This Is How We Care

086: How We Restore the American Village (Why Suburbia Is Failing Us) with Diane Alisa

Episode Summary

In this episode of This Is How We Care, I’m joined by Diane Alisa, author of "A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village", for a conversation that names what SO many families feel, but haven’t had language for. We explore how suburbia, car dependence, and zoning laws have shaped our experience of motherhood, fatherhood, childhood, community, and care itself. If you’ve ever wondered why: * Parenting feels isolating
 * Community feels hard to access
 * Children no longer roam and elders live alone
 * The “stay-at-home vs working parent” debate feels impossible
 This episode holds the answers. Diane walks us through the design problems inherit to suburbia and how we can rebuild walkable, family-centered villages instead. We talk about: * Why suburbia quietly dismantled the village
(and our experience of trust and community) * How car-centric design impacts family life and mental health
 * The loss of shared wealth, skills, and multigenerational living
 * Why zoning laws matter more than we think
 * And how neighbors—not corporations or politicians—are the key to rebuilding community


Episode Notes

In this episode of This Is How We Care, I’m joined by Diane Alisa, author of "A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village", for a conversation that names what SO many families feel, but haven’t had language for.

We explore how suburbia, car dependence, and zoning laws have shaped our experience of motherhood, fatherhood, childhood, community, and care itself.

If you’ve ever wondered why:

• Parenting feels isolating

• Community feels hard to access

• Children no longer roam and elders live alone

• The “stay-at-home vs working parent” debate feels impossible


This episode holds the answers. We talk about:

• Why suburbia quietly dismantled the village
(and our experience of trust and community)
• How car-centric design impacts family life and mental health

• The loss of shared wealth, skills, and multigenerational living

• Why zoning laws matter more than we think

• And how neighbors—not corporations or politicians—are the key to rebuilding community 

To connect with Diane Alisa:

• Check out her website - https://dianealisa.carrd.co/
• Buy her book - https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=DzokccGrMt2slF5KQFCXsDMDM5wVCTuLCmYrttV9FmX 
• Follow her on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/diane_alisa

For mentorship, coaching and strategic support as you create community in your life, work with Emily (the Revillaging Mama):

• Apply for the 4-Month 1:1 Mentorship program, "Revillage Your Life" - www.revillagingmama.com/offers
• Online community of other "Revillagers" at The Third Space - www.revillagingmama.com/offers#thethirdspace 

Stay Connected:

• This is How We Care on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecare
• Revillaging Mama on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/revillagingmama
• This is How We Care on Substack -  https://thisishowwecare.substack.com/
• Revillaging Mama on Substack -  https://substack.com/@emilycares
• Send Emily an email at emily@thisishowwecare.com