In our latest episode we interview zoning attorney and author Donald Elliott about his book An Even Better Way to Zone: Achieving More Affordable, Equitable, and Sustainable Communities. Elliott’s work comes alongside other recent zoning books covered on the show, including M. Nolan Gray's Arbitrary Lines (arguing for getting rid of zoning) and Sarah Bronin’s Key to the City, his approach aligning with reforming zoning rather than eliminating it. Elliott explains that his ear

There’s regionalism as we all learned in planning school led by Louis Mumford at the Regional Planning Association of America (RPAA) and then there’s southern regionalism that Howard W. Odum and his Institute for Research in Social Science (IRSS) led from the University of North Carolina. The history of the southern regionalists was largely overlooked until Stephen Ramos published “Folk Engineering: Planning Southern Regionalism.” Sadly, Stephen passed away shortly after publ

Planning for the future can feel overwhelming, yet essential. The American Planning Association's (APA) 2026 Trend Report offers planners foresight into upcoming trends that could shape our world. In our latest episode, we talked with Petra Hurtado, APA’s Chief Foresight and Knowledge Officer, to delve into these trends. The Importance of Being Proactive As trends like artificial intelligence (AI), transportation, and housing continue to evolve, Hurtado emphasizes the need fo

This episode of Booked On Planning features a conversation with author Mark Dunkelman about his book, "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back". Dunkelman explains the origins of American progressivism as a response to the upheaval created by railroads and national-scale economic power, outlining two competing impulses within the movement: a Jeffersonian push to break up big institutions and return power to smaller, local actors, and a Hamiltonian push

Spiritual wellness sits in a blind spot in city-making. We measure traffic counts and hospital beds, yet struggle to name why a stroll under trees soothes us or how a plaza can lift a crowd into awe. Architect and planner Phillip Tabb draws a clear line: wellness is preventative, place-based, and social, while much of today’s investment flows to curative health systems. That gap shapes cities. He distinguishes spirituality from religion not to water it down, but to point towa

Systems thinking and multisolving might sound like complex academic concepts, but they're actually frameworks that describe how our everyday world functions. Beth Sawin's book "Multisolving: Creating Systems Change in a Fractured World" offers a refreshing perspective on problem-solving that's particularly relevant for urban planners and anyone working to improve communities.

The American Planning Association’s 2025 Trend Report, now in its fourth year, serves as a critical resource for planning professionals navigating an increasingly complex future.

“Dark PR: How Corporate Disinformation Undermines Our Health and the Environment" focuses on the world of corporate disinformation and its profound impact on public perception and political actions. Ennis exposes the sophisticated strategies that corporations employ to manipulate narratives and divert attention from significant political issues and action.

Zoning, when applied effectively, can be a catalyst for vibrant and adaptable neighborhoods, particularly in cities like Nashville and Chicago, where cultural resurgence is on the rise.