Episode Details

What happens when a listener writes in with the exact question your community is wrestling with? You invite her on the show.

Emily Hillman reached out to Mary & Emma after spending 14 years in the fashion industry — from the artisan workrooms of Midtown Manhattan to the fast fashion corporate world — and found herself at a crossroads. After purchasing a 19th-century farmhouse in rural New Jersey and becoming a mother, her priorities had quietly, profoundly shifted. She wasn't looking for a neat answer. She was looking for a conversation. And that's exactly what this episode is.

This is The Good Dirt's first episode back after a hiatus, and what a way to return — with a grounded, honest, and deeply relatable conversation about the real tension so many of us feel: I want to live more simply, more slowly, more intentionally — but how do I actually do that in the life I'm already living?

If you've ever felt the push and pull between the values you hold and the demands of the world you live in, this episode was made for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Emily's journey from Vermont roots to New York City fashion workrooms — and what she learned firsthand about the difference between artisan craftsmanship and fast fashion production
• The "painful catch-22" of slow living: wanting a simpler life that costs money, while earning less because you're stepping back from the corporate grind
• Why removing moral judgment from your daily purchasing decisions can actually free you to make more sustainable choices
• Practical, accessible approaches to buying secondhand clothing for kids (and why our audience is already well ahead of the curve)
• The economics of slow food: buying in bulk, finding local sources, joining a CSA, and why embracing constraints actually sparks creativity
• Composting as one of the most powerful individual acts for the planet — and tips for making it work even in bear country
• How small, cumulative changes add up — and why you're probably further along than you think
• Book recommendations: Redefining Rich by Shannon Hayes, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, and Jen Sincero's You Are a Badass series
• The concept of "blue sky thinking" — letting yourself imagine the life you want before the budget anxiety kicks in
• Reconnecting with nature and the seasons as a compass for finding your authentic calling

Books & Resources Mentioned:

• Redefining Rich by Shannon Hayes — [listen to our interview with Shannon here]
• The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
• You Are a Badass and You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
• Fibershed — a network for regional fiber systems and slow fashion
• Local Harvest (for finding CSAs near you): localharvest.org

Want to chat with us? If Emily's story resonates with you — if you're somewhere in the middle of this same journey — we'd love to hear from you. Email us at thegooddirtpodcast@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 443-459-1950.

And if you're interested in joining our free, casual Slow Living Through the Seasons cohort, reach out to mary@ladyfarmer.com for the signup link.

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