105 episodes

Can 21st Century humans live together sustainably? If so, how? What can we learn from the past and what solutions are emerging in the future? How will we meet the increasing disruptions of climate change and systemic inequality that will touch all our lives? Come along with us on our journey to find the best possible answers from old wisdom, emerging technology, the social sciences, and design, as we attempt to build a hopeful and actionable model of living for ourselves.

The HERE.together Podcast Charles Matheus

    • Science
    • 5.0 • 11 Ratings

Can 21st Century humans live together sustainably? If so, how? What can we learn from the past and what solutions are emerging in the future? How will we meet the increasing disruptions of climate change and systemic inequality that will touch all our lives? Come along with us on our journey to find the best possible answers from old wisdom, emerging technology, the social sciences, and design, as we attempt to build a hopeful and actionable model of living for ourselves.

    How to Live Your Values (and Not Become a Cyborg!)

    How to Live Your Values (and Not Become a Cyborg!)

    We’re so excited to share talk with Daniel Sih about some of the big problems facing community living and some of the solutions he’s come up with.

    Daniel Sih is the co-founder of Spacemakers, a productivity consulting group for busy leaders. After experiencing physical symptoms that were the result of working in the “always on” culture of internet connectivity, Daniel became passionate about helping people make space in their world for the things that really matter - like family, reflection, rest, and recharge.

    We’ll talk a bit with Daniel about his book, Space Maker: How To Unplug, Unwind, And Think Clearly In The Digital Age. It contains a whole new way to think about how we spend our time AND some concrete suggestions about how to reclaim some space in our lives through both ambitious and simple changes.

    In addition to carving out more personal space for peace of mind, Daniel recognized that he needed to push back at the atomization and isolation in our culture and actively create a sustaining community for himself and his family. Over a decade ago, he bought land and built two adjoining houses with another professional couple in Tasmania, Australia.

    We’re really interested in learning about how these two families (and their neighbors) learned to share life and land as an intentional  mini-community. It sounds like the community got a little spontaneous, too, as neighbors joined in. Over the years, Daniel and his extended family learned about the limits of good intentions and the importance of structure to keep a community healthy through all seasons. Their solutions are ones that you might find yourself thinking about, even if your intentional community is just one family sharing a house.

    For full Show Notes, go to: https://www.here-together.us/pod/how-to-live-your-values


    ---

    Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/here-together/message

    • 1 hr 2 min
    How to Make an Art of Sustainability

    How to Make an Art of Sustainability

    This episode might seem like a bit of a diversion…our guests this time aren’t necessarily living in co-housing but they are both deeply immersed in creating a rich, sustainable community in Santa Barbara, CA.

    Jill Cloutier is the Public Relations Director of an environmental education and arts nonprofit called Explore Ecology (EE for short). EE works with over 30,000 children a year with a focus on Watershed Education, School Gardens, Waste Reduction, and Creative Exploration. Their work inspires children to engage with the natural world, think critically, and experience the value of environmental stewardship.

    Jill is a podcast producer, video-maker and writer. Her projects focus on plants and permaculture. Permaculture is a really important concept that contributes to biological, agricultural, and household sustainability and we’re really excited for Jill to help us understand that term and how we can practice it at small and medium scales to improve our lives and impacts.

    Rachel Palmer is the Art Coordinator for EE and is in charge of the Art from Scrap Creative Re-use Store and Gallery and the associated arts programs.

    Rachel is a fiber and print artist, educator, and self-proclaimed podcast fanatic. She is the Story Editor for Copper & Heat, the James Beard Award-winning podcast exploring the unspoken rules and traditions of the kitchen.

    I’m all about the upcycle and Charles is all about the permaculture, so I can’t wait to see where this conversation goes and find out what we can learn today.

    Welcome, Rachel and Jill! Thank you so much for being here with us today!

    For key takeaways, sustainability resources, and a full transcript, go to: https://www.here-together.us/pod/how-to-make-an-art-of-sustainability


    ---

    Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/here-together/message

    • 1 hr 6 min
    How to Live in an Eco-Village - Getting Your Human Needs Met with Dr. Kathryn Caldwell

    How to Live in an Eco-Village - Getting Your Human Needs Met with Dr. Kathryn Caldwell

    We know so many people who simultaneously feel blessed and privileged with a good, secure, abundant life, but they know they are missing something.  The single-family lifestyle has caused us to trade away too much community, mutual support, and joy for the illusion of autonomy, abundance, and safety.

    There is an ache in our bones for a life that is more connected and meaningful, a life that sees us giving more of our gifts, and that leaves more and less of an impact on our world. If you feel that same ache, you’re in the right place.

    We’re beyond excited to talk with Dr. Kat Caldwell today about some of the human issues of living in community.

    How do we mobilize in the face of climate change, when we are mired in grief and/or denial?  How do we make individual changes that have a positive impact?

    Dr. Caldwell has a Ph.D. in Human Development and is a researcher and teacher in the field of Conservation Psychology, which strives to understand the “reciprocal relationships between humans and the rest of nature, with the goal of encouraging conservation of the natural world.”  Kat researches how people make conservation-based choices in their households and how messaging can promote healthier and more sustainable food systems and behaviors. Kat encourages her students to become self-aware, critical thinkers and engaged citizens with an understanding of what motivates conservation behavior.

    She is also the Director of Thrive Ithaca, the Ithaca EcoVillage Education Center, so she is the perfect person for us to talk to about how to make this dream of ours work.

    With enough money, we could design and build all sorts of awesome housing and community features, but unless we understand what makes people live well together and behave in sustainable ways, we’re not going to succeed, so we are especially grateful to talk with Kat.


    ---

    Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/here-together/message

    • 58 min
    How to Do Well by Doing Good - Ethical Property Investing with Dr. Dionne Payn

    How to Do Well by Doing Good - Ethical Property Investing with Dr. Dionne Payn

    This episode we’re excited to talk with someone who is leveraging the inexorable power of capitalism to actually make positive change.

    Dr. Dionne Payn is the Founder and CEO of High Impact Property Investments. Dionne specializes in raising capital for organizations that create ethical property developments in Australia and the USA. Dionne is a speaker, author and property coach who loves creating win-win outcomes for as many people as possible. Her goals include:


    Socially responsible investment
    Affordable homes for everyone
    Building resilient communities
    Ending homelessness

    Dionne has a PhD in Natural Products Chemistry, has project managed a number of property developments in Australia and has helped over 30 investors to achieve double digit returns through property. These property projects range from small one into two subdivisions up to larger, sustainable, co-living projects.

    In this interview, Dionne talks about how she created abundance for her family while creating win/win/win solutions for investors, housing seekers and the community AND while sticking to a set of lofty values. 

    For more about the Ethical Property Framework, see the show notes: https://www.here-together.us/pod/how-to-do-well-by-doing-good


    ---

    Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/here-together/message

    • 57 min
    How to Design the Future - Applying Design Thinking to Sustainability with David Johnson

    How to Design the Future - Applying Design Thinking to Sustainability with David Johnson

    This episode we’re excited to bring you a conversation with someone who seems able to cultivate a 10,000 foot view of the historical, social, cultural, and technical facets of climate change and sustainability.  David Johnson, has been teaching at Stanford Law School since 2008, while doing legal work for tech and biotech firms in Silicon Valley. His recent work on sustainability, though, explores the application of design thinking to the big problems we face today, whether it’s micro plastics in the oceans, species loss, or Southwestern drought.

    Listen all the way to the end to hear David give is some free consulting about a big community project that Kelly and I are contemplating as out legacy work. 

    For more about David's extensive background and access to helpful and actionable sustainability resources, see the full Show Notes at: https://www.here-together.us/pod/how-to-design-the-future


    ---

    Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/here-together/message

    • 56 min
    How to Make Sustainable Living Sustainable - Let Your Values Do The Driving

    How to Make Sustainable Living Sustainable - Let Your Values Do The Driving

    We’re really excited to release this episode featuring Kate Gaertner, a leading sustainability expert and consultant with 25 years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience. Kate is also a personal carbon footprint evangelist on a mission to help individuals align their priorities with their values to create positive change.

    The level of her involvement in the forefront of women’s business, sustainable fashion and reforming manufacturing toward zero waste make her a real thought leader and we’re lucky to have her here. Kate has held digital marketing management positions at XM Satellite Radio, Ziff Davis Media, and Time Inc.; worked as a strategic consultant to Fortune 500 companies developing go-to-market business cases; founded a sustainable women’s active wear lifestyle brand, OMALA; and was an Adjunct Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.). She serves as the Board Chair of XXcelerate, a business-accelerator and fund for women led businesses; and is a technical advisor to the Loopt Foundation, a global-reach non-profit progressing pre- and post-consumer material zero waste goals within manufacturing.

    ​Kate is the author of the book, Planting a Seed: 3 Simple Steps to Sustainable Living. It is packed with actionable sustainability tips AND a template for prioritizing those tips and actions in a way that matches who you are and what you value.

    ​The website (www.kategaertner.com) is this incredibly useful and generous portal into personal sustainability. I found Kate because someone in my twitter feed forwarded Kate’s sustainability quiz which helped me see where my efforts were strong and where they could be stronger. Kategaetner.com also contains links to worksheets that you can use to make clear and closely customized action plans to reduce your carbon footprint and make your life better.



    ---

    Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/here-together/message

    • 59 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
11 Ratings

11 Ratings

A Change Agent ,

Always interested

A great podcast around a myriad of topics and different ideas as well as people loving this eclectic group of unique perspectives and thoughts and ideas!

Pike2019 ,

Smart interviews!

Some people do podcasts to amuse themselves, but Charles and Kelly are on a mission to uncover good ideas that improve life and how we all live with each other. They’re smart, they prepare, and they’re professional. Every episode I’ve listened to so far leaves me inspired. Keep up the great work!

jayveg ,

Funny and inspirational

Love listening to this show. Thoughtful interviews that inspire and motivate!

Top Podcasts In Science

Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
Radiolab
WNYC Studios
Ologies with Alie Ward
Alie Ward
Something You Should Know
Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media | Cumulus Podcast Network
StarTalk Radio
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Sasquatch Chronicles
Sasquatch Chronicles - Bigfoot Encounters