The Strong Towns Podcast

Strong Towns member and new board member Andrew Burleson from Raleigh, North Carolina, talks about why he is a member of Strong Towns and what he sees for the future of the organization. Become a member of Strong Towns today by going to www.strongtowns.us/membership.

This week the podcast features a conversation with Dave Runyon (twitter), Executive Director of City Unite and co-author of the book The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door. The Art of Neighboring has a great website with a lot of resources including a copy of the Who is My Neighbor block map and a Neighborhood Block Party Kit. You can also connect with the movement on Facebook.

The Original Green, Steve Mouzon (twitter) joins Chuck this week to preview his upcoming event -- New Media Workshop in Celebration, Florida -- and to swap tips on using social media for advocacy. Some of the sites discussed in the podcast include: Buffer Tweetdeck Vine Klout OG.tv Pinterest Digital Goods Store iContact paper.li

This year at Railvolution in Minneapolis, Strong Towns set up an off-site panel to discuss transit issues from a Strong Towns perspective. In addition to Jim Kumon and Chuck Marohn, we inited some thinkers who -- while they don't necessarily agree with us 100% -- we think are thought leaders in a modern transit approach. Joining us are Jeff Wood from San Francisco, Christof Spieler of Houston, and Yonah Freemark of Chicago.

Strong Towns board members Andrew Burleson and John Reuter reflect on the National Gathering with Jim Kumon while taking in the Minneapolis Open Streets event.

Our friend Jim Kunstler joins the podcast this week to talk about his latest book, A History of the Future, the latest in his World Made by Handseries.  You can get a copy of the book at bookstores near you or online at: Battenkill Books (autographed) Northshire Bookstore Amazon

This week on the podcast features Eric Jacobson, author of The Space Between: A Christian Engagement with the Built Environment. Rev. Jacobsen is the Senior Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, a member of the Congress for the New Urbanism and the holder of a doctorate in Theology and the Built Environment.

This week Chuck Marohn talks about how auto-oriented communities are designed to decline, an effect that we can see clearly in places like Ferguson, Missouri.

This episode was recorded at CNU 22 in Buffalo. Participating are Jason Roberts (twitter) of The Better Block, Mike Lydon (twitter) from Street Plans Collaborative, Chuck Marohn (twitter) of Strong Towns and Joe Mnicozzi (twitter) of Urban-3. You can also watch the video of this conversation thanks to Gracen Johnson.

Chuck digs into the Strong Townns mailbad to answer some of the questions submitted by members. If you are a member, you can submit your questions to Ask Strong Towns and we'll answer them on the podcast or the blog. If you're not a member of Strong Towns yet, what are you waiting for? 

This week Kristen Jeffers, the Black Urbanist, joins the podcast to share insights on her work, the city of Greensboro, investing in neighborhoods without leaving people behind and more. You can follow Kristen on Twitter and read more from her at The Black Urbanist and North Carolina Placebook.

This week Chuck talks with Kevin Klinkenberg about his upcoming book, Why I Walk: Taking a Step in the Right Direction. You can follow Kevin and his work at www.KevinKlinkenberg.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

This week Chuck does a solo podcast talking about the Federal Highway Trust Fund and the implications of its pending insolvency. Additional reading: Some perspective on the gas tax

Santiago Garces, who heads the Data, Performance and Innovation program at the city of South Bend, talks with Chuck about how technology can help local governments do more with less.

This, our last podcast from CNU 22 in Buffalo, is the NextGen Roundtable, a discussion that began with Chuck Marohn and Gracen Johnson and went in all sorts of crazy directions. 

This week’s podcast is a double header starting with the first super hero ever to appear on a Strong Towns Podcast (still waiting on Cap’n Transit), the Mexican pedestrian advocate Peatonito. Then we’re joined by the slightly more reserved, but equally cool, John Yung of the site UrbanCincy.

John Anderson of Anderson|Kim Architecture and Urban Design joins the podcast this week to talk about development in a post-easy money world. Get out the title for your Tercel, put your pro-forma together and listen to a fascinating conversation. 

Ben Hamilton-Baillie, street designer and shared space advocate, joins the podcast from CNU 22 in Buffalo to talk about shared space, his memories of Hans Monderman and hopes for American transportation. This is a very special podcast you are not going to want to miss. You can follow Ben Hamilton-Baillie on Twitter, see more of his work on his firm’s website and watch the video, Poyton Regenerated, that was discussed in the podcast. This week is our membership drive. If you appreciate the content we provide, please consider supporting us by becoming a member. 

A special message to our podcast listeners from Chuck Marohn.

From CNU 22 in Buffalo, Chuck is joined this week by the incoming president and CEO of the Congress for the New Urbanism, Lynn Richards. They discuss Lynn’s background (really fascinating), how she became interested in leading the CNU and what she looks to accomplish in the position. You can follow Lynn on Twitter at @lrichardsCNU.