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The Inside Community podcast takes an inside look at the beautiful and messy realities of creating and sustaining an intentional community. Season 1 & 2 are complete and we are currently taking a break from producing more episodes.

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Episode List

  • Building Dream Community (even if you don’t live in community) Inside Community Podcast — Ep 027 Are you ready to build your dream community? Creating deeper connections, harmonious collaborations, and… Read More
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  • Inside Community from a Kid’s Perspective Inside Community Podcast — Bonus Episode This Bonus Episode is all about the perspective of the kids! Listen in on a funny and heartwarming… Read More
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  • Preventing and Mending the Fissures with Dr. Jessica Plancich Shinners Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 026 We’re closing out our second season with an examination of how to navigate inevitable… Read More
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  • Embracing Diversity and Inclusion with Crystal Byrd Farmer Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 025 There’s a rich opportunity to push the needle forward when it comes to Diversity, Equity, and… Read More
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  • Bonus: Centering and Preparing for Birth with Monique Gauthier Inside Community Podcast — Bonus Episode My conversation with Monique Gauthier was too full of inspiring and helpful information, so I… Read More
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  • Community Supported Birth with Monique Gauthier Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 024 Bringing new life into the world requires levels of support practically unheard of in modern, western culture… unless… Read More
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  • New Visions for the Communities Movement with Daniel Greenberg Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 023 As we close out 2023, it’s time to take stock of the Communities Movement and… Read More
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  • Cults! The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly with Jesse Stone Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 022 Cults get a pretty bad reputation in the mainstream world, but are they… Read More
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  • Community Held Death and Dying with Angela Franklin Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 021 The subject of death is seen by many as morbid or taboo, but what if this… Read More
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  • Central Leader Communities with “Evil Dictator” Paul Wheaton Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 020 There are as many ways to structure a community as there are communities, but perhaps one… Read More
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  • Intimacy in Community with Dave Booda Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 019 Hear from intimacy nerd Dave Booda, about why intimacy is so important, get new ideas on prompts that… Read More
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  • Aging Well Together with Margaret Critchlow Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 018 Hear from Margaret Critchlow, PhD., about finding connection as an older person, and building communities where elders can… Read More
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  • Raising Children in Community with Amy Saloner Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 017 For many looking for community, a primary goal is to be a part of a multigenerational reality… Read More
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  • Reclaiming Placemaking for Liberation with Ridhi D’Cruz Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 016 We’re kicking off Season 2 with a pair of episodes about Placemaking, how we design and consider… Read More
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  • Designing Shared Spaces with Bryan Bowen Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 015 We’re kicking off Season 2 with a pair of episodes about Placemaking, how we design and consider creating… Read More
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  • Season 2 Trailer Inside Community Podcast Welcome back to Season 2 of the Inside Community Podcast! On this show we explore the beautiful and messy realities of living inside community… Read More
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  • State of the Communities Movement with Cassandra, Sky and Yana Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 014 Join communities experts Yana Ludwig, Sky Blue, and Cassandra Ferrera for a panel discussion… Read More
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  • Visiting Communities with Anthony ‘Campo’ Campbell Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 013 Listen to ideas on how to best engage with communities you would like to visit, so you and… Read More
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  • Creating Inclusivity with Sociocracy with Ted Rau Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 012 Hear Ted Rau share how sociocracy brings an incredible opportunity to cooperative groups to embody higher levels… Read More
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  • Exploring Cohousing with Trish Becker Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 011 Cohousing benefits include autonomy, resource sharing, social and emotional connection, and a model for engagement and democracy that reaches… Read More
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  • Navigating Conflict and Restoring Connection with Alyson Ewald Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 010 Conflict is inevitable. Alyson Ewald shares how to have a good fight and transform harm into… Read More
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  • Skillful Facilitation for Any Situation with Laird Schaub Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 009 Moving groups through tough decisions can be tricky, if not impossible, without a skilled and well-trained… Read More
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  • Income Sharing & Innovating Economy with Sky Blue Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 008 In this episode, I’m joined by Sky Blue to discuss income sharing and innovating economic models… Read More
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  • Governance & Decision Making with Diana Leafe Christian Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 007 When it comes to deciding who gets to make decisions and how decisions get made, the… Read More
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  • Facilitation and Politics with Yana Ludwig Inside Community Podcast — Episode 004 [Part II] This is a bonus conversation from episode 004 on Finding Co-Founders and Creating Cooperative Culture. Enjoy!… Read More
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  • Finding Your Land with Jonah Mesritz Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 006 Sometimes the community dream only starts to “feel real” when the time finally comes for forming groups to… Read More
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  • Demystifying Legal Frameworks with Clifford Paulin & Jonah Mesritz Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 005 Do legal structures and documents make your head spin? Fear not! In this episode we’re… Read More
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  • Finding Co-Founders and Creating Cooperative Culture with Yana Ludwig Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 004 [Part I] Thinking of starting an intentional community? The first step is finding “your people”… Read More
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  • Becoming a Steward of the Commons with Lee Warren Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 003 There are many communities out there looking for capable and eager new members to become… Read More
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  • This episode explores the topic of Mission, Vision, and Values in community. These guiding principles and founding documents help communities determine who they are and what they do.  In many ways, this is the “intention” part of intentional community. Joining me on a deep dive into this topic is Dave Henson. 
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  • Hello friends and welcome to the Inside Community Podcast where I bring you along for an inside look at what it takes to create and sustain community.  In this episode we are going to take a look at what we actually mean when we say “community.”
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  • Why me? Why now? The Introduction Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 000 In this episode, I take a moment to introduce myself, tell you a little bit about my journey… Read More
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About the Podcast

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.

Through essays and interviews with experts, we examine a variety of topics related to communal living — from governance and decision making to ownership models, from navigating coparenting to navigating finances, from how to find your people to how to actually live with them. Whether you are wondering what it would be like to live with friends, share resources, and explore a more interconnected way of being, or live in community, and are looking for tips and tricks to overcome your community’s latest hurdle, the Inside Community Podcast will meet you where you are on your journey with topical episodes and fearless investigations. 

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’s currently growing Bound for Color, creating and selling bespoke and naturally dyed art, homegoods and wearables. 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.


Thank you to our Sponsors!

The Cohousing Association Of The United States


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.