-6cdd530dde4c

The Peanut Butter Falcon:

https://www.amazon.com/Peanut-Butter-Falcon-Shia-LaBeouf/dp/B07W4KBZ39

Downton Abbey:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/shows/downton-abbey/

The Hunters:

https://www.amazon.com/Hunters-Season-1/dp/B07ZPF4DVK

Divine Direction by Craig Groeschel:

https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Direction-Decisions-That-Change/dp/031034283X

The OutsiderS by S.E. Hinton:

https://www.amazon.com/Outsiders-S-Hinton/dp/014240733X

The Outsider (TV Show):

https://www.hulu.com/series/the-outsider-c4b17c85-cfe1-4ddb-b92b-97c9889b9cde

Tortellini Caesar Salad Recipe:

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/tortellini-caesar-salad/

Spicy Peanut Noodles Recipe:

https://www.ruchiskitchen.com/vegan-spicy-peanut-noodles/

Urban Composter:

https://www.urbancomposterusa.com/

Barefoot Yoga Studio online classes:

https://www.hellobarefootyoga.com/class-schedule

Young Life - Everett/Mill Creek:

https://everettmillcreek.younglife.org/

Water Mission:

https://watermission.org/?_ga=2.263093836.1798667182.1588014690-598795402.1588014690

Link to the show on iTunes:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-enlighten-me-podcast/id1375899371

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram and Facebook: @theheartfelthippie

In the midst of chaos, there is hope. That statement is as true today as it ever was. Though this episode was originally recorded back in the fall, I think it’s no coincidence that I had saved this message of hope for right now. Get ready to get inspired!

Rachel George is a busy lady. She is a writer and published author, she runs two local coffee shops in central Illinois with her husband, Sam, and together the two have a lot of babies to love. That’s actually what we’re talking about today - what it’s like to love and grieve babies who aren’t here on earth anymore while also loving babies who are.

Rachel and Sam have three sweet children in heaven. In this conversation, Rachel is sharing their story and what walking through this tremendous grief has taught them. This episode is different from one’s I’ve shared in the past - I didn’t really prepare any questions for Rachel, instead I just wanted her to share her story. As an author, she’s a natural at storytelling, and this story will compel you. You’ll learn what hope truly looks like, what it looks like to be active in your grieving process, and also that it’s okay to not be okay. Rachel is vulnerable in sharing her thoughts and feelings during such trying periods in her life, and she is also willing to share her tips for those grieving, especially couples grieving children, as well as tips for those who are supporting their loved ones in times of sorrow.

As I said, this story is about hope. While parts of Rachel’s story may bring tears, it will also bring smiles. You gotta make sure you listen all the way through so that you can hear even more good news that has come for Rachel since we recorded this! Oh, and you’ll also get a preview of some special announcements and exciting things that are coming!

You can look below for links that Rachel and I reference, but I want to point out that her blog and Instagram account are also full of amazing resources. Rachel’s vulnerability doesn’t stop after this episode - her blog posts and pictures are daily encouragements to me, and their website is also full of helpful resources for those grieving. Grief isn’t always a comfortable topic, in fact it’s something that people are so often anxious to get to the other side of. I’m thankful that Rachel and Sam have created a safe space to be broken and tools to support us in our heartbreak that we all will undoubtedly face in this life.

Links from the show:

Mad Goat Coffee:

https://www.madgoatcoffee.com/

Rachel’s blog:

https://samandrachelgeorge.com/

Rachel’s book - “Grieve, Create, Believe: Process Your Loss with Intention and Truth”:

https://www.amazon.com/Grieve-Create-Believe-Process-Intention/dp/0578617196

Trees & Flowers Co. on Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/treesandflowersco/

“Hinds’ Feet on High Places” by Hannah Gurnard

https://www.amazon.com/Hinds-Feet-Places-Hannah-Hurnard/dp/0842314296

“The Good Neighbor” by Maxwell King:

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Neighbor-Life-Work-Rogers/dp/1640910859

Graphic Design Classes via Creative Live:

https://www.creativelive.com/

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram and Facebook: @theheartfelthippie

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Rachel:

Instagram and Facebook: @rachelgeorgewrites

Blog: https://samandrachelgeorge.com/blog/

When I first saw the documentary “13th” on Netflix, I was shocked. Shocked and disturbed. Mass incarceration in America has become a crisis over the past 40 years. While Americans only make up 5% of the worlds population, we make up 25% of the worlds prison population. Holy cow! Statistics like this one are disheartening, but what I learned from this interview is that there is HOPE. To view the full show notes, continue reading here or check out my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Cyril Prabhu is not native to the US, but upon his arrival here in his mid-20’s he realized there was a problem with our prison systems. Since he is a data miner by day, he did a lot of research on this topic and has found a practical way not simply to help people in prison, but to prevent people from ending up there in the first place. The government estimates that around 70% of people serving time in prison will actually end up back in prison within 3 months of their release. On top of that, children whose parents are in prison have upwards of an 80% chance of ending up in prison themselves. Knowing this information, Cyril founded an organization that intervenes in the lives of the incarcerated.

Through Proverbs 226 Ministries, Cyril works with children of incarcerated parents to reunite and bring healing to families. Their goals are to keep kids in school and to give parents a stable life once they are out of jail. The organization has only been around for 8 years, but the impact they have had in this time is huge! In this conversation, Cyril and I start by discussing the problem of mass incarceration and recidivism. If you don’t know what these terms mean, that’s okay, Cyril will tell you! You’re going to hear why this is such an issue and how it personally affects YOU, even if you don’t have any family members or friends who are currently associated with the prison system! While this is some hard news to hear, you’re also going to hear about how Cyril and Proverbs 226 are working to prevent this issue from growing and how YOU can be a part of it, no matter where you live!

And to my non-American listeners, I want to say that this episode isn’t just for folks who live in the United States. After you listen to what Cyril shares, I recommend you do some of your own research on incarceration statistics in country and look into how your prison systems are run. Perhaps this can inform what candidates you want to elect into public office, or it can possibly determine how you want to treat the most vulnerable people around you, like the homeless or the orphaned. Whatever it is, I hope you feel inspired just like I was to look out for the left out.

Links from the show:

Proverbs 226:

https://proverbs226.org/

Prison Fellowship:

https://www.prisonfellowship.org/

About Chuck Colson:

https://www.prisonfellowship.org/about/chuckcolson/

“Are You Dancing in the Rain?” by Cyril Prabhu:

https://www.amazon.com/Are-Dancing-Rain-Cyril-Prabhu/dp/069218967X

NPR Podcasts:

https://www.npr.org/programs/

“13th” Documentary:

https://www.netflix.com/title/80091741

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram & Facebook: @theheartfelthippie

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Cyril:

Website: www.proverbs226.org

Facebook: facebook.com/proverbs226

Email: [email protected]

After recording this episode, I just wanna garden, chill, and drink kombucha. The simple life sounds like the way to go! At first look, Carly and Brenden might seem a little extreme. They are committed to a zero waste, vegan, and eco-friendly lifestyle which you can see from their electric car, their mass amounts of produce purchased, and the fact that they never have a grocery sack with them. BUT what you’ll see from this conversation is that it’s much more simple than it looks - Carly and Brenden are all about going back to the basics! To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

When Carly and Brenden started dating (all thanks to Brenden’s beard), they combined their powers and made The Sustainable Duo - their business and social platform that teaches regular peoples like you and me how to live more ethically and sustainably! From the very first Instagram post I ever saw from them years ago, I have not stopped learning from this power couple since. I’m not joking when I say they are #goals.

In today’s conversation, we talk about why they eat vegan and how it doesn’t have to be as complicated as we might think. We also chatted about some other passions of theirs, including plant-based medicine and the clean water movement. I learned a lot from them, as usual, but I also learned that I need to get them back on the show quickly for Part 2 (and part 3, 4, 5, etc…) because we have soooo much more to talk about.

I hope this conversation makes you question things. I hope it makes you rethink some of the common things you have always been told - like that protein comes mainly from meat - and think about where that information is coming from. I hope you question if buying more stuff and owning more things will make you happy like so many advertisers want us to believe. And I hope you question the ways in which you thought it might be difficult to live a sustainable lifestyle, and that you start to see that it can actually be pretty simple if we don’t overthink it. Now, head on over to see them in action on the gram and watch them get zero-wasted!

Links from the show:

Sustainable Duo Website:

https://sustainableduo.com/

“Cowspiracy” Documentary:

https://www.netflix.com/title/80033772

John Lewis:

https://badassvegan.com/

@badassvegan

Torre Washington:

https://torrewashington.com/

@torre.washington

Planet Protein:

https://www.planetprotein.com/pages/our-story-vegan-protein

@planet_protein

Berkey Water Filters:

https://www.berkeyfilters.com/

EWG Tap Water Drinking Guide:

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

https://www.ewg.org/

“How to Train a Wild Elephant” by Jan Chozen Bays:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I3LC9HK/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

“The Master Key System” by Charles F. Haanel

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001H32E6W/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

NuLeaf Naturals CBD Oil:

https://nuleafnaturals.com/shop/

**Check out Carly’s Instagram for a discount code!**

Connect with Mackenzie:

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Instagram & Facebook: @theheartfelthippie

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Carly and Brenden:

@sustainable_duo

@carly_bergman

@the_sustainable_ceo

When we set out to record a “year-in-review” episode, we originally planned on recording it at the end of the year… That was before the winter colds hit us. Ugh! But we’re here now and we’re still in reflection mode, so here it is! For the second time I invited my personal most favorite guest, one Mr. Justin Neally, back on the podcast to talk about how 2019 went and what we’re looking forward to in 2020! We had a blast recording this and went through a list of thoughtful questions, some serious and some not at all, thanks to friends and listeners giving us a little feedback. We hope that this conversation makes you reflect, makes you laugh, and leaves you encouraged.

Warning: there is crying in this episode, but it is not from Justin or I. We recorded it after the baby went to bed, but we still had to keep the monitor close by, and, like it or not, we’re believers in the cry-it-out method. #sorrynotsorry… What you don’t hear thanks to my editing skills is that I do at one point go to console Baker, and he is a-okay, so please don’t mom-shame me! I am sorry for the background noise that exists through part of this episode, though, but welcome to our lives! Speaking of babies, we talk a lot about what becoming parents has been like, challenges that we’ve faced, advice for other parents, and all sorts of fun grown up topics like that. But don’t fret, if you fast-forward through the first fifteen minutes or so you can skip that stuff if you want to.

Other topics we covered in this conversation were our 2019 travels, how we did on our goals for 2019 and our new goals for the new year, podcast episodes we enjoyed, products we like, books we read, who we’d give a wedgie to if we could… VERY important stuff here that you simply just can’t miss. Above all else, you’ll get to know us in this episode - a look behind the scenes at what we’re trying to do over here at the Enlighten Me Podcast. So grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine or whatever beverage of your choice and join us as we continue to ring in 2020. Cheers!

Links from the show:

The Way of the Shepherd by Kevin Leman and Bill Pentak:

https://www.amazon.com/Way-Shepherd-Ancient-Managing-Productive/dp/0310250978

Bohemian Rhapsody movie:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727824/

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood movie:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3224458/

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott:

https://www.christianbook.com/little-women-louisa-alcott/9780147514011/pd/514016?en=google&event=SHOP&kw=childrens-books-0-20%7C514016&p=1179710&dv=c&gclid=CjwKCAiA0svwBRBhEiwAHqKjFmADDsDGkDZGxrzD0QYBCafZrdHZy4MO-gqy4aOi6RSAx6wi0_KaZBoC0-oQAvD_BwE

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo App:

https://www.cmzoo.org/conservation/orangutans-palm-oil/sustainable-palm-oil-shopping-app/

Uncle Henry’s Natural Toothpaste:

https://www.uncleharrys.com/spearmint-toothpaste-3-oz-glass-jar

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Sun Shield Liquid Tint SPF 50:

https://www.amazon.com/MyChelle-Shield-Oil-Free-Zinc-Oxide-Sunscreen/dp/B01MSELU0F/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIupPxrpuG4wIVBcpkCh2_RwzdEAAYAiAAEgLRhfD_BwE&hvadid=233522622692&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9019558&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t2&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12933570993737380184&hvtargid=kwd-7404354693&hydadcr=20974_10117750&keywords=mychelle%2Bsunscreen&qid=1561520022&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&th=1

Biokleen Bac-Out Stain + Order Remover:

https://biokleenhome.com/product/bac-out-stain-odor-remover-2/

For this very special edition of The Enlighten Me Podcast, Rosalie Roberts of World Changer Co. and I developed an “ethical shopping gift guide”! Rosalie’s business is dedicated to helping people find ethical places to shop, so I knew she was the perfect person to help me with this episode. To view the full show notes, continue reading here or visit my website: www.heartfelthippie.com

If you’ve listened to the show for some time now, you’ve heard me talk about ethical shopping before. What is ethical shopping exactly? That’s what we’ll explain today. Rosalie and I were looking at who runs these companies, certifications that they hold, how their products are made, how their employees are treated, what goes into the products and the environmental effect they have. We’ve done all the research for you and have some great options for gifts for your loved ones this season!

One thing you’ll notice while listening is that shopping ethically is not that hard, nor is it that expensive! So, as you go about your shopping this holiday season, RETHINK what your purchases can mean! You can get an awesome gift at an affordable price and make your dollars go farther by supporting a brand whose values you actually believe in. You can find links to all the products we talk about listed below, as well as some honorable mentions from previous episodes. Also make sure you check out her website if you want more ideas for places to shop this season that you can trust with your money! Merry Christmas and happy shopping, conscious consumers!

Links from the show:

World Changer Co.:

https://www.worldchangerco.com/

Redeemed With Purpose Classic Tortoise Hoops:

Use code MACKENZIEN20 for 20% off!

https://www.redeemedwithpurpose.com/listing/740967453/classic-tortoise-hoops

Charcoal Soap by The Adventure Project:

https://shop.theadventureproject.org/products/charcoal-soap

Blue Planet Eyewear Sunglasses:

Use code WORLDCHANGER20 for 20% off!

https://blueplaneteyewear.com/?afmc=Rosalie20&utm_campaign=Rosalie20&utm_source=leaddyno&utm_medium=affiliate

Pela Case Phone Case:

Use this link for $10 off!

https://shopblueplaneteyewear.com/?afmc=Rosalie20&utm_campaign=Rosalie20&utm_source=leaddyno&utm_medium=affiliate

Terra Thread Laptop Case:

Use code WORLDCHANGER20 for 20% off!

https://terrathread.com/collections/laptop-sleeves

Strawbit Straw:

https://strawbit.com/

Albatross Sailing Flagship Butterfly Razor:

https://albatrossdesigns.it/products/albatross-shaves-the-world-from-plastic-premiumbutterfly-razor

Green Toys Dump Truck:

https://www.greentoys.com/products/dump-truck

Rothy’s Shoes:

https://rothys.com/kids

Manzanita Kids Little Sapling Name Puzzle:

https://www.manzanitakids.com/collections/wood-toys/products/name-puzzle?variant=19769148145726

Ten Thousand Villages Crunchy Critter Dog Toy:

https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/pets/crunchy-critter-dog-toy

United by Blue Dog Collar:

https://unitedbyblue.com/products/woven-dog-collar?variant=29674695458888

No Tox Life Dishwashing Block:

https://notoxlife.com/collections/nontoxic-home/products/zero-waste-dish-washing-block-single

Dean’s Beans Coffee:

https://deansbeans.com/our-products/roasted-coffees/all-coffees.html

Good Gifts Handwoven Wool Blanket:

https://www.goodgifts.ca/#worldchangerco

Accounts to follow:

@thegoodtrade

@sustainablychic

@mochni_com

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Agathos Athleisure:

https://agathosathleisure.com/

T’s for Bees:

https://teesforbees.com/

Envirox:

https://www.enviroxclean.com/

Mrs. Emily:

https://mrsemily.com/

Endangered Species Chocolate:

https://www.chocolatebar.com/

Gehati:

https://www.gehati.com/

Noonday Collection:

https://www.noondaycollection.com/

Saint Mae:

https://shopsaintmae.com/

Connect with Mackenzie:

Website: www.heartfelthippie.com

Instagramm and Facebook: @theheartfelthippie

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Rosalie:

Website: https://www.worldchangerco.com/

Instagram and Facebook: @worldchangerco

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.nz/worldchangerco/