Infill: A YIMBY Podcast

On this episode of Infill, YIMBY Action's Mariah Redfern talks directly with the 2025 Ivory Prize winners. These three trailblazing leaders are tackling the housing crisis through innovation in design, finance, and policy. Reframe Systems is revolutionizing construction with AI-powered microfactories that drastically cut costs and build time, helping scale sustainable housing faster. Grounded Solutions Network is creating a new path to homeownership with its Homes for the Future fund, making shared equity models more accessible to low-income families. Florida Housing Coalition, the force behind Florida’s Live Local Act, shows how bold state-level zoning reforms and strategic implementation can unlock thousands of homes. You'll hear our guests discuss their unique approach to affordability and scalability, the biggest barriers they face in their work, and how YIMBYs and regular people can support their efforts. Learn more about Reframe Systems: https://www.reframe.systems/ Learn more about Grounded Solutions Network: https://groundedsolutions.org/ Learn more about Florida Housing Coalition: https://flhousing.org/ Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/join Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/ Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.social Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

Innovation and YIMBYism are a combination that could help our communities become more affordable, climate resilient, and equitable in the years to come. On this episode of Infill, YIMBY Action's Courtney Porcella sits down with Abby Ivory, Managing Director at Ivory Innovations, to discuss a competition that puts innovation at the forefront of the effort to solve our housing affordability crisis.Tune in to learn about Ivory Innovation's Ivory Prize and its 2025 winners. Courtney and Abby discuss the three game-changing organizations advancing housing affordability through policy, finance, and construction. These bold leaders are finding their own unique ways to increase opportunity for Americans to live in homes that they can afford. You won't only hear about the 2025 winners in this episode, but you'll also get insights into how past winners are scaling solutions and influencing change. Abby also gives insights into how different levers of change can create a ripple effect in our housing system, and why collaboration across public, private, and non-profit ecosystems is vital to increasing affordability. Learn more about Ivory Innovations: https://www.ivoryinnovations.org/Learn more about YIMBY Action: yimbyaction.org/joinFollow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.socialFollow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

On this episode of Infill, YIMBY Action's Marketing Manager Mariah Redfern sits down with artist, activist, and educator Mark Harris to explore the history of redevelopment in San Francisco’s Fillmore District and how systemic displacement continues to impact Black communities today. Mark shares his personal journey from corporate life to art and activism, and how his work with the Anti-Eviction Mapping Project uncovered the erasure of what was once the “Harlem of the West.” Together, they unpack the legacy of urban renewal, zoning as a tool of modern segregation, and the need to diversify the pro-housing movement. Tune in to hear a deep dive into how history shapes the present—and why building a future of abundant housing requires as many voices, especially different kinds of voices, as possible. Check out Mark's work with the AEMP: https://antievictionmap.com/dislocationblack-exodusFind more of Mark's work: https://www.artofmarkharris.com/Learn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/join/Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.socialFollow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

On this episode of Infill, Sonja Trauss is joined by renowned author Richard Rothstein and his daughter Leah Rothstein, co-authors of the book Just Action, also known as the sequel to Richard's groundbreaking work The Color of Law. Together, they explore how housing laws perpetuate segregation and what local communities can do to fight back and build more integrated, equitable neighborhoods.In this discussion, Trauss and the Rothsteins tackle the hard questions: Why don't race-neutral policies go far enough? How do local efforts build momentum when national politics seem stalled? And what can everyday people do to push for change in their own backyards?Tune in to hear more about Richard’s and Leah’s journey into writing Just Action, why race-conscious remedies are necessary to address the legacy of government-sanctioned segregation, and get actionable ideas for how your community can organize to make a difference. Read Just Action: https://www.rjjulia.com/book/9781324093244Read The Color of Law: https://www.rjjulia.com/book/9781631494536Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.socialFollow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

On this episode of Infill, Gillian Pressman talks with two powerhouse voices: Sonja Trauss, founder of the YIMBY movement and Executive Director of YIMBY Law, and Misha Chellam, founder of the Abundance Network. Together, they unpack the transformative idea of “abundance,” sparked by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s new book. They explore what resources it takes to build abundance and how we can build the political power to make a future of abundance our reality. You'll hear thoughts on how YIMBY and Abundance movement leaders are creating systems that empower local advocates to get involved in politics, how different kinds of people in your movement can help you win, and the benefits of various approaches to building power. Whether you're new to the YIMBY movement or deep in the policy trenches, this episode will inspire you to think bigger, act bolder, and advocate harder for a future of abundance for all of us. Read the Your Role in Abundance Substack article: https://modernpower.substack.com/p/your-role-in-abundanceLearn more about the Abundance Network: https://www.abundancenetwork.com/Learn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/yimbyaction.bsky.socialFollow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/

Zellnor Myrie, a New York State Senator and mayoral candidate, shares his bold vision for housing reform in NYC. He highlights the critical link between housing availability and economic opportunities, emphasizing why this matters nationally. Myrie discusses rent stabilization, affordable housing strategies, and innovative measures to increase housing supply. He delves into the complexities of local policies like short-term rentals and urges voter engagement to tackle the pressing housing crisis, aiming to make New York more equitable and opportunity-rich for all.

Sara Bronin, an accomplished architect, attorney, and author of 'Key to the City,' joins to unravel the complexities of local zoning codes. They discuss how these codes impact housing affordability, environmental sustainability, and even nightlife. Bronin highlights the power of the National Zoning Atlas in transforming community planning, and the hidden effects of zoning on food systems and segregation. Their conversation also emphasizes the need for more equitable zoning practices to create abundant housing and healthier communities.

Azeem Khanmalek, the Executive Director of Abundant Housing LA, and Jordan Grimes, Resilience Manager at Greenbelt Alliance, discuss the urgent need for housing policy reform in the wake of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. They highlight how dense housing can bolster resilience against climate-related disasters. The guests also address the challenges of price gouging and inadequate temporary housing solutions for displaced families. Their conversation stresses the importance of sustainable land use and community advocacy in shaping future housing strategies.

Everyone knows that the cost of living, especially housing, has reached a high that feels unsustainable for most Americans to maintain. So, what can we do to solve this problem? In 2024, the Chamber of Progress released its Democratic Cost of Living Agenda. The Agenda is a low-cost policy framework with actionable recommendations for legislators to help lower costs in several sectors for families. On this episode of the Infill podcast, YIMBY Action's Mariah Redfern speaks with the author of the Cost of Living Agenda, Dr. Gary Winslett. They discuss the policies that the Chamber of Progress suggests as solutions for high housing prices, why we must take new approaches to our housing policy, and how people can get involved. Read the Democratic Cost of Living Agenda: https://bringcostsdown.org/Learn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/Follow YIMBY Action on X: https://twitter.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/ 

On this episode of the Infill podcast, our Executive Director Laura Foote speaks with Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawai'i. They discuss why housing is a priority issue for Senator Schatz, how folks are thinking about the housing shortage at all levels of government and the unique opportunity that Democrats and Republicans have to work together on this issue for Americans. Our nation's housing shortage is pushing residents out of their neighborhoods, exacerbating homelessness, and contributing to unequal outcomes in health, finances, and more. In this episode, Senator Schatz and Laura Foote discuss how we got here and what methods it will take to make community members and elected officials understand the importance of building more homes. Learn more about Senator Brian Schatz: https://www.schatz.senate.gov/Learn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/Follow YIMBY Action on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yimbyaction/