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Want to waste less, save more, and make your home a little more eco-friendly? Sustainable in the Suburbs is your go-to podcast for practical, judgment-free tips and real-life stories to help you build sustainable habits that actually stick.
Hosted by Sarah Robertson-Barnes — a suburban soccer mum, sustainability educator, and founder of the blog Sustainable in the Suburbs — this weekly show brings doable advice, honest conversations, and actionable ideas to help you waste less, spend smarter, and live more sustainably at home.
Because sustainable living doesn’t have to be perfect to matter — and you don’t have to do it all to make a big impact.
Start where you are, use what you have, and live a little greener.
18 Episodes
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Is it possible to raise kids who care about the planet — without adding more to your already overflowing plate? In this episode, I’m joined by Talayna Zacharias, a sustainability educator and content creator based in Alberta, to talk about what it really means to raise eco-conscious kids in a culture that pushes convenience and consumption. We dig into parenting with sustainability at the core, how to model care and connection through small, everyday actions, and why curiosity, nature, and im...
From cloth diapers and thrifted toys to birthday party overload, this is what sustainable living with small kids actually looks like — the joys, the trade-offs, and what makes it doable. This week, I’m joined by Jessica Nakamura — a local realtor, mom of three (including twin toddlers), and self-described “kinda eco mom.” We sat down in my living room (sharing a mic in a DIY pillow fort) to talk about what sustainable living with kids really looks like in the thick of suburban parenting. Jess...
Food doesn’t come from the grocery store — it comes from the earth. Sustainable gardening is our most direct connection to nature, and one of the most powerful ways we can take climate action right in our own backyards. This week, I’m joined by Tasha Medve, the gardener and creator behind The Purposeful You. Tasha shares her passion for creating a “food oasis” at home, her best tips for beginners, and why gardening is about so much more than summer harvests. From fall crops to companion plant...
Back-to-school doesn’t have to mean a cart full of new stuff. In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m sharing how to get your kids ready for school without wasting money — or creating a mountain of waste. From supplies and clothing to tech and litterless lunches, you’ll hear practical tips for: Starting with what you already have before buying new.Teaching kids the difference between needs and wants.Shopping secondhand first and making use of community resources.Tips for thrifting ...
Let your reusables look reused. In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m joined by Chelsey Schmuland, the owner and maker behind Hive to Home in Nova Scotia. Chelsey creates beautiful handmade beeswax wraps as a sustainable, renewable alternative to plastic food storage — but that’s just the beginning. She’s also a backyard chicken keeper, bread baker, waste diversion enthusiast, and all-around eco-nerd in the best possible way. We talk about what inspired her to start Hive to Home,...
We know it’s a problem, we just don’t know how to stop. Here’s how to start... In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m talking about how to quit Amazon — or at least drastically reduce your reliance on it — in a way that’s actually doable. We dig into the real costs of convenience, from environmental harm to the engineered scarcity of Amazon’s business model. But more importantly, I’ll walk you through how my family has shifted away from using Amazon — and how you can, too. The goa...
Money choices are climate action too. This week, Regina Moore and Angela Rozmyn from Women’s Personal Finance join me for a thoughtful, honest conversation about the overlap between money, sustainability, and community care. We talk about spending in alignment with your values, why “enoughness” can be such a powerful mindset shift, and how boycotts and intentional choices can be forms of protest. We also explore the role community plays — not just in sharing resources, but in building resilie...
Bringing your own containers to refill shops, markets, or even cafés is one of the easiest ways to cut down on single‑use packaging. It saves money, keeps your pantry organized, and helps shift the way we think about consumption. In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m sharing how to make refilling feel like second nature as a sustainable living practice. You’ll hear practical tips for overcoming barriers to refilling (including how to choose the right containers and understanding ...
This episode is an invitation to slow down — to reconnect with yourself, with nature, and with what truly matters. Sarah sits down with Rebecca Ogilvie, founder of The Detour Co., a sustainable skincare brand rooted in care and connection. Together they explore the quiet magic of routines that nourish rather than extract — from sourcing ingredients to creating space for rest in a culture that pushes us to hustle. They talk about the complexities of sustainable packaging, what it means to buil...
The kitchen is one of the biggest sources of household waste — but it’s also one of the easiest places to start making a change. In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, Sarah shares five practical, affordable, and genuinely useful swaps to help you cut down on plastic and reduce waste at home. From ditching paper towels to upgrading your containers, these swaps are all about progress, not perfection. Check out the links below for Sarah’s go-to reusables and top plastic-free kitchen tip...
When we talk about sustainability, we often focus on what we’re buying—or not buying. But what if it’s really about something much deeper? In this episode, I’m joined by April Dickinson (@zerowastedork), a thoughtful voice in the zero waste space who thoughtfully challenges the consumer-driven model of sustainability. We talk about the evolution of zero waste living, the role of community care in climate action, and why economic degrowth might be the shift we need. From local connections to g...
Climate change feels HUGE — and it is. The problem is urgent and complex. And when you start looking for solutions, it can seem like there’s an endless list of things you should be doing. All of them are important, and that can feel completely overwhelming. In this episode, I’m sharing a simple framework I often come back to refocus my efforts: the Climate Action Venn Diagram from Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. We’ll talk about how your skills, your joys, and the needs of the world can come tog...
How do we hold the grief, rage, and love that come with caring deeply about the climate crisis and still keep going? In this conversation, I’m joined by my friend Jen Knoch, a Toronto-based sustainability advocate and the creator of the Climate Emotions Retreat, to explore what it looks like to feel these emotions fully, stay rooted in care, and take meaningful action alongside others. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, inspired, or somewhere in between, this episode is a reminder that you d...
What we throw away tells a story. When we take time to look at what’s going into the bin (and why), we can start making more intentional choices, one small shift at a time. This week on Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’ll guide you through how to do a simple waste audit. It’s a great starting point if you’ve ever wondered where to begin with low-waste living. And it’s a powerful reminder that every small step adds up! Takeaways How to do a simple waste audit at home, at the office, or in t...
How do you turn “trash” into treasure and find joy in the process? In this conversation with Amber (@sustainablyamber), we explore how upcycling, thrifting, and creative reuse can spark climate action and community connection. You’ll hear how Amber got started, why she’s passionate about helping others value materials, and how everyday acts of making, reusing, and sharing can help us build a more sustainable life. If you’ve ever wondered how to get started with creative reuse or what to do wi...
Plastic Free July isn’t about perfection — it’s about paying attention. In this episode, Sarah discusses where this global movement came from, why it matters, and how small shifts in your everyday habits can help tackle our plastic problem. This challenge is about so much more than giving up plastic straws or bringing a tote bag to the store. Sarah also talks about her own experience with Plastic Free July over the years, how she approaches it now, and why “zero waste” isn’t the goal — progre...
Can you really be sustainable in the suburbs? In this inaugural episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, host Sarah Robertson-Barnes shares her personal journey and offers practical, relatable ways to embrace eco-friendly living — even amidst the challenges of suburban life. You’ll hear why sustainable living is about small, manageable shifts (not perfection), why the suburbs are an essential part of the climate conversation, and how building community and shared responsibility can make a lasti...
We all care about the planet — but sustainable living can feel overwhelming. Where do you even start? Welcome to Sustainable in the Suburbs, a podcast for eco-curious individuals and busy families who want to reduce waste, live greener, and build a more sustainable home — without the guilt or pressure to do it all perfectly. I’m your host, Sarah Robertson-Barnes — a sustainability educator, writer, and suburban mum who’s passionate about practical low-waste living. Each week, you’ll get simpl...
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