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PODCAST

The Century of Cities

Prof. Greg Clark CBE & Jennifer Dolynchuk

Welcome to The Century of Cities, a captivating journey fueled by curiosity into humanity"s most profound transformation: urban evolution. By 2100, 10 billion people will live in over 10,000 cities. What shape will that world take? This 100-episode series explores the forces driving this shift through illuminating interviews and compelling stories, revealing how cities can lead us toward a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient world.

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All Episodes

30:37

Kecia Rust: From Informality to Inclusion in Africa’s...

The Century of Cities ·

2025/10/16

In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Kecia Rust, Executive Director at Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa. As the leader of a network spanning 70 organizations across 23 countries, Kecia has spent decades studying how affordability, finance, and policy intersect to determine who gets to call the city home. She traces the evolution of African housing from the constraints of apartheid-era exclusion to today’s rapid urbanization, revealing how outdated financial

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23:43

Jennifer Hart: Rethinking Expertise in the Making of...

The Century of Cities ·

2025/10/14

Jennifer Hart, Professor, historian, author, and chair of history at Virginia Tech, joins The Century of Cities to share two decades of insight into Ghana’s urban evolution. Through her work on Accra and her book Making an African City, Hart reveals how colonial legacies, economic shifts, and social resilience have shaped African cities from 1980 to today. She invites us to rethink expertise, arguing that the future of urban development lies not in imported models but in DIY urbanism, the creative,

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32:42

Shuaib Lwasa: Hybrid Cities and the Next Urban...

The Century of Cities ·

2025/10/12

The Century of Cities welcomes Shuaib Lwasa, a Professor at the International Institute of Social Studies and an urban geographer. Drawing on his lived experience in Kampala and decades of research across East Africa, Shuaib reflects on how privatization, elite capture, and market-driven development have reshaped the very idea of the public. He offers both a cautionary and hopeful perspective, envisioning African cities that could either become corporate-run enclaves or evolve through innovation,

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23:28

Christian Benimana: Designing Purpose, Not Just Skylines

The Century of Cities ·

2025/10/09

Christian Benimana, Co-Executive Director and Sr. Principal at MASS Design Group, joins us on The Century of Cities to reflect on how African cities have evolved from post-colonial identities to centers of economic gravity, yet often without a clear sense of purpose. He explores why many urban centers across the continent are now caught between growth and confusion, and why re-imagining identity is essential before we can talk about sustainability. Christian challenges conventional thinking on

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29:34

Geci Karuri-Sebina: Frugal Futures and the Power of...

The Century of Cities ·

2025/10/07

In this episode of The Century of Cities, we’re joined by Geci Karuri-Sebina, scholar-practitioner and Associate Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand School of Governance, who explores how cities across Africa are redefining progress on their own terms. From Nairobi’s post-colonial euphoria of the 1980s to today’s era of innovation and shifting power, Geci traces the evolving story of African urbanism, one shaped by frugal creativity, civic technology, and renewed confidence in

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35:32

Edgar Pieterse: From Apartheid to Agency; Africa’s...

The Century of Cities ·

2025/10/06

The Century of Cities welcomes Edgar Pieterse, Founding Director of the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town, who takes us on a sweeping journey through apartheid-era Cape Town to a hopeful, youth-driven African future. Reflecting on how cities have evolved since 1980, Pieterse reveals the deep scars of inequality, the challenges of economic exclusion, and the extraordinary creativity shaping new urban models across the continent. From democratization and deindustrialization to

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29:58

Weiping Wu: How China’s Cities Shape the World’s...

The Century of Cities ·

2025/09/30

Weiping Wu, Columbia’s Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Professor and Director of the M.S. in Urban Planning program, joins us on The Century of Cities. With her unique vantage point spanning Chinese cities, American metropolises, and global contexts, Weiping reflects on Shanghai’s meteoric rise, the challenges of density and sprawl, and how lessons from one era echo in the choices facing cities today. Looking ahead, she shares both optimism and unease about the role of technology, from

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33:08

Louis-Vincent Gave: From Brain Drain to Bridge City

The Century of Cities ·

2025/09/23

In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Louis-Vincent Gave. Louis is an author and the CEO and co-founder of Gavekal. He shares his insights on macroeconomics, the Greater Bay Area, the Hong Kong dollar’s unique role, and how Chinese cities are carving out distinct identities in tech, industry, and finance. From Hong Kong’s resilience through decades of reinvention to its emerging role as a financial bridge for global markets, Louis offers a sharp, compelling lens on how urban

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27:35

Sylvia He: Lessons from Hong Kong for the Future of...

The Century of Cities ·

2025/09/16

The Century of Cities welcomes Sylvia He, Director of the Urban Studies Programme, and the MSc Programme in Sustainable Urban Planning, and Professor in the Department of Geography and Resource Management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Sylvia explains how transport has defined the city’s evolution, from the pioneering MTR model to the rise of EVs, cautious steps on micro-mobility, and new ambitions for drone-based “low-altitude economies.” She shows how real-time data and smart city tools

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29:39

Mee Kam Ng: Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and the Next Century...

The Century of Cities ·

2025/09/09

Mee Kam Ng, Emeritus Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, joins us on the latest episode of The Century of Cities. Mee Kam challenges us to move from “talk” to “walk,” using technology not just for efficiency, but to improve lives and restore ecosystems. She envisions two futures: one where technology helps build a circular economy and more equal societies, and another where automation deepens inequality and control. Drawing on the transformation of the Pearl River Delta into the

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26:57

Shenjing He: From Rural Roots to Megacity Regions

The Century of Cities ·

2025/09/02

In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Shenjing He, Professor and Head of the Department of Urban Planning & Design at the University of Hong Kong. Drawing on decades of transformation, she reflects on China’s journey from a predominantly rural society to a nation defined by megacity regions, high-speed mobility, and ambitious net-zero commitments. Shenjing highlights the enduring challenges of inequality, the housing struggles of rural migrants, and the complexity between

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13:17

Patrick McVeigh - Bonus Listener Episode

The Century of Cities ·

2025/08/19

The Century of Cities welcomes Patrick McVeigh, Technical Director - Economic Development Advisory at Beca. In this special listener series, Patrick reflects on the episodes that resonated most, the guests who offered new insights, and the cities that have shaped how he thinks about growth and innovation.

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14:18

Opportune Simon - Bonus Listener Episode

The Century of Cities ·

2025/08/19

In this special listener series of The Century of Cities, we’re joined by Opportune Simone, Strategic Operations - Asset Management at Places for London. Opportune highlights her favourite moments from the podcast, the guests who sparked fresh ideas, and the cities that challenge her to think differently about the future.

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13:55

Vasant Chari - Bonus Listener Episode

The Century of Cities ·

2025/08/19

The Century of Cities welcomes Vasant Chari, Director of Regional & Local Growth at Connected Places Catapult. In this special listener series, Visant shares the episodes he enjoyed, the guests who inspired him, and the cities that challenge him to think differently about growth and innovation.

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15:54

Anna Look - Bonus Listener Episode

The Century of Cities ·

2025/08/19

In this special listener series of The Century of Cities, we’re joined by Anna Look, Founder of Look Ahead Consulting and Co-Owner of Rabbit Hill Snow Resort. Anna reflects on her favourite episodes, standout guests, and the cities that have captured her imagination.

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15:07

Jorick Beijer - Bonus Listener Episode

The Century of Cities ·

2025/08/19

The Century of Cities welcomes Jorick Beijer, Urbanist and Co-Founder of Blossity, a global strategy consultancy driving innovation districts and corporate urbanism. In this special listener series, Jorick shares the episodes he loved most, the guests who sparked new ideas, and the cities that left a lasting impression.

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15:07

Bhakti More - Bonus Listener Episode

The Century of Cities ·

2025/08/19

In this special listener series of The Century of Cities, we’re joined by Bhakti More, Chairperson & Professor at the School of Design & Architecture and Head of the Centre for ESG at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai Campus. Bhakti shares her favourite episodes, standout guests, and the cities that have captured her imagination.

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26:22

Eugenie Birch: Financing, Planning, and Trust in the...

The Century of Cities ·

2025/08/12

In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Eugenie Birch, scholar, city planner, and Lawrence C. Nussdorf Chair of Urban Research at the University of Pennsylvania. With an eye on both history and horizon, Genie discusses the divergent trajectories of northern and southern cities, and why policy gaps, financing bottlenecks, and the role of planners will define the next century. She makes the case for universities as anchor institutions, explains the trillion-dollar shortfall in

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25:54

Clare Wildfire: Cities as Systems, Not Silos

The Century of Cities ·

2025/08/05

Clare Wildfire, Global Cities Lead at Mott MacDonald and a champion of systems thinking, joins The Century of Cities to explore how infrastructure has evolved since 1980, why today’s cities are hitting critical limits, and how reimagining interconnectivity can unlock more resilient, inclusive futures. Drawing on her journey from engineering megaprojects to convening cross-sector conversations, Clare offers a unique lens on the systems that power urban life. She discusses the cascading risks cities

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34:16

Marvin Rees: Leadership, Legacy, and the Long Arc of...

The Century of Cities ·

2025/07/29

The Century of Cities welcomes Lord Marvin (Baron Rees of Easton) Rees OBE, Former Mayor of Bristol and Member of the House of Lords. Marvin reflects on growing up in a racially divided, economically constrained Bristol of the 1980s, and contrasts it with today’s booming but still deeply unequal urban landscape. He shares what it means to lead with lived experience and why inclusion isn’t optional, it’s foundational. Spanning past, present, and future, Marvin makes the case for cities that plan

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108 results

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