Sustainable in the Suburbs

• 29: Sustainable Holidays with Kids — Minimalism, Presence, and Doing Less with Stephanie Seferian

  If the holidays seem to get louder and more overwhelming every year, you’re not imagining it. From endless ads to the pressure to make everything “magical,” it’s easy to get swept into a season that feels more stressful than joyful. And for parents trying to have a more sustainable holiday with kids, the noise can make it hard to stay grounded in what really matters.This week, I’m joined by Stephanie Seferian, host of the Sustainable Minimalists podcast and author of Sustainable Minimalism. Stephanie brings such a thoughtful, grounded perspective to what it means to step back from the holiday frenzy and reclaim a season rooted in connection rather than consumption.We talk about why less often feels harder than more, how cultural messaging around holiday magic drives emotional spending, and what it looks like to model enoughness for our kids. Stephanie also shares practical ideas for secondhand gifts, simple homemade traditions, and creating a mindful holiday season that actually feels good.TakeawaysHow “holiday magic” messaging fuels emotional and impulse spendingWhat ‘doomspending’ is and why its amplified at this time of yearHow holiday marketing shapes our expectations and buying habitsSecondhand gifts, swaps, and other simple alternatives to buying newModeling “enough” for kids in a season of big expectationsSetting boundaries around marketing, comparison, and the mental loadSlowing down with the season instead of speeding upCreating simple, sustainable holiday traditions that feel goodOne Small ShiftStephanie suggests buying for fewer people. A smaller list means less pressure, less waste, and more room for the parts of the holidays that actually matter.Connect With StephanieInstagramWebsiteSubstackSustainable Minimalism (book)Sustainable Minimalists (podcast)ResourcesSustainability in the Suburbs (Sustainable Minimalists podcast)Is It Okay To Give Secondhand Gifts (episode & blog post)How to Stop Shopping on Amazon (blog post)6 Recipes for Gifts in a Jar (blog post)Support the showConnect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

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• 28: Is It Okay to Give Secondhand Gifts? Why Thrifted Gifts Are the Most Eco-Friendly Choice

  Some of the most meaningful gifts we give (and receive) aren’t new. They’re secondhand.And yet… so many of us still hesitate.In this week’s episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, Sarah Robertson-Barnes digs into the cultural stigma around secondhand gifts, why it lingers, and why it’s slowly shifting. This episode explores what makes a gift meaningful in the first place — and why secondhand gifts, whether thrifted, vintage, or passed down, often hold the most heart.Sarah shares listener stories, practical ideas, and her own real-life secondhand wins — all to help you rethink what gifting can look like this season. Whether you’re new to the idea of secondhand gifting or already a Buy Nothing pro, this conversation offers encouragement, inspiration, and lots of doable takeaways.TakeawaysCultural stigma around secondhand gifting still exists — but it’s shifting.Intention matters more than whether a gift is new or used.Thrifted and pre-loved gifts can dramatically reduce waste and carbon emissions.Creativity thrives when you step outside the “brand new” box.Secondhand gifts often carry memory, story, and connection.Online marketplaces and local thrift shops offer incredible gifting potential.Community spaces like Buy Nothing groups can spark beautiful gifting moments.One Small ShiftThis year, choose to give one secondhand gift. Let gifting be less about “new” and more about meaning.ResourcesIs It Okay to Give Secondhand Gifts? (blog post)Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for Kids (blog post)How to Stop Shopping on Amazon (blog post)A Very Big List of Sustainable Canadian Brands (blog post)Support the showConnect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

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• 27: Finding Joy in Creative Reuse — Sustainable Crafting for Every Season with Sibia Torres Padilla

  What if the things we already have — the scraps, the leaves, the little bits most people throw away — are exactly where creativity begins?This week, Sarah Robertson-Barnes talks with Sibia Torres Padilla, the artist and author behind @sibster and Charming Woodland Crafts: 50 Fun and Easy Projects Made from Natural and Recycled Materials.Sibia shares how her upbringing shaped her creativity and resourcefulness, and how those early lessons in “making do” evolved into a lifelong love of turning the everyday into something meaningful. Together, they explore the beauty of creative reuse, the emotional connections formed through making, and how crafting with kids can nurture imagination and mindfulness — especially during the busy holiday season.They also talk about the realities of navigating online fame, what it felt like to publish her first book, and why creating something by hand can be such a powerful act of hope.TakeawaysCreativity and sustainability are deeply connected — both begin with what’s already around us.Creative reuse transforms ordinary materials into art and joy.Making things by hand fosters connection with nature and each other.Publishing Charming Woodland Crafts was a dream realized.The holidays offer a chance to create intentionally, not consume endlessly.You don’t need to be “crafty” to make something meaningful.Beauty exists even in what others might see as trash.One Small ShiftLook at what’s already in your home — paper scraps, jars, pinecones, fabric bits — and see what could become something new. Start with one small, handmade project and let the process be the point.Connect with SibiaInstagramFacebookResourcesCharming Woodland Crafts: 50 Fun and Easy Projects Made from Natural and Recycled Materials (buy Sibia’s book!)6 Recipes for Gifts in a Jar (blog post)Sustainable Gift Wrapping Ideas (blog post)Seasonal Decor: How to Make Dried Orange Slices (blog post) Support the showConnect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

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• 26: Holiday Food Waste — Simple Ways to Reduce Waste, Save Money, and Celebrate Sustainably

  Festive food and drink are an important part of celebrating the holidays, but food waste shouldn’t be.  In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, Sarah Robertson-Barnes shares simple, sustainable ways to reduce food waste, save money, and plan mindful, eco-friendly holiday meals.From meal planning and low-waste hosting tips,  to getting kids involved in the kitchen, you’ll learn how to plan for enough, use what you have, and enjoy the season without overspending or overbuying. This episode is full of practical tips and real-life inspiration to help your family live a little greener — one meal at a time.TakeawaysPreventing food waste is one of the easiest ways to save money and cut emissions.Plan meals around what you already have — and plan for enough, not excess.A kitchen audit before shopping helps you save money and stress.Changing the way you host can significantly cut costs and reduce waste.Encourage guests to bring containers for leftovers.Abundance is about gratitude and connection, not “more.”Simple shifts in how we plan and eat can make a real difference for the planet.One Small ShiftThis week, try planning the old-fashioned way! Sit down with a pen and notebook before the busy season hits, take stock of what’s in your kitchen, and make a simple plan for what you actually need.ResourcesFoodMeshReFEDHow to Reduce Food Waste Over the Holidays (blog post)6 Recipes for Gifts in a Jar (blog post + free download)A Simple Kitchen AuditA Beginners Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (use code PODCAST20)Support the showConnect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

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• 25: Redefining Sustainable Living — From Zero Waste to Real-World Resilience with Kristy Halderman

  What happens when your life changes completely — but your commitment to living sustainably stays the same?This week, I’m joined by Kristy Halderman, whose sustainability journey has taken her from Washington, DC to Montana — touching nearly every part of sustainable living along the way. From going all-in on zero waste and launching an oat milk business, to working in sustainable investing, and now community-based environmental advocacy, Kristy’s story is a reminder that our definition of sustainability can — and should — evolve over time.We talk about what it’s like to live your values in a place where sustainability isn’t the norm, why accessibility matters more than perfection, and how to keep showing up even when conditions aren’t ideal. Kristy also shares her love of trails, her unexpected passion for beavers, and how journaling helps her stay grounded through eco-anxiety and change.This conversation is honest, funny, and deeply relatable — a reminder that sustainable living doesn’t always look the same everywhere, and that progress still counts, even when it’s quiet.TakeawaysSustainable living looks different everywhere — and that’s okayAccess, infrastructure, and community support all shape what’s possibleLow waste is both a personal practice and a systemic issueBuilding a sustainable business brings lessons in balance and resilienceMoney and sustainability are linked — but real change depends on the systems behind themAdvocacy takes many forms — from finance to trail work to quiet persistenceBeavers remind us that resilience and ecosystem health go hand in handCaring for your mental health is part of being a climate advocateOne Small ShiftGo analog. Step away from your screens, pick up a pen, and spend a few minutes journaling — about what’s heavy, what’s working, or what you want to focus on next. Writing by hand can be grounding and clarifying, helping you slow down, ease eco-anxiety, and reconnect with what matters most.Connect with KristyWebsiteInstagramRelated EpisodesEp. 11: Money, Enoughness, and Community Care with Women's Personal FinanceEp. 20: Wildlife Conservation, Birding, and Finding Hope in Nature with Matt HowardSupport the showConnect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

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