PlanningXChange

In this episode of PlanningXchange, we speak with Professor Alfonso Morales and Edna Ely-Ledesma of the University of Wisconsin-Madson about the unique and often overlooked role of public markets in shaping vibrant, inclusive urban environments. Drawing on their research and on-the-ground experience, they share insights into how markets serve not just as commercial spaces, but as critical infrastructure for food access, social connection, and local economic resilience. We explore the history and diversity of market types across different regions, the policy frameworks that support or hinder their success, and the role markets play in community-building and placemaking. Alfonso and Edna also discuss the innovative Farm 2 Facts toolkit—a software platform they developed to help market managers collect, analyze, and visualize data on their operations. This decision-support tool empowers cities and market operators to better understand food distribution, ecosystem services, and community impact in real time icicle.osu.edudpla.wisc.edu. For more information and to explore the toolkit, visit farm2facts.org icicle.osu.edu In Podcast Extra, Alfonso recommends ‘The Cadfael Chronicles' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cadfael_Chronicles. Edna recommends ‘Conclave' the film https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conclave_(film) Jess recommends ‘Alone Australia' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alone_Australia. Pete recommends ‘Bullet Train Explosion' https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81629968 Podcast episode released 26 May 2025.

In PX130 our guest is Max Shifman, Chief Executive Officer of Intrapac Property, one of Australia's most respected private developers. Max brings a wealth of experience to the discussion, having worked across master-planned communities, regional housing projects, and complex urban redevelopments mainly along Australia's eastern seaboard. His background in engineering and law, combined with hands-on experience in the development sector, gives him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today. In this episode, we explore what motivates developers, how public misconceptions impact the industry, the growing burden of red and green tape, and how political and media narratives shape outcomes on the ground. Max shares candid insights into the development process, the importance of long-term thinking, and the need for a more collaborative approach between planners, developers, and regulators. We also discuss innovation, housing affordability, the tension between idealism and pragmatism in city-making, and why Australia needs to rediscover its ambition for building new cities. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner: * Max recommends the Netflix series Drive to Survive https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80204890, a behind-the-scenes look at the world of Formula One racing. * Cam reflects on the power and abundance of Australia's natural coastal landscapes. * Pete recommends the play Victory Over the Sun, a landmark 1913 Russian Futurist work that pushed the boundaries of theatre and art. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_over_the_Sun Episode PX130 was released on 26 April 2025.

In PX129 our guest is Jeffrey Mason of the Charter Cities Institute. Jeffrey joined CCI as a Researcher in 2019. His research interests include urban economics, structural transformation, special economic zones, and technology ecosystems. He has worked on policy advisory projects in Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, and Honduras, among other countries. Prior to joining the Charter Cities Institute, Jeffrey worked as an MA Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He holds a BA in economics from the University of Maryland and an MA in economics from George Mason University. His writing has been featured in publications including City Journal, Works in Progress, Investment Monitor, Quartz Africa, and The American Mind. The Charter Cities Institute is a nonprofit dedicated to creating the ecosystem for charter cities, founded on the idea that a fresh approach was necessary to tackle humanity's most pressing challenges, such as global poverty, climate change and rapid urbanisation. CCI believe charter cities—new cities granted a special jurisdiction to create a new governance system—are that solution. By improving governance through deep regulatory and administrative reforms, charter cities can help accelerate economic growth in developing countries and lift tens of millions of people out of poverty. Details at https://chartercitiesinstitute.org In podcast extra / culture corner, Jeff recommends the book ‘Outsourcing Empire: How Company-States Made the Modern World' by Andrew Phillips and JC Sharman https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691203515/outsourcing-empire Jess recommends the TV series Ted Lasso https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Lasso Pete recommends the book ‘The Diaries of Fred Williams 1963 - 1970' https://www.amazon.com.au/Diaries-Fred-Williams-1963-1970/dp/0522871208 Episode PX129 was released on 31 March 2025.

In PX128 our guest is architect and author Jorge Almazan. Jorge is a Tokyo-based architect and associate professor at Keio University. He holds a degree in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and a PhD from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. His practice focuses on ecologically responsible and socially inclusive design, ranging from urban to interior projects. His built work has earned significant recognition in Japan, including the Ota City Urban Landscape First Prize (2019) and selections by the Japan Institute of Architects (2018, 2022) and the Architectural Institute of Japan (2023). Almazán's research on Tokyo has been published in numerous academic journals, and his book, Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City (Oro Editions, 2021), was a finalist for the 2023 Pattis Family Foundation Global Cities Book Award. ‘Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City' was mentioned in a recent article in the Wall Street Journal about visiting Tokyo on a budget, using the book as a guide https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/how-far-does-1-000-take-you-on-a-trip-to-tokyo-we-found-out-dd76a5af?st=TeyNL7&reflink=article_copyURL_share In podcast extra / culture corner, Jorge recommends two Netflix programs that feature Tokyo. These are ‘Midnight Diner' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Diner_(Japanese_TV_series) and 'Tokyo Swindlers' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Swindlers. Jess recommends getting back into tennis as she returns to the court. Pete recommends the ‘New Books' podcast series https://newbooksnetwork.com. Episode PX128 was released on 3 March 2025.

In PX127 our guest is architect, former academic and author Dr Derham Groves.  He studied architecture at Deakin University and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and art history at the University of Minnesota. He taught architecture at RMIT from 1985 to 1997 and the University of Melbourne from 1999 to 2019 and was a Senior Fellow in the Faculty of Architecture, Building, and Planning at the University of Melbourne from 2020 to 2024. Derham is the author of many articles and books about popular culture, architecture, and design, including, Feng-Shui and Western Building Ceremonies (1991), You Bastard Moriarty (1996), Mail Art: The D-I-Y Letterbox from Workshop to Gatepost (1998), TV Houses: Television's Influence On the Australian Home (2004), Mask: Pro Hart's Frankenstein Monsters (2006), There's No Place Like Holmes: Exploring Sense of Place Through Crime Fiction (2008), Victims and Villains: Barbie and Ken Meet Sherlock Holmes (2009), Anna May Wong's Lucky Shoes: 1939 Australia Through the Eyes of an Art Deco Diva (2011), Out of the Ordinary: Popular Art, Architecture and Design (2012), Hopalong Cassidy: A Horse Opera (2017), Monkeemania in Australia: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Monkees' Australian Tour in 1968 (2019), Arthur Purnell's “Forgotten” Architecture: Canton and Cars (2020), Sherlock in the Seventies: A Wild Decade of Sherlock Holmes Films (2021), Australian Westerns in the Fifties: Kangaroo, Hopalong Cassidy on Tour, and Whiplash (2022), and Homicide on Hydra: George Johnston's Crime Novels (2023). His latest book, Walt Disney's Forgotten Australia: From Mickey's Kangaroo to Outback At Ya! has been released in February 2025. Derham agrees with the Austrian architect Hans Hollein that ‘Everything is architecture,' and the American designer Charles Eames who said, ‘Eventually everything connects—people, ideas, objects.'  Episode released 10 February 2025.

Our guest is Sara Bronin a Mexican-American architect and attorney whose interdisciplinary research focuses on how law and policy can foster more equitable, sustainable, well-designed, and connected places. She is the author of Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World, and she founded and directs the National Zoning Atlas, which aims to digitize, demystify, and democratize information about zoning in the United States. She has advised the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Sustainable Development Code, has served on the board of Latinos in Heritage Conservation, and founded Desegregate Connecticut. Previously, she led the award-winning, unanimously adopted overhaul of the zoning code and city plan of Hartford, Connecticut. Bronin holds a juris doctor from Yale Law School, a master of science from the University of Oxford (Rhodes Scholar), as well as a B.Arch. and B.A. from the University of Texas–Austin. In the interview Sara outlines her experiences including being a Commissioner at the City of Hartford which helped shape the book and the array of issues covered in ‘Key to the City'. In podcast extra / culture corner Sara recommends ‘Climate Change and Historic Preservation ‘ (Sept 2024) https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/llglrd/2024555212/2024555212.pdf. Jess recommends the Martha Stewart documentary on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81479059) and Pete recommends two books and making omelettes. Episode released 19 January 2025.

In this episode, Jess and Pete reflect on the tenth anniversary of the PlanningxChange podcast. This discussion occurs before an Ai review of the planningxchange podcast series. A rather indulgent episode to mark the anniversary! For podcast extra / culture corner, Jess recommends making pizzas at home with the family. Her New Year resolution is to have more interesting podcast extra recommendations. Pete recommends doing background research about books you like. He also discusses film locations and the potential for cultural tourism. On YouTube there are various films about film locations. The film Pete mentions is Mad Max. There are now transcripts for the episodes. These will progressively be included for previous editions. The transcripts generally reflect what is said in the episode (they are altered to improve grammar etc). Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released on 27 December 2024.

Katherine is a social planning practitioner with over 14 years' experience working for a range of government and non-government organisations in Australia and the Pacific. Katherine has considerable experience in developing and implementing community plans, programs and policy to improve social inclusion and participation. Katherine was awarded the 2018 Rodney Warmington Churchill Fellowship to increase inclusion and accessibility in public toilets by researching taboos, design, policy and legal barriers. The Churchill Fellowship consolidated previous work with planners, institutions and community members identifying public toilets as essential to support the participation of a wide section of our communities. Photos of many toilets Katherine has visited are documented via Instagram @Public_Toilets_Anonymous. Katherine appears on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh7UQziutv8 talking about her work.  Discussion mentions the film ‘Perfect Days' which is set amongst Tokyo's public ‘art' toilets (https://www.archdaily.com/1018293/perfect-days-an-ode-to-tokyos-public-toilets). Mention is also made about Singapores ‘Happy Toilet Program' (https://www.toilet.org.sg/docs/HTPBrochure.pdf) For podcast extra / culture corner, Katherine recommendations ‘Birnam Wood' by Eleanor Catton https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60784757-birnam-wood. She also recommends the ‘Public Toilet' app. Jess recommends outsourcing at home in times of stress relying upon the ‘diner lady'. Pete recommends the ‘Transit maps' app, and secondly, YouTube Premium. Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released on 7 December 2024.

In PX123 our guest is Bryan Caplan. Bryan is Professor of Economics at George Mason University and a New York Times Bestselling author. We interview him about his ground breaking graphic novel ‘Build, Baby, Build - The Science and Ethics of Housing Regulation'. The book is described: 'In Build, Baby, Build: The Science and Ethics of Housing Regulation, economist Bryan Caplan makes the economic and philosophical case for radical deregulation of this massive market―freeing property owners to build as tall and dense as they wish. Not only would the average price of housing be cut in half, but the building boom unleashed by deregulation would simultaneously reduce inequality, increase social mobility, promote economic growth, reduce homelessness, increase birth rates, help the environment, cut crime, and more. Combining stunning homage to classic animation with careful interdisciplinary research, Build, Baby, Build takes readers on a grand tour of a bona fide “panacea policy.” We can start realizing these missed opportunities as soon as we abandon the widespread misconception that housing regulation solves more problems than it causes.' The book is a must read for planning undergraduates and all policy makers involved in the housing sector. Other books he has written include The Myth of the Rational Voter, named "the best political book of the year" by the New York Times, Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids, The Case Against Education, Open Borders (co-authored with SMBC's Zach Weinersmith), Labor Econ Versus the World, How Evil Are Politicians?, Don't Be a Feminist, Voters As Mad Scientists, You Will Not Stampede Me, and Self-Help Is Like a Vaccine. He is now writing Unbeatable: The Brutally Honest Case for Free Markets. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner Bryan recommends 

‘The problem with political authority' by Michael Huemer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Problem_of_Political_Authority). He also recommends the Youtube series 'Ride with Gabi' https://www.youtube.com/@ridewithgabi Jess has gone back to duolingo, learning Italian (https://www.duolingo.com). Pete recommends the Netflix K Rom Com ‘Business Proposal'. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Proposal) Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 12 November 2024.

In PX122 our guest is Rafael Mangual a distinguished writer and researcher on crime issues in cities and regions. He is the Nick Ohnell Fellow at the Manhattan Institute (MI), a contributing editor of City Journal, and a member of the Council on Criminal Justice. His first book, Criminal (In)Justice, was released in July 2022. He has authored and coauthored a number of MI reports and op-eds on issues ranging from urban crime and jail violence to broader matters of criminal and civil justice reform. His work has been featured and mentioned in a wide array of publications, including the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, New York Post, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer and City Journal. He regularly appears on TV and radio. In a wide ranging interview, Rafael explains various criminology theories about urban environments and how design measures can reduce crime. He talks about how crime reduces urban amenity, the consequences for the most disadvantaged and if unchecked how lax civic and legislative standards create a doom loop. Rafael presents an inspiring and well thought out approach to addressing a very serious urban issue that rarely receives attention in urban planning circles. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner Rafael recommends Fitness accounts and trackers. Jess recommends attending professional conferences. Pete recommends ‘The Passage of the Damned' by Elsbeth Hardie https://scholarly.info/book/the-passage-of-the-damned/'.
 Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 23 October 2024.

In PX121 our guest is Calvin Po (https://www.calvinpo.com).
 Calvin Po is a strategic designer at Dark Matter Labs, co-leading the Radicle Civics portfolio, where he explores institutional and governance systems as sites of design. He has led projects with the Scottish Government's Land Commission on land governance reform, the Taiwanese Government on decentralised web3 civic infrastructure, and is developing multi-actor governance approaches for river ecosystems, and in FreeHouse, a commons housing model based on ‘self-owning' houses. At the Architectural Association School of Architecture, Calvin is a unit master of Diploma 9, ‘Universal Free Housing', focusing on strategic, policy, and economic pathways for realising housing as a universal human right. He studied architecture at UCL Bartlett, where he graduated top of class as a RIBA Donaldson Medallist, and he was a scholar at the AA, where his Diploma thesis won the Dennis Sharp Prize and was a finalist for RIBA President's Awards for Research 2021. Calvin is also a writer, publishing most regularly as an architecture critic for The Spectator magazine. His research interests and writing include topics on land, territory, and its political systems. In podcast extra / culture corner, Calvin Po recommends the movie Tar directed by Todd Field (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tár); Jess recommends the Netflix program ‘Red Eye' https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421239/ and Pete recommends ‘War Gamers' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IikLz4GL8uw and https://www.zdf-studios.com/en/program-catalog/international/unscripted/history-biographies/war-gamers Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 11 September 2024.

In PX120 our guest is Assistant Professor Akane Bessho, Ph.D of the Housing and Urban Analysis Laboratory, Department of Engineering, The University of Tokyo. Information about Akane's work is at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Akane-Bessho-2 and her website is: https://www.akanebessho.com Akane has a wide range of research projects and field work including schemes that seek to reverse depopulation in Japan's rural areas, assisting people with disabilities into the agricultural sector (see for example Coco Farm & Winery) (https://cocowine.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/cocofaw-pr-eng.pdf), new approaches to food production and creating community gardens and centres specifically designed to aid those with dementia. Her work ranges from densely populated metropolitan centres to small rural towns and villages. Akane describes her faculty at the the Tokyo University and the excellent work it produces. Details at https://www.due.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/english/ The interview discusses many issues confronting Japanese society. From this we can draw lessons that can be applied to other countries. An engaging and inspiring interview about new methods to create better societal outcomes. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Akane has two recommendations, music by Ren (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnbXfRACsVM) and a book The Essence of Language: How Words Were Born and Evolved? (by Mutsumi Imai & Kimi Akita):  https://amzn.asia/d/00SRoMrL Jess has taken up tennis lessons and recommends this to listeners. Pete has two recommendations both Japanese: The TV series Golden Kamuy on Netflix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6DmjhcSt8Q and 'Design X Stories' a program on NHK (https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/design_stories/) in particular 'Shared Living, Shared Spaces' (https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/2101025/) Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 10 August 2024.

In PX119 our guests is Kylie Legge of Place Score (https://www.placescore.org/about-place-score/).
Kylie is a leading voice in placemaking, an architecture graduate, planner, place maker, author, facilitator, curator and entrepreneur. She is founding Director of Place Partners, a multidisciplinary placemaking consultancy based in Sydney, Australia and Place Score – the world's first place experience measurement company. 
An engaging interview about new methods to find out what citizens seek in their local area. 
In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Kylie Legge recommends The National Gallery of Victoria ‘Triennial', an exhibition featuring 120 artists with contemporary works (see https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/triennial/home/). 
Jess recommends 'Turning Point' on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81614129) 
Pete recommends the ‘WSJ Free Expression Podcast episode - ‘Is Modern Technology Ruining Our Children' https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-modern-technology-ruining-our-children/id1609730284?i=1000651467872 which features Jonathan Haidt author of ‘The Anxious Generation' - How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing and Epidemic of Mental Illness'. Details at https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book - and he also recommends the Ford Ranger Youtube clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPxo7siqjIo 
Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 20 July 2024.

In PX118 our guests are Jonathan O'Brien and Jonathan Nolan of YIMBY Melbourne. Details of YIMBY Melbourne are at https://www.yimby.melbourne YIMBY Melbourne seeks a ‘People-led' ‘Grassroots' ‘For Housing Abundance.' The YIMBY website states: ‘A better Melbourne is possible. A Melbourne that is affordable, liveable, and sustainable. A city that is walkable, accessible, and which gives everyone access to the amenity-rich areas that make living here so special. Creating housing abundance will take a lot of work. It will require reform across planning, governance, and taxation. It will force us to take a serious look at how we use, value, and control the use of land in this city. The two Jonathan's outline the problems with the current planning system and how this leads to disadvantage, exclusion and a lack of new housing. They propose various measures that can redress the problems. They also call for volunteers to assist the cause. An engaging interview with dedicated activists who have created a new third party force in the housing / planning policy - public awareness space. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Jonathan Nolan recommends a website he has created (https://citydensity.com) which looks at the population density of major cities in relation to distance from the CBD. Jonathan O'Brien recommends ‘Arbitary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and how to fix it' by M Nolan Gray (https://islandpress.org/books/arbitrary-lines#desc) He also recommends ‘The Boat' by Nam Le (https://www.sbs.com.au/theboat/) and https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-boat-9780143009610 Jess recommends a book ‘What happened to Nina' by Dervla McTiernan (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/171793386-what-happened-to-nina) and a podcast ‘The Imperfect' (https://theresilienceproject.com.au/at-home/podcasts/). Pete recommends ‘Climate - the movie (the cold truth)' at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A24fWmNA6lM and the Radio Taiso (also spelt Rajio Taiso which translates to ‘radio exercises') morning exercise program released by NHK - see YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6ZRH9Mraqw Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 24 June 2024.

In PX117 our guest is Rob Parker, President of Trilith Development, LLC. Rob oversees with a development team the continued growth of the Trilith Township and Film Studios. Trilith is located on the edge of Altana in Fayette County, Georgia. Trilith is in the advance guard of new urbanism practices. Details at https://www.trilith.com Trilith is a large masterplanned community which seeks to ‘redefine the modern American town'. Based on New Urbanism 2.0++ principles, the town has a vibrant commercial centre, multiple open space places and a diverse range of housing options. It is colocated adjacent the Trilith Film Studios. Rob describes the passions that drive the Trilith team and the concept of continuous improvement in the creation of new urban spaces. He discusses building for the long term and the high level of detail that goes into making first rate community projects. Trilith has many unique features. One of the surprising aspects is the popularity of the ‘Trilith Experience', a tour of not only the film studios but also ‘the intrically designed new urbanist community of the The Town @ Trilth'. Rob reports that many visitors are excited and drawn to the new urbanism built form and layout. An engaging interview with a professional dedicated to creating better town life experiences.  In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner Rob recommends ‘Suburban Nation - The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream' by Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk and Jeff Speck https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429932110/suburbannation and ‘Walkable City - How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time' by Jeff Speck https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429932110/suburbannation Rob also describes the value of travel and taking in new experiences that can lead to better solutions 'at home'. Jess recommends ‘Foul Play' by Fiona McIntosh https://www.penguin.com.au/books/foul-play-9781761048012. Pete recommends ‘I Robot' by Isaac Asimov https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Robot. Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 31 May 2024.

In PX116 our guest is Stephen Rowley. Stephen is the author of two books, ‘Movie Towns and Sitcom Suburbs: Building Hollywood's Ideal Communities' and ‘The Victorian Planning System: Practice, Problems and Prospects'. In February 2022 he was made a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia, the citation included: ‘Over the first 20 years of his career Dr Stephen Rowley has made a very significant contribution to planning as an inspiring and passionate lecturer, through his publications, his engagement in planning debates, and his continued advocacy for planning reform. Stephen is one of the profession's leading voices on the operation of the Victorian planning system. His critical insights into the structure of the VPPs and their intersection with planning practice are highly valued across the sector.' An engaging interview with a planning profession who has given much to the profession and Australian cities. His observations can be applied broadly to planning systems around the globe. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner Stephen recommends the British comedy (satirical) program ‘The Thick of It' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thick_of_It). Jess recommends Canva a graphic design software program. Pete has two recommendations. the movie ‘Godzilla Minus One' (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23289160/) and the second, a British comedy program from the 1980's ‘The Young Ones' (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083505/) that could never be made these days. Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 2 May 2024.

In PX115 our guest is Liz Mackevicius. Liz is an urban planner who has taken a new role as an organisational coach for those in the built environment industry. She will be leading the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) program ‘Pathway to Lead'. Information about the program, and the link to register for the session is: https://www.planning.org.au/eventsandcpdnew/additional-programs. It's for consultants across Australia. An accredited organisational coach, Liz has built a reputation of strong but supportive coaching. She values accountability, acknowledging this is what helps us translate aspirations into real breakthroughs. She has worked with a range of clients, building their confidence, resolve and satisfaction. Liz is also a trainer and facilitator with a passion and commitment to helping those who create our liveable cities be more effective and have rewarding work. She believes that the challenge and problem solving we experience at work should be part of a fulfilling life – but that we often need to do the work to create that for ourselves. Liz is also a public policy expert with nearly 20 years' experience in urban planning, government advisory, strategy and policy development across a range of consulting and State and Local government roles. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner Liz recommends The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner https://ericweinerbooks.com/books/the-geography-of-bliss/ Jess recommends Oppenheimer the movie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppenheimer_(film)) Pete recommends: Dragon Sakura a TV series on Netflix https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81488898 and ‘Modern Talking' hear their song ‘Who will save the world'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDIT-R8LYkg&list=RDiDIT-R8LYkg&start_radio=1 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD_UHyaN3dc Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 9 April 2024.

166. New Urbanism /Hampstead Montgomery GA/ Anna Lowder In PX114, our interview guest is Anna Lowder, a co-founder and director of Hampstead, a New Urbanist community in Montgomery, Alabama, inspired by her experiences while living in London before returning to Montgomery. Established in 2008, the 416-acre master-planned residential and mixed-use development features homes, townhomes, condos, apartments, restaurants, shops, workspaces and a school, farm, and a lake. Anna helped Hampstead and Montgomery become the first neighborhood and largest city to adopt the SmartCode, an innovative zoning code that encourages diverse, mixed-use community for all ages and stages of life. She is a member of the National Town Builders Association and the Congress for the New Urbanism. Interview topics include, New Urbanism, Multigenerational Design, Designing for Sustainable Communities, SmartCode Adoption and Breaking Barriers with New Urbanism. In podcast extra / culture corner, Anna recommends ‘The Bear' TV series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bear_(TV_series) Jess recommends: ‘Wholesome by Sarah', recipes and a new cookbook coming https://www.wholesomebysarah.com.au and Pete recommends local history books including ‘The Enigma of Snake Island' by Rob Ganly https://images.app.goo.gl/HnmAvU3VcHZPgFEGA Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 21 March 2024.

Episode PX113 is all about Advanced Aerial Mobility (AAM) aircraft, these are typically electric or hybrid powered, air taxis and the like. They have appeared in various science fiction films such as Blade Runner 2019 and Blade Runner 2049 (nicknamed ‘spinners'). They will soon be appearing above our cities and towns. Clem Newton-Brown our guest is CEO and founder of Skyportz (https://skyportz.com), the only Australian business developing a network of landing sites for a future air taxi network. Clem's background as a former Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Member of Victorian Parliament and barrister specialising in planning and property development has put him at the forefront of this emerging industry. More details on Clem are found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clem_Newton-Brown. Clem serves on several Federal, State, industry and international committees advancing the development of the rules and regulations around establishing a whole new era in clean, green electric aviation. The success of the industry depends on these changes along with a network of Skyportz sites from which air taxis will operate. These are known as ‘vertiports'. We note some AAM's aircraft might have alternative power sources or run as hybrids. Skyportz has over 600 property partner sites in Australia and New Zealand which are ready to activate when regulations permit. A terrific interview subject with a great passion for new business concepts, cities and aviation. In podcast extra / culture corner, Clem recommends the great outdoors and getting away form technology (for a little bit). Jess recommends: Duolingo ‘Learning Italian': https://www.duolingo.comthe  Pete recommends: ‘A Rebel from the start - Setting the record straight' by Avi Yemini https://www.amazon.com.au/Rebel-Start-Setting-Record-Straight/dp/B0C91KG18N Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 1 March 2024.

In PX112, our interview guest is Jessica Lee, a principal architect at Fender Katsalidis Architects (https://fkaustralia.com). Jessica discusses the ‘Alba' project, the conversion of a 1970's former office building into 150 rooms of age appropriate housing (retirement accommodation and aged care). The site is located within South Melbourne, an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria Australia. The cost of the conversion was $125m (AU). Whilst not being significantly cheaper than a rebuild there were environmental savings according to Jessica. In the interview Jessica discusses the project from start to finish. There was the initial ‘whats the building like', ‘'whats under the surfaces', to scoping the logistics of conversions (very different from a vacant site), finding a suitable builder (not all high rise builders have the equipment or skill set to do this type of work), services upgrades and the intricate details of providing contemporary residential accommodation (along with the end user needs). Jessica indicates that a review of the Melbourne CBD found only 6% of sites are candidates for such conversions. Frequent killers of such projects are the depth of a site and the position of lift cores, the reasons being apartments need natural light unlike office buildings. Also the ‘bones' of a structure building in terms of structure and floor to floor heights may not be suitable. Applying contemporary safety and environmental standards are also difficult to satisfy. The interview explores the design concept as well as the 'nuts and bolts' and up close descriptions of the building project. At times it is like being on site mid project with hard hat, boots and vest. The conversion of office buildings to residential has been touted in many planning publications and strategies as a solution to various housing crisis. The interview reveals that such conversions are possible but not many sites are suitable and there are specialist requirements in undertaking the challenge. Jessica provides a clear eyed view of a not well understood issue. One insight from the interview is that blanket planning policies or government subsidies promoting such conversions at the expense of complete rebuilds may not be cost effective, environmentally benefical or practical. A terrific interview subject with a great passion for buildings, cities and life. In podcast extra / culture corner, Jessica recommends Rob Adams - Urban Choreography Central Melbourne 1985 - MUP https://www.mup.com.au/authors/rob-adams Jess N recommends: Duolingo ‘Learning Italian': https://www.duolingo.comthe Pete recommends: Break Point on Netflix (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break_Point_(2023_TV_series) and celebrates his sporting triumphs over 2023 Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 2 January 2024. Happy New Year to all our listeners.

In PX111, our interview guest is Jesse Suskin, Head of Government Relations & Public Policy at Wing Aviation (https://wing.com). We talk all things drone delivery particularly the experience learnt in Logan Queensland, Australia where there has been extensive delivery operations over a lengthy time period. Wing Aviation is an offshoot of Google's parent company Alphabet Inc. Jesse Suskin is the head of government relations and public policy in Australia for Wing, a company that sees a future where drone delivery is the safest, fastest and most environmentally friendly way to transport small items. Before joining Wing in 2018, Jesse spent over six years with Google, working in government relations, public affairs, and public policy in Washington, DC and Sydney, Australia.  Earlier in his career, Jesse worked in politics and public service including at the White House as Associate Director of Communications for President George W. Bush, and as Director of Media Services for Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Jesse also worked for the Government of Australia at its Embassy in Washington, DC, advising Ambassador Kim Beazley. Jesse serves on a number of advisory committees including the Australian Department of Infrastructure's New and Emerging Aviation Technology Consultative Committee, the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Regulatory Roadmap Technical Working Group, and the University of New South Wales School of Aviation's Industry Advisory Committee. In the interview we talk about how drone delivery works, the testing that has gone into the systems, how drone delivery offers alternatives to car based delivery methods and lessons learnt in the various trials around the world. Jesse also discusses working with local authorities including the sharing of data. In podcast extra / culture corner, Jesse recommends the ‘The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York', a 1974 biography of Robert Moses by Robert Caro. Details at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_Broker Jess recommends ‘The Days' a Netflix production on the Fukushima nuclear plant that experienced a Tsunami and earthquake in 2011. Details at https://en.wikipedia.org/wikiThe_Days_(Japanese_TV_series). Technical details of the incident can be found at https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/fukushima-daiichi-accident.aspx Pete recommends ‘Fauda' a Netflix series on the Middle East conflict. Details at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fauda Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 5 December 2023.

In PX110, our interview guest is Professor Tim Parkin, we talk all things Roman particularly their city life. Tim Parkin joined the Classics and Archaeology department at the University of Melbourne in 2018 as the inaugural Elizabeth and James Tatoulis Chair in Classics. Before this he had spent over 11 years as Professor of Ancient History at the University of Manchester (UK). Tim is a New Zealander by birth who was awarded a D.Phil. at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and who, since 1989, has worked in universities in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom, as well as spending over a year in Germany as an Alexander von Humboldt research fellow. His teaching covers both Greek and Roman history and classical languages. His main research is in ancient history, particularly Roman social, cultural, and demographic history. Among his publications are Demography and Roman Society (1992), Old Age in the Roman World: A Social and Cultural History (2003), Roman Social History: A Sourcebook (2007), and The Oxford Handbook of Childhood and Education in the Classical World (2014). Tim is currently working primarily on ancient sexual health, in particular sexually transmitted diseases, as well as co-editing a cultural history of old age from antiquity to the current day and a BICS supplement on domestic violence in the Roman world, and working on papers on elders in the early Christian church and the demographic realities of the ancient countryside. He is currently supervising research students in a wide range of topics including feminist readings of Ovid's Metamorphoses, the geographical writings of Solinus, concepts of revenge in the Roman world, and the uses of food, magic and drugs in the works of Apuleius. In 2023 he continues in his role as Deputy Head of the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies and he takes on a new role as Deputy Associate Dean (Partnerships) in the Faculty of Arts. He is also Honorary President of the Classical Association of Victoria. In podcast extra / culture corner Tim recommends the NZ actor Sam Neil's Memoir ‘Did I Ever Tell You This?' https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/did-i-ever-tell-you-this. Tim also recommends ‘Kellis: A Roman - Period Village in Egypt's Dakhleh Oasis' https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/2749916/Kellis-A-Roman-Period-Village-in-Egypts-Dakhleh-Oasis.pdf. Jess recommends ‘Dead Tide' by Fiona Mcintosh https://www.penguin.com.au/books/dead-tide-9781761344633 Pete recommends ‘My father and me' by Nick Broomfield. https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/my-father-me-nick-maurice-broomfield-working-class-photographer-life Also the work of Maurice Broomfield recognised by the V & A in the book ‘Maurice Broomfield Industrial Sublime' https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/maurice-broomfield-industrial-sublime (available in many libraries). See also https://mauricebroomfield.photography Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 30 October 2023.

In PX109, our interview guest is Professor Douglas (Doug) Tallamy, the author of many nature books and co - founder along with Michelle Alfandari of Homegrown National Park (https://homegrownnationalpark.org). Homegrown National Parks is a grassroots call - to - action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks. The group encourages homeowners and landowners to substitute native species for traditional garden approaches to encourage biodiversity. There are many resources to help people with the transition on their website. Doug is an American entomologist, ecologist and conservationist. He is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. Doug advocates for home gardens and landscaping that bridge the gaps between parks and preserves in providing habitat for native species. He has spoken on the connections between plants and insects and how those relations are important to birds. He has called for smaller lawns. He has written a number of books on nature including: ‘Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that starts in your yard.' (Feb 2020), ‘Bringing Nature Home: How you can sustain wildlife with native plants.' (April 2009), ‘The Nature of Oaks: The rich ecology of our most essential native trees'. (March 2021), with Rick Drake - ‘The Living Landscape: designing for beauty and biodiversity in the home garden'. (July 2014) and for children along with Sarah Thomson ‘Nature's Best Hope (Young Readers Edition): How you can save the world in your own yard'. (April 2023) Doug has authored 97 research publications and has taught insect-related courses for 40 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His research has been ground breaking showing links between insects, plants and wildlife that had never before been envisaged. His book Bringing Nature Home, published by Timber Press in 2007, was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers' Association. Among his awards are the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation and the Tom Dodd, Jr. Award of Excellence, the 2018 AHS B. Y. Morrison Communication Award, and the 2019 Cynthia Westcott Scientific Writing Award. There is an interview with Doug in the Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/meet-ecologist-who-wants-unleash-wild-backyard-180974372/ He appears on a number of YouTube talks and interviews. In podcast extra / culture corner Doug talks about David Attenborough's latest show, ‘Wild Isles' about nature in Great Britain and Ireland. Jess recommends ‘Mirror Man' by author Fiona Mcintosh (https://www.penguin.com.au/books/mirror-man-9781760894337). Pete mentions his ambitious plan to grow grass trees (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthorrhoea). Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 3 October 2023.

In PX108, our interview guest is Dr Stefan Gruenert, the CEO of Odyssey House Victoria. Odyssey House Victoria is a state-wide, specialist treatment organisation dedicated to improving the lives of individuals who experience significant or long-term problems from alcohol and other drug use. Stefan describes the work of Odyssey House and the clients they serve. He talks of the various programs on offer. He describes how the OH facilities work and about the knowledge gained in providing effective treatment. Many drug and alcohol rehabilitation projects run the gauntlet of the development approval system. Stefan talks of his experiences with the development assessment process and makes observations about common misconceptions. As a disclaimer, Pete has worked as a planning consultant for Odyssey House. Podcast extra / culture corner Stefan talks about the joys of learning German listening to the podcast ‘Coffee Break German' (coffeebreaklanguages.com/coffeebreakgerman/). Also he recommends the Netflix documentary series ‘Alone' (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alone_(TV_series)). Jess recommends a Netflix documentary ‘The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari' www.netflix.com/au/title/81410405. Pete recommends a documentary on NHK (Japanese state broadcaster) ‘Return to an Abandoned Village: 50 Years in Tsubayama)' www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/wo…20230429/3016152/ Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 5 September 2023.

In PX107, our interview guest is Kate Hardwick an exceptional planning professional originally from Australia who now works in South East Asia. Kate takes the listener on a fascinating journey describing her professional career. Along the way she offers tips to those starting out and also to those seeking a new direction after a number of years in the job. She talks of recognising and responding to cultural variations and social norms in many different countries. Also in gaining humility and the special ability often overlooked of actually listening and observing. Kate looks back on her early career and identifies key change moments. She also talks of the challenges and rewards of working on large scale new world urban development. There is a particular segment of note on how Singapore does planning. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Kate recommends ‘War Transformed' by Major General Mick Ryan https://mickryan.com.au/books-%26-writing. Jess recommends the pleasures of farmers markets while Pete reads a poem about his new dog. Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 27 July 2023.

In PX106, our interview guest is James Vincent who is the CTO at NCS NEXT Australia, a global digital, data and cloud services consultancy (https://www.ncs.co/en-au/next/). James is a senior people leader with 25 years' commercial IT experience and an established authority in large-scale strategic transformation in enterprise environments and delivering business outcomes through technology. In this episode James shares four smart city technology solutions government could adopt to improve citizen services amid a rapidly growing urban population. Smart meters, sensor technology and AI in buildings to reduce environmental footprint are some of the examples that James touches on. With Australia's population projected to reach 30 million between 2029 and 2033, adding pressure to the quality and delivery of services for the community, James describes how it's becoming more important to leverage modern technology to improve experiences and the efficiency of infrastructure, public transport, travel and roads. He has previously stated: “Urban populations are growing at unprecedented rates, so we need to keep investing in smart city technology to create a brighter and more stable future. When further demand is added to systems such as public transport and traffic networks, some will struggle to cope – leading to overcrowding and poor-quality experiences. “Modern technology is making safe, scalable, sustainable cities and performant governments a reality. In particular, smart city technology helps accommodate large and rapid urban population growth, facilitate resource conservation such as water and carbon, and improve the quality of services for the community across utilities, transport, healthcare, waste management, air quality, safety and wellbeing, and emergency response. “We're already starting to see various levels of Government engage in public-private partnerships and sponsored collaboration to modernise and advance services through technology. It's a great step in improving access for citizens and the broader community and one we hope will continue in response to the changing population's needs.” The concept of 'Smart Cities' has been touted before. In this episode we talk about how technologies and systems thinking has created previously unrealisable outcomes. James, in a very broad discussion talks about how these technologies are just as relevant in developing nations as they are in first world countries. We also talk about the potential downsides of such technologies in terms of civic life. In the interview we also discuss visions of the future portrayed through popular culture. A wide ranging and testing interview on a topic that those responsibility for cities and towns will have to grapple with. We hope the episode makes a positive contribution to an understanding of the issues. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, James recommends the Emperor series by British author Con Iggulden https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conn_Iggulden. The series follows the life of Julius Caesar. On another note he describes his efforts trying to build an acoustic guitar, quite a challenge! He revels in the hands on, craft aspect of the task. Jess has a TV show recommendation, Fisk (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisk_(TV_series). Pete recommends Wuthering Heights (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuthering_Heights) and the PlanningxChange Spotify playlist! Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 3 July 2023.

In PX105, our interview guest is Torie Brown, Executive Director of the Student Accommodation Council. The Council was formed in 2022 by the Property Council to give a voice to the critically important purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector which provides homes for over 76,500 students per year, a figure that continues to grow.  https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/advocacy/our-divisions/student-accommodation-council Providing vibrant and connected housing options for students underpins Australia's largest service export – international education. Ensuring a strong pipeline of beds also reduces pressure on the broader residential rental market by providing a safe, student-only housing choice. Torie talks about the vital importance of this type of housing stock and along the way dispels various misconceptions about the users of such housing and the housing type. She talks about the evolution of design practice and how this is linked to the constant feedback provided by occupants. She also identifies good locational PBSA criteria and makes various suggestions to policy makers on how to facilitate the growth of this sector. There are 200+ PBSA developments in Australia. It is the fourth largest student market in the world. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Torie recommends an article ‘Investors backing student beds in downturn' (https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/investors-backing-student-beds-in-downturn) and ‘Poker Face' on Stan (https://www.stan.com.au/watch/poker-face-2023). Jess has no book ar film recommendations but does discuss the joy of setting aside an hour each week, early morning, in a cafe, for ‘life admin'. Pete recommends the film clip of AC/DC - It's a Long Way to the Top (If you wanna rock 'n' roll). The band plays the song on the back of a flatbed truck travelling slowly down the main street of Melbourne's CBD, in 1976. A great audacious, larrikin performance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQluGs2SFRs). Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 5 June 2023.

In PX104, our interview guest is Vanessa Schernickau, the Chief Executive Officer of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC). The GRLC provides library and information services to residents and visitors across the Geelong region on behalf of five local government councils. The network consists of a central library, 18 community libraries, three mobile libraries and a website. It provides free, universal access to lifelong learning, reading and discovery.  The Geelong Library began in 1858 as part of the Mechanics Institute. Vanessa talks about her first library book and her lifetime love affair with libraries. She talks of the dynamic changes that have led to the modern library model. This model has changed with the times and now a substantial component of user requirements are not associated with physical books. As the industrialist and great patron of public libraries Andrew Carnegie famously put it more than a century ago, “A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never-failing spring in the desert.” His words ring true today. We chose libraries as an interview topic as they represent one of the few public places in our towns and cities. They also provide a good deal of assistance to people navigating government and commercial services and simply as pleasant places to rest and relax. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Vanessa recommends two books, ‘The Colony' by Audrey Magee and 'Small things like these' by Claire Keegan. Jess recommends ‘The House of Eve' by Sadeqa Johnson. Pete recommends ‘100 Poems, 100 Poets (Hyaku-nin isshu). Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 1 May 2023.

In PX103, our interview subject is Tim Jackson, a +40 year veteran of local government in Victoria and South Australia. Tim recently retired for a second time from the paid workforce after completing his four year role as the State Government appointed Administrator at the District of Council of Coober Pedy in South Australia in February. This was the first time an Administrator had been appointed to a South Australian Council in almost forty years. 

Prior to his first retirement, Tim was CEO of the City of Playford in South Australia for eighteen years. Playford was and is South Australia's fastest growing local government area. At the time of his departure, it was the eleventh fastest growing local government area in Australia. Prior to his time in South Australia, he was employed in Victoria by the City of Prahran which became the City of Stonnington after the reorganisation of local government in Victoria in the early 1990s.

Tim principal interest throughout his career has been about empowering citizens and employees. Tim has simultaneously performed many voluntary non executive roles in the for purpose sector. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Tim recommends Utopia the TV series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia_(Australian_TV_series) and the biography of Sir Edmund Hillary, ‘Edmund Hillary – A Biography: The extraordinary life of the beekeeper who climbed Everest' by Michael Gill. Details on Hillary are found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Hillary Jess recommends ‘Madoff - The Monster of Wall Street' on Netflix. Pete recommends the short stories of W. Somerset Maugham including ‘Far Eastern Tales' on Audible. Details of Maugham can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Somerset_Maugham. Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 24 March 2023.

James Lesh is an urban historian specialising in heritage conservation. He is interested in the potential for history and heritage to enhance cities, places and society. His latest book is Values in Cities: Urban Heritage in Twentieth-Century Australia (Routledge, 2022). It synthesises the history of the Australian heritage movement and advocates for innovative modes of heritage practice. James is a Lecturer in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies at Deakin University in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia. He has previously researched and taught at the University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, and King's College London. In podcast extra or culture corner: James recommends ‘The Lost City Of Melbourne' documentary, ‘Monkey Grip' - film, ‘Dogs in Space' - film. ‘The Bear' TV show. Jess recommends ‘King Richard' film and yoga as an exercise. Pete recommends ‘The Legend of Ben Hall' (bushranger movie) and on Youtube ‘The making of The Legend of Ben Hall'.  Episode released 23 February 2023. Audio production by Jack Bavage.

In PX101 our guests are Natalia Weglarz and Peter Jones. Natalia is a planner at the Canberra office of WSP (www.wsp.com). She has been in Canberra for eight years, prior to that she was in Sydney and the UK. Peter Jones has lived in Canberra since the mid 1960's and has worked as a planner in Canberra over several decades. They describe the history of Canberra, the orginal grand plan for the city developed in 1911, how it has evolved and its role as Australia's most planned city. Should there be greater expectations of a planned city is one of the questions raised. They also talk of the difficult balance (and tensions) between respecting the original strategic plan whilst grafting on changes that reflect modern societal needs. In podcast extra / culture corner, Peter Jones recommends: Jane Harpers ‘Exiles' (Rural noir theme):https://janeharper.com.au/books/exiles A recommendation Jess endorses. Natalia recommends two items: the podcast '99% invisible' https://99percentinvisible.org and Netflix's ‘Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story' https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81287562 Pete recommends 'Aussie Mega Mechanics' https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/aussie-mega-mechanics-series-1-2018/37983/ Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 8 January 2023.

PlanningxChange 100: Four tales - Live Free by planning exchange podcast

In PlanningxChange episode 99 our guest is Alex Fenech, a landscape architect based in Florida. At the time we recorded the interview Alex was a Vice President at EDSA (https://www.edsaplan.com) one of America's leading landscape and urban design firms. Alex is the past President of ALSA Florida (American Society of Landscape architects) - https://www.aslaflorida.org/AboutFL In a wide ranging interview Alex talks of the many parts of a landscape architect's role. These include not just technical knowledge such as soil types and nutrients, drainage and plant characteristics but also an understanding of how people relate to settings. Alex outlines that ‘people' are not one standard type but that there are social, cultural and generational differences on how we perceive our environment, and the landscape design needs to understand the variety of user experiences. He talks of the need to plan for the life of a landscape environment in terms of care and maintenance, which is often overlooked. Alex discusses the considerable amenity uplift that well considered landscaping can provide to a variety of settings including as a ‘link' between buildings, town and city image and the improvement that well curated landscaping can have on heavily used transport corridors. A number of EDSA projects are mentioned as examples. He talks of understanding the client brief and the skill in ‘steering' a client to possibilities they might not have expected. There are a number of examples he provides in America and overseas where landscaping and urban form produce outstanding sensory perceptions. In Podcast extra or Culture Corner (a segment inspired by the ‘London Calling' podcast), Alex recommends ‘Drain the Oceans' shown on National Geographic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drain_the_Oceans), this program considers the ocean floor using underwater scanning systems that bring new insights into archeology and sometimes challenge conventional wisdom. Jess praises the movie ‘The Lost City of Melbourne'. https://www.thelostcityofmelbourne.org which considers many of the demolished buildings of Melbourne which in contemporary times would obtain heritage listing. Her second ‘extra' is the book ‘The couple upstairs', by Holly Wainwright https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761263071/. ‘Writing with both a light touch and vivid intensity, Holly Wainwright explores love, regret, whether you can stop history repeating, and whether or not you should.' Pete talks about his life long interest in bushrangers and the website: https://aguidetoaustralianbushranging.com. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 28 October 2022.

In PlanningxChange episode 98 our guest is Tim Ellis one of the world's leading magicians. Details about Tim are found at https://www.timellismagic.com and at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Ellis_(magician) What do magic and city planning have in common? The connection to this episode is Tim organising the Melbourne Magic Festival - MMF (https://melbournemagicfestival.com). This is the largest magic festival in the Southern Hemisphere. It typically occurs late June/early July each year. It consists of a main venue in central Melbourne comprising four different sized theatres and various satellite venues in Melbourne's suburbs and country Victoria. The festival is a purely private venture receiving no arts or culture grants. How is a festival put together? What are the logistics, what makes it a success? How does one gauge success? What does it mean for the host city? Tim with many years of experience organising and financing the MMF is well placed to answer these questions and illuminate the creative impulses and tensions putting on one of Australia's best events. In Podcast extra or Culture Corner (a segment inspired by the ‘London Calling' podcast), Tim recommends any ‘Derren Brown Specials' (on Netflix), master magician and on Disney +, ‘In & of itself' by Frank Oz. (preview at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_62BeXxd_jo) Jess praises the work and resources available through local historical societies (in Victoria see https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/societies/). Pete talks of an article he has had published in ‘Bellcord', the newsletter of the Melbourne Tram Museum (https://www.trammuseum.org.au/bellcord.htm) about the Tramway Union Banner of 1916. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 2 October 2022.

In PlanningxChange episode 97 our guest is David Beaumont one of Australia's leading landscape and portrait painters. David is based in the historic seaside town of Queenscliff. From there he embarks on various solitary sojourns to the outback to immerse himself in the breadth and depth of the Australian landscape. He is also a frequent observer of the gritty parts of Melbourne where he absorbs the human condition in its rawest expression. We are fortunate to have him on the podcast to talk about art in the city, a topic far from strategic master plans and city planning ordinances. The discussion rambles through art history, contemporary approaches to public art, the palette of the city and the absurdity of life. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 1 September 2022.

In PlanningxChange episode 96 our guest is Simon Kuestenmacher one of Australia's leading demographers. Simon is a Director and Co-founder of The Demographics Group based in Melbourne, Australia. Simon holds degrees in geography from leading universities in Berlin and Melbourne and worked for several years as a business consultant with KPMG Australia. In 2017 Simon, with Bernard Salt, co-founded The Demographics Group. The group provides specialist advice on demographic, consumer and social trends for business. Simon has presented to numerous corporate and industry audiences across Australia and overseas on demographic trends, consumer insights and cultural change in Australia. His presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by groups from the financial services, property, government, education, technology, retail and professional services industries, among others. Simon is a columnist for The New Daily newspaper and a contributor to The Australian newspaper and he is a media commentator on demographic and data matters. Simon has amassed 300,000 global followers on social media, reaches over 25 million people every month and ranks as one of the world's Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can't get enough of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow him on Twitter or any of his other social channels. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 1 August 2022.

In PlanningxChange episode 95 our guest is Lucinda Hartley. Her bio reads as follows: ‘Urban designer turned entrepreneur, Lucinda Hartley uses big data to measure the quality of life and wellbeing of neighbourhoods. She is a co-founder of Neighbourlytics, a social analytics platform which has created data for more than 500 neighbourhoods in over 10 countries and is influencing some of world's most significant urban development decisions. Lucinda was recently named as one of 100 Women of Influence by the Australian Financial Review and one of Melbourne's Top 100 most influential people by The Age. With over a decade of experience in urban innovation, Lucinda was a Myer Innovation Fellow, Westpac Social Change Fellow, and was previously co-founder and CEO of award-winning placemaking consultancy, CoDesign Studio. Prior to this her insights contributed to defining UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Cities). A designer turned tech-founder, Lucinda is alumni of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Singularity University. Lucinda doesn't separate work and personal life: first we shape our cities, then they shape us.' Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 11 July 2022.

In PlanningxChange episode 94 our guest is Laura Gannon an Associate Director at Meridan Urban with almost 20 years of experience in strategic land use planning, bushfire risk and community resilience across both the public and private sectors. Laura specialises in management consulting approaches to the integration of natural hazard risk management into land use planning policy and strategy, with a particular emphasis on bushfire risk and resilience, floodplain risk management and climate adaptation. She has extensive experience in the areas of planning policy, strategic and statutory planning accumulated through a number of senior leadership positions. Laura is a corporate member of PIA, Member of the Fire Protection Association of Australia and the Australian Institute of Emergency Services. Laura holds relevant Planning, Bushfire Management and Project Management qualifications. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 14 June 2022.

In PlanningxChange 93 the tables are turned and we are interviewed. PX was a guest at the Ratio Consultant's breakfast speaker series. Colleen Peterson (PX23), the CEO of Ratio presented and asked questions. The interview reveals the formation of PX, the mechanics of how we put interviews together, what we have learnt and how we work together. A bit self indulgent but there you go. We hope you enjoy this. The interview was recorded on the 7th April 2022 at Melbourne, Australia. Interview produced by Jack Bavage. The podcast release date is the 18th May 2022.

In PlanningxChange episode 92 we interview Phil Priest, Group Manager City Development at the Moreland City Council. The following is an extract from the VPELA Journal Revue of October 2021 describing Phil's career and his recent awarding of the Paul Jerome Award for contributions to the public sector. “When planners think of Moreland Council, they think of Phil Priest. Phil has been a mainstay in planning in the inner city for decades, providing exemplarily service to the public sector and leading Moreland's successful transition from a dying industrial heartland to a beacon for inner city urban renewal. Phil earn't his stripes at City of Melbourne, before joining Moreland in 2003 as the Manager of Urban Development. For the next 17 years, he had a variety of managerial and planning roles, including Group Manager City Development, where he led multi disciplinary teams of over 70 professionals with responsibilities for town planning, building and environmental health. After a brief stint at DELWP as the Director of Developer Approvals and Design, Phil has returned to his old stomping ground at Moreland Council as Acting Director City Futures. But Phil's contribution to planning and the public sector goes beyond titles. He is very approachable, facilitative and reasonable, always finding a sensible balance between local community pressures to limit development and pursuing urban consolidation inMoreland's activity centre's and transit corridors. As the manufacturing industry dwindled in the 80's and 90's, Phil oversaw a seismic shift in Moreland's industrial precincts that has seen them embrace change and become exemplars for inner city urban renewal. During his time, Moreland has earned a reputation as a pioneer and leader in Local Government planning circles. He has led many planning initiatives including the Moreland Apartment Design Code prior to the introduction of BADS, the introduction of the ESD Policy in the Moreland Planning Scheme and more recently initiatives to reduce emissions. He has championed planning leadership at Moreland through proactive, forward looking initiatives such as VicSmart for 2 lot subdivisions. These are consistent with Phil's unwavering commitment to process improvement and driving efficiencies. Phil directed the implementation of a digital planning system at Moreland, well before others. This proved fortuitous when Covid hit, with Moreland well prepared for the mad scramble away from paper. A quick look at the Moreland website today shows a leading Council who understands their community's needs and the responsibilities of an effective planning system. Phil is particularly supportive to planners entering the industry and provides an excellent working environment where staff are encouraged to succeed. His sensible approach and ‘can do' attitude has earn't him a solid reputation amongst planners and the wider industry.” Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 27 April 2022.

In PlanningxChange episode 91 we interview Matt Roberts about Ian Nairn, an architectural and planning critic in the UK during the 1950s - 1970s. Matt is an architectural historian and a member of the podcast team that produces About Buildings and Cities. Details are at https://aboutbuildingsandcities.org. The About Buildings and Cities podcast produced a three part series on Ian Nairn. This is highly recommended as a lively and insightful review of the broad career of Ian Nairn, his times and his impact on the public imagination. Nairn came to prominence with a special edition of the Architectural Review called ‘Outrage' published in 1955. In this he coined the term 'Subtopia' for areas around cities that had been failed by urban planning and lost their sense of place. ‘Outrage' was followed soon afterwards by ‘Counter-Attack'. Nairn also contributed to various books on British cities and architecture (although not a trained architect) such as ‘The Buildings of England'. Nairn also contributed to the evolution of guide books most notably with his ‘Nairn's London' (1966) and ‘Nairn's Paris' (1968). Of his writings Jonathon Meades has said: Mere architectural description could not suffice for that land of joke-oak and real rhododendron; what it demands is an acute sense of place and the gift to render that sense. Nairn possessed both, and in his London book he showed a third gift, that of the realization of the emotional power of townscape. That trinity of gifts made him a great poet of the metropolis. Nairn also enjoyed a lengthy TV career producing programs on various British towns and cities and on places on the continent. Many of these programs are available through YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQfgA_6HLT0&list=PLzBwppKDCE9BLOqw1SqWdH14H_onhYgWn The BBC produced a program ‘The Man who fought the planners: The story of ian Nairn' which is available on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvoXJ1Ye9R4&t=137s Many of the insights of Nairn are as relevant today as then. Matt Roberts provides us with a fascinating insight into the life and times and legacy of Nairn; we are very grateful to our podcast ‘cousin' for sharing this knowledge. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 25 March 2022.

In PlanningxChange episode 90 we interview Scott LaMont the CEO of EDSA, an international planning and landscape architecture consultancy. Scott joined EDSA in 1996 and has been a driving force in the firm's practice and strategic growth since. Before being named CEO, he was a Studio Leader and Principal for 12 years, instilling the firm's ethos with a design sensibility and comprehensive approach to projects while fostering long term client relationships. Scott is focused on the big picture tenets of people, client service and vision while leading the 120-person firm towards inspirational design with enthusiasm, devotion, creativity and humility. He is committed to the exploration of sustainable, modern ideals and fostering values which positively personify humanity by balancing superior design and pragmatic business planning. His broad range of global experience spans large scale planning assignments to mixed-use residential, hospitality and urban works that have strengthened EDSA's reputation as a design leader. The firm has offices in USA cities and in a number of countries. He has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, University of Florida. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 5 March 2022.

PlanningxChange Episode 89, features Peter Malley. Peter is a traffic and transport engineer with over 17 years' experience consulting to numerous private and government clients in Victoria and NSW. Peter has a passion for master planning and large-scale developments where he applies a holistic transport planning approach. He has contributed expert advice to a range of significant projects including town centres, residential subdivisions, mixed-use developments, healthcare and educational facilities. Peter works closely with clients, applying a proactive and personal touch to achieve successful and innovative responses. When designing a transport system, Peter believes it's important to consider not only private vehicle use, but public transport options, bicycle accessibility and pedestrian amenity to cater to user diversity. Peter was involved in a serious bicycle accident in 2020 that left him a paraplegic and his disability has offered him a unique understanding of the way transport planning affects the movement of people. He looks forward to recommencing his career after a twelve-month recovery period, applying his insights to future projects, and he has already started training to get back on some sort of bicycle. When Peter had his cycling accident and began rehabilitation at the Spinal Injury Unit at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, he realised there was limited rehabilitation opportunities to help patients get back on a bike. Spinal injury patients who are able to regain some use of their legs require customised equipment, like a recumbent trike, but unfortunately this equipment is highly customised and expensive. To raise funds to allow the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre to provide this rehabilitation program Peter organised a fund raising bike ride and GoFundMe campaign where he has raised a total of over $6,000. If you would like to donate to the cause, please visit the GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/d9f879c9 Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 13 February 2022.

PlanningxChange Episode 88, features Catherine Heggen, a town planner with UK and Australian experience over a 35 year career. Catherine's career has been devoted to the provision of project based consulting advice to a wide range of private sector and government clients. Her professional capabilities and experience lie at the intersection of urban planning, statutory control, place making and project facilitation. Catherine's experience extends across all aspects of development planning, from high rise inner city apartment complexes, medium density housing projects as well as delivery of social housing models, built form impact analysis and urban design appraisals, innovative greenfield subdivision and ‘environmental living' communities, institutional master plans and environment impact assessments. Catherine is the author of professional papers and articles including ‘A Walk on the Wild Side'. The paper was presented at the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association Conference 2018. Catherine has particular skills in development planning often involving urban design, heritage issues and visual landscape impact assessments. She has been Chair of Victoria's Heritage Council, a Trustee of Melbourne's Heritage Restoration fund and a jury member of various urban design, planning and landscape institute awards. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 18 January 2022.

PlanningxChange Episode 87, features Steve Oates, the Chief Executive of the Heritage Railway Association (HRA). Formerly a property professional who then spent 20 years in commercial radio, Steve has had an active lifelong interest in heritage and steam railways. From his teenage years, and for more than 40 years, Steve has worked with the award-winning Isle of Wight Steam Railway in a non-executive and voluntary capacity, including ten years chairing its board of directors and trustees. He was appointed as the HRA's first chief executive 4 years ago, moving it from an entirely volunteer-run organisation to its' position as the UK-wide trade association and professional support body for the Heritage Rail sector. From the World's first preserved heritage railway – the Talyllyn in North Wales – to railways operating iconic mainline locomotives such as Flying Scotsman, between them the UK's heritage railways operate steam, diesel and electric traction and range from large standard gauge railways to smaller 12-inch and 15-inch gauge lines. As the sector's trade association, the HRA actively represents, and works to protect and promote, the interests of this wide range of heritage and tourist railways, tramways, cliff railways, related museums, railway preservation groups and associated organisations. The HRA has some 300 member railways, tramways and other organisations located throughout England and the UK. Coming in all shapes and sizes, more than 180 HRA member organisations regularly open to the public, 160 of them operating with passengers. The Associations website is https://www.hra.uk.com Professionally Steve is a chartered surveyor, but has wide commercial experience, having founded and managed three successful commercial radio stations, and headed-up an economic development service for a local authority. Heritage railways attract some 13 million visitors each year; they retain and nurture important skills, and employ some 4,000 people; they are important to local communities, providing interest and participation for 22,000 volunteers; and they are important to the wider economy, annually together contributing approaching £500million of economic impact. The HRA's 2021 annual awards can be viewed either on the HRA website or at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkwvuCI6wnI Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 27 December 2021.

PlanningxChange Episode 86, features Deb Ganderton CEO of The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) and James Reid, the Chief Future Built Environment Officer of GMCT. GMCT is a self-funding, not for profit organisation that runs 19 cemeteries and memorial parks and three crematoria across Melbourne, Australia. It is also responsible for two greenfield sites to be developed on Melbourne's urban fringe. GMCT manages 600 hectares; the various cemeteries are visited by almost two million people annually. In this interview Deb and James talk of the evolution of cemeteries, management issues, the need to respond to diversifying community preferences and the requirements of long term planning. The interview covers a wide range of topics including discussion on the modern experience of the traditional cemetery format often with significant heritage values and considerations that drive new cemetery design. The interview touches on the sensitivities of design for grieving and the value of nature to assist this process. As well, the desire to integrate cemeteries into communities and become places of celebration and passive recreation rather than places of limited utility. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 6 December 2021.

In PlanningxChange Episode 85, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Stone Librande, the lead designer for SimCity 2013.  Stone is currently a Lead Designer in the R&D group at Riot Games, and has worked in the video game industry for 20 years on games such as SimCity 2013, Spore, and Diablo 3. In addition to his full-time job designing video games, he also teaches a game design course at Carnegie Mellon University's ETC program and runs design seminars around the world. An avid board game inventor, Stone has published two games: "Mechs vs. Minions" and "Alakazam! The Game of Dueling Wizards". SimCity 2013 is a city building and urban planning simulation multiplayer online game developed by Maxis Emeryville and published by Electronic Arts. Released for Microsoft Windows in early March 2013, it was the first major installment in the SimCity series since the release of SimCity 4 a decade before. A macOS version was released in August 2013. The game is considered a reboot of the SimCity series. Players can create a settlement that can grow into a city by zoning land for residential, commercial or industrial development as well as building and maintaining public services, transport and utilities. SimCity used a new engine called GlassBox that allows more detailed simulation than previous games. Stone was part of a very large team that brought the game to market. In this interview Stone talks of his research into city systems, the concessions that were required to model the real world of cities (for example car parking takes up less area in the virtual cities), the interplay and consequences of city decision making and that players have a finite set of resources available. He also talks of the role that gaming can have in influencing our approach to real world issues. A terrific interview subject with a great perspective on the virtual and real worlds. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 17 November 2021.

In PlanningxChange Episode 84, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Gerard McHugh; this interview is all about mountain bike trail development and what it can achieve for participants, towns and regions. Gerard is the General Manager of World Trails. The company provides trail designs for all types of recreational trails, from the earliest conceptual stage to the final design stage including detailed trail designs, trail master plans, concept plans, CAD designs, engineering plans, detailed construction budgets and schedules, trail mapping and competitive overlays for mountain bike racing. Details of the company are at https://world-trail.com. Gerard joined World Trail in 2007, starting on the trail construction crew before moving in to a full-time role delivering the company's consulting reports and designs. In his time with World Trail, Gerard has been responsible for, or had some involvement with every project World Trail has undertaken, including the design and construction of the trail networks at Falls Creek, Atherton, Hidden Vale, Smithfield, Derby, St Helens and Wangetti, all of which are amongst the most successful mountain bike trail projects in Australia. The interview covers a wide range of topics including what makes a good mountain bike trail, design and environmental considerations, whether you need mountains, misconceptions, how towns and land managers can develop mountain bike trails, the fun and inclusive nature of urban ‘pump parks' and how the sport is enticing more people to experience nature. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 18 October 2021.

In PlanningxChange Episode 83, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Adam Cohen. Adam is a transportation mobility futures researcher at the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Since joining the group in 2004, his research has focused on innovative mobility strategies, including urban/advanced air mobility, automated vehicles, shared mobility, smart cities, smartphone apps, and other emerging technologies. He has co-authored numerous articles and reports in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. Adam also served three combat tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a rated aviator for the Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component (CJSOAC). Adam's unique multidisciplinary background gives him unique insight into automation, electrification, and the potential impacts of innovative and disruptive technologies. Previously, Adam worked for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Information Technology and Telecommunications Laboratory (ITTL) at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). His academic background is in city and regional planning and international affairs. In this interview we discuss Adam's recent project ‘Shared Micromoblity Policy Toolkit: Docked and Dockless Bike and Scooter Sharing' which he co-authored with Susan Shaheen . This can be found at https://tsrc.berkeley.edu/publications/shared-micromoblity-policy-toolkit-docked-and-dockless-bike-and-scooter-sharing Audio production by Jack Bavage. This episode was released on 24 September 2021.

In PlanningxChange Episode 82, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Russell (‘Russ') Dickson a licenced land surveyor. Russ gives listeners an excellent introduction to the world of land surveying, through its culture, vocabulary, exacting requirements and the feared ‘land surveying cops'. He talks of the incredible technological changes he has experienced and offers a glimpse into the future. A profession that dates at least as far back as the ancient Egyptians, Russ talks fo the highly precise measurements made by the early coastal navigators as well as the pioneering land surveyors sent into the vast unknown. He also talks of the importance of reference points, for example sea level; these critical measurements will have much importance in measuring the impact of climate change and the public policy decisions (and expenditure) that follows. Land surveying is the ‘quiet' profession in city and regional development but whose output we all rely upon for confidence. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was released on 24 August 2021.

In PlanningxChange Episode 81, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell interview Marshall Sullivan a private planning consultant based in regional Victoria. Marshall came up ‘through the ranks' of local government starting as an enforcer officer and ending as a senior manager. Now he runs his own very prosperous planning consultancy based in Geelong and the Surf Coast. Marshall discusses his journey through local government and the support he received through mentoring. He talks of the skills he learnt in dealing with the public and developers alike whilst also fitting in with what at times can be very political local Councils. He talks of the Importance of new ideas in planning policy and the need to encourage new ways. One of his motto's ‘you don't know what you don't know' - best to keep an open mind. Marshall talks of the transition and associated surprises going from government to private practice. His answer to the question: ‘what has been your most eventful site inspection?' Is sure to raise a laugh. A thoughtful and clear speaking view of a planner's life. Audio production by Jack Bavage. The episode was recorded in mid February 2021 and released on 25 July 2021.