Episode 565: Ed Roberts - An Independent Man

Episode 565: Ed Roberts - An Independent Man

Author: The Overhead Wire February 5, 2026 Duration: 54:22

This week we're joined by Professor Scot Danforth of Chapman University to discuss his book An Independent Man: Ed Roberts and the Fight for Disability Rights. We chat about Ed's life, the origins of the disability movement, and creating access for all.

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Each week, Talking Headways: A Streetsblog Podcast digs into the conversations shaping our cities and streets. Host Jeff Wood, from The Overhead Wire, guides these discussions, which sit at a unique crossroads where the practical realities of urban planning meet the urgent goals of sustainable transportation and thoughtful economic development. Rather than offering abstract theory, the episodes connect policy to the pavement, exploring how decisions made in government offices and community meetings directly affect how people live, move, and work. You’ll hear from a range of voices-planners, advocates, officials, and journalists-who are actively working on these fronts. The dialogue in this podcast is grounded in current events and news, providing context and depth to the week’s most pressing topics in urbanism. It’s for anyone curious about why their city looks and functions the way it does, and for those invested in building more equitable and accessible communities. The tone is engaged and informative, turning complex, interconnected subjects into clear, compelling conversation. Tune in for a regular dose of insight on the forces designing our public realm.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 101

Talking Headways: A Streetsblog Podcast
Podcast Episodes
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Hey everyone! We're on Spring Break this week (and posting a little early) but I wanted to do a fun flashback so here we're chatting with David Hensher of the University of Sydney (Episode 425) about his thoughts on Mobi…