Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchThe $600K Snow Budget That Became a $6 Million Problem
Episode 277
A Massachusetts town budgeted $600,000 for snow and ended up spending $6 million clearing its streets. Norm Van Eeden Petersman, Daniel Herriges, and…
2 months, 2 weeks ago
What LA’s Trash Problem Reveals About Its Streets
Episode 276
While Los Angeles gets ready for the Olympics and World Cup, residents watch trash pile up in the places tourists never see. Chuck, Norm, and Carlee …
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Why a Legal Home Addition Sparked Outrage in Fairfax County
Episode 275
A multigenerational home addition sparked national attention and local outrage in Fairfax County, Virginia. Chief Technical Advisor Edward Erfurt sit…
6 months, 1 week ago
Zoning Reform Is Only Step 1 in Fighting the Housing Crisis
Episode 274
Utah wants to override local zoning to boost housing supply, but allowed by right doesn't mean possible in practice. Abby and Edward dig into the hid…
6 months, 2 weeks ago
What Happens When Official Decisions Clash With Community Traditions?
Episode 273
Who decides when community traditions change? Lafayette, Louisiana, recently rerouted its Mardi Gras parade. The goal was to improve public safety, b…
6 months, 3 weeks ago
How To Fix Washington DC's New Rules for Outdoor Dining
Episode 272
Last week, we heard how DC's outdoor dining regulations threaten local businesses. Today, urban designers Abby Newsham and Edward Erfurt explore how …
6 months, 4 weeks ago
DC Is Charging Thousands for Outdoor Dining. Is This a Good Idea?
Episode 271
Washington DC is charging restaurants thousands of dollars to keep their streateries — outdoor dining areas built during Covid-19. Are these fees fai…
7 months ago
5 Ways Ordinary People Are Making Their Places Stronger
Episode 270
Abby is joined by Carlee Alm-LaBar, the chief of staff for Strong Towns, and John Reuter, advisory board member for Strong Towns. They discuss severa…
7 months, 1 week ago
Will Elon Musk's Data Centers Actually Help Memphis?
Episode 269
Elon Musk's company xAI is building massive data centers in Memphis, promising economic transformation. But at what cost? Abby is joined by Strong To…
7 months, 2 weeks ago
Historic Bridge Battle: Will 1 Town Profit While the Other Pays?
Episode 268
Two towns, two states, and two historic bridges that nobody wants to pay for. Brattleboro, Vermont, wants to reactivate two historic bridges with a p…
7 months, 3 weeks ago