Stephanie Marie Seferian's Blog, page 18

Are Carbon Offsets Worth It?

Should you pay a bit more for carbon-neutral shipping? (Answer: It’s complicated.) How do you best offset your next flight? (Answer: Pay much more than you think.)  On today’s show we break down all-things carbon offsets.

Here’s a preview:

[4:00] Are carbon offsets a greenwashing gimmick?

[6:00] How to calculate the equity weighted social cost of carbon of your next flight

[15:30] Guilt-free shopping? Here’s what carbon neutral shipping really means

[19:30] Breaking down the Climate Neutral Cert...

Growing Joy With Plants

The answer to a happier, more connected life may be as simple as connecting with nature. Enter houseplants, a.k.a. an easy and accessible way to bring the outside in. Although caring for plants has been shown to reduce stress, increase joy, and cultivate connections with ourselves, others and the earth, many of us are epic plant killers. What then?

On today’s show author and podcaster Maria Failla teaches a crash course on houseplant care for novice and intermediate listeners so that we (fingers...

The Scarcity Mindset

Corporations make money when consumers perseverate over what they don’t have. And personal development? If you want to grow into the best person you can be, Step One is to abandon a mindset that’s focused on scarcity.

On this episode: how to radically transform your cognitive patterns from ruminating on what you lack to appreciating what you have in under 5 minutes a day.

 

Here’s a preview:

[3:30] Do you suffer from a scarcity mindset? Find out in this quick, 6-question quiz

[8:00] Exactly how ...

The Impact-Effort Tradeoff

When it comes to sustainable action, we tend to label behaviors as either/or: Either we’re acting in a way that’s “eco-friendly” or …, well, not. But the reality is some lifestyle tweaks are greener than others: When time, energy, and funds are finite, where’s the best place to focus our efforts?

On today’s show: A conversation with Sam Schreiner about the 4 categories of sustainable action – with a hefty dose of data-driven analysis to boot.

 

Here’s a preview:

[7:00] 0.1 versus 1.0 makes a big...

High-Impact Decluttering

6 high-traffic, high-impact spaces to declutter that you can complete in 20 minutes or less.

Here’s a preview of the spaces we’re decluttering today:

[4:00] Your car console

[9:45] Your purse/backpack/baby bag

[16:00] Your linen closet

[25:00] Your medicine cabinet

[28:00] The surface of your desk

[33:00]  Your spice cabinet

 

Resources mentioned:

Episode #009: A Sustainable Minimalist’s BathroomJoin our (free!) community here.Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagra...

Capsule Beauty

When it comes to skincare, loads of products line store shelves. Almost all of them make bold, anti-aging claims (fountain of youth, anyone?).

But buying All. The. Products. comes with hefty financial and environmental price tags: If we want to age gracefully, what’s the average woman to do?

On today’s show, board certified dermatologist Dr. Mary Alice Mina makes the case that using too many skincare products is unnecessary at best and potentially harmful at worst.

Here’s a preview:

[4:00] What ...

Rapid Fire Q&A

We’re at it again: 4 listener questions in a rapid-fire format.

Here’s a preview of the questions I’m answering:

[1:30] What should conscious consumers consider when buying eco-conscious undergarments?

[13:30] What are some practical first steps for college students who want to practice sustainability?

[18:00] Oh what to do with baby bottles, car seats, breast pumps, and other one-and-done baby gear?

[23:00] Eco-home renovations 101:  What should we keep in mind when embarking on a reno (with a ...

Grocery Store Hacks

Inflation got you down? Chin up, friends! On today’s episode: 12 tangible grocery store hacks that save money and reduce food waste.

Here’s a preview:

[2:00] What it looks like in real life to sacrifice convenience for better prices

[7:30] Even more reasons why you should consider buying dried beans instead of canned

[13:00] Can you freeze cheese? (Answer: Yes! Here’s how)

[18:00] Where to get the best deals on milk, plus: the financial benefits associated with dairy-free alternatives

[24:00] Wh...

Pesky Polymers

88% of US and UK consumers want brands to help them be more sustainable in their daily lives and many are willing to pay a premium for plastic-free products. But despite consumer demand, plastic is everywhere and downright impossible to avoid. On today’s show: 9 places those pesky polymers lurk, plus hacks for avoiding them.

Here’s a preview:

[4:00] Here’s what you never knew about tires

[8:00] How to shop for tea like a conscious consumer

[15:00] Your dish sponge’s dirty little secret

[17:30] A...

A Green Burial

The typical American funeral boasts exotic flowers, a coffin made of fancy wood, and formaldehyde-based embalming. But a green burial requires fewer resources and skips a number of unnecessary steps; they also tend to be less expensive.

Today I speak with green mortician Elizabeth Fournier about alternatives to conventional burials and cremations that are easier on the planet.

Here’s a preview:

[5:00] Exactly what’s wrong from an environmental standpoint with standard burials and cremations

[12:...