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

"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

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” - George Bernard Shaw

When did "fun" become a dirty word? In a culture obsessed with productivity and analytics, most of us trade in our playfulness for business, but what if the very thing we label as a distraction is actually the secret to a better life?

Inspired by the research of Stuart Brown and the famous Marian Diamond study, we explore the profound biological and social necessity of Adult Recess. We dive into the science behind the Flow State and how intentional play—from Rough-and-Tumble sports to Imaginative improv—is the engine of creativity taught in programs like Stanford's "From Play to Innovation."

We also look at the upside of play: it's not just great for your brain, but research suggests it helped our ancestors build cooperation and sharing, and it even makes you more attractive!

Finally, we confront the Top 5 Regrets of the Dying. Join us as we explore the different types of play, help you figure out what type of player you are, and make the definitive case for putting joy and authenticity back on your calendar.

Show Notes

Play is more than just fun by Dr. Stuart Brown | Ted Talk

Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul | Dr. Stuart Brown

Marian Diamond, known for studies of Einstein’s brain, dies at 90 | UC Berkeley

Environmental Enrichment: Enhancing Neural Plasticity, Resilience, and Repair | National Library of Medicine

About Dr. Stuart Brown | National Institute for Play

Marian Diamond | National Institute for Play

The Importance of Play in Adulthood | Wanderlust

What Are Your Play Personalities? | National Institute for Play

Why it's good for grownups to go play | Washington Post

Why Play Should Be a Priority in Every Adult’s Life (Regrets of the Dying) | Wanderlust

For many, a fast internet connection and a working computer are a fact of modern life. But for millions across the globe and right here in the U.S., a lack of digital access and skills is creating a gap that threatens to leave entire communities behind.

Welcome back to The Upsiders. This week, we explore the often-overlooked Digital Divide—a chasm that prevents access to education, employment, healthcare, and civic life for underserved populations.

We highlight the incredible, Unsung Heroes of Digital Inclusion: the organizations fighting on the front lines to ensure technology is a tool for social equity, not a barrier. We look at the innovative models being built by groups like the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), EveryoneOn, and Human-I-T, who are not only providing affordable devices and internet but are also embedding Digital Navigators into communities for personalized support.

This is the ultimate Upsider story: one of purpose-driven progress. We explore how fixing this divide creates massive positive ripple effects, leading to:

• Increased economic opportunity and better job attainment.
• Stronger community resilience and civic participation.
• A more equitable future for all.

Join us as we examine the powerful strategies—from ethical e-waste recycling to community-driven training—that are ensuring the benefits of technology truly reach every last person.

Show Notes:

National Digital Inclusion Alliance

What is Digital Inclusion | IEEE

Research on vulnerable people and digital inclusion: toward a consolidated taxonomical framework | National Library of Medicine

Everyone On

Human-I-T

Digital Lift

World Literacy Foundation

Educational Equality Institute

Get ready to look to the sky, Upsiders! This is the most excited Los has been about an upside so far. On this special episode, Los and Bertram explore a truly futuristic vision of agriculture that's already taking root and revolutionizing how we get our food: vertical farming. As traditional arable land dwindles at an alarming rate and the global demand for food skyrockets, we dive into how farming upwards is not just efficient, but essential for our future. We'll explore the incredible benefits of vertical farming, from year-round access to fresh produce – like the world's first vertical strawberry farm leveraging AI to perfect peak-season flavor – to its ability to thrive anywhere, even in urban centers typically far from farmland. Discover how companies like Eden Green and Dream Harvest are innovating in this space, even offering fun, carbon-negative blends.

But it's not all sunshine and hydroponics; we also tackle the challenges, including the energy demands of artificial lighting and climate control, and how ongoing research aims to overcome these hurdles. Plus, we uncover a surprising solution to the problem of empty office buildings: transforming them into bustling vertical farms, solving two urban challenges at once. Tune in to see why vertical farming is truly on the up-and-up!

Show Notes:

Vertical Strawberry Farm in Virginia Uses AI to Create Maximum Berries With Peak-Season Flavor Year-Round | Good News Network

How far can vertical farming go? | BBC

Earth has lost a third of arable land in past 40 years, scientists say | The Guardian

The 19 Biggest Companies in Vertical Farming Today | Eden Green

Vertical Farming Has Found Its Fatal Flaw | Wired

Vertical Farming – No Longer A Futuristic Concept | USDA Agricultural Research Service

Empty Office Buildings Are Being Turned Into Vertical Farms | Smithsonian Magazine

Join Los and Bertram on The Upsiders as they explore a revolutionary vision for urban living: the 15-minute city. Imagine a world where your daily needs – work, groceries, leisure, and community – are all within a comfortable 15-minute walk or bike ride. We delve into the ambitious work of Carlos Moreno, the driving force behind this concept, and his mission to reshape cities around people, not cars.

We discuss the potential for increased walkability, stronger communities, and a more human-centered urban experience. To bring this concept to life, we examine Culdesac Tempe, Arizona, a groundbreaking car-free neighborhood designed with walkability at its core.

While acknowledging some early skepticism and the complexities of large-scale urban change, Los and Bertram highlight the positive potential of these initiatives to create more livable, sustainable, and connected urban environments for the future.

Show Notes:

Culdesac | A Car-Free Neighborhood

America’s “First Car-Free Neighborhood” Is Going Pretty Good, Actually? | Dwell

Meet the Micro-Retailers | Culdesac

TEDtalk: The 15-minute City | Carlos Moreno

15-minute Cities | Buro Happhold