DeepSummary
The podcast episode discusses the concept of cohousing, an intentional residential community where individual homes are clustered around shared spaces and resources. Cohousing aims to build community, combat loneliness, and lighten the load of daily chores through shared meals, decision-making processes, and mutual support. Experts highlight the benefits of cohousing, such as preventing social isolation, promoting intergenerational connections, and fostering a sense of community.
The episode features interviews with cohousing residents and experts, who share their experiences and insights. They discuss the challenges of balancing privacy and community, the work involved in maintaining shared spaces and resources, and the benefits of having a built-in social network. The episode also explores the history and prevalence of cohousing, particularly in Denmark, and its potential to address changing demographics and sustainability concerns.
While cohousing may not appeal to everyone, the podcast emphasizes the importance of creating environments that foster human connection and meaning. It encourages listeners to consider alternative living arrangements that prioritize community, sharing resources, and reducing the burdens of everyday life. Whether through cohousing or other initiatives, the episode advocates for building intentional communities that combat loneliness and promote a more sustainable way of living.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Cohousing is an intentional residential community model that promotes community building, resource sharing, and combating loneliness through shared spaces, meals, and decision-making processes.
- Cohousing communities aim to foster intergenerational connections, spontaneous social interactions, and a sense of belonging by clustering individual homes around common areas.
- Residents of cohousing communities value the shared resources, such as communal meals, gardens, and amenities, which lighten the load of daily chores and promote sustainability.
- While cohousing may not appeal to everyone, the concept encourages exploring alternative living arrangements that prioritize human connection, shared resources, and a sense of community.
- Loneliness is a significant public health issue, and cohousing communities offer a potential solution by providing a built-in social network and support system.
- Cohousing communities require a commitment to shared decision-making processes, often using consensus-based methods, to ensure all voices are heard and valued.
- While cohousing originated in Denmark, the concept has gained traction in other parts of the world, including the United States, as a way to address changing demographics and promote sustainable living.
- Even for those not interested in cohousing, the episode encourages finding ways to create a stronger sense of community within existing neighborhoods, such as starting tool libraries, meal sharing, or converting shared spaces.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “We say that we value community, but is that what our daughter will see?“ by Trish Becker-Hafnor
- “So I've learned that we simply have to create the environments in which we want to live. We must build our own villages.“ by Trish Becker-Hafnor
- “You don't get up someday in the morning and say, you know, I think this is the day I'm going to have a community. You know, you build a community.“ by Carol Reinhardt
- “People who are lonely are 32% more likely to die earlier than their more connected peers, making loneliness as harmful for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day.“ by Trish Becker-Hafnor
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Episode Information
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
BestOfTheLeft.com
6/10/23
Air Date 6/10/2023
Today, we take a look at the emerging trend of various community housing styles people are using to build community, fight loneliness and lighten the load of everyday chores and tasks.
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SHOW NOTES
Trish is the owner of StorySpring Consulting and Director of Community Engagement at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work.
Ch. 2: Katie McCamant of CoHousing Solutions Part 1 - Transforming Cities - Air Date 8-24-22
On this episode, I’m speaking with Katie McCamant, President at CoHousing Solutions. Katie brings the depth and diversity of her 35 years of experience as a developer, architect, and cohousing resident to benefit her clients.
Ch. 3: Cohousing communities help prevent social isolation - PBS Newshour - Air Date 2-12-17
Groups in Denmark and the U.S. are choosing to live in intentionally intergenerational communities, which emerged to strengthen social ties between aging seniors and their younger counterparts who are balancing work and family.
Ch. 4: Katie McCamant of CoHousing Solutions Part 2 - Transforming Cities - Air Date 8-24-22
Cohousing communities are collaborative neighborhoods created with intention and a little ingenuity.
MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S)
Ch. 7: Jack Kerouac's boarding house now co-living for creatives - Kirsten Dirksen - Air Date 11-7-20
Sara McEre bought the former 19th-century boarding house in San Luis Obispo (CA), it was rundown. Instead of converting it to apartments for a profit, she turned it into a communal living residence for 19 like-minded individuals.
Ch. 8: Microgrid energy and community cohousing - Local Zero - 5-4-22
We hear from Andy O’Brien from the Bristol Energy Cooperative, and Monica King from Bridport Cohousing in Dorset.
Ch. 9: Katie McCamant of CoHousing Solutions Part 3 - Transforming Cities - Air Date 8-24-22
FINAL COMMENTS
Ch. 12: Final comments on a couple of undervalued benefits of cohousing
MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)
SHOW IMAGE:
Description: A photograph of a winding path through a colorful, close-together neighborhood of houses with children's toys and flowers on the grass.
Credit: "Cohousing" by Joy Cross, Flickr | License: CC BY 2.0 | Changes: Cropped, increased saturation and contrast
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
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