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Episode 18: Melody Warnick (Author) — Can You Learn to Love Where You Live?
Season 3
Episode 18
Published 6 days, 7 hours ago
Description
Can you learn to love where you live — or are some places simply a better fit than others?
Naomi sits down with Melody Warnick, journalist and author of This Is Where You Belong and If You Could Live Anywhere. After moving six times by her mid-30s, Melody arrived in Blacksburg, Virginia — and initially wanted to leave. Instead, she began experimenting with what researchers call place attachment: the feeling of being deeply at home where you live.
She tried walking more, buying local, meeting neighbors, volunteering, exploring nature, and becoming a regular at a local restaurant — an experiment that completely failed. Over time, those small efforts changed how she experienced her town.
Naomi and Melody explore why social connection, openness, and the way a place looks matter so much; why simply knowing your neighbors can create trust; and why sidewalks, cafés, parks, events, murals, and even front porches can create opportunities for belonging.
They also ask a harder question: how much of belonging comes from the place, and how much comes from what we choose to do with it? And if you could live anywhere, should you search for the “best” place — or the place that fits you best?
In this episode:
Realtopia is hosted by Naomi Cohen.
Naomi sits down with Melody Warnick, journalist and author of This Is Where You Belong and If You Could Live Anywhere. After moving six times by her mid-30s, Melody arrived in Blacksburg, Virginia — and initially wanted to leave. Instead, she began experimenting with what researchers call place attachment: the feeling of being deeply at home where you live.
She tried walking more, buying local, meeting neighbors, volunteering, exploring nature, and becoming a regular at a local restaurant — an experiment that completely failed. Over time, those small efforts changed how she experienced her town.
Naomi and Melody explore why social connection, openness, and the way a place looks matter so much; why simply knowing your neighbors can create trust; and why sidewalks, cafés, parks, events, murals, and even front porches can create opportunities for belonging.
They also ask a harder question: how much of belonging comes from the place, and how much comes from what we choose to do with it? And if you could live anywhere, should you search for the “best” place — or the place that fits you best?
In this episode:
- What place attachment is — and why it matters
- The experiments that helped Melody learn to love Blacksburg
- Why knowing your neighbors builds trust and belonging
- How much belonging comes from you vs. the place itself
- Why murals, events, porches, and other “love notes” reveal attachment
- How to choose where to live when you really can live anywhere
Realtopia is hosted by Naomi Cohen.