Understory Co-founders (Nino Serrano & Janabi Pareja)
Co-founders of Understory, a worker-owned, collectively run restaurant in Oakland focused on shared leadership, livable wages, and community-centered values; they discuss building collective workplaces and mutual support.
Best podcasts with Understory Co-founders (Nino Serrano & Janabi Pareja)
Ranked by the Snipd community
Mar 26, 2026 • 26min
Why Work Feels Better Together
Nino Serrano and Janabi Pareja, co-founders of Understory, run a worker-owned Oakland restaurant centered on shared leadership and livable wages. Niloufar Khonsari, immigration lawyer and author, builds collective nonprofits and cultures of care. They discuss launching a collective during the pandemic. They explore written values, decentralised decision hubs, mutual support, and why having a voice boosts commitment.
