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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.

science social sciences

All Episodes

00:18:49

#P035: Finding Freedom in Times of Turbulence

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/12/17

In the midst of distraction, outrage, and uncertainty, Peter shares a deeply personal reflection on solitude and the quiet work of tending the inner self. This episode is an invitation to slow down, focus, and rediscover a sense of freedom that no one else can take away.Episode music: Impromptu For Piano Forte and Beatbox by Kevin MacleodLicense code: QYYNA7YUAEWMJJFGGossip by SoundrollLicense code: PQURSVOD7V0A33FPA Merry Gypsy Christmas by Jonny BoyleLicense code: REM6UOLUUGWN0EZD

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00:14:02

#P034 - My best neighborhood meeting EVER

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/12/10

In this episode of The Reflective Urbanist, Peter revisits the most unforgettable neighborhood meeting of his life—one with tempers high, a controversial developer, and a masterclass in disarming a crowd. Through the story, he discusses Chris Matthews’s maxim “Hang a lantern on your problem,” revealing how owning your liabilities can become your greatest strategic asset.Episode music: Forbidden Desire by Albert BeharLicense code: EC5C8WEHBMFCYHAGCorn Fed by AirstreamLicense code:

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00:10:40

#P033: The "Third Fist" - Guarding against the...

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/12/03

When a perfectly planned project collapses under a once-in-a-century shock, what does it reveal about how cities—and the people who build them—understand risk? In this episode, we explore Black Swans, “third fists,” and why the improbable is far more predictable than we think.Episode music: Hiccup Waltz by Giulio FazioLicense code: 0U8MXUHIXN8J67TYDark Light by Yeti MusicLicense code: R959TWF8XULLNTEK

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00:12:03

#P032: God I hate flying

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/11/26

On the eve of Thanksgiving, Peter shares the surprising stories of three veterans who forever changed the way he sees others—and himself. A reflection on judgment, curiosity, and the hidden lives behind the people we think we know.License code: 8J3KENIRKTI1WI7P

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00:11:36

#P031: Be careful what you wish for...

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/11/19

A victory that wasn’t: Peter tells the story of how insisting on brick in the design of the Twins' Target Field resulted in a surprisingly unintended outcome for an adjacent neighborhood. Along the way, he unpacks key negotiation lessons about flexibility, listening, and finding true mutual gain.Episode music: Funny Toys by Giulio FazioLicense code: BBKORYF9B5LV8INS

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00:11:48

#P30 - Is it a capital problem? Or an operating problem?

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/11/12

Before you start building, ask: do you really need a new project, or just a smarter way to use what you’ve got? In this episode of The Reflective Urbanist, Peter shares stories of costly overreach, clever fixes, and the fine line between maintenance and reinvention.Episode music: Canataloupe by RALicense code: RVLHJK7AHJ6QVFVEWaffles Maker by SoundrollLicense code: DDMRF724PISJPOBN

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00:11:32

#P029: 22 different kinds of lightbulbs?

The Reflective Urbanist ·

2025/11/05

What does the film Inception have to do with budgets for city buildings and 22 kinds of lightbulbs? In this episode of The Reflective Urbanist, Peter discusses how design choices made on day one can ripple through decades of maintenance — and why sometimes, less really is more.Episode music: Trouble Brewing by Matt Stewart EvansLicense code: PLSX62N5XIJMIPIIandDark Lake by Simon FolwarLicense code: PMAMTWRMKZMVBBVC

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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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