Forensic Tales

We want new things and we want them now. Our spending habits put brands on perpetual searches for ways to shorten the time between design, manufacturing, and distribution, and China has stepped up with the technology and the supply chains to meet our needs. Our consumption habits, then, can only be satisfied by purchasing from China. Today's show analyzes the ethical and environmental implicat...

While minimalism may sometimes seem trendy, the reality is that the lifestyle has been around for centuries. Indeed, ancient philosophies touted the importance of Less Is More living as a means of finding inner peace amidst frenetic daily life. Today I speak with author Jessie Kanzer about first steps toward mental minimalism. Jessie argues that you don’t have to be a Zen master to simplify your c...

#122 - In May 2010, 23-year-old college student Julie Kibuishi was found shot dead inside 26-year-old Samuel Herr's apartment in Costa Mesa, California. The police quickly found out that Herr had an extensive military combat background and had been previously charged in another murder case. Herr quickly became the number one suspect in Julie's brutal murder. But Samuel Herr was nowhere to be found...

When carbon and fluorine fuse together they create a virtually unbreakable compound. These days, such per- and polyfluoroalkyl (or PFAS) substances are widely used in thousands of products from food packaging to clothing, carpets, and more. And because these chemicals are designed to be unbreakable, “forever chemicals” are adding up in our bodies and in the environment. On today’s episode I’m answ...

It's no secret that plastic razors are meant to be used a handful of times and then thrown in the garbage. As with any disposable product, if we continue buying them, companies will continue making them. Enter the alternative: safety razors. A safety razor is a steel razor with replacement blades: while you replace the blade (and recycle it!) once it's dull, the razor itself is made to las...

#121 - In January 2008, 24-year-old Canadian real estate agent, Lindsay Buziak, received a call of a lifetime. The caller told Lindsay that she needed to purchase a home as soon as possible and had a $1 million budget. Although the call seemed strange, Lindsay agreed to help the woman find the perfect home.   Once Lindsay found the perfect property, the woman and her husband agreed to meet Lindsay...

#120 - In August 2014, a Bali taxi driver parked outside the St. Regis Hotel in Nasu Dua, Bali, noticed a red substance that looked like blood coming out from the trunk of his taxi. When he drove to the police station, police officers opened the trunk and found a bloody suitcase. Inside the suitcase was the body of a dead adult female. She had been badly beaten to death and then stuffed inside a s...

In my corner of the world trees are budding and flowers are blooming. But leaf blowers are also blowing, and it’s nearly time for that first grass cutting. Enter No Mow May. Lawns that aren’t exactly pristine may indeed get your neighbors’ side-eyes, as intentionally not mowing your lawn here in the US is a quietly revolutionary act. But environmental advocates argue that there are many benefits t...

Our master bedrooms *should* be our sanctuaries. While they’re the singular space we retreat to for rest, relaxation, and recharging, all too often our master bedrooms become like any other room in our homes: havens for clutter. Today I speak with professional organizer Amy Mayorga about all-things minimalist master bedroom design. Amy argues that Step One is honoring the purpose of the room: to h...

#119 - In July 2021, Elijah Snow and his wife, Jamie, boarded an early morning flight in Arlington, Texas. They traveled to Cancún, Mexico, to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. The first day of the trip went just as planned. They spent the day by the beach and had a nice dinner at one of the all-inclusive resort restaurants. But sometime after dinner, this dream vacation turned into a real...

Lithium is so much more than the name of a (very) famous Nirvana song. Lithium is a metal affectionately known as white gold, and it’s having a moment. On today’s show we are examining the environmental implications associated with our growing lithium needs for batteries in electric vehicles, laptops, cell phones, and more. Here’s a preview: [3:00] Everything you need to know about lithium: its be...

What’s better than deep and meaningful connections with those we love? Join me today for this third and final episode in our What’s Best In Life Is Free series as we discuss this importance of rich conversations. Research finds that rich talk is the antidote to the stress we experience in our daily lives, and Dr. Rebecca Rolland offers practical ideas for shifting conversations with your children...

#118 - In September 2016, two sisters from Minnesota, Anne and Robin Korkki, set out on a trip of a lifetime to Africa. They spent the first two weeks in Kenya, Zanzibar, and Tanzania. But tragedy struck when they arrived at the Maia Luxury Resort in Mahe, an island in the Indian Ocean 900 miles off Africa's eastern coast. On September 22nd, 2016, the sisters were found unresponsive in their $2,00...

“I’m stuck between trying to spend as little money as possible while also buying sustainable, timeless items from eco-conscious companies (which often inherently cost more). Even though I’m buying fewer items and using my money more intentionally, I don’t find that I’m saving much. What tips do you have for conscious spending, i.e. spending less without sacrificing quality or values?” Ethical item...

#117 - In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailand's island of Koh Tao. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing the crime scene. While collecting forensic evidence, tourists and locals were allowed to walk on the...

The origins of spring cleaning date back to times when homes were heated by fires: spring, then, offered an opportunity to sweep out the soot and grime that accumulated throughout the long winter. These days, the tradition of deep cleaning in spring rejuvenates our spaces, increases productivity, and clears out dust and other allergens. On today’s miniature episode we apply the principles of sprin...

People who get great sleep get sick less often. They also think more clearly and are better able to maintain a healthy weight. Still, approximately 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Today we continue our limited podcast series into how to make the best (free) things in life even better. I have a content-rich conver...

#116 - Oakland, California resident, Laurie Wolfe, lived the kind of life many people strive for. At 57-years-old, she had become a successful business and property owner. She was a wife, daughter, and good friend. But everything came crashing down on July 6, 2014, when her husband, Joseph Bontempo, discovered her lifeless body at the bottom of the couple's staircase. When the police arrived at th...

The best things in life are free, or so they say. And for moms and dads everywhere, one of the most enjoyable (and free!) aspects of parenting is story time. With this episode the podcast kicks off a new, limited series that dives deeper into the best free things in life. In honor of World Storytelling Day on March 20, I speak with co-founder of Once Upon A PJ Britt Gage about practical ways we ca...

We all do it: We keep items around “just in case” we need them in the future. And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with holding onto things you’ll definitely use again, there’s a threshold in which just in case clutter gets to be too much and goes too far. Today I speak with Krista Lockwood, host of the Motherhood Simplified podcast. Krista argues that there’s a difference between being adequ...

#115 - In 1995, a woman died inside the Plaza Hotel in Oslo, Norway, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. When the police attempted to identify the woman, they discovered she checked into the hotel three days earlier with a fake name. The police initially thought the woman had committed suicide. But as they got deeper into the investigation, they realized there could be much more to this woman...

Want to throw a birthday party for your child that’s light on waste but heavy on fun? Does a present-light party intrigue you but you aren’t sure how to pull it off? Today I’m answering listener Gretchen’s question about how eco-minimalists do kids’ birthday parties. I’m first describing how such celebrations look in my house; I also offer practical alternatives for goody bags, single-use decorati...

Despite all the advances in modern medicine and despite all the good advice (ahem … diet and exercise), chronic disease and obesity rates are rising. While there are indeed many reasons, two of them include the reality that products of convenience have engineered out the need for exercise and higher standards of living prevent us from abiding by tried-and-true simple living principles. Today I spe...

#114 - Between 1981 and 1983, women in Fort Lauderdale, Ocala, Miami, and Dade County, Florida, were terrorized by a serial rapist. In his terror, the Classified Ad Rapist assaulted over 50 women. The rapist targeted women through the Penny Saver, who placed classified ads. In 1984, the suspect graduated from rape to murder. Over eight months, the Classified Ad Rapist brutally murdered at least 10...

“How do you get family members on board with minimalism? I’ve heard from so many of my friends and family about how they would love to embrace minimalism, but their partners don’t want to. It seems to create a lot of animosity in relationships … What are your thoughts?” Living harmoniously with another human being requires constant dialogue and compromise. It’s no surprise, then, that when one per...