Many of us signed up for entertainment (streaming television! date night in a box!) and regular home delivery of essentials (toothbrushes! groceries! toilet paper!) at the start of the pandemic. If you’re like me, these days you may find yourself signed up for 10 or more subscription services. Subscriptions can be time-saving and convenient, and specialty ones make great gifts. But if you aren’t receiving the value you expect from the subscription in question, it’s simply a colossal waste of money and resources. There are other drawbacks to the recurring payment model as well, and on today’s s ..read more

Home decor is a lot like fashion: the second we invest in a new piece of furniture or a new decor item, the catalogs and showrooms push a new trend. The items we just bought, then? They’re suddenly out of style. Today I speak with interior designer Jessica Velazquez about curating rooms that are timeless. Jessica believes that style must always support lifestyle: when we play it right, we can design spaces that won’t expire when stores usher in a new trend.   Here’s a preview: [5:00] Does evergreen and minimalist mean boring? Debunking common home decor myths [12:00] The Number One w ..read more

Fellow consumers: we want new things and we want them now. Our spending habits put brands on perpetual searches for ways to shorten the time between design, manufacturing, and distribution, and China has stepped up with the technology and the supply chains to meet our needs. Our consumption habits, then, can only be satisfied by purchasing from China. Today’s show analyzes the ethical and environmental implications associated with excessive reliance on the “World’s Factory”, as China has affectionately been dubbed. What does excessive manufacturing paired with lax regulations mean for bot ..read more

While minimalism may sometimes seem trendy, the reality is that the lifestyle has been around for centuries. Indeed, ancient philosophies touted the importance of Less Is More living as a means of finding inner peace amidst frenetic daily life. Today I speak with author Jessie Kanzer about first steps toward mental minimalism. Jessie argues that you don’t have to be a Zen master to simplify your cognitions and reduce unnecessary internal chatter; she argues too that enlightenment is about first learning to lighten up.   Here’s a preview: [3:45] Minimalism isn’t a trend, it’s an ancient li ..read more

When carbon and fluorine fuse together they create a virtually unbreakable compound. These days, such per- and polyfluoroalkyl (or PFAS) substances are widely used in thousands of products from food packaging to clothing, carpets, and more. And because these chemicals are designed to be unbreakable, “forever chemicals” are adding up in our bodies and in the environment. On today’s episode I’m answering a listener’s question about the group of chemicals known as PFAS by bringing you an interview with Kevin Loria. Kevin is a Senior Health and Science writer for Consumer Reports and has exte ..read more

It’s no secret that plastic razors are meant to be used a handful of times and then thrown in the garbage. As with any disposable product, if we continue buying them, companies will continue making them. Enter the alternative: safety razors. A safety razor is a steel razor with replacement blades: while you replace the blade (and recycle it!) once it’s dull, the razor itself is made to last a lifetime. On today’s show I speak with Tung Do, co-founder of WLDOHO. Tung is on the show to explain how you, too, can incorporate a safety razor into your daily life without stress or overwhelm ..read more

In my corner of the world trees are budding and flowers are blooming. But leaf blowers are also blowing, and it’s nearly time for that first grass cutting. Enter No Mow May. Lawns that aren’t exactly pristine may indeed get your neighbors’ side-eye, as intentionally not mowing your lawn here in the US is a quietly revolutionary act. But environmental advocates argue that there are many benefits to stepping away from overzealous lawn maintenance, at least for one month. On today’s short and sweet episode we’re covering pollinators, No Mow May, and lawn pesticides, oh my! Here’s a preview: [1:30 ..read more

Our master bedrooms *should* be our sanctuaries. While they’re the singular space we retreat to for rest, relaxation, and recharging, all too often our master bedrooms become like any other room in our homes: havens for clutter. Today I speak with professional organizer Amy Mayorga about all-things minimalist master bedroom design. Amy argues that Step One is honoring the purpose of the room: to honor its purpose, we must first ruthlessly declutter. Amy also offers her best organizing tips for those master bedroom essentials you choose to keep.   Here’s a preview: [5:00] Items that should ..read more

Lithium is so much more than the name of a (very) famous Nirvana song. Lithium is a metal affectionately known as white gold, and it’s having a moment. On today’s show we are examining the environmental implications associated with our growing lithium needs for batteries in electric vehicles, laptops, cell phones, and more.   Here’s a preview: [3:00] Everything you need to know about lithium: its benefits, its drawbacks, how it’s extracted [8:45] The white gold race and the political/economic forces at play [9:45] Environmental concerns and controversies with Lithium Americas at Thac ..read more

What’s better than deep and meaningful connections with those we love? Join me today for this third and final episode in our What’s Best In Life Is Free series as we discuss this importance of rich conversations. Research finds that rich talk is the antidote to the stress we experience in our daily lives, and Dr. Rebecca Rolland offers practical ideas for shifting conversations with your children toward what’s meaningful for the long haul. Here’s a preview: [5:45] The many benefits of rich talk [10:30] Adaptive, Back and Forth, and Child-Centered: The ABCs of rich talk with a nod tow ..read more