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An old friend to the show, once maybe a foe for a while, back into friendly territory: Michael Thomas the Director of The Catholic Land Movement. I (Ashley) met Mike a almost half a decade ago, very early in my twitter days. It’s been a joy to see his vocation develop through the years and I am very glad Jason invited him back on the show. In this episode, Mike and Jason discuss the development of the movement, Catholic Social Teaching, distributism, dignified work and practical action, the importance of in person connection, vocation, family, and love! Enjoy!

I met Dwayne at a chance encounter at the Aspen Ideas festival in Chicago which my new buddy Samuel Kimbriel invited me to attend. I was feeling a little lonely and alienated there, lots of technocrats, and up to me walks Dwayne who saw my tag said optimism and he said “I am just about the most optimistic guy you’ll meet!” I saw his tag from the Southeastern Grasslands Institute and I instantly knew this was someone I’d need to have on the pod. Unsurprisingly I tapped Peter Allen to co-host with me and these two were fast friends! Oak savannah ecosystem nerds unite! Enjoy this episode! If you want to support Dwayne’s work, consider attending the Eastern Native Grasslands Symposium conference: https://www.engsymposium.org/home or finding their work here: https://www.segrasslands.org/

I met Stephen this summer at the Woodcrest Bruderhof + DO + Savage Collective event in NY. Alan from Plough suggested Stephen for a panel and he instantly agreed! He gave a fantastic talk about the wonderful characters in his neighborhood, and the very real sense of place that happens when you invite the colorful characters into your life. He had to run off to a family event after but he and I instantly hit it off and are slowly but surely planning a DO + Cracks in Pomo event in Manhattan, once we find the right format and speakers. In this episode we cover: Stephen’s background Postmodernism and the return of religion Suburban disenchantment Living tradition vs. traditionalism Civic life over culture war The Staten Island saint feast and MAGA Roots, immigration, and integration Humor, friction, and HR culture Subsidiarity and overcentralization The Catholic Worker and in-person events Follow Stephen's work at: https://cracksinpomo.substack.com/

Jason initiated this get together of some of the original DO crew to discuss the life, work and legacy of Wendell Berry. It is no secret that Berry’s work has been an animating force for nearly everyone orbiting DO, especially those of us interested in food and ag systems. We discuss not only the legacy of Berry’s nonfiction work — how he suggested the agricultural system would collapse and so far it largely hasn’t, but also his fiction and poetry which actually has a great contribution on love, companionship, and romance.

Every once in a while someone comes into the DO world and it is so clear how well they fit in it’s amazing you hadn’t found them yet! This is true of Mike, Chicagoan, Northsider (boo!), who has a vision for how to make good things in the world and is working to do so. Right now that looks like a manufacturing business he started, but Mike talks through his whole trajectory from fancy universities, working in politics, Chicago river ship boat captain, to trying to revitalize middle side American cities (with the help of Nick Offerman). You can support Mike’s work here: www.wilmot-productions.com

This episode explores how Josh and Hannah Centers built Chapter House, a publishing project designed to restore beautiful, culturally literate children’s books to homeschool families. From Homer and Shakespeare to Beowulf, Greek myth, and Our Island Story, they explain why classic literature still matters for forming attention, imagination, and virtue in a distracted age. They also share the homeschooling experiences that shaped their philosophy, including Hannah’s background as a public school teacher, their journey with a dyslexic child, and why Charlotte Mason’s ideas about habit training and whole-person education continue to guide their work. Josh makes the case that the liberal arts are even more important in the age of AI, while Hannah describes how the right book can open a reluctant reader’s world. If you care about education, great books, or raising kids with depth and resilience, this conversation offers a thoughtful and hopeful vision for what learning can be.

"But at Least They're Human: Face-to-Face Living -- With Joy and Without Illusions"From the conference: Another Life is Possible co-organized by the Woodcrest Bruderhof community, Doomer Optimism and Savage Collective, July 2026https://doomeroptimism.substack.com/p/do-308-bill-kauffman

Tom and Jason talk to Lenny Wells - pecan farmer and extension agent - about growing pecans in Georgia, the cultural and ecological factors. Along the way we also discuss: -how he got into pecans -his book on pecans -consulting with a pecan farmer in Spain -his love for Wendell Berry, and -fly-fishing in Montana Enjoy!

In this episode Ashley and Jacob discuss the concept of microcolleges, and examples of alternative educational models writ large. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Exploring education, community, and sustainability 02:27 - How a class on sustainable development shifted a life trajectory 04:02 - Higher education as transformative yet bureaucratic: a nuanced view 06:20 - The role of micro-colleges as laboratories for alternative education models 08:20 - Microcollege principles: human scale, place-based focus, holistic curriculum 10:12 - Experiential learning in agriculture and sustainability in Uruguay 13:19 - Moving to Uruguay: motivation, land, community, and self-sufficiency 16:26 - The influence of environmental sociology and fieldwork on education 18:13 - Rizoma and regenerative agriculture: connecting resources across bioregions 23:21 - Adapting the Uruguay model to local high schools and legislative advocacy 26:13 - The challenges of bureaucratic hurdles in US-based experiential programs 27:27 - The origins and evolution of Thoreau College in Wisconsin 28:05 - Deep roots in the Driftless region, organic farming, and educational experimentation 29:04 - Waldorf pedagogy, family-centered schooling, and youth leadership 31:51 - Deep Springs College: history, pillars, and self-governance 34:40 - The influence of Nicola Tesla and pioneering education in remote settings 36:27 - The unique, small scale, and community-centered design of Deep Springs and inspired schools 40:34 - Gender, environment, and community: reflections on co-ed versus single-sex models 41:26 - The importance of family and nurturing environments in education communities 43:11 - The role of place-based knowledge and historical understanding in cultivating belonging 45:27 - The holistic curriculum: arts, nature, and expedition-based experiential learning 48:45 - The ethics and profundity of slaughtering animals as a ritual of reverence 50:05 - Broadening perspectives: practical engagement over superficial debates 54:35 - The significance of embodied work, such as farming and outdoor survival skills 55:55 - Building agency through collective effort and sharing tangible skills 62:45 - The impact of experiential and community-based learning on resilience 65:05 - Ideals of subsidiarity and bioregional identity as anchors for local culture 66:39 - The cultural and environmental richness of bioregions like the Driftless 70:47 - The importance of place-based storytelling, native histories, and ecological literacy 75:34 - The power of local, tangible practices versus abstract ideologies 77:26 - The role of shared projects in dissolving superficial divisions 85:12 - Cultivating inner resilience and emotional strength through holistic education 87:11 - Moving from global scale despair to local scale action and empowerment 89:04 - The importance of facing difficulties together and growing through challenge 90:46 - The value of community hubs and bioregional identity in creating hope and agency

Movetonewathens.com TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introducing the idea of building a city from scratch to address societal doom02:08 - Jackson’s background in tech and recruitment influencing city planning03:03 - The role of ambition and ecosystem understanding in city development06:20 - How tech industry recruitment reveals societal dysfunction and potential solutions08:39 - The cultural decline: urban decay, regulations, and family disconnection11:48 - The blueprint for New Athens: promises to residents and leveraging local incentives15:07 - Examining societal doom: urban chaos, lawlessness, and cultural disintegration18:19 - Why cities are the optimal size for revival and the role of regulations19:16 - Ideal demographic makeup: balancing virtue, ambition, and risk-taking21:49 - Global and regional efforts for renewal: bioregions, state lines, and culture-based organization26:56 - Practical steps for deregulation and attracting people, businesses, and investors33:01 - The significance of moral bounds, virtue, and community in city planning42:50 - The importance of craft manufacturing, local food, and human-scaled urban design46:47 - Envisioning a human-friendly, tech-lite city culture52:28 - Population growth, family life, and the cultural mimetic effect58:40 - The collapse of woke ideology and the rise of anti-tech, pro-human movements65:00 - AI as a secular religion, the need to maintain human sovereignty and meaningful life71:01 - The role of technology regulation: keeping devices off the body and emphasizing human presence76:33 - The dynamics of institution-building, trust, and leadership challenges83:50 - The archetype of visionary leaders and operational builders for city creation88:17 - How to follow and support the New Athens project

Patrick Lemmon and Seth Harris In this episode, Patrick and Seth discuss the principles of traditional and orthodox building methods, the importance of local materials, and the future of sustainable construction. They explore how craftsmanship, local culture, and thoughtful design can create enduring and meaningful structures. Keywords: building, masonry, traditional construction, local materials, sustainability, architecture, craftsmanship, Vermont, masonry revival, orthodox Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Built Environment and Human Flourishing 03:00 Personal Journeys in Craftsmanship and Building Traditions 05:58 The Philosophy Behind Orthodox Masonry 08:54 The Importance of Teamwork in Craftsmanship 11:50 Learning from Nature: Building with Local Materials 15:00 Challenging Traditional Building Practices 18:02 The Historical Context of Building in Vermont 21:04 The Concept of Housewrights and Holistic Building 23:57 The Impact of Industrialization on Building Practices 27:03 The Relationship Between Building Materials and Environment 29:59 The Future of Building: Embracing Local and Sustainable Practices 40:02 The Impact of Flooding on Homes 41:56 The Evolution of Building Materials 43:50 Ventilation and Heating in Masonry Homes 50:04 Design Principles in Architecture 52:00 The State of the Building Arts Movement 01:03:04 Optimism in Building Practices Orthodox Masonry is a design/build firm specializing in structural masonry and timber frame construction. Creating buildings that are both structurally and aesthetically resilient, we offer an alternative to disposable construction. https://www.orthodoxmasonry.com/about

In this episode, Alicia Pederson, founder of Courtyard Urbanist, takes us on a fascinating journey from ancient Rome to today’s urban development roadblocks. She explains how courtyard-based architecture can address housing shortages, social isolation, and environmental concerns—all while creating vibrant, affordable neighborhoods for middle-class families. Read more about Alicia's work and vision here: https://courtyardurbanist.com/p/welcome-to-courtyard-urbanist

AI, Existential Risk, and the Future of the Human Soul

Geoffrey Long of Long Story Farms joins Jason to talk about what it actually takes to build a working farmstead part-time, the real challenges of scaling production and finding local markets, and why he thinks a permanent storefront can do what farmers' markets can't. We also get into his philosophy around local economies, community resilience, and why he believes people with skills and agency are better positioned more than most for whatever comes next.Geoffrey Long runs Long Story Farms in Newberry, South Carolina, where he raises Jersey cows, pigs, laying hens, ducks, and turkeys on 130 acres while maintaining a nine-year-old food forest and holding down a full-time corporate job. He's also spent the last three years renovating a historic building on Main Street to open Farms on Main, a local food grocery and zero-waste refillery focused on low food miles and minimal packaging.instagram.com/longstoryfarmscfacebook.com/longstoryfarmsx.com/longstoryfarms

When Your Tractor Breaks, Open Source the Whole Civilization Marcin Jakubowski, founder of Open Source Ecology, joins Ashley to talk about his 20-year project to open source the blueprints for civilization, starting with a broken tractor on a Missouri farm and expanding into a full Global Village Construction Set of 50 industrial machines. They get into the abundance vs. scarcity mindset, solar concrete, modular open source housing at $100K build cost, why proprietary design is a bad mental model, and how Marcin is now recruiting 75 people for his Future Builders Academy to finish the whole set by 2028. If you've ever been frustrated by planned obsolescence, right to repair, or the cost of building anything in America, this one's for you. https://www.opensourceecology.org/