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. 4d ago

    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

    27 min

  2. 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.

    27 min

  3. 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.

    32 min
  4. Building Baja Sage with Jeff Hamaoui and neighbors Barbara Tint and Chris Harman

    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.

    39 min

  5. 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

    26 min
  • 5 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
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Danielle Cohn
  • Show Website
    My Inspirement