Well, hello there, my friends, and welcome back. My name is Stephanie Safarian, and you're listening

to Episode 580 of Sustainable Minimalists. This is a listener-supported show about

intentional and eco-friendly minimalist living. And on today's show, we're peeling back the layers of what

I like to call the Connection Onion. Yes, the, the connection onion. Now let's back up.

If you've been listening to this show for a while, you've heard me give the same advice over

and over again, haven't you? If you want peace, clear the clutter. That's step one.

Pair down, buy less, learn to love living with less, embrace minimalism. I say it all the time.

But what if the opposite of

materialism is not necessarily minimalism? What if the real antidote to our more is more culture

is actually connection? Now, if you've ever felt like you're drowning in noise and yearning for

something real,

my guest today argues that stuff is essentially noise in a different form.

Getting rid of stuff reduces the noise, but getting rid of the stuff won't provide the

realness that we're looking for.

That realness comes through connection, connection to nature,

connection to other humans, even though I know it to be true. Human relationships are really

darn messy. Connection to something bigger than us. And finally, connection with ourselves.

Those are the layers of the connection onion. And here to help me

break down exactly why reconnecting with these layers is so darn important is Suzanne

Circe Johnson. Suzanne is a two-time guest on the podcast. She's also a member of book club. So to my book club members,

if this voice sounds familiar, it's none other than Suzanne. Suzanne has a new book and it's out

now. It's titled Beyond Decluttering, 40 Days to Experiencing Simplicity Through Connection. And oh my

...