The Bottom-Up Revolution

Latest Episodes:

How To Activate Volunteers and Build Trust at the Neighborhood Level Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

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:‍
Architects FORA (site)
‍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.

How To Turn Public Data Into Stories That Drive Change Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

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

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

How To Design Urban Places That People Love Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

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:
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!

What 50 Interviews Taught Me About Community Action Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

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.

How to Talk About Street Safety So People Actually Listen Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

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 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.

How to Turn Small Community Actions Into a Big Impact Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

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)

This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about membership.

How To Convince Your City To Embrace Tactical Urbanism Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

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.

How To Reclaim Dignity and Safety for Nondrivers Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

McKenzie Ortiz is the founder of Pedestrian Pride, a digital storytelling project that uplifts the realities of life for working-class people who can't drive. She also serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission in Columbia, Missouri. Today, McKenzie joins Tiffany to discuss what it's really like to be a nondriver in America and how storytelling can transform advocacy.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Local Recommendations:
- ‍Uprise Bakery ‍
- Hitt Records ‍
- Ragtag Cinema
Learn more about Pedestrian Pride
- Website ‍
- Instagram

McKenzie Ortiz (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.

How To Run for Office at 24 — and Win Support Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

Sam Foster is an engineer, Local Conversation leader, and mayoral candidate in Marietta, Georgia. He joins Norm to talk about why he's running for office at 24 years old, how he uses social media to educate the public, and what he has planned for a more prosperous Marietta.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Connect with Sam:
- Website
- Instagram
- TikTok
A Better Cobb (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.

How To Make Starting a Small Business Easy and Cheap Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

Zoe Tishaev and Dylan DelliSanti work for the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit, public interest law firm. As part of the Cities Work program, they partner with cities to make it cheaper, faster and simpler to start small businesses. Today, they join Tiffany to talk about the importance of small businesses and to explain how cities can revitalize their local economies.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

Local Recommendations:
- The Pug
- Copy Cat
Cities Work
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.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected