

The Urbanist
Monocle
With an influential audience of city mayors, urban planners and architects, this is Monocle’s guide to making better cities, be it new technology, state-of-the-art subways or compact apartments. Nominee in the Smartest Podcast category of the 2019 British Podcast awards.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 2, 2025 • 28min
What can cities learn from nature? Discover The Bioplanning Institute and the Bundanon Art Museum
We meet Dror Benshetrit, founder of The Bioplanning Institute, who’s reframing urbanism through an ecological design lens. Plus: how the Bundanon Art Museum in Australia teaches cities to better interact with the natural world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 1, 2025 • 20min
IPUT special: meet chief executive Niall Gaffney
Join us for a special episode in partnership with IPUT, Dublin’s leading property-investment company. We meet chief executive Nial Gaffney to talk about building community and setting new benchmarks for cities in Ireland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 29, 2025 • 8min
Tall Stories 478: Feira de São Cristóvão – a Nordestino feast in Rio de Janeiro
Tomás Pinheiro takes us to a space in Rio de Janeiro that brings together all the best offerings from Brazil’s northeastern region and is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 25, 2025 • 32min
The secrets to urban crowd control, compassionate design and the World Tramdriver Championship
We find out how cities move crowds safely and efficiently, investigate how design can affect health and wellbeing, and stop by the World Tramdriver Championship in Vienna.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 22, 2025 • 7min
Tall Stories 477: Biidaasige Park – how Toronto combines green space and flood protection
Mandy Sinclair takes us to Toronto to explore the largest new park opening in a generation, which helps to prevent flooding and provide green space for residents and visitors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 18, 2025 • 31min
What we learned at the World Design Congress
Renowned British architect Lord Norman Foster discusses how public spaces can reshape urban life, advocating for walkable, low-carbon cities. He emphasizes the importance of citizen engagement in city planning. Landscape architect Julia Watson shares insights on indigenous knowledge and low-tech solutions for resilience against climate change, showcasing ancient practices in modern design. The conversation also touches on Seattle’s new Waterfront Park, highlighting its community-focused approach and innovative urban planning.

Sep 15, 2025 • 8min
Tall Stories 476: Dulles International Airport’s Mobile Lounges, Washington
Gregory Scruggs unpacks a heritage feature of Dulles International Airport in Washington that to this day gives the terminal a unique charm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 11, 2025 • 28min
Cape Town’s liveability secrets – highlights from Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference
What are Cape Town’s secrets to liveability, how do you act like a local in Barcelona and why is the UAE the best place to bring people together?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 8, 2025 • 8min
Tall Stories 475: Bethlem Royal Hospital and Bethlem Museum of the Mind, London
Monocle’s Sophie Monaghan-Coombs tells us the story of the world’s oldest psychiatric hospital, founded in the 13th century in London.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 4, 2025 • 32min
Want to find utopia? Try Columbia, Maryland
We visit one of the US’s more successful attempts at a utopian society, as well as a mass-timber tower in Portland and the winners of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.