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PODCAST

The Reflective Urbanist

Peter Hendee Brown

The Reflective Urbanist is for all city-builders, from design professionals, developers, and civil servants to elected officials, interest groups, and community members. Each episode combines a story, a theory, and a lesson, bridging between ideas and practice to illuminate how things get done in the city.

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All Episodes

00:13:01

#P028: Why do developers do such sh***y design?

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/10/29

You know good design when you see it, right? In this episode, Peter explores why architects and developers often differ on what constitutes 'good design,' emphasizing that design is subjective and shaped by many perspectives—including those of developers, critics, planners, and investors. Listen to some of the lessons he's learned about who you should probably listen to. (Hint: it's not your gut.)Episode music: Misadventure by Giulio FazioLicense code: FOCPQZHCGB1WMM5L

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00:14:58

#P027 The Name is Bond, Muni Bond

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/10/22

Continuing the thread from last week of public project financing, Peter dives further into the world of how cities and special-purpose governments utilize municipal bonds. Using city aquariums as case studies, he illustrates how failing projects often shift financial burdens to taxpayers, creating a "moral hazard."Episode music: The Brotherhood by SoundrollLicense code: CL5IGZPFZ8K6AK1B

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00:11:59

P026: What is a "public authority?"

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/10/14

What are public authorities, and why do they matter so much to how cities actually get things done? The Reflective Urbanist dives into the politics, financing, and quiet influence of these “shadow governments.”Episode music: Silly Chase by Simon FolwarLicense code: KBAODW2ETIEHVEYUFunny Footsteps by Simon FolwarLicense code: 692ACCXFW7ZLHOOP

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00:13:13

#P025: Jane Jacobs and Me

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/10/08

Peter revisits Jane Jacobs’ The Death and Life of Great American Cities—a book he first encountered (and maybe slept through) as a college student. Decades later, he reads it cover to cover and finds Jacobs’ insights on vibrant, mixed-use cities are as sharp and relevant as ever.Episode music: 56s Comedy by Giulio FazioLicense code: 1SWCQZWYJDT2WCVZThe Funny Bunch by Giulio FazioLicense code: TLBGPEW4E5UZCZIB

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00:11:45

#P024: The Architect Sketch

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/10/01

This week, Peter stitches together Monty Python, exploding architectural models, and a designer who looks like Fabio. Why? To explore the messy, unpredictable world of architect selection panels—where bias, personality, and power dynamics often overshadow objective decision-making. From comedy sketches to real-life stories, we unpack why choosing the "best team" is rarely as straightforward as it seems.Episode music: The Liberty Bell March by John Philip Sousa, performed by the United

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00:09:42

#P023: Flashlights

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/09/24

This week on The Reflective Urbanist, Peter shares the story of his first big procurement challenge in city government: getting three simple flashlights for his staff. What followed was a months-long lesson in bureaucracy, trust, and why you should never underestimate civil servants.Episode music: Snoopy Loopy by Simon FolwarLicense code: FVSW6US4LYR27YGG

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00:11:42

#P022: Police cars and firetrucks

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/09/17

A junkyard full of police cars. A brand-new $2 million fire truck. And a crash course in why cities — and households — need two budgets. This episode makes sense of capital vs. operating budgets with stories you won’t forget.Episode music: Beautiful Oops by All Good FolksLicense code: H3MNCMJ3SJOV43OEGameshow by AirstreamLicense code: JPLW5YBY6LXTMRD9

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00:09:20

#P021: Let's eat

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/09/09

Cornell researchers say eating together makes teams more effective. A Scorsese movie, a Minneapolis planning project, and a few unforgettable dinners prove the point. Tune in for stories and lessons on why breaking bread might be the smartest business strategy of all.Episode music: Bushwick Tarantella by Kevin MacLeod, Mafioso by Theo Gerard; and Tres French by Jonny BoyleUppbeat licenses: JOFSV0KXWL1CK3Z4, ECABEOMJMVSXCFSA, QNCKKBXVTRIMWMIF

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00:16:56

#P020: Back To School

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/09/03

This fall feels like a fresh start—and what better way to kick off the new season than with a “Back-to-School” episode? In this first show of the season, I reflect on what it means to keep learning—long after we’ve left the classroom. From Rodney Dangerfield’s Back to School to real-life lessons about humility, curiosity, and growth, this episode explores why being a “learn-it-all” will always beat being a “know-it-all.”Episode Music: Saved by the 80s by All Good FolksLicense code:

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00:02:07

Season Two Teaser

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/09/01

The Reflective Urbanist is back for Season Two! After a summer break (and a cake with our logo in icing washed down with TRU blue margaritas), we’re kicking off with a few fresh ideas, a few experiments, and plenty more of what you enjoyed from Season 1. The premiere episode drops September 3—get a sneak peek of the P020: “Back-to-School.”Teaser music: "Honey, I'm Home" by Giulio FazioLicense code: RQY1B4J2A81GZAGX

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00:11:50

#P019: The Reflective Urbanist reflects

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/06/11

Episode music: Dance of the Hours - Ponchielli by Aura ClassicaLicense code: 08IVOMVHOKSBS9DXTake Peter's poll!

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00:10:52

#P018: What's your endgame?

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/06/04

When a capital project hit a deadlock, Peter had to fire an uncooperative architect—or did he? Join him as he shares what happened, and why you should always think several moves ahead in your own endgame.Episode music: Getting to the Bottom of It by Fernweh GoldfishLicense code: WWQ0RCUOUHDOBEGA

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00:10:34

#P017 - Follow the instructions

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/05/28

What does a missed train, a cold beer, and a bureaucratic form have in common? The lost decade of I-676.This episode of The Reflective Urbanist unpacks how a simple lapse in judgment—and the inflexible gears of Weberian bureaucracy—delayed a major highway project for ten years. From Philadelphia to South Jersey and from sociology to spiral-bound proposal fails, it's a story about process, power, and the very human limits of rational systems.Episode Music: Miami 1987 by Hey Pluto!License code:

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00:12:20

#P016: Take 2 - What do we have to do to get those...

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/05/21

Peter Brown has a new answer to that familiar question—and this time, it starts with market failure, detours through Scandinavian tax policy, and ends with a pony.If we’re serious about housing everyone, we need to stop blaming developers and start talking about taxes, subsidies, and what kind of country we want to be.Episode music: Suburban Honeymoon by Christian LarssenLicense code: AMNMKL2XYCBMQO73

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00:12:38

#P015: What do we have to do to get those darned...

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/05/14

Why aren’t those greedy developers building more affordable housing? Well, what if the problem isn’t them—it’s us? In this episode, I unpack why pointing fingers at the private sector misses the mark, and how local politics, zoning drama, and good old-fashioned NIMBYism are quietly sabotaging housing solutions. If you've ever said “I support affordable housing, just not there,” this one’s for you.Episode music: A Charming Day by Albert BeharLicense code: IXYJBHSOTKRUMWFQ

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00:11:07

#P014: They called us "tourists"

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/05/07

We were the private-sector pros brought in to fix a sluggish city bureaucracy. Confidence? We had it. Experience? Not so much. This episode dives into what happens when political appointees try to move the machine—and what they learn from the civil servants who’ve kept it running all along.Episode music: 'Excusez-Moi?' by Roo WalkerLicense code: QWKDKG5GBE2Q9TRJ

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00:07:27

#P013: Your hourly rate seems a little high

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/04/30

When a developer balked at the price of a consultant’s time, he nearly lost a $300,000 grant. In this episode, Peter unpacks a real-life story about urgency, expertise, and the often-misunderstood difference between price and value. It’s a sharp, short take on why what something costs isn’t always what it’s worth—especially when the stakes are high and the deadline’s tonight.Episode Music: Guitars de France by Jonny Boyle License code: AHA1GWA6NYTFBFUZ

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00:14:19

#P012: Because we have always done it that way

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/04/23

Why are Minneapolis signal poles painted green and yellow—Packers colors—in Vikings territory?It started with a simple design question on a downtown street project... and ended with a new city policy, a Cold War case study, and maybe—just maybe—two lifelong Packers fans in the public works department pulling off the ultimate prank.This episode, we peel back the layers of city decision-making through a Cold War lens, explore why bureaucratic SOPs can outlast billion-dollar stadiums, and ask: what

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00:08:28

#P011: Have you got a 27B/6?

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/04/16

What do a rogue HVAC technician, a zipline, and a suspiciously hostile Form 27B/6 have in common? Welcome to Brazil—Terry Gilliam’s bureaucratic fever dream where paperwork is power and mechanical engineers are the real heroes.We revisit a memorable sequence from the 1985 cult classic to explore what it says about bureaucracy gone haywire—and why Robert K. Merton’s 1940 study of bureaucratic personality still hits uncomfortably close to home.Spoiler: the system isn’t broken. It’s designed this

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00:07:13

#P010: Don't overplay your hand

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/04/09

Think you're holding all the cards? You might be—but that doesn’t mean it’s time to play your ace. In this episode, Peter explores the quiet power of restraint. Whether you're in a pitch meeting, a tough conversation, or just trying not to be that guy, sometimes less really is more. It’s poker wisdom with a professional twist.Episode music: Stealy Move by SoundrollLicense code: QT4PYTCAVHZMJOXW

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30 results

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