Domicology (ABANDONED BUILDINGS, RECYCLED HOUSES & GHOST TOWNS) with Dr. Rex LaMore

What’s inside that boarded up house? Should you explore an abandoned mall? A vacant factory? And how much of an old house ends up in a landfill? The founder of Domicology, Dr. Rex LaMore of Michigan State University’s Center for Community and Economic Development, is an expert on these things and answers any possible question you might have, from ghost towns to hidden house notes, arson, recycling wood, stealing metal and how to leave a better housing situation for future generations. Also: whale poltergeists.

Listen via Stitcher, Apple, Spotify, Google, Podbay, Podcast Addict, Overcast, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

More about Dr. Rex LaMore

A donation went to the Peace Education Center

I’ll be at Wondercon: Friday March 24, 6pm panel


Links to things we discussed:

Landfill fees in different European countries

In Sweden, Trash Heats Homes, Powers Buses and Fuels Taxi Fleets

4100 Throwita Way: A Garbage Dump

Use it up... Wear it out... Make it do... Or do without

Average cost to landfill municipal solid waste in the United States in 2020 and 2021, by region

Odyssey’s song: “Use It Up And Wear It Out”

How to build with recycled concrete aka urbanite

Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit

Tyler Durden’s house at 537 Paper Street, Bradford 19808 

With Landfills Filled With Old Roofing, Standard Industries’ GAF Debuts Recycled Shingles

Basics of concrete recycling

About LEED certification

Are You Living in a Former Meth Lab?

The Detroit Land Bank Authority 

Lee Plaza Hotel slideshow

Pressure-treated wood preservatives

I Accidentally Became A Meme: Disaster Girl

The perils of “urbexing”

National Clandestine Laboratory Register Data


Other episodes you may enjoy:

Detroitology (DETROIT)

Discard Anthropology (GARBAGE)

Environmental Toxicology (POISONS)

Xylology (LUMBER)

Maritime Archaeology (SHIPWRECKS)

Raccoonology and Procyonology (RACCOONS)

Field Trip: Natural History Museum

Classical Archaeology (ANCIENT ROME)

Metropolitan Tombology (PARIS CATACOMBS)

Deltiology (POSTCARDS)

Ferroequinology (TRAINS)

Nomology (THE CONSTITUTION)

Urban Rodentology (SEWER RATS)


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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media

Transcripts by Emily White of The Wordary

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

CultureAlie Ward