The Bottom-Up Revolution

Latest Episodes:

From Empty Lots to Budget Gaps: Mapping Portland Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

Downtown Portland is full of vacant lots, surface parking, and struggling storefronts—and every one of them has a price tag. Sam and Jeremiah break down how they estimated the city’s road and pipe costs, modeled new tax revenue from redeveloping a downtown highway, and started pushing for a vacancy fee. Their approach offers a clear template for linking land use to your city’s bottom line.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Local Recommendations:‍
- Roste Chocolate House ‍
- PDX Coffee Club ‍
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. Thank you!

From Biostatistics to Better Streets in Fayetteville Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

After moving through nine states, Aaron Caldwell chose Fayetteville as home—and started using his data skills to decode city finances and a key local bond. In this episode, his work on a modest South Fayetteville infill project, close collaboration with city staff, and a growing circle of locals working to make the city more resilient show what Strong Towns looks like through one resident’s life.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Aaron Caldwell (LinkedIn)
Local Recommendations:
‍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!

How One Tiny House Helped Shift Boise’s Housing Rules Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

After the recession upended her architecture career, building a tiny house on wheels helped Macy Miller recover financially and dramatically lower her housing costs. She shares what that decision has opened up for her family—more freedom, more flexibility, and a life that better fits their values—and why similar options could matter for many others. When her small home in a central Boise neighborhood drew attention at city hall, Macy stayed in the conversation, helping the city pilot and eventually change its rules to make room for legal tiny houses.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Local Recommendations:
Minimotives.com
Tiny House Petition
Tiny House Tour
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!

Walking, Visibility, And One Mom’s Fight For Safer Streets Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

After seeing a neighbor struck by a car — again — Abigail Hoiland set out to make people walking impossible to overlook. She shares how Stop Umbrella works on real crosswalks and how one quirky tool can spark bigger conversations about community, walking, and safer streets.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Connect with Abigail Hoiland
- Stopumbrella.com
- 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. Thank you!

How One Ballot Initiative Could Legalize Affordable Starter Homes Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

Andrew Mikula is leading a grassroots campaign to put affordable housing on the Massachusetts ballot in 2026. The initiative would legalize single-family homes on smaller lots. Today, he shares how he's building a broad coalition — from bankers to housing advocates — to make incremental, family-oriented housing reform possible.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Connect with Legalize Starter Homes
- Site
- Facebook
- Instagram
Read more:
- "Why Are Developers Only Building Luxury Housing?" by Daniel Herriges
- "Our Self-Imposed Scarcity of Nice Places" by Daniel Herriges

‍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!

How Do You Build Safe Streets in Car-Dependent Places? Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

Columbia, South Carolina, is the 12th deadliest metro for pedestrians in America. Columbia resident Regan Freeman is working to change that, as the director of a statewide pedestrian and bicycle safety nonprofit. Regan explains how he’s making progress despite the challenges — by meeting people where they are, showing what’s possible, and working both locally and at the state level.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Local Recommendations:
- Indah Coffee
- Farmer’s Market XChange
Cola Town Bikes
Palmetto Bike Walk
People for Bikes Feature
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!

How Floor Plans Drive Families from Cities (and What Helps Them Stay) Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

Most city apartments are designed for roommates, not families with babies. Bobby Fijan, co-founder of The American Housing Corporation, explains how floor plans force parents out of cities — and how to help young families stay in the neighborhoods they love.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Local Recommendations:
- Rival Bros Coffee (site)
The American Housing Corporation (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!

Bringing the Strong Towns Conversation to a Growing City Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

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!

Is Crowdfunding A Good Way To Fund Local Projects? Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

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:‍
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!

The Best Street Safety Win Is One Nobody Notices Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

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!