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PODCAST

Most Podern Podcast

Minkoo Kang, Libo Li, and Alex Yuen

The podcast about the Built Environment, with the minds shaping it, for the people living in it. Why does the built environment feel broken — and what would it take to fix it? Most Podern is about how the built world really works. We dig into the systems shaping architecture, urbanism, housing, and public spaces, and talk with the people actually building change: architects, planners, developers, and urban thinkers.

arts design

All Episodes

00:32:01

An Architectural Answer to how Cities can Turn Down...

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/12/18

What if a powerful climate solution in cities isn’t a new building, but the roof that’s already there? As heat waves intensify across Europe, architect and MIT-trained educator Olivier Faber explains how his firm, Roofscapes is transforming overlooked rooftops into cooling, accessible, green infrastructure. Starting with Paris’s iconic zinc roofs, the conversation unpacks why existing buildings are misaligned with today’s climate, how shading and vegetation can dramatically reduce indoor

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00:41:46

A New Era for Sprawl

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/12/10

The American suburban dream is unsustainable—but we're not giving up on it.David Kooris, Executive Director of the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority and lecturer at Yale, explains why sprawl no longer works as an economic engine and how we can retrofit existing suburbs to be more prosperous, walkable, and sustainable.In this episode, we explore:✓ Why the suburban development model is fiscally unsustainable✓ How to transform aging strip malls into thriving town centers✓ The art of community

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00:35:25

Planning Coachella - Reiko Wei

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/12/03

What hidden design choices make a 125,000-person festival feel effortless—and what happens when being off by just one foot throws everything into chaos? Why do some festivals become cultural icons while others collapse spectacularly? And how did one architect watching the Fyre Festival documentary suddenly realize, “I could do this a million times better”—and then actually go do it?In this episode, Reiko Wei, design production manager at Goldenvoice (the team behind Coachella & Stagecoach),

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00:46:02

America can't Build. Can Modular Construction be the...

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/11/26

How do we build faster, smarter, and more affordably in a world running out of patience and running short on skilled labor? Tom Hardiman, Executive Director of the Modular Building Institute, joins Alex Yuen and Libo Li to explain how modular construction can reshape the built environment. From cutting construction timelines in half to reducing waste and expanding access to housing, Tom shows why modular is not a trend but a practical tool for a more sustainable, efficient, and inclusive future. The

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00:26:03

Why Affordable Housing Isn’t Affordable

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/11/11

Why does building “affordable” housing cost so much in the built environment? From land prices to loan rates, construction inflation to endless permitting, Alex and Libo break down the true costs of creating homes and why the system often works against the very people it is meant to help. They unpack how financing, regulation, and risk collide, what makes America’s housing model unique, and what simple reforms could unlock more livable and affordable cities for everyone.Subscribe to Most Podern

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00:38:36

Design School for The Displaced - With Scott Key

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/11/04

What happens when you run an architecture studio inside a refugee settlement — and let refugees lead it?Scott Key (founder/CEO of Every Shelter) is back to break down how a 10-week “design school” in Nakivale turned buzzwords like “co-creation” into actual, working solutions — cow-dung bricks that survive soaking, shelter-wide mosquito netting, and quality water that families can afford.Why it matters:Refugees are displaced for 20+ years — which means they need permanent, local, extremely affordable

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00:40:42

The Architect Who Healed NYC After 9/11

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/09/24

In this conversation, Kevin Kennon, reflects on his experiences surrounding the events of 9/11, particularly his involvement in the Ground Zero viewing platform and the subsequent World Trade Center competition. We discusses the emotional impact of architecture, the importance of community and collaboration in design, and the lessons learned from revitalizing Lower Manhattan. Kennon emphasizes the need for architects to articulate their vision and the role of travel in enhancing one's

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00:31:06

The Four Horsemen of Urban Decline

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/09/17

Why do some cities thrive while others slide into decline? Alex Yuen and Libo Li break down the Four Horsemen of Urban Decline - which include the Disease of Me, Construction Constipation, High Capital Contrast, and Identity Crisis. From San Francisco’s stalled growth to Tokyo’s adaptability and New York’s relentless appetite for change, this conversation reveals the hidden dynamics that decide whether a city stagnates or reinvents itself. Clear, provocative, and grounded in real-world examples,

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00:42:16

How Building Codes Shape American Urbanism - Type V...

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/09/03

Why do American neighborhoods so often look the same, filled with “five-over-one” apartments or endless rows of wood-framed houses? In Part II of our conversation, architect Jeana Ripple—author of The Type V City and Chair of Architecture at the University of Virginia—explains how Type V construction and building codes interact with zoning, finance, and policy to shape entire cities. From Chicago’s fire-driven codes to Seattle’s tolerance of replacement, Ripple shows how materials influence

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00:30:22

Why U.S. Homes Are All Built the Same Way - Type V...

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/09/03

Why are nearly all American homes built out of wood when most of the world uses brick, steel, or concrete? In Part I of our conversation Architect Jeana Ripple, author of The Type V City, explains how the U.S.’s reliance on light wood framing—known as Type V construction—became the national default. She breaks down the benefits (affordability, flexibility, sustainability) and the hidden risks (mold, storm damage, limited adaptability) that slowly shape the country’s homes, neighborhoods, cities, and

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00:30:06

Why Architects Should Code - With Alex and Libo

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/08/20

In this conversation, Alex Yuen and Libo discuss the importance of architects learning to code, exploring how coding can enhance creativity, efficiency, and control in architectural design. They delve into Libo's personal journey into coding, the impact of technology on architectural practice, and the future implications for the built environment. The discussion emphasizes the need for architects to embrace technology to improve their work and the overall quality of architecture.TakeawaysArchitects

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00:47:47

Designing With Intimacy - Dong Ping Wong

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/08/13

What if a pool could clean a river—and a building could rewrite culture? Would you swim in the East River? What does “local” look like when it doesn’t mimic the block around it?Architect Dong-Ping Wang (FOOD Architects)—who’s collaborated with Kanye West and Virgil Abloh—breaks down architecture as a cultural engine, from hyperlocal listening to rapid, messy sketching that invites feedback fast. He shares a Barbados culinary design studio with Pierre Seurat (Ghetto Gastro), why WhatsApp-level

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00:45:40

How Suburbs Are Fueling America’s Wildfire Crisis

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/08/07

What happens when cities expand into fire-prone landscapes—and what can we do about it? Jonah Susskind, Director of Climate Strategy at SWA, unpacks the overlooked realities of wildfire risk, why most modern cities are spreading in all the wrong directions, and how smart design can turn parks, neighborhoods, and planning policies into climate-resilient systems. From the “wildland-urban interface” to shelter-in-place strategies, this conversation blends environmental science, urban planning, and

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00:49:12

Live Near Friends. Be 40% Happier.

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/07/29

What if the secret to a better life wasn’t a bigger house or higher salary, but simply living closer to your friends? Phil Levin, co-founder of Live Near Friends, reveals how proximity can drastically increase happiness, cut housing costs, and reshape how we think about community. From building a 10-home campus in Oakland to redefining what “neighbor” really means, we explore how small shifts in where—and who—you live near can change everything.Subscribe to Most Podern on:Spotify -

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00:34:37

America’s New Millionaire Class - The Skilled Trades

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/07/23

What if plumbers and HVAC techs are America’s newest millionaires—and the secret heroes of our economy? Why is fixing your sink so expensive, and how is the skilled trades shortage reshaping everything from infrastructure to green energy? Could these hands-on careers actually be more future-proof—and profitable—than a traditional college degree?Dive into a revealing conversation with Ruchir Shah, CEO of SkillCat, who’s dismantling myths about trades work and spotlighting why these jobs are

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00:54:52

How Climate Solutions Are Winning by Making Life Better

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/07/16

Why does every conversation about climate change feel like we're being asked to sacrifice something? Josh Dorfman, host of the popular Supercool podcast, reveals how this narrative is completely backwards. From Formula-E racing that attracts 500 million viewers without mentioning climate to pneumatic trash systems that make cities cleaner while cutting carbon by 90%, Josh shares how the most effective climate solutions are actually upgrading modern life rather than restricting it. Discover why we're

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01:11:43

How Mexico is Building Cities Around People

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/07/02

Architect Ruben Segovia joins Alex Yuen and Minkoo Kang to reveal how Mexico is transforming its urban development. From Monterrey to Tulum, young designers and developers are creating walkable, mixed-use communities that prioritize public space and human-scale design. Segovia explains why the "developers are evil" narrative is shifting, how policy changes are enabling innovative real estate projects, and what American cities can learn from Mexico's bold urban experiments. Discover the

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00:57:46

How to Create Housing for Community over Profit -...

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/06/10

What happens when an architect develops their own projects, stops chasing profit, and starts designing for people, planet, and purpose? Jeremy McLeod, founder of Breathe and Nightingale Housing, shares how a single prototype sparked a housing movement in Australia. From ditching car parks and private laundries to designing rooftop commons and slow elevators, Nightingale flips the development playbook — proving that sustainability, affordability, and community aren't just compatible, but catalytic

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00:59:39

From Icons to Ecosystems: Rethinking the High-Rise...

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/05/20

Why do we need to keep building skyscrapers and what separates them marvels or monstrosities?Dr. Antony Wood, one of the world’s foremost experts on tall buildings, reveals why cities go vertical, what drives the global icon race, and how most towers fall short. From skybridges and carbon-sequestering timber to the 5% of skyscrapers that actually work, this conversation reimagines the high-rise as more than a symbol, but rather as a system for living, density, and urban ambition.Subscribe to Most

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00:55:29

Can Architects Still Shape the Future?

Most Podern Podcast ·

2025/05/13

What’s driving architects to rethink their role in a tech-driven world?Evelyn Lee, FAIA, NOMA, shares her journey from traditional architecture to tech leadership, offering insights on how architects can adapt and thrive. Discover how she blends design thinking with business strategy to redefine the profession’s future.Subscribe to Most Podern on:Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts -

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