The nuclear family has been held up as the ideal for generations, but it's actually a relatively recent invention. From college dorms to pandemic pods, some of our happiest moments come from living in community with others. So why do Americans cling to independence as a marker of success? In our Season 2 premiere, we explore how our individualistic lifestyle developed, what it's costing us, and how reimagining family structures could create a more connected future.

Our guest is Dr. Kristen Ghodsee, professor of Russian and Eastern European Studies at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Everyday Utopia: What 2,000 Years of Wild Experiments Can Teach Us About the Good Life.

Every month, we host ReFamily Dinner, a virtual event that connects our audience with someone who has refamulated. The guest talks about their experience and answers your questions. This month’s dinner is a conversation on communal living with Lily Lamboy and her husband Alex Savtchenko. Lily & Alex own and operate Ryza, a community home in Berkeley which they share with six friends.

Sign up for this month's event here, and join us Nov. 13 from 8-9:30 p.m. EST.

Referenced in this Episode:

"Everyday Utopia" by Kristen Ghodsee
"Homeward Bound" by Elaine Tyler May
"The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake" by David Brooks in The Atlantic
U.S. Surgeon General's report: "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation (2023)
Johnson County city bans co-living with four or more people

The episode transcript can be found here.

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Our team

Host: Julia Winston

Producer: Claire McInerny

Manager of Engagement: Grace Barry

Audio Engineer: Josh Gilbert

Theme Music: Luke Top

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