Stephanie Marie Seferian's Blog, page 14

Single-Use Poison

We’re surrounded by plastics everywhere, all the time. And single-use plastics? They’re not only creating a pollution crisis; they are contributing to the climate crisis as well.

Microplastics in particular are a cocktail of toxicity, containing at least 10,000 different chemicals, many of which are linked to diseases including diabetes and cancer. And yet more plastic waste is being produced than ever before.

On today’s show journalist Matt Simon offers real, actionable solutions to combat the ...

Back-To-School Shopping

‘Tis the season for back-to-school door busters, price slashes, and closeouts. On today’s show we’re discussing how to reduce clutter, save money, and help the planet by shopping for back-to-school with greater intention.

Here’s a preview:

[2:30] Let’s pull back the curtain on back-to-school marketing, shall we?

[7:00] Here’s what it actually means (and what it actually looks like!) to shop your own home

[12:30] Revisiting the kids’ capsule conversation

[21:00] Thoughts on teacher wishlists (fro...

Predictors Of Back To School Success

Welcome to Back To School Week!

In 2023 the average American family will spend $597 per child in anticipation of the upcoming school year. And while new school supplies and fresh outfits can definitely get our children into the school spirit, it’s rest, nutrition, and predictable routines that *actually* predict success.

On today’s show Dr. Rebecca Jackson offers research-backed ways to ensure our children head to school with the best possible foundation.

Here’s a preview:

[2:30] A challenge amp...

The Pet Episode

You love your pet; you also love the planet. Good news: How you feed, care for, and clean up after your dogs and cats have sizable impacts on our environment and ecosystems. On today’s show: answering listener questions about all-things eco-conscious pets.

Here’s a preview of the pet-related questions we’re answering today:

[2:45] Should we transition our cats and dogs to plant-based diets?

[7:00] Is PFAS in pet food bags?

[10:30] What are the advantages and disadvantages of making our own pet f...

B Corp Certified

Brands are continuously making environmental and socially conscious claims. And while many consumers want to purchase from ethical brands, it’s hard to know which brands are legit versus which ones are faking. Enter the B Corp certification.

You’ve likely seen the B-in-a-circle logo, and it turns out that that logo says an awful lot about a company’s values, as it’s the only 3rd-party certification that certifies a company’s social and environmental ethics. Yes, the logo is certainly helpful for...

The 30-Day Mess-Stress Fix

A new month is nearly here, and this means it’s the perfect time to usher in the change of seasons with some legitimate decluttering.

If you’re ready to get serious about the clutter you accumulated this summer – and if you’re motivated by a bit of healthy competition!  – today’s episode outlines the objective, the setup, and the rules of play for the 30-day minimalism challenge I’ll be participating in starting August 1. I also offer up some tips to ensure success, and I so hope you join me for...

The Gender Neutral Clothes Movement

How often do you think about the clothes your children wear? Have you ever wondered whether the implicit and explicit messaging on those tee-shirts influence their behavior? Their development? The gender neutral clothes movement is rapidly gaining steam because – while it used to be pink for girls and blue for boys – kids’ fashion now boasts sequins, frills, and plunging cuts for girls and angry action heroes with bulging muscles and moody color palettes for boys.

Children’s fashion is generally...

6 Things You Can’t Buy On Amazon

Prime Week has come and gone … for now. And while there are countless questionable items you can indeed purchase on Amazon (a mini hand squirrel, anyone?), there are 6 very specific intangibles that simply cannot be bought. Not now, not ever.

On today’s show we apply the 6-Factor Model For Psychological Wellbeing to our lives for greater clarity around what actually sparks joy.

Here’s a preview:

[4:00] Connections between the fashion and beauty industries and bandaids when it comes to self-accep...

In Defense Of Staycations

Have a summer trip planned? You’re not alone. For many, traveling has become more lifestyle than luxury: in the time it takes you to read this blurb over 2,000 people will have arrived in a foreign country and a quarter of a million dollars will have been spent by Americans abroad.

Staycations are emerging in popularity as a hassle-free and environmentally friendly way to holiday. And if you need more convincing, today’s conversation with podcaster Chris Christou outlines why being a better tour...

Forest Bathing 101

Spending time in nature is recreation, sure; it’s also restorative and preventative medicine. Enter forest bathing which, like yoga, has been around for centuries and is now gaining newfound popularity amongst those of us who are overexposed, overworked, and overscheduled.

On today’s show author Ben Page invites us to connect with nature – and ourselves – in a new way.

Here’s a preview:

[5:00] Japan and shirin-yoku: The origins of modern forest bathing

[9:00] Why bother? Here’s a laundry list of...