Sustainability advice is everywhere — and even when you care, even when you’re trying to pay attention, it can be hard to know what actually matters.

In this episode, I’m joined by Alexa Pavan of Go Green With Alexa, a climate communicator and copywriter who’s focused on making sustainability more understandable, more approachable, and a lot more connected to real life.

We talk about what it looks like to move through all of that information — how to figure out what’s credible, what’s actually helpful, and how to take those bigger ideas and bring them into your day-to-day life.

From composting and food waste to media literacy and community action, this conversation is about finding your footing in a space that can feel overwhelming and remembering that sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated to matter.

Takeaways

• Sustainability advice can feel overwhelming — slowing down and checking sources helps you build confidence in what you’re seeing and sharing.
• Food waste is one of the most impactful places to start, both environmentally and financially.
• Composting is a powerful way to reduce waste, especially when it’s supported at a larger, community level.
• Sustainable living looks different in every household — it needs to fit your life to stick.
• Small, everyday choices can extend beyond the home and shape communities and local systems.
• Civic engagement is part of building greener communities.
• Creativity and problem-solving are part of sustainable living.

One Small Shift

Start paying attention to what’s around you. Get curious about the life cycle of an object near you. Building awareness is the first step toward making more intentional choices.

Connect With Alexa

Website

Instagram

YouTube

Resources

Household Waste Audit Workbook (free resource)

How to Prevent Food Waste With Kids (blog post)

11 Ways to Reuse Food Scraps (blog post)

Related Episodes

24: 5 Sustainable Living Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)

45: Food Waste Is Costing You — How to Spend Less on Groceries with Chelsey Schmuland

46: How to Understand Climate Change (and Talk About It With Your Kids) with Brittany Jefferson

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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Bathroom swaps are one of the most common entry points into sustainable living — but they can also be one of the most overwhelming.

There are so many products, so many recommendations, and so much pressure to replace everything all at once.

In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m talking about what it actually looks like to approach sustainable bathroom swaps in a way that’s doable, practical, and budget-friendly. The focus is on using what you already have, reducing repeat purchases, and making changes that actually stick in real life.

We dig into how much waste is coming from the bathroom, why so many of these items are designed to be used and replaced quickly, and how shifting your approach can naturally reduce both waste and spending over time.

I also walk through what has (and hasn’t) worked in my own routine — from bar soap and toothpaste to deodorant and other everyday products — and why simplifying your routine can often be more impactful than swapping everything out.

Takeaways

• Why the bathroom is a major source of household waste
• Start with what you already have instead of buying new “eco swaps”
• Which sustainable bathroom swaps tend to work in real life (and which don’t always)
• Simplify your routine instead of adding more products
• How small, consistent changes can reduce waste without overhauling everything

One Small Shift

Take an inventory of what you already have in your bathroom and focus on finishing those products first. From there, you can make more intentional choices about what you actually want to replace (and what you don’t).

Resources

Eco-Friendly Bathroom Swaps (blog post)

Related Episodes

4: How to Do a Household Waste Audit

8: 5 Easy Plastic-Free Kitchen Swaps for Sustainable Living

9: Skincare, Sustainability, and Self-Care with Rebecca Ogilvie

10: How to Refill in Your Own Containers for a Plastic-Free Pantry

22: From Refills to Resilience — Simple, Real-Life Sustainable Living with Julie Darrell

38: Things I Don’t Buy Anymore — Eco-Frugal Shifts That Reduce Waste and Save Money

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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We spend a lot of time talking about climate change — but not nearly enough time understanding it.

Most of us were never really taught how to understand it, especially in a way that connects it to history, systems, power, and the everyday decisions we’re making.

This week, I’m joined by Brittany Jefferson, an educator and founder of EJ EDU, to talk about climate literacy — what it means, why it matters, and how it shapes the way we think about everything from education to environmental justice.

We talk about why climate can’t just live in science class, what’s missing from how it’s typically taught, and how understanding the bigger picture can change the way we approach sustainability.

We also bring this into everyday life — from raising kids and navigating climate anxiety to having conversations at home and taking local climate action.

Takeaways

• What climate literacy actually means
• Why social studies, history, and systems thinking are essential to understanding climate change
• Environmental justice and who is most affected by the systems we live in
• The role of education as a climate solution
• How kids are already engaging with climate — from curiosity to overwhelm
• Ways to approach climate conversations at home in age-appropriate, grounded ways
• Navigating the tension between individual action and systemic change

One Small Shift

Download the Climate Venn Diagram. It’s a simple but powerful way to figure out where your skills, your interests, and the needs of the world overlap — and where you can focus your time and energy.

Connect with Brittany
Instagram
Patreon
Teachers Pay Teachers

Resources

All We Can Save – Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (book)
What If We Get It Right? – Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (book)
How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change - Harriet Shugarman (book)
Earth Matters (educational game)

Related Episodes
Ep. 5: How to Navigate Climate Emotions with Jen Knoch

Ep. 7: Rethinking Zero Waste with April Dickinson

Ep. 42: Overwhelmed by Climate Change? The Climate Venn Diagram Can Help

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Connect With Me

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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.