"America is a place where the luxuries are cheap and the necessities are expensive.” — Joseph Cohen, Sociologist

Welcome back to The Community Curiosity Collective! For decades, our culture has equated success with "more": more money, more stuff, and more growth. But what happens when that relentless pursuit of economic expansion makes our most basic needs, like healthcare, housing, and childcare, impossibly expensive?

This week, we explore the radical idea known as the De-Growth Movement: the push to abolish endless economic growth as a primary social objective.

We reframe this concept not as a path to scarcity, but as a pathway to a different kind of richness: intentional consumption, less stress, and the reclamation of time.

In this episode, we tackle the paradox of modern American life. The costs of necessities like housing and education have doubled or tripled since 1996, far outpacing inflation. We ask:

• How does the affordability of cheap luxuries distract us from the crisis of expensive necessities?
• Can technology and "decoupling" truly solve environmental challenges, or is a fundamental shift in consumption necessary?
• What non-material gains—like community, time, and greater fulfillment—do we rediscover when we embrace the philosophy of "Buy Less, Choose Well?"

Join us as we explore the power of minimalism and conscious consumption, and find out why this movement isn't about working less, but about living more.

Show Notes

Degrowth

Can we save the planet by shrinking the economy? | Vox

How Companies Can Embrace Conscious Consumption | Forbes

How to Be a More Conscious Consumer, Even If You’re on a Budget | NYTimes

The power of consumer choice | ETech

Forget retail therapy - this is the age of the conscious consumer | World Economic Forum

Purpose over profit: are B-Corps the future of sustainable business? | Reuters

Find a B Corp

What Is Conscious Consumption, And Why Is It Important? | The Momentum

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” - George Bernard Shaw

When did "fun" become a dirty word? In a culture obsessed with productivity and analytics, most of us trade in our playfulness for business, but what if the very thing we label as a distraction is actually the secret to a better life?

Inspired by the research of Stuart Brown and the famous Marian Diamond study, we explore the profound biological and social necessity of Adult Recess. We dive into the science behind the Flow State and how intentional play—from Rough-and-Tumble sports to Imaginative improv—is the engine of creativity taught in programs like Stanford's "From Play to Innovation."

We also look at the upside of play: it's not just great for your brain, but research suggests it helped our ancestors build cooperation and sharing, and it even makes you more attractive!

Finally, we confront the Top 5 Regrets of the Dying. Join us as we explore the different types of play, help you figure out what type of player you are, and make the definitive case for putting joy and authenticity back on your calendar.

Show Notes

Play is more than just fun by Dr. Stuart Brown | Ted Talk

Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul | Dr. Stuart Brown

Marian Diamond, known for studies of Einstein’s brain, dies at 90 | UC Berkeley

Environmental Enrichment: Enhancing Neural Plasticity, Resilience, and Repair | National Library of Medicine

About Dr. Stuart Brown | National Institute for Play

Marian Diamond | National Institute for Play

The Importance of Play in Adulthood | Wanderlust

What Are Your Play Personalities? | National Institute for Play

Why it's good for grownups to go play | Washington Post

Why Play Should Be a Priority in Every Adult’s Life (Regrets of the Dying) | Wanderlust

For many, a fast internet connection and a working computer are a fact of modern life. But for millions across the globe and right here in the U.S., a lack of digital access and skills is creating a gap that threatens to leave entire communities behind.

Welcome back to The Upsiders. This week, we explore the often-overlooked Digital Divide—a chasm that prevents access to education, employment, healthcare, and civic life for underserved populations.

We highlight the incredible, Unsung Heroes of Digital Inclusion: the organizations fighting on the front lines to ensure technology is a tool for social equity, not a barrier. We look at the innovative models being built by groups like the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), EveryoneOn, and Human-I-T, who are not only providing affordable devices and internet but are also embedding Digital Navigators into communities for personalized support.

This is the ultimate Upsider story: one of purpose-driven progress. We explore how fixing this divide creates massive positive ripple effects, leading to:

• Increased economic opportunity and better job attainment.
• Stronger community resilience and civic participation.
• A more equitable future for all.

Join us as we examine the powerful strategies—from ethical e-waste recycling to community-driven training—that are ensuring the benefits of technology truly reach every last person.

Show Notes:

National Digital Inclusion Alliance

What is Digital Inclusion | IEEE

Research on vulnerable people and digital inclusion: toward a consolidated taxonomical framework | National Library of Medicine

Everyone On

Human-I-T

Digital Lift

World Literacy Foundation

Educational Equality Institute

Welcome back to The Upsiders. For decades, our consumer culture has been built on a foundation of planned obsolescence, leaving us with a staggering amount of waste and a forgotten skill: the art of repair.

In this episode, we're mending that disconnect. Inspired by John Wackman and Elizabeth Knight’s book, Repair Revolution: Fixing What’s Broken, we dive into the global movement of Repair Cafes. These grassroots initiatives are sparking a reskilling revolution, proving that we can be more than just a society of consumers.

Discover how these community hubs are not only preventing waste but are also building stronger bonds. With a remarkable 70-85% success rate, these cafes are teaching invaluable skills, bridging the partisan divide by bringing people together over a shared mission, and empowering communities to reclaim agency over their belongings. Join us as we explore the 2,000 Repair Cafes across 33 countries and ask: can fixing what’s broken—from a toaster to a torn seam—be the key to a more sustainable and connected future?

SHOW NOTES:

Repair Revolution | John Wackman and Elizabeth Knight

Repair Cafe Movement

Right to Repair | Wikipedia

Repair café offers free fixes for broken items to help limit environmental waste | WRTV Indianapolis

Repair Cafes: Community Solutions for Our Throwaway Consumer Culture | Simply Living

Repair Cafés breathe new life into broken household items, teach people to fix on their own | ABC7 Chicago

At Repair Cafes, ‘Beloved but Broken’ Possessions Find New Life | New York Times

Repair cafes are back after the pandemic, and they're only getting more popular | NPR

What is Radical Hospitality?

Get ready to look to the sky, Upsiders! This is the most excited Los has been about an upside so far. On this special episode, Los and Bertram explore a truly futuristic vision of agriculture that's already taking root and revolutionizing how we get our food: vertical farming. As traditional arable land dwindles at an alarming rate and the global demand for food skyrockets, we dive into how farming upwards is not just efficient, but essential for our future. We'll explore the incredible benefits of vertical farming, from year-round access to fresh produce – like the world's first vertical strawberry farm leveraging AI to perfect peak-season flavor – to its ability to thrive anywhere, even in urban centers typically far from farmland. Discover how companies like Eden Green and Dream Harvest are innovating in this space, even offering fun, carbon-negative blends.

But it's not all sunshine and hydroponics; we also tackle the challenges, including the energy demands of artificial lighting and climate control, and how ongoing research aims to overcome these hurdles. Plus, we uncover a surprising solution to the problem of empty office buildings: transforming them into bustling vertical farms, solving two urban challenges at once. Tune in to see why vertical farming is truly on the up-and-up!

Show Notes:

Vertical Strawberry Farm in Virginia Uses AI to Create Maximum Berries With Peak-Season Flavor Year-Round | Good News Network

How far can vertical farming go? | BBC

Earth has lost a third of arable land in past 40 years, scientists say | The Guardian

The 19 Biggest Companies in Vertical Farming Today | Eden Green

Vertical Farming Has Found Its Fatal Flaw | Wired

Vertical Farming – No Longer A Futuristic Concept | USDA Agricultural Research Service

Empty Office Buildings Are Being Turned Into Vertical Farms | Smithsonian Magazine

In a world often dominated by large corporations, The Upsiders are setting their sights on the agile, impactful force that is the micro-business.

Echoing John Paul Jones's bold declaration, "I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not intend to go fast, for I intend to go in harm’s way," Los and Bertram explore how these nimble enterprises are the true pioneers, driving innovation and giving our world new direction with speed and intent.

They dive into what constitutes a micro-business – typically fewer than 10 people – and distinguish the ambition of a "micropreneur" from that of a traditional entrepreneur. Discover how this smaller scale offers incredible flexibility, lower overhead, and the ability to rapidly adapt and experiment.

They also explore the growing trend of "micro-retailing," where even retail giants are adopting smaller, more focused footprints, proving that sometimes, less is indeed more. Join The Upsiders as they celebrate the dynamic spirit of micro-businesses, the unsung heroes challenging the status quo and proving that big impact can come in small packages.

SHOW NOTES:

A look at small businesses in the U.S. | Pew Research Center

Facts & Data on Small Business and Entrepreneurship | SBE Council

What is micro-retailing and why is it a growing trend? | Econsultancy

What is micro-business? | Wolters Kluwer

Entrepreneurship and the U.S. Economy | US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Join Los and Bertram on The Upsiders as they explore a revolutionary vision for urban living: the 15-minute city. Imagine a world where your daily needs – work, groceries, leisure, and community – are all within a comfortable 15-minute walk or bike ride. We delve into the ambitious work of Carlos Moreno, the driving force behind this concept, and his mission to reshape cities around people, not cars.

We discuss the potential for increased walkability, stronger communities, and a more human-centered urban experience. To bring this concept to life, we examine Culdesac Tempe, Arizona, a groundbreaking car-free neighborhood designed with walkability at its core.

While acknowledging some early skepticism and the complexities of large-scale urban change, Los and Bertram highlight the positive potential of these initiatives to create more livable, sustainable, and connected urban environments for the future.

Show Notes:

Culdesac | A Car-Free Neighborhood

America’s “First Car-Free Neighborhood” Is Going Pretty Good, Actually? | Dwell

Meet the Micro-Retailers | Culdesac

TEDtalk: The 15-minute City | Carlos Moreno

15-minute Cities | Buro Happhold

This week on The Upsiders, Los and Bertram take a deep dive into the revolutionary changes reshaping the landscape of American education, focusing on empowering students with agency and real-world skills. We begin by exploring Sam Chaltain's vision of student freedom, defined as the space to pursue passions within a framework of interconnectedness, and his observations at Purdue Polytechnic High School.

We then examine how the XQ Competencies are transforming educational assessment, better preparing students for the complexities of adult life. Don Wettrick and the STARTed UP Foundation are mentioned as we discuss their innovative approach to fostering entrepreneurship and student agency.

Shifting our focus to workforce development, we delve into TechPoint's coalition efforts to establish robust youth apprenticeship programs, drawing inspiration from the Swiss model of education. We further explore the impactful work of the CEMETS iLAB at the Richard Fairbanks Foundation, which is facilitating interest-based internships and career exploration for Indiana students.

We also reflect on a poignant moment from our sister podcast, Voices of Indianapolis, where students interviewed Kyle Hickman of Rebuilding Together, emphasizing the importance of considering potential pitfalls alongside positive outcomes. While we celebrate the upside of these educational innovations, we acknowledge the need for mindful planning and problem-solving.

Ultimately, we reinforce the crucial role of interest-based, work-based learning in bridging the gap between students and employers, and in fostering a generation of empowered, skilled, and forward-thinking individuals.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this episode of The Upsiders are solely those of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the individuals or organizations mentioned.

SHOW NOTES:

The Future of Learning by Sam Chaltain | Youtube

In Indianapolis, an Adventure in Magnitudes Is Reshaping the Future of School | Sam Chaltain

XQ Competencies | XQ

Connecting Classroms to the Real World | STARTedUP Foundation

Empowering the Next Generation of Business Titans | High School Hustle

Indiana leaders form coalition to build, grow youth apprenticeship | Tech Point

Mission41k | TechPoint

Can Indiana Crack the Code on Swiss-Style Apprenticeship? | WorkShift

CEMETS iLAB Indiana | Richard Fairbanks Foundation

Indiana Career Scholarship Account | State of Indiana

Fixing Indianapolis and Helping Homeowners in Need: Rebuilding...