Originally crafted as pastoral settings, urban parks have metamorphosed into forest-like spaces, offering habitats for a plethora of wildlife. In the latest podcast episodes we talked with author Peter Alagona on his recent book “Accidental Ecosystems” on these often-overlooked ecosystems and understand their importance.

In this months article episode we're taking a deep dive into the transformative Sister Cities Project. The brainchild of Sean McClondon, this groundbreaking initiative began with a straightforward social media post and has since grown into a powerful platform that breaks down racial divides, fostering tolerance and unity.

In his landmark book, The Color of Law, Richard Rothstein revealed how government policy, not just individual prejudice, created and enforced racial segregation across America. But that book left a crucial question unanswered: what can be done about it?

Ever wondered how mobility justice could revolutionize city planning and transportation strategy? Get ready to challenge the status quo as we dive into the fascinating world of human-centered transportation systems by reviewing a few recent American Planning Association interviews with Naomi Dorner and Tamika Butler.

Transportation is a vital part of urban life, but its history in the United States is often one of division. In her book, Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities, transportation expert Veronica O. Davis argues that the transportation systems we have today were never designed to be equitable.

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.

Zoning is a fundamental part of urban planning, but what if it's the very thing holding our cities back? We discuss with M. Nolan Gray the provocative ideas in his book Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It.

One key tool discussed is the Plan Integration for Resilience Scorecard, developed as part of APA’s planning tools. It helps local governments evaluate how well different city or county plans are aligned with building resilience, identify gaps or conflicts, and better coordinate across departments.

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.