Best Urbanism Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 500: LA and Beyond with Ken Napzok and Joseph Scrimshaw 1:11:16

1h ago1:11:16

1:11:16

This week on the Talking Headways podcast we're hitting 500 episodes! And to celebrate we have a bit of a look back in time with Tanya Snyder of the origins of the show and then we chat with Ken Napzok and Joseph Scrimshaw of my favorite podcast Force Center. But we don't talk about Star Wars, we talk about Los Angeles and thier feelings towards th…

1
Wilhelm Reich, Instigator of the Sexual Revolution 13:34

1h ago13:34

13:34

James Panero and John Hirschauer discuss Wilhelm Reich, the father of the sexual revolution, and how he has shaped the current discourse around sexuality and the family.

1
Tall Stories 426: Michigan Central Station, Detroit 10:51

3d ago10:51

10:51

Mandy Sinclair explores the story of a disused rail station in the car capital of the US, which has been given a new lease of life by the automobile giant that calls Detroit home. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Exploring the Role of Religious Institutions in Community Development 1:04:09

3d ago1:04:09

1:04:09

At the Table is a podcast that discusses how community-based ministries can contribute to the common good via mutual relationships, spiritual practice, simplicity and an awareness of God’s activity in communities. They recently invited Strong Towns President Charles Marohn to appear on an episode. It was a great conversation, so we’re sharing that …

1
Muscat’s transformation & how design can save our cities 27:32

7d ago27:32

27:32

As the capital of Oman begins an era of urban expansion, we speak with the firm tasked with forming a plan for the region’s future growth. Then: we tackle some of the existential challenges facing our urban environments through a new book which places design and architecture in the driver’s seat for saving our cities. See omnystudio.com/listener fo…

1
Episode 499: Expanding Amtrak Across America 55:19

1d ago55:19

55:19

This week we’re joined by Mike Christensen, Executive Director of the Utah Rail Passengers Association and a tireless advocate for intercity passenger rail. Mike chats with us about Amtrak’s expansion plans, the impact of the infrastructure bill and why things take so long to implement. +++ Follow us on twitter @theoverheadwire Follow us on Mastado…

1
Episode 81: Talking Transit '24 59:09

5d ago59:09

59:09

It's been a while since we had a good, old-fashioned transit talk with friends of the show Tricia Wood (York University urban geography professor and Spacing contributor) and Matt Elliott (Toronto Star columnist and publisher of the City Hall Watcher newsletter).We talk about returning TTC service levels to pre-pandemic levels, what we should look …

1
Reigniting Economic Growth 21:21

1d ago21:21

21:21

Judge Glock joins Brian Anderson to discuss economic strategy and the consequences of government regulation on American productivity.

1
Episode 158: Mondays at The Overhead Wire - I Love Fall with Sam Sklar 1:11:49

3d ago1:11:49

1:11:49

This week on Mondays at The Overhead Wire we're joined by Sam Sklar to talk about a lot of interseting topics from Charlotte and Riyadh transit expansions to climate policies that work and why kids aren't taking the bus to school as much. We also share some recent research on windshield perspectives from Tara Goddard and look at what rising car ins…

1
The Burlington Model: How Planning-Led Reforms Transformed the City's Housing Market 58:48

3d ago58:48

58:48

In this episode of the APA Podcast, Jason Jordan, APA's Principal of Public Affairs, chats with Burlington, Vermont's former mayor, Miro Weinberger, and former planning director, Meagan Tuttle, AICP. In this discussion, they share how they worked together to provide the political leadership and the critical insights needed for Burlington to enact o…

1
Tall Stories 425: Embassy of Russia, Havana 4:48

10d ago4:48

4:48

Tomos Lewis investigates how Russia’s embassy in Cuba has come to represent renewed ties between the two countries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
KunstlerCast 409 — Mel K on "Americans Anonymous" — Restoring Power to the People One Citizen at a Time 1:08:13

8d ago1:08:13

1:08:13

Mel K is a conservative journalist, filmmaker, and podcaster known for her well-researched, thought-provoking work. With a background in journalism and film from NYU, she has spent over two decades in Hollywood crafting meticulously researched historical dramas for film and television. She launched the Mel K show in 2020, which has become a platfor…

1
Crystal Palace Park, ice-cream urbanism & revamping India’s train stations 33:15

14d ago33:15

33:15

We explore some summery stories as the season comes to a close in the Northern Hemisphere, including how ice-cream-shop owners and urbanists think alike, plans for regenerating London’s Crystal Palace Park and revitalisation efforts for India’s railway stations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Episode 498: Transit Leadership for the Future 47:24

8d ago47:24

47:24

This week on Talking Headways we’re joined by podcaster and transit expert Paul Comfort and former California State Transportation Agency Secretary David Kim to talk about their ensemble book The New Future of Public Transportation. We talk about writing cookbooks, road user charges, and the importance of leadership. +++ Follow us on twitter @theov…

1
Election Economics 30:53

9d ago30:53

30:53

Idrees Kahloon and Jordan McGillis discuss polling and strategy on economic issues, the limits of election modeling, and the state of the presidential election.

1
How to Make the Federal Government More YIMBY 30:22

13d ago30:22

30:22

Americans are struggling to stay afloat due to high housing prices caused by our nation’s housing shortage. Fortunately, there is a growing number of voices advocating for pro-housing policy solutions. Up For Growth is a national, cross-sector member network committed to solving the housing shortage and affordability crisis. While many advocates fo…

1
Mondays Flashback: Asphalt - A History 48:33

10d ago48:33

48:33

Since it’s Labor Day we’ve got a flashback Talking Headways here at Mondays at The Overhead Wire! Next week we’ll be back with a Mondays show with a special guest that’s not Han Solo so stay tuned! But this week we’re chatting with Kenneth O’reilly about his book Asphalt: A History. We chatted about what asphalt is, how it was used for building, wa…

1
Tall Stories 424: Museu do Amanhã, Rio de Janeiro 6:35

17d ago6:35

6:35

Liv Kessler explores the story behind a marvel of neofuturistic architecture stretching out across the water in Rio de Janeiro. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Adaptive reuse in Nigeria & safer streets in London 29:38

21d ago29:38

29:38

How does adaptive reuse differ around the globe? We speak to an expert to uncover how Africa does things differently when it comes to giving a building a second life. We also discuss the feeling of safety for women in cities by way of a recent study into our physical and emotional responses to urban environments. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri…

1
Episode 497: The Real Work of Safer Streets 55:57

19d ago55:57

55:57

This week on Talking Headways we chat with transportation and planning expert Warren Logan, who is running for Oakland City Council in District 3. Warren talks about the differences in how people perceive government works, the need for more flexible streets, and gives thoughts on housing policy. +++ Follow us on twitter @theoverheadwire Follow us o…

1
Unfit for Work 21:01

20d ago21:01

21:01

Steven Malanga joins Brian Anderson to discuss the decline in labor force participation and the factors that might be contributing to it.

1
From Crime to Common Practice: How Fraud Dominates the Housing Market 1:02:23

16d ago1:02:23

1:02:23

In this special episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck talks about fraud in the housing market. He discusses how it manifests, how it gradually saturates the market and how it’s connected to housing bubbles. He then explores how fraud plays a role in the current housing crisis and how federal and private organizations are trying to combat it. A…

1
Tall Stories 423: Rothko Chapel, Houston 5:20

24d ago5:20

5:20

Gregory Scruggs takes us to a non-denominational chapel that has been a spiritual sanctuary and design lover’s dream for decades. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
From Boring to Brilliant: Making Municipal Finance Fun With Michel Durand-Wood 1:00:16

22d ago1:00:16

1:00:16

In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck discusses municipal finance with Michel Durand-Wood, a longtime Strong Towns contributor and local budget aficionado. They talk about the importance of the average person understanding municipal finance, the obstacles that can make such understanding difficult and how their approaches to discussing…

1
KunstlerCast 408 — David McAlvany on the Financial Scene as We Enter the Nervous Season 1:07:51

19d ago1:07:51

1:07:51

David McAlvany is CEO Of McAlvany Financial Services, which includes wealth management and precious metals advisors for retail investors. David’s own excellent podcast, the McAlvany Weekly Commentary comes out Tuesdays and is available at Apple Podcasts. Full disclosure, David’s company is a sponsor of this podcast. And fuller disclosure, I invited…

1
We made front page news 46:31

21d ago46:31

46:31

Our last episode, an interview with Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh MP, caused a bit of a storm and went viral. Laura's interview was picked up by a host of UK national media including BBC News, The Sun, GB News, The Times and more. We discuss how the story happened, what it means for active travel - and why the wider media picked up…

1
Liveable Manila, Wilmington Waterfront Park and Monocle’s mobility special 28:02

28d ago28:02

28:02

Good journalism can have an effect on our cities’ quality of life. In this episode, we speak to a media company in the Philippines aiming to make Manila livable. We also visit a new waterfront park near the Port of Los Angeles and flick through the pages of Monocle’s mobility special issue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Episode 496: Portland's Micromobility Experience 1:04:07

22d ago1:04:07

1:04:07

This week on the Talking Headways podcast we’re joined by Dylan Rivera and Jacob Sherman of the Portland Bureau of Transportation to discuss micromobility. We chat about the importance of cities regulating access to transportation markets, importance of bike infrastructure, transportation wallets and alternatives to a parking pass. Link to Portland…

1
Christians in the Moral Minority 20:45

23d ago20:45

20:45

Aaron M. Renn joins John Hirschauer to discuss his book, Life in the Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture, and how American Christians can adapt to a changing culture. anti-christian-culture

1
Improvise, Innovate and Involve: 3 Planners Reveal the Importance of Flipping Your Perspective 23:16

28d ago23:16

23:16

Welcome to the third episode of Short Takes, a three-part miniseries from the American Planning Association. Short Takes, hosted by Sophia Burns, brings listeners into the field with planners pursuing inventive new approaches to everyday issues: community engagement, land use and zoning, and career advancement. In this episode, we share how three p…

1
Louise Haigh MP, Secretary of State for Transport 51:09

24d ago51:09

51:09

Louise Haigh MP, the Secretary of State for Transport, joins Laura Laker on Streets Ahead for an insightful discussion on the future of active travel in the UK. From her own cycling experiences to the role of walking and cycling in tackling public health and climate challenges, Haigh outlines her vision for a national integrated transport strategy …

1
Episode 157: Mondays at The Overhead Wire - First Nations Urbanism 43:17

1M ago43:17

43:17

This week we're Han Solo, but we're chatting about how the First Nations in Vancouver are becoming to largest property developer in California, the idea of urban delivery hubs and switching cargo planning, how cities are heating up at night, and the idea that some folks are tired of losing. Below are the links from the items we talked about on the …

1
Tall Stories 422: The Vjesnik building, Zagreb 7:38

1M ago7:38

7:38

Guy De Launey tells us about a largely overlooked piece of Zagreb’s urban environment that was once home to an iconic Yugoslav newspaper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Build the Damn Train: How To Bring High-Speed Rail to the United States 1:03:20

25d ago1:03:20

1:03:20

In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck discusses the report “How To Improve Domestic High-Speed Rail Project Delivery” with one of the report’s authors, Eric Goldwyn. They discuss the advantages of high-speed rail over other transportation options, the challenges that building such a system in the U.S. would pose and five key recommenda…

1
How monarchs shape our cities 27:45

1M ago27:45

27:45

Throughout history, kings and queens have commissioned buildings all around the world but just how much has their vision shaped the cities of today? We explore the new book, ‘Royalty and Architecture’, with its editor Clive Aslet. Plus: we visit a place that saw everything from coronations to royal funerals and check on the rebuilding efforts of No…

1
Episode 495: Reducing Emissions on Highway Projects 51:47

29d ago51:47

51:47

This week we’re joined by Move Minnesota director Sam Rockwell to talk about climate bills Minnesota legislators have passed that could reduce highway and road building emissions in the state. We chat about setting transportation related climate targets, highway modeling, and taking the time to read federal rule comment letters. *** Follow us on tw…

1
The Present and Future of AI Policy 28:32

30d ago28:32

28:32

Nick Whitaker joins Jordan McGillis to discuss his Manhattan Institute report, “A Playbook for AI Policy,” and the future of artificial intelligence utilization.

1
Tall Stories 421: Le Carreau du Temple, Paris 3:35

1M ago3:35

3:35

David Stevens visits a historic part of Paris that has been a celebrated example of a mixed-use space for centuries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
The Traffic Enforcement Futility Loop 56:56

1M ago56:56

56:56

In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck takes a look at a recent fatal car crash that took place in Ontario. Unfortunately, deadly car crashes occur all the time across North America, and this one might not have even stood out if not for a tweet released in response by local law enforcement, which held the promise of a team that intends …

1
Paris: the Olympics and the city 30:12

1M ago30:12

30:12

Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games can be a great catalyst for urban transformation. This week we report from the French capital as it plays host to the world to find out more about its green initiatives, housing policies and sustainable architecture. Plus: what sort of city will be left for Parisians once the Games leave town? See omnystudio…

1
Episode 494: Bandaids on a Lack of Density 40:32

1M ago40:32

40:32

This week on the Talking Headways podcast swe’re joined by Nico Larco, Director of the Urbanism Next Center at the University of Oregon. We chat about his new book with Kaarin Knudson, The Sustainable Urban Design Handbook as well as a realization about how most of what we do in the United States seems to be bandaids for a lack of urban density. **…

1
Episode 80: Toronto's Drone Scandal 56:11

1M ago56:11

56:11

We heard a lot about drones at the Paris Olympics, but what about in our own backyard?In this episode, Spacing's John Lorinc tells us about a piece he wrote called Eyes in the Sky, which documents the stealthy creep of the Toronto Police Service's use of drones to keep tabs on residents.Next, author and green advocate Lorraine Johnson tells us abou…

1
Pushing Back on DEI 21:05

1M ago21:05

21:05

John D. Sailer joins Brian C. Anderson to discuss federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and particularly NIH First, a quarter-billion-dollar grant program focused on encouraging DEI hiring at universities.

1
Mondays Flashback: The Digital City with Germaine Halegoua 59:27

1M ago59:27

59:27

This week we’re jumping back in time to visit Talking Headways episode 285 featuring Professor Germaine Halegoua discussing her book The Digital City: Media and the Social Production of Place. It’s one of my favorite book discussions ever and I thought it would be a nice episode to revisit. In this episode, Germaine talks about how people use digit…

1
Tall Stories 420: Montreal Olympic Stadium 7:36

1M ago7:36

7:36

Paul Logothetis takes us to the Montreal Olympic Stadium to explore the mixed impression that it has left on residents of the city. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Why Local Leaders Can Address the Housing Crisis but Federal Programs Fail 49:29

1M ago49:29

49:29

In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck discusses the feedback systems that created the housing affordability crisis. He explains why federal and state government policies can’t solve the problem and that local leaders are the real key to addressing it. He also lays out some of the concrete actions local leaders can take to address the h…

1
Paris Olympics: Could this be the first fully cyclable Games? 42:58

1M ago42:58

42:58

In this episode Laura travels to Paris, to meet one of the campaigners behind a successful push to put cycling at the heart of the city's transport plans for the 2024 Olympics. Paris en Selle is one of a cohort of campaign groups who staged an 'Olympic relay' protest that inspired Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo to roll out cycleways linking every one of …

1
Brooklyn Bridge Park and lifelong neighbourhoods 30:09

2M ago30:09

30:09

We speak with the landscape architect behind Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of New York’s most exciting public spaces. Plus: we see what makes a location liveable, from youth through to adulthood, by way of a recent survey on lifelong neighbourhoods in London. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Episode 493: Transit to the Great Outdoors 49:39

1M ago49:39

49:39

This week on Talking Headways we have a conversation moderated by Corrie Parrish of Kittelson Associates with Andrea Breault of Cascades East Transit and Amy Schlappi of Columbia Area Transit discussing Transit service to the Great Outdoors. This podcast was produced in partnership with Mpact. Find out more at http://mpactmobility.org *** Follow us…