Stephanie Marie Seferian's Blog, page 23

Climate Reparations?

A hotter planet is here, my friends. Don’t believe me? Just turn on the news.

On today’s show we first break down major current climate events; we then ask ourselves a set of ethical quandaries. Should the global north pay reparations to the global south its for centuries-long polluting behaviors, or is the inequitable and unjust natures of climate change simply bad luck?

 

Here’s a preview:

[4:00] How’d summer go? (Hint: not great, especially in Pakistan)

[12:30] The climate reparations argumen...

Life’s Changing Seasons

When it comes to growing up, we tend to believe it’s only for children. Adults, then, are assumed to be fully grown.

But even us “grownups” are constantly changing, maturing, and evolving (and often at a rapid pace). Such inner changes also run concurrent with external ones that pop up  as we move through our respective life seasons, day after day.

If embracing change as life’s only true constant is downright difficult, getting stuck underneath heaps of possessions that served our out-of-date ve...

Raising Non-Materialistic Kids

Raising Non-Materialistic Kids

 

“Much of the time I tell my kids that material possessions aren’t that important, but I also want them to take care of the possessions they have. How should I best juggle these messages and still get my points across?”

 

As sustainable minimalists, we want our children to devalue stuff, as we certainly don’t want them to associate their sense of self-worth with what they own. But at the same time we also want them to care for their existing possessions even thoug...

Clutter Blocks

Many people try to ‘Marie Kondo’ themselves out of clutter but find themselves unsuccessful. The reason? decluttering only sticks when you first examine the deep roots into why clutter accumulated in the first place.

Today I speak with with celebrity decluttering expert Tracy McCubbin about the excuses we tell ourselves, the clutter blocks that hold us back, and the real reasons why we can’t let go of our stuff.

 

Here’s a preview of the clutter blocks we discuss today:

[3:30] I avoid my stuff

[...

How To Choose The Right Baby Monitor

The right baby monitor isn’t just another piece of technology; it’s a guardian over your child. And a baby monitor that connects to your phone? Such cameras offer an extra set of eyes on your child so you, too, can rest, relax, and recharge.

There are countless baby monitors on the market. It’s important to choose the model that meets your unique needs and syncs with your home’s existing smart technology.

Read on for 5 things to consider before purchasing a baby camera for your nursery:

 

[N...

The Golden Triangle

A triangle is complete only when its three corners are intact. Our wellbeing similarly demands that three pillars work together in quiet harmony.

The Australian Wellbeing Index is a 15-year-and-counting research study with data from over 60,000 participants. The results remain consistent year after year: optimal wellbeing hinges upon 3 essential intangibles.

The good news? These three intangibles are entirely within our control.

On today’s show we discuss the golden triangle of wellbeing for opt...

Future-Conscious Thinking

Many people — and many societies, for that matter — rely on short-sighted quick wins as their Number One go-tos when managing oversized problems. But what works in the short-term likely isn’t best in the long run; worse, such near-sightedness rarely considers its impacts on generations to come.

Enter longpath thinking, a mindset that prioritizes future-conscious thinking and behavior.

On today’s episode I speak with author and futurist Ari Wallach. Ari argues that when we step away from knee-jer...

The Gas Stove Love Affair

Good cooks cook on gas, or so we’ve been told. Any realtor will likely tell you that a gas stove ranks high on homebuyers’ lists of new home must-haves, but are they good for us? Are they good for the planet?

Fellow Americans, it’s time to end our love affair with gas stoves. On today’s show, we discuss All. The. Things. the natural gas industry doesn’t want you to know about gas stoves, natural gas, and everything in between.

Here’s a preview:

[1:30] Gas = luxury? A peek inside the gas industry...

Eco-Friendly Trash Bags: 5 Things You Need To Know

Is there such a thing as an eco-friendly trash bag?

 

When it comes to trash bags, there’s plenty of confusing verbiage. Compostable? Biodegradable? Bags with post-consumer recycled content? While one could certainly make the argument that biodegradable and compostable trash bags aren’t worth the money since they’re headed to the landfill anyway (those pits aren’t vegetable gardens, after all); the more cynical amongst us could say there’s no such thing as an eco-friendly trash bag if it holds b...

The Kids’ Clothes Conundrum

Have you ever bought an irresistibly on-trend outfit for a child in your life? If so, I’m willing to bet it was worn just a handful of times (or perhaps not at all).

Gendered children’s fashion is a twentieth century invention and — surprise!— it was invented by marketing pros hoping to sell more clothes. The sad truths are that while kids’ fast fashion creates unnecessary clutter for parents, the sheer quantity of it all contributes to our oversized environmental problems.

Today I speak with cl...