50: Practical(ly) Zero Waste with Elsbeth Callaghan

Back in 2020, I was a guest on the now inactive podcast Practical(ly) Zero Waste, hosted by Elsbeth Callaghan. At the time, my kids were little, the zero waste movement online was deep in its “trash jar” era, and many of us were trying to figure out what sustainable living looked like outside of perfectly curated Instagram squares.Six years later, a lot has changed.Kids are older, life looks different, and both of us have let go of a lot of the pressure and aesthetics that surrounded zero waste in those early online days. But underneath all of that, the values are still very much the same.In this full-circle conversation for Episode 50 of Sustainable in the Suburbs, Elsbeth and I talk about what sustainable living looks like now: parenting teenagers and young kids, balancing low waste goals with real life, navigating burnout and social media, building community, and why consistency matters a whole lot more than perfection.We also talk about what we’ve kept, what we’ve let go of, and how many of the “small shifts” we started years ago have quietly become lifelong habits.TakeawaysWhy sustainable living looks very different after years of actually living itThe shift from perfection and aesthetics toward values and consistencyRaising eco-conscious kids through everyday habits rather than pressureHow composting, secondhand shopping, and reusables became family routinesThe connection between sustainability, community, and raising responsible citizensWhy slowing down is often the most sustainable choiceHow “eco-frugal” living can save money while reducing wasteNavigating low waste living with celiac disease and accessibility needsOne Small ShiftYou can always start again.Even if you’ve fallen out of old habits, even if life looks completely different now, small intentional changes still matter. Start with one thing that feels manageable and build from there.ResourcesPractical(ly) Zero WastePZW - Ep. 69: Raising Eco KidsInkwood Print ShopRelated Episodes4: How to Conduct a Household Waste Audit11: Money, Enoughness, and Community Care with Women’s Personal Finance12: How to Quit Using Amazon (and Why You Should)Support the showConnect With MeWebsiteNewsletterShopInstagramSupport the ShowSustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal StudioIf 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.