November 16, 2024 • 45 mins
Kate Hall aka Ethically Kate joins me this week to discuss how you can live more ethically, but without the stress we put on ourselves to be perfect. Kate and her husband live a unique life filled with quirky traditions and rituals which I love, so we dive into ways you can spice up the week and get out of ruts.
My biggest take away was opening yourself up to those moments of joy, wherever and whenever they present themselves to you, with a particular focus on family and nature. Kate gives a fresh perspective on life and I loved getting to know her better. Hope you enjoy the chat!
About the show:
Life is fast. Information is overwhelming. We seem busier and more anxious than ever. Introducing ‘Slow It Down’. A time to chill, wind down and join a space that inspires people to live authentically and slow it down. A hub for living more consciously and incorporating mindful practices and rituals in an achievable way. The aim is to showcase guests who have chosen to live a more balanced lifestyle mixed in with experts who offer tangible tips and tricks to feel a little more zen.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
With the Heads Podcast Network. Hi, and welcome back to
another episode of Slow It Down. I am your host,
PJ Harding, and this podcast is all about finding peace
in the chaos, ways that we can find a little
(00:22):
more sanity in this wild world that we're living in.
Every week I'm joined by a new guest who, well,
I think we'll bring to the table some inspiration with
how they live their life, and today is no exception.
I'm joined by Kate Hall, who is the genius behind
Ethically Kate. You may have seen her online. She is
(00:42):
an educator, writer, and content creator who advocates for living
and decision making that respects people and the planet. I
think it's really easy to feel intimidated by people such
as Kate who come out and put their voice behind
sustainability in the environment, because you're always like, oh my god,
I could be doing wavyr there. So I'm really honest
(01:04):
about that with her in this conversation, and it's interesting
how she delves into the responsibility that she's felt on
her shoulders being a voice for the environment. In this conversation,
we talk about how she slows it down, how important
nature is, the beautiful rituals that she and her family
do to spice up life, to get out of ruts.
(01:26):
I really really enjoyed this conversation with Kate, and I
hope you do too. Thank you so much for coming
on today. Okay, it's so nice to meet you in person. Yeah,
you too, you too?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
What is background?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Thank you? Oh my god, don't look at the plant.
It's not doing well. First of all, how are you, like,
how is life going at the moment? Have you go
a lot on lots of projects in the works, Like
how does life look for ethically Kate? At the moment?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Hmmm, I'm like preparing? Is it too echoe in here?
Does it sound echoey?
Speaker 1 (02:13):
It's fine at less you've got another I mean it's
probably fine. I feel like we never it's through zone,
can sound a bit echo. That's probably fine.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
At the moment, I feel like, so we have a
long term houseit and that is really lovely.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
For about seven months we settle in and this has
been in our rhythm for the last two years going
on three years. And so now now.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
We're in the final kind of four weeks of packing
up and ready to be like transient again. So life
is a bit like yeah, just I think like mentally
physically just gearing.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Up to pack up our stuff.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yeah, we work that out and just kind of sought
life and sort a lot of stuff, do a lot
of deep cleaning, prepare the house before the owners come back,
and then yeah, be a lot more transient again.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
So when you say transient, do you may staying at
different places? Are you looking at a rental or you
don't know how that's going to lie.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
We rented at our house in January twenty twenty three
and went to India for three months and then house
that for a few months and then over winter, so
from kind of May till November we're in this permanent house,
which is amazing, and the rest of the year we
house it for you know, from three to two months
at the time, and also go on a nationwide tour
(03:41):
around the country every year. So we leave here in
four weeks and then over Christmas we have a house
for a month near family, which is great for Christmas activities,
and then we go on to it around the country
for two months and then we'll come back. Don't know
I'm going to live at April yet, but then we'll
come back to the here to our winter house sit
(04:02):
in May.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
How do you feel not having that base all the time,
because some people need that constant, you know, place of
grounding or anchoring. Do you kind of thrive off a
bit of where we're going to be next. I don't.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Like a lot of people like I tell them what
we're doing, They're like, oh my gosh, there must be
so cool.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
It must feel like you're on holiday all the time.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
And it is cool, like there's so many fun parts
about it. But I definitely I like routine. I'm really
affected by my environment and stuff.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
And also I'm not on holiday. I'm trying to live
my normal life.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I'm trying to get groceries in a more sustainable way.
It's just very difficult and puts a lot more wastes
and stuff from house it because you don't have your
usual yes of things anyway, and even just your physical environment.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
You know, we're living in.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
These amazing, lovely houses, but it's not my stuff and
it's not my choice of colors and textures. And I'm
really affected by that, and I've realized that a lot more.
But I think our main priorities for him and I
to my husband are doing life together. Yeah, and yeah,
(05:17):
doing life in a certain way.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
And so we also realized we love our home.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
It's by the beach that we've renovated for the past
few years before we started doing this, and just adore
it like gardens and fruit trees and really made this
little little blissful spot. But we realized, you start to
get a little bit kind of like gollum.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Yeah, stay away from my pressures.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, and that's not a bad thing, Like it's nice
to feel proud of something and nice to use your
favorite mug in the morning and have these routines. But
I think we really didn't want to like get stuck,
and we didn't want to I don't know, just become
like too particular too and not that we are like
(06:04):
we always have people staying at our house, open to
the policy, but we just we needed that challenge.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
So is that what prompted the house sitting kind of
nomadic lifestyle moving around? How long do you plan on
doing that for until you go back to your precious cave?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
I know? And there's saddest year.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
I was like, I'm moving back to my house in
December other than a dead buddy, like this is the.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Thing I'm doing.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
And then after again being in this long term house set,
so you kind of, yeah, just have a little bit
more stability. We decided not to move back, so it'll
probably be in a year, so end of twenty twenty
five we'll move back home.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
You're always coming up with interesting challenges to put yourself through, though,
aren't you?
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Like?
Speaker 1 (06:47):
It seems like I love that though, And I mean,
you've done how long did you not buy a new
clothes for?
Speaker 2 (06:54):
There was a year? A year of twenty two and.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Was that one of the those challenges? Do you think
you've done or have you done tougher things of the easiest?
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Really? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
It was surprisingly much more freeing and yeah, not as
hard as this. I'm currently doing New zeal Made Food
Challenge that's been much harder than the fashion one.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
So how long is the New Zealand Made Food Challenge
for the whole year?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yes? Yeah, first January?
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Okay, And so how have you gone? Have you slept
up at all?
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Yeah? It's like I think you just kind of get
used to it.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Yeah, after a while, and you just I'm also Celiac,
so I'm used to being able to tell myself you
can't eat that food, you know, Like I it's yeah,
I was staying as Celia when I was three, So
that's you know, and I know, yeah, I kind of
just use that mentality and so you can't eat it
those bananas from the Philippines, someone try to tell myself.
(07:57):
So it's just those main staples like bananas and rice
and I don't know, just like fun stuff you see,
like I just need to try.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
That, yeah, because I would think i'd go pretty like
I would think, oh, I could probably do that because
I like to shove organically and locally and stuff like that.
But actually there's a lot that way I don't realize
from overseas that snakes in a lot of.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
The organic stuff and the stuff from Bolkan stores. That
is the overseas stuff discovered really.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Hard when you're.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Yeah, sometimes you have to weigh up your values around
waste free, organic, new zilla made fairly produced, and you
often can't find all of those.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
So I do I do? I guess I.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Eat a lot. It's you know, that like meat and
the three ven kind of mentality, which sounds really boring.
I kind of do that, but in a far more
creative way. So I'm eating I mean, I've never really
done processed foods and stuff much anyway.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I really like cooking and making my own.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
But I've kind of really gone back to the absolute basics.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
I think you do, especially when you are being a
bit more conscious of like the produce you get. I
think you do kind of go back to basics a
bit more because you don't have all the extra fancy
bits and bobs and whatever. And it's there's a good
way to eat and seasonally as well. I mean, I'm
sure you're a big advocate of eating seasonally.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Absolutely. I think it's good for our bodies too. Yeah, Like, yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Remember seeing someone made a fruit platter at an event
and it was like July and there's a pineapplen of strawberry.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
You're like, no, what is this?
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Firstly, is this millionaire to like afford it because it's
come home from Yes, efensive, and just like, what is.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
The life of this strawberry?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Where has it been hanging out since you know it
grew in summer?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Where did it come from?
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Yes? And we've come to so detached to that because
we can't have everything of our fingersip And yeah, I
mean I'm not perfect by any means, cheep as I'll
buy out of season, but I think it is a
beautiful kind of rule to sort of like guide ourselves
when it comes to trying to eat seasonally. Maybe if
there are more carrots, then you have more carrot dishes,
or you know, trying to get creative. But you talk about,
(10:20):
you know, your values with whatever it is you're navigating,
and I think they change all the time. And people
have probably found themselves evolving along this kind of sustainable
journey and you'll be really good at something for a
while and then that slips off and then you're like, Okay,
well maybe I'll try this. And would you say that
that is the reality of embracing a life more sustainable
(10:45):
is it is constantly evolving.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
I mean I think that's what sustainability means is something
that can sustain itself, can continue over and over again.
And we don't know everything now, things that a few
years ago I was like, come on, everyone, this is
so great.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
And I'm like, oh, this isn't so great anymore. Let's
learn and change.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Because information evolves in changes absolutely.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
And it's also like, there is no perfect sustainable lifestyle.
Some people may argue that, but the more I learn, like,
the more I think even when I started probably about
eight years ago, I was really like, Okay, cool, I'm
going to do like this, you know, rubbish like rubbish
been free thing and be really had core on waste
(11:34):
and all this stuff. And now I just there's sustainability
is so much more to me about every facet of life.
Sustainability doesn't mean environmentalism, it doesn't mean green things, it
doesn't mean less pastic. Sustainability is a term that relates
to every facet of our life. So over time I've
(11:57):
become way more passionate about sustainability for our health, for ourselves,
and knowing that over the last eight years, the times
when I have lived a less sustainable lifestyle or you know,
had more in my rubbish bin or made decisions that
didn't align with my values was when I was mentally low,
(12:19):
physically sick, you know, situationally didn't have the resources.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
So I think, yeah, sometimes I.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
See a lot of people say, oh, yeah, it's so
easy to live without ways and do this thing, but
they often in a privileged position of accessibility of resources and.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
All that type of things. So that's why I think, yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
And a lot of my messaging, I'm not just saying
these are the eco friendly lifestyle hacks, and I also
go take a nap.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Yes, because the irony is people who try me all
in one hundred percent sustainable. That's not stainable. And you
have to be able to be sustainable, and you have
to keep the passion alive. And you come to that
when you're just constantly failing, because people just give up
and I feel like it's just a battle that they're
never going to win.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Yeah, And that's what I think a lot of people
I talk to it and why people. I mean, I
started out ethically, Kate just you know, it was it
wasn't intentional, and now here it as being my full
time job. But I think people have continued on the
on the journey and continue reading and being part of
my work because they realize that they don't have to
(13:30):
be the sustainable giru to like try to just try,
and so I share. I try to share equally my
quote unquote failures, you know, but I really a failure,
but my imperfections let's call them, and and non sustainable
habits just as much because then they go.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Oh, she's not doing well.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Maybe I can just try like one thing and that's
going to be the change maker. Like that's going to
be what like actually drives this cultural shift of doing
better four people in planet rather than like a whole
bunch of hardcore have been living in tiny house, which
absolutely awesome to you.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we have to be realistic.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Yeah, as helping mainstream people who don't like care yet
to kre even just a little bit.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
I'm sure there was quite a bit of pressure on
your shoulders when you sort of came forward and you
almost became this figure of sustainability in New Zealand. You
made something that previously wasn't mainstream cool And how did
you should navigate that sense of responsibility on your shoulders?
Was that when you were like atually have to embrace
the imperfection because this is just kind of ruin me.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
I mean every day I think to myself, like her
mind to call myself.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Like that's a pretty yeah? Pretty? I mean, firstly, ethics
a subjective.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
That's why I chose the word because it's you know,
I won't get into that.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
But it is. It is scary because.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
First and foremost I'm a person who's just sharing what
I'm learning and hoping that other people will learn from it.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I am I often you know, I.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
Guess I know obviously more than like the average person,
and I'm just so privileged to have been kind of
in lots of different spaces, from lots of different industries.
But I'm by no means an expert and a lot
of what I do and share, even I'm often in
the media commenting on things, and they say it's a
(15:34):
strain ability experts, hold on, hold on, I'm still a
person who's learning, growing, evolving, sharing, and I'm just sharing
as I go. So I think I definitely and people
often surprised to hear it because I come across, you know,
quite confident, which I am, but I'm confidently acknowledging my
(15:58):
all the things I don't know, and I experienced imposter
syndrome and kind of the overwhelm of it. But I
go here, If I'm going to let those feelings paralyze
me and stop me from doing this.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Screw it. That's like screw it.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Yeah, yeah, benefits from me talking and actually going out
and speaking, but then being younger, okay to like you know,
backtrack or update people on information. That's that's you know,
what it should be like. I just feel like it
would be a disservice for me to keep all of.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
This information of course, and learn, you know.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
To myself when we must. We need to do it,
you know, for the sake of people on planet.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
And I think that transparency and the humanness is what
takes away that kind of pretentiousness that could be or
like I'm better than you. It never feels like that
from what I have consumed of your content. I love it,
and I think it's fun, and I think it's a
really creative way of getting across really important information. So
(16:59):
get that so down out the way, Kate, You're doing
an amazing job. I want to know what kind of
got you on the road in the first place, because
this was never your plan, was it. Didn't you study
business at Messy or something like that.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Yeah, well I studied business psychology, which some could argue
is actually directly related to what I do now, because
that was me being passionate about people in the workplace
working sustainably, you know, like thriving, loving their job, loving
their work.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
And so I did actually come into this space. You know,
a lot of people come to.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
It from you know, they don't want pollution in the
oceans because they're a surfer or.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
But I came into it from a people point of view.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
You know, obviously I love nature's environment, you know, are
we a part of it? But from that social site,
I so that business psychology does play into it. I
didn't intend like I was working in hr kind of
roles and that was I guess I was maybe going
to do my master's to become a industrial psychologist. But yeah,
(18:04):
I just I started sharing in twenty fifteen and learning,
and I just kept communicating and talking. So you know,
when you kind of reflect back and you're, oh, that
was random, but then you look back through your life,
that was it random? And that kind of just to
be here. Yes, I had my business when I was
eight years old. It was called Kate Care and I
(18:29):
watered plants, clicked in mail. Then evolved into like mowing lawns, walking.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Dogs, hats.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Yeah, like up to ten houses over the summer at
a time.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Okay, so you've always just been a really good human from.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
The Yeah, I guess I've always like been much.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Heard I can do that, I'll.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Start this so Yeah, to be honest, I actually wanted
to be a vet my whole life up until I
was about seventeen, So that was my plan but.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Yeah, I'm happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
I love it for anyone lest saying who is feeling
guilty as we're speaking the words of sustainability, eco living
all of that. What easy bits of advice can you
say that could inspire them to get back on the
bandwagon that don't need to be huge overhauls of their life.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
I would say, first start by learning and refreshing yourself
in a way that suits you. So if you like podcasts,
then you know, find some good podcasts to learn. And
I say learn and refresh your stuff, because if I
want to tell you to go out and buy a
(19:44):
certain thing or do a certain thing, it's kind of
irrelevant unless you have that like why is freshed? So
you might like podcasts or documentaries, or just you might
like sitting with community, you know, and go to your
local repair cafe. There's so many around the country now,
(20:05):
and just yeah, be with people, strike up conversation when
you're having a coffee with your neighbor or a friend
next ask them, you know, how they approach this topic
and if they think about people on planet and they're
kind of purchasing and habits.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Just I think starting with that.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Means sustainable of them becomes sustainable.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Yes, not unrealistic, unattainable thing that that makes us feel
really shit about ourselves.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Yeah, and we can't. We can't do things like things
aren't going to stick. You know. I could tell you
to compast and send you are good Habit recycling guide
and a list of places to shop in the whole
fashion which all my website, But like, that's irrelevant unless.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Unless you know why you're doing it, And you're not
going to stick to those things unless.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
You know why and you're nected in with people and
you're learning in a way that suits you.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
I love that. So finding out the why and however
it looks for you, whether it's however you.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Like to.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Ingest content. When it comes to locally shopping locally, I'm
sure you're massive on that.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
I am miss upon shopping locally, but I'm not exclusive
to it. I certainly won't be sticking to just New
Zealand made food after this challenge.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
I do like rice, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
And secondly, there's also a huge power in supporting organizations
who employ people overseas.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
You know.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
I think of the brand Hollybolly, who equal fashion brand.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
They were still in Weltain as well, but mainly Aline.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
And they employ women in rural India who you know
they talked to so is that long, beautiful story, but
they taught these long to so and then the women like,
we want jobs you know in this in this town
where women and nothing weren't allowed jobs like or he.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Completely oppressed.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
And then you know there's this fashion label which means
they can make clothes, have employment treated with so much
more respect. It's really changing the whole culture of the city.
So to say we should only buy a New Zealand
made and local is to kind of yeah, stop, great
opportunities for being able to actually support our global community
(22:33):
as well. So I think it's a great it's a
great balance, and it's again it's up toide person. The
person's your individual values. Because for a lot of people,
they only shops you can hand and it's amazing, you know,
but for a lot of people maybe only supporting companies
like Hollibolly recreate clothing others overseas. That may be a
(22:53):
passion because you have that kind of that that global conscience.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
So I think it's it's a bit.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Bit of everything. Just quickly. I'm sure you've written lots
on this, but your favorite ethical Keewi clothing brands in
New Zealand. As we're heading into Christmas, I just want
to I'll get into Christmas a little bit more, son,
But do you have just a couple of faves that
you want to give a shout out to?
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Well, I mean I've already mentioned Holly and yes, we're
great as a tall chip.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Koto is the jeans are so good. It was a
black tank top that still exists in my wardrobe.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Yeah. I could guarantee if I bought it at the
mall from the brands.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
I would I would have holes in it.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
No, So yeah, Koto is brilliant standard issue.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
I'm wearing one of the tops right now. I just
live in this stuff.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
I love your dancing videos within this so good makes
me want to just like get my husband wearing my clothes.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
I know it is handy, tom as similar at heights
and can fit. I can even have fit his shorts
I just discovered the other day. But it's not happy
with me buying his shorts.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
And so with Christmas obviously fast approaching, and there's the
cost of living crisis, so that is obviously in a
lot of people's minds, but with the environment in mind
as well, what do you think is some good alternatives
for Chrissy presents some fun, creative ways that you can
show people you love them without just going to stock
standard shop and dropping fifty or one hundred bucks.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
I mean personally, I actually just launched the biggest blot
I've ever written in my entire life, which was like,
it's huge. There are a hundred different options on there.
So that's like your classic sustainable Christmas gifts, which it's
still stuff which you know, personally still end up having
to buy some stuff, but it's your sex. It's like
(25:01):
soaps and underwear and towels and candles, but it's all
good ethically made mainly New Zealand brands.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
So that's a great thing because it's a low cost point.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
You know, like there are small gifts too, so you
know it kind of means a lot more.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
You're still spending a small.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Amount, but it's like a boutique New Zealand maid, so
you know that it adds a bit of more.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Kudos to the gift.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
For me and my funo, we often don't do any
physical gifts and like one year we all donated to
a charity that suited the person. So like, my brother
is a musician, and I think it was my mum
who got him as like a secret standard situation and
donated to like a music therapy group, you know. So
(25:49):
it's a it's a personalized gift still, but you're, yeah,
you're just donating. Or we donate vouchers for things. So
my sister gave Tim and I a voucher to it
up like a lovely date dinner meal and leave us
to it. And Tim and I gave mom and Dad
two hours of deep cleaning their house. And I really
(26:10):
like that.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Like really thoughtful girls.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
So you can.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
I know that it's hard because in some family cultures
there's this expectation of buying something and physically sitting around
and clifting. But I would suggest, you know, especially we
kind of have a bit of time before Christmas to
actually say, hey, should we do things differently this year
or or yeah, just plant that seed, because to be honest,
(26:39):
probably a lot of people will go, oh my gosh,
thank you for saying that. You know, I was stressed.
Let let's all commit to this. So I think it
does involve you know, I'm really grateful that my family
and Tim's family were all on board with the less
gifts and more time and and you need gifts. But
(27:01):
I know it has had to suggest that, you know,
because we were quite set in their ways. But I
found suggesting it in a cold, cold blooded moment, not
saying not sitting down on Christmas this year and going,
oh my gosh, I got all that's rabbit like, yeah,
actually being soft and kind about it and planting planting seeds. Yeah,
Like vouchers are great, you know, experiences this. We have
(27:25):
so many opportunities to buy gifts that aren't junk. A
majority of gifts end up, you know, in the rubbish
or in the junk cupboard.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
So it's true you are a big fan of making traditions.
Was it a Christmas tradition? I can't remember. I saw
it where you and your husband literally had like breakfast naked.
Was there Christmas?
Speaker 2 (27:48):
It was Christmas? And you know what it was.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
We thought about it for ages and we did it
and it was so much fun that we got out
beautiful china.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
And they like bread and we had this whole and
it was just a term and it was so much fun.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
It was just kind of I think it's nice because
sometimes you can get caught up in all the family
things and you forget, especially when it's just two of you.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
That like we're a family unit terms, it's fun.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
But now that we're house sitting and over Christmas were
like staying with family.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Vision, we'll restart it mixt you do you.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Have like a certain special menu when you're not or
like some kind of food guys.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
I mean, anything goes, But it's mainly the part.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
It's not just being naked, but it's also having like
lovely you know, really working on making the bread and
getting fresh fruit and you know, a very very gourmet
kind of fancy breakfast to match our fancier times.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
I see you do upside down Thursdays as well. Is
that still going you do that every week?
Speaker 3 (29:00):
Yes, though who've been house to have found it's too
just sorient it so we have to be pau but
it's definitely still yeah in our repertoire.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Yeah. Again, that was just us.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Not wanting to get stuck in a rut of get in.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
The bed and you have the same side of the bed, and.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
I think it was Tim's idea and we just where
our feet usually are our heads are and we switched around.
Often it's a good day to like do the sheets
that they do. Yeah, yeah, not sleeping actually your.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Feet and it gives you a fresh perspective, do you
find and it gets you out of ruts exactly.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
And you honestly, we have to go to bed quite
a bit beforehand because you're honestly looking at the room differently.
You come up with all these different ideas that we
just find ourselves to like it feels like a sleepover, yes,
and even though we've done it over the years and years,
it still feels like that.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
So yeah, we'll definitely keep it up.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
It's a bit of so do you have any support,
Like do you ever find you lose your pillow because
it's not up by the bed.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
I've actually never lost my pillow And we started like
this six years on, so I think you kind of
because we're quite tall people, we have to pull the
bed off the wall.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Yeah, otherwise outfect don't fit.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
And be Eccleston's kind of health the end of the
bed and yeah, I think you kind of it just
becomes like also pilot yeah type people go under a
bit and got a bit of space. Yeah, no problem
with that, But it depends on the fabric of your linen.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Yes, you're the thickness of your pillar. I'm sure there's
a science behind it.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
I just love these cute little things that you infuse
into your life to obviously bring a bit of joy.
And I know that you talk about how you try
to encompass joy filled living. How does that look for
you on a daily basis, Like, how do you capture
those moments of joy that could often be overlooked by others?
Speaker 2 (31:02):
M I think it starts with really good phone hygiene.
They call it my phone.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
I'm charge in another room for a few hours before
I go to bed, and not for the first few
hours of my day.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
I think that allows.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
You to just be much more human and much more
awake and aware, especially when my work is so digital.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
And I'm not saying I'm perfect at that two hour thing,
but it is.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
I really find having my phone in my room just.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
It's horrible, isn't it. You just you actually just can't disconnect,
and you feel the feelings of hundreds of different people
that you wouldn't usually be impacted by, and all of
a suddenly they're getting into your space and it's like, hey,
why am I feeling the secondhand? You don't need to,
and I'm so guilty of it, and I reckon. I
got really good for a couple of years, but since
(32:02):
getting back into work this year so bad.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
It's hard I find. I brought a really fancy, beautiful
alarm clock. That's great.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
It's really helped because I spent a lot of money
on this beautiful and it's ever got a power nap time.
So that means I'm yeah, really so yeah that that
phone trick and different things. Just I think if you
don't if you're not aware, the world can just catch
(32:32):
you up, and you're doing all these important things, you know,
but are they really important and you're not actually opening
space to find those little joys. So yeah, I spent
a lot of time outside. I'm really grateful to live
by the beach, to spend a lot of time in beach.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Yeah, in beach. In actually a lot of time in
the beach all the way around.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Yes, and.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
Yeah, a lot of time with my family, which I
think when I hear the word joy, that's what I
think of two. So yeah, I want to analyze that
question more in my daily life too, because I wonder
how different. Yeah, yeah, my little routines and habits build
and the opportunity to find joy, because we can all
(33:23):
find it, but it's it's allowing more opportunities for it
and open yourself up to that. So I think also
feeling you know, I try to move every day.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
You to do first thing in the morning, so if
you're feeling good and you're aware of your body and aware.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
Of yourself, and I do that first thing. And I'm
also a religious napper, so.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
I'm how many times do you get to nap to day? Oh?
Speaker 2 (33:50):
I net once a day.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Do you like a little catnap in the afternoon? Oh
that sounds so blessful, Like twenty minutes or an hour?
Speaker 2 (33:59):
Twenty minutes? An hour much? I can't Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Even fifteen sometimes I'm pretty pretty good.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Do you nestle up into like a little patch of sun?
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Yeah, yeah, depending on the season, if the sun's available. Yeah,
but I have a little weighted an eye mask and
it's all yeah. But you know, I think all these
things we talk about, people go, oh, you're so lucky
to have a nap or oh there's all yeah, there's
all these things, which absolutely I'm lucky but but I don't.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
You know, I.
Speaker 3 (34:33):
Actually get more way more work done after I have
that nap than I would have if I hadn't, So
I'm not. It's about prioritizing time and actually being aware
of what your body needs how you can foster it,
like a thriving existence and a thriving Yeah, a thriving
(34:54):
space to find that joy to work on things you
want to to have capacity for relationships and create of
ideas and things like that. So yeah, we really get
built into this like gotta work, gotta do the hours,
and it's not it's not really helping helping anyone. And
I absolutely know like that I am you know, I
(35:17):
whip for myself. I love by the beach, I have
all these great things that set me up for success.
But we do have a lot more control, I think
than then we realize looking after ourselves and opening ourselves
up for more opportunities to feel dor and enjoy and
find it.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
Yeah, and you're just creating. I think it's so beautiful
that you're creating a life and a career around your passion.
That's pretty cool. Like, I think that is such an
important part of ones you know, purpose and whatnot and
it's just amazing that you're being able to follow that journey.
I mean, I'm sure you've still got lots of grand
(35:58):
plans along the way, but that's pretty cool when you
look back on what you've bechanged.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
It's pretty like, to be honest, this year, I nearly
gave it up.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Really yeah, I think.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
It's obviously brilliant and incredible kind of quality of life
and freedom. But you know, when you're when you're working
and dealing in something that is you're absolutely giving yourself
to thousands of other people every day, and that's your.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Job, that's your work.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
It really does take a toll and you become you know,
you find yourself. So they go, oh my gosh, all
those people in the world who like go to work
go home, rather than like, oh, I wonder what jobs
are coming in this month. Yes, but obviously the grass
(36:57):
was always green. Now you know this, but it is
it is.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
It is draining and exhausting when you're constantly expected to
put yourself authentically out there and you're obviously going to
have bad days and you're going to have moments that
you don't want to share, but you still have to
show up. And it's I think I think everyone in
that position would have those moments where they're like, I
don't know if I can do this anymore.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
And I've always had those ups and downs, but I
think when life like it's been in the last few years,
it's it's not yeah, there's been more big, deep lows,
and so I've really experienced yeah, feeling oh, like how
can I do? You know, I'd love to just go
(37:46):
sit at my office job.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
And like be able to switch off at the end
of the day. You don't have to think about how
you're going to show up to all of these people. Yeah,
I absolutely get it, But then you've got to think,
what are you? You know, you are literally changing lives
with the information that you are present in the way
that you're making it so palatable for so many people.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Yes, and you think, like that's what keeps me going
my messages of how I've impact yeah people's worlds, but
also I think, you know, I do.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
The reason that I kind.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
Of walked off the end of literally applying for some
of the jobs that I had looked at was even
though part of the job is why I can be
so down sometimes, it's also like I don't have to
get up and be somewhere every day at the same time,
I can go for a swim and I can do
(38:40):
something that I actually really need to look after myself
in that moment.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
And so.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
Yeah, this type of lifestyle also actually lends itself to, yeah,
being more helpful for when you aren't.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
So it's me it's a natural process and it's the
grass is green and rose turned to glasses mentality that
gets us all. I don't think any of us are
immune to that. Anyone who looks like they've got the
perfect life, there is always that water or you know,
life would be better if whether it's financial or there's
(39:16):
always some area of one's life that they're like, oh,
this could be bitter if dot dot dot.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
Totally absolutely good, like good things aren't easy.
Speaker 2 (39:28):
No, it's also like, you know, it's just life, like
it's you know, yeah, if we were happy all the time.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
It wouldn't know what happiness or joy was because it
couldn't hit us on the face at a time of
just you know like yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
So this is my missage she to keep going. That's
a little write it down down, keep going. Do you
have any advice that you tell your younger self before
you got into this lifestyle, maybe like early twenty year. Okay,
what would you what would you tell her ahead of
everything you know is coming up?
Speaker 3 (40:11):
I would tell her firstly, not to donate the black
ever jumpsuits that I gave up, because I regret that.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
Do you know where it's gone? Anywhere to located?
Speaker 2 (40:24):
A great hop shot? Fine?
Speaker 3 (40:28):
But secondly I would I'd tell her something that actually
someone told me when I was like fourteen in a
property manager, to spend more time stopping and smelling the roses.
And I know, like a lot of the things we've
talked about, people may think, oh, o, Kate, it's.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
Really good at doing that.
Speaker 3 (40:48):
But I think I have these challenges and I have
these strategies because I'm not someone who lives making in
the clouds stopping to smell the roses. Like my husband
is so good that and he inspires me so much
more to do that I can left to my own
advices be quite intense, quite like Taipei and full on
and I started a childcare company in my early twenties.
(41:12):
I started ethically, Kate, it was, it was, it was
a lot, and so even though I absolutely don't regret
any of.
Speaker 1 (41:19):
It, I would just enjoy the right rees that to.
Speaker 3 (41:23):
Younger Kate and say no, seriously, just sit more in
the moment and don't always be thinking about the future,
like that's a great skill of mine, but just don't
always like like, I've started learning a lot about meditation
in the last five years, so i'd tell her to
(41:43):
maybe start learn about that a bit earlier.
Speaker 1 (41:47):
I reason ate with the re word you said, that's
literally why I started this podcast. You know, we know,
we know all the stuff, we know what we meant
to be doing. You've had these conversations over and over,
but actually embodying it is another whole thing, and I
think the more we can remind ourselves of that the better.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
Well, Kate, thank you so much for coming on. It's
been so nice to meet you, and all the best
with what's to come over the next few years.
Speaker 2 (42:17):
Thank you so awesome. Love what you do.
Speaker 1 (42:24):
That was made chat with Kate Hall, also known as
Ethically Kate. I just wanted to kick off the takeaways
that I got from the episode. I just love the
rituals that she's got with her family, the sort of traditions,
for example, that upside down Thursday. I know that may
not be Rod's cup of tea. But for me, I
get it like it's just something different that you do
(42:46):
once a week and it just gives you that perspective shift.
And even if you are almost falling off the bed,
I think that's such a cool way of just getting
out of your everyday routine and mixing it up, and
I can see how that would give you fresh insights
and fresh perspectives. I love that. I also thought a
(43:06):
crucial takeaway from that in terms of sustainability was the
importance of why. When it comes to your sustainable journey.
If you don't know your why, there's no point and
everyone's why, we'll look a little bit different. There'll be
different things that motivate people to do things for the planet.
But if you just are going loosely for looking after
(43:26):
the planet, that's that's not going to necessarily motivate you.
You need to find a specific issue that gets you excited,
and sustainability I just love the refresher that sustainability needs
to be sustainable, something that you can actually keep up
and something that you get excited about. I love the
(43:47):
term that she uses joy bringer and just finding those
moments of joy where you can and opening yourself up
for those opportunities of joy. We just close ourselves off
and we don't even realize. You know, she lives near
the beach. That is obviously what keeps us saying she
swims all year round, brilliant. Yes, you may not live
near the beach, but we all, particularly here in New Zealand,
(44:10):
are so privileged with the gorgeous nature that we have
so close to us. So it's just about getting outside
and really connecting, taking your shoes off, getting in touch
with the mother nature. And also I really liked the
phone hygiene chat and being really conscious of having a
couple of hours off that I am really feeling the
(44:36):
negative affixing my phone. The last few months, I've just
felt so overwhelmed by it. And it's because I'm not
having that discipline. I'll find that I'm in bed scrolling,
I'm on the couch scrolling market place on Facebook keeps
pulling me in and I'm like, no, I just need it,
and then I'm like, no, it's the dopamine hat I
am actually hooked. So being really strict on there, and
(44:56):
I think observing how you feel when you pull yourself
away from those habits is probably a really powerful thing
to do because you realize how much it's actually missing
with your mental health. So that was some of my
main takeaways that I got from Kate this week. I'd
love to know what you got from the chat, and
I'd also love to know who you'd love to hear
from on future episodes. You can always get in touch
(45:18):
with me on Instagram at pj DJ and I'll see
you next week for another episode.
With the Heads Podcast Network. Hi, and welcome back to
another episode of Slow It Down. I am your host,
PJ Harding, and this podcast is all about finding peace
in the chaos, ways that we can find a little
(00:22):
more sanity in this wild world that we're living in.
Every week I'm joined by a new guest who, well,
I think we'll bring to the table some inspiration with
how they live their life, and today is no exception.
I'm joined by Kate Hall, who is the genius behind
Ethically Kate. You may have seen her online. She is
(00:42):
an educator, writer, and content creator who advocates for living
and decision making that respects people and the planet. I
think it's really easy to feel intimidated by people such
as Kate who come out and put their voice behind
sustainability in the environment, because you're always like, oh my god,
I could be doing wavyr there. So I'm really honest
(01:04):
about that with her in this conversation, and it's interesting
how she delves into the responsibility that she's felt on
her shoulders being a voice for the environment. In this conversation,
we talk about how she slows it down, how important
nature is, the beautiful rituals that she and her family
do to spice up life, to get out of ruts.
(01:26):
I really really enjoyed this conversation with Kate, and I
hope you do too. Thank you so much for coming
on today. Okay, it's so nice to meet you in person. Yeah,
you too, you too?
Speaker 2 (01:45):
What is background?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Thank you? Oh my god, don't look at the plant.
It's not doing well. First of all, how are you, like,
how is life going at the moment? Have you go
a lot on lots of projects in the works, Like
how does life look for ethically Kate? At the moment?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Hmmm, I'm like preparing? Is it too echoe in here?
Does it sound echoey?
Speaker 1 (02:13):
It's fine at less you've got another I mean it's
probably fine. I feel like we never it's through zone,
can sound a bit echo. That's probably fine.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
At the moment, I feel like, so we have a
long term houseit and that is really lovely.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
For about seven months we settle in and this has
been in our rhythm for the last two years going
on three years. And so now now.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
We're in the final kind of four weeks of packing
up and ready to be like transient again. So life
is a bit like yeah, just I think like mentally
physically just gearing.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Up to pack up our stuff.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yeah, we work that out and just kind of sought
life and sort a lot of stuff, do a lot
of deep cleaning, prepare the house before the owners come back,
and then yeah, be a lot more transient again.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
So when you say transient, do you may staying at
different places? Are you looking at a rental or you
don't know how that's going to lie.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
We rented at our house in January twenty twenty three
and went to India for three months and then house
that for a few months and then over winter, so
from kind of May till November we're in this permanent house,
which is amazing, and the rest of the year we
house it for you know, from three to two months
at the time, and also go on a nationwide tour
(03:41):
around the country every year. So we leave here in
four weeks and then over Christmas we have a house
for a month near family, which is great for Christmas activities,
and then we go on to it around the country
for two months and then we'll come back. Don't know
I'm going to live at April yet, but then we'll
come back to the here to our winter house sit
(04:02):
in May.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
How do you feel not having that base all the time,
because some people need that constant, you know, place of
grounding or anchoring. Do you kind of thrive off a
bit of where we're going to be next. I don't.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Like a lot of people like I tell them what
we're doing, They're like, oh my gosh, there must be
so cool.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
It must feel like you're on holiday all the time.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
And it is cool, like there's so many fun parts
about it. But I definitely I like routine. I'm really
affected by my environment and stuff.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
And also I'm not on holiday. I'm trying to live
my normal life.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I'm trying to get groceries in a more sustainable way.
It's just very difficult and puts a lot more wastes
and stuff from house it because you don't have your
usual yes of things anyway, and even just your physical environment.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
You know, we're living in.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
These amazing, lovely houses, but it's not my stuff and
it's not my choice of colors and textures. And I'm
really affected by that, and I've realized that a lot more.
But I think our main priorities for him and I
to my husband are doing life together. Yeah, and yeah,
(05:17):
doing life in a certain way.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
And so we also realized we love our home.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
It's by the beach that we've renovated for the past
few years before we started doing this, and just adore
it like gardens and fruit trees and really made this
little little blissful spot. But we realized, you start to
get a little bit kind of like gollum.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Yeah, stay away from my pressures.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, and that's not a bad thing, Like it's nice
to feel proud of something and nice to use your
favorite mug in the morning and have these routines. But
I think we really didn't want to like get stuck,
and we didn't want to I don't know, just become
like too particular too and not that we are like
(06:04):
we always have people staying at our house, open to
the policy, but we just we needed that challenge.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
So is that what prompted the house sitting kind of
nomadic lifestyle moving around? How long do you plan on
doing that for until you go back to your precious cave?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
I know? And there's saddest year.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
I was like, I'm moving back to my house in
December other than a dead buddy, like this is the.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Thing I'm doing.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
And then after again being in this long term house set,
so you kind of, yeah, just have a little bit
more stability. We decided not to move back, so it'll
probably be in a year, so end of twenty twenty
five we'll move back home.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
You're always coming up with interesting challenges to put yourself through, though,
aren't you?
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Like?
Speaker 1 (06:47):
It seems like I love that though, And I mean,
you've done how long did you not buy a new
clothes for?
Speaker 2 (06:54):
There was a year? A year of twenty two and.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Was that one of the those challenges? Do you think
you've done or have you done tougher things of the easiest?
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Really? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
It was surprisingly much more freeing and yeah, not as
hard as this. I'm currently doing New zeal Made Food
Challenge that's been much harder than the fashion one.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
So how long is the New Zealand Made Food Challenge
for the whole year?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yes? Yeah, first January?
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Okay, And so how have you gone? Have you slept
up at all?
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Yeah? It's like I think you just kind of get
used to it.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Yeah, after a while, and you just I'm also Celiac,
so I'm used to being able to tell myself you
can't eat that food, you know, Like I it's yeah,
I was staying as Celia when I was three, So
that's you know, and I know, yeah, I kind of
just use that mentality and so you can't eat it
those bananas from the Philippines, someone try to tell myself.
(07:57):
So it's just those main staples like bananas and rice
and I don't know, just like fun stuff you see,
like I just need to try.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
That, yeah, because I would think i'd go pretty like
I would think, oh, I could probably do that because
I like to shove organically and locally and stuff like that.
But actually there's a lot that way I don't realize
from overseas that snakes in a lot of.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
The organic stuff and the stuff from Bolkan stores. That
is the overseas stuff discovered really.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Hard when you're.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Yeah, sometimes you have to weigh up your values around
waste free, organic, new zilla made fairly produced, and you
often can't find all of those.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
So I do I do? I guess I.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Eat a lot. It's you know, that like meat and
the three ven kind of mentality, which sounds really boring.
I kind of do that, but in a far more
creative way. So I'm eating I mean, I've never really
done processed foods and stuff much anyway.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I really like cooking and making my own.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
But I've kind of really gone back to the absolute basics.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
I think you do, especially when you are being a
bit more conscious of like the produce you get. I
think you do kind of go back to basics a
bit more because you don't have all the extra fancy
bits and bobs and whatever. And it's there's a good
way to eat and seasonally as well. I mean, I'm
sure you're a big advocate of eating seasonally.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Absolutely. I think it's good for our bodies too. Yeah, Like, yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Remember seeing someone made a fruit platter at an event
and it was like July and there's a pineapplen of strawberry.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
You're like, no, what is this?
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Firstly, is this millionaire to like afford it because it's
come home from Yes, efensive, and just like, what is.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
The life of this strawberry?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Where has it been hanging out since you know it
grew in summer?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Where did it come from?
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Yes? And we've come to so detached to that because
we can't have everything of our fingersip And yeah, I
mean I'm not perfect by any means, cheep as I'll
buy out of season, but I think it is a
beautiful kind of rule to sort of like guide ourselves
when it comes to trying to eat seasonally. Maybe if
there are more carrots, then you have more carrot dishes,
or you know, trying to get creative. But you talk about,
(10:20):
you know, your values with whatever it is you're navigating,
and I think they change all the time. And people
have probably found themselves evolving along this kind of sustainable
journey and you'll be really good at something for a
while and then that slips off and then you're like, Okay,
well maybe I'll try this. And would you say that
that is the reality of embracing a life more sustainable
(10:45):
is it is constantly evolving.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
I mean I think that's what sustainability means is something
that can sustain itself, can continue over and over again.
And we don't know everything now, things that a few
years ago I was like, come on, everyone, this is
so great.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
And I'm like, oh, this isn't so great anymore. Let's
learn and change.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Because information evolves in changes absolutely.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
And it's also like, there is no perfect sustainable lifestyle.
Some people may argue that, but the more I learn, like,
the more I think even when I started probably about
eight years ago, I was really like, Okay, cool, I'm
going to do like this, you know, rubbish like rubbish
been free thing and be really had core on waste
(11:34):
and all this stuff. And now I just there's sustainability
is so much more to me about every facet of life.
Sustainability doesn't mean environmentalism, it doesn't mean green things, it
doesn't mean less pastic. Sustainability is a term that relates
to every facet of our life. So over time I've
(11:57):
become way more passionate about sustainability for our health, for ourselves,
and knowing that over the last eight years, the times
when I have lived a less sustainable lifestyle or you know,
had more in my rubbish bin or made decisions that
didn't align with my values was when I was mentally low,
(12:19):
physically sick, you know, situationally didn't have the resources.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
So I think, yeah, sometimes I.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
See a lot of people say, oh, yeah, it's so
easy to live without ways and do this thing, but
they often in a privileged position of accessibility of resources and.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
All that type of things. So that's why I think, yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
And a lot of my messaging, I'm not just saying
these are the eco friendly lifestyle hacks, and I also
go take a nap.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Yes, because the irony is people who try me all
in one hundred percent sustainable. That's not stainable. And you
have to be able to be sustainable, and you have
to keep the passion alive. And you come to that
when you're just constantly failing, because people just give up
and I feel like it's just a battle that they're
never going to win.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Yeah, And that's what I think a lot of people
I talk to it and why people. I mean, I
started out ethically, Kate just you know, it was it
wasn't intentional, and now here it as being my full
time job. But I think people have continued on the
on the journey and continue reading and being part of
my work because they realize that they don't have to
(13:30):
be the sustainable giru to like try to just try,
and so I share. I try to share equally my
quote unquote failures, you know, but I really a failure,
but my imperfections let's call them, and and non sustainable
habits just as much because then they go.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Oh, she's not doing well.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Maybe I can just try like one thing and that's
going to be the change maker. Like that's going to
be what like actually drives this cultural shift of doing
better four people in planet rather than like a whole
bunch of hardcore have been living in tiny house, which
absolutely awesome to you.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we have to be realistic.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Yeah, as helping mainstream people who don't like care yet
to kre even just a little bit.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
I'm sure there was quite a bit of pressure on
your shoulders when you sort of came forward and you
almost became this figure of sustainability in New Zealand. You
made something that previously wasn't mainstream cool And how did
you should navigate that sense of responsibility on your shoulders?
Was that when you were like atually have to embrace
the imperfection because this is just kind of ruin me.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
I mean every day I think to myself, like her
mind to call myself.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Like that's a pretty yeah? Pretty? I mean, firstly, ethics
a subjective.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
That's why I chose the word because it's you know,
I won't get into that.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
But it is. It is scary because.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
First and foremost I'm a person who's just sharing what
I'm learning and hoping that other people will learn from it.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I am I often you know, I.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
Guess I know obviously more than like the average person,
and I'm just so privileged to have been kind of
in lots of different spaces, from lots of different industries.
But I'm by no means an expert and a lot
of what I do and share, even I'm often in
the media commenting on things, and they say it's a
(15:34):
strain ability experts, hold on, hold on, I'm still a
person who's learning, growing, evolving, sharing, and I'm just sharing
as I go. So I think I definitely and people
often surprised to hear it because I come across, you know,
quite confident, which I am, but I'm confidently acknowledging my
(15:58):
all the things I don't know, and I experienced imposter
syndrome and kind of the overwhelm of it. But I
go here, If I'm going to let those feelings paralyze
me and stop me from doing this.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Screw it. That's like screw it.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Yeah, yeah, benefits from me talking and actually going out
and speaking, but then being younger, okay to like you know,
backtrack or update people on information. That's that's you know,
what it should be like. I just feel like it
would be a disservice for me to keep all of.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
This information of course, and learn, you know.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
To myself when we must. We need to do it,
you know, for the sake of people on planet.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
And I think that transparency and the humanness is what
takes away that kind of pretentiousness that could be or
like I'm better than you. It never feels like that
from what I have consumed of your content. I love it,
and I think it's fun, and I think it's a
really creative way of getting across really important information. So
(16:59):
get that so down out the way, Kate, You're doing
an amazing job. I want to know what kind of
got you on the road in the first place, because
this was never your plan, was it. Didn't you study
business at Messy or something like that.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Yeah, well I studied business psychology, which some could argue
is actually directly related to what I do now, because
that was me being passionate about people in the workplace
working sustainably, you know, like thriving, loving their job, loving
their work.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
And so I did actually come into this space. You know,
a lot of people come to.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
It from you know, they don't want pollution in the
oceans because they're a surfer or.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
But I came into it from a people point of view.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
You know, obviously I love nature's environment, you know, are
we a part of it? But from that social site,
I so that business psychology does play into it. I
didn't intend like I was working in hr kind of
roles and that was I guess I was maybe going
to do my master's to become a industrial psychologist. But yeah,
(18:04):
I just I started sharing in twenty fifteen and learning,
and I just kept communicating and talking. So you know,
when you kind of reflect back and you're, oh, that
was random, but then you look back through your life,
that was it random? And that kind of just to
be here. Yes, I had my business when I was
eight years old. It was called Kate Care and I
(18:29):
watered plants, clicked in mail. Then evolved into like mowing lawns, walking.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Dogs, hats.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Yeah, like up to ten houses over the summer at
a time.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Okay, so you've always just been a really good human from.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
The Yeah, I guess I've always like been much.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Heard I can do that, I'll.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Start this so Yeah, to be honest, I actually wanted
to be a vet my whole life up until I
was about seventeen, So that was my plan but.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Yeah, I'm happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
I love it for anyone lest saying who is feeling
guilty as we're speaking the words of sustainability, eco living
all of that. What easy bits of advice can you
say that could inspire them to get back on the
bandwagon that don't need to be huge overhauls of their life.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
I would say, first start by learning and refreshing yourself
in a way that suits you. So if you like podcasts,
then you know, find some good podcasts to learn. And
I say learn and refresh your stuff, because if I
want to tell you to go out and buy a
(19:44):
certain thing or do a certain thing, it's kind of
irrelevant unless you have that like why is freshed? So
you might like podcasts or documentaries, or just you might
like sitting with community, you know, and go to your
local repair cafe. There's so many around the country now,
(20:05):
and just yeah, be with people, strike up conversation when
you're having a coffee with your neighbor or a friend
next ask them, you know, how they approach this topic
and if they think about people on planet and they're
kind of purchasing and habits.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Just I think starting with that.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Means sustainable of them becomes sustainable.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Yes, not unrealistic, unattainable thing that that makes us feel
really shit about ourselves.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Yeah, and we can't. We can't do things like things
aren't going to stick. You know. I could tell you
to compast and send you are good Habit recycling guide
and a list of places to shop in the whole
fashion which all my website, But like, that's irrelevant unless.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Unless you know why you're doing it, And you're not
going to stick to those things unless.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
You know why and you're nected in with people and
you're learning in a way that suits you.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
I love that. So finding out the why and however
it looks for you, whether it's however you.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Like to.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Ingest content. When it comes to locally shopping locally, I'm
sure you're massive on that.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
I am miss upon shopping locally, but I'm not exclusive
to it. I certainly won't be sticking to just New
Zealand made food after this challenge.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
I do like rice, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
And secondly, there's also a huge power in supporting organizations
who employ people overseas.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
You know.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
I think of the brand Hollybolly, who equal fashion brand.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
They were still in Weltain as well, but mainly Aline.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
And they employ women in rural India who you know
they talked to so is that long, beautiful story, but
they taught these long to so and then the women like,
we want jobs you know in this in this town
where women and nothing weren't allowed jobs like or he.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Completely oppressed.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
And then you know there's this fashion label which means
they can make clothes, have employment treated with so much
more respect. It's really changing the whole culture of the city.
So to say we should only buy a New Zealand
made and local is to kind of yeah, stop, great
opportunities for being able to actually support our global community
(22:33):
as well. So I think it's a great it's a
great balance, and it's again it's up toide person. The
person's your individual values. Because for a lot of people,
they only shops you can hand and it's amazing, you know,
but for a lot of people maybe only supporting companies
like Hollibolly recreate clothing others overseas. That may be a
(22:53):
passion because you have that kind of that that global conscience.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
So I think it's it's a bit.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Bit of everything. Just quickly. I'm sure you've written lots
on this, but your favorite ethical Keewi clothing brands in
New Zealand. As we're heading into Christmas, I just want
to I'll get into Christmas a little bit more, son,
But do you have just a couple of faves that
you want to give a shout out to?
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Well, I mean I've already mentioned Holly and yes, we're
great as a tall chip.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
Koto is the jeans are so good. It was a
black tank top that still exists in my wardrobe.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Yeah. I could guarantee if I bought it at the
mall from the brands.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
I would I would have holes in it.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
No, So yeah, Koto is brilliant standard issue.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
I'm wearing one of the tops right now. I just
live in this stuff.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
I love your dancing videos within this so good makes
me want to just like get my husband wearing my clothes.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
I know it is handy, tom as similar at heights
and can fit. I can even have fit his shorts
I just discovered the other day. But it's not happy
with me buying his shorts.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
And so with Christmas obviously fast approaching, and there's the
cost of living crisis, so that is obviously in a
lot of people's minds, but with the environment in mind
as well, what do you think is some good alternatives
for Chrissy presents some fun, creative ways that you can
show people you love them without just going to stock
standard shop and dropping fifty or one hundred bucks.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
I mean personally, I actually just launched the biggest blot
I've ever written in my entire life, which was like,
it's huge. There are a hundred different options on there.
So that's like your classic sustainable Christmas gifts, which it's
still stuff which you know, personally still end up having
to buy some stuff, but it's your sex. It's like
(25:01):
soaps and underwear and towels and candles, but it's all
good ethically made mainly New Zealand brands.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
So that's a great thing because it's a low cost point.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
You know, like there are small gifts too, so you
know it kind of means a lot more.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
You're still spending a small.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Amount, but it's like a boutique New Zealand maid, so
you know that it adds a bit of more.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Kudos to the gift.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
For me and my funo, we often don't do any
physical gifts and like one year we all donated to
a charity that suited the person. So like, my brother
is a musician, and I think it was my mum
who got him as like a secret standard situation and
donated to like a music therapy group, you know. So
(25:49):
it's a it's a personalized gift still, but you're, yeah,
you're just donating. Or we donate vouchers for things. So
my sister gave Tim and I a voucher to it
up like a lovely date dinner meal and leave us
to it. And Tim and I gave mom and Dad
two hours of deep cleaning their house. And I really
(26:10):
like that.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Like really thoughtful girls.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
So you can.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
I know that it's hard because in some family cultures
there's this expectation of buying something and physically sitting around
and clifting. But I would suggest, you know, especially we
kind of have a bit of time before Christmas to
actually say, hey, should we do things differently this year
or or yeah, just plant that seed, because to be honest,
(26:39):
probably a lot of people will go, oh my gosh,
thank you for saying that. You know, I was stressed.
Let let's all commit to this. So I think it
does involve you know, I'm really grateful that my family
and Tim's family were all on board with the less
gifts and more time and and you need gifts. But
(27:01):
I know it has had to suggest that, you know,
because we were quite set in their ways. But I
found suggesting it in a cold, cold blooded moment, not
saying not sitting down on Christmas this year and going,
oh my gosh, I got all that's rabbit like, yeah,
actually being soft and kind about it and planting planting seeds. Yeah,
Like vouchers are great, you know, experiences this. We have
(27:25):
so many opportunities to buy gifts that aren't junk. A
majority of gifts end up, you know, in the rubbish
or in the junk cupboard.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
So it's true you are a big fan of making traditions.
Was it a Christmas tradition? I can't remember. I saw
it where you and your husband literally had like breakfast naked.
Was there Christmas?
Speaker 2 (27:48):
It was Christmas? And you know what it was.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
We thought about it for ages and we did it
and it was so much fun that we got out
beautiful china.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
And they like bread and we had this whole and
it was just a term and it was so much fun.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
It was just kind of I think it's nice because
sometimes you can get caught up in all the family
things and you forget, especially when it's just two of you.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
That like we're a family unit terms, it's fun.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
But now that we're house sitting and over Christmas were
like staying with family.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Vision, we'll restart it mixt you do you.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Have like a certain special menu when you're not or
like some kind of food guys.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
I mean, anything goes, But it's mainly the part.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
It's not just being naked, but it's also having like
lovely you know, really working on making the bread and
getting fresh fruit and you know, a very very gourmet
kind of fancy breakfast to match our fancier times.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
I see you do upside down Thursdays as well. Is
that still going you do that every week?
Speaker 3 (29:00):
Yes, though who've been house to have found it's too
just sorient it so we have to be pau but
it's definitely still yeah in our repertoire.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Yeah. Again, that was just us.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Not wanting to get stuck in a rut of get in.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
The bed and you have the same side of the bed, and.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
I think it was Tim's idea and we just where
our feet usually are our heads are and we switched around.
Often it's a good day to like do the sheets
that they do. Yeah, yeah, not sleeping actually your.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Feet and it gives you a fresh perspective, do you
find and it gets you out of ruts exactly.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
And you honestly, we have to go to bed quite
a bit beforehand because you're honestly looking at the room differently.
You come up with all these different ideas that we
just find ourselves to like it feels like a sleepover, yes,
and even though we've done it over the years and years,
it still feels like that.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
So yeah, we'll definitely keep it up.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
It's a bit of so do you have any support,
Like do you ever find you lose your pillow because
it's not up by the bed.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
I've actually never lost my pillow And we started like
this six years on, so I think you kind of
because we're quite tall people, we have to pull the
bed off the wall.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Yeah, otherwise outfect don't fit.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
And be Eccleston's kind of health the end of the
bed and yeah, I think you kind of it just
becomes like also pilot yeah type people go under a
bit and got a bit of space. Yeah, no problem
with that, But it depends on the fabric of your linen.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Yes, you're the thickness of your pillar. I'm sure there's
a science behind it.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
I just love these cute little things that you infuse
into your life to obviously bring a bit of joy.
And I know that you talk about how you try
to encompass joy filled living. How does that look for
you on a daily basis, Like, how do you capture
those moments of joy that could often be overlooked by others?
Speaker 2 (31:02):
M I think it starts with really good phone hygiene.
They call it my phone.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
I'm charge in another room for a few hours before
I go to bed, and not for the first few
hours of my day.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
I think that allows.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
You to just be much more human and much more
awake and aware, especially when my work is so digital.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
And I'm not saying I'm perfect at that two hour thing,
but it is.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
I really find having my phone in my room just.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
It's horrible, isn't it. You just you actually just can't disconnect,
and you feel the feelings of hundreds of different people
that you wouldn't usually be impacted by, and all of
a suddenly they're getting into your space and it's like, hey,
why am I feeling the secondhand? You don't need to,
and I'm so guilty of it, and I reckon. I
got really good for a couple of years, but since
(32:02):
getting back into work this year so bad.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
It's hard I find. I brought a really fancy, beautiful
alarm clock. That's great.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
It's really helped because I spent a lot of money
on this beautiful and it's ever got a power nap time.
So that means I'm yeah, really so yeah that that
phone trick and different things. Just I think if you
don't if you're not aware, the world can just catch
(32:32):
you up, and you're doing all these important things, you know,
but are they really important and you're not actually opening
space to find those little joys. So yeah, I spent
a lot of time outside. I'm really grateful to live
by the beach, to spend a lot of time in beach.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Yeah, in beach. In actually a lot of time in
the beach all the way around.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Yes, and.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
Yeah, a lot of time with my family, which I
think when I hear the word joy, that's what I
think of two. So yeah, I want to analyze that
question more in my daily life too, because I wonder
how different. Yeah, yeah, my little routines and habits build
and the opportunity to find joy, because we can all
(33:23):
find it, but it's it's allowing more opportunities for it
and open yourself up to that. So I think also
feeling you know, I try to move every day.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
You to do first thing in the morning, so if
you're feeling good and you're aware of your body and aware.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
Of yourself, and I do that first thing. And I'm
also a religious napper, so.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
I'm how many times do you get to nap to day? Oh?
Speaker 2 (33:50):
I net once a day.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Do you like a little catnap in the afternoon? Oh
that sounds so blessful, Like twenty minutes or an hour?
Speaker 2 (33:59):
Twenty minutes? An hour much? I can't Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Even fifteen sometimes I'm pretty pretty good.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Do you nestle up into like a little patch of sun?
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Yeah, yeah, depending on the season, if the sun's available. Yeah,
but I have a little weighted an eye mask and
it's all yeah. But you know, I think all these
things we talk about, people go, oh, you're so lucky
to have a nap or oh there's all yeah, there's
all these things, which absolutely I'm lucky but but I don't.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
You know, I.
Speaker 3 (34:33):
Actually get more way more work done after I have
that nap than I would have if I hadn't, So
I'm not. It's about prioritizing time and actually being aware
of what your body needs how you can foster it,
like a thriving existence and a thriving Yeah, a thriving
(34:54):
space to find that joy to work on things you
want to to have capacity for relationships and create of
ideas and things like that. So yeah, we really get
built into this like gotta work, gotta do the hours,
and it's not it's not really helping helping anyone. And
I absolutely know like that I am you know, I
(35:17):
whip for myself. I love by the beach, I have
all these great things that set me up for success.
But we do have a lot more control, I think
than then we realize looking after ourselves and opening ourselves
up for more opportunities to feel dor and enjoy and
find it.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
Yeah, and you're just creating. I think it's so beautiful
that you're creating a life and a career around your passion.
That's pretty cool. Like, I think that is such an
important part of ones you know, purpose and whatnot and
it's just amazing that you're being able to follow that journey.
I mean, I'm sure you've still got lots of grand
(35:58):
plans along the way, but that's pretty cool when you
look back on what you've bechanged.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
It's pretty like, to be honest, this year, I nearly
gave it up.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
Really yeah, I think.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
It's obviously brilliant and incredible kind of quality of life
and freedom. But you know, when you're when you're working
and dealing in something that is you're absolutely giving yourself
to thousands of other people every day, and that's your.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Job, that's your work.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
It really does take a toll and you become you know,
you find yourself. So they go, oh my gosh, all
those people in the world who like go to work
go home, rather than like, oh, I wonder what jobs
are coming in this month. Yes, but obviously the grass
(36:57):
was always green. Now you know this, but it is
it is.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
It is draining and exhausting when you're constantly expected to
put yourself authentically out there and you're obviously going to
have bad days and you're going to have moments that
you don't want to share, but you still have to
show up. And it's I think I think everyone in
that position would have those moments where they're like, I
don't know if I can do this anymore.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
And I've always had those ups and downs, but I
think when life like it's been in the last few years,
it's it's not yeah, there's been more big, deep lows,
and so I've really experienced yeah, feeling oh, like how
can I do? You know, I'd love to just go
(37:46):
sit at my office job.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
And like be able to switch off at the end
of the day. You don't have to think about how
you're going to show up to all of these people. Yeah,
I absolutely get it, But then you've got to think,
what are you? You know, you are literally changing lives
with the information that you are present in the way
that you're making it so palatable for so many people.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Yes, and you think, like that's what keeps me going
my messages of how I've impact yeah people's worlds, but
also I think, you know, I do.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
The reason that I kind.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
Of walked off the end of literally applying for some
of the jobs that I had looked at was even
though part of the job is why I can be
so down sometimes, it's also like I don't have to
get up and be somewhere every day at the same time,
I can go for a swim and I can do
(38:40):
something that I actually really need to look after myself
in that moment.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
And so.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
Yeah, this type of lifestyle also actually lends itself to, yeah,
being more helpful for when you aren't.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
So it's me it's a natural process and it's the
grass is green and rose turned to glasses mentality that
gets us all. I don't think any of us are
immune to that. Anyone who looks like they've got the
perfect life, there is always that water or you know,
life would be better if whether it's financial or there's
(39:16):
always some area of one's life that they're like, oh,
this could be bitter if dot dot dot.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
Totally absolutely good, like good things aren't easy.
Speaker 2 (39:28):
No, it's also like, you know, it's just life, like
it's you know, yeah, if we were happy all the time.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
It wouldn't know what happiness or joy was because it
couldn't hit us on the face at a time of
just you know like yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
So this is my missage she to keep going. That's
a little write it down down, keep going. Do you
have any advice that you tell your younger self before
you got into this lifestyle, maybe like early twenty year. Okay,
what would you what would you tell her ahead of
everything you know is coming up?
Speaker 3 (40:11):
I would tell her firstly, not to donate the black
ever jumpsuits that I gave up, because I regret that.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
Do you know where it's gone? Anywhere to located?
Speaker 2 (40:24):
A great hop shot? Fine?
Speaker 3 (40:28):
But secondly I would I'd tell her something that actually
someone told me when I was like fourteen in a
property manager, to spend more time stopping and smelling the roses.
And I know, like a lot of the things we've
talked about, people may think, oh, o, Kate, it's.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
Really good at doing that.
Speaker 3 (40:48):
But I think I have these challenges and I have
these strategies because I'm not someone who lives making in
the clouds stopping to smell the roses. Like my husband
is so good that and he inspires me so much
more to do that I can left to my own
advices be quite intense, quite like Taipei and full on
and I started a childcare company in my early twenties.
(41:12):
I started ethically, Kate, it was, it was, it was
a lot, and so even though I absolutely don't regret
any of.
Speaker 1 (41:19):
It, I would just enjoy the right rees that to.
Speaker 3 (41:23):
Younger Kate and say no, seriously, just sit more in
the moment and don't always be thinking about the future,
like that's a great skill of mine, but just don't
always like like, I've started learning a lot about meditation
in the last five years, so i'd tell her to
(41:43):
maybe start learn about that a bit earlier.
Speaker 1 (41:47):
I reason ate with the re word you said, that's
literally why I started this podcast. You know, we know,
we know all the stuff, we know what we meant
to be doing. You've had these conversations over and over,
but actually embodying it is another whole thing, and I
think the more we can remind ourselves of that the better.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
Well, Kate, thank you so much for coming on. It's
been so nice to meet you, and all the best
with what's to come over the next few years.
Speaker 2 (42:17):
Thank you so awesome. Love what you do.
Speaker 1 (42:24):
That was made chat with Kate Hall, also known as
Ethically Kate. I just wanted to kick off the takeaways
that I got from the episode. I just love the
rituals that she's got with her family, the sort of traditions,
for example, that upside down Thursday. I know that may
not be Rod's cup of tea. But for me, I
get it like it's just something different that you do
(42:46):
once a week and it just gives you that perspective shift.
And even if you are almost falling off the bed,
I think that's such a cool way of just getting
out of your everyday routine and mixing it up, and
I can see how that would give you fresh insights
and fresh perspectives. I love that. I also thought a
(43:06):
crucial takeaway from that in terms of sustainability was the
importance of why. When it comes to your sustainable journey.
If you don't know your why, there's no point and
everyone's why, we'll look a little bit different. There'll be
different things that motivate people to do things for the planet.
But if you just are going loosely for looking after
(43:26):
the planet, that's that's not going to necessarily motivate you.
You need to find a specific issue that gets you excited,
and sustainability I just love the refresher that sustainability needs
to be sustainable, something that you can actually keep up
and something that you get excited about. I love the
(43:47):
term that she uses joy bringer and just finding those
moments of joy where you can and opening yourself up
for those opportunities of joy. We just close ourselves off
and we don't even realize. You know, she lives near
the beach. That is obviously what keeps us saying she
swims all year round, brilliant. Yes, you may not live
near the beach, but we all, particularly here in New Zealand,
(44:10):
are so privileged with the gorgeous nature that we have
so close to us. So it's just about getting outside
and really connecting, taking your shoes off, getting in touch
with the mother nature. And also I really liked the
phone hygiene chat and being really conscious of having a
couple of hours off that I am really feeling the
(44:36):
negative affixing my phone. The last few months, I've just
felt so overwhelmed by it. And it's because I'm not
having that discipline. I'll find that I'm in bed scrolling,
I'm on the couch scrolling market place on Facebook keeps
pulling me in and I'm like, no, I just need it,
and then I'm like, no, it's the dopamine hat I
am actually hooked. So being really strict on there, and
(44:56):
I think observing how you feel when you pull yourself
away from those habits is probably a really powerful thing
to do because you realize how much it's actually missing
with your mental health. So that was some of my
main takeaways that I got from Kate this week. I'd
love to know what you got from the chat, and
I'd also love to know who you'd love to hear
from on future episodes. You can always get in touch
(45:18):
with me on Instagram at pj DJ and I'll see
you next week for another episode.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.