The Strong Towns Podcast

In this episode, the host visits Buc-ee's, a massive gas station in Texas, highlighting the issue of overbuilt infrastructure. The chapter also discusses similarities between Texas and California. The host then reads member comments expressing support and gratitude for Strong Towns' work. The speaker reflects on their experiences and the benefits of becoming a Strong Towns member, expressing gratitude to listeners contributing to the movement.

The podcast discusses the importance of in-person meetings in creating meaningful impact in local communities and introduces a new program launching in 2022. It also explores innovative initiatives happening in a community, such as a tax on homes selling over a million dollars to fund affordable housing. The speaker encourages listeners to contribute to the strong towns movement and highlights the impact of membership support on various initiatives.

Explore the speaker's unique sensitivity to the stress cities face, the influence of urban design on personal comfort, recognizing decay in cities, interconnectedness of California and Texas, experiences in Hawaii and Alaska, the illusion of wealth and long-term liabilities, negative effects of growth on cities, and challenges of maintaining city parks with bottom-up solutions.

Seth Kaplan, an expert on fragile states, joins the Strong Towns Podcast to discuss how to repair American society one zip code at a time. They explore the importance of relationships, the disconnect between prosperity and well-being, the significance of churches in Italian neighborhoods, and building strong communities through place-based relationships. Kaplan's book 'Fragile Neighborhoods' offers practical lessons for revitalizing local institutions and creating positive change.

Chuck Marohn chats with Conor Semler, an associate planner with Kittelson and Associates, about a new decision-making framework for street design. They discuss the biased mindset in engineering, the need for a comprehensive decision-making framework, the importance of safety and physical separation, and a tool for bringing about positive change in street design.

Charles Marohn, Founder and President of Strong Towns, discusses the influence of Jane Jacobs' book on urban planning. They explore the challenges in applying her concepts to modern cities and compare American, European, and Asian cities. The chapter also examines the impact of COVID-19 on urban areas and highlights influential books in urban planning and insights into systems.

The podcast discusses the arguments for and against speed cameras, their impact on safety, revenue stream, resistance, consequences, and the need for iterative design changes. It also explores how road design affects driver behavior and advocates for a compassionate approach to road safety.

In light of the recent wildfires in Maui (and other parts of Hawaii), this week’s Strong Towns Podcast episode features a conversation with Steve Mouzon, author of The Original Green and member of the Strong Towns Advisory Board. Mouzon’s work with recovery efforts after disasters in Haiti and Jamaica—as well as his observations of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans—has offered him valuable insight on what it takes for a community to recover from large-scale destruction. He talks with podcast host Chuck Marohn about his experiences and the lessons we can take away about what types of responses do and don’t work—lessons that could be helpful in rebuilding Maui. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Steve Mouzon (Twitter). Original Green (website). Chuck Marohn (Twitter). Learn more about the 2023 Local-Motive Tour.

This podcast discusses the challenges of transforming car-dependent suburbs into walkable communities. It explores the benefits of walkable city design for economic health, social well-being, and sustainability. The podcast also highlights successful retrofits, the importance of biking and walking culture, the challenges of getting rid of zoning, and the need for combining academic research with practical experience. It shares the transformation of Tyson's from a car-oriented suburb to a vibrant city, emphasizing the importance of community participation and making small changes to support walkable design.

This episode of the podcast explores the challenges local journalists face in producing quality articles. It delves into the topic of citizen-led development and the need for public engagement. The tension between citizens and developers in urban development is discussed, along with the decline of starter homes and the importance of citizen involvement in housing solutions. The concept of citizen as developer is explored, highlighting the benefits and barriers of allowing individuals to make modifications to their homes.