My Inspirement

Danielle Cohn
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The My Inspirement Podcast is for people of all ages navigating shared housing, care, community, and lifestyle on their own terms. Hosted by Danielle Cohn, founder and president of the nonprofit My Inspirement, she explores co-housing, intentional communities, and creative alternatives to traditional living. If you’ve ever Googled "how to build a dream home with friends and family," questioned whether the traditional housing path really works anymore, or wondered what aging well, and more affordably, can actually look like, you’re in the right place. myinspirement.com

Episodes

  1. Oct 1

    Elizabeth White, NUUage Co-Living, on the Realities of Living the Golden Girls Dream

    When women say they want to live like the Golden Girls, they’re not really talking about the house. And they may not even be talking about living with women they’ve known for years. In this episode of the My Inspirement Podcast, host Danielle Cohn sits down with her friend and kindred spirit - despite being two decades apart in age - Elizabeth White, author of 55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal and founder of NUUage Co-Living, for one of the most honest and practical conversations yet about what shared living for older women, and their male friends, can actually look like, what gets in the way, and why the Golden Girls television “fantasy” may actually be keeping us stuck. Elizabeth brings a rare combination of lived experience, research and warmth to the conversation. She has spent years facilitating workshops, touring tiny home and shared living communities, and talking with hundreds of women about what they really want as they imagine their next chapter, and what they’re often afraid to say out loud. What she’s learned might surprise you. The dream may be less about finding the perfect house or recreating a sitcom with your best friends, and more about building a life with greater connection, independence, flexibility and community, on your own terms. You'll learn: What women are really expressing when they say they want to live like the Golden Girls, and why it has almost nothing to do with the house Why starting with your friendship circle is probably the wrong move — and what to do instead The design features older women consistently say are non-negotiable: en suite bathrooms, closeable doors, and why a back door matters more than you think The difference between independence and interdependence — and why the most honest question is what you need to feel grounded, not just independent Why women with thin friend benches are not behind — and may actually have an advantage What Elizabeth learned from touring 40 tiny home communities — what worked, what didn't, and what the economics get wrong What a truly good co-living match actually requires — and why shared values matter more than shared history What we could all be sharing beyond a roof: transportation, care workers, tools, and the cost savings hiding in plain sight. Perfect for: women navigating solo aging, anyone exploring Golden Girls housing, co-living for women over 50, shared living for older adults, or alternatives to traditional senior housing and retirement communities. Resources mentioned: Elizabeth White: 55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal NUUage Co-Living Modern Elder Academy Golden Girls Workshops: Nov. 19-22, 2026 in Santa Fe (meawisdom.com) myinspirement.org Episode Chapters 00:00 — Welcome & Introduction to Elizabeth White 00:54 — What Women Really Mean When They Say "Golden Girls" 03:17 — What Elizabeth Learned Designing Co-Living in Washington DC 06:19 — Independence vs. Interdependence: What Women Actually Need 09:12 — Why Starting With Your Friend Group Is the Wrong Move 11:31 — What to Do Instead: Start With What You Want, Then Find Your People 14:08 — What Elizabeth Saw on a Tiny House Tour in Dallas — and Who She Met 16:02 — Tiny Homes, Mansions, and What Elizabeth Actually Wants for Herself 19:42 — Accessibility, Aging Friends, and Why 25 Steps Is a Deal Breaker 21:00 — What Else We Could Be Sharing: Transportation, Care, Tools, and More 24:50 — The Toaster Story: Why Small Conflicts Matter More Than You Think 25:13 — What's Missing Structurally — and What Needs to Be Built 27:41 — Closing: The Golden Girls Dream, Reframed This podcast is produced by Shameka Sawyer at Sunkissed Group and Danielle Cohn. Original harp music by Hannah Kapp. My Inspirement is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) advancing more affordable shared living and lifestyle. If you’d like to make a donation to help grow this podcast, planning tools, and other free resources, please visit https://www.myinspirement.com/donate

  2. Sep 1

    Alison Donnally & Nanik Tagore on How JoeyCo Helps Older Adults and Students Thrive Together

    What if the solution to the loneliness epidemic, the student housing crisis, and the cost of aging at home were all the same answer?  In this episode of the My Inspirement Podcast, host Danielle Cohn sits down with Alison Donnally, founder and CEO of JoeyCo, a San Francisco-based company matching older adults with university students who exchange affordable rent for companionship and everyday household support. Then Danielle goes deeper with Nanik Tagore, one of JoeyCo's first and most celebrated Joeys, who shares what two years of living with an older adult host family has actually looked like — and what it has taught him about resilience, mentorship, and what it means to show up for someone. Together they make a compelling case that the most powerful solution to aging in place, student housing unaffordability, and generational isolation may already be sitting right inside our homes, in the form of an empty bedroom and some time well spent.  What if every home had a Joey, or every condo or apartment building had a few? You'll learn: How JoeyCo works for both older adult hosts and university student Joeys Why Alison modeled JoeyCo on the au pair system, and why ageism may be the reason that model never existed for older adults How JoeyCo screens, matches, and supports placements to reduce conflict before it starts How clear financial transactions between hosts and Joeys actually make the friendship and connection more authentic, not less Why adult children are often the catalyst, and sometimes the biggest obstacle, to making a Joey placement happen for their parent(s). What it actually costs, what Joeys earn, and how the math works even in high-cost cities like San Francisco What Nanik learned about resilience, patience, and mentorship from living with a host whose wife has early-onset dementia Why JoeyCo may be the soft landing recent graduates didn't know they needed What JoeyCo looks like in ten years, and why Alison thinks it could become an alternative to the au pair program entirely Perfect for: anyone exploring aging in place alternatives, intergenerational living, student housing solutions, caregiver support, or innovative models for connection and community across generations. Resources mentioned: JoeyCo: withjoey.comFollow JoeyCo on Instagrammyinspirement.org Episode Chapters 00:00 — Welcome & Introduction to JoeyCo and Alison Donnally 01:21 — What JoeyCo Actually Is: Housing, Caregiving, or Something Entirely New? 02:42 — Why Families Always Wait Too Long, and What That Costs 04:07 — The Au Pair Model for Older Adults: Why Didn't This Exist Already? 06:55 — Women, Caregiving, and $300,000 in Lost Lifetime Earnings 07:09 — What Has Surprised Alison Most as Joeys and Hosts Start Living Together 08:41 — How JoeyCo Screens and Matches Joeys to Hosts 11:28 — Loneliness Epidemic: What Joeys and Hosts Are Getting From Each Other 12:38 — Raising $2M and Staying True to Values: How JoeyCo Is Growing Differently 15:27 — Who This Works Best For, and Who It Might Not Be Right For 18:30 — The Role of Adult Children in the JoeyCo Decision 21:23 — JoeyCo in Ten Years: A New Way to Live, Work, and Age 24:04 — Meet Nanik Tagore: One of JoeyCo's First Joeys 26:04 — What Makes a Great Joey, and What Makes a Great Host 28:43 — How the Finances Actually Work: Hours, Wages, and Rent 31:18 — How Nanik Found JoeyCo 32:46 — Living With Robert and Paige: Mentorship, Resilience, and Showing Up 36:29 — Closing Thoughts and Where to Find JoeyCo This podcast is produced by Shameka Sawyer at SunKissed Group and Danielle Cohn. Original harp music by Hannah Kapp.  My Inspirement is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) advancing more affordable shared living and lifestyle. If you’d like to make a donation to help grow this podcast, planning tools, and other free resources, please visit https://www.myinspirement.com/donate

  3. Jul 31

    Founders of Frolic are Making Homeownership and Community More Accessible 

    Founders of Frolic are Making Homeownership and Community More Accessible  Imagine you own a large home in Seattle that has become too much to maintain, and perhaps a little too quiet. Instead of selling and leaving the neighborhood you love, what if you could redevelop your property into a cooperative community that lets you live how you want to live? You could retain equity in the land while creating thoughtfully designed homes where others (friends or new neighbors) can become homeowners with low down payments. Rather than living alone, you'd return each day to a built-in community of neighbors who know one another, share spaces and resources, and look out for each other. In this episode of the My Inspirement Podcast, host Danielle Cohn sits down with urban planners and entrepreneurs Tamara Knox and Josh Morrison, co-founders of Seattle-based Frolic Community who are doing just that. Frolic is a cooperative homeownership and community development model that is quietly rewriting the rules of who gets to own a home and how we live in them. Built on a mix of co-housing design and cooperative ownership structure, Frolic turns underused single-family lots into six to ten home communities — with shared common spaces, community-led activities, and down payments that can start at just $3,700. Tamara and Josh share the story behind Frolic's first community in the Columbia City/Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle - called Covidae Co-Op. They share what a Tuesday night actually feels like inside one of their communities; how they help neighbors navigate conflict and community governance, and what they believe millions of Americans are quietly craving but haven't yet been able to name. You'll learn: How Frolic's cooperative ownership model makes homeownership accessible without generational wealth Why down payments in Frolic communities can be so low — and how that's legally and financially possible What shared living actually looks like day to day — from campus conversations to rotating community dinners Why co-ops and co-housing are having a cultural moment right now — and what finally changed to make this mainstream What most people dramatically underestimate about building a shared living community The one thing everyone needs to be radically honest about before saying yes to co-living What Frolic's vision looks like in ten years — and what it could mean for the American middle class Perfect for: anyone exploring cooperative housing, affordable homeownership, intentional community, shared living, or alternatives to the traditional path to living or buying a home. Resources mentioned: Frolic Community: frolic.community myinspirement.org Episode Chapters 00:00 — Welcome & Introduction to Frolic Community 01:37 — How Frolic Works: Turning Single-Family Lots Into Six to Ten Home Communities 04:19 — Part Airbnb, Part Kickstarter: How the Frolic Platform Brings Projects to Life 05:41 — A Tuesday Night Inside a Frolic Home: What Community Actually Feels Like 07:13 — Why Co-Ops and Co-Housing Are Suddenly Resonating With So Many People 09:05 — The College Campus Effect: Designing for Spontaneous Human Connection 11:05 — Who Lives in Frolic's First Community and How the Finances Work 14:11 — Conflict, Community Governance, and Two Years of Unplanned Dinner Nights 16:05 — What Anyone Would Almost Certainly Underestimate About Building This Model 19:42 — What to Be Radically Honest With Yourself About Before Saying Yes to Co-Living 21:05 — Frolic in Ten Years: Thousands of Communities, One Vision for the Middle Class This podcast is produced by Shameka Sawyer at Sunkissed Group and Danielle Cohn. Original harp music by Hannah Kapp. My Inspirement is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) advancing the shared living economy. If you’d like to make a donation to help build this podcast, planning tools, and other free resources, please visit https://www.myinspirement.com/donate

  4. Jul 1

    Jake Rothstein: The Housing Conversation Every Family Needs to Have Now

    Upside’s Jake Rothstein on Why Housing Is the Key to Healthy Aging — And What Happens When Families Wait Too Long Most families don't think about housing until there's a crisis. Jake Rothstein and the team at Upside is trying to change that. In this episode of the My Inspirement Podcast, host Danielle Cohn reconnects with Jake Rothstein, co-founder and CEO of Upside, a company reimagining how vulnerable people — especially older adults — find, access, and stay in stable housing. What started as a personal mission to help his grandmother navigate life after her husband moved into senior care has grown into a national platform operating across 15 states, helping health insurers identify and support members at risk of housing instability before it becomes a crisis. Only days before airing this episode, Upside announced they raised a $20M Series A to expand their platform to help address housing as a healthcare problem. Jake pulls back the curtain on how housing insecurity is far broader than most people realize, why health insurers are now paying to solve it, and what it actually takes to move someone from their car or a shelter to a stable, appropriate home. He also shares what he has learned about co-living, shared housing, and intergenerational arrangements — and the one thing most families get wrong when planning for aging. You'll learn: Why aging in place sounds great at 55 but can become impractical How housing instability drives emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and medication non-adherence How Upside uses AI and human care guides together to navigate vulnerable members to stable housing What makes co-living and shared housing work — and what causes it to fail Why the timing of the housing conversation matters more than most families realize The one question every family should be asking before a crisis forces their hand Perfect for: anyone navigating housing decisions for themselves or aging parents who are eligible for health-plan-supported housing programs Resources mentioned: Upside: joinupside.com myinspirement.org Episode Chapters 00:00 — Welcome & Introduction to Jake Rothstein and Upside 01:10 — The Grandmother Story: Where Upside Began 03:39 — From Senior Housing to a Broader Housing Stability Platform 05:01 — Who Upside Serves Today and How It Works 07:42 — Scale: Tens of Thousands of Properties Across 15 States 08:39 — Wraparound Services: Why Housing Is Just the Starting Point 10:55 — Who Upside Competes With and What SDOH 2.0 Really Means 16:04 — Balancing Technology and the Human Touch 17:32 — Co-Living and Intergenerational Shared Housing in Practice 19:46 — What Makes Co-Living Work — and What Gets in the Way 23:26 — If You Could Redesign Housing and Aging Support From Scratch 24:48 — Steps Every Family Can Take Before a Housing Crisis Hits 26:52 — Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Upside This podcast is produced by Shameka Sawyer at Sunkissed Group and Danielle Cohn. Original harp music by Hannah Kapp. My Inspirement is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) advancing the shared living economy. If you’d like to make a donation to help build this podcast, planning tools, and other free resources, please visit https://www.myinspirement.com/donate

  5. Jun 1

    Eunice Lin-Nichols: The Case for Living Across Generations

    Eunice Lin Nichols, Co-CEO of CoGenerate, on The Benefits of Bringing Generations Together We were designed to live together across generations. So how did we end up so far apart? In this episode of the My Inspirement Podcast, host Danielle Cohn sits down with Eunice Lin Nichols, intergenerational innovator and co-CEO of CoGenerate, a nonprofit at the forefront of bridging generational divides to create real social change. With over 25 years of experience bringing younger and older generations together, Eunice brings both the data and the deeply human case for why intergenerational connection may be one of the most powerful — and most overlooked — tools we have for living longer, healthier, and less lonely lives. From her childhood growing up with Taiwanese grandparents as her afterschool program, to groundbreaking housing models reimagining how generations can live and care for each other, Eunice makes the case that the separation of generations wasn't inevitable — and it doesn't have to be permanent. You'll learn: Why intergenerational connection is so much bigger than older and younger people spending time together What's actually broken in how society separates generations in housing, work, and community life How college campuses, co-ops, and intentional communities are quietly pioneering new intergenerational models The real financial case for multigenerational living — and who it helps most How models like Bridge Meadows, Frolic Community, and Drexel's Second Story Collective are making it work right now Why caregiver burnout is an intergenerational design problem — and how community can help solve it What CoGenerate's national research reveals about whether people actually want to live and work across generations One small step anyone can take today toward a more connected, intergenerational life Perfect for: anyone exploring multigenerational housing, intentional community, aging in place alternatives, caregiver support, or the future of how we live and care for each other across generations. Resources mentioned: CoGenerate: cogenerate.org Bridge Meadows intentional community Frolic Community Second Story Collective at Drexel University myinspirement.org Episode Chapters 00:00 — Welcome & Introduction to Eunice Lin Nichols 01:08 — Growing Up Intergenerational: A Childhood Shaped by Grandparents 04:01 — What Most People Get Wrong About Intergenerational Connection 05:17 — The Loneliness Epidemic & Why Generations Need Each Other 07:09 — What's Actually Broken in How Society Separates Generations 09:00 — If You Were Designing Housing From Scratch, What Would You Change? 12:21 — Bridge Meadows & Intergenerational Design in Action 15:02 — The Financial Case for Multigenerational Living 15:24 — Frolic Community & The Second Story Collective at Drexel 17:32 — The Biggest Barriers to Scaling Intergenerational Housing 20:00 — Caregiver Burnout & How Community Changes the Equation 22:24 — What the Data Actually Says: Do People Want to Live Together? 25:17 — One Small Step You Can Take Today This podcast is produced by Shameka Sawyer at Sunkissed Group and Danielle Cohn. Original harp music by Hannah Kapp. For more information about My Inspirement, a non-profit, 501c3, visit myinspirement.org. Through tools, education, and inspiration around shared living, caregiving, travel, and community, we are reimagining what the next chapter of life can look like — at any age. Thanks for listening and considering supporting our programs.

  6. May 12

    What Does It Actually Feel Like to Live in Community? Four Sage Residents Share Perspective

    The vision of intentional community sounds beautiful in theory. But what does a Tuesday actually look like when you live there? In this episode of the My Inspirement Podcast, host Danielle Cohn sits down with four Baja Sage residents — artist Wanda Whitaker, renewable energy expert Erin Decker, photographer Cookie Kinkead, and interior designer Martha Murray — to share the unfiltered reality of life inside a new intentional community in Baja Mexico.. From sunrise walks and spontaneous dinners to navigating community governance and a regenerative farm in transition, this conversation is full of the kind of detail you can only get from people who actually live it. These four neighbors paint one of the most vivid pictures yet of what shared living really means. You'll learn: What drew four very different people to choose community over conventional homeownership Why Sage is decidedly not a Golden Girls community — and why that matters What a typical day looks like for full-time and part-time residents The story of the regenerative farm — where it is, where it's headed, and what the community is rethinking How Sage supports the Bomberos, the region's entirely volunteer-funded emergency services Low-cost community practices any neighborhood can borrow — from painting and writing groups to educational workshops What you need to be radically honest with yourself about before saying yes to community living Perfect for: anyone exploring intentional communities, co-housing, aging in community, regenerative living, or alternatives to traditional retirement living. Resources mentioned: meawisdom.com | myinspirement.org Episode Chapters 00:00 — Welcome & Meet the Sage Neighbors 02:00 — Erin Decker: A COVID Refugee Who Found Her People 03:30 — Wanda Whitaker: MEA's First Beta Workshop to Baja Full-Time 04:30 — Martha Murray: Designer and Sage Convert 05:00 — Cookie Kinkead: Three Years at Chip's, Then It Finally Hit 06:00 — The Aesthetic of Sage: What Makes It Feel Like It Belongs 08:00 — The Bomberos: How Sage Supports Local Emergency Services 09:30 — What Does a Typical Day Actually Look Like? 15:00 — Why Sage Is Not a Golden Girls Community 17:00 — The Common Thread That Connects Everyone at Sage 19:30 — Aging, Longevity & Living in the Moment 22:00 — Community Communication & Making Decisions Together 26:00 — The Regenerative Farm: Where It Stands & Where It's Going 29:00 — Low-Cost Community Ideas Any Neighborhood Can Try 31:00 — What You Need to Be Honest About Before Saying Yes This podcast is produced by Shameka Sawyer at Sunkissed Group and Danielle Cohn who is the host of the show. Original harp music by Hannah Kapp.

  7. Apr 17

    Building Baja Sage with Jeff Hamaoui and neighbors Barbara Tint and Chris Harman

    What does it actually take to build an intentional community from the ground up; and what does life really look like once you're living in one? In this episode of the My Inspirement Podcast, host Danielle Cohn sits down with Jeff Hamaoui, co-founder of Modern Elder Academy and the visionary developer behind Baja Sage — a 26-home regenerative community in Pescadero, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Joining the conversation are two Sage residents, professor and facilitator Barbara Tint and entrepreneur Chris Harman, who share what drew them to this bold community experiment and what they've discovered on the other side. Jeff opens up about the years-long journey from concept to community — navigating local government, COVID, regenerative farming, and the deep social architecture required to turn a beautiful piece of land into a place people truly call home. His honest takeaway? Building the physical space is just the beginning. The real work is everything that comes after. You'll learn: How Baja Sage was designed around regenerative farming and intentional density Why co-living communities require social infrastructure, not just beautiful real estate What drew residents Barbara and Chris to choose community over conventional homeownership How COVID accelerated the dream of intentional living for so many A simple weekly habit that turns neighbors into lifelong friends Why social wellness and community may add years — even decades — to your life What you need to be radically honest about before buying into or building a community Perfect for: anyone exploring intentional communities, co-housing in Mexico, regenerative living, aging in community, or alternatives to traditional retirement living. Resources mentioned: Jeff Hamaoui’s upcoming book Friending (2027) meawisdom.com | myinspirement.org Episode Chapters 00:00 — Welcome & Introduction to Baja Sage 04:00 — Jeff’s Origin Story: From San Francisco to Baja 08:00 — Designing an Intentional Community with Regenerative Farming 13:00 — COVID, Doubt, and the Moment Everything Almost Fell Apart 17:00 — Who Chooses the Sage Life? The Invisible Thread 22:00 — Meet the Neighbors: Barbara Tint's Story 28:00 — Chris Harman: A Real Estate Background Meets Community Vision 34:00 — What Surprised Everyone Most About Living at Sage 40:00 — Healthcare, Aging & Wraparound Care in Community 45:00 — The Pink Flamingo Ritual & Building Open Communications Culture 50:00 — What You Need to Know Before Saying Yes to Community Living This podcast is produced by Shameka Sawyer at Sunkissed Group and Danielle Cohn. Original harp music by Hannah Kapp.

    Building Baja Sage with Jeff Hamaoui and neighbors Barbara Tint and Chris Harman

  8. Mar 5

    Chip Conley: on Aging Well and Reinventing Midlife Housing.

    Chip Conley on Reinventing Midlife Housing: MEA Communities, Golden Girls Co-Living & the Future of Aging Well Chip Conley, founder of Modern Elder Academy (MEA) and hospitality pioneer, joins his good friend and host Danielle Cohn on the first episode of the My Inspirement Podcast to share how MEA is reimagining where and how people age — through intentional transitional learning, and experimenting with community living, co-housing models, and alternatives to traditional senior housing. With nearly 9,000 MEA alumni across 60 countries that participate in their mid-life programs, Chip unpacks the science behind the U-curve of happiness, Becca Levy's Yale research showing a positive aging mindset adds 7.5 years to your life, and why the concept of the "modern elder" is redefining what it means to thrive in your 50s, 60s, and beyond. Chip walks us through MEA's new bold housing experiments — from Baja Sage, a 26-home community built alongside a regenerative farm in Baja California Sur Mexico, to Santa Fe “Golden Girls” shared rental homes for women 45+, and tiny and fractional-owned homes on both campuses. He discusses the real challenges of community governance, how to "taste test" co-living before committing, and why building community — not just transactions in real estate — is the missing middle in retirement housing. You'll learn: Why intentional shared communities may outperform traditional retirement communities for social wellness and reducing cost of living The various models that MEA Homes is experimenting with from fractional seaside homes to “Golden Girls” ranch rental or tiny homes ownership models How coliving and aging well intersect How MEA is thinking about shared care in the future similar to a boutique niche hotel How any community can weave in more intentional activities to thrive together Perfect for: anyone exploring more affordable lifestyle, co-living communities, aging in community, alternatives to retirement housing options, or conscious aging resources. Resources: meawisdom.com | myinspirement.org Episode Chapters 00:00 — Chip Conley, Modern Elder Academy & the Midlife Chrysalis 04:56 — How Baja Sage Community Was Created 05:59 — Golden Girls Co-Housing Models Explained 07:55 — Insights from the Golden Girls Housing Workshop 11:00 — The Missing Middle in Retirement & Senior Housing 12:03 — Building Community Over Real Estate Transactions 14:03 — The Future of Senior Living & Intentional Communities 16:03 — Social Wellness, Resources & Next Steps

  • 8 Episodes

About

The My Inspirement Podcast is for people of all ages navigating shared housing, care, community, and lifestyle on their own terms. Hosted by Danielle Cohn, founder and president of the nonprofit My Inspirement, she explores co-housing, intentional communities, and creative alternatives to traditional living. If you’ve ever Googled "how to build a dream home with friends and family," questioned whether the traditional housing path really works anymore, or wondered what aging well, and more affordably, can actually look like, you’re in the right place. myinspirement.com

Information

  • Creator
    Danielle Cohn
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Danielle Cohn
  • Show Website
    My Inspirement