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PODCAST

The Strong Towns Podcast

The Strong Towns Podcast is a weekly conversation on the Strong Towns movement, hosted by Strong Towns Founder and President Charles Marohn and frequently featuring special guests. The podcast explores how we can financially strengthen our cities, towns, and neighborhoods and, in the process, make them better places to live. Join Chuck in examining how everything from urban design to economics to systems theory to psychology helps inform this core question.

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All Episodes

64:35

The Hidden Costs of "Improving" This Minnesota Highway

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/12/15

‍A major highway project is pitched as a safety upgrade — but at what cost to the community? Today, Chuck is joined by Matt Steele, a fellow Brainerd-area resident and longtime Strong Towns member. They unpack a highway interchange that's been proposed in nearby Baxter and the long-term trade-offs that shape strong (or fragile) places.Additional Show Notes Read more about this project: "Six Roundabouts to Nowhere" by Charles Marohn Chuck Marohn (Substack) This

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62:28

How Communities Are Breaking Out of the Housing Trap

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/12/11

Why is housing so expensive, and what can local communities actually do about it? In this live recording, Chuck unpacks the roots of America's housing trap and shares actionable reforms that any community can implement.Additional Show Notes This presentation was recorded live from Wayne, Pennsylvania. Click here to bring Chuck to your own city! Check out Strong Towns’ housing toolkits for more strategies to bring housing to your community. Chuck Marohn (Substack) This

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55:06

How To Build Resilience in Struggling Rural Communities

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/12/08

Family farms are struggling to survive across America, with whole communities hanging in the balance. In today's episode, Chuck sits down with Brian Reisinger, author of "Land Rich, Cash Poor." They unpack the structural issues leading to the decline of farms and rural communities, as well as opportunities to rebuild resilience.Additional Show Notes "Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family's Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farmer" by Brian Reisinger Brian Reisinger (site) Chuck

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34:05

How Cities Can Help Small Developers Build Housing

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/12/04

In this live Q&A, Chuck explains why small-scale housing is so hard to build. From codes to permitting to financing, he breaks down the friction points that stall projects everywhere and explains how cities can address them.(Note: This episode was recorded live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Some questions may be difficult to hear.) Additional Show Notes Bring Chuck to your own city! Learn how to support small developers in our new housing toolkit. Chuck

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55:55

A Shared Identity Makes Cities Strong. Here's How To...

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/12/01

Strong cities know who they are. In today's episode, Chuck is joined by Ryan Short, founder of Civic Brand. They discuss how uncovering a shared identity guides smarter decisions, strengthens civic pride, and helps communities thrive.Additional Show Notes "The Civic Brand: The Power & Responsibility of Place" by Ryan Short Civic Brand (site) Ryan Short (LinkedIn)‍ Chuck Marohn (Substack) This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Click here to learn more about

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66:02

Why American Cities Are Going Broke (And How To Fix It)

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/11/27

Chuck breaks down the financial math behind urban decline in this live recording of a Wilmington event, with opening remarks from Delaware Governor Matt Meyer. Learn why growth is bankrupting your city — and how to reverse it.(Note: Audio improves at 5:16 when Chuck takes over.) Additional Show Notes Check out some of the images Chuck references in the episode. Bring Chuck to your own city! Connect with Strong Towns Wilmington. Get the Finance Decoder. Chuck Marohn (Substack) This

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58:43

Has the "American Dream" Made Us Miserable?

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/11/24

Author Diane Alisa just wanted her kids to have what she didn't: freedom to roam, community, and a childhood that doesn't require a minivan. Somewhere along the way, she realized the suburban dream itself might be the problem. Today, she and Chuck dig into what the Suburban Experiment cost us — and what comes next. Additional Show Notes Want to hear more from Diane? Check out her episode on The Bottom-Up Revolution! “Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village” by Diane Alisa Diane

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15:15

Momentum Is Building for Stronger Communities. What's...

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/11/14

Chuck records from the road after speaking at a housing summit in Pennsylvania. He reflects on why the Strong Towns message resonates with local officials struggling to address the housing crisis, as well as the challenges facing the movement and plans for the future.Additional Show Notes Member Week is almost over! Join the movement today.

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27:37

How Bottom-Up Action Is Connecting People Across the...

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/11/13

Strong Towns members are making their places stronger everywhere from the Bahamas to Mongolia. Chuck and Member Advocate Norm Van Eeden Petersman discuss how people in Colombia and Uganda can speak the same language about streets, and what that means for building better places everywhere. Additional Show Notes It's Member Week at Strong Towns! Join the movement today!

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55:01

Did New Urbanism Win the Debate But Lose the War?

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/11/12

Can New Urbanists learn from suburbia's success? In this special episode, Chuck sits down with CNU founder Andres Duany, who shares big ideas he says the movement isn't ready to hear. They discuss how New Urbanism captured territory in the battle for cities, why its failing to hold that territory, and where Strong Towns fits into the fight. Additional Show Notes It's Member Week at Strong Towns! Join the movement today!

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15:04

How Strong Towns Is Scaling From Content to Action

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/11/11

Chuck sits down with Carlee Alm-LaBar, Strong Towns' chief of staff, to talk about what it's like managing a growing movement that's focused on action. Learn how the organization is evolving to help thousands of members make real change in their communities. Additional Show Notes It's Member Week at Strong Towns! Join the movement by making a donation of any amount.

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58:59

What is Happening With Strong Towns? Strategy...

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/11/10

In this special Member Week episode, Chuck explores Strong Towns’ strategy, from its origin as a blog to its future in 2026 and beyond. He then answers audience questions about Strong Towns’ funding, his advice for elected officials, and more. Additional Show Notes It's Member Week at Strong Towns! Join the movement by making a donation of any amount. You can also check out the video version of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/QG9mE3BtFac

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64:34

Broken Incentives Made the Housing Crisis. How Do We...

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/11/03

Today, Chuck sits down with Laura Foote, executive director of YIMBY Action. They dive into America’s housing crisis, debate the future of zoning, and explore what it will take to fix broken incentives and build more homes.Additional Show Notes YIMBY Action's new implementation guide Strong Towns' new housing toolkit YIMBY Action (site) Laura's email: laura@yimbyaction.org Chuck Marohn (Substack) Hey listener, you hear from us all the time, but today we want to hear from you. We want your

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49:17

Housing Q&A: 16 Questions on Incremental Housing...

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/10/30

Chuck Marohn tackles 16 real questions from city officials wrestling with the messy reality of housing reform. From a lack of transit to competition from big developers, he explores the challenges of getting more housing on the ground.Additional Show Notes Want to fix your city's housing market? Download our new housing toolkit, "Who Will Build the Housing-Ready City?" to get started. "Unleash the Swarm" by Daniel Herriges (e-book) Chuck Marohn (Substack) This podcast is made

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62:15

Why America Can't Stop Building Highways We Don't Need

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/10/27

Since finishing the Interstate Highway System in the 1990s, the U.S. has added 75% more urban highway lanes — and we're on track to double it again. Erick Guerra, author of "Overbuilt" and professor of regional planning, joins Chuck to discuss why we can't stop building highways we don't need and how our transportation funding system creates cities that are more dangerous and less prosperous. Additional Show Notes "Overbuilt: The High Costs and Low Rewards of U.S. Highway Construction" by Erick

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59:06

What a Perfect Tuba Can Teach Us About Community and...

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/10/20

Chuck is joined by Sam Quinones, author of “Dreamland” and “The Least of Us,” to talk about his newest book “The Perfect Tuba.” They discuss how a curiosity about tuba players turned into a deep exploration of hard work, community, and finding joy and purpose in difficult circumstances.Additional Show Notes "The Perfect Tuba: Forging Fulfillment from the Bass Horn, Band, and Hard Work" by Sam Quinones Connect with Sam Quinones: Website Twitter/X Chuck Marohn (Substack) This

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48:18

Short-Term Rentals Broke the Housing Market. Now What?

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/10/13

Chuck is joined by Joe Minicozzi, founder of the geoaccounting organization Urban3. They talk about the impact of AirBNBs and other short-term rentals on housing affordability, how our tax systems benefit rentals while hurting families, and how our cities can get the system back on track.Additional Show Notes Want to fix your city's housing market? Download our new housing toolkit, "Who Will Build the Housing-Ready City?" to get started. Joe Minicozzi Urban3 (site) Chuck Marohn

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58:59

Want To Innovate Housing in Your State? Try Copying...

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/10/06

Michigan is on the forefront of housing innovation, with many cities throughout the state experiencing a resurgence in population and housing options. Today, Chuck talks with Dan Gilmartin, the executive director and CEO of the Michigan Municipal League, which was instrumental in this revival.Additional Show Notes Want to bring more housing to your community? Download our brand-new housing toolkit, "Who Will Build the Housing-Ready City?" for free! Michigan Municipal League (site) Dan Gilmartin

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55:29

Do Highway Projects and Airbnb Rentals Help or Hurt...

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/09/29

Chuck is joined by Joe Minicozzi, founder of the geoaccounting organization Urban3. They compare notes on the highway projects each of their cities is facing and discuss whether these projects bring value. They also talk about how Airbnbs affect the housing market and whether they should be taxed as houses or hotels.Additional Show Notes The book Joe and Chuck refer to at the end of the episode is "Overbuilt: The High Costs and Low Rewards of U.S. Highway Construction" by Erick Guerra. Click here

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60:39

How Mr. Barricade Is Shaping the Future of Street Safety

The Strong Towns Podcast ·

2025/09/22

How do you make streets safer without gentrifying an area? Will self-driving cars change the way we build cities? Are engineers tracking congestion the right way?Chuck discusses these questions and more with Vignesh Swaminathan, a civil engineer and project manager at Kimley-Horn. Also known as Mr. Barricade, Vignesh has built a massive online following by making street design understandable and fun. As Chuck says in the episode, “This is not your grandpa's engineer.” Additional Show

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