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What Living Means
YES Podcast featuring real stories, real people, and real community.
What Living Means is a YES Communities podcast that shares inspiring personal stories and practical advice from the people who make our communities special. Join us as we sit down with industry experts, community leaders, team members, and special guests. Each episode offers insights and stories about life in manufactured housing communities and why they matter to the more than 22 million Americans who call them home.
Your Host: Vanessa
What Living Means is hosted by Vanessa, a Vice President at YES Communities. She has spent almost two decades dedicated to the real estate and housing industry. Vanessa finds fulfillment in creating a sense of belonging at home.
Podcast List
Episode: 29
Duration: 19:43
Date: 07/31/2025
Practicing Sustainable Living
In this episode, we talk about the importance of environmental impacts with Emma Dendler of The Simple Environmentalist. She walks us through the ways we can make impacts on a daily basis to be more sustainable and even save money.
Episode: 28
Duration: 24:03
Date: 03/11/2025
Finding Joie In Your Life
In this episode, we chat with author, influencer, and small business owner Ajiri Aki about building community by cherishing everyday moments. From casual chats at a coffee shop to spontaneous get-togethers, being present helps us create lasting memories.
Episode: 27
Duration: 19:21
Date: 12/18/2024
Dream Homes Delivered
In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into the world of modern, affordable, and sustainable living with Carlee Daniels of Champion Homes.
Episode: 26
Duration: 21:12
Date: 11/14/2024
Portrait of an Artist
Joining us is Marisa Murrow, a talented painter whose work captures the essence of the everyday that transforms the familiar into the extraordinary.
Episode: 25
Duration: 19:09
Date: 06/20/2024
Attainable Housing in the Heart of Texas
In this episode, we explore YES Communities' newest ground-up development, Dwelling at New Braunfels. Dwelling provides much needed attainable housing in the heart of one of the fastest growing cities in America.
Episode: 24
Duration: 16:53
Date: 06/04/2024
Visualize Your Dream Home
In this episode, we chat with Allison Vaccaro and Bridget Tucek of Brick and Batten, a virtual design studio created to help you visualize home renovation projects and avoid costly mistakes.
Episode: 23
Duration: 24:26
Date: 04/25/2024
A Day in the Park
In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative work of the Denver Park Trust, an organization dedicated to enhancing and preserving public green spaces in the Mile-High City.
Episode: 22
Duration: 24:49
Date: 02/29/2024
Love is a Four Legged Word
In this episode, we’re talking all about pet adoption with Karen Martiny, founder of Animal Rescue of the Rockies. Her organization saves thousands of animals every single year in the hope that every dog and cat in Colorado finds a loving home.
Episode: 21
Duration: 20:18
Date: 01/17/2024
Yes We Care
In this episode, we're highlighting the profound impact that YES volunteers make all year round.
Episode: 20
Duration: 17:50
Date: 10/30/2023
Fire Safety 101
In this episode, we're exploring the ins and outs of fire safety to keep your loved ones and property safe.
Episode: 19
Duration: 23:41
Date: 06/30/2023
Elevate Your Grill Game
Clayton Cook of LeRoy and Lewis BBQ and Mama Fried in Austin, Texas, shares how you can elevate your grill game and keep your guests clamoring for more.
Episode: 18
Duration: 21:08
Date: 06/15/2023
Striving for Greatness
In this episode we’re exploring YES Communities’ Building Futures program, which is designed to uplift those who dare to dream and strive for greatness.
Episode: 17
Duration: 16:01
Date: 04/17/2023
Examining The Housing Crisis
Author and journalist Erika Bolstad joins us to talk about the affordable housing shortage in the United States.
Episode: 16
Duration: 20:10
Date: 02/21/2023
The Fight to End Family Homelessness
In this episode, we’re talking with Clayton’s Ted Rutland and Sandy Minuitti of Family Promise about what it means for families and children experiencing homelessness to secure safe housing.
Episode: 15
Duration: 27:14
Date: 11/21/2022
Perfect Your Holiday Meal
In this episode, Executive Chef Joe Goetze of Founding Farmers walks us through some simple ways to create winning & memorable holiday meals.
Episode: 14
Duration: 20:57
Date: 11/09/2022
Course Correction
In this episode, we talk to Richard Tagle of the Denver Public School foundation on how we can help students catch up in math and reading after two years of unprecedented interruption.
Episode: 13
Duration: 19:11
Date: 07/13/2022
Wellness in the Workplace
Yes Communities' Leanna Cline and Cigna's Kylee Geffre discuss how the approach to wellness has changed, and what goes into creating a wellness culture that attracts and retains talent.
Episode: 12
Duration: 11:17
Date: 05/16/2022
A Sustainable Future
William Jenkins, Director of Environment and Sustainability at Clayton Homes, discusses diverting thousands of tons of unnecessary construction waste from landfills, smart features that help residents save on utilities, and a sustainability pledge to plant ...
Episode: 11
Duration: 22:07
Date: 12/20/2021
Giving Back
Restauranteur Mark Bucher saw his Medium Rare steakhouses sidelined during the 2020 pandemic shutdown. Instead of waiting it out, he founded Feed the Fridge to solve America's hunger problem.
Episode: 10
Duration: 22:02
Date: 09/24/2021
Back to School
Our special guest, Ann Dolin founder of Educational Connections Tutoring and Test Prep, shares with us some strategies for both parents and students to make the return to school a success.
Episode: 9
Duration: 19:28
Date: 08/10/2021
Growing Community
Community gardening provides a place where generations of people can gather and cultivate both food and friendships. On this episode, Peterson Garden Project Founder LaManda Joy and YES Communities' Randi Miller speak to the power of planting seeds th...
Episode: 8
Duration: 35:10
Date: 05/24/2021
Thank You For Your Service
In this episode, we recognize the incredible service that veterans perform each and every day in our own community. Our two amazing guests reveal the challenges of life on active duty and the skills that make veterans so valuable in the workforce.
Episode: 7
Duration: 21:52
Date: 04/19/2021
Building Futures Scholarship
Last year in 2020, YES Communities launched the Building Futures Scholarship Program to help fund the higher education of YES residents and staff. In this episode, we'll catch up with previous scholarship recipients and educators who can speak to the p...
Episode: 6
Duration: 21:48
Date: 03/17/2021
Building Community From the Ground Up
We'll examine what it takes to convince local leadership to shake their preconceived notions of manufactured housing and help solve the affordable housing crisis in our country.
Episode: 5
Duration: 20:57
Date: 02/16/2021
ACTS OF KINDNESS
Are you in search of a quick fix to instantly improve the course of your day? Author and podcaster Nicole J. Phillips shares her personal experience in maintaining positivity during trying life events.
Episode: Bonus
Duration: 22:35
Date: 12/03/2020
Living Affordably
We speak to two industry professionals about how manufactured housing may relieve the financial stresses of high rents and long-term mortgages.
Episode: 4
Duration: 28:40
Date: 10/26/2020
How to Create Harmony at Home
Do you have trouble staying organized at home? With more days of remote work and virtual school ahead, our guests Kari and Katie of The Home Sanctuary share some helpful organization tips that will boost productivity and curb cabin fever.
Episode: 3
Duration: 21:39
Date: 09/24/2020
LET'S ROCK
Our guest Andy Lane is a gifted songwriter and licensed professional counselor. He gives us some helpful tips on how to stay engaged with our creative side and avoid writer's block.
Episode: 2
Duration: 26:57
Date: 08/12/2020
GET OUT AND PLAY
On this episode, What Living Means heads to Houston to discuss the importance of athletics in childhood development. We catch up with an amazing resident that volunteers his time to lead his community youth soccer team.
Episode: 1
Duration: 22:12
Date: 06/23/2020
PATH PROJECT: AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL
What Living Means takes a trip to the Atlanta area to visit Path Project, an after-school program housed in Valley Brook manufactured home community, that helps younger residents achieve high school graduation. Founder, Jim Hollandsworth, shares with us ho...