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Ithaca Local Economy Lab - Business, Community and a Life Worth Living

Ithaca Local Economy Lab - Business, Community and a Life Worth Living

By: Dia local economy nerd and community minded neighbor
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About this listen

Welcome to Ithaca Local Economy Lab, a podcast about the real-world experiments shaping the future of capitalism in one small city.

Something unusual is happening in Ithaca, NY. Instead of chasing scale, speed, and outside investment, a growing network of entrepreneurs and organizations are building businesses and economies designed for local resilience, shared ownership, and long-term community wealth.

This podcast documents that shift and asks the question: What would an economy look like if taking care of people was the goal, not a side effect?

Hosted by Dia, each episode is a thoughtful conversation inviting listeners into how these models actually work.

We’ll explore:

• How credit unions and community finance keep money circulating locally

• Why cooperative and member-owned businesses change power dynamics

• What happens when healthcare becomes relationship-based instead of transactional

• How food systems can be rebuilt through shared infrastructure and local production

• Why reducing economic leakage is essential for small-town survival

• And much more

Because many of today’s economic pressures, rising costs, stagnant wages, community decline, aren’t random. They’re symptoms of a system designed to extract value and concentrate it elsewhere .

This podcast explores what happens when that design changes.

Ithaca is a living laboratory for what’s possible when: • Money circulates instead of exits • Ownership is shared instead of concentrated • Growth is measured in resilience, not just revenue

This is a show for:

• Thoughtful listeners who want to understand, not just react

• Entrepreneurs building in small or mid-sized communities

• People interested in economic alternatives beyond politics and ideology

• Anyone looking for grounded hope rooted in real examples

• Anyone inspired by the idea that the economy is not fixed but designed, and better designs already exist

Ithaca Local Economy Lab offers a map toward something better.

New episodes drop every first and third Thursday of the month.

Start listening and see what happens when a community rewrites the rules.

Join us at https://IthacaLocalEconomyLab.com

and on Patreon for early access to new episodes and more local economy information

https://www.Patreon.com/Practicalmuse

Practically Real, LLC
Episodes
  • LocalFiber - Weaving a New Economy From the Ground Up

    LocalFiber - Weaving a New Economy From the Ground Up
    Mar 29 2026

    Explore the journey of natural fiber production, from raising goats to handcrafting textiles, and discover how local fiber collectives are fostering sustainable, community-centered economies. Lisa Ferguson shares her insights on building relationships, educating consumers, and creating a resilient regional fiber industry.

    Key Topics:

    • The role and mission of the Local Fiber Collective in Central New York
    • The process of turning fiber into finished products: from goat to sweater
    • Valuing quality and natural fibers over fast fashion's low-cost, short-lived clothing
    • Building customer relationships through storytelling and transparency
    • The importance of collective care and fair pricing among fiber farmers
    • Challenges faced by fiber collectives, including volunteer engagement and organizational identity
    • Opportunities for newcomers: joining collectives as farmers or makers
    • Advice for starting a similar community-driven fiber initiative elsewhere

    Timestamps:

    01:31 - How Lisa got into goats and fiber farming, inspired by natural fibers

    03:19 - The community aspect of fiber farming and connection with other farmers

    04:26 - How Lisa joined the Local Fiber Collective and its growth

    05:38 - Membership details and the regional scope of the collective

    07:30 - The fiber chain: from goats to finished garments

    08:49 - The processing steps: shearing, skirting, washing, spinning, dyeing

    11:15 - Building customer trust through storytelling and transparency

    12:31 - How natural fiber production educates and reconnects consumers with craft skills

    14:20 - The collective approach to fair pricing over competition

    15:14 - The benefits of natural fibers versus fast fashion products

    16:37 - Environmentally conscious farming practices in the collective

    18:42 - Challenges of maintaining interest and organizational clarity

    19:01 - The importance of mentorship and community support for new farmers

    22:02 - Advice for starting similar collectives outside Ithaca

    23:44 - Building community through local events and shared purpose

    25:49 - Challenges: volunteer engagement, organizational structure, funding

    Resources & Links:

    • Local Fiber Collective
    • Laughing Goat Fiber Farm
    • https://IthacaLocalEconomyLab.com

    The Practically Real Team:

    • Jake Gribschaw - Technical Advisor https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgribschaw
    • Stacey Cornelius - Associate Producer https://agencyofwords.com
    • Sonia Simone - Content Strategist https://remarkable-communication.com
    • Erin O'Shaughnessy - Creative Consultant https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erin-o-shaughnessy-depoe-bay-or/373808
    • Yen Ospina - Artist http://yenospina.com
    • Carsie Blanton - Musician http://carsieblanton.com
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Beyond Insurance - The Healthcare Model That's Changing Everything

    Beyond Insurance - The Healthcare Model That's Changing Everything
    Mar 29 2026

    Beyond Insurance - The Healthcare Model That’s Changing Everything

    Discover how healthcare is transforming with an innovative direct primary care model, offering affordable, accessible, and relationship-based health solutions in Ithaca. Learn why this model is gaining momentum as a sustainable alternative to traditional insurance-based healthcare.

    Key Topics

    • The limitations of the current patient care system and the complexities of insurance
    • How direct primary care (DPC) simplifies access and reduces costs
    • Cost savings with DPC, including cheaper labs, imaging, and medications
    • The role of DPC in managing emergencies and routine health needs
    • How DPC offers tailored services like men's and women's health, hormone therapy, and home visits
    • The impact of DPC on practitioner burnout and patient satisfaction
    • Strategies for starting or joining a DPC practice, including low overhead requirements
    • The future of healthcare: people-over-profit and a return to personalized care

    Contact details: homesteadhealth.com and 607-882-6001

    Resources & Links

    • Homesteady Health - https://homesteadyhealth.com
    • Homestead Health on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/homesteadyhealth
    • Homestead Health on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/homesteadyhealth/

    Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to share this episode, rate, review, and subscribe to support the local economy conversations. For more resources and to connect with hosts, visit https://ithacalocaleconomylab.com

    The Practically Real Team:

    • Jake Gribschaw - Technical Advisor https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgribschaw
    • Stacey Cornelius - Associate Producer https://agencyofwords.com
    • Sonia Simone - Content Strategist https://remarkable-communication.com
    • Erin O'Shaughnessy - Creative Consultant https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erin-o-shaughnessy-depoe-bay-or/373808
    • Yen Ospina - Artist http://yenospina.com
    • Carsie Blanton - Musician http://carsieblanton.com

    Connect with Dia on Patreon:

    https://patreon.com/Practicalmuse?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Caring for People and the Environment: An Introduction to the Ithaca Local Economy Lab

    Caring for People and the Environment: An Introduction to the Ithaca Local Economy Lab
    Mar 23 2026

    This episode is an introduction to the podcast themes and reveals the fundamental questions behind creating economic systems that prioritize human well-being.

    Hosted by Dia, the podcast explores radical economic experiments in Ithaca, from local currencies to community-driven finance, offering insights for anyone interested in rebuilding economies from the ground up.

    Key topics:

    • The core question: What would an economy built to care for people look like?
    • The importance of relationship-building and cultural shifts in economic transformation
    • Examples of radical economic experiments in Ithaca, including local currencies and cooperative ownership models
    • The role of trust, skills, and community in shaping new economic systems
    • The purpose and vision behind the Ithaca Local Economy Lab initiative
    • The team behind the podcast, including production and creative contributors
    • How these Ithaca stories serve as models for other communities worldwide
    • The podcast's release schedule of first and third Thursdays and access details via Patreon and website

    Timestamps: 00:04 - What if the economy was designed to prioritize caring for people?

    00:33 - Introducing the Ithaca Local Economy Lab and its focus on radical economic experiments

    01:00 - The team behind the podcast and its production details

    01:34 - Closing remarks and gratitude from the creators

    Resources & Links:

    • https://IthacaLocalEconomyLab.com
    • Jake Gribschaw - Technical Advisor https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgribschaw
    • Stacey Cornelius - Associate Producer https://agencyofwords.com
    • Sonia Simone - Content Strategist https://remarkable-communication.com
    • Erin O'Shaughnessy - Creative Consultant https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erin-o-shaughnessy-depoe-bay-or/373808
    • Yen Ospina - Artist http://yenospina.com
    • Carsie Blanton - Musician http://carsieblanton.com

    Connect with Dia:

    • https://patreon.com/Practicalmuse?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink
    Show More Show Less
    2 mins
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