Doomer Optimism

Stephen Adubato is a writer, educator, and theologian behind Cracks in Postmodernity. He explores postmodernism’s turn toward religion, suburban disenchantment, and the difference between living tradition and online traditionalism. The conversation ranges from Staten Island saint feasts and immigrant integration to humor, civic life, subsidiarity, Catholic Worker communities, and why in-person relationships matter more than culture-war battles.

A lively retrospective on Wendell Berry’s influence, from agricultural collapse and industrial food systems to Port William’s fading rural culture. The discussion explores marriage, shared work, gender roles, stewardship, humane technology, and Berry’s populist critique of institutions. It closes with his enduring legacy of joy, fidelity, community, and hope amid decline.

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 MontanaEnjoy!

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 sustainability02:27 - How a class on sustainable development shifted a life trajectory04:02 - Higher education as transformative yet bureaucratic: a nuanced view06:20 - The role of micro-colleges as laboratories for alternative education models08:20 - Microcollege principles: human scale, place-based focus, holistic curriculum10:12 - Experiential learning in agriculture and sustainability in Uruguay13:19 - Moving to Uruguay: motivation, land, community, and self-sufficiency16:26 - The influence of environmental sociology and fieldwork on education18:13 - Rizoma and regenerative agriculture: connecting resources across bioregions23:21 - Adapting the Uruguay model to local high schools and legislative advocacy26:13 - The challenges of bureaucratic hurdles in US-based experiential programs27:27 - The origins and evolution of Thoreau College in Wisconsin28:05 - Deep roots in the Driftless region, organic farming, and educational experimentation29:04 - Waldorf pedagogy, family-centered schooling, and youth leadership31:51 - Deep Springs College: history, pillars, and self-governance34:40 - The influence of Nicola Tesla and pioneering education in remote settings36:27 - The unique, small scale, and community-centered design of Deep Springs and inspired schools40:34 - Gender, environment, and community: reflections on co-ed versus single-sex models41:26 - The importance of family and nurturing environments in education communities43:11 - The role of place-based knowledge and historical understanding in cultivating belonging45:27 - The holistic curriculum: arts, nature, and expedition-based experiential learning48:45 - The ethics and profundity of slaughtering animals as a ritual of reverence50:05 - Broadening perspectives: practical engagement over superficial debates54:35 - The significance of embodied work, such as farming and outdoor survival skills55:55 - Building agency through collective effort and sharing tangible skills62:45 - The impact of experiential and community-based learning on resilience65:05 - Ideals of subsidiarity and bioregional identity as anchors for local culture66:39 - The cultural and environmental richness of bioregions like the Driftless70:47 - The importance of place-based storytelling, native histories, and ecological literacy75:34 - The power of local, tangible practices versus abstract ideologies77:26 - The role of shared projects in dissolving superficial divisions85:12 - Cultivating inner resilience and emotional strength through holistic education87:11 - Moving from global scale despair to local scale action and empowerment89:04 - The importance of facing difficulties together and growing through challenge90:46 - The value of community hubs and bioregional identity in creating hope and agency

Movetonewathens.comTIMESTAMPS: 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

Seth Harris, a craftsman skilled in cabinetry, timber framing, and dry stone work, and Patrick Lemmon, a design/build specialist in structural masonry and timber-frame construction, discuss traditional, place-based building. They talk about using local materials, learning from old buildings, breathable assemblies, thermal mass benefits, and reviving durable craftsmanship for resilient, lasting construction.

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