The environmental news headlines you need to know for Friday, May 3 2024:

[1:30] Newly released documents and Big Oil's secret climate strategy

[7:00] Here's what Patagonia's doing with all its profits

[13:00] Therapists are trading the couch for the great outdoors, and here's why

[16:00] Sea levels are rising in the US coastal South faster than anywhere else on Earth

Resource mentioned:

• Tell DOJ to Investigate Big Oil (via Action Network)

• This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
• Join our (free!) community here.
• Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.
• Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Something semi-sad happens as we age: We lose our nimbleness. So many of us white-knuckle grip long-held habits and beliefs and thus fail to question whether such routines and ideas are working in our best interests. Worse, such rigidity goes directly against our "factory settings" as human beings: As a species, we fully live when we prioritize resilience, light-footedness, and fearlessness. (Don't believe me? Just observe a child!)

On today's show: embracing fresh starts, prioritizing roads less travelled, and unpacking pressures associated with cultural uniformity with author and podcaster Shannon Leyko.

Here's a preview:

[14:00] How to lean into tension by taking "messy action"

[18:00] It's not *just* about trying a new hobby; it's about resiliency. Self-efficacy, too!

[23:00] Timelines are rarely linear, and "starting over" isn't starting back at square one

[30:00] Common struggles associated with living unconventionally in a conventional world

Resources mentioned:

• The Paring Down Podcast
• Shannon on Instagram
• You're Completely Normal: Trading Where You Think You Should Be For Where You Want To Go

• This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
• Join our (free!) community here.
• Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.
• Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.

Many corporations are hopping on the sustainability bandwagon these days, but it's not for altruistic reasons. It's likely due to the green premium: because eco-friendly products cost more, business owners see an opportunity for increased revenue.

The result? Greenwashed products abound (And guess what? You're likely paying *extra* for a product that isn't at all eco-conscious!).

On today's show Aidan Riehl offers advanced tips for avoiding greenwashing in today's ever-changing market.

Here's a preview:

[6:30] Some questions to ask: Is this eco-friendly product owned by a conglomerate? Is this one product the *only* eco-conscious product in their product line?

[9:30] Getting to the bottom of "biodegradable" claims once and for all

[16:30] Should we look for pre-consumer or post-consumer recycled plastics?

[19:00] Laundry sheets and dishwasher pods! Is polyvinyl alcohol actually benign?

[22:00] So many pledges, so little action

[25:00] Steph's tips to spot greenwashing in influencer marketing

Resources mentioned:

• Episode #106: Greenwashing 1.0
• Ecolabelindex.com
• EU bans ‘misleading’ environmental claims that rely on offsetting (via The Guardian)
• How We Avoid A Climate Disaster (by Bill Gates)
• The World Is Falling Short of Its Climate Goals. Four Big Emitters Show Why. (via NY Times)
• Good On You
• Think Dirty

• This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting!
• Join our (free!) community here.
• Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.
• Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.