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.

In this quick 10 minute episode, we discuss the APA article In Defense of Local Zoning which holds up our 100 year old tradition of land regulation. Earlier this month we talked with author M. Nolan Gray on his recent book Arbitrary Lines which makes the bold statement that we should do away with zoning regulations.

Have you ever wondered what guides the development of your community, from where new homes are built to how new roads are planned? We discuss with David Rouse and Rocky Piro, authors of The Comprehensive Plan, about how the answer lies in a powerful, often-overlooked document.

Behind every successful city is thoughtful planning for the future, but it’s not enough to just plan for the future of communities, we also need to plan with the future. We need to image what the future might look like to shape it in a responsible, sustainable, and equitable way.

In the world of urban and regional planning, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have become an indispensable tool.

Understanding land-use law is essential for anyone involved in urban planning, development, or even just interested in how cities are built and shaped. While often seen as a complex and intimidating field, Land-Use Law in a Nutshell demystifies the legal principles that govern the use of private property.

For planners, the path to a better community is rarely black and white. From accepting a seemingly innocent gift to dealing with conflicting timelines, the profession is filled with ethical dilemmas that require more than just a passing thought.

For anyone who has studied urban planning, a familiar challenge often emerges when classroom theory meets the real world: the textbook ideal of a community plan can quickly crumble under the weight of political realities.