Wait...we've got some questions. Demystifying the systems that shape our world.
Not the Authority is a podcast for curious people who aren't afraid to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and follow an interesting idea down a rabbit hole.
Each episode, we sit down with builders, creators, thinkers, problem-solvers, and occasionally people who make us rethink everything we thought we knew. Together, we explore the forces shaping our world, the real people working to improve them, and the possibilities hiding just beyond what we've accepted as "the way things are."
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Separating Humans from Nature, Comedy and our Brains....and Frank Ocean! with Daniel de Boulay
Daniel joined us to have our favorite kind of free-thinking, multidimensional rabbit-hole conversation centered around humanity’s disconnection from nature. He discussed the books that impacted him, how comedy is the highest form of art, and how his work as a producer has shaped his viewpoint of storytelling and breaking through barriers. We gave him a homework assignment and look forward to having him back soon to discuss The Righteous Gemstones.
Website: danieldeboulay.com (http://danieldeboulay.com)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrdeboulay/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrdeboulay/)
8 Aug 2026
City Lawsuits, ADUs…and Being a Neighbor! with Alex Pepin
Motivated by their faith and a desire to help address local housing shortages in Anoka County, Alex and his wife, Lynda, sought to construct a detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on their Blaine property to rent at below-market rates to a family experiencing hardship. After the city council denied their permit, the Pepins—backed by the non-profit law firm Institute for Justice—filed a lawsuit challenging the city's zoning restrictions and defending property owners' rights to offer private solutions to homelessness.
Alex is a licensed Professional Engineer with a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering. He serves on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) and Advisory Committee, utilizing his background in environmental engineering and wastewater management to guide state regulatory standards. He is also the founder of Ten Thirty Environmental Solutions and former President of the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association (MOWA).
Alex serves as a part-time Community Pastor at Compassion Church in Anoka, where his ministry focuses on hands-on outreach, community support, and helping families navigating crisis.
Alex lives in Blaine, Minnesota, with his wife, Lynda, and their three children.
Alex joined us on Not the Authority Podcast as a follow-up to S1E3 Citizen to Candidate with Ini Udomah (https://youtu.be/sZpoSnE6Uzw?si=i_imDhfvBfQBWTUu), where we addressed ongoing issues and concerns with the Blaine City Council. During our research, we found an interview with Alex on Realtor.com (https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/adu-tiny-home-blaine-mn-lawsuit/).
These issues affect suburban cities and residents across the United States. We ask that you share this episode and donate to the organizations in our community that are serving the unhoused population.
Alex’s Non-Profit: Ten Thirty House (https://www.tenthirtyhouse.org/)
Family Promise in Anoka County (https://www.familypromiseanoka.org)
Thank you for listening and stay curious!
31 Jul 2026
Accessible Architecture, Spanish Colonialism...and Native Plants! with Charlotte Rose
Charlotte Rose is a landscape architectural designer and researcher who works internationally at the intersection of design, social justice and activism. Her research explores how the built environment reflects and reproduces systems of power and what role designers can play in challenging oppression. She has worked on initiatives ranging from visual interpreting - helping assist blind and low vision people in navigating public spaces - across the US, to Urban Design in Santiago, Chile, bioclimatic architectural design in the Philippines, and affordable housing in Ecuador. Currently based in North Eastern Brasil, Charlotte has been backpacking across Latin America since May 2025.
She spoke with us about the connection between architecture in Latin America and the United States, and how they are linked through Spanish Colonialism. We learned some amazing information about the benefits of using local and natural materials in the building process, and how we can make spaces more accessible for a wider variety of needs in the future.
You can find her at:
Website: www.designforsocialchange.com (http://www.designforsocialchange.com)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-rose-ab131626b/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-rose-ab131626b/)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosay.char/ (https://www.instagram.com/rosay.char/)
Thanks for listening and stay curious!
25 Jul 2026
Downsizing, Feeding People...and Pole Dance! with Jasmine Louis
Jasmine Louis is the founder of Mutual Rise, a community-centered organization providing meals, hygiene supplies, and essential resources to individuals experiencing housing and food insecurity in Southern California. Through grassroots mutual aid, community partnerships, and a commitment to direct action, Jasmine is helping meet immediate needs while building meaningful connections across her community.
In this episode, Jasmine generously shares her story, experiences, and perspective on mutual aid, community care, housing insecurity, and what can happen when ordinary people decide to take action. We discuss food access, cooperative solutions, resourcefulness, the power of local relationships, and how small acts of service can create lasting impact. Along the way, we also discover some unexpected connections between community organizing... and pole dancing.
You can find out more about Jasmine and Mutual Rise at:
Website: (http://www.mutualrise.org/)www.mutualrise.org (http://www.mutualrise.org)
Instagram: @mutualrise
Threads: @mutualrise
TikTok: @mutualrise
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MutualRise (https://www.youtube.com/@MutualRise)
Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/7U3D814Z7EYG/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1 (https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/7U3D814Z7EYG/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1)
Stay Curious!
18 Jul 2026
Nonprofits, Sustainable Fashion...and Goats! with Sharmon Lebby
Sharmon Lebby is a nonprofit leader, speaker, writer, and podcast host with over 20 years of experience in nonprofits, movement-building, and ethical entrepreneurship. As Founder/CEO of Blessed Designs Consulting, Sharmon guides mission-driven organizations in strategic growth, governance, and long-term sustainability, ensuring they build strong foundations before scaling their impact.
In this episode, Sharmon generously shares her story, wisdom, and advice. We discuss the future possibilities of re-establishing rural America to create regenerative and sustainable economies that support our creativity and long-term community vision.
You can find out more about Sharmon at:
Slow Fashion Challenge: (instagram.com/justsharmon)instagram.com/slowfashionchallenge (http://instagram.com/slowfashionchallenge)
Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/justsharmon/)instagram.com/justsharmon (http://instagram.com/justsharmon)
Website: (https://www.blesseddesignsco.com)https://www.blesseddesignsco.com (https://www.blesseddesignsco.com)
Stay Curious!
11 Jul 2026
From Citizen to Candidate with Ini Udomah
At just 22 years old, Ini Udomah made the decision to run for city council in Blaine, Minnesota. What followed was a crash course in local government, community engagement, leadership, and the realities of stepping into the public arena at a young age.
In this episode, Ini joins us to share the motivations behind his campaign, the unexpected challenges he and his team encountered along the way, and the lessons he learned from the experience. We explore what it means to show up for your community, why younger voices matter in civic decision-making, and how participation in local government can shape the future of a community.
Whether you're considering public service yourself or simply curious about how local politics works from the inside, Ini's story offers an honest look at the opportunities, obstacles, and responsibilities that come with trying to make a difference.
3 Jul 2026
Examining Intellectual Elitism
Being the smartest person in the room won't fix what's broken.
The solutions we need live somewhere between expertise and lived experience, knowledge and curiosity, certainty and conversation.
What could we build if we spent less time proving we're right and more time learning from each other?
🎙️ Episode 2 of Not The Authority is live now on YouTube and Spotify.
#NotTheAuthority #WeHaveQuestions
26 Jun 2026
Introducing Not the Authority Podcast
The internet keeps sorting us into smaller and smaller corners.
People who think like us.
Vote like us.
Believe like us.
But if we're ever going to make progress, we're going to have to get a little more curious about the people outside our corner.
That's what we're exploring on Not The Authority.
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