The Tortoise with Brooke McAlary

Instead of the usual conversation between Brooke and Ben, today's episode is simply a reading of the final ever edition of The Tortoise newsletter.  Take a listen, and please know that it has been an absolute pleasure to be heard by you over the years.  https://brookemcalary.substack.com/p/sometimes-life-surprises-us  Much love and thanks for listening, Brooke and Ben xxJoin The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 August 2024

Brooke and Ben dig in to the topic of work-life balance. Is it achievable, what doe sit look like, and should we be chasing it?

Transcribed - Published: 17 July 2024

Brooke and Ben dig into body image and its relationship to slow living

Transcribed - Published: 19 June 2024

Pleasure. Just the word brings a little shiver to the spine, doesn't it? Defined as “a feeling or experience that involves enjoyment or satisfaction,” in today’s episode, Brooke and Ben dig a little deeper into what pleasure is in real terms, what it means to them personally and why expanding our individual definitions might be the key to unlocking a whole new way of experiencing life. For Brooke it relates to not only her word of the year (joy) but also the theme she's currently exploring over on The Tortoise — rebellious living. While at first glance, pleasure doesn’t appear to be particularly related to living rebelliously, throughout this conversation, she and Ben dig into why centring pleasure in a world that feels too much, too heavy, too overwhelming really can be an act of rebellion. (Honestly!) In a wide-ranging conversation, they also discuss how the senses are related to pleasure, why redefining and reclaiming it could increase the amount of pleasure we experience, the relationship between pleasure and addiction and why embracing joy and delight might make us less prone to capitalistic manipulation. They also talk about the six-second kiss that's been a game-changer, list some of their own simple pleasures and talk about the importance of becoming a better self-observer if we're going to invite more pleasure into our lives. Head over to The Tortoise for the full show notes, and if you haven't already, make sure to subscribe to the free weekly newsletter while you're there.  Thanks for listening! Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2024

If you spend any time on TikTok, you've probably seen the #softlife trend pop up over the past couple of years. Brooke and Ben aren't on TikTok, so are late to the party as usual, but wanted to dive into the sister movement of slow living anyway. In today's episode, they look at what soft living is, where it began, how it relates to slow living, and why it's following a similar trajectory as that of self-care, slow living, and other counter-cultural movements. (ie. becoming increasingly mainstream and commercial). They look at soft living as the opposite of hard living (which proves both obvious and helpful) and try to define it for themselves. For Brooke it revolves around joy, and for Ben its in learning how to ask for help - both of which offer unexpected ways of looking at softness. They also talk about the consumerism attached to these movements, and offer some practical suggestions on how to create space for softness in your day-to-day life. Head over to The Tortoise for the full show notes, and if you haven't already, make sure to subscribe to the free weekly newsletter while you're there.  Thanks for listening! Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2024

Brooke and Ben talk curveballs, what happens when our foundations get shaken and how to harness some of slow living's key ideas to navigate new life circumstances.

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2024

What is joy? And how does it differ from happiness? Can we learn to be more joyful? And what does that look like? Brooke and Ben dig into joy in Episode 11 of The Tortoise podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 14 February 2024

Brooke and Ben talk through their Top Ten of 2023 list - including favourite meals, books, albums, films and experiences.

Transcribed - Published: 20 December 2023

This month's episode digs into the topic of addiction (and more broadly, obsessive behaviour) for things like tech-use, busyness, food and consumption. If you need help with addiction or mental health, there's a list of resources over at The Tortoise.  In today's show, Ben shares his experience with tech over-use and the links he sees between it and the hustle-grind-capitalism-productivity culture, and he and Brooke look at how the proliferation of tech (especially smart phones and social media) have increased our desire for instant gratification.  Brooke talks through her compulsion to consume bad news, and shares a few ways she's trying to break those patterns of behaviour. She also talks about the role that tech and consumerism intertwine to create a world that feels simultaneously too much and not enough, and how that has her and many other women she knows feeling angry.  It's an interesting and meandering conversation that will hopefully leave you with lots to think about. Head over to The Tortoise for the full show notes, and if you haven't already, make sure to subscribe to the free weekly newsletter while you're there.  Thanks for listening! Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 November 2023

Today Brooke and Ben are talking about hard times. Or more specifically, how to deal with the emotional heaviness that comes from living through really difficult things. Digging into this feeling of heaviness, they discuss how they're trying to acknowledge and accept the challenges, as well as the tools they use to help them move forward. They also talk about practical ways to protect ourselves when things feel hard, why limiting social media is a powerful way of drawing boundaries, the impact of gentle activism, why rage-cleaning can help process anger, the rebelliousness of finding joy and why pairing all of these things with action is so important.  Hopefully this conversation shows that it’s okay to look for and hold onto joy in amongst the difficult times.  Head over to The Tortoise for the full show notes, and if you haven't already, make sure to subscribe to the free weekly newsletter while you're there.  Thanks for listening! Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 October 2023

Brooke and Ben look at seasonal living - what it is, why it matters, and how it has very little to do with the weather.

Transcribed - Published: 20 September 2023

Brooke and Ben talk self-care and how we can redefine it in our own lives, as well as look at the difference between toxic positivity and resilience.

Transcribed - Published: 15 August 2023

For our kids (and adults as well), there is barely a part of life that isn't somehow connected to smartphones, social media or screens, and they're starting to feel the effects of being constantly connected.  In today's episode, Ben and Brooke talk about their experience raising two high school-ages kids (12 and 14) and the constant negotiations around tech boundaries. They also talk about the broader impact that high levels of screen time are having on kids in general, the challenges that are beginning to emerge in regards to relationships, well-being and self-esteem, and what we as adults can do to help support them.  Brooke also reflects on a hugely impactful documentary she saw recently, that has given her something that's been in short supply lately: hope.   Head over to The Tortoise for the full show notes, and if you haven't already, make sure to subscribe to the free weekly newsletter while you're there. Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 July 2023

Brooke and Ben discuss mental load - what it is, how to manage it, and why some people end up carrying more than their fair share.

Transcribed - Published: 14 June 2023

Feeling squashed between competing life pressures? This episode is for you. Brooke and Ben talk about being part of the 'sandwich generation'.

Transcribed - Published: 17 May 2023

What is "wellness" exactly? Brooke and Ben dig into the good, the bad, the quackery, the evidence-based and the liver-eating diets of this trillion-dollar industry.

Transcribed - Published: 19 April 2023

In this episode of The Tortoise, Brooke and Ben ask: Is a four-day work week feasible? Do we need to get better at our hobbies?

Transcribed - Published: 22 March 2023

Brooke and Ben return with a brand-new show - The Tortoise. Get a glimpse of what's to come in this preview episode.

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2023

After 8 years and 400 odd episodes Brooke and Ben discuss closing the door on the Slow Home Podcast and announce an exciting new iteration...The Tortoise Links Subscribe to The Tortoise for weekly slow-living blog posts and newsletters Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 February 2023

After a nine-month hiatus, Brooke and Ben return for an end of year check in and discuss plans for 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 15 December 2022

Brooke and Ben are back for this season's hostful where they discuss teens and tech, Brooke's new hobbies and provide an update on her Dad's health.

Transcribed - Published: 30 March 2022

Brooke sits down for a virtual hug with slow flow yoga advocate and Embodied by MB founder Mary Beth Larue

Transcribed - Published: 23 March 2022

In this episode Brooke speaks to Tricia Walker a writer and nature connection facilitator about her mid-life gap year, barefoot bushwalking and nature connection gatherings for women.

Transcribed - Published: 16 March 2022

Permaculture illustrator Brenna Quilan speaks to Brooke about her art and activism, what living in an intentional community is like and solutions based permaculture

Transcribed - Published: 9 March 2022

In this episode Brook speaks to Dr Kate Litterer who is a productivity researcher and coach based in dreamy Boston Massachusetts. Kate talks about prioritization, workaholism, slow living, and mindfulness, including how her own sober recovery overlaps with her workaholism while healing from chronic illness.

Transcribed - Published: 2 March 2022

Are you a morning person or a midnight owl? In this episode Brooke talks to Amanda Ewin about the power of mornings, protecting your energy and goals

Transcribed - Published: 23 February 2022

Brooke is joined by podcaster and MS advocate Clare Reilly to talk about how living a simple and easy life has helped Clare manage her multiple sclerosis

Transcribed - Published: 16 February 2022

In this first episode of the season Brooke chats with Jodi Wilson from Practising Simplicity about what it is to find purpose, joy and connection in the simple things, during a time of infinite choice and possibilities.

Transcribed - Published: 9 February 2022

We have reached the last episode of this year's Summer Series/Winter Warmies and Brooke takes us through her (one of) favourite episodes of the past 7 years featuring Katie Bowman on nutritious movement and couchless living

Transcribed - Published: 26 January 2022

The 3rd instalment in this year's Summer Series/Winter Warmies includes an episode recorded in 2019 with Beth Kempton

Transcribed - Published: 19 January 2022

Part 2 of this year's Summer Series/Winter Warmies sees Ben and Brooke look way back into the archives with a 2017 banger on waste reduction featuring over 50 ways you can seriously reduce your waste footprint.

Transcribed - Published: 12 January 2022

Ben and Brooke talk through the format for this years Summer Series/Winter Warmies and bring you Part 1 featuring analogue creativity with Jess Davis

Transcribed - Published: 5 January 2022

The annual end of year 'list' hostful is here, but not before Ben interviews Brooke about some of the key themes in Season 8

Transcribed - Published: 15 December 2021

Rebecca Sullivan joins Brooke to chat about her very eventful two years topics include, sobriety, post natal depression, personal transformation and healing

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 2021

Brooke discovers the origin story of Sobah Australia's first non-alcoholic craft beer company proudly Aboriginal owned and led by Dr Clinton Schultz

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2021

Brooke speaks with return guest Meg Berryman about macro and micro regenerative living

Transcribed - Published: 24 November 2021

Brooke chats to the extraordinary Hannah Diviney about her work in advocating for people with a disability, including campaigning Disney to create a princess with a disability

Transcribed - Published: 17 November 2021

Guest of the show Alexx Stuart returns to chat to Brooke about her new book that explores how to shop, cook, swap, save and eat for a happy planet

Transcribed - Published: 10 November 2021

Author, Presenter, Permaculture designer and Activist Hannah Maloney joins the pogpast this week to talk about self-care, activism and her new book 'The Good Life'

Transcribed - Published: 3 November 2021

It's the sequel to the 2018 chat where Brooke interviews Ben about everything that has happened over the past three years, what's changed, what's stayed the same and what his focus is now.

Transcribed - Published: 27 October 2021

Join Brooke and Ben for the last episode of the season in a hostful episode where they talk about imposter syndrome and answer listener questions

Transcribed - Published: 28 July 2021

Brooke chats with Jade Miles, one-half of Future Steading and Black Barn Farm, to learn about what future-steading is (and its relationship with home-steading)

Transcribed - Published: 21 July 2021

Brooke chats with returning guest and zero-waste advocate Anita van Dyke (ex-rocket scientist, turned medical doctor and awesome Mum) about the challenges of zero-waste living in a busy family and ways to work smarter not harder when it comes to zero-waste. Brooke also gushes about Anita's op-shop wardrobe! Links Head here for all links from today's episode Anita's website Connect with Anita on Instagram Love Slow? Support the show!  Become a patron Or buy us a coffee and share the love Looking for more? Follow us on Instagram @slowhomepod Sign up for the Slow Post, Brooke's weekly slow-living love letters  Or leave a rating or review in iTunes Join The Tortoise Community: https://brookemcalary.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 July 2021

Brooke catches up with friend of the show Jacki Carr about goals coaching and the evolution of personal goals

Transcribed - Published: 30 June 2021

Brooke catches-up with returning guest Jess Davis to get an update on how New York is rebounding from the pandemic

Transcribed - Published: 23 June 2021

Brooke and Ben drop into your feed with an unscheduled hostful to talk through the happenings over the past month

Transcribed - Published: 9 June 2021

This is a conversation many months in the making, recorded a few months ago, Brooke chats with illustrator, writer and environmentalist Em Ehlers.

Transcribed - Published: 2 June 2021

Catch-up with Brooke and Ben as they take you through an update as well as answer your questions in this Season 7 Hostful!

Transcribed - Published: 26 May 2021

Brooke and Ben are back in your earholes to share some stories and updates over the past nine months

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2021

Meditation has a lot to offer us during a crisis, but when it's hard to sit still and breathe, should we still keep trying? Kevin Janks discusses why it's so important and what meditating in a crisis offers us.

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2020