Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-minimalist-vegan-podcast Best selling authors and passionate bloggers, Michael & Maša Ofei explore what it means to live with incredible intentionality. They bring honest conversations to your ears discussing a range of topics including; minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, productivity, consumerism, travel amongst other things! © Minimalist Company Pty Ltd 2021 811de60e-75c5-5bdb-9f1f-beb4d7af2d52 no en Sat, 10 Feb 2024 07:09:39 +1100 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 07:07:18 +1100 https://theminimalistvegan.com/ https://img.transistor.fm/caQyIFKsNMxCXyOEhy1jWUXZ68k4siWNjEqmewDgqr4/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzExMTcvMTU1MTE3/ODMzOS1hcnR3b3Jr/LmpwZw.jpg https://theminimalistvegan.com/ episodic Michael & Maša Ofei Best selling authors and passionate bloggers, Michael & Maša Ofei explore what it means to live with incredible intentionality. They bring honest conversations to your ears discussing a range of topics including; minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, productivity, consumerism, travel amongst other things! Best selling authors and passionate bloggers, Michael & Maša Ofei explore what it means to live with incredible intentionality. Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based Michael Ofei No No 74 74 The Final Episode: A Natural Evolution full 106166e2-a9f6-4f17-82d8-3b9dd98ae5d2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/1c225f1c Thu, 09 Dec 2021 21:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2066 The Minimalist Vegan Podcast is coming to an end (indefinitely). Tune in to the episode to find out why we’re moving on and what we have planned for the future (some exciting news!). We also share raw behind-the-scenes of the ups and downs of producing the show. A special thanks to our wonderful listeners. Your attention means a lot to us 💚 This episode is brought to you by Bhumi. Bhumi is a bedding, bath, and apparel brand that uses organic cotton and fair trade practices. Browse their full range at www.bhumi.com.au. Use discount code MINIMALISTVEGAN at checkout to get 25% off storewide. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/074/ Check out our cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com The Minimalist Vegan Podcast is coming to an end (indefinitely). Tune in to the episode to find out why we’re moving on and what we have planned for the future (some exciting news!). We also share raw behind-the-scenes of the ups and downs of producing Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 73 73 Vegan Cooking Tips For Beginners full 6f97212d-c694-4911-a9bd-000c987a6337 https://share.transistor.fm/s/064d3825 Mon, 29 Nov 2021 23:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2784 Are you overwhelmed by the idea of cooking? Or wish you had a few more go-to recipes? Then this episode is for you. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Learning how to cook is one of the most valuable skills you can understand, and preparing a meal is one of the creative and thoughtful ways to impress others and show love. And if you’re not cooking for others, you’re still cooking for yourself. In this conversation, Maša, the powerhouse responsible for all the recipes on our website, shares shortcuts, tricks, and tips to make cooking at home enjoyable. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/073/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com Are you overwhelmed by the idea of cooking? Or wish you had a few more go-to recipes? Then this episode is for you. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Learning how to cook is one of the most valuable skills you can understand, and preparing Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 72 72 Are Zoos Ethical For Animals? full 0cbc42cb-708f-481e-a139-72a5fe54bf6d https://share.transistor.fm/s/c6203508 Fri, 12 Nov 2021 22:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3307 One of our fondest memories is having a family outing at the zoo. It was surreal to see lions, tigers, elephants, and monkeys in person. Not only that, but zoos are critical for conservation and public education. At least so we thought… There’s a dark side to the zoo industry to suggest it’s more entertainment than conservation. But is it? In this conversation, we discuss the ethical considerations of zoos and some alternative ways to connect with animals. This episode is brought to you by Woron. Woron is a sustainable and ethical underwear & everyday essentials. They’re a brand based out of Copenhagen & owned by two sisters – Arina and Anya Woron. Browse their full range at woronstore.com. Use discount code MINIMALISTVEGAN at checkout to get 15% off storewide. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/072/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com One of our fondest memories is having a family outing at the zoo. It was surreal to see lions, tigers, elephants, and monkeys in person. Not only that, but zoos are critical for conservation and public education. At least so we thought… There’s a da Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 71 71 Are We Done With Minimalism? full 34264d92-093a-49f3-9841-69e61ff981d2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/3c47b29c Thu, 28 Oct 2021 22:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 1899 On the surface, it appears that minimalism has reached the mainstream. Minimalism is more widely accepted and, as a result, has lost its flair. Back in episode 46, we discussed what the future of minimalism would look like and pontificated on the trendiness of the movement. Well, almost two years on—where does it stand? More importantly, how do we feel about minimalism today? The answer might surprise you… In this conversation, we share our reflections on minimalism from people who create content about the very topic. This episode is brought to you by Woron. Woron is a sustainable and el brand that uses organic cotton and fair trade practices. Browse their full range at www.bhumi.com.au. Use discount code MINIMALISTVEGAN at checkout to get 25% off storewide. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/071/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com On the surface, it appears that minimalism has reached the mainstream. Minimalism is more widely accepted and, as a result, has lost its flair. Back in episode 46, we discussed what the future of minimalism would look like and pontificated on the trend Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 70 70 Why Do People Hate Vegans? full d89544c4-dcaa-4935-aaf9-220754b97cea https://share.transistor.fm/s/193dda74 Fri, 15 Oct 2021 19:32:41 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2976 Studies show that vegans are viewed more negatively than atheists, immigrants, homosexuals, and asexuals. In fact, the only group viewed more negatively than vegans were drug addicts! Beyond the surveys, we’ve felt it too. Whether it’s eating out with friends or meeting someone for the first time, veganism comes with an air of inconvenience, stigma and sometimes hate. Why is that? Why do so many people seem to dislike vegans? In this episode, we step outside of our vegan-friendly algorithms and face the harsh truth of how people feel about vegans and what that means for animal rights advocates. This episode is brought to you by Woron. Woron is a sustainable and ethical underwear & everyday essentials. They’re a brand based out of Copenhagen & owned by two sisters – Arina and Anya Woron. Browse their full range at woronstore.com. Use discount code MINIMALISTVEGAN at checkout to get 15% off storewide. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/070/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com Studies show that vegans are viewed more negatively than atheists, immigrants, homosexuals, and asexuals. In fact, the only group viewed more negatively than vegans were drug addicts! Beyond the surveys, we’ve felt it too. Whether it’s eating out with Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 69 69 What You Do For Work Is Not Your Identity full ba471c77-7569-48cf-87d9-8a11c5073335 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7fe00a76 Fri, 01 Oct 2021 20:07:20 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3186 When you meet someone for the first time, consciously and unconsciously, you’re assessing their status based on their job, education, where they live, the clothes they wear, the car they drive, and their cultural background. And you know what? They’re doing the exact same thing to you. But how healthy is status classification? Why does it matter so much to us? Whether we want to admit it or not, we have a deep desire to prove ourselves and feel important. And what’s scary is that we place much of our self-worth on these status signals. In this conversation, we explore the challenges with wrapping status into our identities, and how minimalism can play a role in shifting the perspective of identity and value. This episode is brought to you by Bhumi. Bhumi is a bedding, bath, and apparel brand that uses organic cotton and fair trade practices. Browse their full range at www.bhumi.com.au. Use discount code MINIMALISTVEGAN at checkout to get 25% off storewide. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/069/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com When you meet someone for the first time, consciously and unconsciously, you’re assessing their status based on their job, education, where they live, the clothes they wear, the car they drive, and their cultural background. And you know what? They’ Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 68 68 What's The Future of Work? (And How We're Preparing) full e1809b8f-555f-4a85-9a98-faafada2e594 https://share.transistor.fm/s/62eba4c4 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 16:12:23 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 4129 The combination of automation and a global pandemic has pushed society into a new norm of work. There’s no escaping the digital revolution as it impacts every industry. Lockdowns have given us some time to take a step back to evaluate what’s essential and what work-life balance should look like. In this episode, we share our reactions to some pretty compelling statistics about the future of work before sharing our approach to navigating these changes. This episode is brought to you by Woron. Woron is a sustainable and ethical underwear & everyday essentials. They’re a brand based out of Copenhagen & owned by two sisters – Arina and Anya Woron. Browse their full range at woronstore.com. Use discount code MINIMALISTVEGAN at checkout to get 15% off storewide. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/068/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com The combination of automation and a global pandemic has pushed society into a new norm of work. There’s no escaping the digital revolution as it impacts every industry. Lockdowns have given us some time to take a step back to evaluate what’s essent Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 67 67 15 Lessons We’ve Learned Since Becoming Vegans full e4c8ae41-a1b2-49a7-975f-a3e1db99a10d https://share.transistor.fm/s/22afac4f Thu, 02 Sep 2021 21:30:48 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 4239 As we recently celebrated our 7th vegan anniversary, we thought it would be interesting to share what we’ve learned. In this conversation, we compare what we expected to experience when we first transitioned with how things have panned out. Whether you're veg-curious, a new vegan, or have been living cruelty-free for decades; we trust you’ll be able to relate to some of our lessons so far. This episode is brought to you by Woron. Woron is a sustainable and ethical underwear & everyday essentials. They’re a brand based out of Copenhagen & owned by two sisters – Arina and Anya Woron. Browse their full range at woronstore.com. Use discount code MINIMALISTVEGAN at checkout to get 15% off storewide. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/067/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com As we recently celebrated our 7th vegan anniversary, we thought it would be interesting to share what we’ve learned. In this conversation, we compare what we expected to experience when we first transitioned with how things have panned out. Whether Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 66 66 Is Supporting The Wool Industry Really That Cruel? full 61079d39-fbda-4fad-89a2-db3e097bf9af https://share.transistor.fm/s/d94bcc46 Fri, 20 Aug 2021 12:53:06 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3536 Wool is one of the oldest and most popular fabrics in human history. What was once a resource used for survival has evolved into a commercial behemoth leading to the exploitation of sheep and lambs worldwide. However, is the wool industry really all that bad? Can we still buy products using wool as ethical consumers? Is there such thing as vegan-friendly wool? We discuss all these questions and more in this episode in an attempt to bring some clarity to an often confusing area of veganism. This episode is brought to you by Bhumi. Bhumi is a bedding, bath, and apparel brand that uses organic cotton and fair trade practices. Browse their full range at www.bhumi.com.au. Use discount code MINIMALISTVEGAN at checkout to get 25% off storewide. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/066/ Check out our cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com Wool is one of the oldest and most popular fabrics in human history. What was once a resource used for survival has evolved into a commercial behemoth leading to the exploitation of sheep and lambs worldwide. However, is the wool industry really all th Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 65 65 Our Realistic Experiences With Meditation full f4b5f2bb-d8a6-477b-895f-7645aadecdfb https://share.transistor.fm/s/d424552c Thu, 05 Aug 2021 18:17:47 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2376 It’s no secret; mindful meditation is officially mainstream and a particularly prevalent practice that you’ll see many high performers (in all fields) starting their day with. If you don’t currently meditate, you may wonder if it really lives up to the hype. I mean, it must if you’re to allocate time in your busy day to connect with your breath. We’ve been there! Trust us. You can listen to and read about meditation in many places, but you don’t often hear about people’s personal struggles and experiences with such a profound practice. We’re no experts in this area, but we believe that our journeys are very relatable. In this candid conversation, we share our initial experiences with meditation, what shifted for us to make it a priority in our lives, and what the practice looks like for us today. This episode is brought to you by Woron. Woron is a sustainable and ethical underwear & everyday essentials. They’re a brand based out of Copenhagen & owned by two sisters – Arina and Anya Woron. Browse their full range at woronstore.com. Use discount code MINIMALISTVEGAN at checkout to get 15% off storewide. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/065/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com It’s no secret; mindful meditation is officially mainstream and a particularly prevalent practice that you’ll see many high performers (in all fields) starting their day with. If you don’t currently meditate, you may wonder if it really lives up to the Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 64 64 Can Minimalism and Eco-Friendly Living Co-Exist? full a66d1786-302a-42a1-8078-fa36f9668091 https://share.transistor.fm/s/3adfbd65 Thu, 22 Jul 2021 20:40:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3865 Minimalism and environmentalism, while sometimes at odds—make for a powerful dual-value lifestyle that fights the good fight against consumerism. In this conversation, we share some interesting statistics, like how many things we own versus the household average, before diving into some actionable tips to help you along your eco-minimalism journey. This episode is brought to you by Bhumi. Bhumi is a bedding, bath, and apparel brand that uses organic cotton and fair trade practices. Browse their full range at www.bhumi.com.au. Use discount code MINIMALISTVEGAN at checkout to get 25% off storewide. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/064/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com Minimalism and environmentalism, while sometimes at odds—make for a powerful dual-value lifestyle that fights the good fight against consumerism. In this conversation, we share some interesting statistics, like how many things we own versus the househo Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 63 63 The Ethics of Beekeeping Pt. 2 full 542612c4-f199-4d9f-a3a4-b41abf5bc978 https://share.transistor.fm/s/954ddb8c Thu, 08 Jul 2021 22:03:30 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2853 Crop pollination is a polarising topic when it comes to assessing the ethics of the beekeeping industry. Non-vegans claim that vegans are hypocritical not to consume honey when they support migratory beekeeping. And vegans respond by re-explaining the definition of veganism. In this conversation, we move beyond honey and beeswax and dive into the cruelty of the crop pollination business. The topics that we cover are: - The challenges of pollinating certain crops - An overview of migratory beekeeping - Monocrops versus polycrops - The edges of veganism - The most ethical options for buying plant foods Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/063/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com Crop pollination is a polarising topic when it comes to assessing the ethics of the beekeeping industry. Non-vegans claim that vegans are hypocritical not to consume honey when they support migratory beekeeping. And vegans respond by re-explaining the def Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 62 62 The Ethics of Beekeeping Pt. 1 full f11d4df3-f2bb-41bf-8241-377beb5f7e32 https://share.transistor.fm/s/81b3d32c Fri, 25 Jun 2021 20:15:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 4141 Many of us have learned that supporting local beekeepers and buying honey is good for us and good for the local bee population. Even though this has some truth to it, there’s much more that needs to be unpacked. In this conversation, we discuss the ethics of beekeeping on both a commercial and local level. Why it’s not as straightforward as we may think, and what we can do to help. Topics covered are: - What is honey, and how is it made - How bees make honey - How is honey harvested and processed - How much honey does a bee make in its lifetime - The dark side to commercial beekeeping - Backyard beekeeping - Native pollinators vs honeybees - Tips on how to help bees and other pollinators Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/062/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com Many of us have learned that supporting local beekeepers and buying honey is good for us and good for the local bee population. Even though this has some truth to it, there’s much more that needs to be unpacked. In this conversation, we discuss the eth Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 61 61 How to Create a Minimalist Kitchen full 975f9a89-d1a2-4e89-b505-5abbf3cb85e2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7e3a1a80 Wed, 26 May 2021 23:26:14 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 4130 The kitchen is one of the most trafficked areas in any household. It’s also a potential dumping ground for clutter, whether on the bench surfaces or in storage. Not many situations are more frustrating than trying to get dinner made in a cluttered kitchen. Then throw in family or roommates, and you have a recipe for conflict, overwhelm and toxic habits. In this conversation, we take you behind the scenes of how we transitioned to a minimalist kitchen and created a much more peaceful kitchen environment where we were happy to spend time. Specifically, we discuss: - Why you would want a minimalist kitchen - The difference between a minimalist kitchen and an organised kitchen - Actionable tips to get started with your minimalist kitchen Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/061/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com The kitchen is one of the most trafficked areas in any household. It’s also a potential dumping ground for clutter, whether on the bench surfaces or in storage. Not many situations are more frustrating than trying to get dinner made in a cluttered kitchen Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 60 60 Vegan Nutrition Update + Growth and Fixed Mindset full 992f4b9b-753e-447a-9722-6e9d6691320c https://share.transistor.fm/s/d3a929d4 Wed, 28 Apr 2021 23:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 4035 In this episode, we give you an update of what's working and what isn't with our new approach to nutrition and exercise. In the second half of our conversation, we get vulnerable and share how our mindset has perhaps been the biggest contributor to better overall health. Specifically, we discuss: The impact of trying to introduce more protein into our diet Bringing fun to exercise An overview of growth versus fixed mindset Breakthroughs from adopting a growth mindset Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/060/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com In this episode, we give you an update of what's working and what isn't with our new approach to nutrition and exercise. In the second half of our conversation, we get vulnerable and share how our mindset has perhaps been the biggest contributor to better Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 59 59 A Much Needed Conversation About Fishing full d1e6db85-76fa-4e34-aba4-fdfa555bea59 https://share.transistor.fm/s/1beaa26a Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:20:37 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3660 When it comes to ecological impact, the ocean often gets overlooked—despite representing the lion’s share of the worlds environmental issues. Commercial fishing has a devastating effect on animals, plants, CO2, and even the fishing workforce's well-being and safety.  In this conversation, we share our thoughts and reactions to the new documentary Seaspiracy and some findings on the ethics of consuming sea animals.  Specifically, we discuss: - Initial reactions to Seaspiracy - Industrialised farming versus fish farming versus recreational fishing - Our experience reading labels at our local supermarket - What steps we can take to help preserve aquatic life Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/059/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us at info@theminimalistvegan.com When it comes to ecological impact, the ocean often gets overlooked—despite representing the lion’s share of the worlds environmental issues. Commercial fishing has a devastating effect on animals, plants, CO2, and even the fishing workforce's well-being Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 58 58 Thrifting Vs Buying New: What’s The Best Option? full ba55aa2b-8c7c-427d-a4d2-b9561e69fada https://share.transistor.fm/s/fa6302e6 Thu, 18 Mar 2021 09:49:12 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3424 Does the effort of buying secondhand things outweigh the potential destruction of buying something brand new? These two approaches represent a few grey areas as we consider the philosophies of minimalism, frugal living, sustainability and gentrification.  In this conversation, we debate both sides of the equation, including some personal experiences along the way. Specifically, we cover: - The pros and cons of thrifting - The pros and cons of buying new - Finding the balance between both approaches Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/058/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Does the effort of buying secondhand things outweigh the potential destruction of buying something brand new? These two approaches represent a few grey areas as we consider the philosophies of minimalism, frugal living, sustainability and gentrification.  Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 57 57 Healthy Eating As Vegans (Including a Few Changes To TMV) full 81742840-ae53-49c8-a5c4-3b61ba3b18f6 https://share.transistor.fm/s/6d3cdd4f Thu, 11 Feb 2021 12:00:12 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3650 As plant-based recipe creators, we spend copious amounts of time and energy trying to show folks that you don't have to miss out when it comes to food. There's an abundance of curries, cakes, cookies, pasta and pastries that you can make from the comfort of your home. However, we're quickly closing in on our 33rd birthdays, and we acknowledge that what used to work for us even a couple of years ago to stay healthy doesn't do it anymore. Our metabolisms have slowed down, and with that, we've had to change how we approach our eating and exercise moving forward.  This episode will give you a peek behind the scenes of the intentional decisions we're making to be more healthy as we age and how we plan to integrate those changes into The Minimalist Vegan. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/057/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan As plant-based recipe creators, we spend copious amounts of time and energy trying to show folks that you don't have to miss out when it comes to food. There's an abundance of curries, cakes, cookies, pasta and pastries that you can make from the comfort Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 56 56 How To Encourage Minimalism Without Being Pushy full a793e59d-e8b0-42c6-9380-b3491d870670 https://share.transistor.fm/s/6c6022d9 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 23:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2652 When you live your life with certain values, it can be hard to get others on board. In this week's podcast episode, we discuss how we can encourage minimalism without being pushy. It's a sensitive topic for many to bring up as we're mostly met with a defensive front and a sense of dismissiveness. Only when we learn to put ourselves in their other's shoes, can we have an honest and open discussion.  In this conversation, we talk about the issues that can come up with living or being around non-minimalists, what some of the objectives are for others when it comes to minimalism, as well as sharing plenty of tips on how to have these conversations with others and so much more! Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/056/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan When you live your life with certain values, it can be hard to get others on board. In this week's podcast episode, we discuss how we can encourage minimalism without being pushy. It's a sensitive topic for many to bring up as we're mostly met with a defe Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 55 55 How Much Do Vegans Spend on Food Each Month? full f9819aa7-0bc8-4c43-90a7-959af9de57db https://share.transistor.fm/s/5a9aa9a5 Thu, 14 Jan 2021 23:16:33 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3763 In this episode, we break down the misconceptions and truths about how much vegans spend on food. More specifically, we share exactly how we spent on food in the last 30 days as a little case study. Being the start of a new year, we also touch on Veganuary and how you can get involved.  If you've always wondered how much vegans spend on food and have thought that it's only a lifestyle for the "privileged", this conversation will help broaden your perspective and see how food, vegan or not, can be cheap or expensive. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/055/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan In this episode, we break down the misconceptions and truths about how much vegans spend on food. More specifically, we share exactly how we spent on food in the last 30 days as a little case study. Being the start of a new year, we also touch on Veganuar Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 54 54 Do We Have The Strength To Accept Opposing Views? full 7eef1cf6-3e5d-41e5-851d-43f9d85a2b0f https://theminimalistvegan.com/054-2/ Thu, 31 Dec 2020 19:46:43 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3139 Veganism is one thing, and 2020 is something entirely different. But one theme that overlaps is the challenge of accepting other people’s perspectives. This at least has been hard for us, and we want to use our experiences of being vegan in a non-vegan world to help us connect and love others who fundamentally disagree with us, and vice versa. Specifically, we discuss: ~ The deep desire to feel accepted ~ The trap of the vegan bubble and confirmation bias in general ~ How being vegan naturally creates conflict and division ~ How we plan to accept others while disagreeing with them This episode is brought to you by online vegan cooking platform Veecoco. Go to veecoco.com and get $10 off their gift cards today with our discount code TMV10. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/54/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Veganism is one thing, and 2020 is something entirely different. But one theme that overlaps is the challenge of accepting other people’s perspectives. This at least has been hard for us, and we want to use our experiences of being vegan in a non-vegan wo Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 53 53 Are You Letting Your Things Have Power Over You? full 2bad8859-d40f-4ba3-9f30-747203dd9be9 https://theminimalistvegan.com/054-2/ Thu, 17 Dec 2020 18:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2424 Even as minimalist’s, we can admit, splurging on nice things can be exciting. We sometimes get a temporary high from a purchase, especially if it gives us “joy”. But with such a feeling, we risk giving all the power to our possessions and take power away from who we are as individuals. So how do we toe the line between enjoying a purchase, seeing the value in what we have while simultaneously detaching ourselves from our things? That’s what we discuss in this episode. We share our internal struggles of finding happiness in things while trying to keep perspective about what ultimately matters. This episode is brought to you by online vegan cooking platform Veecoco. Go to veecoco.com and get $10 off their gift cards today with our discount code TMV10. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/53/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Even as minimalist’s, we can admit, splurging on nice things can be exciting. We sometimes get a temporary high from a purchase, especially if it gives us “joy”. But with such a feeling, we risk giving all the power to our possessions and take power away Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 52 52 The Grind of Creating Content For a Living full 1af83c70-3af4-437b-80fa-5c0145c057e2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/ca1899cc Thu, 03 Dec 2020 06:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 4027 Creating content, while at times glamorous, can be incredibly labour-intensive. The constant cycle of ideation, planning, editing, publishing and sharing can take a toll, and before you know it, you burnout. We’ve been creating for a living for a few years now, and we have lots of experiences to share about crafting a life that’s personalised and empowering. In this conversation, we discuss how we’ve built a content creation practice that’s built with longevity in mind. This episode is brought to you by online vegan cooking platform Veecoco. Go to veecoco.com and get $10 off their gift cards today with our discount code TMV10. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/052/ Check out our new cooking show on YouTube https://bit.ly/36XRk6V Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Creating content, while at times glamorous, can be incredibly labour-intensive. The constant cycle of ideation, planning, editing, publishing and sharing can take a toll, and before you know it, you burnout. We’ve been creating for a living for a few y Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 51 51 What Is Slow Purchasing? (And When To Use It) full 3c8f7cc4-bfdd-4814-8606-be8d2d176163 https://share.transistor.fm/s/a60c3127 Thu, 19 Nov 2020 19:17:45 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2525 We live in a world where it’s never been easier to buy things. Between Amazon, the extinction of cash and excessive supply, there’s no resistance or friction to purchase what we want when we want. Sure, it can be exciting to grab something impulsively, but that approach leaves you more vulnerable to buyers remorse or a wasted purchase altogether. Minimalist or not, at some point you’re going to need to buy something. In this conversation, we break down our approach to slow purchasing, and spoiler alert, it’s not always ideal. Looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/051/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan We live in a world where it’s never been easier to buy things. Between Amazon, the extinction of cash and excessive supply, there’s no resistance or friction to purchase what we want when we want. Sure, it can be exciting to grab something impulsively, Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 50 50 We’re Back! Dealing with 2020 in Tasmania full cda33ea5-c6dc-4a8f-96f7-4fe323023941 https://share.transistor.fm/s/446bf5f6 Thu, 05 Nov 2020 06:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2810 After an 8 month break from the show, we're back with updates on how we've been dealing with the chaos of 2020. More specifically, we discuss our plans for the podcast moving forward, the challenges of moving to Slovenia, and farm life vs city life.  It feels nice to get back on the microphone and connect with you and each other. We hope you enjoy the episode! Are you looking for more? Submit your question or topic suggestion at https://theminimalistvegan.com/podcast/ Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/050/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan After an 8 month break from the show, we're back with updates on how we've been dealing with the chaos of 2020. More specifically, we discuss our plans for the podcast moving forward, the challenges of moving to Slovenia, and farm life vs city life.  Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 49 49 Are You Addicted To The News? full d4cf62ed-509e-43bd-8b95-531f5607298f https://share.transistor.fm/s/aec8e0fc Wed, 11 Mar 2020 21:40:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2363 With all that is currently happening in the world, do you find yourself paying attention to the news more? Or have you always kept up to date with local and international affairs? We have felt judged on many occasions for choosing to opt-out of keeping up with current news stories. It’s been considered selfish and ignorant. In this week’s podcast episode, we discuss how we have willfully ignored news for years and haven’t felt like we have missed out on what happens. We also look at the vast contrast of how we feel when we start to pay more attention to the media. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/049/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us your questions at info@theminimalistvegan.com With all that is currently happening in the world, do you find yourself paying attention to the news more? Or have you always kept up to date with local and international affairs? We have felt judged on many occasions for choosing to opt-out of keepin addicted to news, minimalism, minimalist, vegan, veganism, current events No 48 48 Are You Comfortable Calling Yourself Vegan? full 2dee49c5-57f9-4eb7-8f1d-a4bdd14a67b9 https://share.transistor.fm/s/0c17c97b Wed, 04 Mar 2020 23:40:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3800 Let’s just come out and say it. Veganism is stigmatised. Yes even in 2020. It’s been a while since we became vegan, so we’re a little out of touch. But every now and then, we see the comments. “Ah, there go those vegans again.” “Those bloody vegans are everywhere.” It’s subtle, but it’s there. We wonder, is this stigma creating a barrier for more people to be vegan? Are people merely not trying a vegan lifestyle on the principle of not being those “people” instead of focusing on the objectively positive reasons to be vegan? In this episode, we discuss the sometimes detrimental brand of veganism and how it’s potentially hurting the movement. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/048/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us your questions at info@theminimalistvegan.com Let’s just come out and say it. Veganism is stigmatised. Yes even in 2020. It’s been a while since we became vegan, so we’re a little out of touch. But every now and then, we see the comments. “Ah, there go those vegans again.” “Those bloody vega Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 47 47 How Connected To Nature Are You? full 0afeac75-e415-4f37-9b6c-30f0fd471bcd https://share.transistor.fm/s/34fe3944 Wed, 26 Feb 2020 12:10:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2840 Fundamentally, humankind and nature are connected. We’ve built infrastructure and technologies to co-exist with nature. However, we routinely disrupt nature to exist and evolve. With such advancements, it’s easy to draw a rift between yourself and our natural environment. There’s a connection to our surroundings that’s magical, but most of us choose to neglect it, sometimes unknowingly. Our theory is that if we become immersed in the beauty of nature, we’ll appreciate it more and thus treat it better. But is it that simple? In this conversation, we explore the growing divide between nature and humans, and some things we’re experimenting with to get reconnected. We also share some of the challenges we’ve faced with our relationship with nature. Has our disconnect gone too far? Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/047/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us your questions at info@theminimalistvegan.com Fundamentally, humankind and nature are connected. We’ve built infrastructure and technologies to co-exist with nature. However, we routinely disrupt nature to exist and evolve. With such advancements, it’s easy to draw a rift between yourself and slow living, simple living, simplicity, nature, being in nature, reconnecting with nature No 46 46 What’s The Future of Minimalism? full 67c90a76-6193-40f9-beee-fe6777380de4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/ae3cd510 Tue, 18 Feb 2020 21:40:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3256 We know we say it all the time, but minimalism has changed our lives in ways we didn't think was possible. But for all of the clutter we've reduced and money we've saved, it's the essentialist mindset of minimalism that has been perhaps to most valuable gift. Although minimalism as a lifestyle has gained momentum in the last decade, we often wonder what the future of minimalism looks like. Does it have a future? Or is minimalism merely a trend that will eventually go away? In this episode, we discuss how minimalism has grown over time as well as our thoughts on what we think minimalism will be in the future. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/046/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us your questions at info@theminimalistvegan.com We know we say it all the time, but minimalism has changed our lives in ways we didn't think was possible. But for all of the clutter we've reduced and money we've saved, it's the essentialist mindset of minimalism that has been perhaps to most valuabl minimalism, minimalist, future of minimalism, the minimalists No 45 45 Do You Really Need To Start a Business To Be Happy? full 802d2794-d3c5-4a23-8540-d52cda2db94b https://share.transistor.fm/s/a46bd108 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 11:05:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 4007 Entrepreneurship has exploded over the last couple of decades, as starting a business has become more accessible through the internet. What used to be super-professional business people in a suit or your mom and pop store down the road, has evolved to high-profile tech entrepreneurs with billions of capital in their 30s. With such a shift in business, it seems like everyone has a side hustle with the hopes of generating a part-time or full-time income from their project to escape their job. We know what it’s like to daydream about all the possibilities of establishing a profitable business. But just because you can start a business, does it mean you should? And just because you can grow your business, does it mean you should? Trying to create a successful business is one of the hardest things anyone can do, and it often comes with massive compromises. Not only that, but running a business can put a strain on your family, finances, and your self-esteem. The principles of minimalism and intentionality often get overlooked when it comes to self-employment as the success of your business depends on growth. With growth comes some of the most suffocating mental clutter you can experience.  In this conversation, we discuss the challenges of wanting more in your career as it relates to contentment and intentionality. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/045/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us your questions at info@theminimalistvegan.com Entrepreneurship has exploded over the last couple of decades, as starting a business has become more accessible through the internet. What used to be super-professional business people in a suit or your mom and pop store down the road, has evolved to minimalism, minimalist business, small business, start a business No 44 44 How To Make The Men In Your Life Go Vegan full cf1df635-6b2e-4940-a457-121218ebcb46 https://share.transistor.fm/s/ffcfb6dd Mon, 03 Feb 2020 06:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3976 We recently watched The Game Changers, which follows James Wilks (ex MMA fighter) around the world as he finds links between physical performance and a plant-based diet. We couldn’t help but notice that this documentary was marketed heavily to men who are sceptical about trying a vegan diet. The Game Changers got us thinking deeply about why men, in particular, seem to resist veganism more than women. This is not just coming from us. Numbers show time and time again that between 63-79% of the vegan population are women, depending on the country. Why is that? Is it because of a perceived loss in masculinity, performance, taste in food? It’s likely a combination of all three. In this episode, we use Michael’s experience of being a part of these “manly” communities to discuss how to encourage men to go vegan. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/044/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us your questions at info@theminimalistvegan.com We recently watched The Game Changers, which follows James Wilks (ex MMA fighter) around the world as he finds links between physical performance and a plant-based diet. We couldn’t help but notice that this documentary was marketed heavily to men who Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 43 43 Our Approach To Minimalism at Christmas full 68a15bbb-e8e0-4b82-90b5-265972577acc https://share.transistor.fm/s/a198f9b6 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 23:45:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2420 Can minimalism and Christmas co-exist? The product of Christmas means to consume at incredibly unsustainable rates, and minimalism promotes the opposite. But Christmas is also a time to have enriching experiences with those nearest and dearest to you. Our approach to minimalism at Christmas has changed year to year, and in this episode, we share what we’ve learned how we plan to refine the experience. There are many minimalist principles that we can implement and learn from at this time of year. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/043/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us your questions at info@theminimalistvegan.com Can minimalism and Christmas co-exist? The product of Christmas means to consume at incredibly unsustainable rates, and minimalism promotes the opposite. But Christmas is also a time to have enriching experiences with those nearest and dearest to yo minimalism, Christmas, consumerism, minimalist Christmas No 42 42 How To Transition To a Vegan Lifestyle Pt. 2 full c74e3d3d-eac5-46e0-8e54-4e6ae19c9a25 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f59207c9 Mon, 09 Dec 2019 06:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 4336 Today we continue our conversation about how to transition to a vegan lifestyle.  In the previous episode, we covered the mindset you need to go vegan, different approaches, and how to prepare vegan meals. In this episode, we discuss tips for eating out, going beyond food, dealing with friends and family, and how to get started with animal activism. We hope you enjoy pt. 2 on how to transition to a vegan lifestyle. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/042/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us your questions at info@theminimalistvegan.com Today we continue our conversation about how to transition to a vegan lifestyle.  In the previous episode, we covered the mindset you need to go vegan, different approaches, and how to prepare vegan meals. In this episode, we discuss tips for eating veganism, going vegan, vegan, transition to vegan, how to go vegan No 41 41 How To Transition To a Vegan Lifestyle Pt. 1 full f5ebcc2f-4ff8-4664-bb02-6a45fb744242 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f435a452 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 22:30:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3318 Going vegan at first can feel completely overwhelming, especially if you’ve been used to consuming animal products your whole life. What can I eat? Where do I find products? Is it going to cost me more? Is it going to be any good? What will my friends and family think of me? While there can be some natural resistance to going vegan, it doesn’t have to be hard. There are so many resources to help your transition into veganism be accessible and empowering. In this episode, we’re going to discuss all of the tips and tricks we wish we knew when we first decided to embark on our vegan journey. We’re treating this like, if we were to go vegan today, how would we go about it? We cover all of the foundations of veganism from mindset to different approaches, to cooking and balancing health and comfort. There’s quite a lot to get through, so we’ve broken this podcast into two episodes, starting with pt. 1. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/041/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Email us your questions at info@theminimalistvegan.com Going vegan at first can feel completely overwhelming, especially if you’ve been used to consuming animal products your whole life. What can I eat? Where do I find products? Is it going to cost me more? Is it going to be any good? What will my friends veganism, going vegan, vegan, transition to vegan, how to go vegan No 40 40 The Ongoing Fight For Simplicity full 7ae7ff11-cf8a-4cf2-a422-5c4681efd099 https://share.transistor.fm/s/dbb9ed6a Mon, 25 Nov 2019 19:05:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2754 Just when you feel like you’ve simplified, complexity has an uncanny way of creeping back into your life. Even though some situations call for things to be complex. More often than not, complexity manifests as overwhelm, clutter, burn out and a lack of results. Simplicity is beautiful but elusive. You need to continually fight for it as the world is designed to make your life complicated. In this conversation, we discuss our ongoing battle for simplicity. We know how good it feels to live simply, which is even more motivating to get back to that feeling. But why is it so hard? Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/040/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Just when you feel like you’ve simplified, complexity has an uncanny way of creeping back into your life. Even though some situations call for things to be complex. More often than not, complexity manifests as overwhelm, clutter, burn out and a lack of simple living, minimalism, simplicity, minimalist living, minimalist No 39 39 Updates on Slovenia, Health & Productivity full 2ae8312e-85ba-4d60-8b54-037a47651460 https://share.transistor.fm/s/e2bdee94 Mon, 18 Nov 2019 23:15:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3380 We’ve been working full-time in The Minimalist Vegan for seven months now, and we thought we’d give you an update on our progress so far. It's only been such a short amount of time but feels like so much longer. In this conversation, we talk about if Michael is still eating one meal a day, an update on our plans to move overseas, our overall health, how we stay productive, and how we're feeling about the podcast. Sometimes it's helpful to pause and check-in with yourself to see if you're living with intentionality or reacting to your environment. We hope you enjoy this raw discussion and just know that we’re still figuring these things out. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/039/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan We also want to thank our sponsor, Audible. Audible is offering a free audiobook download with a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service. Here is the link to get access - http://www.audibletrial.com/TheMinimalistVegan We’ve been working full-time in The Minimalist Vegan for seven months now, and we thought we’d give you an update on our progress so far. It's only been such a short amount of time but feels like so much longer. In this conversation, we talk about if minimalism, Slovenia, health, travel, habits No 38 38 How To Enjoy The Holiday Season as a Vegan full d8efb807-8322-4566-b05d-2b147245c0b4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f9a0bb06 Mon, 04 Nov 2019 22:30:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3732 The final quarter of the calendar year represents holiday season or festive season in many cultures around the world. Consumerism is at it’s highest as this is the money-making quarter for many businesses selling consumer goods. Not only that, but this is also the quarter where most animals are exploited and slaughtered for human consumption.  In such a confronting time of the year, what can you do to have a good time as a vegan? And if you’re not a vegan, how do you ensure you continue to have a good time with friends – family and colleagues, who are vegan? In this episode, we discuss how this time of the year has changed since we became vegan, and some tips for both vegans and non-vegans alike to ensure everyone continues to have a great time. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/038/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan We also want to thank our sponsor, Audible. Audible is offering a free audiobook download with a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service. Here is the link to get access - http://www.audibletrial.com/TheMinimalistVegan The final quarter of the calendar year represents holiday season or festive season in many cultures around the world. Consumerism is at it’s highest as this is the money-making quarter for many businesses selling consumer goods. Not only that, but t veganism, vegan during the holidays, vegan holiday, holiday season, minimalism, minimalist christmas No 37 37 Our Journey To Full-Time Blogging full 59cc05ef-dc20-4046-924a-ca24c88296c0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/ec57ec02 Tue, 29 Oct 2019 21:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 5342 We decided to shake things up and take you behind the scenes on how we became full-time bloggers. The journey to becoming a professional blogger isn't as glamorous as it sounds and it often takes multiple attempts before finding something that works. We were lucky to find a topic and audience that we feel so strongly about, which ultimately helped us to persevere through the ups and downs. In this episode, we share how we get started with blogging, what worked and what didn't, and finally, what we've learned along the way. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/037/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan We also want to thank our sponsor, Audible. Audible is offering a free audiobook download with a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service. Here is the link to get access - http://www.audibletrial.com/TheMinimalistVegan We decided to shake things up and take you behind the scenes on how we became full-time bloggers. The journey to becoming a professional blogger isn't as glamorous as it sounds and it often takes multiple attempts before finding something that works. minimalism, veganism, blogging, working from home, blog No 36 36 Is There Such a Thing as Humane Meat? full 9d8c42a6-3c45-4f81-9059-844126632421 https://share.transistor.fm/s/53ee9955 Mon, 21 Oct 2019 07:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2743 We hear it all the time. “I only buy ethically sourced meat” or “I only support food from animals where they’ve been killed humanely.” We used to think this way before we became vegan. We didn’t like the idea of killing animals for our consumption so we wanted to at least ensure it was done with some compassion. As vegan’s we’ve never investigated how farmed animals are typically killed. It’s not exactly an exciting topic. It’s quite the opposite.  But we felt it was important to understand the killing cycle to see if there is a way to kill animals humanely. In this conversation, we share our findings as well as our opinions on animal slaughter as it relates to culture. We also break down how we used to buy meat before becoming vegan and what we thought was the right thing to do.  Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/036/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan We also want to thank our sponsor, Audible. Audible is offering a free audiobook download with a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service. Here is the link to get access - http://www.audibletrial.com/TheMinimalistVegan We hear it all the time. “I only buy ethically sourced meat” or “I only support food from animals where they’ve been killed humanely.” We used to think this way before we became vegan. We didn’t like the idea of killing animals for our consumption s humane meat, vegan, veganism, plant based, meat free, animal rights No 35 35 Why You’re Procrastinating To Declutter full ab363907-8e6a-4ec6-8d56-46f6e278c807 https://share.transistor.fm/s/59e721aa Tue, 15 Oct 2019 21:30:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3654 Physical clutter can be incredibly overwhelming. Clutter on bench tops prevents you from getting full functionality out of your furniture. Clutter in your wardrobe creates too many decisions for you to make about what you’re going to wear. And clutter in your spare room represents a long list of to-dos you need to deal with. If we objectively understand that clutter is stealing some of our overall happiness and clarity, why do many of us struggle to take action to remove clutter from our lives? Decluttering, while admirable, struggles to make it to the top of our priorities. Even though we know the impact of it will completely change the way we feel. In this episode, we break down why most people struggle to get traction when it comes to decluttering and offer some tips on how you can move forward. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/035/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Physical clutter can be incredibly overwhelming. Clutter on bench tops prevents you from getting full functionality out of your furniture. Clutter in your wardrobe creates too many decisions for you to make about what you’re going to wear. And clutter declutter, minimalist, minimalism, how to declutter, minimalist mindset No 34 34 Let's Talk About Toxic Chemicals full fd760ebb-e1f7-4617-bbea-bdc9fed2d324 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d66279a2 Mon, 07 Oct 2019 23:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3818 Being a mindful consumer is more than assessing how much you consume through minimalism or what you consume through the lens of veganism. Even the sustainability of a product is not enough! A significant part of the consumption puzzle lies in chemicals. Scientifically, there are some positive chemicals just as much as there are toxic chemicals. We're going to focus specifically on the harmful ones. Why do brands use harmful chemicals in products? How can you start to make better decisions for you and your family? In this episode, we go back and reflect on how we transitioned to a chemical-free lifestyle and share some tips on how you can limit the number of harmful chemicals in your life. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/034/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Being a mindful consumer is more than assessing how much you consume through minimalism or what you consume through the lens of veganism. Even the sustainability of a product is not enough! A significant part of the consumption puzzle lies in chemicals Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 33 33 How To Say No: Even If You're a People Pleaser full 9df6bcde-e2c3-46ad-a022-1fca8953d39f https://share.transistor.fm/s/d8c700c5 Mon, 30 Sep 2019 07:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3165 If appears that some people blaze through life, knowing exactly what they want and have no problem saying no. However, they may come across as selfish, ruthless, or narrow-minded. Nevertheless, they are not over-committed and they generally live with incredible intentionality. Then you have the other side of the spectrum. People who walk around saying yes to just about every opportunity and demand. You say yes for everything your boss throws at you, to your spouse, to your friends, to your child. You just can’t help it. You want to please and you also don’t want to miss out. But what is the impact of saying yes to most things that come your way? That’s what we break down in this episode. We look at the impact of saying yes and offer some tips on how you can start saying no more often. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/033/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan If appears that some people blaze through life, knowing exactly what they want and have no problem saying no. However, they may come across as selfish, ruthless, or narrow-minded. Nevertheless, they are not over-committed and they generally live with incr saying no, people pleaser, minimalist, minimalism, veganism No 32 32 Why We Choose Not To Be Vegan Anymore full 59a2e310-d359-42fa-bc2a-8a6cf72818e9 https://share.transistor.fm/s/bef83043 Mon, 23 Sep 2019 22:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3491 As the vegan movement grows, it’s increasingly common to see folks go on and off and back on the vegan lifestyle. This is particularly apparent with online content creators, as many influencers boycott veganism for various personal decisions. It’s only natural for our beliefs to change over time. With such a convicted lifestyle, we’re curious to break down some of the recurring reasons as to why people stop being vegan. Perhaps if we learn from these patterns, we can do a better job of having the right expectations when starting the vegan lifestyle for increased longevity. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/032/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan As the vegan movement grows, it’s increasingly common to see folks go on and off and back on the vegan lifestyle. This is particularly apparent with online content creators, as many influencers boycott veganism for various personal decisions. It’s o Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 31 31 Owning Your Identity full 1ecef885-8f58-4ff9-b413-f920d61892d9 https://share.transistor.fm/s/0b113336 Mon, 16 Sep 2019 06:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3085 "I’m an aspiring minimalist. I’m a transitioning vegan. I love to write, but I’m not a writer." Does this sound familiar? Today we’re breaking down the pros and cons of owning your identity. We look at the stigma of labels, and when and how to use them to your advantage. This topic is especially close to home for us, as we’ve built a brand around two identities, minimalism and veganism. While at times it can feel restrictive to make bold claims about what you stand for, we’ve found so many benefits from owning our identities. If you struggle with labels and identity and find yourself being non-committal, then this episode is for you. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/031/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan "I’m an aspiring minimalist. I’m a transitioning vegan. I love to write, but I’m not a writer." Does this sound familiar? Today we’re breaking down the pros and cons of owning your identity. We look at the stigma of labels, and when and how to use them Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 30 30 The Grey Area of Veganism full 30031f09-99e6-4c55-9195-237037ffd716 https://share.transistor.fm/s/5805f1ae Mon, 09 Sep 2019 09:20:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2913 Since we became vegan over five years ago and the noticeable rise in the vegan movement, we have noticed the lines getting blurred between what is vegan and what is not.  According to the Vegan Society, veganism is: "A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms, it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals." We all sometimes like to turn a blind eye to something as willful ignorance can prevent uncomfortable and maybe even downright awkward situations when socialising. We talk about everything from backyard eggs and beekeeping to alcohol and cosmetics. There's a lot to unpack in this episode, but fundamentally we wanted to discuss the idea of washing down the vegan message with our actions knowingly.  How many of us have heard "I won't tell anyone if you have this ...." or "it's only a little bit of ....." or "it's just this one time". Too often others help to test us or attempt to make our lives "easier" to help us blur those lines and water down the vegan message.  When we have a strong why and have done the research to understand the real definition of veganism, we can help the animals by staying true to the lifestyle.  Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/030/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Since we became vegan over five years ago and the noticeable rise in the vegan movement, we have noticed the lines getting blurred between what is vegan and what is not.  According to the Vegan Society, veganism is: "A philosophy and way of living w veganism, vegan, is honey vegan?, vegan honey, backyard eggs, vegan backyard eggs, is alcohol vegan?, the vegan society No 29 29 Would You Live In a Tiny House? full a3c8a6aa-705b-454c-ae0e-6a663235260d https://share.transistor.fm/s/37ca14b6 Mon, 02 Sep 2019 06:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3252 We’ve recently found ourselves binge-watching Tiny House shows on YouTube. It’s been fascinating watching people of all walks of life decide to downsize into such a small yet personalised space. Their motivations are different depending on their age and values. Some owners are single and looking to escape their fast city life and decide to live in the woods in their small house. Retired baby boomer couples choose to pair down in a stable location to keep their costs down while having an incredibly personalised home. Then there’s a minimalist vegan couple in Australia who want to reduce their ecological imprint while still having the ability to enter the property market at an affordable price. All of these stories have inspired us to think differently about tiny houses, and honestly, we may very well join the movement in the future! In this episode, we break down the pros and cons of tiny house living, and we have an honest conversation about how we would approach it if we decided to go down that path. Are you looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/029/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan We’ve recently found ourselves binge-watching Tiny House shows on YouTube. It’s been fascinating watching people of all walks of life decide to downsize into such a small yet personalised space. Their motivations are different depending on their age an Tiny houses, minimalism, intentionality, downsizing, debt-free, minimalist, small house No 28 28 The Challenges of Vegan Cooking at Home full 1df9fd0e-9e1d-4fa1-8e9b-3476c60834e0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b16d2767 Mon, 19 Aug 2019 07:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 4326 In this episode, we discuss the possible challenges of cooking at home. We unpack our upbringings and how that reflected on our cooking styles and passion for making delicious food. We discuss how important learning to cook at a young age is and that it should be a mandatory subject to do in school. Such a fundamental skill, yet not many people have acquired the basic skill of cooking at home.  We both love food and find eating out one of our favourite things to do. This helps us reflect on our recent experiences and how we are starting to enjoy cooking at home more than eating out. Making food at home and sharing it with others is such an important practice. For those that are new to cooking or want some help, we also discuss how creating meals that you enjoy, and having a tight rotation can be a great way to start. This will give you the enthusiasm and interest to get in the kitchen and cook more often. Lastly, we share the fundamentals of cooking and our must-haves in the kitchen. If you or someone you know struggles in the kitchen, or you just want some inspiration, this podcast episode is definitely worth a listen! Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/028/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan In this episode, we discuss the possible challenges of cooking at home. We unpack our upbringings and how that reflected on our cooking styles and passion for making delicious food. We discuss how important learning to cook at a young age is and that i cooking at home, vegan cooking, learning to cook, why cook, cooking vegan, vegan recipes No 27 27 Minimalist Exercise: Bringing Meaning To Movement With Gemma Davis full a1eb9af0-1c55-4508-806c-8da7cf29f4ac https://share.transistor.fm/s/27c3c5f8 Mon, 12 Aug 2019 11:30:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 4572 Developing an exercise habit has been a struggle for us, especially as we've gotten older. We both used to be quite active when we were younger, but over the years, we have dropped off exercise as a priority. The most that we get these days is a walk with our dog every day. Michael might do a short but explosive exercise routine, whereas Maša might do a yoga stretch once in a blue moon.  It is something that we’re really conscious of starting up again, but there is some resistance there since we haven’t developed a habit out of it yet. We tend to go in and out of it. In this week's podcast, we chat to our friend, yogi, author and naturopath, Gemma David from The Compassionate Road. She's incredibly in tune with the needs of her body and has developed a deep physical, emotional and philosophical connection with movement—that cascades into the rest of her value-driven lifestyle. Gemma shares with us her journey through creating a regular exercise practice that is stimulating in many ways. She shares with us how movement has brought so much meaning to her life and has created this compassionate and connected bond with herself.  We were hoping that our conversation would inspire us to change and break that habit. All we need is a strong enough why. We certainly felt very inspired, and we hope that you do too.  Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/027/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Developing an exercise habit has been a struggle for us, especially as we've gotten older. We both used to be quite active when we were younger, but over the years, we have dropped off exercise as a priority. The most that we get these days is a walk with Minimalism, Yoga, Exercise, Compassion, Veganism, Dance, Salsa, Pilates, Mindfulness, Meditation No 26 26 Using Minimalism To Downsize Your Life full 9b0e007e-cf8f-4689-baf1-fd0a0fb7cd73 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9a32ddf4 Mon, 05 Aug 2019 07:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3073 This past year has pushed and challenged us in more ways we thought was possible. In our quest to support ourselves online and move to Slovenia, we’ve had to rethink the expectations of our means. You hear it all of the time. One of the keys to happiness is living within or below your means. What does that mean exactly? What are one’s means?  The pressure of money, if you’re not careful, can completely dominate how you experience life. We’ve all fallen into the trap of wanting more money so we can experience more of what life has to offer. Whether that's through tangible goods or non-product related experiences. We’ve for the most part have always seen a direct correlation between financial resources and living a better life. More money means more opportunity, right? But since we became minimalists, we’ve shifted our mindsets about how much we need to live the life that makes us happy. Minimalism helped us to downsize in many areas, and that’s what we want to talk about in this podcast episode. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/026/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan This past year has pushed and challenged us in more ways we thought was possible. In our quest to support ourselves online and move to Slovenia, we’ve had to rethink the expectations of our means. You hear it all of the time. One of the keys to happine minimalism, downsizing, living with intension, minimalist, dream job, dream life No 25 25 What It's Like Wearing The Same Clothes Every Day full 3e2cf0c5-5435-44f1-a412-72125f3f2a00 https://share.transistor.fm/s/63ac4d13 Mon, 29 Jul 2019 07:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3241 Last year we wrote an article exploring the dynamics of fashion and our need to express ourselves through clothing. As minimalists, clothing has always been a challenge for us as we try to find the balance between functional long-lasting garments that can be worn all of the time. For over 12 months, Michael has been experimenting with wearing the same clothes every day and has learned a lot throughout the process. In this episode, we reflect on some key points from the article as well as Michael’s experience to see how feasible it is for people to wear the same clothes and how it makes us feel in a society that is promoting us to stand out through fashion. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/025/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Last year we wrote an article exploring the dynamics of fashion and our need to express ourselves through clothing. As minimalists, clothing has always been a challenge for us as we try to find the balance between functional long-lasting garments that can minimalism, wear same clothes everyday, personal uniform, same clothes, minimalist wardrobe. minimal clothing Yes 24 24 The Vegan Trade-Off full 28c75e9e-a69e-4757-8c85-40ca30169c98 https://share.transistor.fm/s/39d5d4c9 Mon, 22 Jul 2019 07:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2253 What could some of the trade-offs for being vegan be? In this podcast episode, we reflect on the honest truth about transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, and how it can be an adjustment for your tastebuds to continue to be excited about food once you remove products that contain meat, dairy and eggs.  We’ve been vegan for five years now and have spoken to many people about veganism. We've reflected on how veganism has changed even in the short time that we have lived this lifestyle, and the gap for excuses in becoming vegan is slowly diminishing. Maša shares a personal story about a decision that she made a few years ago that convinced her that certain foods even though they may seem appealing, may not be all they cracked up to be.  The simple question is, do you want to contribute to the suffering of other sentient beings? If not, veganism is worth some sacrifice. The mission is much higher than what we choose to put in our mouths.  Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/024/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan What could some of the trade-offs for being vegan be? In this podcast episode, we reflect on the honest truth about transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, and how it can be an adjustment for your tastebuds to continue to be excited about food once you remove veganism, vegan, plant-based, plant based, transition to veganism, vegan food, meat alternatives No 23 23 How To Practice Digital Minimalism At Home full b06cc2d0-d050-497d-8489-30aded34dedf https://share.transistor.fm/s/c1d0b0de Mon, 15 Jul 2019 07:30:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3341 There has been a lot of discussion around digital clutter in the minimalist community as of late. Rightly so, technology has quickly taken over physical clutter in many ways. From physical letters, folders, CD's, records, tapes, DVD's, notebooks, photo albums, you name it; we've just moved them to a digital format. They all still exist, maybe just not on our coffee table or storage shelves. With the digital age, boredom no longer exists. We have managed to fill every waking minute with something. With the world at our fingertips, smartphones fill in the void of what once was a welcome lull for a few minutes while you waited in line to order your lunch at a cafe or the train to arrive at the station. Instead of allowing this highly addictive technology to rule our lives, we have started contemplating the alternative. What would it feel like if we replaced some of that screen time with something more analogue that was even better? We explore what some of those things could be in this podcast episode. We make a personal commitment to allow ourselves to go there and challenge this addictive procrastinating tool for something potentially more fulfilling. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/023/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan There has been a lot of discussion around digital clutter in the minimalist community as of late. Rightly so, technology has quickly taken over physical clutter in many ways. From physical letters, folders, CD's, records, tapes, DVD's, notebooks, photo al Minimalism, digital minimalism, cal newport, digital clutter, minimalist technology, minimalist No 22 22 Vegan Businesses Can Change The World full f95fad29-80a5-4ce0-9482-2c1d97f1ad33 https://share.transistor.fm/s/e4f8b47d Mon, 08 Jul 2019 06:50:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3196 Michael wrote a post over three years ago out of frustration of not seeing enough vegan options on the market. In that time, many of the business ideas that he listed for others to potentially pursue, we have seen come to fruition. With the rise in popularity, veganism has opened the opportunity for more entrepreneurs to invest in a growing market. This is exciting because there is much less risk involved, and it has been proven to be a successful and reliable way to grow in an emerging market. We’ve also been dreaming lately about how awesome it would be to see a vegan deli that has all the same options as a normal one but vegan. You can get your pickled and fermented vegetables as well as vegan cheeses and meats. When we started doing some digging, it was great to see that places like this already exist, but just not anywhere near us. As the popularity of veganism is rising, so is the availability of products through chains that you’d never thought ten years ago would be offering vegan options on their menus. Places like Hungry Jack’s, KFC, Hogs Breath, Bakers Delight and Dominos to brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, and countless others. But do we want to be supporting these unethical companies with our voting dollars? Some may say that because they have vegan choices, we should support them to show that demand for vegan options is certainly something that they should continue to expand on. Others may say that supporting these companies, regardless of their offerings, isn’t ethical because of what they sell otherwise and their contribution to millions of animals being slaughtered every year. What is your take on this? Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/022/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Michael wrote a post over three years ago out of frustration of not seeing enough vegan options on the market. In that time, many of the business ideas that he listed for others to potentially pursue, we have seen come to fruition. With the rise in po vegan business, vegan businesses, veganism, vegan, business, entrepreneurs, vegan entrepreneurs No 21 21 What Can We Do To Live a More Sustainable Lifestyle? full 115d4233-1fb7-4003-a389-9edf7cd15f78 https://share.transistor.fm/s/045b94a1 Tue, 02 Jul 2019 22:20:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 5670 When we think about sustainability, what are some of the first images that come to mind? Typically we would say someone that lives off the grid and is entirely self-sustained. But when we all want to do our bit for the planet, this concept and lifestyle needs to be more approachable. We need to challenge the accessibility of sustainable practices by asking more questions and doing even the smallest things. In this podcast episode, we share with you how we live our lives day-to-day to be more sustainable, and our honest thoughts on what has worked and where we could certainly improve. This isn't about being perfect or saying that you're doing one thing and not another, but we're sure that we have a lot of relatable experiences and tips that may be food for thought.  Everything from fashion to transportation, we go through all areas of our lives to show you opportunities of where sustainable change can be made. This is a long episode, so grab yourself a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/021/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan When we think about sustainability, what are some of the first images that come to mind? Typically we would say someone that lives off the grid and is entirely self-sustained. But when we all want to do our bit for the planet, this concept and lifestyle n zero-waste, sustainability, sustainable, minimal-waste, sustainable lifestyle No 20 20 Our Journey To Becoming A Productive Couple full bb806740-c9af-47a8-a5da-b9d17b917a80 https://share.transistor.fm/s/8707fb5c Mon, 24 Jun 2019 06:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3603 Sharing household chores ranks third in importance to a successful marriage, trailing only faithfulness and good sex. Another survey found that 25 per cent of people who were divorced, named “disagreements about housework” as the top reason for getting a divorce. But when you think about it, what appears to be small and insignificant disagreements about chores, can become full-blown arguments between you and your spouse. Raise your hand if you’ve argued about: The proper way to stack the dishwasher Picking up the wrong ingredient from the supermarket Missing an appointment for your child Late payment on a bill Procrastinating to fix something in the house These are just a few of many examples of situations that cause frustration, resentment and sometimes turmoil amongst everyday couples. We’ve been there. And in many ways, we’re still in it. But we haven’t settled. We’ve implemented some robust systems to get an insane amount of things accomplished together, whether it’s completing housework, planning a holiday or running a business. We have lots to share around couple productivity, and I’m sure if you’re in this situation, you’ll appreciate how relatable our issues have been. We talk about what we did when we first moved in with each other, what made our relationship different when living under one roof, what we started to notice in each other that we didn’t like, and what we did to try and fix the situation. We quickly realised that the problem was in how we communicated with each other and this is when we introduced Wunderlist into our lives. We share with you some of the benefits of implementing the same system that we have used over the past five years and how to get the most out of it. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/020/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Sharing household chores ranks third in importance to a successful marriage, trailing only faithfulness and good sex. Another survey found that 25 per cent of people who were divorced, named “disagreements about housework” as the top reason for getting productivity, to-do lists, Wunderlist, couple productivity, organized couples No 19 19 Managing Your Own Expectation Gap and Creating Habits Versus Setting Goals full 0d70b826-d446-4fef-87c0-17f9d4dad82b https://share.transistor.fm/s/bbfb2865 Mon, 17 Jun 2019 06:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3208 Do you ever wonder why you’re not happy with where you are right now, and are always saying to yourself “I’ll be happy when…”? This is called an expectation gap. The expectation gap is the distance between where you are right now, and where you’d like to be. That space between today, and until you get to that final destination may not be a fulfilling journey. The challenge we all face is that we want to reduce the expectation gap and find a way to be content right now. How can we create a habit around gratitude to be more in the moment and still have the patience to dream? Impatience is a real problem. We want to always hurry things along to get to the final outcome while missing the whole process along the way. There's also that sense of feeling of not being good enough yet, "but I will be...when I reach my goal". The problem with this mindset is that you’re teaching yourself to always put happiness and success off until the next milestone is achieved. This is what we explore in this week's podcast. We also come to the conclusion that we are all in control of how we see things to be either positive or negative. Not comparing ourselves to others, but instead celebrating our small wins. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/019/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Do you ever wonder why you’re not happy with where you are right now, and are always saying to yourself “I’ll be happy when…”? This is called an expectation gap. The expectation gap is the distance between where you are right now, and where you’d like to expectations, habits, goals, habits vs goals, expectation gap, living with intention, creating your own reality Yes 18 18 Looking Past The Aesthetics of Minimalism full 299ab3d1-a19a-47da-9497-ad4fa5f0939d https://share.transistor.fm/s/b7125961 Mon, 10 Jun 2019 06:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2604 Unlike veganism, minimalism has no clear definition. There's no real hard and fast rules about what it is and what it's not. Has minimalism lost its true essence over the years with its popularity on the rise? The feeling of having to start from scratch because you don't have "the look" of how minimalist aesthetics have been portrayed on social media is what we talk a lot about in this episode. With YouTube channels boasting minimalist house tours, capsule wardrobe goals and everything in between, have we lost the real meaning of what minimalism really is? It's not all about aesthetics. We also want it to become a more attainable lifestyle. Seeing it as something that is helping you eliminate distractions, rather than create more work to decorate as a "minimalist" would. It's the aesthetic that starts to trigger those insecurities. This conversation has lots of twists and turns and we hope that it gives you more courage to be yourself within minimalism. As you will hear, it's not all about white walls and white furniture. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/018/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Unlike veganism, minimalism has no clear definition. There's no real hard and fast rules about what it is and what it's not. Has minimalism lost its true essence over the years with its popularity on the rise? The feeling of having to start from scratc minimal design, minimalist, minimalist aesthetic, minimalist design, minimalism No 17 17 Let's Talk About Waste full 2f4ac3fa-2c68-494f-84e7-24083a73e4e7 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7bc7fd16 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 06:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3958 Before we became vegans and minimalists, we used to throw things away without thinking twice about it. But what we never considered is, where exactly is away? What we've come to realise now is that there's really no such thing. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Well someone somewhere has to deal with it and work out what to do with it. It's not sent off in a spaceship nor does it magically disappear.  In this podcast episode, we discuss the issue of plastic—in particular, single-use plastic, what our waste-free journey has been like, the shocking truth of how destructive waste can be, how you can shift your mindset around waste, and what you can do about it today. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/017/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Before we became vegans and minimalists, we used to throw things away without thinking twice about it. But what we never considered is, where exactly is away? What we've come to realise now is that there's really no such thing. Out of sight, out of mind, zero-waste, plastic, minimalism, minimal waste, low waste, recycling Yes 16 16 Challenging The Stigma of Animal Activism full c77fb2eb-6a2d-497f-9bfb-2658abd9533b https://share.transistor.fm/s/3f694b1f Mon, 27 May 2019 14:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 5210 When you make the connection that animal agriculture contributes to the suffering and murder of billions of animals globally every year, you start to wonder what else might be happening behind closed doors that we’re not aware of. These animals have no wish to die or be mistreated. The first emotion that we felt when we became vegan was anger. We were angry at the fact that no one was talking about it. We were mad at the fact that nothing was being done. Times are changing. With every day that goes by, there are more vegans on this planet. People are starting to wake up. This is in part thanks to animal activism. This isn’t a topic that we can talk about from personal experience because like many, we have our reservations about it. Not the kind that you might think, but the kind that you might relate to. Chris and Bronwyn have been doing animal activism for a couple of years now. And they have made a change in our local community through their activist work. The work these two have done for the animals in such a short amount of time is incredible. We sit down with them to ask and discuss the prevalent stigma that surrounds animal activism and why so few do it. We also pick their brains on how and why it’s so important to get involved. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/016/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan When you make the connection that animal agriculture contributes to the suffering and murder of billions of animals globally every year, you start to wonder what else might be happening behind closed doors that we’re not aware of. These animals have n Activism, veganism, animal rights, speciesism No 15 15 What Is Minimalist Money? full 3c236968-f2dd-4f90-9304-afd04698477b https://share.transistor.fm/s/3a25cb44 Mon, 20 May 2019 06:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3338 Minimalism isn’t just about our possessions. We’ve been talking about other things like choosing the friends that you keep (toxic relationships), the work that you do, and how you choose to spend your time overall. But something that we are yet to talk about in more detail, besides this great post that Michael wrote, is money. Specifically the mindset around money as a minimalist. Having lived with debt most of our adult lives, we want to share with you some tips and changes that you can make right now to help yourself reach the financial goals that you want. In saying that, once our needs and wants become simpler, you don’t need much money to sustain yourself. And this is where we can help you shine. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/015/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Minimalism isn’t just about our possessions. We’ve been talking about other things like choosing the friends that you keep (toxic relationships), the work that you do, and how you choose to spend your time overall. But something that we are yet to tal Minimalism, debt-free, money, finance, minimalist No 14 14 Minimalist Vegans Moving To Slovenia full 9f187070-668e-4528-90ef-1551e8cfed1d https://share.transistor.fm/s/f83965ce Mon, 13 May 2019 05:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3386 In mid-2018, we made the decision to close our online store and start making plans to move to Ljubljana, Slovenia. Those plans involved us going full-time with The Minimalist Vegan in April of this year. We have done that and now are working hard towards making our dreams come true and moving to a city that has been calling us for many years. Maša spent the first eight years of her life in Ljubljana and had dreamt of moving back ever since. Michael visited back in 2015 and fell in love with the Medieval city. With our dog Chewy, we are moving to Europe in August of this year. We get asked every day, why Slovenia? What will you do for work? Why would you leave Australia? And the list goes on and on. In this conversation, we share with you the answers to all those questions and share with you our exciting new adventure! Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/014/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan In mid-2018, we made the decision to close our online store and start making plans to move to Ljubljana, Slovenia. Those plans involved us going full-time with The Minimalist Vegan in April of this year. We have done that and now are working hard towa slovenia, minimalism, vegan eats, veganism, vegan, minimalist, moving overseas No 13 13 Does Being Vegan Automatically Make You Healthy? full 3c7a4c4b-2cf8-40fb-8dd7-65b7074c9f46 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d2f1b8e1 Mon, 06 May 2019 05:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3158 Veganism is on the rise, and people are joining the movement, being inspired by different motivations. For us, it was to reduce pain and suffering to animals. For you, it might be for the environment. For others, it’s about optimising your health. But does eating a plant-based diet guarantee good health? And if you aren't experiencing the often promised health benefits of a vegan diet, what do you do? In this conversation, we discuss our experience with health since we became vegan in 2014, as well as some things we’ve learned along the way. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/013/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Veganism is on the rise, and people are joining the movement, being inspired by different motivations. For us, it was to reduce pain and suffering to animals. For you, it might be for the environment. For others, it’s about optimising your health. But Veganism, junk food vegan, china study, forks over knives, overweight vegan Yes 12 12 Managing Gifts As a Minimalist full badf24d7-d70b-4f77-8810-e2730bfe9703 https://share.transistor.fm/s/a306632a Mon, 29 Apr 2019 05:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3018 Giving and receiving gifts is something we’ve been doing since the beginning of time. And you can see why. It’s fulfilling to provide meaningful gifts for people you care about and watch them light up. But as a minimalist who ruthlessly watches your consumption habits, how do you manage the idea of gifts? Is the non-participation in gift-giving the answer? Or do we need to be more flexible? In this episode, we look at both the pros and cons of gifts and how we personally approach the management of gift-giving and receiving in our lives. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/012/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Giving and receiving gifts is something we’ve been doing since the beginning of time. And you can see why. It’s fulfilling to provide meaningful gifts for people you care about and watch them light up. But as a minimalist who ruthlessly watches you Minimalism, minimalist, gifts, gift-free, love languages No 11 11 Intermittent Fasting, Working From Home, Clearing Debt and More! full 92ca5c5f-ec9e-4b19-9a9c-d198419f18ad https://share.transistor.fm/s/06623864 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 05:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3837 We share some updates on what is happening behind the scenes with The Minimalist Vegan as well as our personal lives. Since going full-time with The Minimalist Vegan, we've done a lot. We reflect on what its been like and what we've learned. The topics that we discuss range from how full-time self-employment feels like, Michael's experience and experiment with intermittent fasting, paying off our debt, some much-needed updates to our website, our new course website, and lucky last, reflecting on how the podcast is going. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/011/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan We share some updates on what is happening behind the scenes with The Minimalist Vegan as well as our personal lives. Since going full-time with The Minimalist Vegan, we've done a lot. We reflect on what its been like and what we've learned. The topics Entrepreneurship, minimalism, clearing debt, zero waste, toxin-free, working from home No 10 10 Why We Decided To Not have Children full 1ce0514a-6072-4839-a11f-6bd6b8bc46f8 https://share.transistor.fm/s/8c171f69 Mon, 15 Apr 2019 05:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 4125 Based on one of our most commented blog post that was written just under a year ago, we talk about the decision we've made not to have children. Now, this decision didn't just happen overnight and certainly wasn't one that we took lightly, however, the further we go on this journey of life, the more certain we are that we don't want children. We discuss the way that we used to talk about having children one day many years ago, how we used to view people that didn't want to have children and talk about the many reasons we have decided not to have children. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/010/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Based on one of our most commented blog post that was written just under a year ago, we talk about the decision we've made not to have children. Now, this decision didn't just happen overnight and certainly wasn't one that we took lightly, however, the Minimalism, Veganism, Parenting, Childfree, Vegan Parent No 9 9 Thoughts On Preachy Vegans full 9a0123f7-793a-47ee-8aa5-7bcea8a93754 https://share.transistor.fm/s/4aafdb84 Mon, 08 Apr 2019 05:00:00 +1000 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3445 So you’ve recently become vegan, and you’re pissed, upset, disgusted. In other words, you have a case of Vystopia. The emotions you feel are overwhelming, and you can’t help but tell people who are not vegan what’s happening. You do it on social media. You do it in person. Hey, you may even do it in public. But is this approach of communication effective in trying to get people to be more open and compassionate? That’s what we explore in this conversation. The dynamic of communicating the vegan message versus being passive and discrete. We call them the ‘push’ and the ‘pull’ approach. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/009/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan So you’ve recently become vegan, and you’re pissed, upset, disgusted. In other words, you have a case of Vystopia. The emotions you feel are overwhelming, and you can’t help but tell people who are not vegan what’s happening. You do it on social media. Minimalism, veganism, zero-waste, consumerism, plant-based No 8 8 Having The Courage To Quit full 9d6eb3e8-b5c7-4b60-b154-6f4e5fc8db4f https://share.transistor.fm/s/6f0bb06c Mon, 01 Apr 2019 05:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3051 We often think of quitting as a failure, but we see quitting as a necessary process of finding happiness. In this conversation, we break down some examples of how quitting has helped us to live with intentionality. We have certainly had our fair share of quitting jobs and changing careers as well as so many other commitments like sport and friendships. But in that time, we have asked ourselves many questions to determine why we should stay or quit in that commitment.  For us, it's scarier to stay in the certainty of something that we are not happy with than to quit and venture the unknown. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/008/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan We often think of quitting as a failure, but we see quitting as a necessary process of finding happiness. In this conversation, we break down some examples of how quitting has helped us to live with intentionality. We have certainly had our fair share Minimalism, quitting, sunk cost bias, intentionality No 7 7 The Life-Changing Magic of Not Sparking Joy full 1d490c11-4209-4450-84d5-68c6cafdc34c https://share.transistor.fm/s/908cd8c5 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 06:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3030 Marie Kondo and her philosophy of tidying have exploded onto mainstream media. Her show on Netflix is inspiring millions of people around the world to declutter their homes. We're long-time fans of Marie's work, and we have implemented some of her strategies in the past. With that, the idea behind sparking joy, while inspiring, is not something that we agree with when it comes to minimalism. In this episode, we breakdown the idea behind making decisions on things you should keep, discard and bring into your life, and provide an alternative to the question, "does this item spark joy?" We share a new concept that we have created based on the type of person you are and what stage of life you are in right now. Just like not every diet and work-out regime fits everyone, decluttering and minimalism approaches are also not a 'one glove fits all' style of approach. We discuss four different methods and demonstrate them with some tangible, real-life examples. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/007/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Marie Kondo and her philosophy of tidying have exploded onto mainstream media. Her show on Netflix is inspiring millions of people around the world to declutter their homes. We're long-time fans of Marie's work, and we have implemented some of her str Minimalism, declutter, minimalist, marie kondo, konmari, life-changing magic of tidying Yes 6 6 Reflections From Our Minimalist Vegan Wedding full 54bbc489-1e52-4899-9897-970a693571b4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7d1d76b7 Mon, 18 Mar 2019 05:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 4044 We just celebrated our third wedding anniversary, which triggered some fond and stressful memories of creating our dream minimalist vegan wedding. Would we do it all over again? Heck yes....with a few alterations from lessons learned. In this episode, we reflect on our value-driven minimalist vegan wedding day to share insights with listeners who are thinking of doing the same thing or to spark conversation with others who have also tried to apply minimalism or veganism to their special day. We share our engagement story and how it all came together. We also share some insight into how we dealt with push back on having a vegan wedding day. Looking for more? Visit the show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/006/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan We just celebrated our third wedding anniversary, which triggered some fond and stressful memories of creating our dream minimalist vegan wedding. Would we do it all over again? Heck yes....with a few alterations from lessons learned. In this episode, Minimalism, veganism, minimalist, vegan, wedding, bride, engagement No 5 5 Society's Obsession With Animals full a2ac52f4-9a47-48b3-a53e-d75e5e5c5501 https://share.transistor.fm/s/cbdb60d2 Mon, 11 Mar 2019 06:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2752 Have you ever thought about how obsessed and intrigued we are with animals? This is the topic of discussion in this week’s podcast episode. We go back to how animals have played a role in our lives from the day that we are born and all the ways that they have been integrated amongst cultures and communities. We share our personal story on having a gorgeous dog and what he has taught us. The discussion also leads us to talk about the irony of how we respect some animals more than others and how that has played a role in our society. Looking for more? Visit our show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/005/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Have you ever thought about how obsessed and intrigued we are with animals? This is the topic of discussion in this week’s podcast episode. We go back to how animals have played a role in our lives from the day that we are born and all the ways that they vegan, veganism, cruelty-free No 4 4 Our Love-Hate Relationship With Social Media full 0e11d621-4cbd-48a7-8d97-88fec7d8f815 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f20abbf5 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 05:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3662 In this episode, we talk about our love-hate relationship with social media. We dissect the history of social media in our lives and how connection through online platforms came about for us. We also discuss how as minimalists, there is this unwritten rule about being off social media and what we think about it. Social media can be a big procrastination tool or something that can enhance your life if used correctly. Having access to this tool in your pocket or your handbag has changed the way that we live our lives every single day. It's all in how you use it and for what reasons. We hope that you enjoy this one as much as we enjoyed talking about it! Looking for more? Visit our show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/004/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan In this episode, we talk about our love-hate relationship with social media. We dissect the history of social media in our lives and how connection through online platforms came about for us. We also discuss how as minimalists, there is this unwritten rul Minimalism, social media, technology Yes 3 3 Dealing With Sales As a Minimalist full 0257d2d3-f905-4961-bfef-451e10c1aaa2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/348bfba1 Tue, 26 Feb 2019 22:02:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3760 In this podcast episode, we break down the power of sales and some actionable strategies to overcome the urge to spend without a reason. We also cover the resistance of paying full price for products, how we celebrate buying things on sale, how our minimalist shift changed our spending habits and how our ethical standards have changed the narrative of value. Looking for more? Visit our show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/003/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan In this podcast episode, we break down the power of sales and some actionable strategies to overcome the urge to spend without a reason. We also cover the resistance of paying full price for products, how we celebrate buying things on sale, how our minima minimalism, veganism, conscious consumerism No 2 2 What's Your Vegan Origin Story? full 05b7febe-992f-4d08-9e2a-3db451eac3d8 https://share.transistor.fm/s/96b86e50 Tue, 26 Feb 2019 22:01:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 3922 Why did you become vegan? Everyone has their vegan origin story, much like the superheroes.  We reflect on our past and how it all started for us. We discuss what life was like before we became vegan, as most people aren’t born vegan, we can relate to others very easily. Tune in and hear as to how it all unfolded for us.  Looking for more? Visit our show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/002/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Why did you become vegan? Everyone has their vegan origin story, much like the superheroes.  We reflect on our past and how it all started for us. We discuss what life was like before we became vegan, as most people aren’t born vegan, we can relate to veganism, cruelty-free, vegan, conscious consumerism No 1 1 Why We Started a Podcast full 586ba6d5-b9c2-42cc-8955-93c93698a945 https://share.transistor.fm/s/2332dca8 Tue, 26 Feb 2019 22:00:00 +1100 Michael & Maša Ofei Michael & Maša Ofei 2028 Welcome to The Minimalist Vegan Podcast! We’re very excited to share with you Episode 1 and talk about how we first came across podcasts, where we typically listen to them, the podcasts that have inspired us to live a more conscious lifestyle, and why it’s so important to surround yourself with the right type of content.  We also discuss multitasking vs single tasking and being in the moment. The reason we love listening to podcasts is because they inspire us, they inspire us to be and do better. We hope that you tune in and get something out of ours.  Looking for more? Visit our show notes at https://theminimalistvegan.com/001/ Follow us on Instagram @theminimalistvegan Welcome to The Minimalist Vegan Podcast! We’re very excited to share with you Episode 1 and talk about how we first came across podcasts, where we typically listen to them, the podcasts that have inspired us to live a more conscious lifestyle, and why it’ podcasting, minimalism, veganism, conscious consumerism No