• What Nature Teaches Us

    In a world filled with endless digital noise, it’s easier than ever to lose touch with the natural world.  Children are drawn to the excitement of screens, parents are increasingly anxious about real-world outdoor risks, and our culture far too often views the earth as a commodity to be bought and sold, not valued and preserved.

    How do we rebuild our relationship with nature when our schedules are packed and our kids don't self-identify as "outdoor kids"?

    On today's show, author Amber Vilhauer reminds us that nature isn't just a place to visit—it’s one of our greatest teachers.

    Here's a preview:

    [6:30] It's our responsibility as parents to give our kids ample time outside, and here's why

    [10:00] How to help children put down the screens and appreciate the quiet rhythms and intrinsic wonders of nature

    [15:00] Two ways in which time outside provides the backdrop for creating simple core memories

    [23:00] What the the natural world can teach us about resilience, generosity, emotional balance, and community (if we let it)

    [28:00] How spending intentional, unscripted time outside pushes back against a culture that treats the earth as something to buy and sell

    Resources mentioned:



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    E603 - 34m - Sep 8, 2026
  • Climate-Conscious Parenting

    Extreme heat, wildfires, flash floods, and poor air quality are no longer abstract future projections—they form the backdrop of our kids' childhoods. Right now, extreme weather and their subsequent environmental factors are directly impacting our children's physical health, brain development, and outdoor play.

    On today's show, national climate advisor Dr. Laura Schifter offers urgent, practical advice for protecting our children, fostering resilience, and moving from climate anxiety into meaningful family action.

    Here's a preview:

    [11:00] Should we send our kids to summer camp during a heat wave? Play outdoor sports?

    [16:00] Every school district should have plans in place for both extreme heat and extreme weather. Here are the questions to ask

    [15:00] Moving beyond "stop, drop, and roll" to age-appropriate responses for flash floods, poor air quality days, and extreme heat

    [24:00] For the sports moms and dads: Three things to keep in mind

    [26:00] Exactly how to explain climate change to your children, word-for-word

    [38:00] We really need to be talking about climate change more, and here's why

    Resources mentioned:



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    E602 - 41m - Sep 1, 2026
  • Low_Tech Living

    In a world dominated by digital noise, reclaiming our peace has become one of the most urgent challenges of modern life. For parents, the stakes are even higher. How do we set healthy screen boundaries for our tech-obsessed kids? Where do we draw the line as artificial intelligence inserts itself in our homes and routines?

    On today's show writer, father, and dumb phone user Andrew Broman explores what it really takes to disengage from the smartphone ecosystem and cultivate an intentional approach to emerging technology for both ourselves and our families.

     

    Here's a preview:

    [6:00] Is the tech serving you, or are you serving the tech?

    [11:00] On the importance of taking your attention span and stretching it like a rubber band

    [15:00] Advice for parents with tech-obsessed kids

    [26:00] Bring back the landline! Seriously!

    [33:00] What 18 pints of Ben & Jerry's taught Stephanie about self-control

    [38:00] From attention to affection and attachment: When it comes to AI, where's the line?

     

    Resources mentioned:

     

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    E601 - 44m - Aug 11, 2026
  • The "Away" Illusion

    Ever wonder where your bags of donated clothes actually end up?

    Most of us treat dropping off a bag at a donation bin like a magic trick. We hand it over, walk away, and assume it finds a good home.

    But very often, away is Kantamanto Market in Accra, Ghana, where 15 million secondhand garments arrive every single week.

    On today’s show, contemporary artist Emmanuel “DoTT” Kunfaa pulls back the curtain on the dark side of donating and highlights they ways in which the illusion of charity is feeding waste colonialism.

     

    Here's a preview:

    [6:30] What really happens to your donated clothes once they leave your hands

    [11:00] Kantamanto used to be a success story in circularity. What changed? (Hint: fast fashion.)

    [15:00] Musings on expensive handbags. What purpose do they actually serve?

    [22:00] Five things we can all do better when it comes to buying and donating clothes

     

    Resources mentioned:

     

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    E600 - 32m - Aug 4, 2026
  • Joy is Resistance

    When the world is burning, finding joy can feel impossible—or worse, selfish. How do we make space for celebration without turning a blind eye to reality? Why would we even want to?

    While it can feel like a heavy lift, practicing joy is, in fact, an act of resistance. Joy prevents burnout, moves energy, builds solidarity, and promotes resilience.

    On today’s show, author Cheryl Leutjen dives into the idea that choosing delight counters the oppressive systems that thrive on our exhaustion, isolation, and apathy.

    Here’s a preview:

    [5:30] Are we dancing while the Titanic sinks?

    [10:00] Grief and anger are essential catalysts for change, but they’re terrible long-term fuels

    [15:00] We’re so much more than consumers! Here’s how joy helps us reclaim our full humanity which has been lost under capitalism

    [18:00] Community is medicine. We aren’t meant to carry the weight of the world alone!

    Resources mentioned:



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    E599 - 29m - Jul 28, 2026
  • Nature As Medicine

    Are we treating the symptoms of modern life while simultaneously ignoring our habitat?

    The average American now spends 93% of their life indoors. But humans evolved for millennia alongside the natural world, and research suggests that our indoor lifestyle is disrupting our sleep, focus and long-term health.

    You don’t need a gym membership or expensive workout gear to get your health back on track. On today’s show, Dr. John La Puma argues that all you need is a 17-minute dose of nature, every single day.

    Here’s a preview:

    [4:00] Modern medicine tends to prioritize intervention over prevention. But why?

    [7:30] We’re taught to fear the outdoors, but indoor living can be directly harmful in ways we’re only beginning to understand

    [11:30] Why it’s time to view “screen time” as “ultra-processed time”

    [16:00] Exactly how a daily dose of morning sunlight resets insulin sensitivity, hunger timing, and prefrontal cortex function

    [30:00] Outside exercise is better for you than inside exercise, so take your movement outdoors!

    Resources mentioned:



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    E598 - 36m - Jul 7, 2026
  • Plastic Free July

    What started in 2011 with just one woman and a small local government has exploded into a worldwide movement of over 174 million people. That movement is Plastic Free July.

    Yet 15 years after the challenge’s inception, plastic production continues to exponentially grow. It’s all-too easy to dismiss the challenge as little more than an opportunity to post a picture of a bamboo toothbrush on social media.

    But we aren’t just facing a litter problem anymore; we’re facing climate and health crises. A July that’s free of plastic is about building permanent habits, changing your relationship with “stuff,” and sending a clear message to corporations that you don’t want all this plastic junk.

    On today’s show, challenge leader Emily Emond joins us to share her top tips for cutting through the overwhelm and setting yourself up for success during Plastic Free July.

     

    Here's a preview:

    [6:15] Is Plastic-Free July beneficial, or purely performative?

    [9:00] On why using less plastic is supports your family’s health

    [13:30] Set yourself up for success: Five things you can do right now

    [23:00] Nothing changes if nothing changes!

    Resources mentioned:

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    E595 - 28m - Jun 30, 2026
  • What We Leave Behind

    Every week, we drag our trash bins to the curb, close the lid, and forget about them. But where does "away" actually go? And does the mere existence of waste "management" mean we can continue to consume more and more without major consequence?

    On today's show, author and sanitation worker Simon Paré-Poupart discusses what he's learned in his 20 years on the back of a Montreal haul truck. He's here to pull back the curtain on the grueling yet essential work of waste collection. He's also here to offer a  sociological reflection on modern consumerism, systemic waste, and the human cost of hiding our cultural detritus.

    Here's a preview:

    [5:00] We didn't always have all this trash, and we didn't always have a need for "waste management"

    [12:00] A society's trash reveals an awful lot about a society. What does our trash reveal about us?

    [19:00] Recycling might give us a boost of moral satisfaction, but that moral satisfaction is ultimately just fuel to buy more stuff

    [22:00] On why waste management is integral to maintaining the status quo

    [27:30] The mere existence waste management is a symptom of this much larger problem

    Resources mentioned:

     

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    E594 - 31m - Jun 23, 2026
  • Saying No To New

    New things are everywhere—and they’re causing us to disconnect from what we value most.

    In a world that constantly tells us that new is better, our relentless pursuit of material wealth is costing us money, time and happiness. Worse, when we define ourselves by what we own rather than who we are, we reduce our lives to a single, superficial dimension.

    On today’s show, New York Times journalist Eric Athas offers advice for stepping away from the cycle of constant buying, saying no to shallowness, and discovering the right kind of “new” in our lives.

    Here's a preview:

    [8:00] We're wired to become bored the familiar, and other truths to newness

    [16:00] Consumption has costs! (In fact, it robs us of our finite attention, dilutes our capacity for genuine enjoyment, and misaligns our pursuit of happiness.)

    [26:00] Musings on the ways in which overconsumption leads to superficiality

    [37:00] Put down the trinket! Redefining what it means to experience novelty, growth, and freshness without relying on a transaction

    Resources mentioned:

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    E593 - 42m - Jun 9, 2026
  • Plastic, Plastic Everywhere

    The plastic-drenched, disposable world we live in didn’t happen by accident. It was slowly, methodically built by Big Oil.

    They’re doing everything in their power to get people to use as much plastic as possible, all so they can make money from every single molecule they extract from the ground. And right now, they’re pouring billions of dollars into plans to double, or even triple, plastic production by 2050.

    This week, award-winning environmental journalist Beth Gardiner joins us to pull back the curtain on who’s behind all this plastic and why. We explore why production is skyrocketing despite consumer pushback, how the myth of recycling keeps us distracted, and why naming the real culprits is the first step toward true systemic change.

    Resources mentioned:

     

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    E592 - 41m - Jun 2, 2026
  • Talking It Out

    Why aren't we talking about the elephant in the room?

    Broaching the topic of climate change can be socially awkward at best and polarizing at worst. In fact, psychology, evolutionary biology and modern day tribalism keep many of us tongue-tied.

    But staying quiet isn't an option. Breaking the silence around our warming planet is one of the most powerful tools we have for systemic change. On today's show, author and climate scientist Norm Leo offers a formula for unlocking more deeply human, empathetic, and impactful conversations about climate change.

    Resources mentioned:



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    E590 - 36m - May 19, 2026
  • The Unfollow Effect

    We've come a long way. But not necessarily in the right direction.

    From the the nostalgic days of AOL Instant Messenger to 2026's high-stakes, algorithmic landscape, constant connectivity has fundamentally shifted our attention spans, our peace of mind, and the way we show up for our families.

    Worse, the desire to show up online often takes us directly out of real life. It's no surprise, then, that we're feeling the mental and emotional weight of the "scroll".

    We don't have to throw our phones in a lake to find the reprieve we desperately need. On today's show author Emily Feldpausch argues that it isn’t about rejecting technology. It’s about reclaiming the intentionality that the algorithms try to take away.

    Here's a preview:

    [5:00] Reflections on the shift from the early days of AIM and MySpace to the current user experience that often feels designed against us

    [8:45] How being always on has eroded our collective sense of peace and altered the dynamics of modern family life

    [18:00] How to stop checking in and start being present

    [23:00] A candid look at 2026 internet culture, from shopping hauls to harmful beauty standards. Can we still find corners of the web that align with our true values?

    [27:00] Emily's personal strategies for maintaining phone boundaries to protect her mental space

     

    Resources mentioned:



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    E589 - 35m - May 12, 2026
  • The Cost of Constant Connection

    In this era of relentless connectivity, taking an exit ramp from our digital lives has never looked more inviting. In fact, emerging science is now confirming what many of us feel: Smartphones are draining our cognitive reserves, shattering our focus, and keeping us in a state of low-level chronic anxiety.

    To see if there’s a better way, reporter Courtney Lindwall shelved her iPhone for a $45 Nokia flip phone. Courtney is on the show today to discuss  the "dumb phone" movement, the logistical friction of navigating an app-dependent world, and why research says our brains are so desperate for a break.

    Here's a preview:

    [7:00] Continuous partial attention, instinctual muscle memory, and other ways in which our smartphones are working against us

    [9:00] Gray scale? screen limits? Here's why the tools and tricks don't work for the vast majority of us

    [14:00] Thoughts on our emotional attachments to our phones—and the emotional experiences they provide

    [22:00] The psychological benefits of embracing a bit more "friction"

    [33:00] Our brains are malleable, and we get used to a new normal quite quickly. Lean into that!

    Resources mentioned:

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    E589 - 39m - May 5, 2026
  • The Power of Place

    In a world obsessed with consumption, we may try to buy our way into a sense of belonging. But a true feeling of “home” isn’t found in the latest trends or newest decor. It’s actually built by aligning our spaces with our deepest, core needs.

    The link between our environment and our well-being goes far beyond aesthetics. On today’s show, author Leidy Klotz offers research-backed strategies for designing spaces that move beyond what’s “on-trend” and instead meet our core human needs of agency, growth, and connection.

    Resources mentioned:

     

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    E586 - 36m - Apr 27, 2026
  • The Plastic Detox

    Plastic has infiltrated our wardrobes, our water and even our bloodstreams, where it is quietly disrupting our hormonal health.

    That’s the premise of Netflix’s ground-breaking new documentary, “The Plastic Detox”.

    On today’s show Dr. Shanna Swan, the renowned environmental epidemiologist from the film, exposes exactly how plastic chemicals are quietly reshaping our health.

    Here’s a preview:

    [6:00] What’s “Phthalates Syndrome,” and what is this class of chemicals doing to masculinity? What about their evil twins, bisphenols?

    [19:00] Stop assuming that products on store shelves are safe! (And other advice for listeners who feel they have too much on their plate to worry about microscopic amounts of chemicals.)

    [24:00] “It’s definitely not easy, but it’s also not that hard.” Here’s how Dr. Swan avoids plastic in her own life

    [32:00] Hormone disrupting chemicals are in EVERYthing. How to identify which lifestyle swaps actually move the needle and which are just noise

    [34:00] Are older items less dangerous?

    Resources mentioned:



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    E585 - 46m - Apr 13, 2026
  • Beyond the Beige

    We’ve all seen the images. The stark white rooms, the single designer chair, the perfectly curated capsule wardrobe. We’re told that if we just clear the clutter, we’ll find peace. 

    But if we’re not careful, the minimalist aesthetic can become just another thing to buy, another thing to consume. 

    On today’s show, Melora Johnson deconstructs the modern minimalist movement so that each of us can move from the clutter-free, beige-everything  minimalist aesthetic to a deeper, more sustainable practice rooted in intentionality.

    Here’s a preview: 

    [7:30] Feeling that donation high? Here’s why decluttering and donating feels so good in the moment but often fails to stop the cycle of re-accumulation

    [11:30] Can authentic minimalism exist in a consumerist culture?

    [16:00] Candid thoughts on how and why minimalism has been commercialized

    [25:00] How to tell if your minimalism is driving more shopping or actually shrinking your ecological footprint

    [28:30] Listen to your whispers! 

    Resources mentioned: 

     

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    E581 - 34m - Feb 24, 2026
  • The Architecture of Connection

    We’ve all heard the minimalist mantra: If you want peace, clear the clutter. But while clearing clutter reduces the “noise,” it doesn’t automatically fill the void.

    On today’s show author Suzanne Searcy Johnson argues that the true antidote to our “more is more” culture isn’t just owning less—it’s connection. And to truly connect, we must first peel back the layers of noise, clutter, and distraction to find what’s actually real.

    Here’s a preview:

    [4:00] The materialism myth: We don’t buy things out of greed. We buy them because we’re disconnected

    [9:00] Are you disconnected? Here are some warning signs

    [11:45] Health! Clarity! Stress reduction! A laundry list of problems that reconnecting with nature can help solve

    [18:30] Thoughts on embracing the beautiful mess of real-life relationships

    [28:00] When we’re disconnected to ourselves, we’ve blocked our intuition

     

    Resources mentioned:



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    E580 - 39m - Feb 12, 2026
  • The IDGAF Decade

    American culture tends to market aging as a slow fade into the background. After all, women are told that getting older comes with a loss of relevance, memory, and attractiveness.

    But what if the season of midlife isn’t a crisis?

    We aren’t just getting older; in fact, we’re getting louder, bolder, and more authentic. On today’s show podcast host Stacey Hutson dismantles the myth that our best years are behind us by breaking down the the science behind those hormonal shifts while also celebrating the fierce second act that follows.

    Here’s a preview:

    [7:00] IDGAF Energy: How hormonal shifts can actually fuel a powerful new sense of assertiveness and boundaries

    [16:00] Science-backed ways to navigate the intersection of “puberty in reverse” and the relentless mental load of motherhood

    [19:00] Mindfulness, cycle syncing, creatine, and other “buffer supporting” practices

    [25:00] Musings on why our culture tends to dismiss older women

    [28:00] Rejecting the idea that aging equals irrelevance, plus: Thoughts on leaning into the mundane

     

    Resources mentioned:

     

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    E578 - 39m - Feb 5, 2026
  • Starve The Machine

    Behind every clever AI response is a massive, windowless data center humming with heat.

    From the water-starved plains of West Texas to the sprawling 'Stargate' megaprojects in Wisconsin, the infrastructure that powers ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude is eating up natural resources and altering the landscapes of countless communities.

    And while news headlines are hyper-focused on what AI can do, the real story lies in the uncovering the important resources it's devouring. On today's show we're pulling back the curtain on AI data centers to reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly. We're also outlining action steps if a data center is in your community.

    Here's a preview:

    [5:00] Data centers simply must stay on 99.999% of the time (and other little-known data center facts)

    [10:00] A single AI query emits ten times more carbon into the atmosphere. Plus: Rising electricity prices for everyone!

    [21:00] Cognitive offloading? AI offloads *thinking*

    [25:00] Your attention is your most valuable currency

    [27:00] Not in your backyard! If a data center being planned in your community, stop, drop, and follow these action steps

    Resources mentioned:  

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    E577 - 31m - Jan 22, 2026
  • The Anti-Catalog Home

    In a world of minimalist trends and beige-on-beige living rooms, it’s easy to feel as though your home should look like a page from a high-end decor catalog. But when you prioritize perfection over personality, your home may become just another place in which you feel pressure to "keep up".

    Let's ditch picture-perfect spaces in favor of lived-in havens. On today's show author Don Suttajit encourages us to curate homes that support our growth, restore our energy, and help us uncover who we truly are.

     

    Here's a preview:

    [9:00] If we're not careful, advertising will sell us our identities

    [14:00] Busy-ness is a capitalist construct!

    [18:30] How to set your home up to be less of a stress-inducer and more of a haven

    [28:00] Havens aren't about aesthetics. They're about function and feel

     

    Resources mentioned:



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    E576 - 32m - Jan 13, 2026
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