Urban Broadcast Collective

In PX122 our guest is Rafael Mangual a distinguished writer and researcher on crime issues in cities and regions. He is the Nick Ohnell Fellow at the Manhattan Institute (MI), a contributing editor of City Journal, and a member of the Council on Criminal Justice. His first book, Criminal (In)Justice, was released in July 2022. He has authored and coauthored a number of MI reports and op-eds on issues ranging from urban crime and jail violence to broader matters of criminal and civil justice reform. His work has been featured and mentioned in a wide array of publications, including the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, New York Post, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer and City Journal. He regularly appears on TV and radio. In a wide ranging interview, Rafael explains various criminology theories about urban environments and how design measures can reduce crime. He talks about how crime reduces urban amenity, the consequences for the most disadvantaged and if unchecked how lax civic and legislative standards create a doom loop. Rafael presents an inspiring and well thought out approach to addressing a very serious urban issue that rarely receives any attention in urban planning circles. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner Rafael recommends Fitness accounts and trackers. Jess recommends attending professional conferences. Pete recommends ‘The Passage of the Damned’ by Elsbeth Hardie https://scholarly.info/book/the-passage-of-the-damned/’.
 Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 23 October 2024. PlanningxChange is proud to be part of the Urban Broadcast Collective.

Calvin Po, a strategic designer at Dark Matter Labs, dives into the complexities of urban planning and governance systems. He discusses how decentralized technologies can empower communities to enhance democracy, while also addressing the challenges within the UK's planning system. Calvin reflects on post-war British planning, the balance between public good and community needs, and the vital role of architectural criticism. Additionally, he shares insights on the film 'Tar,' revealing its exploration of power dynamics in the creative industry.

In PX120 our guest is Assistant Professor Akane Bessho, Ph.D of the Housing and Urban Analysis Laboratory, Department of Engineering, The University of Tokyo. Information about Akane’s work is at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Akane-Bessho-2 and her website is: https://www.akanebessho.com Akane has a wide range of research projects and field work including schemes that seek to reverse depopulation in Japan’s rural areas, assisting people with disabilities into the agricultural sector (see for example Coco Farm & Winery) (https://cocowine.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/cocofaw-pr-eng.pdf), new approaches to food production and creating community gardens and centres specifically designed to aid those with dementia. Her work ranges from densely populated metropolitan centres to small rural towns and villages. Akane describes her faculty at the the Tokyo University and the excellent work it produces. Details at https://www.due.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/english/ The interview discusses many issues confronting Japanese society. From this we can draw lessons that can be applied to other countries. An engaging and inspiring interview about new methods to create better societal outcomes. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Akane has two recommendations, music by Ren (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnbXfRACsVM) and a book The Essence of Language: How Words Were Born and Evolved? (by Mutsumi Imai & Kimi Akita):  https://amzn.asia/d/00SRoMrL Jess has taken up tennis lessons and recommends this to listeners. Pete has two recommendations both Japanese; The TV series Golden Kamuy on Netflix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6DmjhcSt8Q and 'Design X Stories' a program on NHK (https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/design_stories/) in p[articular ’Shared Living, Shared Spaces' (https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/2101025/) Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 10 August 2024. PlanningxChange is proud to be a contributing member of the Urban Broadcasting Collective.

In PX119 our guests is Kylie Legge of Place Score (https://www.placescore.org/about-place-score/).
Kylie is a leading voice in placemaking, an architecture graduate, planner, place maker, author, facilitator, curator and entrepreneur. She is founding Director of Place Partners, a multidisciplinary placemaking consultancy based in Sydney, Australia and Place Score – the world’s first place experience measurement company. An engaging interview about new methods to find out what citizens seek in their local area. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Kylie Legge recommends The National Gallery of Victoria ‘Triennial’, an exhibition featuring 120 artists with contemporary works (see https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/triennial/home/). 
J Jess recommends Turning Point on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81614129) Pete recommends the WSJ 'Free Expression' Podcast episode - ‘Is Modern Technology Ruining Our Children’ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-modern-technology-ruining-our-children/id1609730284?i=1000651467872 which features Jonathan Haidt author of ‘The Anxious Generation’ - How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing and Epidemic of Mental Illness’. Details at https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book - and he also recommends the Ford Ranger Youtube clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPxo7siqjIo Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 20 July 2024. PlanningxChange is proud to be a contributing member of the Urban Broadcasting Collective.

In PX118 our guests are Jonathan O’Brien and Jonathan Nolan of YIMBY Melbourne. Details of YIMBY Melbourne are at https://www.yimby.melbourne YIMBY Melbourne seeks a ‘People-led’ ‘Grassroots’ ‘For Housing Abundance.’ The YIMBY website states: ‘A better Melbourne is possible. A Melbourne that is affordable, liveable, and sustainable. A city that is walkable, accessible, and which gives everyone access to the amenity-rich areas that make living here so special. Creating housing abundance will take a lot of work. It will require reform across planning, governance, and taxation. It will force us to take a serious look at how we use, value, and control the use of land in this city. The two Jonathan’s outline the problems with the current planning system and how this leads to disadvantage, exclusion and a lack of new housing. They propose various measures that can redress the problems. They also call for volunteers to assist the cause. An engaging interview with dedicated activists who have created a new third party force in the housing / planning policy - public awareness space. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Jonathan Nolan recommends a website he has created (https://citydensity.com) which looks at the population density of major cities in relation to distance from the CBD. Jonathan O’Brien recommends ‘Arbitary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and how to fix it’ by M Nolan Gray (https://islandpress.org/books/arbitrary-lines#desc) He also recommends ‘The Boat’ by Nam Le (https://www.sbs.com.au/theboat/) and https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-boat-9780143009610 Jess recommends a book ‘What happened to Nina’ by Dervla McTiernan (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/171793386-what-happened-to-nina) and a podcast ‘The Imperfect’ (https://theresilienceproject.com.au/at-home/podcasts/). Pete recommends ‘Climate - the movie (the cold truth)’ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A24fWmNA6lM and the Radio Taiso (also spelt Rajio Taiso which translates to ‘radio exercises’) morning exercise program released by NHK - see YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6ZRH9Mraqw Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 24 June 2024. PlanningxChange is proud to be a member of the Urban Broadcast Collective.

In PX117 our guest is Rob Parker, President of Trilith Development, LLC. Rob oversees with a development team the continued growth of the Trilith Township and Film Studios. Trilith is located on the edge of Altana in Fayette County, Georgia. Trilith is in the advance guard of new urbanism practices. Details at https://www.trilith.com Trilith is a large masterplanned community which seeks to ‘redefine the modern American town’. Based on New Urbanism 2.0++ principles, the town has a vibrant commercial centre, multiple open space places and a diverse range of housing options. It is colocated adjacent the Trilith Film Studios. Rob describes the passions that drive the Trilith team and the concept of continuous improvement in the creation of new urban spaces. He discusses building for the long term and the high level of detail that goes into making first rate community projects. Trilith has many unique features. One of the surprising aspects is the popularity of the ‘Trilith Experience’, a tour of not only the film studios but also ‘the intrically designed new urbanist community of the The Town @ Trilth’. Rob reports that many visitors are excited and drawn to the new urbanism built form and layout. An engaging interview with a professional dedicated to creating better town life experiences.  In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner Rob recommends ‘Suburban Nation - The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream’ by Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk and Jeff Speck https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429932110/suburbannation and ‘Walkable City - How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time’ by Jeff Speck https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781429932110/suburbannation Rob also describes the value of travel and taking in new experiences that can lead to better solutions 'at home'. Jess recommends ‘Foul Play’ by Fiona McIntosh https://www.penguin.com.au/books/foul-play-9781761048012. Pete recommends ‘I Robot’ by Isaac Asimov https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Robot. Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 31 May 2024. PlanningxChange is proud to be part of the Urban Broadcasting Collective.

In PX116 our guest is Stephen Rowley. Stephen is the author of two books, ‘Movie Towns and Sitcom Suburbs: Building Hollywood’s Ideal Communities’ and ‘The Victorian Planning System: Practice, Problems and Prospects’. In February 2022 he was made of a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia, the citation included: ‘Over the first 20 years of his career Dr Stephen Rowley has made a very significant contribution to planning as an inspiring and passionate lecturer, through his publications, his engagement in planning debates, and his continued advocacy for planning reform. Stephen is one of the profession’s leading voices on the operation of the Victorian planning system. His critical insights into the structure of the VPPs and their intersection with planning practice are highly valued across the sector.’ An engaging interview with a planning profession who has given much to the profession and Australian cities. His observations can be applied broadly to planning systems around the globe. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner Stephen recommends the British comedy (satirical) program ‘The Thick of It’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thick_of_It). Jess recommends Canva a graphic design software program. Pete has two recommendations. the movie ‘Godzilla Minus One’ (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23289160/) and the second, a British comedy program from the 1980’s ‘The Young Ones’ (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083505/) that could never be made these days. PlanningxChange is proud to be a member of the Urban Broadcast Collective. Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 2 May 2024.

In PX115 our guest is Liz Mackevicius. Liz is an urban planner who has taken a new role as an organisational coach for those in the built environment industry. She will be leading the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) program ‘Pathway to Lead’. Information about the program, and the link to register for the session is: https://www.planning.org.au/eventsandcpdnew/additional-programs. It’s for consultants across Australia. An accredited organisational coach, Liz has built a reputation of strong but supportive coaching. She values accountability, acknowledging this is what helps us translate aspirations into real breakthroughs. She has worked with a range of clients, building their confidence, resolve and satisfaction. Liz is also a trainer and facilitator with a passion and commitment to helping those who create our liveable cities be more effective and have rewarding work. She believes that the challenge and problem solving we experience at work should be part of a fulfilling life – but that we often need to do the work to create that for ourselves. Liz is also a public policy expert with nearly 20 years’ experience in urban planning, government advisory, strategy and policy development across a range of consulting and State and Local government roles. In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner Liz recommends The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner https://ericweinerbooks.com/books/the-geography-of-bliss/ Jess recommends Oppenheimer the movie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppenheimer_(film)) Pete recommends: Dragon Sakura TV series Netflix https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81488898 and ‘Modern Talking’ hear their song ‘Who will save the world’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDIT-R8LYkg&list=RDiDIT-R8LYkg&start_radio=1 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD_UHyaN3dc Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 9 April 2024. PX is proud to be a member of the UBC.

In PX114, our interview guest is Anna Lowder, a co-founder and director of Hampstead, a New Urbanist community in Montgomery, Alabama, inspired by her experiences while living in London before returning to Montgomery. Established in 2008, the 416-acre master-planned residential and mixed-use development features homes, townhomes, condos, apartments, restaurants, shops, workspaces and a school, farm, and a lake. Anna helped Hampstead and Montgomery become the first neighborhood and largest city to adopt the SmartCode, an innovative zoning code that encourages diverse, mixed-use community for all ages and stages of life. She is a member of the National Town Builders Association and the Congress for the New Urbanism. Interview topics include, New Urbanism, Multigenerational Design, Designing for Sustainable Communities, SmartCode Adoption and Breaking Barriers with New Urbanism. In podcast extra / culture corner, Anna recommends ‘The Bear’ TV series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bear_(TV_series) Jess recommends: ‘Wholesome by Sarah’, recipes and a new cookbook coming https://www.wholesomebysarah.com.au and Pete recommends local history books including ‘The Enigma of Snake Island’ by Rob Ganly https://images.app.goo.gl/HnmAvU3VcHZPgFEGA PlanningxChange is proud to be a member of the Urban Broadcast Collective. Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 21 March 2024.

Episode PX113 of PlanningxChange is all about Advanced Aerial Mobility (AAM) aircraft, these are typically electric or hybrid powered, air taxis and the like. They have appeared in various science fiction films such as Blade Runner 2019 and Blade Runner 2049 (nicknamed ‘spinners’). They will soon be appearing above our cities and towns. Clem Newton-Brown our guest is CEO and founder of Skyportz (skyportz.com), the only Australian business developing a network of landing sites for a future air taxi network. Clem’s background as a former Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Member of Victorian Parliament and barrister specialising in planning and property development has put him at the forefront of this emerging industry. More details on Clem are found at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clem_Newton-Brown. Clem serves on several Federal, State, industry and international committees advancing the development of the rules and regulations around establishing a whole new era in clean, green electric aviation. The success of the industry depends on these changes along with a network of Skyportz sites from which air taxis will operate. These are known as ‘vertiports’. We note some AAM's aircraft might have alternative power sources or run as hybrids. Skyportz has over 600 property partner sites in Australia and New Zealand which are ready to activate when regulations permit. A terrific interview subject with a great passion for new business concepts, cities and aviation. In podcast extra / culture corner, Clem recommends the great outdoors and getting away form technology (for a little bit). Jess recommends: Duolingo ‘Learning Italian’: www.duolingo.comthe Pete recommends: ‘A Rebel from the start - Setting the record straight’ by Avi Yemini www.amazon.com.au/Rebel-Start-Sett…ht/dp/B0C91KG18N PlanningxChange is proud to be a member of the Urban Broadcast Collective. Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 1 March 2024.