Best Livability Media Podcasts (2024)

1
Tours for Teachers Keep Young Talent on Track 17:46

19d ago17:46

17:46

Stacy Garmon, President & CEO of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce, chats with us about their Tours for Teachers program connecting educators with local businesses and insights into current workforce needs. At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reac…

1
Planting the Seeds of a More Inclusive Economy 25:49

1M ago25:49

25:49

In this episode, Joe Scantlebury, President & CEO of Living Cities, discusses the critical role of homeownership in wealth building and how Living Cities promotes equitable access to capital through not only home ownership, but business ownership, and more to build an economy where everyone can thrive. At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesome…

1
How Data Can Fuel Economic Growth 21:51

2M ago21:51

21:51

We’re taking you back into our archives with this episode featuring Mike Christenson of Applied Geographic Solutions, Livability’s data partner on our recently released Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2024. Mike shares about how the right data can have a big impact on your efforts to draw talent and businesses. At Livability, we highlight the unsung…

1
Upping the Ante on Business Retention & Expansion 21:09

2M ago21:09

21:09

Jason Archer, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, shares about how you can work with peers in your community to level up your business retention and expansion efforts. At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target companies and pote…

1
Home Ownership as an Economic Development Tool 23:21

3M ago23:21

23:21

Marcus Randolph, President & CEO of Invest Newark, explains how this EDO uses the Newark Land Bank to revitalize properties, making homeownership accessible and affordable for more residents. We also chat about other considerations for community leaders who want to boost the rate of home ownership, and why it’s important work. At Livability, we hig…

1
Insider Tips for Marketing Your Community 27:18

3M ago27:18

27:18

Sandy Dubay, President & CEO of PPR Strategies, delves into streamlining your economic development marketing strategy with tips from her 20+ years of experience in this niche. We chat about DIY approaches vs. engaging outside support, how to lighten your marketing load by collaborating with others in your community and much more. At Livability, we …

1
Recruitment Insights from GM & Samsung SDI’s $3.5 Billion Investment in Indiana 21:08

4M ago21:08

21:08

Each season, we hear from a community who recently won a significant project. On this Pick Me! Episode, Jeff Rea, President & CEO of Indiana’s South Bend Regional Chamber, joins us to talk about landing GM & Samsung SDI’s $3.5 billion investment in an EV battery cell plant in St. Joseph County. At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of …

1
Maximize Your Place Marketing with Maps 19:44

4M ago19:44

19:44

In this episode, Chelsey Roney, co-founder of Proxi, joins us for a chat about using customizable maps to elevate your place marketing At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target companies and potential residents through digital content a…

1
Child Care Innovation at Tyson Foods 23:55

4M ago23:55

23:55

In the second installment of our two-part child care series, Garrett Dolan, Associate Director of Human Resources at Tyson Foods, talks about Tyson’s onsite child care facility at the company’s Humboldt, TN plant, including plenty of takeaways for businesses and economic developers. Resources Mentioned: Clarksville-Montgomery County IDB’s Industria…

1
Boosting Child Care Through Statewide Collaboration in North Carolina 20:08

5M ago20:08

20:08

Maureen McGuinness, President & CEO of the Triangle East Chamber, chats with us about the NC Early Education Coalition and how they’re meeting child care challenges in North Carolina. At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target companies …

1
Centennial Yards Transforms Atlanta’s Downtown 29:08

5M ago29:08

29:08

In this episode, Brian McGowan, President of Centennial Yards, shares the ins and outs of one of the largest ever mixed use development projects and how it will reshape downtown Atlanta. At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target compani…

1
Maryland Secretary of Housing & Community Development Jake Day on Planning, Politics, and Homelessness 38:05

8M ago38:05

38:05

Former mayor of Salisbury, Maryland, and now the state's Secretary of Housing and Community Development, Jake Day shares his plans for addressing housing issues at scale. A former Urban3 client, he speaks to the importance of smart growth policies to build a resilient fiscal future and the urgent need to repair past wrongs, such as the effects of r…

1
Talent Tours Flip the Job Fair Script in Flint, MI 19:42

8M ago19:42

19:42

In the final episode of this season, we hear from Tyler Rossmaessler, Executive Director of the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance, about the Talent Tours Program bringing job seekers directly to employers in Flint, MI At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communitie…

1
How Welcoming New Americans Can Boost Your Workforce 24:29

8M ago24:29

24:29

Alex Beck, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, joins us to share about Brattleboro's Welcoming Workplaces Initiative supporting local employers in welcoming all kinds of employees, particularly immigrants and refugees new to the U.S. Tune in to hear about increasing diversity in a small community and making an impact for both new Americans …

1
Growing Housing Stock & Affordability in Northeast Indiana 22:08

9M ago22:08

22:08

In this episode, we hear from Stephane Frijia, President & CEO of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, about creating more housing to meet the needs of locals at all income levels and life stages. Resources Mentioned: Addressing Workforce Housing Needs in Northeast Indiana At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-s…

1
Bryan Barnett on Why Bi-Partisanship is Always In Fashion 29:52

9M ago29:52

29:52

Bryan Barnett is running in his third campaign for mayor as a write-in candidate, proof that at the local level, partisan labels and tired political tribalism are less interesting to people than getting things accomplished. Mayor Barnett's political skills are so renowened that he was chosen to chair the prestiguous U.S. Conference of Mayors, but h…

1
The Unique Legislative Influence of Chambers 21:09

9M ago21:09

21:09

Plural founder & CEO Damola Ogundipe joins us to chat about the unique power of chambers to influence and shape legislative priorities. At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesomeness of small and mid-sized cities across the country. We also partner with communities to reach their target companies and potential residents through digital content …

1
G.T. Bynum of Tulsa stays focused on what matters most 41:34

9M ago41:34

41:34

"I term limited myself!" Despite being a popular and nationally well-regarded mayor of a fast-growing midwestern metro, G.T. Bynum is sticking to his word and choosing to retire after two successful terms in office. In this conversation with Ben and Cate, he talks about his family's legacy with public service, his relentless commitment to engaging …

1
How Livability Amplifies Assets & Boosts Talent Strategies in Ames 24:14

10M ago24:14

24:14

The Ames Chamber wants to showcase what makes Ames an A+ community. Learn how they're meeting their goals by partnering with Livability to tell talent everywhere about one of America's best mid-sized cities. We also cover other successful talent and workforce efforts happening in Ames. Resources Mentioned: Ames Magazine What Best Places to Live Wil…

1
Cate, Ben, and Kerry on What They Did With Their Summer Vacations 33:48

10M ago33:48

33:48

Cate went to Copenhagen, Ben went to Central America, and Kerry spent a few days in Music City, USA. Three different regions of the world, three very distinct approaches to planning, placemaking, development, and design. Hear what the Possible City crew did with our summer vacations and what we're reading as we head into the fall.…

1
Pick Me! Recruitment Insights from Intel’s $20 Billion Investment in Ohio 18:13

10M ago18:13

18:13

Each season, we hear from a community who recently won a significant project, and how they did it. On this Pick Me! Episode, Kenny McDonald, President & CEO, Columbus Partnership, joins us to talk about landing the biggest investment in Ohio state history: Intel’s $20 billion project in Licking County. At Livability, we highlight the unsung awesome…

1
Talent Wars, And How Your Community Can Win 21:03

11M ago21:03

21:03

DCI’s Patience Fairbrother joins us with insights for your talent strategies and the high points of DCI’s annual Talent Wars job and location research, including implications for small and mid-sized cities and local upskilling programs. Be sure to subscribe so you’re alerted when we release new episodes. Resources Mentioned: Relocation Research fro…

1
Aja Brown tells us about planning, politics, data in Compton 33:18

11M ago33:18

33:18

Aja Brown became mayor of Compton, California in 2013 after winning an upset election against and incumbent and a former mayor, and used her eight years in office to bring unprecedented transparency, economic development, big ideas, and hope to her community. Referenced in this episode: Fox 11 Los Angeles, November 6, 2020: "Compton Mayor Aja Brown…

1
Retaining College Students to Boost Your Talent Pipeline 20:23

11M ago20:23

20:23

Brooke Randels of Campus Tulsa joins us on this episode with insight on retaining college students in your community. She also shares about the knowledge you can glean from the upcoming Young, Smart & Local talent conference in New Orleans and chats about the future of higher education, plus what Gen Z is getting right. Be sure to subscribe so you’…

1
Rob Adams on Urban Choreography, the Value of Failure, and What "Livability" Actually Means 34:24

11M ago34:24

34:24

"My granddaughter thinks that all I do is widen footpaths." Rob Adams gave Ben and Cate a number of different descriptions of exactly what he does in his role as City Architect of Melbourne, Australia, but we think that may be our favorite. To call Rob a legend in the urban design world may be an understatement. Alongside Jan Gehl and others, his g…

1
What the Best Places to Live Will Look Like in the Future 20:40

11M ago20:40

20:40

In this episode, Chris Fair, futurist as well as founder and CEO of Resonance, discusses what will make the cities of the future good places to live and what to be thinking about now to be a talent magnet in the coming decades. Be sure to subscribe so you’re alerted when we release new episodes. Resources Mentioned: Why a Prosperous City is Both Li…

1
Rick Cole on Drivable, Walkable, Resilient Southern California 40:52

11M ago40:52

40:52

Ben and Cate chat with a luminary from the worlds of planning and politics - Rick Cole, formerly the city manager of Azusa, Ventura, and Santa Monica, former Mayor of Pasadena, and currently Los Angeles' Chief Deputy City Controller. He also served as the executive director for the Congress For the New Urbanism for two years and right now is runnin…

1
How Fiber Internet Gives Your Talent & Business Attraction An Edge 22:54

12M ago22:54

22:54

Kaleigh Cox, of DxTEL and Fiber Homes, joins us for our first episode of Season 3 on how fiber internet can help you meet your talent and business attraction goals. She also talks about resources for bringing fiber to your area and tapping your local real estate agents to support your strategy. Be sure to subscribe so you’re alerted when we release…

1
E11: That's a Wrap 1:05:59

12M ago1:05:59

1:05:59

In a conversation led by creative director HeyFranHey, go behind the scenes of “Living For We" with the production team– host and executive producer Marlene Harris-Taylor, lead producer Hannah Rae Leach, and our in-pod therapist Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett. Learn more about Living For We here. Donate to Ideastream Public Media here! Leave us a voicemai…

1
E10: Love Language 34:58

1y ago34:58

34:58

Is there anything more beautiful than Black love? From sister-friends and treasured co-workers to devoted husbands and boyfriends, love makes life worth living, especially in a city where it can be so tough. How can we use the power of love to make Cleveland a better place for all of us, and how can we shape its future through the act of “living fo…

1
Brooke Thomas on how public transportation connects to everything 33:21

1y ago33:21

33:21

"Zoning's not for everybody." Brooke Thomas, the Senior Director of Strategic Planning for the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation, better known as IndyGo, knows what she's talking about. Having fought for some truly remarkable and progressive zoning reforms in a growing midwestern capitol, she's spent more time than most talking about t…

1
Introducing When Magic Happens 33:30

1y ago33:30

33:30

Today, we’re sharing an episode of When Magic Happens, a new podcast from WBEZ Chicago, where intergenerational convos of love and laughter collide. In this episode, we’re discussing body-ody-ody-ody. Slim-thick, bean pole, pear, apple – how has your body been categorized? Cheryle, Jennifer and Taylor discuss body image and their relationships to t…

1
E9: School Daze 34:06

1y ago34:06

34:06

In the classroom, even the best and brightest of Black women are often encouraged to think small and aim low. Chronic underfunding of public schools in Black neighborhoods, steering of Black girls away from honors classes in suburban schools, and abundant microaggressions from preschool to graduate school make learning a challenge. Despite it all, …

1
Kerry, Cate, and Ben at the Congress for the New Urbanism 31:59

1y ago31:59

31:59

A special bonus episode, and something a little different: our intrepid hosts were recently in Charlotte, North Carolina for the 31st convening of the Congress for the New Urbanism, an organization that advocates for people-centered design in cities all over the country. In this episode, we catch up on what what we liked, what we saw, and what we l…

1
E8: First and Only 34:02

1y ago34:02

34:02

When a Black woman becomes the first of her kind to receive a sought-after title or high-powered role, it’s a cause for celebration– but these breakthroughs have always hinged upon a lineage of elders forging thorny paths for those coming up behind them. In this episode, we trace that lineage from 94 year old former nurse Miss Arnell Hendricks all …

1
How Data Can Fuel Economic Growth 21:42

1y ago21:42

21:42

In this special bonus episode, Mike Christenson of Applied Geographic Solutions shares how the right data can have a big impact on your efforts to draw talent and businesses, and how the barriers to getting good data are not as high as you might think. This is the last episode of our second season, but we’ll be back soon with Season 3. Be sure to s…

1
Possible City Episode 14: German Enriquez from San Pedro Parques 39:13

1y ago39:13

39:13

While the World Health Organization recommends around 30 to 35 square meters of green space per person, the standard in Mexico is currently around 4 to 5 square meters. San Pedro, a thriving suburb of Monterrey, surpasses this standard with six times the amount of green space per resident - a fact that doubtlessly factors into its reputation as hav…

1
E7: Medical Misogynoir Pt. 2 34:47

1y ago34:47

34:47

Cleveland is allegedly a healthcare mecca. There should be an abundance of quality care right here in town, but why can't Black women seem to find it? Dr. Carla Harwell of University Hospitals and Dr. Linda Bradley of the Cleveland Clinic, two Black woman doctors, join us to unpack that very question. Learn more about Birthing Beautiful Communities…

1
Pick Me!: Recruitment Insights from Landing BlueOval 19:33

1y ago19:33

19:33

Each season, we’ll hear from a community who recently won a significant project, and how they did it. On this Pick Me! Episode, Chassen Haynes, Senior Director of Business Development for the State of Tennessee, joins us to talk about landing the biggest investment in Tennessee history: Ford’s $5.6 billion BlueOval project creating BlueOval City.…

1
Possible City Episode 13: Michele Martinez from Santa Ana, CA 34:12

1y ago34:12

34:12

"How can we ensure that we look at every opporutnity possible to make sure that everyone can thrive?" Michele Martinez is one of the Golden State's most accomplished and thoughtful policymakers. In her capacity as special master to an Orange County federal judge, she works diligently find humane, innovative, and effective legal solutions to souther…

1
E6: Medical Misogynoir Pt. 1 32:35

1y ago32:35

32:35

When their lives are placed into the hands of white doctors and nurses, Black women’s basic needs can quickly evolve into life-threatening ordeals. Medical professionals’ lack of empathy demands that Black women prioritize advocating for themselves and their families over self-care. How can Black women be healthy when doctors refuse to really hear …

1
Talent Strategies to Reach Everyone in Your Community 29:14

1y ago29:14

29:14

In this episode, we sit down with Adam Knapp, President & CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber to talk about Baton Rouge’s comprehensive talent strategies, and how this community is upskilling high schoolers, college students and adults. Not only are they matching the right people to the right jobs, they’re also closing opportunity gaps and promotin…

1
Possible City Episode 12: Assessor Fritz Kaegi from Cook County, IL 36:05

1y ago36:05

36:05

" Fritz Kaegi took over an office that was literally legendary for being opaque, outdated, and at times, downright hostile to the constituents its meant to serve: the Cook County Assessor's Office. At the time of his election in 2018, the office was under federal monitoring and politically-connected downtown landlords seemed to be running roughshod…

1
E5: It Starts With Us: Workplace Pt. 2 36:12

1y ago36:12

36:12

Black women don’t want to fight for basic respect in the workplace. When do they walk away from a “great opportunity” in a white space? How do they find the strength to do it? And what do they do next? This week we share the stories of two dynamic Black women– Leah Hudnall of The Legacy Perspective and Ramat Wiley of Adun Spice Company– as they cre…

1
The State & Future of Economic Development, with IEDC’s Nathan Ohle 24:32

1y ago24:32

24:32

In this episode, Nathan Ohle, President & CEO, International Economic Development Council, looks back on his first year leading our industry’s premier professional association. He also talks about the future of IEDC and the profession, especially recruiting students to our industry, IEDC’s Economic Recovery Corps and much more.…

1
Possible City Episode 11: Commissioner Ted Terry from DeKalb County, GA 42:49

1y ago42:49

42:49

In the eyes of the court, Commissioner Ted Terry may technically call himself "aggreived," but you wouldn't know it to speak with him. A dedicated environmentalist in the sprawling Atlanta suburbs and a committed progressive in the American southeast, Terry is used to being a bit of a contrarian, albeit a highly productive one. As a two-term Mayor …

1
E4: Reaching New Heights: Workplace Pt. 1 39:12

1+ y ago39:12

39:12

For Black women, the climb to the top is often filled with impossibly high standards, blatant disrespect, and jealousy from those both outside and inside their community. What should they be expected to sacrifice in order to succeed? Author and former TV news anchor Romona Robinson, entrepreneur Ariane Kirkpatrick, and Cleveland Housing Court Judge…

1
How Your Local Military Presence Can Boost Your Talent Strategies 22:15

1+ y ago22:15

22:15

Places with a large nearby military presence know that can really shape the fabric of your community. But are you maximizing that impact when it comes to your talent strategies? And how do you keep transitioning military folks in your region? In this episode, April Bragg of the Robins Regional Chamber in Warner Robins, Georgia, talks about engaging…

1
Possible City Episode 10: Cate Irvin from Pittsburgh, PA 30:47

1+ y ago30:47

30:47

Media outlets from coast to coast have been sounding the alarm about how downtowns are dying since the beginning of the pandemic, most infamously in the New York Times' essay about the coming "urban doom loop." Luckily, nobody's told Cate Irvin that downtowns are dying. As the director of economic development for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership…

1
E3: Young Black Queens 27:22

1+ y ago27:22

27:22

The powerful girls of the QueenIAM program, run by 27-year-old founder and mother Dameyonna Willis, tell us all about their big dreams and hopes for their lives in Cleveland. While the Commission for Black Women and Girls– an entity conceived in those girls’ best interest– struggles to get off the ground at City Hall, these young women are building…

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