Podcasts about strong towns

Nick Frevold launched a Strong Towns Local Conversation in Huntsville, Alabama — and found more demand than he expected. He shares what it took to get started, build relationships, and turn concern into real momentum. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Strong Towns Huntsville (site) ‍Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Thank you!

What if your neighborhood could raise the money it needs without waiting for grants or traditional funding? Kathleen Minogue, founder of Crowdfund Better, explains how crowdfunding builds financial resilience while strengthening community bonds and local ownership. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Local Recommendations:‍ Common Ground Coffee & Market‍ Idaho Capital Asian Market‍ Oldspeak Book Beer Bar‍ Boise Farmer's Market Crowdfund Better (site) Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Thank you!

Some of the most important street safety victories don't make the news. After a personal tragedy, Josh Stewart devoted himself to making streets safer. Today, he shares hard-earned lessons about how change really happens — and why patience and small experiments matter more than headlines. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Hear more from Josh in his first episode on Bottom-Up Shorts. ‍Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here. This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Thank you!

When a nine-year-old rides the subway alone, is that neglect or normal childhood? Lenore Skenazy, a speaker, writer, and reality show host who was once dubbed "America's worst mom," makes the case for why kids need more independence and shares tactics for how parents can give it to them in the modern city or suburb. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Local Recommendations: Lety's Bakery Let Grow (site) Free Range Kids (site) See more from Lenore: “Why I Let My 9 Year Old Ride the Subway Alone” (article)‍ Free Independence Kit‍ Lenore's TedTalk‍ Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Strong Towns Chicago learned that fun isn't frivolous — it's essential for sustainable advocacy. Leader Alex Montero shares how the Local Conversation group uses urbanist comedy, neighborhood tours, and social events to keep volunteers energized and engaged while winning real policy changes. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Want in on the action? Find a Local Conversation near you! Alex Montero (Linktree) Strong Towns Chicago (Linktree) ‍Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Streets can be good friends or quiet bullies. We talk with author and planner Bruce Appleyard about Livable Streets 2.0 and how design choices—lane widths, speeds, buffers, sidewalks, and bike protection—shape safety, community bonds, and the energy we feel the moment our feet touch the curb. Bruce shares the personal story behind the book's legacy and why traffic's “invisible harms” still fracture neighborhoods, then maps a clear path to build streets that give back.We dig into cognitive mapping and what children's drawings reveal about freedom, learning, and place. When kids can walk and bike, their mental maps grow richer, their confidence rises, and schools benefit from more alert, active students. Bruce connects these human-scale wins to economic outcomes, explaining how the “street slum” effect drains main streets and how people-first redesigns boost sales and foot traffic. Slower is safer—and also better for business.Enjoy the stories, borrow the tactics, and help your city trade throughput for life. If this resonated, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend who's ready to rethink their block.Show Notes:Author Recommended Reading: Fighting Traffic: The Dawn of the Motor Age in the American City by Peter NortonThe U.S. Traffic Calming Manual by Reid EwingAnything written by Dan Burton Walkable City Rules by Jeff SpeckRight of Way:Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America by Angie SchmidtArrested Mobility: Overcoming the Threat to Black Movement by Charles T. BrownGreat Streets by Allan JacobsKilled by a Traffic Engineer by Wes MarshallConfessions of a Recovering Engineer: Transportation for a Strong Town by Chuck MarohnStreets and the Shaping of Towns and cities by Michael southworth and Eran Ben JosephEnd of the Road: Reimagining the Street as the Heart of the City by Billy RiggsLife After Cars By Sarah Goodyear and Doug GordonBruce's website which features more information on the topic: https://rethinkingstreets.com/To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!To view the show transcripts, click on the episode at https://bookedonplanning.buzzsprout.com/RDG Planning & DesignArchitects, landscape architects, engineers, artists & planners with a drive to make a difference. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Follow us on social media for more content related to each episode:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/booked-on-planning/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookedPlanningFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookedonplanningInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookedonplanning/

Jennifer Truman didn't set out to be a housing or transit advocate, but after running into the same problems while designing small projects in Raleigh, North Carolina, she started asking bigger questions. In this episode, she explains how noticing friction in everyday work led to her involvement in zoning reform, transit leadership, and launching a pro-housing movement. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES ‍CITYBUILDER (site) ‍The Rocket Shop (site) ‍Jennifer Truman (site) Recommendations/Show Notes: Dix Park Trophy Brewery The Can Open Food Truck Park in Durham Oakwood Pizza Box in Raleigh Two Roosters Ice Cream‍ Black and White Coffee and Videri Chocolate in downtown Raleigh ‍ This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

In this episode, I connect with Jamie Sabbach from Salida, CO, and the 110 Percent organization for a very Strong Towns-esque conversation about parks and how cities need a better plan to maintain them and a better approach to programming more sustainable facilities, such as sidewalks and pathways versus large, costly sports complexes and fields.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):

What does it look like to actively love the place you live? Tiffany Owens Reed talks with New Haven Alder Caroline Tanbee Smith about community-building, public space, and how small, people-powered projects grow into lasting civic impact. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Local Recommendations: Criscuolo Park Ozzy's Pizza The Crooked Goat Taqueria Oyameles Caroline Tanbee Smith (site) Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

A multigenerational home addition sparked national attention and local outrage in Fairfax County, Virginia. Chief Technical Advisor Edward Erfurt sits down with guest host Norm Van Eeden Petersman to explore why legally allowed housing can still feel deeply disruptive — and what this reveals about zoning, design, and incremental change. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES "Massive Multigenerational Home Addition Sparks Furious Debate in Virginia Community" by Julie Taylor, Realtor.com (November 2025) "The Monster House: Why a Change in Neighborhood Scale Isn't a Bad Thing" by Emma Durand-Wood "Multigenerational Living Isn't Immigrant Culture, It's Human Culture" by Shina Shayesteh Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Edward Erfurt (LinkedIn) Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Norm sits down with Connor Legros, an undergrad student studying city planning and administration. Connor explains how he's creating a one-stop-shop for building backyard cottages in Flagstaff, Arizona. He shares how better guidance and streamlined approvals can support local housing and reduce the burden on city staff. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Learn how to make housing easier to build in your community with the Strong Towns Housing Toolkits. Connect with Connor: LinkedIn Instagram ‍Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

‍A major highway project is pitched as a safety upgrade — but at what cost to the community? Today, Chuck is joined by Matt Steele, a fellow Brainerd-area resident and longtime Strong Towns member. They unpack a highway interchange that's been proposed in nearby Baxter and the long-term trade-offs that shape strong (or fragile) places. Additional Show Notes Read more about this project: "Six Roundabouts to Nowhere" by Charles Marohn Chuck Marohn (Substack)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Hour 2 for 12/15/25 Drew and Brooke pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (1:00). Then, Charles Marohn from Strong Towns cover city growth (30:58), WWII housing growth (40:55), and housing today (42:57). Links: https://www.strongtowns.org/ https://www.housingtrap.org/

Why is housing so expensive, and what can local communities actually do about it? In this live recording, Chuck unpacks the roots of America's housing trap and shares actionable reforms that any community can implement. Additional Show Notes This presentation was recorded live from Wayne, Pennsylvania. Click here to bring Chuck to your own city! Check out Strong Towns' housing toolkits for more strategies to bring housing to your community. Chuck Marohn (Substack) This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Utah wants to override local zoning to boost housing supply, but allowed by right doesn't mean possible in practice. Abby and Edward dig into the hidden barriers — complicated permits, scarce financing, and broken systems — that stop housing from actually getting built. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES "Utah's Governor Suggests Overriding Local Zoning. Could His Plan Solve—or Shatter—the State's Housing Future?" by Allaire Conte, Realtor.com (November 2025) "Why State Housing Reform is Failing (and What We Can Do About It)" by Edward Erfurt Abby Newsham (X/Twitter) Edward Erfurt (LinkedIn) Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

In this special episode, Norm introduces Mary Kate Norton, Strong Towns' new Mobilization Coordinator and Trainer. Mary Kate shares about her background in grassroots organizing, leadership development, and coalition building. She also offers some tips for people hoping to make change in their communities. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Find a Local Conversation near you. Mary Kate Norton (LinkedIn) ‍Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Family farms are struggling to survive across America, with whole communities hanging in the balance. In today's episode, Chuck sits down with Brian Reisinger, author of "Land Rich, Cash Poor." They unpack the structural issues leading to the decline of farms and rural communities, as well as opportunities to rebuild resilience. Additional Show Notes "Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family's Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farmer" by Brian Reisinger Brian Reisinger (site) Chuck Marohn (Substack)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

In this live Q&A, Chuck explains why small-scale housing is so hard to build. From codes to permitting to financing, he breaks down the friction points that stall projects everywhere and explains how cities can address them.   (Note: This episode was recorded live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Some questions may be difficult to hear.) Additional Show Notes Bring Chuck to your own city! Learn how to support small developers in our new housing toolkit. Chuck Marohn (Substack)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

When a tragic car crash forced street safety changes in Chattanooga, Tennessee, local businesses panicked about losing customers. But they soon discovered that foot traffic beats car traffic every time. Emily Thompson, entrepreneur, author, and marketing chair of the North Shore Merchant Collective, explains how she helped push for increasing walkability and reclaiming space for people — and how those efforts made surrounding businesses more successful. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Local Recommendations: Frazier Five and Dime I Go Tokyo Verre Noir Basecamp Almanac Supply Co (site) Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Who decides when community traditions change? Lafayette, Louisiana, recently rerouted its Mardi Gras parade. The goal was to improve public safety, but the change left neighborhoods, businesses, and long-standing customs in the lurch. Guest host Norm Van Eeden Petersman sits down with Lafayette resident and former city staffer Carlee Alm-LaBar to explore how communities can navigate change while respecting culture and shared ownership. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES "Residents, krewes, downtown businesses weigh in on Jefferson Street Mardi Gras parade route" by Stephen Marcantel, The Acadiana Advocate (November 2025) Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

What happens when a planner stops following broken rules and starts rewriting them instead? Brad Callender, director of planning and zoning for Monroe, Georgia, legalized the housing people actually need. Duplexes and backyard cottages are now popping up across town. He joins Norm today to explain how he did it as a department of one. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Brad Callender (LinkedIn) Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Strong cities know who they are. In today's episode, Chuck is joined by Ryan Short, founder of Civic Brand. They discuss how uncovering a shared identity guides smarter decisions, strengthens civic pride, and helps communities thrive. Additional Show Notes "The Civic Brand: The Power & Responsibility of Place" by Ryan Short Civic Brand (site) Ryan Short (LinkedIn)‍ Chuck Marohn (Substack)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

In this episode, I connect with Michel Durand-Wood, the Elmwood Guy behind the popular blog Dear Winnipeg, for a conversation about his efforts to engage his community in discussions surrounding municipal finance, channeling a Strong Towns approach, and mobilizing a coalition of neighborhood groups to take immediate action on the streets with the city's (reluctant) support. We also talk about his new book, You'll Pay For This, which is part of a multi-volume effort called The City Project.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):

Charles Marohn is the founder and president of Strong Towns. With decades of experience as a land use planner and civil engineer, Marohn is on a mission to help cities and towns become stronger and more prosperous through classic, traditional town planning. He's the bestselling author of Escaping the Housing Trap: The Strong Towns Response to the Housing Crisis. Like your host, JHK, Chuck is a member in good standing of the Congress for the New Urbanism, a national movement to repair and reform the fiasco of Suburban sprawl lanes development. The KunstlerCast theme music is the beautiful Two Rivers Waltz written and performed by Larry Unger

Chuck breaks down the financial math behind urban decline in this live recording of a Wilmington event, with opening remarks from Delaware Governor Matt Meyer. Learn why growth is bankrupting your city — and how to reverse it. (Note: Audio improves at 5:16 when Chuck takes over.) Additional Show Notes Check out some of the images Chuck references in the episode. Bring Chuck to your own city! Connect with Strong Towns Wilmington. Get the Finance Decoder. Chuck Marohn (Substack)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Megan Ramey has advocated for kid-friendly transportation for over a decade, culminating in her role as the Safe Routes to School Manager for Hood River County, Oregon. Megan and Tiffany discuss the importance of walkability and bikeability for children, and Megan shares lessons she's learned from advocating in cities as big as Boston and towns as small as Hood River. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Local Recommendations: Historic Columbia River Highway Ten Speed Coffee Shop Love and Hominy Walk And Roll Hood River County Schools (site) Bikeabout (site) Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Last week, we heard how DC's outdoor dining regulations threaten local businesses. Today, urban designers Abby Newsham and Edward Erfurt explore how DC could course-correct. They share creative ways that cities can maintain safety while supporting local businesses and even improving the design of their streets. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES "After five years, D.C. streateries hit with higher costs and more rules" by By Tim Carman and Rachel Weiner, The Washington Post (November 2025) Painting of a food hall street (Passeig de l'Escultor Miquel Blay, Olot, Espana by Abby Newsham) Abby Newsham (X/Twitter) Edward Erfurt (LinkedIn) Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Your downtown isn't a money pit — it's a money pot. When Medicine Hat, Alberta, discovered the real financial value of traditional urban form, it sparked something bigger: a grassroots movement that's now changing who runs city hall. Superintendent of Planning Shawn Champagne joins Norm to discuss small bets, fiscal resilience, and why bottom-up change actually works. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Shawn Champagne: shacha@medicinehat.ca Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Author Diane Alisa just wanted her kids to have what she didn't: freedom to roam, community, and a childhood that doesn't require a minivan. Somewhere along the way, she realized the suburban dream itself might be the problem. Today, she and Chuck dig into what the Suburban Experiment cost us — and what comes next. Additional Show Notes Want to hear more from Diane? Check out her episode on The Bottom-Up Revolution! “Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village” by Diane Alisa Diane Alisa (Instagram) Chuck Marohn (Substack)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

In her day job, Victoria Via is an architect who designs affordable housing. In her off hours, she's one of the leaders of a powerhouse Local Conversation in Portland, Oregon. Victoria joins Tiffany to explain what affordable housing has in common with luxury projects and how Strong Towns PDX is working with neighborhood groups and city officials to transform Portland for the better. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Local Recommendations:‍ Roste Chocolate House‍ Kate's Ice Cream ‍Orange & Blossom‍ Bike Summer (Pedalpalooza)‍ ‍Strong Towns PDX‍ (site)‍ Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Washington DC is charging restaurants thousands of dollars to keep their streateries — outdoor dining areas built during Covid-19. Are these fees fair compensation for public space, or will they kill the local businesses they were meant to save? Guest host Norm Van Eeden Petersman dives into this question with Carlee Alm-LaBar, a former city official who helped bring streateries to her own city. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES "After five years, D.C. streateries hit with higher costs and more rules" by By Tim Carman and Rachel Weiner, The Washington Post (November 2025) Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

What happens when a data analyst starts studying their hometown's finances? For Karl Urich, it meant seeing Albany, New York, in a whole new light. Karl shares how he makes intimidating financial statements accessible to everyone, why unbiased storytelling matters more than gotcha journalism, and practical tips for aspiring data storytellers. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Albany Data Stories (site) Hudson Finance Decoder (site) Karl Urich (LinkedIn) Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Chuck records from the road after speaking at a housing summit in Pennsylvania. He reflects on why the Strong Towns message resonates with local officials struggling to address the housing crisis, as well as the challenges facing the movement and plans for the future. Additional Show Notes Member Week is almost over! Join the movement today.

Strong Towns members are making their places stronger everywhere from the Bahamas to Mongolia. Chuck and Member Advocate Norm Van Eeden Petersman discuss how people in Colombia and Uganda can speak the same language about streets, and what that means for building better places everywhere. Additional Show Notes It's Member Week at Strong Towns! Join the movement today!

Why do some places make us want to stay forever while others repel us? In honor of Member Week, we're bringing back a great episode with architect Will McCollum. He explores the timeless principles of urbanism, why we need to democratize that knowledge again, and how understanding cities helps us understand what it means to be human. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES It's Member Week at Strong Towns! Join the movement today. Local Recommendations: Piedmont Park Bold Monk Brewing The Works Food Hall Citymakers Collective (Website) Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram) Do you know someone who would make for a great The Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!

Can New Urbanists learn from suburbia's success? In this special episode, Chuck sits down with CNU founder Andres Duany, who shares big ideas he says the movement isn't ready to hear. They discuss how New Urbanism captured territory in the battle for cities, why its failing to hold that territory, and where Strong Towns fits into the fight. Additional Show Notes It's Member Week at Strong Towns! Join the movement today!

Abby is joined by Carlee Alm-LaBar, the chief of staff for Strong Towns, and John Reuter, advisory board member for Strong Towns. They discuss several stories of people across the country taking action to make their communities better, from building houses to painting curbs. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES It's Member Week at Strong Towns! Join the movement today! Read more: Strong Towns San Diego - Curb Chalking Monte Anderson - Roommate House Strong Towns Langley - Baffle Gates Strong Towns Blono - Design Charette Strong Towns Nanaimo - Eliminating Parking Mandates Abby Newsham (X/Twitter) Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.

Chuck sits down with Carlee Alm-LaBar, Strong Towns' chief of staff, to talk about what it's like managing a growing movement that's focused on action. Learn how the organization is evolving to help thousands of members make real change in their communities. Additional Show Notes It's Member Week at Strong Towns! Join the movement by making a donation of any amount.

Strong Towns members are doing remarkable things in their communities, but none of it requires magic abilities. Norm shares what he's learned from 50 interviews — and explains how you can get involved. Additional Show Notes It's Member Week at Strong Towns! Join the movement by making a donation of any amount.

Andrew Burleson asks us to think about, “what is the system that creates space for people to live?” Systems thinking may seem terribly wonky, and in reality, it is. But systems thinking gave us the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and a whole host of ideas that underpin western civilization. Systems thinking was behind the movement that created administrative city planning and zoning in the 19-teens and 20s. YOU might not be thinking about systems, but someone else is. So the question is, what kind of systems do we want and need, that produce the best outcomes for human beings?Andrew is a man of many hats, not the least of which is he's the Board Chair for Strong Towns. Beyond that, he's a terrific thinker in his own right, and writes a Substack called The Post-Suburban Future. This episode is an outgrowth of a post he wrote called, “Could we create land use rules that work better for everyone?” If the episode intrigues you, read the post, too. He goes into even more detail with images there.The main focus of our conversation is a notion I described a few years ago, which is we need to “unleash the swarm” to solve our housing and development issues. Andrew does an exceptional job of describing the problem (all development now is discretionary and professionalized), and that our land use regulations essentially require stasis. Stasis sounds comforting to many, but it actually works against our intentions when practiced in reality.In this episode, we talk about how to de-professionalize housing, which is a phrase I really like, and how to drive incremental change by the context of a block or neighborhood. Andrew's phrase that I love is, “the individual project is small, but the collective output is enormous.” As I reflected on that, it occurred to me that's the entire spirit of the American experience, and one we've gotten away from to our detriment.Find more content on The Messy City on Kevin's Substack page.Music notes: all songs by low standards, ca. 2010. Videos here. If you'd like a CD for low standards, message me and you can have one for only $5.Intro: “Why Be Friends”Outro: “Fairweather Friend” Get full access to The Messy City at kevinklinkenberg.substack.com/subscribe

In this special Member Week episode, Chuck explores Strong Towns' strategy, from its origin as a blog to its future in 2026 and beyond. He then answers audience questions about Strong Towns' funding, his advice for elected officials, and more. Additional Show Notes It's Member Week at Strong Towns! Join the movement by making a donation of any amount. You can also check out the video version of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/QG9mE3BtFac 

Many cities will greenlight a billion-dollar highway but struggle to paint a crosswalk. Liza Burkin has spent 12 years changing that through advocacy, private consulting, and federal policymaking. The founder of Providence Streets Coalition, she joins Tiffany to share hard-won lessons on political navigation and practical tools anyone can use to start transforming their streets. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Local recommendations:‍ Providence Pedestrian Bridge‍ Dave's Coffee‍ The Village‍ Johnny Chimi's‍ Woonasquatucket River Greenway‍ Streetmix‍ ‍Providence Streets Coalition (site)‍ Neighborways (site)‍ Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!   Hey listener! You hear from us all the time, but today we want to hear from you. We want your feedback on this podcast and any other Strong Towns podcast you like to listen to. Please fill out this quick survey to share your thoughts: strongtowns.org/survey   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Elon Musk's company xAI is building massive data centers in Memphis, promising economic transformation. But at what cost? Abby is joined by Strong Towns Blog Editor and podcast host Asia Mieleszko to dissect the billion-dollar AI infrastructure boom and explore why cities keep falling for "shiny object urbanism." ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Hear more from Asia on the brand-new podcast Stacked Against Us! "Elon Musk Gambles Billions in Memphis to Catch Up on AI" by Alexander Saeedy, The Wall Street Journal (October 2025) "Shiny Object Urbanism" by Billy Cooney "Where's the Wealth?" by Charles Marohn‍ Abby Newsham (X/Twitter) Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom. Hey listener! You hear from us all the time, but today we want to hear from you. We want your feedback on this podcast and any other Strong Towns podcast you like to listen to. Please fill out this quick survey to share your thoughts: strongtowns.org/survey   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Dr. Shakeel Dalal builds spaceships for a living, and he never planned to run for mayor of Longmont, Colorado. He just kept doing the next small thing that made sense. That led him from writing about city council meetings to moderating congressional debates, founding housing organizations, and running for office. Today, Shakeel joins Norm to discuss his journey, the challenges facing his community, and his advice for advocates. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Shakeel Dalal (site) Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Hey listener! You hear from us all the time, but today we want to hear from you. We want your feedback on this podcast and any other Strong Towns podcast you like to listen to. Please fill out this quick survey to share your thoughts: strongtowns.org/survey   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Today, Chuck sits down with Laura Foote, executive director of YIMBY Action. They dive into America's housing crisis, debate the future of zoning, and explore what it will take to fix broken incentives and build more homes. Additional Show Notes YIMBY Action's new implementation guide Strong Towns' new housing toolkit YIMBY Action (site) Laura's email: laura@yimbyaction.org Chuck Marohn (Substack)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Chuck Marohn tackles 16 real questions from city officials wrestling with the messy reality of housing reform. From a lack of transit to competition from big developers, he explores the challenges of getting more housing on the ground. Additional Show Notes Want to fix your city's housing market? Download our new housing toolkit, "Who Will Build the Housing-Ready City?" to get started. "Unleash the Swarm" by Daniel Herriges (e-book) Chuck Marohn (Substack)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Two towns, two states, and two historic bridges that nobody wants to pay for. Brattleboro, Vermont, wants to reactivate two historic bridges with a pedestrian greenway. Hinsdale, New Hampshire, worries about increased crime and being saddled with the majority of maintenance costs while getting fewer returns. Abby and Norm discuss this dilemma, comparing it to similar bridge projects and identifying possible next steps for activating this underutilized infrastructure. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES "Can Two Towns Preserve the Bridges That Connected Them?" by Alan Wirzbicki, The Boston Globe (September 2025) Abby Newsham (X/Twitter) Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom.   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

What if you could change a dangerous street today instead of waiting 10 years? Isaac Gonzalez founded the advocacy group Slow Down Sacramento to prove that you can. Two years later, the group has helped transform Sacramento from a city that resists innovation to one that's embracing tactical urbanism. Today, Isaac explains how he kickstarted this change and how you can do the same. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Stop waiting. Start acting. Learn how to analyze crashes and quickly transform streets today. Connect with Isaac: Slow Down Sacramento (site) Email: slowdownsacramento@gmail.com Strong SacTown (site) Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Do you know someone who would make for a great The Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Since finishing the Interstate Highway System in the 1990s, the U.S. has added 75% more urban highway lanes — and we're on track to double it again. Erick Guerra, author of "Overbuilt" and professor of regional planning, joins Chuck to discuss why we can't stop building highways we don't need and how our transportation funding system creates cities that are more dangerous and less prosperous. Additional Show Notes "Overbuilt: The High Costs and Low Rewards of U.S. Highway Construction" by Erick Guerra Erick Guerra (UPenn site) Chuck Marohn (Substack)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

Chuck is joined by Sam Quinones, author of “Dreamland” and “The Least of Us,” to talk about his newest book “The Perfect Tuba.” They discuss how a curiosity about tuba players turned into a deep exploration of hard work, community, and finding joy and purpose in difficult circumstances. Additional Show Notes "The Perfect Tuba: Forging Fulfillment from the Bass Horn, Band, and Hard Work" by Sam Quinones Connect with Sam Quinones: Website Twitter/X Chuck Marohn (Substack)   This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.