Podcasts · Government

The Strong Towns Podcast

Strong Towns

300 episodes

The Strong Towns Podcast is a weekly conversation on the Strong Towns movement, hosted by Strong Towns Founder and President Charles Marohn and frequently featuring special guests. The podcast explores how we can financially strengthen our cities, towns, and neighborhoods and, in the process, make them better places to live. Join Chuck in examining how everything from urban design to economics to systems theory to psychology helps inform this core question.

Episodes page 2 of 6

  1. Do Highway Projects and Airbnb Rentals Help or Hurt Cities?

    · 55 min · Episode 671

    Chuck is joined by Joe Minicozzi, founder of the geoaccounting organization Urban3. They compare notes on the highway projects each of their cities is facing and discuss whether these projects bring value. They also…

  2. How Mr. Barricade Is Shaping the Future of Street Safety

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 670

    How do you make streets safer without gentrifying an area? Will self-driving cars change the way we build cities? Are engineers tracking congestion the right way? Chuck discusses these questions and more with Vignesh…

  3. We Broke North American Cities. Here’s How To Fix Them.

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 669

    How did we go from building strong, prosperous cities to weak, debt-ridden ones? In this episode, Chuck tracks the cultural and economic impacts of World War II on our development pattern. He explains what must change…

  4. How Traffic Engineering Made America’s Streets Deadly

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 668

    Why are America’s streets so dangerous — and what can we do about it? In this episode, Chuck talks with Wes Marshall, author of “Killed by a Traffic Engineer” and professor of Civil Engineering at the University of…

  5. James Anderson: How to Encourage Innovation in Local Government

    · 52 min · Episode 667

    Chuck is joined by James Anderson, head of the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. Under his leadership, the program has helped thousands of cities worldwide embrace an innovative, people-based…

  6. Building Strength and Connections in Pensacola, With Quint Studer

    · 21 min · Episode 666

    Chuck is joined by Quint Studer, the founder of the Center for Civic Engagement in Pensacola, Florida. They discuss Strong Towns’ involvement in Pensacola’s renewal and the Civic Leader Summit that will be held there…

  7. The Housing Market Can’t Tolerate Lower Prices. Now What?

    · 53 min · Episode 665

    No matter how easy we make it to build, the existing housing system is based on a financial model that cannot tolerate lower prices. If falling prices is the goal, then we need to build a system that can deliver on it.…

  8. Playing the Long Game With New Zealand Infrastructure

    · 28 min · Episode 664

    In this special episode, Chuck is joined by Graham Campbell, director of Economics & Research for the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission. They discuss the true cost of infrastructure — and why both New Zealand and…

  9. The Housing Crisis Is More Than a Supply Problem

    · 55 min · Episode 663

    In this episode, Chuck dives into the root causes of the housing crisis. Using clips from interviews with housing experts and reporters, he explores the popular theory that the housing crisis is caused by a lack of…

  10. Ryan Johnson: How Culdesac Tempe Develops Freedom, Revenue, and Belonging

    · 42 min · Episode 662

    Chuck sits down with Ryan Johnson, the founder and visionary behind Culdesac Tempe, the first car-free neighborhood built from scratch in the U.S. They discuss the realities of living in and developing a community like…

  11. Using Radical Common Sense To Build Great Places, With Steve Nygren

    · 52 min · Episode 661

    Serenbe is a unique community just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. It’s based on the development pattern of traditional English villages, with walkable, mixed-use “hamlets” surrounded by nature. In today’s episode, Chuck…

  12. NYT Journalist Shares Why America Should Sprawl

    · 59 min · Episode 660

    A few weeks ago, the New York Times article "Why America Should Sprawl" went viral, sparking a national discussion about housing and development patterns. In today’s episode, Chuck sits down with Conor Dougherty, the…

  13. 4 Ways To Build Homes and Expand Opportunity

    · 56 min · Episode 659

    Cullum Clark, director of the Economic Growth Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, returns to the Strong Towns Podcast to discuss his recently published report on housing reform. Cullum highlights several…

  14. Escaping the Housing Crisis With Jeff Speck

    · 1 h 06 min · Episode 658

    Today, Chuck is joined by Jeff Speck, a city planner, author, and principal of an urban design and consultancy firm. They discuss the ideas shared in Chuck’s book “Escaping the Housing Trap” and how those concepts play…

  15. Why Sprawl IS the Housing Crisis

    · 56 min · Episode 657

    On the surface, sprawl seems like an easy answer to the housing crisis. It fits with the mechanisms we have in place today, and it aligns with the lived experiences and political will of most Americans. But the reality…

  16. ZacTax: How To Build Financially Healthy Cities

    · 54 min · Episode 656

    ZacTax is a financial analysis firm that helps city officials understand their revenue streams and make smarter financial choices. Today, Chuck is joined by its founders, Chad Janicek and Patrick Lawler. They explain…

  17. The World Is on Fire. That’s Why We’re Here.

    · 18 min · Episode 655

    Chuck reflects on the current state of the world. He explains that, when you recognize things are broken, you have two options. You can wait helplessly for someone else to fix them, or you can start rebuilding the…

  18. How To Handle the Bureaucracy of Local Government

    · 53 min · Episode 654

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck is joined by Carlee Alm-LaBar and Kevin Blanchard, former city staff members in Lafayette, Louisiana. Carlee is now Strong Towns’ chief of staff, while Kevin is CEO of…

  19. 3 Reasons This Is a Great Time for Walkable Streets

    · 49 min · Episode 653

    In this episode, Chuck explains why our current situation, though tense, actually presents a great opportunity for advocates of street safety, walkability, and bikeability. He then lays out a number of common…

  20. Road Design Creates Aggressive Drivers. We Can Fix That.

    · 1 h 17 min · Episode 652

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck discusses how the design of an environment affects people psychologically. He explores how cities can use that knowledge to make streets safer, using a crash in…

  21. Mark Moses: How To Understand and Fix Government Budgeting

    · 1 h 03 min · Episode 651

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck is joined by Mark Moses, author of “The Municipal Financial Crisis: A Framework for Understanding and Fixing Government Budgeting.” Up for discussion today: • The…

  22. We Need a New Approach to Road Safety and Design

    · 46 min · Episode 650

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck shares a keynote speech he gave at a statewide transportation conference in Kansas. He discusses the limitations of traditional traffic safety techniques and the…

  23. How To Manage City Finance Effectively, With Rick Cole

    · 1 h 07 min · Episode 649

    Rick Cole is the chief deputy controller of Los Angeles and a councilmember in Pasadena, California. He’s known for tackling challenging city budgets and has been honored for his work as a public official several…

  24. The Keys to a Healthy City Finance Department With Shayne Kavanagh

    · 59 min · Episode 648

    This week, Chuck is joined by Shayne Kavanagh, senior manager of research for the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The GFOA provides training and resources to city finance officers. In his role, Kavanagh…

  25. How To Finance Housing in a Smart and Local Way: A Housing Q&A

    · 55 min · Episode 647

    What cities have successfully financed housing at the local level? How does tax increment financing work? When should cities stop subsidizing large-scale housing projects? Strong Towns President Chuck Marohn answers…

  26. It Won’t Be Us: Thoughts on Our Current Craziness From a Strong Towns Perspective

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 646

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck addresses the craziness of the current political climate. Using recent policy changes and public responses as examples, he explores how we’ve created a political…

  27. These 6 Code Reforms Will Bring More Housing to Your City

    · 1 h 07 min · Episode 645

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck talks about housing development and zoning code reform with Seth Zeren, a neighborhood real estate developer in Providence, Rhode Island. They dive into the six code…

  28. America Needs a New Housing Bargain. Here’s Why.

    · 34 min · Episode 644

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck explores the flawed nature of North America’s current “housing bargain,” where most neighborhoods are allowed to stay exactly the same as long as some neighborhoods —…

  29. Remembering Donald Shoup: A Legacy of Curiosity, Credibility and Kindness

    · 52 min · Episode 643

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck is joined by Victor Dover, a planner and urban designer. They discuss the work and legacy of Dr. Donald Shoup, an engineer and professor of urban planning who…

  30. Bonus Episode: Lessons From 9 Strongest Town Contest Winners

    · 56 min · Episode 642

    This special episode of the Strong Towns Podcast explores the Strongest Town Contest, including what cities can learn from previous winners, what it means for cities to participate, and a preview of this year's…

  31. Ben Hunt: Surviving the Widening Gyre Through Hope and Community

    · 56 min · Episode 641

    Today, Chuck is joined by Ben Hunt, the creator of Epsilon Theory. Their conversation revolves around the concept of the Widening Gyre, a “profound social equilibrium where bad people and bad ideas drive out good…

  32. How Do You Build More Housing When No One Wants Neighborhood Change?

    · 1 h 02 min · Episode 640

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck discusses housing with Cullum Clark, director of the Economic Growth Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute. They talk about why there is so much resistance to new…

  33. Debunking the "Slow and Incremental" Myth: The Key to Rapid Housing Growth

    · 58 min · Episode 639

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck discusses the common misbelief that an incremental approach to housing development is inherently slow. He explains how an incremental approach can actually be much…

  34. Comparing the Strong Towns and YIMBY Approaches to the Housing Crisis

    · 1 h 31 min · Episode 638

    The Building Culture Podcast explores holistic solutions to crafting a more beautiful, resilient and thriving world through the built environment. Its host, Austin Tunnell, recently invited Strong Towns President…

  35. Memorable Moments in the History of Strong Towns

    · 46 min · Episode 637

    Over the years, Chuck has added audio clips to the Strong Towns Podcast outro music to memorialize influential moments and experiences he’s had since founding Strong Towns. Today, in honor of that outro music being…

  36. From the Federal Government to RV Parks: A Housing Q&A

    · 58 min · Episode 636

    On this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck continues answering housing questions submitted by Ohio State University students. The questions cover state and federal housing policy, local government’s role in…

  37. From Building Backyard Cottages to Banning Airbnbs: A Housing Q&A

    · 1 h 08 min · Episode 635

    On this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck answers housing questions submitted by Ohio State University students. The questions cover the history of the housing market, as well as backyard cottages, alternative…

  38. Families for Safe Streets: Giving a Face to the Traffic Violence Crisis

    · 28 min · Episode 634

    On this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck discusses safe streets advocacy with Amy Cohen, the co-founder and president of Families for Safe Streets. They cover the importance of using both data and personal…

  39. Why Strong Towns Won’t Cave to Election Year Pressures

    · 28 min · Episode 633

    It’s Member Week here at Strong Towns. As a special treat, we’re publishing three new episodes of the Strong Towns Podcast. In this episode, Chuck explains how election years affect a nonpartisan nonprofit like Strong…

  40. From the Bottom Up: How Members Built the Strong Towns Movement

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 632

    It’s Member Week here at Strong Towns. As a special treat, we’re publishing three new episodes of the Strong Towns Podcast this week. In this episode, Chuck is joined by Norm Van Eeden Petersman, Strong Towns’ director…

  41. To Build Strong Towns, We Need To Change the Cultural Conversation

    · 28 min · Episode 631

    Today, we’re kicking off Member Week at Strong Towns. As a special treat, we’ll be publishing three new episodes of the Strong Towns Podcast this week. In this first episode, Chuck discusses the cultural shift that the…

  42. 5 Things the Next President Should Do To Build a Stronger America

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 630

    Strong Towns is a nonpartisan organization that’s focused on starting change from the local level, not the federal one. However, Chuck was recently challenged to come up with five things that the next president,…

  43. Prioritizing Safety in Street Design: A Conversation with Melany Alliston

    · 53 min · Episode 629

    On this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck discusses street safety with Melany Alliston, a project manager and civil engineer with Toole Design. They cover the role of engineers in creating safe streets,…

  44. Rethinking the “Moonshot” Approach to Complex Problems Like Street Safety

    · 48 min · Episode 628

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck talks about V2X (vehicle-to-everything) technology and how it’s an example of a moonshot — a big, risky gamble that promises an equally big reward. He explains why…

  45. Has the Highway Trust Fund Outlived Its Usefulness? A Conversation With Beth Osborne.

    · 53 min · Episode 627

    On this week’s episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck is joined by Beth Osborne, the director of Transportation for America, to discuss the Highway Trust Fund. They cover its history, how it affects federal and…

  46. What’s the Best Career for Someone Who Wants To Build Strong Towns?

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 626

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck addresses a question he frequently gets from young people: "What educational or career path should I take if I want to build strong towns?" ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES •…

  47. Exploring the Role of Religious Institutions in Community Development

    · 1 h 04 min · Episode 625

    At the Table is a podcast that discusses how community-based ministries can contribute to the common good via mutual relationships, spiritual practice, simplicity and an awareness of God’s activity in communities. They…

  48. From Crime to Common Practice: How Fraud Dominates the Housing Market

    · 1 h 02 min · Episode 624

    In this special episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck talks about fraud in the housing market. He discusses how it manifests, how it gradually saturates the market and how it’s connected to housing bubbles. He…

  49. From Boring to Brilliant: Making Municipal Finance Fun With Michel Durand-Wood

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 623

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck discusses municipal finance with Michel Durand-Wood, a longtime Strong Towns contributor and local budget aficionado. They talk about the importance of the average…

  50. Build the Damn Train: How To Bring High-Speed Rail to the United States

    · 1 h 03 min · Episode 622

    In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck discusses the report “How To Improve Domestic High-Speed Rail Project Delivery” with one of the report’s authors, Eric Goldwyn. They discuss the advantages of…

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