American Planning Association

What do improv comedy and planning have in common? According to Phil Green, AICP —more than you'd think. A practicing planner and seasoned improviser, Phil shares with APA Editor in Chief Meghan Stromberg how tools from the improv stage—like active listening, quick thinking, and collaborative storytelling—can empower planners to navigate tough questions, community tensions, and even mundane fence permits with humor and humanity. In this episode of People Behind the Plans, Phil brings to life the unexpected intersections of comedy and civic engagement, explaining how improv can boost a planner's confidence, empathy, and ability to lead with presence. He reflects on his unconventional path from stand-up to site plans, how improv helped him feel more connected and resilient, and why embracing failure (and fun) makes for stronger teams and better outcomes. Whether you're facing a high-stakes public hearing, a frazzled applicant, or just want to build stronger communication skills, this episode offers fresh insights—and a few good laughs—on how the art of improvisation can make planners more effective, compassionate, and present. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/phil-green-aicp-on-what-planners-can-learn-from-improv/

Episode sponsor: Eastern Washington University Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/critical-conversations-in-transportation-planning-wes-marshall-and-trung-vo-aicp/ In this episode, co-hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall were excited to take the podcast show on the road, recording episodes at the 2025 National Planning Conference in Denver. This dispatch of Critical Conversation in Transportation Planning kicks off our safety series and features Wes Marshall, PhD, PE, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Denver, and Trung Vo, AICP, PE, Denver Office Director, Senior Planner, and Owner at Toole Design. Our speakers highlight how many traffic engineering standards are based on flawed assumptions rather than science, specifically pointing to problems with level of service metrics, automatic traffic growth assumptions, and designing for peak hours rather than community needs. They emphasize the need for courage to tackle arterial roads where most fatalities occur, challenging the reactive approach of waiting for crashes to happen instead of proactively designing safer streets for all users. Relevant Links: ● Death by Design: A New Book from a CU Denver Transportation Expert Rethinks the Science Behind Our Roads ● Killed By a Traffic Engineer, Shattering the Delusion that Science Underlies our Transportation System ● Denver Moves: Safe and Slow Streets with Bikeways ● No More Five-Lane Roads: An Engineer's Perspective About Wes Marshall: Wes Marshall, PhD, PE, is a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Denver, where he holds a joint appointment in urban planning. He plays a pivotal role as director of the CU Denver Human-Centered Transportation program and the Transportation Research Center at CU Denver. Wes is a licensed Professional Engineer and focuses on transportation teaching and research dedicated to creating safer and more sustainable transportation systems. Wes is the author behind the 2024 book Killed by a Traffic Engineer. He also has more than 80 peer-reviewed journal publications and book chapters to his name and has received millions of dollars in research funding. Wes was the winner of the campus-wide CU Denver Outstanding Faculty in Research Award. He also has a passion for teaching and mentoring students and is the only three-time winner of the CU Denver College of Engineering Outstanding Faculty in Teaching Award. A native of Watertown, Massachusetts, Wes is a graduate of the University of Virginia (BS) and the University of Connecticut (MS and PhD). He is a recipient of the Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship, Australia's Endeavour Fellowship, and the Transportation Research Board's Wootan Award for the outstanding paper in policy and organization. About Trung Vo: Trung serves as a Senior Planner and our Denver Office Director. In his work, he leverages his certification as a planner, licensure as a Professional Engineer, and experience in both the public and private sectors to help communities become safer, more connected, and more resilient. Trung specializes in multimodal planning and design, public engagement, and design guidance. Outside of the office, Trung enjoys photography, bicycling, snowboarding, and spending time with his wife and two sons.

What does being an introvert in a profession centered on community and collaboration mean? For Katelynn Morgenstern, AICP, Director of Planning and Zoning in Kennett Township, Pennsylvania, navigating networking and building a brand used to feel daunting—until she discovered the power of social media to build authentic connections, explore planning passions beyond her day job, and grow her confidence. Through her online persona @CityPlannerKate, Katelynn cultivated a meaningful network that helped her engage in person with more ease, while exploring under-addressed topics like equity and hostile architecture. On this episode of People Behind the Plans, APA Editor in Chief Meghan Stromberg sits down with Kate at the NPC25 in Denver to talk about her journey from overwhelmed first-time conference attendee to confident speaker and thought leader. They explore how social media can be a powerful tool for introverted planners, why authenticity matters more than algorithm hacks, and how to stay connected while protecting your well-being. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/katelynn-morgenstern-aicp-on-planning-social-media-and-finding-your-voice-as-an-introvert/

In this episode of the Trend Talk series, a companion podcast for APA's 2025 Trend Report for Planners, Joe DeAngelis, AICP, research manager at the American Planning Association, chats with author and urban planning professor Justin Hollander, FAICP. Listen as they examine the potential for human settlements on the Moon and Mars, and discover the unique challenges and ethical questions that come with planning cities beyond Earth. Hollander also shares insights from his book, First City on Mars: An Urban Planner's Guide to Settling the Red Planet, discussing the opportunities for planners in the expanding space industry and the lessons we can learn for urban development back on our home planet. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/the-role-of-planners-in-space-exploration-with-justin-hollander-faicp/

In this special NPC25 episode of the APA podcast, APA President Sue Schwartz, FAICP, interviews keynote speaker Dr. Mary Beth Janke about her experiences and insights on advancing wellness and building resilience. Dr. Mary Beth, who has over 30 years of experience in psychology, security, and investigative work, shares her thoughts on setting and achieving personal goals, including her experiences delivering a TED Talk, authoring books, and serving as a Special Agent in the U.S. Secret Service. The discussion also touches on the importance of continuously evolving and striving to live a fulfilling life. Listeners can hear more from Dr. Mary Beth at NPC25 in Denver. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/planning-for-wellness-and-personal-resilience-with-dr-mary-beth-janke/

In this episode of the Trend Talk series, a companion podcast for APA's 2025 Trend Report for Planners, Joe DeAngelis, AICP, research manager at the American Planning Association, chats with recent graduate and current transportation planner, Beneeta Mary Jose. The two explore the latest trends in micromobility, electrification, and the essential balance between proactive and reactive planning. Beneeta also shares her thoughts on how young professionals are shaping the transportation landscape, the importance of including children's perspectives, and the visionary future of an integrated, sustainable, and human-centric transportation network. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/the-future-of-transportation-with-beneeta-mary-jose/

In this episode of the APA podcast, host Dina Walters is joined by David Salazar, FAICP, and Annette Koh to discuss an initiative in Long Beach, California, that is looking to pave the way for future urban planners. Through engaging youth in high schools and teen centers, the program introduces students to the world of urban planning, providing them with tools and knowledge to improve their communities. David and Annette discuss the origins of the program, its growth, the partnerships that have made it possible, and the impact it has had on both the students and the city. Learn how this innovative program is creating a pipeline for future planning professionals and fostering the next generation of community leaders. This episode is sponsored by: University of Michigan Engineering Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/empowering-youth-and-the-urban-planning-pipeline-with-annette-koh-and-david-salazar-faicp/

In this special NPC25 episode of the APA podcast, host Michael Brown, AICP, conference committee chair for NPC25, engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Leah Rothstein. Leah is co-author along with her father, Richard Rothstein, on the book Just Action, and has specialized in community development and affordable housing policy, practice, and finance throughout her career. Leah delves into the challenges in addressing critical issues surrounding race, housing, and community equity, emphasizing the importance of building relationships, engaging in service, and finding purpose. As a keynote speaker at the 2025 National Planning Conference (NPC 25), Leah offers a sneak peek into her upcoming talk and highlights the significance of local action in advancing equity and making a positive impact on your community. This episode is sponsored by AARP Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/building-community-and-purpose-leah-rothstein-on-just-action/

Sacramento, California, is at the forefront of zoning reform, tackling some of the biggest challenges in housing supply and affordability. Tom Pace, the city's director of community development, shares how the city has embraced policies to remove barriers to housing production, modernize outdated regulations, and promote sustainable growth. And, he offers ideas for how other places can approach zoning reform to build more equitable and livable communities. In this episode of People Behind the Plans, Pace shares insights on the city's ambitious approach to infill and transit-oriented housing, as well as how to eliminate parking requirements and simplify the approval process for new developments. He also reflects on the evolution of Sacramento's General Plan and how planners can balance community engagement with bold policy changes. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on the power of planning to shape more accessible and vibrant cities. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/tom-pace-on-zoning-reform-and-housing-innovation-in-sacramento/

In this episode of Critical Conversations in Transportation Planning, hosts Divya Gandhi and Em Hall interview Jacky Grimshaw and Nina Idemudia, AICP, from the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) in Chicago. They discuss the evolution of transportation planning, the importance of community engagement, and the emergence of millennial leadership in the planning profession. Jacky shares her extensive experience in advocating for citizen participation in transportation planning, while Nina reflects on her journey from growing up in Detroit to serving as CNT's CEO, and emphasizes the need for planners to address structural inequities. Together, they highlight CNT's innovative approaches and ongoing efforts to create equitable and sustainable urban environments. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/critical-conversations-in-transportation-planning-cnt-nina-idamudia-aicp-and-jacky-grimshaw/

In this episode of the Trend Talk series, a companion podcast for APA's 2025 Trend Report for Planners, Joe DeAngelis, AICP, Research Manager at the American Planning Association, chats with APA President, Sue Schwartz, FAICP. The two discuss the evolving landscape of public sector planning and delve into current hiring challenges, the impact of political polarization on community engagement, and the importance of personal resiliency for planners. Sue shares insights on managing technological changes, balancing remote and in-office work, and preparing for future trends in the profession. Join us for an enlightening conversation on the crucial role of planners in shaping resilient and equitable communities. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/the-future-of-public-sector-planning-with-apa-president-sue-schwartz-faicp/

Planners have a difficult job. In addition to being experts on their own technical field of planning, they must also understand a variety of other disciplines — like architecture, landscape and ecology to name just a few. These fields are complex in their own right, and planners must consider and translate these concepts for laypeople and elected officials alike. Nico Larco experienced this information overload firsthand and decided to build a resource to compile and contextualize the essential elements of sustainable design. The result was The Sustainable Urban Design Handbook, which he co-authored with Kaarin Knudson. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/nico-larco-and-kaarin-knudson-on-demystifying-sustainable-urban-design/

In this episode of the Housing Supply Accelerator series, Emily Pasi, Director of Public Affairs at the American Planning Association, chats with Robert Broeksmit, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. The two discuss why MBA joined the Housing Supply Accelerator; how the economics of the housing crisis impacts the real estate finance industry; the importance of bringing the lending community's voice to the table when crafting policy; how local government can close housing development finance gaps; public-private partnerships as a financing solution; demystifying housing finance for community planners, and much more. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/housing-supply-accelerator-an-interview-with-mortgage-bankers-association-president-and-ceo-robert-broeksmit/

In this episode of People Behind the Plans, Julia Freedgood, author of Planning Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems, talks about the complex and fragile web behind the food we eat, and the important role planning plays, especially in rural areas. Freedgood, a senior fellow and senior program advisor at the American Farmland Trust, digs into rural and urban agriculture, food insecurity, and even how renewable energy production can be at odds with food production. Always optimistic, she'll share how planners can shift their mindset toward comprehensive food systems planning and offer guidance on addressing food challenges. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/american-farmland-trusts-julia-freedgood-on-planning-sustainable-food-systems-for-all-people/

In this third episode of the series, Emily Pasi, Director of Public Affairs at the American Planning Association, chats with Kevin Sears, President of the National Association of Realtors. The two discuss how real estate professionals have been specifically impacted by the housing crisis, what barriers and opportunities exist for growing the nation's housing supply, and why it is important for NAR to be a partner in the Housing Supply Accelerator. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/housing-supply-accelerator-an-interview-with-national-association-of-realtors-president-kevin-sears/

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 one of the nation's most important and far-reaching reforms aimed at increasing housing supply. Episode Sponsor: Booked on Planning Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/the-burlington-model-how-planning-led-reforms-transformed-the-citys-housing-market/

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 planners helped community members navigate change with deep listening, secret shopping, and sometimes leading by following. Listen as they share how putting themselves in stakeholders' shoes ultimately made them a more informed and effective collaborator. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/improvise-innovate-and-involve-3-planners-reveal-the-importance-of-flipping-your-perspective/

Welcome to the second 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 dive into the journeys of two planners who have transformed career challenges into opportunities for growth. They share their strategies for coping with imposter syndrome, advocating for themselves, and advancing their careers. Listen as they recount handling negative comments with grace, confidently navigating tough conversations, and successfully negotiating for what they truly deserve. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/aspire-advocate-and-advance-2-planners-talk-frankly-about-career-challenges-and-moving-up/

Welcome to the first 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. This episode retraces three planners' steps as they implement and evaluate novel approaches to community engagement. Tune in to hear how block parties, compensation policies, and "Frenchified" zoning puns are winning planners more face time with the communities they serve. Episode URL: https://www.planning.org/podcast/creativity-compensation-and-culture-3-planners-share-community-engagement-innovations/

In this second episode of the series, Emily Pasi, Director of Public Affairs at the American Planning Association, chats with Carl Harris, Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders. The two discuss the NAHB's role as a core partner in the Housing Supply Accelerator, as well as what some of the barriers home builders face to building more housing nationwide. They also look at some of the potential solutions that can help communities and developers work together to produce, preserve, and provide diverse, attainable, and equitable housing options. Episode URL: https://www.planning.org/podcast/housing-supply-accelerator-an-interview-with-national-association-of-home-builders-chairman-carl-harris/

In this first episode in a new series, Emily Pasi, director of public affairs at the American Planning Association chats with Clarence Anthony, CEO of the National League of Cities (NLC). Clarence and NLC are partners alongside APA on the Housing Supply Accelerator. The Housing Supply Accelerator is a national campaign to improve local capacity, identify critical solutions, and speed reforms that enable communities and developers to work together to produce, preserve, and provide diverse, attainable, and equitable housing by realigning the efforts of public and private stakeholders in the housing sector to meet housing needs at the local level. The two discuss the importance of elected officials, home builders, real estate professionals, bankers and community planners coming together to address the housing supply crisis; how partnerships can address housing supply barriers; the solutions outlined in the newly released Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook; and much more. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/housing-supply-accelerator-an-interview-with-national-league-of-cities-ceo-clarence-anthony/

Zoning reform has become a topic of national interest, not just among planners and local decision makers, but also in the national media and in everyday conversations. While the national housing crisis is well-documented, information on the role of local zoning rules has been harder to find — until now. The National Zoning Atlas is going state by state to create a map of local land use policies. It simplifies and unifies a multitude of data inputs, helping planners and community members to both make sense of zoning regulations and champion zoning reform. The brainchild of lawyer and Cornell University professor Sara C. Bronin, the National Zoning Atlas is proving to be a valuable advocacy tool. In this episode, Bronin explains how an effort to Desegregate Connecticut paved the way for the National Zoning Atlas and how planners are contributing to — and benefiting from — this movement to demystify and democratize the policies that shape communities. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/national-zoning-atlas-founder-sara-bronin-is-empowering-communities-to-transform-land-use/

Planners can design places for many purposes: to promote commerce, to protect us from natural disasters, to uplift historical significance. As mental health and social relationships become increasingly significant, new questions rise to the top: What about planning for the way people feel? How can planners better understand how environments impact well-being and then learn to shape more joyful, healing spaces? In this episode of People Behind the Plans, Megan Oliver, AICP, WELL AP, founder of Hello Happy Design, discusses how the intersection of neuroscience and planning — called neurourbanism — can provide planners with the necessary tools to design places for social and emotional health. Oliver also speaks to the rising awareness of neurodiversity and how we can change our assumptions about how community members engage with the people and places around them. This episode was sponsored by Nexus at University of Michigan Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/megan-oliver-on-how-to-plan-for-happiness-in-cities/

The history of planning includes racist policies and practices that have resulted in entrenched inequity and enduring systemic barriers. Understanding the complexities and impacts of those barriers is necessary to dismantling ingrained inequalities and achieving transformative change. A recent edition of the Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA) called “Antiracist Futures: Disrupting Racist Planning Practices in Workplaces, Institutions, and Communities” centers racial justice in the planning field, documenting the current state of the profession and planning education, and offering tangible strategies for implementing anti-racist practices that are adaptable and responsive. In this episode of People Behind the Plans, JAPA contributors Rashad Williams, Assistant Professor of Race and Social Justice in Public Policy at the University of Pittsburgh, and Anaid Yerena, Associate Professor of Urban Studies at the University of Washington, Tacoma, speak about anti-racist community planning concepts that lay the foundation for planners to reckon with history, disrupt the status quo and find new ways to pursue equity in every community. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/anaid-yerena-and-rashad-williams-on-building-an-equitable-future-of-planning/

Jewell Littles Walton is an urban planning and real estate professional with a career spanning multiple decades. She joins Dina Walters, a member of APA's Prioritize Equity team, for this special episode to share the story of uncovering her family's connection to the early 20th century Greenwood neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Greenwood was known as “Black Wall Street”, one of the most prosperous African-American communities in the United States, and was home to one of the nation's worst race massacres. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/rediscovering-roots-planner-jewell-littles-walton-uncovers-family-ties-to-tulsas-black-wall-street/

When it comes to essential services and the stakeholders of a city, music and the people who make up a music ecosystem may not always be mentioned in the same breath as utilities and schools or residents and businesses. But music can enhance quality of life and plays an important role in generating prosperity for people, organizations and cities as a whole when it coexists harmoniously among its neighbors. Shain Shapiro has dedicated the last decade to helping cities embrace the value of music and plan for it with thoughtful policies. He wrote about his experience in his debut book, This Must Be the Place: How Music Can Make Your City Better. In this episode, Shapiro joins host Meghan Stromberg to discuss how planners can champion music policy in cities, as well as a case study of an American city that took a strategic approach to incorporating music in its long-term plan. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/shain-shapiro-on-taylor-swift-and-the-benefits-of-a-music-policy-for-your-city/

Addressing systemic racism and entrenched inequity has become an imperative for many institutions. Planners are in a unique position to make a big course correction on equity through comprehensive planning — if they embrace the opportunity to lead. On this episode of People Behind the Plans, Taiwo Jaiyeoba joins host Meghan Stromberg to talk about leading zoning reform efforts in Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina, both as a planning director and in his current role as city manager. He also shares his tips for winning over naysayers and his thoughts on what makes a good comprehensive plan. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/taiwo-jaiyeoba-on-how-planners-can-lead-through-zoning-reform-and-by-crafting-equitable-comprehensive-plans/

It seems the word “unprecedented” has been used so often to describe everything from the weather to public health in recent years that the only certainty is uncertainty. This makes the job of urban planners especially difficult as they try to anticipate what their cities will need in the decades to come. In the business world, a type of modeling called exploratory scenario planning (XSP) has been helping companies cope with volatility for decades. Now the idea is gaining traction among planners, thanks to the work of researchers like Robert Goodspeed, AICP. In this episode, APA Research Manager Joe DeAngelis, AICP, sits down with Goodspeed to talk about how XSP can help planners bring together disparate stakeholders and variables to build robust plans that can help cities prepare for whatever comes next — be it rain, shine, boom or bust. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/robert-goodspeed-on-how-exploratory-scenario-planning-helps-imagine-uncertain-futures/

The average person on the street may not know what a planning professional does, but they probably have opinions on traffic, housing, and the many other elements of daily life that planners influence. Planner Dave Amos bet on that natural curiosity when he started his planning-focused YouTube channel “City Beautiful” 10 years ago. Since then, he's seen the community of planning content creators grow on social media and says they're feeding an appetite that's been there all along. This episode, Amos sits down with People Behind the Plans host Meghan Stromberg at the 2023 National Planning Conference to talk about his own fortuitous route to the profession, why he's telling the planning story in exciting, new ways, and how planners can lean into social media to connect with their communities. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/youtuber-and-planner-dave-amos-on-teaching-a-crash-course-in-urban-planning-one-video-at-a-time/

In this APA podcast - part of the Planning for Equity series - Bobby Boone, founder and chief strategist of &Access, discusses economic development strategies for combatting displacement of small minority-owned businesses. Boone shares how planners can work with small businesses, what to look out for, and how to engage owners. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/planning-to-ensure-longevity-for-small-minority-owned-businesses/

In this APA podcast - part of the Planning for Equity series - Daniel Besinaiz, senior comprehensive planner at the City of Colorado Springs, shares his somewhat unexpected and personal journey on learning to celebrate and embrace his Latino heritage. Hear how Daniel re-connected with his roots and applies inspiration from his heritage into his current planning work. Finally, hear how being a part of the Latinos and Planning Division has helped with his journey. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/embracing-heritage-how-culture-influences-your-planning-work/

Three-plus decades after the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, the built environment remains a maze of obstacles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in four Americans live with a disability. Despite what many think, disability isn't a rare experience for only people on the edges of society — and planning for it has collateral benefits that improve quality of life for everyone. Rebekah Taussig, advocate and author of Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary, Resilient, Disabled Body, has been navigating the world from her wheelchair since she was 6 years old. She recalls feeling like everyone else created their own narratives for her life. In this episode of People Behind the Plans we sit down with Taussig before her keynote address at APA's National Planning Conference. She explains how storytelling has allowed her to reclaim the narrative of her own life and help others understand how isolating, cumbersome, unjust, and unsustainable our cities and our culture are for people with disabilities. Listen to hear her vision for a world designed with everyone in mind — not just those considered “average” — and some communication tips for planners trying to build support for their visions. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/disability-advocate-rebekah-taussig-on-built-environment-barriers-you-might-not-see/ This episode is sponsored by AARP

Every two years, the American Planning Association Transportation Planning Division publishes the State of Transportation Planning Report with the intention of highlighting innovative ideas, cutting-edge research, and interesting experiments in transportation planning in the United States. As part of the 2022 edition of the report - titled “Intersections + Identities: A Radical Rethinking of Our Transportation Experiences" - we're bringing you a series of critical conversations with pioneers and industry leaders across the US who are offering their insights into some of the most challenging issues facing our field. In this episode we hear from Misty Klann and Cole Grisham, who are both closely involved in managing the Federal Highway Administration's Transportation Planning in Tribal Communities Research Study. This research seeks to align available planning analysis tools with Tribal community needs based on a range of contextual factors, and to quantify the benefits of planning analysis in the project selection and delivery processes. The findings are intended to contribute to Tribal communities deciding how best to optimize the funding made available through the Tribal Transportation Program. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/critical-conversations-in-transportation-planning-misty-klann-and-cole-grisham/

Philadelphia is a public art epicenter — and not by chance. The city has long institutionalized investment in local muralists through programs like Mural Arts Philadelphia, a nonprofit created in 1998 by artist and executive director Jane Golden. Through more than 4,000 murals, the program has helped residents celebrate identity, tackle issues like environmental justice, and paint the change they want to see. In this episode of People Behind the Plans, Golden shares the community engagement strategies that help Mural Arts reflect the creativity, concerns, and perspectives of its diverse city. We also discuss ways planners can partner with local arts programs to infuse their projects with public art. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/mural-arts-philadelphia-jane-golden-planning-and-public-art-ignite-change/ Episode Sponsor: Nexus at University of Michigan

Every two years, the American Planning Association Transportation Planning Division publishes the State of Transportation Planning Report with the intention of highlighting innovative ideas, cutting-edge research, and interesting experiments in transportation planning in the United States. As part of the 2022 edition of the report - titled “Intersections + Identities: A Radical Rethinking of Our Transportation Experiences" - we're bringing you a series of critical conversations with pioneers and industry leaders across the US who are offering their insights into some of the most challenging issues facing our field. In this episode, we hear from Tamika Butler, a national expert on issues related to public policy, the built environment, equity, anti-racism, diversity and inclusion, organizational behavior, and change management, who wears many hats (and bike helmets!). The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to Tamika's research, which employs a critical race, historical, legal, and policy-based approach to examine how transportation policy and infrastructure have been used to segregate, isolate, and prevent the mobility of Black and other historically oppressed groups of people. Tamika is the principal and founder of Tamika L. Butler Consulting and a doctoral student in Urban Planning at UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/critical-conversations-in-transportation-planning-tamika-butler/

As the old saying goes, “when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” For decades, zoning has been the hammer swung by cities at a laundry list of challenges. But this blunt tool, developed to regulate land use and density, has had profound collateral damage, planner Nolan Gray argues. Cities and planners have long been constrained by a zoning “straitjacket,” he says, preventing them from solving the problems that plague communities today: housing affordability, sprawl, segregation, environmental concerns. How can we reverse that trend? Gray's new book, Arbitrary Lines, looks for answers in the form of zoning reform. “My argument in the book is, yes, zoning has failed, and we should abolish zoning. But it's not a pure deregulation argument. It's a ‘we're-regulating-the-wrong-things' argument. I actually do think planners have a hugely important role to play in the impacts of new development.” —Nolan Gray, Planner and Author of Arbitrary Lines In this special episode of the People Behind the Plans podcast, Gray sits down with guest host Jason Jordan, APA's director of public affairs, to examine the cities and states charting a new course for zoning reform — and offer advice for planners navigating the myriad interests impacting land use decisions. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/arbitrary-lines-author-nolan-gray-on-zoning-reform-and-hitting-plannings-reset-button/

Every two years, the American Planning Association Transportation Planning Division publishes the State of Transportation Planning Report with the intention of highlighting innovative ideas, cutting-edge research, and interesting experiments in transportation planning in the United States. As part of the 2022 edition of the report - titled “Intersections + Identities: A Radical Rethinking of Our Transportation Experiences" - we're bringing you a series of critical conversations with pioneers and industry leaders across the US who are offering their insights into some of the most challenging issues facing our field. In this podcast episode, we'll hear from Judy Shanley, a Project Director with the National Office of Easterseals in Chicago, and Claire Stanley, a Public Policy Analyst at the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN). Their conversation brings forth insightful ideas and guidance on how transportation professionals can reimagine how we plan for maximum mobility and accessibility in our transportation infrastructure and beyond. Advertisement: APA Passport Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/critical-conversations-in-transportation-planning-judy-shanley-and-claire-stanley/

While it's hard to have missed the buzz that's been building around blockchain over the last five years, it's easy to be confused and overwhelmed by its applications. Cryptocurrency and NFTs have been in the news recently, but less has been said about blockchain's potential in urban planning and city government. Those were the questions Mark Wheeler, CIO of the city of Philadelphia, wanted to answer when he got interested in blockchain and Web 3.0 technology. With a background in planning, Wheeler is passionate about community engagement and making open data accessible to the citizens of Philly. And he's been exploring how blockchain can provide transparency to the data collection that fuels smart cities. In this episode, Wheeler shares what he's learned about blockchain's potential, his advice for planners, and where he looks for inspiration and innovation. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/philadelphia-cio-mark-wheeler-web-3-and-blockchain-could-bring-transparency-to-smart-cities/

One of L.A. City Council's newest members, Nithya Raman, ran on a platform of addressing homelessness and advancing inclusivity in city government. As a former urban planner and founder of a homelessness nonprofit, she's working to show her fellow Angelenos how issues like homelessness, traffic, and gentrification all stem from a lack of housing inventory. After a year and a half in office, Raman shares her vision for reducing homelessness, offers tips for working more effectively with city government, and explains how planners can use their expertise to educate and galvanize communities for positive change. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/planner-and-city-official-nithya-ramans-vision-to-end-homelessness-in-los-angeles/

Every two years, the American Planning Association Transportation Planning Division publishes the State of Transportation Planning Report with the intention of highlighting innovative ideas, cutting-edge research, and interesting experiments in transportation planning in the United States. As part of the 2022 edition of the report - titled “Intersections + Identities: A Radical Rethinking of Our Transportation Experiences" - we're bringing you a series of critical conversations with pioneers and industry leaders across the US who are offering their insights into some of the most challenging issues facing our field. In this podcast episode, we'll hear from Olatunji Oboi Reed, who serves as the founding President & CEO of Equiticity, a racial equity movement, operationalizing for racial equity, increased mobility, and racial justice to improve the lives of Black and Brown people across the United States. He discusses emerging research on the ways in which a neighborhood's infrastructure can have an impact on reducing violence, and how Equiticity's Mobility Rituals are increasing social cohesion and collective efficacy through bike rides, neighborhood walking tours, and public transit excursions. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/critical-conversations-in-transportation-planning-olatunji-oboi-reed/

As a growing number of cities develop mobility justice initiatives, Naomi Doerner, MUP, is helping planners navigate these efforts to address systemic inequities and barriers in transportation. Doerner, principal and director of equity, diversity, and inclusion at  NelsonNygaard Consulting Associates and former program manager of Seattle's  innovative Transportation Equity Program, sat down with host Courtney Kashima, AICP, to talk about what mobility justice looks like in practice, including some inspirational examples from around the world. Doerner is also a co-founder and national co-organizer for the Untokening, a multiracial collective that centers the lived experiences of marginalized communities to address mobility justice and equity. Growing up riding public transit in Chicago and translating for her mother, Doerner draws on her personal experience as a translator and navigator to help planners and municipalities build bridges with communities, so the people living in them can play a prominent role in determining how places and spaces serve and support their needs. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/navigating-mobility-justice-with-naomi-doerner/

In this special episode of the People Behind the Plans podcast, guest host Jason Pugh, AICP, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), sits down with Michael Ford, AIA, NOMA, keynote speaker at the 2022 APA National Planning Conference. In this live-recorded discussion in San Diego, Ford and Pugh talk about the unique connection between hip hop, urban design, community engagement, and so much more. Ford, a licensed architect, is the creator of the Hip Hop Architecture Camp, a free national summer camp, dedicated to introducing underrepresented youth to architecture planning, creative placemaking and economic development. Through the camp, he helps young people analyze hip hop songs by local artists to uncover critiques of their cities, then learn how to address those issues through urban design. Ford currently serves as president of the Wisconsin NOMA Chapter, and he is the founding principal of BrandNu Design Studio in Madison. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/the-intersection-of-hip-hop-and-architecture-with-michael-ford/

Dahvia Lynch, AICP, the director of Planning & Development Services for San Diego County, talks about her agency's bold plans for housing and climate change, an accessory development unit program that helped drive a 70 percent uptick in ADUs, and an agricultural conservation program that has permanently set aside nearly 80,000 acres. The agency is also taking a connected approach to housing and vehicle miles traveled, while supporting electric vehicle adoption. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/San-Diego-County-Tackles-Affordable-Housing-and-Climate-Change/

In this episode of the Resilience Roundtable series, host Rich Roths, AICP, speaks with Michael Greenberg, Ph.D, distinguished professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. The two discuss the concept of cascading hazards, what they are, where are they more prevalent, how they are prepared for and mitigated against through plans at local, state and federal levels of government. Episode URL: https://www.planning.org/podcast/cascading-hazards-with-dr-michael-greenberg/ This episode is sponsored by Tyler Technologies

In this episode of the People Behind the Plans podcast series, host Courtney Kashima, AICP, is joined by Rasmus Astrup, partner and design principal at Danish urban design and landscape architecture practice SLA. Rasmus was a co-presenter during the 2021 National Planning Conference at a session titled, “Strategies to Combat Extreme Heat”. Rasmus and Courtney discuss the importance of biodiversity and nature-based solutions to address the needs of cities to mitigate against the effects of climate change and specific issues like extreme urban heat. The two also discuss a few of the projects that his firm worked on from places around the globe like Toronto, Abu Dhabi, Copenhagen, and Detroit. They also dig into the significance of local knowledge and expertise when taking on projects as well as how to deal with the disproportionate impacts on more vulnerable populations. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/fighting-climage-change-in-cities-with-biodiversity-and-nature-based-design/ This episode is sponsored by Tyler Technologies

If you're not on TikTok, you might not know that urban planning is going viral. But accounts like TalkingCities, run by Paul Stout, and others are distilling complex planning topics into bitesized, easily digestible videos. And viewers are eating them up. Paul's account has more than 150,000 followers and 3 million–plus likes. He bills it as "an introduction to urban design, city planning, and architecture," an avenue for teens and adults who don't know urban planning exists to become aware of it and get inspired to explore further. APA's Lindsay Nieman chats with Paul about how he got started, what planning subjects he's most interested in, why TikTok makes his channel's success possible, and even what it's like to get recognized because of his videos. The soon-to-be first-year master's student of city and regional planning at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, also gives a bit of insight into how planners can harness the power of TikTok in their own outreach. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/tiktoks-talkingcities-makes-urban-planning-fast-and-easy-to-grasp/

You might not realize it, but artificial intelligence, or AI, already affects your life in countless ways. Your favorite wayfinding app? It's powered by AI. The product recommendations you get on that e-commerce site you visit regularly? That's AI, too. The music, movie, and TV suggestions you see on streaming platforms; the notifications from your bank alerting you to possible fraudulent activity; the wearable technology giving you health information — they're all driven by systems that use AI. And the AI market is only expected to grow — 20 percent annually over the next few years, in fact. In this conversation, led by APA's research director Petra Hurtado, AICP, AI experts Neda Madi and Tom Sanchez discuss why planners need to pay attention to this technology (hint: it's already being used in many planning contexts, too). They talk in-depth about the potential impacts — positive and negative — as well as how planners can mitigate the negative ones. Their exchange is an eye-opening and ultimately inspiring dialogue for those who care about their communities. Neda Madi is the City Infrastructure Analytics director of the Network Dynamics Lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Tom Sanchez is professor of Urban Affairs and Planning at Virginia Tech. This podcast was produced in partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/artificial-intelligence-and-urban-planning-what-planners-need-to-know-now/

Vacant lots make up nearly 17 percent of land in U.S. cities. Their existence in a community is correlated with higher levels of crime and lower levels of health. Furthermore, many communities with unmanaged vacant lots — or areas that have been historically disinvested in — are disproportionately affected by climate change. In Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) teamed up to solve this multipronged issue — one involving urban blight, community health, and a climate that's becoming hotter and wetter. With the Philadelphia LandCare program, they've transformed 12,000 vacant lots into climate-resilient pollinator gardens, using plants that are native to the region and thus better able to adapt to changing conditions. In this episode of the APA Podcast, planning and community health manager Sagar Shah speaks with two people close to the project: Jen Mihills, executive director of Mid-Atlantic Regional Center at the NWF; and Samir Dalal, planning manager of the Philadelphia LandCare Program at the PHS. Throughout their comprehensive discussion, which began with the 2021 National Planning Conference session Nature-Based Solutions for Creating Climate Resilient Communities, they provide actionable advice to planners looking to use similarly low-cost but high-impact solutions in their own communities. Episode URL: https://www.planning.org/podcast/philadelphia-is-transforming-vacant-lots-into-climate-resilient-pollinator-gardens/

With an unprecedented season of wildfires barely in our rearview mirror, National Fire Protection Association veteran Michele Steinberg comes on the Resilience Roundtable podcast series to talk about wildfire mitigation and prevention. Her conversation with host Jim Schwab, FAICP, revolves around the NFPA’s newest policy initiative, Outthink Wildfire. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/we-need-to-outthink-wildfire-not-try-to-eliminate-it/ This episode is brought to you by Tyler Technologies

Cherie Jzar, AICP, has worked in more than a few areas of planning — from airport, transit, and comprehensive planning to community outreach and engagement. Now she's bringing her expertise to a new type of work: building more equitable policies and practices as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator for Gastonia, North Carolina. Listen as she speaks with APA editor in chief Meghan Stromberg about her work experience, who's inspired her along the way, and the insights she's gleaned from centering her career on social justice. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/the-city-making-process-gets-focused-on-diversity-equity-inclusion-in-this-planners-work/ This episode is brought to you by Granicus

What is a feminist city? Who is a feminist city for? How do different groups of people experience the cities we live in now? And what does it all mean in a world inching toward recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic? Author Leslie Kern comes on the People Behind the Plans podcast series to untangle these questions with host Courtney Kashima, AICP. Leslie is the director of women and gender studies and an associate professor of geography and environment at Mount Allison University. Her latest book is Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made World. In it, she argues that cities have long been sites for grappling with social questions about how we live and relate to each other, and gender has been at the top of the list of those concerns. The two explore the myriad challenges women face living in and navigating spaces built largely for a narrow subset of the population, and they close their discussion by sharing tips for planners looking to increase gender equity in their urban — or regional, suburban, or rural — spheres. Episode URL: https://planning.org/podcast/feminist-city-author-leslie-kern-on-envisioning-more-equitable-urban-spaces/