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What if the solution to better housing, health, and happiness isn’t greater independence, but deeper interdependence? In this episode of Next Economy Now, sustainability educator and regenerative living advocate Cynthia Tina invites us to rethink how we live, highlighting what it means to live in alignment with shared values, and why intentional communities are emerging as a powerful response to today’s social and ecological challenges.
Founder of CommunityFinders and Ecovillage Tours, Cynthia shares insights from visiting over 200 intentional communities and building her own natural home in a Vermont ecovillage. From food co-ops and shared childcare to renewable energy and cooperative governance, she explores how these intentional communities can reduce costs, build resilience, and foster deeper human connection.
Cynthia also addresses common misconceptions, real-world challenges, and the personal growth that comes from learning to live and problem-solve collectively. Join us for a grounded look at community-led solutions for a regenerative economy!
Key Points From This Episode:
How Cynthia’s early travels sparked a passion for intentional communities. [0:02:14]
Living in a self-built natural home in a Vermont ecovillage. [0:05:25]
What defines an intentional community and how it differs from other living models. [0:07:20]
How to navigate finding shared values with your intentional community. [0:12:07]
The many benefits of living in intentional communities. [0:15:47]
Examples of how intentional living reduces living costs, including in cities. [0:18:24]
Environmental and social benefits of communities like Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage. [0:23:32]
First steps to take if you’re curious about joining or starting an intentional community. [0:28:22]
What to expect when joining a community and the personal growth that comes with navigating conflict together. [0:33:08]
Inside Ecovillage Tours and their immersive guided trips to intentional communities. [0:39:28]
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Quotes:
“The running definition for intentional community is a group of people who are choosing to live together or regularly share facilities on the basis of explicit common values.” — Cynthia Tina [0:07:20]
“There’s a whole field of research that needs to happen around community living and understanding, with empirical evidence, the benefits.” — Cynthia Tina [0:13:11]
“The best way to head off conflict is by choosing people who are a good fit from the get go, and having a good mixture of folks who naturally get along, who have some of the shared values, [and] who have a similar vision for where the community is going in the future.” — Cynthia Tina [0:37:47]
“The more work you can put into developing your inner capacity for listening, giving feedback, and speaking authentically [is] going to set you up for success down the road, living in community.” — Cynthia Tina [0:38:50]
“I hope folks consider intentional community as an option, because – growing up in the suburbs, it was not an option. It was a scary alternative thing that you wanted to avoid. I want to let people know that this is potentially a beautiful life path for them and their families.” — Cynthia Tina [0:43:15]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Cynthia Tina: https://cynthiatina.com/
Cynthia Tina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiatina/
CommunityFinders: https://communityfinders.com/
Ecovillage Tours: https://www.ecovillagetours.com/
Foundation for Intentional Community: https://www.ic.org/ref/135
International Communal Studies Association: https://www.icsacommunity.org/
Global Ecovillage Network: https://ecovillage.org/
Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage: https://www.dancingrabbit.org/dancing-rabbit-inc-nonprofit/research/
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