Hi folks! I’m a big podcast nerd so I’ve been excited to for the recent launch of two community focused podcasts.
Inside Community Podcast - FIC launched the Inside Community Podcast with Rebecca Mesritz (co-founder of Emerald Village) in early 2022. I’ve been having so much fun following along with Rebecca and her guests so far. Episode 4 with Yana Ludwig (Finding Co-Founders and Creating Cooperative Culture) just came out. Boy is it giving me all the ideas for my dream community. It’s available at Inside Community Podcast - Foundation for Intentional Community or wherever you get your podcasts.
Community, the Ecovillage Podcast - another fantastic recent podcast from the Global Ecovillage Network. Episode 9 is all about crowdfunding community. Listen at Community Podcast - GEN Europe
Any other fans have a favorite episode from either of these? What other podcasts or other community resources do folks enjoy? Always looking for more recommendations.
I share your interest in podcast and have been looking for intentional comminuty podcasts for 3 to 5 years
The best I’ve heard is Rebecca Mesritz’s INSIDE COMMUNITY. There is only 5 episodes, but new ones are currently coming out every week. The episode with Yana Ludwig is very good and probably my favourite thus far.
I listened to only two of GEN Europe’s COMMUNITY ECOVILLAGE PODCAST… I need more time to make up my mind.
Through the years, I found about half a dozen podcast related to Intentional Communities. My second favourite is EARTHAVEN ECOVILLAGE PODCAST. There is a great episode with Diana Leafe Christian ! Only 8 episodes, but quality content.
Here is a list
INSIDE COMMUNITY by Rebecca Mesritz
EARTHAVEN ECOVILLAGE PODCAST by Earthaven’s School of Integrated Living
COMMUNITY ECOVILLAGE PODCAST by GEN Europe
ECOVILLAGE LIBRARY by Christopher Kinney
AN ECOVILLAGE PODCAST by Michelle Rivadeneira
LA VOIX DES OASIS by Alexandre Sattler (French)
Also two weeks ago, I started my own podcast about intentional communities in my area. It’s in french though HISTOIRES D’ECO-COMMUNAUTES (French)
I’m so happy to hear that you are enjoying the podcast! Thank you for this list of other community shows… I hadn’t heard “An Ecovillage Podcast” yet.
Congratulations on launching your new podcast! When you say it’s about communities in your area, I’m curious to know if there are many communities where you live and where you live. What types of topics are you planning to cover?
I live in the province of Quebec, which is the french part of Canada. It’s hard to say if there are many communities in the area. There is a big cohousing in the city of Quebec and an ecovillage called La Cite Ecologique that’s been active since the 80s (that’s where I grew up and still live). There probably are 15 to 20 active ICs in the province. But I noticed there are a lot of new projects starting.
The podcast I started is more story-oriented. Telling the story of people who live in communities or who are active in the movement and the stories of the communities themselves. That’s going to bring a lot of different topics on the table each episode. For instance, the second episode, I spoke with someone living in a egalitarian commune and we talked about crowdfunding a loan, owning land communally, anarchic vs collective decision making, how community gives life purpose, live together to reduce our footprint, creating versus joining a community, differences between theory and reality, income sharing, culture gaps (between mainstream society and living in an income sharing comune) and the importance of documenting our community experiences.
I look forward to your next Inside Community podcast episodes ! Keep it going, it’s great !
Rebecca is doing a superb work. Everything was interesting from a IC community developer perspective.
I like the episode about legal entities and this other one about financing. Those topics have seems intractable for a long time for us and now I have orientation to move ahead.
I’m wondering if I am the only one who would really love less “entry level” content from a community podcast. Like, it feels like every podcast and every book wants to cover conflict, governance, shared vision and values, etc. these things are obviously important but I just feel like the information is out there, and also it is So abstract.
I want to hear from a half dozen communities (and a few folks from each one!) the real deal specifics for how they deal with pets. Not just “pets are hard”. I know they are! What are the examples of policies and strategies about pets and what do the people living with them think works well and what doesn’t.
The thing I want is specific stories with all the context and specificity that is relevant for each community.
Here are a few more subjects:
“Do your organization/s pay people? How does that work?”
“Do people build physical things in your community? How does that work?”
“When have you most seriously considered leaving community?”
“What mistakes have you personally made in community?”
“Which decisions have been hardest in your community, and which decisions have you later appreciated more or come to feel were mistakes? Relatedly, why and how your perspective has changed on a topic”
“Does your community always adhere to all of its agreements?”
“Who does what kinds of work?”
“What keeps you in community?”
I’ve got a million more questions but that’s a start.
These are all great ideas. If there is an interest, maybe someone will make one. We do have these forums, though! Feel free to make a topic that suits your fancy
Lol, good point! I guess I tend to spend a lot more time listening to podcasts and having 1 sided conversations in my head than participating on forums! Maybe I’ll start a thread one day…
Cheers
Mae
Yes! I agree. I do love podcasts. I’m just excited there IS a podcast about ICs! As a budding communitarian is a great to have this resource!
Have you heard the Ecovillage Library? That is a good one.
Also, message me about a Podcast Club. If enough interest (and time on my plate) I may want to have a club where we discuss IC podcast episodes. I am also a part of a book club where we are discussing Yana Ludwid’s book Cooperative Culture and we are doing weekly zoom meeting. It is not me who started it, but rather another forum member @Lila_Heard so maybe message her.
I must now find the Global Ecovillage Network podcast which I just now discovered!
The end-of-year fundraising campaign reminded me that I gave for the podcast last year. I wanted to donate directly for the podcast, so I went on the ic.org website and donated to support the podcast. I hope there will be a second season !
Thank you so much Ugo! We are preparing now to launch a separate fundraising campaign to fund the next season and your contribution really helps us to reach our goal!
Wishing you the best and thank you again for your generosity!
Rebecca
I’m currently trying to start our community’s podcast back up again and would love to answer your questions and quote you!
What do you think? -Rebekah (The Jesus People Podcast) rebekah@jpusa.org
Oh my goodness Rebecca, pardon me while I fangirl all over the place because I love your podcast, its my favourite. It has taught me so much as I figure out how to move forward re. intentional community. I can’t get it out of my head (even though I’ve tried, because its challenging). I started out in spring thinking I wanted to start a community, but even though I have lots of friends who love the idea, none of them seem to have the dedication to be part of my core founder group. So I’ve decided that the more logical approach would be to take my time and see if anyone else nearby my area (Washington County and CLackamas County in northwest OR) is starting that alligns with my values and see if I can be one of their founding group.
I’m stoked though that Inside Community will have a next season, thanks for sharing about that.
So I adore the Inside Community podcast, its my favourite. I also enjoy the Tell Me More About Co-Housing podcast that Co-Housing Houston is doing, glad someone else in here is listening to it too. I’ve listened to a few episodes of Co-Housing Truth Blog, and now I need to go find that EcoVillage podcast that a lot of you mentioned as I haven’t heard of that one yet.
) or I’d love to listen to yours.
!