Happiness of the Commons

Episode 6: Community for School-Aged Kids and their Parents

Alanna and Katie chat about safetyism, some of the potential reasons "kids don't go outside anymore", and explore the benefits of fostering independence so kids can forge their own community spaces. Music produced by Mason Jay

Episode 5: Community in the Postpartum Period

Have you ever thought about where you go for support first? Is it your real life network, or is it your online network? In this episode we explore the ways support is needed in the postpartum period, the way our culture tells us to seek expertise over community care, and chat about the concept of "paying for the village". Mentions @thisfamilytree @kidswhoexplore Music by Mason Jay

Episode 4: The Sidewalk Ballet & Fostering Community in the Suburbs

Katie and Alanna explore the concept of "The Sidewalk Ballet" in neighbourhoods like Brooklyn, NY and the very famous neighbourhood of their dreams: Sesame Street. They explore building community in the suburbs, and share some creators to check out to learn more on this topic. 99% Invisible U is for Urbanism episode [https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/649-u-is-for-urbanism/] Music Produced by Mason Jay

Episode 3: The Impact of Housing on Community

In this episode, Alanna and Katie discuss how housing structures impact community. Using Katie’s recent move and Calgary’s contentious rezoning public hearing, they explore how car dependency adds major hidden costs, limits access to schools, groceries, coffee shops, and transit, and contributes to loneliness. They connect housing to transit investment, safety for kids, and walkable design, and highlight testimony from seniors and disability advocates who want to downsize or access care without losing the community connections they have in their neighborhoods. Link [Mm yes. Let me know if this loads as mine for you: https://www.youtube.com/live/Q5ZPEDb4nuc?t=4415&si=-7TGUDBrtPTTNcHo] to Alanna's presentation at council. Link [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWg_WuVD03j/?igsh=MTRiZTc0NWRwdDBteg==] to Stephanie's (disability advocate) presentation at council hearing on repealing rezoning for housing. Loneliness Health Impacts https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5831910/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5831910/] Music produced by Mason Jay

Episode 2: Exploring Community Leadership

What do community leaders look like? What do they do for us? How can we support them? Katie and Alanna explore these questions and more in this episode. They discuss community builders, activists, artists, and disability advocates as a few examples, and discuss practical ways we can all support leaders who make things happen. Music Produced by Mason Jay