The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages

Melissa Kaye

Real conversations with real people exploring where they’ve belonged, where they haven’t, and how those experiences shaped who they are becoming. These conversations help to guide our thinking and design of Elev8 Villages, places of belonging, resources and safety for youth that have aged out of foster care with no one to support and encourage them. We explore honest stories, bring gentle curiosity, and a believe that we all belong to each other. 

  1. 8h ago

    Helping Young Adults Move Beyond Homelessness

    Send us Fan Mail A young man at a tiny home village in Colorado Springs expected to hand over his keys after an argument. His navigator told him, “We want you to stay. We’ll work through this.” In this in-person episode of The Belonging Podcast, I sit down with Shelley Jensen, founder and CEO of We Fortify, after visiting the village and meeting her team. We talk about what supportive housing can look like for young adults who have experienced homelessness, how trust grows when people keep showing up, and what it takes to hold someone accountable without shaming them. Shelley also shares how resident navigators help young adults set their own goals and build lives they want to lead. Could your land become a place where young adults belong? At Elev8 Villages, we’re looking for land for our first tiny home village for young adults who have experienced foster care. If you own property and would consider donating land or offering a long-term ground lease for $1 a year, I’d love to hear from you. We’re especially interested in properties of roughly 30–50 acres with access to jobs, schools and everyday services. Your land could give young adults a stable home, neighbors who know them, and room to build a future of their own. Start a conversation with Elev8 Villages. If a landowner came to mind as you listened, please share this episode with them. Learn more and support Shelley’s work at We Fortify. This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.  If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org. Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together.

    Helping Young Adults Move Beyond Homelessness

  2. 2d ago

    How Deep Grief Became a Global Mission of Love

    Send us Fan Mail What happened when a group of people gathered around a fire in Ireland began chanting the name of a woman they’d never met? On The Belonging Podcast, Irish securities entrepreneur Stephen McCormack joins Melissa Kaye to share what it was like to grow up with a stammer, how it felt to be fully understood by his wife, Jessica, and what helped him find his way back to life after her sudden death. At a fire ceremony on Ireland’s Hill of Uisneach, Stephen wanted to speak about Jessica and struggled to find the words. Then someone put a hand on his shoulder and whispered, “It’s okay.” What followed changed how he understood what people can offer each other in grief. Stephen also shares how that night helped inspire The Grid (An Tuath), a shared meditation practice that invites people around the world to pause, breathe, and spend a few minutes focusing on love together. Learn more about The Grid at antuath.com. The Belonging Podcast is produced by Elev8 Villages. This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.  If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org. Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together.

    How Deep Grief Became a Global Mission of Love

  3. Nov 6

    Finding Your Voice: Healing, Creativity and Self-Expression

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when you’ve checked all the boxes for a successful life and still feel disconnected from yourself? In our first in-person episode of The Belonging Podcast, Melissa Kaye sits down in Boulder, Colorado, with Kore’, a Creative Guide who helps people reconnect with their voice and learn to belong to themselves. Kore’ shares how motherhood began reawakening her self-expression and how a profound encounter with the Divine at a retreat opened a new chapter of self-trust. Together, we explore the expectations that shape our identities, the courage it takes to be heard, and the possibilities that emerge when we make space for stillness, creativity, and uncertainty. In this heartfelt conversation, we explore: • Finding your authentic voice after experiences that silenced it • Why outward success can leave us feeling disconnected within • Spiritual connection, surrender, and trusting one step at a time • How being met with safety and love helps self-expression grow • Creating spaces where young adults who have experienced foster care can discover and share their gifts Kore’ closes with a message of hope for anyone who has experienced abuse: “You are not broken. You can heal. And your wholeness has always been intact.” If you’ve ever felt pressured to fit into someone else’s expectations, this conversation offers an invitation to listen inward and explore what belonging to yourself could mean. Connect with Kore’: https://www.instagram.com/kore.sound/ Discover Elev8 Villages: https://www.elev8villages.org/ With gratitude to our patron, Dee Laughlin, whose support helps make these conversations possible. Content note: This episode includes brief references to childhood abuse, without graphic details. This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.  If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org. Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together.

    Finding Your Voice: Healing, Creativity and Self-Expression

  4. Oct 23

    Beyond Survival: Helping Refugees Find Dignity, Beauty & Belonging

    Send us Fan Mail What would make this feel like home? For someone rebuilding life after displacement, the answer might begin with a familiar tradition, a gathering place, or the freedom to choose the colors on their walls. Stephanie Acker, founder of Everyplace, joins Melissa Kaye to explore how beauty, creativity, and community leadership nurture dignity and belonging. With nearly 20 years of experience working with refugees, Stephanie shares the deeply personal family story behind her calling—and what happens when we begin by asking people where they already find beauty. From a soccer field bringing neighbors together across cultures to women creating a welcoming workspace in Uganda, these stories invite us to recognize the gifts, dreams, and possibilities within every community. Together, Melissa and Stephanie explore: • How creating beauty can offer a sense of agency amid uncertainty • Why listening to local voices changes what we build together • How art and cultural traditions connect generations • The encouragement and relationships that sustain nonprofit founders • A simple question to help young people shape their own vision of home This conversation invites each of us to pause, notice the beauty around us, and consider how we can help one another feel seen, valued, and at home. Connect with Stephanie and Everyplace: https://www.every-place.org/ Follow Stephanie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steph_acker Learn about Elev8 Villages: https://www.elev8villages.org/ With heartfelt thanks to our patron, Deana Laughlin, for helping make these conversations possible. This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.  If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org. Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together.

    Beyond Survival: Helping Refugees Find Dignity, Beauty & Belonging

  5. Oct 16

    How Co-Housing Builds Belonging, Community & Deeper Connections

    Send us Fan Mail What if your neighborhood made it easier to feel connected, supported, and at home? Co-housing brings private homes together with shared spaces and a commitment to community. In this episode of The Belonging Podcast, Melissa Kaye welcomes Simone Woodland, co-founder of Circle Living in New Zealand, to explore how that way of living creates deeper connections across generations. Simone shares her experience of helping build (and living in) a 34-home co-housing neighborhood. From Sunday meals to small acts of kindness she calls “neighborisms,” she offers a personal look at how everyday encounters grow into meaningful relationships. Together, we explore: • Building community before building the homes • Shared meals, gardens, and resources that enrich daily life • Sociocracy and making room for every voice • Nonviolent communication and courageous conversations through conflict • Raising children among caring neighbors and elders • Having privacy and independence while belonging to a community With honesty about the challenges and warmth for the possibilities, Simone invites us to imagine a neighborhood where people know one another’s names, stories, and gifts. Would you consider living in a co-housing community? What would excite you and what would you want to know first? Explore Circle Living: https://www.circleliving.nz/ Learn about Elev8 Villages: https://www.elev8villages.org/ With gratitude to our patron, Deana Laughlin, for helping make these conversations possible. This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.  If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org. Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together.

    How Co-Housing Builds Belonging, Community & Deeper Connections

  6. Oct 9

    Joy, Connection & the Courage to Be Yourself with Jacques Martiquet | The Party Scientist

    Send us Fan Mail What if belonging could begin with a shared laugh, a little movement, and the courage to be wonderfully imperfect? Jacques Martiquet, The Party Scientist, joins Melissa Kaye for a conversation full of laughter, discovery, and those “Oh! That makes so much sense!” moments. Together, they explore how joy and human connection can change the way we feel and what becomes possible when we feel safe enough to be ourselves. From his experiences as a festival medic to creating sober celebrations around the world, Jacques invites us to reimagine how we gather. Melissa brings her own stories of ballroom dancing and everyday belonging, sparking discoveries neither of them saw coming. Along the way, they explore: • The brain and body’s role in connection, including Jacques’s explanation of dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. • How laughing, singing, and moving together can help us feel closer. • Why a host’s willingness to be goofy and imperfect can give everyone else permission to join in. • “Social wealth” -- the reassurance of having people who will stick around when you make a mistake. • How rushing through life can cause us to miss small opportunities for connection. • What a thoughtful welcome, one caring relationship, and shared contribution can mean for a lasting community. There’s room here for joyful celebration, deep conversation, and the simple kindness of noticing someone in a grocery-store aisle. Come laugh with us, discover something new, and imagine the belonging you could help create. Connect with Jacques:  https://thepartyscientist.com/ https://joymaker.camp/ With gratitude to our patron, Deana Laughlin, for making these conversations possible. This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.  If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org. Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together.

    Joy, Connection & the Courage to Be Yourself with Jacques Martiquet | The Party Scientist

  7. Oct 2

    PTSD, Anxiety & Meditation: Finding Balance Within Yourself

    Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to feel at home within yourself? For Mark Blacknell, the journey began long before he learned to sit quietly facing a wall. From working-class Philadelphia to the Marines, college, music, and adventures abroad, he kept moving while carrying anxiety, PTSD, and pain that outward success couldn’t resolve. In this honest, often funny conversation, Mark shares the moment that changed his direction: learning he would become a father and deciding it was time to ask for help. He reflects on professional treatment, medication, and the meditation practice that became part of finding steadiness. Melissa shares her own attempt at five quiet minutes a day, opening a conversation about distraction, self-judgment, and learning to observe ourselves with curiosity. Together, they explore how feeling more connected within ourselves can help us participate in our communities even when we don’t agree with everyone around us. A conversation about the courage to seek support, the relief of being ordinary, and discovering that you belong. Explore Mark’s work and his book, Just Stare at the Wall!: https://www.stareatthewall.org/ Learn about Elev8 Villages: https://www.elev8villages.org/ This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.  If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org. Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together.

    PTSD, Anxiety & Meditation: Finding Balance Within Yourself

  8. Sep 25

    How to Belong to Yourself: Courage, Vulnerability & Liberation

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when the version of you that once felt safe no longer fits—and you don’t yet know who you are becoming? In this honest, joyful, and deeply human conversation, Melissa Kaye sits down with Diane Cunningham Ellis—coach, author, former therapist, community builder, and a woman celebrating 13 years of sobriety—to explore the courage it takes to belong to ourselves while we are still evolving. Diane shares the moving story of saying goodbye to the recovery room that helped change her life—and how carrying its chairs across the parking lot became a beautiful reminder that belonging lives in the people who walk with us. Together, Melissa and Diane explore the uncertainty of life’s in-between seasons, the “good girl” expectations that keep women performing for acceptance, and why vulnerability requires both courage and discernment. They also consider a powerful question: What if the life we truly desire is less about achieving someone else’s definition of success—and more about liberation? Along the way, Diane reveals how thoughtful leaders create spaces where people feel safe enough to be known, why trusted introductions can create a “transfer of trust,” and what surviving a plane crash taught her about courage, life, and the surprising importance of getting that Dairy Queen hamburger. This episode is an invitation to release what no longer fits, trust the person you are becoming, and ask yourself: What would it mean for me to be brave today? This podcast exists because we believe belonging is not a luxury. It’s a human need. Every story shared here helps us imagine a world where no one has to walk alone.  If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate, or share the show with someone who might need it today. To learn more about the movement we’re building (or to get involved) visit Elev8Villages.org. Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Belonging Podcast by Elev8 Villages - where belonging becomes a place we build together.

    How to Belong to Yourself: Courage, Vulnerability & Liberation
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About

Real conversations with real people exploring where they’ve belonged, where they haven’t, and how those experiences shaped who they are becoming. These conversations help to guide our thinking and design of Elev8 Villages, places of belonging, resources and safety for youth that have aged out of foster care with no one to support and encourage them. We explore honest stories, bring gentle curiosity, and a believe that we all belong to each other. 

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