Stephanie Marie Seferian's Blog, page 38
February 11, 2021
Difficult Sustainability Conversations
If you are passionate about sustainability, you may often find yourself in the middle of thorny interpersonal interactions. Here are just a few statements I’ve heard over the years in which I’ve tried – but miserably failed! – to bridge the gap between my opinions and the persons’ sitting in front of me:
“Environmental policies kill jobs.”
“God is omnipotent. He’ll take care of climate change.”
“Recycling is pointless. Why bother?”
Today I’m speaking with...
February 9, 2021
Your Minimalist Play Room
** Sustainable Minimalism (the book based on THIS podcast!) is out now! Get your paperback or e-book copy here.**
Your Minimalist Play Room: Why Basic is Best & Less is More
Got kids? If so, you’ve also got toys. If you’re like me, you may also have a play room that’s bursting at the seams with active, plastic toys.
Parents want to provide novel play experiences for their children, as no one wants their kids to be deprived. But the sad reality is that inexpensive and poorly made toys are playe...
February 2, 2021
Intentional Personal Development
** Sustainable Minimalism (the book based on THIS podcast!) is out now! Get your paperback or e-book copy here.**
Intentional Living and Personal Development
Prioritizing personal development is a staple of an intentional life, yet listeners overwhelmingly report that they have neither the time nor the energy to pursue good habits.
The result? We tend to focus on our personal development only when a problem occurs. But by then, it’s too late to proactively make a change.
Today I speak with Ca...
January 28, 2021
Eco Friendly Living and New Is Not Best
Meet Murielle from Michigan. Murielle is a Generation Z-er who found herself interested in eco friendly living in high school. Fast forward 5 years: Murielle has dedicated her professional life to solving environmental problems as she strives to change her everyday actions so that they best align with her values.
In our conversation today, Murielle imparts some practical tips (how to compost with worms!) as well as some abstract ideas, too (how to be boldly crunch...
January 26, 2021
Raising Healthy Children
Parabens, formaldehyde, fragrance, and more: In 2021, raising healthy children starts by reducing exposures to common toxins. It continues by giving the side eye to products marketed to babies and kids as “natural”, too.
Potentially hazardous chemicals reside in plastic toys, food packaging, personal care products, and even food. But because babies and young children do not have fully developed immune systems, they may be even *more* susc...
January 19, 2021
Mindful Parenting Tips for Overwhelmed Moms
If parenting under normal circumstances is demanding, parenting during a pandemic is downright exhausting. And if you’re like me, you may have found yourself scouring the internet for parenting tips that make pandemic mothering manageable. But because we have such little (if any!) free time—and because we are downright exhausted—Google’s algorithm falls short.
Mothers overwhelmingly report that their mental health is struggling amidst increased menta...
January 14, 2021
5 Reasons Why Period Panties Are A Gamechanger
We generate over 202,000 tons of plastic through disposable menstrual products each year and so, once I took a good, hard look at my tampon stash, I didn’t like what I saw. So I finished off my supply, swapped them out for a menstrual cup, and have never been happier. Still, I needed a practical solution for overnight leaks. Enter period panties.
First, let me say that I have been reluctant to try leakproof underwear. I had notions of thic...
January 13, 2021
Eco Conscious Christianity
Meet Lisa from Adelaide, Australia. Lisa is a long-time podcast listener who believes that eco conscious living is the ultimate expression of her Christian faith. She excels at reducing carbon emissions from transportation (her family only has one vehicle, and it’s an electric car), but she has trouble cutting down on soft plastics.
In our conversation today, Lisa imparts the hopeful truth that one person has the power to change the trajectory of others’...
January 5, 2021
Feng Shui, Meet Modern Minimalism
Modern minimalism is all about clean lines, clear countertops, tidy spaces, and houseplants. (Lots of houseplants.)
But feng shui, too, has a lot to say about whether or not your living space feels peaceful, and that’s why the modern minimalist movement would do well to take a few cues from this ancient Chinese philosophy. Indeed, combining old design ideals with new ones is a powerful way to amplify minimalist principles in your home.
This week, I bring you a...
December 28, 2020
When Living Green Gets Exhausting
I’ll just go ahead and say it: eco-friendly lifestyles can leave us feeling weary, and that’s because living green requires extra time, patience, energy, and—sometimes—financial means.
But the heaviness associated with choosing sustainable choices day in and day out stems from experiencing a trifecta of difficult emotions, too, including confusion, hopelessness, and anger.
Today I bring you a conversation with Cheryl Leutjen. Cheryl is the author of Love Earth...
