Sustainability has the reputation of being, well, expensive. When money's tight, how do modern families decide what to prioritize with their dollars? 

Today I chat with Whitney Leigh Morris about the space where eco-consciousness and finances collide.

Here's a preview:

[3:30] Think you can't afford to be eco-friendly? Think again

[6:00] $8 leggings from Target or a $35 pair from an ethical brand? It's complicated ... 

[13:00] Electric vehicle? Heat pump? How to get in the habit of asking whether you *actually* need that big ticket eco-item

[16:00] Thoughts on replacing items that are in working condition for more energy efficient options

[19:30] Are carbon offsets really worth the money?

[26:30] What 'voting with your dollars' really means

 

Resources mentioned:

• Episode #326: Gifting Boundaries with Whitney
• Whitney on Instagram

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The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, December 1 2023:

[00:30] Frustration and skepticism surrounding the latest climate summit happening now

[5:30] A plane just flew across the Atlantic without fossil fuels, but let's reign in our excitement

[10:00] Lead pipes, be gone

[14:00] The plight of the wolverine

 

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Like wine? Me too! On today's show: Everything you need to know about selecting wine that's aligned with your values. 

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Why, oh why aren't there ingredients labels on alcohol?

[8:00] Your favorite wine may have up to 6 dozen additives within. Let's chat about a few of them

[13:00] Do sulfites deserve their bad rap? (hey there, red wine headaches!)

[20:00] Grapes are listed as #8 on the EWG's Dirty Dozen. Should we be buying organic wine?

[24:00] Biodynamic wine is organic, but organic wine isn't necessarily biodynamic. Here's why

[33:00] How to buy wine like an informed and conscious consumer

 

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Many of us have a complicated relationship with our stuff. And while no one wants their possessions to possess their lives, our stuff often has fascinating stories to tell.

On today's show: A conversation with psychotherapist and professional organizer Helen Sanderson about what the state of our homes reveal about our psychology.

 

Here's a preview:

[3:45] Pack rat, minimalist, or somewhere in between? Here's what our homes show us about ourselves

[6:15] How to best guide your child toward tidiness, no nagging necessary

[12:00] When a neat freak and a slob get married: How to best navigate differences in home maintenance styles

[17:00] Home management is like tending a garden (and other applicable metaphors)

[20:00] Thoughts on finding the drive to get to "maintenance"

 

Resources mentioned:

• The Secret Life of Clutter
• Helen on Instagram

 

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It’s crazy but it’s true: Only in America do we trample each other for sales exactly ONE day after being thankful for what we already have.

Corporations want us to believe that happiness lies in stuff, but research consistently suggests otherwise. On today's re-air: A conversation with blogger Barbara Alfeo about making the most of the day after Thanksgiving in ways that have nothing to do with shopping.

Here's a preview:

[4:00] A Black Friday primer: Its humble origins and its spectacular modern-day popularity

[8:15] Why do we over-shop? It's likely to fill the hole that our communities used to fill

[12:00] Get out of the stores and get off the internet; have an anti-Black Friday instead. Here's how

[20:00] Are you *just* a consumer or are you a helper, a volunteer, a friend? Here's why Black Friday is the perfect day to give back

[26:00] How to set clear cut gifting limits so you don't overspend on Cyber Monday and throughout the holiday season

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Is that Christmas in the air, or is it capitalism?

There's no doubt about it: overconsumption degrades the planet. Enter Secondhand Sunday, a new-ish shopping holiday that's nestled between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It's dedicated to all-things thrifted and redirects shoppers away from mass consumption and toward pre-loved items instead. 

On today's show Poshmark's Kelly Mason inspires us to think differently about shopping during the holidays.

(P.S. Are you putting up your Christmas tree this weekend? Listen to Episode #323: O Christmas Tree first!)

 

Here's a preview:

[2:45] The case for normalizing secondhand items as gifts

[6:00] We live in a different world than we did as children! Here's why it's high-time our giving rituals adapt to our current enviro-reality

[13:00] Would your loved ones be open to receiving a secondhand gift? This is what market research says

[15:00] Skeptics, unite! How to best dip your toe into the secondhand lifestyle

[21:00] Why it's individual voices (a.k.a. yours and mine) that contribute to the collective gifting mindset shift 

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The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, November 17 2023:

[2:45] Climate disasters are expensive, yo

[7:30] Earth just experienced its hottest year in 125,000 years

[12:00] The planet is "woefully off track" on 41 out of 42 global climate goals

 

 

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The holidays are meant to be about peace, joy, and togetherness … but they often end up steeped in chaos, rush, and overspending.

Not this year! There’s really no better time than right this minute to practice slowing down and getting intentional *before* we say yes to another obligation or hit 'add to cart'.

On today's show podcast host Desirae Endres reminds us that the holidays aren't just for kids; they are for us to enjoy too. 

 

Here's a preview:

[6:30] First things first: We can't manufacture perfection, and kids make their own magic

[11:00] Are you the behind-the-scenes magic maker? The importance of remembering what YOU love about the season

[23:00] Protect your peace by zeroing in on what's within your control

[29:00] Focus on contentment, not on comparison! Shining light on the chasm between our idealized (ahem...commercialized) celebrations versus real life

 

Resources mentioned:

• Your Minimal-ish Holidays: 30 Days to a More Intentional Season
• Desirae on Instagram

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Are you doing gratitude wrong?

So many of us are always waiting for more. But when you greet each moment gratefully? You're always receiving.

On today's show author Kristi Nelson offers a mini-formula for grateful living (put this conversation on as you're preparing for Thanksgiving!).

 

Here's a preview:

[10:00] It's not happiness that makes us grateful; it's gratefulness that makes us happy (and other research-backed benefits to grateful living)

[20:00] Is what once was plenty now no longer enough? Practical ways to fight back against "gratitude tolerance"

[26:00] The super-simple solution to mind grind

[30:00] Thoughts on practicing gratitude during moments of grief, illness, and struggle

 

Resource mentioned:

• Wake Up Grateful: The Practice Of Taking Nothing For Granted

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The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, November 10 2023:

[00:30] Microplastics are now in clouds; here's what this means

[3:00] The leaf blower problem

[10:30] The world's first solar SUV has entered the chat

[11:00] An electric plane just flew from Vermont to Florida (!)

 

Resources mentioned: 

Episode #260: The White Gold Rush 

 

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Choosing the right hand soap and body wash isn't *just* about cleanliness. You deserve non-toxic products and our waterways deserve non-polluting ones, so it's really about committing to a higher standard of care.

We're likely using soap every day for the rest of our lives; it's prudent, then, to get intentional about this must-have product. On today's show: conscious consumerism in the soap aisle.

 

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Are antibacterial/antimicrobial soaps really necessary?

[6:30] A hand sanitizer tangent: pro tips for buying and using sanitizer the *right* way

[9:00] Research finds that putting products with toxins on our skin is more deleterious to our health than eating them, and here's why

[11:00] Everything you absolutely must know about Triclosan

[19:00] How to excel at the hand soap class of life via Stephanie's handy-dandy grading rubric

 

Resources mentioned:

• Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap bars
• Vermont Soap Company 
• Attitude personal care products
• Carina Organics

 

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Perhaps you're a veteran investor, or maybe you're just now starting to financial plan. Either way, where you put your money can substantially increase (or decrease!) your annual carbon footprint. 

Don't put your money where your mouth is; put it where your values are. On today's show financial consultant Shila Wattamwar leads an advanced level discussion about sustainable investing for the eco-conscious. 

 

Here's a preview:

[5:00] The sneaky ways you may be funding fossil fuels with your $$

[8:00] How well do ESG rating scales actually work? (And why aren't these measures standardized?)

[21:00] Proxy ballots are an opportunity. Don't throw them in the trash!

[25:00] What a time to be alive: A financial advisor's thoughts on next gen "alternative investments"

 

New to sustainable investing? Listen to these episodes first! 

• Episode #278: Divesting
• Episode #258: Conscious Spending
• Episode #205: How To Right-Size Your Budget

 

Resources mentioned: 

• Sustainability With Soren
• www.SustainableMe.Today
• Net-Zero Banking Alliance – United Nations Environment – Finance Initiative (unepfi.org)
• Company ESG Risk Ratings and scores - Sustainalytics
• ESG Screener | Morningstar
• Resolutions — As You Sow
• Resolution Database | PRI (unpri.org)
• DEALFLOW NETWORK l Connecting Private Equity ( PE ), Venture Capital ( VC ), M&A Dealmakers | Groups | LinkedIn
• Impact Entrepreneur | Groups | LinkedIn
• Big Path Capital founders of the Impact Investing Forum | Groups | LinkedIn
• Gaingels
• SOSV - Deep Tech for Human and Planetary Health
• Chloe Capital | VC Firm Investing In Women

 

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The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, November 3 2023:

[00:30] French cheese, meet climate change

[4:00] This is why olive oil is so expensive right now

[6:30] Why many scientists are now saying climate change is an all-out 'emergency'

[11:00] Cities are notoriously hot. Here are some cutting edge cooling solutions 

 

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Some environmentalists call Christmas the world’s greatest annual environmental disaster, and for good reason: All that cheap, ultra-trendy decor adds up. On today's show: getting intentional about our holiday decorations once and for all.

 

Here's a preview:

[3:00] Let's talk numbers: How much do Americans spend each year on holiday decor?

[10:00] 3 ways in which 'Christmas Creep' encourages us to spend more than we intended on decorations

[13:00] The origins of those inflatable lawn thingys: Where did they come from and when will they disappear?

[22:00] Don't go out and buy another decoration until you've displayed the decorations you already own, and here are 4 reasons why

[32:00] Want to make your child smile? Don't buy a cheap piece of holiday decor; do this instead

 

Resources mentioned:

• Big Mouth Billy Bass
• Episode #323: O Christmas Tree
• Episode #101: 5 Spaces To Declutter Before Christmas
• Episode #051: How To Handle Holiday Clutter (with Joshua Becker)
• Episode #327: Holiday Boundaries
• Episode #326: Gift Boundaries

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Many of us shy away from the word 'activist' because the term brings to mind a very specific type of person. But if you're regularly taking action to make the world a better place? Guess what my friend, you're already an activist (yes, really!).

What matters is not the size of the action, nor how vigorous the action is. It's all about consistency. On today's show author Omkari Williams helps us find the kind of social justice engagement that feels both empowering *and* sustainable.

Here's a preview:

[4:00] Activism isn't just marching and picketing: Here's what micro activism looks like in the day to day 

[10:30] Are you a headliner, an organizer, a producer, or an indispensable? How to determine your unique activist archetype

[22:00] The status quo isn't working for the vast majority of us. So where's the passion for change?

[30:00] How to know whether your efforts constitute shallow work or deep work

 

Resources mentioned:

• Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World without a Bullhorn
• Take Omkari's Activist Archetype Quiz
• Seafoodwatch.org consumer guides

 

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The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, October 27 2023:

[00:30] The West Antarctic ice sheet appears to be headed for an eventual “collapse”

[3:00] The oil giants are feeling pretty darn good about their futures, apparently

[6:30] Why on earth is the US government funding enhanced oil recovery?

[13:00] This potential climate warrior may be gearing up for a White House run 

 

Resources mentioned:

• Companies capture a lot of CO2. Most of it is going into new oil. (via WaPo)
• Episode #381: Our Carbon Problem
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It's sad but true: Americans are some of the most chronically stressed people on the planet. On today's show: how to incorporate Japanese lifestyle philosophies into our lives for reduced stress, greater well-being, and a longer life.

Here's a preview:

[3:00] The physiology of stress: What *actually* goes on in our bodies when we encounter a stressor?

[11:00] 5 reasons why Americans are among the most stressed in the world

[20:00] The secret to a great life isn't the accumulation of $$, it's this

[27:00] How being in a hurry is inversely proportional to your quality of life

 

Resources mentioned:

• Americans Are Some of the Most Stressed-Out People in the World, a New Global Survey Says (via Time)
• Stressed in the U.S.: 12 Tools to Tackle Anxiety, Loneliness, Tech Addiction, and More by Meg Van Deusen
• Episode #384: Forest Bathing 101 
• Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

 

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Whether you’re dining at a restaurant or ordering takeout, eating out leaves a footprint.

On today's show: asking the right questions, minimizing food waste, and reading through All. The. Greenwashing the next time you head to a restaurant.

Here's a preview:

[6:30] The food waste issue at fine dine, quick serve, and fast casual

[12:00] Farm-to-table? How to find restaurants that actually care about environmental sustainability

[22:30] The best way to *gently* suggest a change in a restaurant's policy

[27:00] Our lives may be go go go, but our food doesn't have to be!

 

Resources mentioned:

• Michelin Green Star restaurants
• Episode #093: How (Exactly) To Cook Zero-Waste Meals
• Episode #270: Desperation Dinners
• Episode #038: What's For Dinner?

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The enviro-news you need to know for Friday, October 20 2023:

[00:30] These are the places that could become ‘unlivable’ as the Earth warms

[3:00] Engineer the ocean to curb climate change? Hmm ...

[6:30] Ozone-destroying gasses are largely banned. So why are they still being emitted into the atmosphere?

[13:00] Climate rules are coming for corporate America

[15:00] The enviro-implications of that Taylor Swift tweet

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We are often told that if we accomplish as much as possible in a day’s time we’ll feel fulfilled come day’s end. Enter to-do lists, which provide focus, direction, and purpose. But action doesn't always equal progress; it's no surprise, then, that so many of us feel drained and dissatisfied once the sun goes down.

On today's show: how to find freedom in your to-do list and (finally!) make room for peace, connection, and fulfillment.

 

Here's a preview:

[4:00] Your daily to-do list should have 7 items or less, and here's why

[8:30] Exactly how to focus less on efficiency and more on intentionality

[15:00] Time Boxing, Post-Its, and more: 4 research-backed ways to make your to-do list work for you

[29:00] The Number One way to ensure you're spending your precious finite resource (ahem ... your TIME) on the right things 

 

Resources mentioned:

• 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done (by Peter Bregnan)
• Fat And The Moon deodorant

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