In this episode, we explore The Art of Collective Ownership with Ivo Schmetz — designer, musician, activist, and long-time steward of Amsterdam’s free spaces. After graduating from art school in Maastricht, Ivo “accidentally” stepped into the squatting movement and helped occupy both the OLVG hospital (1998–1999) and the iconic OT301 (1999–present). These experimental spaces shaped his life’s work: not just as a hybrid designer and videomaker, but as a builder of collective projects that challenge ownership, power, and separation. As a board member and programmer at OT301 and one of the driving forces behind Amsterdam Alternative, Ivo has spent the last decade publishing a bi-monthly free newspaper, hosting public debates and cultural events, developing Vrij Beton to realize new collectively owned spaces, and creating a multimedia web documentary on collective ownership. In this conversation, he reflects on 25 years of living, creating, and organising in community — and what these free spaces can teach us about interdependence, autonomy, and the future of the commons.

00:00 Introduction to Collective Ownership
02:26 Welcome to the Podcast
03:07 The Squatting Experience Begins
03:24 Life in the Squat
04:39 Organizational Challenges and Growth
08:31 The Move to OT 301
09:23 Navigating Legal and Social Changes
09:59 The Role of Artists in Gentrification
13:05 Establishing a New Collective
14:34 Organizational Methods and Decision Making
18:55 Balancing Individual and Collective Needs
27:10 Evolving Organizational Structures
34:27 Amsterdam Alternative and Future Vision
44:04 Personal Engagement and Motivation
45:12 Exploring Organizational Culture
47:06 Challenges and Decision-Making Methods
47:48 Radical Innovations in Organizing
51:31 Collective Ownership and Neutralizing Ownership
54:28 Interconnectedness and Organizational Structures
01:01:22 Role of Assimilation and Gentrification
01:06:07 Ownership and Collective Wisdom
01:09:15 Inspiration and Small Initiatives
01:28:45 Final Thoughts and Future Collaboration


www.ivoschmetz.nl
www.amsterdamalternative.nl
www.collectiveownership.net

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In this episode, host Tulia welcomes Erika Koskela, an enrolled member of the Brown Valley Tribes of California and a dedicated advocate for indigenous language and cultural revitalization. Together, they explore the deep connections between intuition, language, and identity, discussing Erika’s work on the Flathead Reservation in Montana and her experiences with nonprofit organizing rooted in indigenous values. The conversation delves into the challenges of moving beyond hierarchical, colonized models, the importance of spirituality and collective wisdom, and the process of reclaiming ancestral knowledge and capacities often suppressed by modern society. Through personal stories and reflections, Tulia and Erika highlight indigenous approaches to leadership, community, and relationality, inviting listeners to reflect on their own roots, relationships, and ways of being in the world.


0:00 Introduction & Intuition
2:41 Meet Erika & Her Work
4:11 Language, Identity, and Revitalization
8:07 Organizing Beyond Hierarchy
14:15 Spirituality, Intuition, and Indigenous Knowledge
15:55 Relationality and Community Healing
24:12 Leadership, Power, and Humility
28:51 Reclaiming Ancestral Capacities
35:33 The Collective Beyond Humans
38:56 Closing Reflections

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In this episode of "Organizing from Elsewhere", Niki sits down with Anshul Aggarwal, a farmer at AuroOrchard in Auroville, India, to explore the deep interconnectedness between land, food, and human consciousness. Anshul shares insights about the spiritual and ecological experiment that is Auroville, the history and mission of AuroOrchard, and his personal journey into farming. They discuss the importance of service to the land, the evolving nature of human consciousness, and the challenges and aspirations of creating sustainable, conscious communities. The episode offers a rich dialogue on reimagining how we grow food, connect with nature, and organize as a society, emphasizing the need for openness, humility, and constant learning.

00:00 Introduction to Interconnectedness and the Land
00:35 Exploring New Ways of Organizing
02:30 Welcome to the Podcast
03:39 Anshul Aggarwal's Journey and Auroville's Vision
06:24 The Role of Food in Human Culture and Consciousness
08:26 Personal Reflections and the Philosophy of Farming
17:28 Interconnectedness and Human Unity
23:24 Spiritual Experiences and Collective Transformation
25:49 Exploring the Concept of Awe and Overwhelm
26:59 Challenges and Constraints in Auroville
28:56 The Role of Community in Overcoming Mental Logic
29:49 Social Issues and Decision Making in Auroville
31:41 Learning and Experimentation in Communities
38:45 The Interconnectedness of Individual and Collective Growth
44:21 The Future of Human Evolution and Posthumanism
49:25 Embracing Openness and Emergence
50:52 Closing Thoughts and Invitation to Dialogue

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