The Strong Towns Podcast

Author James Howard Kunstler chats with Chuck Marohn about the newest book in his World Made by Hand series, The Harrows of Spring. You can also listen to James Kunstler in previous Strong Towns podcasts including from February, 2014, September 2014 and November 2015.  

Chuck and Rachel discuss their holidays, favorite books they read over the break, and infrastructure spending in America. They also share an exciting announcement at the end of the podcast. Mentioned in this podcast: The Road to Ruin: The Global Elites' Secret Plan for the Next Financial Crisis by James Rickerts The Content Trap: A Strategist's Guide to Digital Change by Bharat Andand The Road Taken: The History and Future of America's Infrastructure by Henry Petroski When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi "Five Ways Federal Infrastructure Spending Makes Cities Poorer" by Chuck Marohn

Seth Zeren is a founding member of Strong Towns, a new father and a real estate developer based in Providence, RI. In this podcast conversation, Seth and Chuck talk about the results of the election and its impact on the national dialogue.  This is our last podcast of 2016. Thank you to all our listeners. Have a wonderful holiday and we'll see you in the new year!

In the final Week Ahead podcast of 2016, Chuck and Rachel discuss their recent trip to Chicago and a spirited panel discussion Chuck participated in. They also talk about Chuck's Monday article and the Best of 2016 articles being published throughout the week. Finally, they chat about the upcoming Strong Towns Summit and Chuck's cookie baking adventures. Mentioned in this podcast: "Our Shared Journey" by Chuck Marohn Best of 2016 articles Strong Towns National Summit

Heyden Black Walker is a Strong Towns "super member" in Austin, TX. She's an urban planner and advocate and serves on the board of the CNU-Central Texas Chapter and on the City of Austin Pedestrian Advisory Council. Today, Chuck Marohn and Heyden Walker discuss the highway I-35 project in Austin, which Heyden wrote about on Strong Towns earlier this year. They talk about the implications of a surge in federal infrastructure spending and the local impacts of federal spending in places like Austin. This interview is part of our ongoing conversation on federal infrastructure spending. Want to hear more from Heyden Walker? Listen to her previous Strong Towns podcast interview from CNU23.

Thomas Fisher is a Professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Minnesota, and serves as Director of the Metropolitan Design Center. He's a graduate of Cornell University in architecture and the author of several books including Designing to Avoid Disaster and Designing our Way to a Better World. In this conversation with Chuck Marohn, Professor Fisher discusses a design-thinking approach of bottom-up vs. top-down decisionmaking, and the danger of building the wrong types of infrastructure for the future of America. This interview is part of our ongoing conversation on federal infrastructure spending.

Kyle Smith is an independent urban planning consultant in transportation, land use, and housing. He recently served as Executive Director of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce in Chicago and also worked for the Center of Neighborhood Technology where he wrote a report called “Stalled Out: How Empty Parking Spaces Diminish Neighborhood Affordability.”  Rachel Quednau interviews Kyle for the Strong Towns podcast to discuss the results of this report as well as better parking strategies that will serve towns, developers and residents, instead of holding them back.

Chuck and Rachel discuss last week's member drive and an event in St. Mary's, PA, plus this week's Black Friday Parking event. MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Strong Towns member testimonials #BlackFridayParking

Chuck, while driving through a Minnesota blizzard, shares some reflections on small town America, the tension between urban and rural areas and the Strong Towns movement. Become a member of Strong Towns at www.strongtowns.org/membership.

As part of our membership drive, Chuck Marohn invited Strong Towns members to submit their questions—any question—and today, on a late-night, Mountain Dew-fueled podcast, he's answering them. Become a member of Strong Towns today. To see a list of the questions answered in this podcast, visit this page: www.strongtowns.org/journal/2016/11/16/chuck-answers-your-questions

On Day 2 of our member drive, Chuck sits down with the two youngest Strong Towns advocates.

This episode kicks off a week of Member Drive-related podcasts. Today, Chuck and Rachel talk about the importance of the Strong Towns movement, especially in light of the recent presidential election. They also chat about what their most proud of from Strong Towns this year, and what they are most looking forward to in 2017. This episode spells out exactly why Strong Towns needs new members and what their contributions will be used for.  BECOME A MEMBER OF STRONG TOWNS. Mentioned in this episode: "It's Time for Strong Towns" Slackchat w/Chuck & Rachel on Tuesday Election 2016 (Podcast Reflections)

After some travel and contemplation, Chuck Marohn offers some thoughts on the presidential election, Strong Towns and the future of America.

In this special edition of the Strong Towns podcast, we bring you a short interview with Gracen Johnson, a Strong Towns contributor and member who wrote an essay for our new book, Thoughts on Building Strong Towns, Volume II. Rachel Quednau interviews Gracen Johnson about making the hard decision to move to a new town, plus her recent wedding, her work with the Incremental Development Alliance and her philosophy that "love will save this place." Get your copy of our new book today.  Mentioned in this podcast: Incremental Development Alliance "New Life for an Old School"

Russ Roberts is a fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution and the host of the podcast, EconTalk. He's also starred in two rap videos about John Maynard Keynes and F.A. Hayek, and is the author of several books, including most recently, How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness.  In this interview, Chuck Marohn and Russ Roberts discuss the political appeal of infrastructure spending vs. the economics perspective. They also talk about how to ensure a good return on investment and how to focus on smaller-scale projects. This interview is part of our ongoing conversation on federal infrastructure spending.

Chuck and Rachel discuss recent events in Madison and Texas, including a surprise meeting with the Mayor of Austin. They also welcome new members, chat about housing affordability in Portland, and invite listeners to participate in a Halloween Walking Tour. Mentioned in this podcast: Strong Towns' pitch deck (where the image on the right came from) "Spiking a Rising Tide" (Portland housing affordability article) "Halloween with Strong Towns"

Chuck Marohn interviews Kate Kraft, the Executive Director of America Walks to talk about infrastructure spending and creating more walkable places across America. She advocates for a balanced, people-centered transportation system and discusses different ways to achieve that. This interview is part of our ongoing conversation on federal infrastructure spending.

Chuck and Rachel discuss Chuck's busy travel schedule from last week (Thunder Bay and Bellingham), and this week's Texas tour to San Marcos, Austin, Arlington and Fort Worth (plus Rachel's speaking engagement in Madison). They also talk about Chuck's dental woes, new Strong Towns members, and housing affordability and transit issues. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: "Distorting Housing Prices" by Chuck Marohn Spam Nation: The Inside Story of Organized Cybercrime from Global Epidemic to Your Front Door by Brian Krebbs The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right  by Arlie Russell Hochschild Black Jeopardy with Tom Hanks

As part of Bike Week at Strong Towns, we interviewed a long time member and friend, John Simmerman. He's the founder of Active Towns and travels around the world sharing his love of active living and promoting bikeability and walkability. John shares the many ways that towns can create a "culture of activity" in their communities—one that is welcoming and safe for people of all ages. MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Active Towns Shed the Monster video 

In this special edition of the Strong Towns podcast, we bring you a short interview with Nate Hood, a Strong Towns contributor and founding member who wrote an essay for our new book, Thoughts on Building Strong Towns, Volume II. Nate Hood chats with Chuck Marohn about pedestrian safety efforts—the good, the bad and the ugly—in his hometown of St. Paul, MN. Get your copy of our new book today.  Special offer: We've extended the opportunity for new Strong Towns members to receive an autographed copy of our new book. Become a member by Friday, October 14, and we'll mail you a free copy.