Podcast Scripts

“Tiny House Transcendentalism” - Ep. 9 excerpt

(Final version of script determined by podcast host)

​

Transcendentalism, that’s the word for today. Thinking back, you probably remember learning about this 19th century movement in high school or maybe college. Emerson and Thoreau most likely pop in your head, and for good reason, since on the Mount Rushmore of this movement, these two are the most prominent faces etched in the Transcendental stone. But do you remember what it represents? Not to worry if not, we’ll review that today, because Thoreau and his fellow companions pushed for a lifestyle and way of living that maybe seemed out of touch with where the world was going at the time. And a similar thing is happening now, in a way.

 

You see, transcendentalism, at least in part, is about getting in touch with the natural, core version of ourselves, which is where we can find truth. It is about transcending a lifestyle set by societal expectations and materialism and harnessing another that targets minimalism and a sense of spirituality. It rejects the over-civilization of a modern, developed society and holds fast to the wild--to the natural. It is deliberate living over monotonous, robotic cycles of existence.

 

Now, there is a growing group here in the United States, and elsewhere too might I add, that adopt at least some of this ideology in their lifestyles. And these are the owners of tiny homes. Yeah, those guys. The ones with the cleverly designed storage solutions, with expensive mini appliances and a very idealized, whimsical way of living. They harness some of this transcendental thought. And I gotta give it to them, some of what they represent—maybe even most of what they represent—rings true for me. But there are parts of that lifestyle that I don’t get.

I read an article the other day that puts it very well. It’s called, “Dear people who live in fancy tiny houses” by Lauren Modery. Just take a listen to the first bit,

 

“Dear People Who Live in Fancy Tiny Houses… Do you actually love living in a fancy tiny house*? You look so freakin’ happy in that Dwell Magazine article or Buzzfeed post, but c’mon, you can’t tell me that you don’t lie awake at night, your face four inches from the ceiling because the only place your bed fits is above the kitchen sink which also acts as your shower, and think, I’ve made a terrible mistake. Look, I’m not criticizing you. I commend you for making this giant leap. Since we humans seem comfortable with pillaging Mother Earth of all her resources, I believe more people should think like you. But 250 square feet?...