COMMUNITY: July 2022 podcast playlist

There’s a lot of talk these days about the importance of community, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on connection and disconnection in our lives. The word “community” is often used as a catchall for all kinds of audiences, networks, neighborhoods, affinity groups, and living situations — but what are we really talking about when we use the word “community?” What other more specific words might we use instead to describe the kinds of connections we hope to create and share? What purposes should we prioritize when we seek to create a stronger sense of community? And what, if anything, might we one day find that we value even more than the structure and reliability of a stable community?

This collection of podcasts explores all of the above and more, and will provide you with a set of reflection points to think about and clarify as you embark to create more community in your own life.

This podcast playlist was curated by Kat Vellos, a speaker, facilitator, and author. She wrote We Should Get Together and is currently hosting Connection Club.

Podcast Playlist on COMMUNITY

Get the full playlist on your podcast player of choice using these platforms:

Inside Community Podcast: “Ep:3 Preparing for Community with Lee Warren” (February 2022, 57 min)
There are many communities out there looking for capable and eager new members to become a part of their project and help build their vision. This episode focuses on how you might best approach those communities, how to prepare yourself for community life, and how to find the community that best matches your personal vision.

Reply All: “#23 Exit & Return, Part I” (May 2015, 33 min)
Shulem Deen was a 22-year old and ultra-religious, a Hasidic Jewish person, when he bought a computer and signed up for America Online in 1996. Until then he’d never had a real conversation with someone outside his community. Sruthi Pinnamaneni tells the story of how the internet ruined his life and how it might save it.

Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel: “Should I Stay or Should I Go – On Leaving Big Cities” (July 2020, 31 min)
In a pandemic, big city living loses its allure. As pricey, small spaces feel ever-more stifling, we talk with three people about leaving.

The Long and The Short Of It: “69. Community” (January 2020, 22 min)
A discussion about the traits of strong communities. What is the difference between a network and a community? Is there an importance in co-creating a communal safe space? How can communities be built around similar beliefs?

The Community Experience: “Fundamentals of Community Resilience with Bart Campolo of the Humanize Me Podcast” (March 2022, 59 min)
Bart Campolo is the son of famous Baptist evangelist Tony Campolo, and he’s now a secular humanist who’s hopeful but not optimistic about the future of humanity. So he’s trying to get people thinking about how to cultivate resilient, loving communities that can withstand the challenges of the years ahead—communities that aren’t necessarily bound together by beliefs.

Bonus podcast episodes:

• The Pineapple Project: “S5 02 | Howdy, neighbour” (May 2020, 32 min)
  Who are the people in your neighbourhood? A staggering amount of Australians don’t know. But turns out, sticking your head over the fence is hugely beneficial. Jan Fran tracks down social psychologist Hugh Mackay for a lesson in how to be a good neighbour, and we meet people whose connection with their street was life-changing. And after three years of ignoring her neighbours, Jan is convinced to channel her inner Ned Flanders and reach out to the people closest (in proximity) to her.
• Immigrantly: “Finding Community in Digital Spaces” (June 2021, 38 min)
  Guest Khadjiah Johnson talks about online community.

Conversation Starter Questions:

1. How would you define community?
2. Do you think community is important?
3. What communities do you consider yourself a part of?