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This is Cohousing: The Cohousing Podcast

The Cohousing Company 10 Episodes Jun 29, 2026

This is Cohousing: The Cohousing Podcast, from The Cohousing Company and hosted by architect, author, and cohousing pioneer Charles Durrett. For nearly 40 years, Charles has explored how design and community can help us live more sustainably, affordably, and connected to one another. Through conversations with residents, organizers, architects, and developers, this podcast explores the ideas, history, and real-world practice of cohousing—and how better neighborhoods can create a better future.

Episodes

This is Cohousing | Ep 10 | Rebooting Community: From Conflict to Connection with Julia Jongkind Jun 29, 2026 00:45:00 What does it take for a cohousing community to function at its fullest potential? In this episode, Charles Durrett sits down with educational learning consultant and facilitator Julia Jongkind, who has spent two decades living in cohousing, helping struggling communities find their footing again. Drawing from her experience rebooting three different communities, Julia shares the surprisingly simpl

This is Cohousing | Ep 9 | From Me to We: The Philosophy of Living in Community with Carl Hall Jun 17, 2026 00:41:17 What can a philosophy professor teach us after two decades of living in community? In this episode of This Is Cohousing, Charles Durrett sits down with Carl Hall — resident of Nevada City Cohousing and professor of philosophy for 34 years. Carl reflects on the journey of how an avowed introvert came to find social heaven among 34 households, why cooperation deserves the benefit of the doubt, and h

This is Cohousing | Ep 8 | Out of Denial, Into Community: Quimper Village with Carolyn & Jack Salmon Jun 10, 2026 00:35:24 Quimper Village is about as elegant as the cohousing process gets. In this episode, host Charles Durrett sits down with founding members Carolyn and Jack Salmon to unpack how their senior cohousing community on Washington's Olympic Peninsula went from a church meeting to a finished neighborhood with 28 homes in just three years.They talk about getting out of denial about aging, the "no gr

This is Cohousing | Ep 7 | Different, Not Less: Neuro-Inclusive Living with Desiree Kameka Galloway Jun 2, 2026 00:47:25 What happens to adults with autism when their parents can no longer care for them? It's one of the most urgent and overlooked housing crises of our time — and intentional community may be one of the most powerful answers. In this episode, host Charles Durrett sits down with Desiree Kameka Galloway, Director of the Autism Housing Network and lead consultant for neuro-inclusive housing solutions

This is Cohousing | Ep 6 | How Common Meals Nourish Cohousing with Vesanto Melina May 26, 2026 00:43:06 What if the secret to a thriving neighborhood was as simple as sharing a meal? In this episode, Charles sits down with Vesanto Melina — registered dietitian, author of over 15 books, and resident of Vancouver Cohousing — to explore how common meals bring cohousing communities to life.From signup spreadsheets and cooking trios to rooftop gardens and $5 dinners, Vesanto and Charles dig into the prac

This is Cohousing | Ep 5 | Aging with Pride: Redefining Home for LGBTQ+ Elders with Margaret Roesch Apr 21, 2026 00:36:45 In this episode, Charles Durrett sits down with Margaret Roesch, co-founder of Village Hearth Cohousing in Durham, North Carolina—the first LGBTQ+ cohousing community in the United States.What began as a response to the fear of isolation in later life became a bold, community-driven journey in living differently. Margaret shares how she and her partner Pat McAulay helped bring Village Hearth to li

This is Cohousing | Ep 4 | From Asphalt to Village: Reimagining the Modern Campus with Gary Morrison Apr 3, 2026 00:42:39 In this episode, we explore a bold rethinking of the modern campus—moving from isolated, car-dominated environments to vibrant, community-centered villages.What if campuses weren’t just places people pass through, but places they truly belong? What if housing, social life, and daily needs were woven together into a walkable, intergenerational fabric?Drawing from real projects and decades of experi

This is Cohousing | Ep 3 | From Home Builder to Community Maker Mar 27, 2026 00:32:12 In this episode of the cohousing podcast, Charles Durrett sits down with Alan Carpenter, co-creator and co-director of the Canadian Cohousing Network. Together they explore the evolution and impact of cohousing in Canada and beyond.Alan shares his personal journey from building single-family homes to dedicating his life to creating intentional communities—sparked by a desire for deeper connection

This is Cohousing | Ep 2 | Building Belonging with Pat Darlington Mar 20, 2026 00:41:11 What does it take to build a cohousing community from scratch?In this episode of This is Cohousing, we talk with Patricia Darlington, one of the founders of Oakcreek Community in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Pat shares the personal story that first led her to discover cohousing and how that discovery turned into a real neighborhood built by ordinary people with a shared vision.We explore the early steps

This is Cohousing: Trailer Mar 13, 2026 00:02:00 THIS IS COHOUSING: The Cohousing Podcast, from The Cohousing Company and hosted by architect, author, and cohousing pioneer Charles Durrett. For nearly 40 years, Charles has explored how design and community can help us live more sustainably, affordably, and connected to one another. Through conversations with residents, organizers, architects, and developers, this podcast explores the ideas, hist

This is Cohousing | Ep 1 | Social Architecture of Affordable Housing Mar 12, 2026 00:32:53 In this episode of the podcast, Charles Durrett sits down with architect, researcher, and community development expert Nazin Bagherynejad to explore how housing design can dramatically influence social well-being—especially in affordable senior housing.Drawing from her PhD research comparing two very different housing models, Nazin examines the contrast between conventional subsidized housing and

This is Cohousing: The Cohousing Podcast

Episodes

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