What if the secret to a better life wasn’t a bigger house or higher salary, but simply living closer to your friends? Phil Levin, co-founder of Live Near Friends, reveals how proximity can drastically increase happiness, cut housing costs, and reshape how we think about community. From building a 10-home campus in Oakland to redefining what “neighbor” really means, we explore how small shifts in where—and who—you live near can change everything.

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Keywords

community, co-living, housing, quality of life, social connections, urban living, real estate, friendship, shared spaces, neighborhood design, built environment

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Crocs Distance and Its Importance00:40 Building a Community: Life at Radish01:56 The Cadence of Living Near Friends04:03 The Science of Happiness and Friendship06:33 The Pandemic's Impact on Co-Living Trends08:58 Barriers to Living Near Friends11:07 Live Near Friends: The Enterprise13:29 Target Demographics for Co-Living15:48 The Difference Between Co-Living and Living Near Friends18:19 Cultural Context of Living Near Friends20:32 Sharing Spaces: What Works and What Doesn't22:14 The Joy of Shared Living24:28 Navigating the Home Search Process27:26 Flexibility in Living Arrangements28:18 Rethinking Urban Design for Community39:32 The Dizziness of Freedom and Community Anchors

Links

Phil Levin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillevin/

Live Near Friends – https://www.livenearfriends.com

Radish – https://radishoakland.com/

Supernuclear (Blog + Substack) – https://supernuclear.substack.com

Framingham Heart Study – https://www.framinghamheartstudy.org

Culdesac (Car-Free Community) – https://culdesac.com

What if plumbers and HVAC techs are America’s newest millionaires—and the secret heroes of our economy? Why is fixing your sink so expensive, and how is the skilled trades shortage reshaping everything from infrastructure to green energy? Could these hands-on careers actually be more future-proof—and profitable—than a traditional college degree?

Dive into a revealing conversation with Ruchir Shah, CEO of SkillCat, who’s dismantling myths about trades work and spotlighting why these jobs are booming—some even building $100 million businesses. From the surprising political and environmental impact of the skilled trades shortage to how online training is making this career path accessible to thousands, this video uncovers the untold story behind America’s evolving workforce.

Discover why tradespeople enjoy higher job satisfaction, why these careers are almost AI-proof, and how a resurgence in skilled trades could fix not just pipes but the very fabric of our society. If you think the trades are just “blue collar” dead ends, think again. Ready to challenge what you thought you knew and explore an overlooked path to wealth and fulfillment? Watch now and get inspired by America’s new millionaire class.

Subscribe to Most Podern on:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrp

Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodern

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/most.podern

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podern

Links:

https://www.skillcatapp.com/

ruchir@skillcatapp.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruchirshah2/

Chapters:

00:00 The Importance of Skilled Trades

01:08 The Shift in Perception of Trades

03:26 The Impact of Aging Workforce

05:53 SkillCat's Role in Training08:05 The Evolution of Training Methods

10:47 Measuring Success in Skilled Trades

13:29 The Ideal Profile for Tradespeople

16:42 Exploring the Trades: A Hidden Opportunity

18:43 Breaking Barriers: Awareness and Access in Trades

21:06 The Dignity of Work: Fulfillment in the Trades

25:14 AI and the Future of Trades: Job Security

26:52 The Role of Trades in Green Energy and Infrastructure

28:56 Debunking Myths: The Financial Reality of Trades

30:44 Education and the Future of Trade Skills