The Urban Phoenix Podcast

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Conversations around our urban environments and a better tomorrow for our cities

The Urban Phoenix Podcast


    • Feb 7, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 14m AVG DURATION
    • 106 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Urban Phoenix Podcast

    Two Things We Can Learn From 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2021 14:45


    2020 was a devastating year for our cities. That doesn't mean we can't learn from the experience

    Street Closures Are Suddenly The Rage

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2020 6:47


    Covid-19 has thrust our nation into a paralyzing reality... but the re-dedication of car space to people might be just the thing out cities need

    Bike Infrastructure Sends A Message

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2020 6:30


    Even if it's seldom used, bike infrastructure sends a clear message to everyone that two-wheeled transportation is welcome

    The Quietly Splintered World Of Cycling

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2020 10:02


    For the most part, cyclists want the same thing... safer streets, better infrastructure, more advocacy. But within bike culture is a vast array of different reasons for riding on two wheels. The infighting between these groups is crippling the effort to improve cycling for everyone

    For E-Scooters, Ownership Will Mean Legitimacy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2020 16:31


    The shared model has brought the E-Scooter into the light. Now it's time to legitimize them with ownership

    Driving Is A Privilege, Not A Right

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2020 9:09


    Americans have become blind to the privilege of driving, so much so that driving is almost seen as an American right.

    Isn't This What We've Wanted?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 7:37


    At some point... and maybe quite often... we have wished for a simpler time. We have wished for fewer distractions or more time with our families, or the ability to work from home. Now that many of us have these things, how much of this time will we take with us going forward!

    A Small Biz Pivots To Help In This Difficult Time: An Interview With Teagan White, from JN White

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2020 18:49


    A company that makes membrane switches, graphic overlays, and custom labels in Perry, New York is now making over 100,000 face shields per day to help front line workers combat Covid-19. Customer Service Manager Teagan White talks about the mission of JN White to help protect us in this time!

    Urbanists Are Translators

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2020 17:18


    People are inherently drawn to attractive urban environments. It's our job as urbanists to inform them WHY these places make them feel good

    Will The Threat Of Vandalism Hinder Urban Automation?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2020 9:35


    We are at the point where the ability to automate anything from park maintenance to public transit is a reality. But will the lack of an authority figure welcome vandalism and illegal activity?

    The Reduction In Pollution As A Result Of The Coronavirus

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2020 14:07


    If there is a positive result of shutting down our economies, it's the short term environmental relief our planet is experiencing

    Remote Work Will Change Urban Design

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2020 11:18


    Even after the Coronavirus pandemic is mitigated, remote work will continue to rise. Cities should be thinking about what that means now, rather than later.

    I've Gained 6 Pounds Not Biking To Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2020 13:05


    I had lost 17 pounds, until the Coronavirus caused me to work from home. Now that I'm not biking to work every day, I've quickly gained 6 pounds back.

    Now More Than Ever, Billionaires Need To Be Leaders

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2020 17:56


    In 2018, the country's richest man donated 0.1% of his net worth. Now more than ever, we need our economic leaders to do just that... lead.

    The Interstate Highway System Changed Everything

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2020 15:34


    Yes, the Interstate Highway System destroyed regional transit, but it also spelled the end of local transit too... and our cities would never be the same

    Rochester Lost Bike Share... For Now.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2020 17:50


    Zagster/Pace has pulled out of Rochester. Another company will take its place in the future. The important thing to remember is this is not our fault.

    A Car-Light America Is Here

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2020 9:28


    With far less traffic on the roads during this time of social distancing, now is our time to truly see what it's like to live walk and bike along a busy road and feel comfortable

    Why Don't We Have Balconies?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2020 9:47


    We've seen the videos of entire communities singing from balconies in Spain and Italy while in quarantine. Why don't we see this in US cities?

    An Interview With Rochester's Maria Furgiuele

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2020 23:35


    Maria is the Executive Director of the Community Design Center of Rochester. We talk about quality urban design, public space, transit, balconies, and the future for our cities in the wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic

    The Fate Of Public Transit In A Time Of Social Distance

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2020 21:05


    Public transit is taking it at the shins during this time of social distancing. And understandably so. How will these uncertain times change public transit forever?

    What Will Our Cities Look Like?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2020 15:11


    Just weeks ago, our cities were trending back to walkable places with restaurants, bars and shops. Will that vision ever be a reality again?

    An Interview With Utica's Stephen Keblish

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2020 31:09


    Stephen and I talk about Utica, Urbanism, small city life, the importance of livability and Stephen's service in the National Guard... and more!

    The Best Last Mile Has Been Here All Along

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2020 12:36


    I'm 39 years old. This year, I taught myself how to skateboard. While learning requires an incredible amount of patience, I can now say that this is the best last mile transportation option ever created.

    An Interview With “Crafty” Mask Maker Rachel Walsh

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2020 19:55


    Rochester's Rachel Walsh is deeply rooted in the arts, crafting, music, theater and general creativity. Today, she's using her talents to make masks in an effort to mitigate these difficult times.

    An Interview with Sandusky Ohio Assistant City Planner, Tom Horsman

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2020 24:37


    Tom talks about his journey to an Urbanist life in the small city of Sandusky

    An Interview With Rochester's Jeremy Cooney

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2020 33:16


    Jeremy Cooney was born in an Indian orphanage, and raised by a single mother in the City of Rochester. Today, he is a lawyer and the Democratic and Working Families Party candidate for the NYS Senate, District 56

    A Hopeful Outcome From The Coronavirus

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2020 10:47


    Our lives are about to change dramatically. My hope is that it's only temporary. Here's another hope that I have...

    Narcissism And The Four Way Stop: A Lesson For Our Cities

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2020 4:55


    A study shows us that the more expensive/newer the car, the more the driver is likely to drive through the intersection out of turn. It's a metaphor for wealth in our cities today

    Car Crashes, Coronavirus & Public Health Priorities

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2020 17:10


    The Coronavirus is a serious health epidemic, and it's one we are taking very seriously as a society. But other solvable public health issues that kill tens of thousands of Americans go unaddressed

    The Seldom Appreciated Benefits Of Walking

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2020 7:00


    Rarely to we realize the health benefits of walking. The obesity epidemic in our country is, in part, due to the fact that our communities are rarely built for walking. Dense urban areas are the exception

    Pedestrian Malls In Midsized Cities? Not So Fast...

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2020 15:20


    Pedestrian malls sound awesome and they are, but historically they have not always performed well in the USA. Here are some thoughts on how to take a “middle ground” or incremental approach to this subject

    Same City, Different Cultural Narratives

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2020 14:15


    A recent Grist.org article highlights how different cultural narratives of the same event in Detroit can have deeply “rooted” effects in how we see our cities today. You can find the article here https://buff.ly/2VJ7fRA

    Micro Mobility & The Volatility Of Venture Capital

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2020 17:33


    The popular electric skateboard company Boosted Boards abruptly went belly-up last week, raising fears that other similar companies may eventually follow suit. While venture capital companies have added flare to urban life, there are serious questions about the sustainability of this funding method

    Micro Mobility And A Short Trip To Buffalo

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2020 14:10


    I spend 4 hours in Buffalo a few weeks ago... with nothing other than a skateboard.

    How Our Cities Became Corporations l

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2020 18:10


    Government policy and suburban subsidies ruined our cities' financial status... their only recourse was to function like corporations.

    Overestimating The Economic Impact Of Sports Teams

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2020 13:59


    We love our local teams... but in most cases, we highly inflate the economic impact they have on local economies

    Preservationism Versus New Urbanism

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2020 14:10


    While it's important to preserve the history of our landmarks and districts, we cannot preserve every building and every neighborhood. Doing so leads to higher living costs and exclusivity

    Fastest and Most Exclusive: An American Transportation Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2020 15:24


    Our country has been built around the car and the airplane, that fastest and most exclusive forms of mobility

    Utica: More Parking Won't Improve Your Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2020 13:00


    A recent opinion piece by the Utica Observer Dispatch calls for more parking in order to create a more accessible downtown. But great cities aren't suburbs, and thus are not made better by more automobile access

    utica observer dispatch
    Scary Spaces: The Places Where Walkers and Cyclists Feel Forgotten

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2020 13:43


    Anyone who walks or bikes for transportation knows the feeling of anxiety when approaching those spaces that are designed for cars

    Welcoming Outside Investment

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2020 15:40


    There's a lot of money coming out of New York City. Our Upstate cities have the potential to tap into this tremendous exodus of wealth

    The Importance Of Promoting Chaos in Urban “Order”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2020 17:21


    Order sounds good in our cities, until we realize that order usually means stratification and strict prioritization that favors one population over another

    Bike Commuting, Group Rides & Legitimacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2020 13:39


    I love group rides, recreational cyclists and any reason people get on two wheels. But building true legitimacy and infrastructure means talking about bike commuting first and foremost

    Breweries: The Sure-Thing Activator

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2020 12:03


    Few things activate desolate urban landscapes like breweries. We need to start appreciating just how important they've been with regard to change in our cities

    If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home By Now: A Book Review, An Urbanist's Rebuttal

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2020 24:17


    Recently I read a nice book titled “If Your Were Here You'd Be Home By Now” by Christopher Ingraham. While I enjoyed the read, there are some interesting things the author misses with regard to the breadth of urbanism and the conversations surrounding the urban/rural construct

    Interview with Utica Superfan Ken Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2020 11:25


    Sometimes I interview urbanists. Sometimes I interview business owners. This interview? This is about a man who truly loves his city, and does everything he can to help others realize that love too.

    A Man Tried To Hit Me With His Car

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2020 11:50


    Last week while biking with my coworker to work, a man tried to intimidate and drive into us with his car, completely unprovoked

    Do Urbanist Publications Really Speak To Midsized Cities?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2019 20:12


    CityLab and Streetsblog are amazing online publications that address Urbanist issues... but do they really address the issues of small-to-midsized metros?

    When Did Cycling Become a Liberal Thing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2019 12:05


    Bikes have been associated with a liberal construct, when in fact they personify some of the most basic Republican ideals...

    Fairport NY: Blending Suburban Feel With A Micro-Urban Twist

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2019 16:02


    Fairport, New York is a small suburb of Rochester, my home city. There, a mix of suburban life and an amazingly walkable downtown has created a beautiful blend of small town with a hint of urbanity

    Taking Comfort With Us: How Earbuds Are Helping Our Cities Thrive

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2019 14:47


    A follow up to my latest blog piece, earbuds and smart phones are allowing people who might not otherwise be comfortable with city life a chance to adapt

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