You're already a recycling pro, but now it's time to take your environmental game up a notch. So now what?There are dozens of green-living lifestyles, movements, and approaches to choose from. So how do you know which one is right for you? I'll

Why Recycling Isn't Enough

Oct 2nd, 2020 14m 45s

Recycling is usually one of the first solutions that comes to mind when we think of going green. But if we want to get serious about sustainability, recycling should be one of the last tools we grab out of our green-living toolbox. Here's why.S

The Consumer's Role in Closing the Recycling Loop

Sep 18th, 2020 18m 42s

Recycling is a wonderful service, but it runs on profit, not altruism. That's why consumers have an important role to play in all 3 stages of the recycling process. Through the power of our eco-conscious purchases, we can help close the recycli

Let’s Play, Is This Recyclable?

Sep 11th, 2020 15m 30s

Just because an item isn't allowed in the curbside bin doesn't necessarily mean it isn't recyclable. And if you want to move from recycling pro to aficionado, join in as we play a few rounds of Is This Recyclable? The prize? Sharper recycling s

Recycling Etiquette Made Simple

Sep 4th, 2020 13m 49s

For the eco-conscious, recycling is often considered the low-hanging fruit of green living. But many of us are doing it wrong! And since recycling tends to be a one-bad-apple-spoils-the-bunch type of situation, the downstream effects of our com

Experiments in Toy Minimalism

Aug 28th, 2020 18m 28s

I recently cut my kids' toy collection in half, and the results of my experiment back up what experts will tell you about children and play. And if you find yourself wading through a sea of toy clutter amid a chorus of complaints from bored chi

The Eco-Economics of Earth Overshoot Day

Aug 21st, 2020 14m 35s

Today is Earth Overshoot Day, meaning humanity has officially maxed out our ecological credit line for the year. In this episode, we explore this important sustainability metric and the cold reality of our supply-and-demand environmental situat

Hosting an Eco-friendly Kid's Birthday Party

Aug 14th, 2020 21m

Party planning can be super tricky for eco-conscious parents. The traditional elements of a childhood birthday party—never mind the pressure to make them more and more elaborate thanks to social media—all seem destined for a big black trash bag

How Diaper Companies Doubled the Average Age of Potty Training

Aug 7th, 2020 19m 38s

Less than 60 years ago, the majority of children in the U.S. were potty trained by 18 months. Now, many parents don't even start the process until twice that age. The story of how one industry redefined a parenting milestone speaks volumes on t

Ziplock Bags Are Not Single-use Plastics

Jul 31st, 2020 17m 39s

Ziplock bags are wonderfully convenient things, but single-use plastics are not good for anyone. Short of giving them up altogether, the most environmentally responsible solution is to extend the lifespan of your plastic baggies by reusing them

Plastic Free Prewashed Salad Greens

Jul 24th, 2020 12m 39s

Prewashed salad greens are super convenient. But if you're looking to reduce your plastic consumption, there's a way to enjoy the benefits of pre-prepared salad greens without resorting to buying them in expensive plastic tubs. I'll tell you ho

The Dos and Don'ts of Shaving with a Safety Razor

Jul 17th, 2020 25m 33s

I’ll be the first to admit that, to the uninitiated, shaving with a safety razor is intimidating. But with the proper technique and a little practice, you'll see that shaving with a safety razor is nothing to fear.SHOW NOTESView this tutorial i

What's the Big Deal with Safety Razors?

Jul 10th, 2020 16m 24s

Follow any green-living blog, Instagram account, or YouTube channel long enough, and someone will recommend that you start shaving with a safety razor. An apparent favorite among eco-enthusiasts, I finally decided to see what all the fuss what

6 Uniquely American Environmental Foibles

Jul 3rd, 2020 19m 44s

In the United States, our collective cultural foibles aren't doing us any favors in terms of health, wealth, or sustainability. Yet we can't seem to shake our penchant for cheap, big, and quick. Looking at our cultural habits from the lens of t

Wear Sunscreen. But Not Just Any Sunscreen...

Jun 26th, 2020 21m 19s

This episode is dedicated to anyone who has ever stood in the skin care aisle desperately trying to decode the gibberish on the back of the sunscreen bottles to find the best one for your health and for the planet. You'll get the info you need

Freeze Those Assets—Get Fresh Berries in the Freezer Now

Jun 19th, 2020 16m 22s

If you're tired of tasteless, faux-ripe, carbon-footprint-heavy berries from the grocery store, then you'll want to listen in. Capturing nature's bounty when it is at its peak freshness is the way to go. And freezing fresh berries is one of the

Thinking Outside the (Breakfast Cereal) Box

Jun 12th, 2020 15m 21s

Nothing is sacred when it comes to greening our everyday habits—not even breakfast cereal. In this episode we take a second look at our most beloved breakfast food through the lens of the everyday environmentalist and brainstorm some eco-friend

A Word on Eco-Privilege

Jun 5th, 2020 5m 16s

True environmental change cannot happen in a vacuum. And if we want to become real stewards of environmental and social justice, we have to pause to consider our own eco-privilege and then seek the perspectives and understandings we lack from o

A Blueprint for Curbing Food Waste

May 29th, 2020 21m 50s

A full third of the food supply produced for humans gets tossed each year. That's a lot of wasted food dollars and, more importantly, squandered environmental resources. We can all do more to reduce our own household food waste. All we need is

The Frugal Environmentalist

May 22nd, 2020 15m 28s

Green living and frugality hold hands very well. In fact, they might even be BFFs. And if you want to apply some frugal thinking to your practice as an everyday environmentalist, here are 4 principles to follow.SHOW NOTESRead the transcript.Che

Respect Your Season

May 15th, 2020 19m 34s

Every season of life presents its own unique challenges and opportunities. So how do you make sure green living fits into any season you are in, especially a difficult one? By respecting the season for what it is and what it does for your motiv

A Pep Talk for Mother's Day

May 8th, 2020 16m 20s

As a mother, it often feels as if the weight of the world is on your shoulders—especially when you think about what the environmental future holds for your children. So for all the mamas who add the burden of eco-consciousness to their mental l

Getting Started with Plant-forward Eating

May 1st, 2020 15m 33s

Plant-forward eating is an approach to eco-friendly food choices that makes sustainable, plant-based foods the star of the show and casts meat and dairy in a supporting role. If you want to cut back on meat and dairy for environmental reasons b

Stop Paying for Garbage

Apr 24th, 2020 29m 6s

We pay for our garbage many times over—both financially and environmentally. So if we want to reduce our garbage output (and stay within budget), we need to start at the source and challenge some of our engrained shopping patterns. And here are

How an Everyday Environmentalist Washes Her Hands

Apr 22nd, 2020 24m 29s

We wash our hands dozens of times a day. And as with any oft repeated habit, we only need to shift things slightly to leverage the cumulative power of small, consistent change. With these 4 simple tweaks, you can green your handwashing procedur