Where Strong Towns Stands As We Enter Another Election Year

Where Strong Towns Stands As We Enter Another Election Year

Author: Strong Towns April 8, 2024 Duration: 57:59
As the U.S. enters another election year—one that is certain to be contentious—we know that many Americans are going to be engrossed in the conversation about national politics. And many of our readers want to know where Strong Towns stands on the issue. In this week’s episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, host Chuck Marohn responds to this question, and promises one thing above all else: we will remain dedicated to our mission, no matter what. ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES Strong Towns is a bottom-up movement for change across North America. Join today! Chuck Marohn (Twitter/X).

Each week, Charles Marohn guides a discussion that feels less like a formal lecture and more like a thoughtful chat with a knowledgeable neighbor. The Strong Towns Podcast digs into the practical, often overlooked details that determine whether a community thrives or just struggles along. The conversations here consistently connect the dots between sensible budgeting and the physical shape of our streets, parks, and neighborhoods, arguing that true resilience comes from this intersection. You’ll hear specific examples of how towns and cities can make incremental, affordable investments that build long-term wealth and stability, moving beyond short-term fixes. Rather than offering abstract theory, this podcast focuses on actionable ideas for local leaders and engaged citizens alike, exploring how everyday decisions about infrastructure and land use directly impact a place's financial health. It’s a grounded perspective on creating communities that are not only more solvent but also more welcoming and livable. The ongoing dialogue reinforces the core idea that a strong town is built from the bottom up, one block at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Strong Towns Podcast
Podcast Episodes
4 Ways To Build Homes and Expand Opportunity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:52
Cullum Clark, director of the Economic Growth Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, returns to the Strong Towns Podcast to discuss his recently published report on housing reform. Cullum highlights several reforms…
Escaping the Housing Crisis With Jeff Speck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:01
Today, Chuck is joined by Jeff Speck, a city planner, author, and principal of an urban design and consultancy firm. They discuss the ideas shared in Chuck’s book “Escaping the Housing Trap” and how those concepts play o…
Why Sprawl IS the Housing Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:25
On the surface, sprawl seems like an easy answer to the housing crisis. It fits with the mechanisms we have in place today, and it aligns with the lived experiences and political will of most Americans. But the reality o…
ZacTax: How To Build Financially Healthy Cities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:12
ZacTax is a financial analysis firm that helps city officials understand their revenue streams and make smarter financial choices. Today, Chuck is joined by its founders, Chad Janicek and Patrick Lawler. They explain how…
The World Is on Fire. That’s Why We’re Here. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:13
Chuck reflects on the current state of the world. He explains that, when you recognize things are broken, you have two options. You can wait helplessly for someone else to fix them, or you can start rebuilding the system…
How To Handle the Bureaucracy of Local Government [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:00
In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck is joined by Carlee Alm-LaBar and Kevin Blanchard, former city staff members in Lafayette, Louisiana. Carlee is now Strong Towns’ chief of staff, while Kevin is CEO of t…
3 Reasons This Is a Great Time for Walkable Streets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:57
In this episode, Chuck explains why our current situation, though tense, actually presents a great opportunity for advocates of street safety, walkability, and bikeability. He then lays out a number of common misconcepti…
Road Design Creates Aggressive Drivers. We Can Fix That. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:15
In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck discusses how the design of an environment affects people psychologically. He explores how cities can use that knowledge to make streets safer, using a crash in Hyattsvi…
Mark Moses: How To Understand and Fix Government Budgeting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:47
In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck is joined by Mark Moses, author of “The Municipal Financial Crisis: A Framework for Understanding and Fixing Government Budgeting.” Up for discussion today: The dangers…
We Need a New Approach to Road Safety and Design [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:07
In this episode of the Strong Towns Podcast, Chuck shares a keynote speech he gave at a statewide transportation conference in Kansas. He discusses the limitations of traditional traffic safety techniques and the consequ…