The Upsiders

The Curiosity Collective
  • 0.0 (0)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY

The Upsiders is a podcast that serves as a time capsule into the brighter side of today’s world. The Upsiders’ podcast aims to highlight positive stories, trends, and cultural moments that often go overlooked. The show’s tagline, ”The Time Traveler’s Guide to the Present,” emphasizes its focus on exploring the present day through a unique and optimistic lens.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Shared Spaces | Co-Living, Co-Working, and How We're Sticking Together

    “Hey, roommate! If you’re reading this, we need to go to Aldi and pick up some more milk. Also, are you going to eat that leftover Panda Express in the fridge?” Welcome to a very domestic, and very insightful, episode of The Upsiders! Join Cohabitat Bertram and Your Friendly Neighborhood Los for a fun, energetic conversation about the explosive rise of Shared Spaces. We aren't just talking about sharing a fridge; we are diving into how co-working and co-living are completely redefining how we work, live, and connect. In this episode, we break down: The Office, Reimagined: What is co-working, and why are professionals thriving in spaces filled with synergy (our Word of the Week!)?The Co-Living Boom: Why it’s not just for students anymore. From seniors to digital nomads, people are choosing community over isolation to combat the high cost of living.A Coffee Shop in an Abandoned Mental Hospital?: We highlight the Mansion Society Coffee Shop turning a historic, abandoned mental hospital into a thriving community coffee shop, proving that connection can come from the most unlikely places.Hero of the Upside: We highlight Humanitas, a Dutch nursing home offering rent-free housing to studentsReality Check: Is co-living for everyone? Does co-working mean losing your privacy? We bust the myths and look at how these models reduce waste and encourage a circular economy. Whether you're looking for a desk, a home, or just a really good tip on where to store your leftovers, this episode has you covered. Show Notes: Westside coffee shop offers a taste of the timeless — and maybe a ghost | Mirror Indy Central State Mansion: your guide to the co-living space | Indy Today Historic Central State New Life at Central State Part Two: Restoring and Repurposing | Historic Indianapolis The Future Is Flexible: Why Coworking Is Becoming An Essential Part Of The Office Real Estate Market | Forbes Transforming Coffee Shops Into Coworking Spaces: A Growing Business Opportunity | Forbes Why People Thrive in Coworking Spaces | Harvard Business Review A Complete Guide to...

    49 min

  2. 21 JAN

    The Internet’s Best Kept Secret | Why the Most Important Tech is Actually Free

    Imagine a city where the roads, the plumbing, and the electric grid were all built for free by volunteers—and they work better than anything a corporation could sell you. In this episode of The Upsiders, we go "under the hood" of the digital world to explore Open Source. We often think of big tech as a series of skyscrapers owned by Apple or Google, but the foundation they sit on is a $20-trillion infrastructure built on a "gift economy." What we’re diving into: The Blueprint for Civilization: We look at the Open Source Ecology Project and how 50 industrial machines are being designed for free to help anyone, anywhere, build a sustainable society.Medicine for the People: How open-source hardware, like the MIT Emergency Ventilator, can bypass corporate gatekeepers to save lives in low-resource clinics across the globe.The Linux Miracle: Meet our Unsung Hero, Linus Torvalds, the college student who created the "master control program" that now runs 90% of the internet’s cloud servers. We also break down the Word of the Week: Kernel, and hit our Reality Check to bust the myth that open source is just for "hobbyists." It turns out, the most secure and powerful code in the world isn't a trade secret—it’s open for everyone to see. Show Notes: Open Source Initiative How open-source is shaping the future of innovation | Dev Ops Online Open Source Ecology Project Machines: Global Village Construction Set | Open Source Ecology Project MIT Emergency Ventilator Project | MIT Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection | John Green Open-Source Hardware May Address the Shortage in Medical Devices for Patients with Low-Income and Chronic Respiratory Diseases in Low-Resource Countries | National Library of Medicine Once a leading killer, tuberculosis is now rare in rich countries — here’s how it happened | Our World in Data OER Commons Made by educators, for educators | Moodle

    36 min

  3. 02/12/2025

    The 28th Amendment Fight | Wiring Equity Into the Constitution

    Welcome back to The Community Curiosity Collective! In a time of massive political and economic inequality, the ultimate question is: Can we use the Constitution—the foundational document of our democracy—to truly make our country a better place for average and poor Americans? This week, we explore the revolutionary efforts to enact New Constitutional Amendments aimed at correcting glaring American issues. We dive into two major movements: Political Equity: The push to Overturn Citizens United to limit political spending and the movement to Establish a Right to Vote for all citizens, ensuring a voice for low-income and marginalized communities.Socio-Economic Rights: The bold campaign for an Economic Bill of Rights, inspired by FDR, which would constitutionally guarantee rights like adequate medical care, a decent home, and a good education. We introduce our Word of the Week: Entrenchment, and in our segment, That's Actually an Upside!, we flip the biggest frustration on its head: Why the difficulty of amending the Constitution is actually its greatest strength, promoting stability and broad consensus. Finally, we recognize Ralph Abele, the Unsung Hero who championed the environmental rights amendment in Pennsylvania, and hit our Reality Check to prove why the effort to amend the Constitution is a foundational change that fuels movements, not stops them. This episode is about using the ultimate tool to achieve the ultimate upside: a more equitable, just, and durable future. Show Notes: 28th Amendment Proposed | Congress.gov American Promise Move to Amend The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly about The Electoral College | Monmouth University Equal Rights Amendment Ralph W. Abele | Charles River Watershed Association Biden declares Equal Rights Amendment ‘law of the land’ in probably symbolic statement | PBS News

    35 min

  4. 17/11/2025

    Quiet Quitting, Loud Success | Debunking the Gen Z Workplace Myths

    Welcome back to The Upsiders! You've heard the complaints: Gen Z is lazy, disloyal, and hops jobs every year. But what if those behaviors are actually smart, pragmatic responses to a difficult labor market—and are helping companies become more dynamic? This week, we debunk the pervasive myths about Gen Z in the workforce. We turn conventional wisdom on its head, starting with our segment, "That's Actually an Upside!", where we argue that job-hopping is now a feature, not a bug, that helps Gen Z find the right fit and avoid burnout. In this episode, we dive into the data showing that even though Gen Z has already worked at an average of 2.7 companies in 2.8 years, they are also the generation most consistently driven by long-term career goals. We also define our Word of the Week: "Coffee Badging," and reveal why 70% of bosses caught their employees doing it, yet nearly 60% "didn't mind." Plus, we recognize Alexia Cambon from Gartner as our Unsung Hero of the Upside for helping companies finally understand their youngest workers. Join us for a Reality Check as we rapidly fire through seven common Gen Z stereotypes and prove why the generation that grew up online is actually the most ambitious, efficient, and pragmatic workforce we've ever seen. Show Notes: Job Hopping Is a Feature Not a Bug For Gen Zers | Revelio Labs Generational Differences in the Workplace [Infographic] | Purdue Global Job-hopping Gen Z only stay in each job 1 year and 54% are regularly browsing for their next role—but a report says they’re not disloyal villains | Fortune Employers, beware: Gen Z is the ‘pragmatic generation’ redefining success, seeing money as just a means to an end, landmark EY survey says | Fortune What is coffee badging? – a deep dive | OWL Labs How to Appeal to Generation Z Candidates | Gartner Alexia Cambon: Organisations are struggling to connect employees to culture in a hybrid world, so how will they overcome this? | HR Review

    45 min

  5. 10/11/2025

    Making Friends with the Flood | The Upside of 'Sponge Cities'

    Welcome back to The Upsiders! When the rain falls, our cities—mostly covered in concrete and asphalt—have one goal: to get the water away as fast as possible. But what if the very thing we see as a problem, the rainwater, is actually a valuable resource? This week, we dive into the brilliant, global concept of Sponge Cities: an urban planning model that uses nature-based solutions to absorb, store, and slowly release rainwater. Instead of fighting floods with expensive concrete dams, we are learning to let cities act like a sponge. We spotlight the visionary work of Chinese urban planner Professor Kongjian Yu, the architect of the movement, and explore the "Slow Water" philosophy—which argues that when water stalls on the land, the magic happens. In this episode, we explore the multi-layered Upside of Sponge Cities: Dual-Action Resilience: How green infrastructure like permeable pavements, rain gardens, and green roofs prevents flooding during storms and provides essential cooling during extreme heat events.From Problem to Resource: How decentralized systems recharge groundwater and improve water quality, boosting drought resilience.The Global Snapshot: We look at how cities from New York to Shanghai are implementing this "low-tech toolbox" to manage water sustainably. Join us to discover why the best and cheapest way to adapt to climate change in cities might be to simply let water be water. Show Notes: Youtube: Flood-Proof Cities Concept | Professor Kongjian Yu's Youtube: What are sponge cities? | Business Standard Making cities 'spongy' could help fight flooding — by steering the water underground | NPR What Are ‘Sponge Cities’ and How Can They Prevent Floods? | Engineering For Change Youtube: A solarpunk future by 2030 | Future Explored Urbanism 101: What is a Sponge City? | The Urbanist Youtube: How China is designing flood-resistant cities | Vox Book Review: Helping Water Find Its Own Level | Undark Global Sponge Cities Snapshot | Arup Youtube: Global Sponge Cities Snapshot | Arup Youtube: The Shocking Corruption Behind LA's Water Supply | The B1M

    35 min

  6. 04/11/2025

    The Neighborhood Power Grid | How Community Energy is Fixing Utilities

    Welcome back to The Community Curiosity Collective! In an age of runaway energy bills and unreliable grids, we ask a crucial question: What if the power source wasn't hundreds of miles away, but right in your neighborhood? This week, we dive into the soaring trend of Community-Owned Renewable Energy Projects—local, decentralized initiatives where citizens invest in and benefit from their own power sources, from rooftop solar cooperatives to local wind farms. This "Power to the People" model is more than just a clean energy transition; it's a social and economic revolution. We explore how this grassroots model is surging globally, with over 2 million people involved in 23,000 projects across 30 European countries alone. Community energy provides an alternative to the utility-led system that has historically prioritized profit over people, leading to blackouts and transmission line failures. In this episode, we spotlight local heroes, including Brooklyn's UPROSE (Brooklyn's oldest Latino community-based organization) and their work on the Sunset Park Solar project, as well as efforts to bring solar to marginalized communities right here in Indiana. Learn how community ownership creates a massive Upside by: Increasing Energy Security through local microgrids and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs).Driving Economic Benefits and job creation directly back into the neighborhood.Reducing resistance to renewable projects, leading to a faster, fairer transition. This is the inspiring story of how collective action is democratizing energy, making power cleaner, safer, and fairer for all. Show Notes Power to the People: An Overview of Community Energy | Earth.org Uprose Sunset Park Solar What is community ownership for renewable energy? | Institute for Human Rights and Benefits Community-Owned Community Solar: Opportunities and Challenges | Environmental Law and Policy Center A landfill in Indy will soon be home to community solar | Mirror Indy Solar United Neighbors Solar power is about to become a lot more expensive for Hoosiers as net metering expires | IndyStar

    36 min

  7. 27/10/2025

    You Are Already Enough | Silver Linings in the Fight for Dignity

    Welcome back to The Community Curiosity Collective! In a world that constantly measures our worth by our titles, salaries, or achievements, what happens to the inherent value of a person? This week, we dive into the timeless concept of Human Dignity—the intrinsic, unearned value every person carries simply by existing. As philosopher Immanuel Kant called it, an "inner worth that cannot be compared to any price." We explore the profound realization that dignity is not transactional; it doesn't go up or down based on how "productive" you are or how others treat you. This understanding is the foundation of modern human rights, enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), drafted by Eleanor Roosevelt and adopted in 1948. But this isn't just philosophy—it's practice. We look at silver linings in the modern fight for dignity, highlighting: Housing First: A compassionate, effective model that treats housing as a fundamental human right, not a reward.Strengths-Based Learning: Educational models that shift the focus from a student's deficits to their inherent talents and potential.Intergenerational Living: How innovative housing models are fostering connection and valuing the dignity of all ages. We also challenge you with our Question of the Week: What’s one small thing you did this week that treated you like a person worth showing up for? Please put your answer in the comments! Join us to rediscover the radical truth: You are already enough. Show Notes Dignity | Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy The Struggle for Human Rights (1948) | Eleanor Roosevelt Universal Declaration of Human Rights | United Nations Housing First | National Alliance to End Homelessness Gorgeous Tiny Home Village Offers Affordable Housing That Withstood Direct Hit From Hurricane Milton | Good News Network A Portland County Transcends its Rehousing Goals With 65% Drop in Homelessness | Good News Network New Focus on Strength-Based Learning | National Education Association How Intergenerational Living Is Shaping New Senior Housing Models Post-Pandemic | Senior Housing News

    34 min

  8. 20/10/2025

    The Anti-Rat Race | De-Growth and the Wealth of Time

    "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

    33 min
See All (18)

About

The Upsiders is a podcast that serves as a time capsule into the brighter side of today’s world. The Upsiders’ podcast aims to highlight positive stories, trends, and cultural moments that often go overlooked. The show’s tagline, ”The Time Traveler’s Guide to the Present,” emphasizes its focus on exploring the present day through a unique and optimistic lens.

Information

  • Creator
    The Curiosity Collective
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    The Upsiders