The Planetarian Life Podcast: Recent Episodes
Planetarian Life
Hi, I’m Maggy, founder of Planetarian Life, a community changing the way they eat and live for the good of the planet. Each week, along with cookbook author and food writer, Pam Anderson (Mom to me!), and my cousin Laura Anderson, we meet at the intersection of real life and climate change to discuss how we can align our daily actions with our hopes for the future.
Living in a way that heals the earth is no sacrifice. And you don’t have to do it all to have an enormous impact. Being a Planetarian is fun, delicious, and soul-satisfying — and we're here to keep you inspired!
As mothers, we do everything we can to give our kids the brightest future imaginable, but when it comes to climate change, it can be daunting, if not downright impossible, to know where to start. This week I sat down with Amy Hill and Sarah Smiley from my local branch of Mother’s Out Front to discuss how to:
- Make change with little knowledge or experience.
- Find your inner activist.
- Make time for advocacy.
- Talk to kids about climate change .
If you’re curious or ready to dive deep, connect with Amy and Sarah and other Mothers Out Front via the links below. Find out where your talents can be used in the climate revolution.
Website
Meal Planning Reimagined with Casey Barber
I am not the type to sit down and plan my meals out for the week, but that doesn’t mean I don’t meal plan. This week I sat down with food writer, founder of goodfoodstories.com, and self-proclaimed cat lady Casey Barber to talk about expanding our definition of what meal planning can look like. We discuss:
- Avoiding kitchen burnout.
- Making cooking fun again.
- How to save time, money, and energy.
- Feeding your family fast, without “planning” ahead.
You can find Casey at https://www.caseybarber.com/ and access her Meal Planning system at makeyourownmealplan.com.
Have you ever pulled a container out of the fridge only to find it looks like a science experiment gone wrong? Food that goes bad wastes our money, harms the planet, and frankly, doesn’t make anybody feel good about themselves. This week I sat down with Jacquelyn Ottman, the nation’s foremost expert on green marketing and eco-innovation, to discuss:
- Top tips for keeping food from going bad.
- Simple ways to repurpose leftovers.
- Why you’re probably reheating food wrong.
- The real impact of food waste on the planet.
To find out more about Jacquie, visit her website.
Learn more about Jacquie's award-winning book, the New Rules of Green Marketing.
Learn more about Jacquie's new e-book, "How to Make Credible Green Marketing Claims".
Follow Jacquie on Twitter: Twitter.com/jacquelynottman.
Add Jacquie to your network at Linked In.
Subscribe to Jacquie Ottman's Green Marketing Blog.
Learn more about the growing global community of waste haters at WeHateToWaste.com.
Cooking can be intimidating. And approaching a new style of cooking or reducingCooking can be intimidating. And approaching a new style of cooking or reducing a staple in your diet can add to the stress. This week we sat down with intuitive cooking guru, Leanne Brown, author of the viral cookbook Good and Cheapwhich was downloaded 15 million times, to talk about her philosophy of embodied cooking. We discuss:
- Eating well on $4 a day.
- Cooking as meditation.
- Overcoming fears and anxieties in the kitchen.
- The importance of making bad food.
Visit her Embodied Cooking website here
Check out her cookbooks here
30-40% of US food is wasted, some of which is beyond our control. But we have control over more than you might think. We sat down with food stylist and recipe developer Christine Tizzard of Zero Waste Kitchen to to discuss:
- Top reasons for food waste.
- Creative solutions to food waste.
- Is “zero” waste the goal?
- The power of substitutions.
- Managing leftovers.
The Zero Waste Kitchen Website
Christine on Instagram
Whether you’re an omnivore or herbivore, bland food is boring. But it’s especially true that plant-based food is way more fun when infused with flavor. This week we talked with writer and foodie, Broderick Smylie, about how he gave his Veganuary a flavor boost. We discuss:
- Tricks to flavoring plant-rich foods.
- Infusing your culture into your cooking.
- How incorporating spices & sauces by small creators is a game changer.
- The lesser known roots of veganism.
Tune in to get inspired!
Follow Broderick on Instagram and subscribe to his Substack here.
Everyone’s kitchen is a little different. What’s useless to some is essential to others. We firmly believe you don’t need anything special to make great plant-based food. This week
Maggy, Pam, and Laura share their favorite equipment. We discuss:
- Our secret to falling in love with cooking.
- The popular gadget we all find unnecessary.
- Which items we don’t agree on.
- What Maggy wishes she had in her kitchen.
- The one thing we all agree on.
Click here for a free copy of our Kitchen Essentials Printable
When temperatures drop, seasonal produce can be less than inspiring. What are the most delicious ways to eat winter’s skimpy harvest? What’s worth buying out of season? In this episode, we talk about our struggles and triumphs cooking and eating during the winter months. We discuss:
- What’s actually in season.
- How to incorporate seasonal ingredients into our favorite recipes.
- The tricks for simple seasonal eating.
- Produce we can’t live without, no matter the season.
Recipes Mentioned:
Blitzed Salad
Sundried Tomato Pesto
Basil Pesto
Lemon Pesto
One Pot Pasta
Cauliflower Bolognese
Cauliflower Alfredo
Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
Quick, Creamy Vegetable Soup
Crispy Potato Rosti
Pot of White Beans
Vat of Tomato Sauce
Lentil Stew
Black Bean Tostadas
Dinner Quesadillas
Tamale pie
Months ago we tackled the difficult subject of beans with our good friend Dr. Kristen Bentson. You all loved her episode so much we knew it was time to bring her back. This week, we skip the fart jokes and dive deep into grains. We discuss:
- Are grains good for you?
- Are all grains created equal?
- Is gluten bad?
- How to incorporate new grains into your diet.
- How to get kids to eat them.
Recipes Mentioned:
Overnight Oats
How to Build a Green and Grain Bowl
Quick Quinoa
Quinoa Skillet Supper
Typically, we don’t believe in dramatic changes or black and white thinking, but we do believe short-term resolutions can lead to lasting results. This week, we talk about a life-changing Planetarian challenge in 2023. We discuss:
- Where to start.
- How to make it easier.
- How long it took Maggy’s family to join.
- Why it’s worth it.
- Why the short-term changes will lead to lasting results.
As the year comes to an end, it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking you haven’t accomplished enough. This week we’re taking time to reflect on all the progress we’ve made as a community of Planetarians. We discuss:
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What Planetarian success looks like.
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Our hardest shifts.
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Our biggest wins.
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What we're excited to do next on our Planetarian journey.
We care a lot about climate change. And as we share our passion with those around us, our communities start to care too. But when we step out of our circle, it can be jarring. Maggy recently went away to a major theme park and her experience was magical and also jarring. We discuss:
- The difficulty of leaving our bubble of support.
- What a sustainability swear jar is.
- How to talk to companies about change.
- What to do when sustainable choices are lacking.
- Getting back on track after vacation.
When it comes to the major holidays, the joy of connecting with loved ones can sometimes be overshadowed by the stress of hosting, preparing, cooking, cleaning, and entertaining. Fortunately, as Maggy puts it, Pam has a black belt in hosting events. And she’s here to share her knowledge. We discuss:
- How much prep is too much prep.
- How to be helpful as a guest.
- How to get it all done and spend time with your company.
- How to cut down on waste and stress.
Recipes Mentioned:
Rosemary Spiced Bar Nuts
Festive Roast Pumpkins
"Sausage" Stuffing with Cranberries
Herbed Cornbread Stuffing
Overnight Oats
Pumpkin Custard
Pear Apple Crumble
Plant-Based Cottage Pie
Quick Bean and Corn Vegetarian Chili
After years of dealing with the end-of-season clutter, discard, and a massive credit card bill, Maggy’s family knew the mad rush to buy and wrap endless gifts was not working for them. Nearly a decade ago, they decided to stop exchanging gifts, and they’ve never looked back. The holidays have never been happier. While this won't work for everyone, there are many ways to do gifts different.
This week we discuss:
- Reducing stress and the costs of giving.
- Alternatives to traditional gifts.
- Gifts with lasting impact.
- What to do with the time you would have spent shopping, wrapping, and gift-giving.
- What to do when family members aren’t on board.
- The impact of gifts and wrapping paper on the planet.
On cue, Black Friday will take the world by storm next week. Buy, buy, buy. Get the deal. Take advantage of the sale. Send a gift. Treat yourself. The messaging is relentless. But it isn’t the only way. And Black Friday isn’t the only time of year we need to be mindful consumers. This week we sat down with Brooke Bowlin of Secondhand Sustainability. We discuss:
- What is nuance and why is it key to the conversation?
- What are the barrier entries into secondhand fashion.
- Why bother shopping secondhand?
- What to do if you lack access to good secondhand stores.
- Does it really make a difference?
Brooke shares a wealth of fantastic, free resources on her website here. Give her a follow on Instagram and check out her favorite books, documentaries, and accounts to follow below.
Resources We Mention
25 Questions To Ask Before Buying
River Blue (Movie)
True Cost (Movie)
The Conscious Closet (Book)
Consumed (Book)
Good On You
Accounts to Follow:
Fashion Revolution
Remake (our world)
Slow Factory
Another holiday, more decisions about how to prioritize competing values. When it comes to family, tradition, celebration, and doing right by the planet, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. We discuss:
- The most important thing you can do.
- Easy ways to green up your Thanksgiving celebration.
- Where we find room to compromise.
- To turkey or not to turkey.
There are a lot of misconceptions about plant-based meats. Are they overly processed? Do they contain adequate protein? Are they healthy or bad for you? Do they cause hormonal issues? And what, really, are they made of? This week, we dive into the top plant-based meats—Impossible and Beyond brands—as well as other plant-based meats. We discuss:
- What’s actually in plant-based meat?
- Which plant-based meat traumatized Maggy?
- What are “gateway foods”?
- Beyond and Impossible alternatives.
- Common misconceptions.
What do you do when you feel like your individual actions aren't enough? This week, we sat down with Marek Marcynski, a London-Based human rights attorney. Marek believes everybody can use their skills to further the climate movement. Using his passion for law, he launched Climate Litigation Blog where he translates climate litigation into lay language, making it possible for average folks to follow the issues. We discuss:
- How punk rock changed the trajectory of his life.
- How he refocused his passions and multiplied his impact as an adult.
- Changing the image of a climate activist.
- How to talk to kids about climate change.
Last week we talked with climate activist Kate Logan about her protesting and engaging in civil disobedience to bring awareness to climate change. Some of us feel called to that; others may not. But it doesn’t take much effort to get informed, get to the polls, and vote Admittedly, we haven’t always been as informed and engaged as we want to be. This week we discuss:
- Easy ways to get educated about local politics.
- The fastest way to decide who to vote for.
- The unintended consequences of not voting.
- After voting, a few ways to take it a step further.
Some helpful resources:
Vote 411
Ballotpedia
Vote Smart
If you’re like us, you sometimes feel like we are too late in the fight against climate change. Maybe you want feel like you should make changes but you don’t know where to start. Maybe you’re making changes and sharing content online and you feel like you’re shouting into an empty room (same!). This week we sat down with climate activist Kate Logan to hear about what she’s doing to fight climate change, why it works, and how she fits it into her schedule as a lawyer and a mom. We discuss:
- Does being a “keyboard warrior” make a difference?
- Can one person ever make a difference?
- Can you be an activist without getting arrested?
- The major step forward Kate has taken in her activism journey.
You can find Kate on Instagram here.
https://juststopoil.org/
https://rebellion.global/
We (Laura and Maggy) are two moms with young kids Because we care about sustainability and also love living life to the fullest, we are faced with a dilemma. Can we celebrate fall and Halloween in a way that is both sustainable and fun? Is this a time let go or is it another opportunity to make planet-friendly decisions? We discuss:
- Our pivotal question when making decisions.
- How to create Pinterest-worthy, earth-friendly front stoops.
- How to assemble kick-ass, planet-respectful Halloween costumes.
- What to do on November 1st.
Last week we shared how hard it can sometimes be to live the Planetarian Life. This week we flip it around and share how we make plant-rich eating effortless. We discuss:
- Tips for making plant-based cooking second nature.
- How cooking fits into each of our weekly routines.
- How to adapt the Capsule Kitchen to your family.
- Tips for staying focused on your values.
This week we’re keeping it real: being a Planetarian isn't always easy. The last few months we've been struggling to live up to our own Planetarian standards, and we’ve been trying to course-correct back to our values. If you have pitfalls, hangups, or need a reset, tune in for commiseration and inspiration. This week we discuss:
- Maggy's biggest embarrassment.
- The Planetarian pitfalls.
- Our ongoing struggles.
- How we get back on track.
Recently, we discovered that we might accidentally be investing in companies that do not align with our values. Maybe you don’t invest. Maybe you’ve been investing for years and are satisfied with your results. Maybe you don’t have funds to invest or know where to start. Or, perhaps you’re like us. You want ensure your investments support our planet’s future. Our challenge? We didn’t know where to start until we sat down with Alejandro Fritz, co-founder and CEO of FLIT Invest. We discuss
- Where you could be unknowingly investing in fossil fuels.
- How much you need to start investing and where to start.
- Without investing, how to make your money work for your causes.
- Why even ESG investing (using environmental, social, and governance factors to evaluate how far advanced they are with sustainability) may not be support your goals.
- An innovative strategy for placing climate supporters in key company roles.
Some helpful resources from Alejandro:
FLIT Invest
Website
(Sustainable/Impact) Investing 101:
FLIT Invest Blog
Morning Brew guide
ShareScoops newsletter
Resource to see what you’re invested in:
https://www.asyousow.org/invest-your-values/ - You can screen your existing investments in ETFs and Mutual Funds (including retirement plan ones) and see how they stack up across various metrics
https://fossilfreefunds.org/ - Fossil fuel score on your ETF and Mutual Fund investments
Banks and their climate impact:
https://www.bankingonclimatechaos.org/
Whether we’re into sleek modern or cozy antiques, most of us want to create a home that reflects our vibe. But furnishing a home can be a major drain on our finances and the Earth’s material resources. We've found, however, you don’t have to choose between the home you want and doing right by the planet. This week we share how we’ve sustainably furnished our homes. We discuss:
- Where to find planet-friendly furniture and home decor.
- How to sustainably and economically outfit your home.
- How to find life-long treasures.
- How to sustainably purge.
Marketplace
Mercari
Poshmark
Thrifting Episode of our podcast
We would never ask you to give up coffee. But when we learned that coffee is right up there with beef and cheese in terms of emissions, we wanted to find ways to make our coffee routines more Planetarian. We share our tips for reducing waste without sacrificing the quality of your coffee. Then we sit down with our coffee-roasting cousin, Andrew, to get the inside scoop on coffee production, sourcing, and labeling. We discuss:
- Our thoughts on Keurigs and k-cups (it might surprise you).
- The easiest way to reduce your coffee emissions without changing your routine.
- Whether fair trade is really fair trade.
- How to see past the greenwashing.
- How you can find the best quality and most environmentally friendly coffee.
We are firmly in the heart of summer and the heat has us less than enthusiastic about turning on the oven. This week we sat down for a very informal chat about how we get food on the table without heating up our homes or interrupting our summer fun! We discuss
- How to avoid the impulse to eat out.
- Our favorite tips for cooking without heat.
- Maggy's trick for feeding a hungry family in less than ten minutes.
- Making veggies that kids find irresistible.
- What foods we think are worth turning on the oven for.
Add to cart, buy now, free delivery, same-day shipping. The ease and convenience of online shopping has made it a multi-trillion dollar industry. And for good reason. Sometimes, Amazon can be a godsend. But sometimes, we prioritize convenience over the planet. Tune in for our tips on making Amazon shopping more planet-friendly. We discuss:
- Why Pam is going to internet hell.
- Little known ways to make Amazon shopping more eco-friendly.
- When Amazon is the solution, and when it’s not.
- What really happens to all those returns.
- Ways to lessen the impact of online shopping.
There’s a common misconception that eating plant-rich relegates one to a lifetime of lackluster salads. A bottled-dressing-tossed bowl of limp greens and mealy tomatoes is not our idea of a salad worth eating. Plant-rich food is so much more than salad and pasta, but a well-crafted salad can make an incredible meal. This week we’re sharing:
- How to make satisfying salads that stick with you.
- The secret ingredient every salad needs.
- The unusual dressing that’s become our favorite.
- Tips to make anybody a salad lover.
- Foolproof steps for building the perfect salad.
Most of us have year-round access to whatever produce we want. Our grocery stores are stocked with bright berries in the dead of winter and butternut squash in the heat of summer. Lately, we’re learning more and more about the importance of eating locally and seasonally. This week, we dish up another honest conversation about revelations we’ve had, changes we’ve made, and struggle we’ve experienced eating seasonally.
We discuss:
- What’s actually “in” season and where to get it.
- Whether eating seasonally is worth the effort.
- What to do if kids don’t like that season’s produce.
- Based on our access, how to prioritize what’s better for the Earth —seasonal foods, local foods, plant-based foods?
We’ve all heard the great debates over plastic straws and grocery bags. Many of us live in places where they’ve been banned or restricted. But what about other single-use items? Is there a time and place for them? How bad are they really? What are the realistic alternatives? This week we talk about disposables—the good, the bad, and the ugly.Tune in to hear:
- The disposable items we think are beneficial and the ones we struggle to live without.
- The experience that haunts Maggy.
- Whether reusable alternatives are worth the money.
- How we were able to shift our mindset.
- The most powerful way to change throw-away culture.
Last week, we started a conversation with Dr. Brannon Andersen, professor of Earth, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences at Furman University about food shopping as a revolutionary act. We talked about the actual costs of sustaining a Western diet, how to change our food systems, and what we're doing wrong when it comes to the price of food.
- This week, we continue that conversation about food as a revolutionary act and dig in to:
- What matters more—what you eat or where it comes from?
- The ways we are all engaging in thievery. (You might be surprised!)
- The relationship between community resilience and industrial food systems.
- The easy place to start, right now, when the environmental and food systems seem too complex to tackle.
Tune in to hear us grapple with some of these issues and join us as we gain incredible insight from Dr. Andersen and his knowledge base. And if you haven't already listened to Part 1 of Planting Seeds of Change in the Cracks, we suggest you start there.
We talk a lot about eating more plant-rich to help reduce our carbon footprints. But eating predominantly plant-based has broader implications. To learn more, we spoke with Dr. Brannon Andersen, professor of Earth, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences at Furman University about eating as a revolutionary act. This week, in part one of the conversation, we discuss:
- What our food cravings might really be based on.
- The actual costs of sustaining a Western diet.
- What it would take to create real change in our food systems.
- How to reduce the cost of food, and what we’re doing wrong.
Tune in this week for Dr. Andersen's insights and come back next week for part 2 where we dig deeper into food as a revolutionary act, how our systems came to be, and so much more.
So you’re ready to eat plant-rich or to start making some gradual changes, but your loved ones are maybe not quite there yet. You’re not alone! This episode is all about what to do if your family isn’t on board (yet). Learn from our mistakes and benefit from our successes. And hear some listener stories about what worked and what didn’t in their homes. We discuss:
- How to communicate without triggering resistance.
- How to help meat-eaters feel full eating plant-rich.
- The most important thing Maggy did to get her family on board.
- The mistake Laura made and how you can avoid it.
- Our tried and true “gateway” foods for new Planetarians (hint: don’t start with tofu).
Tune in for practical ways to help make the plant-rich transition one your family embraces!
In this Mother's Day episode we go deep on what it means to be a mother in an era when climate change threatens our children's futures.
In this episode we discuss:
- The drastic measure Maggy took because of her climate anxiety versus the reason Laura doesn't worry about climate and her children's future.
- The childhood moment that changed Maggy's life.
- Ideas for how to bring your children into the family's sustainability and regenerative practices
- Ways you might be communicating about climate change without realizing it.
Whether you're a mother or just a human who interacts with younger people on the planet, you have the opportunity to teach the next generation about climate change and what we can do about it - every day. Tune in for some insight into what you might be subconsciously teaching those around you and how to tailor your message to align with your values. Mostly, join us for camaraderie with imperfect parents who want the best possible future for their kids.
Companies around the world are patting themselves on the back for being eco-friendly. But do their claims actually hold up to scrutiny? In this episode we discuss not only what greenwashing is, but also:
- The research trip that became the classic example of greenwashing.
- How a viral TikTok video exposed a major company's dishonesty.
- Which of your favorite brands are lying to consumers.
- A quick rule of thumb for when to be skeptical, and how to tell which companies are actually telling the truth.
- Our five-step process for combatting greenwashing.
Tune in if you want to learn more, if you're tired of playing the fool to misleading marketing, and if you want some quick, practical ways that you can identify and avoid greenwashing in your own life.
In part two of our conversation with Nature & Forest Therapy Guide Ashley Rodriguez, we discuss:
- How an email she originally ignored ended up changing her life.
- What helped her realize she had a personal connection with Earth.
- What inhaling and exhaling have to do with changing the world.
- Her trick for helping us find our own path.
- Why fear isn't a good motivator and what emotion to use instead.
Tune in for encouragement to find what actions (big or small) light you up and inspire you to change your relationship with Earth.
We spend so little time outside these days that in some places, doctors are actually prescribing National Park passes to help people connect with nature. We don't need science to tell us what we already know: we are healthier and happier when we're outside.
This is the basis for this week's conversation with Ashley Rodriguez, a certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide and recent graduate from Seminary of the Wild. She is on a mission to help us examine our connection to Earth and find a more reciprocal relationship.
It's an inspiring, hope-filled episode packed with her knowledge and flecked with ways to rekindle our connection to this beautiful Earth we call home.
Many PL conversations focus on reducing meat and dairy consumption as one simple way we can reduce our carbon footprint. Issues like climate change and social justice are far more complicated, so the "one simple thing" gives us a way to focus our energy. This week, we share a powerful conversation with food systems expert, Sharon Damelio, for a better understanding of the broader food system. In this episode we discuss:
*Why access to nutritious food is a human right.
Community-based solutions to food insecurity that work.*
*From farms to fridges, the myriad ways our food system is broken.
*What we can do to effect change and improve our own lives.
*Reclaiming the connection to our food and our community.
*Hard decisions we must make for our bodies, our communities, and our planet.
*Why the first question should be: what can I do in my own community?
Tune in for a powerful episode that will educate and inspire you to start shopping and eating with impact.
Did you know that one third of all food ends up getting tossed? If that’s not true for you, congratulations! For the rest of us, there's room for improvement. Do you over buy? Do ambitious cooking plans often fall to the wayside? Are you squeamish about less than perfect produce? If so, listen to this conversation with my mom, Pam Anderson, Patron Saint of Languishing Produce. In this episode we discuss:
- How to better store and care for produce.
- The critical few minutes of prep when unloading groceries.
- The importance of making food edible ASAP.
- Strategies for putting languishing produce to good use.
- Fridge, freezer, and pantry management.
Tune-in and learn how to better care for your food every step of the way.
Restaurant menus are changing to meet increasing vegan and vegetarian demand. Still, depending on where you live and who you're eating with, dining out can be a challenge. This week we discuss:
- How ordering plant-rich can be a better, more interesting experience.
- Kinds of restaurants that lean plant-rich.
- How to assess the menu and order.
- The off-menu items.
- The app that will make your life easier.
- Strength in numbers and the power to shape restaurant menus.
- How Planetarians don’t necessarily need to eat meatless.
If you're looking for inspiration on how (and why!) ordering plant-rich at restaurants can fun and delicious, tune-in.
Personal care products are personal. It can take several attempts to find the right shampoo for your hair texture or the perfect moisturizer for your skin type. The challenge of finding the right products, along with misconceptions about "eco-friendly" ones, can hinder our making the switch. In this episode we discuss:
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Why plastics—all kinds and sizes—are problematic.
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Our favorite product swaps.
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Misconceptions about sustainable products.
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How going to a zero waste shop (if there’s one nearby) can be a good first step
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The power of starting your day with Planetarian self-care products.
This week, get inspired to replace your empty containers and tubes with Planetarian self-care products.
Online Zero Waste Shops We Love
The Good Fill
Zero Waste Store
Package Free Shop
Laura's Favorite Personal Care Swaps
Toothbrush
Unpaste "Toothpaste" Tabs
Shampoo & Conditioner (I use the purple one for my blonde hair, but there are other options)
Lotion
Hairspray (You dump it in a bottle and send back the plastic package to be sanitized and reused)
Deodorant (available at Target & Walgreens)
Blueland Soap (or any bar soap rather than liquid soap!)
Other Zero-Waste Products Laura Loves
Beeswax Wraps (instead of plastic wrap)
Compostable Garbage Bags
Laundry Detergent Sheets
Wool Dryer Balls
Compostable Doggie Bags (I use them for diapers when traveling)
Once you know tourism is responsible for 8% (and growing) of global greenhouse emissions, it becomes clear that we Planetarians have an opportunity—obligation perhaps—to consider our travel impact and how to do it better. It's not an easy subject, but this week we bring honesty and levity as we discuss:
- The breakdown of tourism's carbon footprint.
- The advantages and disadvantages of driving vs. flying.
- Carbon offsetting your travel emissions.
- The power of bringing your Planetarian values with you on vacation.
- SustainbleTravel.org's inspiring travel pledge.
Before you make your summer travel plans, tune into this episode, and see if it inspires you to travel differently.
Given how few people eat it, it's clear that breakfast is a challenge - even without the added confusion of what to make if you're trying to eat less meat & dairy. We struggled for years to figure out plant-rich breakfasts, and we're sharing with you what we've learned. In this episode we discuss:
- Our recipes, techniques, and strategies for getting plant-rich breakfast on the table.
- Are eggs really that bad for the environment?
- The limitations of traditional breakfast foods that are holding us back.
- The focus on protein and the plant-based solutions.
- Our Planetarian "Sausage" Patties and why you should try them.
- The importance of finding plant-rich breakfasts you love!
Join us this week and be inspired to make more interesting breakfasts!
Recipes Mentioned:
Tofu Scrambled "Eggs"
Satisfying Overnight Oats
White Beans on Toast
Meatless "Sausage" Patties
Ultimate Granola
Planetarian Muffins
Pumpkin Bread
Breakfast Coconut Rice Pudding
Hashbrown Strata
In this episode, we talk to Laura and Gil Richardson, a couple who have been on a three-decade journey to live more sustainably. Starting with "camping" for several years, they eventually built an energy-efficient, off-grid house complete with a half-acre of gardens and a "Veg Mahal" greenhouse.
Tune in to find out:
- Why they chose to live off-grid and how they make it work.
- How they cut their fossil fuel usage to a fraction of their total energy use.
- How an energy audit can save you money.
- How the market for eco-friendly solutions is changing.
- How to be a mindful consumer.
- How to journey towards net-zero without sacrificing happiness or comfort.
Tune in to this episode to learn from a couple who have tried it all (almost!) and be inspired to take another step on the Planetarian path.
One of the biggest challenges of plant-rich eating: What to put between two slices of bread (or in a bun, pita, or wrap)? We used to reach for canned tuna and deli meat and cheese, but as Planetarians, we've developed some delicious options. This week we take a deep dive into the world of sandwiches and discuss why:
- Breakfast and lunch can be the most difficult to eat plant-rich.
- You should make the simple sandwich filler that blew our minds.
- Plant-rich sandwiches that are more satisfying than traditional meat & cheese options.
- If bread isn't your thing, make a plant-rich salad.
- Just because it’s simple doesn't mean it's not special.
Tune in this week and get inspired to make sensational Planetarian sandwiches, burgers, wraps, (and salads!).
Recipes We Mention:
Chickpea "Chicken" or "Tuna" Salad (Curry, Classic, or Greek)
Plant-Based "Chicken" Cutlet
Olive Tapenade for Meatless Muffulettas
Falafel Burgers
Falafel Wraps
Bean Burgers (BBQ, Pizza flavored, or Gyro flavored)
Corn Cakes
Quinoa Cakes
One of the questions I'm most often asked is, "How do you get your kids to eat plant-rich?” My response? "We're still figuring it out." In this week's episode, we deep dive into the why’s of what's working and what’s not. We conclude that:
- Teaching kids to appreciate good food in general is important.
- Building "food trust" is critical.
- Knowing the fine line of when to push and when to simply suggest is key.
- Modeling how we hope our kids will eat subtly inspires.
- Including kids in the cooking process is crucial.
- Educating kids about your family's "WHY" can be transformational.
Tune in for some inspiration and ideas to entice your kids to journey with you as a Planetarian.
As a Planetarian, one of the greatest challenges can be effectively communicating what you're doing and why. This week we talk about how to have conversations in a way that attracts rather than repels others.
In this episode we discuss why:
- Compromise is not only okay, but also helpful!
- Getting clear on your "WHY" helps others understand, support, and even be inspired.
- Planetarian’s definition is intentionally vague.
- Cooking plant-rich for others is important (but not always necessary).
- Our focus shouldn't be converting others.
- Keeping an open-mind is important.
- We're all leaders building a Planetarian community.
Tune-in to hear what's worked for us over the years!
With a very low carbon footprint (and pricetag) and high nutritional content, beans are a perfect Planetarian food. Our guest nutritionist, Dr. Kristen Bentson, answers many of our questions about this mysterious legume. In this episode we discuss:
- What's so great about beans?
- How to soak and cook dried beans.
- When and why we prefer dried beans.
- If beans are a complete protein, do we need grains, too?
- How can we better digest beans and legumes?
- Our favorite Capsule Kitchen bean and legume recipes
After listening to this episode, you'll know a lot more about beans and have the confidence to soak and cook your own!
Recipes We Mention:
- How to Cook Beans
- How to Soak and Cook Lentils
- Rancho Gordo Beans
- Quick Bean & Corn Chili
- White Bean Stew
- Green & Grain Bowl or Salad w/ Beans
- Beans on Toast w/ caramelized onions
- Tamale Pie
- Tofu Scrambled "Eggs" w/ Beans
- Spring Vegetable and White Bean Pasta
- Really Simple Bean Burgers
By now you've probably heard the news: the biggest thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint is to reduce your meat and dairy consumption. You want to switch to a more plant-rich way of eating, but change isn't always easy. Our goal is to show you how delicious and fun it is to make the shift! In this episode we discuss:
- The challenges to eating plant-rich, at least at the beginning
- Why starting small works better than going big
- Why we're flipping "diet culture" on its head
- The reasons why eating plant-rich can be more exciting
- How the Capsule Kitchen can help you get started (or keep going!)
- Our favorite classic dishes we've made Planetarian
Tune in for inspiration to get started - or to keep going!
Recipes we mention
Mac & Cheese
Tamale Pie
Cottage Pie
The average American wastes about a pound of food each day, which makes food the largest tenant in our nation's landfills. To make bad news worse, food waste contributes to eleven percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. But here’s the good news: there's a lot we can do! In this episode we discuss:
*Our big food waste problem.
*What happens to food in landfills.
*Different ways to compost.
*How to reduce food waste in your home.
*How Formulas give languishing produce new life.
Tune in to get excited about everything from food scraps and brown matter to languishing produce and products nearing their expiry date 😂
The world manufactures over 100 billion pieces of clothing per year and it's a problem, both for the planet it pollutes and the people who produce them. As part of our Greener You in 2022 challenge, we're taking a look at fast fashion and how we can slowly start "breaking up" with an industry that does not align with our Planetarian values. In this week's episode we discuss:
*The dark side of the fast fashion industry.
*Why we all LOVE thrifting and where we shop.
*Why it's important to confront our closets.
*How to take better care of the clothes we love.
*How to get started on a more Planetarian apparel path.
This episode will help motivate you to shop more ethically and sustainably and inspire you to experience the joy of shopping second hand.
The trouble with resolutions is, they're usually big, overwhelming, and difficult to stick with in the long-term. Going vegan? Committing to zero waste? Walking or biking instead of driving? These are good and admirable resolutions, but a little like attacking Everest before you’ve climbed the hill in your backyard. That’s why we created "Greener You in 2022." It’s our simple way to break it down into 52 bite-sized ideas that will inspire you to slowly and sustainably work your way towards becoming a greener, more Planetarian version of yourself this year.
In this week's episode, we're taking a deep dive into Greener You. We discuss:
- The case for taking on smaller, more manageable challenges instead of big resolutions
- The most important "green" changes we each made in 2022
- The one change we're all obsessedwith
- How to stay positive and motivated when you feel demoralized
- Why the actions of one person or one family matter
If you're looking for some motivation for or direction in the New Year, tune-in!
Click here to subscribe to our newsletter and get a bite-sized Greener You challenge once a week.
This week we’re talking about how to make your holiday season more fun, easy going, and Planetarian. We talk about:
*Preparing for the arrival of guests and including them in the process
*All those meals besides the big meal (hint: hash brown strata for breakfast, creamy vegetable soup for lunch, and a plant-based appetizer board for grazing)
*How to have a festive dinner that’s also good for the planet. We have a show-stopping Mushroom Wellington dinner complete with Carrot-Potato Mash and Roasted Brussels Sprouts on the side and a Spice Cake with Hard Sauce for dessert.
*Having meaningful & constructive conversations over the holidays
A few weeks ago, I Instagrammed about our family's ten-year Giftless Holiday tradition. We started it to save money. We continued it to save time. We do it now to prevent waste. There was so much response and discussion on this post that we decided to podcast about it.
In this week’s podcast, we’re shifting from our usual food talk to a discussion about gift-giving. (We're not The Grinch, and we’re definitely not anti-gift!)
Tune in to hear:
- What caused us to make this choice (and how it has evolved over the years)
- How we are handling it with our kids
- Why we're focusing on gifting experiences
- How we're creating the holiday we wantto have
Tune in! And as I always say, "Take what resonates, leave the rest."
On this week's episode, Maggy's friend Emily, visiting from England (and an avid Planetarian, joins us to talk about our favorite Essentials in the Capsule Kitchen. In our conversation we discuss:
*Our favorite Essentials and how we use them
*How having Essentials around will transform your kitchen
*The ridiculous demonization of white food
*Why it's especially important to have Essentials around during the holidays
This week, check out the Essentials page and make two or three that appeal to you. See for yourself how much easier they make getting meals on the table!
As always, the recipes we mention are linked below. This week, we name more than usual so we'll link the Essentials. If something we mention has piqued your interest and isn't below, just search for it on planetarianlife.com
Pepitas
Pickled onions
Lemon-caper drizzle
Overnight Oats
Poppyseed Dressing
Massaged kale
Pestos (Basil Pesto (with Kale), Sundried Tomato Pesto, Kale-Walnut Pesto, Lemon Pesto)
Caramelized onions
Effortless Homemade Bread
Roasted cherry tomato
Pot of rice
Quick Roasted garlic
We also mention the following Bases which function similarly to Essentials in helping you get a jumpstart on meals
Tomato Sauce
Lentil-Walnut Ground "Meat"
Potato Salad Base
Roasted Summer Vegetables
Pot of White Beans
On this week's episode, we break down the Formula Maggy uses most often: 15-Minute Skillet Stew. With just a handful of ingredients - scallions (or onion), any beans, any spices, and a can of petite-diced tomato - there's a flavor-packed meal on the table. Serve over a baked sweet potato, a bowl or rice, or even alongside some naan or tortilla. Laura makes the Curried Chickpea variation while we're recording. We like to top it with Roasted Pepitas and Pickled Pink Onions. This is one Formula you'll definitely want to keep in your back pocket. In our conversation we discuss:
*How a culinary Formula works & the Root Formula for Skillet Stew
*The freedom of becoming a cook instead of a recipe follower
*Kids and Planetarian meals
*Ways to serve Skillet Stew
So start gathering your ingredients and let's get cookin'!
This week we're taking a deep dive into our favorite Capsule Kitchen Base, A Vat of Tomato Sauce. We guarantee you'll be pulling out the ingredients to make sauce before the episode is over. Pam makes both kinds during the podcast, the garlicky version and the celery, carrots, and onion version. In our conversation we discuss:
*Commonly-held misconceptions about marinara
*The game-changing nature of Bases (and why it's superior to batch cooking)
*Different dishes you can quickly pull off with sauce made
*Using meat to add flavor instead of the main event
So start gathering your ingredients and let's get cookin'!
Recipes Mentioned:
A Vat of Tomato Sauce (this recipe includes both the Garlicky sauce AND the carrot, celery, & onion sauce)
Creamy Homemade Tomato Soup
Quick Bean & Corn Vegetarian Chili
Coconut Curry with Chickpeas and Spinach
Pasta e Fagioli
Classic Italian "Meatballs"
Roasted Cauliflower Bolognese
Capsule Kitchen Ingredients Page
This week we're talking about the biggest eating day of the year! Thanksgiving. Whether you're planning to enjoy your family's classic dishes or you're looking for some plant-rich inspiration, this episode was recorded for you. In this episode, we talk about:
*Our favorite Thanksgiving dishes
*Planetarian sides and dessert we developed
*Merits of the turkey: essential to the meal or show-stopping centerpiece?
*Share ideas for reducing waste and using up leftovers
Tune in and start getting hungry for November 25!
Recipes Mentioned:
Garlic Smashed Potatoes
Festive "Sausage" Stuffing with Cranberries
Green Bean Casserole
Pear-Apple Crumble
Creamy Sweet Potato Boats
In this, our first episode, we:
- Introduce ourselves and talk about our own paths to Planetarian Life
- Explain the genesis of the Life-Changing, Earth-Saving Capsule Kitchen (and talk about our favorite elements)
- Wax Poetic about Tamale Pie
- Discuss what you can expect from episodes in the future
There's definitely a rogue cat meowing in the background and we can't stop using the word "journey"... but we edited out as many of the "ums" and “you knows” as possible. Newbie errors aside, we cover good ground in these 24 minutes. Tune in!
Recipes Mentioned:
Tamale Pie (Bean & Corn)
Tamale Pie (Plant-Based Meat)
Vat of Simple Tomato Sauce
Pot of Rice (Base)
Effortless Homemade Bread
Blitzed Salad