Episode #016

Total Life Optimization: Why We’re Going To Build A Village

By now, if you're listening to this, maybe we've helped you in some way.

Whether it's helping you overcome procrastination or just give you some actionable tips with our How To Get Your Shit Together series, we hope we've delivered some real value to you.

That being said, and we mean this with the sincerest humility, we're only just getting started. 

What does the future hold for ikario? What direction are we heading and why?

In this episode, Shane & Ollie attempt to answer this question in full. Also, as a recent and regular addition to the podcast, Shane & Ollie discuss the lunacy of Amazon Halo and respond to your voice notes.

In this episode...

Some of the points covered in today's conversation:

  • Why we're going to build a village in the wild.
  • The importance of building the village as a group project.
  • Why building the ikario HQ is the ultimate experiment and demonstration of the values at ikario.
  • Shane's frustration with environment design in rented apartments.
  • Why environment optimization determines the overall quality of your life.
  • What we want ikario HQ to look like and why we want this to be an ideal space to work with people.

Links & Resources

Over to You

We hope you found this episode useful! What brought you the most value? Do you have questions or feedback? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

You can follow the ikario Podcast on YouTube and also subscribe to our clips channel.


Oliver Cowlishaw

About the author

Ollie is an avid pizza connoisseur, accomplished drinker of coffee and lover of soul music. Heavily influenced by Zen & eastern mysticism, his curiosity regarding the human experience is insatiable. Despite having a strong vocabulary, he swears a lot and uses slang phrases ("ollie-isms") that almost nobody understands, not even himself.

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  • Still listening to this but so far it is resonating with me a lot. In 2016 I spent 3 months touring Australia and I spent most of it in areas where there very few people such as the outback and the Kimberley. I had a 4×4 with a tent on the roof and to be able to wake up with the light and literally climb down from my roof top tent into the wild and the peace and quiet was an absolute revelation. The environment was incredible and your idea of being in a low friction living space is brilliant. when i have finished the podcast I will comment again. Keep up the work you guys as it is very inspirational.

    • Shane Melaugh says:

      Sounds lovely! I’ve had some experiences like this as well, while traveling. Made me think: why can’t I always live like this?

  • Well I said I would comment further after I finished your podcast. You have got me thinking and actually physically moving which is excellent. Yes your plans resonate a lot with me. Love the idea of low friction and changing one’s enviroment to suit that purpose. Plus the idea of an 8 week course at Ikario HQ and under no pressure to do anything is very appealing indeed. Now to listen to the others…..

    • Shane Melaugh says:

      Happy to see that this was an inspiring episode for you, Chris. 🙂

  • Earthships are really labor intensive structures that are built out of mostly sustainable matierals that can be customized in layout specs based on total size & ultimate comfort preferences. They are totally off grid & can be retrofit for most zoning regulations in most areas you said would be optimal for your intended purpose. Btwz love the podcast I really enjoy the energy y’all ebb & flow thru with one another, it is very supportive/humorous which is reel good🖖🤙🙌🤝👀😂

    • Shane Melaugh says:

      Thank you!

      I’ve come across earthships in my research on green living. Looks like a really cool concept! I definitely want to build something that is economical as well as ecological. Crazy how wasteful our typical way of building and living is, really…

  • One of the most exciting things I heard from you guys! In other words, you guys are building your own Whole Food Island! I’d really want to be part of this.

    • Shane Melaugh says:

      Yes, exactly! Whole Food Island doesn’t exist, so we’re gonna build it! 🙂

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