Asia (pronounced “ah-sha”) Mieleszko’s career defies easy categorization—from researching Ukrainian folk traditions to covering infrastructure policy, from performing on the world’s biggest stages to the most cramped basements. At heart, she’s a storyteller, driven by curiosity about how people and places become what they are.

While at Strong Towns, Asia paired analytical rigor with empathy to examine the forces shaping our built environment. As host of Stacked Against Us, she guided listeners through the labyrinth of housing, finance, and local governance, revealing both the systems constraining communities and the openings for meaningful action.

Off the clock, Asia can be found behind a camera, playing the accordion, or riding the rails across the country, always curious about the places and people along the way.