When the headlines go quiet, the classrooms wake up.

For our season finale, we’re tackling a quiet revolution. We’ve all seen the headlines about the death of local news (the "News Deserts" expanding and corporate consolidation silencing local voices). But while the "Madness" says local journalism is dying, the reality is that it’s simply being reborn in a different setting.

In this episode, we’re looking at how student-led newsrooms are stepping into the void to become the "Information First Responders" for 14 million Americans. This isn't just about homework or clips for a portfolio; this is the front line of local democracy.

Join us as we explore:

The "News Oasis": How universities and student journalists are turning information-starved regions into thriving hubs of truth.

Myth-Busting: Why the idea that student journalism is "just practice" is a dangerous misconception and why these students are often the only ones left attending your city council meetings.

The Verification Gap: How student reporters are providing the "Main Artery" of verified facts that social media often fails to deliver.

The Future of the Press: From the Center for Community News to the California Local News Fellowship, we look at how the next generation is building a sustainable future for public service journalism.

We didn’t want to just end the season. We wanted to start a conversation about what you can do to support the news that actually matters to your street, your school, and your city.

This is the future of the fourth estate. Let’s look at the Upside.

SHOW NOTES:

Center for Community News | University of Vermont

Universities tackle local news crisis | Fitchburg State University

Mapping independent digital media around the world | Project Oasis

Potter Digital Ambassadors program expands to five states, helps community news orgs advance digital strategies | Missouri School of Journalism

Applications open for California Local News Fellowship (US) | Global Forum for Media Development

Berkeley Journalism Fellowships | UC Berkeley Journalism

While most of the world is tucked in, roughly 20% of the workforce in industrialized nations is just getting started. This isn't just about the "party-goers" or the "night owls"; this is the Night Shift Society: the essential healthcare professionals, logistics experts, manufacturing operators, and sanitation crews who serve as the metabolism of our modern world.

In this episode of The Upsiders, we’re pulling back the curtain on the "Invisible City." We dive into the unique challenges of the third shift, from the "Madness" of circadian rhythm disruption and "food deserts" at 3:00 AM to the struggle of finding childcare when the sun isn't out.

Word of the Week: The "Night Mayor": Meet the "Nachtburgemeester", the independent bridge-builders in cities like Amsterdam who have successfully reduced nighttime violence by 25% while boosting the economy.

Innovation on Wheels: How cities like Boston and Atlanta are solving the "3:00 AM Hunger" and transit gaps with food trucks and on-demand employee shuttles.

The "Upside" isn't about changing the world overnight; it's about realizing that the city belongs to those who work in the dark just as much as those who work in the light.

Join us as we discuss how a little "Night Vision" can turn an invisible workforce into a supported community.

Show Notes:

Sweden's 24-Hour Childcares | Soft Earth Dreams

Light in the darkness: Urban nightlife, analyzing the impact and recovery of COVID-19 using mobile phone data | Science Direct

The Negative Impact of Night Shifts on Diet in Emergency Healthcare Workers | National Library of Medicine

Why Amsterdam’s night-time economy needs protecting and promoting | World Cities Culture Forum

The stuff of night mayors: Amsterdam pioneers new way to run cities after dark | The Guardian

London’s night-time economy still precarious despite tourism boom, says global survey | Arts Professional

Boston Has New Late-Night Food Options—and They’re on Wheels | Boston University Today

Some late night food trucks in Boston will stay open until 3 a.m. Here's where you can find them. | CBS News

Wake Up the Night Grant Pilot Program | City of Boston

A City Built to Host | City of New Orleans

Shift On Demand, a new free transportation service for Atlanta Airport employees | The Atlanta Voice

‘After Hours Child Care Act’ aims to help more working parents | First Five Years Fund

In this episode of The Upsiders, we’re diving into the essential concept of the "Third Place"—those vital spots that aren't home (the first place) and aren't work (the second place). Sociologist Ray Oldenburg argued that these neutral grounds are the "Main Artery" of a healthy democracy, but in an era of digital isolation and rising costs, our physical gathering spots are under threat.

We’re exploring a shift in the culture: as Gen Z moves away from alcohol-centric socializing, what takes the place of the traditional pub? From the legendary aisles of The Last Bookstore to local gems like Loom in Indianapolis, we discuss why "low-stakes loitering" is actually a radical act of community building.

In this episode, we break down:

• 🌳 Social Infrastructure: Why McDonald’s has become the "English Pub" for lower-income Americans and what that says about our need for connection.
• 🛠️ Tactical Urbanism: How "DIY" community improvements—from pop-up parks to sidewalk benches—are causing "Good Trouble" between citizens and city officials.
• 📚 Hero of the Upside: We spotlight OlaRonke Akinmowo, founder of The Free Black Women's Library, a mobile bibliographic project that proves a Third Space doesn't need a mortgage to change lives.
• 🛡️ Reality Check: Why your local Starbucks might not actually be a Third Space, and the truth about whether "Discord Servers" can truly replace a face-to-face encounter.

Whether it’s a community garden, a barber shop, or a well-placed bench, the "Upside" is clear: we don't need a high entry fee or a drink in our hand to find our people. We just need a place to show up.

Show Notes:

The Last Bookstore

Ray Oldenburg | Project for Public Spaces

The American Revolution was cooked up in taverns | Share America

Move over Dry January. Gen Z is already stepping away from alcohol. | USA Today

The Sober Party Girl Revolution | New York Times

“Third places” as community builders | Brookings

Loom | Visit Indy

What is Tactical Urbanism? | Tactical Urbanists Guide

What Is Tactical Urbanism? 4 Examples & Case Studies Explored | One Key Resources

The Why: Third Spaces & Conviviality | Travis Tinnin

OlaRonke Akinmowo and The Free Black Women's Library | The Met

For years, the "Madness" surrounding video games has focused on a single, debunked myth: that they cause real-world violence. But while we were arguing over old headlines, a quiet revolution was happening in the "Identity Sandbox."

In this episode of The Upsiders, we’re digging into the latest 2025 and 2026 research from the Oxford Internet Institute and UC Santa Barbara to ask the hard questions: How do we maximize the "Flow State" while dodging the "Dark Patterns" designed to keep us spending?

We’re breaking down the frontier of "Prescription Play," including:

• The Neural Reset: How the "Flow State" acts as a natural cortisol blocker for an anxious brain.
• FDA-Cleared Gaming: The science behind EndeavorRx and how gaming is becoming a literal medicine for ADHD.
• The Identity Sandbox: Why playing an "assertive" RPG character might be the best exposure therapy for social anxiety.
• The "Dark Patterns" Reality Check: How to spot the manipulative design features that turn a hobby into a "Monetized Frustration."

We also feature our Hero of the Upside, Dr. Nicholas D. Thomson, whose "Impact VR" program is using simulated conflict to teach empathy and reduce bullying in schools.

This isn't about escaping reality; it's about practicing for it. Whether you’re a casual player or haven't picked up a controller in years, this episode will change the way you look at the "Power of Play."

Listen in as we ask the three questions every player needs to answer: Am I learning, who am I playing with, and what is this game actually costing me?

Show Notes:

How to make sure gaming is good for your mental health | BBC

Teens and Video Games Today | Pew Research Center

13 ways gaming affects your mental health – for better and worse | Oxford

Teens say video gaming has social and mental health benefits, but some downsides as well | American Psychological Association

Power of Play: 2025 Global Video Games Report | Entertainment Software Association

Dark Patterns in Gaming: Lawsuits Target Manipulative Monetization Tactics | Rain Intelligence

VIDEO: Dark Patterns: How design seeks to control us | Sally Woellner | TEDxSydney

VCU researcher partners with T-Mobile to expand VR mental health therapy for youths | VCU

Dark patterns | Better Internet for Kids

Zap Dramatic | Online Negotiator Games (I don't think they work anymore)

On this week’s episode of The Upsiders, Your Friendly Neighborhood Los and Bertram dive into the "Monopoly Moment." As lovers of cities, our hosts believe that a thriving community depends on a diverse "ecosystem" of businesses, creators, and innovators, not just a few giant skyscrapers owning the whole skyline.

We’re taking a look at Lina Khan, the former Commissioner of the FTC, and the "New Brandeis Movement." This isn't just about complaining about Big Tech; it’s about a pro-competition revolution that is already changing the rules of the game.

In this conversation, we look back at the "Robber Barons" like Rockefeller and Carnegie to see how the original Trustbusters used the Sherman Act to spark a century of middle-class growth. We explore modern equivalents and why Meta acquiring Instagram or Amazon competing against its own third-party sellers is the 21st-century version of "Vertical Integration."

The Word of the Week is Monopsony. It’s not just about one seller; it’s about one powerful buyer. We explain how giant companies use their weight to suppress wages and dictate unfair terms to small producers.

Our Unsung Hero of the Upside is Louis Brandeis, the "People's Lawyer," whose 100-year-old philosophy on "Industrial Liberty" is finally the coolest thing in Washington again.

The moral of the story: We have done this before, the laws are already on the books, and we are finally rediscovering the political will to use them. Breaking up a monopoly isn't just a "lawsuit"; it’s an investment in a more creative, equitable, and competitive future for everyone.

SHOW NOTES:

Amazon’s Antitrust Paradox by Lina Khan | Yale Law Review

The Illusion of Choice: How Big Business Controls Your Life (ft. Lina Khan) | Youtube

Progressive Era to New Era, 1900-1929 | Library of Congress

Sherman Anti-Trust Act (1890) | National Archives

United States v. E. C. Knight | Justia

Monopsony | Investopedia

More Perfect Union: We Found Corporate America’s Biggest Enemy | Youtube

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to James Madison (1788): Improving the Constitution | Teaching American History

James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 17 October 1788 | National Archives

Prof G Markets: Unlocking Innovation Through Antitrust Enforcement — ft. Lina Khan | Youtube

The curse of bigness | National Constitution Center

The Curse of Bigness: Antitrust in the New Gilded Age by Tim Wu | University of Utah

Pablo Torre Finds Out: Former FTC Chair Lina Khan on Facebook, A.I., the NCAA, Steve Bannon and Fixing the McFlurry | Youtube

On this week’s episode of The Upsiders, Your Friendly Neighborhood Los and Bus-Rider Bertram are getting personal. Our hosts aren't just "car-free by choice", they are unapologetic lovers of cities. They believe there is something magic about thousands of people with different goals and priorities coming together to live, grow, and collaborate in one space.

But for a city to truly breathe, it needs a healthy pulse. Los argues that the central artery of any thriving city is a high-functioning public transit system. Today, we’re asking a radical question: What happens when we stop treating the bus as a "social service cost" and start seeing it as a powerful economic investment for everyone?

We’re diving deep into the Fare-Free Transit movement catching fire from Iowa City to the entire country of Luxembourg. 🇱🇺

In this conversation, we break down:

1. The Word of the Week: Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). How dense, walkable neighborhoods around transit stops create a "synergy" that revitalizes local economies.
2. The "Modal Shift": Why the goal isn't just "free rides," but moving people out of gas-guzzling cars to solve the massive, hidden costs of traffic and road maintenance.
3. Reality Check: We don't shy away from the hard questions. How do we replace the budget gap? And how do we ensure transit stays a safe, high-quality public good?
4. The Opportunity Barrier: From GPAs to job interviews, we look at how a $1.75 fare can be the difference between a breakthrough and a breakdown for a family.
5. Hero of the Upside: We celebrate Luxembourg, a nation to go fully fare-free, proving that mobility is a fundamental public good.

Whether you're a daily commuter or haven't stepped on a bus in years, this episode will change how you look at the asphalt outside your front door. It’s time to stop viewing transit as a loss and start seeing it as the smartest investment a modern city can make.

Show Notes:

As Fare-Free Transit Catches On, Checking In On 5 Cities With Free Public Transit | Next City

Transit-Oriented Development | Federal Transit Administration

YOUTUBE: Some cities turn to free public busing to counteract inequity | PBS News Hour

YOUTUBE: The country where all public transit is free | Tom Scott

What is Modal Shift and How Can it Change the Way We Travel? | Liftango

Transportation access | Urban Institute

YOUTUBE: Why free public transport doesn't fix traffic (and what does) | DW Planet A

Say goodbye to your transportation budget: Here are more than 40 U.S. cities that provide free transit | Yahoo Finance

YOUTUBE: Yes, going fare-free can make transit better | Radical Planning

Chapel Hill, USA | Free Public Transit

YOUTUBE: How is Tallinn offering free-fare public transport? | Urban Mobility Explained

Iowa City Made Its Buses Free. Traffic Cleared, and So Did the Air. | New York Times

The Weekly Wrap: Iowa City’s Free Buses Are a Transit and Environmental Win. | Next City

The High Cost of Free Transit | The Daily Economy

YOUTUBE: Why Free Public Transportation Is a Bad Idea | VisualEconomik

Study finds Kansas City fare-free bus policy attracted new riders, increased overall use | University of Kansas

Kansas City will reinstate bus fares and reduce route frequency under new funding plan | NPR

All aboard! Can Luxembourg’s free public transport help save the world? | The Guardian

Public transport | Luxembourg

Welcome to a very domestic, and very insightful, episode of The Upsiders!

Join Cohabitat Bertram and Your Friendly Neighborhood Los for a fun, energetic conversation about the explosive rise of Shared Spaces. We aren't just talking about sharing a fridge; we are diving into how co-working and co-living are completely redefining how we work, live, and connect.

In this episode, we break down:

1. The Office, Reimagined: What is co-working, and why are professionals thriving in spaces filled with synergy (our Word of the Week!)?
2. The Co-Living Boom: Why it’s not just for students anymore. From seniors to digital nomads, people are choosing community over isolation to combat the high cost of living.
3. A Coffee Shop in an Abandoned Mental Hospital?: We highlight the Mansion Society Coffee Shop turning a historic, abandoned mental hospital into a thriving community coffee shop, proving that connection can come from the most unlikely places.
4. Hero of the Upside: We highlight Humanitas, a Dutch nursing home offering rent-free housing to students
5. Reality Check: Is co-living for everyone? Does co-working mean losing your privacy? We bust the myths and look at how these models reduce waste and encourage a circular economy.

Whether you're looking for a desk, a home, or just a really good tip on where to store your leftovers, this episode has you covered.

Show Notes:

Westside coffee shop offers a taste of the timeless — and maybe a ghost | Mirror Indy

Central State Mansion: your guide to the co-living space | Indy Today

Historic Central State

New Life at Central State Part Two: Restoring and Repurposing | Historic Indianapolis

The Future Is Flexible: Why Coworking Is Becoming An Essential Part Of The Office Real Estate Market | Forbes

Transforming Coffee Shops Into Coworking Spaces: A Growing Business Opportunity | Forbes

Why People Thrive in Coworking Spaces | Harvard Business Review

A Complete Guide to Coworking Spaces for Small Businesses | US Chamber of Commerce

What is coliving? Understand the new boom among digital nomads | World Packers

Coliving Spaces in 2025: The Future of Housing in the USA | Everything Coliving

Under one roof: U.S. cities look to co-living to ease housing crisis | Reuters

Rent a room and move in fast | Padsplit

PadSplit’s Shared Home Model Hits A Milestone | Forbes

Dorms for Grownups: A Solution for Lonely Millennials? | The Atlantic

Aging in Place, Aging in Community through Cohousing | AARP

‘A vastly superior way to live’: why more seniors should choose cohousing | The Guardian

Dutch nursing home offers rent-free housing to students | PBS

Co-Hatch

State’s First Nonprofit Coworking Space Opens | Inside Indiana Business

#TheUpsiders #SharedSpaces #CoWorking #CoLiving #Synergy #CommunityBuilding #FutureOfWork #GoodNews

In this episode of The Upsiders, we go "under the hood" of the digital world to explore Open Source. We often think of big tech as a series of skyscrapers owned by Apple or Google, but the foundation they sit on is a $20-trillion infrastructure built on a "gift economy."

What we’re diving into:

1. The Blueprint for Civilization: We look at the Open Source Ecology Project and how 50 industrial machines are being designed for free to help anyone, anywhere, build a sustainable society.
2. Medicine for the People: How open-source hardware, like the MIT Emergency Ventilator, can bypass corporate gatekeepers to save lives in low-resource clinics across the globe.
3. The Linux Miracle: Meet our Unsung Hero, Linus Torvalds, the college student who created the "master control program" that now runs 90% of the internet’s cloud servers.

We also break down the Word of the Week: Kernel, and hit our Reality Check to bust the myth that open source is just for "hobbyists." It turns out, the most secure and powerful code in the world isn't a trade secret—it’s open for everyone to see.

Show Notes:

Open Source Initiative

How open-source is shaping the future of innovation | Dev Ops Online

Open Source Ecology Project

Machines: Global Village Construction Set | Open Source Ecology Project

MIT Emergency Ventilator Project | MIT

Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection | John Green

Open-Source Hardware May Address the Shortage in Medical Devices for Patients with Low-Income and Chronic Respiratory Diseases in Low-Resource Countries | National Library of Medicine

Once a leading killer, tuberculosis is now rare in rich countries — here’s how it happened | Our World in Data

OER Commons

Made by educators, for educators | Moodle

This week, we explore the revolutionary efforts to enact New Constitutional Amendments aimed at correcting glaring American issues. We dive into two major movements:

1. Political Equity: The push to Overturn Citizens United to limit political spending and the movement to Establish a Right to Vote for all citizens, ensuring a voice for low-income and marginalized communities.
2. Socio-Economic Rights: The bold campaign for an Economic Bill of Rights, inspired by FDR, which would constitutionally guarantee rights like adequate medical care, a decent home, and a good education.

We introduce our Word of the Week: Entrenchment, and in our segment, That's Actually an Upside!, we flip the biggest frustration on its head: Why the difficulty of amending the Constitution is actually its greatest strength, promoting stability and broad consensus.

Finally, we recognize Ralph Abele, the Unsung Hero who championed the environmental rights amendment in Pennsylvania, and hit our Reality Check to prove why the effort to amend the Constitution is a foundational change that fuels movements, not stops them. This episode is about using the ultimate tool to achieve the ultimate upside: a more equitable, just, and durable future.

Show Notes:

28th Amendment Proposed | Congress.gov

American Promise

Move to Amend

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly about The Electoral College | Monmouth University

Equal Rights Amendment

Ralph W. Abele | Charles River Watershed Association

Biden declares Equal Rights Amendment ‘law of the land’ in probably symbolic statement | PBS News

This week, we debunk the pervasive myths about Gen Z in the workforce. We turn conventional wisdom on its head, starting with our segment, "That's Actually an Upside!", where we argue that job-hopping is now a feature, not a bug, that helps Gen Z find the right fit and avoid burnout.

In this episode, we dive into the data showing that even though Gen Z has already worked at an average of 2.7 companies in 2.8 years, they are also the generation most consistently driven by long-term career goals.

We also define our Word of the Week: "Coffee Badging," and reveal why 70% of bosses caught their employees doing it, yet nearly 60% "didn't mind." Plus, we recognize Alexia Cambon from Gartner as our Unsung Hero of the Upside for helping companies finally understand their youngest workers.

Join us for a Reality Check as we rapidly fire through seven common Gen Z stereotypes and prove why the generation that grew up online is actually the most ambitious, efficient, and pragmatic workforce we've ever seen.

Show Notes:

Job Hopping Is a Feature Not a Bug For Gen Zers | Revelio Labs

Generational Differences in the Workplace [Infographic] | Purdue Global

Job-hopping Gen Z only stay in each job 1 year and 54% are regularly browsing for their next role—but a report says they’re not disloyal villains | Fortune

Employers, beware: Gen Z is the ‘pragmatic generation’ redefining success, seeing money as just a means to an end, landmark EY survey says | Fortune

What is coffee badging? – a deep dive | OWL Labs

How to Appeal to Generation Z Candidates | Gartner

Alexia Cambon: Organisations are struggling to connect employees to culture in a hybrid world, so how will they overcome this? | HR Review

This week, we dive into the brilliant, global concept of Sponge Cities: an urban planning model that uses nature-based solutions to absorb, store, and slowly release rainwater. Instead of fighting floods with expensive concrete dams, we are learning to let cities act like a sponge.

We spotlight the visionary work of Chinese urban planner Professor Kongjian Yu, the architect of the movement, and explore the "Slow Water" philosophy—which argues that when water stalls on the land, the magic happens.

In this episode, we explore the multi-layered Upside of Sponge Cities:

• Dual-Action Resilience: How green infrastructure like permeable pavements, rain gardens, and green roofs prevents flooding during storms and provides essential cooling during extreme heat events.
• From Problem to Resource: How decentralized systems recharge groundwater and improve water quality, boosting drought resilience.
• The Global Snapshot: We look at how cities from New York to Shanghai are implementing this "low-tech toolbox" to manage water sustainably.

Join us to discover why the best and cheapest way to adapt to climate change in cities might be to simply let water be water.

Show Notes:

Youtube: Flood-Proof Cities Concept | Professor Kongjian Yu's

Youtube: What are sponge cities? | Business Standard

Making cities 'spongy' could help fight flooding — by steering the water underground | NPR

What Are ‘Sponge Cities’ and How Can They Prevent Floods? | Engineering For Change

Youtube: A solarpunk future by 2030 | Future Explored

Urbanism 101: What is a Sponge City? | The Urbanist

Youtube: How China is designing flood-resistant cities | Vox

Book Review: Helping Water Find Its Own Level | Undark

Global Sponge Cities Snapshot | Arup

Youtube: Global Sponge Cities Snapshot | Arup

Youtube: The Shocking Corruption Behind LA's Water Supply | The B1M

This week, we dive into the soaring trend of Community-Owned Renewable Energy Projects—local, decentralized initiatives where citizens invest in and benefit from their own power sources, from rooftop solar cooperatives to local wind farms. This "Power to the People" model is more than just a clean energy transition; it's a social and economic revolution.

We explore how this grassroots model is surging globally, with over 2 million people involved in 23,000 projects across 30 European countries alone. Community energy provides an alternative to the utility-led system that has historically prioritized profit over people, leading to blackouts and transmission line failures.

In this episode, we spotlight local heroes, including Brooklyn's UPROSE (Brooklyn's oldest Latino community-based organization) and their work on the Sunset Park Solar project, as well as efforts to bring solar to marginalized communities right here in Indiana.

Learn how community ownership creates a massive Upside by:

• Increasing Energy Security through local microgrids and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs).
• Driving Economic Benefits and job creation directly back into the neighborhood.
• Reducing resistance to renewable projects, leading to a faster, fairer transition.

This is the inspiring story of how collective action is democratizing energy, making power cleaner, safer, and fairer for all.

Show Notes

Power to the People: An Overview of Community Energy | Earth.org

Uprose

Sunset Park Solar

What is community ownership for renewable energy? | Institute for Human Rights and Benefits

Community-Owned Community Solar: Opportunities and Challenges | Environmental Law and Policy Center

A landfill in Indy will soon be home to community solar | Mirror Indy

Solar United Neighbors

Solar power is about to become a lot more expensive for Hoosiers as net metering expires | IndyStar

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

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

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

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

Welcome back to The Upsiders. For decades, our consumer culture has been built on a foundation of planned obsolescence, leaving us with a staggering amount of waste and a forgotten skill: the art of repair.

In this episode, we're mending that disconnect. Inspired by John Wackman and Elizabeth Knight’s book, Repair Revolution: Fixing What’s Broken, we dive into the global movement of Repair Cafes. These grassroots initiatives are sparking a reskilling revolution, proving that we can be more than just a society of consumers.

Discover how these community hubs are not only preventing waste but are also building stronger bonds. With a remarkable 70-85% success rate, these cafes are teaching invaluable skills, bridging the partisan divide by bringing people together over a shared mission, and empowering communities to reclaim agency over their belongings. Join us as we explore the 2,000 Repair Cafes across 33 countries and ask: can fixing what’s broken—from a toaster to a torn seam—be the key to a more sustainable and connected future?

SHOW NOTES:

Repair Revolution | John Wackman and Elizabeth Knight

Repair Cafe Movement

Right to Repair | Wikipedia

Repair café offers free fixes for broken items to help limit environmental waste | WRTV Indianapolis

Repair Cafes: Community Solutions for Our Throwaway Consumer Culture | Simply Living

Repair Cafés breathe new life into broken household items, teach people to fix on their own | ABC7 Chicago

At Repair Cafes, ‘Beloved but Broken’ Possessions Find New Life | New York Times

Repair cafes are back after the pandemic, and they're only getting more popular | NPR

What is Radical Hospitality?

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

Echoing John Paul Jones's bold declaration, "I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not intend to go fast, for I intend to go in harm’s way," Los and Bertram explore how these nimble enterprises are the true pioneers, driving innovation and giving our world new direction with speed and intent.

They dive into what constitutes a micro-business – typically fewer than 10 people – and distinguish the ambition of a "micropreneur" from that of a traditional entrepreneur. Discover how this smaller scale offers incredible flexibility, lower overhead, and the ability to rapidly adapt and experiment.

They also explore the growing trend of "micro-retailing," where even retail giants are adopting smaller, more focused footprints, proving that sometimes, less is indeed more. Join The Upsiders as they celebrate the dynamic spirit of micro-businesses, the unsung heroes challenging the status quo and proving that big impact can come in small packages.

SHOW NOTES:

A look at small businesses in the U.S. | Pew Research Center

Facts & Data on Small Business and Entrepreneurship | SBE Council

What is micro-retailing and why is it a growing trend? | Econsultancy

What is micro-business? | Wolters Kluwer

Entrepreneurship and the U.S. Economy | US Bureau of Labor Statistics

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

We then examine how the XQ Competencies are transforming educational assessment, better preparing students for the complexities of adult life. Don Wettrick and the STARTed UP Foundation are mentioned as we discuss their innovative approach to fostering entrepreneurship and student agency.

Shifting our focus to workforce development, we delve into TechPoint's coalition efforts to establish robust youth apprenticeship programs, drawing inspiration from the Swiss model of education. We further explore the impactful work of the CEMETS iLAB at the Richard Fairbanks Foundation, which is facilitating interest-based internships and career exploration for Indiana students.

We also reflect on a poignant moment from our sister podcast, Voices of Indianapolis, where students interviewed Kyle Hickman of Rebuilding Together, emphasizing the importance of considering potential pitfalls alongside positive outcomes. While we celebrate the upside of these educational innovations, we acknowledge the need for mindful planning and problem-solving.

Ultimately, we reinforce the crucial role of interest-based, work-based learning in bridging the gap between students and employers, and in fostering a generation of empowered, skilled, and forward-thinking individuals.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this episode of The Upsiders are solely those of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the individuals or organizations mentioned.

SHOW NOTES:

The Future of Learning by Sam Chaltain | Youtube

In Indianapolis, an Adventure in Magnitudes Is Reshaping the Future of School | Sam Chaltain

XQ Competencies | XQ

Connecting Classroms to the Real World | STARTedUP Foundation

Empowering the Next Generation of Business Titans | High School Hustle

Indiana leaders form coalition to build, grow youth apprenticeship | Tech Point

Mission41k | TechPoint

Can Indiana Crack the Code on Swiss-Style Apprenticeship? | WorkShift

CEMETS iLAB Indiana | Richard Fairbanks Foundation

Indiana Career Scholarship Account | State of Indiana

Fixing Indianapolis and Helping Homeowners in Need: Rebuilding Together with Kyle Hickman | Podcast on Spotify

We'll unpack the key components that make a robot, from the sensing capabilities that prevent collisions to the actuators that power their movements, including the fascinating advancements in soft robotics. Discover how cobots are transforming workplaces, working safely alongside humans to handle repetitive tasks and improve efficiency, from vacuuming hotel floors to assisting diners at Chili’s.

We'll also explore the cutting-edge research into robotic intuition, examining how AI is enabling robots to understand and prioritize tasks in complex environments, potentially revolutionizing search and rescue operations and even giving super-powered abilities to our canine companions. Join us as we look beyond the fears of job displacement and uncover the positive impact robots are having on our present and future.

Show Notes

The Robot Report | Exploring the Business and Applications of Robotics

Everything you wanted to know about soft, hard, and nonmurderous automatons. | The WIRED Guide to Robots

What are Cobots? | Built In

Chili’s to deploy Rita the Robot at 51 more locations | Restaurant Dive

The Future of Work: How AI and Automation Are Changing Business | Aspen University

Helping robots zero in on the objects that matter | MIT

We'll discover how AI is transforming our lives. We'll explore the life-saving potential of AI in healthcare, focusing on its impact on early cancer detection and personalized treatment plans. We'll also examine how AI is boosting human creativity and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. Finally, we'll uncork the world of AI-powered sommeliers, revealing how technology is changing the way we experience and appreciate fine beverages.

Join Los and Bertram as they uncover the unexpected ways AI is shaping our world, one story at a time. It's The Upside – your time machine to the most exciting moments of today.

SHOW NOTES

There is a promise in AR/VR technology to help students on the Autism Spectrum to learn better | 3DBearIO

Artificial intelligence-assisted esophageal cancer management: Now and future | National Library of Medicine

How AI might help researchers make esophageal cancer less deadly | LA Times

How Generative AI Can Augment Human Creativity | Harvard Business Review

The AI Sommelier: AI Has Revolutionized the Wine Industry and How Your Industry Benefit | Forbes

Join Bertram and Los on The Upsiders, a podcast that takes you on a journey through time to discover the brighter side of today's world. In our inaugural episode, we dive into the world of streaming platforms and their seemingly endless supply of shows. But did you know that even with all these options, there are still countless gems lost in the annals of television history?

In this episode, we explore four forgotten shows that deserve a second look:

• American Grit: A reality competition series that put contestants through intense physical and mental challenges.

• Boot Camp: A reality competition show that followed recruits through the grueling training process of military boot camp.

• Murder in Small Town X: A reality murder-mystery game show that delved into the mysteries and secrets of a small town.

• Ghostwriter: A children's show where a group of kids solves local crimes, capers, and mysteries in their neighborhood, with the help of a ghost who can only communicate through writing and words.

Discover why these shows were so special and why they deserve to be rediscovered. Tune in to The Upsiders to hear Bertram and Los discuss the impact these shows had on television and why they believe they should be brought back to life.