Building Local Power

Follow Building Local Power
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

At the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, we work to break the chains of monopoly power in all sectors of our economy. From challenging incumbent cable monopolies in order to promote better Internet connectivity to pointing out how Amazon pushes local retailers out of the market, our researchers dev…

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Minneapolis, Washington, Portland


    • May 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 34m AVG DURATION
    • 433 EPISODES

    4.9 from 90 ratings Listeners of Building Local Power that love the show mention: economies, economy, economics, local, corporate, problems, power, society, building, present, issues, energy, educational, knowledgeable, self, community, change, future, perspective, bring.


    Ivy Insights

    The Building Local Power podcast is a gem in the podcasting world. It tackles important but often overlooked issues, bringing them to light and providing in-depth discussions that help listeners gain a deeper understanding of complicated topics. Luke and Jess, the hosts of the show, deserve praise for their skillful orchestration of the discussions and the extensive research they put into each episode.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the thoroughness and depth with which the speakers analyze American policy and how it shapes our way of life. Each episode is packed with valuable information, ensuring that listeners learn something new every time. The conversations are never boring, thanks to the engaging and knowledgeable guests who provide insightful explanations and analyses.

    The effort put into finding authentic guests who genuinely care about making a positive impact in the world is evident in every episode. The insight brought by these guests to the problems we face is truly mind-blowing. Whether it's shedding light on underground issues or presenting real solutions to daunting problems, Building Local Power consistently delivers valuable content.

    While there may not be any glaring flaws in this podcast, some listeners may find it challenging to stay engaged if a particular week's topic does not resonate with them. However, even then, this podcast remains educational and inspirational as it highlights successful problem-solving at the local level.

    In conclusion, I highly recommend The Building Local Power podcast to anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of important issues that shape our society. It serves as a beacon for those looking for critical answers to questions that often go unasked or overlooked. With its well-researched content and engaging discussions, this podcast has become an invaluable resource for those seeking to make a difference in their communities.



    More podcasts from Institute for Local Self-Reliance

    Search for episodes from Building Local Power with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Building Local Power

    The Human Side of Government Work: Paola Santana on Procurement

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 22:51


    The United States government is one of the biggest purchasers in the world. Few people or entities spend more money on more goods and services. Add state and local governments to the mix, and you have a massive market with the potential for a lot of businesses to make a lot of money. The process […]

    The Champion of Local Champions: Recast City’s Ilana Preuss

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 23:33


    One way to build local power is to catalyze change directly in your community. Another, equally important method is to catalyze the catalysts. To really make change and build sustainable local economies, we need not only entrepreneurs but also people connecting entrepreneurs to each other — someone to champion the local champions. There is solid […]

    The Diner Building Community In Times of Crisis: Ladybird’s Meg Heriford

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025


    Saturday, March 14, 2020, was even busier than the typical bustling Saturday at Ladybird Diner in Lawrence, Kansas. Bottles of handmade hand sanitizer were perched on each table. It was Pi Day, a special occasion for the homey diner famous for its pie. But Ladybird owner Meg Heriford was scared and unsure. The crowds were […]

    Where things are Happening: Ron Knox on the State(s) of Antitrust

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 27:46


    Civil Unrest, Group Chats, and Representation: Rachel Hernandez on Governing as a First-Gen Mayor

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 22:35


    “A Little Odd, but A Little Amazing”: Adriana Valdez Young and the Secret Mall Apartment

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 27:15


    Taking a Risk for Rural Economic Growth with Dante Pittman

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 23:16


    From Neighborhood Streets to City Hall with Zac Blanchard

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 28:39


    Staying Local at the Statehouse with Tristan Rader

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 23:23


    How Structural Racism Fuels American Monopolies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 27:52


    “The Bad Target”: The Rise of Consumer Redlining

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 20:26


    A Rebalancing Act: How We Restore Local Power in 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024


    The Environmental Inequity of AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 28:52


    Pizza, DMs, and Solidarity: Filming the Amazon Labor Fight

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 25:09


    David Morris: 50 Years of Pioneering Work and Impact

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 36:19


    Amazon, Labor, and Race

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 36:58


    Bookstores and Local Power with BLP’s New Host, Danny Caine

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 22:14


    The Will and the Way to Revive ‘the Mecca'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 23:14


    Mending Broken Promises on Dorr Street

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 23:16


    A Heyday in the Toledo Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 15:00


    Rediscovering Toledo's Black Wall Street

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 19:07


    Healthy Skepticism of Pharmacy Giants is Spreading

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 27:58


    Absolute Power Corrupting Our Energy System

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 58:01


    A National Strategy for Community Composting

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024


    DOJ Takes On Live Nation/Ticketmaster

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024


    Inside Scoop on Local News' Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 32:16


    Reviving the Riverfront, and D.C.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 27:33


    Essential Tools for Neighborhood Revitalization

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2024 26:04


    essential tools neighborhood revitalization
    Essential Tools for Neighborhood Revitalization

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 26:04


    essential tools neighborhood revitalization
    The Seed of Local Power

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2024 26:07


    The Seed of Local Power

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2024 26:07


    Reflecting on ILSR's DC origins 50 years later, when the seat of federal power inspired three pioneers to build local power. … Read More

    Giving DC Its Flowers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024


    Giving DC Its Flowers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024


    Born and raised in DC, Kehmari Norman established her flower shop to bridge culture and floristry. The visionary behind Black Flower Market drew from her background as a stage designer at Temple University,  transforming her skills into landscape design, and intertwining environmentalism with entrepreneurship. Throughout the episode, Kehmari highlights the significance of authenticity and cultivating connections … Read More

    New Generational Wealth in Detroit

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 27:36


    New Generational Wealth in Detroit

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 27:36


    A grassroots group in Detroit reimagines democracy and economic empowerment. … Read More

    It Takes an Avalon Village

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 25:14


    It Takes an Avalon Village

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024


    Avalon Village is a testament to the resilience of communities and the transformative power of collective action.… Read More

    Detroit Has No Time to Waste Food

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2024 18:23


    Detroit Has No Time to Waste Food

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2024 18:23


    A Detroit entrepreneur explains how her pilot projects are building community, local self-reliance, and resilience. … Read More

    Feeding Detroit

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024


    The Detroit People's Food Cooperative represents a vital step towards fostering food sovereignty in a neighborhood historically affected by food apartheid. … Read More

    Feeding Detroit

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 30:55


    Writing Detroit’s Next Chapter

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 16:56


    Writing Detroit’s Next Chapter

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 16:56


    A Detroit-based bookseller shares the purpose behind her store and its profound impact on the community over the past three decades.… Read More

    The City Series

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2024 1:43


    The City Series

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2024


    In our new season of Building Local Power, The City Series, we take a tour of cities and towns across the U.S. and talk to guests who are working to make their communities more locally self-reliant.… Read More

    How to Get Away With Merger Season Recap

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 19:09


    Local initiatives are resisting profit-driven mergers by mobilizing their communities and building robust local economies. … Read More

    Claim Building Local Power

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel