The Strong Towns Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Approaching a Divided America with Open Eyes Sep 14, 2017

Show notes

Chuck Marohn interviews Chris Arnade, who writes for the Guardian, has a PhD in particle physics from Johns Hopkins and previously worked as a bond trader in New York City. Arnade has spent the last several years documenting addiction and poverty in towns across America.

In this interview, he discusses why walking in neighborhoods that he was told not to visit in New York led him away from trading and toward his current role as a writer. He talks about a life getting to know people on the margins of society—people living in poverty and dealing with addiction—and the struggles of small towns in America.

You can find Chris Arnade writing and sharing photos often on Medium.

Cultivate Collaborative Sep 12, 2017

Show notes

In this short bonus podcast, Chuck interviews Kevin Shepherd, a Strong Towns sponsor and principal at VERDUNITY about the new group he has formed with others in the planning and development sphere called Cultivate Collaborative which will help to apply Strong Towns concepts on a practical level. Kevin also discusses the group's first event in Frisco, TX on November 4 featuring Chuck Marohn and Monte Anderson.

Learn more about the event and sign up.

Bike Share and Equity with Caressa Givens Sep 07, 2017

Show notes

Caress Givens is the Community Engagement Coordinator for Milwaukee, Wisconsin's bike share program, Bublr. In this interview hosted by Rachel Quednau, Givens discusses equity issues related to bike share: How can bike share programs best meet the needs of low-income people and reach low-income neighborhoods? Is bike share an indicator of gentrification? Givens also talks about how to fund bike share programs, as well as how to get kids involved with bike share. Plus, Givens shares her list of favorite bike share programs across the nation.

The Week Ahead: September 5, 2017 Sep 05, 2017

Show notes

Chuck and Rachel discuss recent perspectives about Hurricane Harvey and the aftermath in Houston. They also chat about recent favorite books and films. (We apologize that there were some issues with Rachel's audio in this episode.)

Mentioned in this podcast:

"The Real Lesson of Hurricane Harvey" by Chuck Marohn
"Piling on Houston" by Chuck Marohn
"Houston isn't flooded because of its land use planning." by Daniel Herriges
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
13th (Documentary)
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein

A Conversation about Market Urbanism Aug 31, 2017

Show notes

Chuck Marohn interviews Scott Beyer, urban affairs journalist and owner of Market Urbanism Report, who is currently traveling the country on a three-year trip visiting 30 different American cities. Chuck and Scott discuss their overlapping and diverging viewpoints on government regulations, zoning and housing affordability issues. They also compare issues in large cities with smaller towns and consider whether the same policies can apply in both sorts of places.

The Week Ahead, August 21, 2017 Aug 21, 2017

Show notes

Chuck Marohn shares the highlights from his recent family vacation to Washington DC including visits to the Library of Congress, the US Capitol, and several national monuments. He also discusses an upcoming Strong Towns event in Tulsa, OK and his recent article, "A Spirit of Generosity." Rachel talks about a new favorite podcast, Left, Right & Center.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Event in Tulsa, OK
"A Spirit of Generosity" by Charles Marohn
Left, Right & Center

Alfonso Morales on Markets Aug 17, 2017

Show notes

In this podcast, Rachel Quednau interviews Alfonso Morales, a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, about public markets as part of Strong Towns' ongoing focus on local food.

They compare markets in the United States with markets around the world, discuss current factors impacting the growth of markets and talk about ways to use data to analyze the success of farmers markets, including a new tool Morales helped to create.

Mentioned in this podcast:

MIFI Markets
Dane County Farmers Market
Milwaukee Public Market
Cities of Farmers by Alfonso Morales and Julie C. Dawson

A Chat with Chuck about Brainerd Aug 14, 2017

Show notes

Chuck Marohn is on vacation this week, but before he left, he sat down to record a solo podcast about his new life in downtown Brainerd in response to the frequent question he gets, "How's the new neighborhood?"

We'll be back with our usual Week Ahead podcast next Monday.

The Week Ahead: August 7, 2017 Aug 07, 2017

Show notes

This week, Chuck and Rachel apologize for their recent absence on the podcast and discuss a recent article about the California Housing Crisis. They also discuss an ongoing Local Food campaign and recent favorite books.

Mentioned in this podcast:

"California Housing Crisis" by Charles Marohn
Local Food campaign
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
Strangers in Their Own Land by Arlie Hochschild
White Trash by Nancy Isenberg

Pete Saunders Jul 27, 2017

Show notes

Chuck Marohn interviews Pete Saunders, a planner and journalist who writes for Forbes, Business Insider and other publications, as well as his blog, The Corner Side Yard. Pete grew up in Detroit and now lives in Chicago so this discussion kicks off with a conversation about baseball (especially the Cubs and White Sox) and the relationship of stadiums and teams to their surrounding neighborhoods. Chuck and Pete also discuss two fascinating American cities where Pete has spent time: Detroit and Las Vegas. Finally, they contemplate the shift of African American populations toward the suburbs and out of the cities, and what that could mean for this demographic.

Mentioned in this podcast:

You can read more from Pete on his blog or connect with him on Twitter.