This Sustainable Life: Untethered

This is the follow up to Episode 23. Entangled with Plastic featuring the author Allison Cobb.

In this episode, we find out how Allison got on with her sustainability challenge of taking a moment to pause and reflect before she bought anything and being curious about what that experience might teach her.

I also share some of my thoughts about becoming a more conscious consumer which is particularly relevant given that 'tis the season for buying...  Ahem! I mean giving! As part of living more sustainably, this is an area that I have been actively working on but it just so happens that a change in my financial circumstances has forced me to get quite good at this pretty quickly!

*****Show Notes*****

Allison's website - https://www.allisoncobb.net/

Allison's book -  Plastic an Autobiography 

Allison on Twitter - https://twitter.com/allisoncobb

*****Let's continue the consumption conversation on social media!*****

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

**** Music on this episode *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

This episode is all about fashion and the impact that it has on people and the planet. Our amazing guest Aras Baskauskas is the CEO and Co-Founder of women’s fashion brand Christy Dawn. Many fashion brands extract resources unsustainably, pollute and exploit garment workers but Christy Dawn is different. Rather than just trying to minimise their impact on the planet, they actively seek to heal the earth through regenerative agriculture and leave it in a better place than before they started.

Given the responsibilities that we all have regarding the climate crisis, I think this is a very interesting topic to explore because it opens up the question of whether consuming (i.e. the thing that contributed to the problem) can actually be part of the solution?

I was so inspired by Christy Dawn’s unique business approach and how they view themselves and land stewards as much as a fashion brand. In a capitalist society that focuses on profits over people and the planet, they are showing a new way where kindness, intentionality and responsibility are weaved into every stitch of the clothes they make… and they still make a profit!

Episode Highlights
- The horrible truth that lurks in your wardrobe
- A serendipitous journey from economic necessity to environmental activism
- The incredible results of regenerative agriculture and how is it better than standard farming practices
- Clothing as a way to awaken consciousness
- How to make the shift from consumer to citizen without shame
- The power of your pound (dollar/euro...) does it support kindness and stewardship or exploitation and destruction?
- Aras sets his personal environmental challenge in line with his values
- My own relationship with fashion and how it has changed and changed me

*****Show Notes*****

Christy Dawn website - https://christydawn.com/
Christy Dawn on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/christydawn/?hl=en
The True Cost of Fashion Documentary - https://youtu.be/nxhCpLzreCw

*****Let's continue the fashion conversation on social media!*****

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this episode. Has it changed the way you think about fashion or yourself as a consumer?

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

**** Music on this episode *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

This is the follow-up to Episode 20. "Light a Match and Start an Explosion." Freedom from Negative Emotions with Louisa Hussey - Part 1, featuring the transformational Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT or Tapping) Practitioner and Mindset Coach, Louisa Hussey.

In this episode, we find out how Louisa got on with her sustainability challenge, walking to nursery with her little girl.

Trigger warning - this episode is SO CUTE! I am bursting with cuteness after hearing about Louisa and her daughter’s walking adventures. It is so heartwarming to hear how they have both embraced this precious time together and transformed something so ordinary into something so magical. Please listen with delight!

*****Show Notes*****

Louisa’s website - https://louisahussey.com/

Louisa on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/louisahussey/

*****Let's continue the conversation on social media!*****

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

**** Music on this episode *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

**** Music on this episode *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

Office for National Statistics, covid positivity after vaccination - https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveytechnicalarticleanalysisofpositivityaftervaccination/june2021 

This is an amazing, extremely entertaining video of how the immune system works. Honestly, it's fascinating - get your popcorn! - https://youtu.be/lXfEK8G8CUI  

*****Let's continue the covid conversation on social media!*****

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

**** Music on this episode *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

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Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

Prison facts from - https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/prisons-10-key-facts and https://insidetime.org/prison-the-facts/

Invictus by William Ernest Henley - https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51642/invictus

*****Let's continue the conversation on social media!*****

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

**** Music on this episode *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

This is the follow up to Episode 24. Polyamory and Non-Monogamy with Leon Feingold - Part 1,  Featuring the Tedx speaker, polyamory advocate and House of Good Deeds Co-Founder, Leon Feingold. In this episode, we find out how Leon got on with his sustainability challenge of finding forever homes for homeless plants. I share some experiences from the kindness challenge that he invited me to do. We also talk more about polyamory and non-monogamy and answer some listener questions.

Please note there is explicit language in this episode and the subject matter may not be suitable for more sensitive ears.

Episode highlights

- What do you do when you don’t get on with someone but have amazing sex?

- The new rule you should adopt when arguing with your partner

- How not to ghost someone

- Leon’s theory of ego and hope

- The magical letter Leon received from a former partner that changed the way he saw himself

- The gift of feedback that you can give to someone else (and I did give to someone else!)

*****Show Notes*****

Leon on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lafeingold/?hl=en

Leon on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BringHeat

Leon’s Tedx Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtdsZ8B7JQY&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

Open Love NY- http://openloveny.com/

The House of Good Deeds - https://houseofgooddeeds.org/

*****Let's continue the polyamorous conversation on social media!*****

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

**** Music on this episode *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

**** Music on this episode *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

This episode is all about polyamory and non-monogamous relationships. Our fantastic guest the Tedx speaker, polyamory advocate and House of Good Deeds Co-Founder, Leon Feingold takes us on a deep dive into the world of alternative relationship structures and answers all the questions you have but may have not been able to ask about this often misunderstood and stereotyped topic.

I also open up about my own relationship with my partner Neil, as we have been exploring non-monogamy together for the last three years.

In a very open and honest conversation, Leon and I share some of our personal stories and experiences on those wonderful things that make us human including jealousy, fear, dating, sex and kindness.

My aim is not to promote a particular relationship style but rather to encourage you to explore the societal expectations that may constrain us in ways that we don’t realise and possibly have never questioned.

Please note the subject matter may not be suitable for more sensitive ears.

Episode highlights
- What is polyamory and how does it work?
- How to understand, deal with and unlearn jealousy
- Minimising grey areas through boundaries, rules and agreements
- Dating differences between genders and the man buffet
- Becoming a poly-Rambo and why adding new relationship tools to your arsenal can help everyone
- Why you need to figure out if what you have learned is knowledge or baggage
- The costly mistake you might make if you don’t know the difference between mature relationship energy and new relationship energy
- What do you do next after you experience the worst thing that could ever happen in a relationship?
- And of course, Leon sets his personal environmental challenge in line with his values

*****Show Notes*****
Leon’s Tedx Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtdsZ8B7JQY&ab_channel=TEDxTalks
Open Love NY- http://openloveny.com/
The House of Good Deeds - https://houseofgooddeeds.org/
Come As You Are - Emily Nagoski - https://www.emilynagoski.com/home

*****Let's continue the polyamorous conversation on social media!*****

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this episode. Has it changed the way you think about monogamy or polyamory?

Ooh and let me know if you did an act of kindness for the altruism challenge, you know I will be sharing mine soon! 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

**** Music on this episode *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

This episode is all about plastic and our complicated relationship with this helpful, harmful and everlasting material. Whether you know little about plastic or a lot, our amazing guest the writer, author and poet Allison Cobb will help you to see your plastic possessions in a new and more interesting light.

We talk about her latest book, Plastic, an Autobiography which Allison wrote after a 4-foot plastic car part landed on her doorstep and lead her to explore the world of plastic from its moment of creation in 1907 to our modern-day consume-and-dispose culture. The book takes the reader on a journey throughout the life cycle of plastic where death is transmuted into deadly eternal life weaving in stories from World War 2 fighter pilots to the atomic bomb, to “cancer alley” (where plastic plants are situated) to Hawaiian beaches home of the albatross and everywhere else in between.

Episode highlights

- Where plastic comes from and how it gets made

- How the profit problem of plastic was solved after WW2

- A new way to meditate

- How to imagine a new and better reality for the planet

- Why it's important to find joy in the midst of despair

- How you can starve to death on a full stomach

- How producers and consumers can solve the plastic problem

- And of course, Allison sets her personal environmental challenge in line with her values

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this episode. Was there anything that surprised you? Has it helped to change the way that you see plastic products?

*****Let's continue the plastic conversation on social media!*****

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

**** Music on this episode *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

*****Show notes*****

https://savingnature.com/offset-your-carbon-footprint-carbon-calculator/ 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/carbon

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qzyd

Professor Mike Berners-Lee - https://howbadarebananas.com/

**** Music on this episode *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

Let me know your thoughts about this episode, especially any tips that you use that stop you from overeating. And if you're a foodie too, then please do follow my adventures and of course, tell me what you ate for dinner last night!

Foodie Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alisoneats.insta/

Foodie YouTube - Alison Eats

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

**** Music on this episode: *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

- An EFT demonstration (for a video of this demonstration go to my IG or FB by clicking these links)

- What is the difference between talking about how you feel with a friend versus a trained practitioner?

- Why naming the nuance of your emotions is so important

- How you can help children to be more emotionally literate

- The surprising reason which might explain why you bite your nails

- How to actually let go of emotions you feel today, or have held onto for years and still be true to yourself

- And of course, Louisa sets her personal environmental challenge in line with her values. Spoiler alert - this is a cute one!

For more information about Louisa including how to work with her, check out her website - https://louisahussey.com/ and IG - https://www.instagram.com/louisahussey/ which has some brilliant mini tapping exercises. Topics include procrastination, confidence, overwhelm, and one of my favourites, going from meh to yeah!

I have also used the Tapping Solution and Brad Yates if you want to try even more tapping practices!

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this episode. Did you try out the demonstration? What was your experience? Do you think you are emotionally literate, or might there be some room for improvement?!

Let's continue the conversation on social media:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

***** Music on this episode: *****
Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

If you want to learn more about how to minimise the negative effects of perfectionism, then I recommend this book, "I Am Enough" by Marisa Peer.

If you want to talk more about this topic, do drop me a message.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

**** Music on this episode: *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

Francesca Trotman set up the non-profit organisation Love The Oceans in 2014 after she witnessed a horrific scene that would change her life forever. At just 21 years old she made the decision that she couldn't just walk away and do nothing about this. 

Ever since then she’s devoted her life’s work to growing a team of individuals to protect and study the diverse marine life in Jangamo Bay, Mozambique. But its not just the animals that have benefitted from her compassion, the human community living in the Bay have also been gifted the opportunity to have a happier, healthier and more sustainable future.

If you want to be inspired, empowered and I’ll be honest, feel slightly guilty(!!) about the incredible impact that one person can have on the world, then you need to listen to this episode and then go, go go and get after your dreams!

Episode Highlights:

- Why you need to question your assumptions
- How to change hearts and minds
- Doing the things that you need to do to help you do the things that you want to do
- Why education is so important, for both humans and the environment
- How to help people fall in love with the oceans
- The surprising truth about recycling
- What should you do if you see shark tooth jewellery the next time you’re on holiday?
- The problem with the fast fashion industry
- How to beat procrastination, in 3 days or less

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this episode. Have you been inspired to do something meaningful that you've been putting off?

Don't forget to check out the Love The Oceans website to learn more about the amazing work they do - https://lovetheoceans.org/
Follow Francesca on Instagram for the most beautiful shots of Jangamo Bay life - https://www.instagram.com/francescatrotmanphotography/
And browse through Francesca's photography website to be awed by the wonders of nature - https://francescatrotman.co.uk/

And while you're at it, come on over and say hello to me!
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

***** Music on this episode: *****
Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

This is the follow up to Episode 13. Rewild Yourself with Environmental Entrepreneur Michelle Parry In this episode we find out how Michelle did with her challenge of eating seasonally and avoiding the big supermarkets. Did she manage to overcome the temptation of the Aldi mystery middle aisles? Will she keep it up now the challenge is over?

Episode highlights:

• A cauliflower surprise
• A feasting philosophy
• Cooking creativity comes from constraints
• How to fill your cup
• Community spirit versus cold supermarket aisles
• The TV show that opened up my mind about the carbon footprint of food
• How to connect with nature without even leaving your house

Don't forget to follow Michelle on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/therewildingcommunity/ - for your daily dose of nature inspiration! And check out her site the-rewilding.com for event envy, wild blogs and the gorgeous gift and experience boxes she curates

And while you're at it, come on over and say hello to me! I'd love to hear from you. Have you been inspired to try eating more seasonally and locally? And tell me, what is your best cauliflower recipe!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

**** Music on this episode: *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

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This is the follow up to Episode 12. "Don't get bitter, get better!" Developing Emotional Superpowers with Comedian Alex Love. In this episode, we find out how Alex did with his challenge of turning off mobile data between 10 am-3 pm. What happened when he wasn’t able to procrastinate on his phone? Will he keep up the challenge now it is over?

We also dive deeper into stand-up comedy, and I learn some fun facts about giant squid. And don’t worry, you will find out how those two sentences are related!

Episode highlights

• The carbon impact of sending a text
• Self-diagnosing tech OCD
• The story of the lawnmower
• Community brews
• How to be a sustainable drinker
• Surprising revelations about stand up comedy
• What does a giant squid and doughnut have in common
• How giant squids changed Alex’s life
• Your new favourite stand up comedian?

Make sure to follow Alex on social media for more comedy, and probably more squid - https://twitter.com/thisalexlove

And read his blog (but don’t comment!) - https://www.alexlove.co.uk/

And don't forget to come on over and say hi to me and let me know your thoughts about the episode. Have you been inspired to turn off your mobile data? And tell me your favourite animal fact!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

**** Music on this episode: *****

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

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This is the follow up to Episode 6. You Are a Sexy B!tch - Assertive Body Confidence with Gingie Snap. In this episode, we find out how Jess did with her challenge...spoiler alert, she is a Jungle Queen now! Jess explains how the positive effects of the challenge are extending beyond the gorgeous greenery on her windowsill to actually influencing how she is spending her time, and spending time with herself. We also dive deeper into body confidence, self-esteem and setting boundaries for yourself and others.

Episode Highlights

• The joy of plants - learning, growing, caring for and naming nature
• Making a commitment to yourself to do things that nourish you
• What happens when you untether yourself from your phone
• Setting boundaries and becoming less accessible
• How to give a compliment
• What should you work on to improve your body confidence instead of diet and exercise
• Why you should talk to yourself, out loud
• One thing you should use your phone for every day to help grow your confidence and motivation
• The grey area between "me and my body" and "we and our bodies"

Make sure you follow Jess to saturate your social feed with more body positivity on:

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

The Inversion Pole Fitness Studio Website

And don't forget to come on over and say hi to me and let me know your thoughts about the episode. And of course your best/rudest/most hilarious plant names!

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

Music on this episode:

Show Me The Way by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZcAiMZtYrv8

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This is a follow-up episode to Episode 11. The Weirdest Game I Ever Played - My Year in Review where I shared the highs and lows of my 2020 and started looking towards what I wanted from 2021. I wasn't ready to set or commit to any goals then and to be honest, I'm still not ready now! But I have set a direction of travel and I've tried and tested a solution that so far appears to be effective in that I can stick to it, and it still moves me forwards. This is not your standard goal-setting or New Year's resolutions, this is a new approach to goal achievement in 2021.

Episode highlights:

• The problem with just being grateful - (Listen to this episode from Brene Brown)
• This Sustainable Life family - check us out (and our daddy bird) here!
• The antidote to feeling lazy and/or scared about not doing what you want to do
• How to get over the (lockdown) bleurgh and inertia
• How to make yourself feel amazing in just 5 minutes
• How to keep the promises you make to yourself
• How to change your future

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this episode. Has it inspired you to set any daily habits? What are you working on this year and what methods do you use to keep yourself on track?

Come say hello to me on social media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

• Why we are more like trees than we think
• How technology distracts us from what is important
• The joy of dogs
• The problem of "zoom fatigue"
• The joy of learning new skills
• Why it's important to be curious
• What do you do with 30 tonnes of waste? Everyday?!
• What should you know about farming?
• An abundance of practical tips and ideas to help you rewild yourself
• Michelle's top wild books: The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben and Wilding by Isabella Tree
• And of course, Michelle sets her personal environmental challenge in line with her values

I'd love to hear what you thought of the episode. Are you feeling a bit too domesticated and unbalanced at the moment? What are you going to do to rewild yourself?

Don't forget to follow Michelle on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/therewildingcommunity/ - for your daily dose of nature and tree inspiration! And check out her site the-rewilding.com for event envy, wild blogs and the gorgeous gift and experience boxes she curates.

And while you're at it, come on over and say hello to me! I'd love to hear from you.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alison.untethered/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AliUntethered

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Alex Love is a stand-up comedian, freelance writer and serial blogger. He has been performing comedy regularly since 2010  and his first solo show, How To Win A Pub Quiz has sold out a number of times at both the Edinburgh Fringe and New Zealand Fringe festivals. He has also been blogging honestly about his journey, his successes, his failures and his bowels(!) since 2011. 

I wanted to learn how he is able to do what so many of us, myself included, shy away from with regards to public speaking, putting yourself out there to be judged and criticised, getting it wrong, failing in public, and interpersonal confrontation. Alex has written extensively about how he deals with these exact things, so I knew that he would be the perfect guest to help us really dive into how to face negative emotions and figure out how to lessen their power on us so that they don't hold us back from doing what we want to do.

Episode highlights: 

• What do you do after hitting rock bottom?
• Rewiring your brain for positivity
• What to do with the voice in your head that tells you you’re not good enough
• Why you should welcome nerves before putting yourself out there
• The best way to exercise failure demons
• How to deal with deliberate knobheads
• Blogging as therapy
• Philosophies for life
• Why make the effort to improve?
• What do chilli con carne and jokes have in common?
• How using your phone less can help with climate change
• And of course, Alex sets his personal environmental challenge in line with his values

I’d love to hear your thoughts about the episode. Do you feel more empowered to put yourself out there and go for the things you want regardless of whether you succeed or fail? Are there any failures that you think you could learn more from? 

Inspired by Alex’s honesty and desire for continuous improvement I invite you to let me know if there is anything that I can do to be a better podcast host and give you a more enjoyable listening experience. Come on over to my Facebook page or connect with me on Instagram.

And don’t forget to follow Alex’s blog and Twitter for more laughs and wisdom.

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Alison xxx

P.s. Yes, I am really rolling a dice and flapping cards in front of the microphone. Am I taking it too far? Probably.

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Seeing as it’s the most wonderful time of the year, I have a special bonus festive episode for you! This one doesn’t follow my usual podcast interview or solo format, instead, it is more of a relaxed conversation with my friend Joshua Spodek. Some of you may remember Josh from episodes 1 and 2 of this podcast where we talked about adventure and how constraints don't have to constrain you - highly recommend you listen to episode one here and two here - but for those who don't know Josh he is a speaker, author, podcaster, professor, sustainability role model and all-round interesting dude.

Because it is the season for giving, we talk about STUFF. Buying gifts, receiving gifts and getting rid of things that you have once upon a time bought and enjoyed but now can’t wait to get it out of your house! We discuss the emotions underlying consumption, how Buddha could have been more enlightened and what you can give Josh if you are ever invited to a dinner party at his house.

If you are interested in how you can have a meaningful, joyful and sustainable Christmas, then you will love this episode. After you’ve listened, come on over to my Facebook page to say hello, I’d love to hear your thoughts and if you enjoyed the different conversational style format.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all. Wishing you a wonderful break and a fantastic time with loved ones.

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This is Part 2 of the conversation with Neil Mclatchie (you can listen to Part 1 here) where we find out how he got on with his challenge. Did he manage to use re-usable coffee cups for a month, and what did he learn in the process?

We also talk about another massive personal transformation that Neil is currently going through regarding his career and identity as a Psychologist. Indeed, it is time for the experimenter to experiment on himself!

Highlights in this episode:

• What should you say to people who tell you that one person can't make a difference to the environment?
• The 8/10 Starbucks coffee alternative
• The hidden maths of ecological alternatives plastic straws versus metal straws
• How to double your environmental impact
• The plastic documentaries that opened our eyes - The Story of Plastic and The War on Plastic
• Autopilot versus memento mori
• What it takes to truly embody a philosophy
• Breaking out of the mould of your identity
• How other people's perceptions can keep you stuck

I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode. Come on over to my new Facebook page to say hi! Let me know what resonated with you and if you will do anything differently. And I cannot wait to come back to you in a few months with the answer to the question; "if no one has done does that mean it's a dumb thing to do?!"

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I’ve been on a bit of a plastic learning journey recently and it’s been super interesting. I don’t know about you but despite using plastics every day, multiple times a day, they were simply not something that I gave much thought to. It was only after I watched The Story of Plastic documentary following a friend's recommendation which then prompted me to do some research, and voila! The mysteries of the plastics were revealed. I have collated my top 10 sexy facts about plastics, AKA facstics, that I didn’t know.

If you are a plastic newbie like me then you will learn:

• The surprising material that plastics are made out of
• How long they take to degrade
• How much plastic has been created, ever!
• What has happened to all this plastic and where is it now?
• The dark secret of recycling
• The even darker secret of laundry
• Hope for a way forward
• Surprising products that contain plastic
• What you can do as a consumer

I really hope you enjoy this episode. I’m so curious, how many of these facstics are new to you too? Let me know your thoughts and come on over and say hi via my Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/TSLUntethered

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This is a solo episode inspired by a quote from The Mind Architect - Peter Crone.

"The future is just a construct that lives between your ears that you create with language."

Oooh, this one's a thinker right?! Join me as I ponder about the magic that we all have within us. Namely, how our thoughts about things that have not yet happened (and may never happen) can change our experience of what is actually happening. How can we think about the future in a way that enhances our experience of the present?

Come on over and say hi to me and let me know your thoughts about this episode on my FB page and tell me, what do you do with your magic powers?!

#mindtether

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• Who exactly likes to dance around in their underwear sized garments in public...for fun?
• What goes on in pole fitness and burlesque classes?
• What on earth is comedy burlesque?
• How mirrors don't just reflect back what you see, they can transform it.
• What is the right way to take a compliment?
• What should you do when you feel like a potato?
• A practice to cultivate body confidence that is for your eyes only.
• How to relate to your body in a way that is not just focused on appearance.
• A practical way to interrupt your negative body narrative.
• What is the one thing that will make you beautiful, no matter what you look like?
• And of course, Jess sets her personal environmental challenge in line with her values.

I loved this conversation and Jess's style of "aggressive" positivity! She talks about so many important concepts as well as giving super practical ideas that you can try today to transform what you think about your body. I also love the idea that we are all children of David Attenborough and can't wait to see the outcome of her challenge. And seriously, if anyone can tell me why my basil keeps dying I'd dearly love to know!

Make sure you follow Jess to saturate your social feed with more body positivity on:

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

The Inversion Pole Fitness Studio Website

And while you're at it, come on over to my new Facebook page to say hi! Let me know what you thought about the conversation, what resonated with you and if you will do anything differently.

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• The importance of rules to take control and go "mindless"
• Neil's favourite day of the week - aka the glorious "cheat day" (Tim Ferris Slow Carb Diet)
• The compelling goal of becoming a sexy 40 year old
• The joy of cereal - All Bran not included!
• Identifying barriers that hold you back from your goals and smashing them
• Paying a friend to get your butt off the couch
• Instagram as a tool to change your identity
• The calorie revelation (discovering Greg Doucette)
• Neil's new food philosophy - low calorie, high protein, high nutrient and delicious
• Thinking of dieting as a budget
• Committing to no compromise (*95% no compromise)
• And of course Neil sets his personal environmental challenge in line with his values

I loved this conversation. It was so interesting to hear Neil's journey and his constantly evolving view of food and himself. I'm curious to find out what could be next! It was also really refreshing to hear about his struggles of binging/dieting and food bargaining, e.g. "If I eat this, then I have to do this". I, like many other people, I'm sure can relate to his experience.

I really hope that this conversation has helped you if you are on your own weightloss journey. I think we can all do the everyday incredible.

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This is Part 2 of the conversation with Joshua Spodek where we find out how he has got on with his personal challenge - did he manage to live for a week with his fridge turned off and what did he learn in the process?

Other highlights in this episode:

• A journey in values and decision making
• What do you do with a bunch of blackening bananas?
• Can you reuse a pizza box?
• Avoiding a potential citrus calamity
• Adventures in pickling and Josh's realisation that cabbages are not special
• The surprising addiction that society suffers from
• The joy of stewardship
• Giving it everything we've got in the pursuit of our finest hour

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Joshua Spodek PhD MBA is a three-time TEDx speaker, #1 bestselling author of Initiative and Leadership Step by Step, host of the award-winning Leadership and the Environment podcast, and professor at NYU.

Josh is passionate about the environment and sustainability and lives his life in line with his values. For example, he hasn't flown by choice since 2017, produces minimal waste taking over one year to produce a load of garbage, and picks up one piece of street litter per day every day.

In this episode we talk about how Josh's lifestyle choices, which at first glance may appear limiting, actually maximize his enjoyment and experience of life. He explains his adventure philosophy -  how to find all the adventure and excitement you'll ever desire by overcoming "constraints", taking on personal challenges and exploring and connecting with your own neighbourhood. No polluting plane travel required!

Other highlights in this episode:

• The serendipitous chain of events that led to me meeting Josh resulting in this podcast
• A new name for junk food
• Re-defining extreme and moderate
• How Josh connects with Peruvian people without ever leaving his home
• Living by the maxim “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey”
• Doing difficult things
• Embracing quirks
• How Josh changed my life
• And of course Josh sets his personal environmental challenge in line with his values

I loved this conversation. Josh really is an incredible and interesting person and on top of all of his many world class achievements, the thing that I find most awe-inspiring is his deep kindness, compassion and desire to help others every way he can.

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