Tell me more about cohousing
Our members Lynn Morstead & Kelli Soika get together weekly to chat about cohousing topics. They reflect on a broad range of questions, observations, challenges and successes related to their forming cohousing community and the world around them. They are newbies to the podcasting world, refining their craft each week. Come along for the ride! They're fun and look forward to your comments. Lynn & Kelli For more information on CoHousing Houston go to www.cohousinghouston.com
S4 Episode 14: Founders Series, Sunnyside Village Cohousing in Marysville, Washington
Send us a message!
In Episode 14 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika chat with Jennie Lindberg and Norm Frampton from the forming community of Sunnyside Village Cohousing in Marysville, Washington. Listen in to hear more about their "cottage" community!
For more information or to get in touch with Jennie and Norm, please visit www.sunnysidevillagecohousing.com or you can send an email to info@sunnysidevillagecohousing.com.
Curious about Houston? Check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any...
S4 Episode 13: What it means to be the founder of a cohousing community
Send us a message!
In Episode 13 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika talk about what it means to be a Founder of a cohousing community. They share what this means to them individually and announce the plans to interview some other members and communities about their founding stories.
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at info@cohousinghouston.com.
S4 Episode 12: How do you stay motivated and energized?
Send us a message!
In Episode 12 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika answer the questions that so many people ask us "How do you keep going after all this time?" This project has been longer than any of us anticipated. If you're wondering this about us, or working on a longer project and needing some inspiration, listen in to hear what they are doing to stay focused, motivated and energized!
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know...
S4 Episode 11: Growing up in cohousing
Send us a message!
In Episode 11 Lynn Morstead interviews Kalila Zunes-Wolfe about her experiences living in two different cohousing communities from the age of one through leaving for college. Kalila shares memories of favorite activities, encountering different parenting styles, inviting friends over, launching a cohousing newspaper, Olympics and more. Tune in to learn more.
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at info@cohousinghouston.com.
S4 Episode 10: A visit with Heartwood Commons in Tulsa
Send us a message!
In Episode 10 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika visit with Suzy Sharp of Heartwood Commons in Tulsa, OK. Suzy is all moved in to her cohousing dream home and shares what it's like to be on "the other side" of the move in. Learn about the community activities, how the group stayed together through the stresses of moving, and hear about the three homes they have available for active adults 55+.
If you would like to learn more about Heartwood Commons, visit their website or give...
S4 Episode 9: Construction update (Spoiler: we have pendant lights!)
Send us a message!
In Episode 9 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika tour the Common House at CoHousing Houston. In the cool air of the community's geothermal heat exchange HVAC system, they take a look at the finishings being installed in the kitchen, dining area, and mail room.
S4 Episode 8: Why does Community matter?
Send us a message!
In Episode 8 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead look at Why Community Matters through a new lens inspired by one-time young podcaster, Lilian Shepard, in her debut, single recording in 2021 during the aftershocks of COVID (check out Why Community Matters).
It was fun to reflect on our generational differences and similarities as we walked through the 8 reasons why it matters. Listen in to see what your take would be.
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com
S4 Episode 7: (Gently) calling all introverts! Cohousing is for you
Send us a message!
In Episode 7, Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika discuss how cohousing works for people who identify as introverts. It isn't all group activities and endless gatherings! Cohousers delivers all the warmth of community that introverts and extroverts alike crave.... just with less of the things introverts hate. If you like having people around but hate chit-chat, this is for you.
S4 Episode 6: Minimalism and checking in on right-sizing project
Send us a message!
In Episode 6, Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika discuss how the concepts of cohousing support the tenets of minimalism. They check in on Lynn's project to right-size her physical world to match her busy and active lifestyle.
Benefits of Minimalism: 21 Benefits of Owning Less
S4 Episode 5: Getting the word out- sales and marketing for new cohousing communities
Send us a message!
In Episode 5, Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika share the change in CoHousing Houston's website to include floor plans and prices. It is a departure from the community-first approach and signals that the project is almost complete. If you're dreaming of forming a cohousing community, this episode provides insight into sales and marketing strategy.
S4 Episode 4: Abundance
Send us a message!
In Episode 4, Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika pick up on the word of 2025: abundance. Some people are talking about it in reference to a policy ethos, but they tap back into the idea that cohousing creates "extra space."
If you missed it, there's a great article from December, "How to be not lonely? 'Cohousing' is an answer for some people" published by NPR that covers similar points.
S4 Episode 3: A Katie McCamant Replay
Send us a message!
In case you missed it, Kelli & Lynn are replaying this interview with Katie McCamant from 2024. It’s chock full of good information about cohousing as a national movement (she’d just wrapped up the national conference when it was recorded).
Katie McCamant of CoHousing Solutions is returning to Houston to come see the progress made and walk the space with the group she has advised from the very start.
As part of this visit, Katie will give a public talk on site at 4pm on Saturday, April 2...
S4 Episode 2: Why THIS Site Tour?
Send us a message!
In Episode 2, Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika are looking forward to the April site tour with a very important visitor. Katie McCamant is coming to town!
Katie McCamant of CoHousing Solutions is returning to Houston to come see the progress made and walk the space with the group she has advised from the very start.
As part of this visit, Katie will give a public talk on site at 4pm on Saturday, April 26th. REGISTER. Katie will speak from 4:15 to 4:45 and then we'll ta...
S4 Episode 1: The Senses of Our New Homes
Send us a message!
Welcome to Season 4! We've been through the looooooong construction of buildings and are now in the finishing stages. Season 4 will accompany this community in the finishing stages through to movie in.
In Episode 1 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead introduce what's happening on site with their experience of walking through new homes in a new neighborhood.
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have
S3 Episode 61: How Cohousing is different than Coliving
Send us a message!
In Episode 61 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead cover the 5 main areas where the cohousing and coliving models for community living differ from each other. The terms are often used interchangeably in the media as these concepts are introduced into new markets, but there are key differences that interested future residents will want to understand.
In this podcast Kelli and Lynn cover these key points of distinction:
OwnershipScope of private space Participation in decision-makingInvolvement in management of the propertyThe basis for community life, aka the social contract...
S3 Episode 60: What will change your mind about Houston?
Send us a message!
In Episode 60 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead review the places and activities they show out of town guests. The focus is on the aspects of Houston that dominate their experiences of living in the city: green lushness, art everywhere, walkable and bikeable, and eclectic. By the time their guests leave, they take away a completely transformed perspective on what Houston is really like.
Listen in to see how this compares with what you think about Houston.
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out...
S3 Episode 59: Why come to an Info Session?
Send us a message!
In Episode 59 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead pose the question- if someone has read about cohousing why should they come to an Info Session?
They break down the content, the expectations, and the magic that go along with a live conversation. Listen in to hear more ... or just come to the next Open House on Feb 8!
RSVP here: https://mailchi.mp/a7b38c561972/hgao11xceq
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com...
S3 Episode 58: Moving means switching grocery stores. Yikes!
Send us a message!
In Episode 58 Kelli Soika interviews Lynn Morstead and member Liz Parker about their recent visit to the grocery store in their future neighborhood. What was it like? Could they find what they wanted? Will they commit to the new one, or make the drive back to their old one after they move? Listen in to hear more ...
Come meet us at our our next Open House on Feb 8!
RSVP here: https://mailchi.mp/a7b38c561972/hgao11xceq
For more information a...
S3 Episode 57: Winter doldrums
Send us a message!
In Episode 57 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika are struck by the winter doldrums... it's raining, it's grey, the days are short (even in Houston!), and the buildings aren't ready for a January move-in. What are future cohousers to do?
Come meet us at our our next Open House on Feb 8!
RSVP here: https://mailchi.mp/a7b38c561972/hgao11xceq
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or i...
S3 Episode 56: What's Happening in CoHousing Houston Jan '25
Send us a message!
Send us a message!
In Episode 56 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika talk about the community events that took place in December and share the experiences of the year-end first ever site visit for Friends and Family, followed by a public Open House. It was so successful they are doing it again on Feb 8. Click here to sign up for that one, if you're curious: https://mailchi.mp/a7b38c561972/hgao11xceq
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston...
S3 Episode 55: REPLAY An interview with Laird Schaub, a seasoned consensus decision-making coach
Send us a message!
In honor of our friend, Laird Schaub, a man who brought clarity to the clueless, humor to tough situations, and a path forward for those of us hoping to live in a more cooperative culture, we'd like to replay our interview from our first season.
The discussion begins with an explanation of cooperative culture and how it compares to a competitive environment and then they explore specific scenarios navigated by communities, including:
S3 Episode 54: Common meals will save the world
Send us a message!
Cohousing.org, has a t-shirt campaign right now declaring Common Meals Will Save The World. In Episode 54 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika review the newly launched community dinner program at CoHousing Houston. After two Meatless Mondays, they have some ideas about what has worked and what could be tweaked. If you're in town, come check it out!
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at info...
S3 Episode 53: We're Dreaming of New Neighbors
Send us a message!
In Episode 53 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika dream up the future neighbors they are seeking to fill the remaining spaces in their community. From toddlers, to curious 30-somethings, to the person who makes you laugh, to the person who inspires you to live more sustainably and many others. Listen in to hear how they assemble the dream team. Maybe one of them is you!?
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments...
S3 Episode 52: Tell Me More About Cohousing
Send us a message!
In Episode 52 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika are fresh off a stint at the farmers' market where they talked to tons of people about cohousing. They bring the questions people have and their answers to the recording. Truly, this is "Tell Me More About CoHousing"!
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at info@cohousinghouston.com.
S3 Episode 51: HAUS Project Houston with Matteo Roberts
Send us a message!
In Episode 51 Lynn Morstead interviews HAUS Project member, Matteo Roberts, about the history of this unique Houston cooperative and his experiences in cooperative living, for the first time in his life.
The mission of the HAUS project is "to provide affordable housing operated cooperatively by residents with greener, more sustainable lifestyle options. We strive to educate the general public about cooperative organizational principles and sustainable lifestyle options, as well as assist other cooperative and sustainable efforts in the Houston region and elsewhere."
True to their...
S3 Episode 50: The value of a simple conversation
Send us a message!
In Episode 50 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika talk a little more about one of the pieces of advice that Katie McCamant offered about living in community last week. She is a big believer in working things out with neighbors by starting with a conversation. It is often difficult for the "default" action to be having a conversation but it is so very powerful.
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or...
S3 Episode 49: The National Conference with Katie McCamant
Send us a message!
In Episode 49 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika talk to Katie McCamant of CoHousing Solutions about her experience at the 2024 National Cohousing Conference in Denver. Katie talks about the national association's ongoing interest in affordability in cohousing as well as a move to broaden the age and diversity of the cohousing concept. She mentions some interesting ideas for how to handle generational change within communities.
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments o...
S3 Episode 48: A quick look at the real estate market today
Send us a message!
In Episode 48 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika talk about recent changes in the real estate landscape and how those larger trends do or don't apply to cohousing homes.
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at info@cohousinghouston.com.
S3 Episode 47: The Neighborhood Engagement advance team
Send us a message!
In Episode 47 Lynn Morstead interviews long-standing member, Margie Ortega, about the unique team that she has spearheaded during our community development phase of our project. It's called the "Neighborhood Engagement" team. In this interview Margie talks about how this group was started, how she has launched the team and what her aspirations are for our cohousing project's involvement in the local neighborhood.
Margie recently wrote a piece about how the Gulf storms have affirmed her decision that cohousing is the right answer for her: How the Derecho and Beryl...
S3 Episode 46: Amiss Baucum
Send us a message!
In Episode 46 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead interview Amiss Baucum, currently doing a Master's program in Urbanism and Societal Change at the Royal Danish Academy of Architecture. Amiss grew up in Louisiana in a tight community, which informs his interest in the value of connection and the importance of designing for interaction with the people living around us.
They cover a wide range of topics and perspectives from his program and experiences living in Europe, from how to accommodate population growth with repurposing of buildings to the...
S3 Episode 45: Top 10 Agreements Before Moving In
Send us a message!
In Episode 45 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead conduct a review of the Recommended Top 10 Agreements to have in place before moving in, and take a stab at assessing how their community is doing on this list.
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at info@cohousinghouston.com.
S3 Episode 44: The Cohousing Conference Recap
Send us a message!
In Episode 44 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead talk to a member of their community, Cate Springer, about her experience at the national cohousing conference. She's an architect who is interested in how to live differently... and she's in the middle of a journey visiting cohousing communities. Come hear about the conference and her experiences!
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at info@cohousinghouston.com.
S3 Episode 43: Inside cohousing- what if I want to make changes to my home?
Send us a message!
In Episode 43 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead discuss how cohousing communities address individuals' desire to change their homes within the context of shared walls and shared interests. Hint: it's pretty different from how a standard HOA handles it.
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at info@cohousinghouston.com.
S3 Episode 42: A farewell to the Olympics!
Send us a message!
In Episode 42 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead catch up and talk about the 2024 Olympics. How does it relate to cohousing? Tune in and find out!
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at info@cohousinghouston.com.
S3 Episode 41: A visit with Heartwood Commons in Tulsa
Send us a message!
In Episode 41 Kelli Soika visits with Suzy Sharp a founding member of Heartwood Commons a new 55+ cohousing community in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Suzy talks about her community which is getting ready for move in soon. If you're curious about communities around the US, listen in and learn about Heartwood Commons.
Suzy mentions that Heartwood Commons will hold an information session on Tuesday, August 20 at 6:30 pm on Zoom.
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us k...
S3 Episode 40: Discovering community through a sisterhood of refugees
Send us a message!
In Episode 40 Lynn Morstead interviews Kim Meyer, one of our newest cohousing community members about her path to community.
An author, university English professor and most recently the founder of a community farm, Lynn invites Kim to describe her journey from writer to farmer, to cohousing and explore how they all overlap.
In her most recent book, Accidental Sisters: Refugee Women Struggling Together for a New American Dream, Kim describes her journey with five refugee women in Houston, Texas, as they navigate a program for...
S3 Episode 39: Experiences of community living for a young adult
Send us a message!
In Episode 39 Kelli Soika interviews Caleb Parker, a young adult who has lived in both a co-op in Texas and an intentional community in New York City. They talk about the structure of the two communities and his insights into how the environment creates a sense of community.
Caleb is CoHousing Houston member, Liz Parker's, son. Check out our conversation with her about the Power of Invitation.
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know...
S3 Episode 38: Community responses to Hurricane Beryl
Send us a message!
Send us a message!
In Episode 38 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika talk about what happened in Houston this past week when hurricane Beryl came roaring into town. How they prepared for it, how they rode out the storm and what the response was in their respective neighborhoods. They wrap it up with thoughts on how they will respond to the next one and what their take-aways are for moving into cohousing later this year.
For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website a...
S3 Episode 37: The practice of showing up
Send us a message!
In Episode 37 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika discuss one of the ways community is built: through the regular (and sometimes tedious!) practice of just showing up. The value of returning to a group of people and committing to building a relationship is the foundation for the sense of community that often comes later.
For more information about community dinners coming soon to cohousing in Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by e...
S3 Episode 36: Cooking for a crowd, a tale from the Camino de Santiago
Send us a message!
In Episode 36 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika interview Claudia Stephens about her experience cooking for a crowd as a volunteer chef at one of the many waystations on the Camino de Santiago. She has an amazing tale of hospitality and organization that is inspiring and relates well to the experience of community dinners.
For more information about community dinners coming soon to cohousing in Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by...
