Stephanie Marie Seferian's Blog, page 5

Values-Based Spending

In 1901, American families spent 20% of their income on non-necessities.  But 123 years later? These days that figure has risen to 50%. Many of us spend hard-earned money in hopes of acquiring things that money can’t buy, and the result? Nearly 3 and 4 of Americans identify finances as a top stressor in their lives.

Marketers have created consumer desire, sure, but it’s entirely possible to spend in alignment with your values. In a world of disposable incomes, global warming, and far too much co...

Create More, Consume Less

Once upon a time (oh, about 175 years ago) we were epic creators. Human hands made things, grew things, built things, and even invented things on the regular. But these days? By and large, we identify as consumers, and our hands are mainly used for typing and swiping.

And yet, when we consume too much, many of us experience stress, anxiety, and depression. We know it because we’re living it: Our possessions can possess us.

If we create more, we may very likely consume less. On today’s show: Movi...

Preserving With A Purpose

Tomatoes, green beans, peaches, and so much more: Our great-grandmas new a thing or two about food preservation, and yet these days few of us can. It’s a time- and labor-intensive practice, sure. But it’s also a self-sufficient life skill.

Whether you grow some or all of your own food or seek out bargains at the store and farmers’ market, canning the season’s bounty means you’ll be eating well all year round. You’ll also be participating in a nearly waste-free practice (no plastic to see here!)....

Your Late Stage Capitalism Survival Kit

Does it sometimes feel as though the passive act of being alive is too expensive and too difficult? You’re not alone: Many scholars argue that late stage capitalism is what happens when everything (literally everything!) is commodified. Existing feels unnecessarily hard, too.

There IS good news: Surviving (and perhaps even thriving!) in a late stage capitalist society is possible. On today’s show Laura Oldanie shows us exactly how to sur-thrive, with 6 actionable steps.

 

Here’s a preview of the...

Big Pharma

The US pharmaceutical industry is unique in that it markets directly to consumers (hey there, Zoloft commercial!). Through such direct-to-consumer marketing we have been spoon-fed  the notion that every hint of a symptom requires a drug.

The result? Americans take more prescription medications today than at any other time in recent history.

On today’s show we uncover the pharmaceutical industry’s influence over the FDA and over consumers.

 

Here’s a preview:

[2:30] Do Americans take more prescri...

Charting A Rich Life

Despite our massive financial and material gains, happiness in the US has been in a consistent state of decline since at least the 1940s.

The research is quite clear: Materialism is toxic to human happiness. On today’s show: Author Jeff Golden suggests practical ways to nourish in our lives the things that can help us live well (while simultaneously avoiding the hooks of money and stuff).

 

Here’s a preview:

[5:30] We live amidst unimaginable wealth, yet we are unhappier than ever before. Here’s...

Home Overwhelm

For so many of us, day in and day out home maintenance feels like a gigantic weight on our shoulders. And because conventional gender roles pervade, matters of the home often continue to be one (wo)man’s burden.

Decluttering, tidying, organizing, and cleaning, oh my! On today’s show: A conversation with professional organizer Sona Avetisyan about getting our partners and our children to pitch in.

 

Here’s a preview:

[5:00] What is it about clutter that’s so triggering for women?

[10:00] Status q...

There’s Nothing Wrong With You

When we buy something, it’s not necessarily about the *thing*. Oftentimes we are buying into a story about ourselves; namely, what we simply must fix as we seek to get one step closer to our aspirational, perfect-world self.

Important truth time: You are not a perpetual self-improvement project, and no product can fix what was never broken in the first place. On today’s show: A conversation with author Cait Flanders about why she broke up with self-help content and flaws-first marketing messages...

The Great Outdoors

Americans spend about 21 hours per day inside. On the whole, we are also more depressed and anxious than ever before.

Many of us have been trained to seek out commodified services to unwind (I’m looking at you, #selfcare!). But what if a potential solution cost zero dollars and offered zero risk?

On today’s show: An invitation to welcome nature back into your life, with 5.5 novel suggestions that are backed by science.

Here’s a preview:

[9:00] Walk barefoot! (Around your yard, at least)

[14:00] ...

Hyper-Capitalism

Hyper-capitalism — also called late-stage capitalism — is what happens when material resources, lifestyle activities, and everything in between becomes both commodified and consumable. In hyper-capitalistic economies, products get invented that no one needs or wants. Celebrities are revered like gods. Inequity is everywhere, and citizens internalize the idea that their worth is measured by some mysterious combination of career success and amassed material goods.

Many argue that the United States...