x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Challenger Cities

Iain Montgomery

Iain Montgomery of Now or Never Ventures interviews urbanists, creatives, transit and development types to explore how cities can punch above their weight and create distinctive new futures outside of the tired playbooks.

arts design

All Episodes

63:38

Challenger Cities EP66: Urbanism Without the Excuses...

Challenger Cities ·

2026/02/19

In this episode of Challenger Cities, Iain Montgomery is joined by urban designer, filmmaker, and author Mikael Colville-Andersen for a wide-ranging conversation about why cities so often know what works, yet struggle to act on it.We start with train stations and the importance of arrival, before moving through cycling, design, experimentation, Nordic urbanism, and finally Mikael’s recent work in Ukraine, where urbanism takes on a very different meaning.We cover:Why train stations are still one of

en

81:36

Challenger Cities EP65: Sitopia with Carolyn Steel

Challenger Cities ·

2026/02/16

Cities are usually explained through buildings, infrastructure, policy and planning. Food rarely gets a look-in.Which is strange, because for most of human history, cities existed in the first place because we learned how to feed ourselves at scale. Farming allowed settlement. Settlement allowed specialisation. Specialisation gave us civilisation. Long before zoning codes or masterplans, food decided where cities formed, how power worked, and why empires survived or collapsed.In this episode, I’m

en

60:08

Challenger Cities EP64: Tourism as a Stress Test with...

Challenger Cities ·

2026/02/10

Tourism is big business. Cities spend vast sums attracting visitors, promoting landmarks and polishing their image. What they’re far less good at is thinking through the experience of actually being there. How a place works once you arrive. How you move around it. What makes sense, what doesn’t, and what quietly undermines the affection people might otherwise develop for a city.In this episode, Iain Montgomery is joined by Maryam Siddiqui, a Toronto-based travel and culture journalist who came to

en

49:15

Challenger Cities EP63: The Pub Is a Public Service...

Challenger Cities ·

2026/02/06

In this episode of Challenger Cities, we've got Pete Brown, one of the UK’s most thoughtful writers on beer, pubs, and drinking culture.Pete has spent decades writing about pubs not as lifestyle accessories or nostalgic backdrops, but as places where history, behaviour, economics and everyday social life collide. We talk about why pubs weren’t designed, branded or planned into existence, but evolved slowly through circumstance, need, and habit. Why that matters for cities obsessed with masterplans

en

66:44

Challenger Cities EP62: Cities for People Who Want to...

Challenger Cities ·

2026/02/02

Most cities are designed around a surprisingly narrow idea of who gets to feel comfortable in public.In this episode of Challenger Cities, Iain Montgomery chats with Patti Baston, who runs a feminisation makeover service in Manchester. On the surface, her work might sound niche. In practice, it turns out to be a sharp and unexpected lens on how cities really work, who they quietly exclude, and how play, permission, and experimentation get designed out of adult life.We talk about growing up without

en

50:55

Challenger Cities EP61: Sweat and the City with Glenn...

Challenger Cities ·

2026/01/27

Iain Montgomery talks with Glenn Auerbach about why sauna, bathing and cold-water culture has suddenly gone mainstream in cities around the world, and why the reasons go far beyond health trends or wellness hype. From floating saunas and mobile heat rooms to dawn swims in urban rivers and harbours, we explore how shared rituals of heat, cold and recovery are reintroducing forms of social connection that cities have quietly lost. Glenn traces sauna’s roots as everyday civic infrastructure rather than

en

49:54

Challenger Cities EP60: Designing Cities in Pencil,...

Challenger Cities ·

2026/01/19

We reconnect with Jasmine Palardy almost eighteen months after our very first conversation to reflect on what has changed in how we think and talk about cities, and what hasn’t. Exploring why real progress in cities comes not from imposing control but from embracing uncertainty, loosening the grip of over-planning and letting “accidental urbanists” and informal city builders shape change on the ground. Jasmine reframes urbanism as a messy, lived practice rather than a rigid discipline, and

en

53:41

Challenger Cities EP59: Building Faster Than Memory...

Challenger Cities ·

2026/01/19

Ruchita Bansal discusses what happens when modern infrastructure projects are built at speed but don’t connect with the deep, informal systems that make cities work. Drawing on her experience across Indian urban planning and large-scale delivery, we explore how cities in India are being transformed rapidly with metros, highways and ambitious timelines, yet often miss the connective tissue of everyday life such as first-mile/last-mile walking, informal transport, street life and safety. We dig into

en

52:56

Challenger Cities EP58: The World's Best Cities with...

Challenger Cities ·

2026/01/19

Chris Fair, CEO of Resonance and publisher of "World's Best Cities" talks about what really separates the world’s cities. As Chris explains, obsessively measured performance isn’t enough to explain why some cities feel magnetic and others feel interchangeable. We unpack the World’s Best Cities framework and how liveability, prosperity, and a often-overlooked dimension of lovability shape both the experience of place and its global perception. We explore the gap between performance and perception,

en

56:12

Challenger Cities EP57: Young People and the New...

Challenger Cities ·

2026/01/19

Researcher and strategist David Akermanis talks about how young people are navigating a world where traditional financial stability has eroded and cities themselves shape economic life. We explore why the familiar narratives about youth finance, savvy versus reckless, miss the deeper tension underneath. Across stories of early career precarity, the blending of gambling and investing, the limitations of traditional banking advice, and how mobility and access matter as much as income, we dig into how

en

50:05

Challenger Cities EP56: Why Empty Space Is Never...

Challenger Cities ·

2026/01/19

Evan Snow, co-founder of Zero Empty Spaces talks about why vacancy in cities isn’t a neutral pause but an active force shaping how we feel, move and connect in urban places. We explore how empty storefronts, abandoned commercial spaces and obsolete interiors drain confidence and disrupt movement, and how creative, low-risk activation can turn them into meaningful places without waiting for the “perfect tenant” or a grant. Evan’s work reframes empty space as opportunity, showing how activation builds

en

47:55

Challenger Cities EP55: Impossible City - Paris in...

Challenger Cities ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of Challenger Cities, Iain Montgomery talks with journalist and author Simon Kuper about his book Impossible City: Paris in the Twenty-First Century and what modern Paris really is beneath its postcard reputation. We start with Simon’s accidental arrival in the city and the surprising affordability and vibrancy Paris once had, and then explore how it has changed into a global powerhouse of luxury and culture while still maintaining a remarkable commitment to social housing and dense

en

67:32

Challenger Cities EP54: Rethinking Ireland, the Too...

Challenger Cities ·

2026/01/19

In this episode of Challenger Cities, Iain Montgomery is joined by economist and commentator Peter Ryan for a wide-ranging conversation about Ireland, a country that is often talked about but rarely understood.We dig into why Ireland’s global reputation, from tax haven clichés to headline GDP figures, obscures the lived reality on the ground. Peter unpacks how the country’s early post-independence history shaped a cautious institutional culture, why Ireland’s real constraints are political and

en

48:48

Challenger Cities EP53: The Logic Beneath the Madness...

Challenger Cities ·

2025/12/03

Iain Montgomery and Marcus Mayers discuss the complexities of transport systems, focusing on the balance between passenger experience and operational efficiency. They explore the impact of government regulations, the role of technology, and the need for a mindset shift in transport management. The discussion emphasises the importance of understanding passenger needs, improving accessibility and rethinking marketing strategies in the transport sector. The conversations leads to a call for a more

en

48:52

Challenger Cities EP52: Culture as a Form of Wealth...

Challenger Cities ·

2025/11/24

In this episode of Challenger Cities, we chat with Paul Owens, co-founder of BOP Consulting, long-time collaborator of Charles Landry, and one of the most quietly influential thinkers on culture and cities anywhere in the world.Paul has spent decades helping cities understand something most of them overlook: culture isn’t a sector or an industry, it’s an operating system of a place. It’s who you are, where you come from, and how you imagine yourself collectively as a city.We talk about:Culture as a

en

57:00

Challenger Cities EP51: Women Changing Cities with...

Challenger Cities ·

2025/11/10

Melissa Bruntlett discusses her book 'Women Changing Cities' and the transformative role of women in urban mobility and planning. She emphasizes the importance of empathy, care, and community engagement in creating sustainable and equitable cities. The discussion covers various global cities, the challenges faced in transportation, and the impact of female leadership on urban change. Bruntlett shares insights on grassroots movements and the need for collaboration to drive positive change in urban

en

40:54

EP50: If a City Can’t Handle a Little Kink ... with...

Challenger Cities ·

2025/10/29

This one’s a little different. We sat down with Lady Valeska, a professional dominatrix now based in London, to talk about what cities, workplaces, and leaders could learn from the world of kink.It turns out, quite a lot!We talked about power, shame, permission, and trust, but not in the ways you’d expect. Lady Valeska’s version of dominance isn’t about control, rather it's about awareness. She reads people the way good designers read context: through signals, not assumptions.We got into:How

en

65:21

Challenger Cities EP49: How the Screen Has Killed the...

Challenger Cities ·

2025/10/27

Iain Montgomery and Greg Lindsay explore the intersection of urbanism and technology, discussing how screens and AI are reshaping cities. They delve into the implications of surveillance, the concept of the 15-minute city, and the importance of social equity in urban planning. The discussion also touches on Estonia's digital governance model and the challenges posed by the Saudi urban experiment. Ultimately, they emphasize the need for community engagement and a reimagined approach to urban

en

58:52

Challenger Cities EP48: Live, Move, Rest ... The...

Challenger Cities ·

2025/10/20

In this conversation, Iain Montgomery and Anupam Yog delve into the concept of urban mindfulness and its implications for city design. They explore how mindfulness can enhance urban living, the importance of community engagement, and the potential of lesser-known cities like Ramsgate as models for transformation. The discussion emphasizes the need for compassion in urban planning and the idea that cities should facilitate a balance between movement and stillness. Anupam shares insights from his

en

56:25

Challenger Cities EP47: Cities on the Couch with...

Challenger Cities ·

2025/10/02

SummaryIn this conversation, Charles R. Landry discusses the concept of creative cities, emphasizing the importance of imagination, psychology, and human-centered design in urban planning. He explores how cities develop identities, the psychological complexities they face, and the impact of gentrification on urban evolution. Landry highlights the need for spaces that foster connection and the role of curiosity in understanding urban dynamics. He concludes with thoughts on the future of cities and

en

68 results

Similar Podcasts

Start The Breakthrough Full Audiobook Now, Thriller Fans!

thebookvoice.com

Get Hooked On The Life-Enhancing Full Audiobook Experience!

thebookvoice.com

西四五条

主播郑捕头

Podcast Patapoe

0d0a

On Mic Podcast

Jordan Rich