Inside Community Podcast

Moving groups through tough decisions can be tricky, if not impossible, without a skilled and well-trained facilitator to hold folks through the process. Laird Schaub joins us today to talk about the how’s and why’s of excellent facilitation. You’ll learn from his 40+ years of lived community experience and training in facilitation, and leave with practices you can use in your community conversations. Laird Schaub lived for four decades (1974-2014) at Sandhill Farm, an income-sharing rural community that he helped found. He also helped found the Foundation for Intentional Community and served as that organization’s main administrator for 28 years (1987-2015). In 1987 he created a self-insurance fund for health care needs among income-sharing communities called PEACH (Preservation of Equity Accessible for Community Health) that he ran for 22 years (1987-2009), growing it from a dream to a loan fund with net assets over $500,000. In addition to his expertise in community living, he’s parlayed his passion for good process into a consulting business focused on cooperative group dynamics, styled CANBRIDGE (Consensus And Network Building for Resolving Impasse and Developing Group Effectiveness), which he’s been doing since 1987. As both a consultant and a teacher he pioneered a facilitation and leadership training program, which he’s delivered the program 16 times in locations all across the US and Canada. Since 2007 he’s authored a blog that has more than 1200 entries, writing about group dynamics, intentional community, and his life along the way. His blog is communityandconsensus.blogspot.com Learn from Laird in the following 10-hour webinars through FIC in 2022: Conflict • 5 consecutive Tuesdays • Oct 25-Nov 22 ic.org/conflict-course/ Consensus I • 5 consecutive Thursdays • Sept 15-Oct 13 ic.org/consensus101/ Consensus II • 5 consecutive Wednesdays • Oct 26-Nov 23 ic.org/consensus201/ Membership • 5 consecutive Tuesdays • May 10-June 7 ic.org/membership-course/ Facilitation • 5 consecutive Tuesdays • Sept 13-Oct 11ic.org/facilitation-course/ Podcast listeners, use this code: INSIDE30 and get 30% off Laird’s courses! Listen & Subscribe Recent Episodes About the Show The Inside Community Podcast brings folks along for an inside look at all of the beautiful and messy realities of creating and sustaining a community. We provide useful and inspiring content to support people on their quest for resilience, sustainability, and connection. LEARN MORE Meet Your Host Inside Community Podcast host Rebecca Mesritz is a community builder living in Williams, Oregon. In 2011, Rebecca co-founded the Emerald Village (EVO) in North County San Diego, California. During her ten years with EVO, she supported and led numerous programs and initiatives including implementation and training of the community in Sociocracy, establishment of the Animal Husbandry program, leadership of the Land Circle, hosting numerous internal and external community events, and participation in the Human Relations Circle which holds the relational, spiritual and emotional container for their work. In June of 2021, with the blessing of EVO, Rebecca and 3 other co-founders relocated to begin a new, mission- driven community and learning center housed on 160 acres of forest and farmland. Rebecca is passionate about communal living and sees intentional community as a tool for both personal and cultural transformation. In addition to her work in this field, she also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from San Diego State University and creates functional, public, and interactive art in metal, wood, and pretty much any other material she can get her hands on. She is a mother, a wife, an educator, a nurturer of gardens, an epicurean lover of sustainable wholesome food, and a cultivator of compassion and beauty. Follow on Instagram The Inside Community Podcast is sponsored by the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC). Reach out if you are interested in sponsorship or advertisement opportunities on the podcast. CONTACT US

As we close out 2023, it’s time to take stock of the Communities Movement and consider where we might be headed in the future. In this episode we are joined by new FIC co-director Daniel Greenberg, who brings his deep experience from the ecovillage world, as well years living in and researching international communities like Findhorn and Auroville to his visions for what is possible for collaborative culture, communities, and the people who live and grow inside them. In this episode Intentional community and eco villages. (0:00) Community experience and sustainability leadership. (3:46) Community, interconnectedness, and evolution. (8:01) Manifesting divinity and community values. (13:39) Eco-villages and sustainable living. (19:11) Community building, values, and sustainability. (26:55) Community building and overcoming barriers through spiritual growth and collective decision-making. (32:27) Collective consciousness and community evolution. (41:07) Community growth and partnerships. (46:22) Community building and collaboration. (50:35) Funding and supporting the FIC and its initiatives. (55:06) Community support and volunteer opportunities. (59:16) Community and collaboration with Daniel Greenberg. (1:04:23) About Daniel Greenberg In 1999, Daniel Greenberg founded the non-profit Living Routes, which partnered with UMass-Amherst to run study abroad programs based in ecovillages around the world. Over 1,500 students were transformed by these immersive experiences. Daniel left Living Routes in 2012 to start a new social venture called ⁠Earth Deeds⁠, which offers online tools for individuals and groups to “onset” their unavoidable CO2 emissions and support meaningful sustainability projects. Daniel has been a leading advocate for sustainability within international education and the ecovillage movement. He chaired Sustainability Task Forces for ⁠NAFSA: Association of International Educators⁠ and the ⁠Forum for Education Abroad⁠, is co-founder and past Board Member of ⁠Gaia Education⁠, served as President of the ⁠Global Ecovillage Network⁠ from 2015-2019, and is currently co-director of the Foundation for Intentional Community. Ways to support Thank YOU for including the Inside Community Podcast in your end-of-year giving! ⁠IC.org/Podcast⁠ to donate! Instagram & Facebook: follow the show and see inspiring images and videos of community life @InsideCommunityPodcast Podcast platforms: Subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast platform, and share with your friends and folks you know who are curious about living Inside Community. Donate: consider donating. Your financial support of Inside Community helps us to continue to create meaningful and exciting content. If you want to learn more about international communities, the new visions for the communities movement, or any aspect of community, check out the Inside Community Podcast sponsor, ⁠⁠⁠The Foundation for Intentional Community⁠⁠⁠. FIC is an incredible resource center with weekly events, online courses, classified advertisements, and lots of free educational materials. Podcast listeners get 20% off in ⁠⁠⁠⁠FIC Bookstore ⁠⁠⁠⁠with code INSIDE20 and 30% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠FIC courses⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code INSIDE30. You can learn more about FIC and access transcripts at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ic.org/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks to our sponsors Caddis Collaborative – ⁠caddispc.com⁠ CohoUS – ⁠www.cohousing.org⁠ Communities Magazine – ⁠gen-us.net/subscribe⁠ Show Notes Earth Deeds⁠ ⁠NAFSA: Association of International Educators⁠ Forum for Education Abroad⁠ ⁠Gaia Education⁠ Global Ecovillage Network⁠ Super Awesome Inside Community Jingle by FIC board member Dave Booda davebooda.com ICP theme by Rebecca Mesritz Thanks from Rebecca, your podcast host Listen & Subscribe Recent Episodes About the Show The Inside Community Podcast brings folks along for an inside look at all of the beautiful and messy realities of creating and sustaining a community. We provide useful and inspiring content to support people on their quest for resilience, sustainability, and connection. LEARN MORE Meet Your Host Inside Community Podcast host Rebecca Mesritz is a community builder living in Williams, Oregon. In 2011, Rebecca co-founded the Emerald Village (EVO) in North County San Diego, California. During her ten years with EVO, she supported and led numerous programs and initiatives including implementation and training of the community in Sociocracy, establishment of the Animal Husbandry program, leadership of the Land Circle, hosting numerous internal and external community events, and participation in the Human Relations Circle which holds the relational, spiritual and emotional container for their work. In June of 2021, with the blessing of EVO, Rebecca and 3 other co-founders relocated to begin a new, mission- driven community and learning center housed on 160 acres of forest and farmland. Rebecca is passionate about communal living and sees intentional community as a tool for both personal and cultural transformation. In addition to her work in this field, she also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from San Diego State University and creates functional, public, and interactive art in metal, wood, and pretty much any other material she can get her hands on. She is a mother, a wife, an educator, a nurturer of gardens, an epicurean lover of sustainable wholesome food, and a cultivator of compassion and beauty. Follow on Instagram The Inside Community Podcast is sponsored by the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC). Reach out if you are interested in sponsorship or advertisement opportunities on the podcast. CONTACT US

Hear Ted Rau share how sociocracy brings an incredible opportunity to cooperative groups to embody higher levels of inclusivity through their governance. At the beginning of this episode, we get a unique opportunity to hear Ted’s story of transitioning in community with children, as a transgender man. In this episode What is sociocracy? (24 minutes) Size of community and timeline for implementing sociocracy (31 minutes) How sociocracy supports inclusivity (38 minutes) Downsides to sociocracy (41 minutes) Sociocracy 3.0 (49 minutes) Feedback and evaluation (57 minutes) Good process is quiet (1 hour 8 minutes) About Ted Rau Ted Rau is a trainer, consultant, and co-founder of the non-profit movement support organization Sociocracy For All. He grew up in Germany and studied linguistics before earning his Ph.D. in linguistics there in 2010. He moved to the USA and fulfilled a long-held wish to live in an intentional community where he still lives with his five children and 70 neighbors in a cohousing community in Massachusetts. Ted’s perspective is influenced by being transgender, by his interest in Nonviolent Communication and social justice, by being part of a global sociocracy organization at work, and a parent at home. Learn from Ted Ted’s course “Sociocracy in Community” – in collaboration with Jerry Koch-Gonzalez – is offered through the Foundation for Intentional Community and is now available as a pre-recorded course available anytime. Podcast listeners, use the code INSIDE30 and get 30% off your purchase! Ways to support Instagram: follow the show and see inspiring images and videos of community life @InsideCommunityPodcast Podcast platforms: Subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast platform, and share with your friends and folks you know who are curious about living Inside Community. Donate: consider donating. Your financial support of Inside Community helps us to continue to create meaningful and exciting content. Thanks from Rebecca, your podcast host Listen & Subscribe Recent Episodes About the Show The Inside Community Podcast brings folks along for an inside look at all of the beautiful and messy realities of creating and sustaining a community. We provide useful and inspiring content to support people on their quest for resilience, sustainability, and connection. LEARN MORE Meet Your Host Inside Community Podcast host Rebecca Mesritz is a community builder living in Williams, Oregon. In 2011, Rebecca co-founded the Emerald Village (EVO) in North County San Diego, California. During her ten years with EVO, she supported and led numerous programs and initiatives including implementation and training of the community in Sociocracy, establishment of the Animal Husbandry program, leadership of the Land Circle, hosting numerous internal and external community events, and participation in the Human Relations Circle which holds the relational, spiritual and emotional container for their work. In June of 2021, with the blessing of EVO, Rebecca and 3 other co-founders relocated to begin a new, mission- driven community and learning center housed on 160 acres of forest and farmland. Rebecca is passionate about communal living and sees intentional community as a tool for both personal and cultural transformation. In addition to her work in this field, she also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from San Diego State University and creates functional, public, and interactive art in metal, wood, and pretty much any other material she can get her hands on. She is a mother, a wife, an educator, a nurturer of gardens, an epicurean lover of sustainable wholesome food, and a cultivator of compassion and beauty. Follow on Instagram The Inside Community Podcast is sponsored by the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC). Reach out if you are interested in sponsorship or advertisement opportunities on the podcast. CONTACT US

In this episode, I’m joined by Sky Blue to discuss income sharing and innovating economic models by living in community. We examine some of the ways communities and collaborative culture endeavors are reimagining the way they design and live into their economies using the Twin Oaks Community, of which Sky is a former member, as a jumping off point. Our discussion begins with income sharing as a model, but we also investigate the culture creation required to shift out of traditional and capitalist mindsets. Sky Blue (they/them) has spent 22 years living, working, and organizing in intentional communities, cooperatives, and community organizations. Their parents met in Twin Oaks Community in the late 70’s, where Sky moved as an adult and raised a child. Sky has visited over 130 different communities, worked with the Federation of Egalitarian Communities and Global Ecovillage Network of North America, co-organized numerous communities conferences, has founded and managed several cooperative and community businesses, and has served as Executive Director and on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for Intentional Community. Sky is currently working with a group of people to start a new community. They are also available as a community consultant. They take a whole systems approach to helping groups uncover and address underlying issues and dynamics, develop shared understanding, and find ways to move forward together. You can can contact them at sky@ic.org or visit their website http://incommunity.us/ Listen & Subscribe Recent Episodes About the Show The Inside Community Podcast brings folks along for an inside look at all of the beautiful and messy realities of creating and sustaining a community. We provide useful and inspiring content to support people on their quest for resilience, sustainability, and connection. LEARN MORE Meet Your Host Inside Community Podcast host Rebecca Mesritz is a community builder living in Williams, Oregon. In 2011, Rebecca co-founded the Emerald Village (EVO) in North County San Diego, California. During her ten years with EVO, she supported and led numerous programs and initiatives including implementation and training of the community in Sociocracy, establishment of the Animal Husbandry program, leadership of the Land Circle, hosting numerous internal and external community events, and participation in the Human Relations Circle which holds the relational, spiritual and emotional container for their work. In June of 2021, with the blessing of EVO, Rebecca and 3 other co-founders relocated to begin a new, mission- driven community and learning center housed on 160 acres of forest and farmland. Rebecca is passionate about communal living and sees intentional community as a tool for both personal and cultural transformation. In addition to her work in this field, she also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from San Diego State University and creates functional, public, and interactive art in metal, wood, and pretty much any other material she can get her hands on. She is a mother, a wife, an educator, a nurturer of gardens, an epicurean lover of sustainable wholesome food, and a cultivator of compassion and beauty. Follow on Instagram The Inside Community Podcast is sponsored by the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC). Reach out if you are interested in sponsorship or advertisement opportunities on the podcast. CONTACT US

This is a bonus conversation from episode 004 on Finding Co-Founders and Creating Cooperative Culture. Enjoy! Yana Ludwig is cooperative culture pioneer, group process trainer, consultant, and anti-oppression activist who has lived in community for 25 years. She is the former Executive Director of both the Center for Sustainable and Cooperative Culture at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, and Commonomics USA, an economic justice organization, and currently serves as the Executive Director of Leadership Eastside in Washington. Yana is a dynamic, compassionate, and thoughtful speaker and teacher committed to creating a world that supports the well-being and vibrancy of all beings. Her writing includes Together Resilient: Building Community in the Age of Climate Disruption (published under the name Maikwe Ludwig), The Cooperative Culture Handbook (co-authored with Karen Gimnig), and numerous articles in Communities magazine. She has spoken at Tedx and hosted the Solidarity House podcast which centers on policy, culture and law. She was also a candidate for US Senate in 2020, ultimately placing 2nd in a crowded Democratic primary field. You can learn more about Yana and her work at www.yanaludwig.net. Listen & Subscribe Recent Episodes About the Show The Inside Community Podcast brings folks along for an inside look at all of the beautiful and messy realities of creating and sustaining a community. We provide useful and inspiring content to support people on their quest for resilience, sustainability, and connection. LEARN MORE Meet Your Host Inside Community Podcast host Rebecca Mesritz is a community builder living in Williams, Oregon. In 2011, Rebecca co-founded the Emerald Village (EVO) in North County San Diego, California. During her ten years with EVO, she supported and led numerous programs and initiatives including implementation and training of the community in Sociocracy, establishment of the Animal Husbandry program, leadership of the Land Circle, hosting numerous internal and external community events, and participation in the Human Relations Circle which holds the relational, spiritual and emotional container for their work. In June of 2021, with the blessing of EVO, Rebecca and 3 other co-founders relocated to begin a new, mission- driven community and learning center housed on 160 acres of forest and farmland. Rebecca is passionate about communal living and sees intentional community as a tool for both personal and cultural transformation. In addition to her work in this field, she also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from San Diego State University and creates functional, public, and interactive art in metal, wood, and pretty much any other material she can get her hands on. She is a mother, a wife, an educator, a nurturer of gardens, an epicurean lover of sustainable wholesome food, and a cultivator of compassion and beauty. Follow on Instagram The Inside Community Podcast is sponsored by the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC). Reach out if you are interested in sponsorship or advertisement opportunities on the podcast. CONTACT US

  Are you ready to build your dream community? Creating deeper connections, harmonious collaborations, and more supportive relationships is a benefit to everyone and can start today, wherever you are in your community journey. Todays conversation dives into the how with three seasoned community veterans, Thomas Wall, Aaron Kahlow, and Leyla Makris. Recorded at the June Bloom Festival at the Emerald Village in San Diego, this conversation will leave you inspired and ready to take the next step towards living your community dreams. Thomas Wall is the Director of First Impressions at Liberty Arising healing sanctuary in Boulevard California. Thomas has been living at Liberty for 8 years and has been living in community for over 18 years. He holds a masters in Marriage and Family Therapy and has been guiding people in their relationship health for the past 25 years.  Aaron Kahlow communitarian, dedicated to Meaningful Human connection. Experienced circle facilitator, somatic healing & co-regulation guide, Emotional Resilience trainer & mens work guide. Supporting families, organizations, schools and communities locally. Leyla Makris is one of the founders at the Emerald Village. She has brought her background in education to serve the community for the past thirteen years. She is lovingly known as Mama Leyla for being a stand for growth and connection. Her wisdom is an integral part of our thriving village. Learn more about the Emerald Village and get the details for their next event on Instagram ⁠@EmeraldVillageOasis⁠ Check out Jakob Saloner’s Portrait Project ⁠@P0rtraitproject⁠ In this episode What is community to you? (04:54) The elements of creating a community (10:14) How to live your dream during COVID lockdown (16:10) How to build a community that is a place for growth (23:15) What stops us from having community? (25:44) Community trade (29:21) The importance of community in the future (32:48) Crossover points between intentional community and general communities (35:47) What gets in the way of community outside of land-based communities? (48:34) Show Up (52:43) How to balance work and life (54:40) Ways to support If you want to learn more about being a creating your dream community or any aspect of community, check out the Inside Community Podcast sponsor, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Foundation for Intentional Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. FIC is an incredible resource center with weekly events, online courses, classified advertisements, and lots of free educational materials. become a member so you can access even more of their incredible resources if it’s within your means, donate to help them continue to do their amazing work in the world. Check out my work with Shibori and Natural Dyes ⁠@BoundForColor⁠ and just follow me and the events I’m producing in Southern Oregon ⁠@RebeccaMesritz⁠ Super Awesome Inside Community Jingle by FIC board member Dave Booda davebooda.com ICP theme by Rebecca Mesritz Thanks from Rebecca, your podcast host Listen & Subscribe Recent Episodes About the Show The Inside Community Podcast brings folks along for an inside look at all of the beautiful and messy realities of creating and sustaining a community. We provide useful and inspiring content to support people on their quest for resilience, sustainability, and connection. LEARN MORE Meet Your Host Inside Community Podcast host Rebecca Mesritz is a community builder living in Williams, Oregon. In 2011, Rebecca co-founded the Emerald Village (EVO) in North County San Diego, California. During her ten years with EVO, she supported and led numerous programs and initiatives including implementation and training of the community in Sociocracy, establishment of the Animal Husbandry program, leadership of the Land Circle, hosting numerous internal and external community events, and participation in the Human Relations Circle which holds the relational, spiritual and emotional container for their work. In June of 2021, with the blessing of EVO, Rebecca and 3 other co-founders relocated to begin a new, mission- driven community and learning center housed on 160 acres of forest and farmland. Rebecca is passionate about communal living and sees intentional community as a tool for both personal and cultural transformation. In addition to her work in this field, she also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from San Diego State University and creates functional, public, and interactive art in metal, wood, and pretty much any other material she can get her hands on. She is a mother, a wife, an educator, a nurturer of gardens, an epicurean lover of sustainable wholesome food, and a cultivator of compassion and beauty. Follow on Instagram The Inside Community Podcast is sponsored by the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC). Reach out if you are interested in sponsorship or advertisement opportunities on the podcast. CONTACT US

This Bonus Episode is all about the perspective of the kids! Listen in on a funny and heartwarming conversation I had with 6 kids ranging in age from 5-24 about their experience growing up in community. This panel was conducted at the Emerald Village’s Full Bloom Festival in San Diego and if you are considering community life, having a family or already have a family, or just like kids…Put this episode on your must listen list! Learn more about the Emerald Village and get the details for their next event on Instagram ⁠@EmeraldVillageOasis⁠ Check out Jakob Saloner’s Portrait Project ⁠@P0rtraitproject⁠ In this episode First memories of living in community (5:33) How is this life different from the rest of the world? (8:17) Highlights of the experience (11:19) How to celebrate different holidays (14:28) Safety in Community (17:13) The bond between the adults and the children (19:51) The challenges of living in community (21:09) How to deal with the hard times (24:49) What should they do better? (25:56) What are some of your favorite things about your parents? (27:44) The Crisis of Meaning (28:42) When do you think you’ll want to live in community? (30:42) Advice for kids living in community (44:59) Q&A (47:53) What do you aspire to after leaving? (51:46) Ways to support If you want to learn more about being a kid in community or any aspect of community, check out the Inside Community Podcast sponsor, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Foundation for Intentional Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. FIC is an incredible resource center with weekly events, online courses, classified advertisements, and lots of free educational materials. become a member so you can access even more of their incredible resources if it’s within your means, donate to help them continue to do their amazing work in the world. Podcast listeners get 20% off in ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FIC Bookstore⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with code INSIDE20 and 30% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FIC courses⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠with code INSIDE30. You can learn more about FIC and access transcripts at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ic.org/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Check out my work with Shibori and Natural Dyes ⁠@BoundForColor⁠ and just follow me and the events I’m producing in Southern Oregon ⁠@RebeccaMesritz⁠ Super Awesome Inside Community Jingle by FIC board member Dave Booda davebooda.com ICP theme by Rebecca Mesritz Thanks from Rebecca, your podcast host Listen & Subscribe Recent Episodes About the Show The Inside Community Podcast brings folks along for an inside look at all of the beautiful and messy realities of creating and sustaining a community. We provide useful and inspiring content to support people on their quest for resilience, sustainability, and connection. LEARN MORE Meet Your Host Inside Community Podcast host Rebecca Mesritz is a community builder living in Williams, Oregon. In 2011, Rebecca co-founded the Emerald Village (EVO) in North County San Diego, California. During her ten years with EVO, she supported and led numerous programs and initiatives including implementation and training of the community in Sociocracy, establishment of the Animal Husbandry program, leadership of the Land Circle, hosting numerous internal and external community events, and participation in the Human Relations Circle which holds the relational, spiritual and emotional container for their work. In June of 2021, with the blessing of EVO, Rebecca and 3 other co-founders relocated to begin a new, mission- driven community and learning center housed on 160 acres of forest and farmland. Rebecca is passionate about communal living and sees intentional community as a tool for both personal and cultural transformation. In addition to her work in this field, she also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from San Diego State University and creates functional, public, and interactive art in metal, wood, and pretty much any other material she can get her hands on. She is a mother, a wife, an educator, a nurturer of gardens, an epicurean lover of sustainable wholesome food, and a cultivator of compassion and beauty. Follow on Instagram The Inside Community Podcast is sponsored by the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC). Reach out if you are interested in sponsorship or advertisement opportunities on the podcast. CONTACT US

We’re closing out our second season with an examination of how to navigate inevitable interpersonal conflict and move towards restored connection. Social architecture can be what makes or breaks a community, business, or organization. How we process our own pain and trauma and interact with the trauma of others offers rich opportunities for growth and learning. In this conversation with Dr. Jessica Plancich Shinners we cover emotional hygiene, strategies for reconnection, the importance of humility and validation, when to ask for help, and when to call it quits. In this episode Maintaining connections in intentional communities. (0:01) Community building, leadership, and interpersonal relationships. (5:23) Community building and potential pitfalls. (13:36) Emotional hygiene for personal growth and community connection. (18:47) Personal growth and community building. (26:23) Avoiding tough conversations in communities. (38:42) Emotional pain and relationships. (44:26) Active listening and empathy in difficult conversations. (52:44) Embracing humility and feedback in personal growth. (1:00:20) Emotional maturity and social technology in the workplace. (1:07:15) Embracing emotions in leadership and creativity. (1:15:15) Creating a harmonious community with defined roles and evaluation criteria. (1:22:06) Personal growth and relationships. (1:30:35) About Dr. Jessica Plancich Shinners Dr. Jessica Plancich Shinners, MA, MFT, Ed.D. is a social architect, community builder, and leadership expert who teaches leaders and organizations how to operate at their highest potential and resiliency by truly serving people, planet, purpose, and profit. With a Master’s in clinical psychology, a doctorate in Organizational Leadership (Ed.D. Pepperdine University), and 20-year psychotherapy practice, she applies a whole human approach to consulting that nurtures body, mind, and spirit so the wisdom of the heart can be awakened. After years of witnessing the limitations of Western psychology, Jessica sought training in Eastern approaches to healing and wellness. With certifications as a yoga and qi gong instructor and massage therapist, she utilizes a holistic and somatic approach to her work. Her penchant for social entrepreneurialism has led Jessica to consult for nonprofits, grassroots movements, start-ups, major corporations, and their leaders, helping align them with their core values and serve the greater good. The co-founder of an eco-village in San Diego, CA (theemeraldvillage.com), she is steeped in collaborative thinking and decision making, incorporating what she has lived, learned, and tested herself. The reclamation of our communities at the local level, she believes, is the solution to the panoply of problems we find ourselves in – ecologically, economically, and socio-politically. Jessica has had the honor of learning from countless teachers- whether clients, mentors, professors, or guides. She humbly recognizes that so many of the healing traditions she has studied were gifts given from native people with an unencumbered connection to creation. Jessica strives to deeply embody and pay homage to their wisdom by passing it on to her clients. ⁠https://fiercegraceconsulting.com/ Ways to support If you want to learn more about interpersonal relating and conflict resolution in community or any aspect of community, check out the Inside Community Podcast sponsor, ⁠⁠⁠The Foundation for Intentional Community⁠⁠⁠. FIC is an incredible resource center with weekly events, online courses, classified advertisements, and lots of free educational materials. Podcast listeners get 20% off in ⁠⁠⁠⁠FIC Bookstore ⁠⁠⁠⁠with code INSIDE20 and 30% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠FIC courses⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code INSIDE30. You can learn more about FIC and access transcripts at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ic.org/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks to our sponsors Caddis Collaborative – ⁠caddispc.com⁠ CohoUS – ⁠www.cohousing.org⁠ Communities Magazine – ⁠gen-us.net/subscribe⁠ Show Notes SUMMER FUN! ⁠Full Bloom at the Emerald Village⁠ in San Diego, CA ⁠Twin Oaks Community Conference in Virginia⁠ Books and Resources Mentioned: ⁠The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization⁠ by Peter Senge Super Awesome Inside Community Jingle by FIC board member Dave Booda davebooda.com ICP theme by Rebecca Mesritz Thanks from Rebecca, your podcast host Listen & Subscribe Recent Episodes About the Show The Inside Community Podcast brings folks along for an inside look at all of the beautiful and messy realities of creating and sustaining a community. We provide useful and inspiring content to support people on their quest for resilience, sustainability, and connection. LEARN MORE Meet Your Host Inside Community Podcast host Rebecca Mesritz is a community builder living in Williams, Oregon. In 2011, Rebecca co-founded the Emerald Village (EVO) in North County San Diego, California. During her ten years with EVO, she supported and led numerous programs and initiatives including implementation and training of the community in Sociocracy, establishment of the Animal Husbandry program, leadership of the Land Circle, hosting numerous internal and external community events, and participation in the Human Relations Circle which holds the relational, spiritual and emotional container for their work. In June of 2021, with the blessing of EVO, Rebecca and 3 other co-founders relocated to begin a new, mission- driven community and learning center housed on 160 acres of forest and farmland. Rebecca is passionate about communal living and sees intentional community as a tool for both personal and cultural transformation. In addition to her work in this field, she also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from San Diego State University and creates functional, public, and interactive art in metal, wood, and pretty much any other material she can get her hands on. She is a mother, a wife, an educator, a nurturer of gardens, an epicurean lover of sustainable wholesome food, and a cultivator of compassion and beauty. Follow on Instagram The Inside Community Podcast is sponsored by the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC). Reach out if you are interested in sponsorship or advertisement opportunities on the podcast. CONTACT US

There’s a rich opportunity to push the needle forward when it comes to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, but navigating Race, Class, Privilege, Ability, and all the ways folks face different levels of adversity can be vulnerable and uncomfortable. Sometimes we need support to know what to ask for, how to be better allies, and to push us to grow in our capacity to accept others… and recognize our own blindness to our priviledge. In this conversation with Diversity Consultant, Crystal Byrd Farmer we cover code switching, how to have safe conversations, microagressions, call out culture, hidden diversities, tools and resources, and how to create communities and spaces that are welcoming to all people. In this episode Race, class, and privilege in intentional communities. (0:06) Privilege and harm reduction in intentional communities. (5:38) Inclusive communication and avoiding assumptions. (14:04) Race, identity, and education. (20:13) Discomfort, privilege, and inclusivity. (26:23) Diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in community settings. (31:09) Emotional labor and community support. (37:09) Inclusivity and diversity in intentional communities. (42:25) Empathetic communication and personal responsibility. (49:28) Call-out culture and inclusivity in society. (53:16) Empathy, inclusivity, and respectful interactions. (59:59) Diversity, identity, and community building. (1:04:04) About Crystal Byrd Farmer Crystal Byrd Farmer is an engineer turned educator, organizer, and speaker. She attended University of South Carolina and received dual degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Russian Studies. After working in engineering for six years, Crystal became a freelance technical writer and eventually found her way into the world of self-directed learning and intentional communities. Crystal has been active in the intentional communities movement for over six years and serves on the board of the Foundation for Intentional Community and Co-President of the BIPOC Intentional Community Council. She is the former website editor for Black & Poly and is active in her local polyamory community. In 2022 she served as the committee moderator for PolyamProud. Crystal’s day job is as owner and facilitator of Gastonia Freedom School, an Agile Learning Center for children with disabilities. She lives in Gastonia, NC and has one daughter. Ways to support If you want to learn more about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in community or any aspect of community, check out the Inside Community Podcast sponsor, ⁠⁠⁠The Foundation for Intentional Community⁠⁠⁠. FIC is an incredible resource center with weekly events, online courses, classified advertisements, and lots of free educational materials. Podcast listeners get 20% off in ⁠⁠⁠⁠FIC Bookstore ⁠⁠⁠⁠with code INSIDE20 and 30% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠FIC courses⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code INSIDE30. You can learn more about FIC and access transcripts at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ic.org/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks to our sponsors Caddis Collaborative – ⁠caddispc.com⁠ CohoUS – ⁠www.cohousing.org⁠ Communities Magazine – ⁠gen-us.net/subscribe⁠ Show Notes Books and Resources We Mentioned: ⁠⁠The Token: Common Sense Ideas for Increasing Diversity in your Organization⁠⁠ by Crystal Byrd Farmer ⁠⁠Stamped From The Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America⁠⁠ by Ibram X. Kendi ⁠⁠White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism⁠⁠ by Dr. Robin DiAngelo ⁠⁠Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor⁠⁠ by Layla Saad ⁠⁠My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies ⁠⁠ by Resmaa Menakem Racial equity tools ⁠⁠https://www.racialequitytools.org/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠The Four Agreements⁠⁠ by Don Miguel Ruiz Super Awesome Inside Community Jingle by FIC board member Dave Booda davebooda.com ICP theme by Rebecca Mesritz Thanks from Rebecca, your podcast host Listen & Subscribe Recent Episodes About the Show The Inside Community Podcast brings folks along for an inside look at all of the beautiful and messy realities of creating and sustaining a community. We provide useful and inspiring content to support people on their quest for resilience, sustainability, and connection. LEARN MORE Meet Your Host Inside Community Podcast host Rebecca Mesritz is a community builder living in Williams, Oregon. In 2011, Rebecca co-founded the Emerald Village (EVO) in North County San Diego, California. During her ten years with EVO, she supported and led numerous programs and initiatives including implementation and training of the community in Sociocracy, establishment of the Animal Husbandry program, leadership of the Land Circle, hosting numerous internal and external community events, and participation in the Human Relations Circle which holds the relational, spiritual and emotional container for their work. In June of 2021, with the blessing of EVO, Rebecca and 3 other co-founders relocated to begin a new, mission- driven community and learning center housed on 160 acres of forest and farmland. Rebecca is passionate about communal living and sees intentional community as a tool for both personal and cultural transformation. In addition to her work in this field, she also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from San Diego State University and creates functional, public, and interactive art in metal, wood, and pretty much any other material she can get her hands on. She is a mother, a wife, an educator, a nurturer of gardens, an epicurean lover of sustainable wholesome food, and a cultivator of compassion and beauty. Follow on Instagram The Inside Community Podcast is sponsored by the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC). Reach out if you are interested in sponsorship or advertisement opportunities on the podcast. CONTACT US

My conversation with Monique Gauthier was too full of inspiring and helpful information, so I created this bonus episode to share some of the wisdom that couldn’t fit in the full length episode. Here, Monique leads us through the centering meditation she does with her midwifery clients as they arrive in her office as well as shares some very practical tools for expecting families to cope with and prepare for labor. In this episode Meditation and parenting practices with Monique Gauthier. (0:01) Prenatal preparation and connecting with inner self. (1:53) Coping with labor fears and potential loss. (6:44) Mindfulness and relaxation techniques for childbirth. (10:25) Breathing techniques for childbirth. (16:37) Natural childbirth techniques and mindset. (20:50) About Monique Gauthier Monique Gauthier has been a midwife in the U.S and Canada for 30 years. She has lived in intentional communities for most of her adult life. She currently lives in Auroville, in Southern India. She was faculty for Living Routes, which ran college-level programs in ecovillages such as Findhorn, Auroville and Thích Nhất Hạnh’s Plum Village, in France. She has produced the documentaries “Follow The Dirt Road; An Introduction to Intentional Communities in the 1990’s”, and “Birthing Peace”, about her mindful water births. She calls herself a “cultural midwife” who is tending to the birth of a conscious culture. She leads workshops and coaches for empowered birth, conscious families, mindfulness, and other mind-body-spirit topics. You can find her upcoming courses and offerings at www.Monique-Gauthier.com Ways to support Thank YOU for including the Inside Community Podcast in your end-of-year giving! ⁠IC.org/Podcast⁠ to donate! If you want to learn more about birthing in community or any aspect of community, check out the Inside Community Podcast sponsor, ⁠⁠⁠The Foundation for Intentional Community⁠⁠⁠. FIC is an incredible resource center with weekly events, online courses, classified advertisements, and lots of free educational materials. Podcast listeners get 20% off in ⁠⁠⁠⁠FIC Bookstore ⁠⁠⁠⁠with code INSIDE20 and 30% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠FIC courses⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code INSIDE30. You can learn more about FIC and access transcripts at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ic.org/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks to our sponsors Caddis Collaborative – ⁠caddispc.com⁠ CohoUS – ⁠www.cohousing.org⁠ Communities Magazine – ⁠gen-us.net/subscribe⁠ Show Notes Super Awesome Inside Community Jingle by FIC board member Dave Booda davebooda.com ICP theme by Rebecca Mesritz Thanks from Rebecca, your podcast host Listen & Subscribe Recent Episodes About the Show The Inside Community Podcast brings folks along for an inside look at all of the beautiful and messy realities of creating and sustaining a community. We provide useful and inspiring content to support people on their quest for resilience, sustainability, and connection. LEARN MORE Meet Your Host Inside Community Podcast host Rebecca Mesritz is a community builder living in Williams, Oregon. In 2011, Rebecca co-founded the Emerald Village (EVO) in North County San Diego, California. During her ten years with EVO, she supported and led numerous programs and initiatives including implementation and training of the community in Sociocracy, establishment of the Animal Husbandry program, leadership of the Land Circle, hosting numerous internal and external community events, and participation in the Human Relations Circle which holds the relational, spiritual and emotional container for their work. In June of 2021, with the blessing of EVO, Rebecca and 3 other co-founders relocated to begin a new, mission- driven community and learning center housed on 160 acres of forest and farmland. Rebecca is passionate about communal living and sees intentional community as a tool for both personal and cultural transformation. In addition to her work in this field, she also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from San Diego State University and creates functional, public, and interactive art in metal, wood, and pretty much any other material she can get her hands on. She is a mother, a wife, an educator, a nurturer of gardens, an epicurean lover of sustainable wholesome food, and a cultivator of compassion and beauty. Follow on Instagram The Inside Community Podcast is sponsored by the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC). Reach out if you are interested in sponsorship or advertisement opportunities on the podcast. CONTACT US