The Role of Slow in “No,” Letting Go, and Laziness with Brooke McAlary – SASM 111

Brooke McAlary and Joel Zaslofsky Combined Picture

Who doesn't want more fun, insight, and just generally terrific folks around them?

I know I do. Which is why I brought back one of my favorite voices in the simple-living, slow-living, being intentional, and zombie apocalypse scenes for a second chat.

It's Brooke McAlary of The Slow Home Podcast and many other fine online creations.

We've developed a dandy friendship over the years and there's ample silliness that seeps into our roaming conversation.

But whatever the topic – whatever the direction – I can always count on Brooke to be smart and simple. Here's just one neat thing she said during our episode when we were talking about how much of our lives and family we share online:

“I've never regretted something that I haven't shared [online].” – Brooke McAlary

Press play and learn your own lessons in the role of slow in what's most important to you!

You're about to Learn ...

  • How to consistently question what's necessary in your life.
  • A surprising and rare hallmark of the slow-living community.
  • Why the minimalism label can be limiting – even if you own it.
  • How to redefine your public persona without disowning your past.
  • What makes people feel like a bad friend and what marks them a bad friend.
  • The benefits of a default “no” when you respond to people.
  • Some strange science experiments I let my kids run.
  • A difference between over-sharing and honest online engagement.
  • How pre-processing your experiences and feelings builds your discretion muscles.
  • When embracing your inner laziness pays huge dividends.

Resources and Items Mentioned in This Episode

Timestamps and Topics

  • [07:06] How we've learned to let go of what's not serving us or others
  • [10:57] Who Brooke's people are (individuals and communities)
  • [14:11] The distance between Brooke's start online and where she is now
  • [25:33] How we determine who gets a response to texts, emails, tweets, etc.
  • [31:50] What's changing Brooke's self-identity these days
  • [34:02] Perspectives of when and how much you place your kids online
  • [40:54] What makes for a great interview
  • [47:27] How we decide what's important enough to feature in the main navigation on our websites

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Smart and Simple Matters: Creating Community, Simplicity, and Good Vibes
Smart and Simple Matters: Creating Community, Simplicity, and Good Vibes
Joel Zaslofsky: Community Animator, Connector, Multipotentialite, and Spreadsheet Guy

Joel Zaslofsky – your community-animating, convention-challenging show host – wanders through time-tested and quirky strategies on a variety of topics. In general, we’ll explore the slower side of life: think mindfulness, real connections, and meaningful conversations. No new episodes since 2019, but it’s still going strong with chats on meditation (hi, Andy Puddicombe), belonging (hey, Cormac Russell), and even death (yep, with Humaira Hamid) … among many other things.

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