Will Gardner is the founder of South Coast Places For People, a new nonprofit in Massachusetts. He discusses the three working groups his nonprofit recently started, which focus on parking reform, backyard cottages, and street safety.
Read More
Abby and guest John Pattison dive into the benefits and drawbacks of "sponge cities," cities that incorporate natural features like wetlands into their stormwater management infrastructure.
Read More
Jess and Dan Sollaccio are city commissioners and a small-scale developers from Warrenton, Oregon. They explain their asset-based mindset for strengthening their community, as well as their efforts to turn a vacant building into a community hub.
Read More
Memphis was ranked the #1 most dangerous metro in 2024. That’s not stopping Kelsey Huse, an advocate and grad student. She shares the inside scoop on Memphis’ dangerous design and how she’s working to change it.
Read More
Data centers use a massive amount of electricity, sometimes even rivaling major cities. Today, Edward and Abby discuss the far-reaching implications of this kind of land use. (Transcript included.)
Read More
Eva López Chávez is a city council member in Salt Lake City, Utah. She and Norm discuss how she’s building prosperity in her city.
Read More
Ashley Thornton is the founder of Waco Walks, an organization devoted to promoting walkability in Waco, Texas. She and Tiffany discuss the design choices that make Waco difficult to walk in and how Waco Walks is working to change that.
Read More
Colorado's population is rapidly aging, but limited housing stock means seniors are stuck in homes they can’t afford. Abby discusses this dilemma with Katy Claggett, a developer originally from Colorado who develops infill housing for seniors.
Read More
Mark Hoppen is a former city manager who’s been strengthening communities for decades. He talks about why someone should pursue city management, what real priorities look like in that role, and how to lead with care and practicality.
Read More
Chuck is joined by Quint Studer, the founder of the Center for Civic Engagement in Pensacola, Florida. They discuss Strong Towns’ involvement in Pensacola’s renewal and the Civic Leader Summit that will be held there in September.
Read More
Adult friendships are difficult. A big part of that is our built environment, which often stifles social connection instead of supporting it. Kat Vellos is an author, facilitator, and connection coach who's working to change that.
Read More
Six months after wildfires destroyed record-breaking swathes of LA, only a fraction of homeowners have received permits to rebuild, let alone started construction. Chuck and Edward talk about why state attempts to encourage quick rebuilding failed.
Read More
Ashley Salvador is a city councilor in Edmonton, Alberta. A national leader in housing reform and urban revitalization, Ashley shares how she helped bring about a brand new tax subclass that’s making Edmonton safer and stronger.
Read More
No matter how easy we make it to build, the existing housing system cannot tolerate lower prices. Chuck explains why and how we can build a better system. (Transcript included.)
Read More
Jeral Poskey is the founder of Swyft Cities, which is spearheading a totally new transportation system. Jeral describes the system and how it could address issues like traffic, land wasted on parking, and difficulty with infill development.
Read More
A South Dakota agriculture company is being charged $50,000 for its road use. Abby and Edward discuss the balancing act of infrastructure costs and municipal budgets, especially in rural areas. (Transcript included.)
Read More
Dr. Alicia Pederson is a writer and advocate who encourages cities to adopt courtyard urbanism. She explains the benefits of this development style and how to advocate for it. (Transcript included.)
Read More
Chuck is joined by Graham Campbell of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission. They discuss the true cost of infrastructure and why both New Zealand and North America are facing the same challenges.
Read More
Meet Burhan Azeem, a city councilor in Massachusetts. He’s expanded zoning for affordable housing, removed parking minimums, and helped build bike lanes throughout the city. Learn how he got here and what's next.
Read More
Meet Army Master Sgt. Ben Hultquist of Fayetteville, North Carolina. After a string of preventable pedestrian deaths, Ben started advocating for safer streets. Here’s how his testimony is changing the conversation.
Read More