Happiness of the Commons

Episode 3: The Impact of Housing on Community

Mon, 18 May 2026 02:30:00 -0600

In this episode, Alanna and Katie discuss how housing structures impact community. Using Katie’s recent move and Calgary’s contentious rezoning public hearing, they explore how car dependency adds major hidden costs, limits access to schools, groceries, coffee shops, and transit, and contributes to loneliness. They connect housing to transit investment, safety for kids, and walkable design, and highlight testimony from seniors and disability advocates who want to downsize or access care without losing the community connections they have in their neighborhoods.

Link to Alanna's presentation at council.

Link to Stephanie's (disability advocate) presentation at council hearing on repealing rezoning for housing.

Loneliness Health Impacts

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5831910/

Episode 2: Exploring Community Leadership

Mon, 04 May 2026 02:30:00 -0600

What do community leaders look like? What do they do for us? How can we support them?

Katie and Alanna explore these questions and more in this episode. They discuss community builders, activists, artists, and disability advocates as a few examples, and discuss practical ways we can all support leaders who make things happen.

Episode 1: The Antithesis of Tragedy of the Commons

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:30:00 -0600

Alanna and Katie explore some ways you can build community and be in networks of support. They explore the difference between friendships and community, and touch on a few systemic factors that either foster or limit community connection.

Instagram

@HappyCommonsPod

Tragedy of the commons

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons

Micro interactions

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/micro-relationships-and-talking-to-strangers-1.7636486

The little book of Lykke

https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-little-book-of-lykke-the-danish-search-for-the-worlds-happiest-people/9780735234895.html

https://calgary.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S95C1176428

Katie's Quiche recipe

1 frozen pie shell
4 large eggs
3/4 cup (120ml) milk or cream
1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper
1 cup shredded or crumbled cheese (feta or cheddar are my go-tos)
up to 2 cups veggies or protein (spinach, tomato, broccoli, asparagus, ham, green onion, bacon etc)

Fill the pie shell with your add-ins and cheese. Mix the egg and milk in a bowl, and pour into the pie shell until full. Give it a gentle stir to mix in the shell. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes - check that the centre is set. Fits perfectly in a freezer bag to freeze for a friend - make 2 at a time for maximum sharing potential!

Music produced by Mason Jay

Introduction: The Inconvenience of Community

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:15:00 -0600

Who are we and what do we care about? In this intro, we give a peek into these questions and explore some of the topics we want to dive into deeper in future episodes. Parenting, the inconvenience of community, connecting with neighbours, and some of the health benefits of community are addressed.

Instagram

@HappyCommonsPod

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The Power of Connection | Alzheimer Society of Ontario https://share.google/1IZEaq87hCKt7vsjr

Music produced by Mason Jay

Mentioned in this episode:

Music Produced by Mason Jay

Trailer: Introducing, Happiness of the Commons

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:40:00 -0600

Katie McLean, Registered Provisional Psychologist and Alanna deBoer, Urban development nerd explore the intersections between psychology, well-being, and our built environments, and how community touches every aspect of our lives.

Instagram: @HappyCommonsPod