Sustainable Minimalists

Culture shapes so much of how we think, and American culture is obsessed with money. If we aren’t careful, our bank accounts can easily become intertwined with our self-worth, turning financial accumulation into the core focus of our daily lives.
But when we decouple what we earn and spend from our inherent value as human beings, money stops being this relentless scorekeeper. In that space of freedom, we get to define on our own terms what a happy, successful life actually looks like.
Is it impossible to fully de-center money while living in a capitalist society? Probably, but we’re trying anyway! On today’s episode, writer Tess Waltenburg Akenhead helps us explore what it looks like to de-center our finances from our identity, our self-worth, and our daily decisions.
 
Here's a preview: 
- Why trading finite energy for a paycheck often leaves us so depleted that we end up spending money on convenience and consumer pick-me-ups just to recover
- How reducing money to a neutral utility tool rather than using it as a yardstick for human worth opens up mental capacity, presence, and peace
- Why paying extra to outsource daily friction doesn't always buy back free time (and how to evaluate whether service expenditures genuinely enhance your life or just create more bills to pay)
- The ways in which intentional living is about owning your choices, honoring small non-monetized moments, and treating yourself with self-kindness along the way
 
Resources mentioned:
Tess on Instagram
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Modern conveniences make life easy. But has living become too easy? Convenience culture has made us vulnerable, and outsourcing our basic needs has cost us our independence and problem-solving skills.
The remedy to modern restlessness is working with your hands. Whether you live on sprawling acreage or a tiny apartment, you can take back your agency from the corporations profiting off our desire for ease. Learning new skills rewires your brain for better focus; it builds confidence and builds resilience through real-world problem-solving, too.
On today’s show, homesteader Sandy Eplett encourages you to take steps today to move from passive consumer to active participant in your own life.
Here’s a preview:
[4:00] The hidden fragility of modern convenience
[8:00] The logistics behind learning one new skill a month or one new skill a year
[13:00] OK, but where do we find the knowledgeable grandmas?
[18:00] On the immense joys to be had in “bucking the system”
 
Resources mentioned: 
The Homestead Event
Next Book Club! Nov. 4 7:30pm EST Book: TRASH! A Garbageman's Story
 
This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

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In our fast-paced, convenience-driven world, we’ve made our waste invisible. But 'out of sight' isn't out of existence, and our wastefulness is creating big problems for future generations.
True self-awareness starts with taking responsibility for what we throw away. On today's show, author Cassandra Marketos joins us to reframe composting from a messy chore into an easy-as-pie, grounding antidote to instant gratification that teaches us slowness, observation, and presence.
 
Here's a preview: 
[5:00] Nature wants to decompose, no expensive gadgets or insane time commitments required!
[11:00] Composting is "soul-opening". Here's how
[16:00] You literally can't get composting wrong! Browns, greens and other tips to get started
[29:00] Troubleshooting Stephanie's backyard compost pile
[33:00] Ready to level up? Here's how to supercharge your composting habit
 
Resources mentioned:
Compost After Reading: A Practical Manifesto for Purposeful Decomposition (via bookshop.org)
The Rot (via Substack)
Next Book Club! Nov. 4 7:30pm EST Book: TRASH! A Garbageman's Story
 
This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com
 

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists2448/exclusive-content

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Not so long ago, humanity’s main pursuit was finding food and staving off hunger. But these days, we’re throwing out strawberries. We’re letting salad greens go bad in the crisper. And when it comes to transforming those broccoli stalks or potato peels into something delicious, we’ve lost the know-how.
In an age where the average home discards enough edible meals to sustain an entire extra person, reclaiming our kitchens from unnecessary food waste has never been more urgent. On today’s show, author Teralyn Pilgrim explores what our wastefulness says about us as a culture—as well as her foundational framework for reframing our relationship with the food in our refrigerators.
Here’s a preview:
Why food waste stands as one of today’s largest environmental issues, and the stark contrast between historical food scarcity and modern excess
How disconnection from food production and changing home-cooking habits contribute to everyday waste
The Rules of Food Waste: A step-by-step walkthrough of Teralyn’s core principles for running a waste-free kitchen
Never shop hungry! Sweep out the fridge before adding more! And other top tips for reducing food waste once and for all
Resources mentioned:
No Scrap Left Behind (via Bookshop.org)
Want another episode on food waste that’s chock full of tips? Check out episode #437: Breaking Food Waste Norms.
This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

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A quiet revolution is starting in our backyards.
News headlines are certainly frightening at the moment, and watching billion-dollar corporations harm people and the planet in the name of profit is infuriating. But don’t let yourself slide into hopelessness. Whether you have a small urban balcony or sprawling rural acreage, you can reclaim your power as an activist through the small-scale choices you make every day.
On today’s show, author and homesteader Devon Ballard-Hudson walks us through her hopeful, accessible framework for reshaping the systems harming the planet, starting in our own homes and backyards.
Here’s a preview:
[6:30] On the importance of re-learning those “lost skills”
[10:00] Moving beyond headline-grabbing protests toward grounded, daily habits
[13:00] Applying the seventh generation principle and long-term ecological stewardship to household decisions
[18:00] Step one? Rewild!
[29:00] Life is noisy. So go on and reset your baseline
Resources mentioned:
Backyard Climate Activist: Healing the Planet from Home (releases Nov. 8)
The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté
Next Book Club! Nov. 4 7:30pm EST Book: TRASH! A Garbageman’s Story
This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
Join our (free!) Facebook community here.
Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists
Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists2448/exclusive-content

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy